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Action

Definition: Action

Action

Noun

1. Something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions".

2. The state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action".

3. A judicial proceeding brought by one party against another; one party prosecutes another for a wrong done or for protection of a right or for prevention of a wrong.

4. An act by a government body or supranational organization; "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"; "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"; "the Union action of emancipating Southern slaves".

5. A military engagement; "he saw action in Korea".

6. A process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity".

7. The series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action".

8. The operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action".

9. The trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "action" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Action

DomainDefinition

Computing

For the purpose of file transfer, access and management(FTAM), one of the actions specified as part of the definition of the virtual filestore. Source: European Union. (references)

Law

Deposition of any question before the Legislature. (references)

Medicine

The result of an action or condition. Source: European Union. (references)

Physics

A set of concentrated or distributed forces acting on the structure(direct action), or the cause of imposed or constrained deformations in the structure(indirect action). Source: European Union. (references)

Post & Telecom

Here:function to be tested. Source: European Union. (references)

Slang

Verb. Source: Comes from the actual word action. Definition: Under these circumstances, action refers to students participating in sexual activity. They use the term to define intercourse, etc with others. Context: Students use this word to talk about their sexual lives around friends. Social Source: University of Oregon students. Source: Compiled by The University of Oregon. (additional references)

Tips from 1870

Usage: Act, Action. "The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." "Suit the action to the word." Action suggests the operation; act, the accomplished result. Source: Slips of Speech.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Action

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Action has several meanings:

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Action."

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Action (philosophy)

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A primary concern of the theory of action in philosophy is to demarcate actions from other doings. For instance, if you are startled and accidently drop a plate, causing it to shatter, it is clear that breaking the plate was something you did. But can it be seen as an action you undertook?

There is a special field in analytical philosophy called philosophy of action. Some of the most prominent philosophers who worked in it are Elizabeth Anscombe and Donald Davidson.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Action (philosophy)."

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Action (physics)

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

In Lagrangian mechanics, the trajectory of an object is derived by finding the path which minimizes the action integral which is the integral of the Lagrangian over time; this being the kinetic energy minus the potential energy.

This, of course, is only for classical mechanics in a very restrictive sense of the term. More generally, an action is a functional from the configuration space to the real numbers and in general, it needn't even necessarily be an integral because nonlocal actions are possible. The configuration space needn't even necessarily be a functional space because we could have things like noncommutative geometry.

See also:

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Action movie

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Action movies usually involve a fairly straightforward story of good guys versus bad guys, where most disputes are resolved by using physical force. Action movies are usually "high concept" films where the whole movie can be easily summarized in a simple sentence (eg. "a scientist brings dinosaurs back to life only to find them trying to dominate earth, again" for Jurassic Park). Who exactly the good guys are differs from film to film, but in Hollywood films they usually are patriotic and rather conservative Americans, whereas the bad guys are usually either criminals or agents of foreign powers. In the 1980s and before, they were very often communists, which brings some action films fairly close to propaganda films. With the fall of Communism, communists were no longer the villains, and the focus turned to drug lords or Middle Eastern terrorists. Action movies also tend to have a single heroic protagonist and often portray institutions such as the military or police as incompetent and limited by rules and regulations which the protagonist has no regard for. This creates the stereotypical conflict between an action hero and his immediate superior.

Action films tend to be expensive requiring big budget special effects and stunt work. Action films are mainly an American genre, although there have been a significant number of action films from Hong Kong which are primarily modern variations of the martial arts film. Because of these roots, Hong Kong action films typically center on acrobatics by the protoganist while American action films typically feature big explosions and cool gadgets.

Action films also constitute very good examples for feminist film theory, because in them, the separation between the physical male who controls the scene and the look and the female, who is almost always the object of the look is very clear. Although female characters in most action films are nothing more than objects, a prize for the winner, hostages, loving wives and the like, there has been a move towards stronger female characters. These are maybe best exemplified in works by James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow.

