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domino theory

(Encyclopedia)domino theory, the notion that if one country becomes Communist, other nations in the region will probably follow, like dominoes falling in a line. The analogy, first applied (1954) to Southeast Asia ...

Colom Caballeros, Álvaro

(Encyclopedia)Colom Caballeros, Álvaro, 1951–, Guatemalan political leader, president of Guatemala (2008–12), b. Guatemala City. An industrial engineer, he became a textile entrepreneur. Entering politics in t...

Champs Élysées

(Encyclopedia)Champs Élysées shäN zālēzāˈ [key], avenue of Paris, France, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It is celebrated for its tree-lined beauty, its commodious breadth, the...

Etruria

(Encyclopedia)Etruria ĭtro͝orˈēə [key], ancient country, W central Italy, now forming Tuscany and part of Umbria. It was the territory of the Etruscans, who in the 6th cent. b.c. spread Etruscan civilization t...

Fenech Adami, Edward

(Encyclopedia)Fenech Adami, Edward, 1934–, Maltese political leader, prime minister (1987–96, 1998–2004) and president (2004–9) of Malta. A lawyer, he joined the Christian Democratic Nationalist party in th...

Smythson, Robert

(Encyclopedia)Smythson, Robert, 1536?–1614, English architect of the Elizabethan era. From 1568, Smythson was freemason to John Thynne in finishing (1567–75) the country house Longleat, Wiltshire. Striking in i...

Powell, John

(Encyclopedia)Powell, John, 1882–1963, American pianist and composer, b. Richmond, Va., grad. Univ. of Virginian, 1901. In Vienna he studied piano and composition and in 1908 made his debut as a pianist in Berlin...

Saint John's, city, Antigua and Barbuda

(Encyclopedia)Saint John's, city (1991 pop. 21,514), capital of Antigua and Barbuda, in the West Indies. St. John's, at the head of a harbor formed by an inlet, is the commercial center of the country. Tourism is i...

San Cristóbal

(Encyclopedia)San Cristóbal sän krēstōˈbäl [key], active volcano, c.5,725 ft (1,745 m) high, Chinandega dept., NW Nicaragua. Part of a complex of five volcanic mountains, it is the country's highest volcano a...

Ullswater

(Encyclopedia)Ullswater, lake, 71⁄2 mi (12.1 km) long, Cumbria, NW England; second largest in the country. It is divided into three reaches. The waterfall of Aira Force (65 ft/20 m high) and Helvellyn Mt. are nea...