document_title: Education in Japan

question_text: what grade does high school start in japan

text: Education in Japan

text: History[edit]

text: Formal education in Japan began with the adoption of Chinese culture, in the 6th century. Buddhist and Confucian teachings as well as sciences, calligraphy, divination and literature were taught at the courts of Asuka, Nara and Heian. Scholar officials were chosen through an Imperial examination system. But contrary to China, the system never fully took hold and titles and posts at the court remained hereditary family possessions. The rise of the bushi, the military class, during the Kamakura period ended the influence of scholar officials, but Buddhist monasteries remained influential centers of learning.

text: In the Edo period, the Yushima Seidō in Edo was the chief educational institution of the state; and at its head was the Daigaku-no-kami, a title which identified the leader of the Tokugawa training school for shogunate bureaucrats.[14]

text: Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the daimyō vied for power in the largely pacified country. Since their influence could not be raised through war, they competed on the economic field. Their warrior-turned-bureaucrat Samurai elite had to be educated not only in military strategy and the martial arts, but also agriculture and accounting. Likewise, the wealthy merchant class needed education for their daily business, and their wealth allowed them to be patrons of arts and science. But temple schools (terakoya) educated peasants too, and it is estimated that at the end of the Edo period 50% of the male and 20% of the female population possessed some degree of literacy. Even though contact with foreign countries was restricted, books from China and Europe were eagerly imported and Rangaku ("Dutch studies") became a popular area of scholarly interest.

text: Meiji Restoration[edit]

text: After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the methods and structures of Western learning were adopted as a means to make Japan a strong, modern nation. Students and even high-ranking government officials were sent abroad to study, such as the Iwakura mission. Foreign scholars, the so-called o-yatoi gaikokujin, were invited to teach at newly founded universities and military academies. Compulsory education was introduced, mainly after the Prussian model. By 1890, only 20 years after the resumption of full international relations, Japan discontinued employment of the foreign consultants.

text: A modern concept of childhood emerged in Japan after 1850 as part of its engagement with the West. Meiji period leaders decided the nation-state had the primary role in mobilizing individuals - and children - in service of the state. The Western-style school was introduced as the agent to reach that goal. By the 1890s, schools were generating new sensibilities regarding childhood.[15] After 1890 Japan had numerous reformers, child experts, magazine editors, and well-educated mothers who bought into the new sensibility. They taught the upper middle class a model of childhood that included children having their own space where they read children's books, played with educational toys and, especially, devoted enormous time to school homework. These ideas rapidly disseminated through all social classes.[16][17]

text: Post-WWII[edit]

text: After the defeat in World War II, the allied occupation government set an education reform as one of its primary goals, to eradicate militarist teachings and "democratize" Japan. The education system was rebuilt after the American model.

text: A number of reforms were carried out in the post-war period. They aimed at easing the burden of entrance examinations, promoting internationalisation and information technologies, diversifying education and supporting lifelong learning.

text: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is responsible for educational administration.

text: In successive international assessment tests, Japan's fourth- and eighth-grade students have consistently ranked in the top five globally in both mathematics and science (see TIMSS).[18][19][20] [21] [22][23][24][25][26][27]

text: Despite concerns that academic skills for Japanese students may have declined since the mid-1990s,[28] Japan's students showed a significant improvement in math and science scores in the 2011 TIMSS survey, compared to the 2007 scores.[29]

text: School grades[edit]

text: The school year in Japan begins in April and classes are held from Monday to either Friday or Saturday, depending on the school. The school year consists of two or three terms, which are separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a six-week-long summer break.[30]

text: The year structure is summarized in the table below.

text:
Age
Grade
Educational establishments

6–7
1
Elementary school
(小学校 shōgakkō)
Compulsory Education
Special school
(特別支援学校 Tokubetsu-shien gakkō)

7–8
2

8–9
3

9–10
4

10–11
5

11–12
6

12–13
1 (7th)
Junior high school / Lower secondary school
(中学校 chūgakkō)
Compulsory Education

13–14
2 (8th)

14–15
3 (9th)

15–16
1 (10th)
High school / Upper secondary school
(高等学校 kōtōgakkō, abbr. 高校 kōkō)
College of technology
(高等専門学校 kōtō senmon gakkō, abbr. 高専 kōsen)

16–17
2 (11th)

17–18
3 (12th)

18–19

University: Undergraduate
(大学 daigaku; 学士課程 gakushi-katei)
National Academy
(大学校 daigakkō)
Medical School
(医学部 Igaku-bu)
Veterinary school
(獣医学部 Jūigaku-bu)
Dentistry School
(歯学部 Shigaku-bu)
Pharmaceutical School
(薬学部 Yakugaku-bu)
National Defense Medical College
(防衛医科大学校, Bōei Ika Daigakkō)
Community College
(短期大学 Tanki-daigaku, abbr. 短大 tandai)
Vocational School
(専門学校 Senmon-gakkō)

19–20
Associate

20–21

21–22
Bachelor
(学士 Gakushi)

22–23

Graduate School: Master
(大学院博士課程前期 Daigaku-in Hakushi Katei Zenki)
National Academy: Master
(大学校修士課程 Daigakkō Shūshi katei)

23–24
Master
(修士 Shūshi)

24–25

Graduate School: Ph.D
(大学院博士課程後期 Daigaku-in Hakushi Katei Kōki)
National Defense Academy: Ph.D
(防衛大学校博士課程 Bōei Daigakkō Hakushi katei)
Medical School: Ph.D
(医学博士 Igaku Hakushi)
Veterinary School: Ph.D
(獣医学博士 Jūigaku Hakushi)
Dentistry School: Ph.D
(歯学博士 Shigaku Hakushi)
Pharmaceutical School: Ph.D
(薬学博士 Yakugaku Hakushi)

25–26

26–27
Ph.D
(博士 Hakushi)

27–
Ph.D
(博士 Hakushi)

text: Primary school[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text:
International educational scores (latest, 2007)
(8th graders average score, TIMSS
International Math and Science Study, 2007)

