Since prehistoric times, France has been a crossroads of trade, migrations, and invasions. Four basic European ethnic stocks - Celtic (Gallic and Breton), Aquitanian (Basque related), Latin, and Germanic (Franks, Visigoths, Burgundians, Vikings) - have blended over the centuries to make up its present population. Besides these "historic" populations, new populations have migrated to France since the 19th century: Belgians, Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Poles, Armenians, Jews from Eastern Europe and the Maghreb, Arabs and Berbers from the ...

See also:

France, France - Geography, France - History, France - Government and politics, France - Military, France - Administrative divisions, France - Economy, France - Demographics, France - Population, France - Languages, France - Cities, France - Culture, France - Marianne, France - Religion, France - Terminology, France - Origin of the country's name, France - Meanings of the name France, France - Miscellaneous topics, France - International rankings, France - Notes and references

Read more here: » France: Encyclopedia II - France - Demographics

Blues - Origins. There are few characteristics common to all blues, because the genre takes its shape from the peculiarities of individual performances.[4] However, some characteristics have been present since before the creation of the modern blues and are common to most styles of African American music. The earliest blues-like music was a "functional expression, rendered in a call-and-response style without accompaniment ...

See also:

Blues, Blues - Characteristics, Blues - Origins, Blues - Lyrics, Blues - Musical style, Blues - History, Blues - Origins, Blues - Prewar blues, Blues - Early postwar blues, Blues - Blues in the '60s and '70s, Blues - Blues from the 1980s to the present, Blues - Musical impact, Blues - Social impact, Blues - Notes

Read more here: » Blues: Encyclopedia II - Blues - Characteristics

Soap opera - Plots and storylines. Most soaps follow the lives of a group of characters who live or work in a particular place. The storylines follow the day-to-day lives of these characters. In many soap operas, in particular US daytime serials, the characters are generally more handsome, beautiful, seductive, and wealthy than the typical person watching the show. This is true to a lesser extent in Australian and UK soap operas which largely focus on more everyday characters and situations. Many Australian and U ...

See also:

Soap opera, Soap opera - Development of the soap opera, Soap opera - Soap opera characteristics, Soap opera - Plots and storylines, Soap opera - Soap music, Soap opera - Soaps in the United States, Soap opera - The Golden Age of American television, Soap opera - American soaps: for the evening too, Soap opera - Evolution of US daytime soaps, Soap opera - Characteristics of American soaps today, Soap opera - Current American daytime television schedule, Soap opera - Soaps in the United Kingdom, Soap opera - Soaps in Australia, Soap opera - Soap parodies

Read more here: » Soap opera: Encyclopedia II - Soap opera - Soap opera characteristics

Syracuse New York - Geography. Syracuse is located at 43°2'49" North, 76°8'40" West (43.046899, -76.144423)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 66.4 km² (25.6 mi²). 65.0 km² (25.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.4 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.15% water, with the major water body being Onondaga Lake. The city is seen as the northeast gateway to the Finger Lakes Region. The city has many vibrant neighborhoods ...

See also:

Syracuse New York, Syracuse New York - History, Syracuse New York - Geography and climate, Syracuse New York - Geography, Syracuse New York - Climate, Syracuse New York - Demographics, Syracuse New York - Economy, Syracuse New York - Top employers, Syracuse New York - Future, Syracuse New York - Neighborhoods, Syracuse New York - Colleges and universities, Syracuse New York - Arts and culture, Syracuse New York - Transportation, Syracuse New York - Public transportation, Syracuse New York - Commute, Syracuse New York - Rail, Syracuse New York - Bus, Syracuse New York - Air service, Syracuse New York - Roads, Syracuse New York - Government, Syracuse New York - Executive, Syracuse New York - Legislative, Syracuse New York - Judicial, Syracuse New York - Media, Syracuse New York - Newspapers, Syracuse New York - Television, Syracuse New York - Religion, Syracuse New York - Sports, Syracuse New York - Professional, Syracuse New York - College, Syracuse New York - List of famous Syracusans, Syracuse New York - Syracuse in film and television, Syracuse New York - Sites of interest, Syracuse New York - Events

Read more here: » Syracuse New York: Encyclopedia II - Syracuse New York - Geography and climate

Armenians have their own highly distinctive alphabet and language. 96% of the people in the country speak Armenian, while 75.8% of the population speaks Russian as well. The adult literacy rate in Armenia is 99% [4]. Most adults in Yerevan can communicate in Russian, while English is increasing in popularity. Caucasian hospitality is legendary and stems from ancient tradition. Social gatherings focused around sumptuous presentations of course after course of elaborately prepared, well-seasoned (but not spicy-hot) food. The host or hos ...

