title: Jamal Adams

text: In Week 10 against the New York Giants, Adams recorded a team-high nine tackles and sacked Daniel Jones twice, one of which was a strip sack that he forced and returned for a 25-yard touchdown, as the Jets won 34–27 win. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. During Week 11 versus the Washington Redskins, Adams finished with a career high three sacks as the Jets won 34–17. During a game versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Adams suffered an ankle injury at the start of the game. He played the entire game and had to miss the next two weeks due to this injury. He came back from his injury in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Jets' 16–10 win. At the end of the season, he was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and was honored with his first career First-team AP selection. Adams also earned the Curtis Martin Team MVP for the second straight year.


title: Jamal Adams

text: On April 17, 2020, it was reported that Adams would skip the entirety of the voluntary virtual offseason program without a contract extension. On April 27, 2020, the Jets picked up the fifth-year option on Adams' contract. On June 12, 2020, Adams replied to an Instagram post stating that the Jets were "A lot of talk no action" regarding his desire for a contract extension. On June 18, 2020, Adams officially requested to be traded from the Jets. Adams created a list of teams, including his hometown Dallas Cowboys, that he would welcome to be traded to. The following week, Jets' head coach Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams expressed that they wanted to keep Adams. Adams was interviewed by the "New York Daily News" in July 2020, and he made critical remarks towards his head coach Adam Gase, saying that he was not the right leader for the Jets moving forward and that he did not build good relationships with people in the building. Adams also voiced his displeasure with how general manager Joe Douglas treated him during talks of a potential contract extension. He was ranked 27th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.


title: Jamal Adams

text: On July 25, 2020, Adams, along with a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for safety Bradley McDougald, first- and third-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, and a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.


title: Jamal Adams

text: Adams made his debut with the Seahawks in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. During the game, Adams led the Seahawks with 12 tackles (8 solo) and recorded his first sack of the season on Matt Ryan in the 38–25 win.


title: Jamal Adams

text: In the following week's game against the New England Patriots on "Sunday Night Football", Adams recorded nine tackles and sacked Cam Newton once during the 35–30 win.


title: Jamal Adams

text: In Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, Adams suffered a groin injury and did not return. Adams came back from injury in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills. During the game, Adams recorded 1.5 sacks on Josh Allen during the 44–34 loss.


title: Jamal Adams

text: In the following week's game against the Los Angeles Rams, Adams recorded two sacks on Jared Goff, including a strip sack that was recovered by the Seahawks, during the 23–16 loss.


title: Jamal Adams

text: In Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday Night Football", Adams led the team with 9 tackles and recorded one sack on Carson Wentz during the 23–17 win.


title: Jamal Adams

text: In Week 14 against his former team, the New York Jets, Adams recorded a sack on former teammate Sam Darnold during the 40–3 win. This was Adams' 8.5th sack on the season, breaking the NFL record for most sacks in a season by a defensive back. Against the Washington Football Team, Adams expanded his hold on the record with another sack, bringing his season total to 9.5 sacks.


title: Jamal Adams

text: Adams was named to his third straight Pro Bowl on December 21, 2020. Adams and teammate Quandre Diggs became the first safety tandem to make the Pro Bowl together since former Seahawks safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in 2015.


title: Jamal Adams

text: On August 17, 2021, Adams signed a four-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Adams' deal consists of a top value of $72 million, with a $20 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid safety in NFL history at the time. Against the Green Bay Packers on November 14, 2021, Adams recorded his first interception of the season off of Aaron Rodgers in a 17–0 loss. Adams suffered a torn labrum during the Seahawks Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers, and was placed on injured reserve on December 10, 2021.


title: Jamal Adams

text: During the Seahawks Week 1 win against the Denver Broncos, Adams suffered a torn quad tendon in the second quarter which ended his season. He was placed on injured reserve on September 15, 2022.


title: Jamal Adams

text: His father, running back George Adams, played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1991. Adams is also a pescatarian.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Colin Charles Greenwood (born 26 June 1969) is an English musician and the bassist for the rock band Radiohead. Along with bass guitar, Greenwood plays upright bass and electronic instruments.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: With his younger brother, the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Greenwood attended Abingdon School in Abingdon, England, where he met the future band members. Radiohead have achieved critical acclaim and have sold more than 30 million albums. In 2019, Greenwood and the other members of Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Colin Greenwood is the older brother of the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. Their father served in the British Army as a bomb disposal expert. The Greenwood family has historical ties to the British Communist Party and the socialist Fabian Society.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood lived in Germany as a child and became fluent in German. Greenwood credited his older sister, Susan, with influencing his and Jonny's taste in music as adolescents: "She's responsible for our precocious love of miserable music. The Fall, Magazine, Joy Division. We were ostracised at school because everyone else was into Iron Maiden."


title: Colin Greenwood

text: When Greenwood was 12, he met the future Radiohead singer Thom Yorke at Abingdon School, an independent school for boys in Oxford. Their future bandmates Ed O'Brien, whom Greenwood met during a school production of the opera "Trial by Jury", and Philip Selway also attended the school.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood bought his first guitar when he was 15. He studied classical guitar under the Abingdon music teacher Terence Gilmore-James, who introduced him and the other future members of Radiohead to jazz, film scores, postwar avant-garde music, and 20th-century classical music. Greenwood said: "When we started, it was very important that we got support from him, because we weren't getting any from the headmaster. You know, the man once sent us a bill, charging us for the use of school property, because we practiced in one of the music rooms on a Sunday."


title: Colin Greenwood

text: According to Greenwood, he began playing bass out of necessity, teaching himself by playing along to New Order, Joy Division and Otis Redding. Among his musical influences are Booker T and the MGs, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield. He said: "We were people who picked up their respective instruments because we wanted to play music together, rather than just because we wanted to play that particular instrument. So it was more of a collective angle, and if you could contribute by having someone else play your instrument, then that was really cool."


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood read English at Peterhouse, Cambridge, between 1987 and 1990, and read modern American literature including Raymond Carver, John Cheever and other postwar American writers. While at Peterhouse, he worked as an events and entertainments officer.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: In late 1991, after a chance meeting between Colin Greenwood and the A&R representative Keith Wozencroft at Our Price, the record shop where Greenwood worked, On a Friday signed a six-album recording contract with EMI and changed their name to Radiohead. By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2019. On being in a band with his younger brother Jonny, Colin said: "Beyond the normal brotherly thing, I respect him as a person and a musician."


title: Colin Greenwood

text: In 1997, Greenwood participated in a marketing campaign for his alma mater Cambridge University, posing for a photo with students from both state and private schools for a poster titled "Put Yourself in the Picture". The poster was "designed to break down some of the stereotypes that deter able students from applying to Cambridge" and encourage more applicants from state schools.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood contributed bass to Jonny Greenwood's debut solo work "Bodysong" (2003), the score for the 2008 film "Woodpecker." He played bass on the 2018 album "Amir" by the Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino, and on the album "World's Strongest Man" (2018) by Gaz Coombes. He also played bass on "Brasil" from "Earth" (2020), the debut solo album by his Radiohead bandmate Ed O'Brien. He contributed beat programming to Thom Yorke's song "Hearing Damage" from the , and on a track from Yorke's album "Tomorrow's Modern Boxes" (2014).


title: Colin Greenwood

text: In 2004, Greenwood participated on a panel in the annual sixth-form conference run by Radley College in collaboration with School of St Helen and St Katharine, speaking on digital-rights management (DRM) from. In 2013, Greenwood soundtracked a Dries van Noten runway show, performing solo bass guitar. In 2018, he reviewed Michael Palin's book "Erebus: The Story of a Ship" for the "Spectator". In late 2022, he toured Australia as part of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis's band.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood mostly plays fingerstyle, and described himself as "rubbish" with plectrums. He mainly uses Fender basses and Ampeg and Ashdown amplifiers. He also plays double bass and synthesisers. He said: "My involvement is to play bass guitar, but our ideas and suggestions in certain areas, as to where the music should go or develop, are listened to. We are very much a band." In another interview, he said he did not think of himself as a bass player and was "just in a band with other people".


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood enjoys writers such as Thomas Pynchon, V.S. Naipaul and Delmore Schwartz. In December 1998, he married Molly McGrann, an American literary critic and novelist. They have three sons, Jesse, born in December 2003, Asa, born in December 2005, and Henry, born in December 2009. They live in Oxford.


title: Colin Greenwood

text: Greenwood is an amateur photographer. In 2003, he discussed his favourite photographs in the Victoria and Albert Museum, choosing images by Frederick Sommer and Harold Edgerton among others.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The Children of Húrin is an epic fantasy novel which forms the completion of a tale by J. R. R. Tolkien. He wrote the original version of the story in the late 1910s, revised it several times later, but did not complete it before his death in 1973. His son, Christopher Tolkien, edited the manuscripts to form a consistent narrative, and published it in 2007 as an independent work. The book contains 33 illustrations by Alan Lee, eight of which are full-page and in colour. The story is one of three "great tales" set in the First Age of Tolkien's Middle-earth, the other two being "Beren and Lúthien" and "The Fall of Gondolin".