Current trends in action film include a development toward more elaborate fight scenes, perhaps because of the success of Asian martial arts films in Western film. Actors in action movies are now much more skilled in the art and aesthetic of fighting than they have been in the past, apart from a few acknowledged fighters like Steven Seagal. Now, a distinction can be made between films that lean toward physical agile fighting, such as The Transporter, and those that lean toward other common action film conventions, like explosions and plenty of gunfire, such as Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, although most action movies employ elements of both.

Due to their widespread appeal, many of the following films have also spawned one or more sequels.

Famous films

Famous actors

Less famous films, but fun

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Acton, Massachusetts

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Acton is a town located at 42°29' North 71°27' West in Middlesex County, Massachusetts about 24 miles WNW of Boston along Massachusetts Route 2 beyond Concord.

Acton has a small place in history. A company of minutemen from Acton responded to the call to arms initiated by Paul Revere on April 19, 1775 and was present at the fight at the North Bridge in Concord, at the start of the American Revolutionary War. The Acton minutemen were led by Captain Isaac Davis. When a company was needed to lead the advance on the bridge which was defended by the British regulars, Captain Davis was heard to reply, "I haven't a man that is afraid to go."

The colonists advanced on the bridge, and in the exchange of muskett fire that followed Captain Davis was killed and Abner Hosmer, also of Acton was mortally wounded. Thus in Acton they refer to "the battle of Lexington, fought in Concord, by men of Acton."

As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,331.

Geography


According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.5 km² (20.3 mi²). 51.7 km² (20.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.53% water.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 20,331 people, 7,495 households, and 5,538 families residing in the town. The population density is 393.1/km² (1,018.1/mi²). There are 7,680 housing units at an average density of 148.5/km² (384.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 88.45% White, 0.70% African American, 0.07% Native American, 8.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 7,495 households out of which 43.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% are married couples living together, 6.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% are non-families. 21.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the town the population is spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $91,624, and the median income for a family is $108,189. Males have a median income of $77,371 versus $47,113 for females. The per capita income for the town is $41,901. 2.9% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.4% are under the age of 18 and 3.3% are 65 or older.

External Link

http://www.town.acton.ma.us/index.htm

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Acton, Massachusetts."

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Firearm action

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. Most commonly this is accomplished by means of a breech-block, which reciprocates in the receiver of the firearm. Important factors in the naming of a particular action type depends on how it gets its motive force (i.e. what energy is employed to operate), and how it locks the breech. 
The following list shows most of the various types of breech-loading firearms
that exist:
Locking mechanisms

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Group action
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In mathematics, groups are often used to describe symmetries of objects. This is formalized by the notion of a group action: every element of the group "acts" like a bijective map (or "symmetry") on some set. In this case, the group is also called a transformation group of the set.


Definition

If G is a group and X is a set, then a (left) group action of G on X is a binary function G × X -> X (where the image of g in G and x in X is written as g.x) which satisfies the following two axioms:

  1.  g.(h.x) = (gh).x for all g, h in G and x in X.

  2.  e.x = x for every x in X; here e denotes the identity element of G.

From these two axioms, it follows that for every g in G, the function which maps x in X to g.x is a bijective map from X to X. Therefore, one may alternatively and equivalently define a group action of G on X as a group homomorphism G -> Sym(X), where Sym(X) denotes the group of all bijective maps from X to X.

If a group action G × X -> X is given, we also say that G acts on the set X or X is a G-set.

In complete analogy, one can define a right group action of G on X as a function X × G -> X by the two axioms (x.g).h = x.(gh) and x.e = x. In the sequel, we consider only left group actions.


Examples


Types of actions

The action of G on X is called 

Every free action on a non-empty set is faithful.
A group G that acts faithfully on a set X is isomorphic to a permutation group on X. An action is regular if and only if it is transitive and free.


Orbits and stabilizers

If we define N = {g in G : g.x = x for all x in X}, then N is a normal subgroup of G and the factor group G/N acts faithfully on X by setting (gN).x = g.x. The action of G on X is faithful if and only if N = {e}.

If Y is a subset of X, we write GY for the set { g.y : y in Y and g in G}.
We call the subset Y invariant under G if GY = Y (which is equivalent to GY ⊆ Y).
In that case, G also operates on Y.
The subset Y is called fixed under G if g.y = y for all g in G and all y in Y. Every subset that's fixed under G is also invariant under G, but not vice versa.

