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actinometer

(Encyclopedia) actinometeractinometerăkˌtənŏmˈətər [key], instrument used to measure the heating power of radiation. Actinometers are used chiefly in meteorology to measure solar radiation as…

Cumae

(Encyclopedia) CumaeCumaeky&oomacr;ˈmē [key], ancient city of Campania, Italy, near Naples. According to Strabo, it was the earliest Greek colony in Italy or Sicily, and it seems to have been…

despotism

(Encyclopedia) despotism, government by an absolute ruler unchecked by effective constitutional limits to his power. In Greek usage, a despot was ruler of a household and master of its slaves. The…

amphictyony

(Encyclopedia) amphictyonyamphictyonyămfĭkˈtēōˌnē, –ŏˌnē, –ənēˌ [key], in ancient Greece, a league connected with maintaining a temple or shrine. There were a number of these, but by far the most…

Holness, Andrew

(Encyclopedia) Holness, Andrew, 1972–, Jamaican politician, prime minister of Jamaica (2011–12, 2016–). A member of the Jamaica Labor party (JLP), Holness served (1996–2000) as special assistant to…

Somoza Debayle, Anastasio

(Encyclopedia) Somoza Debayle, AnastasioSomoza Debayle, Anastasioänästäsˈyō sōmōˈsä ᵺābīˈlā [key], 1925–80, president of Nicaragua (1967–72, 1974—79). The younger son of dictator Anastasio Somoza, he…

Beria, Lavrenti Pavlovich

(Encyclopedia) Beria, Lavrenti PavlovichBeria, Lavrenti Pavlovichləvrĕnˈtyē pävˈləvĭch bâˈrēə [key], 1899–1953, Soviet Communist leader, b. Georgia. He rose to prominence in the Cheka (secret police…

Biya, Paul

(Encyclopedia) Biya, PaulBiya, Paulbēyĕ [key], 1933–, Cameroonian political leader. Educated in Cameroon and France, where he studied at the Sorbonne and other institutions, he joined Cameroon's…

Saddam Hussein

Iraqi political leaderBorn: 4/28/1937Birthplace: Tikrit, Iraq Hussein was raised in the farming village of Tikrit by his widowed mother. He joined the Ba'ath Socialist party in 1957 and was soon…

Are You Ready?

Tornado, flood, fire, terror, emergency: find the top ten ways to prepare for disaster. Then compare your readiness with the rest of America. On hand emergency items Use…