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The history and descent of the main characters are given as the leading paragraphs of the book, and the back story is elaborated upon in "The Silmarillion". It begins five hundred years before the action of the book, when Morgoth, a Vala and the prime evil power, escapes from the Blessed Realm of Valinor to the north-west of Middle-earth. From his fortress of Angband he endeavours to gain control of the whole of Middle-earth, unleashing a war with the Elves that dwell in the land of Beleriand to the south.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: However, the Elves manage to stay his assault, and most of their realms remain unconquered; one of the most powerful of these is Doriath, ruled by Thingol. In addition, after some time the Noldorin Elves forsake Valinor and pursue Morgoth to Middle-earth in order to take vengeance upon him. Together with the Sindar of Beleriand, they proceed to lay siege to Angband, and establish new strongholds and realms in Middle-earth, including Hithlum ruled by Fingon, Nargothrond by Finrod Felagund and Gondolin by Turgon.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Three centuries pass, during which the first Men appear in Beleriand. These are the Edain, descendants of those Men who have rebelled against the rule of Morgoth's servants and journeyed westward. Most of the Elves welcome them, and they are given fiefs throughout Beleriand. The House of Bëor rules over the land of Ladros, the Folk of Haleth retreat to the forest of Brethil, and the lordship of Dor-lómin is granted to the House of Hador. Later, other Men enter Beleriand, the Easterlings, many of whom are in secret league with Morgoth.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Eventually Morgoth manages to break the Siege of Angband in the Battle of Sudden Flame. The House of Bëor is destroyed and the Elves and Edain suffer heavy losses; however, many realms remain unconquered, including Dor-lómin, where the lordship has passed to Húrin Thalion.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Túrin, son of Húrin is a Man who lived in Dor-lómin. Húrin was taken prisoner by Morgoth after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears and during his imprisonment Túrin was sent by his mother, Morwen, to live in the Elf-realm Doriath for protection. In his absence Morwen gave birth to Niënor, a girl. Morgoth had placed a curse upon Húrin and all his family whereby evil would befall them for their whole lives.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: King Thingol of Doriath takes Túrin as a foster-son. During his time in Doriath Túrin befriends Beleg, and the two become close companions. Túrin accidentally causes the death of Saeros, who attempts to jump a ravine while fleeing a wrothful Túrin but falls to his death. Túrin refuses to return to Doriath to face judgement and opts for exile and life as an outlaw. Thingol pardons the absent Túrin and gives Beleg leave to search for him and bring him back to Doriath.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Túrin meanwhile joins a band of outlaws in the wild and eventually becomes their captain. Beleg locates the band while Túrin is absent, and the outlaws leave him tied to a tree until he agrees to give them information. Túrin returns in time to cut Beleg free and, horrified by the outlaws' actions, resolves to forsake the cruel habits he has fallen into. Beleg delivers the message of the king's pardon but Túrin refuses to return to Doriath. Beleg returns to aid Doriath's defence.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Túrin and his men capture Mîm, a Petty-dwarf, who leads them to the caves at Amon Rûdh. Beleg decides to return to Túrin, who welcomes him. The outlaws resent the elf's presence and Mîm, disliking Elves, grows to hate him. Mîm betrays the outlaws to orcs, leading the orcs to the caves where Túrin's company is taken unawares. The entire band is killed, save for Beleg and Túrin. They take Túrin off towards Angband, leaving Beleg chained to a rock. Beleg escapes his bonds and pursues Túrin.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Beleg happens across a mutilated elf, Gwindor of Nargothrond, sleeping in the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin. They enter the orc camp at night and carry Túrin, asleep, from the camp. Beleg begins to cut Túrin's bonds with his sword Anglachel, but the sword slips in his hand and cuts Túrin. Túrin, mistaking Beleg for an orc, kills Beleg with his own sword. When a flash of lightning reveals Beleg's face, Túrin realises his mistake and falls into a frenzy. He refuses to leave Beleg's body until morning, when Gwindor is able to bury the elf. Túrin takes Anglachel but remains witless with grief.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Túrin and Gwindor proceed to Nargothrond. There Túrin gains the favour of King Orodreth, and after leading the Elves to considerable victories, he becomes Orodreth's chief counsellor and commander of his forces. Against all counsel Túrin refuses to hide Nargothrond from Morgoth or to retract his plans for full-scale battle. Morgoth sends an orc-army under the command of the dragon, Glaurung, and Nargothrond is defeated. The orcs, crossing easily over the bridge that Túrin had built, sack Nargothrond and capture its citizens. Túrin returns as the prisoners are to be led away by the orcs, and encounters Glaurung. The dragon enchants and tricks him into returning to Dor-lómin to seek out Morwen and Niënor instead of rescuing the prisoners—among whom is Finduilas, Orodreth's daughter, who loved him.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: In Dor-lómin Túrin learns that Morwen and Niënor have long been in Doriath, and that Glaurung deceived him into letting Finduilas go to her death. He tracks Finduilas' captors to the forest of Brethil, only to learn that she was murdered by the orcs. Grief-stricken, Túrin seeks sanctuary among the folk of Haleth, who maintain a resistance against Morgoth. In Brethil Túrin renames himself "Turambar", "Master of Doom" in Quenya, and gradually supplants Brandir, Brethil's lame Chieftain.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: In Doriath Morwen and Niënor hear rumours of Túrin's deeds, and Morwen determines either to find Túrin or to hear news of his death. Against the counsel of Thingol she rides out of Doriath alone, and Niënor conceals herself among the riders whom Thingol sends under Mablung to follow and protect Morwen. At Nargothrond, Mablung encounters Glaurung, who scatters the elves. Finding Niënor alone, Glaurung discovers her identity and enchants her so that her mind is made blank; she forgets everything, including her name and how to speak.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Mablung attempts to return to Doriath alone with Niënor. The two become stranded in the wilderness, and in an orc attack, Niënor runs into the woods and is lost. Eventually she collapses near Brethil on the grave of Finduilas, where Turambar finds her. He brings her back to the town, and she gradually recovers the use of speech, although she has no memory of her past life. Niënor and Turambar develop a strong attraction. They marry, not realising their kinship, and Niënor becomes pregnant.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: After some time of peace, Glaurung returns to exterminate the men of Brethil. Turambar leads an expedition to cut him off, and stabs Glaurung from beneath while the dragon is crossing a ravine. As Glaurung is dying on the bank of the ravine, Turambar pulls his sword from the dragon's belly, and blood spurts onto his hand and burns him. Overwhelmed with pain and fatigue, he faints. Niënor finds him and mistakes his swoon for death. In a last effort of malice Glaurung opens his eyes and informs her that she and Turambar are brother and sister. Glaurung then dies, and his spell of forgetfulness passes from Niënor. Remembering her entire life and knowing that her unborn child was begotten in incest, she throws herself from the nearby cliff into the river Taeglin and is washed away. When Turambar wakes, Brandir informs him of Niënor's death and of their true relationship as siblings, as he had overheard the dragon's words. Turambar then accuses Brandir of leading Niënor to her death and publishing the lies of Glaurung. He then executes Brandir. Mablung confirms Brandir's tale, and Turambar takes his own life upon his sword.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The main part of the narrative ends with the burial of Túrin. Appended to this is an extract from "The Wanderings of Húrin", the next tale of Tolkien's legendarium. This recounts how Húrin is at last released by Morgoth and comes to the grave of his children. There he finds Morwen, who has also managed to find the place, but now dies in the arms of her husband.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: "The Children of Húrin" was published on 17 April 2007, by HarperCollins in the United Kingdom and Canada, and by Houghton Mifflin in the United States. Alan Lee, illustrator of other fantasy works by J. R. R. Tolkien ("The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings") created the jacket painting, as well as the illustrations within the book. Christopher Tolkien also included an excursus on the evolution of the tale, several genealogical tables, and a redrawn map of Beleriand.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that the setting is intended to be our Earth several thousand years ago, although the geographical and historical correspondence with the real world is tenuous. The lands of Middle-earth were populated by Men and other humanoid races: Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs, as well as divine beings, Valar and Maiar. The story concentrates on a man of the House of Hador, Túrin Turambar, and his sister Niënor Níniel, who are cursed along with their father Húrin by the Dark Lord Morgoth. The events take place more than 6,500 years before the War of the Ring.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The story is mainly based on the legend of Kullervo, a character from the compilation of Finnish folklore poems called "Kalevala". Tolkien drew inspiration from the "Kalevala" for "The Story of Kullervo" in 1914, which was to become the model for his tale of Túrin. Túrin (like Kullervo) also resembles Sigmund, the father of Sigurd in the Volsunga saga, in the incestuous relationship he had with his sister. In Richard Wagner's opera, "Die Walküre" (also drawn in part from the Volsung myths), Siegmund and Sieglinde are parallels of Túrin and Niënor. Túrin further resembles Sigurd himself, as both achieve great renown for the slaying of a dragon of immense power and magic. Turin's suicide following an exchange of words with his sword is lifted essentially unchanged from Kullervo's tale in Kalevala.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Túrin's resemblance to figures from Classical and Medieval tales can be confirmed by a letter which Tolkien wrote to Milton Waldman, a publisher from HarperCollins, concerning the fate of his works:


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The moral issues in "The Children of Húrin" have been compared to Tolkien's analysis of "The Battle of Maldon" that shows Tolkien's interest in the "theory of courage", and distinguish between arrogance and true courage. Túrin's decision to build a bridge at Nargothrond which enables the invasion by Morgoth's forces resembles the character Byrthtnoth from "The Battle of Maldon".


