Why do stars twinkle? We see the stars through the atmosphere. Their light passes through miles of constantly moving pockets and streams of air, which distort the image we get. The distortions are…
(Richard Marin)actor, comedianBorn: 7/13/1946Birthplace: Los Angeles In 1969 Marin met a nightclub owner in Vancouver named Tommy Chong. Together they formed the comic duo Cheech and Chong, whose…
(Encyclopedia) gay-rights movement, organized efforts to end the criminalization of homosexuality and protect the civil rights of homosexuals. While there was some organized activity on behalf of the…
(Encyclopedia) Ghelderode, Michel deGhelderode, Michel demēshĕlˈ də gĕldərōdˈ [key], 1898–1962, Belgian dramatist. He wrote in French and is noted for his colorful and avant-garde plays. He lived in…
(Encyclopedia) Flavin, DanFlavin, Danflāˈvĭn [key], 1933–96, American sculptor, b. New York City. In the early 1960s, Flavin experimented with fluorescent lights, bending them into complex, angular…
(Encyclopedia) Verga, GiovanniVerga, Giovannijōvänˈnē vĕrˈgä [key], 1840–1922, Italian novelist, b. Sicily. He abandoned the study of law for literature and wrote several novels of passion in the…
actressBorn: 8/9/1957Birthplace: New York City Leading actress whose career has survived the Hollywood potholes of addiction, over-publicized marriages, and (sometimes) ill-chosen projects. The…
(John Joseph Gotti Jr., “Teflon Don”)mobsterBorn: 10/27/1940Birthplace: Bronx, New York Current head of the Gambino crime family in New York City, John Gotti is best known as the “Teflon Don” who…