Any operation of G on X defines an equivalence relation on X: two elements x and y are called equivalent if there exists a g in G with g.x = y.
The equivalence class of x under this equivalence relation is given by the set Gx = { g.x : g in G } which is also called the orbit of x. The elements x and y are equivalent if and only if their orbits are the same: Gx = Gy. Every orbit is an invariant subset of X on which G acts transitively. The action of G on X is transitive if and only if all elements are equivalent, meaning that there is only one orbit. The set of all orbits is written as X/G.

For every x in X, we define Gx = { g in G : g.x = x }. This is a subgroup of G, and it is called the stabilizer of x or isotropy subgroup at x. The action of G on X is free if and only if all stabilizers consist only of the identity element.

There is a natural bijection
between the set of all left cosets of the subgroup Gx and the orbit of x, given by hGx |-> h.x.
Therefore, |Gx| = [G : Gx],
and so 



This result, known as the orbit-stabilizer theorem, is especially useful if G and X are finite, because then it can be employed for counting arguments.
A related result is Burnside's lemma:



where r is the number of orbits, and Xg is the set of points fixed by g.
This result too is mainly of use when G and X are finite, when it can be interpreted as follows: the number of orbits is equal to the average number of points fixed per group element.


Morphisms and isomorphisms between G-sets

If X and Y are two G-sets, we define a morphism from X to Y
to be a function f : X -> Y such that f(g.x) = g.f(x) for all g in G and all x in X. If such a function f is bijective, then its inverse is also a morphism, and we call f an isomorphism and the two G-sets X and Y are called isomorphic; for all practical purposes, they are indistinguishable in this case. 

Some example isomorphisms:

With this notion of morphism, the collection of all G-sets forms a category; this category is a topos.


Generalizations

One often considers continuous group actions: the group G is a topological group, X is a topological space, and the map G × X → X is continuous with respect to the product topology of G × X. The space X is also called a G-space in this case. This is indeed a generalization, since every group can be considered a topological group by using the discrete topology. All the concepts introduced above still work in this context, however we define morphisms between G-spaces to be continuous maps compatible with the action of G. The above statements about isomorphisms for regular, free and transitive actions are no longer valid for continuous group actions.

One can also consider actions of monoids on sets, by using the same two axioms as above. This does not define bijective maps and equivalence relations however.

Instead of actions on sets, one can define actions of groups and monoids on objects of an arbitrary category: start with an object X of some category, and then define an action on X as a monoid homomorphism into the monoid of endomorphisms of X. If X has an underlying set, then all definitions and facts stated above can be carried over. For example, if we take the category of vector spaces, we obtain group representations in this fashion.

One can view a group G as a category with a single object in which every morphism is invertible. A group action is then nothing but a functor from G to the category of sets, and a group representation is a functor from G to the category of vector spaces. In analogy, an action of a groupoid is a functor from the groupoid to the category of sets or to some other category.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Group action."
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Lawsuit
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Please note: Wikipedia does not give legal advice, the information on this page is not necessarily 100% accurate. 

A lawsuit is an action or a suit brought before a court, as to recover a right, redress a grievance, obtain damages, an injunction or to obtain a declaratory judgment.  It usually involves dispute resolution of private law issues between individuals, business entities or non-profit organizations, though in some jurisdictions it may involve public law issues.

In common law jurisdictions, the lawsuit begins with the issuance of a summons by the clerk of the court chosen by the plaintiff. It may also include a more detailed statement or pleading of the causes of action for which the plaintiff seeks damages or equitable relief.

Usually the papers are drawn by a lawyer, but in many courts a person can file papers and represent themselves, which is called appearing pro se.  Many courts have a pro se clerk to assist people without lawyers.

The early stages of the lawsuit involve discovery or the exchange of documents and other evidence between the parties as well as the conducting of depositions. At this point the parties may also engage in pretrial motion practice in order to determine key issues before trial.

Once the case is ready for trial the parties will pick a jury and then have a trial by jury, unless the case involves equitable relief in which case it will be heard only by the judge.