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The themes explored in the story include evil, free will and predestination. The book reflects also on heroism and courage. It has been suggested that Túrin's character is not only shaped by Morgoth's curse but that he himself is also partly responsible for his actions. The curse cannot completely control his free will, and Túrin displays traits like arrogance, pride and a desire for honour, that eventually cause the doom of his allies and family. It has elements of revenge tragedies such as revenge (avenging Glaurung), madness (Túrin's madness after finding out who Níniel was), multiple deaths (Saeros, Beleg, Gwindor, Finduilas, Brodda, Niënor, Brandir) and disguise (Túrin's adopting new identities).


title: The Children of Húrin

text: A brief version of the story formed the base of chapter XXI of "The Silmarillion", setting the tale in the context of the wars of Beleriand. Although based on the same texts used to complete the new book, the "Silmarillion" account leaves out the greater part of the tale.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: None of these writings forms a complete and mature narrative. The published "Children of Húrin" is essentially a synthesis of the "Narn" and of the account found in "The Silmarillion". The first part of "The Children of Húrin" (Chapters I to VII) is taken directly from the "Narn" with the exception of the Nírnaeth Arnoediad (Chapter II), which actually forms the twentieth chapter of "The Silmarillion": this battle is only briefly mentioned either in the "Narn" or in the much compressed "Silmarillion" version ("Of Túrin Turambar").


title: The Children of Húrin

text: In the middle section (Chapters VII to XII), that is, from the end of Túrin's sojourn on Amon Rûdh to his return to Dor-lómin, material is mostly drawn from "The Silmarillion", but is often supplemented with more complete but disconnected passages from the "Narn" (previously provided by Christopher Tolkien in the Appendix of "Unfinished Tales"). These more developed scenes include the exploits of the outlaws in Dor-Cúarthol, Túrin's romantic connection with Finduilas, his debate with Gwindor over the strategy that the Elves of Nargothrond were to adopt in their fight against Morgoth, and a much expanded account of the coming of the Elves Gelmir and Arminas to the halls of Narog. Some minor editorial work was needed, mostly to provide smooth transitions.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The last section (Chapters XII to XVIII) comes exclusively from the "Narn", with the addition, at the end of the last chapter, of Húrin's release from Angband, and his last words to Morwen.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: With the publication of "The Children of Húrin", Christopher Tolkien quotes his father's own words on his fictional universe:


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Christopher Tolkien gives this explanation of his exercise of his editorial function to produce this work by his father:


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Christopher Tolkien had already elaborated in the "Unfinished Tales" on his use of the "Narn" and of "The Silmarillion" to achieve a complete tale of Túrin:


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The initial reviews following the publication of "The Children of Húrin" were mostly positive. Likening it to a Greek tragedy, "The Washington Post" called it "a bleak, darkly beautiful tale" which "possesses the mythic resonance and grim sense of inexorable fate". A positive review was carried by "The Independent" (UK) ("dry, mad, humourless, hard-going and completely brilliant"). Bryan Appleyard of "The Sunday Times" (UK) set "The Children of Húrin" above other writings of Tolkien, noting its "intense and very grown-up manner" and "a real feeling of high seriousness". Maurice Chittenden of "The Sunday Times", said that "it may merit an X-certificate" owing to the number of violent deaths. Philip Hensher in "The Daily Telegraph" said there were many reasons to detest the book (and enumerated them), but relents for its powerful final episode "in which an incestuous passion and a battle with a great dragon enfold each other". He disagrees with Tolkien about what gave power to his writing: Tolkien thought it was its links to antiquity; Hensher, for its modernity, referencing imperialism not feudalism, and an elf capable of evil.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: The book received negative reviews from the "Detroit Free Press" ("dull and unfinished"), "Entertainment Weekly" ("awkward and immature", "impenetrable forest of names ... overstuffed with strangled syntax"), and "The Guardian" ("a derivative Wagnerian hero ... on a quasi-symbolic quest").


title: The Children of Húrin

text: Other critics distinguished two audiences. Tom Deveson of "The Sunday Times" said that "although JRR Tolkien aficionados will be thrilled, others will find "The Children of Hurin" barely readable". Kelly Grovier from "The Observer", on the other hand, stated that it "will please all but the most puritanical of his fans", referring to the scepticism about Christopher Tolkien's involvement. Jeremy Marshall of "The Times" generally echoed: "It is worthy of a readership beyond Tolkien devotees," although he thought it was flawed ("occasionally the prose is too stilted, the dialogue too portentous, the unexplained names too opaque"). He presupposed that: "In "The Children of Húrin" we could at last have the successor to "The Lord of the Rings" that was so earnestly and hopelessly sought by Tolkien’s publishers in the late 1950s."


title: The Children of Húrin

text: "The Children of Húrin" debuted at number one on "The New York Times" Hardcover Fiction Best Seller list.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: According to Houghton Mifflin, the U.S. publisher, already 900,000 copies were in print worldwide in the first two weeks, double the initial expectations of the publishers. HarperCollins, the U.K. publisher, claimed 330,000 copies were in print in the U.K. in the first two weeks.


title: The Children of Húrin

text: In 1999, Finnish entomologist Lauri Kaila named three species of moth, "Elachista turinella", "Elachista morwenella", and "Elachista nienorella", after Túrin, Morwen, and Niënor respectively.


title: Wa State

text: Wa State is an autonomous self-governing polity in Myanmar (Burma). It is "de facto" independent from the rest of the country and has its own political system, administrative divisions and army. However, the Wa State government recognises Myanmar's sovereignty over all of its territory, and the Burmese government does not consider Wa State's political institutions to be legitimate. The 2008 Constitution of Myanmar officially recognises the northern part of Wa State as the Wa Self-Administered Division of Shan State. As a one-party socialist state ruled by the United Wa State Party (UWSP), which split from the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) in 1989, Wa State is divided into three counties, two special districts, and one economic development zone. The administrative capital is Pangkham, formerly known as Pangsang. The name "Wa" is derived from the Wa ethnic group, who speak an Austroasiatic language.


title: Wa State

text: Wa State is divided into northern and southern regions which are separated from one another, with the southern region bordering Thailand and consisting of 200,000 people. The total area of the region controlled by Wa State is . The political leaders of Wa State are mostly ethnic Wa people. The Wa State government emulates many political features of the government of the People's Republic of China, having a central committee and a central party known as the United Wa State Party. Whilst Wa State is highly autonomous from the control of the central government in Naypyidaw, their relationship is based on peaceful coexistence and Wa State recognises the sovereignty of the central government over all of Myanmar.


title: Wa State

text: The working language of the Wa State government is Mandarin Chinese. Southwest Mandarin and Wa are widely spoken by the population, with the language of education being Standard Chinese. Television broadcasts within Wa State are broadcast in both Mandarin and Wa. Commodities within Wa State are brought over from China, and the renminbi is commonly used for exchanges. China Mobile has cellular coverage over some parts of Wa State.


title: Wa State

text: The legal system in Wa State is based on the civil law system, with reference to the laws of China. However, there are still struggle sessions (), which have been abolished in China. After being sentenced to death, prisoners are sent directly to the execution ground.


title: Wa State

text: Labour camps exist in Wa State and relatives of those who are imprisoned or conscripted are often taken hostage by the state. The state is governed by a network of Maoist insurgents, traditional leaders such as headmen, businessmen, and traders, without democratic elections or the rule of law.


title: Wa State

text: Most people do not have Chinese or Myanmar ID cards, but Wa State ID cards are often recognised in those countries. It is easy for citizens to enter them if they avoid the official border crossings.


title: Wa State

text: The most-practiced religion, outnumbering Islam, Buddhism and folk religions, is Christianity, even though there are frequent crackdowns on it conducted by the secular government. An example for this is a campaign against churches built after 1992 in September 2018.


title: Wa State

text: There used to be up to 100,000 Chinese nationals residing in Wa State, many of them engaging in business. In 2021, the Chinese government ordered them to return to their homeland to combat online fraud allegedly committed by many of them. The Chinese exodus has had a negative impact on the Wa economy.


title: Wa State

text: For a long time, headman tribes were dispersed around the Wa mountainous area, with no unified governance. During the Qing dynasty, the region became separated from the tribal military control of the Dai people. British rule in Burma did not administer the Wa States and the border with China was left undefined.


title: Wa State

text: From the late 1940s, during the Chinese Civil War, remnants of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army retreated to territory within Burma as the communists took over mainland China. Within the mountain region Kuomintang forces of the Eighth Army 237 division and 26th Army 93 division held their position for two decades in preparation for a counterattack towards mainland China. Under pressure from the United Nations, the counterattack was cancelled and the army was recalled to northern Thailand and later back to Taiwan; however, some troops decided to remain within Burma. East of the Salween river, indigenous tribal guerrilla groups exercised control with the support of the Communist Party of Burma.


title: Wa State

text: During the 1960s, the Communist Party of Burma lost its base of operations within central Burma, and with the assistance of the Chinese communists, expanded within the border regions in the northeast. Many intellectual youths from China joined the Communist Party of Burma, and these forces also absorbed many local guerrillas. The Burmese communists gained control over Pangkham, which became their base of operations.


title: Wa State

text: At the end of the 1980s, the ethnic minorities of northeast Burma became politically separated from the Communist Party of Burma. On 17 April 1989, Bao Youxiang's armed forces announced their separation from the Communist Party of Burma, and formed the United Myanmar Ethnicities Party, which later became the United Wa State Party. On 18 May, the United Wa State Army signed a ceasefire agreement with the State Law and Order Restoration Council, which replaced Ne Win's military regime following the 8888 Uprising.


title: Wa State

text: In 1990s, Wa State obtained Southern area by force. From 1999 to 2002, 80,000 former opium farmers from the northern area of Wa State were forcefully resettled into the more fertile south for food production, improving food security and laying the groundwork for a ban on drug production in Wa State. Wa State officials claim that more than 1,000 people died due to the resettlement although other sources claim a higher death toll.


title: Wa State

text: Tensions between the central government and Wa State were heightened in 2009. During this time, peace initiative proposals by Wa State were rejected by the Myanmar government. The government warned on 27 April 2010 that the WHP program could push Myanmar and Wa State into further conflict.


title: Wa State

text: After the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état the Wa began to oppose the Myanmar government more directly, shifting away from their strategy of "forward defense" of supporting smaller anti-government forces militarily which was supposed to keep the Tatmadaw from violating ceasefires, with the goal of extending their political and military influence towards Central Myanmar.


title: Wa State

text: Wa State is divided into counties (Wa: ; Mandarin: ), special districts (Wa: ; Mandarin: ), an economic development zone and an administrative affairs committee. Each county is further divided into districts (Wa: ; Mandarin: ).