Countries:
(sample)
Global
rank
Maths
Science

Rank
Score
Rank
Score

 Singapore
1
3
593
1
567

 Taiwan
2
1
598
2
561

 South Korea
3
2
597
4
553

 Japan
4
5
570
3
554

 Hong Kong
5
4
572
9
530

 Hungary
6
6
517
6
539

 England
7
7
513
5
542

 Czech Republic
8
11
504
7
539

 Russia
9
8
512
10
530

 Slovenia
10
12
501
8
538

 United States
11
9
508
11
520

 Lithuania
12
10
506
12
519

 Australia
13
14
496
13
515

 Sweden
14
15
491
14
511

 Armenia
15
13
499
17
488

 Italy
18
19
480
16
495

Maths Highlights from TIMSS 2007
Science Highlights from TIMSS 2007

text: Primary education in Japan covers grades seven, eight, and nine; children are generally between the ages of 13 and 15. The number of primary school students in Japan stood at 3.5 million as of 2012, down from over 5.3 million as recently as 1990.[31] The number of junior high schools, meanwhile, has stayed relatively static, falling from 11,275 in 1990 to 10,699 as of 2012, while the number of junior high school teachers has barely budged at all (257,605 junior high school teachers in 1990, 253,753 in 2012). Around 8% of junior high students attend a private junior high, which account for around 7% of all junior high schools. Private schools are considerably more expensive: As of 2012, the average annual cost to attend a private primary school in Japan was 1,295,156 yen (approx. US$10,000 @ Y120.79/$) per student, roughly three times the 450,340 yen ($3728) cost for a public school.[32] Japan's compulsory education ends with grade nine, but less than 2% drop out; the percentage of students advancing to senior high stood at under 60% as of 1960, but rose rapidly to over 90% by 1980, and has continued to rise each year, reaching 98.3% as of 2012.[33]

text: Teachers often majored in the subjects they taught, and more than 80% graduated from a four-year college. Classes are large, with thirty-eight students per class on average, and each class is assigned a homeroom teacher who doubles as counselor. Unlike kindergarten students, primary school students have different teachers for different subjects. The teacher, however, rather than the students, moves to a new room for each fifty- or forty-five-minute period.[citation needed]

text: Instruction in primary schools tends to rely on the lecture method. Teachers also use other media, such as television and radio, and there is some laboratory work. By 1989 about 45% of all public primary schools had computers, including schools that used them only for administrative purposes. All course contents are specified in the Course of Study for Lower-Secondary Schools. Some subjects, such as Japanese language and mathematics, are coordinated with the elementary curriculum. Others, such as foreign-language study, begin at this level, though from April 2011 English became a compulsory part of the elementary school curriculum.[citation needed] The junior school curriculum covers Japanese language, social studies, mathematics, science, music, fine arts, health, and physical education. All students are also exposed to industrial arts and homemaking. Moral education and special activities continue to receive attention. Most students also participate in one of a range of school clubs that occupy them until around 6pm most weekdays (including weekends and often before school as well), as part of an effort to address juvenile delinquency.[citation needed]

text: A growing number of primary school students also attend juku, private extracurricular study schools, in the evenings and on weekends. A focus by students upon these other studies and the increasingly structured demands upon students' time have been criticized by teachers and in the media for contributing to a decline in classroom standards and student performance in recent years.[citation needed]

text: The ministry recognizes a need to improve the teaching of all foreign languages, especially English. To improve instruction in spoken English, the government invites many young native speakers of English to Japan to serve as assistants to school boards and prefectures under its Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Beginning with 848 participants in 1987, the program grew to a high of 6,273 participants in 2002.[34] The program was in a decline in recent years due to several factors, including shrinking local school budgets funding the program, as well as an increasing number of school boards hiring their foreign native speakers directly or through lower-paying, private agencies. Today, the program is again growing due to English becoming a compulsory part of the elementary school curriculum in 2011.[35]

text: High school[edit]

text: Even though upper-secondary school is not compulsory in Japan, 94% of all junior high school graduates entered high schools as of 2005.[36] Private upper-secondary schools account for about 55% of all upper-secondary schools, and neither public nor private schools are free. The Ministry of Education estimated that annual family expenses for the education of a child in a public upper-secondary school were about 300,000 yen (US$2,142) in the 1980s and that private upper-secondary schools were about twice as expensive.

text: The most common type of upper-secondary school has a full-time, general program that offered academic courses for students preparing for higher education as well as technical and vocational courses for students expecting to find employment after graduation. More than 70% of upper-secondary school students were enrolled in the general academic program in the late 1980s. A small number of schools offer part-time programs, evening courses, or correspondence education.

text: The first-year programs for students in both academic and commercial courses are similar. They include basic academic courses, such as Japanese language, English, mathematics, and science. In upper-secondary school, differences in ability are first publicly acknowledged, and course content and course selection are far more individualized in the second year. However, there is a core of academic material throughout all programs.

text: Vocational-technical programs includes several hundred specialized courses, such as information processing, navigation, fish farming, business, English, and ceramics. Business and industrial courses are the most popular, accounting for 72% of all students in full-time vocational programs in 1989.

text: Most upper-secondary teachers are university graduates. Upper-secondary schools are organized into departments, and teachers specialize in their major fields although they teach a variety of courses within their disciplines. Teaching depends largely on the lecture system, with the main goal of covering the very demanding curriculum in the time allotted. Approach and subject coverage tends to be uniform, at least in the public schools.

text: Training of disabled students, particularly at the upper-secondary level, emphasizes vocational education to enable students to be as independent as possible within society. Vocational training varies considerably depending on the student's disability, but the options are limited for some. It is clear that the government is aware of the necessity of broadening the range of possibilities for these students. Advancement to higher education is also a goal of the government, and it struggles to have institutions of higher learning accept more students with disabilities.

text: Universities and colleges[edit]

text: Higher education in Japan is provided at universities (daigaku), junior colleges (tanki daigaku), colleges of technology (koto senmon gakko) and special training schools and community colleges (senshu gakko). Of these four types of institutions, only universities and junior colleges are strictly considered postsecondary education providers.[37]

text: As of 2010, more than 2.8 million students were enrolled in 778 universities. At the top of the higher education structure, these institutions provide a four-year training leading to a bachelor's degree, and some offer six-year programs leading to a professional degree. There are two types of public four-year colleges: the 86 national universities (including the Open University of Japan) and the 95 local public universities, founded by prefectures and municipalities. The 597 remaining four-year colleges in 2010 were private. With a wealth of opportunities for students wishing to pursue tertiary education, the nation’s prestigious schools are the most appealing for students seeking to gain top employment prospects.[37]

text: The overwhelming majority of college students attend full-time day programs. In 1990 the most popular courses, enrolling almost 40 percent of all undergraduate students, were in the social sciences, including business, law, and accounting. Other popular subjects were engineering (19 percent), the humanities (15 percent), and education (7 percent).

text: The average costs (tuition, fees, and living expenses) for a year of higher education in 1986 were 1.4 million yen (US$10,000). To help defray expenses, students frequently work part-time or borrow money through the government-supported Japan Scholarship Association. Assistance is also offered by local governments, nonprofit corporations, and other institutions.

