title: PNC Park

text: During its opening season, PNC Park's seating capacity of 38,496 was the second-smallest of any major league stadium (the smallest being Fenway Park). Seats are angled toward the field and aisles are lowered to give spectators improved views of the field. The majority of the seats (26,000) are on the first level, and the highest seat in the stadium is above the playing surface. At , the batter is closer to the seats behind home plate than to the pitcher. At their closest point, seating along the baselines is from the bases. The four-level steel rotunda and a section above the out-of-town scoreboard offer standing-room-only space. With the exception of the bleacher sections, all seats in the park offer a view of Pittsburgh's skyline.


title: PNC Park

text: In its opening season, PNC Park's tickets were priced between $9 and $35 for general admission. One of only two teams not to increase ticket prices entering the 2009 season, PNC Park ranked as having the third-cheapest average ticket prices in the league in 2009. Despite price increases in the 2015 season, the average ticket price at PNC Park remained in the bottom five among MLB teams. The stadium's average ticket price held between $15 and $17 from 2006 to 2013 (among the lowest in Major League Baseball), then rose to $18.32 in 2014, $19.99 in 2015, and $29.96 in 2016.


title: PNC Park

text: In the stadium's first decade, average attendance dipped under 20,000 fans per game four times. Before 2013, the Pirates had only one winning record since 1992. Through 2004, 5% of games played at PNC Park were sold out. The number of sellouts increased in 2012 and 2013; after filling PNC Park 17 times in 2012, the team played to capacity crowds at 23 games in 2013. In 2014, average attendance crossed the 30,000 mark for the first time since PNC Park's inaugural season in 2001, and remained above 30,000 in 2015 before dropping to 27,000 in 2016.


title: PNC Park

text: The main eating concourse, known as "Tastes of Pittsburgh", features a wide range of options including traditional ballpark foods, hometown specialties, and more exotic fare like sushi. Pittsburgh's hometown specialties include Primanti Brothers sandwiches, whose signature item consists of meat, cheese, hand-cut French fries, tomatoes, and coleslaw between two slices of Italian bread. Other local eateries offered include Mrs. T's Pierogies, Quaker Steak & Lube, Augustine's Pizza, and Benkovitz Seafood. Located behind center field seating is "Manny's BBQ", which offers various barbecue meals. It is named for former Pirates' catcher Manny Sanguillén, who has been known to sign autographs for fans waiting in line. For the 2008 season, the Pirates created an all-you-can-eat section in the right field corner. Fans seated in the section are allowed "unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, salads, popcorn, peanuts, ice cream and pop" for an entire game. In addition to the food offered, fans are free to bring their own food into the stadium, a rarity among the league's ballparks.


title: PNC Park

text: For its first 13 years, PNC Park sold Pepsi products, a contrast from its predecessor Three Rivers Stadium, which sold Coca-Cola products, as well as Heinz Field and Mellon Arena. In right field, several versions of the Pepsi Globe as well as a Pepsi bottle were displayed on large posts behind the stands and lit up every time the Pirates hit a home run. In 2014, the Pirates switched to Coca-Cola. The Pepsi signage in right field was converted into advertising for locally based health insurance company Highmark.


title: PNC Park

text: In 2016, PNC Park made news with their introduction of the "Cracker Jack & Mac Dog". The foot-long all-beef hot dog was topped with macaroni and cheese, salted caramel sauce, deep-fried pickled jalapenos and a side of caramel-covered popcorn. Instead of a bun, naan bread was used to hold everything together.


title: PNC Park

text: As with its predecessor, PNC Park's concessions service provider is Aramark, while the premium seating areas (The Lexus Club, PBC Level and Suites Level) are serviced by Levy Restaurants. In 2019, The Lexus Club was replaced by the Hyundai Club and Aramark took over food service.


title: PNC Park

text: From its opening until 2021, Tim DeBacco served as PNC Park’s public address announcer. He is famous for his opening “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and welcome to PNC Park.” and signing off “Thank you, and good night.” After his semi-retirement in 2022, various Pittsburgh personalities including Guy Junker, Larry Richert, and Dave Cawley served as guest announcers. Joe Klimchak and Debbie Bender serve as the on-field announcers.


title: PNC Park

text: PNC Park is located at exit 1B of Interstate 279 and within of both Interstate 376 and Interstate 579. The park is also served by the North Side transit station of the Pittsburgh subway system.


title: Confluence

text: In geography, a confluence (also: "conflux") occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); or where two streams meet to become the source of a river of a new name (such as the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers at Pittsburgh, forming the Ohio); or where two separated channels of a river (forming a river island) rejoin at the downstream end.


title: Confluence

text: Confluences are studied in a variety of sciences. Hydrology studies the characteristic flow patterns of confluences and how they give rise to patterns of erosion, bars, and scour pools. The water flows and their consequences are often studied with mathematical models. Confluences are relevant to the distribution of living organisms (i.e., ecology) as well; "the general pattern [downstream of confluences] of increasing stream flow and decreasing slopes drives a corresponding shift in habitat characteristics."


title: Confluence

text: Another science relevant to the study of confluences is chemistry, because sometimes the mixing of the waters of two streams triggers a chemical reaction, particularly in a polluted stream. The United States Geological Survey gives an example: "chemical changes occur when a stream contaminated with acid mine drainage combines with a stream with near-neutral pH water; these reactions happen very rapidly and influence the subsequent transport of metals downstream of the mixing zone."


title: Confluence

text: A natural phenomenon at confluences that is obvious even to casual observers is a difference in color between the two streams; see images in this article for several examples. According to Lynch, "the color of each river is determined by many things: type and amount of vegetation in the watershed, geological properties, dissolved chemicals, sediments and biologic content – usually algae." Lynch also notes that color differences can persist for miles downstream before they finally blend completely.


title: Confluence

text: Hydrodynamic behaviour of flow in a confluence can be divided into six distinct features which are commonly called confluence flow zones (CFZ). These include


title: Confluence

text: Since rivers often serve as political boundaries, confluences sometimes demarcate three abutting political entities, such as nations, states, or provinces, forming a tripoint. Various examples are found in the list below.


title: Confluence

text: A number of major cities, such as Chongqing, St. Louis, and Khartoum, arose at confluences; further examples appear in the list. Within a city, a confluence often forms a visually prominent point, so that confluences are sometimes chosen as the site of prominent public buildings or monuments, as in Koblenz, Lyon, and Winnipeg. Cities also often build parks at confluences, sometimes as projects of municipal improvement, as at Portland and Pittsburgh. In other cases, a confluence is an industrial site, as in Philadelphia or Mannheim. Often a confluence lies in the shared floodplain of the two rivers and nothing is built on it, for example at Manaus, described below.


title: Confluence

text: One other way that confluences may be exploited by humans is as sacred places in religions. Rogers suggests that for the ancient peoples of the Iron Age in northwest Europe, watery locations were often sacred, especially sources and confluences. Pre-Christian Slavic peoples chose confluences as the sites for fortified triangular temples, where they practiced human sacrifice and other sacred rites. In Hinduism, the confluence of two sacred rivers often is a pilgrimage site for ritual bathing. In Pittsburgh, a number of adherents to Mayanism consider their city's confluence to be sacred.


title: Confluence

text: Occasionally "confluence" is used to describe the meeting of tidal or other non-riverine bodies of water, such as two canals or a canal and a lake. A one-mile (1.6 km) portion of the Industrial Canal in New Orleans accommodates the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal; therefore those three waterways are confluent there.


