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money.cnn.com/2008/01/03/news/companies/gunther_yogurt.fortune/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-017. "Stonyfield generated about $300 million in revenues last year. Its yogurt is the No. 3 brand in the United States, behind Yoplait and Stonyfield's sister brand Dannon."
^ "Stonyfield Farm enjoys a strategic partnership with Groupe Danone". Stonyfield Farm. May 2004. http://www.stonyfield.com/Aboutus/MoosReleases_Display.cfm?pr_id=36. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
^ Stonyfield Farm - Canada - Company Profile electronic yogurt maker
This brand-name food or drink product-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. electric yogurt maker
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Categories: Brand name yoghurts | Organic food | Companies based in Rockingham County, New Hampshire | Brand name food products stubs
Monday, May 10, 2010
Stonyfield Farm
Somatosensory system
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Anatomy
The somatosensory system is spread through all major parts of a mammal's body (and other vertebrates). It consists both of sensory receptors and sensory (afferent) neurones in the periphery (skin, muscle and organs for example), to deeper neurones within the central nervous system.
General somatosensory pathway vintage fountain pen
A somatosensory pathway will typically have three long neurons: primary, secondary and tertiary (or first, second, and third). fountain pen network
The first neuron always has its cell body in the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerve (if sensation is in head or neck, it will be the trigeminal nerve ganglia or the ganglia of other sensory cranial nerves). dunhill pen
The second neuron has its cell body either in the spinal cord or in the brainstem. This neuron's ascending axons will cross (decussate) to the opposite side either in the spinal cord or in the brainstem. The axons of many of these neurones terminate in the thalamus (for example the ventral posterior nucleus, VPN), others terminate in the reticular system or the cerebellum.
In the case of touch and certain types of pain, the third neuron has its cell body in the VPN of the thalamus and ends in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe.
Periphery
In the periphery, the somatosensory system detects various stimuli by sensory receptors, e.g. by mechanoreceptors for tactile sensation and nociceptors for pain sensation. The sensory information (touch, pain, temperature etc.,) is then conveyed to the central nervous system by afferent neurones. There are a number of different types of afferent neurones which vary in their size, structure and properties. Generally there is a correlation between the type of sensory modality detected and the type of afferent neurone involved. For example, slow, thin, unmyelinated neurones conduct pain whereas faster, thicker, myelinated neurones conduct casual touch.
Spinal cord
In the spinal cord, the somatosensory system includes ascending pathways from the body to the brain. One major target within the brain is the postcentral gyrus in the cerebral cortex. This is the target for neurones of the Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscal pathway and the Ventral Spinothalamic pathway. Note that many ascending somatosensory pathways include synapses in either the thalamus or the reticular formation before they reach the cortex. Other ascending pathways, particularly those involved with control of posture are projected to the cerebellum. These include the ventral and dorsal spinocerebellar tracts. Another important target for afferent somatosensory neurones which enter the spinal cord are those neurones involved with local segmental reflexes.
Brain
The primary somatosensory area in the human cortex is located in the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe. The postcentral gyrus is the location of the primary somatosensory area, the main sensory receptive area for the sense of touch. Like other sensory areas, there is a map of sensory space called a homunculus at this location. For the primary somatosensory cortex, this is called the sensory homunculus. Areas of this part of the human brain map to certain areas of the body, dependent on the amount or importance of somatosensory input from that area. For example, there is a large area of cortex devoted to sensation in the hands, while the back has a much smaller area. Interestingly, one study showed somatosensory cortex was found to be 21% thicker in 24 migraine sufferers, on average than in 12 controls, although we do not yet know what the significance of this is. Somatosensory information involved with proprioception and posture also targets an entirely different part of the brain, the cerebellum.
See also
Allochiria
Cell signalling
Cellular Cognition
Muscle spindle
Special senses
Notes
^ Saladin KS. Anatomy and Physiology 3rd edd. 2004. McGraw-Hill, New York.
^ Nolte J.The Human Brain 5th ed. 2002. Mosby Inc, Missouri.
^ "Thickening in the somatosensory cortex of patients with migraine." Alexandre F.M. DaSilva, Cristina Granziera, Josh Snyder, and Nouchine Hadjikhani. Neurology, Nov 2007; 69: 1990 - 1995.
References
Emile L. Boulpaep; Walter F. Boron (2003). Medical Physiology. Saunders. pp. 352358. ISBN 0-7216-3256-4.
Flanagan, J.R., Lederman, S.J. Neurobiology: Feeling bumps and holes, News and Views, Nature, 2001 Jul. 26;412(6845):389-91.
Hayward V, Astley OR, Cruz-Hernandez M, Grant D, Robles-De-La-Torre G. Haptic interfaces and devices. Sensor Review 24(1), pp. 1629 (2004).
Robles-De-La-Torre G., Hayward V. Force Can Overcome Object Geometry In the perception of Shape Through Active Touch. Nature 412 (6845):445-8 (2001).
Robles-De-La-Torre G. The Importance of the Sense of Touch in Virtual and Real Environments. IEEE Multimedia 13(3), Special issue on Haptic NO User Interfaces for Multimedia Systems, pp. 2430 (2006).
External links
'Somatosensory & Motor research' (Informa Healthcare)
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Nervous system: Sensory systems / senses (TA A15)
Special senses
Visual system/sight
Auditory system/hearing
Chemoreception (Olfactory system/smell Gustatory system/taste)
Touch
Pain Heat Balance (Equilibrioception) Mechanoreception (Pressure, vibration, proprioception)
Other
Sensory receptor
Categories: Somatic sensory system
Sag Harbor Branch
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History
The line was conceived and surveyed in 1854. In 1869 LIRR president Oliver Charlick wanted the branch to head off plans by the South Side Railroad to extend their line beyond Patchogue. The original plans called for the branch to leave the Main Line at Riverhead. But Riverhead refused to pay the LIRR for the benefits of being at a junction, so the west end was moved to Manorville in the pine barrens in 1869. During construction the Quogue station "on a Sunday morning" was moved by the village from its original and current location to a location on Old Depot Road.
