The divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates has sparked an avalanche of memes on social media - Top 50 funny pictures

This world's largest cycling race is a national landmark that France cherishes almost as much as the Eiffel Tower and 360 cheeses! Tour de France is held annually in July and passes through the most picturesque places of the French metropolis. We will tell you about it.

In fact, for the fans and the athletes themselves, the Tour de France does not begin on the day the race starts, but at least a year in advance, with the presentation of the route. The route of the 21st stage is different every year, but the organizers of the Tour de France always give riders of various specializations a chance to prove themselves: sprinters, station wagons capable of climbing small mountains, mountaineers, individual time trial specialists. The Tour de France is a Grand Tour, a race that lasts three weeks.

There are three Grand Tours in total: the first is the Italian Grand Tour - the Giro d'Italia, then it's time for the French - Tour de France, and finally, the final three-week race, which is held in Spain - the Vuelta. But the Tour de France is the oldest and most prestigious of all three Grand Tours, traditionally starting in early July. During the 23 days of the competition, riders cover more than 3,000 kilometers. The route of the Tour can be laid clockwise or counterclockwise through the territory of France. Often, not only the Grand depart goes beyond the borders of the Tour's home country, but some stages go beyond the borders of France. So, at the mountain stage, the peloton can go to Andorra or Italy, and then return to France again.

Bemorepanda collected some funny memes.

1.Doing it right?

2.Look guys

3.Lost a bit of time

Usually, the cities that host the start and finish of the stage are famous for their rich history, sights, because the Tour is broadcast by television companies around the world, the spectator audience of the race is huge, which means that the French regions get the opportunity to attract tourists, advertise architectural monuments and natural beauties . Thus, the Tour de France is also an exciting journey through France, which opens up new interesting routes and corners of the country for cycling fans. The race is usually attended by 22 teams, each of which has 9 cyclists. The most powerful cyclists in the world set the Tour de France as their goal and prepare for it in advance.

For its more than a century of existence, the cycling race has seen the country and reeled up the mileage. Currently, the annual route is 3,500 kilometers and is covered during the first three weeks of July by 22 teams of 8 cyclists. On the most beautiful roads in France, 176 participants compete for 23 days, the cycling race consists of 21 stages. The route, which passes through more than a third of the French departments, changes every year.

The first Tour de France took place in 1903. Then there were only six stages, but what! Paris-Lyon, Lyon-Marseille, Marseille-Toulouse, Toulouse-Bordeaux, Bordeaux-Nantes and Nantes-Paris - this was the program, and 60 cyclists came to the start. In those days, the participants in the race pedaled for 18 hours in a row (day and night) and rode on highways and dirt roads. By the finals, they covered 2,300 kilometers. What a load on the legs!

4.Not even once

5.Best sprinter

6.So wrong

Mountain trials are the most controversial and best known. It must be seen: cyclists climb the passes, having risen in the saddle, and descend from them at a speed of more than 100 km / h! The ascents of the Galibier and Tourmalet passes in the Pyrenees and the Alps became the legends of the Tour de France and gave the best cyclist a very elegant polka-dot jersey.

France leads the race in terms of national wins with 36 bike rides, followed by Belgium (18) and Spain (12). But Eddy Merckx remains the darling of the race with a record 111 days in the yellow jersey. This Belgian is a 5-time Grand Loop champion along with Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hino and Miguel Indurain.

The yellow jersey is awarded to the leader in the overall standings (the time shown at each stage is summed up). This tradition began in 1919. It has nothing to do with the July sun or sunflower fields on the roadsides. Yellow color is the color of the pages of the newspaper "Auto" (L'Auto) - the founder and organizer of the first competitions.

In 2018, as in 2011, the race started from the island of Noirmoutier in the Vendée. On June 30, a group of participants set off for the continent along the Passage du Gois, a 4-kilometer underwater highway that is flooded by the sea at high tide. Woe to those who lag behind!

