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Duck Duck Goose

Duck duck goose

Duck Duck Goose is a children's game often first learned in pre-school or kindergarten. A group of children sit in a circle, facing inward, while another child, the "picker" walks around tapping or pointing to each player in turn, calling each a "duck" until finally picking one child to be a "goose." The "goose" then rises and chases and tries to tag the picker. The picker tries to return to the spot where the "goose" had been sitting and sit in that spot. If the picker succeeds, the "goose" is now the new picker and the process begins again. If the "goose" succeeds in tagging the picker, the goose may return to sit in the previous spot and the picker resumes the process. In some versions, the one who is tagged is "out" and must sit in the center of the circle; when the resulting circle becomes too small, a new game may be started. Alternately, when the "goose" is picked, the "picker" runs in one direction of his or her choice around the circle, while the "goose" runs in the other direction. The first person who gets to the vacant space first rejoins the circle, while the other person becomes the "picker." A regional variant of this game, "Duck Duck Gray Duck", is played in the north central part of the United States, specifically Minnesota and surrounding areas, and is considered a cultural marker for that region. Two versions of the regional rules exist. In the first, the "picker" will describe the "ducks" as different colors or adjectives — for example, "blue duck, white duck, lazy duck". It's more of an educational game than an alteration of the "original", in that one not only recites colors, but also tries to say "gray duck" as casually as possible, hoping to deceive the gray duck and gain time (a technique that is less successful in the classic version). It's more complicated and doesn't involve any potentially suggestive "goosing." The second version is played exactly as the original, with the picker saying "grey duck" instead of "goose". There is also a variant called Rag Tag.

List of traditional children's games

Some children's games include:
- Ball tag
- Blind Man's Bluff
- British Bulldog
- Bullrush game
- Butts Up
- Cat's cradle
- Chain tag
- Cocky Olly
- Conkers
- Cops and robbers
- Doctor
- Dodge ball
- Duck Duck Goose
- Ducks and Drakes aka Skipping stones
- Flashlight tag
- Follow the Leader
- Four square
- Forty Forty
- Gite (Indian)
- Heads Up, Seven Up
- Hide and seek
- Hopscotch
- Jump rope
- Keep Away
- Kiss chase
- Leapfrog
- Mary Mack
- Mother May I?
- Musical chairs
- Musical statues
- Postman's Knock
- Queenie, Queenie, who's got the ball?
- Red Hands
- Red light, green light
- Red Rover
- Sardines
- Simon Says
- Sleeping lions
- Smear the queer
- Tag
- Witch's Casket These are informal games, most often played by children without adult organisation, sometimes even despite the disapproval of adults. They are part of children's street culture. There is a list of children's party games in the article on party games.

See also


- clapping game
- singing game

External link


- [http://www.child-tea-party-game-ideas.com/tea-party-games.html Tea Party Games For Kids]- find dozens of tea party games, craft activities, and party menus. Site includes dozens of online free & printable tea party invitations by popular theme.
- [http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/sh/kidsongs/singame_1 America's Story from America's Library: Singing Games] Category:Children's games Children's games, traditional

Kindergarten

Kindergarten (German for garden for children) is a name used in many parts of the world for the first stages of a child's classroom education. In some parts kindergarten is part of the formal school system; in others it may refer to pre-school or daycare.

History

Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel officially opened the first Kindergarten in 1840 to mark the four hundredth anniversary of the invention of movable type by Gutenberg. It was founded at Bad Blankenburg, in the small principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Germany, where Fröbel had opened a Play and Activity Institute in 1837. The first kindergarten in the United States was founded in Columbus, Ohio by Louisa Frankenberg, a student of Fröbel who came to the city in 1838. Another early kindergarten was established in 1856 by Margarethe (Margaretta) Meyer Schurz (wife of activist/statesman Carl Schurz), in Watertown, Dodge County, Wisconsin. It was run as a public institution beginning in 1873.

Kindergarten System and... the World

Australia

In the state of New South Wales the first year of primary school is called kindergarten. In Victoria, kindergarten is a form of, and used interchangeably with, pre-school. In Queensland kindergarten is usually an institution for children around the age of 4 and thus the precursor to preschool and primary education. Other states and territories may or may not follow either model.

China

In China, the equivalent term to kindergarten, you er yuan, designates preschool.

France

In France, the equivalent term to kindergarten, jardin d'enfants, designates also preschool and is not part of the school system.

Germany

Kindergartens (German plural Kindergärten) in Germany are not a part of the actual school system, as they are in the USA. The German translation of "pre-school", Vorschule, is used for educational efforts in the Kindergarten, which are handled differently in every German state. Kindergarten establishments (day-care) in Germany are normally for pre-school children between 3 and 6 years of age, and are often run by churches, city or town administrations. Attendance is neither mandatory nor free of charge.

