Research Results For 'Belt'

ALEUTIAN LOW

The Aleutian low is a sub-arctic belt of low pressure that stretches across the North Pacific and is centred over the Aleutian Islands. It is separated by an area of relatively high pressure over the North Pole from a similar North Atlantic low pressure belt centred over Iceland. The Aleutian lows are most intense during mid- winter.
Research Aleutian Low

FAST AND LOOSE

Fast and loose, also called prick the garter, was a street fraud, or cheating game, found in England also at fairs, between the 16th and the 19th centuries, involving a stick and a belt, string or garter doubled and rolled up with the double in the middle of the coils, it is then laid on a board, and the dupe is asked to catch the double with the stick or a skewer, when the gambler takes the two ends and looses it or draws it away, so as always to keep the skewer outside the doubled end.
Research Fast And Loose

LITTLE BELT AFFAIR

During 1811, and for some time previous, British cruisers hovering about the American coast had captured many American vessels bound for France, and had made a number of impressments. In May, 1811, Commodore John Rodgers, commanding the American frigate USS President, was ordered to put to sea from Chesapeake Bay and protect American commerce. When thirty miles off Cape Charles, on May the 16th, Rodgers descried a vessel, which he supposed to be the British man-of-war HMS Guerriere. He decided to approach her and make inquiries regarding impressment.

This vessel was HMS Little Belt, a small British frigate. She allegedly showed no colours and sailed away, the USS President pursuing. Overhauling her at about eight o'clock, Rodgers declared she ran up colours which could not be recognized for the darkness, and fired upon the USS President. The fire was immediately returned and HMS Little Belt was disabled in about eighteen minutes. The dispute as to which ship was in fault was never settled. When Foster, the British Minister arrived, however, it was mutually agreed to drop the affair.
Research Little Belt Affair

MOUNTAINS

Mountains are often classified according to their mode of formation: Fold
mountains; Block mountains; Residual mountains; Volcanic mountains.

High mountain chains such as the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, and Rockies are known as new fold mountain systems. The term 'fold' is a reference to the way in which such mountains have been formed. Throughout millions of years slow movements of the earth's crust have caused these
mountains to be raised. The movements which have resulted in mountain buildings were not, however, vertical uplifts. They were primarily horizontal movements, the effect of which was to cause the crust of the earth to 'wrinkle', in a similar way to which a tablecloth wrinkles if it is pushed along the table. The arched or upraised parts of the folds are known as anticlines and the troughs as synclines. These folds can vary greatly in size. Mountain building is undoubtedly due to some deep-seated cause. For a long period the most simple explanation was that folding was entirely due to the cooling and contraction of the earth, so that the crust, already cold and shrunken, had to wrinkle to fit itself to the still cooling and contracting 'core'. One of the objections advanced against this theory is that the amount of shrinking necessary to account for the Himalayas, Alps, etc., seems to be greater than the mere contraction of the earth would allow. While the theory of contraction cannot be completely rejected, serious consideration must be given to the more recent explanations of mountain building. For instance, Wegener suggests that mountain building may be due to the 'wrinkles' produced by the drifting of a continental mass, e.g. that the Alps were formed by the northward drift of the African continent towards the more stable blocks of Central Europe. As the African mass drifted slowly northward the zone between it and the European mass became narrower, and the land was raised into high ridges or folds. The raising of the Alps was accompanied by the formation of the deep trough which contains the Mediterranean Sea. The same hypothesis would account for the building of the Himalayas and the depression of the Indo-Gangetic trough by the northward drift of the Deccan mass.

During the physical history of the earth, mountain building appears to have proceeded more actively at some periods than others. Fold mountains are, therefore, not all of the same age. The newest group of fold mountains include the Himalayas, Alps, Rockies, and Andes. During an earlier period of folding (the Carboniferous) the Pennines, Appalachians, the Cape Ranges of South Africa, and the Dividing Range of Australia were uplifted. A still earlier period of folding accounted for the original mountains of Scotland and Norway, of which the present mountains are merely the worn down stumps. The older fold mountains, which have been subjected to the forces of denudation (such as the weather, rivers, glaciers, etc.) for long geological periods, are much lower and less rugged than the newer fold mountains. The term 'new fold' is applied to the mountain ranges which have been folded most recently, but they seem very old when their age in actual years is considered because they were uplifted many millions of years before historic time. Mountain building is a very long and slow process; and in the case of certain mountain chains, such as the Andes and the mountains of Japan, is probably still proceeding.

The new fold mountain systems of the world, except in such instances as the simple low folds of the Weald (South-east England), usually consist of high parallel ranges, the average height being well over 3000 metres. In the Himalayas' the highest peak rises to 8840 metres; in the Andes 7000 metres; in the Rockies 6000 metres; in the Alps to 4600 metres. Vast though these heights appear, the wrinkles of the earth's crust are only slight. The highest mountain in the world (Mount Everest) is about five miles high, so that on a globe of 40 cm, diameter it would protrude only 2.5 mm. Most of the active volcanoes are found in the neighbourhood of fold mountains, where the crust of the earth has been fractured during the process of folding. All around the Pacific Ocean there are many active and extinct volcanoes, as in New Zealand, the East Indies, Japan, and North, Central, and South America. Another belt of active volcanoes is associated with the fold mountains of the West Indies. The mountains of this type are characterised by ruggedness of relief in contrast to the smooth and rounded contours of mountain areas which have been subjected to weathering agents for long periods of time. This is obvious if pictures of the Alps and the Scottish Highlands are compared.