title: Confluence

text: The term confluence can also apply to the process of merging or flowing together of other substance. For example, it may refer to the merger of the flow of two glaciers.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The British Rail Class 158 "Express Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train. It is a member of the Sprinter series of regional trains, produced as a replacement for British Rail's first generation of DMUs; of the other members, the Class 159 is almost identical to the Class 158, having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two batches to operate express services from London Waterloo to the West of England.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The Class 158 was constructed between 1989 and 1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The majority were built as two-car sets, some three-car sets were also produced. During September 1990, the first Express Sprinters were operated by ScotRail; the type was promptly introduced to secondary routes across the Midlands, Northern England, Wales and the South West. The Class 158 enabled the replacement of large numbers of elderly DMUs but also several locomotive-hauled trains as well; this was partially accomplished via the cascading of existing Sprinter units onto other routes. To capitalise on the Class 158's improved onboard amenities in comparison to other rolling stock in use for regional services, the Alphaline branding was launched during the mid-1990s; it was also used for a time in the post-privatisation era.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: As a result of British Rail's privatisation in the mid 1990s, the Class 158s were divided amongst various newly-created operators broadly along their existing routes. Due to their relatively young age at that time, most operators elected to retain them for the following decades. Several, such as Northern Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, had their Class 158 fleets modernised and refitted with various new facilities, such modifications often including greater accessibility, onboard passenger information systems, WiFi connectivity, and toilet retention tanks. By the 2020s, many Class 158 operators have stated their intent to replace the type with newer rolling stock, such as the Class 170 "Turbostar", Class 185 "Desiro", and Class 197 multiple units.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: By the beginning of the 1980s, British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet of first generation DMUs, which had been constructed in prior decades to various designs. While formulating its long-term strategy for this sector of its operations, British Rail planners recognised that there would be considerable costs incurred by undertaking refurbishment programmes necessary for the continued use of these ageing multiple units, particularly due to the necessity of handling and removing hazardous materials such as asbestos. In light of the high costs involved in retention, planners examined the prospects for the development and introduction of a new generation of DMUs to succeed the first generation.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: In the concept stage, two separate approaches were devised, one involving a so-called "railbus" that prioritised the minimisation of both initial (procurement) and ongoing (maintenance and operational) costs, while the second was a more substantial DMU that could deliver superior performance than the existing fleet, particularly when it came to long-distance services. The initial specification developed for the latter concept was relatively ambitious, calling for a maximum speed of , acceleration comparable to contemporary EMUs, the ability to couple/work in multiple with existing EMUs, facilitate through-access for passengers, feature pressure ventilation, the ability to assist a failed unit, and to comprise either a three- or four-car consist. This specification led to the experimental British Rail Class 210 DMU. However, it was found that relatively expensive equipment was needed for the performance specified, particularly to provide sufficient speed, acceleration, and through-passenger access; maintainability also suffered due to space limitations. It was recognised that a production model assembled from proven components would possess greater reliability and lower maintenance costs; an availability rate of 85 percent was forecast.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: By 1983, experiences with the Class 210 had influenced BR planners to favour procuring a new generation of DMUs, but to also adopt a new specification that were somewhat less demanding than before. Specifically, it was decided to drop the top speed from , as testing had revealed the higher rate to deliver no perceivable improvement in journey times due to the typically short spacing of the stations the type was intended to serve. Furthermore, it was determined that a propulsion system delivering 7hp per tonne would deliver sufficient acceleration. The requests for compatibility with other rolling stock were eliminated, although auto-coupling and auto-connecting functionality was added. In addition to a good ride quality, the specification included a sound level of 90 dB when at full speed, an operational range of , and an interval between major overhauls of five years or . While the prior generation of DMUs typically used a pair of engines for each power car, the specification called for only a single engine per car, as well as for sufficient cooling so that, even with one failed engine, a two-car unit could maintain a typical service performance without major deficient. It was also intended that the DMU could be assembled akin to building blocks, comprising between two and four cars that could be outfitted with various passenger amenities such as toilets and luggage spaces.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Initially formalised as a business specification, these requirements were transferred into a relatively broad technical specification that avoided any specifics other than those that were deemed essential for compatibility purposes. Thereafter, it was issued to various rolling stock manufacturers for a competitive tender. Under this process, responding manufacturers submitted bids to construct an initial series of three-car demonstration units. A constrained timetable of only 18 months between the date of order to delivery of these prototypes was also specified; this has been attributed as having compelled manufacturers to lean towards existing industrial practices for their submissions. The bid submitted by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) was heavily based on its successful Class 455 EMU, sharing its body and the majority of its running gear, albeit equipped with two different power trains. The railway engineering company Metro-Cammell also bid, offered its own design that employed rivetted aluminium construction; this approach produced a meaningful weight reduction over conventional methods. BR officials opted to proceed with a pair of prototypes from both BREL and Metro-Cammell, resulting in the Class 150 and Class 151 respectively.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Between 1984 and 1985, these prototype units were delivered to BR and commenced their trial service period. Both the Class 150 and 151 units were subject to extensive evaluations with the aim of a larger production order being forthcoming for the more successful of the two types. Testing revealed that the Class 150 had exceptional ride quality, as well as fully satisfying the 50percent engine-out performance requirements. It was also determined that both types achieved adequate noise levels for its intended service sector, but were also noted that this area would likely pose an issue if they were ever directed towards the higher end of the market. Early concerns regarding the body bending frequency of the Class 151 did not prove to have major substance to them. Ultimately, the Class 150 prototypes proved to be more reliable and an order for 50 two-car units was accordingly issued to BREL, leading to a production batch of Class 150s.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Even prior to the introduction of the Class 150, there was a recognised interest within BR at potentially tasking the new DMU with the replacement of other services, targeting not only first-generation DMUs but a number of locomotive-hauled trains as well. It had also been observed that, in its current configuration, the Class 150 would be unsatisfactory in some criteria for more-upmarket services, but that some thought into developing derivatives of the type to handle such services had been made. One early solution for reducing internal noise levels was the discarding of openable windows in favour of fully-sealed units, along with the relocation of the external doors into vestibules located at either ends of each coach.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Furthermore, the coaches could be stretched, providing more internal volume and thus enabling the somewhat cramped two-by-three seating arrangement of the Class 150 to be substituted with a more roomy two-by-two counterpart. These changes could be implemented without impacting much of the benefits of adopting the existing design. It was identified that this would result in a weight increase and thus a decreased power-to-weight ratio. Studies determined that the performance of the proposed DMU showed only minor change, and would achieve similar journey times across the intended cross-country routes to the Class 150. It was also found that, while there was a slight increase in fuel consumption due to the modifications, the envisioned DMU possessed significantly less fuel consumption than locomotive-hauled trains as well as reduced maintenance costs. Accordingly, it was decided to proceed with developing a detailed specification and issuing it to industry.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The Class 158 is a two- or three-car diesel unit designed for regional express services. The bodyshells are aluminium with doors at each end of the passenger saloon. Each vehicle is fitted with a Cummins or Perkins turbo-diesel engine that drives both axles on the inner bogie via a Voith T211 two-speed hydrokinetic transmission and Gmeinder GM190 final drive unit. The engines were rated at either or , depending on the model. Maximum speed is . Most units were built with two coaches, but a batch of units contained an additional centre car for the busy Transpennine Route. Each vehicle is fitted with a BSI autocoupler at both ends; however, only the cab ends have automatic electrical connecters. This allowed three-car sets to be formed by inserting an additional driving car into a set with an adaptor for two different gangway sizes.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: A total of 182 Class 158 units were constructed. The majority were built as two-car sets. 17 units were produced as three-car units; eight of these units have since had the centre car transferred to different units of the class, whilst another eight have been upgraded and redesignated as the Class 159. The final ten units were built specifically for West Yorkshire PTE "Metro" services around Leeds. The majority of units, as originally built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL), were configured with standard-class accommodation only; a number of Scottish-based sets were fitted with a small first-class section in one vehicle. Later on, several other sets were retrofitted with first-class accommodation. The passenger saloons are air-conditioned, which was a first for regional trains in the UK.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Around the time of its introduction, British Rail was keen to promote the qualities of the Class 158, on one occasion publicly describing it as having brought "new standards of comfort and quality to rail travel on Regional Railways' key long-distance cross-country routes".


title: British Rail Class 158

text: As originally built, the interiors were fully carpeted throughout, large "panoramic" windows lined the sides, and a variety of seating arrangements were present, including airline-style and bays of four set around tables. Unlike the previous members of the Sprinter family, such as the Class 156 "SuperSprinter", the Class 158 was outfitted with air conditioning units, an on-board payphone, power-operated interior doors, a toilet in each carriage, and provision for a refreshment trolley service. Despite an increased top speed of , the Class 158 reportedly promised a smoother and quieter ride in comparison to its predecessors. Toilets were fitted to both vehicles; one was wheelchair-accessible (as defined at the time of construction) and one standard. A wheelchair space was provided in the passenger section closest to the accessible toilet. Luggage racks were fitted at each end of the saloon, one of which is capable of being locked for mail and parcels.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: In terms of serviceability, the Class 158 was anticipated to achieve of operation between major services, and to have a range of up to from each refuelling.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Despite the attention given to its passenger facilities, the construction and engineering technology used on the Class 158s contributed to some issues during its service life. As a lightweight unit and the first members of the "Sprinter" family to use disc brakes, autumn leaf mulch built up on wheel rims and prevented the units from correctly operating signalling track circuits. Though this was later solved by installing scrubbing blocks to clean the wheels, temporary solutions were sought during October 1992, with some units split and formed into hybrid units with Class 156 coaches, the latter possessing tread brakes which cleaned the wheels as a by-product of their standard operation.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The air conditioning systems of the Class 158 was also proved to be unreliable in service, particularly following the outlawing of the CFC gases with which they has been originally designed to work. In the privatisation era, many operators elected either to re-engineer or entirely replace such equipment. As a result, the systems in use and their effectiveness vary considerably across the fleet.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The lightweight aluminium body of the Class 158 leads to a good 'route availability' score, meaning that it is able to operate in areas of Britain's railways that heavier units cannot. However, the units were refused permission by Network Rail to operate on the Conwy Valley and Borderlands lines due to station dwell times and issues of platform clearance.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: ScotRail was the first part of British Rail to introduce the Class 158s to public service in September 1990. These were employed on to services, as well as services to and . The Class 158s then went on to be deployed elsewhere in Britain, primarily in the Midlands, Northern England, Wales and the South West.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The majority of the Class 158 fleet was directed towards the Regional Railways division; accordingly, it rapidly become the dominant platform on the numerous secondary express services between provincial towns and cities across Great Britain. Examples include the long-distance TransPennine services in the north of England, as well as a range of upgraded regional services in the Midlands, Wales and the South West. During the mid-1990s, the Alphaline brand centered around the Class 158s and the higher-end regional express services. These were routinely promoted as possessing premium passenger amenities that traditional regional rolling stock had lacked, such as the presence of British Telecom card phones and air conditioning.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: A small batch of units, numbered 158747-158751, were used by the InterCity division to supplement its core fleet on a number of cross-country services, mainly from the North West to Scotland, but also to Portsmouth. At one point, Class 158s regularly appeared on Sunday mornings between Birmingham and Doncaster.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The first privatised incarnation of ScotRail inherited a 46-strong fleet which continued in service. Following the introduction of newly built Class 170 Turbostar units on primary express services in 1999, the Class 158 fleet was reduced in number by six, with those remaining cascaded away to secondary routes such as the Far North Line.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During 2003, plans were mooted for a portion of the fleet to be swapped with Class 156 units operated by Central Trains, as the latter were thought better suited to some of the short-distance routes that were being operated by ScotRail's 158s. However, this scheme failed to materialise and, by the mid-2000s, operations of ScotRail’s Class 158s ranged from short hops (such as Glasgow Queen Street to ) to rural lines and long-distance expresses, supplementing other express units. In 2010, these units started to appear at Glasgow Central station to run on the Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Shotts line, and on to the Glasgow Central to Whifflet line. Some additional units have since been acquired from other operators to provide extra capacity.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Refurbishment and reliverying has also taken place since privatisation. The original ScotRail franchise applied its own livery to the Class 158s, followed by a further repaint by First ScotRail after it took control of the franchise. The fleet has now gained a permanent blue-and-white livery based on the Scottish Saltire, after Transport Scotland announced in September 2008 that it was specifying a permanent livery for all Scottish trains, which would not be changed in the event of a change of franchisee. Interiors have also seen attention on more than one occasion. The most recent refurbishment of 25 units involved repainting, new seating, extra luggage space and new customer information systems. Toilet retention tanks were also fitted.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During 2018, the additional eight units acquired by Scotrail from other TOCs were transferred to Northern in stages - the first two occurring in February 2018 and the remainder in December 2018.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Several of the ScotRail units have had names attached - for example 158702 is named "BBC Scotland - 75 Years", 158707 is named "Far North Line - 125th Anniversary", 158715 is named "Haymarket" and 158720 is named "Inverness and Nairn Railway - 150 Years"..


