History.

In 1998, director Mike Clattenburg wrote and directed a short film titled "One Last Shot," which was shot in black-and-white. The film followed the exploits of two friends, Rob (Robb Wells) and Gary Williams or GW (John Paul Tremblay), although it is not based in the same setting as Trailer Park Boys. It was the first time Robb, John Paul and John Dunsworth worked together. In the 1999 feature film "Trailer Park Boys," the character Julian states to the camera that he wanted his life to be documented after receiving a telephone psychic's prediction that he would die soon. He hoped that the film would deter others from the life of crime he had chosen.  The feature film was shown at the Atlantic Film Festival in 1999, and it caught the attention of producer Barrie Dunn, who saw the potential for a TV series. Clattenburg and Dunn, along with Wells and Tremblay, worked on a proposal for a 13-episode season of the show and traveled to Toronto to pitch the show to The Comedy Network. After being turned down, they suddenly decided to pitch the show to Showcase before returning home to Nova Scotia.  They found that the network was receptive and sent them back with a commitment to a first season, with the provision that a second experienced producer (which ended up being Michael Volpe) be brought on board to assist the team. The first six 30-minute episodes were then written and filmed. Some modifications were made to the characters and storyline for the series, and more humor was added to the series in comparison to the film.  The biggest change from film to series was the addition of Mike Smith's "Bubbles" character, who was originally developed for the earlier short film "The Cart Boy", a film that Smith, Wells, Tremblay, and Clattenburg worked on together in 1995. Smith's character soon grew from a recurring character to one of the show's primary protagonists (although in the earlier film, "Bubbles" was the name of Smith's character's cat). "Trailer Park Boys" resided with Showcase for its first seven seasons. Beginning with the eighth season, the series was released through Netflix.  Early seasons were shot in various trailer parks in Nova Scotia, but the crew was not welcome to film again due to complaints from residents. Space was purchased and a functional trailer park set was built in Dartmouth for later seasons, giving the staff more freedom than at previous locations. When the series returned from hiatus beginning with Season 8, it was shot at Bible Hill Estates Trailer Park in Truro, Nova Scotia, with every subsequent episode being filmed at that location. After the 12th season, they ceased filming at the location and removed all sets and props from Bible Hill Estates, which still exists as an operating land lease community.

Plot.

Episodes revolve around Sunnyvale Trailer Park residents Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles trying to make money through petty crimes while avoiding the police. Their schemes are complicated by the interference of the park's vindictive alcoholic supervisor Jim Lahey and his assistant and lover, Randy. Ricky and Julian's incompetence is rivaled by Lahey's drunken ineptitude.  Throughout the series, Ricky and Julian (and Bubbles to a lesser degree) end up in and out of jail, with most of their schemes collapsing into failure. Later seasons adopted a cyclical formula: each season finale featured the boys' schemes succeeding, and their future looking optimistic, while the next season's premiere would show them explaining how everything had gone wrong in the interim. Fans learned to expect that seasons would somehow end with some or all of the main characters going to jail.

Characters.

Each character has his or her own trademark mannerism or trait. Julian often takes a leadership role and devises schemes, all while holding a Cuba Libre on the rocks in his hand. Ricky believes himself to be dumb, and his speech is often laced with malapropisms that fans call "Rickyisms"; he lives in a dilapidated 1975 Chrysler New Yorker (nicknamed "the shitmobile"), grows marijuana, and often displays a slovenly appearance. Bubbles wears spectacles that magnify his eyes to an unusual extent, drives a go-kart, lives in a shed with many cats, and gets upset when Ricky and Julian fight; he is the least likely to face any repercussions for the trio's illegal activities. Alcoholic trailer park supervisor and ex-cop Jim Lahey usually attempts to derail the Boys' schemes, and nearly always shoehorns the word "shit" into his cautionary metaphors that fans call "Shitisms." Randy is Lahey's assistant and lover; he never wears a shirt unless he absolutely has to and is often taunted for his large gut and addiction to cheeseburgers.  There are also a number of minor characters. Ricky's wheelchair-bound father Ray is a former trucker and self-declared Calvinist, who is secretly committing disability fraud, in addition to being an alcoholic and gambling addict. Barbara is the trailer park owner and Lahey's promiscuous ex-wife. Cory and Trevor are hapless best friends who assist and idolize Ricky and Julian, often unaware that they will serve as scapegoats when Ricky and Julian's plans inevitably go awry; Jacob later replaces Trevor after his disappearance from Sunnyvale. Lucy is the mother of Ricky's daughter Trinity, while Sarah, a friend, moved in with Lucy after Ricky's first imprisonment. J-Roc is a white aspiring rapper who genuinely thinks he is black; he is rarely seen without his friend Tyrone, who actually is black.

Departures.

Cory and Trevor.

In addition to his role as Trevor, Michael Jackson was also a production assistant behind the scenes for seasons 2–6. During this time, Jackson and many of the other actors on the show were paid minimum scale (wage) despite the show's growing success. Tension grew between the producers (Barrie Dunn and Mike Volpe) and Jackson due to working conditions and creative disagreements. Jackson gave notice that he would leave the show after season 6, as he was close friends with the series' creator Mike Clattenburg. Although Jackson had one more season to fulfill on his contract, no legal action was taken against him.  The producers and writers did not directly address the issue of Cory and Trevor leaving the show at the end of season 6, even though they knew of their impending departure for some time beforehand. Their departure from Sunnyvale was addressed in season 7 and their names have been part of the continuing storyline. Cory Bowles returned for Season 8 as part of the show's Netflix reboot and has since appeared in each following season, with Jacob Rolfe's Jacob Collins character filling Jackson's role as Cory's sidekick, as Jackson declined to return to the show. In season eight, Cory explained that he and Trevor were exploring the world, but got separated on a subway train in New York City. In season 10, Bowles is credited as a director on some episodes.

Ray.

Barrie Dunn, who played Ricky's father Ray LaFleur, was last involved with the franchise in the 2014 film "", which served as a farewell to the character, as Dunn wished to focus full-time on his law career.

Philadelphia "Phil" Collins.

Richard Collins, who portrayed Jacob Collins's father Philadelphia "Phil" Collins in Seasons 4–7, died of a heart attack on April 15, 2013, during the filming of "Don't Legalize It", which was his last appearance in the franchise.

Lucy.

On April 2, 2016, Lucy DeCoutere announced that she was resigning from the show after co-star Mike Smith was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman (all charges were dropped within one month due to lack of evidence). Later that day, publicist Sheila Roberts said that DeCoutere had informed the show's producers a few weeks before Smith's arrest that she would not be returning for the show's next season.

J-Roc.

On April 20, 2016, Jonathan Torrens announced that he had also left the show, tweeting, "Playing J-Roc has truly been one of the greatest pleasures & privileges of my life. But it's time to hang up the ol' do-rag." In response to fans' reactions, he tweeted, "Truly moved & humbled by all your best wishes and kind words. The real legacy of "Trailer Park Boys" will always be the loyalty of its fans." Torrens' last appearance as J-Roc with the rest of the cast was on "Trailer Park Boys Podcast" episode 33, released March 18, 2016.

Jim Lahey.

On October 16, 2017, actor John Dunsworth, who played Jim Lahey, died after a short illness. Filming for the twelfth season had begun in June 2017 and concluded in August, marking his final appearance on the show. The final episode of Season 12 featured a tribute to Dunsworth.

Style.

The series is shot in a mockumentary style (including the use of long takes), featuring handheld camera work. Characters often speak directly to crew members, who frequently become involved in the plot. In one episode, a crewman is shot; in another, one is tased by Jim Lahey. The show is loosely scripted, with much of the dialogue ad-libbed from basic plot points. These aspects are intended to evoke a sense of realism. The trio have stated that many of the show's most popular moments were not in the script.  Furthering the myth that "Trailer Park Boys" is nonfiction, many of the actors (particularly Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith, John Dunsworth and Patrick Roach) often make public appearances in character.

Reception.

The show became very successful in many countries. The show's lead trio formerly toured with Our Lady Peace, with whom Bubbles sings his trademark song "Liquor and Whores". On January 13, 2017, Trailer Park Boys and Bubbles finally released "Liquor & Whores" as an EDM track produced by Canadian Multi-Platinum producer, Marc Mysterio on Sony Music. The Trailer Park Boys have also appeared in music videos with The Tragically Hip, while Bubbles has appeared with George Canyon and Snow, and they have been presenters at numerous award shows – always in character. Several famous artists appear on the show, such as Alex Lifeson from Rush in "Closer to the Heart," singer Rita MacNeil in the season four finale "Working Man," Brian Vollmer from Helix, Sebastian Bach from Skid Row, and the late singer-songwriter Denny Doherty of The Mamas and the Papas in the season seven finale "".  The show is a great success for the cable network Showcase, where it is the network's highest-rated Canadian series. It airs in Australia on The Comedy Channel, in the United Kingdom and Spain on Paramount Comedy, in the Republic of Ireland on 3e, in Iceland on SkjárEinn, in New Zealand on TV 2, in Israel on Xtra Hot, in the Netherlands on Comedy Central Netherlands, in Denmark on DR2, in Portugal on SIC Radical, in Germany on Comedy Central Germany, in Finland on Nelonen, in Bulgaria on Nova Television, and in Poland on Comedy Central Polska. In the United States, BBC America formerly aired a censored version of the show, but it is no longer part of their lineup. On February 5, 2009, satellite provider DirecTV began airing the series in the United States on its channel The 101 Network, uncensored, at the rate of two episodes per week. DirecTV aired the entire seven-season run of "Trailer Park Boys", plus both specials. All episodes aired on DirecTV are in widescreen format (although not in High Definition resolution), as opposed to the standard definition aspect DVD releases of the first five seasons. It is also available on Netflix.  Actors John Dunsworth, John Paul Tremblay, and Robb Wells can be seen in the 2002 movie "Virginia's Run" starring Gabriel Byrne and Joanne Whalley. John Dunsworth plays a local cop while John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells play active and verbal townsmen similar to their "Trailer Park Boys" characters. Actors are credited as the cop for John Dunsworth, J.P. for John Paul Tremblay (credits as J.P. Tremblay), and Robb Wells as Rob. The movie was filmed in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

Films.