7.Beaten

8.Jens Voigt

9.Drugs

The Tour de France is the third most important sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and the World Cup, and is covered by 600 media outlets and 2,000 journalists. The race is broadcast by 100 television channels in 130 countries and is watched by 3.5 billion viewers, the broadcast time is 6,300 hours. The numbers speak for themselves!

Every year the cycling race starts in a new place - in one of the cities of France or neighboring countries. But since 1975, the triumphant finish of the participants has always taken place on the Champs Elysees in Paris. For a swift final spurt, of course, you need the most beautiful avenue in the world!

If you shoot with a helicopter or drone, then from a height a group of participants in a cycling race resembles a long colored ribbon unwinding in the midst of the most beautiful French landscapes: from Normandy copses to Alpine peaks, from the coast of Brittany to the beaches of the Côte d'Azur. In 2017, the Col d'Izoard mountain pass in the Hautes-Alpes, which is 2361 m high, was chosen as the "most beautiful scenery of the Tour de France". 

Another tradition of the race - the last, final stage takes place in Paris, its route is laid along one of the most famous and beautiful streets in the world - the Champs Elysees, which every year await a new winner of the Tour de France.

10.Live dangerously

11.Involved in a crash

12.Muttonchop

13.Good question

14.Never finished in top

15.Let’s retire

16.No idea

17.Blocking roads

18.Opi is antivaxxer

19.This is not a joke

20.Sharing a cigarette

21.Dont preorder

22.Tour de Iceberg

23.Le Mans

24.Pay attention to her

25.Who would win

26.Go out

27.Help

28.That explains

29.Retour

30.Stop

31.Good crush

32.Nani

33.Why I watch this

34.Grand parents

35.My mental health

36.Post title

37.Very long

38.Far more interesting

39.Winner

40.He is ok

41.Student loans

42.Rare photo

43.Good

44.Dont preorder

45.Evolution

46.Freeze frame

47.Mordor

48.Long time ago

49.I don't see a problem

50.Who would win

Fools' Day has long-held origins, with historians considering the custom of pranks to be a mixture of local folk customs specific to each country with ancient legends and ceremonies to welcome the New Year and later spring.

 

April 1 - Fool's Day is a day of pranks or jokes. Sending friends or similar gags to an unnecessary meeting has been known in most European countries since the 16th century. It may not be officially declared a holiday, but it is undoubtedly a memorable day.

 

Here are some funny memes for the April Fools Day

 

1. Just one day

 

2. Being here

 

3. True again

 

April 1st is Trick Day. The custom, hundreds of years old, is an opportunity for people to surprise their friends more or less pleasantly.

 

The custom of fooling April 1 is a centuries-old one. Forerunners of April Fools' Day could be the Roman Hilaria festival, which took place on March 25, and the Medieval Feast of Fools, which took place on December 28, a still celebrated day in some countries. Spanish language, Mediafax reports.

 

On the other hand, the earliest reference to Fool's Day seems to be, according to The Museum of Hoaxes in San Diego, California, a fragment of a 1539 Flemish poem in which a man allegedly fooled his servant. A day of April 1st.

 

At the same time, another explanation is that hundreds of years ago, people celebrated the New Year on April 1st. The replacement of the old calendar with the new one created confusion. Initially, some people could not adapt to the change: they celebrated the New Year on April 1 instead of January 1, and for this reason, they were called "April Fools".

 

A Fool's Day tradition in France, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands — called "Poisson d'avril," "Pesce d'aprile!" to a person without realising it. This custom seems to date back to the 16th century.

 

The "Poisson d'avril" holiday is also celebrated in Canada, Portugal, and Spain. This holiday has spread to the Dutch and Flemish regions from French-speaking areas, under the name "aprilvis".

