Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, broadly released for retail sale on October 25, 2001. Development of Windows XP began in the late 1990s as "Neptune", an operating system built on the Windows NT kernel, intended for mainstream consumer use. An updated version of Windows 2000 was originally planned for the business market; as such, Windows XP was the first consumer edition of Windows not to be based on MS-DOS. Upon its release, Windows XP received critical acclaim, with critics noting increased performance and stability, a more intuitive user interface, improved hardware support, expanded multimedia capabilities. However, some industry reviewers were concerned by the new licensing model and product activation system. Extended support for Windows XP ended on April 8, 2014, after which the operating system ceased receiving further support or security updates to most users.

By August 2019, Microsoft had ended support for games on Windows XP. As of February 2020, 1.25% of Windows PCs run Windows XP, a little under 1% of all traditional PCs run Windows XP. At least one country has double digit use: Armenia, where it is highest ranked at 40.76% as of January 2020. In the late 1990s, initial development of what would become Windows XP was focused on two individual products: "Odyssey", intended to succeed the future Windows 2000. However, the projects proved to be too ambitious. In January 2000, shortly prior to the official release of Windows 2000, technology writer Paul Thurrott reported that Microsoft had shelved both Neptune and Odyssey in favor of a new product codenamed "Whistler", after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort; the goal of Whistler was to unify both the consumer and business-oriented Windows lines under a single, Windows NT platform: Thurrott stated that Neptune had become "a black hole when all the features that were cut from were re-tagged as Neptune features.

And since Neptune and Odyssey would be based on the same code-base anyway, it made sense to combine them into a single project". At PDC on July 13, 2000, Microsoft announced that Whistler would be released during the second half of 2001, unveiled the first preview build, 2250; the build notably introduced an early version of Windows XP's visual styles system. Microsoft released the first beta build of Whistler, build 2296, on October 31, 2000. Subsequent builds introduced features that users of the release version of Windows XP would recognize, such as Internet Explorer 6.0, the Microsoft Product Activation system and the Bliss desktop background. On February 5, 2001, Microsoft announced that Whistler would be known as Windows XP, where XP stands for "eXPerience". In June 2001, Microsoft indicated that it was planning to, in conjunction with Intel and other PC makers, spend at least 1 billion US dollars on marketing and promoting Windows XP; the theme of the campaign, "Yes You Can", was designed to emphasize the platform's overall capabilities.

Microsoft had planned to use the slogan "Prepare to Fly", but it was replaced due to sensitivity issues in the wake of the September 11 attacks. On August 24, 2001, Windows XP build. During a ceremonial media event at Microsoft Redmond Campus, copies of the RTM build were given to representatives of several major PC manufacturers in briefcases, who flew off on decorated helicopters. While PC manufacturers would be able to release devices running XP beginning on September 24, 2001, XP was expected to reach general, retail availability on October 25, 2001. On the same day, Microsoft announced the final retail pricing of XP's two main editions, "Home" and "Professional". While retaining some similarities to previous versions, Windows XP's interface was overhauled with a new visual appearance, with an increased use of alpha compositing effects, drop shadows, "visual styles", which changed the appearance of the operating system; the number of effects enabled are determined by the operating system based on the computer's processing power, can be enabled or disabled on a case-by-case basis.

XP added ClearType, a new subpixel rendering system designed to improve the appearance of fonts on liquid-crystal displays. A new set of system icons was introduced; the default wallpaper, Bliss, is a photo of a landscape in the Napa Valley outside Napa, with rolling green hills and a blue sky with stratocumulus and cirrus clouds. The Start menu received its first major overhaul in XP, switching to a two-column layout with the ability to list and display used applications opened documents, the traditional cascading "All Programs" menu; the taskbar can now group windows opened by a single application into one taskbar button, with a popup menu listing the individual windows. The notification area hides "inactive" icons by default. A "common tasks" list was added, Windows Explorer's sidebar was updated to use a new task-based design with lists of common actions.

Divertimento for String Orchestra Sz.113 BB.118 is a three-movement work composed by Béla Bartók in 1939, scored for full orchestral strings. Paul Sacher, a Swiss conductor, patron and the founder of the chamber orchestra Basler Kammerorchester, commissioned Bartók to compose the Divertimento, now known to be the pair's last collaborative work; the term "Divertimento" denotes a work designed for the entertainment of both the listeners and the performers. The divertimento was popularized in the Classical period by Haydn and Mozart; this is a neo-classical work constructed around modal tonalities, but it cannot be defined as a modernist work or a neoclassical work. One of the most evident neoclassical characteristics is the treatment of texture. A small group of soloists contrasts the whole orchestra varying the work's texture; this is reminiscent of the Baroque genre of the Concerto Grosso, where a small group of soloists, the concertino, was contrasted and accompanied by the tutti orchestra, or the ripieno.