text: According to the Times Higher Education Supplement and École des Mines de Paris, the top-ranking universities in Japan are the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University.[38][39]

text: The QS Asia University Rankings Top 20 included the University of Tokyo at 5th position, Osaka University at 7th, Kyoto University at 8th, Tohoku University at 9th, Nagoya University at 10th, Tokyo Institute of Technology at 11th, Kyushu University at 17th and the University of Tsukuba at 20th.[40]

text: Based on the 2011 Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings, there are 33 Japanese universities in the top 100 Asian university rankings.[41]

text: School violence[edit]

text: A survey by the Education Ministry showed that students at public schools were involved in a record number of violent incidents in 2007: 52,756 cases, an increase of some 8,000 on the previous year. In almost 7,000 of these incidents, teachers were the target of assault.[42]

text: International education[edit]

text: As of 2016, Japan has 30-40 international schools.[43] There are many Kindergarten type schools that use the word "international" in their names but this is not an indicator that they are Japanese schools in the traditional sense. These types of kindergartens are usually immersion programs for Japanese students and the schools hire mostly foreigners to act as the main class "teacher" or as an assistant to the Japanese teacher.[citation needed] United Nations University is located in Japan and Temple University has a branch campus in Japan.


document_title: The Fox and the Child

question_text: where was the child and the fox filmed

question_tokens: where was the child and the fox filmed

root

text: The Fox and the Child

text: Plot[edit]

text: A young girl of about 10 years lives in a farm house in the Jura mountains in eastern France. One day in autumn, when she rides her bicycle to school through the forest, she observes the hunting of a fox. Of course, the fox escapes, but the girl yearns to meet the animal again.

tag: p

text: She spends most of her free time in the forests trying to find the fox during the following months, but she doesn't meet the fox again until winter comes. During the winter, she follows the fox's tracks far across the fields. Suddenly she compares her hand to the size of the tracks near to those she is following and discovers they are relatively fresh wolf tracks; she is alarmed as a wolf pack begins howling near her. She runs away panicked, falls and hurts her ankle.

text: The ankle heals very slowly, so that she has to stay at home during the winter reading a book about foxes and other animals of the forest.

text: When spring arrives, the girl is looking for foxholes and waits for the fox. The fox has young babies and moves holes because of her observations; therefore the girl decides to observe the fox from a greater distance.

text: She finds the fox again and tries to get the animal accustomed to her. She feeds it with meat. Later she can even touch the fox and is led to the new den. Finally, the fox arrives at her house and she lets it inside, wanting to show it her bedroom. But the fox becomes distressed at not being able to find a way out and escapes by smashing through her brittle plate glass window, causing the glass to shatter. The fox is hurt badly but survives. The girl learns that she cannot keep wild animals as pets at home as they are unpredictable and may break more things such as fragile glass windows.

text: Years later she tells the whole story to her son, as seen at the end of the film. Some versions (DVD English) replace this scene with a text graphic.

text: About the film[edit]

text: The film was shot on the Plateau de Retord in Ain, which the film director knows well because he spent his youth there, in the summer,[2] as well as in the Abruzzo in Italy. The foxes in the film were played by six animals: Titus, Sally, Ziza, Scott, Tango and Pitchou. Titus was the fox who had been tamed by Marie-Noëlle Baroni. It died on March 17, 2008 at the advanced age of 12 years.[3]

text: Nominations[edit]

text:
Young Artist Award

1. Nomination for "Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Performer": Bertille Noël-Bruneau
2. Nomination for "Best International Feature Film" [4]

tag: ul


document_title: India at the Commonwealth Games

question_text: highest gold medal for india in commonwealth games

text: India at the Commonwealth Games

text: Host Nation[edit]

text: India hosted the Games in 2010, at Delhi. It was India's most successful Commonwealth Games to date with Indian athletes winning 38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze medals.

text: Overall Medal Tally[edit]

text: At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, India ended its campaign with a total of 64 medals (15 Golds, 30 Silvers, 19 Bronzes).[1] India's first ever Commonwealth medal was won by Rashid Anwar who won a bronze in Dept category of Wrestling.

text:
Year
 Gold
 Silver
 Bronze
Total
Position

1930
Did not Participate

1934
0
0
1
1
12th

1938
0
0
0
0
NA

1950
Did not Participate

1954
0
0
0
0
NA

1958
2
1
0
3
8th

1962
Did not Participate

1966
3
4
3
10
8th

1970
5
3
4
12
6th

1974
4
8
3
15
6th

1978
5
5
5
15
6th

1982
5
8
3
16
6th

1986
Did not Participate

1990
13
8
11
32
5th

1994
6
12
7
25
6th

1998
7
10
8
25
7th

2002
30
22
17
69
4th

2006
22
17
11
50
4th

2010
38
27
36
101
2nd

2014
15
30
19
64
5th

2018
26
20
20
66
3rd

Total
181
175
148
504
4th

tag: table


document_title: Habitat for Humanity

question_text: where does habitat for humanity get its funding

question_tokens: where does habitat for humanity get its funding

text: Habitat for Humanity

text: History[edit]

text: Habitat for Humanity traces its origins to the time Millard Fuller spent at Koinonia Farm in 1965.

text: Qualifications for home ownership[edit]

text: According to the official website,

text: The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.[1]

text: There are several checks and balances in place to protect both Habitat and the potential homeowner:

text: Habitat for Humanity performs an extensive background check on potential homeowners, including character references, employer interviews, and audit of finances. The applicants are required to sign release forms authorizing Habitat for Humanity to perform this background check. This ensures that Habitat's risk is reasonable when selling a home and that the applicant family is in a suitable financial position to take on the responsibility of a mortgage.

text: There are typically a First and a Second Mortgage. The Second Mortgage is put in place to protect any equity that is left that is not captured in the first mortgage. The homeowners pay down the first mortgage, and after a stated period of time (which varies from affiliate to affiliate) of living in the same home, the Second Mortgage is forgiven (however, it is not always forgiven). However, The Right of First Refusal stays in force until the mortgage is paid in full.

text: Homeowners are usually expected to put approximately 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their own or other project homes, although this amount may vary by location, the number of wage-earning adults in each family, and the recipients' health issues. This sweat equity acts as the down payment on the home. Every hour spent earning this sweat equity must be approved and signed off on by an official Habitat for Humanity representative. Sweat equity has no monetary value and cannot be 'refunded'.

text: Once construction on the home is finished and the sweat equity is completed in full, the homeowner purchases the home with a 0% to 2% interest mortgage (in the United States). With monthly payments (including taxes and insurance) that do not exceed 30% of the household's monthly income.