India

In India, kindergarten is divided into two stages- lower kindergarten (LKG) and upper kindergarten (UKG). Typically, an LKG class would comprise of children 3 to 4 years of age, and the UKG class would comprise of children 4 to 5 years of age. After finishing upper kindergarten, a child enters Class 1 (or, Standard 1) of primary school. Often kindergarten is an integral part of regular schools.In most cases the kindergarten is run as a private school.Children are also taken at the age of 2 to 2and a half-this is referred to as the Toddler/Nursery group.It is run as part of the kindergarten.

Korea

In South Korea, children normally enter into kindergarten around the age of 5, and leave it just before 7, to go to primary school. Normally the kindergartens are graded on a three-tier basis. They are called "Yoo-chi won" (Korean: 유치원)

Mexico

In Mexico, Kindergarten is optional, it may be offered in either private schools or public schools, it is attended primarily by children not old enough to attend primary school (between ages 3 and 6). In public schools, it may be only one year. But in some private schools it may range between 2 or 4 grades, the latter including nursery, for children age 2.

North America

In North America kindergartens are usually administered in an elementary school as part of the K-12 educational system. Kindergarten is considered the first year of formal education. It is often referred to as CD-5 or K-5. In Ontario and Wisconsin there are two grades of Kindergarten; Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten (JK and SK). Unlike in France, kindergarten is called la maternelle in Ontarian French. After kindergarten a child moves to the first grade.

United Kingdom

The first year of school in England and Wales is called Reception, or to a lesser extent Year 0. Pre-school daycare (which is not part of the school system) is called Nursery School and there are also part time playgroups. Kindergarten is very occasionally used instead of nursery school, but this is mainly for marketing purposes. Kindergarten is not a commonly used term in Scotland, where Nursery School is also a form of pre-school daycare with structured activities and learning. The first year of classroom education in Scotland is called Primary 1.

Function of kindergarten

Children , ususally aged 5 or 5-6 years during the school year depending on when their birthday falls and when the school year begins and ends, attend kindergarten to learn "how to learn" to communicate, play, and interact with others appropriately. A teacher provides various manipulative materials and activities to motivate these children to learn the language and vocabulary of reading, mathematics, science, and computers, as well as that of music, art, and social behaviors. For children who previously have spent most of their time at home, kindergarten may serve the purpose of training them to be apart from their parents without anxiety. Kindergarten also allows parents (especially mothers) to go back to part-time or full-time employment. After kindergarten, depending on the school, the children would advance to the next level which is usually referred to as first grade. Many private businesses in the USA name their day-care businesses 'Kindergarten' or, misspelled, 'Kindergarden'. Kindergarten may be half a day in length, (either morning or afternoon), or may be a full-day kindergarten.

What should kindergarten activities include?

There seem to be many positive learning and social/behavioral benefits for children in kindergarten programs. At the same time, it is widely felt that what children are doing during the kindergarten day is more important than the length of the school day. Gullo (1990) and Olsen and Zigler (1989) warn educators and parents to resist the pressure to include more didactic academic instruction in all-day kindergarten programs. They contend that this type of instruction is inappropriate for young children. Also, an all-day kindergarten program can provide children the opportunity to spend more time engaged in active, child-initiated, small-group activities. Teachers in all-day kindergarten classrooms often feel less stressed by time constraints and may have more time to get to know children and meet their needs.

Readings

All day Kindergarten is becoming increasingly popular to helping close the achievement gap. School districts that have not yet moved to full day kingergartens are looking for funds to extend the school day. States are offering incentives for school districts, especially in the poorer districts. Benefits of full day Kindergarten include an easier transition into 1st Grade. According to an Education Week article teachers feel that students are exposed to more than they would in a two to three hour day. Students adjust well to the extended day. There are opponents who question the reason for full day Kindergarten. There are those who feel that all day kindergarten is not an effort to improve student achievement, but more of an effort to fulfill obligations of the No Child Left Behind. They feel that full day Kindergarten is a contributing factor for the teacher shortage.
- Cryan, J. R., Sheehan, R., Wiechel, J., & Bandy-Hedden, I. G. (1992). Success outcomes of full-day kindergarten: More positive behavior and increased achievement in the years after. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 7(2),187-203. EJ 450 525.
- Elicker, J., & Mathur, S. (1997). What do they do all day? Comprehensive evaluation of a full-day kindergarten. Early CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 12(4), 459-480. EJ 563 073.
- Fusaro, J. A. (1997). The effect of full-day kindergarten on student achievement: A meta-analysis. CHILD STUDY JOURNAL, 27(4), 269-277. EJ 561 697.
- Greer-Smith, S. (1990). THE EFFECT OF A FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN ON THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. Unpublished master's thesis, Dominican University, San Rafael, CA. ED 318 570.
- Gullo, D. F. (1990). The changing family context: Implications for the development of all-day kindergarten. YOUNG CHILDREN, 45(4), 35-39. EJ 409 110.
- Hough, D., & Bryde, S. (1996, April). THE EFFECTS OF FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND AFFECT. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, New York. ED 395 691.
- Housden, T., & Kam, R. (1992). FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN: A SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH. Carmichael, CA: San Juan Unified School District. ED 345 868.
- Karweit, N. (1992). The kindergarten experience. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, 49(6), 82-86. EJ 441 182.
- Koopmans, M. (1991). A STUDY OF THE LONGITUDINAL EFFECTS OF ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE ON ACHIEVEMENT. Newark, NJ: Newark Board of Education. ED 336 494.
- Morrow, L. M., Strickland, D. S., & Woo, D. G. (1998). LITERACY INSTRUCTION IN HALF- AND WHOLE-DAY KINDERGARTEN. Newark, DE: International Reading Association. ED 436 756.
- Olsen, D., & Zigler, E. (1989). An assessment of the all-day kindergarten movement. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 4(2), 167-186. EJ 394 085.
- Puleo, V. T. (1988). A review and critique of research on full-day kindergarten. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JOURNAL, 88(4), 427-439. EJ 367 934.
- Towers, J. M. (1991). Attitudes toward the all-day, everyday kindergarten. CHILDREN TODAY, 20(1), 25-28. EJ 431 720.
- West, J., Denton, K., & Germino-Hausken, E. (2000). AMERICA'S KINDERGARTNERS [Online]. Washington, DC: National Center for Educational Statistics. Available: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2000/2000070.pdf.