title: British Rail Class 158

text: In the early days of privatisation, the Class 158 "Express Sprinter" units were in regular use by Wales & West on its long-distance Alphaline services from South Wales to North-West England, North Wales, Cornwall and London Waterloo, as well as on some Central Trains services to and along the Cambrian Line. Successor companies Wales & Borders (2001) and Arriva Trains Wales (2003) continued to use this type of unit on similar workings, with a total allocation of 40 units also allowing Cambrian Line services to become entirely Class 158-operated. By the end of 2006, a total of 16 units (158815-158817 and 158842-158854) had returned to the leasing company, as Arriva gained exclusive use of the entire Class 175 "Coradia" fleet which had previously been shared with other train operators.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The remaining 24-strong Class 158 "Express Sprinter" fleet became permanently based at a purpose-built depot in Machynlleth during 2007. Despite initial problems in retro-fitting the necessary 'glass cockpit'-style driver controls, Arriva's Class 158 "Express Sprinter" units became the first fleet in the UK to be equipped for regular use with the ETCS Level 2 signalling system. Commercial operation under ETCS started on 28 March 2011.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Accordingly, the units operate all Cambrian Line services between Mid Wales and Birmingham, as well as supplementing the Class 175 "Coradia" units on other long-distance routes. During 2009, Arriva also proposed using the fleet to provide a direct service between and London, although this proposal was later rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Between December 2010 and October 2012, there was a comprehensive refurbishment of the ATW Class 158 fleet, during which almost the entirety of the interiors was replaced with 'as new' fittings and fixtured. This work, which was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government at a cost of £7.5m, included both interior and exterior repainting, the installation of replacement seating, wall coverings, carpets, lighting, luggage racks and toilet fittings. A passenger information system was also fitted, while selected seats gained at-seat power sockets for mobile phones and laptops.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Prior to the early 2010s refurbishment, the fleet had been subject to only minor attention to its interior since a refit by Wales & West during the late 1990s (little more than the fabric on the older seats changed and CCTV fitted) as well as having been only partially repainted into Arriva colours externally. The door controls and exterior destination displays were one of the few elements to be replaced prior to this refurbishment work.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During 2017, WiFi equipment was fitted fleetwide. In June of the following year, the Class 158s were progressively modified for conformance with the Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) requirements so that the fleet could be operated beyond 1 January 2020; this work involved the expansion of space allocated to wheelchair-bound passengers, the installation of wider internal doorways, and the toilet areas being rebuilt to be fully accessibility-friendly; toilet retention tanks were also fitted at this time. During late August 2018, the first PRM-compliant Class 158 was introduced by ATW.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: On 14 October 2018, the Class 158 fleet was transferred to the new operator Transport for Wales. During February 2019, the first unit was seen in Transport for Wales colours. As early as 2018, it was being reported that Transport for Wales were planning to replace its Class 158s with newly-built Class 197 multiple units by 2023.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The Class 158 "Express Sprinter" Units were introduced to the East Midlands by Regional Railways Central to replace the Class 156 "SuperSprinter" on long-distance express services branded as Alphaline, such as to via . Following privatisation, Central Trains operated these services but quickly procured a large fleet of Class 170 "Turbostar" units for such services and transferred the Class 158 fleet to secondary routes such as to and to .


title: British Rail Class 158

text: East Midlands Trains (EMT) had a fleet of 25 units inherited from Central Trains, with some units transferred from First Great Western and South West Trains. EMR's Class 158 "Express Sprinter" units operate long-distance express services (such as Norwich to Liverpool) and secondary non-express workings such as Nottingham to , Nottingham to Matlock and to .


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The hourly Norwich to Liverpool service has been criticised for overcrowding, especially between Liverpool and Nottingham. This resulted from the Department for Transport specifying two-coach units in the EMT franchise starting in November 2007. In the light of persistent and excessive overcrowding, with some passengers being left behind on occasions, the DfT eventually admitted that it had made a mistake. Various cascades of other units enabled more Class 158 stock to be released for this route, and from the December 2011 timetable change the busiest services have been lengthened to four-coach trains between Liverpool and Nottingham, with units splitting and joining at Nottingham as necessary, two-coach trains being regarded as adequate between Nottingham and Norwich. Further services on this route were strengthened from December 2012.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During May 2015, 158889 transferred to EMT from South West Trains on a two-year loan. This allocation was then made permanent in August 2017 following Stagecoach's loss of the South Western franchise to South Western Railway.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: On 18 August 2019, all units were passed to East Midlands Railway, who operated them under the “EMR Regional” sub-brand. As part of its full fleet replacement, EMR plans to gradually replace the Class 158 along with its other Sprinter family members with newer Class 170 Turbostars from 2020.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The Wales & West franchise (later Wessex Trains) originally operated twelve Class 158 "Express Sprinter" units on long-distance services on the Wessex Main Line. These units were extended into three-coach formations with the acquisition of further units. Unlike the purpose-built three-car Class 158s and Class 159 units, the centre car was a Driving Motor with the cab locked out of use and an adapter to connect the different-sized gangways.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: In 2006, First Great Western (FGW) inherited the Wessex Trains fleet following the merger of the Great Western and Wessex franchises. FGW then swapped most of their former Wessex Trains Class 158s for former First TransPennine Express examples. This was so that FGW could have all Class 158 units that were owned by Porterbrook. During late 2007 and early 2008, the FGW Class 158 "Express Sprinter" fleet was refurbished. Improvements included: re-upholstery of seats, and repainting or replacement of interior fittings, alterations to interior lighting and total replacement of toilets. Additionally, the windows have been replaced with safer laminated glass and Halon fire extinguishers replaced with foam ones. At the same time, the units' engines were overhauled and the units repainted in FGW's own lilac and blue colours.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: The fleet is now used on long-distance services between and / , and / and / and . They are now also used on the Tarka Line on services between and replacing the class 143 'Pacers' which were running on the line. Great Western Railway operates a total of 18 units, of which six are hybrids (units where one end coach is a driving coach from another unit of the same class tagged on to a two car unit), one is a purpose-built three car unit and the remaining 11 are two coach sets.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: As a result of the privatisation process, Northern Spirit (later Arriva Trains Northern) was created from Regional Railways North East. Northern Spirit inherited a large fleet of Class 158 units, many of which were used on TransPennine Express services, with others used on West Yorkshire Metro-sponsored services. First North Western (descended from Regional Railways North West) had eight Class 158s, which were based at Newton Heath and used on various mid- to long-distance routes, which were transferred to Leeds Neville Hill depot to join the rest of the 158 fleet at the start of the Northern Rail franchise. A number of 158s have been sponsored by Merseytravel despite the fact that they do not go near Merseyside; the sponsorship arrangement was to ensure that Class 156 DMUs were cascaded from West Yorkshire to the busiest Merseyside services.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During 2006, First TransPennine Express started to replace its Class 158s with newer Class 185 "Desiro" and Class 170 "Turbostar" units. The Class 158s were subsequently transferred to Northern Rail, Central Trains, South West Trains and First Great Western.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Following a franchise change, all Northern units were passed to Arriva Rail North in April 2016. Throughout the 2010s, Northern conducted a refurbishment programme on its Class 158s, starting with the three-car DMUs and later progressing to the two-car members of the fleet.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: In 2018, Northern acquired an additional eight Class 158 units from Abellio Scotrail; the first few units being transferred during February 2018 while the remainder followed in December 2018. On 1 March 2020, the units transferred to the franchise's new operator Northern Trains.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Currently South Western Railway operates Class 158s from and to Waterloo; and on the Salisbury to via service. South Western Railway also operates Class 159 units.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: Five units (158747–158751) were delivered to British Rail's InterCity business unit to operate services from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh via the West Coast Main Line. All five Class 158s were transferred to Virgin CrossCountry as a result of the privatisation process; these were subsequently used on services between Swindon and Birmingham via Stroud. During 2003, the company's Class 158s were displaced by the newly-built and high speed diesel tilting trains.


title: British Rail Class 158

text: During 1990–1991, BREL built six three-car units based on the Class 158 for the State Railway of Thailand.


title: Theyyam

text: Theyyam (//; romanised: "teyyam") are Hindu ritualistic dance forms practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and customs associated with temples and sacred groves of Malabar. The people of the region consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.