text: Mortgage payments from homeowners are deposited into a locally administered "Fund for Humanity", the proceeds of which go toward future construction. In an effort to discourage predatory lenders from targeting Habitat homeowner families, mortgage agreements require the Habitat for Humanity affiliate the right of first refusal. Until the mortgage is paid in full, a Habitat home has no equity and can only be sold back to Habitat for Humanity. Should a homeowner family decide to sell their home during the period of their mortgage, the affiliate will buy it back at market value. Often affiliates will have a shared appreciation model that will allow the affiliate to recapture a portion of the equity in the home depending on the time the family lived in the home and paid on the mortgage.[6]

text: The typically no interest mortgage payments permit a family the freedom to manage their finances more effectively, the end goal being to provide a 'hand up' and not a 'hand out' as it were. In some locations, attendance at money management courses is mandatory for potential homeowners.

text: Building and other affiliate operations[edit]

text: Habitat relies on volunteer labor in order to construct simple and affordable homes with its partner families, as well as to build community and civil society in the areas in which it works. Many churches and other houses of worship (synagogues, temples, mosques etc.) sponsor houses and provide a large amount of the volunteers from their congregations. Some corporations and businesses who value good corporate citizenship provide financial support to the projects and/or donate materials for use in construction. Many politicians and celebrities have volunteered with Habitat, reflecting its profile as a highly regarded non-profit.

text: Green building[edit]

text: Habitat builds simple houses with locally appropriate materials. In many communities, Habitat affiliates and national offices are exploring areas of green building, including energy efficiency and sustainability. In the United States, many affiliates are building homes that are LEED certified.[7] In 2010, Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan won a national Global Energy Award for their resource-saving bio-sand water filter project.[8]

text: Tithe[edit]

text: Habitat affiliates and national offices contribute a percentage of the unrestricted funds they raise locally to be used in building homes by a Habitat national office overseas. For instance, Habitat New Zealand's tithe helps to support an equal number of housing outcomes abroad, predominantly in the Pacific region.

text: Charging fines[edit]

text: Habitat homeowners in the United States and Canada pay no interest on their no-profit mortgages. Some Habitat for Humanity affiliates outside the United States adjust the no-profit loans to compensate for the inflation rate in their area, with the goal that "the repayments from one house should ideally build another house of the same design".[9]

text: Habitat ReStores[edit]

text: Habitat ReStores are retail outlets that sell new and used building and household materials donated by small businesses, large companies, job sites, and individuals. Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community. Many affiliates across the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operate successful ReStores—some of which raise enough funds to build an additional 10 or more houses per year.[10] Many ReStores cover the administrative costs of the Habitat affiliate so that 100% of donor funds can be put toward home construction and rehabilitation projects.

text: Ongoing programs[edit]

text: Habitat for Humanity International develops and supports special programs to engage volunteers from all walks of life in Habitat's mission and work.

text: A Brush With Kindness[edit]

text: Habitat for Humanity's A Brush With Kindness is a locally operated program serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. The program is a holistic approach to providing affordable housing and assisting communities as well as families. Groups of volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance. This typically includes painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, weatherization and exterior clean-up.[11]

text: Global Village Trips[edit]

text: As suggested by the name, Habitat for Humanity International places a strong emphasis on building homes around the world. Volunteers today can build with Habitat affiliates in many locations on Global Village Trips.[12] After having gone through training, trip leaders organize travel plans with the support of the Americus-headquartered Global Village Department, first formally established in 1988. Participants from all over are then able to register for trips to their destination of choice. Teams generally number between eight and fifteen, with trips usually lasting between nine and fourteen days.

text: According to the website, Global Village Trips offer volunteers the opportunity:

text: to experience another culture while making a difference in the lives of others...work alongside members of the host community in building decent, affordable housing... [and]help raise awareness of the burden of poverty housing and create a true global village of love, community, homes and hope.[13]

text: National Service[edit]

text: National Service refers to national service programs that are funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The goal of the Habitat for Humanity National Service program is to help local Habitat affiliates operate more efficiently and effectively by maximizing existing volunteers, increasing capacity for new volunteers and most importantly, meeting the housing needs of communities by building more houses for low-income families.[citation needed]

text: AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 75,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. Habitat for Humanity International was one of the first nonprofits contacted by the Corporation for National and Community Service when AmeriCorps was being formed in 1993. In the 2008–2009 program year, over 500 AmeriCorps members at affiliates all over the country will help build nearly 2,000 houses and recruit and retain nearly 200,000 community volunteers. Those volunteers will provide an estimated 1,600,000 volunteer hours. The members themselves will contribute 850,000 hours.[14]

text: RV Care-A-Vanners[edit]

text: RV Care-A-Vanners is a volunteer program in which volunteers travel in their personal recreational vehicles, making stops at local Habitat affiliates to assist in house construction and renovations. RV Care-A-Vanner volunteers each pay their own expenses, which may be tax deductible.

text: Many RV Care-A-Vanners help local Habitat affiliates raise the awareness of poverty housing and homelessness by speaking to churches, civic groups and local media. Individual Care-A-Vanners often make donations to their local Habitat affiliate and some even organize fund-raising teams and sponsor entire houses.[15]

text: Women Build[edit]

text: Originating in 1991 with a Charlotte, North Carolina home built entirely by a crew of female volunteers, Habitat's Women Build program encourages women to make a difference by building homes and communities. Women Build projects provide an environment in which women can feel comfortable learning construction skills they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn. Globally, more than 1,400 homes have been completed by Women Build volunteers.[16]

text: Women all over the United States participate in National Women Build Week. The week-long build leading up to Mother's Day is designed to showcase the skills of Women Build volunteers and to motivate new volunteers to help families and change communities.

text: Lowe's is a major sponsor and underwriter of Women Build, and has generously supported each National Women Build Week. In addition to competitive grant opportunities, Lowe’s offers a series of free how-to clinics for U.S. Women Build affiliates.[17]

text: Youth Programs[edit]

text: Habitat for Humanity's Youth Programs seek to involve young people, ages 5 to 25, in Habitat's mission and work. In accordance with U.S. federal guidelines, youth must be at least 16 years old to be on an active construction site, and must be 18 years old to engage in certain build activities.[18]

text: Habitat's Youth Programs include programs such as:

text: Campus chapters[edit]

text: A campus chapter is a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to fulfill the four functions of a campus chapter. The four functions of a campus chapter are: building, fundraising, advocating and educating.[19]

text: Collegiate Challenge[edit]

text: Habitat for Humanity runs a year-round alternative break program known as Collegiate Challenge for student groups age 16 to 25.[20] Although summer, fall, and winter break trips are available, most participants go during their spring break. Collegiate Challenge participants travel to host sites throughout the United States and spend one week working in partnership with the local Habitat affiliate, the local community, and partner families to help eliminate poverty housing in the area. Host affiliates provide housing for the groups, as well as a place to shower and cook meals for the week. More than 14,000 volunteers took part in Collegiate Challenge in 2011, making it one of the world's largest alternative break programs. Since its inception in 1989, nearly 240,000 students have participated in Collegiate Challenge and have donated more than $25 million to Habitat for Humanity affiliates.[21]