 

4. Trust nobody

 

5. Tomorrow

 

6. Born on this day

 

Fool's Day is marked in some areas for two days in the UK, with the fools being called a "noddy", while in Scotland, Fake Day is traditionally called "Hunt-the-Gowk Day". In the sense of a joke, nătărău), but having another meaning - that of the arrival of spring (April cuckoo).

 

In Poland, April 1st is when people make jokes and pranks, and "serious activities are to be avoided." Denmark, May 1 is known as "Maj-kat". Swedes usually celebrate April Fools 'Day" ("aprilsnar") while the less celebrated May Day Fools' Day.

 

In Spain, the holiday "Pescado de Abril" ("fish of April") was taken over the French chain, the Spaniards having their day of tricks, on December 28. On December 28, the Spaniards marked the "Dia de Los Santos Inocentes" (Massacre of the Innocents), the flight to Egypt and the rescue of the baby Jesus, considering that Mary and Joseph saved him with a "trick".

 

Some states in the southern United States celebrate The Week of Foolery, which begins seven days before Fool's Day.

 

It is expected that this year's April's Fool will come with pranks and screenplays in the press, which are more and more elaborate, but which also have a taste of credibility.

 

In recent years, Fool's Day has been an opportunity for the international press and websites to lower readers' foreheads worried about the economic crisis and the daily problems. Thus, social networks have tried to fool their users, announcing the introduction of new and unlikely services, while some sites have announced that they will close their operations.

 

At the same time, over the years, the international press has been making pranks since April 1, which readers have appreciated. These include Ikea's dog chair, "launched" on April 1, 2011, the BBC documentary Flying Penguins (April 1, 2008), and the left-handed burger launched by Burger King (April 1, 1998).

 

7. No news

 

8. Not good this year

 

9. Mood

 

The exact origins of April 1 are unknown, but assumptions and theories have taken various forms.

 

Fool's Day is associated with the late arrival of spring in early April. Nature plays tricks, "fooling" people with sudden changes in the weather. The custom dates back to Roman times. Laughing and joking, the Romans celebrated the spring equinox and the installation of spring.

Another hypothesis, accepted by the majority, states that the origin of April 1 is closely related to the change of the Julian calendar from the Gregorian one. In the old calendar, New Year's Day was celebrated on April 1 instead of January 1. After the change of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, during the reign of Charles IX, people initially had trouble getting used to the celebration of the new year on January 1. Until 1752, Britain refused to accept the new calendar. As time went on, greeting cards sent for the New Year on April 1 began to be considered pranks, often accompanied by funny gifts.

 

According to another speculative theory, Fool's Day is related to the Holi Holi Festival. This festival takes place in late March and annually reminds us of the victory over evil. During the festival holidays, the custom of lighting a large, purifying fire was maintained.

 

The Jews attributed a biblical origin to this day, linking it to Noah, who sent his dove to search the dry land after the waters receded from the ground on April 1.

 

Another variant is related to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who is said to have been sent from Anna to Caiaphas, then to Pilate, then from Pilate to Herod, and vice versa, after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. April. Where did the tricks start?

 

No matter where it comes from, April 1st is recognised as Fool's Day in most countries. Marked first in Europe, Fool's Day migrated across the ocean and then around the globe.

 

10. Pranks

 

11. April fools

 

12. Facebook

 

13. Silly goose

 

14. April is here

 

15. My life is a joke

 

16. Just a joke

 

17. Rent money

 

18. Pranked

 

19. Cruel pranks

 

20. Fooled

 

21. Why is the question

 

22. Own holiday

 

23. Fools day

 

24. Don’t believe anything

 

25. Not about jokes

 

26. I am gay

 

27. Just a prank

 

28. Joke

 

29. Good excuse

 

30. Posts on these days

 

31. All over the world

 

32. Gotcha

 

33. Cancelled

 

34. Every day

 

35. Reddit

 

36. Your face

 

37. Wait

 

38. Nobody believes me

 

39. Pregnant

 

40. Revenge

 