title: Wa State

text: Below these are township-level administrations: townships (Wa: ; Mandarin: ) and streets (Wa: ; Mandarin: ).


title: Wa State

text: In the table above, names in apostrophe are in Wa/Dai/Mandarin order. Avenue ( / ) is found only once in Mong Maoe County; town ( / "") is found only once in Mōung Ping EDZ. Avenues and streets are metaphorical urban-type division name analogical to subdistricts of China and should not be understood literally. They are further subdivided into groups. Villages are rural counterparts of groups and are below townships. In southern Wa, townships are given the township identity () according to their Mandarin name yet not subdivided into villages with their Wa names indicate they are natural settlements ( / ), but might be a part of compound like (XX-settlement township / ).


title: Wa State

text: In general, the Wa names of divisions follow the Romance naming order. For example, "Vēing Yaong Lēen" means Yaong Lēen District and is a "vēing" (district) instead of a "yaong" (natural settlement). That of the town of Mōung Ping in Mōung Ping EDZ is an exception – it follows the Germanic naming order as "Mōung Ping Jēng" instead of "Jēng Mōung Ping". In the Wa language, "x" at the end of a syllable represents a glottal stop.


title: Wa State

text: In the sections below, names in bold indicate county seats. Names with "quotation marks" are pinyin transcriptions of Mandarin while names in "italics" are Burmese transcriptions of Mandarin. Although Mandarin is one of the four working languages of Wa State, some Mandarin administrative names are non-canonical. For example, and are two different transcriptions of the same official Wa or Dai name of "Pang Yang" District.


title: Wa State

text: Wa State's northern area is divided into three counties, two special districts, and one economic development zone. Each county is further divided into districts; there are 21 districts in total.


title: Wa State

text: Wa State overlaps with seven "de jure" townships designated by the Burmese government. The geographic relationship between districts (second level) and special districts (first level) of Wa State and districts of Shan State are listed below:


title: Wa State

text: Wa State's southern area is not part of traditional Wa territory, but was granted in 1989 by the then-ruling Burmese military junta for the UWSA's cooperation in their efforts against drug warlord Khun Sa. These territories were originally inhabited by the Austroasiatic Tai Loi peoples, but now include significant Lahu and Shan communities as well as Wa settlers.


title: Wa State

text: It is administrated by the Southern Administrative Affairs Committee (Wa: ): Wan Hoong (Mgōng Sam Soung) District, Huix Ox District, Yaong Kraox ("Kailong", Yaong Mgōng) District, Yaong Bang District, Mōung Jōd District, Yaong Mōuig ("Menggang"/ Num Mōuig) District, Kax Nax ("Huyue") District. Kax Nax ("Huyue") District seems to have been merged into Wan Hoong (Mgōng Sam Soung) District.


title: Wa State

text: In recent years tens of thousands of people (according to the Lahu National Development Organization claims 125,933 from 1999 to 2001 alone) have resettled from northern Wa State and central Shan State to the southern area, often due to pressure by the Wa government. These actions were intended to strengthen the Wa government's position there, especially the Mong Yawn valley which is surrounded by mountains on all sides is a strategically important location. Wa people were also relocated from villages on mountain peaks to the surrounding valleys, officially to offer the residents an alternative to the cultivation of opium. After the resettlement, the Wa government allowed ethnic Wa settlers to grow opium for three more years and sell it freely. Serious human rights violations were reported during the resettlement and many people have died, around 10,000 alone during the rains of 2000 since the Wa settlers were not accustomed to tropical diseases like malaria in the warmer southern area.


title: Wa State

text: The original inhabitants of the area have been discriminated against by the settlers; their belongings were seized by them without compensation. Many abuses occur, including enslaving of the ones who complain about the Wa government. They have to work in the fields with chained-up legs. When a minority person cannot give enough money to the rulers, they can sell children seven years or older as soldiers to the United Wa State Army. Due to these harsh living conditions, many had no other choice but to leave their hometowns.


title: Wa State

text: The region is mainly mountainous, with deep valleys. The lowest points are approximately above sea level, with the highest mountains over . Initially Wa State was heavily reliant on opium production. With Chinese assistance, there has been a move towards growing rubber and tea plantations. Wa State cultivates 220,000 acres of rubber. Due to the resettlement of residents from mountainous areas to fertile valleys, there is also cultivation of wet rice, corn and vegetables. Dozens died during the resettlement due to disease and road accidents. One of the main income sources of Wa State is the mining of resources like tin, zinc, lead and smaller amounts of gold. The proven tin ore reserves of Wa State amount to more than 50 million tons, currently 95% of the tin mine production of Myanmar comes from there, around one sixth of the world production. However, there is also a thriving industry around sectors like prostitution and gambling in the capital Pangkham that are related to tourism from China which was thriving before the COVID-19 pandemic. The region was able to vaccinate nearly all of its population against the virus by July 2021, one of the earliest dates in the world. In general, the state of development of Wa State is considerably higher than in the government-controlled areas of Myanmar, which is especially true for its capital. Wa State is economically dependent on China, which supports it financially and provides military and civilian advisors and weapons. It shares 82 miles (133 km) of frontier with China.


title: Wa State

text: The Myanmar kyat is not legal tender anywhere in the Wa State. In the north, the Chinese yuan is legal tender, whilst the baht is legal tender in the south.


title: Wa State

text: The United Wa State Army (UWSA) was previously the largest narcotics trafficking organization in Southeast Asia. The UWSA cultivated vast areas of land for the opium poppy, which was later refined to heroin. Methamphetamine trafficking was also important to the economy of Wa State. The money from the opium was primarily used for purchasing weapons.


title: Wa State

text: In August 1990, government officials began drafting a plan to end drug production and trafficking in Wa State. According to an interview with Wa officials in 1994, Bao Youyi (Tax Kuad Rang; also known as Bao Youyu) became wanted by the Chinese police for his involvement in drug trafficking. As a result, Bao Youxiang and Zhao Nyi-Lai went to Cangyuan Va Autonomous County of China and signed the Cangyuan Agreement with local officials, which stated that, "No drugs will go into the international society (from Wa State); no drugs will go into China (from Wa State); no drugs will go into Burmese government-controlled areas (from Wa State)." However, the agreement did not mention whether or not Wa State could sell drugs to insurgent groups.


title: Wa State

text: In 1997, the United Wa State Party officially proclaimed that Wa State would be drug-free by the end of 2005. With the help of the United Nations and the Chinese government, many opium farmers in Wa State shifted to the production of rubber and tea. However, some poppy farmers continued to cultivate the flower outside of Wa State.


title: Wa State

text: Although the Burmese government has begun taking measures to decrease the production of such drugs, it is an arduous task due to corruption at high levels in the government and a lack of infrastructure to carry out operations. In 2005, Wa State was declared a "drug-free zone" by the United Wa State Party and the cultivation of opium was made illegal.


title: Wa State

text: A BBC presentation aired on 19 November 2016 showed the burning of methamphetamine, as well as a thriving trade in illegal animal parts.


title: Wa State

text: The production of crystal meth of high quality as well as heroin is still thriving and worth billions of dollars as of 2021. Cheaper ya ba tablets are made by neighboring rebel groups which depend on the Wa for raw materials.


title: Tod Williams (filmmaker)

text: Tod Culpan "Kip" Williams (born September 27, 1968) is an American director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the 2010 horror film "Paranormal Activity 2".


title: Tod Williams (filmmaker)

text: Williams, born in Manhattan in 1968, is the son of architect Tod Williams and dancer Patricia Agnes Jones. His parents divorced when he was three years old, and he and his older sister, model Rachel Williams, lived with their mother in the West Village in Lower Manhattan. After his mother's remarriage in the late 1970s, they moved to Woodstock, New York.


title: Tod Williams (filmmaker)

text: Williams studied painting and literature at Bard College and Columbia University before finding work as a stringer for the "New York Times", Los Angeles bureau. Next, he attended the American Film Institute.


title: Tod Williams (filmmaker)

text: On March 27, 2010, he was named as the director of "Paranormal Activity 2"; he replaced Kevin Greutert, who was originally set to direct.


title: Tod Williams (filmmaker)

text: Williams was married to actress Famke Janssen from 1995 to 2000. He has been married to actress Gretchen Mol since June 1, 2004. Their first child, a son, was born in September 2007. Their second child, a daughter, was born in February 2011.


title: The Lazarus Project (TV series)

text: The Lazarus Project (originally titled Extinction) is a Sky television science fiction action drama series from screenwriter Joe Barton and starring Paapa Essiedu. On 4 August 2022, it was announced that the series had been picked up for a second season.


title: The Lazarus Project (TV series)

text: Produced by Urban Myth Films, the series features Marco Kreuzpaintner, Akaash Meeda, and Laura Scrivano as directors. Filming has been taking place in the spring of 2021 in Cardiff, Bristol, Prague, and Postoloprty.


title: The Lazarus Project (TV series)

text: The first trailer was revealed in February 2022. After being retitled, "The Lazarus Project" aired in the UK on Sky Max and Now from 16 June 2022. In the United States, TNT picked up the series and it will premiere in early 2023.


title: The Lazarus Project (TV series)

text: The series has received positive reviews, for its storyline and performances. Lucy Mangan of "The Guardian" awarded it four stars out of five, praising the writing, tension created by the premise and cast. Nicole Vassell, writing for "The Independent", gave it three stars, writing 'Though a little under-explained and occasionally simplistic, "The Lazarus Project" has a bright concept behind it with satisfying bursts of action'. "The Telegraph" gave it three stars.