See also:

Armenia, Armenia - Origin of the name, Armenia - History, Armenia - Politics, Armenia - Administrative Provinces, Armenia - Geography, Armenia - Economy, Armenia - Demographics, Armenia - Culture, Armenia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Armenia: Encyclopedia II - Armenia - Culture

Slavic mythology - Supreme god. The original supreme god of the Slavs was probably Rod. Information about Rod worship is scarce. In some branches of the Slavic religion, the supreme god is Svarog (senior member of Triglav). But exactly because of his nature he was not the most worshiped: that was Perun, while tribes that were occupied mostly with cattle could pay most attention to Veles and so on. The Wendish people are said to have had the three-headed Triglav as their supreme god. Sometimes this god is referred ...

See also:

Slavic mythology, Slavic mythology - Primary sources, Slavic mythology - Cosmology, Slavic mythology - Major feasts, Slavic mythology - Gods, Slavic mythology - Supreme god, Slavic mythology - Pantheon, Slavic mythology - Locations, Slavic mythology - Mythical creatures, Slavic mythology - Mythical persons, Slavic mythology - Spirits, Slavic mythology - Slavic folk medicine and magic, Slavic mythology - Circles

Read more here: » Slavic mythology: Encyclopedia II - Slavic mythology - Gods

A lush green valley appeared in front of the early 1800s French-Canadian fur-trappers like an oasis rising out of the dry, brown high desert. Overcome with excitement, they are rumored to have exclaimed "Les bois!" literally translated as "The woods!" in French. This historic utterance not only named a city, but also established Boise's nickname, "City of Trees." It wasn't long before the Hudson Bay Company, also drawn to the Boise River's fertile ground, established Fort Boise in 1834, near present-day Parma. The Fort's most famous g ...

See also:

Boise, Idaho, Boise, Idaho - Introduction, Boise, Idaho - History, Boise, Idaho - Geography, Boise, Idaho - Demographics, Boise, Idaho - 2005 figures, Boise, Idaho - 2000 Census, Boise, Idaho - Economy, Boise, Idaho - Education, Boise, Idaho - Culture, Boise, Idaho - Major attractions, Boise, Idaho - Media, Boise, Idaho - Transportation

Read more here: » Boise, Idaho: Encyclopedia II - Boise, Idaho - History

A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely with the flow of vehicular traffic. Pedestrian crossings are often at intersections, but may also be at other points on busy roads that would otherwise be perilous to attempt to cross. They are common near schools or in other areas where there are a large number of children. ...

Including:

• Pedestrian crossing - Pedestrian crossings in the United Kingdom
• Pedestrian crossing - Crosswalks in North America
• Pedestrian crossing - Enhancements for disabled users

Read more here: » Pedestrian crossing: Encyclopedia - Pedestrian crossing

Zaragoza (sometimes still Saragossa in English; Latin Caesaraugusta) is the capital city of the autonomous region and former kingdom of Aragón in Spain, and is located on the river Ebro, and its tributaries the Huerva and Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a great valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains. According to data from Zaragoza council from 1 January 2004, the population of the city of Zaragoza was 641,581. The population of t ...

Including:

• Zaragoza - Demography
• Zaragoza - Lugares de interés
• Zaragoza - History
• Zaragoza - Future

Read more here: » Zaragoza: Encyclopedia - Zaragoza

Blues - Origins. Main article: Origins of the blues Blues has evolved from the spare music of poor black laborers into a wide variety of complex styles and subgenres, spawning regional variations across the United States and, later, Europe, Africa and elsewhere. What is now considered "blues" as well as modern "country music" arose at approximately the same time and place during the nineteenth century in the southern United States. Recorded blues and country can be found from as far bac ...