The Sag Harbor Line remained the farthest point on the LIRR's south shore line until 1895 when the LIRR extended the road at Bridgehampton to Montauk leaving the Sag Harbor section a spur of the Montauk Line. During World War I, a freight spur was built onto the newly reinforced Long Wharf in Sag Harbor to deliver torpedoes for the E.W. Bliss Company for testing in the harbor. belly dance belt
The Sag Harbor branch was abandoned in 1940. A former section of the line in Sag Harbor known as Wharf Street has been designated Suffolk County Road 81 and runs from NY 114 to the Sag Harbor Pier. The rest of the road bed was transformed into the Long Pond Greenbelt. The road bed is now a hiking trail. The freight house at the Sag Harbor train station is now the Sag Harbor Garden Center. belly dancing scarf
Manorville Branch belly dance belts
The Manorville Branch was a segment of the Sag Harbor Branch, running from Manorville on the Main Line southeast to Eastport on the Montauk Branch, which eventually became its own branch. A small portion of the right of way runs through what is today the Long Island Game Farm, while another segment runs through a Town of Brookhaven compost facility. In Eastport, the line ran beneath a bridge under Suffolk CR 51, which no longer exists, then along the north end of Spadaro Airport, before merging with the Montauk Branch. It even contained a wye for westbound Montauk Branch trains that went over Montauk Highway until 1931.
The Manorville Branch was abandoned in 1949. In the 1950s, Suffolk County Department of Public Works planned to transform the former branch into a four-lane highway called Suffolk County Road 91 (Manorville Branch Road), but this proposal was abandoned on June 24, 1986, and as with the Long Pond Greenbelt, this road bed is also now a hiking trail.
List of stations
Besides the existing and former stations along the current Montauk Branch, stations along the line included the following;
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Station/
location
Station
link
Miles (kilometers)
to Penn Station
Connections/notes
For continuing service to points west, see Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)
Manorville
Raynor Road, Manorville
Branch abanodned 1949, station closed in 1968.
Eastport
Main Street and East Moriches Road, Eastport
Closed 1959
Manorville Branch ends, merges with Montauk Branch
Speonk
North Phillips Avenue at Depot Road, Speonk
Westhampton
Station Road and Depot Road, Westhampton
Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S90
Quogue
Station Road off of Quogue-Riverhead Road, Quogue
Opened June 1875, Closed March 16, 1998
East Quogue
Opened 1871, Closed unknown
Hampton Bays
Good Ground Road, between Springville Road and Ponoquogue Avenue, Hamton Bays
Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S90, S10D, S10E
Canoe Place
Opened 1935, Closed 1953
Suffolk Downs
Opened 1907, Closed 1921
Golf Grounds
Opened 1907, Closed 1939
Southampton
North Main Street, between Prospect Street and Willow Street, Southampton
Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S92, 10A
Water Mill
Opened 1875, Closed circa 1968
Bridgehampton
Maple Lane and Butter Lane, Bridgehampton
Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S92, 10B
Montauk Branch continues east to Montauk, Sag Harbor Branch which was abaondoned in 1940
Noyack Road
Sag Harbor
1906-1940; also known as Lamb's Corner Station
Sag Harbor
Main Street & South Ferry Road, Sag Harbor
1870-1940
References
^ Ron Ziel and George H. Foster, Steel Rails to the Sunrise, 1965
^ Sag Harbor Branch (Unofficial LIRR History web site)
^ a b NYCRoads.com - Suffolk CR 76-100
^ Suffolk County Department of Public Works
^ Sag Harbor Branch; Part Three (Arrt's Arrchives)
^ Sag Harbor Branch; Part Four (Arrt's Arrchives)
External links
Maps and Photos by Bob Emery, Dave Keller, and Steve Lynch (TrainsAreFun.com)
Sag Harbor Branch; Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four and Part Five (Arrt's Arrchives)
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Long Island Rail Road
Main routes
Main Line Atlantic Montauk Central
Branch services
Babylon Belmont Park City Terminal Zone Far Rockaway Hempstead Long Beach Montauk Oyster Bay Port Jefferson Port Washington Ronkonkoma West Hempstead
Freight operations
Operator: New York and Atlantic Railway
Freight-only branches: Bay Ridge Bushwick Garden City-Mitchel Field Secondary
Defunct branches
Bethpage Cedarhurst Cutoff Creedmoor Evergreen Manhattan Beach Manorville Northport Rockaway Beach Sag Harbor Southern Hempstead West Brighton Beach Whitestone
Other
East Side Access Fleet EMD DE/DM30AC History Stations
Categories: Long Island Rail Road | Transportation in Suffolk County, New York | Railway lines opened in 1869 | 1949 disestablishmentsHidden categories: Incomplete lists
1992 Topps
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Baseball
Base Set
The 1992 Topps set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, rack, and jumbo packs or factory sets. Subsets include Future Stars, Record Breakers, All-Stars, Prospects, Checklists, and Manager cards. This was the first year Topps used white stock for their base set. It was also the first year to feature color photos on the card reverse (of the player's home stadium) as well as a full color backside overall. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in. toy farm tractors
Traded Set toy tow truck
The Traded set totals 132 cards and was issued as a factory set. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for the T suffix in the numbering. This set featured traded players and managers, rookie cards, and Team USA cards. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in. battery ride on toy
Topps Kids
This set totals 132 cards and was issued in wax packs. The fronts and backs are cartoon styled with trivia, quotes, and statistics. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Topps Debut '91
This Major League Debut set has 194 total cards and was issued as a factory set. The cards chronicle a player's first appearance, they are otherwise similar in appearance to the regular issue. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Gold Promo Sheet
Topps distributed an uncut sheet as a preview of its 1992 Gold set. The nine player cards are identical to the issued version while the backs, with the same numbering, lack the 1991 statistics and have an diamond that says '1992 Pre-Production Sample'. Size: 8 X 11 inches.
Golden Spikes Award
Topps produced 600 cards of Phil Nevin, winner of the Golden Spikes Award as the outstanding amateur baseball player of the year. The cards were distributed at the US baseball federation awards ceremony on November 17, 1992. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches.
1993 Pre-Production Sheet
Topps distributed a 9-card uncut sheet as a preview of its 1993 set. The nine player card are identical to the issued version while the backs, all numbered 000, have the 1992 statistics as all zeros and have a large gray circle that says '1993 Pre-Production Sample For General Look Only'. Size: 8 X 11 inches.
1993 Pre-Production Samples
Unlike the above pre-production cards these samples were issued as nine singles in the 1992 Topps factory sets. The cards and their numbering are the same as the regular issue but the stats are covered by a gray oval that says '1993 Pre-Production Sample'. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches.