"Trailer Park Boys: The Movie".

The second "Trailer Park Boys" movie to be produced (the first being the original black and white production that sparked the series), "" (also known as "The Big Dirty") was released on October 6, 2006, and distributed by Alliance Atlantis. Ivan Reitman produced the movie, Mike Clattenburg directed it, and Clattenburg and Robb Wells co-wrote it. It was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Motion Picture, but did not win. This movie and later on the second one also paved the way for its popularity in the U.S.

"Countdown to Liquor Day".

The franchise's second feature film, "Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day", was released in Canada on September 25, 2009. The movie serves as sequel to the last televised episode, "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys".

"Don't Legalize It".

In May 2012, Mike Clattenburg announced on his Twitter page that a third and final film in the "Trailer Park Boys" franchise was in development. Principal photography for the third and final installment was scheduled to begin in October 2012, but was pushed back to March 2013; filming began on March 17, 2013. On April 20, 2013, the production moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where filming took place at Parliament Hill during the 4/20 weekend. Entertainment One announced that the third and final film, titled "", would be released in Canada on April 18, 2014. The film picks up shortly after where Season 7 of the TV show left off, and centres around Ricky's concerns that if the Canadian government legalized and controlled marijuana sale, it would put his grow-op out of business.

Specials.

Trailer Park Boys: Xmas Special  In 2004, the Christmas Special was made featuring Randy, J-Roc, Barb, and Jim Lahey in a flashback time setting before the time of the pilot episode. The movie sheds background insight on the origins of Sunnyvale Trailer Park and the characters.

"Live in Fuckin' Dublin".

Footage from the trio's May 9, 2013, performance at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, the Ricky, Julian and Bubbles Community Service Variety Show, was collected for a concert film. The live show contains an introduction and epilogue shot in the format of a "Trailer Park Boys" episode, with the premise that the boys are arrested in Dublin and forced to serve community service by staging a puppet show discouraging drug and alcohol use. Some elements from the television series return in "Live in Fuckin' Dublin", such as Alex Lifeson's (from the band Rush) feud with Ricky, Ricky's inadvertently gluing objects to his nose, and Conky's many resurrections. The film was released on June 1, 2014. The season 8 episode "Community Service and a Boner Made with Love" contains a similar premise.

"Live at the North Pole".

On November 15, 2014, Netflix released a new 90-minute special, titled "Trailer Park Boys: Live at the North Pole". This is a concert film of their choice. It was filmed on location at the State Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Drunk, High, and Unemployed (Live in Austin)".

Ricky, Julian and Bubbles bring their trailer park humor out onto the stage for a night of liquor, schemes and an intoxicated acting demo. The boys are at it again in the great state of Texas. Bubbles is auditioning for a movie in Austin, TX, and brings the boys with him. A whole lot of alcohol, drugs and shenanigans await them live on stage.

DVD releases.

Entertainment One (formerly Alliance Home Entertainment) has released all twelve seasons of "Trailer Park Boys" on DVD in Region 1. The Say Goodnight to The Bad Guys special was also released on Blu-ray.

Continuation of "Trailer Park Boys".

The "Trailer Park Boys" franchise has continued past the original run of the television series, almost without interruption. The cast and crew took the summer of 2008 off, but a new special one-hour episode titled "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys" aired in Canada on December 7, 2008. Series creator Mike Clattenburg announced on November 12, 2008, that the special would be followed by a sequel movie scheduled for Canadian release on September 25, 2009 ("Countdown to Liquor Day"), which would be "the end of "Trailer Park Boys"," and that no additional seasons would be made.  In January 2009, the boys were in character at selected venues nationally including Massey Hall in Toronto. They performed the "Ricky, Julian and Bubbles Community Service Variety Show". The premise was that they were fulfilling court order community service and must put on a puppet show aimed at demonstrating the dangers of using alcohol and drugs.  In November 2009, Wells, Tremblay, and Smith announced that they would be starring in a new television series called "The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour", which aired on Action in 2011. The series was given an order of six episodes. The actors also served as writers and executive producers for the series.  In March 2010, the boys did a show in character at Massey Hall in Toronto called "The Ricky, Julian and Bubbles, Drunk, High and Unemployed Tour". The tour expanded throughout 2010 and 2011 with live theatre performances worldwide including the U.S., Canada, UK, and Ireland, with further performances in Australia and New Zealand in 2012.  In November 2010, the boys did a sketch for Funny or Die, called "MashUpPiece Theater: The Wire / Trailer Park Boys".  In February 2012, Wells, Tremblay, and Smith played guest roles on the FX animated series, "Archer", as a radical Nova Scotian separatist terrorist, a compatriot disguised as a Mountie, and a real Mountie, respectively.  In October 2012, Barrie Dunn officially announced a third and final "Trailer Park Boys" film. Filming began in March 2013 and ended in late April. The film was released in Canadian theaters on April 18, 2014.  Two "Trailer Park Boys" actors and one guest star died in early 2013; Brian Huggins, who portrayed Shitty Bill, in March, and both Richard Collins and guest star Rita MacNeil in April.  On July 4, 2013, it was announced that Tremblay, Wells, and Smith acquired the rights to "Trailer Park Boys" and confirmed it would return with an eighth season. Principal production took place from July–September 2013, back on location in an existing mobile home community in Truro, Nova Scotia. In late September 2013, Mike Smith announced on the SwearNet Facebook page that the cast and crew had also returned to the location in September to shoot content for two new specials, that Season 8 had been "rough cut" into ten episodes, and that SwearNet was seeking network deals in addition to its plans to webcast the new material.  On December 27, 2013, Smith confirmed on Twitter that a ninth season will go into production in spring of 2014. Although creator Mike Clattenburg and producers Barrie Dunn and Michael Volpe are not involved, they gave their blessings to Tremblay, Wells, and Smith and are credited as the original creators on the revived series.  On March 5, 2014, Netflix announced that the two new seasons of "Trailer Park Boys" will air exclusively on their streaming service later this year. In addition to season 8 and 9, the network will also air three specials ("Community Service Special", "Swearnet Special", "Trailer Park Boys Xmas") and two new films ("Trailer Park Boys 3: Don't Legalize It" and "Swearnet") after their theatrical release.  A new 80-minute special titled "Trailer Park Boys: Live In Fuckin' Dublin" debuted on June 1, 2014, exclusively on Netflix.  On September 1, 2014, Netflix announced that season 8 of "Trailer Park Boys" would be available on September 5.  On November 15, 2014, Netflix released a new 90-minute special, titled "Trailer Park Boys: Live at the North Pole".  Season 9 of "Trailer Park Boys" was made available on March 27, 2015.  On June 1, 2015, Swearnet officially announced that the production of Season 10 was underway.  On December 9, 2015, a new 75-minute special debuted on Netflix, titled "Trailer Park Boys: Drunk, High, and Unemployed Live In Austin".  On March 28, 2016, Netflix released season 10 of the "Trailer Park Boys". It consisted of 10 episodes and includes appearances from several well-known stars such as Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Kimmel, Doug Benson and Tom Arnold. Two episodes were directed by Bobby Farrelly.  On April 2, 2016, and on April 20, 2016, Lucy DeCoutere and Jonathan Torrens announced they were leaving the show.  On May 30, 2016, filming and production began for Season 11 of "Trailer Park Boys".  On July 5, 2016, filming for Season 11 was completed and editing began.  On October 28, 2016, "Trailer Park Boys Out of the Park: Europe" was made available to stream on Netflix with 8 episodes.  On February 22, it was announced that Season 11 would air March 31, 2017.  On March 31, 2017, Season 11 aired.  On April 20, 2017, an animated, story-driven mobile video game, entitled "Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money" (as the TV show's only video game), was released on Android and IOS devices.  On June 19, 2017, it was announced that filming of the twelfth season is officially underway.  On October 16, 2017, John Dunsworth died at the age of 71, with Season 12 marking his final appearance on the show.  On November 7, 2017, the cast announced through social media that "Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park: USA" would be available on Netflix on November 24, 2017. This is the second season in the "Out of the Park" spin-off series.  Season 12, the final season produced as part of the Netflix deal was made available on March 30, 2018.  On March 31, 2019, was released on Netflix. The second season was released worldwide via Netflix on May 22, 2020.  In October 2019, Smith revealed that filming had begun on another new live-action season.

Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian mockumentary television series. The show focuses on the misadventures of a group of outrageous trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The television series, a continuation of Clattenburg's 1999 film of the same title, premiered on Showcase in 2001. There are three films in the series: "", released on October 6, 2006; "", released on September 25, 2009; and "", released on April 18, 2014.

Trailer Park Boys ist eine kanadische Comedy-Fernsehserie, in welcher der fiktive Alltag einiger Trailer-Park-Bewohner im Stil einer Dokumentation gezeigt wird. Sie gehört somit zum Genre der Mockumentary und beruht auf dem gleichnamigen Pilotfilm aus dem Jahr 1999.


Biography.