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: Veeraswamy Ravichandran (born 30 May 1961), known mononymously as Ravichandran, is an actor, director, producer, music director, lyricist and editor in the Kannada Film Industry. He is the son of film producer N. Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Sri Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as "Crazy Star", a title fans have prefixed to his name.


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: Ravichandran was born in Tirunelveli, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India to N. Veeraswamy and Pattammal. His father is N. Veeraswamy was a producer of South Indian film industry. Ravichandran married Sumathi, on the Valentine's Day; 14 February 1986. The couple has a daughter Geethanjali, two sons Manoranjan and Vikram. Manoranjan made his acting debut with "Saheba" (2017). Ravichandran famous for bringing innovations to Kannada film industry through Premaloka (1987) and introducing "Juhi Chawla".


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: He made his first on screen appearance as child actor in "Dhoomakethu" and "Kula Gourava" - both starring Dr.Rajkumar, the latter also being his father's first movie as independent producer. He made his debut as a producer with "Prema Matsara" (1982). He began his acting career with an antagonist role in "Khadeema Kallaru" (1982) which was produced by him. His second film was "Chakravyuha" (1983) which was also co-produced by him. He then appeared in few more successful films before casting himself in "Premaloka" (1987) which turned out to be a blockbuster. He is often considered as "The Show Man" of Kannada cinema for his multi-faceted works in his associated films.


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: Ravichandran initially acted in and directed movies produced by his own banner, Eswari Productions. After "Premaloka", he accepted acting offers from other producers. He has worked with leading directors of the Kannada film industry such as Rajendra Singh Babu and D. Rajendra Babu. His association with D. Rajendra Babu is very successful, resulting in several hits, including "Naanu Nanna Hendthi" (1985), "Ramachaari" (1991), "Sriramachandra" (1992), "Annayya" (1993) and "Yaare Neenu Cheluve" (1998).


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: "Shanti Kranti" (1991) was the most expensive film ever made in Kannada industry at that time. The film was a multilingual project with Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna in prominent roles in Tamil and Telugu respectively. "Ramachaari" (1991), "Halli Meshtru" (1992), "Putnanja" (1995) were notable blockbusters in 90s. Ravichandran and Hamsalekha collaborated on dozens of movies. The end of their long-standing partnership proved to be unsuccessful for both of them. In 2002, Ravichandran embarked on an ambitious film called "Ekangi". Shot inside a massive glass mansion built at a cost of Rs 80 lakh, it was a unique take on loneliness. The success of "Malla" (2004) began a new chapter in his career.


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: He started his company Eswari Audio later to be known as Eswari Entertainments. He was also awarded as the Best Musical Director on the state level. He not only brought the trend of Big-Budget Movies to Kannada cinema but also brought in Digital Grading technology. He started selling music cassettes through cable operators to beat piracy. Ravichandran was also seen on television as a judge in Dancing-star season-2 on Colors Kannada.


title: Ravichandran (Kannada actor)

text: In 2019, Ravichandran played the role of Krishna in "Kurukshetra". This was the first mythological film in his career.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow, or have no identifiable cause.


title: Xerostomia

text: This symptom is very common and is often seen as a side effect of many types of medication. It is more common in older people (mostly because this group tend to take several medications) and in persons who breathe through their mouths. Dehydration, radiotherapy involving the salivary glands, chemotherapy and several diseases can cause reduced salivation (hyposalivation), or a change in saliva consistency and hence a complaint of xerostomia. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause, and there may sometimes be a psychogenic reason for the complaint.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia is the subjective sensation of dry mouth, which is often (but not always) associated with hypofunction of the salivary glands. The term is derived from the Greek words ξηρός ("xeros") meaning "dry" and στόμα ("stoma") meaning "mouth". A drug or substance that increases the rate of salivary flow is termed a sialogogue.


title: Xerostomia

text: Hyposalivation is a clinical diagnosis that is made based on the history and examination, but reduced salivary flow rates have been given objective definitions. Salivary gland hypofunction has been defined as any objectively demonstrable reduction in whole and/or individual gland flow rates. An unstimulated whole saliva flow rate in a normal person is 0.3–0.4 ml per minute, and below 0.1 ml per minute is significantly abnormal. A stimulated saliva flow rate less than 0.5 ml per gland in 5 minutes or less than 1 ml per gland in 10 minutes is decreased. The term subjective xerostomia is sometimes used to describe the symptom in the absence of any clinical evidence of dryness. Xerostomia may also result from a change in composition of saliva (from serous to mucous). Salivary gland dysfunction is an umbrella term for the presence of xerostomia, salivary gland hyposalivation, and hypersalivation.


title: Xerostomia

text: However, sometimes the clinical findings do not correlate with the symptoms experienced. For example, a person with signs of hyposalivation may not complain of xerostomia. Conversely a person who reports experiencing xerostomia may not show signs of reduced salivary secretions (subjective xerostomia). In the latter scenario, there are often other oral symptoms suggestive of oral dysesthesia ("burning mouth syndrome"). Some symptoms outside the mouth may occur together with xerostomia.


title: Xerostomia

text: There may also be other systemic signs and symptoms if there is an underlying cause such as Sjögren's syndrome, for example, joint pain due to associated rheumatoid arthritis.


title: Xerostomia

text: The differential of hyposalivation significantly overlaps with that of xerostomia. A reduction in saliva production to about 50% of the normal unstimulated level will usually result in the sensation of dry mouth. Altered saliva composition may also be responsible for xerostomia.


title: Xerostomia

text: Salivary flow rate is decreased during sleep, which may lead to a transient sensation of dry mouth upon waking. This disappears with eating or drinking or with oral hygiene. When associated with halitosis, this is sometimes termed "morning breath". Dry mouth is also a common sensation during periods of anxiety, probably owing to enhanced sympathetic drive. During periods of stress, our body responds in a ‘fight or flight’ state that will interfere with the saliva flow in the mouth. Dehydration is known to cause hyposalivation, the result of the body trying to conserve fluid. Physiologic age-related changes in salivary gland tissues may lead to a modest reduction in salivary output and partially explain the increased prevalence of xerostomia in older people. However, polypharmacy is thought to be the major cause in this group, with no significant decreases in salivary flow rate being likely to occur through aging alone.


title: Xerostomia

text: Aside from physiologic causes of xerostomia, iatrogenic effects of medications are the most common cause. A medication which is known to cause xerostomia may be termed "xerogenic". Over 400 medications are associated with xerostomia. Although drug induced xerostomia is commonly reversible, the conditions for which these medications are prescribed are frequently chronic. The likelihood of xerostomia increases in relation to the total number of medications taken, whether the individual medications are xerogenic or not. The sensation of dryness usually starts shortly after starting the offending medication or after increasing the dose. Anticholinergic, sympathomimetic, or diuretic drugs are usually responsible.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia may be caused by autoimmune conditions which damage saliva-producing cells. Sjögren's syndrome is one such disease, and it is associated with symptoms including fatigue, myalgia and arthralgia. The disease is characterised by inflammatory changes in the moisture-producing glands throughout the body, leading to reduced secretions from glands that produce saliva, tears and other secretions throughout the body. Primary Sjögren's syndrome is the combination of dry eyes and xerostomia. Secondary Sjögren's syndrome is identical to primary form but with the addition of a combination of other connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia may be the only symptom of celiac disease, especially in adults, who often have no obvious digestive symptoms.


title: Xerostomia

text: Radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck (including brachytherapy for thyroid cancers) where the salivary glands are close to or within the field irradiated is another major cause of xerostomia. A radiation dose of 52 Gy is sufficient to cause severe salivary dysfunction. Radiotherapy for oral cancers usually involves up to 70 Gy of radiation, often given along with chemotherapy which may also have a damaging effect on saliva production. This side effect is a result of radiation damage of the parasympathetic nerves. Formation of salivary gland ducts depends on the secretion of a neuropeptide from the parasympathetic nerves, while development of the end buds of the salivary gland depends on acetylcholine from the parasympathetic nerves.


title: Xerostomia

text: "Sicca" simply means dryness. Sicca syndrome is not a specific condition, and there are varying definitions, but the term can describe oral and eye dryness that is not caused by autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjögren syndrome).


title: Xerostomia

text: Oral dryness may also be caused by mouth breathing, usually caused by partial obstruction of the upper respiratory tract. Examples include hemorrhage, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.


title: Xerostomia

text: Smoking is another possible cause. Other recreational drugs such as methamphetamine, cannabis, hallucinogens, or heroin, may be implicated.


title: Xerostomia

text: Hormonal disorders, such as poorly controlled diabetes, chronic graft versus host disease or low fluid intake in people undergoing hemodialysis for renal impairment may also result in xerostomia, due to dehydration.


title: Xerostomia

text: Nerve damage can be a cause of oral dryness. An injury to the face or surgery can cause nerve damage to your head and neck area which can effect the nerves that are associated with the salivary flow.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia may be a consequence of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and a rare cause of salivary gland dysfunction may be sarcoidosis.


title: Xerostomia

text: Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can cause a related salivary gland disease known as Diffuse Infiltrative Lymphocytosis Syndrome (DILS).


title: Xerostomia

text: Similar to taste dysfunction, xerostomia is one of the most prevalent and persistent oral symptoms associated with COVID-19. Despite a close association with COVID-19, xerostomia, dry mouth and hyposalivation tend to be overlooked in COVID-19 patients and survivors, unlike ageusia, dysgeusia and hypogeusia.