Mountains are effective climatic barriers, and the climates of regions on either side of a high mountain range are very different. For example, the coast lands of British Columbia have an equable climate and a heavy rainfall, while the lands to the east of the Rockies have an extreme climate and light rainfall. Again, the climate of the mountainous areas differs from that of the adjacent lowlands. The great mountain systems of the world are mainly important for their minerals, and, in the temperate zone, for their lumber. In the plateau regions of some mountain systems agriculture has been made possible by irrigation, and above the forests in temperate areas there are valuable alpine pastures. The swift streams of mountains are frequently sources of hydro-electric power, especially in countries which have no coal, such as Switzerland and Norway. In North America, the Western Cordillera provides gold, copper, lead, and silver, especially in the states of Nevada and Montana. The Andes provide tin and copper (Bolivia), gold and platinum
(Colombia), and silver (Peru). The Highlands of East Australia are important for copper and gold. The lumbering industry is specially important in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon (soft woods), the Central American mountainous lands (hard woods), the Himalayan slopes (teak and sal), and the Scandinavian mountains (soft woods).

To provide food for the mining communities in inaccessible mountain areas, agriculture has been developed. There are numerous irrigation schemes in operation in most of the mountain states of the USA, e.g. at Salt Lake City in Utah. Similarly, the Andean states, e.g. Bolivia, grow small quantities of cereals in the plateau areas. Mountain pastures have been utilised most extensively for cattle rearing in Switzerland and Scandinavia. The vast central plateau of Asia is, owing to difficulty of access and climatic extremes, so isolated from other regions that very little development of any kind, on modern lines, has taken place. High mountain ranges are also barriers to communication, and so tend to separate peoples. Traffic across mountains is limited to the passes, which are often so high as to be snowbound in winter. Such ranges as the Alps, Andes, etc. can only be crossed with great difficulty or by expensive tunnelling.

It sometimes happens that movement of the earth's crust occurs along cracks or faults. Where such movement leaves a block of higher land standing between two areas of lower land, the highland is known as a 'Block Mountain' or horst. The Vosges and Black Forest Mountains are examples of such formations These mountains are usually very steep-sided, and often the summit levels are roughly the same.

When an area of highland remains standing above the general level after rivers and other natural agents have lowered the surface of the surrounding area, the name residual mountain is used. Sometimes such highlands are called 'mountains of denudation'. This term can usually be applied to the mountain ridges associated with 'dissected plateaux'. Included in this class are the mountain ridges of the Highlands of Scotland, the Sierras of Central Spain, and the Mesas and Buttes of the western plateau lands of the United States.

Mountains may be formed by volcanic material piled up around a crater, such mountains are popularly known as volcanoes.
Research Mountains

ORION

Orion is a constellation located on the celestial equator east of Taurus. It is a rectangular configuration with three stars in line near its centre. It is represented on pictorial charts as the figure of Orion, the hunter in Greek mythology, standing with uplifted club. Three bright stars (Orion's Belt) represent his belt and three fainter stars aligned south of the belt represent his sword.
Research Orion

ORION'S BELT

Orion's belt is the name given to three bright stars in the constellation of Orion.
Research Orion's Belt

PONY GIRL

Pony girls is a form of adult sexual entertainment role play or fantasy in which women pretend to be a horse or pony (a pet for their master) while their sexual partner pretends to be the horse or pony's master (known as the top). Pony girls are, therefore, a branch of the bondage and domination, the animal training group of sex games and frequently the sex play involves sado-masochism also.

The pony girl participant (also known as the bottom) takes her role play very seriously. Prancing on her legs, with her arms held close to her sides, the elbows extended forwards, and the wrists allowed to droop, in a fashion not dissimilar to a pony raised on its hind legs and prancing.

Elaborate attire is often employed to enhance the effect. A plume in imitation of the type of plume that is sometimes seen adorning a pony's head may be worn upon the head. Other participants prefer a headdress which includes imitation horse's ears. A fake horse's tail is worn behind, either held by being tucked into a belt or strap around the waist, or sometimes fitted with an anal plug for insertion into the pony girl's anus.

Harness straps, similar to those one might find adorning a real pony or horse are worn around the body, as is a bridle comprising a headstall, bit inserted in the mouth and reins. Sometimes blinkers are also worn, depending upon the preference of the participants. These components provide a sense of bondage and heighten the sexual sensations immensely for both the pony girl and her master. Some pony girls also wear boots in imitation of horse's hooves upon their feet.

Some pony girl games involve humiliation, with the pony girl being the master's pet, or pony slave, being forcibly trained and abused by the master from which both participants derive great sexual excitement.