text: Learn and Build Experience[edit]

text: For one week during the summer, students ages 16 to 18 can experience Habitat’s work outside of their communities. In addition to a week of building, students also learn about the need for Habitat through educational activities.[22]

text: Youth United[edit]

text: Youth United is a Habitat for Humanity program run by youth and for youth ages 5 to 25. It brings young people together from all walks of life to play active roles in transforming their communities. Youth United mobilizes young people to sponsor and build a house with their local Habitat affiliate.[23]

text: Annual events[edit]

text: Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project[edit]

text: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 and has since become its highest profile proponent. He has been involved in fund-raising and publicity as well as actual homebuilding, taking part in the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project "blitz build".[24]

text: In 2008, Habitat for Humanity celebrated the 25th annual building project with the Carters and renamed it to include Mrs. Carter. The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project focused on supporting the Gulf Coast community seeking to rebuild after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Despite periodic downpours, volunteers got most of the work done during one week in June to finish building and fixing 60 houses and frame 48 more.[25]

text: In November 2009, volunteers joined Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia. Houses were built in the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Yunnan Province in China. The week-long project served nearly 166 families.[26] It also began a five-year Habitat for Humanity initiative to work with 50,000 families across the five countries.[26]

text: Home Builders Blitz[edit]

text: During Home Builders Blitz 2008, more than 1,000 building industry professionals in 110 Habitat for Humanity affiliates built 263 new homes across the United States. This was the second national Home Builders Blitz program, which was begun on the local level in 2002 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since then, the professional homebuilders industry has supported Habitat by building more than 800 homes.

text: Tom Gipson, a Habitat volunteer and professional homebuilder who started the Home Builder's Blitz program, was named the "Ultimate Volunteer" in a 2009 contest by ABC's "The View".[27]

text: Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon[edit]

text: The AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon is an annual signature event that brings together AmeriCorps members and alumni in a week long blitz build. The Build-a-Thon provides the host affiliate an opportunity to advance and highlight local house-building efforts. It also serves as an annual meeting of AmeriCorps volunteers who might otherwise lack any opportunity to meet.

text: The event is held across the United States and highlights a different Habitat affiliate each year. In the past, Build-a-Thons have occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Gulf Coast; Dallas, Texas; Mobile County, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida.

text: The 2010, Habitat AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hosted by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity. This was the second consecutive year that Cedar Valley Habitat hosted the event. More than 500 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps National and AmeriCorps VISTA members from across the country came together to build, rehabilitate and repair more than 20 homes. In 2015, the Build-a-Thon was held in New Orleans in remembrance of Hurricane Katrina.

text: Other special initiatives[edit]

text: Habitat's Gulf Coast Recovery[edit]

text: Habitat initiated a special program to help restore housing to the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The effort was focused on getting local affiliates in the area back on their feet and prepared to build for their communities. It also became a catalyst for other organizations, like the St. Bernard Project, corporations and the government to provide help and support in rebuilding the area and has received considerable national media attention. Habitat restored around 300 homes for Katrina efforts.

text: As part of Operation Home Delivery, housing components were assembled in nearby less-affected locations such as Jackson, Mississippi, allowing much of the construction to be accomplished while basic infrastructure was being restored. Pre-constructed components were then shipped to the affected areas and built at a faster rate. Within two months of the time of the disaster, construction had begun on houses in the Louisiana cities of Covington and Slidell, near New Orleans.

text: Harry Connick Jr., and Branford Marsalis served as honorary chairs of Habitat's hurricane rebuilding program, and one of the many projects along the Gulf Coast is the Musicians' Village at New Orleans Habitat for Humanity.[28]

text: Habitat's Efforts in Haiti[edit]

text: On 12 January 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The earthquake damaged almost 190,000 houses, of which 105,000 were entirely devastated. Of the more than two million affected survivors, 500,000 are still displaced today. Soon after the earthquake, Habitat set a goal of serving 50,000 families over five years, helping them move toward safe, secure and permanent places to call home.

text: Habitat has reached numerous milestones after the earthquake including over 155 houses as well as another 100 houses planned to be built starting 23 November of this year. Aside from direct building of housing, more than 4,000 families received transitional or upgraded shelters, more than 350 houses were repaired and rehabilitated, more than 24,500 emergency shelter kits were distributed, and more than 12,000 damage assessments were conducted (Habitat For Humanity International). During this time, an entire community was transformed and lives were changed. More than 4,450 Haiti citizens were trained in construction techniques, financial literacy, disaster risk reduction and business development, which resulted in job opportunities for over 700 Haitians (Habitat For Humanity International).

text: Habitat's Bangladesh Restoration[edit]

text: Habitat played an integral in the restoration of Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr devastated 31 districts. A partnership with Japan Platform to help build transitional shelters was on-going when the disaster hit in November 2007. All phases of this project completed at the end of February 2009.

text: Habitat responded to the cyclone by pledging $250000 to provide technical assistance. Prior to the construction of transitional homes, immediate necessities such as food, water and medicine were distributed to affected families.

text: A Habitat Resource Center was built in phase one for technical planning, coordination and management of the entire project. It also served as the manufacturing and storage center for construction materials. A total of 480 houses were built at the end of a 3 phase construction process. Each house was provided with proper sanitation using contributions from UNICEF Bangladesh and HFH Great Britain. These transitional shelters were designed to be built by volunteers and unskilled workers in about eight hours on an area that had been prepared by families. This shelter provides a strong and cyclone-resistant core structure to protect residents from severe weather. Extensions to the home when the family has the financial means can be done by adding walling to the existing structure.

text: In bid to raise the local awareness of these transitional homes, HFH Bangladesh organized a series of training and familiarisation workshops for locals. 16 sessions were held between March and December 2008.

text: In total, 12 communities were worked on by HFH Bangladesh. Structures had been built in the regions of Ghotoker Andua, Andua, Kalagachiya, Pipra Khali and Mirzaganj villages in Mirzaganj Union. In the Amragachia Union the regions of Uttar Amragachia, Dakkhin Amragachia, Shoilabunia, Kismat Shoilabunia and Amragachi villages also had structures built there.[29]

text: Making it Better in the Long Term with Solar[edit]

text: There are many projects that go hand in hand with the house building projects that allow these homes to supply their own electricity through the use of Solar energy. U.S. companies such as Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide complete solar grids for a few homes.[30] Other solar projects, mostly in the U.S., like one in San Francisco,[31] as well as efforts of individual citizens are trying to make a difference by raising funds to get more solar homes built.[32]

text: Who Says You Can't Go Home[edit]

text: The video for rock band Bon Jovi's song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" features Habitat for Humanity volunteers as well as the band building homes as part of Habitat for Humanity in Philadelphia, close to Bon Jovi's native New Jersey. It reflects Jon Bon Jovi's dedication to the organization and highlights the importance of community unity, faith, and involvement. The popularity of Bon Jovi increased Habitat's exposure and influenced new volunteers to donate their time and money to Habitat.

