History.

The origin of Albion College lies not in the city of Albion, but about southeast of the present location of the college. On March 23, 1835, Methodist settlers in Spring Arbor Township obtained a charter for the Spring Arbor Seminary from the Michigan Territorial Legislature. Foundations for a building were begun in 1837 at a location about southwest of the current village of Spring Arbor but were soon abandoned due to the economic turmoil caused by the Panic of 1837. No classes were ever held at the Spring Arbor location. The trustees applied to move the seminary to Albion in 1838, and the legislature approved the move in 1839.  With 60 acres (243,000 m2) of land donated by Albion pioneer Jesse Crowell, the cornerstone was laid for the first building in 1841. The seminary, now named the Wesleyan Seminary, first held classes in 1843, in the local Methodist Church. In 1844, classes began in the newly constructed Central Building, which was rebuilt as the present Robinson Hall in 1907.  The Albion Female Collegiate Institute was founded in 1850 by the Wesleyan Seminary Corporation. The two schools merged in 1857 under the name The Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion.  On February 25, 1861, both schools were completely merged under the name Albion College when the school was fully authorized by the State legislature to confer a full four-year college degree upon both men and women.

Academics.

The Albion College student body is composed of approximately 1,500 students. The student–to–faculty ratio is 11:1. The average class size of under 19 is comparable to other small liberal arts colleges. Albion College employs more than 100 full-time faculty, of whom more than 95% have earned the highest degree offered in their field.  Albion College appears on the "U.S. News & World Report" list of America's Top Liberal Arts Colleges. Also, Albion is a member of "The Princeton Review"'s 376 Best Colleges and Best Midwestern Colleges list.

Academic programs.

Albion College offers approximately 30 academic majors leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. In addition to the academic majors, numerous concentrations, academic institutes, and special programs are offered. These include the Prentiss M. Brown Honors program, The Center for Sustainability and the Environment, Fritz Shurmur Education Institute, the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Policy and Service at Albion College, the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, and pre-professional programs in engineering, medicine, and law.  In addition to the facilities on Albion's campus, Albion College also offers many opportunities for students to travel and study at other institutions. Programs are offered in Philadelphia, Chicago, London, Heidelberg, Tübingen, Tokyo, Seoul, Cape Town, Aix-en-Provence, Ballyvaughan, Athens, Brussels and Paris, to name a few. Albion offers more than 100 different off-campus programs in over 60 countries on six continents.

Academic facilities.

Of the numerous academic buildings at Albion College, the largest is the Science Complex. The Albion College Science Complex comprises four academic buildings: Norris Hall, Kresge Hall, Putnam Hall, and Palenske Hall, which house the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science. The four buildings are connected by a 7,000-square foot Atrium. Kresge Hall features labs for introductory chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry on the third floor. Downdraft hoods in the intro and inorganic chemistry spaces help to maintain air quality. The organic labs are equipped with 12 six-foot ventilation hoods so students can learn chemical techniques and transformations. Research space for organic and inorganic chemistry faculty can also be found on the third floor. Biochemistry research and teaching spaces are found on the second floor. These spaces were designed to share a central preparation space that houses equipment used in both research and teaching applications. Proximity to the biology department encourages collaboration between students and faculty in the different disciplines. The first floor contains various classrooms and zoology and research labs for the biology department, as well as a greenhouse. The ground floor contains a majority of the biology labs, including an aquatic lab and temperature-control suite.  Putnam Hall features research labs for analytical and physical chemistry, and an analytical chemistry teaching lab on the third floor. The second floor has three "Enhanced Classrooms" with fixed projectors for computers, DVDs, and a port to plug in additional equipment, as well as the building's primary computer lab. All four levels of Putnam Hall feature faculty and staff offices, with the third floor home to chemistry faculty offices, second floor home to biology and computer science offices, and the first floor home to the main building office. Palenske Hall features the physics, geology, and math departments. The third floor features physics faculty offices, as well as the main physics labs and electronics lab. The second floor contains the math faculty offices as well as the classrooms for math and computer science. The first floor contains the faculty offices for the geology department, as well as the main geology labs and the GIS lab. The ground floor also has several specialized geology and physics labs. Norris Hall is home to several multi-use lecture classrooms, which hold between thirty and one hundred students. The classrooms in Norris are used for a number of classes, as well as for after-hours study sessions and special programs. In addition, the Science Complex has been awarded silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system.  The Whitehouse Nature Center plays an important role in classroom instruction at Albion College and offers its facilities and services as an environmental education area to public schools and the community. The Whitehouse Nature Center features six miles of trails, 400 plant species, almost 170 bird species, 25 acres of oak-hickory and flood-plain forest, a tall-grass prairie and spring in the Adele D. Whitehouse Wildflower Garden, an arboretum of Michigan trees and shrubs, 34 acres of farmland and research projects, and an interpretative building with classrooms, observation room, porch, and restrooms.