All the procedures that govern the conduct of a lawsuit in the common law adversarial system of dispute resolution are known as civil procedure.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Lawsuit."
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Abbreviations & Acronyms: Action
The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
EntrySourceExpressionField
ACTION
EnglishAmerican Council to Improve Our NeighborhoodsSocial Sciences
ACAPEnglishAviation Consumer Action ProjectN/A
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).
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Synonyms: Action
Synonyms: action at law (n), action mechanism (n), activeness (n), activity (n), legal action (n), military action (n), natural action (n), natural process (n). (additional references)
Antonym: inaction (n). (additional references)
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Synonyms within Context: Action
ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Agency
Causation; instrumentality; influence; action; (voluntary); modus operandi.
Contention
Conflict, skirmish; rencounter, encounter; rencontre, collision, affair, brush, fight; battle, battle royal; combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament; tilt, tilting; tournay, list; pitched battle.
Lawsuit
Noun: lawsuit, suit, action, cause; litigation; suit in law; dispute.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.
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Crosswords: Action
English words defined with "action": Action on the case, action replay, affirmative action, Amicable action ♦ Civil action, course of action, Criminal action, Cross action ♦ direct action ♦ evasive action ♦ Funicular action ♦ Grand action, group action ♦ law of action and reaction ♦ military action, Mixed action ♦ natural action ♦ Personal action, piano action, police action, Popular action, Possessory action, pump action ♦ Quantity of action ♦ Real action, Reflex action ♦ slide action ♦ Transitory action. (references)
Specialty definitions using "action": Action Ex Contractu, Action Ex Delicto, action for failure to fulfil obligation, Action levels, action limits, Action Sermon, adjuster, piano action ♦ corrective action ♦ died of wounds received in action, direct action fuze ♦ Emergency Action Plan ♦ freeze-thaw action ♦ glacial action ♦ impact action fuze ♦ Joint Test Action Group ♦ killed in action ♦ modulating action, mortgage of chose in action ♦ on-off action ♦ petitory action, plunge pool action, proportional action, proportional control action, proportional plus integral control action, proportional plus integral plus derivative control action ♦ redhibitory action ♦ second derivative action ♦ two-step action. (references)
Etymologies containing "action": Sincaline. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Action" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses.
French (achievement, act, action, deed, plot, share).
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Modern Usage: Action
DomainUsage
Screenplays
And if we don't get a piece of that action, we risk everything we have (The Godfather; writing credit: Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo.)
Another has produced all the Macaulay Culkin action pictures (Swimming With Sharks; writing credit: George Huang)
The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk (The Day the Earth Stood Still; writing credit: Harry Bates; Edmund H. North)
Tyler was now involved in a class action lawsuit against the Pressman Hotel over the urine content of their soup (Fight Club; writing credit: Jim Uhls)
What chance does a toy like me have against a Buzz Lightyear action figure (Toy Story; writing credit: John Lasseter; Andrew Stanton)
Lyrics
I'm dying for some action I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write (DANCING IN THE DARK; performing artist: Bruce Springsteen)
He got the action, he got the motion (Walk Of Life; performing artist: Dire Straits)
Then you'll know that rhythm carries all the action, so (TURN THE BEAT AROUND; performing artist: Gloria Estefan)
Action brings good fortune (Chapter 24; performing artist: Pink Floyd)
Take you where there's all night action (Dance & Shout; performing artist: Shaggy)
Clever
Think like a man of action; act like a man of thought. (references; author: unknown)
For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism. (references; author: unknown)
The quality of expectations determines the quality of our action. (references; author: unknown)
Non-smoking area: If we see you smoking, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action. (references; author: unknown)
Movie/TV Titles
ASAP: Alcohol Safety Action Project (1974)
Executive Action (1973)
Community Action Theater on Tour (1973)
Action for Calcutta (1971)
WPVI Action News (1970)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.
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Commercial Usage: Action
DomainTitle
References
  • Action Computer Supplies Holdings PLC: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)
  • Action Performance Companies, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)
  • Action Products International, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)
  • Medical Action Industries, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)
  • Action Plan Construction Projects in Japan: A Strategic Entry Report, 1996 (reference)
    (more reference examples)
  