See also:

Blues, Blues - Characteristics, Blues - Origins, Blues - Lyrics, Blues - Musical style, Blues - History, Blues - Origins, Blues - Prewar blues, Blues - Early postwar blues, Blues - Blues in the '60s and '70s, Blues - Blues from the 1980s to the present, Blues - Musical impact, Blues - Social impact, Blues - Notes

Read more here: » Blues: Encyclopedia II - Blues - History

Associated TeleVision Limited, later ATV Network and best known simply as ATV, was a British ITV company from 1955 until 1981. Associated TeleVision - Formation. The company was formed from the merger of the Associated Broadcasting Development Company (known as ABDC and under the control of Norman Collins) and the Incorporated Television Programme Company (known as ITC and under the control of Prince Littler and Lew Grade). Both companies had applied for a contract to become one of the ...

Including:

• Associated TeleVision - Formation
• Associated TeleVision - Broadcasting
• Associated TeleVision - Loss of franchise
• Associated TeleVision - Names used
• Associated TeleVision - Popular programmes

Read more here: » Associated TeleVision: Encyclopedia - Associated TeleVision

Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the English West Midlands. It is commonly considered to be England's "second city" and is the largest of England's core cities. The City of Birmingham has a population of 992,400 (2004 estimate). It also forms part of the large West Midlands conurbation, which has a population of 2,284,093 (2001 census) and includes several neighbouring towns and cities, such as Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Wolverhampton, the towns of the Black ...

Including:

• Birmingham - History
• Birmingham - Geography
• Birmingham - Economy
• Birmingham - Architecture
• Birmingham - Politics
• Birmingham - Places of interest
• Birmingham - Famous residents
• Birmingham - Transport
• Birmingham - Education
• Birmingham - Sport
• Birmingham - Food & drink
• Birmingham - Culture and arts
• Birmingham - Popular music
• Birmingham - Classical music
• Birmingham - Theatre
• Birmingham - Literature
• Birmingham - Visual art
• Birmingham - Festivals and shows
• Birmingham - Film and media
• Birmingham - Science and invention
• Birmingham - Partner cities

Read more here: » Birmingham: Encyclopedia - Birmingham

A box set (or boxed set) refers to one or more recordings, movies and television programs that are contained in a "box" made generally out of cardboard. Box set - Notable music recording box sets. (list in order of release date) Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live/1975-85 - Bruce Springsteen (1986) Crossroads - Eric Clapton (1988) The Beatles Box Set - The Beatles (1988) The Good, the Bad and the Live - Metallica ( ...

Including:

• Box set - Notable music recording box sets
• Box set - Record labels specializing in boxed sets

Read more here: » Box set: Encyclopedia - Box set

Alien Love Secrets is an EP made by Steve Vai in 1995. It was written as a stripped-down guitar, bass and drums record with minimal keyboards. Alien Love Secrets was released in the middle of the recording process of the 1996 album Fire Garden, as Vai wished to keep a steady output, and the 70 plus minutes of Fire Garden were taking too long to release at an acceptable interval after Sex and Religion. Notable tracks include "Bad Horsie" (derived from a riff Vai played in the movie Crossroads), "Ya-Yo Gakk", which is base ...

Including:

• Alien Love Secrets - Track Listing

Read more here: » Alien Love Secrets: Encyclopedia - Alien Love Secrets

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American pop singer and dancer, occasional actor and songwriter, most popular in 1999 and the early 2000s. Her career encompasses chart-topping records, high-profile advertising, and forays into acting and reality television. She remains popular throughout the world despite controversy surrounding the perceived sexual nature of her music and image. Britney Spears - Biography. Britney Spears - Childhood and discovery. Born to Jami ...

Including:

• Britney Spears - Biography
• Britney Spears - Childhood and discovery
• Britney Spears - 1998–2001: Early commercial success
• Britney Spears - 2001–2004: Artistic development
• Britney Spears - 2004-present: Career hiatus
• Britney Spears - Controversy
• Britney Spears - Career achievements
• Britney Spears - Voice
• Britney Spears - Trivia
• Britney Spears - Discography
• Britney Spears - Filmography
• Britney Spears - Miscellaneous
• Britney Spears - Books
• Britney Spears - DVDs
• Britney Spears - Select merchandise
• Britney Spears - Tours

Read more here: » Britney Spears: Encyclopedia - Britney Spears

See also: 1973 in television, other events of 1974, 1975 in television and the list of 'years in television'. For the American network television schedule, please see 1974-75 American network television schedule. 1974 in television - Events. February 8 - The Secret Storm airs its 5195th and final episode. The show is replaced ten days later by Tattletales, a game show hosted by Bert Convy. March 13 - The Execution of Private Slovik. A made for television fil ...