Campus life.

Residential life.

Albion College's campus houses 89% of the students that attend the college in four dormitories (Wesley Hall, Seaton Hall, Whitehouse Hall, and the Mitchell Towers), upper-class apartments (the Mae Harrison Karro Residential Village, Munger Place, the Burns Street Apartments, and the Briton House Apartments), nine women-only housing options (Ingham Hall, Fiske Hall, Dean Hall, and six women-only annexes), one men-only housing option (711 Michigan Avenue), and six fraternity houses. In addition to campus housing, students live at The Goodrich Club, a housing cooperative founded in 1932. Wesley Hall traditionally houses mostly first-year students. Wesley Hall is, by far, the largest residential building on campus with over 450 residents. Mitchell Towers and Whitehouse Hall typically are home to Sophomores and some Juniors. The Burns Street Apartments and the Briton House Apartments house mostly Juniors and some Seniors, while The Mae Karro Residential Village (commonly called "The Mae") and Munger Place house Seniors. Fiske Hall is open to Sophomore, Junior, and Senior women, while Ingham Hall is open to only Junior and Senior women. The majority of rooms in Wesley and Seaton Halls house two students with residents of each hallway sharing one community bathroom. All other dormitories have suite-style housing with two rooms sharing one bathroom between them.  In 2006 Albion College designated one of the schools annexes as the "Environmental House". Since then the students who live in the house have worked towards self sustainability and raising environmental awareness on campus.

Student groups and organizations.

Albion's campus is home to well over 100 student organizations. These groups—dedicated to academia, politics, sports and recreation, diversity awareness, and community service—are a large part of student life at Albion College. Groups such as Student Senate, The Nwagni Project, Karate Club, Canoe & Kayak Club, Anime Club, Medievalist Society, Habitat for Humanity International, and LGBriTs are examples of some of the prominent groups on campus. Intramural sports are another large part of campus life, with four seasons and about ten sports offered annually. One of the most engaging groups on campus is Union Board, a student run organization responsible for bringing entertainment to students, both on and off campus. Union Board brings a number of comedians, hypnotists, and other small performers to campus. They also bring to campus giant inflatable obstacle courses, climbing walls, masseuses, and dancers. Every April they host "The Big Show" at the Dow, which features a big name performer. In recent years, Albion has hosted 3 Doors Down, Dane Cook, O.A.R., Sean Kingston, and Seth Meyers. Union Board also sponsors a number of off-campus trips, most notably trips to Cedar Point and Chicago, as well as trips to see the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings. All of the events and programs Union Board sponsors are free of charge to students.

Music.

The Albion College Music Department offers students numerous ensembles in which to participate. The "British Eighth", the Albion College Marching Band, is one of the most visible examples of the school's mascot. The "British Eighth" wears uniforms reminiscent of those worn by the British Royal guards at Buckingham Palace. Under the direction of current Director of Bands Dr. Sam "Mac" McIlhagga, the band has increased in size to approximately 80 members. The British Eighth achieved national recognition by marching in the 2006 Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Albion College Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Briton Singers perform regularly throughout the school year. The Jazz Ensemble is particularly active in performing in the Albion community. There are a number of vocal groups on campus as well, most notably co-ed "Bella Voce" and co-ed "Euphonics", which are both a cappella music groups that perform throughout the semester.

Theatre.