See also


- Pre-Kindergarten
- Daycare

External links


- [http://www.fact-sheets.com/education/prepare_for_kindergarten/ Preparing for Kindergarten]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-1/kindergarten.html Recent Research on All-Day Kindergarten]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-928/shifting.htm The Shifting Kindergarten Curriculum]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-928/readiness.htm Readiness for Kindergarten]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-1/full.htm Full-Day Kindergarten Programs]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9212/curriculum.htm Escalating Kindergarten Curriculum]
- [http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-2/summer.htm He Has a Summer Birthday: The Kindergarten Entrance Age Dilemma]
- [http://www.heidecksburg.de/froebelmuseum_eng.htm Friedrich Froebel Museum at Bad Blankenburg]
- [http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/studying_the_creation_of_kindergarten.php Studying the Creation of Kindergarten] 0 Category:Educational stages Category:German loanwords Category:Education Category:Children ja:幼稚園

Duck

Dendrocygninae
Oxyurinae
Anatinae
Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae bird family. The ducks are divided between several different subfamilies listed in full in the Anatidae article. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, mostly smaller than their relatives the swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh and salt water. Ducks exploit a variety of food sources such as grasses, grains and aquatic plants, fish, insects, and the like. The sound made by some female ducks is called a "quack"; a common (and false) urban legend is that quacks do not produce an echo (false, because the acoustic variances of both a duck's quack and its echo are so similar, they almost swallow one another). The males (drakes) of northern species often have showy plumage, but this is moulted in summer to give a more female-like (hen) appearance, the "eclipse" plumage. In many species, moulting birds are temporarily flightless; they seek out protected habitat with good food supplies during this period. This moult typically precedes migration. Some duck species, mainly those breeding in the temperate and arctic northern hemisphere, are migratory, but others are not. Some, particularly in Australia where rainfall is patchy and erratic, are nomadic, seeking out the temporary lakes and pools that form after localised heavy rain. In many areas, wild ducks of various species are hunted for food or sport, by shooting, or formerly by decoys. From this came the expression "sitting duck" to mean "an easy target". Ducks have many economic uses, being farmed for their meat, eggs, feathers and down feathers. Most domestic ducks were bred from the wild Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, but many breeds have become much larger than their wild ancestor, with a "hull length" (from base of neck to base of tail) of 12 inches or more and routinely able to swallow an adult British Common Frog, Rana temporaria, whole. Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules, and coots.

Etymology

The word duck meaning the bird, came from the verb "to duck" meaning to bend down as if to get under something, because of the way many species in the dabbling duck group feed by upending (compare the Dutch word duiken = "to dive"). This happened because the older Old English word for "duck" came to be pronounced the same as the word for "end": other Germanic languages still have similar words for "duck" and "end": for example, Dutch eend = "duck", eind = "end".

Gallery

Image:Comb duck.jpg|An African Comb Duck Image:duck-on-ground.jpg|Drake Mallard Image:ruddy.shelduck.arp.2.750pix.jpg|Ruddy Shelduck - not a duck, but a member of the Tadorninae

Fictional ducks


- Kyanchome from the anime series Zatch Bell
- The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen (In the end not actually a duckling, but a Cygnet)
- Walt Disney's Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck, Daisy Duck, Scrooge McDuck, and Darkwing Duck. They are modeled after the Pekin duck.
- Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck and Plucky Duck.
- Alfred J. Kwak, Dutch cartoon character
- Various mascots, including the University of Oregon Ducks, the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team, the National Hockey League's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and the United Hockey League's Quad City Mallards.
- Joey's and Chandler's pet "The Duck" from the popular American sitcom Friends
- Duckman Drake, a humanoid shotgun-wielding duck from the Timesplitters video games
- Psyduck from the trading card game and Anime series Pokemon
- The duck in the traditional song "Froggy would a-wooing go," who at the end swallowed the name character
- The Aflac duck
- The Mighty Ducks movies
- Howard the Duck
- Montague, a steam engine from The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry is better known as Duck.
- Jemimah Puddleduck from the British children author Beatrix Potter.
- Talking ducks in duck jokes.