After attending elementary school he was trained as a locksmith in Zvole and became a journeyman in 1884. The next two years he travelled a significant part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on foot. After his army service he went to Genoa, where he was hired as a stoker on a ship going to the United States. He did not remain in the US but sailed onto Vladivostok. From 1892 he worked as labourer in Port Arthur on the borders of Russia and China. The next year he went to Irkutsk, where he helped build the Trans-Siberian Railway, but after a few months he left the job and started to walk to Yakutsk, Verkhoyansk, Kolyma and eventually to the New Siberian Islands, where he allegedly lived for the next 28 years. On the New Siberian Islands and later in Alaska Welzl worked as a fur hunter, trader and also acted as an unofficial Justice of the Peace. His activities as the judge when fighting the crime (especially the robberies among the fur traders and moonshine sales) were leaning towards vigilantism and even included lynching the offenders. His business was said to be spread from Franz Josef Land to Northern Canada, where he supplied hunters, gold miners and Arctic explorers with food, medicine, ammunition and other necessities. He also delivered mail by dogsled. He had friendly relationship with the Inuit in Alaska and Canada, as he treated them with respect and without prejudice. He was known among the Inuit as "Bear Eater" and claimed they voted him as their chief. This fact and others about his contacts with the indigenous population of the far north is hard to prove. It is not even certain if he knew the Inuit language, because his examples of 'Eskymo language' in his books are, from a linguistic perspective, questionable or almost nonsensical.  In 1924 Welzl's ship the "Seven Sisters" was wrecked on the Pacific coast of the US where he was interrogated by the American government and deported to Europe. He languished in Hamburg, from where he sent a few letters to Czechoslovakia. The letters initialized his correspondence with the journalist Rudolf Těsnohlídek. He later published the book "Eskymo Welzl" where he used the letters, but he never personally met Welzl himself. It was Welzl's second visit of Europe, when he went to Czechoslovakia. He met with the president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk on 29 November 1928 in Prague and then onto to his hometown of Zábřeh. There Welzl contacted the newspaper "Lidové noviny", where Tesnohlidek used to work. But he was already deceased at that time.  In June 1929 Welzl went through Hamburg to Canada and he settled in Dawson City in Yukon. He longed to return to the New Siberian Islands, but the Soviet government would not allow him. He died on 19 September 1948, in Dawson City and is buried in the public cemetery.

Jan Welzl (15 August 1868, in Zábřeh, Moravia, Austria-Hungary – 19 September 1948, in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada) was a Czech of Moravian ethnicity who was a traveller, adventurer, hunter, gold-digger, Eskimo chief and Chief Justice on New Siberia island, and later a story-teller and writer. He is known under the pseudonym "Eskymo Welzl" or the nickname "Arctic Bismarck".

Jan Welzl, genannt Eskimo Welzl, (* 15. August 1868 in Hohenstadt an der March, Mähren, Österreich-Ungarn; † 19. September 1948 in Dawson, Kanada) war ein tschechischer Abenteurer. Die Bücher über sein Leben in der Arktis wurden in mehrere Sprachen übersetzt und erreichten in den 1930er Jahren hohe Auflagen. Zeitgenössische und moderne Wissenschaftler wiesen jedoch auf zahlreiche grobe Unstimmigkeiten und offensichtliche Erfindungen hin.


Plot Overview.

Friedrich Schneider is a young Jewish boy growing up in an apartment house in Germany, with the narrator as his neighbour and friend. The story starts in 1925 and finishes in 1942 when the narrator is 17. Though the story is told by his non-Jewish friend (Hans Peter Richter or the narrator), Friedrich is the protagonist. We can assume he is Hans Peter Richter. The narrator tells of the persecution of the Jews through Friedrich's eyes. Friedrich is forced to switch to a Jewish school and is thrown out of swimming pools and movie theaters. An angry mob goes to his house and kills his mother (see Pogrom). His father gets fired and has an emotional breakdown. Friedrich finds a girlfriend, Helga, whom he likes, but soon he must stop seeing her, or she will be sent to a concentration camp. Friedrich and his father are forced to do whatever they can to make money to survive. Friedrich helps his father hide a rabbi in their house, but soon Friedrich's father and the rabbi are arrested, and Herr Schneider was probably sent to a concentration camp. Friedrich, who was not home when the police came, now must live in hiding.  During an air raid, Friedrich begs to be allowed into the air raid shelter but is kicked out by the air-raid warden, Herr Resch, who was also their landlord. After the raid, the narrator, his family, Herr Resch, and his wife return to the house. They notice Friedrich on the stoop, apparently unconscious. Herr Resch decides to get rid of him by kicking him, and they realise that Friedrich is dead, killed by shrapnel (not specified). Resch then remarks that Friedrich has died a better death than was expected.

Setting the Scene (1925).

The novel begins with the introduction of a garden gnome named Polycarp. The narrator talks about how he and Friedrich never met: their parents lived in a different apartment building, which was owned by a man named Herr Johann Resch. At first, the Schneiders and the narrator's family were more and dangerous where he can not have in his life because he is dealing with so much already acquaintances, but with the births of the narrator and Friedrich a week apart, they become better friends. The Schneiders' religion is not revealed in this chapter, though it is assumed they are Christian because of how well-off they are. The narrator's father is unemployed, and the birth of the narrator puts a financial strain on his family. However, the narrator is still well received and feels welcomed in his home.

Potato Pancakes (1929).

One day when Friedrich and the narrator are four years old, Friedrich stays with the narrator's family while his mother attends to some business at City Hall. At first, the narrator is reluctant to share his toys with Friedrich and blocks the way to his room, but Friedrich doesn't seem to mind. He takes out a cuckoo whistle and begins blowing into it, and the narrator is fascinated by it. Friedrich gives him the whistle, and the narrator allows Friedrich to play with his toys. They later help the narrator's mother to make potato pancakes, and eventually, both children fight for the first pancake. When Friedrich drops the pancake, they decided to share and eat it from the ground. Because of the mess, the mother allows them to take a bath together, an activity both enjoy very much. This becomes the foundation of their friendship.

Snow (1929).

With the arrival of winter, snow is everywhere, so deep only the tip of Polycarp, Herr Resch's garden gnome, shows above the mounds. Spotting Friedrich and his mother out playing in the snow, the narrator urges his mother to hurry and take him outside. However, his mother is busy with her work, and when she has finally completed it, she goes out with the narrator to play in the snow.

Grandfather (1930).

Hans's grandfather comes to visit and learns of Han's interactions with the Jewish Friedrich. Han's grandfather forbids Hans from playing with Friedrich anymore, although nobody listens.

Friday Evening (1930).

Hans sits in on the majority of a traditional Friday night Jewish tradition (the Sabbath) after playing with Friedrich all day. He gets to see how the Jewish people worship and what they do at the Sabbath dinner. Hans leaves politely shortly after Hans' Mother comes home.

School Begins (1931).

On the first day of school, shortly after school lets out, Hans and Friedrich's families both have a day out at the amusement park. However, since Hans and his family are poor, they are helpless to Schneider's generosity, which makes them feel even poorer. When Hans' father finally jumps at the chance to buy them all photos and licorice, the family has to go without lunch.

The Way to School (1933).

Friedrich and Hans see a doctors' sign with "Jew" scrawled over it, they go to tell the doctor, but he already knows. They see a crowd of people outside a shop, so they push through and see a man with a swastika on his arm and a sign stating "don't buy from Jews" blocking the door. An old lady pushes past the man saying she wants to buy from the shop and everyone stares at her.

The "Jungvolk" (1933).

Hans and Friedrich attend a Hitler Youth camp. The leader explains why the Jews are Germany's enemy. While every other youth can repeat this mantra with no problem, Friedrich finds it hard to repeat. This is the first time Friedrich discovers Hitler's hatred for Jews. He is devastated. He runs out, and Hans is left watching.

The Ball (1933).

Hans and Friedrich were playing with a ball when Hans accidentally threw it into a shopkeeper's window, breaking it. A crowd gathers around. The woman accuses Friedrich of breaking her shop window and trying to steal and insulted him for being a Jew. Hans immediately confessed to breaking her window and denied that Friedrich was trying to steal. The woman disbelieved him. Someone had called the police, and the woman explained the attempted 'burglary' of her shop, while Hans defended Friedrich. Then, Herr Schneider came and the woman explained the situation to him, leaving out her insinuation about Jews. Herr Schneider agreed to pay her for the damage, if the police let Friedrich free.

Conversation On The Stairs (1933).

Herr Resch confronts Herr Schneider on the house's stairwell and asks them to leave, calling Hans' Father to bear witness. Hans' father denied. Herr Schneider reminds Herr Resch of the tenant's agreement, but Herr Resch doesn't care. Herr Schneider begs for time to find another apartment.

Herr Schneider (1933).

Herr Schneider loses his job because he is a Jew.

The Hearing (1933).

Herr Resch sues Herr Schneider and tries to make him to move out of the apartment. In the court, the attorney of Herr Resch reveals that Herr Schneider is a Jew. However, Herr Scheider also reveals that he lived in Herr Resch's house for ten years and Herr Resch did not find anything wrong with that until a short time ago. In the end, Herr Schneider is allowed to continue staying in the house. At this point, Friedrich suddenly cries out. The judge calls Friedrich up and assured him that he will see that justice is done.

Reception.

The novel won the Batchelder Award in 1972.

Friedrich (initially published in German as Damals war es Friedrich) is a novel about two boys and their families as they grow together during Hitler's rise to power and reign in Germany in the 1930's. It is by the author Hans Peter Richter.

Damals war es Friedrich ist ein Jugendbuch des deutschen Schriftstellers Hans Peter Richter aus dem Jahr 1961. 1969 erschien eine überarbeitete Fassung des Romans. Er zählt zu den bekanntesten deutschen Jugendbüchern zum Thema Nationalsozialismus und wird häufig als Schullektüre gelesen.


