Barr (placename element)

Barr- is a pre-Indo-European linguistic root meaning 'wooded hill', 'natural barrier'.

In addition to the common noun bar, it explains many place names as:

but not Le Bar-sur-Loup, a former Albarn > Aubarn.

In Alps, the word applies to rocky escarpments:

This root should not be mistaken for the Basque root Bar- / ibar 'valley'.

Notes and references

Baloch people

The Baloch or Baluch (Balochi: بلوچ) are a people who live mainly in the Balochistan region of the southeastern-most edge of the Iranian plateau in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, as well as in the Arabian Peninsula.

They mainly speak the Balochi language, a branch of Northwestern Iranian languages, and are therefore an Iranic people. About 50% of the total Baloch population live in Balochistan, a western province of Pakistan; 40% of Baloch are settled in Sindh; and a significant number of Baloch people in South Punjab of Pakistan. They make nearly 3.6% of the Pakistani population, about 2% of Iran's population (1.5 million) and about 2% of Afghanistan's population.

Etymology

The exact origin of the word 'Baloch' is unclear. One theory is that the word came from the Median word brza-vak, which describes a loud aggressive way of speaking. Others say the word came from the Babylonian king Belus. Still others say it is a nickname meaning "cock's comb", referring to the distinctive helmets that Balochi forces wore when they fought the Median king Astyages in the mid 6th century BCE. Finally, there are some who believe it came from the Sanskrit words "Bal" (meaning strength or power) and "Och" (meaning high or magnificent).

Barr (surname)

Barr is a Scottish surname, and may refer to:

People

Cover (Tom Verlaine album)

Cover is the fourth solo album by Tom Verlaine released in 1984.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Tom Verlaine; except "Five Miles of You" composed with Jimmy Ripp

Personnel

Charts

References

Cover system

A cover system is video game gameplay mechanic that allows a virtual avatar to avoid dangers, usually in a three-dimensional world. This method is a digital adaptation of the real-life military tactic of taking cover behind obstacles, for purposes of attaining protection from enemy ranged or area effect attacks, such as gunfire or explosions. Similar gameplay elements can be traced back to as early as 1986, in Rolling Thunder. Later games which refined the system include Bonanza Bros., Blackthorne, Time Crisis, Metal Gear Solid, WinBack, Police 911, Splinter Cell, Kill Switch, Gears of War, Uncharted, Mass Effect and Vanquish.

Definition

In gaming, a cover system lets a player character use stationary or moving obstacles to avoid damage. To be considered a cover system, there must be some physical interaction with the source of cover and the avatar. This means standing behind an object, as in traditional shooter games, while strictly speaking would be classified as taking cover, does not qualify as an actual cover system. Some first-person shooters such as Soldier of Fortune bridged the gap somewhat by allowing players to lean to the sides, allowing the avatar to lean out from behind objects to survey the environment or open fire on the enemy, without fully moving their own bodies into the open. In addition, the player character must have the ability to move in and out of the covering objects' proximity, leaving points of vulnerability to the player. This excludes the exclusive use of portable shields as a cover system, though they may often be used to supplement a stationary source of cover, as seen in video games like Army of Two, and Gears of War 2.

Undercover operation

To go "undercover" is to avoid detection by the entity one is observing, and especially to disguise one's own identity or use an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn or confirm confidential information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gather information or evidence. Traditionally, it is a technique employed by law enforcement agencies or private investigators, and a person who works in such a role is commonly referred to as an undercover agent.

History

Undercover work has been used in a variety of ways throughout the course of history, but the first organized, but informal, undercover program was first employed in France by Eugène François Vidocq in the early 19th century. At the end of 1811, Vidocq set up an informal plainclothes unit, the Brigade de la Sûreté ("Security Brigade"), which was later converted to a security police unit under the Prefecture of Police. The Sûreté initially had eight, then twelve, and, in 1823, twenty employees. One year later, it expanded again, to 28 secret agents. In addition, there were eight people who worked secretly for the Sûreté, but instead of a salary, they received licences for gambling halls. A major portion of Vidocq's subordinates were ex-criminals like himself.