External links


- [http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/duckecho.htm "The quack doesn't echo" urban legend] (from Snopes.com) Category:Anatidae Category:Heraldic birds Category:Poultry als:Ente ja:鴨

Goose

Anser
Branta
Chen
Cereopsis
Cnemiornis (extinct)
† see also: Swan, Duck
Anatidae Goose (plural geese) is the general English name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes the swans, which are mostly larger than geese, and the ducks, which are smaller.

Introduction

This article deals with the true geese in the subfamily Anserinae. A number of other waterbirds, mainly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their name. True geese are medium to large birds, always (with the exception of the Néné) associated to a greater or lesser extent with water. Most species in Europe, Asia and North America are strongly migratory as wild birds, breeding in the far north and wintering much further south. However, escapes and introductions have led to resident feral populations of several species. Geese have been domesticated for centuries. In the West, farmyard geese are descended from the Greylag, but in Asia the swan goose has been farmed for at least as long. All geese eat an exclusively vegetarian diet, and some can become pests when flocks feed on arable crops. Geese tend to lay a smaller number of eggs than ducks. However, both parents protect the nest and young, which usually results in a higher survival rate for the young geese, known as goslings. swan goose A group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle. When flying, a group of geese is known as a wedge or a skein. See List of collective nouns for birds

True geese

The following are the true goose species. Genus Anser Brisson 1760, Grey Geese
- Greylag Goose Anser anser
- White-fronted Goose A. albifrons
- Lesser White-fronted Goose A. erythropus
- Bean Goose A. fabalis
- Pink-footed Goose A. brachyrhynchus
- Bar-headed Goose A. indicus
- Swan Goose, A. cygnoides Genus Chen Boie 1822 or Anser (depending on authority cited), White Geese
- Snow Goose Chen caerulescens or Anser caerulescens
- Ross's Goose, C. rossii or A. rossii
- Emperor Goose, C. canagica or A. canagicus Genus Branta Scopoli 1769, Black Geese
- Brent Goose Branta bernicla
- Barnacle Goose B. leucopsis
- Canada Goose B. canadensis
- Cackling Goose B. hutchinsii
- Red-breasted Goose B. ruficollis
- Hawaiian Goose or Nēnē, B. sandvicensis
- Nēnē-nui or Woods-walking Goose, B. hylobadistes Genus Cereopsis
- Cape Barren Goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae Genus Cnemiornis, New Zealand Geese
- South Island Goose, Cnemiornis calcitrans
- North Island Goose, Cnemiornis gracilis thumb

Other species called "geese"

There are a number of mainly southern hemisphere birds named as geese which are more correctly placed with the shelducks in the Tadorninae. These are:
- Blue-winged Goose, Cyanochen cyanopterus
- Andean Goose, Chloephaga melanoptera
- Magellan Goose, Chloephaga picta
- Kelp Goose, Chloephaga hybrida
- Ashy-headed Goose, Chloephaga poliocephala
- Ruddy-headed Goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps
- Orinoco Goose, Neochen jubata
- Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus The Spur-winged Goose, Plectropterus gambensis, is most closely related to the shelducks, but distinct enough to warrant its own subfamily, the Plectropterinae. The three perching ducks in the genus Nettapus are named as pygmy geese, such as the Cotton Pygmy Goose, Nettapus javanica, but are true ducks. The unusual Magpie-goose is in a family of its own, the Anseranatidae.

Etymology

Goose in its origins is one of the oldest words of the Indo-European languages, the modern names deriving from the proto-Indo-European root, ghans, hence Sanskrit hamsa (feminine hamsii), Latin anser, Greek khén etc. In the Germanic languages, the root word led to Old English gos with the plural gés, German Gans and Old Norse gas. Other modern derivatives are Russian gus and Old Irish géiss; the family name of the cleric Jan Hus is derived from the Czech derivative husa. In non-technical use, the male goose is called a "gander" (Anglo-Saxon gandra) and the female is the "goose" (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913))

See also:


- wildfowl
- waterfowl
- Domesticated goose, which includes cooking and folklore
- Fictional gooses Category:Anserinae Category:Anser Category:Geese Category:Heraldic birds ko:거위 ja:ガチョウ

Regional vocabularies of American English

Despite the standardizing influences of the mass media in the United States, a number of regional vocabularies continue to exist throughout the country. It is still not uncommon for an American away from his or her home region to encounter novel ways of referring to familiar objects and concepts. This article deals only with differences in everyday vocabulary, but this linguistic description of regional differerences provides a more academic approach to the subject.