Triple Header Photo Balls
This is a test set sold one per box with candy. They are a replica baseball with three head shots of players with accompanying facsimile autographs. There are 26 total baseballs in the set.
Bowman
The 1992 Bowman set has 705 cards and was issued in plastic, jumbo, and retail carton packs. This set featured parallel foil cards of 45 players. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Stadium Club
The 1992 Stadium Club set totals 900 cards and was issued in packs in 3 series of 300 cards. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
First Draft Picks are 3 cards inserted in packs or mailed to club members. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Master Photos 15 card set available to club members or inserted in retail boxes. Size: 5 x 7 inches
Stadium Club Dome is a 200 card factory set packaged as the SkyDome. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Parallel Sets
In 1992 Topps issued Gold cards of the Base set as inserts or as a factory set where the checklists were replaced with player cards. A Gold Traded set was also available only as a Factory set.
Gold Winners cards were available by mailing-in winning game cards.
Topps Micro is an 804 card mini version of the regular Topps set issued only as factory sets and had 12 extra gold parallel cards.
Stadium Club issued two 100-card sets identical to the regular series one each for the National Convention and the East Coast National.
Licensed sets
For the O-Pee-Chee sets that resembled the Topps issue see 1992 O-Pee-Chee.
Retail/Food Issues
These are sets issued by other companies in conjunction with Topps.
Dairy Queen Team USA 33 cards issued with purchase of sundae. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
McDonald's Baseball's Best 44 cards issued with purchase of meal. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Bazooka 22 'Quadracards' of 1953 Topps Archives. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Football (American)
Base set
The 1992 football set totals 759 cards and was issued in wax, rack, and jumbo packs and factory sets. There were two factory sets, one containing 660 cards of series 1 & 2, and the other with the 99 remaining high number cards. The cards share their design with this year's baseball regular issue above. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
No.1 Draft Picks
This set contains 4 cards of recent NFL #1 draft picks. The cards were available as inserts in 'high series' packs and factory sets. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
1000 Yard Club
This set totals 20 cards and was issued as inserts in the football jumbo packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained 1000 yards or more during the season by rushing or receiving. The back of the cards list the total yardage gained by the player in each game of the season. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Bowman
The Bowman football set has color action photos in a white border. The player's name is along the bottom over a yellow-orange stripe while a green stripe at the top has a red B over it. There are 573 cards in this set which was issued in 12-card wax packs. Subsets include 28 Team Leader cards, 12 Playoff Star cards, and 5 cards featuring the longest plays of the previous season. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Finest
This set contains 45 cards made with a 'poly-tech' process. There are 33 NFL players, 11 rookies, and 1 checklist. The front of the cards say 'Limited Edition' at the bottom inside a gold stripe. The print run was 3000 cases with 20 sets per case. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Stadium Club
This sets contains 700 cards issued in three series and two 9-card promo sheets issued at the 1992 National Sports Collector's Convention. Subsets include Members Choice cards. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
No.1 Draft Picks 4 cards inserted in high series packs Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
QB Legends 6 cards inserted at approximately 1:72 in second series packs Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Parallel sets
In 1992 Topps issued Gold versions of their football issues available as inserts in packs and the factory sets.
Topps Gold (checklists were replaced with player cards)
No.1 Draft Picks
1000 Yard Club
Basketball
Base set
This set contains 396 cards and was issued in plastic, retail, mini-jumbo, and magazine jumbo packs as well as factory sets. The cards share their design with this year's baseball and football regular issues. Subsets include Highlights, All-Star, 50 Point Club, 20 Assist Club, checklists, and '92 Draft Pix. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Beam Team
This set totals 7 cards and was available as an insert in second series packs at a rate of 1:18. The cards commemorate an NBA laser show sponsored by Topps. The cards feature three players each. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Bullets Crown
The 'Great Bullets Past and Present' set totals 12 cards and was distributed at Crown gas stations. Cards resemble the regular Topps issue and feature 6 current Bullets, 3 former Bullets, and 3 coupon/checklists. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Archives
This 150-card set utilizes the card designs of Topps' baseball issues from 1982-92 when they did not issue basketball cards. The set includes of subset of Number 1 draft choices. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Master Photo Trade cards were inserted one per 24 packs which could be redeemed for large size versions. These 12 cards are based on the First Draft Pick subset from the archive set. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Suns Circle K Stickers
This set contains 12 stickers issued as four 3-sticker vertical strips. The fronts resemble the Topps regular issue while the backs feature sweepstakes rules for a chance to win an autographed Suns poster. Size: 2+38 x 3+38 inches
Stadium Club
This set totals 400 cards issued in two series of 200 cards. The fronts have borderless full bleed color action photos with the Topps Stadium Club logo. The backs feature a photo of the players first Topps card. Subsets include Members Choice. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Beam Team 21 cards inserted in second series packs at a rate of 1:36 commemorating the 'Beams Above the Rim' laser show. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Parallel sets
Topps Gold 396 cards issued as pack inserts or as factory set.
Beam Team Gold 7 cards issued in the Gold factory set.
Archives Gold 150 cards checklists are replaced with player cards.
Archives Master Photos large size available by redemption Size: 5 X 7 in.
Stadium Club Members Only 421 cards issued as a factory set includes Beam Team insert set (Reported 10,000 Sets Produced).
Ice hockey
Topps
The 1992-93 Topps hockey set shares its design with this year's baseball regular issue above. The backs offer career and playoff statistics as well as game winning goals for the previous season. The set has 529 cards and was available in foils packs, jumbo packs, and factory sets. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Bowman
The 1992-93 Bowman hockey set totals 442 cards and features a 45 card gold foil subset of All-Stars from the both the Wales and Campbell conferences. The cards in this set have a close-up photo on back with statistics based on performance vs. other teams. There were 2000 wax cases produced. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Stadium Club
TSC's hockey set was issued in two series and has 501 cards including a 20-card Members Choice subset and four checklists. The card backs feature The Sporting News Skills Rating System as well as a mini reproduction of the player's first Topps card. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Parallel Sets
Topps Gold - checklist cards are replaced with player cards.