Pony girl sex games properly require to be played in the open air. The very nature of a horse demands a field or largish area of open space at least in which to conduct the fantasy. A typical session may include training, in which the pony girl properly attired is attached to a long lead, just like a pony when it is being trained, and trots around the master at some little distance in response to suitable commands such as trot and walk, etc.

Following training, a pony girl may be hitched to a small trap which she is then required to pull while the master sits in the trap and encourages the pony with the use of a whip, again, just like with a real pony. Other participants may attach a horse's saddle to the pony girl, who having adopted a posture on all-fours is then ridden by the master like he would ride a real pony. A variation of this is when the pony is a man and the master is a woman - a dominatrix. In this instance, sometimes the dominatrix, attired perhaps in full riding regalia, will ride upon the pony's shoulders with her feet resting in stirrups suspended by suitable harnesses from the man's shoulders or attached to his wrists which are in turn attached to a harness or belt passing around his waist.

By the very nature of the pony girl fantasy sex game, it is usual for the participants, and the pony in particular, to be in some degree of undress. Often the pony girl will be naked except for the leather straps - usually of black leather studded with silver metal coloured discs, rings and chains - and plumes, or at least with her breasts exposed. If the pony girl has pierced nipples, these nipple rings are frequently attached by chains to the headstall, providing her with further stimulation of the nipples during the fantasy. The feet are sometimes bare, but most often adorned with high-heeled platform shoes or custom ankle boots adorned to represent a horse's hooves. Rarely the pony girl will also wear imitation horses hooves gloves. But most frequently the hands are left natural.

Other participants may dress the pony girl in tight latex, or leather wear. In order to enhance the fantasy costume and attire are very important. The fantasy would be lacking realism if the pony girl wore simply street clothes and had a simple rope for reins. Instead, appropriate bondage wear is utilised to enhance the sexuality of the game. The master also is usually dressed up. Riding wear, such as jodhpurs, a riding hat and boots being popular, or else more common bondage master wear, such as tight latex or leather with high stiletto heeled boots enhancing the degree of menace and authority of the master.

During training the pony girl may choose the level of obedience she wishes to portray. A disobedient pony may be whipped, or shouted at. A well behaved pony girl may be fed a sugar cube as a reward, taking the sugar from the master's hand with just her mouth, just as one might reward a real pony. Appropriate pony-like noises are expressed by the pony girl, such as snorting like a pony which further add realism to the fantasy.

The pony girl fantasy may be played by two or more participants, and is often played by three with a single master and two ponies. Pony boys are a variation in which a man or men play the role of the submissive pony, and the master may be another man or more often a dominant female partner - a dominatrix.
Research Pony Girl

THE KING'S ELLWAND

The King's Ellwand was a former name for Orion's Belt, the three bright stars in the constellation of Orion.
Research The King's Ellwand

ZODIAC

The zodiac was the name given by the ancient Greeks to the heavens. It was an imaginary belt in the celestial sphere, extending about 80 degrees on either side of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun among the stars. The width of the zodiac was determined originally so as to include the orbits of the Sun and Moon and of the five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that were known to the people of ancient times.

The zodiac is divided into 12 sections of 300 degrees each, which are called the signs of the zodiac. Starting with the vernal equinox and then proceeding eastward along the ecliptic, each of the divisions is named for the constellation situated within its limits in the second century BC. The names of the zodiacal signs are Aries, the Ram; Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion; Virgo, the Virgin; Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion; Sagittarius, the Archer; Capricorn, the Goat; Aquarius, the Water Bearer; and Pisces, the Fish. Because of the precession of the equinoxes about the ecliptic, a 26,000-year cycle, the first point of Aries retrogrades about 10 degrees in 70 years, so that the sign Aries today lies in the constellation Pisces. In about 24,000 years, when the retrogression will have completed the entire circuit of 3600, the zodiacal signs and constellations will again coincide.

It is believed that the zodiacal signs originated in Mesopotamia as early as 2000 BC . The Greeks adopted the symbols from the Babylonians and passed them on to the other ancient civilisations. The Egyptians assigned other names and symbols to the zodiacal divisions. The Chinese also adopted the 12-fold division, but called the signs rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, hen, dog, and pig. Independently, the Aztec Indians devised a similar system.
Research Zodiac

ZONE

In geography, a zone is any of the five divisions of the surface of the earth characterised by their latitude or temperature differences. From north to south the zones are divided by the Arctic Circle, the tropic of Cancer, the tropic of Capricorn, and the Antarctic Circle. At the polar extremes are the North Frigid Zone (lying north of the Arctic Circle) and the South Frigid Zone (south of the Antarctic Circle). The North Temperate Zone lies between the Arctic Circle and the tropic of Cancer; the South Temperate Zone lies between the Antarctic Circle and the tropic of Capricorn. The Torrid Zone forms a belt on both sides of the equator between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. This division of zones is a rough representation of the earth's temperature or climatic zones and does not take into account differences in elevation, proximity of oceans, or the movement of air masses. The distribution of climate and biomes is far more complex than these five zones suggest.
Research Zone

	The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by Matt and Leela Probert ©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia Southampton, United Kingdom