The Albion College Department of Theatre is a producing department that offers both a Theatre Major with a concentration track in Acting/Directing, Design/Technology, or General Theatre Studies, as well as Theatre Minor. A typical season includes 4-5 mainstage shows which are produced in the Herrick Theatre (a 280-seat proscenium) and Black Box (a multi-use space that can seat up to 150). Both theaters are located within Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. Additionally, student workshops and staged readings are produced with some frequency. In addition to the Department of Theatre, there are three theatre related student organizations: Theta Alpha Phi, Albion Players, and the Dead Pinocchio Theatre.

Athletics.

The Albion College Britons field 22 intercollegiate teams, eleven for men and eleven for women. Albion College is a charter member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and competes in the NCAA. The school's Lacrosse team also competes in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference. Men's sports at Albion include cross country, football, golf, and soccer in the fall, basketball, swimming and diving in the winter, and baseball, tennis, track and field, and Lacrosse in the spring. The Albion women compete in cross country, golf, soccer, and volleyball in the fall, basketball and swimming and diving in the winter, and softball, tennis, track and field, and lacrosse in the spring. As of the 2011 Men's and Women's Lacrosse season, Albion is one of only four NCAA sanctioned Lacrosse programs in the state of Michigan with Adrian College, the University of Detroit-Mercy, and the University of Michigan.  Albion won the NCAA Division III football championship in 1994. During the 2005 season, both the men's and women's basketball teams advanced to the Division III playoffs.  Rugby

Greek life.

Fraternities.

Albion College is home to six social fraternities:  All six fraternities on campus are all members of the North American Interfraternity Conference and all comprise Albion College's InterFraternity Council (IFC). IFC governs and coordinates the activities of the fraternal chapters on campus. Approximately 46.6% of the male population on campus belongs to one of the six fraternities. Each of the fraternities leases a fraternity house from the college where the members of the fraternity are required to live. The song "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" was written in 1911 by Byron D. Stokes (Albion, 1913) and F. Dudleigh Vernor (Albion, 1914), and first performed by Harry Clifford (Albion, 1911) while undergraduates at Albion College.

Sororities.

There are six general purpose social sororities. Of those six, five are members of the National Panhellenic Conference:  One of the six is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council:  The members of the six social sororities at Albion College do not live in their lodges, but rather hold meetings and other events there. All six of the sorority chapters are members of the Albion College Panhellenic Council, which governs and coordinates the activities of sorority chapters on campus. Approximately 42% of the female population on campus belongs to one of the six sororities.

Professional and honorary fraternities.

Albion College is also home to nearly a dozen honorary, professional, service, and special interest fraternities, including:

Albion College is a private liberal arts college in Albion, Michigan. The college was founded in 1835 and its undergraduate population was approximately 1,500 students in 2014.


History.

Before the advent of the modern internal combustion engine and earth-moving equipment, mining salt was one of the most expensive and dangerous of operations because of rapid dehydration caused by constant contact with the salt (both in the mine passages and scattered in the air as salt dust) and of other problems caused by accidental excessive sodium intake. Salt is now plentiful, but until the Industrial Revolution, it was difficult to come by, and salt was often mined by slaves or prisoners. Life expectancy for the miners was low.  In ancient Rome, salt on the table was a mark of wealth; those who sat nearer the host were "above the salt", and those less favored were "below the salt". The Roman historian Pliny the Elder stated as an aside in his Natural History's discussion of sea water, that "in Rome... the soldier's pay was originally salt and the word'salary' derives from it..."  Ancient China was among the earliest civilizations in the world with cultivation and trade in mined salt. They first discovered natural gas when they excavated rock salt. The Chinese writer, poet, and politician Zhang Hua of the Jin dynasty wrote in his book "Bowuzhi" how people in Zigong, Sichuan, excavated natural gas and used it to boil a rock salt solution. The ancient Chinese gradually mastered and advanced the techniques of producing salt. Salt mining was an arduous task for them, as they faced geographical and technological constraints. Salt was extracted mainly from the sea, and salt works in the coastal areas in late imperial China equated to more than 80 percent of national production. The Chinese made use of natural crystallization of salt lakes and constructed some artificial evaporation basins close to shore. In 1041, during the Song dynasty, a well with a diameter about the size of a bowl and several dozen feet deep was drilled for salt production. In Southwestern China, natural salt deposits were mined with bores that could reach to a depth of more than 1000 m, but the yields of ground and salt were relatively low. As salt is a necessity of life, salt mining played a pivotal role as one of the most important sources of Imperial Chinese government revenue and state development.  Most modern salt mines are privately operated or operated by large multinational companies such as K+S, AkzoNobel, Cargill, and Compass Minerals.

