Trivia

[kristina]

It seems as though I have to give another clue:

Without a dowry all three daughters would have been destitute
without any chance to get married at all.

So what did St. Nicholas do ?

[CebuShan]

All right, I'll take another stab at it. Did St. Nicholas deliver a gift of a dowry for the daughters?

[kristina]

Yes, you are right CebuShan.

There are many stories & legends told about St. Nicholas
and in the story of the three unmarried daughters without a dowry,
St. Nicholas sent a bag of gold to their home for every daughter
and this provided for their dowry.

Sometimes this story is being told with gold-balls instead of bags of gold,
and that is why often three gold-balls are shown as a symbol of St. Nicholas as a gift-giver.

And that explains why in the Russian community young girls are often given an icon depicting St. Nicholas.

[galvo]

CebuShan

[CebuShan]

In light of recent events, I decided to look this up. According to Maritime law, what exactly is a Ship Captain's duties in the event of a sinking ship? My answer came from Craig H. Allen, Coast Guard attorney and commander of the Coast Guard cutter Resolute.

[kristina]

1) SOS-alert to ships/boats/nearest coast etc. for help.
2) make sure to assemble everyone,
3) inform them the ship is having difficulty and
    make sure everyone wears their life-jackets etc.
4) get life-boats ready, women and children first
5) the captain is supposed to be the last person to leave a sinking ship.

P.S. I just remember, the captain must keep the ships log-book with him
if and when he abandons the ship.

[CebuShan]

Yes, Kristina.
The actual quote that I looked at said this: "Maritime Law and Naval Regulations and custom impose a broadly defined duty on captains of ships involved in casualties to attempt to save their ship if at all possible. Failing that, the captain must remain in command at all times and do his best to ensure the safety of any passengers and crew members in abandoning ship and effecting rescue. To accomplish this, the captain must remain aboard his vessel until all passengers and crew are evacuated or accounted for. (Bold mine) At that point, the wise ship's captain will no doubt conclude, and legal experts would agree, that it is better to "live and fight another day" than to "go down with the ship."
Here is the link to the paper I referred to: http://www.law.washington.edu/Directory/docs/Allen/Publications/Article_1994_CaptainsDutySinkingShipTake2.pdf
Obviously, the ship's captain in question acted with cowardice.
You're up, Kristina!

[kristina]

Thank you, CebuShan.

My question is this:

What place is considered to be

the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution ?

[CebuShan]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say: Detroit, Michigan!   

[galvo]

IRONBRIDGE, Shropshire.

[YLGuy]

Lowell, MA

[kristina]

Yes galvo, it is the famous area in England
around the world famous cast iron bridge in Shropshire,
an area known as Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale.

This is where the first cast iron rails were used for a railway system
& where boilers were cast & where the first steam-driven locomotive was tested
& where there was founded the mass production of iron-making
& iron products, thanks to new developments in the 18th century.
 
It is also where decorative cast ironwork was produced
in the early 19th century by the Coalbrookdale Company
which became famous throughout the world.

All this occurred in one of the most picturesque areas
of rolling countryside & valleys through which the magnificent River Severn
(England’s second longest river) flows.

Over to you, galvo.

[galvo]

Thanks, kristina. I've seen an excellent Time Team episode on the subject.

In 1897, the first act of movie censorship in the USA was enacted in statute. In which State did this occur and what type of film was 'banned'?

[CebuShan]

It was called, "Dorlita in the Passion Dance". It was offered in peep shows in New Jersey.

[galvo]

Yes. CebuShan. 'Dorlita' was banned in NJ in1894. I think we could have an argument as to whether it was a film, per se. But I'm in a good mood, so I'll award you the prize.

[CebuShan]

House bill 15522 was signed into law in August 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. What did it create?

[CebuShan]

Wow! Seems I must give a clue. OK - Yosemite; Yellowstone; et al.  Good Luck!

[YLGuy]

National Park System?

[galvo]

The Library of Congress reckons it's an invalid Bill number.

[CebuShan]

National Park System?

  Yes, YL! It was the formation of the National Park Service. Stephen Mather was the first director. 

The Library of Congress reckons it's an invalid Bill number.

The Library of Congress reckons it's an invalid Bill number.

  I apologise if I wrote the incorrect bill number, sometimes I have trouble distinguishing different numbers.   YL, you're up!

[YLGuy]

In early 1892, Professor Henry Senger, a philologist at the University of California, Berkeley contacted someone to form a club. Who did he contact and what club did they form?

[cassandra]

In 1982 H Senger approached Muir about forming an Alpine Club

[CebuShan]

I know this one but I'll give someone else a chance.

[YLGuy]

In 1982 H Senger approached Muir about forming an Alpine Club

I will give it to you.  The name of that 'Alpine club' for mountain lovers was The Sierra Club.
Go ahead Cassandra

[cassandra]

Okay, give me the longest river in Suriname