Regional Vocabulary Tables


See:
- Chinook Jargon was a trade language (or pidgin) of the Pacific Northwest, which spread quickly up the West Coast from Oregon State, through Washington State, British Columbia, and as far as Alaska.
- List of lumberjack jargon
- Cascadian English: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/05/317962.shtml
- Contrary to belief, local linguists say Northwest has distinctive dialect: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/225139_nwspeak20.html?source=rss
- Pacific Northwest Vowels: A Seattle Neighborhood Dialect Study: http://www.aip.org/149th/ingle.html

See also

Regional American English


- New York-New Jersey English
- Baltimorese
- Pittsburgh English
- Southern American English
- General American
- Northeastern American English
- California English

English Around the World


- List of dialects of the English language
- Differences in American and British English

Language Studies


- Sociolinguistics

External links


- [http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/dare/dare.html Dictionary of American Regional English]
- [http://www.blogthings.com/amenglishdialecttest/ What Kind of American English Do You Speak?] (quiz) Category:American English

Minnesota

Minnesota is the 32nd state of the United States, having joined the Union on May 11, 1858. Its name is from the Dakota people's name for the Minnesota River, mini sota, variously translated "smoky-white water" or "sky-tinted water." The state's name is abbreviated MN or Minn. Minnesota is the largest state by land area in the Midwestern United States and is in the sub-region known as the Upper Midwest. The most significant metropolitan area is known as the Twin Cities, which contains more than half the state's population. The Twin Cities refer to the state's most populous cities- Minneapolis and Saint Paul, along with multiple "rings" of suburbs. The state is a major food producer for the country, and has a number of natural resources that have been greatly exploited in the last two centuries. The USS Minnesota was named in honor of this state, as was the SS Gopher State. Other nicknames for the state include The Land of 10,000 Lakes and the North Star State.

History

Main article: History of Minnesota

History prior to joining the United States

Before European colonization, the area now known as Minnesota was inhabited by Native Americans, in particular the Ojibwe (Chippewa, Anishinaabe) and Dakota, although the Winnebago also had a presence in the southeastern part of the state. In this time, the economy originally consisted of hunter-gatherer activities, which changed over time as Europeans settled in the area and further exploited the state's natural resources. Before the arrival of Dakota and Ojibwe, Cheyenne and Gros Ventre also made their home in Minnesota. According to local tradition, the first European visitors were Swedish and Norwegian Vikings in the 14th century. The evidence for this is largely based on the controversial Kensington Runestone, which many historians consider to be an elaborate hoax. Some say that the earliest European settlement was in the area of the current city of Stillwater, on the St. Croix River, though many histories focus on the military settlement that took place farther west. Fort Snelling, located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River, was one of the earliest U.S. military presences in the state. It is now a historic site.

Joining the United States

Much of the state was purchased from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase, although the exact definition of that land was not assessed for many years afterward. Parts were also considered to be in the Northwest Territory and Ruperts Land. Minnesota Territory was carved out of Iowa Territory on March 3, 1849, but it was not coextensive with the present state, since the area included what later became the territory of Dakota (which later still became the states of North Dakota and South Dakota). The eastern half of the territory of Minnesota became the country's 32nd state—after California—on May 11, 1858.

Culture

Stereotypical Minnesotan traits include Lutheranism, "Minnesota nice," "hot dish (a Minnesotan term for casserole)," lutefisk (a pungent preparation of fish from a Norwegian recipe that includes soaking in lye), very close family ties (and a strong sense of duty to their families, healthy and dysfunctional alike), a strong sense of community and shared culture with many other Minnesotans instead of just with one's town or city, Minnesota's rather unique form of Upper Midwest American English (including Scandinavian-sounding words like "uff-da"), and a distinctive type of upper Midwestern accent, though most Minnesotans deny having any regional accent. However, due to the increase of migrants from throughout the United States (many originating from the West Coast and the Chicago metropolitan area ) and the rise of immigration of Hmong, Vietnamese, Somalis and other East Africans, Liberians, Kenyans, Nigerians, Russians, Eastern Europeans and Latin Americans (mostly Mexicans), many cultures in the state are slowly blending together and slowing changing the culture of the state similar to what European immigrants to Minnesota had done in the mid 19th Century to early 20th Century. Native Americans have a moderate presence in Minnesota, and some tribes operate casinos which have been said to be among the most profitable in the country. The earliest European exploration and settlement was by the French, and settlement from Scandinavian countries along with Germany followed. The Métis people, a mixed French and Native American culture, were a presence in the early state and territorial days, but largely moved north into Canada. Minnesota is not strongly associated with any particular food, though in recent years dishes like wild rice sausage have come from the state and more will undoubtedly follow as Minnesotan chefs seek to define their home in the culinary world. Modern immigrants have come from all over the world in recent decades, with Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Indians, Middle Easterners, and the former Soviet bloc all being well-represented. Some Chinese and Japanese have had long presences in the state as well. Mexicans are a growing force, as they are across the U.S. Many modern immigrants are attracted by the state's historically strong commitments toward education and social services and many come sponsored and assisted by congregations committed to service and social justice. Outdoor activities are major parts of the lives of many Minnesotans, including hunting and fishing. Unique activities include ice fishing, which was popular with the early Scandinavian immigrants. Families frequently own or share cabins on central and northern tracts of land in forests and adjoining lakes, and weekend trips out to these properties are common. The 71 state parks which protect diverse landscapes in a state of nature are quite popular. A concern for environmentalism is shared by most state residents in one form or another, vegans and hunters alike. As with other northwoods states (such as Wisconsin and Michigan), residents like to joke that the mosquito is the state bird. The state bird is actually the common loon (Gavia immer, also called the Great northern diver), whose distinctive cry can often be heard by campers in the northern part of the state and can even on occasion be found as far south as Minneapolis. Minnesota is known for active yet quirky politics, with populism being a long-standing force among all of the political parties that call the state home. Minnesota politics include such oddities as a professional wrestler turned governor and a protestor turned crowd-surfing mayor. 77.3% of eligible Minnesotans voted in the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the highest of any U.S. state. Political conservatism is less strongly linked to church attendance in most of Minnesota than in other parts of the country, perhaps a reflection of the strong mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic following.

