1. Who is Gunter Blobel? NYT19991011.0352 NYT19991011.0454 NYT19991011.0354 APW19991011.0300 APW19991011.0073 APW19991011.0120 What did he win the Nobel prize for and what is the significance/importance of it? What is his job/position and where does he work? What is his education and/or professional background? Basic biographical information Dr. Gunter Blobel won the 1999 Nobel prize for Medicine. In his research, he discovered that proteins carry chemical signals that act as zip codes, helping them find their correct "address" within the cells. Dr. Blobel's discoveries have shed light on some hereditary diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, hyperoxaluria (kidney stones at an early age). This research also laid the basis for using biotechnology to produce drugs like insulin and growth hormone. Dr. Blobel has conducted his research at Rockefeller University in New York City since 1967. He is a cellular and microbiologist. Dr. Blobel was born in 1936 in Waltersdorf, Silesia, Germany, which is not part of Poland. He witnessed the bombing of Dresden as a young boy. In the early 1950's he escaped East Germany through Berlin. He earned his medical degree at the University of Tubingen. He earned his PhD at the University of Wisconsin in 1967. In 1980, Dr. Blobel became a U.S. citizen. 2. Who was Joseph Pilates? NYT19980810.0141 NYT20000508.0325 NYT19981102.0226 NYT19981102.0173 NYT19981105.0066 NYT19990610.0070 I want information on what he is known for and its significance and some biographical information about him. Joseph Pilates was a German boxer and physical therapist who developed a system of exercises in Germany during World War I. He was serving as a nurse during the war and developed his system of 150 exercises to help bedridden patients exercise. He moved to New York City in 1926 and opened a studio where dancers, many of them famous, trained. Joseph Pilates remained very fit through his old age, and could do a full split in 1964, at the age of 83. The Pilates method of exercising has again become extremely popular in health clubs and studios in the late 1990's. The program focuses on both muscle strengthening and stretching, balance, and mind-body control. 3. What is a femtosecond? NYT19991012.0077 NYT19991012.0259 APW19991012.0068 APW19991012.0067 APW19991012.0024 XIE19991014.0186 XIE19991013.0076 I want to find out what it is, and how it is used. A femtosecond is 0.000000000000001 second, or the same fraction of a second as the proportion of 1 second to 32 million years. Is is the measure used in femtochemistry, which uses high-speed cameras, or lasers, to monitor chemical reaction on the same time scale on which the reactions occur (femtosecond). This field of science was developed by Ahmed H. Zewail, an Egyptian-American at the California Institute of Technology. Zewail won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this. 4. What is Goth? APW19990422.0116 NYT19990426.0392 NYT19990426.0438 NYT19990423.0150 NYT19990421.0345 NYT19990421.0470 Looking for information as to what and/or who the term refers. Goth, from the word Gothic, is a subculture of youths which originated in England in the mid- to late 1970's and spread to the U.S. in the early 1980's. Those who call themselves "Goths" dress in black. They often wear leather armor, cloaks, capes, or long black coats. They will often dye their hair jet-black and adorn themselves with powdered faces, garish black eyeliner, black lipstick, and black nail polish. Goths feel alienated from the mainstream, indulge in dark fantasy, and often think about death. The subculture is associated with the style of music known as Goth or industrial, also known as "death rock". Their music is characterized by minor chords, with lyrics expressing a downbeat worldview, futility, frustration and despair. 5. Who was Sir John Hale? NYT19990821.0007 Profession? Specialization? Publications? Education? Historian Renaissance "The Civilization o Europe in the Renaissance" (1993) "England & the Italian Renaissance" (1954) "Renaissance War Studies" (1982) "Artists & Warfare in the Renaissance" (1990) BA & MA Oxford '48 & '50 Ph.D Oxford, 1986 (Single document, in this case his obituary, gives me just what I'd want as an answer.) 6. Who is Ellen Sauerbrey? XIE19980623.0078 NYT19981020.0107 NYT19981019-0231 NYT19981027.0425 NYT19991104.0019 NYT19981104.0016 NYT19980707.0295 NYT19981104.0078 NYT19981104.0074 NYT19981031.0016 NYT19981031.0010 NYT19981025.0154 NYT19981025.0153 NYT19981104.0356 NYT19981104.0536 NYT19981104.0515 NYT19881109.0066 APW20000226.0129 NYT19980814.0482 NYT19981105.0035 APW20000727.0007 NYT19981010.0088 APW19991011.0006 Answer what she votes for and what she votes against. What positions has she held or now holds. How does she stand on political issues. Ellen Sauerbrey has twice been a republican candidate for Governor of Maryland. I want to know what jobs she has had or now has. This should include political positions. How does she stand on political issues, i.e., what is she in favor of? What is she against? The