Geography.

The relief of the municipality is level, its altitude varies between the 500 and the 600 M.s. Most of the land are in a glacis, old channel of Iregua River. In the South zone are the first spurs of the Mountain range of Moncalvillo. The village is located in this zone, on the hill called El Conjuro. Is urbanized in "bastille" with his streets staggered and concentric. The residential zone extends from the slope south until the adjacent plain, whereas in the slope north, fresher, situates the Neighbourhood of Las Bodegas.  The rivers are few and with great low water. Hardly precipices coming from the mountain range cross the term from the South to North, like "Ruicidera" or Río Daroca.

History.

The zone was populated by Romans, as it indicates the Roman town of "La Dehesa", in addition to the road of Zaragoza-Briviesca that crossed the municipality.  Alfonso I of Asturias "the Catholic" in the middle of 8th century reconquered the villa from the Muslims. According to the Geographic Dictionary, published in Barcelona in 1830, Entrena it would be founded by this king around 750, but already it is known by the "Chronicle of Alfonso III" that these incursions realised by this king did not suppose the foundation of villages. These expeditions, carried out along with their brother Froila, consisted of killing the Muslims they found and gathering Christians to take them to the mountains.  In 1044, Entrena appears documented under the romance name "Antelena".  From 1076, it belongs to Castile and to its king Alfonso VI. This king, before the strategic value of the zone, border with the kingdoms of Aragón and Navarre, populated and raised diverse fortresses to protect his interests. One of those seats was Entrena.  In 1160 Sancho VI of Navarre "repopulated" the villa.  In certain gifts of king Sancho VI of Navarre it appears with the Latin name of "Entidigone".  During the reign of Stephanie of Foix, widow of García Sánchez III of Navarre, was one of the villages favored by the privilege of union and other rights, with Sojuela, Velilla de la Rad, Fuenmayor, Hornos de Moncalvillo, Medrano and Navarrete. These municipalities were known as the Seven Towns of the Country. Later, this queen donated Entrena to the monastery of Santa María la Real of Nájera, appearing named as "Antelana".  In 1189 the Benedictine monks of Santa María la Real of Nájera, among others, donated the church of Entrena to the bishopric of Calahorra after lawsuits between the bishop and the monastery, with intervention of the king and the abbot of Cluny.  King Enrique II of Castile donates the town to "Juan Ramirez de Arellano" by the lent services, according to appears in the concession writing of the Señorío de Cameros. Since then the town would be linked to the "Arellano" family that would have great disputes with the "Gómez Manrique" (they were gentlemen of Navarrete by donation realised in 1380 by Juan I of Castile to "Diego Gómez Manrique de Lara").  In 1478 the neighbors of Navarrete destroy fortifications constructed by those of Entrena. In retaliation, people of Clavijo and Lagunilla, that were of "Arellano", destroyed the term of Ribafrecha that was affection of "Manrique" family. Entrena, until the abolition of the señoríos, belonged to the "counts of Aguilar", gentlemen of Cameros.  In 1492 the expulsion of the Jews in Spain is carried out by the Catholic Monarchs. At this time the Jewish community in Entrena was important, getting to constitute an "aljama", with an approximated population of 50 families. In 1503 "Carlos Ramirez de Arellano" and his wife, "Juana de Zúñiga", gentlemen of Cameros and counts of Aguilar, founded the monastery of Santa Clara in Entrena granting to him in addition the already preexisting "Santa Maria de Barrivero". The founding nuns came from Tordesillas and the monastery belonged to the franciscan province of Burgos. The first abbess was a "Arellano".  Entrena had a hospital and hostelry to take care of the pilgrims that approached by the French Way to arrive at Compostela as they testify documents of 16th century.  After the disappearance of the señoríos, in 1811, formed part of the province of Soria, until the creation of the province of Logroño on 30 November 1833.  In 1851, according to Pascual Madoz, Entrena "had 202 houses, the one of the City council and prison; a convent of monks of Santa Clara, a source of potable water [...] And school for both sexes. His production consisted especially in wheat, barley, beans and wine, in addition to rear of sheeps and the hunting of partridges, quails and hares". The industry was based in "three mills, that each day go in decadence, and some factories of liquor, that works very little".  According to this census Entrena had a population of 181 neighbours, 780 souls.

The Coffer of Mercy.

In 1571 Francisco de Moreda established an agricultural government social security fund, that it had the objective to distribute cereals, especially wheat, between the poorest farmers. These had to give back the grain loan with a minimum interest. Normally the neighbors of the town benefited from this one, but during first half of the 18th century also they did those of neighboring localities. It was in operation until 1799.

Santa Ana Hill.

It is an archaeological deposit excavated at the end of 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s by Antonio González Blanco and Urbano Espinosa Ruiz. The rests found more ancient belong to the hallstatt culture. Treat of two funds of bench-like sheds were recovered abundant material that find in the Museum of La Rioja. These materials consist in polished ceramics, painted, fingered and spatulated. The vessels are generally decorated with high neck and biconic profile. Also highlight several moulds for metallic axes realized in sandstone.  This site was found in the peak of the hill and believe that it was a holy place since they have found ashes and other rests that indicate it. The populated could develop around the sides of the hill but his rests have disappeared because of the crop of these lands.  Also have found rests of back periods, Celtiberians (La Tène culture) and Romans. The location of the settlement was next to the shod that communicated Zaragoza with Briviesca. Of the Roman era have found rests of ceramic, some Roman scales, lids of sarcophagus, low burials knit and a human-like round trail from the early Christian era.

Communications.

Roads.

The main road of access is the LR-254 that communicates Entrena with Lardero and Logroño through the N-111. The LR-137 crosses the town from southeast to northwest and link with the roads N-111, N-120 and N-232 joining towns like Nalda, Navarrete and Fuenmayor. The LR-445 communicates Entrena with the neighbouring town of Sojuela and the LR-444 part of the LR-137 from the Hermitage of Santa Ana to Medrano.

Nature.

The main part of the municipality is used for crops and as soon as remain terrains with autochthonous vegetation. In the no ploughed zones grow oaks and holm oaks. Besides in the last years are recovering elms that in the old days were abundant in the town. In 1995 the city council transferred terrains in the hills "San Lázaro", "Tone" and "Cuatro Cantos" to ICONA, for repopulate them with pines. Regarding bushes highlights the thyme, rosemary, mormaga and the blackthorns of which elaborates the pacharán.  The wild fauna that appears in this town are the rabbits and hares and in minor measured badgers and weasels. In occasions can us find with foxes or some wild boars, which is very abundant in the near Sierra de Moncalvillo.

Demography.

Due to its being situated near of the capital, Entrena has gone increasing its population slowly, in comparison with other next towns, but getting further away of most of the villages of the community, further, that have lost population.  From the beginnings of 21st century Entrena has received the arrival of numerous immigrant, the majority Maghribians, that have speeded his demographic growth, as from other communities, because of the high prices of the housing in Logroño.

Population series.

Demographic evolution of Entrena, between 1900 and 2010.

Historical.

In the census of population of Crown of Castile of 16th century, Entrena appears in the additions of Nájera empadronated by 232 neighbors (1,160 souls). In already mentioned Geographic Dictionary of Barcelona (1830) Entrena is mentioned with 255 neighbors (1,285 souls). In the census of the Province of Logroño of 1840 it registers 191 neighbors (803 souls).

Economy.

The economy of Entrena is based on the farming of fruit trees (mainly pear trees) and grapevine and of the industry that derives from them. In addition olive trees, cereals, apple trees and other operations of smaller interest are cultivated. The irrigated cultivations are possible thanks to the "Rio Antiguo" channel that catches waters from the Iregua river in Islallana. Altogether there are 1,539 has of exploitations of which 703 ha are of irrigated land and 836 ha of dry land. In addition it has 222 ha dedicated to pastures. Since 1888 Entrena is the seat of the "Community of Irrigators of Río Antiguo", whereas the "Union of Irrigations of Entrena" was created on 28 June 1973.  Entrena is one of the municipalities that is part of the "Denominación de Origen Calificada" Rioja. With five wineries registered in the denomination, it has a total surface planted of 716.11 ha, of which 623.97 are dedicated to the growing of the red grape and 92.14 of white grape.  In addition, since 2008 it is in construction a Winery-Hotel, taking the advantage of the increasing wine tourism that practices in La Rioja. Also several fruit vegetable and canning companies are installed.

Sports.

Entrena has a sports centre adapted to sports like futsal or Basque pelota. In 2005 was created the futsal team "Villa de Entrena", being champions of the La Rioja Federation Cup in season 2005-2006.  In addition there are municipal swimming pools, located in the road to Nalda.

Government.

In the local elections of 2007, the People's Party obtained 5 of the 9 seats that correspond to the city council of Entrena. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party obtained the rest 4 seats whereas the Riojan Party remained without representation.  List of mayors of Entrena since 1979:

Festivals.

The most important festivals are:

Entrena is a municipality of La Rioja, (Spain), located near the capital Logroño. Its population in January 2010 was 1,503 over an area of 21.03 square kilometres. The nucleus is placed at an altitude of 558 metres. It is bordered by Navarrete and Lardero to the north; Albelda de Iregua to the east; Nalda, Sorzano and Sojuela to the south; and Medrano to the west.

Entrena ist ein spanischer Ort und eine Gemeinde ("municipio") in der Autonomen Region La Rioja. Entrena liegt circa zwölf Kilometer südwestlich von Logrono, der Hauptstadt der Region Rioja.


Production.