Football (soccer)
Stadium Club
A 200 card set of English League stars. The card design is the same as the Stadium Club issues in the United States. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Wrestling
WCW
Topps offered a wrestling set in the UK based on superstars of the World Championship Wrestling promotion. The set totals 66 cards and was issued in 10-card packs. The cards have angled photos over a green and brown background.
Multi-Sport
Stadium Club Members Only
This set is similar to the regular Stadium Club cards but was issued to members in four groups. The cards have a gold foil stamp on the front that says 'Members Only'. The backs are unnumbered and have a scoreboard design. The breakdown of the 50-card set by sport is Baseball 1-36, Football, 37-42, Hockey 43-50. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Topps Stadium of Stars
A twelve card set resembling regular 1992 Topps cards. The set name 'Stadium of Stars', however is found in the box where the team name would normally appear for other sport issues. Size: 2.5 X 3.5 in.
Non-sport
Topps Batman Returns (98) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Stadium Club Batman Returns (100) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Bram Stoker's Dracula (100) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Home Alone 2 (77) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Hook (110) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
In Living Color (99) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 (99) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Toxic High (88) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Trash Can Trolls (88) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Russ Trolls (77) Size: 2.5 X 3.5 inches
Sources
Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X
Lemke, Robert F. (2006). "Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards". KP ; Newton Abbot-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-896893-72-3
Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2005). "Beckett Football Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-41-2
"Tuff Stuff 2005 Standard Catalog of Football Cards". Krause Publications-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-873498-66-6
Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2004). "Beckett Basketball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-37-4
"Tuff Stuff 2003 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards". Krause Publications-Iola, Wisconsin ISBN 0-87349-474-1
Beckett, James (2004). "Beckett hockey card price guide & alphabetical checklist". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-36-6
Benjamin, Christopher (1992). "The Sport Americana price guide to the non-sports cards". Edgewater Book Co.-Cleveland, Ohio ISBN 0-937424-57-9
Murphy, Mark (2002). "Unopened Pack, Wrapper & Display Box Guide". Mark Murphy-Stamford, Connecticut
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Topps Sports Card products
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
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Categories: Baseball cards | 1992 in baseball | Trading cards
Patty and Selma Bouvier
China Product
Distinguishing features
Although the two have a similar look, there are several easy ways to distinguish them. Notable differences include:
Hair: Patty has an afro, while Selma's similarly textured hair is parted in the middle to form an "M". mobile asphalt plant
Outfit: Patty wears a short-sleeved pink dress and pink shoes while Selma wears a sleeveless blue dress and blue shoes. earth compactor
Earrings: Patty wears orange or blue triangular earrings while Selma wears purple or orange circular earrings (and, in earlier episodes, earrings shaped in an "S"). asphalt mixing plant
Necklace: Patty wears orange or blue spherical necklace pearls while Selma wears purple or orange spheroid-shaped necklace pearls.
Biography
Both Patty and Selma are noted for their fondness for cigarettes and, as a result, their raspy voices. The two possess a strong, mutually reciprocated dislike for Homer. Unlike Homer, who usually tries to be polite to his sisters-in-law out of respect for Marge, Patty and Selma have no hesitation about treating Homer with open rudeness and disdain. On several occasions, they do not seem to care even when Homer faced a life-threatening situation; upon discovering that Homer was suffering a heart attack, the two continued cutting coupons as though nothing were wrong, expessing more shock at a five cent discount on wax paper. The two attempt to set Marge up with a sleazy man named Andre as a replacement for Homer, despite the fact that Homer was still alive. Shortly after Marge's wedding the two bought a tombstone inscribed with the epitaph "Homer J. Simpson. We are richer for having lost him."
They share an apartment at the Spinster Arms apartment complex and both work at the DMV. There have been several occasions where they've acted unprofessionally in the course of their jobs, usually when Homer is involved; they've given stoner Otto Mann a driver's license due to their mutual dislike for Homer and deliberately failed Homer to make him feel like a loser. Patty and Selma are very cynical. According to Marge, the two have very brittle necks. The two are avid, sometimes maniacal fans of the TV series, MacGyver, even getting the chance to star in their own subplot with him in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore". The two seem to be aroused by the character, taking cigarettes after every viewing of the show. In "A Star Is Burns", guest-star Jay Sherman, on advice from Homer, tells them MacGyver is gay; as a result, they stripped him to his boxers and hung him from the gutters. Prior to Selma's marriage with Sideshow Bob, he insulted MacGyver and the wedding was almost canceled as a result.
Patty and Selma are often shown to have gone on vacations and bringing back long dull slide shows or other activities; in "Treehouse of Horror VI", they bring a pillowcase full of seashells from their trip to Sulfur Bay for them and the family to clean and organize; in "The Wife Aquatic", they display a boring home video about Barnacle Bay; in "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore", they eventually drive away Richard Dean Anderson by showing him slides of their trip to the Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston, Alberta.
Patty Bouvier
Patty Bouvier is the younger of the two. Despite the similarities between her and Selma, Patty has been shown to be more jaded than her sister particularly towards relationships. It was once said by Marge that Patty chose a life of celibacy, and that Selma had it thrust upon her. Her decision to not have relationships has been implied to be due to her then closeted sexuality. She is more vicious to Homer than Selma is, and unlike Selma (who experiences brief moments of kindness to Homer) has no pity for Homer's well-being. The only exceptions however, are when Patty came out of the closet as a lesbian she managed to suck up her pride and ask Homer (who was legally allowed to perform marriages) to perform the ceremony and when they were both disgusted that Selma got into a relationship with Homer's father Abe and they decide to work together to break them up.
Relationships
In "There's Something About Marrying", Patty comes out of the closet as a lesbian. She exclaims "you could see it from space!", and hints of her sexual orientation have been dropped many times; in "Bart After Dark" she is seen coming out of a burlesque house. She is also seen saying "There goes the last lingering thread of my heterosexuality", when Homer runs past her, naked and screaming, in "Treehouse of Horror III", and hiding in a closet with Smithers on a parade float during a gay pride parade in "Jaws Wired Shut". Upon hearing this, Homer sarcastically exclaimed "Patty's gay? Here's another bomb. I like beer!"