title: Xerostomia

text: A diagnosis of hyposalivation is based predominantly on the clinical signs and symptoms. The Challacombe scale maybe used to classify the extent of dryness. The rate of the salivary flow in an individual's mouth can also be measured. There is little correlation between symptoms and objective tests of salivary flow, such as sialometry. This test is simple and noninvasive, and involves measurement of all the saliva a patient can produce during a certain time, achieved by dribbling into a container. Sialometery can yield measures of stimulated salivary flow or unstimulated salivary flow. Stimulated salivary flow rate is calculated using a stimulant such as 10% citric acid dropped onto the tongue, and collection of all the saliva that flows from one of the parotid papillae over five or ten minutes. Unstimulated whole saliva flow rate more closely correlates with symptoms of xerostomia than stimulated salivary flow rate. Sialography involves introduction of radio-opaque dye such as iodine into the duct of a salivary gland. It may show blockage of a duct due to a calculus. Salivary scintiscanning using technetium is rarely used. Other medical imaging that may be involved in the investigation include chest x-ray (to exclude sarcoidosis), ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (to exclude Sjögren's syndrome or neoplasia). A minor salivary gland biopsy, usually taken from the lip, may be carried out if there is a suspicion of organic disease of the salivary glands. Blood tests and urinalysis may be involved to exclude a number of possible causes. To investigate xerophthalmia, the Schirmer test of lacrimal flow may be indicated. Slit-lamp examination may also be carried out.


title: Xerostomia

text: The successful treatment of xerostomia is difficult to achieve and often unsatisfactory. This involves finding any correctable cause and removing it if possible, but in many cases it is not possible to correct the xerostomia itself, and treatment is symptomatic, and also focuses on preventing tooth decay through improving oral hygiene. Where the symptom is caused by hyposalivation secondary to underlying chronic disease, xerostomia can be considered permanent or even progressive. The management of salivary gland dysfunction may involve the use of saliva substitutes and/or saliva stimulants:


title: Xerostomia

text: Saliva substitutes can improve xerostomia, but tend not to improve the other problems associated with salivary gland dysfunction. Parasympathomimetic drugs (saliva stimulants) such as pilocarpine may improve xerostomia symptoms and other problems associated with salivary gland dysfunction, but the evidence for treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia is limited. Both stimulants and substitutes relieve symptoms to some extent. Salivary stimulants are probably only useful in people with some remaining detectable salivary function. A systematic review compromising of 36 randomised controlled trials for the treatment of dry mouth found that there was no strong evidence to suggest that a specific topical therapy is effective. This review also states that topical therapies can be expected to provide only short-term effects, which are reversible. The review reported limited evidence that oxygenated glycerol triester spray was more effective than electrolyte sprays. Sugar free chewing gum increases saliva production but there is no strong evidence that it improves symptoms. Plus, there is no clear evidence to suggest whether chewing gum is more or less effective as a treatment. There is a suggestion that intraoral devices and integrated mouthcare systems may be effective in reducing symptoms, but there was a lack of strong evidence. A systematic review of the management of radiotherapy-induced xerostomia with parasympathomimetic drugs found that there was limited evidence to support the use of pilocarpine in the treatment of radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction. It was suggested that, barring any contraindications, a trial of the drug be offered in the above group (at a dose of five mg three times per day to minimize side effects). Improvements can take up to twelve weeks. However, pilocarpine is not always successful in improving xerostomia symptoms. The review also concluded that there was little evidence to support the use of other parasympathomimetics in this group. Another systematic review showed, that there is some low-quality evidence to suggest that amifostine prevents the feeling of dry mouth or reduce the risk of moderate to severe xerostomia in people receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck (with or without chemotherapy) in the short- (end of radiotherapy) to medium-term (three months postradiotherapy). But, it is less clear whether or not this effect is sustained to 12 months postradiotherapy.


title: Xerostomia

text: A 2013 review looking at non-pharmacological interventions reported a lack of evidence to support the effects of electrostimulation devices, or acupuncture, on symptoms of dry mouth.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia is a very common symptom. A conservative estimate of prevalence is about 20% in the general population, with increased prevalences in females (up to 30%) and the elderly (up to 50%). Estimates of the prevalence of persistent dry mouth vary between 10 and 50%.


title: Xerostomia

text: Xerostomia has been used as a test to detect lies, which relied on emotional inhibition of salivary secretions to indicate possible incrimination.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: Yara Gambirasio (21 May 1997 – 26 November 2010) was a 13-year-old Italian girl killed on the evening of 26 November 2010.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: At 6:44 PM on 26 November 2010, Yara Gambirasio left the Brembate di Sopra, Italy sport center alone, but never reached her home 700 meters away. Her family soon called the Carabinieri, but despite a search involving hundreds of volunteers, her body was not found until 26 February 2011 in Chignolo d'Isola, 10 kilometers from Brembate di Sopra. The body showed multiple superficial cuts, possibly made by a pointed object such as a nail or a knife, and a large wound on the head. In August 2011 a final autopsy report had not yet been released and not even the exact cause of death had been ascertained, but leaked details from the investigation suggested that the death was caused by the combination of a head blow (as from falling on a hard surface or being hit with a stone), at least six cut wounds (none deadly) and hypothermia. It did not appear that Gambirasio had been raped. Yara's funeral took place on 28 May 2011 and was presided over by the bishop of Bergamo Francesco Beschi.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: The first suspect was a young Moroccan man who was arrested after a comment he made was mistranslated but then quickly exonerated. After a trace of genetic material was taken from the victim's underwear and leggings, forensic scientists analyzed and compared about 22,000 DNA profiles and the search began for a suspect with matching DNA, referred to as "Ignoto 1" (Unknown 1, the identifying nickname given by investigators to the murderer of Gambirasio). On 16 June 2014 an Italian bricklayer living and working in the area, Massimo Giuseppe Bossetti, was arrested and accused of being the murderer, mainly by virtue of his DNA matching "Ignoto 1"'s. While the deceased father of "Ignoto 1", Giuseppe Guerinoni, who had died in 1999, was identified relatively quickly, the search for the actual suspect was much longer and complicated because he was an illegitimate son of Guerinoni - a circumstance apparently totally unknown to anyone else previously; the suspect only became the target of investigations after his mother was tested for DNA and the tests showed it likely that the suspect was one of her sons. Because the investigators wanted to observe the suspect for several months before confronting him, the DNA match of Massimo Giuseppe Bossetti with that of "Ignoto 1" was confirmed during an apparently routine breathalyzer test, which was performed specifically with the intention of obtaining Bossetti's DNA.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: Bossetti proclaimed his innocence right from the arrest (stating that he suffered from epistaxis and that someone had stolen his work tools, including a knife, an awl and a trowel, possibly blood-soiled for this reason, and that the DNA proof was fabricated, due to either excessive exposure to the weather or cross-contamination), but police maintained that the sample was "of excellent quality" and Bossetti was denied any chance of a plea bargain or confession, despite his charge of life imprisonment. His wife confirmed his alibi, but she was not believed, also based on some phone recordings.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: In January 2015, a scientific adviser to the court stated that the MtDNA of "Ignoto 1" might not match that of Bossetti, and that there might be the possibility of an error. According to rumors, as early as July 2013, the DNA showed no correspondence with the genetic maternal line of Massimo Bossetti (a fact explained with a comparison error among thousands of samples), while that correspondence was found after a further analysis on the illegitimate child - after the suggestion of an acquaintance - of Ester Arzuffi (the mother of the suspect). If Bossetti appears to be Guerinoni's son, there are still doubts even on the nuclear DNA and its correspondence with the profile of the suspect. The attorney refused, however, to question the evidence, as requested by the lawyers of Bossetti, who have repeated several times the request for release of their client, and asked to declare him not guilty in a future trial. Bossetti's lawyer said that "«there is an obvious anomaly, the mitochondrial DNA does not match the nuclear DNA. This should at least make us raise a question: whether the whole process which led to the identification of DNA has been done with the most absolute correctness, or not»".


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: An instructor at the gym, Silvia Brena, has been the focus of attention of Bossetti's defence. Her blood was found on the sleeves of Yara's jacket, identified by DNA. On the night of Yara's disappearance, Silvia Brena's father has said that she cried all night, although she has given no reason for this. Under questioning she said that she remembered nothing and could not explain why she and her brother had sent text messages to each other at the time of Yara's disappearance which they had almost immediately deleted without deleting other messages sent before and after.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: On 1 July 2016 the Corte d'Assise of Bergamo sentenced Bossetti to life imprisonment. In July 2017 the Corte d'Assise d'Appello di Brescia upheld the verdict. On 12 October 2018 the Court of Cassation confirmed Bossetti's life sentence.


title: Murder of Yara Gambirasio

text: In November 2019, Bossetti's defence lawyers asked for a review of the DNA evidence. In March 2021 their request wasn't accepted.


title: 2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

text: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, 2014 took place on 30 April and 7 May 2014 to elect members to the legislatures of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It was held concurrently with the Indian general election. The results were declared on 16 May 2014. The Telugu Desam Party led by N. Chandrababu Naidu won a majority of the 175 seats in the rump Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana Rashtra Samithi led by K. Chandrashekar Rao won in the new state of Telangana.


text: In the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly election, Congress had taken the lead, winning 156 of the 294 seats in the Assembly. As the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was invited to form the government by Governor N. D. Tiwari.


text: Unexpectedly, the Government lasted for 4 years 9 months, and the president rule was imposed later which expired on 30 May 2014. The Election Commission of India (ECI) decided to hold the Assembly elections along with the general election. The election in each Assembly constituency (AC) was held in the same phase as the election to the corresponding Parliamentary constituency that the AC falls under.


text: On 3 October 2013, the Union Cabinet of India approved the creation of the new State of Telangana. On 2 June 2014 the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee issued a gazette notification which formalised the separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.


text: The election was held in two phases alongside the 7th and 8th phases of the General Election, taking place on 30 April in Telangana, and on 7 May in the remainder of Andhra Pradesh.


text: Despite few clashes between supporters of rival parties in Seemandhra and Rayalaseema, the poll percentage was good on the polling day. The initial poll percentage appeared to be dull, but it soon picked up as time went on. Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal told the media that he was confident that the percentage could be around 85–90% by the concluding time.