BMW claims the Hydrogen 7 is the “world’s first production-ready hydrogen vehicle”; thus far, the Hydrogen 7 has been released to select high-profile leasees. Only 100 total vehicles were produced to put their technology to the test. BMW said it chose public figures such as politicians, media figures, businessmen and big names in the entertainment industry such as 2007 Academy Award-winning director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and the chairman of Sixt AG, Erich Sixt, because “they would be ideal ambassadors” for hydrogen fuel and could help spread awareness of the need for such technologies.  There is doubt over whether or not this technology will ever be put into larger production, even if hydrogen fuel technology reaches the point of economical and “green” feasibility, as well as to have the infrastructure required to put hydrogen vehicles in demand. The Hydrogen 7 uses more fuel than many trucks, consuming 13.9 L/100 km for gasoline (petrol) and 50 L/100 km for hydrogen. The following table shows the consumption (L/100 km) and fuel economy (mpg) for both Imperial and US gallons.  The difference in fuel consumption is largely due to the different energy density with gasoline (petrol) yielding 34.6 MJ/L and liquid hydrogen yielding 10.1 MJ/L. Based on these energy density figures, one would expect 47.6 L/100 km for hydrogen based on 13.9 L/100 km for gasoline (petrol); which is very close to the stated 50.0 L/100 km. Using hydrogen in an internal combustion engine as a source of energy is far less efficient than fuel cell technologies; however, this is a system that is in production (albeit limited) now.  Nonetheless, hydrogen fuel (whether converted to energy in fuel cells or burned in an internal combustion engines) is not as green as it may seem; particularly so when you also consider that producing liquid hydrogen requires vast amounts of energy. It will also be more expensive than its sister the 760Li (no retail price has been announced), which is BMW’s biggest and most expensive sedan, with a base price tag of over $118,000, thus further diminishing its widespread appeal. As of November, 2006, there were only five filling stations in the entire world that supported BMW’s filling technology, furthering the obstacles to making this car usable.

Use of hydrogen technology.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 burns hydrogen in an internal combustion engine (ICE). When in hydrogen mode, high-pressure injectors, designed by HOERBIGER ValveTec GmbH, directly inject hydrogen gas into the cylinder combustion chamber with pressures of up to. The combustion technique is a combination of spark-ignition and diesel combustion systems using surface ignition, subsequently followed by a diffusion type of combustion. This combustion system matches the efficiency values of the currently best turbodiesel engines at a maximum of 42 percent. The car can also switch seamlessly between hydrogen and gasoline at the touch of a button on the steering wheel, and will do so automatically when one of the fuels is depleted.  The hydrogen fuel is stored in a large, nearly, bi-layered and highly insulated tank that stores the fuel as liquid rather than as compressed gas, which BMW says offers 75% more energy per volume as a liquid than compressed gas at 700 bars of pressure. The hydrogen tank’s insulation is under high vacuum in order to keep heat transfer to the hydrogen to a bare minimum, and is purportedly equivalent to a thick wall of polystyrene Styrofoam.  To stay a liquid, hydrogen must be cooled and maintained at cryogenic temperatures of, at warmest,. When not using fuel, the Hydrogen 7’s hydrogen tank starts to warm and the hydrogen starts to vaporize. Once the tank’s internal pressure reaches 87 psi, at roughly 17 hours of non-use, the tank will safely vent the building pressure. Over 10–12 days, it will completely lose the contents of the tank because of this.  There have been some accusations of greenwash in reference to their BMW Hydrogen 7. Some critics claim that the emissions produced during hydrogen fuel production outweigh the reduction of tailpipe emissions, and that the Hydrogen 7 is a distraction from more immediate, practical solutions for car pollution. The BBC's Jorn Madslien questioned whether the Hydrogen 7 was "a truly green initiative or merely a cynical marketing ploy"

Specifications.

The car is powered by a 6.0 litre V12 engine capable of running on both premium gasoline and hydrogen fuel. It is rated at and of torque using either fuel. The car accelerates from stopped to in 9.5 seconds. The hydrogen fuel tank holds roughly of hydrogen, enough to travel. The gasoline fuel tank holds 73.8 litres equal to, enough to travel for a combined total of over at cruising speeds. The Hydrogen 7 gets about on hydrogen. In comparison, Honda's FCX Clarity gets about liquid hydrogen equivalent mileage. The curb weight of the Hydrogen 7 is roughly heavier than the 760Li, bringing it to about.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 is a limited production hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle built from 2005-2007 by German automobile manufacturer BMW. The car is based on BMW’s traditional gasoline-powered BMW 7 Series (E65) line of vehicles, and more specifically the 760Li. It uses the same 6-litre V-12 motor as does the 760i and 760Li; however, it has been modified to also allow for the combustion of hydrogen as well as gasoline, making it a bivalent engine. Unlike many other current hydrogen powered vehicles like those being produced by Hyundai, Honda, General Motors, and Daimler AGwhich use fuel cell technology and hydrogen to produce electricity to power the vehiclethe BMW Hydrogen 7 burns the hydrogen in an internal combustion engine.

Der Hydrogen 7 ist ein wasserstoffgetriebener PKW. Er trägt die interne Bezeichnung E68 und basiert auf dem Modell 760Li (E66) aus der 7er-Reihe des deutschen Herstellers BMW.


Etymology.

This is the third U.S. Navy warship with the name USS "Mason". The first, in service from 1920 to 1941, was named for John Young Mason, well known for his service as the Secretary of the Navy for two American Presidents. The second was named for Ensign Newton Henry Mason, a Naval Aviator who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This ship is named for the crew of the second as this was the first ship in the US Navy with this distinction of a predominantly black crew.

Operational history.

USS "Mason" conducted her maiden deployment with the Carrier Strike Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2004. "Mason" returned home after six months on 18 April 2005.  On 3 October 2006, "Mason" departed Naval Station Norfolk for a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism. She participated in Exercise Neon Falcon. "Mason" returned home in May 2007.  "Mason" deployed with the aircraft carrier on 12 September 2008 for a scheduled deployment.  On 12 March 2011, she sailed through the Suez Canal en route to the Mediterranean, to support possible humanitarian or military action in response to the Libyan Civil War. In April 2011, a boarding team from the ship successfully liberated five Yemeni hostages from eleven Somali pirates who had taken over the Yemeni-flagged ship. The pirates had seriously injured two other fishermen in their attack, left the wounded ashore, and then taken "Nasri" to sea as a pirate mothership. Assault weapons, ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, and launchers were destroyed by the boarding team.  On 22 July 2013, she deployed to the 5th and 6th Fleet area of responsibility as part of the "Harry S. Truman" Carrier Strike Group. "Mason" returned to her homeport on 18 April 2014.  On 7 November 2015, "Mason", acting as the flagship for Destroyer Squadron 26, completed the first East Coast Passing Exercise with the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army-Navy [PLA(N)] ships and U.S. Navy warships.  On 23 May 2017, "Mason" was awarded the 2016 Battenberg Cup, signifying she was the best all-around ship or submarine in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet based on crew achievements. "Mason" was only the fifth destroyer in the last 111 years to receive the award.

Attacks off the coast of Yemen.

On 3 October 2016, "Mason" was deployed off the coast of war-torn Yemen (along with,, and ) following an attack on the United Arab Emirates operated. According to an unnamed US Department of Defense official, the purpose for sending the ships was "to ensure that shipping continues unimpeded in the strait and the vicinity."  On 9 October 2016, "Mason", operating near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, was targeted by two missiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory. Both missiles fell short and crashed into the water. The Houthi insurgency denied launching the attack on the warship. The United States Naval Institute reported that "Mason" fired two SM-2 Standard missiles and one RIM-162 ESSM missile to intercept the two missiles as well as deploying its Nulka missile decoy. One of two U.S. defense officials cited anonymously added that it was not clear whether the incoming missiles had been shot down or crashed into the water on their own. This marked the first recorded instance of ship-based anti-air missiles being fired from vertical launching cells in combat in response to an actual inbound missile threat (during the Persian Gulf War's Battle of Bubiyan, a British warship intercepted an Iraqi Silkworm missile though that ship was not equipped with VLS).  On 12 October 2016 "Mason" was again targeted by missiles fired from Yemeni territory while operating in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. "Mason" was not hit by the two missiles, which were fired from near the city of Al Hudaydah. While the Navy is not certain whether the first incoming missile was intercepted or it just fell into the sea, officials claim "Mason" successfully intercepted the second missile at a distance of about. On 13 October 2016, the US attacked three radar sites in Houthi-held territory which had been involved in the earlier missile attacks with cruise missiles launched from. The Pentagon assessed that all three sites were destroyed.  On 15 October 2016, "Mason" was targeted in a third attack by five anti-ship cruise missiles while operating in the Red Sea north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Navy Times reported the "Mason" fired a radar decoy, an infrared decoy, and several SM-2 Standard missiles in response, either neutralizing or intercepting four of the five incoming missiles. The Navy claims the fifth incoming missile was neutralized by a radar decoy launched from, after "Mason" alerted her to the threat.  She is currently homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

Coat of arms.

Shield.

"The shield has background of white with a double chevron across the center. Above are opposing lions and below is a gold trident."  The traditional U.S. Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. The United States representing colors, red, white and blue, are all represented. The double chevron is to honor DD 191 and DE 529, the former ships named USS Mason. The facing lions are adapted from the Mason family Coat of Arms, denote the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns of World War II. The trident, symbol of sea prowess, represents "Mason’s" modern warfare capabilities which include; AEGIS weapon system, Cooperative Engagement Capability, and Theater Ballistic Missile Defense.

Crest.

"The crest consists of a helm, crossing swords behind and a combined anchor and cross surrounded by a wreath."The helm is symbolic to strong defense with power projection. The anchor refers to the namesake of DD 191, John Young Mason, who was the Secretary of the Navy under President John Tyler and James K. Polk. The cross is in reference to Newton Henry Mason's Distinguished Flying Cross award. The wreath represents all the awards, honors and achievements of the past ships with the namesake Mason and crews who served them.