title: Theyyam

text: In Kasaragod and Kannur districts, this ritual art is mainly performed in the kavus (temples) or ancestral houses of Nambiar, Thiyyar, Vaniyar and Maniyani communities.


title: Theyyam

text: Theyyam is typically performed by people from castes and tribes like Pulayar, Vannan, Malayan, Anhoottan, Munnoottan, Mavilan, Koppalan, Velan, Chingathan, Kalanaadi, Paravan, Nalikeyavar etc. Of these Kalanaadi people perform only in Wayanad district, while Parava, Pampatha, Nalikeyavar perform in places north of Kerala like Udupi, Krishnapuram etc.


title: Theyyam

text: There are about 456 types of Theyyams documented. Theyyam is mainly performed by males, except the "Devakoothu theyyam"; the "Devakoothu" is the only Theyyam ritual performed by women. Devakoothu is performed only in the Thekkumbad Kulom temple.


title: Theyyam

text: In Kerala, Theyyam is performed predominantly in the North Malabar region (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vadakara and Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode). A similar custom is followed in the Tulunadu region of neighbouring Karnataka known as Bhuta Kola.


title: Theyyam

text: Theyyam season starts from the tenth day of the Malayalam month of "Thulam" (usually falls during October, and known as paththaam-udayam) and lasts up to seven months till the middle of Edavam month (typically around May end, June). The last "Kaliyaattam" for the season is performed at Madayi Kavu and Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, Both are the family shrines of Kolathiri royal family.


title: Theyyam

text: Theyyam has a long history. "There can be no doubt", say Bridget and Raymond Alchin, "that a very large part of this modern folk religion is extremely ancient and contains traits which originated during the earliest periods of Neolithic, Chalcolithic settlement and expression."


title: Theyyam

text: There are approximately 400 types of Theyyam, including Vettakkorumakan, Kathivanoor Veeran, Vishnumoorthy Theyyam, Muchilot Bhagavathi and Sree Muthappan.


title: Theyyam

text: According to K. K. N. Kurup, it can be said that all the prominent characteristics of primitive, tribal, religious worship had widened the stream of Theyyam, where "even the followers of Islam are associated with the cult in its functional aspect" and made it a deep-rooted folk religion of millions. For instance, Bhagavathi, the mother goddesses had and still have an important place in Theyyam. Besides this, the practices like spirit-worship, ancestor-worship, hero-worship, masathi-worship, tree-worship, animal worship, serpent-worship, the worship of the goddesses of disease and the worship of Gramadevata (Village-Deity) are included in the mainstream of the Theyyam. Along with these gods and goddesses there exist innumerable folk gods and goddesses. Most of these goddesses are known as Bhagavathy.


title: Theyyam

text: Different branches of mainstream Hindu religion such as Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Shaivism now dominate Theyyam. However, the forms of propitiation and other rituals are continuations of a very ancient tradition. In several cult-centres, blood offering is seen, which is forbidden in Buddhism and Jainism. In such centres, separate places outside the precincts of the shrine are selected for blood offerings and for the preparation of the traditional Kalam (Square made for this sacrifice occasion) known as Vadakkan Vathil. The Theyyam deities propitiated through cock-sacrifice will not enter such shrines. This religious cockfight over blood sacrifice, which does also include the cockfight as a blood sacrifice, is a prime example of "cultural synthesis of 'little' and 'great' cultures".


title: Theyyam

text: On account of the supposedly late revival of the Vaishnavism movement in Kerala, it does not have a deep impact on Theyyam . Only a few deities are available under this category. Two major Theyyam deities of Vaishnavism are Vishnumoorthi and Daivathar. Vaishnavism was very popular in the Tuluva region in the 13th century when it came under the rule of Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty. He was a great champion of Vaishnavism. Most probably he was initially deified as Vishnumoorthi and incorporated into the Bhoota cult of the Tuluvas and then further incorporated as a prominent folk deity into the Theyyam as well. To some, the legend of Vishnumoorthi is symbolizes the god's migration from Mangalore to Kolathunadu.


title: Theyyam

text: All other categories of Theyyam deities can be classified under Shaivism or Shaktism. Even spirits, ancestors, heroes, and animals are deified and included in those categories. Briefly, Theyyam provides a good example for the religious evolution of, and the subsequent different stages in modern Hinduism, with the overall understanding that within Hindu syncretism lay propitiation as ancient practices and rituals of ancient worship intended for the blessings of the supernatural not unlike, "in Indus Valley and other ancient civilizations, mother goddess had been invoked for fertility and prosperity".


title: Theyyam

text: Out of devotion, ruling clans established their own shrines and Kavus for Theyyam deities where non-sattvic rituals and customs are observed. The goddesses like Rakteshwari, Chamundi, Someshwari, Kurathi, and the gods like Vishnumoorthi are propitiated in these household shrines. There, the Theyyam dancers appear during the annual festivals of gods and goddesses. The rituals in such shrines are different from those of the Brahmanical temples. The impact of this cultural fusion could be traced to the social organisation based on the caste system and in the agrarian relations. The inviting of Brahmin Thanthri to consecrate the idols of Kavu is a recent development.


title: Theyyam

text: The dance or invocation is generally performed in front of the village shrine. It is also performed in the houses as ancestor-worship with elaborate rites and rituals.


title: Theyyam

text: There is no stage or curtain or other such arrangements for the performance. The devotees would be standing or some of them would be sitting on a sacred tree in front of the shrine. In short, it is an open theatre. Performance of a particular deity according to its significance and hierarchy in the shrine continues for 12 to 24 hours with intervals. The chief dancer who propitiates the central deity of the shrine has to reside in the rituals. Further, after the sun sets, this particular dancer would not eat anything for the remainder of that day. His make-up is done by specialists and other dancers. The first part of the performance is usually known as Vellattam or Thottam. It is performed without proper make-up or any decorative costume. Only a small, red headdress is worn on this occasion.


title: Theyyam

text: The dancer along with the drummers recites the particular ritual song, which describes the myths and legends, of the deity of the shrine or the folk deity to be propitiated. This is accompanied by the playing of folk musical instruments. After finishing this primary ritualistic part of the invocation, the dancer returns to the green room. Again after a short interval, he appears with proper make-up and costumes. There are different patterns of face painting. Some of these patterns are called vairadelam, kattaram, kozhipuspam, kottumpurikam, and prakkezhuthu. Mostly primary and secondary colours are applied with contrast for face painting. It helps in effecting certain stylization in the dances. Then the dancer comes in front of the shrine and gradually "metamorphoses" into the particular deity of the shrine. The performance signifies the transitional inversion, reversal, and elevation of status denoting the anti-structural homogeneity of Theyyam. He, after observation of certain rituals places the head-dress on his head and starts dancing. In the background, folk musical instruments like chenda, tudi, kuzhal and veekni are played in a certain rhythm. All the dancers take a shield and kadthala (sword) in their hands as continuation of the weapons. Then the dancer circumambulates the shrine, runs in the courtyard and continues dancing there. The Theyyam dance has different steps known as Kalaasams. Each Kalasam is repeated systematically from the first to the eighth step of footwork. A performance is a combination of playing of musical instruments, vocal recitations, dance, and peculiar makeup (usually predominantly orange) and costumes. The Kathivanoor Veeran Theyyam is one of the famous theyyam in Kerala


title: Theyyam

text: There are about 456 types of Theyyam (theyyakkolams), among which 112 are famous. Some of the famous Theyyams are:


title: Theyyam

text: The Kathivanur Veeran theyyam is performed in the memory of the great Thiyya community warrior Mandhappan Chekavar.


title: Theyyam

text: It is the most popular Vaishnava Theyyam. This theyyam narrates and performs the story of Hiranyakashipu's death by the Lord Vishnu in his avatar of Narasimham. Because of this, Vishnumoorthi has another name, 'Narasimha Moorthi' [half man and half lion avtar of Vishnu].


title: Theyyam

text: Muthappan theyyam consists of two divine figures is considered as the personification of two divine figures— the Thiruvappana or Valiya Muttapan (Vishnu) and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muttapan (Shiva). Muthappan Theyyam is different from other theyyams as it is performed all around the year. Muthappan Anthithira is another theyyam dedicated to Muthapan. The uniqueness of it is that it is performed only once in all the Muthapan temples.


title: Theyyam

text: The Padikuttiyamma is believed to be the mother of Muthapan. The Padikutti Amma Theyyam is performed in the Palaprath Temple in Kodallur near Parassini Kadavu in the Meenam (a Malayalam month).


title: Theyyam

text: Gulikan represents Yama, the Hindu god of death. The Benkanakavu (Venganakavu) in Nileshwar is the most famous temple dedicated to Gulikan.


title: Theyyam

text: It is performed in the Koroth Temple. The legend behind the Padamadakki Bhagavathy theyyam is that the Nileswarr Raja prayed to the goddess for help from the invading army from Karnataka and Devi sent Padamadakki Bhagavathy for help. Upon seeing the Padamadakki Bhagavathy, the attacking army became unconscious and thus the war was averted.


title: Theyyam

text: Manakkott Amma Theyyam is performed in the Vairajathan Temple in Nileshwar. The Manakott was a woman born in a Nair family. She opposed the caste system that existed at that time. When she broke a caste rule, she was killed by the head of the family. She was pregnant at that time. Her murder caused a lot of problems in their family and was finally destroyed. Later she emerged as a goddess.


