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Bernstorff, Johann Heinrich, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Bernstorff, Johann Heinrich, Graf von bĕrnsˈtôrf [key], 1862–1939, German diplomat. As ambassador to the United States (1908–17), he tried to conciliate American feelings toward Germany and re...

Ramey, Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Ramey, Samuel, 1942–, American operatic bass, b. Colby, Kans. He studied music at Kansas State and Wichita State (grad. 1968) universities and debuted with the New York City Opera in Bizet's Carmen ...

Rattle, Sir Simon

(Encyclopedia)Rattle, Sir Simon, 1955–, British conductor, b. Liverpool, studied Royal Academy of Music, London. Originally a percussionist, he became part of the Merseyside Youth Orchestra at 11 and of the Royal...

Shearing, Sir George Albert

(Encyclopedia)Shearing, Sir George Albert, 1919–2011, British jazz pianist, b. London. Shearing overcame lifelong blindness to become a world-famous musician, the creator of a style of jazz, and the composer of t...

Stamitz, Johann

(Encyclopedia)Stamitz, Johann yōˈhän shtäˈmĭts [key], 1717–57, Bohemian-German composer. Stamitz came to Mannheim (1741) and became (1745) concertmaster of the Mannheim orchestra. He made it the best in Eur...

Lawndale

(Encyclopedia)Lawndale, city (1990 pop. 27,331), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the Centinela valley; inc. 1959. The population of Lawndale grew with the regional development of electronic and aerospace industries f...

New Berlin

(Encyclopedia)New Berlin, city (1990 pop. 33,592), Waukesha co., SE Wis., a residential suburb of Milwaukee; founded 1840, inc. 1959. Rubber and plastic products, as well as computer, medical, electrical, electroni...

West Bend

(Encyclopedia)West Bend, industrial city (1990 pop. 23,916), seat of Washington co., E Wis., on the Milwaukee River; inc. 1885, consolidated with Barton in 1961. Farm implements, dairy products, electronic componen...

class action

(Encyclopedia)class action, in law, a device that permits one or more persons to sue or be sued as representative of a large group of people interested in the matter at issue. The court in whose jurisdiction a suit...

gun control

(Encyclopedia)gun control, government limitation of the purchase and ownership of firearms. The availability of guns is controlled by nations and localities throughout the world. In the United States the “right o...