Including:

• 1974 in television - Events
• 1974 in television - Debuts
• 1974 in television - Television shows
• 1974 in television - Ending this year
• 1974 in television - Births
• 1974 in television - Deaths

Read more here: » 1974 in television: Encyclopedia - 1974 in television

The mythology of the Yoruba is sometimes claimed by its supporters to be one of the world's oldest widely practised religions. It is a major religion in Africa, chiefly in Nigeria, and it has given origin to several New World religions such as Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil. Yoruba mythology is only one part of itan — the complex of myths, songs, histories and other cultural concepts which make up the Yorùbá religion and society. Yoruba mythology - Deities. Yoruba deities are called O ...

Including:

• Yoruba mythology - Deities
• Yoruba mythology - The Orisha
• Yoruba mythology - Other concepts
• Yoruba mythology - Yoruba mythology in the New World
• Yoruba mythology - External link

Read more here: » Yoruba mythology: Encyclopedia - Yoruba mythology

See also: 1966 in television, other events of 1967, 1968 in television and the list of 'years in television'. For the American network television schedule, please see 1967-68 American network television schedule. 1967 in television - Events. January 15 - The Rolling Stones appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. At Sullivan's request, the band changed their lyrics from "Let's spend the night together" to "Let's spin some time together". February 23 - A taped appearance by The Bea ...

Including:

• 1967 in television - Events
• 1967 in television - Debuts
• 1967 in television - Television shows
• 1967 in television - Ending this year
• 1967 in television - Births

Read more here: » 1967 in television: Encyclopedia - 1967 in television

Daniel Edward Aykroyd, C.M. (born July 1, 1952 in Ottawa) is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. He was an original and innovative cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of the Blues Brothers, and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter. Dan Aykroyd - Early life. Aykroyd's father, Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, was a policy adviser to Pierre Trudeau's government; his mother, Lorraine Gougeon, was French-Canadian. Dan Aykroyd was born with synd ...

Including:

• Dan Aykroyd - Early life
• Dan Aykroyd - Saturday Night Live
• Dan Aykroyd - Blues and the Blues Brothers
• Dan Aykroyd - Film career
• Dan Aykroyd - Family and honors
• Dan Aykroyd - Filmography

Read more here: » Dan Aykroyd: Encyclopedia - Dan Aykroyd

The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on a pentatonic scale and a characteristic twelve-bar chord progression. The form evolved in the United States in the communities of former African slaves from spirituals, praise songs, field hollers, shouts, and chants. The use of blue notes and the prominence of call-and-response patterns in the music and lyrics are indicative of the blues' West African pedigree. The blues has been a major influence on later American and Western popular music, finding expression in ragtime, jazz, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, hip-hop, and count ...

Including:

• Blues - Characteristics
• Blues - Origins
• Blues - Lyrics
• Blues - Musical style
• Blues - History
• Blues - Origins
• Blues - Prewar blues
• Blues - Early postwar blues
• Blues - Blues in the '60s and '70s
• Blues - Blues from the 1980s to the present
• Blues - Musical impact
• Blues - Social impact
• Blues - Notes

Read more here: » Blues: Encyclopedia - Blues

See also: 1976 in television, other events of 1977, 1978 in television and the list of 'years in television'. For the American network television schedule, please see 1977-78 American network television schedule. 1977 in television - Events. January 15 - Bill Murray joins the cast of Saturday Night Live, replacing Chevy Chase who left the previous year. February 1 - Colour television transmissions commence in Italy, under the RAI banner of television channels. Fe ...

Including:

• 1977 in television - Events
• 1977 in television - Debuts
• 1977 in television - Miniseries
• 1977 in television - Television shows
• 1977 in television - Ending this year
• 1977 in television - Changes of network affiliation
• 1977 in television - Births
• 1977 in television - Deaths

Read more here: » 1977 in television: Encyclopedia - 1977 in television