title: Theyyam

text: Kuttichathan is a famous theyyam. The theyyam is asscociated with the Brahmin Family of Kalakatt Illam situated in Payyannur. It is believed that "Kalakattachan," angry on him being a threat to his respect in the society, tore Kuttichathan into 396 pieces. There emerged 396 Chathans from the torn pieces and set the Namboothiri's house to fire, and burnt nearby Brahmin houses. This is the myth behind Kuttichathan.


title: Theyyam

text: Chamundi theyyam is majorly of three types, namely Madayil Chamundi, Rakta Chamundi, and Kundorra Chamundi.


title: Theyyam

text: Chamundi is the same Kali who killed the Chandamundans and got up and drank the blood of the Raktabijasura without falling to the ground. Chamundi is also known as 'Rakta Chamundi' and 'Rakteshwari' because she is immersed in blood. It is said that in the battle with the savages, Kali followed them to the underworld and fought. It is called 'Pathalamoorthy' and 'Madayil Chamundi' because she went to the underworld.


title: Theyyam

text: Known as Kundora Chamundi, Kundadi Chamundi and Kundoor Chamundi, this goddess is the image of Kali who killed Darikasura. This theyyam is built by Velanmar.


title: Theyyam

text: “Puthiyaramban was the lead fighter of allada swaroopam”. It is believed that  Puthiyaramban was having supernatural power. As a leading warrior he has deep knowledge and skill in Kalari (martial art).After his great victory , He was betrayal in nanummel kali (kalari). Believed that he became god after his death. Puthiyaramban Theyyam is performed in Puthiyaramban Tharavadu , Sree Kappattu Kazhagam ,Sree Kannamangalam Kazhagam & Udinoor kulom.


title: Theyyam

text: A Theyyam museum is proposed to be built at Chanthappura in Kalliassery assembly constituency of Kannur district in 2019.


title: I.T. (film)

text: I.T. is a 2016 thriller film directed by John Moore and written by Dan Kay and William Wisher. It stars Pierce Brosnan, James Frecheville, Anna Friel, Stefanie Scott, and Michael Nyqvist and was produced by David T. Friendly and Beau St. Clair, who was Brosnan's producing partner at the production company Irish DreamTime before her death. The film was released in theaters and via video on demand in the United States on September 23, 2016, by RLJ Entertainment.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Mike Regan is a self-made aviation tycoon who lives in a state-of-the-art smart house full of modern technology with his wife Rose and 17-year-old daughter Kaitlyn. Mike's company is developing an app called "Omni Jet" which will increase business while the company raises much-needed financial capital with a stock offering. However, it requires U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval.


title: I.T. (film)

text: At the company, Mike meets Ed Porter, a 28-year-old information technology (I.T.) consultant and calls him to fix his home's Wi-Fi signal, which his daughter complains is slow. The password is revealed here to be "ReganHouse1" which lacks Password strength, an indicator of Regan's lack of security. Porter also upgrades the Global Positioning System (GPS) in Mike's car and claims that he also worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) and had taken part in a military exercise in Kandahar.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Porter meets Kaitlyn and starts a relationship with her through social media, but Mike fires him after Kaitlyn invites Porter into the house; this ends his promising career at the company. Devastated, Porter begins to remotely access Mike's private data and his house as he covertly monitors them through the security cameras and devices all over the smart house. He also spies on Kaitlyn and secretly records her masturbating in the shower.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Porter sends fake emails to Mike's clients and the SEC, threatening the company's survival. He also takes full control of the house's technology, which leaves the family terrified. He uses a spoof email to send Rose fake mammogram results, saying that she tested positive for breast cancer. Rose is extremely distressed, but her test results were actually negative according to her attending physician. After Mike becomes aware that Porter has done this, he attacks Porter and threatens to kill him if he does not stay away from his family.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Porter then uploads the video of Kaitlyn masturbating online, immediately catching the attention of her schoolmates; she is mortified and blames her father for installing the technology in their house. Angered, Mike drives to see Porter but he is also being monitored by Porter, who mockingly telephones him through the car navigation system and sends him the video. Porter then remotely activates the car's brake system, hitting a nearby stalled truck and destroying the car.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Mike requests help from Henrik, an I.T. expert, who says that Mike must destroy all the smart technology in the house and delete his emails, bank accounts and computer files. Henrik explains that Porter's real name is Richard Edward Portman and that his father committed suicide when Porter was six years old. He also reveals that he never worked for the NSA, as he claimed, and the photograph of him with soldiers in Kandahar was fake. To allow Mike to obtain evidence from Porter's apartment, Henrik creates a diversion by stealing the phone of a waitress at a coffee shop with whom Porter's obsessed and texting Porter, telling him to come to the coffee shop. While Porter is gone, Mike manages to get in his apartment and steal several thumb drives containing evidence, escaping just as Porter returns to his apartment after realising it was a diversion. Porter realises the masked man that he saw in his apartment was Mike, so he frames him for assault, prompting the police to arrest Mike when trying to provide the evidence from the thumb drives to the police.


title: I.T. (film)

text: After being released, Mike returns home to find Kaitlyn and Rose tied and gagged by Porter, who holds them at gunpoint. Shortly afterwards a struggle ensues; Porter shoots a window and Mike punches Porter, who hits his head and lies dying as Mike holds the gun to his chest, but Rose begs Mike not to kill him.


title: I.T. (film)

text: Some time later, the company's employees applaud Mike and his family for successfully developing the app and their house is restored.


title: I.T. (film)

text: The film was first announced in October 2013 as a revenge thriller with Pierce Brosnan headlining the project. It was set to be financed by Voltage Pictures and directed by Stefano Sollima. In August 2014, it was revealed that John Moore had replaced Sollima as the film's director, and commissioned a complete rewrite of the script by William Wisher. Stefanie Scott was cast in April 2015 as the daughter of Brosnan's character, and that the film was to start shooting in June later that year, in Ireland. A month later (in May), it was reported that Anna Friel had joined the cast as the wife of Brosnan's character and that James Frecheville would play the young antagonist. Michael Nyqvist joined the project a few days later. It is the last film produced by Beau St. Clair before she died from cancer. Principal photography began on June 25, 2015, and concluded on July 29, 2015.


title: I.T. (film)

text: "I.T." was first released theatrically in Bulgaria and Romania on September 9, 2016. RLJ Entertainment released the film in theaters and via video on demand in the United States on September 23, 2016. The theatrical trailer for the film debuted in August 2016.


title: I.T. (film)

