The origins* of the word "mail" are not fully known. One theory is that it originally comes from the Latin word "macula", meaning "spot" or "opacity". Another theory relates the word to the Old French "maillier", meaning “to hammer” (related to the modern English word "malleable"). A mail shirt is a called a hauberk (haubergeon or byrnie). Mail leggings were called chausses. A mail Hood is called a coif and covered the head, neck and shoulders.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Another possible source is Italian. The word for jersey or sweater, and sometimes shirt, in modern Italian is "maglia".
Many scholars think mail was invented by ancient Celts about the 3rd century BC. At that time their iron work was probably the best in Europe. The Romans quickly adopted it for their own army. A shirt of mail armour weighed about . After a battle it was common practice to strip weapons and armour from the dead. Vikings were known to wear mail armor whenever they could get their hands on it. Mail was expensive, time consuming to make, and required a supply of iron. It became more expensive as improvements were made in materials and workmanship. Mail armour was in use in Europe until the 15th century.
Mail is today used in gloves to prevent cuts by butchers and firefighters. Some divers wear mail suits when swimming around sharks and particularly when feeding sharks. But mail is heavy and it makes moving around more difficult. Mail is very popular by history reenactors. It is also popular in live action role playing.
Afar Triangle
The Afar Triangle (or Afar Depression) is a low area bordering on the Red Sea. It is part of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa.
The area overlaps the borders of Eritrea, Djibouti and the entire Afar region of Ethiopia.
Important fossil specimens of the earliest hominins have been found in this area. These are the earliest of the human clade. The area is thought by some paleontologists to be the cradle of the evolution of humans.
Many important fossil localities exist in the Afar region. These sites have produced specimens of the earliest (fossil) hominins and of human tool culture, as well as many fossils of flora and fauna.
The Triangle includes the lowest point in Africa, Lake Asal, Djibouti, at 155 m (or 509 ft) below sea level.
The Awash River is the main waterflow into the region. It runs dry during the annual dry season, and ends as a chain of saline lakes. The northern part of the Afar Depression is also known as the Danakil Depression. The lowlands are affected by heat, drought, and poor air circulation. Some of the lowlands are the hottest places (year-round average temperatures) of anywhere on Earth.
The Afar Triangle is bordered by high areas, as shown on the topographic map.
The Depression is a plate tectonic triple junction. This geologic feature is one of earth's great active volcanic areas, so the floor of the depression is composed of lava, mostly basalt.
The continuous process of volcanism makes mineral deposits, like sulfur, salt, bentonite, and gypsum. There are also geothermal energy sources and hot springs in different areas of the region.
In 2005, a giant rift was formed in just a few days. The rift opened when the Dabbahu Volcano erupted. The rift is part of the process of the Arabian and African plates moving apart. This new crack, long, and deep, opened when the lava from the erupting volcano flowed underground and cooled. It left a long, wide dike within days.
Stabat mater
Stabat Mater Dolorosa, often referred to as Stabat Mater, is a 13th-century Catholic hymn to Mary. It has been attributed to the Franciscan Jacopone da Todi and to Innocent III. It is about the Sorrows of Mary.
Like so many other hymns the name of the hymn is made of the first few words. This is called an incipit. The first line reads "Stabat mater dolorosa" ("The sorrowful mother stood"). The "Stabat Mater" hymn is about the suffering of Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, during his crucifixion. It is sung at the liturgy on the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The "Stabat Mater" has been set to music by many composers, among them Palestrina, Pergolesi, Alessandro Scarlatti and Domenico Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Haydn, Rossini, Dvořák, George Henschel, Karol Szymanowski, Poulenc and Arvo Pärt.
In the 16th centry, the hymn was added to the Roman missal. The Council of Trent banned it, like most sequences. In the 18th century it was added to the Breviary of Roman Catholic mass. The Second Vactican Council abolished this form of mass, so it is only part of regular mass one day of the year. The current version can be found in the Roman Gradual, which dates of 1973.
Rhododendron niveum
Rhododendron niveum is a "Rhododendron" species. It is native to northeastern India (including Sikkim), Bhutan, and southern Tibet. It grows at altitudes of 2600–3500 meters.
It is a shrub or small tree that grows to 2–6 m in height, with leathery leaves 8.5–11 by 3.6–4.6 cm in size. Flowers are magenta to lilac.
Dan Fante
Daniel Smart "Dan" Fante (February 19, 1944 – November 23, 2015) was an American author and playwright. He was born in Los Angeles, California to a family of Italian immigrants.
He was known for his plays "Chump Change", "Mooch", "86'd" and "Spitting Off Tall Buildings". His father was writer John Fante. He was also the author of "A Gin-Pissing-Raw-Meat-Dual-Carburetor-V8-Son-Of-A-Bitch From Los Angeles", a volume of poetry on Wrecking Ball Press.
Fante died of cancer in Los Angeles, aged 71.
Carlos Oroza
Carlos Oroza (May 13, 1923 – November 20, 2015) was a Spanish poet. He was born in Viveiro. He was known mainly for the interpretation and performance of his own work. He founded Tropos magazine, a magazine about poetry.
Oroza died of heart failure in Madrid, aged 92.
Heinz Oberhummer
Heinz Oberhummer (19 May 1941 – 24 November 2015) was an Austrian physicist and skeptic. He was born in Bischofshofen and raised in Obertauern, Austria. Oberhummer was professor emeritus of Theoretical Physics at the Atominstitut of the Vienna University of Technology. His main research area was nucleosynthesis.
Oberhummer died of pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, aged 74.
Lennart Hellsing
Paul Lennart Hellsing (5 June 1919 – 25 November 2015) was a Swedish writer and translator. His lasting contribution as a children's writer, Helsing was a finalist in 2010 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. He was born in Västanfors, Sweden. He was known for his rhymes and word plays. He was thought to be an "outstanding poet" in the field of humour and nonsense writing.
Hellsing died at his home in Stockholm, Sweden of pneumonia on the night of 25 November 2015 surrounded by his family, aged 96.
James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern
James Peter Hymers Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern, KT, PC, QC, (born 2 July 1927) is a British advocate. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Lord Advocate, and Lord Chancellor (1987–1997). He is an active member of the House of Lords.
Mackay was born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Albin Chalandon
Albin Chalandon (11 June 1920 in Reyrieux, Ain – 29 July 2020) was a French politician and a former minister. From 1968 and 1972, he was Minister of Public Works. And from 1986 until 1988, he was Minister of Justice.
He died on 29 July 2020, aged 100.
Robert Badinter
Robert Badinter (; born 30 March 1928) is a French criminal law lawyer, university professor, politician and activist of Jewish descent. He is against the death penalty, the abolition of which he successfully sponsored in Parliament in 1981. A member of the Socialist Party (PS), he served as Minister of Justice and then President of the Constitutional Council under François Mitterrand.
Charles Thone