mere mention that she is/was a candidate for a political office is not relevant. She lost in both attempts to be Governor of Maryland. She has a conservative position and was accused of having a bad record on environmental issues. Ms. Sauerbrey opposed the state's basic clean water and clear air law. She opposed nearly all measures to protect the Chesapeake Bay. She was well liked by real estate developers and chicken processors for he stand against wetland's protection. She is opposed to abortion and gun control and is strongly in favor of education and economic measures. She was considered weak on civil rights issues. She lives in Baltimore County and taught biology in high school before being elected to the state legislature. She at one time was a member of Frontiers of Freedom. After the second defeat she was chosen to serve on the Republican National Committee for Maryland and a supporter of George W. Bush. 7. What is the Children's Defense Fund? XIE19980505.0252 XIE19970304.0257 XIE19960222.0141 NYT19990820.0207 What percentage of U.S. children live in poverty in the 90's as compared to the percentage in the 60's according to the Children's Defense Fund? Where do they live regionally? Here's the data on U.S. children living in poverty: 1969 South 22.3% Midwest 11.5% Northeast 19.2% Nationally 14% 1993 Nationally 23% 1994 Nationally 20% 1996 South 22.9% West 22.9% Nationally 20.5% 1997 Nationally up 27% over 1996 8. What are gluons? APW20000327.0033 NYT20006209.0356 NYT20000612.0789 NYT20000814.0269 NYT20000209.0287 NYT19980921.0303 NYT20000209.0326 NYT20000209.0360 NYT20000209.0205 NYT19990809.0213 NYT20000209.0148 NYT20000210.0025 What are their characteristics? Gluons, along with quarks, are building blocks of ordinary atomic particles like protons and neutrons. Quantum theory holds that gluons carry the "strong force" that holds atoms together. 9. What is the Hajj? XIE20000930.0266 XIE20000319.0008 XIE20000416.0019 XIE19970826.0067 XIE19990318.0352 Answer the question--What is the Hajj? Name at least five countries that have representatives attending the Hajj pilgrimage. What ideals are supposed to be studied or reexamined at the Hajj? The Hajj is a religious pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. We want to know more about this annual gathering. What countries attend? What do the pilgrims learn or review while there? Name any ritual sites and explain their significance. The Hajj is a religious (Islam) pilgrimage carried on each year by at least 52 Arab countries in the city of Mecca. Mina is one of the ritual sites where the pilgrims climb Mount Arafat. Mount Arafat is the place where Mohammad delivered his final sermon 14 centuries ago. Here the Arabs are told they will be free of their sins at the conclusion of the religious service. This act is the most difficult stage of the Hajj. Two days later they perform prayers that mark the Islamic festival to slain and sacrificed sheep, cattle and camels. The next day they start a three day ritual of the symbolic stoning of the devil. Each pilgrim throws seven pebbles at each of the three different pillars symbolizing the devil. The last day of the Hajj, the pilgrims go around the holy Kaaba in Mecca, which is the oldest house of worship in the world. Some of the countries celebrating the Hajj are Malaysia, Senegal, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, and all the Persian Gulf states. 10. What is Mobilization for Global Justice? APW20000413.0141 NYT20000404.0198 APW20000314.0167 What kind of an organization is Mobilization for Global Justice? What is its mission/purpose, what tactics does it employee/promote, what views does it espouse? Umbrella group coordinators of 250 (in 2000) organizations involved in anti-globalization activities directed at World Bank and IMF Meetings. Claims endorsement of missions by about 450 groups (labor, environmentalists). Opposed to globalization of world economy, wants debt forgiveness for poorest nations. Wants to deter world capitalism from allegedly running roughshod over human rights and the environment. Organizes demonstrations, blockades, parades to disrupt/shut down World Bank & IMF sessions. Claims non-violence and no property destruction are intended. Mobilization for Global Justice is an umbrella organization which coordinates the activities of entities/groups engaged in anti-globalization activities directed at disruption/shutdown of World Bank and IMF meetings. These entities are opposed to the globalization of the world economy and in favor of debt forgiveness for the poorest nations. They "seek to deter world capitalism from running roughshod over human rights and the environment." Mobilization for Global Justice organizes demonstrations, blockades, parades, etc. intended to disrupt and shut down their targets' meetings; non-violence and no property destruction are claimed as intentions. 