41. Not a joke

 

42. Same day

 

43. Trap

 

44. Still a joke

 

45. Good prank

 

46. Monumental prank

 

47. Fool

 

48. Plans

 

49. Here it comes

 

50. Not a fool

 

 

Joe Biden signed the reactivation of a World War II law, the so-called Lend-Lease law, to significantly and rapidly increase military support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

The original Lend-Lease Act was passed by the US Congress in March 1941 and gave President Roosevelt the virtually unlimited authority to send military aid (ammunition, tanks, planes, trucks, and food) to allied countries fighting Nazi Germany without violating its status. neutrality that the United States had at the time.

The law stated that military aid was granted to any nation "considered vital to the security of the United States."

Bemorepanda collected some funny memes.

1. Lend-lease done

2. Signed

3. Hello, Putin

4. Lend- Lease art

5. May 9th

The story's irony is that the law was initially intended for the UK as the primary beneficiary. However, the Lend-Lease program was expanded to include China and the Soviet Union in a few months. By the end of World War II, almost 40 countries had received support under this program.

The law gives the Biden administration much more leeway when it comes to the military equipment it sends to Ukraine and the speed with which it can decide what aid to send to Ukraine and NATO countries on the eastern flank of the Northern Alliance. -Atlantic, now "front-line countries," the Associated Press reports.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden signed a lend-lease law for Ukraine, a vital document to establish a steady stream of military and humanitarian aid to the Russian-invaded country. This reactivates a mechanism that worked at its peak in World War II when the United States became the "arsenal of democracy." At the same time, Biden called Congress to immediately vote on supplementing aid for Kyiv, warning that current resources would be depleted "in about ten days."

6. Nuclear weapons?

7. Supporting Ukraine

8. So nice

The document allows Biden to use a World War II rule, known as the Lend- Lease Act, enacted by Franklin Roosevelt in 1941. It provides for the rental or lending of military equipment to any country whose defense is considered vital to the protection of the United States. The United States has become the "arsenal of democracy through this law." For Roosevelt, it was not a show of altruism and generosity. It was the way to contribute to the defeat of Nazi Germany without going to war, at least not before the nation was ready, both militarily and as a public opinion. "We buy, we don't rent. We buy our security while we prepare," Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said during congressional debates. Shortly after signing the law, Roosevelt used his authority to deliver vast quantities of food and weapons from American ports to Britain. They were sent from tanks, planes, ships, weapons, infrastructure materials, clothes, chemicals, and food. By the end of 1942, politics had expanded, including the Soviet Union, China, Australia, New Zealand, and the exiled governments of Poland, the Netherlands, and Norway. By the end of World War II, the United States had used the law to provide $ 50 billion in aid to more than 30 nations worldwide.

9. About neutrality

10. Modern tanks

11. Nuke threat

Lend-Lease is a system for the transfer by the United States of America of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, equipment, strategic raw materials, food, and other miscellaneous goods to countries - allies of the anti-Hitler coalition. The US Congress approved the lease on March 11, 1941. According to this document, the President was given the authority to transfer, exchange, lease, and lend strategic weapons and materials to the government of any country where the fight against aggressors is vital. For the defense of the U.S., Countries that received lend-lease assistance signed bilateral agreements with the United States, which provided that materials destroyed, lost, or consumed during the war were not subject to any payment after the end of the war. The remaining materials suitable for civilian consumption must be paid in whole or in part based on long-term US loans. From March 11, 1941, to August 1, 1945, the United States provided $ 46 billion to allied countries under the Lend-Lease system, including the United Kingdom and other British Commonwealth countries - for $ 30 billion. , $ 3 billion., The Soviet Union - $ 9.8 billion, France - $ 1.4 billion, China - $ 631 million, and Latin American countries - $ 421 million.