text: Habitat Bicycle Challenge[edit]

text: The Habitat Bicycle Challenge (HBC), a nine-week, coast-to-coast bicycle trip undertaken to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven and to increase awareness of Habitat for Humanity in general, took place annually from 1995 to 2007. Prior to embarking in June on the 4,000-mile (6,400 km) trek, participants engaged in a seven-month fundraising campaign for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven. Once on the road, they served as roaming advertisements for Habitat and gave nightly presentations explaining Habitat's mission to their hosts, usually church congregations. They also took part in builds with local Habitat chapters along the way. At its height, HBC attracted about 90 participants a year, all aged 18 to 24 and about half coming from Yale University. Each rider traveled one of three routes: New Haven to San Francisco, New Haven to Portland, or New Haven to Seattle. By 2004 HBC had become the single largest yearly fundraiser for any Habitat affiliate in the world, raising about $400,000 a year. However, amid growing safety concerns, Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven was forced to announce the cancellation of HBC in September 2007.[33]

text: Bike and Build, a similar program, was founded in 2002 by a former HBC rider. Though not directly affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, it carries on the legacy of the Habitat Bicycle Challenge.

text: Appetite for Construction Tour[edit]

text: In the fall of 2007, alternative rock bands Switchfoot and Relient K went on the Appetite for Construction Tour, partnering with Habitat while raising awareness for the organization and donating a dollar per ticket sold. The tour was highly successful, raising over US$100,000 for donation to the cause.[34]

text: The Wall Project[edit]

text: Wesley College, Melbourne is carrying out a joint fundraising and awareness program through theatrical production and is aiming to raise money to build education facilities in Afghanistan.

text: Criticism[edit]

text: Safety of volunteers[edit]

text: Like much construction activity, which carries inherent risk, Habitat for Humanity construction has led to some serious injuries or deaths to volunteers.[35][36][37][38] Consequently, safety is a priority and important consideration on Habitat construction sites, and volunteers are given safety orientations and they are required to work with skilled construction supervisors on the build sites.[39][40] Depending on the type of operation, OSHA rules may be generally applicable to Habitat construction sites, similar to for-profit builders. In some cases, Habitat affiliates have local partnerships with OSHA on safety programs.[41]

text: Cost-effectiveness[edit]

text: An article in the Weekly Standard, an American conservative opinion magazine, questioned the cost-effectiveness of Habitat building projects. To estimate cost effectiveness, all costs associated with building a Habitat home must be used, including the cost of volunteer time and training.[42] For houses constructed by foreign volunteers, travel and associated costs paid by the volunteers are also significant. Including these costs raises the question whether building a house this way is an efficient use of resources. Particularly in developing countries where labor is relatively inexpensive, unemployment is high, and local currency is cheap, purchasing local labor and supplies may result in an increase in the number of houses built.

text: Cost-effectiveness, however, is not Habitat for Humanity’s only concern, and additional benefits arise from the Habitat model that differentiate it from other low-cost housing. For example, involving volunteers in the construction of houses not only makes the homes more affordable, but it also builds community understanding, awareness and support for affordable housing and generates revenue for local Habitat organizations. Focusing solely on cost effectiveness also does not address another important aspect—the education and training of the homebuyers. Habitat’s homebuyers are also involved in the construction of their home and the homes of others in the program.[43] Many Habitat organizations also provide training in budget management and other skills. These requirements, known as “sweat equity,” teach low-income homebuyers valuable construction and other skills that help them to maintain their home over the long-term. Another major aspect of Habitat’s program is Habitat’s revolving “Fund for Humanity.” Habitat does not give homes away; rather, in addition to contributing sweat equity, Habitat homebuyers pay an affordable no-profit mortgage based on their ability to pay. These mortgage payments are used to support building additional homes in partnership with low-income families, thus contributing to the sustainability of Habitat’s homebuilding program.[44]

text: Habitat has been criticized for its slow and inefficient rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.[45] After 18 months, Habitat had completed under 500 homes. A major factor was Habitat's reliance on working through local affiliates, who are not equipped to undertake large-scale rebuilding efforts.

text: Work continued and Habitat completed its 1,000th hurricane-response home by May 2007. By the fifth anniversary of Katrina, more than 2,716 homes had been completed. In total, Habitat’s Gulf Coast affiliates built, repaired or rehabbed more than 5,400 houses as part of the hurricanes Katrina and Rita effort.[46]

text: Habitat affiliates in the region have remained some of the largest homebuilders in their areas and have received numerous awards and acknowledgements for their work in building quality homes.[47][48][49][50]

text: Partnering with low-income families[edit]

text: Families are required to show an ability to pay for their home in addition to the need for housing. With these requirements, homeless and low-income families may fail to qualify for a Habitat home. Most American Habitat affiliates perform credit checks and criminal record checks on applicants before partnering with them for the construction of a home. Some critics therefore allege that Habitat misrepresents the nature of its work by partnering with families that might be considered nearly "middle-income."[42] To address this, many Habitat affiliates in the United States partner only with families that fall below the government-set "poverty line" for their area. The current poverty rate is measured according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.[51]

text: The credit and income requirements help ensure that Habitat applicants are able to maintain their houses. Foreclosure rates on Habitat houses are hard to measure. While Habitat claims a foreclosure rate of less than 2%, this number is unsubstantiated due to the fact that Habitat properties are not initially deeded to the buyer, and revert to the local Habitat chapter if a buyer defaults. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat homes.[1]

text: Ousting of the founder[edit]

text: Habitat's founder, Millard Fuller, and his wife were dismissed by the Habitat board of directors on 31 January 2005, citing “a pattern of ongoing public comments and communications by the Fullers that have been divisive and disruptive to the organization’s work”[52] after Fuller was accused by a former female employee of "suggestive comments and inappropriate touching" during a ride to the Atlanta airport in 2003. The Habitat board investigated Fuller for sexual harassment but found "insufficient proof of inappropriate conduct". Some Fuller supporters claim that the firing was due to a change in corporate culture.[53]

text: Before Fuller's termination, attempts were made by former President Jimmy Carter to broker an agreement that would allow Fuller to retire with his $79,000 salary intact; when Fuller was found to have violated the non-disclosure portion of this agreement, he was subsequently fired.[54]

text: Conflicts with affiliates[edit]

text: In January 2008 a dispute arose between the parent organization and an unspecified number of local Habitat for Humanity affiliate organizations over the terms of their cooperation agreement. These local affiliates contended that the agreement gave the international organization too much power over the assets and operations of the local chapters. One of the affiliates, Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio, reached an agreement with HFHI in July 2008 to "continue working together in their efforts to make affordable housing possible".[55]

text: By the end of 2008, the overwhelming majority of Habitat’s U.S. affiliates had signed the agreement.