Mining regions around the world.

Some notable salt mines include:

Idiomatic use.

In slang, the term, and especially the phrase, refers ironically to one's workplace, or a dull or tedious task. This phrase originates from in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to forced labor in Siberian salt mines.

A salt mine is a mine from which salt is extracted. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite formations.


Drake's voyage.

Background.

In the late 1500s, a cold war existed between England and Spain—one which involved religious differences, economic pressure, and emerging English navigational and colonisation desires. As part of this, Sir Francis Drake developed a plan to plunder Spanish colonial settlements on the Pacific Coast of the New World. Gathering several investors, and likely with the backing of Queen Elizabeth I—which may have been in the form of a secret commission as a privateer—Drake embarked upon the voyage on 15 November 1577. Even though Drake's actions would damage England's relations with Spain's King Philip, Drake understood he could rely upon Queen Elizabeth's support.  After successfully taking considerable amounts of treasure from Spanish towns and ships along King Philip's eastern Pacific coast colonies, Drake sailed north to seek a shortcut back to England via the hypothetical Strait of Anián, a supposedly navigable shortcut connecting the Pacific and Atlantic. The strait, a fanciful idea similar to the Fountain of Youth, was speculated to exist at about 40 degrees north. Although Drake may have possibly reached a latitude as high as 48 degrees, his northward progress was ultimately stopped by foul weather in the northeast trade winds belt. Upon failing to locate the strait, Drake sought safe harbour to ready his ship, "Golden Hind", before attempting a circumnavigation of the globe to return home.

Drake's coastal exploration and claim.

Prior to Drake's voyage, the western coast of North America had only been partially explored in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who sailed for Spain. So, intending to avoid further conflict with Spain, Drake navigated northwest of Spanish presence. By navigating well beyond where Cabrillo had asserted Spanish claim, Drake sought to locate a discreet site at which the crew could prepare for the journey back to England.  On 5 June 1579, the ship briefly made first landfall at South Cove, Cape Arago, just south of Coos Bay, Oregon. From there, Drake sailed south while searching for a suitable harbour to repair his ailing ship. On 17 June, Drake and his crew found a protected cove when they landed on the Pacific coast of what is now Northern California. While ashore, he claimed the area for Queen Elizabeth I as "Nova Albion" or New Albion, choosing this particular name for two reasons: first, the white banks and cliffs which he saw were similar to those found on the English coast and, second, because "Albion" was an archaic name by which the island of Great Britain was known. To document and assert his claim, Drake had an engraved plate of brass, one which contained a sixpence bearing Elizabeth's image, attached to a large post. Giving details of Drake's visit, it claimed sovereignty for Elizabeth and every successive English monarch.  After erecting a fort and tents ashore, the crew labored for several weeks as they prepared for the circumnavigating voyage ahead by careening their ship, "Golden Hind", so to effectively clean and repair the hull. Drake had friendly interactions with the Coast Miwok and explored the surrounding land by foot when crossing Inverness Ridge to visit a village and reconnoiter the country. When his ship was ready for the return voyage, Drake and the crew left New Albion on 23 July and paused his journey the next day when anchoring his ship at the Farallon Islands where the crew hunted seal meat. On 25 July, they sailed west to continue their Pacific crossing, and "Golden Hind" finally returned to England in September 1580.

English response.