After coming out, Marge is hurt that Patty had hidden her sexuality for years (though there were obvious signs), but learns to respect her sister. In the episode "Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife", Patty wooed a tenured professor of Yale University away from her husband.. In "Rome-old and Julie-eh", it is shown she is attracted to Edna Krabappel. In "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore", Selma says "I can't face prison" and Patty replies "I can." Long before coming out, Patty had dated Principal Skinner in the season 2 episode, "Principal Charming". She refused to marry him, claiming she was too devoted to Selma as a sister to leave her alone. However, she did consider Principal Skinner a gentleman and had seemed to take it hard that she could not marry him, ending their relationship with the words "Good night, sweet principal." During early episodes (and one later episode) Patty, like Selma has also had an honest sexual fixation on MacGyver for many years, although this aspect of her personality was played out in later years.
Patty's only notable relationship with a woman however was with Veronica, who was a pro-golfer. However, it was later discovered by Marge and revealed during Patty's wedding that Veronica was in truth a man.
Selma Bouvier
Selma Bouvier was born two minutes before Patty. Due to a childhood bottle rocket accident, she lost the sense of taste and smell. Selma's favorite film actor was reportedly Troy McClure, to whom she was briefly married before discovering it was just a publicity stunt by McClure. She was willing to live a sham for a while, but broke it off when she realized she couldn't bring a child into a loveless marriage. According to Marge, Selma is "the one who likes Police Academy movies and Hummel figurines, and walking through the park on clear autumn days." Selma inherited her deceased aunt's iguana, Jub-Jub, instead of her mother, Jacqueline, due to Jacqueline's apparent dislike of Jub-Jub. Unlike Patty, Selma has shown brief moments of sympathy for Homer, primarily due to his unwavering loyalty to his family. In fact, in "I Married Marge", Selma is responsible for reuniting Homer with Marge after they had split up, despite an agreement with Patty not to do so. Homer has also demonstrated moments of kindness towards Selma such as offering advice and sympathy, when she began to question her own ability to be a mother after attempting to take care of Bart and Lisa for an afternoon. In a later episode, Homer was convinced by Marge to act as Selma's husband so that she could adopt a Chinese baby and did all he could to make sure that Selma got to keep said baby. He also helped her and Patty keep their jobs after they were caught smoking at work (although this was more for Marge's sake). However, these instances are still very few and far between.
Relationships
Despite being identical twins, Patty and Selma have very different track records when it comes to finding dates. According to Marge, Patty chose a life of celibacy, while Selma had celibacy thrust upon her. Her standards are extremely low, as evidenced by her comments on Mr. Burns: "Single, eh? Well, he passes the Selma Test."
Selma has actively sought out a husband, having been married a total of five times. Her current name has evolved into Selma Bouvier-Terwilliger-Hutz-McClure-Stu-Simpson, after failed marriages to Robert "Sideshow Bob" Terwilliger, Lionel Hutz, Troy McClure, Disco Stu, and Abraham Simpson. It is also implied in "Rome-old and Juli-eh" that Selma had a second failed marriage to Sideshow Bob. One person Selma refused to marry was Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, because she said her collection of last names was long enough without Nahasapeemapetilon added to it. However in season 20 there is photographic evidence that she slept with Apu after Homer and Marge's second wedding. In "Rome-old and Juli-eh", Selma began dating and later married Grandpa Simpson, who had previously dated her mother. Eventually however, they realized that they just cannot make it work because of his age and her career and called it quits. Selma has also dated Hans Moleman, Moe Szyslak, and pitifully, Barney Gumble.
Unable to find companionship in a husband, Selma has also sought to have children. At one point she was considering using a sperm donor. After babysitting Bart and Lisa for a day, she realized that although she wanted someone to love, she was not ready to have children and wound up adopting Jub-Jub, her Aunt Gladis' pet iguana. Finally, in "Goo Goo Gai Pan", a very menopausal Selma adopted a Chinese baby, Ling Bouvier. During the adoption process, Selma pretended to be married to Homer, since the Chinese government only allows children to be adopted by married couples. When the fraud was exposed, Selma managed to keep the baby, as a Chinese dignitary (voiced by Lucy Liu) who had also been raised by a single parent became sympathetic.
Relationship to the Simpson family
As children, Patty and Selma were apparently domineering towards Marge and ridiculed her ambition of becoming an astronaut. Their relationship seems to have improved over the years. As adults, the Bouvier twins have a friendly relationship with their sister and seem very protective of her and thus frequently visit the Simpsons. They seem relatively fond of their nieces and nephew, but seem to like them more when they are young as demonstrated by a quote from Lisa's First Word: "The older they get, the cuter they ain't." They have, on occasion, watched the kids when their parents were out of town. However, Bart and Lisa would rather not be around when their aunts visit. Their idea of bonding with Lisa includes tutoring her in the belief that men are pigs, using Homer as the prime example.
Their relationship with Homer remains one of mutual dislike, which involves a continuous exchange of insults from day one, although Selma gradually grows to like Homer. They unfavorably compare their brother-in-law to a caveman, suggesting him capable of trading Maggie for a beer and a nudie magazine.
Patty and Selma have occasionally expressed their common hope that Marge will eventually divorce Homer. They are often quick in pointing out how close he has come to infidelity, and have unsuccessfully offered to help Marge find a replacement for Homer, although Selma eventually gave in and helped Marge find Homer after seeing how truly unhappy she was. In the episode "Three Gays of the Condo" the twins went so far as to have a billboard built trying to convince voters to have Homer kicked out of Springfield.
Selma once took the Simpson children on a disastrous trip to the Duff Gardens theme park in the episode "Selma's Choice." She is unable to control the children, as Bart manhandles several animatronic characters and Lisa goes on a psychedelic trip after drinking "water" from an It's a Small World-like boat ride, later swimming in the Fermentarium and exclaiming "I am the lizard queen!" After that, however, Selma returned home with the children and asked Homer how he does it, referring to raising children, implying that Selma is slightly more capable of overcoming her dislike of Homer than Patty. She told Homer she just couldn't cut it today, and wearing a sympathetic expression, Homer took her hand to comforted her. As noted above, Homer has also helped Selma adopt a baby, further highlighting their comparative tolerance of each other.
In "Wedding for Disaster", the two put their dislike for Homer aside after realizing that even close to death, Homer truly loves Marge, and even still has kind words for her sisters. When the twins hear this, they save Homer's life (after endangering it) and are stricken with tears.
