AT = Aztec Thrush
The Aztec Thrush is a vividly-patterned black and white cousin to the American Robin, living in the montane forests of Mexico. It rarely occurs as an accidental wanderer north of the US border, first reported in Big Bend National Park in 1977.
A’U, the Hawaiian name for the Pacific blue marlin fish.
Note the rule that the entry is to be a binomial expression with initials of the two terms. Not a single word or term spelled as the two letters. And, a comment about the thing, not simply a broad definition of it.
AV - Alternative vote. Another great contribution to voting systems from Australia, since it was first used in Queensland in 1893.
AW = Andy Warhol, 20th Century American Pop Artist, who left such a poor trail of record for his work that there were at one point three different people who each claimed to be the only one who could legally authenticate a work as being a Warhol original. It became so contested at one point that the Warhol Estate declared no “new” works by Warhol could be legally authenticated by any of the authorities. The matter resolved somewhat when one of the three died, and the other two made a tense peace with each other, allowing the Estate to lift their ban.
AX = Atmospheric Xenon
Atnospheric Xenon occurs in trace amounts in four radio-isotopes, which are monitored by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty organisation , in order to check that the State Signatories comply with the treaty.
AY = Anton Yelchin, a Hollywood actor best known for his portrayal of Pavel Chekhov in the Star Trek reboot movie series. He was born in March 1989 in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia) to parents who were high-profile figure skaters, stars of the Leningrad Ice Ballet for 15 years. His family defected to the United States in September of that year. Anton became an actor in his early teens, starring in the films Along Came a Spider, Hearts in Atlantis, and Steven Spielberg’s miniseries Taken; he also played Kyle Reese in 2009’s Terminator Salvation. Tragically, Anton was killed in June 2016 in a freak accident involving his Jeep Cherokee, which accidentally rolled down his driveway and pinned him against a brick wall. He was 27 years old.
AZ = Anders Zorn, Swedish 20th Century portrait artist also known for what have been called “breastscapes”, which feature nude female subjects in landscapes (usually beaches). He’s remembered as one of Sweden’s foremost artists.
BA = Barrow, Alaska
At America’s most northerly point, Barrow, Alaska, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the USA. Its presence can be archaeologically traced back to 500 AD.
BB = Betty Boop, marketing marvel. A cartoon sensation of the 1930’s, her last cartoon was made in 1939 (outside of a couple of TV specials and a cameo in Who Framed Roger Rabbit that failed to revive her career), but, despite the lack of media presence, still can be found as an icon on T-shirts, purses, etc. at Wal-Mart and numerous other outlets.
BC- Bing Crosby won the Oscar as Best Actor in “Going My Way.” His co-star, Barry Fitzgerald, was nominated for Both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, and won in the Supporting category. Shortly after, the Academy changed the rules so that a performance could only be nominated in one category.
BD = Bulldog Drummond
Bulldog Drummond was a British Private-eye, created for a series of movies that started in 1929, and continued as a radio series in the USA from 1941 to 1954. But after 25 years of exposure, it never carried over into the TV medium.
BE = Biba, Egypt, a town with a cathedral that dates back to the 6th Century.
BF = Also in Egypt – never mind
BF = Balsam Fir
Balsam fir is one of the most abundant coniferous trees of northeastern North America, widey used as Christmas trees. The name Balsam refers to its resin, one of the seven major groups of world-wide tree saps. Balsam resin is valuable as a highly transparent glue for mounting optical glasses.
BG = Barney Google, whose name appears in the title of a comic strip he almost never appears in: Barney Google & Snuffy Smith. It was Barney’s strip to start with. He even inspired a popular song of the 1920’s. But then came the hillbillification of comics (I’m lookin’ at you, Li’l Abner,) and so Barney was reduced to infrequent visits to his country cousin.
BH - Bill Hayden and Bob Hawke. In 1983, Bill Hayden was replaced by Bob Hawke as leader of the opposition in the Australian Parliament. Later that day, not knowing this, the PM Malcolm Fraser called an election – in which Bob Hawke led the Labor Party to victory. Bill Hayden said that a “drover’s dog” could have won the election.
BI = Bill Irwin, physical clown, comedic and dramatic actor. He played Lucky opposite Steve Martin and Robin Williams in a production of Waiting For Godot, and is Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street.
BJ - Brian Jones, the original leader of the Rolling Stones, who died at the age of 27 after being thrown out of the group.
BK = Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Known as Frunze when it was capital of the Kyrgyz Soviet Republic, Bishkek has a beautiful prospect of permanent snow-cap peaks,just ten miles away and easily within sight of any city streets.
BL = Bela Lugosi, actor and Honorary President of the Los Angeles Soccer League.