Foyt, A. J.

A racer from the age of 17 and—unlike many drivers—an expert auto mechanic, Foyt participated in his first Indy Car race in 1957. The following year he made his debut at the Indianapolis 500, avoiding a near crash to finish 16th. In 1960 he won

Yggdrasill

Old Norse  Mimameidr  in Norse mythology, the world tree, a giant ash supporting the universe. One of its roots extended into Niflheim, the underworld; another into Jötunheim, land of the giants; and the third into Asgard, home of the gods. At its base were three wells: Urdarbrunnr (Well of Fate), from which the tree was watered by the Norns (the Fates); Hvergelmir (Roaring Kettle), in which dwelt Nidhogg

Ahmad Ibn Hanbal

The most important of Ibn Hanbal's works is his collection of the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. This collection was heretofore believed to have been compiled by the author's son ('Abd Allah), but there is now evidence that the work was compiled and arranged by Ibn Hanbal himself. These Traditions were considered by Ibn Hanbal as a sound basis for argument in law and

Pausanias

A member of the Agiad royal family, Pausanias was the son of King Cleombrotus I and nephew of King Leonidas. He became regent for Leonidas' son after the father was killed at Thermopylae (480). Pausanias commanded the allied Greek army

Smith, George

Smith's father, also named George Smith (1789–1846), learned bookselling in his native Scotland and, after moving to London, joined with another Scot, Alexander Elder,

Pacific Ocean, Central Pacific region

The central Pacific region lies between the boundaries of the eastern and western regions. The largest and the most geologically stable of the structural provinces of the Earth's crust, it is characterized by expansive areas of low relief, lying at a general depth of about 15,000 feet below the surface.

Halévy, (jacques-françois-) Fromental(-élie)

Halévy studied at the Paris Conservatoire from the age of 10 and won the Prix de Rome in 1819 for his cantata Herminie. His first opera performed was L'Artisan (1827), but it was not until Le Dilettante d'Avignon