Books
  • A relational data base and 4GL in action (reference)
  • ACTH and related peptides : structure, regulation, and action : [papers] (reference)
  • Standardizing Action Measurement - Abandoning the Quest for Reporting Perfection [DOWNLOAD: PDF] (reference)
  • Antiepileptic Drugs: Mechanisms of Action (reference)
  • Abandonment of the private right of action for aiding and abetting securities fraud/staff report on private securities litigation : hearing before the Subcommittee on Securities of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate (reference)
    (more book examples)
  
Periodicals
  
Theater & Movies
  • Epa in Action (reference)
  • Warner Home Video DVD Action 4-Pack (Blade Runner, Eraser, The Fugitive, Twister) (reference)
  • Executive Action (reference)
  • How To Build Your Net Worth; Buying Residential Real Estate with None of Your Own Money - VHS Taking Action Video (reference)
  • Watercolor in Action - Responding to Nature (reference)
    (more DVD examples; more video examples)
  
Music
  
High Tech
  • Nikon Action 10-22X50 Dual Action Zoom XL Binocular with Case (reference)
  • Action ACN-5318 1.8" LCD Color Handheld Television (reference)
  • Action ACN-5402 4" LCD Portable TV/Monitor (reference)
  • Action ACN-5410 4" LCD TV with Stereo CD Player & AM/FM Radio (reference)
  • Standard Deviants Action Learning CD-ROM: Spanish (reference)
    (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)
  
Consumer Goods
  • HoMedics BK-900 Back Rejuvenator 10-Motor Back Massager with Percussion Action (reference)
  • Norelco 7865 XL Quadra Action Cord/Cordless Men's Shaver with LED Meter, Silver (reference)
  • Black & Decker VP7240 Double Action DustBuster Cordless Vac (VersaPak) (reference)
  • Cobra 8000 Forward Action Professional Staple and Nail Gun (reference)
    (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.
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Image Slideshow: Action
Photos:
Action
More pictures...
Illustrations:
Action
More pictures...
Computer Images:
Action
More pictures...
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Photo Album: Action
ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit
In remote areas with little human habitation, the most appropriate action may be to post signs on the roads entering the epizootic area to warn people, and provide information on personal protection and plague prevention. Credit: CDC.
Low tide along South Carolina shoreline showing current action. Credit: America's Coastlines.
The CLASS ACTION waits for customers at Bud N' Mary's Marina. Credit: Fisheries.
Bucktail Creek, a part of the remediation action. Removing contaminated sediments. The removal of the sediments took place between 1995 - 2000. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.
Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Swash zone at Cabretta(?). Looking south.  Georgia's coastline is composed of wide, slowly sloping beaches.  Wave action is minimal compared to other areas of the East Coast. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Wave action forming a hook at a new cut through Washburn Island following passage of Hurricane Bob on August 19. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).
The Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship PATHFINDER at anchor in San Francisco Bay where it returned for repairs after two years in the Solomon Islands.  The ship returned to see additional action in the Philippines and Okinawa. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.
Figure 13.  Bouquet de la Grye sounder, invented by the French hydrographic engineer Anatole Bouquet de la Grye in 1869.  The main point about this device was a new type of weight release mechanism, based on the action of spring released at the moment that the weight contacted the bottom.  This method was used extensively on cable survey ships. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now.
2001 National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action.
A soldier comforts a grief-stricken American infantryman whose buddy had been killed in action. In the background, a corpsman methodically fills out casualty forms in the Haktong-ni area, Korea, Aug. 28, 1950. (P.; photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Al Chang)..
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.
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Digital Photo Gallery: Action
 