Motto.

"The motto is written on a scroll of white with a red trim."The ships motto is "Proudly We Serve". The motto is in honor of the high achievement of the African American crew of DE-529 who made history with their selfless bravery in defense of the U.S. in World War II and also marks their contribution to the eventual desegregation of the U.S. Navy.

Seal.

"The coat of arms in full color as in the blazon, upon a white background enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS Mason" at the top and "DDG 87" in the base all gold."

USS "Mason" (DDG-87) is an in the United States Navy. She is named in honor of the non-segregated crew serving onboard USS MASON (DE-259). This ship is the 37th destroyer of its class. USS "Mason" was the 21st ship of this class to be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and construction began on 19 January 2000. She was launched and christened on 23 June 2001. On 12 April 2003, a commissioning ceremony was held at Port Canaveral, Florida. She is currently homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

Die USS "Mason" (DDG-87) ist ein Zerstörer der United States Navy und gehört der "Arleigh-Burke-Klasse" an. Sie wurde explizit in Ehren des Zerstörers USS "Mason" (DE-529) benannt, der im Zweiten Weltkrieg mit einer Besatzung aus überwiegend afroamerikanischen Seemännern fuhr.


Biography.

He was born Charles Victor Arthur Michel in Paris, but was raised in Stuttgart, where his father was dance master for the court and the theatre ballet. Saint-Léon was encouraged by his father, who had also been a dancer of the Paris Opéra Ballet, to study music and dance. Saint-Léon studied violin with Joseph Mayseder and Niccolò Paganini. At the same time, he studied ballet so he could perform both as violinist and dancer.  When he was 17 years old, he made his début as first demi-charactére dancer at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. He started to tour across Europe dancing in Germany, Italy, England, obtaining a lot of success. In particular, the London audience, who did not like at that time to see men dancing on stage, liked him very much. He was much appreciated for his tours and his jumps. He was able to gain applause in every theatre he danced, and this was not very common in the Romantic Era, where the only star on stage was the Ballerina dancing "en pointe".  When in Vienna, Saint-Léon could dance for the first time with Fanny Cerrito and from that very moment the two of them became almost indivisible, until they married in 1845. For Cerrito, Saint-Léon choreographed a ballet that was a hit in London "La Vivandière" (1843). He created also ballets for the Teatro La Fenice in Venice and for the Paris Opéra.  He became the teacher of the master class at the Opéra and he was in charge to choreograph the divertissements of the most important ballet production. He parted from his wife in 1851 and when she was invited to dance at the Opéra, Saint-Léon retired.  After touring across Europe, (he also worked three years for the Teatro San Carlos in Lisbon), he was invited to succeed Jules Perrot in 1859 as "Maître de Ballet" to the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre, home of the Tsar's renowned Imperial Ballet, in St. Petersburg, Russia, a post which he held until 1869 (he was succeeded by Marius Petipa).  His favorite ballerina was who performed a lot in his ballets. Saint-Léon brought her to Paris Opera and later to Italy, his intention was also to make "Coppélia" (1870) for her. Although he choreographed many ballets it's the only one that has come down to us almost complete. He died two days after the ballet's initial season had come to an untimely end because of the Franco-Prussian War. In late November, the creator of Swanhilda, Giuseppina Bozzachi, died on her 17th birthday.  Saint-Léon is famous also because he invented a method of ballet notation described in the book: "La Sténochoréographie, ou Art d'écrire promptement la danse" published in 1852. It is the first method of choreographic notation which documented not only the feet but also the movements of the arms, torso and the head.

The "La Vivandière Pas de Six".

In 1848 Saint-Léon notated a "Pas de Six" from his 1846 ballet "La Vivandière" in "La Sténochorégraphie". The notation was preserved in the archives of the Paris Opéra, and in 1975 the dance notation expert Ann Hutchinson-Guest and the Balletmaster Pierre Lacotte reconstructed Saint-Léon's choreography and Cesare Pugni's music for the Joffrey Ballet. In 1978 Lacotte staged the "Pas de Six" for the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet (the former Imperial Ballet), who still retain it in their repertory. The "Pas de Six" has since been staged by many ballet companies all over the world, and is known as either the "La Vivandière Pas de Six", or the "Markitenka Pas de Six" (as it is known is Russia). The "Pas de Six" is the only known choreography of Saint-Léon's to have survived.

References.

Notes Sources

Arthur Saint-Léon (17 September 1821, in Paris – 2 September 1870) was the "Maître de Ballet" of St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet from 1859 until 1869 and is famous for creating the choreography of the ballet "Coppélia".

Charles Victor Arthur Michael Saint-Léon (* 17. September 1821 in Paris; † 2. September 1870) war ein französischer Geiger, Tänzer, Choreograf und Tanztheoretiker.


Early life and college years.

Olivier Saint-Jean was born in Maisons-Alfort near Paris from parents who were natives of French Guiana. His mother George Goudet was a professional basketball player. After graduating from Lycee Aristide Briand in 1993, Abdul-Wahad first played college basketball for two years at Michigan and transferred to San Jose State in 1995. Abdul-Wahad was part of the San Jose State team that won the 1996 Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and made the NCAA tournament despite a 13-16 record. He changed his name to Tariq Abdul-Wahad after converting to Islam in 1997.

Professional career.

He was known as a defensive specialist, but his playing time was restricted in later seasons due to injuries. He only played in 236 out of a possible 788 games. In the whole 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons Abdul-Wahad was on the Dallas Mavericks' roster on injured reserve, as he was permanently unable to play. He was released by Mavericks on 28 September 2005, during training camp prior to the 2005–06 season. In November 2006 Italian team Climamio Bologna invited Abdul-Wahad to a try out, but he was not signed.  His No. 3 jersey was retired by San Jose State in 2002, however the banner hanging in the Event Center Arena refers to him as Olivier Saint-Jean, the name he used while in college.  Abdul-Wahad's peak year as a pro was with the Sacramento Kings in the lockout-shortened 1999 NBA season, when he was a starter for the team. They pushed the Utah Jazz to the brink of elimination but lost in the fifth and final game of the series.

National team career.

Abdul-Wahad (as Oliver Saint Jean) played for the France men's national under-18 basketball team at the 1992 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship where his team won gold.

Post-playing years.

In 2005, Abdul-Wahad played the part of King Negus of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in the video play "Mercy to Mankind: Part 1, The Prophecy Fulfilled", sponsored by the MAS (Muslim American Society) Youth Chapter, Dallas, Texas.  Abdul-Wahad finished his B.A. in art history at San Jose State University in 2008 and enrolled in the M.A. program at San Jose State afterwards. He later started a clothing business in Brazil with a friend and a television production company in France.  On July 21, 2011, the Division II Cal State Monterey Bay Otters women's basketball team hired Abdul-Wahad as an assistant coach.  Abdul-Wahad became head varsity boys' basketball coach at Lincoln High School of San Jose, California in 2012.

Tariq Abdul-Wahad (born Olivier Michael Saint-Jean; November 3, 1974) is a French basketball coach and former player. As Olivier Saint-Jean, he played college basketball at Michigan and San Jose State. In 1997, the Sacramento Kings selected Saint-Jean in the first round of the NBA draft as the 11th overall pick, and Saint-Jean converted to Islam and changed his name to Tariq Abdul-Wahad. From 1997 to 2003, Abdul-Wahad played in the NBA for the Kings, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks. He was the first player to be raised in France and play in the NBA.

Tariq Abdul-Wahad (* 3. November 1974 in Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne, Frankreich) ist ein ehemaliger französischer Basketballspieler. Als "Olivier Michael Saint-Jean" geboren, änderte er nach seiner Konversion zum Islam traditionsgemäß auch seinen Namen.


Background.

Sparta and its allies, with the exception of Corinth, were almost exclusively land based powers, able to summon large land armies that were very nearly unbeatable. In the face of a combined campaign on land from Sparta and its allies beginning in 431 BC, the Athenians, under the direction of Pericles, pursued a policy of retreat within the city walls of Athens, relying on Athenian maritime supremacy for supply while the superior Athenian navy harassed Spartan troop movements. Unfortunately, the strategy also resulted in massive migration from the Attic countryside into an already highly-populated city, generating overpopulation and resource shortage. Due to the close quarters and poor hygiene exhibited at that time, Athens became a breeding ground for disease and many citizens died. In the history of epidemics, the 'Plague' of Athens is remarkable for the one-sidedness of the affliction as well as for its influence on the ultimate outcome of the war.  In his "History of the Peloponnesian War", the historian Thucydides, who was present and contracted the disease himself and survived, describes the epidemic. He writes of a disease coming from Ethiopia and passing through Egypt and Libya into the Greek world and spreading throughout the wider Mediterranean; a plague so severe and deadly that no one could recall anywhere its like, and physicians ignorant of its nature not only were helpless but themselves died the fastest, having had the most contact with the sick. In overcrowded Athens, the disease killed an estimated 25% of the population. The sight of the burning funeral pyres of Athens caused the Spartans to withdraw their troops, being unwilling to risk contact with the diseased enemy. Many of Athens' infantry and expert seamen died. According to Thucydides, not until 415 BC had Athens recovered sufficiently to mount a major offensive, the disastrous Sicilian Expedition.  The first corroboration of the plague was not revealed until 1994-95 where excavation revealed the first mass grave. Upon this discovery, Thucydides' accounts of the event as well as analysis of the remains had been used to try and identify the cause of the epidemic.

Social implications.