Drake's circumnavigation began a period of British maritime dominance that lasted until the 20th century, and as a result of his successful deeds against Spain, Drake was admired and celebrated by many in England. According to John Stow, Drake's "name and fame became admirable in all places, the people swarming daily in the streets to behold him, vowing hatred of all that durst mislike him." Not only were his investors and the Queen richly rewarded, Drake was also allowed to keep £24,000 of the purloined treasure for himself and his crew. Drake quickly became a favorite at the Queens's court and was knighted by the French Ambassador on her behalf.  Initially, details of Drake's voyage were suppressed, and Drake's sailors were pledged not to disclose their route under threat of death. When Drake returned, he handed over his log and a large map to the Queen. While the other items disappeared, the map known as the Queen's Map, remained on limited view for a number of years. Finally, it too was lost in the Whitehall Palace fire of 1698. However, a derivative of this map, "Vera Totius Expeditionis Navticae", was composed by Jodocus Hondius sometime around 1590, and into it he incorporated features from the Queen's Map. This map shows Drake's journey and includes an inset of the harbor at "Nova Albion". In 1589, further details emerged when an official account of Drake's circumnavigating voyage by Richard Hakluyt was published. In 1628, "The World Encompassed" was published by Drake's nephew and namesake, Sir Francis Drake, 1st Baronet. This comprehensive account of the voyage, which is based on the notes of his chaplain Francis Fletcher, included numerous details of New Albion and is the most extensive account of Drake's voyage.  Because the extent of Drake's New Albion was vague—essentially a classification of the territory north and west of Spanish territory—the designated location differs among maps. After Elizabeth's death in 1603, maps began to depict the area of North America above Mexico as "Nova Albion". Drake's claim of land on the Pacific coast for England became a basis which influenced subsequent colonial charters issued by English monarchs that purported to grant lands from sea to sea, the area from the Atlantic where English colonies were first settled all the way to the Pacific. Along with Martin Frobisher's claims in Greenland and Baffin Island and Humphrey Gilbert's 1583 claim of Newfoundland, New Albion was one of the earliest English territorial claims in the New World. These claims were eventually followed by settlement of the Roanoke Colony in 1584, and Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

The people and the land.

By using detailed descriptions of the people encountered by Drake—particularly their houses, feathered baskets, ceremonies, and language—anthropologists have clearly identified the people as Coast Miwok, a people whose traditional homeland included the Point Reyes area in what is now present day Marin County, California.  When Drake landed his crew, the Coast Miwok people initially approached his encampment while armed with bows and arrows, uncertainly cautious regarding the newcomers. But Drake quickly allayed their suspicions, and multitudes of unarmed people soon visited his encampment on a daily basis. In their early encounters with the Coast Miwok, Drake's crew observed as the Miwok wailed and engaged in self-laceration. Drake misinterpreted this response as an act of worship and concluded that the Indians believed him and his crew to be gods; however, this response was actually one of Miwok mourning customs. Most likely the Indians regarded the English visitors as relatives who had returned from the dead. In a particularly significant gesture, one day a large assembly of Coast Miwok descended on the encampment and honored Drake by placing chains around his neck, a sceptre in his hand, and a crown of feathers on his head as if he were being proclaimed king. Upon this uncertain, seemingly voluntary surrender of sovereignty by its owners, England based its presumed legal authority to the territory.  After gaining the Coast Miwok's trust, Drake journeyed to explore the inland area and visit their villages. Accompanied with crew members, Drake trekked on a Coast Miwok trail to traverse the Inverness Ridge and descend into what is now the Olema Valley. Fletcher described the village structures there as round subterranean buildings which came together at the top like spires on a steeple. Fletcher made further note of their culture by recording detailed characteristics of the Coast Miwok baskets stating they were water-tight, shaped like a deep bowl, and covered with a matted down of colored feathers. Such baskets were made only by the Coast Miwok, Pomo, Lake Miwok, Patwin, and Wappo peoples who were all concentrated near Drake's landing site. Additionally, Fletcher was the first person to make a written record of any of the 64 distinct language groups in prehistoric California, namely five specific Coast Miwok words: "Hioh, Gnaah, Huchee kecharo, Nacharo mu", and "Cheepe". These words noted by Fletcher are from a distinct language group, and Heizer wrote that they were unquestionably of Coast Miwok derivation, linguistic proof of Drake's contact with the Coast Miwok. Overall, the relations between the Coast Miwok and their visitors were peaceful and friendly, and the Miwok seemed to exhibit distress when "Golden Hind" sailed away.  Fletcher also recorded climate information and characterised the unpleasant summer weather conditions of the area near the careenage basin. He noted the continuous nipping chill; lack of sun; and cold, sometimes violent, winds. In contrast, across the Inverness Ridge, he found a distinct climate variance and experienced a flourishing land. Fletcher assessed the area: "The inland we found to be farre different from the shoare, a goodly country and fruitful soyle, stored with many blessings fit for the use of man".  Fletcher also chronicled his observation of certain animals unknown to the English and described them as "very large and fat Deere" and "a multitude of a strange kinde of Conies." The "fat Deere" were most likely Roosevelt Elk, and the conies are identified as gophers. These, and the rest of Fletcher's assessments and observations of New Albion are flawlessly in concert with the geography of the Point Reyes.