text: "I.T." received negative reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 9% based on 43 reviews and an average rating of 3.4 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 27 out of 100 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews." Joe Leydon of Variety criticized the cliched screenplay, but gave praise to Brosnan's performance and the direction. The Guardian gave the film two out of five stars, calling it 'blundering'. The New York Times found little to recommend, criticizing the screenplay and execution.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Edgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963), nicknamed "Gar" and "Papi", is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a designated hitter and third baseman for the Seattle Mariners from 1987 through 2004. He served as the Mariners' hitting coach from 2015 through 2018.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez grew up in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Not highly regarded as a prospect, he signed with the Mariners as a free agent in 1982, and was given a small signing bonus. He made his major league debut in 1987, but did not establish himself as a full-time player until 1990, at age 27. In the 1995 American League Division Series, he hit "The Double", which won the series and increased public support for Mariners baseball as they attempted to fund a new stadium. He continued to play until 2004, when injuries forced him to retire.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez was a seven-time MLB All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, and two-time batting champion. He is one of 18 MLB players to record a batting average of .300, an on-base percentage of .400, and a slugging percentage of .500 in 5,000 or more plate appearances. The Mariners retired his uniform number and inducted him into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. Martínez was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez was born in New York City on January 2, 1963, to José and Christina Salgado Martinez, who were from Puerto Rico. His parents divorced when he was two years old, and he was taken in by his grandparents, who lived in the barrio of Maguayo in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Martínez taught himself how to speak English and how to use computers. When he was 11 years old, his parents reconciled. His brother and sister returned to New York to live with their parents, but Edgar opted to remain in Dorado with his grandparents.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martinez became inspired to play baseball after watching fellow Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente play in the 1971 World Series. He played with his cousin Carmelo Martínez in the backyard of his home. Scouts watched Carmelo with interest, but Edgar did not draw their attention. He attended the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, studying business administration. He played semiprofessional baseball and worked two jobs, as a supervisor in a furniture store by day and in a General Electric factory at night.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: At the suggestion of the owner of his semiprofessional team, Martínez attended a tryout held by the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite nearly missing the tryout after a long night working at the factory and being "so tired [he] couldn't swing the bat," The Mariners signed him to a contract with a $4,000 signing bonus (a small amount at the time) on December 12, 1982. He initially considered declining the offer, due to the money he was making in Puerto Rico, but Carmelo convinced him to sign.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez made his professional debut in Minor League Baseball with the Bellingham Mariners of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League in 1983 as a third baseman. He had a .173 batting average, zero home runs and only 18 hits. The scout who signed Martínez convinced Hal Keller, the Mariners' general manager, to assign him to the Arizona Instructional League (AIL) after the season. Keller did not believe Martínez would be able to hit in the major leagues, and initially did not want to assign him to the AIL, which is reserved for the best prospects. Keller included Martínez in the AIL that year, where he batted .340.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 1984, Martínez batted .303 with 15 home runs and 84 walks for the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League. Martínez played for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League and Calgary Cannons of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1985, batting .258 in 111 games for Chattanooga and .353 in 20 games for Calgary. He returned to Chattanooga in 1986 and had a .960 fielding percentage, which led all third basemen. Playing for Calgary in 1987, Martínez had a .327 batting average, 10 home runs, and 31 doubles in 129 games. He led Calgary in batting average, as well as hits, doubles, batting average, on base percentage, games played, and walks.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez made his major league debut on September 12, 1987, as a third baseman, and proceeded to hit .372 over his first 13 career games. However, the Mariners were committed to using Jim Presley as their third baseman. In 1988, Martínez began the season with Calgary, but was called up to the major leagues in early May. He played in four games with the Mariners before being returned to Calgary, where he hit .363, the best batting average in the PCL. In September he was called up again, and over 10 games hit .389. In his second MLB season, he hit .281 with a .351 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .406 slugging percentage over 14 games.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: The Mariners named Martínez their starting third baseman on their Opening Day roster in 1989. He struggled and was sent back down to Calgary in May. He hit .345 over 32 games for the Cannons and .240 in 65 games for the Mariners in 1989. After the regular season, Martínez played winter baseball in the Puerto Rican Baseball League. He batted .424 in 43 games, leading the league, and was named co-MVP with Carlos Baerga.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 1990, Martínez signed a one-year contract for $90,000. Though Presley was no longer a Mariner, Darnell Coles began the season as the Mariners' starting third baseman, with manager Jim Lefebvre telling "The Seattle Times" during spring training: "I think Darnell Coles is going to surprise a lot of people. He knows there is no one in the wings, just Edgar Martinez to back him up." However, Coles committed five errors in Seattle's first six games. Lefebvre moved Coles to the outfield and began playing Martínez at third base. Over 144 games, Martínez hit .302, and had a .397 on-base percentage, both of which led the team.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez signed a two-year contract worth $850,000 before the 1991 season. In 1991, he won his first MLB Player of the Week Award for the week ending July 14. He finished the 1991 season hitting .307/.405/.452, all career highs. In 1992, Martínez was selected to his first All-Star Game, and won his first MLB Player of the Month Award for July and his second for August, During the season, Martínez signed a three-year contract with Seattle worth $10 million, the largest contract given out by Seattle to that point.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: At the end of the 1992 season, Martínez had a .343 batting average, which led all of MLB. It was the first batting title for Seattle and the franchise's highest single-season batting average (this has since been surpassed by Ichiro Suzuki). He also tied Frank Thomas for the most doubles in MLB, and set a team record for most in a season (this has since been surpassed by Alex Rodriguez). After the season, he was awarded his first American League (AL) Silver Slugger Award as a third basemen.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: During an exhibition game at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, before the 1993 season, Martínez tore his hamstring on an unzipped seam in the turf between first and second base. He missed 42 games at the start of the season, and was placed on the disabled list two more times before the season ended. In 1994, in his first plate appearance of the season, opposing pitcher Dennis Martínez hit him in the right wrist, and he was placed on the disabled list. Between the injuries and the 1994 MLB strike, he played in 131 games during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. In 89 games played in 1994, he played 65 games as a third baseman and 23 as a designated hitter, with one appearance as a pinch runner.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez became a full-time designated hitter in 1995. He won the Player of the Month Award for June, hitting .402 with a .537 OBP and a .761 SLG, and another Player of the Week Award. He was also selected to the 1995 All-Star Game and set career highs in eleven offensive categories. At the end of the year he won his second AL batting title with a team record .356, while also leading the league in runs scored with 121, doubles with 52, OBP with .479 and on-base plus slugging (OPS) with 1.109 (all team highs at that point). He also finished third in AL Most Valuable Player Award voting behind Mo Vaughn and Albert Belle. He won his second Silver Slugger Award and his first Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees, Martínez hit .571 and was on base 18 times in five games. In Game 4 of that series, he hit a three-run home run, then a grand slam home run that broke a 6–6 tie, en route to an 11–8 victory. His seven runs batted in (RBIs) in that game tied a single-game postseason record. The win knotted the best-of-five series at two games apiece and forced Game 5. Down 5–4 in the 11th inning of that decisive game, Martínez hit a two-run double off Jack McDowell, winning the game for the Mariners, 6–5, and series, 3–2. The win sent the Mariners to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history, against the Cleveland Indians, a series they would eventually lose in six games.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: The double entered baseball lore, referred to as "The Double", by Mariners fans. The Mariners' 1995 postseason run helped build the groundswell of public support that led the Washington State Legislature to enact legislation to fund a dedicated baseball stadium in Seattle to replace the Kingdome. Mariners' manager Lou Piniella referred to it as "the hit, the run, the game, the series and the season that saved baseball in Seattle."


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 1996, Martínez batted .327 and was selected for the 1996 MLB All-Star Game. He played one game at third base during the season, during which he collided with John Marzano, breaking four ribs and missing 21 games. On August 21, 1996, Martínez recorded his 1,000th career MLB hit. Martínez was selected to the 1997 MLB All-Star Game and won the Silver Slugger Award at the end of the 1997 season. He finished second in the AL with a .330 average. The Mariners made the 1997 ALDS, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Martínez batted .188 in the series. He won his second Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. In 1998, Martínez batted .320 with 29 home runs. He led the AL with a .429 OBP, and won his third Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 1999, Martínez was diagnosed with strabismus, a condition which causes the eyes to not properly align. For Martínez, his right eye would intermittently drift and cause him to lose depth perception. For the 1999 season, he led the AL with a .447 OBP and batted .337. He recorded his 1,500th hit on August 14. In 2000, Martínez earned his fifth All-Star Game selection. He hit 37 home runs, his single-season best, and led the American League with 145 RBIs. The Mariners reached the postseason, and Martínez batted .364 in the 2000 ALDS, defeating the Chicago White Sox. The Mariners lost to the Yankees in the 2000 American League Championship Series (ALCS). Martínez finished sixth in AL MVP Award balloting, and won the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 2001, Martínez was again elected to the All-Star Game. He batted .306 with 116 RBIs, his tenth season with a .300 or better batting average (his seventh consecutive) and his sixth season with 100 RBIs. Seattle tied the major league record set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs with 116 wins on the season. Martínez hit .313 with two home runs in the 2001 ALDS as Seattle defeated Cleveland, but he batted .150 in the 2001 ALCS as they lost to the Yankees. He won the Silver Slugger Award and the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award in 2001.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez dealt with leg injuries in 2002, playing in 97 games. He left a game after pulling his hamstring and had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left knee. Though he was batting .301 on September 8, he entered a slump late in the season and ended the year with a .277 batting average. In 2003, Martínez again dealt with hamstring injuries. He batted .304 in the first half of the season and was named to the 2003 MLB All-Star Game. On May 2, Martínez had his 2,000th career hit. He broke a toe when it was hit by a foul ball in September, which limited him until the end of the season. He ended the season with a .294 batting average, 24 home runs, and a .403 OBP. He won his fifth Silver Slugger Award in 2003.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 2004, Martínez struggled with a sore back, leg injuries, and difficulties with his eyesight. The Mariners struggled, falling out of the postseason chase, and the team began to give playing time at designated hitter to Bucky Jacobsen. On August 9, 2004, Martínez announced his retirement, effective at the end of the season. Martínez said this about his choice of retiring and career in Seattle:


title: Edgar Martínez

text: On June 20, 2015, the Mariners hired Martínez as their hitting coach, reassigning Howard Johnson. The team's offense improved from a .233 batting average and 3.4 runs scored per game in the 68 games coached by Johnson to a .260 average and 4.6 runs per game with Martínez in 94 games. Though Jerry Dipoto, newly hired as general manager, fired Lloyd McClendon as manager after the season, he retained Martínez. Martínez coached the Mariners through to the end of the 2018 season. Out of a desire to spend more time with his family, Martínez moved from hitting coach to a hitting advisor role with the Mariners organization after the 2018 season.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera, when asked whether there was anyone he was afraid to face, said that he was never afraid, but "I will put it like this: The only guy that I didn't want to face, when a tough situation comes, was Edgar Martínez. The reason is because I couldn't get him out. (laughs) I couldn't get him out. It didn't matter how I threw the ball. I couldn't get him out. Oh, my god, he had more than my number. He had my breakfast, lunch and dinner. He got everything from me." Versus Rivera, Martínez was able to log a .579 batting average, with 11 hits during 19 at bats. Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez (no relation) also named Edgar Martínez as one of the toughest hitters he had to pitch against in his career because, Pedro said, he was very disciplined at the plate and "would foul off pitches that would wipe out anybody else."


