An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs, which is mounted on a wooden, metal or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. The word "umbrella" typically refers to a device used for protection from rain. The word parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun. Often the difference is the material used for the canopy; some parasols are not waterproof. Umbrella canopies may be made of fabric or flexible plastic.
Umbrellas and parasols are primarily hand-held portable devices sized for personal use. The largest hand-portable umbrellas are golf umbrellas. Umbrellas can be divided into two categories: fully collapsible umbrellas, in which the metal pole supporting the canopy retracts, making the umbrella small enough to fit in a handbag, and non-collapsible umbrellas in which the support pole cannot retract; only the canopy can be collapsed. Another distinction can be made between manually operated umbrellas and spring-loaded automatic umbrellas which spring open at the press of a button.
PARASOL (Polarization & Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar) is a French-built Earth observing research satellite. It carries an instrument called POLDER which studies the radiative and microphysical properties of clouds and aerosols.
PARASOL was launched from the French spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on December 18, 2004 by an Ariane 5 G+.
It flew in formation in the "A Train" constellation with several other satellites (Aqua, CALIPSO, CloudSat and Aura). These satellites have, for the first time ever, combined a full suite of instruments for observing clouds and aerosols, from passive radiometers to active lidar and radar sounders.
On 2 December 2009, PARASOL was manoeuvred out of the A-Train, dropping some 4 km below the other satellites by early January 2010.
Parasol (1800–1826) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In total she won twenty of her thirty-five races, including two Newmarket First October King's Plates, the Jockey-Club Plate and a match race against Derby winner Cardinal Beaufort. Her only race away from Newmarket was for her début, in the Oaks Stakes in 1803. She was bred and owned by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. As a broodmare she foaled the stallion Partisan, 2000 Guineas winner Pindarrie and Pastille, who won both the 2000 Guineas and the Oaks.
Parasol was a bay filly bred by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, and foaled in 1800. She was sired by the successful racehorse Pot-8-Os. Pot-8-Os won many races including the 1200 Guineas Stakes and Craven Stakes. He later became a top sire, with his progeny including the three Derby winners Waxy, Champion and Tyrant. Parasol's dam was the leading broodmare Prunella, a daughter of the undefeated Highflyer. Prunella foaled the Oaks winner Pelisse and Derby winner Pope. She also produced the top broodmares Penelope, Pledge, Pawn, Pope Joan and Prudence. Parasol was Prunella's third foal.
Undercurrent pulls her down
And it feels like she could drown underneath
And despite a broken heart
She really feels like it's her part
Parasol
You're ready to open
Block all the rain from
Falling down on every one of us
You want to protect him
Hold your emotions in
You're exhausted as you start to fold
Years ago you were so bold
Now you're dropping all those things you used to hold
You're loosing yourself
Leaving all your dreams on the shelf
Parasol
You're ready to open
Block all the rain from
Falling down on every one of us
You want to protect him
Hold your emotions in
You're exhausted as you start to fold
You only remember the good times baby
Never the one's that made you cry
But where did the rest of your life go baby
You've got to wonder why
Guitar Solo
Parasol
You're ready to open
Block all the rain from
Falling down on every one of us
You want to protect him
Hold your emotions in
You're exhausted as you start to fold
You're the shelter people hold