Historical impact.

The New Albion claim had far-reaching historical consequences. Even though Drake attempted no long-term presence and the English made no immediate follow up to the claim, it constituted England's first assertion of sovereignty on the North American Pacific shore. And since all of their subsequent expeditions along the North American Pacific Coast were infrequent and irregular, Nova Albion was primarily a geographical designation—a new, distinctive name on the world map. Ultimately, this designation was of significance as it proclaimed England's ability and presumed right to pursue its own empire in America. Consequently, Drake's New Albion claim was a forward-thinking, considered component of a new national expansion policy, one of several of his exploits which both determined Elizabeth's policy for the duration of her reign and indirectly impacted England's continuing historical future.  The New Albion claim was the first indication of English goals broader than simple reprisal against Spain which then influenced similar national expansion projects by others such as Humphrey Gilbert and Walter Raleigh. As a rejection of territorial claims based on papal authority, the New Albion claim asserted Elizabeth's notion of territorial claim by occupation, and this promoted the colonial idea of New Albion as "the back side of Virginia," the expression of England's presumed legal status of sea-to-sea colonial entitlement. The claim occupied a significant place in British geopolitical considerations for centuries and even strengthened Britain's entitlement to the fur trade commerce along the Northwest Coast. Its final influential assertion came in negotiaing the 1846 Oregon Treaty which extended the border of Canada along the 49th parallel to the Pacific.

Site recognition and identification.

Early identifications.

Beginning in the seventeenth century, maps identify Drakes Bay as Drake's landing site. In 1793, George Vancouver studied the site, and concluded it was in Drakes Bay. Professor George Davidson, of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, after a study of the narrative and the coast, identified the harbour entered by Drake as Drakes Bay, at Point Reyes, about thirty miles (50 km) north of San Francisco. "Drakes Bay," he reported in 1886, "is a capital harbor in northwest winds, such as Drake encountered. It is easily entered, sheltered by high lands, and a vessel may anchor in three fathoms, close under the shore in good holding ground." Davidson published further support for the Drakes Bay location in 1890 and 1908.

20th century identifications.