text: Polling passed off peacefully with more than 72% of more than 2.81 crore voters exercising their franchise in the 10 districts in the region. Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal said the polling could touch 75 percent. In 2009, the percentage was 67.71 in the region.


text: Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal said around 76.80% of the 3.68 crore voters exercised their franchise across 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the region and the voting percentage were seen as likely to touch 80%. The highest turnout of 82.97% was recorded in the Guntur district and the lowest of 70% in Vishakhapatnam district.


title: Bellman equation

text: A Bellman equation, named after Richard E. Bellman, is a necessary condition for optimality associated with the mathematical optimization method known as dynamic programming. It writes the "value" of a decision problem at a certain point in time in terms of the payoff from some initial choices and the "value" of the remaining decision problem that results from those initial choices. This breaks a dynamic optimization problem into a sequence of simpler subproblems, as Bellman's “principle of optimality" prescribes. The equation applies to algebraic structures with a total ordering; for algebraic structures with a partial ordering, the generic Bellman's equation can be used.


title: Bellman equation

text: The Bellman equation was first applied to engineering control theory and to other topics in applied mathematics, and subsequently became an important tool in economic theory; though the basic concepts of dynamic programming are prefigured in John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern's "Theory of Games and Economic Behavior" and Abraham Wald's "sequential analysis". The term 'Bellman equation' usually refers to the dynamic programming equation associated with discrete-time optimization problems. In continuous-time optimization problems, the analogous equation is a partial differential equation that is called the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation.


title: Bellman equation

text: In discrete time any multi-stage optimization problem can be solved by analyzing the appropriate Bellman equation. The appropriate Bellman equation can be found by introducing new state variables (state augmentation). However, the resulting augmented-state multi-stage optimization problem has a higher dimensional state space than the original multi-stage optimization problem - an issue that can potentially render the augmented problem intractable due to the “curse of dimensionality”. Alternatively, it has been shown that if the cost function of the multi-stage optimization problem satisfies a "backward separable" structure, then the appropriate Bellman equation can be found without state augmentation.


title: Bellman equation

text: To understand the Bellman equation, several underlying concepts must be understood. First, any optimization problem has some objective: minimizing travel time, minimizing cost, maximizing profits, maximizing utility, etc. The mathematical function that describes this objective is called the "objective function".


title: Bellman equation

text: Dynamic programming breaks a multi-period planning problem into simpler steps at different points in time. Therefore, it requires keeping track of how the decision situation is evolving over time. The information about the current situation that is needed to make a correct decision is called the "state". For example, to decide how much to consume and spend at each point in time, people would need to know (among other things) their initial wealth. Therefore, wealth formula_1 would be one of their "state variables", but there would probably be others.


title: Bellman equation

text: The variables chosen at any given point in time are often called the "control variables". For instance, given their current wealth, people might decide how much to consume now. Choosing the control variables now may be equivalent to choosing the next state; more generally, the next state is affected by other factors in addition to the current control. For example, in the simplest case, today's wealth (the state) and consumption (the control) might exactly determine tomorrow's wealth (the new state), though typically other factors will affect tomorrow's wealth too.


title: Bellman equation

text: The dynamic programming approach describes the optimal plan by finding a rule that tells what the controls should be, given any possible value of the state. For example, if consumption ("c") depends "only" on wealth ("W"), we would seek a rule formula_2 that gives consumption as a function of wealth. Such a rule, determining the controls as a function of the states, is called a "policy function" (See Bellman, 1957, Ch. III.2).


title: Bellman equation

text: Finally, by definition, the optimal decision rule is the one that achieves the best possible value of the objective. For example, if someone chooses consumption, given wealth, in order to maximize happiness (assuming happiness "H" can be represented by a mathematical function, such as a utility function and is something defined by wealth), then each level of wealth will be associated with some highest possible level of happiness, formula_3. The best possible value of the objective, written as a function of the state, is called the "value function".


title: Bellman equation

text: Bellman showed that a dynamic optimization problem in discrete time can be stated in a recursive, step-by-step form known as backward induction by writing down the relationship between the value function in one period and the value function in the next period. The relationship between these two value functions is called the "Bellman equation". In this approach, the optimal policy in the last time period is specified in advance as a function of the state variable's value at that time, and the resulting optimal value of the objective function is thus expressed in terms of that value of the state variable. Next, the next-to-last period's optimization involves maximizing the sum of that period's period-specific objective function and the optimal value of the future objective function, giving that period's optimal policy contingent upon the value of the state variable as of the next-to-last period decision. This logic continues recursively back in time, until the first period decision rule is derived, as a function of the initial state variable value, by optimizing the sum of the first-period-specific objective function and the value of the second period's value function, which gives the value for all the future periods. Thus, each period's decision is made by explicitly acknowledging that all future decisions will be optimally made.


title: Bellman equation

text: Let the state at time formula_4 be formula_5. For a decision that begins at time 0, we take as given the initial state formula_6. At any time, the set of possible actions depends on the current state; we can write this as formula_7, where the action formula_8 represents one or more control variables. We also assume that the state changes from formula_9 to a new state formula_10 when action formula_11 is taken, and that the current payoff from taking action formula_11 in state formula_9 is formula_14. Finally, we assume impatience, represented by a discount factor formula_15.


title: Bellman equation

text: Notice that we have defined notation formula_18 to denote the optimal value that can be obtained by maximizing this objective function subject to the assumed constraints. This function is the "value function". It is a function of the initial state variable formula_6, since the best value obtainable depends on the initial situation.


title: Bellman equation

text: The dynamic programming method breaks this decision problem into smaller subproblems. Bellman's "principle of optimality" describes how to do this:Principle of Optimality: An optimal policy has the property that whatever the initial state and initial decision are, the remaining decisions must constitute an optimal policy with regard to the state resulting from the first decision. (See Bellman, 1957, Chap. III.3.)


title: Bellman equation

text: In computer science, a problem that can be broken apart like this is said to have optimal substructure. In the context of dynamic game theory, this principle is analogous to the concept of subgame perfect equilibrium, although what constitutes an optimal policy in this case is conditioned on the decision-maker's opponents choosing similarly optimal policies from their points of view.


title: Bellman equation

text: As suggested by the "principle of optimality", we will consider the first decision separately, setting aside all future decisions (we will start afresh from time 1 with the new state formula_20). Collecting the future decisions in brackets on the right, the above infinite-horizon decision problem is equivalent to:


title: Bellman equation

text: Here we are choosing formula_23, knowing that our choice will cause the time 1 state to be formula_24. That new state will then affect the decision problem from time 1 on. The whole future decision problem appears inside the square brackets on the right.


title: Bellman equation

text: So far it seems we have only made the problem uglier by separating today's decision from future decisions. But we can simplify by noticing that what is inside the square brackets on the right is "the value" of the time 1 decision problem, starting from state formula_24.


title: Bellman equation

text: This is the Bellman equation. It can be simplified even further if we drop time subscripts and plug in the value of the next state:


title: Bellman equation

text: The Bellman equation is classified as a functional equation, because solving it means finding the unknown function formula_29, which is the "value function". Recall that the value function describes the best possible value of the objective, as a function of the state formula_9. By calculating the value function, we will also find the function formula_31 that describes the optimal action as a function of the state; this is called the "policy function".


title: Bellman equation

text: In the deterministic setting, other techniques besides dynamic programming can be used to tackle the above optimal control problem. However, the Bellman Equation is often the most convenient method of solving "stochastic" optimal control problems.


title: Bellman equation

text: For a specific example from economics, consider an infinitely-lived consumer with initial wealth endowment formula_32 at period formula_33. They have an instantaneous utility function formula_34 where formula_35 denotes consumption and discounts the next period utility at a rate of formula_36. Assume that what is not consumed in period formula_4 carries over to the next period with interest rate formula_38. Then the consumer's utility maximization problem is to choose a consumption plan formula_39


title: Bellman equation

text: The first constraint is the capital accumulation/law of motion specified by the problem, while the second constraint is a transversality condition that the consumer does not carry debt at the end of their life. The Bellman equation is


title: Bellman equation

text: Alternatively, one can treat the sequence problem directly using, for example, the Hamiltonian equations.


title: Bellman equation

text: Now, if the interest rate varies from period to period, the consumer is faced with a stochastic optimization problem. Let the interest "r" follow a Markov process with probability transition function formula_42 where formula_43 denotes the probability measure governing the distribution of interest rate next period if current interest rate is formula_38. In this model the consumer decides their current period consumption after the current period interest rate is announced.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number is the debut studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on May 24, 1994 by Blackground Records and Jive Records. After being signed by her uncle Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah was introduced to recording artist and producer R. Kelly. He became her mentor, as well as the lead songwriter and producer of the album. The duo recorded the album at the Chicago Recording Company in Chicago from January 1993 until February 1994.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" received generally favorable reviews from critics. Many noted Aaliyah's vocal ability and praised the lyrical content. Aaliyah was credited for redefining R&B by blending her voice with Kelly's new jack swing. The album peaked at number 18 on the US "Billboard" 200 and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).The album has sold over three million copies in the United States and six million copies worldwide.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: The album produced two US "Billboard" Hot 100 top-ten singles—"Back & Forth" and a cover of the 1976 Isley Brothers hit "At Your Best (You Are Love)"; both singles were certified gold by the RIAA. The title track was released as the third and final US single, while "Down with the Clique" and "The Thing I Like" were released as the fourth and fifth singles, respectively, in the United Kingdom.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: Before Barry Hankerson signed a distribution deal between Blackground Records and Empire Distribution in August 2021, this work was the only studio album of Aaliyah’s available for legal digital streaming. The rights to the album are owned by Sony Music, a legal successor of Zomba Group of Companies (the original owner of Jive Records).