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on September 9, 2003, in a pregame on field ceremony at Safeco Field. In October 2004, following his retirement, a section of South Atlantic Street (State Route 519) in Seattle adjacent to Safeco Field was renamed Edgar Martínez Drive South. At his retirement ceremony, a portrait "featuring his high stepping batting style" painted by artist Michele Rushworth was presented to him by the Mariners. In 2004, MLB renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award in Martínez's honor. In 2005, fans voted Martínez as the third baseman on the Latino Legends Team.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Since his retirement, the Mariners did not issue Martinez' uniform number 11 to any other player. Under Mariners' team policy, he was not eligible to have his uniform number formally retired until 2010, when he became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time. The Mariners inducted Martínez into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame on June 2, 2007, and retired Martinez's #11 jersey on August 12, 2017.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: First eligible to be elected into the Hall of Fame in the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, and with 75% of the vote required for induction, Martínez received 36.2% of the vote. While some sports writers felt that his batting numbers do not overcome the one-dimensional aspect of his career as a DH, others have compared this to the specialty of closers whose contribution to their teams victories resides on working one inning to preserve an advantage and the fact that these late inning relievers are not involved in other facets of the game such as hitting and base running. By the 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, his ninth year on the ballot, Martínez's vote total increased to 70.4%. The 2019 ballot, his last chance for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, elected him to the Hall of Fame, appearing on 85.4% of the ballots cast. He became the second player to enter the Hall of Fame as a Mariner, after Ken Griffey Jr., and the sixth player to be elected in his final year of eligibility, after Red Ruffing, Joe Medwick, Ralph Kiner, Jim Rice, and Tim Raines. Incidentally, he entered the Hall with the aforementioned Rivera, who was elected in his 1st year of eligibility, along with the late Roy Halladay (1st ballot, posthumous).


title: Edgar Martínez

text: The , named after Martínez, was built in barrio Higuillar in Dorado. Sustaining structural damages as a result of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, a $700,000 restoration of the sports complex was completed in 2021. The complex hosts school sports competitions and has a baseball field, a track field, a basketball court and a gym.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez met Holli (née) Beeler on a blind date; they married in October 1992. They live in Kirkland, Washington, with their three children: Alex, Tessa, and Jacqueline. Martínez is one of the founders of Plaza Bank, founded in 2005 as Washington's first


title: Edgar Martínez

text: Martínez and his wife Holli have contributed their time and money to Seattle Children's Hospital, including the Edgar Martínez Endowment for Muscular Dystrophy Research, established by the Mariners in honor of his retirement, and the Children's Hospital Annual Wishing Well Night at T-Mobile Park. Martínez has also supported the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Overlake Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wishing Star Foundation, United Way, Esperanza, Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Mariners Care. Because of his contributions, on June 20, 2007, Martínez was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho.


title: Edgar Martínez

text: In 2006, Martínez cofounded Branded Solutions, a corporate merchandise category, with two executives from ImageSource. He sold the company to ImageSource in 2010. For the 2013 season, the Mariners worked with Martínez, local chef Ethan Stowell and bartender Anu Apte to create "Edgar's Cantina" at Safeco Field.


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: Malcolm David Kelley (born May 12, 1992), sometimes credited as just Malcolm Kelley, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and actor best known for portraying the character Walt Lloyd on the ABC series "Lost" and as one half of the pop duo MKTO.


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: Kelley's first major acting role was in the 2002 film "Antwone Fisher", in which he played the title character as a child. Prior to this, he appeared in several small television roles in programs such as "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Judging Amy." His next film role was "You Got Served," in which he was cast in the supporting role of Lil' Saint.


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: In 2004, he was cast to play Walt in the TV show "Lost." A regular cast member in the show's first season (2004–2005), he appeared only occasionally thereafter due to a dramatic growth spurt. He returned for an appearance in "Through the Looking Glass", Lost's third season finale, and twice more in the fourth season, with the episodes "Meet Kevin Johnson" and "There's No Place Like Home", and reprised his role in the fifth season with the episode "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham". He reprised the role of Walt a final time in the Season 6 DVD box set mini-episode "The New Man in Charge".


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: Following his departure from the main cast of "Lost," Kelley appeared in several television roles, including the recurring character of Benjamin Cooley on "Saving Grace."


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: In 2010, he appeared in the lead role of Finn on the TeenNick program "Gigantic." The show was canceled after one season in 2011.


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: In 2012, Kelley and his former "Gigantic" co-star Tony Oller formed the pop duo MKTO. They were signed to Columbia Records. In 2013 Kelley recorded together with Celine Dion, the song "save your soul" for Dion's late 2013 release "loved me back to life". But their duet version was only included on the album's vinyl version. On the regular version, save your soul only contains Dion's vocals.


title: Malcolm David Kelley

text: The duo's debut self-titled album, was released on April 1, 2014. Their single "Classic" was a major hit in the summer of 2014, reaching number 14 on the "Billboard" Hot 100.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Coccinia grandis, the ivy gourd, also known as scarlet gourd, tindora and kowai fruit, is a tropical vine. It grows primarily in tropical climates and is commonly found in the Indian states, where it forms a part of the local cuisine. "Coccinia grandis" is cooked as a vegetable.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Its native range extends from Africa to Asia, including India, the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, eastern Papua New Guinea, and the Northern Territories, Australia. Its documented introduced range includes the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Seeds or fragments of the vine can be relocated and lead to viable offspring. This can occur when humans transport organic debris or equipment containing "C. grandis". Once the ivy gourd is established, it is presumably spread by birds, rats, and other mammals. In Hawaii, the fruit may be dispersed by pigs. Long-distance dispersal is most commonly carried out by humans due to its culinary uses or by mistake.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Regarded as very invasive and on the Hawaii State Noxious Weed List, ivy gourd can grow up to four inches per day. It grows in dense blankets, shading other plants from sunlight and highjacking nutrients, effectively killing vegetation underneath. It was introduced to Hawaii as a backyard food crop. It is sometimes tolerated along garden fences and other outdoor features because of its attractive white flowers. It has escaped to become a vigorous pest in Hawaii, Florida, Australia, and Texas.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: This plant is a perennial climber with single tendrils and glabrous leaves. The leaves have 5 lobes and are 6.5–8.5 cm long and 7–8 cm wide. The species is dioecious. Female and male flowers emerge at the axils on the petiole, and have 3 stamens.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Both physical and chemical recommendations are made for control of the ivy gourd. It is very difficult to control this plant physically except by bagging fruits. Hand-harvesting normally does not kill the plant, but rather breaks the vine blankets into smaller pieces and the plant is able to re-establish when it touches the ground. These methods can make the infestation worse and further the need for more rigorous control methods. Picking the fruit and placing them in plastic bags can help decrease the seed bank present with the soil. When using chemical controls, that ivy gourd responded well to a thin-lined bark application of 100% Garlon 4 (triclopyr), leaving plants in place so as not to translocate the herbicide or spread the pest. It is applied multiple times until the vine dies. In Hawaii, several species of insect have been introduced with the purpose of being a biocontrol. Two weevils, "Acythopeus burkhartorum" and "A. cocciniae", were introduced by the Department of Agriculture to Oahu and Hawaii. African vine moths were also released onto Oahu and Maui. On the island of Maui, the "A. cocciniae" apparently is established and damaging leaves. The larvae feed on the plant and the adults chew holes in the leaves. The moth has yet to appear successful in its purpose.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: In traditional medicine, fruits have been used to treat leprosy, fever, asthma, bronchitis, and jaundice. The fruit possesses mast cell-stabilizing, antianaphylactic, and antihistaminic potential. In Bangladesh, the roots are used to treat osteoarthritis and joint pain. A paste made of leaves is applied to the skin to treat scabies.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: Ivy gourd extracts and other forms of the plant can be purchased online and in health food stores. These products are claimed to help regulate blood sugar levels. Some research supports that compounds in the plant inhibit glucose-6-phosphatase. Glucose-6-phosphatase is one of the key liver enzymes involved in regulating sugar metabolism. Therefore, ivy gourd is sometimes recommended for diabetic patients. Although these claims have not been supported, a fair amount of research on the medicinal properties of this plant are focusing on its use as an antioxidant, antihypoglycemic agent, immune system modulator, etc. Some countries in Asia, such as Thailand, prepare traditional tonic-like drinks for medicinal purposes.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: They are best when cooked, and are often compared to bitter melon. The fruit is commonly eaten in Indian cuisine. People of Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries also consume the fruit and leaves. In U.S. cuisine, rashmatos are typically cooked and eaten during work lunches or dinners. In Thai cuisine, it is one of the ingredients of the very popular clear soup dish and some curries curry and curry.


title: Coccinia grandis

text: In India, it is eaten as a curry, by deep-frying it along with spices, stuffing it with masala and sauteing it, or boiling it first in a pressure cooker and then frying it. It is also used in "sambar", a vegetable and lentil-based soup. The immature fruit is also used raw, preserving its crisp texture, to make a quick fresh pickle. Some people cut it into circles or, in a few cases, dice it up into smaller pieces.


title: North American F-86D Sabre

text: The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog",) was an American transonic jet fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor derivative of the North American F-86 Sabre. While the original F-86 Sabre was conceived as a day fighter, the F-86D was specifically developed as an all-weather interceptor. Originally designated as the YF-95 during development and testing, it was re-designated the F-86D before production began, despite only sharing 25% commonality of parts with the original F-86. Production models of the F-86D/K/L differed from other Sabres in that they had a larger fuselage, a larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. The most-produced Sabre Dog variants (the "D" and "G" models) also mounted no guns, unlike the Sabre with its six M3 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, instead mounting air-to-air rockets (the "K" and "L" Sabre Dog variants mounted four 20mm M24A1 cannon).


title: North American F-86D Sabre

text: The YF-95 was a development of the F-86 Sabre, the first aircraft designed around the new "Mighty Mouse" Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR). Begun in March 1949, the unarmed prototype, "50-577", first flew on 22 December 1949, piloted by North American test pilot George Welch and was the first U.S. Air Force night fighter design with only a single crewman and a single engine, a J47-GE-17 with afterburner rated at static thrust. Gun armament was eliminated in favor of a retractable under-fuselage tray carrying 24 unguided Mk. 4 rockets, then considered a more effective weapon against enemy bombers than a barrage of cannon fire. A second prototype, "50-578", was also built, but the YF-95 nomenclature was short-lived as the design was subsequently redesignated YF-86D.


title: North American F-86D Sabre

text: The fuselage was wider and the airframe length increased to , with a clamshell canopy, enlarged tail surfaces and AN/APG-36 all-weather radar fitted in a radome in the nose, above the intake. Later models of the F-86D received an uprated J-47-GE-33 engine rated at (from the F-86D-45 production blocks onward). A total of 2,504 D-models were built.