document_title: Elf (film)

question_text: who played papa elf in the movie elf

question_tokens: who played papa elf in the movie elf

text: Elf (film)

text: Plot[edit]

text: On Christmas Eve, a baby boy crawls into Santa Claus's sack at an orphanage and is unwittingly transported back to the North Pole. When discovered at the workshop, the elves name him "Buddy" because he is wearing "Little Buddy Diapers", and he is adopted by Papa Elf.

text: Buddy grows up at the North Pole believing he is an elf, but due to his human size is unable to keep up with the other elves and demoted to the demeaning job of toy testing. When Buddy overhears that he is a human, Papa Elf explains that Buddy was born to Walter Hobbs and Susan Wells, and given up for adoption. Susan subsequently died and Walter, who now works for a children's book publisher at the Empire State Building in New York City, is unaware of Buddy's existence. Santa reveals, to Buddy's horror, that Walter is on the naughty list due to his selfishness, but suggests Buddy could help redeem him.

text: Buddy travels to New York where he has trouble adjusting to the customs of the cynical human world. Buddy finds his father at work, but Walter is incredulous and has security remove him. Taking a security guard's sarcastic suggestion literally, Buddy visits the Gimbel's department store where the manager mistakes him for an employee. At the store's Santa Land, he meets Jovie, an unenthusiastic employee to whom he is instantly attracted. After hearing that Santa will be at the store the next day, Buddy spends the night decorating Santa Land. When Buddy realizes the Gimbel's Santa is not the real Santa, he confronts him and yanks the beard off his costume, resulting in a fight that lands Buddy in jail. Walter reluctantly bails him out and takes him to a doctor for a DNA test, which confirms that Buddy is Walter's son. The doctor convinces Walter to take Buddy home to meet his step mother Emily and twelve-year-old half brother Michael. Walter and Michael are put off by Buddy's odd behavior, but Emily insists that they care for him until he "recovers".

text: Buddy and Michael become friends after defeating a gang of bullies in a snowball fight and Michael encourages Buddy to ask Jovie on a date. During the date, the two fall for each other. Walter's boss, citing the failure of the company's most recent book, expects a new book by Christmas Eve, so Walter and his team hire best-selling children's author Miles Finch. Buddy interrupts a meeting between Walter's team and Finch to tell Walter of his newfound love and mistakes Finch, who has dwarfism, for an elf. Buddy pesters Finch into losing his temper and walking out on Walter, causing Walter to furiously disown Buddy. Buddy leaves a note for Emily and Michael, and wanders the streets lamenting that he does not fit in anywhere.

text: On Christmas Eve, after finding Finch's notebook full of ideas, Walter and his team scramble to create a book to pitch. Walter's boss is prepared to hear the pitch when Michael arrives and informs Walter that Buddy is gone. Realizing he was wrong, Walter tries unsuccessfully to reschedule, then quits his job and leaves with Michael to find Buddy.

text: Santa's sleigh crashes in Central Park, attracting a large crowd. Buddy finds Santa, who explains that the sleigh has lost its engine and cannot fly without it, due to a shortage of Christmas spirit. Buddy finds the engine and is reunited with Walter and Michael. Walter apologizes to Buddy and accepts him as his son; Buddy then takes them to meet Santa. Michael takes Santa's list and reads it in front of television news cameras gathered outside the park, proving that Santa is real. The Central Park Rangers, whom Santa had placed on the naughty list, chase the sleigh as Buddy tries to reattach the engine. Jovie leads the crowd in singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," helping raise enough Christmas spirit to fully power the sleigh.

text: By next Christmas, Walter has started his own publishing company with a best-selling book about Buddy's adventures. Buddy and Jovie, now married, bring their newborn daughter Susie to visit Papa Elf.

text: Cast[edit]

text:
Will Ferrell as Buddy Hobbs, a human who was raised by Santa's elves
James Caan as Walter Hobbs, a children's book publisher and Buddy's biological father
Zooey Deschanel as Jovie, an unenthusiastic worker at Gimbel's and Buddy's love interest.
Mary Steenburgen as Emily Hobbs, Walter's wife and Buddy's stepmother
Daniel Tay as Michael Hobbs, Walter and Emily's son and Buddy's younger half brother
Ed Asner as Santa Claus, who finds Buddy in his sack and gives him to Papa Elf to raise
Bob Newhart as Papa Elf, an elf that raised Buddy
Faizon Love as Wanda, the manager of Gimbel's and Jovie's boss
Peter Dinklage as Miles Finch, a best selling children's author
Amy Sedaris as Deb, Walter Hobbs' secretary
Michael Lerner as Mr. Greenway, Walter Hobbs' boss
Andy Richter as Morris, an associate of Walter Hobbs
Kyle Gass as Eugene Dupree, an associate of Walter Hobbs
Artie Lange as Gimbel's Santa
Jon Favreau as Dr. Leonardo, the Hobbs family's pediatrician
Matt Walsh as Eye Witness
Peter Billingsley as Ming Ming (uncredited)
Mark Acheson as a mailroom worker
Patrick Ferrell (Will Ferrell's brother) as a security guard (cameo)[citation needed]

text: Voices[edit]

text:
Leon Redbone as Leon the Snowman
Ray Harryhausen as Polar Bear Cub
Jon Favreau as the Baby Walrus, Mr. Narwhal, and the Arctic Puffin
Dallas McKennon as the Jack-in-the-Box (archive audio)

text: Production[edit]

text: Development[edit]

text: David Berenbaum's screenplay underwent uncredited rewrites by Scot Armstrong,[3][4] Chris Henchy,[5] and the writing team of Adam McKay and Will Ferrell.[6][7][8]

text: Jim Carrey was originally attached to portray Buddy, but turned down the role.[9] Terry Zwigoff was offered to direct, but declined due to his commitment on another Christmas comedy of 2003, Bad Santa.[citation needed] Jon Favreau eventually directed the film.