While baroque tonality comes within reach, the work is for the most part tonally modernistic. Dynamically, the work features sharp contrasts; the work utilizes the fugal elements of imitation and contains a three voice fugue. Bartók's Divertimento is scored for string orchestra: Violin I, II, Viola and Double Bass, all of which contain divisi sections. Unlike the majority of orchestral scores, the minimum number of players in each string section is specified: 6 1st Violins, 6 2nd Violins, 4 Violas, 4 Violoncellos, 2 Double Basses. 8 minutes long, the opening movement is presented as a waltz with specific gypsy influences evident melodically, through the use of various modes and non-traditional scales, rhythmically, through the use of irregularly placed accents and extended syncopated rhythms. Metrically, the movement is set in shifting, regular compound meters that at times evoke both a clear or murky beat placement; the movement is presented in standard Sonata form in conjunction with Bartók's attempt at a neoclassical work.

Bartók's homage to the Baroque period is clear in his treatment of orchestration in this movement. There is a clear contrast of textures between a small group of soloists and the tutti orchestra, reminiscent of the Baroque concerto grosso; the melodic material presented by the group of soloists is imitative fugato. Bartók's harmonic language throughout the movement is very chromatic and contains modal inflections. There are several spots within the movement where harmony seems to imitate common Baroque harmony, explicit evidence supporting the work's neoclassicism; the 8-minute-long second movement is slow and dark music. The movement is presented in another neoclassical influence. Harmonically and melodically, it is less traditional and less oriented to the neoclassical style than the previous movement, at times, stretching tonality to the brink of atonality; the movement's three themes are imitated while another voice has yet to complete its melodic phrase. This technique creates a dissonant, foreboding sound, furthered by sharp dynamic contrasts.

Bartók requests some extended techniques in this movement, writing many double stops and several instances of harmonics. The texture is once again varied by contrasts of soloists with the full orchestra, although to a lesser extent than in the previous movement; the 6 minute finale is dance-like and in rondo form. Harmonically, this movement is more modal and less dissonant than the previous movement; this movement is full of imitation both as a full ensemble. Variation of texture is again achieved by the contrast of full orchestra. Within the movement is a full three-voice fugue that culminates in a recitative-like solo cadenza for violin; this solo evokes a gypsy quality through its rhythmic and stylistic inflections. The piece closes with a fast section reminiscent of Bartók's string quartets; the Divertimento for String Orchestra is Bartók's last work composed just before he fled Hungary and immigrated to the United States during the outbreak of World War II. Due to Bartók's disdain for the Nazi regime and Hungary's unpopular political stance, Bartók discontinued his concert performing and terminated his publishing contract in Germany.

In 1938, Bartók began sending away his most treasured manuscripts and in 1940, Bartók and his wife, Ditta Pásztory, relocated to New York City. That same year, Hungary joined the Axis alliance and on July 1, 1941 entered the war alongside Germany. Paul Sacher is noted as being somewhat of a pioneer, having conducted and commissioned one hundred works by prominent twentieth-century composers. In 1936 Sacher commissioned Bartók's celebrated work, Music for Strings and Celesta, for the tenth anniversary of the Basel Chamber Orchestra. Just three years Sacher commissioned a new work, one less demanding and for an ensemble of twenty-two players. Bartók's previous commissioned work was found to be challenging and Sacher was now looking for something in the spirit of the eighteenth century, something simpler; the result of Sacher's request was the Divertimento for String Orchestra, BB 118. Bartók composed the piece within an astonishing fifteen days, from August 2–17. Sacher provided Bartók with living arrangements at his family's Swiss chalet, Chalet Aellen, in Saanen, Switzerland during his time composing.

To help aid Bartók in his writing of the work, Sacher provided Bartók with a piano and an on-hand chef. Just one day after he finished the composition, August 18, 1939, Bartók wrote his eldest son, Béla with excitement and

WGMD is a radio station licensed to serve Rehoboth Beach, Sussex County and the five other counties known as Delmarva. With sales estimated at $2.6M in 2011, the station is owned by Resort Broadcasting Company, LLC. It airs a talk radio format; the station has been assigned these call letters by the Federal Communications Commission since March 30, 1981. WGMD features local, live interactive programming along with Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage. WGMD is an affiliate member of the Philadelphia Phillies Radio Network, simulcasts Phillies games. In 2018 WGMD was recognized as best news and best sports station downstate by the readers of Delaware Today magazine. Local and regional news is supplemented by Fox News Weather. WGMD official website Query the FCC's FM station database for WGMD Radio-Locator information on WGMD Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WGMD

Bradley "Brad" Marshall is an American Democratic politician and the former chief financial officer of the Democratic National Committee. In 2016, he gained notoriety after WikiLeaks published an email in which he questioned the faith of the Jewish candidate for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders, he wrote: "It might may no difference, but for KY and WVA can we get someone to ask his belief. Does he believe in a God, he had skated on saying. I think; this could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist." Marshall earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Since 1992, Marshall was CFO of the DNC, he resigned in August 2016. From 1982 to 1992, he was a certified public accountant in Kentucky. From 1980 to 1982, he was financial vice president and controller for Melco Construction in London, Kentucky. From 1978 to 1980, Marshall was senior manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Lexington and from 1976 to 1978, he was staff accountant at Deloitte & Touche in Lexington.