title: North American F-86D Sabre

text: On 18 November 1952, F-86D "51-2945" set a speed record of . Captain J. Slade Nash flew over a three km (1.8 mi.) course at the Salton Sea in southern California at a height of only . Another F-86D broke this world record on 16 July 1953, when Lieutenant Colonel William F. Barns, flying F-86D "51-6145" in the same path of the previous flight, achieved .


title: Table setting

text: Table setting (laying a table) or place setting refers to the way to set a table with tableware—such as eating utensils and for serving and eating. The arrangement for a single diner is called a place setting. It is also the layout in which the utensils and ornaments are positioned. The practice of dictating the precise arrangement of tableware has varied across cultures and historical periods.


title: Table setting

text: Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and according to the manner in which the diner will use them. In the West, forks, plate, butter knife, and napkin generally are placed to the left of the dinner plate, and knives, spoons, stemware and tumblers, cups, and saucers to the right. (By contrast, formal settings in Armenia place the fork to the right of the dinner plate and informal settings in Turkey place the fork to the right of the dinner plate if not accompanied by a knife) Sauceboats and serving dishes, when used, either are placed on the table or, more formally, may be kept on a side table.


title: Table setting

text: At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on the table. Sometimes the cup and saucer are placed on the right side of the spoon, about 30 cm or 12 inches from the edge of the table. Often, in less formal settings, the napkin should be in the wine glass. However, such objects as napkin rings are very rare in the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, or Italy.


title: Table setting

text: Utensils are placed inward about 20 cm or 8 inches from the edge of the table, with all placed either upon the same invisible baseline or upon the same invisible median line. Utensils in the outermost position are to be used first (for example, a soup spoon or a salad fork, later the dinner fork and the dinner knife). The blades of the knives are turned toward the plate. Glasses are placed an inch (2.5 cm) or so above the knives, also in the order of use: white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and water tumbler.


title: Table setting

text: The most formal dinner is served from the kitchen. When the meal is served, in addition to the central plate (a service plate or dinner plate at supper; at luncheon, a service plate or luncheon plate) at each place there are a bread roll (generally on a bread plate, sometimes in the napkin), napkin, and flatware (knives and spoons to the right of the central plate, and forks to the left). Coffee is served in Butler Service style in demitasses, and a spoon placed on the saucer to the right of each handle. Serving dishes and utensils are not placed on the table for a formal dinner. The only exception in the West to these general rules is the protocol followed at the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Austrian court, in which all cutlery was placed to the right of the central plate for each diner.


title: Table setting

text: At a less formal dinner, not served from the kitchen, the dessert fork and spoon can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, spoon pointing left.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Grayanotoxins are a group of closely related neurotoxins named after "Leucothoe grayana", a plant native to Japan originally named for 19th century American botanist Asa Gray. Grayanotoxin I (grayanotaxane-3,5,6,10,14,16-hexol 14-acetate) is also known as andromedotoxin, acetylandromedol, rhodotoxin and asebotoxin. Grayanotoxins are produced by "Rhododendron" species and other plants in the family Ericaceae. Honey made from the nectar and so containing pollen of these plants also contains grayanotoxins and is commonly referred to as mad honey. Consumption of the plant or any of its secondary products, including mad honey, can cause a rare poisonous reaction called grayanotoxin poisoning, mad honey disease, honey intoxication, or rhododendron poisoning. It is most frequently produced and consumed in regions of Nepal and Turkey as a recreational drug and traditional medicine.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Grayanotoxins are produced by plants in the family Ericaceae, specifically members of the genera "Rhododendron", "Pieris", "Agarista" and "Kalmia". The genus "Rhododendron" alone encompasses over 750 species that grow around the world in parts of Europe, North America, Japan, Nepal and Turkey. They can grow at a variety of altitudes ranging from sea level to more than three kilometers above. While many of these species contain grayanotoxins, only a few contain significant levels. Species with high concentrations of grayanotoxins such as "R. ponticum", "R. flavum" and "R. luteum" are most commonly found in Nepal and regions of Turkey bordering the Black Sea.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Grayanotoxins are low molecular weight hydrophobic compounds. They are structurally characterized as polyhydroxylated cyclic diterpenes. The base structure is a 5/7/6/5 ring system that does not contain nitrogen. More than 25 grayanotoxin isoforms have been identified from "Rhododendron" species"," but grayanotoxin I and III are thought to be the principal toxic isoforms. Different "Rhododendron" species contain multiple different grayanotoxin isoforms, contributing to differences in plant toxicity.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: The toxicity of grayanotoxin is derived from its ability to interfere with voltage-gated sodium channels located in the cell membrane of neurons. The Na""1."x" channels consist of four homologous domains (I-IV), each containing six transmembrane alpha-helical segments (S1-S6). Grayanotoxin has a binding affinity (IC) of approximately 10 μM and binds the group II receptor site located on segment 6 of domains I and IV (IS6 and IVS6). Other toxins that bind to this region include the alkaloids veratridine, batrachotoxin and aconitine.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Experiments utilizing squid axonal membranes indicate that sodium channel binding likely occurs on the internal face of the neuron. Additionally, grayanotoxin only binds to the activated conformation of sodium channels. Normally, voltage gated sodium channels are activated (opened) only when the cell membrane potential reaches a specific threshold voltage. This activated conformation allows for an influx of sodium ions resulting in cell depolarization, followed by the firing of an action potential. At the peak of the action potential, voltage-gated sodium channels are quickly inactivated and are only reset once the cell has repolarized to resting potential. When grayanotoxin is present, binding induces further conformational changes that prevent sodium channel inactivation and lead to a prolonged depolarization. Owing to its transient ability to activate channels and increase membrane permeability to sodium ions, grayanotoxin is classified as a reversible Na""1."x" agonist.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Prolonged sodium channel activation and cell depolarization leads to overstimulation of the central nervous system. Physical symptoms from grayanotoxin poisoning appear after a dose-dependent latent period of several minutes to approximately three hours. The most common clinical symptoms include various cardiovascular effects, nausea and vomiting, and a change in consciousness. The cardiovascular effects may include hypotension (low blood pressure) and various cardiac rhythm disorders such as sinus bradycardia (slow regular heart rhythm), bradyarrhythmia (slow irregular heart rhythm) and partial or complete atrioventricular block.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Other early-onset symptoms may include diplopia and blurred vision, dizziness, hypersalivation, perspiration, weakness and paresthesia in the extremities and around the mouth. In higher doses, symptoms can include loss of coordination, severe and progressive muscular weakness, electrocardiographic changes of bundle branch block and/or ST-segment elevations as seen in ischemic myocardial threat, and nodal rhythm or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: The primary mediator of this grayanotoxin pathophysiology is the paired vagus nerve (tenth cranial nerve). The vagus nerve is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system (a branch of the autonomic nervous system) and innervates various organs including the lungs, stomach, kidney and heart. In one study, experimental administration of grayanotoxin to bilaterally vagotomized rats failed to induce bradycardia, a common symptom of grayanotoxin poisoning, supporting the role of vagal stimulation. Vagal stimulation of the myocardium, specifically, is mediated by M-subtype muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR). In severe cases of grayanotoxin poisoning, atropine (a non-specific "mAChR antagonist" or Muscarinic antagonist) can be used to treat bradycardia and other heart rhythm malfunctions. In addition to correcting rhythm disorders, administration of fluids and vasopressors can also help treat hypotension and mitigate other symptoms.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Patients exposed to low doses of grayanotoxin typically recover within a few hours. In more severe cases, symptoms may persist for 24 hours or longer and may require medical treatment (as described above). Despite the risk from cardiac problems, grayanotoxin poisoning is rarely fatal in humans.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: In contrast to humans, grayanotoxin poisoning can be lethal for other animals. Nectar containing grayanotoxin can kill honeybees, though some seem to have resistance to it and can produce honey from the nectar (see below). According to a team of researchers from the UK and Ireland, worker bumblebees are not harmed and may be preferable as pollinators because they transfer more pollen. Consequently, it may be advantageous for plants to produce grayanotoxin in order to be pollinated by bumblebees.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Bees that collect pollen and nectar from grayanotoxin-containing plants often produce honey that also contains grayanotoxins. This so-called "mad honey" is the most common cause of grayanotoxin poisoning in humans. Small-scale producers of mad honey typically harvest honey from a small area or single hive in order to produce a final product containing a significant concentration of grayanotoxin. In contrast, large-scale honey production often mixes honey gathered from different locations, diluting the concentration of any contaminated honey.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Mad honey is deliberately produced in some regions of the world, most notably Nepal and the Black Sea region of Turkey. In Nepal, this type of honey is used by the Gurung people for both its hallucinogenic properties and supposed medicinal benefits. In Turkey, mad honey known as "deli bal" is also used as a recreational drug and traditional medicine. It is most commonly made from the nectar of "Rhododendron luteum" and "Rhododendron ponticum" in the Caucasus region"." In the eighteenth century, this honey was exported to Europe to add to alcoholic drinks to give them extra potency. In modern times, it is consumed locally and exported to North America, Europe and Asia.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: In addition to various "Rhododendron" species, mad honey can also be made from several other grayanotoxin-containing plants. Honey produced from the nectar of "Andromeda polifolia" contains high enough levels of grayanotoxin to cause full body paralysis and potentially fatal breathing difficulties due to diaphragm paralysis. Honey obtained from spoonwood and allied species such as sheep-laurel can also cause illness. The honey from "Lestrimelitta limao" also produces this paralyzing effect seen in the honey of "A. polifolia" and is also toxic to humans.


title: Grayanotoxin

text: Although mad honey is used in traditional medicine in Turkey, the majority of grayanotoxin poisoning cases occur in middle-aged males who use the honey for perceived sexual enhancement.