"Double Action" by Victor Silkin
Commentary: "Qick Photoshoot for a web site."		"Sailing action" by Frank P.J. Van Haalen
Commentary: "Exhilarating sailing action in Holland, The Netherlands."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.
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Sounds Captioned with "Action".
PlayCaptionPlayCaption
Typical excerpt from an action movie scene complete with flying arrows,.Minor funky groove typical of movie scores for action scenes circa 1980's.
An energetic excerpt very typical of an action adventure television show.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.
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Familiar Quotations: Action
AuthorQuotation
Benjamin Disraeli
Justice is truth in action.
Sir, I say that justice is truth in action.
Bhagavad Gita
Action should culminate in wisdom.
Friedrich Engels
An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.
Johann Friedrich Von Schiller
Speech is always bolder than action.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Doubt can only be removed by action.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Real action is in silent moments.
The ancestor of every action is thought.
W. Clement Stone
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
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Historic Usage: Action
AuthorDateQuotation
John Locke
1690
That as much as may be, all the members of the society are to be preserved: for since many accidents may happen, wherein a strict and rigid observation of the laws may do harm; (as not to pull down an innocent man's house to stop the fire, when the next to it is burning) and a man may come sometimes within the reach of the law, which makes no distinction of persons, by an action that may deserve reward and pardon; 'tis fit the ruler should have a power, in many cases, to mitigate the severity of the law, and pardon some offenders: for the end of government being the preservation of all, as much as may be, even the guilty are to be spared, where it can prove no prejudice to the innocent. (Second Treatise of Government)
US Constitution
1791
In May 1785, a committee of Congress made a report recommending an alteration in the Articles of Confederation, but no action was taken on it, and it was left to the State Legislatures to proceed in the matter. (reference)
Marbury v. Madison
1803
Although, therefore, a mandamus may be directed to courts, yet to issue such a writ to an officer for the delivery of a paper, is in effect the same as to sustain an original action for that paper, and, therefore, seems not to belong to appellate, but to original jurisdiction. (reference)
Communist Manifesto
1848
United action, of the leading civilised countries at least, is one of the first conditions for the emancipation of the proletariat. (reference)
Treaty of Versailles
1919
In the case of a recommendation, the Members will inform the Secretary-General of the action taken. (reference)
Winston S. Churchill
1946
I have, however, a definite and practical proposal to make for action. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)
Miranda v. Arizona
1966
The prosecution may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way, unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the Fifth Amendment's privilege against self-incrimination. (reference)
Roe v. Wade
1973
Litigation involving pregnancy, which is "capable of repetition, yet evading review," is an exception to the usual federal rule that an actual controversy must exist at review stages, and not simply when the action is initiated. (reference)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
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Use in Literature: Action
TitleAuthorQuote
Emma
Austen, Jane
She had hardly been able to speak a word, and every look and action had shewn how deeply she was suffering from consciousness
A Christmas Carol
Dickens, Charles
Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost
Scarlet Letter
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
It perplexed, as well as shocked her, by the irreverent inopportuneness of the occasions that brought it into vivid action.
Les Miserables
Hugo, Victor
He directed everything by a sort of invisible and continuous magnetic action.
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Joyce, James
His day began with an heroic offering of its every moment of thought or action for the intentions of the sovereign pontiff and with an early mass
Grapes of Wrath
Steinbeck, John
Need is the stimulus to concept, concept to action.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
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Non-Fiction Usage: Action
SubjectTopicQuote
Health
Understands many action words (run, jump). (references)
Eventually, this limits the pumping action. (references)
Bring your medicines and written action plan to each visit. (references)
Business
Again, action has been glacial. (references)
The plaintiff also may publicize the results of such legal action. (references)
A systematic, “top-to-down” engagement is one appropriate course of action. (references)
Children
Italy
Both public and private social workers counsel abused children and are authorized to take action to protect them. (references)
Australia
Physicians who performed such procedures without court authorization were subject to both criminal and civil action. (references)
Germany
The law makes the sexual abuse of children by German citizens abroad punishable even if the action is not illegal in the child's own country. (references)
Civil Liberties
Gambia