11. Who is Carol Tucker Foreman? NYT20000724.0458 NYT20000724.0456 APW19990122.0036 APW19990122.0036 APW20000525.0148 NYT19990211.0452 The desired answers include any of a list of titles held by Ms. Foreman. A list of Ms. Foreman's titles includes: Asst. Secretary of USDA Director, Food Policy Institute of Consumer Federation of America Lobbyist Coordinator, Safe Food Coalition Partner, Foreman & Heidepriem 12. What is Planned Parenthood? NYT19990820.0007 NYT19991124.0018 NYT19990707.0078 NYT19990915.0484 APW20000607.0044 APW20000606.0097 NYT19990410.0202 XIE19970427.0043 XIE19990414.0040 XIE19961109.0111 XIE19960610.0330 NYT19991020.0091 NYT19990819.0082 XIE19960131.0174 XIE19980710.0033 APW20000710.0195 NYT19991123.0405 APW19990720.0042 Planned Parenthood is a family planning organization, sometimes associated with abortion as a means of family planning. 13. Who is Christopher Reeve? APW19990130.0086 APW19990130.0035 APW20000312.0034 What is the name and what are the purpose and level of fund raising success of his charitable organization The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation is dedicated to supporting research to find a cure for spinal cord paralysis. Between March 1999 and March 2000 the Foundation raised $9 million. 14. What are nanoparticles? XIE19970214.0005 NYT20000316.0422 What are nanoparticles and in which fields have researchers successfully applied them? Nanoparticles are minute spherical bodies, only a few millionths of a millimeter in diameter. Researchers have demonstrated their successful application to cancer treatment and computer memory design. 15. What is the Nature Conservancy? APW20000720.0229 NYT19980911.0094 NYT19981215.0421 NYT20000316.0444 NYT20000610.0156 NYT20000503.0228 APW20000930.0215 APW19990627.0076 What are its goals? What are its accomplishments? The Nature Conservancy is a nationwide nonprofit organization that attempts to balance the interests of property overseas, the business community and environmental groups. The NC worldwide protects millions of acres of wilderness through purchase and other legal measures. 16. Who was Truman Capote? NYT19991113.0053 NYT20000513.0150 APW19990204.0134 APW19990526.0187 APW19990521.0060 NYT19991122.0487 APW19990209.0297 APW19990705.0118 APW19990210.0289 NYT19981028.0343 NYT19990521.0148 NYT20000326.0075 XIE20000111.0224 APW19990429.0162 NYT19980708.0163 NYT19980710.0340 What books did he write? Where did he live? What controversy was discussed about him? I want to find out who Truman Capote was. I want to know what books he authored. Where he lived. What was his lifestyle. What controversy was he or his work involved in and any discussion about them. Truman Capote lived in Monroeville, Alabama in his early life. His most famous book, "In Cold Blood", was claimed to be a non-fiction account of a Kansas family who was brutally murdered. Some literary critics claimed it was more fiction than non-fiction and stated they did not trust him. He also authored "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "The Thanksgiving Visitor," and "A Christmas Memory." Truman Capote's lifestyle was hinted as being homosexual which during this period of time was more frowned upon than it would be today. 17. What is a battery? NYT19981118.0222 NYT19981118.0235 XIE19980428.0263 APW19990812.0151 APW19990825.0138 NYT19990316.0070 XIE19981127.0193 NYT19991028.0219 NYT19991103.0266 Find out what materials go into making a battery. Explain the different types of batteries and how they are used. We need to know how a battery works. Information on what makes a battery have a longer life is more important than a comparison of which kind of battery lives longer. Batteries are used in practically everything we do. Our project is to find out what batteries are made of and what distinguishes one type of battery from another. Batteries are made in cell packs and button-size disks, and last from days to months and even years. All modern batteries generate electricity by use of an electrochemical reaction. Generally two electrodes are inserted--one positive (a cathode) and one negative (an anode)--into a material called an electrolyte, which helps the flow of energy between electrodes. The electrodes can be liquid or solid. When a battery runs down the anode and cathode reach a state where they can no longer pass electrons between them. Batteries store energy not electricity. Batteries date back to 1790. Zinc carbon batteries have given away to Alkaline batteries. Over the years batteries have used manganese dioxide, zinc, nickel, lithium salts, hydrogen-absorbing alloys and potassium hydroxide. 18. Who is Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin? APW19990512.0179 NYT19990512.0347 APW19990513.0046 NYT19990513.0009 NYT19990512.0368 NYT19990512.0366 NYT19990512.0484 NYT19990512.0442 NYT19990512.0421 NYT19990513.0094 NYT19990513.0093 Howard A.B 1960. York Law School 1964. Experience first, then long association with Goldman Sachs & Leon, investment bankers. 1966-1992. 1992-Director of Economic Council in White House. 1995-Treasury Secretary. Resigned 1999. Rubin, along with Greenspan credited with reducing deficit which led to 1990's boom. Highly respected. 