Accounts of the Athenian plague graphically describe the social consequences of an epidemic. Thucydides' account clearly details the complete disappearance of social morals during the time of the plague:  This perceived impact of the Athenian plague on collective social and religious behavior echoes accounts of the medieval pandemic best known as the Black Death, although scholars have disputed its objective veracity in both instances, citing a historical link between epidemic disease and unsubstantiated moral panic.

Fear of the law.

Thucydides states that people ceased fearing the law since they felt they were already living under a death sentence. Likewise, people started spending money indiscriminately. Many felt they would not live long enough to enjoy the fruits of wise investment, while some of the poor unexpectedly became wealthy by inheriting the property of their relatives. It is also recorded that people refused to behave honorably because most did not expect to live long enough to enjoy a good reputation for it.

Care for the sick and dead.

Another reason for the lack of honorable behavior was the sheer contagiousness of the illness. Those who tended to the ill were most vulnerable to catching the disease. This meant that many people died alone because no one was willing to risk caring for them. The dead were heaped on top of each other, left to rot, or shoved into mass graves. Sometimes those carrying the dead would come across an already burning funeral pyre, dump a new body on it, and walk away. Others appropriated prepared pyres so as to have enough fuel to cremate their own dead. Those lucky enough to survive the plague developed an immunity and so became the main caretakers of those who later fell ill.  A mass grave and nearly 1,000 tombs, dated between 430 and 426 BC, have been found just outside Athens' ancient Kerameikos cemetery. The mass grave was bordered by a low wall that seems to have protected the cemetery from a wetland. Excavated during 1994–95, the shaft-shaped grave may have contained a total of 240 individuals, at least ten of them children. Skeletons in the graves were randomly placed with no layers of soil between them.  Excavator Efi Baziotopoulou-Valavani, of the Third Ephoreia (Directorate) of Antiquities, reported that "[t]he mass grave did not have a monumental character. The offerings we found consisted of common, even cheap, burial vessels; black-finished ones, some small red-figured, as well as white lekythoi (oil flasks) of the second half of the 5th century BC. The bodies were placed in the pit within a day or two. These [factors] point to a mass burial in a state of panic, quite possibly due to a plague."  During this time refugees from the Peloponnesian war had immigrated within the Long Walls of Athens, inflating the populations of both the polis of Athens and the port of Piraeus. The population had tripled in this time increasing chance of infection along with poor hygiene.

Religious strife.

The plague also caused religious uncertainty and doubt. Since the disease struck without regard to a person's piety toward the gods, people felt abandoned by the gods and there seemed to be no benefit to worshiping them. The temples themselves were sites of great misery, as refugees from the Athenian countryside had been forced to find accommodation in the temples. Soon the sacred buildings were filled with the dead and dying. The Athenians pointed to the plague as evidence that the gods favored Sparta, and this was supported by an oracle that Apollo himself (the god of disease and medicine) would fight for Sparta if they fought with all their might. An earlier oracle had warned that "A Dorian [Spartan] war will come, and bring a pestilence with it".  Thucydides is skeptical of these conclusions and believes that people were simply being superstitious. He relies upon the prevailing medical theory of the day, Hippocratic theory, and strives to gather evidence through direct observation. He notes that carrion-eating birds and animals disappeared as a result, though he leaves it an open question whether they died after eating the corpses or refused to eat them and were driven away:

Aftermath.

The plague was an unforeseen event that resulted in one of the largest recorded loss of life in ancient Greece as well as a breakdown of Athenian society. The balance of power between citizens had changed due to many of the rich dying and their fortunes being inherited by remaining relatives of the lower class. According to Thucydides, those who had become ill and survived were the most sympathetic to others suffering: believing that they could no longer succumb to any illness, a number of survivors offered to assist with the remaining sick. The plague had also contributed to Athens' overall loss of power and ability to expand. Many of the remaining Athenians were found to be metics who had forged their documentation or had bribed officials to hide their original status. A number of these people were reduced to slaves once they were caught. This resulted in stricter laws dictating who can become an Athenian citizen, reducing both their number of potential soldiers and amount of political power, but also a decline in treatment and rights for metics in Athens.  The plague dealt massive damage to Athens two years into the Peloponnesian War, from which it never recovered. Their political strength had weakened and morale among their armies as well as the citizens had fallen significantly. Athens would then go on to be defeated by Sparta and fall from being a major superpower in Ancient Greece.

Symptoms.

According to Thucydides, the Plague of Athens, the illness began by showing symptoms in the head as it worked its way through the rest of the body. He also describes in detail the symptoms victims of the plague experienced.

Possible causes.

Historians have long tried to identify the disease behind the Plague of Athens. The disease has traditionally been considered an outbreak of the bubonic plague in its many forms, but reconsideration of the reported symptoms and epidemiology have led scholars to advance alternative explanations. These include typhus, smallpox, measles, and toxic shock syndrome. Based upon striking descriptive similarities with recent outbreaks in Africa, as well as the fact that the Athenian plague itself apparently came from Africa (as Thucydides recorded), Ebola or a related viral hemorrhagic fever has been considered.  Given the possibility that profiles of a known disease may have changed over time, or that the plague was caused by a disease that no longer exists, the exact nature of the Athenian plague may never be known. In addition, crowding caused by the influx of refugees into the city led to inadequate food and water supplies and a probable proportionate increase in insects, lice, rats, and waste. These conditions would have encouraged more than one epidemic disease during the outbreak.

Typhus.

In January 1999, the University of Maryland devoted their fifth annual medical conference, dedicated to notorious case histories, to the Plague of Athens. They concluded that the disease that killed the Greeks was typhus. "Epidemic typhus fever is the best explanation," said Dr. David Durack, consulting professor of medicine at Duke University. "It hits hardest in times of war and privation, it has about 20 percent mortality, it kills the victim after about seven days, and it sometimes causes a striking complication: gangrene of the tips of the fingers and toes. The Plague of Athens had all these features." In typhus cases, progressive dehydration, debilitation and cardiovascular collapse ultimately cause the patient's death.  This medical opinion is supported by the opinion of A. W. Gomme, who wrote a comprehensive annotated edition of Thucydides and who also believed typhus was the cause of the epidemic. This opinion is expressed in his monumental work "Historic Comments on Thucydides", completed after Gomme's death by A. Andrewes and K. J. Dover. Angelos Vlachos (), a member of the Academy of Athens and a diplomat, in his "Remarks on Thucydides" (, [1992] I: 177–178) acknowledges and supports Gomme's opinion: "Today, according to Gomme, it is generally acceptable that it was typhus" (""). The theory has also found support recent in a study of the plague by Greek epidemiologists.

Typhoid.

Symptoms.

Symptoms generally associated with typhoid resemble Thucydides' description. They include:  Some characteristics of typhoid are at clear variance from Thucydides' description. Scavenger animals do not die from infection with typhoid, the onset of fever in typhoid is typically slow and subtle, and typhoid generally kills later in the disease course. As typhoid is most commonly transmitted through poor hygiene habits and public sanitation conditions in crowded urban areas, it is an unlikely cause of a plague emerging in the less urbanized Africa, as reported by Thucydides.

DNA analysis.

A 2005 DNA study of dental pulp from teeth recovered from an ancient Greek burial pit, led by the orthodontist Dr. Manolis Papagrigorakis of the University of Athens, found DNA sequences similar to those of "Salmonella enterica" ("S. enterica"), the organism that causes typhoid fever.  A second group of researchers, including American evolutionary molecular biologist Dr. Beth Shapiro of the University of California, Santa Cruz, disputed the Papagrigorakis team's findings, citing what they claim are serious methodological flaws. In a letter to the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Shapiro et al. stated that "while this DNA analysis confirms that the Athens sequence is possibly "Salmonella", it demonstrates clearly that it is not typhoid."  The technique used by the Papagrigorakis team (PCR) has shown itself to be prone to contamination-induced false-positive results, and the source burial site is known to have been heavily trafficked in antiquity by hogs, carriers of another "Salmonella" serovar that may have been confused with the one that causes typhoid fever. Nonetheless, the Papagrigorakis team assert that the basis of this refutation is flimsy, and that the methodology used by the Shapiro team has historically produced conflicting results.

Viral hemorrhagic fever.

Thucydides' narrative pointedly refers to increased risk among caregivers, more typical of the person-to-person contact spread of viral hemorrhagic fever (e.g., Ebola virus disease or Marburg virus) than typhus or typhoid. Unusual in the history of plagues during military operations, besieging Spartan troops are described as not having been afflicted by the illness raging near them within the city. Thucydides' description further invites comparison with VHF in the character and sequence of symptoms developed, and of the usual fatal outcome on about the eighth day. Some scientists have interpreted Thucydides' expression "" () as the unusual symptom of hiccups, which is now recognized as a common finding in Ebola virus disease. Outbreaks of VHF in Africa in 2012 and 2014 reinforced observations of the increased hazard to caregivers and the necessity of barrier precautions for preventing disease spread related to grief rituals and funerary rites. The 2015 west African Ebola outbreak noted persistence of effects on genitalia and eyes in some survivors, both described by Thucydides. With an up to 21-day clinical incubation period, and up to 565-day infectious potential recently demonstrated in a semen-transmitted infection, movement of Ebola via Nile commerce into the busy port of Piraeus is plausible. Ancient Greek intimacy with African sources is reflected in accurate renditions of monkeys in art of frescoes and pottery, most notably guenons ("Cercopithecus"), the type of primates responsible for transmitting Marburg virus into Germany and Yugoslavia when that disease was first characterized in 1967. Circumstantially tantalizing is the requirement for the large quantity of ivory used in the Athenian sculptor Phidias’ two monumental ivory and gold statues of Athena and of Zeus (one of the Seven Wonders), which were fabricated in the same decade. Never again in antiquity was ivory used on such a large scale.  A second ancient narrative suggesting hemorrhagic fever etiology is that of Titus Lucretius Carus. Writing in the 1st century BC, Lucretius characterized the Athenian plague as having "bloody" or black discharges from bodily orifices. Lucretius cited and was an admirer of scientific predecessors in Greek Sicily Empedocles and Acron. While none of the original works of Acron, a physician, are extant, it is reported that he died c. 430 BC after travel to Athens to combat the plague.  Unfortunately DNA sequence-based identification is limited by the inability of some important pathogens to leave a "footprint" retrievable from archaeological remains after several millennia. The lack of a durable signature by RNA viruses means some etiologies, notably the hemorrhagic fever viruses, are not testable hypotheses using currently available scientific techniques.