Law and government

As in the national government of the United States, power in Minnesota is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The executive branch is headed by the governor, currently Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, whose term began 6 January, 2003. The current lieutenant governor of Minnesota is Carol Molnau. Molnau also currently serves as the head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Both the governor and lieutenant governor have four-year terms. The governor has a cabinet consisting of the leaders of various government agencies in the state, called commissioners. The full list of governors, and the dates they took office, is available at List of Governors of Minnesota. The Minnesota Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The state has 67 districts, each covering about 60,000 people. Each district has one senator and two representatives (each district being divided into A and B subsections). Senators serve for four years, and representatives serve for two years. In the November 2004 election, the Republican Party retained control of the Minnesota House of Representatives by a single seat (68-66), having lost a total of 13 seats. The Minnesota Senate is controlled by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). After picking up one seat in a local special election on 16 November, 2005, the DFL controls the senate by six seats (36-30-1). There is one Independence Party state senator, former Republican Sheila Kiscaden (IP-Rochester) who caucuses with the DFL. As a result of its liberal and populist political culture throughout much of the latter half of the 20th century, Minnesota has voted for Democrats for president longer than any other state (excluding the District of Columbia), since 1976. Minnesota and the District of Columbia were the only electoral votes not won by incumbent Republican president Ronald Reagan, voting instead for former Vice President of the United States and former U.S. Senator Walter Mondale, a Minnesota native. In 2004, John Kerry narrowly won the state's 10 electoral votes by a margin of three percentage points with 51.1% of the vote. Republican strength is greatest in southern Minnesota and the suburbs of Minneapolis, especially in the area west of the city, and in developing outer suburban communities. Democrats hold tremendous strength in Minneapolis/St. Paul proper and in the Iron Range of northeastern Minnesota, including Duluth. The state also enjoys a strong and active third party movement. The Reform Party was able to elect former mayor of Brooklyn Park, and former wrestling superstar Jesse Ventura to the governorship in 1998, however Ventura left the Reform Party in 2000 when Pat Buchanan took control. Ventura maintained close ties to the Independence Party, but chose not to seek reelection. In 2002 the Independence Party ran former democratic congressman Tim Penny in an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. Penny earned over 20% of the vote. The states Green Party has elected several city councilmembers and other local office-holders in Duluth, Minneapolis and Winona, and has made strong runs for state legislature during the past two election cycles. In 2000, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader received just over 5% of the presidential votes cast, gaining Major Party Status for the Green Party of Minnesota. Minnesota's court system has three levels:
- Trial courts. The state is split into 10 judicial districts, with 257 judges. Most state cases start in the trial courts.
- Minnesota Court of Appeals. This body hears appeals on cases tried in the trial courts. There are 16 judges, who divide into three-judge panels to hear appeals in courts across the state.
- Minnesota Supreme Court. The seven justices on the Supreme Court hear appeals from the Court of Appeals, the Tax Court, and the Worker's Compensation Court. The court automatically reviews first-degree murder convictions, and settles disputes over legislative elections. The state has two special courts created by state law as executive-branch agencies:
- The Tax Court deals with non-criminal tax cases across the state. It has three judges appointed by the governor to six-year terms, following approval from the state Senate
- The Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals deals with cases involving worker injuries referred to it on appeal, or transferred from district court. It has five judges appointed by the governor to six-year terms, following approval from the state Senate Federal cases are heard in the federal district courts in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or Duluth. Minnesota is part of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Appeals beyond this level go to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.. In addition to the standard city and county levels of government found in the United States, Minnesota also has other entities that provide governmental oversight and planning. Some actions in the Twin Cities metropolitan area are coordinated by the Metropolitan Council, and many lakes and rivers are overseen by watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts. See also: List of political parties in Minnesota External links: [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/preamble.htm Hyperlinked state constitution], [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/mncon.htm full text of state constitution]