19. What is asceticism? NYT20000507.0073 NYT19981205.0185 NYT20000720.0206 NYT20000224.0271 NYT19991031.0160 NYT19991101.0019 Asceticism is the practice of strict austerity---denial of the normal pleasures of life. 20. What is Yahoo!? APW19991113.0039 NYT20000313.0439 NYT20000627.0081 NYT19990527.0299 APW19990128.0358 NYT20000227.0192 NYT20000207.0514 XIE20000112.0276 NYT20000711.0346 NYT20000208.0015 NYT20000405.0439 What kind of organization, who are it leaders? Yahoo! is an internet portal and World Wide Web search engine company. It's leadership (most current information available) is as follows: David Filo-co-founder Jerry Yang-co-founder Tim Koogle-chairman, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Mallett-President, Chief Operating Officer Sue L. Dicker-Chief Financial Officer 21. What is Aum Shinrikyo? APW20000129.0231 NYT19991102.0228 NYT19981010.0042 NYT20000301.0368 NYT20000227.0181 NYT20000118.0152 APW20000129.0044 APW19981226.0326 An acceptable answer includes actions taken by Aum Shinrikyo after it was accused of the gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Since the nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subways in 1985 which was most probably the work of members of Aum Shinrikyo, the group has changed its name to Aleph, started a new PC company and a victim's fund (for subway gassing victims). Sought new facilities and members, started an advertising campaign to improve their image, raised funds, paid for the support of the children of their founder and gone bankrupt. 22. Who is Barbara Kingsolver? NYT19981015.0063 NYT19981013.034 NYT19981013.133 NYT19981015.0200 NYT19981006.0084 NYT19981020.0096 NYT19981015.1034 NYT19981015.0108 Popular American writer. Wrote "The Bean Tree," "Pigs in Heaven," "Animal Dreams," "High Tide in Tucson," "The Poisonwood Bible," "Prodigal Summer." Her works usually involve social, political or environmental issues. 23. What is the religious right? NYT19981110.0084 NYT20000224.0089 NYT20000224.0088 NYT19981111.0169 NYT19981106.0278 NYT19981106.0276 NYT19981105.1093 NYT19981105.0192 NYT19980604.0372 What are the beliefs of members of the religious right and how influential are they as a group? Members of the religious right are an assortment of Christian faiths that include televangelists, evangelists, and traditional conservatives who oppose abortion rights and have other extremely conservative views. Since Ronald Reagan's time the religious right has wielded great political influence on the Republican party. 24. What is fibromyalgia? NYT20000731.0198 an ailment characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain has no accepted physiological explanation symptoms of fibromyalgia are often made worse by weather, stress or inappropriate exercise fibromyalgia patients typically lack restorative sleep, which can result in chronic fatigue and heightened sensitivity 25. What is Shining Path? XIE19971003.0205 APW19980809.055 APW19980817.0917 APW20000202.1098 APW19981102.1138 XIE19991107.0026 APW20000202.0176 APW19980805.1121 APW20000208.0274 APW20000207.0127 APW19990714.0275 NYT19990828.0078 XIE19960518.0213 XIE19991010.1085 APW19980730.1163 APW19980924.7334 Looking for information on what kind of group it is, its leadership, origins, ideology, numbers of members, what kind if activities and where. Shining Path is a Maoist guerrilla group operating in Peru. It was founded in 1980 in Ayachucho province by intellectual and University Professor Abimaal Guzman. It is Peru's largest and most violent rebel group, although, since the 1998 capture of Guzman, its numbers and activities have greatly diminished. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Shining Path militants numbered around 10,000. Currently there are less than 1,000 rebels. Shining Path's founder and leader was captured in 1992 and is serving a life sentence in prison. In July of 1998, its chief strategist and last remaining commander, Oscar Rosnireg Durant, was captured and is now also serving a life sentence. Also captured in 1998 was its number 3 leader, Jenny Rodreguiz Neyra and Cecelia Rosana Nunez Chipana, who was extradited from Venezuela. The epicenter of Shining Path's activities was Ayachucho province during the 1980's and early 1990's. Currently, most of its activities are carried out in the remote parts of Peru, in the northern Amazon jungle, central Peru, and the southern mountain jungle. Over the years, Shining Path has massacred 1,000's. It's activities include bombing or knocking down electrical towers, car bombing, looting, intimidation, executing supposed "police collaborators" and informers, and disruption of local and national elections. Much of the group's violence is aimed at intimidating people from participating in elections. They often execute local officials to stop them from running in an election or to create a power vacuum. Although Shining Path activities and numbers have greatly diminished since the early 1990's, they do continue and have stepped up in early 2000, with a presidential election coming in April.