In the first five months of the Great Patriotic War, the Law on Lending and Leasing did not apply in the USSR. During this period, the United States sent $ 41 million worth of weapons and supplies to the Soviet Union. And it was not until November 7, 1941, that the President of the United States, F. D. Roosevelt, extended the law of the lend-lease to the USSR.

Until then, lend-lease deliveries to the USSR were made by the Anglo-Soviet Mutual Assistance Agreement of 12 July 1941 in the United Kingdom. As early as the end of July 1941, during these deliveries, the English minelayer Adventure delivered a cargo of deep-sea cargo and magnetic mines to Arkhangelsk. And in August 1941, the first Lend-Lease convoy left England for the northern ports of the USSR.

The delivery of Anglo-American equipment and weapons to the Soviet Union was three ways. It was initially planned that up to 75% of all economic aid from Western allies would be sent by ships across the Arctic to the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. By the spring of 1942, 12 convoys of 103 boats had been sent along this route, of which only one ship was lost. However, then the situation changed dramatically. German fascist command began to attract significant air, submarine, and large surface ships to fight Allied convoys. As a result, there were heavy losses on the RO-13, 16, and 17 caravans.

12. Crimea Bridge

13. WW3

14. Deal

The second source of the lend-lease supply ran from the ports of the Persian Gulf, through the deserts and mountains of Iran and Iraq to the Soviet Transcaucasia. The goods were shipped by rail, highway, and air. From December 1941 to the end of 1942, thanks to the joint work of Soviet, British, and American specialists, the production capacity of ports in the Middle East increased significantly, and already in 1943, 3447 thousand tons of cargo were delivered to the USSR by the southern route. Through all modes of transport and military equipment, in 1944, this figure increased 1.5 times and amounted to 5,498 thousand tons.

At the beginning of 1945, all deliveries through Iran and Iraq were stopped. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 10 million tons of goods were delivered to the USSR on the southern route.

During the negotiations in the summer of 1942, a third route was approved - sending aircraft by air through Alaska and Siberia. The length of the way from the American city of Fairbanks to Krasnoyarsk was 14,000 km. About 8,000 American fighter jets were delivered along the route during the war.

Throughout the Great Patriotic War, powerful weapons, the United States and Britain supplied the Soviet Union with 18,700 aircraft, about 11,000 self-propelled artillery tanks and mounts, and up to 10,000 guns of various calibers. Terms of military equipment and weapons produced in the USSR amounted to 16.7% for aviation, 10.5% for self-propelled tanks and cannons, and about 2% of our country's total artillery production.

15. Thunderbolt

16. Russian invasion

17. It’s beautiful

18. You don’t

19. the USA 

20. Were/was

Those who study in the United States are well aware that at this time of the year, university students, like most other Americans, are subject to "March Madness". This is the name of the final tournament of the national basketball championship among the teams of the First Division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It runs from mid-March to early April.

After the Super Bowl, the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or "March Madness" or "The Big Dance" is the most anticipated sporting event of the year. Of course, other sports (baseball) and leagues (NBA) can argue with this opinion, but it is shared by many, and in this article I argue this position.

"March Madness" is the tournament's most famous nickname, which refers to the huge number of games that were played over two weeks, a bunch of upsets and the sincere emotions of the players for whom this tournament is the best chance to prove themselves and continue their careers, and for others, this is the last chance to play their favorite game before the start of “adulthood”.

During the “March Madness” period, the Internet connection speed even drops, because so many fans watch matches online. According to the latest available data, in 2018, in-game ad revenue exceeded $1.32 billion. Last year, 97 million fans followed the tournament.

1.Work on March Madness Day

2.Bracket’s busted

3.There’s a chance

We offer answers to the questions that are most often asked by those wishing to understand this purely American sporting event. If you go to study in the United States next year, then in March you may be rooting for your university team.

Americans are incredibly loyal to their colleges and universities. It doesn't matter whether a person just entered the university or graduated 30 years ago, he is, without any doubt, an avid fan of his university team, considers it the best and the only one that deserves the championship title.