No subsequent action was taken. (references)
Kyrgyz Republic
Libel is a criminal, not a civil, action. (references)
Nigeria
Onyeuma was released on bail awaiting court action at year's end. (references)
Discrimination
Fiji
It also provides for specific affirmative action provisions for those disadvantaged as a result of such discrimination. (references)
Fiji
A compact included in the Constitution specifically provides for affirmative action and "social justice" programs to secure effective equality of access to opportunities, amenities, and services for ethnic Fijians and Rotumans and for all disadvantaged citizens and groups. (references)
Indonesia
An amendment to the Constitution adopted during 2000 introduced the possibility of affirmative action to achieve fair and equal treatment; however, some activists believe that because the amendment does not mention men or women specifically, it would not adequately protect women. (references)
Economic History
Jamaica
The revised law is awaiting parliamentary action. (references)
Senegal
Customs has initiated an action plan to combat fraud. (references)
Laos
This agreement requires congressional action to come into force. (references)
Human Rights
Pakistan
Further action in this case is unlikely. (references)
Morocco
The taxi union criticized the Government's action. (references)
Paraguay
Legal action against Bower was pending at year's end. (references)
Indigenous People
Brazil
The lands are the subject of a civil action by private landowners. (references)
Bangladesh
Bengalis formed a procession to protest the murder and to demand action against those responsible. (references)
Bangladesh
Former insurgent leader Jotirindrio Bodhipriya Larma, alias Shantu Larma, has publicly questioned whether the Peace Accord has been implemented properly, and has urged prompt government action to implement all provisions of the Accord. (references)
Minorities
Ghana
No police action was taken in regard to any attacks from previous years. (references)
Poland
Religious and political leaders strongly criticized Jankowski for his action. (references)
Malaysia
Chinese groups in the ruling coalition demanded action against the perpetrators. (references)
Political Economy
KUWAIT
Uncertain and slow judicial action is also a hurdle. (references)
EGYPT
It has not taken any action yet on the Information Technology Agreement. (references)
JAPAN
The First Action Period for trademark applications takes about eleven months. (references)
Political Rights
Belarus
The regime-appointed CEC took no effective action. (references)
Kuwait
The case subsequently was abandoned, and no further action was taken during the year. (references)
Bahrain
Women were permitted to vote in the February referendum on the National Action Charter. (references)
Trade
Russia
The problem partly results from limited government action to restructure Russia's banks after the crisis. (references)
Ukraine
Over the next three years, USAID will assist Ukrainian communities in developing Local Environmental Action Programs (LEAP). (references)
Nepal
If the duty is not paid or the goods are not re-exported within six months of entry, action may be taken on a charge of smuggling. (references)
Travel
Kuwait
Do not wait for an emergency to develop a plan of action. (references)
Kuwait
Ask for the name, action and side effects of any medication prescribed. (references)
Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Embassy continues to receive reports that suggest terrorist action against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia remains a possibility. (references)
Women
Yemen
Husbands may divorce wives without justifying their action in court. (references)
Netherlands
In 1988 the Government started affirmative action programs for women. (references)
Marshall Islands
At year's end, both were free on bail awaiting further judicial action. (references)
Worker Rights
Malawi
Their cases were awaiting action at year's end. (references)
Venezuela
Ministry of Labor officials declared the action illegal. (references)
Zimbabwe
No further action on the cases was reported by year's end. (references)
Lexicography
Devil's Dictionary
ACCIDENT, n.  An inevitable occurrence due to the action of immutable natural laws.
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.
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Spoken Usage: Action
SpeakerPhrase(s)
Al Hunt
Bob, Chairman Graham offered a very measured and long-term battle against the axis of evil. And I'll tell you, he does not think any action against Iraq will be a cakewalk, quite the contrary.
Cary Goldstein
Right. The will be a civil action filed before the one-year anniversary of Bonny's death. Also, I'm involved in negotiating the visitation for the Bakley family.
Pervez Musharraf
Well, this happened at one of the bases which we had provided for logistic support, and this was a routine accident. It had nothing to do with any reaction or any action from any side. It was a routine accident on the airfield.
Phil McGraw
That's right. Do something. Take action. The world rewards action. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you want different, do different.
Robin Cook
I felt that we were wrong at the present time to go into military action right now. And I wanted us to be against that and vote against that. And you don't come to that, of course, with any integrity unless you leave the government. That's why I did it.
Rush Limbaugh
We need action, not end zone dances.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.
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Speeches: Action
SpeakerTermPhrase(s)