Character
Creation
Series creator Matt Groening said he suggested that Kavner voice Patty and Selma as characters who "suck the life out of everything...." Al Jean said Kavner makes Patty's voice more masculine and a lower register, while Selma's voice is a little sweeter. Kavner also provides the voices of every other female member of the Bouvier family and has a hard time performing the voices for every character.[citation needed]
Development
In "There's Something About Marrying", Patty was revealed to be a lesbian and became the first openly gay recurring character in the series. Before the episode, the producers had revealed that a character would come out, but didn't reveal who it would be. Despite information revealing the character appearing on the internet several months before the episode aired, bookmakers in the United States and the United Kingdom were taking bets as to which character would be revealed as homosexual, and whether there would be a kiss - BetUS.com posted odds on the kiss at 7 to 5, and laid odds on Patty as the favorite to come out of the closet. Positive reviews came from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, who described this episode as a "ray of light".
See also
Bouvier family
References
^ The Simpsons "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" - December 17, 1989
^ a b Rhodes, Joe. "Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves", TV Guide October 21, 2000, via The Simpsons Archive: "[Matt] Groening says: 'My original idea about Marge's family was they were utterly joyless. The original note I gave to Julie was that they suck the life out of everything they see'".
^ a b The Simpsons. "Homer's Triple Bypass"
^ The Simpsons - "Mother Simpson"
^ The Simpsons. "The Otto Show"
^ a b The Simpsons. "Homer vs. Patty and Selma"
^ The Simpsons. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore"
^ a b c d e The Simpsons. "There's Something About Marrying"
^ a b c Rome-old and Julie-eh"
^ The Simpsons. "Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife"
^ a b The Simpsons. "Principal Charming"
^ a b The Simpsons. "Black Widower"
^ a b c The Simpsons. "A Fish Called Selma"
^ a b The Simpsons. "Selma's Choice"
^ According to a The Simpsons DVD commentary and by episode writer O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
^ The Simpsons "Much Apu About Nothing"
^ The Simpsons. "'Scuse Me While I Miss The Sky"
^ "In the Family Way", The Next Big Thing, 10 October 2003. Julia Sweeney tells about the messages she received from Chinese adoption agencies trying to confirm her heterosexuality due to government opposition to gay adoption
^ Groening, Matt. (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
^ Jean, Al. (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Selma's Choice". [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
^ Finn, Natalie (2007-11-07). ""Simpsons'" Smithers Part of Shrinking Minority?". E! News. http://www.eonline.com/news//article/index.jsp?uuid=fd0da574-316b-4300-80a7-8662f9a096b2&entry=index. Retrieved 2006-08-22.
^ Waxman, Sharon (February 21, 2005), "'Simpsons' Animates Gay Nuptials, and a Debate", The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/arts/television/21simpsons.html?ex=1266728400&en=04eaa677d455b960&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland, retrieved 2007-07-07
^ "Simpsons' gay character is Patty", BBC News, February 21, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4285287.stm, retrieved 2007-07-07
External links
The Simpsons Archive: The Patty and Selma File
Patty Bouvier's profile at TheSimpsons.com
Selma Bouvier's profile at TheSimpsons.com
Selma Bouvier at the Internet Movie Database
Patty Bouvier at the Internet Movie Database
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The Simpsons characters
The Simpson family and relatives
Homer Simpson Marge Simpson Bart Simpson Lisa Simpson Maggie Simpson Abraham Simpson Patty and Selma Bouvier Mona Simpson Santa's Little Helper Snowball
Around Springfield
Comic Book Guy Ned Flanders Professor Frink Barney Gumble Dr. Julius Hibbert Lionel Hutz Reverend Lovejoy Hans Moleman Apu Nahasapeemapetilon Mayor Quimby Dr. Nick Riviera Cletus Spuckler Moe Szyslak Chief Wiggum
Springfield Elementary School faculty and students
Seymour Skinner Edna Krabappel Otto Mann Groundskeeper Willie Nelson Muntz Martin Prince Milhouse Van Houten Ralph Wiggum
Media personalities
Celebrities Itchy and Scratchy Kent Brockman Krusty the Clown Troy McClure Radioactive Man Rainier Wolfcastle
Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
Families
Montgomery Burns Carl Carlson Lenny Leonard Waylon Smithers
Simpson family Flanders family Van Houten family
Villains
Miscellaneous
Kang and Kodos Sideshow Bob Fat Tony
Recurring characters Fictional characters One-time characters Animals Guest stars
Categories: The Simpsons characters | Fictional twins | Fictional lesbiansHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008
Lego Technic
China Product
"Studded" versus "Studless"
A construction using the old pieces with studs.
Although studless beams have been present in Technic sets for many years, the change from primarily studded to primarily studless construction represented a major paradigm shift and has been quite controversial. melamine dinnerware sets
The primary advantage of studless construction is the addition of new construction methods that were previously unavailable. The new studless beams are exactly 1 width unit in height, in contrast to studded beams, which are a non-integer multiple of one unit. It can be awkward to use studded beams in vertical structures because it is necessary to insert plates between the studded beams in order to get the holes to line up. asian dinnerware
A vehicle using the new pieces without studs. dinner trays
Studless beams allow greater flexibility when building in multiple dimensions, while remaining compatible with "classic" studded beams. Some builders also believe that models constructed with studless beams look nicer than their studded counterparts.
However, studless construction also introduces disadvantages. Studless construction is not immediately intuitive, requiring the builder to think five or six steps ahead. While studded construction follows the classic bottom-to-top building pattern, studless construction requires building inside-to-outside.
As of 2006, Lego has begun to re-incorporate studded bricks back into the Technic line, which can be seen in sets such as 8421, The Mobile Crane.
Lego Technic components
Lego Technic system expands on the normal Lego bricks with a whole range of new bricks that offer new functionality and building styles. The most significant change from normal Lego is that single-stud wide bricks ('beams') have circular holes through their vertical face, positioned in-between the studs. These holes can accommodate pins, which enable two beams to be held securely together, either side-by-side, or at an angle.
Motors
Lego Technic system has always included a variety of different electric motors. Broadly, these divide into those powered by batteries, held in a connected battery box, or by mains electricity, via a transformer. Battery-power is the most common.
Early motors were either 9 volt or 4.5 volt, and consisted of a large brick with a small protruding axle that would rotate when the motor was powered. The motor was not hugely geared-down, resulting in high-RPM, low-torque output.
Recent motors contain a hole into which an axle should be inserted, enabling axles of different lengths to be used.