text: Filming[edit]

text: Filming took place in New York City, as well as in Vancouver and at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia.[10][11]

text: The film makes heavy use of forced perspective to exaggerate the size of Buddy compared to all the other elves. Stop motion animation was employed for certain sequences.[10]

text: Zooey Deschanel singing was not in the original script, and Favreau added it when he learned she was a singer.[10] When Buddy starts singing in the middle of Santaland at Gimbel's, the lyrics were not scripted and Will Ferrell improvised the song on the spot.[12] Even though Buddy is an excellent gift wrapper, Will Ferrell is not, and needed someone else to wrap all the gifts in the movie.[12]

text: Post-Production[edit]

text: Apart from snow, most of the computer generated imagery (CGI) in the film was created by Rhythm & Hues Studios.[13] Buddy's belch after drinking a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola was real, as dubbed by voice actor Maurice LaMarche.[14]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Box office[edit]

text: Elf grossed $173.4 million in North America and $47 million in other territories for a total gross of $220.4 million, against a budget of $33 million.[2]

text: The film opened at number two at the box office in the United States with $31.1 million, finishing behind The Matrix Revolutions, also in its first week.[15] It topped the box office on its second week of release, beating out Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. In the United Kingdom, it opened in second behind Love Actually.[16]

text: Critical response[edit]

text: On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 84% based on 189 reviews, and an average rating of 7/10. The site's consensus reading, "A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a normalized score of 64 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.[19]

text: Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, calling it "one of those rare Christmas comedies that has a heart, a brain and a wicked sense of humor, and it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece."[20] Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, saying: "Ferrell makes the damn thing work. Even though he can't get naked or use naughty words, there's a devil of comedy in Ferrell, and he lets it out to play. Director Jon Favreau has the good sense to just stand out of his way."[21]

text: Accolades[edit]

text: The film was nominated for nine awards and won two.[22]

text: Critics' rankings[edit]

text: Elf is often ranked among the greatest Christmas films of all-time,[23][24][25][26] and since its release has joined the many films which air annually on television during the holiday season.

text:
Empire – #11[27]
New York Daily News - #23[28]
about.com – #9[29]
Digital Spy – #3[30]
Forbes – #7[31]
Newsday – #7[32]
The Guardian – #4[33]
Chicago Tribune – #17[34]
San Francisco Chronicle – #4[35]
Entertainment Weekly – #4[36]
Total Film – #3[37]
The Hollywood Reporter – #6[38]

text: Home media[edit]

text: The film was released on DVD and VHS on November 16, 2004, and on Blu-ray on October 28, 2008. It is also available for the PlayStation Portable with Universal Media Disc.

text: Musical[edit]

text: A Broadway musical based upon the film ran on Broadway during the 2010 Christmas season. It was directed by Casey Nicholaw, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan.

text: The musical officially opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 10, 2010, after previews from November 2, 2010. The cast included Sebastian Arcelus as Buddy, Amy Spanger as Jovie, Beth Leavel as Emily, Mark Jacoby as Walter, Matthew Gumley as Michael, Valerie Wright as Deb, Michael McCormick as Mr. Greenway, Michael Mandell as Store Manager, and George Wendt as Santa. It ran through to January 2, 2011.[39]

text: Music[edit]

text: The soundtrack was released on New Line Records in November 2003 in the United States[40] and in October 2005 in the United Kingdom.[41] It was certified Gold by the RIAA in April 2011.[42] Having sold 695,000 copies in the United States, it is the second best-selling film soundtrack/holiday album hybrid since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking music sales in 1991, behind only The Polar Express.[43]

text:
"Pennies from Heaven" – Louis Prima
"Sleigh Ride" – Ella Fitzgerald and the Frank De Vol Orchestra
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" – Lena Horne
"Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus Party" – Ferrante and Teicher/Les Baxter
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" – Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel
"Jingle Bells" – Jim Reeves
"The Nutcracker Suite" – Brian Setzer
"Christmas Island" – Leon Redbone
"Santa Baby" – Eartha Kitt and the Henri René Orchestra
"Winter Wonderland" – Leon Redbone
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – Eddy Arnold
"Nothing from Nothing" – Billy Preston

tag: ol

text: The score to the film, composed and conducted by John Debney and performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony, was released by Varese Sarabande.[44]

text: Animated special[edit]

text: Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas is an hour long stop motion animated musical television special based on the film and the musical of the same name. While Edward Asner was the only one to reprise his role from the film, the rest of the cast consists of Jim Parsons as Buddy, Mark Hamill as Walter Hobbs, Kate Micucci as Jovie, Rachael MacFarlane as Emily Hobbs, Max Charles as Michael Hobbs, and Gilbert Gottfried as Mr. Greenway. It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and first aired on NBC on December 16, 2014. It uses songs from the musical.


document_title: Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone

question_text: who wrote is anybody goin to san antone

question_tokens: who wrote is anybody goin to san antone

text: Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone

text:
"Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?"

Single by Charley Pride

from the album Charley Pride's 10th Album

B-side

"Things Are Looking Up" (U.S.)
"Wings of a Dove" (Intl.)

Released
February 1970

Genre
Country

Length
2:13

Label
RCA

Songwriter(s)
Glenn Martin
Dave Kirby

Producer(s)
Jack Clement

Charley Pride singles chronology

"(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again"
(1969)
"Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone?"
(1970)
"Wonder Could I Live There Anymore"
(1970)

"(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again"
(1969)
"Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone"
(1970)
"Wonder Could I Live There Anymore"
(1970)

text: "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" is a song written by Glenn Martin and Dave Kirby, and recorded by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in February 1970 as the first single from the album Charley Pride's 10th album. "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" was Charley Pride's third number one in a row on the country charts. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 16 weeks on the country chart.[1] Charley's manager, Jack D. Johnson, was given a demonstration tape of this song and rewrote it, changing the chords, lyrics, and arrangement to better fit his client, Charley Pride. Charley recorded and made this rewrite his third number-one hit. Jack did not take songwriter's credit, as he was working for the success of his client. Jack wrote other songs, including "Too Hard To Say I'm Sorry", also sung by Charley Pride, cowritten with Jack Clement.

text: Nancy Sinatra recorded a version of the song which was featured on the B-side of her 1971 single, "Hook And Ladder". The song was included on her 2009 digital collection, Cherry Smiles: The Rare Singles.

text: The song was also a popular part of the repertoire of Texas musician Doug Sahm, who recorded it in 1973, then again in 1991 with his group, the Texas Tornados.

text: Bengt Palmers wrote lyrics in Swedish, Kan ingen tala om för mig när tåget går? ("Can anybody tell me when the train departs"), allowing Siv-Inger to score Svensktoppen hit for six weeks during the 10 February – 17 March 1974 period, peaking at fourth place.[2] In 2008, Swedish dansband Drifters covered the song with these lyrics on the cover album Tycker om dig: Svängiga låtar från förr.

text: Chart performance[edit]

text:
Chart (1970)
Peak
position

Canadian RPM Country Tracks
1

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3]
1

US Billboard Hot 100[4]
70