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: Aaliyah's uncle Barry Hankerson, who was an entertainment lawyer, had been married to Gladys Knight. As a child, Aaliyah traveled with Knight and worked with an agent in New York, where she auditioned for commercials and television programs, including the sitcom "Family Matters". In 1989, she went on to appear on "Star Search" at the age of 10, where she performed "My Funny Valentine". Aaliyah chose to begin auditioning while her mother made the decision to have her surname dropped. By the age of 11, she had started appearing in concerts alongside Gladys Knight. For five nights, Aaliyah performed alongside Knight in Las Vegas; during the concerts, she would perform a number during the middle of Knight's set and would close the show by singing a duet with Knight. When speaking about her time performing with Knight, Aaliyah said "it was a great learning experience". She also recalled: "I learned a lot about being on stage and how audiences react differently to various songs". According to her: "I would stand in the middle of the stage, sing, and just walk off, Gladys said to me, 'You can't do that, you have to work the audience, make them feel what you feel'."


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: When Aaliyah was 12, Hankerson would take her to Vanguard Studios in her hometown of Detroit to record demos with record producer and Vanguard Studios' owner Michael J. Powell. In an interview, Powell stated: "At the time, Barry was trying to get Aaliyah a deal with MCA, and he came to me to make her demos." During her time recording with Powell, Aaliyah recorded several covers, such as "The Greatest Love of All", "Over the Rainbow", and "My Funny Valentine", which she had performed on "Star Search". Eventually, Hankerson started shopping Aaliyah around to various labels, such as Warner Bros. and MCA Records; according to Hankerson, although the executives at both labels liked her voice, they ultimately didn't sign her. After several failed attempts with getting Aaliyah signed to a record label, Hankerson then shifted his focus on getting her signed to Jive Records, the label that R. Kelly, an artist he managed during that time, was signed to. According to former Jive Records A&R Jeff Sledge, Jive's former owner Clive Calder didn't want to sign Aaliyah at first, because he felt that a 12-year-old was too young to be signed to the label. Sledge stated in an interview: "The guy who owned Jive at the time, Clive Calder, he's also an A&R person by trade. He was basically head of the A&R department. Barry kept shopping her to him and he saw something, but he said, ‘She’s not ready, she’s still young, she needs to be developed more.’ Barry would go back and develop her more". After developing Aaliyah more as an artist, Hankerson finally signed a distribution deal with Jive, and he signed her to his own label Blackground Records. When Aaliyah finally got a chance to audition for the record executives at Jive, she sang "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: By late 1992, Aaliyah was signed to both Blackground and Jive; Hankerson then introduced her to recording artist and producer R. Kelly. When the pair first met, Aaliyah sang an a cappella song for Kelly, which left him impressed with her voice and he decided that he wanted to work with her. He then became her mentor, as well as the sole songwriter and producer for her debut album. Kelly was the only writer and producer credited on the album because the record label didn't want multiple people to share publishing rights. According to Jeff Sledge, "Clive was a publishing guru, so he and Barry weren’t trying to cut a lot of people in on the album to share the publishing. They said we’re going to do this with one guy and the publishing will be easy to deal with because it’s one person". Once the issue over publishing was fixed, both Aaliyah and Kelly began recording the album in 1993 when she was 14 and, according to Aaliyah, it took about eight to nine months to record the album.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: R. Kelly and Aaliyah worked on the record in Chicago during the summer while she was off from school for summer vacation; she would fly to Chicago from Detroit, and they would work on the album. While recording the album, the pair spent a lot of time hanging out together by going to arcades and bowling. This would help with the writing process because Kelly would "write the songs that fit her and what kids her age and her friends were talking about". According to Aaliyah, "He just spent time with me, trying to see how I thought about things and what people my age think". When discussing the writing process for the album, Aaliyah said: "We vibed off of one another, and that’s how the songs was built. He would vibe with me on what the lyrics should be. He’d tell me what to sing, and I’d sing it. That’s how the whole album was done". The duo recorded the first song "Old School" at the Chicago Recording Company in Chicago and it took at least two days to record. Aaliyah loved recording "Old School" because that song "had an Isley Brothers flair” to it. When discussing the recording process for the song, Aaliyah said: "At first, I had to get comfortable, but I had been around Robert [Kelly], so it was cool. Both Robert and I are perfectionists, and if you listen to the music, there is a lot of passion in it."


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: While recording the album, Kelly coached her as they worked several hours in the studio. She often sang the songs multiple times in order to achieve "excellence". When discussing the hectic hours recording the album, Aaliyah said: "We put in a lot of hours; as far as the music, we’d be in there all night making sure it was perfect. There were times when I was tired, but I knew I had to push on if I wanted to come off." Kelly claimed that Aaliyah was "one of the best young artists" he had worked with. During the recording process for the album, the record label was out of the loop in regards to the type of songs that were being recorded. Executives from the label didn't hear the album until it was finished, and they were impressed with the finished product. Sledge said: "When we finally heard the album we were blown away because the album was dope. It was basically like listening to an R. Kelly album, but with a little girl singing".


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: Aaliyah sang her songs in a falsetto on the album and felt that the songs "came at you kind of tough, a bit edgy, hip-hop, but the vocals can be very soothing". According to Aaliyah, "lyrically I want things to be different." The album is filled with "sunny" pop jams and "sweet" ballads, and opens with the intro track which is an a cappella public service announcement. The intro urges its listeners to listen to the album carefully: "Listen to instructions carefully / While bumping this album in your jeeps / Aaliyah’s got a '90s swing / So be careful with the volume, please". The next track, "Throw Your Hands Up", is an anthemic up-tempo G-funk-inspired song and has been described as Aaliyah's "statement of purpose". On the song, she tells the listeners that she's "straight from the streets" with a "touch of jazz" in her. The third track and the album's lead single "Back & Forth" has been described as being an urban Dance crossover, pop, R&B and New jack swing song. On the song, Aaliyah sings with a "subtle, laid-back vocal" while she talks about partying on the weekend with her friends. According to "Billboard", "It doesn't matter that Aaliyah is 15. It’s the freakin' weekend, baby, so she's picking up her ladies—presumably in her jeep—and hitting the local party spot". The fourth track "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" is the title track for the album and it is about "a young girl pining for the love of an older man, and her telling society that it doesn’t matter the age difference between the two of them". The song contains an interpolation from the song "What You Won't Do for Love" performed by Bobby Caldwell with the lines "I got a thing for you, and I won’t let go.”


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: The fifth track "Down with the Clique" is a hip hop-inspired song and on the song, Aaliyah displays a "silky cooing" with her vocals. The sixth track "At Your Best (You Are Love)" is a cover of the song originally recorded by The Isley Brothers. The song was described as a "sweet", "vintage soul ballad" and it gave Aaliyah a chance to "ditch the tough-girl posturing" according to "Billboard". The seventh track "No One Knows How to Love Me Quite Like You Do" has been described as a "sensually" up-tempo "crush" record and, lyrically, it is about Aaliyah being satisfied and how she is "made to feel like a goddess". When discussing the record, Aaliyah said "Every girl looks for that one person who is going to love them right. That song is saying, when it comes down to it, I like how you satisfy me." The song features a guest rap appearance from Tia Hawkins, who brings a "comic relief" with her raps, telling the listeners R. Kelly is "spitting tracks as if it were tobacco." The eighth track "I'm So into You" features another guest rap from Tia Hawkins. The ninth track "Street Thing" has been described as a "pretty standard slow jam" and it is about having devotion for another person. During the bridge of the song, Aaliyah sings about climbing the "highest mountain," and swimming the "deepest sea" to prove her devotion. The tenth track "Young Nation" is about Aaliyah "aligning herself with an entire movement". The eleventh track "Old School" is about merging an old school style with a new school style, the opening begins with "Here's the old school / With the new school". The final track "I'm Down" has been described as a mid-tempo rap-soul ballad and it is about "one person giving themselves fully to another".


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: Aaliyah's record label didn't interfere with her image so she was granted free rein when it came to her imaging and style. Former Jive Records A&R Jeff Sledge mentioned in an interview that the promotional campaign was set up so that Aaliyah wouldn't have to change her image or style. When asked about the promotional plans for the album, Jive's senior vice president Barry Weiss said "there [would] be little in the way of marketing changes between the domestic and world promotion of the set". Speaking about Aaliyah's image, he said: "She is what she is the album has tremendous pop appeal to go along with her urban edge, so there's not a whole lot different that we'll be doing abroad". A month before the release of the album's lead single "Back & Forth", Aaliyah attended the Urban Network's "Power Jam" conference, where she was introduced and "received warmly". The album was originally scheduled for June 14, 1994, but due to the instant success of "Back & Forth"'s accompanying music video on MTV, the label was prompted to release the album three weeks earlier, on May 24. Following the album's release, Aaliyah embarked on a 1994–1995 world tour, visiting the United States, Europe, Japan and South Africa. Aside from touring internationally, Aaliyah performed at the Budweiser Superfest at the USAir Arena in September 1994. In January 1995, she performed "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show "All That". On May 1, 1995, Aaliyah made an appearance at the Virgin Megastore in London. Twelve days later on May 13th, Aaliyah performed in concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. In July 1995 Aaliyah celebrated "Essence" magazine's 25th anniversary by performing at the magazine's first annual Essence Music Festival.


title: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number

text: "Back & Forth" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 1994. It reached its peak of number five on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 three months after it was released, on July 2, 1994. The single reached its peak of number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on May 21, 1994, becoming first of the three number-one singles by Aaliyah on this chart. Eventually, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 9, 1994, selling 700,000 copies in the country. On June 26 1994, the song reached number 4 on The Times Southern California pop singles chart.