Geography

List of political parties in Minnesota See: List of Minnesota counties Minnesota covers 79,610 square miles (2.25% of the United States). It is famous for its lakes, having in excess of 15,000, depending on the source of the count. Much of the state is flat, having been eroded during repeated glacial periods (most recently the Wisconsin Glacier). However, the extreme southeastern portion of the state is part of the Driftless Zone, which was not glaciated, and it is here that Lake Pepin and the rugged high bluffs of the Mississippi River are found. In addition, the Iron Range and other low mountains are found in the northeastern part of the state. The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest body of water in the state. Minnesota is home to many areas of park land, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), as well as a number of state and county parks, most notably Itasca State Park, the official source of the Mississippi River. After its rivers and lakes, Minnesota's most prominent physical feature is the Iron Range. This is a range of low mountains that run across the northern part of the state. It is called the Iron Range because when discovered, it had some of the largest deposits of iron ore in the country. Although the high-grade iron ore was mostly mined out during World War II, taconite is still mined across the Iron Range. The state is bordered on the north by Canada (Manitoba and Ontario), on the east by Wisconsin and Lake Superior, on the south by Iowa, and on the west by North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition, Minnesota shares a water boundary with Michigan. Minnesota is the northernmost of the 48 contiguous states (Alaska reaches significantly farther north), reaching to 49° 23' 04" north latitude, due to a small piece of the state known as the Northwest Angle. Minnesota sits at a convergence point between three of the great biomes of North America: the Great Plains of the west, the Eastern Deciduous Forest, and the Northern Boreal Forest of Canada. Traversing the state from southwest to northeast, one goes through the three different ecological regions. The capital is St. Paul, which sits on the Mississippi River next to Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis. Together (and with surrounding suburbs), they are known as the Twin Cities. Other prominent cities include Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester (home of the world-famous Mayo Clinic), and Bloomington (home to the Mall of America). The state's average elevation is 1,200 feet (366 m), with a high point at Eagle Mountain (Minnesota) (2,301 ft or 701 m) and a low at the surface of Lake Superior (602 ft or 183 m). Aside from a few very minor earthquakes, Minnesota is one of the most geologically-stable regions in the country. The biggest earthquake in the last century occurred near Morris in 1975 and rated between 4.6 and 4.8 in magnitude. Temperatures can reach extremes in Minnesota. The northern part of the state is famously cold in winter, with a record low of -60 °F (-51 °C) measured at Tower, MN on February 2, 1996. Surprisingly, due to the flows of the jet stream, parts of Alaska often see relatively warm temperatures when Minnesota is experiencing extreme cold. Additionally, as part of the Great Plains region, the state also experiences warm summers. A record high of 114 °F (45.5 °C) was reached in both 1917 and 1936. The average temperature in January (the coldest month) is 11.2 °F (-11.5 °C), and the average in the warmest month, July, is 73.1 °F (22.8 °C); averages are cooler in the north and warmer in the south. The average annual precipitation is 28.32 inches (719 mm), with a snowfall figure of 49.6 inches (126 cm).

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Minnesota's total state product in 2003 was $211 billion. Per capita personal income in 2003 was $34,031, 10th in the nation. The average household income in 1999 was approximately $48,000, ranking eighth in the nation (U.S. Census Bureau). The county averages range from $17,369 (Todd County) to $42,313 (Hennepin County, a portion of the Metro area). In general, salaries are lowest in more rural areas, particularly in the northwest portion of the state.

Major industries/products

The Twin Cities are home to a diverse range of major businesses, including Cargill, 3M Co. (formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), Northwest Airlines, Target Corporation, U.S. Bancorp, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (the merged entity of the former Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood), Medtronic, Ecolab, Best Buy, Cray Computers, Imation, International Dairy Queen, Regis Corporation, General Mills and a regional headquarters of Wells Fargo & Co., Caterpillar Inc. and Honeywell. The city of Rochester is the headquarters of the Mayo Clinic, and has a significant manufacturing presence in International Business Machines. The largest shopping mall in the United States, the Mall of America, is located in Bloomington. The Schwan Food Company, headquartered in Marshall, Minn., is one of the largest, branded frozen-food companies in the United States and the second-largest privately-held corporation in Minnesota. The state has been a major influence in the area of transportation, moving products along the Mississippi River, in and out of the inland seaport of Duluth, along railroads that crisscross the state, via highways with trucking and busing companies, and through the air with a major airline hub. However, water- and rail-borne traffic has been declining steadily over the years. A large proportion of the state's economy is still agricultural, even though only a small percentage of the population (around 2%) consider themselves to be farmers. Additionally, northern Minnesota is a source for iron ore and wood products, though these are both declining industries. The agricultural community is also strongly tied to the renewable energy market in the state.