In 1947, following up on work by archaeologists A. L. Kroeber and William W. Elemendorf, archaeologist Robert F. Heizer analyzed the ethnographic reports of Drake's stay at New Albion. Confirming their work Heizer states that "Drake must have landed in territory occupied by the Coast Miwok-speaking natives." In his full analysis, Heizer concludes, "in June 1579, then, Drake probably landed in what is now known as Drake's Bay." Since 1949, the theory that Drake landed at Drakes Bay has been advocated by the Drake Navigators Guild in California, and by former president Captain Adolph S. Oko, Jr., former honorary chairman Chester W. Nimitz, and former president Raymond Aker. Oko wrote, "Many other correlative facts have been... found true to the Drake's Cove site as part of the "total body of evidence". The weight of evidence truly establishes Drake's Cove as the nodal point of Nova Albion." Nimitz stated that he did "not doubt that in time the public will come to recognize the importance and value of this long-lost site, and will rank it with other National Historic Sites such as Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth." In 1956, Sir Alex A. Cumming, who was the curator of Buckland Abbey, Drake's past home and current museum, also recognised Drake's landing: "That little cove at the mouth of the Estero, sheltered from the wind, protected from the sea and hidden from hostile eyes, must have been a welcome sight, and I believe that Divine Providence guided him to it." In 1978, two time Pulitzer Prize winning historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote "...that Drakes Bay is correctly so named, that here he spent five weeks, repaired the "Golden Hind", sang songs for the Indians, and marched up country."  Aker conducted detailed studies reconstructing Drake's circumnavigating voyage, and advocated for the site at Point Reyes citing the fact that the official published account placed the colony at 38 degrees north. The geography of Drake's Cove, which lies along the coast of Marin County, has often been suggested as being similar to the cove described by Drake, including the white cliffs that look like the south coast of England and the specific configuration of the Cove. Responding to questions about the geographical fit of the cove, Aker maintained that criticisms—those based on the inconsistent configuration of the sandbars in the cove—were unfounded. He maintained the configuration of the sandbars in the cove was cyclic over the decades. Accordingly, Aker effectively answered the questions when he predicted that a spit of land that disappeared in 1956—one which closely resembles one on the Hondius map—would reappear. Aker's assertions were confirmed when the spit formed again in 2001.  Artefactual evidence emerged when nearly one hundred pieces of sixteenth-century Chinese porcelain wares were found in the vicinity of the Drake's Cove site which, according to Clarence Shangraw of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and archaeologist Edward Von der Porten, "must fairly be attributed to Francis Drake's "Golden Hind" visit of 1579." These ceramic samples, found at Point Reyes, are the earliest datable archaeological specimens of Chinese porcelains transported across the Pacific in Manila galleons. The artefacts were found by four different agencies beginning with the University of California, the Drake Navigators Guild, then the Santa Rosa Junior College, and finally San Francisco State College. These porcelain shards are the remains of porcelain dishes Drake took from a Spanish treasure ship in the Pacific. Off-loaded during the careening process and abandoned when Drake sailed from Point Reyes, the porcelain wares were the heaviest items of unknown value that he carried.  The porcelains were first identified by Shangraw and then later by Von der Porten. These researchers specifically distinguished the Drake porcelains, which were found in middens associated with the Coast Miwok, from those of Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño's "San Agustin", the 1595 Manila galleon shipwreck which rests at the floor of Drakes Bay. Unlike the Drake porcelains, shards from the "San Augustin" wreck had washed onto the Point Reyes shore from the sunken ship's broken structure. Shangraw and Von der Porten were able to differentiate the two cargoes by using such criteria as design, style, quality, and surface wear. The Drake porcelains have clean breaks and show no abrasion from the abrasive action of being tumbled in the surf. In contrast, the Cermeño shards display surf-tumbling, design change, and differences in style and quality—all which suggests two separate cargoes. Drake's purloined cargo included fine porcelain dishes from Jingdezhen, China, the industrial centre of finely crafted ceramics. However, the "San Agustin's" cargo carried poor quality porcelain wares which were made later by south coast entrepreneurs who were quickly capitalising on a rapidly developing, lucrative market. The "San Agustin" cargo included pieces from kilns which only began production in about 1590. All of these factors allowed the cargoes to be convincingly distinguished.

21st century identifications.

Examining the Drake landing site from a nautical perspective, Sir Simon Cassels, Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, Royal Navy, concluded in 2003 that "the weight of evidence... bears heavily on only one and the same site for careening the "Golden Hind": the estuary within what for more than 100 years has been named Drakes Bay."  Engaging in scientific research on the Drake and Cermeño sherds by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Dr. Marco Meniketti of San Jose State University tested ceramics from shipwrecks in Mexico, California, and Oregon as well as porcelains linked to Drake found near Point Reyes. Using varied shipwreck sources to provide strong controls to the research, Meniketti's findings support the conclusion that the Cermeño porcelains and the Drake ceramics are from two different ships. He states that these two cargoes can be distinguished based on differences in their key elements and believes these differences may represent changes in glaze chemistry, clay sources, or unique inclusions or tempering. Aker maintained that those porcelain sherds that washed onto shore must be attributed to Cermeño, and those with clean breaks and no water wear must be attributed to Drake.  Historian Dr. John Sugden, after reviewing numerous proposed Drake landing sites, observed, "No aspect of Drake's career has suffered more false leads than the site of Nova Albion." Sugden concludes that "the evidence overwhelmingly favours Drake's Estero in Drakes Bay" and that "it is high time the United States register of National Historic Landmarks officially recognized Drake's Estero as the Elizabethan anchorage."