Power Functions
In late 2007, a new motor system was released called Power Functions; it was included within LEGO set 8275 Motorized Bulldozer. It comprised a set of motors, two IR receivers, IR remote control and a battery box, thus resulting in a remote-control model. One IR receiver would connect to the battery box whilst the other receiver connected to the motor (up to two motors per receiver), thus remote-control was achieved.
With these sets it is possible to build or convert manually operated mechanical movement to motorized using electric motors and controlled via switches or IR remote control. Future plans for this set include more parts which will add even more functionality/control possibilities. Lego has already started to design and sell Lego TECHNIC models (sets) which can be easily retrofitted with Power Functions blocks. For example models like the 8294 Excavator, 8295 Telescopic Handler or 7645 MT-61 Crystal Reaper are sold like classic Lego TECHNIC models with manual motorization but are designed with free space for the Power Functions components with factory instructions on how to perform the conversion to an electrically operated model.
Number
Name
Released
8881
Power Functions Battery Box
2008
8882
Power Functions XL-Motor
2008
8883
Power Functions M-Motor
2008
8884
Power Functions IR Receiver
2008
8885
Power Functions IR Remote Control
2008
8886
Power Functions Extension Wire
2008
8869
Power Functions Control Switch
2009
8870
Power Functions Light
2009
8871
Power Functions Extension Wire 20
2009
8293
Power Functions Motor Set
2009
The Power Functions line-up also includes a Linear Actuator currently not sold separately, but already used in many models like the 8294 Excavator.
Pneumatics
Main article: Lego pneumatics
Gears
Various Lego Technic gears.
Gears have been included within Lego Technic sets as a way of transferring rotary power, and of gearing-up or down the speed. Gears come in several sizes: 8 tooth, 16 tooth, 24 tooth and 40 tooth spur gears, 12 tooth, 20 tooth and 36 tooth double bevel gears, and 12 tooth and 20 tooth single bevel gears. The double bevel gears are cut so they can also be meshed as spur gears. There is also a 16 tooth clutch gear, and a 24 tooth friction gear that slips when a certain amount of torque is put on it to prevent motors from damaging any parts or burning themselves out.
In addition to standard gears, some kits include a rack, a clutch and even worm gears and differential gears. The original differential had a 28 tooth bevel gear, designed to be meshed with the 14 tooth bevel gears (replaced by the 12 tooth gears) to give 2:1 reduction. They can also be meshed with the newer double bevel gears. It was replaced by a newer design incorporating 16 tooth and 24 tooth gears on opposite sides of the casing. The casing holds three 12 tooth bevel gears inside.
As of 2008, an updated version of the original differential has been released, optimised for studless construction.
Chain links were also introduced as an additional way of connecting gears. Tension (resulting from the correct number of chain-link parts used), along with the combination of gearwheel-sizes used, is critical to reliable operation. 8-tooth gears are not to be recommended.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lego Technic
Lego Mindstorms
Fischertechnik
External links
Lego Technic information at Lego website
References
^ http://journals.aol.com/jmenomeno/brickjournal/entries/2006/10/03/other-fun-things...nxt-and-studless-building/781
^ http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=48416
^ http://www.actionfigurecustoms.com/blogs/2007/10/2009-camaro-custom-Lego-technic-by.php
^ http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=48420
^ http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/Movies/M3.aspx
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Antyesti
China Product
History
About 4000 years ago, in the Indian subcontinent, human bodies were either exposed to the elements of nature, and to the birds, or buried in the earth, in a river, and sometimes a cave or an urn[citation needed]. Centuries later, cremation became the usual mode of disposal of the dead bodies, with certain exceptions the exceptions being bodies of infants[citation needed], yogis, sadhus, and a few others. Cremation became popular due to the Hindu concept of detachment of soul from the body at the time of death, and the transmigration of the soul from one body to another.
Stages innotek dog training collar
Hindu funeral rites may generally be divided into four stages: airline pet carriers
The rituals and rites to be performed when the person is believed to be on the death bed. reflective dog collar
Rites which accompany the disposal of the dead body.
Rites which enable the soul of the dead to transit successfully from the stage of a ghost (preta) to the realm of the ancestors, the Pitrs.
Rites performed in honor of the Pitrs.
Process
Burning ghats of Manikarnika, at Varanasi, India
Procedures for cremation vary from place to place. Immediately after the death, the body is placed on the floor with the head pointing towards the south which is the direction of the dead. An oil lamp is lit and placed near the body, this lamp is kept burning continuously for the first three days following death. In Hinduism, the dead body is considered to be symbol of great impurity hence miminal physical contact is maintained, perhaps to avoid the spread of infections or germs. Most often the body is bathed by purified water, and then dressed in new clothes, if the dead was a male or a widow then generally white clothes are used,whereas if the dead was a married women with her husband still alive or a young unmarried girl, then the body is dressed either in red or yellow. Sacred ash (bhasma) is applied on the forehead of the deceased, especially for the worshippers of Lord Shiva (Saivites), otherwise sandalwood paste is applied on the forehead, if the dead was a worshipper for Lord Vishnu (Vaishnava). Further, a few drops of the holy Ganges water may be put into the mouth of the deceased so that the soul may attain liberation, also a few leaves of the holy basil (tulsi) are placed on the right side of the dead body. The body then may be adorned with jewels, and placed lying on a stretcher, with the head pointing towards the south. Sometimes the body may be kept in a sitting position too. The stretcher is adorned with different flowers including roses, jasmine, and marigolds, and the body is almost covered with the flowers. Thereafter, the close relatives of the deceased person carry the stretcher on their shoulders to the cremation ground. If it is located at a distance, traditionally the stretcher is placed on a cart pulled by animals like bullocks. Nowadays vehicles are also used.
The cremation ground is called Shmashana (in Sanskrit), and traditionally it is located near a river, if not on the river bank itself. There, a pyre is prepared, on which the corpse is laid with its feet facing southwards, so that the dead person can walk in the direction of the dead. The jewels, if any, are removed. Thereafter, the chief mourner (generally the eldest son) walks around the pyre three times keeping the body to his left. While walking he sprinkles water and sometimes ghee onto the pyre from a vessel. He then sets the pyre alight with a torch of flame. The beginning of the cremation heralds the start of the traditional mourning period, which usually ends on the morning of the 13th day after death. When the fire consumes the body, which may take a few hours, the mourners return home. During this mourning period the family of the dead are bound by many rules and regulations of ritual impurity. Immediately after the cremation the entire family is expected to have a bath. One or two days after the funeral, the chief mourner returns to the cremation ground to collect the mortal remains and put them in an urn. These remains are then immersed in a river. Those who can afford it may go to select places like Varanasi, Haridwar, Allahabad, Sri Rangam and Kanya Kumari to perform this rite of immersion of mortal remains.