Energy use and production

A fair amount of ethanol alcohol fuel is produced in the state, and a 10% mix of ethanol into consumer gasoline has been mandated since 1997 (as of 2004, Minnesota is the only U.S. state with such a mandate). A 2% biodiesel blend has also been required in diesel fuel since 2005. Many farmers also now operate wind turbines to produce electricity, particularly in the windy southwest region. As of January 2005, the state is the country's fourth-largest wind energy producer after California, Texas, and Iowa, with 615 megawatts installed and 213 MW planned [http://www.awea.org/projects/]. Like many Midwestern states, Minnesota is heavily dependent on natural gas for home heating. Just over two-thirds of homes use the fuel. The state doesn't produce any petroleum of its own, but boasts the largest oil refinery of any non-oil-producing state, the Pine Bend Refinery. One of the longest pipelines in the world, the Lakehead Pipeline, also traverses northern Minnesota. Most of the petroleum used in the state comes from Canada and the northwestern United States.

State taxes

Minnesota is regarded as a high-tax state by some. It has an income and sales tax, as well as levying taxes on a common range of goods such as tobacco, gasoline, and alcohol. The state does not charge sales tax on clothing, services (massages, haircuts, auto work, etc), or food] items, excluding some specific items such as [[candy]]. According to state law, "Candy does not include any preparation containing [[flour and must require no refrigeration." ([http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/data/revisor/statutes/2005/297A/61.html Minn Stat 297A.66 Subd 33]) Minnesota businesses and individuals paid an average of 11.8% of their income in state and local taxes in 1998, down from 12.7% in 1996 (Minnesota Department of Revenue). The Gross State Product was just under $173 billion in 1999 (Northeast Midwest Institute), with approximately $17.5 billion in exports in 2000. Retail sales per capita were $10,260 in 1997, higher than the U.S. average of $9,190 (U.S. Census Bureau). The "retail capital" of the state is probably the Twin Cities suburb of Roseville, which recorded $14,870 per capita (though it is easily outstripped in total revenue by Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Edina).

Demographics

As of 2004, the state's population was estimated to be 5,100,958 (1.75% of the total national population), the population had increased 725,000 since 1990, or 16.6% (compared to 18.5% for the nation). 6.1% of Minnesota residents are foreign-born (compared to 11.1% for the nation) Most of the state's population is centered in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Race
The racial makeup of the state:
- 88.2% White
- 3.5% Black
- 2.9% Hispanic
- 2.9% Asian
- 1.1% Native American
- 1.4% Mixed race

Ethnic groups/Ancestry groups

According to the 2002 U.S. Census, the largest reported ancestries are German (36.7%), Norwegian (17.2%), Irish (11.2%), and English (6.3%). More recent immigrant communities include the third-largest Hmong population in the United States (from the Laos/Thailand/Vietnam region) and the second largest urban center of Hmong population in the world (concentrated in St. Paul), and a large community of Somali refugees.

Population distribution

The population distribution by age is (Northeast Midwest Institute):
- 0-18 - 1,361,616 (27.7%)
- 19-34 - 1,068,850 (21.7%)
- 35-64 - 1,894,747 (38.6%)
- 65+ - 594,266 (12.1%)

Religion

Most Minnesotans (Nearly 6 in 10) are Protestants (mostly mainline Protestant), although there is also a moderate-sized Roman Catholic community (about one-fourth of the state population). The largest Protestant denomination in the state is Lutheranism. In recent years, new immigrants have added new religions to Minnesota, and there are now Islamic mosques, Buddhist temples, and Hindu mandirs in the state (mainly in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area), however the number of Minnesotans who adhere to non-Christian religions is still low. Religious Affiliations in Minnesota:
- Christian – 84%
  - Protestant – 58%
    - Lutheran – 26%
    - Baptist – 5%
    - Methodist – 4%
    - Presbyterian – 3%
    - Other Protestant – 20%
  - Roman Catholic – 25%
  - Other Christian – 1%
- Other religions – 1%
- Not religious/Agnostic – 15%

Education

Colleges and universities



Rag Tag

Rag Tag is a children's game based on Duck Duck Goose. In Rag Tag, the players sit in a circle facing inward, while another child, the "picker", walks around the outside of the circle carrying a rag or hankerchief until finally dropping it behind one child. This child then rises, grabs the rag, and chases and tries to tag the picker. The picker tries to return to the spot where the picked child had been sitting and sit in that spot. If the picker succeeds, the other child is now the new picker and the process begins again. If the child succeeds in tagging the picker, the goose may return to sit in the previous spot and the picker resumes the process. In some versions, the one who is tagged is "out" and must sit in the center of the circle; when the resulting circle becomes too small, a new game may be started.

Меглена Кунева

Меглена Кунева е български политик от Национално движение Симеон Втори. През 1981 завършва право в Софийския университет "Климент Охридски". От 1991 до 2001 работи в администрацията на Министерския съвет. През юни 2001 става народен представител, но през август напуска парламента и заема длъжностите главен преговарящ на Република България с Европейския съюз и заместник-министър на външните работи. На 29 май 2002 става министър по европейските въпроси в правителството на Симеон Сакскобургготски. След изборите на 26 юни 2005, тя запазва мястото си на министър по европейските въпроси и главен преговарящ на България с ЕС и в правителството на Сергей Станишев Кунева, Меглена

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