These are exciting competitions. Compared to the professional championship, there are fewer playoff matches in the student championship, the struggle is sharper, and the final tournament is much faster. Even if their favorite teams don't make it to the finals, Americans still watch every game. Why? It's simple: unlike professional athletes, students do not play for money, but defend the honor of their educational institutions and just love basketball.

In total, more than 300 university teams play in the NCAA Division I. On Qualifying Sunday - this year it falls on March 17 - a special commission announces 68 teams that will enter the so-called men's bracket. Eight of them will play preliminary games, and the four winners will advance to the main tournament, which includes 64 teams. Another commission announces 64 teams of the women's draw.

4.Live dangerously

5.Finish above you

6.This is madness?

In both the men's and women's tournaments, 32 teams advance to the final tournament as the winners of their respective conference championships. (Conferences are groupings of universities, usually organized geographically.) The selection committee names the rest of the teams based on the number of victories and how strong their rivals were. Tournament brackets are divided into four regions.

The commission "seeds" the best teams in each region under the first numbers, the next four - under the second, and so on. In the first round, the first seeded team plays the 16th seeded team, while the second seed plays the 15th seed. In other words, the strongest play the outsiders first. Teams from the middle of the grid are approximately equal in strength.

The second major reason for the huge popularity of March Madness is that no one knows for sure who will be the champion.

This spring, the men's teams of Duke University and the University of North Carolina are considered the strongest. They often claim the championship title, and they all have a glorious history. The teams of the University of Virginia and the University of Gongaz are not far behind. Stirring up interest in March Madness is the possible appearance of Cinderellas, those who have not previously achieved major success, but defeat teams that were considered invincible.

7.Gloat about it

8.Better bracket

9.Gambling

Last year, Loyola University Chicago's men's team, seeded 11th in their region, made it to the final four. The University of Virginia team, number 1 in its region, lost in the first round to the 16th club, the University of Maryland from Baltimore (this happened for the first time in the history of the tournament). This year, the 12th seeded University of Oregon can beat the established favorites and become, as ambitious newcomers are called, “the destroyer of tournament grids”. Although the victory was predicted primarily for the number 1, Duke University, this team almost lost in the second round to the University of Central Florida, seeded 9th. In other words, everything is possible in this tournament.

As for the women's teams, the top four are the University of Louisville Cardinals, the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Baylor University Lady Bears and the Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Popular teams that have not been successful before are the Hoosiers from Indiana University and another Lady Bears from the University of Missouri.

Many will be surprised to learn that the Madness has not always been the premier college basketball tournament. In the middle of the last century, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) was much more prestigious than the NCAA tournament. For those who are more or less familiar with college basketball, yes, this is the same NIT that now has a reputation as a repechage tournament. In the 1950s, the NCAA basketball tournament began to gain prestige after the NCAA began requiring conference champions to play in their own tournament.

“Americans are incredibly loyal to their colleges and universities. It doesn't matter whether a person just entered the university or graduated 30 years ago, he is, without any doubt, an avid fan of his university team, considers it the best and the only one that deserves the championship title.

10.March Madness

11.Never made one

12.But when I do

13. 5 speed

14.Only competing

15.When it it

16.What’s all the brackets

17.Not what we thought

18.You get it

19.A toast

20.Going exactly as planned

21.Watch out for me

22.You have one

23.Baylor students

24.Sum your life

25.So it begins

26.Welcome

27.No idea

28.The longer you watch March Madness

29.I call it march

30.Is here baby

31.Memes are coming

32.School playing

33.Canceled

34.At work

35.Shocker

36.Picking a bracket

37.College basket

38.Busted

39.Cancel it

40.So bored

41.What’s wrong

42.The only one

43.Not even mad

44.Just let me check

45.March Madness

46.I have no idea

47.The best moment

48.There I was

49.Filled out

50.All right