The preta-karma is an important aspect of Hindu funeral rites, and its objective is to facilitate the migration of the soul of the dead person from the status of a preta (ghost or spirit) to the abode of the ancestors (Pitrs)[citation needed]. It is believed that if this stage of funeral rites is not performed or performed incorrectly, the spirit of the dead person shall become a ghost (bhuta)[citation needed]. The rites generally last for ten or eleven days, at the end of which the preta is believed to join the abode of the ancestors. Thereafter, they are worshipped during the 'sraddha' ceremonies.
If a person dies in a different country, in a war, or drowns, or in any other manner that his body cannot be retrieved for the antyesti, his funeral rites may be performed without the dead body, and similar procedures are followed had the dead body been available. If such a person is later discovered to have not actually died, then "resurrection" rituals are mandatory before his being admitted to the world of the living. The Hindu communities in the United States have begun to look at streamlining the process of cremation rituals and post-cremation observances[citation needed].
Tamil Brahmin funerals
The body is cleaned up by pouring water over it. The water is poured by sons and daughters. Then it is draped in a fresh, washed cloth. The relatives put uncooked rice over the mouth of the deceased. The karta has a quick bath (no soap, etc). Sits on the ground in the wet clothes. He wears only a single cloth. The purohit says the mantras and the karta follows them. The body is lifted and kept in the funeral van. The grandson carries a ghee-flame and takes a few steps and the van follows. Then the van speeds up and reaches the cremation ground. The purohit chants the mantras and the karta follows him. Relatives and friends visit and offer their condolences. The host is not supposed to welcome them. The relatives silently go off without saying goodbye.
There is a choice of manual burning and electric burning.
Manual burning:
The following is based on Madras brahmin practice. The body is handed over to the Government officials at the crematorium. The officials consent to burn the body once you produce a doctor's certificate of death. The person who does the actual burning is called vettiyaan. He covers the body with wooden logs and then with dried dung cakes. The face and chest are left open. The karta is given burning pieces of coal and he places the coal very tenderly on the chest of the departed. Then the face is covered. The funeral party returns home after this. The vettiyan takes care of the further burning. He ensures that the body is fully burnt.
Electric burning:
The body is kept on a bamboo frame and frame is kept on a railing near the door of the electric chamber. The door is opened, the railing is moved, the body goes into position and the railing is pulled back. Then the operator turns the switch on. The target temperature is around 500 degrees Celsius plus. The chamber coils are kept on right from the morning, body or no body. It takes around an hour for the body to burn. The black smoke can be seen from the very tall stack above the chamber. (Here also, the karta puts the burning pieces of coal on the chest of the body before the body is pushed into the chamber). The ashes are given to the karta. Again there are some mantras and work on the ground. Once over, the karta goes to a water body, say a beach, and immerses the ashes in the water (sanjayanam).
Nitya vidhi:
Three stones are buried in two separate places. If you are in a village, one set in the house (griha dwara kundam) and another near some water body (nadi theera kundam). The first day, the karta pours water on the ground in which the stones are buried. This is done at both sites. In the home site, you break tender coconuts and pour on the stone site. This is done accompanied by mantras. The idea is to quench the thirst of the deceased person. This goes on for another 9 days. Then there are separate functions on 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th days.
10th day: Lot of food stuff is prepared and the relatives throw the same (lob) into a cloth spread on the floor.
13th day: Puja for gods is done. Includes navagraha homam. The water from the puja is sprinkled all over the house to purify the place.
Thereafter, offerings to the departed are made each month. These events are called Sodakumbam and Masyam. These are performed on the day of death which repeats each month. Western calendar dates are not used for this purpose. Instead, a concept called Thithi is used. There are 15 thithis in a full cycle of thithis and there are two such cycles in a month. The exact is derived from the South Indian Tamil Almanac with the help of a purohit. These offerings are made on two separate days each month. The events are conducted with the help of a purohit (called 'Sastrigal').
This goes on for 12 months. In the 12th month, a function called Aptikam is conducted. As above, this function incorporates the relevant pujas and dhaanams (gifts to brahmins). The value of the gifts depends on how much money you have. In addition functions are held on the 27th and 45th days after the death, where again the main idea is to offer food to the departed soul through living brahmins. Usually the nearest male carries the rites.
Legality
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, it was formerly illegal to conduct a traditional outdoors Hindu cremation under the 1902 Cremation Act, with Hindus having to cremate their dead in indoor crematoriums instead. One British Hindu, Daven Ghai, who had been refused the right to have a traditional funeral by Newcastle City Council, brought a case to court in which he claimed that the current law did in fact allow open air cremations, so long as they were in some enclosed building and away from the public. A High Court ruling disagreed with his claim, and the-then Justice Secretary Jack Straw stated that the British public would "find it abhorrent that human remains were being burned in this way." Nonetheless, upon taking it to the Court of Appeals in 2010, the judge, Lord Justice Neuberger, ruled that such a cremation would be legal under the 1902 Act, so long as it was performed within a building, even an open-air one. Upon his victory, Ghai told reporters that "I always maintained that I wanted to clarify the law, not disobey or disrespect it" and expressed regret at the amount that the trial had cost the taxpayer. He stated that he was thankful that he now had "the right to be cremated with the sun shining on my body and my son lighting the pyre" and he and other Hindus and Sikhs in the country had begun investigations into finding a site upon which they could perform the funerary ceremonies.
See also
Antam Sanskar
Pitru Paksha
References
^ Taylor, Jerome (2010). "Hindu healer wins funeral pyre battle". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/davender-ghai-wins-funeral-pyre-battle-1895116.html.
^ Roy, Amit (2010). "UK funeral rights for Hindus". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100211/jsp/frontpage/story_12093239.jsp.
Categories: Indian culture | Hindu traditions | Death customsHidden categories: Articles lacking sources from December 2009 | All articles lacking sources | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007