In 2016, Marshall gained notoriety after WikiLeaks published an email in which he questioned the faith of the Jewish candidate for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders. He wrote: "It might may no difference, but for KY and WVA can we get someone to ask his belief. Does he believe in a God, he had skated on saying. I think; this could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist." He followed up the initial email with another stating, "It's these Jesus thing." Days after the leak, Marshall confirmed the authenticity of the emails in posting an apology to his Facebook profile that read, "I regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process. The comments expressed do not reflect my beliefs nor do they reflect the beliefs of the DNC and its employees. I apologize to those I offended."

Aanai is a 2005 Indian Tamil action drama film written and directed by Selva. It stars Arjun and Keerthi Chawla in the lead, while Vadivelu and Manoj K. Jayan play pivotal roles. D. Imman composed the soundtrack, while Shiva was the cinematographer for the venture which released in December 2005; the film is a remake of the 2004 film Man on Fire starring Denzel Dakota Fanning. The film's Hindi Bollywood remake, Ek Ajnabee, starring Amitabh Bachchan in the lead, was released a week later. Selva has set the story in Chennai city as some terrorist leader in London wants to kidnap children of the rich and powerful. Vijay is an ex-cop, framed up after he cleaned the city of the scum of the earth including nine encounter killings of dreaded gangsters. Now out of work, he is persuaded by his former boss to be the bodyguard of 8-year-old Priya whose parents are millionaires, he is hired to protect the little girl from kidnappers. The kidnappers are led by a loony militant called'Ahmed Khan' who manages to kidnap Priya and humiliate Vijay.

The rest of the film is how Vijay assisted by two glam girls mete out vigilante justice in a cat-and-mouse game with the kidnappers. Selva, who had directed Arjun in Karna and the long delayed Manikanda was signed by Vasan Visual Ventures to work with him again; the actor signed on for a hiked price of one crore rupees, following the success of his previous film Giri. The unit had a 15-day shooting stint in Hyderabad in February 2005, with two of the lead actresses Namitha and Sanghavi involved in the shoot; the film featured a new editing technique tried by Satish and Harsha, while the team shot three songs with Arjun and Namitha in London, notably near the London Eye and Windsor Castle. Another song was shot with Arjun and Namitha at the Mohan Studio in Chennai, with the actor notably wearing four inch heels to make up for height difference with the actress. During the making of the film, allegations arose that Arjun had been sending lewd messages to Namitha, which led to a brief furore on sets.

The film had a brief delay in getting released due to the failure of the actor's previous film, though the film released across Tamil Nadu in early December 2005. A critic from Sify.com noted "what could have been an edge-of-the-seat thriller ends up as a badly made mass-masala movie", concluding that the film is "disappointing". The soundtrack album was composed by D. Imman. Track list Man on Fire, a novel on which the movie is based on Man on Fire, a film starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning Ek Ajnabee, a Hindi film starring Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal

The Improv Institute was an improvisational comedy company in Chicago from 1984 until 1994. The mainstage show was improvised following audience suggestions; the troupe had two storefront-theaters, both on West Belmont Avenue on Chicago's North side, first at 2939 W. Belmont, at 2319 W. Belmont. Many theatrical productions had their debuts at the Improv Institute, including Flanagan's Wake on March 19, 1994; the Second City producer Kelly Leonard has stated that the Improv Institute was "my favorite place to see improv, other than The Second City." - Chicago Tribune, January 15, 2004 The Improv Institute was founded in late 1983 by John Michael Michalski, who would go on to direct at The Second City in Chicago. The original cast included Michalski, Rick Hall, Kate Kirkpatrick, Patricia Musker, Michael Raysses, Andrew J. Sten, Jill Talley, they were joined by Ron West. Incarnations of the mainstage cast would include Jack Bronis, Mark Czoske, Evan Gore, Ross Gottstein, Laura Hall, Tom Hanigan, Amy Hartl, Phil Lusardi, Patricia Musker, Bonnie Shadrake, Brad Sherman.

Several Improv Institute performers went on to create The Noble Fool Theater Company. Other notable performers who made appearances at the Improv Institute have included Rose Abdoo, Sean Abley, Mark Belden, Mark Belzman, Kevin L. Burrows, Cindy Caponera, Will Clinger, Kevin Crowley, Paul Dinello, Jon Favreau, Jeff Garlin, Chris Hogan, Bonnie Hunt, Carlos Jacott, Jenna Jolovitz, Jeff Kahn, John Lehr, Joe Liss, Michael McCarthy, Adam McKay, Susan Messing, Theresa Mulligan, Joel Murray, Aliza Murietta, Peter Murietta, Dave Pasquesi, Paula Poundstone, John Rubano, Ruth Rudnick, Horatio Sanz, Lynda Shadrake, Casey Siemaszko, Faith Soloway, Matt Tiegler, Barb Wallace, Dan Johnson-Weinberger, George Wendt, Jim Zulevic; the 30th anniversary of the Improv Institute was celebrated as part of the 2014 Chicago Improv Festival at Stage 773 in Chicago. The Art of Chicago Improv by Rob Kozlowski ISBN 978-87-429-7652-4 1990 Promotional video: https://vimeo.com/307159648