The Plague of Athens (, ) was an epidemic that devastated the city-state of Athens in ancient Greece during the second year of the Peloponnesian War (430 BC) when an Athenian victory still seemed within reach. The plague killed an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people and is believed to have entered Athens through Piraeus, the city's port and sole source of food and supplies. Much of the eastern Mediterranean also saw an outbreak of the disease, albeit with less impact.

Die Attische Seuche war eine Epidemie, die in den Jahren 430–426 v. Chr. in Athen während der Belagerung durch die Spartaner wütete und über deren Verlauf – zusammen mit den Ereignissen des Peloponnesischen Krieges – der griechische Historiker Thukydides (etwa 460 bis nach 400 v. Chr.) genaue Aufzeichnungen führte. Sie wird deshalb auch als Seuche oder Pest des Thukydides bezeichnet, im englischen Sprachraum als "The Plague of Athens", "The Epidemic of Athens" oder auch "Thucydides Syndrome". Zum Verständnis des Begriffs muss erwähnt werden, dass das lateinische wie auch das griechische zwar für eine ansteckende Krankheit steht, doch das heutige Wissen um die Pathogenese von Infektionskrankheiten wie etwa der Pest noch nicht geschaffen war, und dass Seuchen als „Strafe eines Gottes“ gesehen wurden.


History.

The company Eletromotores Jaraguá was created on 16 September 1961 by Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva and Geraldo Werninghaus (respectively an electrician, an administrator and a mechanic). Years later changed its name to Eletromotores WEG SA, the name WEG being formed with the first letter of each founder's first name.  Initially producing electric motors, WEG started diversifying its activities during the eighties, with the production of electric components, products for industrial automation, power and distribution transformers, liquid and powder paints and electrical insulation varnishes. The company grew into a global motor manufacturer.  In 1968, WEG created CentroWEG, a training center to aid in the lack of qualified professionals in the area of mechanical engineers.  In May 2008, WEG announced a new factory in India.  In February 2012, the Canadian manufacturer Ballard Power Systems signed a deal with WEG to assess the market opportunities for hydrogen PEM fuel cell products and services in applications.  In February 2019, WEG acquired Energy Storage System, the storage business of US-based Northern Power Systems (NPS). WEG had previously bought the utility-scale turbine business of NPS in 2016. In May 2019, WEG signed a deal with the aerospace conglomerate Embraer to work on new electrical propulsion systems for aircraft.  In May 2019, WEG also introduced the 4MW wind turbine, its biggest machine so far.

Activities.

Description.

The company has subsidiaries in 29 countries and production is distributed in manufacturing plants in 12 countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, China, South Africa and in the United States.

WEG is a Brazilian company, operating worldwide in the electric engineering, power and automation technology areas. Headquartered in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil, the company produces electric motors, generators, transformers, drives and coatings. WEG has operations in around 100 countries, with approximately 31,000 employees (2014).

WEG Equipamentos Elétricos S. A. ist ein Unternehmen aus Brasilien mit Unternehmenssitz in Jaraguá do Sul im Bundesstaat Santa Catarina. Das Unternehmen ist im Finanzindex IBOVESPA gelistet.


Geography and climate.

The village is located in the Puntarenas Province on the south-west side of the country, a few kilometers away from Panama and is reachable by the Pan-American. From the Villa Briceño (km 37) 3 km separate the Pan-American from the center of the village that is easily reachable. Rio Claro and Golfito are the closest cities and are the centers of services such as banks, supermarkets and drugstores. There is also one of the richest park in fauna and flora, which is named Piedras Blancas. However, the park is little known and serves mainly for biological research.  The weather is tropical; the temperature varies between 21 °C and 39 °C and the region receives roughly 6000 mm of rain in a year. There are two seasons: the winter (May–December) and the summer (January–April). The summer is the dry season while the winter, which stretches on a longer period, is the rainy season, and the greener period of the year and there is plenty of drinking water. This season is characterized by strong thunderstorms, floods and unstable weather.

Population.

In the village, there are roughly 700 inhabitants separated into 150 families. Half of these families live around the center of La Gamba, while the other half are spread out along the roads leading to the center of the village, in Rio Bonito and La Bolsa, which are located at about 30 minutes walking distance from the center.  What is remarkable is the unity that reigns in much of the village, due to close family links and friendships. This atmosphere permits close collaboration between the inhabitants in most cases. There is a microcredit organization located in the city, which help support two groups of women that produce handcrafted natural shampoos and local artisans.

Food.

For breakfast gallo pinto is commonly served, which is a mix of rice, coriander, chicken broth, onions and black beans. This recipe is frequently served with cheese, eggs, sausages or bread. Some alternatives are pancakes, tortillas and empanadas.  Main courses are always with rice and beans, and frequently accompanied with plantain, yucca (root vegetable), corn, palm products, soups, and chicken, beef or pork.

Religion.

There are two dominant religions in the village: Catholicism and Evangelism. The Catholic service is offered on Sunday morning, while the evangelic church is more active giving services 5 times a week. In the latter, people sing, dance, pray and an explanation of the Bible is presented to its fervent disciples. Certain families have decided to change from the Catholic to the Evangelic church given frequent services and its comprehensive program. There are also a few Jehovah’s witnesses, but they are scarce, having their reunion held at the km 37. Many inhabitants aged between 15-50 don’t practice, even if the majority believes in God.

Agriculture.

Given a decline in the wood and banana industries in the region since the 1970s, most of the workers that chose to stay in the village converted themselves into farmers. The climate of the area is perfect for rice, corn, cacao and palm agriculture. Most farmers also own cows, pigs, horses or chickens.  In the last few years, the cultivation of palm previously taken from Africa has expanded exponentially, providing an important source of revenue for some families and employment for others.

Work.

Nowadays, many inhabitants work in the biological station and the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Others find employment in the construction of small bridges along the villages main road, and in neighboring cities such as Rio Claro. There also is the “deposito libre”, which is an important source of employments.

What to do.

In downtown La Gamba, there is a soda (small restaurant), a convenience store and the only public phone in the village. This point also serves as the main point of reunion for those who wish to share time with others. The youth also meet into the small park built by a group of Canadians in 2006. Arcades are also an option in the convenience store. There is also a bar a little further from the center towards the Pan-American, and there is also a community center at the km 37 where they host karaoke nights, dances, arcades and a bar. The practice of evangelical events remains one of the main activities of the village’s nightlife.

Life conditions.

Life in La Gamba is hard economically; the men work most of the time in farms, palm plantations or construction. Nevertheless, the people always appear friendly, healthy and live in harmony with their families dispersed across the village.  Given the machismo culture of Costa Rica, most women work hard in their house to accomplish their daily routine, but more and more women have to take care of their children or grandchildren as they work outside the house or study away. Some of them find employments in the Austrian hotel and biological station.

Sports.

The main and most traditional sport of Costa Rica is football (soccer). In the village, there is a sport committee which organizes games and takes care of the material. Near the center of the village and the community center, the youth play on the big football field. This field is used by people of all ages. During the summer, the kids are more active on the football field and the team practices often.  Others also like to play volleyball and can practice it in Rio Claro, but football remains the main sport played in the village. Another traditional sport is carrera de cintura, in which people climb horses at full speed. Prizes are handed out to the most courageous and the best. There are also “fiestas taurinas” in which men ride bulls, watch bull fights and a fair.

The Asociación Pro-Bienestar (ASOPROBI).

This organization was created in July 1996 to replace the previous organization COOPEGAMBA in order to find alternatives to the development of the village. ASOPROBI works in harmony with its natural environment, which is in fact its major wealth. The final goal of the organization is the creation of employment in the village and the promotion of sustainable and local tourism. The village has a lot to offer and ASOPROBI wishes to promote it. All the participants are volunteers and change every few years, except for Jose Angel Montiel Franco, who works permanently organizing multiple activities and administrating the budget. The direction is formed of the president, vice-president, secretary, and the fiscal administrator.  Between 2004 and 2009, Plan Nagua, a Canadian organism, and ASOPROBI have collaborated in order to send groups of interns that have contributed to the development of the community through different projects.

Region (Golfito et Rio Claro).

Rio Claro is situated at about 20 minutes of bus from km 37. The inhabitants from La Gamba needs to go at least once a week to buy what is missing in the village. There are two banks, internet coffees, supermarkets, a clinic and drugstores that are essentials. For those who wish to get more services, there is Golfito that is about 45 min away from the km 37. The nearest hospital is also located in Golfito and there is a ferry that crosses a few times a day to Puerto Jimenez.

La Gamba is a small village located 15 km away from Golfito, which is part of the Puntarenas state of Costa Rica. The small village’s inhabitants are living simply and prosperously off agriculture and jobs offered in cities such as Golfito and Rio Claro.

La Gamba ist ein kleiner Ort im Südwesten des mittelamerikanischen Staates Costa Rica am Rande des Esquinas-Regenwaldes bzw. des Regenwaldes der Österreicher.