Official recognitions.

The site of Drake's landing as officially recognised by the U.S. Department of the Interior and other agencies is Drake's Cove. The cove is located in Drakes Estero which trends northerly off Drakes Bay. The site lies in Marin County, California, near Point Reyes, just north of the Golden Gate, at. On 16 October 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed the nomination and on 17 October 2012, the Drakes Bay Historic and Archaeological District was formally announced as a new National Historic Landmark. No Drake anchorage has endured so much scrutiny nor seen the amount of field study and research as has this location.  This distinction endorses the district's artefactual evidence as of one of the earliest instances of interaction between native people and European explorers on the west coast of the current United States of America. This distinction is based on two historical encounters: Sir Francis Drake's 1579 California landing and "Golden Hind" anchorage and Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeño's landing and "San Agustin", his 1595 Manila galleon shipwreck.  That the Coast Miwok people's first contact with Europeans was with Sir Francis Drake is also recognised by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a federation of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people which has been officially sanctioned by the United States Congress.

Ideas suggesting alternative locations.

Considering that in excess of twenty other locations have been advanced as the site of Drake's port, more information has been printed regarding the location of New Albion than any other New World harbour that Drake sought. Describing their lack of seamanship experience and navigational knowledge, Davidson recognises a plethora of confusion, chiefly from armchair historians which include distinguished persons such as Samuel Johnson and Jules Verne.  One such location is Point San Quentin in San Francisco Bay, California. Robert H. Power (1926–1991), co-owner of the Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA, promoted the idea that Drake's New Albion was inside present day San Francisco Bay near Point San Quentin Among his arguments was that the Hondius Broadside map matched a part of the topography when parts were adjusted using a 2:1 correction.  In 2003 Canadian R. Samuel Bawlf suggested that Drake's landing was on present day Vancouver Island at Comox, British Columbia Bawlf supported the idea that Drake careened "Golden Hind" in Whale Cove, Oregon, and he pointed to a number of pieces of evidence in support of his view that the official published record of Drake's voyage was deliberately altered to suppress the true extent of his discoveries.

Speculation of a colony.

A counting discrepancy of "Golden Hind" crew members has led to speculation that Drake left behind men to form a colony. The idea that Drake formed a colony is, however, suspect—it is improbable that Drake would have left settlers at New Albion since he had not equipped the voyage for colonization. Drake was also undoubtedly aware that England would have trouble enforcing its claim by supporting a nascent colony in a land so remote as New Albion and would have likely avoided planting such an English outpost. Additionally, the only person specifically reported as left behind at New Albion was N. de Morena, a European ship pilot who was in ill health. Spanish sources state that he was left ashore, recovered his health, and eventually embarked on a successful four-year journey by walking to Mexico where he reported to authorities.  The counting discrepancy, a difference of at least 20 men, concerns the number of crew Drake commanded before his stay in Northern California as compared to crew tallies when he reached the Moluccas, an archipelago in the Banda Sea, Indonesia. Released Spanish prisoners stated that, off the coast of Central America, the ship's company was about 80 men. Sir Francis Drake's cousin and crew member, John Drake, claimed the number totaled 60 when the ship was at Ternate in the Moluccas. On Vesuvius Reef, "The World Encompassed" puts the number at 58. All notions of an embryo colony are primarily based on these numbers, and the reason for this discrepancy remains unknown.

Plate of Brass hoax.

In the 1900s, a hoax was perpetrated regarding the brass plate which Drake had posted at New Albion. English historian Richard Hakluyt wrote in detail of the distinctive original plate:  The original plate—which served as tangible notice of England's sovereignty over the land—has yet to be found. Consequently, the exact location of the monument erected by Drake is unknown.  In 1936, a counterfeit, known as Drake's Plate of Brass, came to public attention, and for decades its discovery was widely believed to be that of the original. While accepted as authentic by the University of California, Berkeley, doubts persisted. Eventually, in the late 1970s, the supposed original plate failed a battery of metallurgical tests, and scientists determined that the plate was a modern creation. In 2003, it was publicly revealed that the counterfeit plate was created as a practical joke among local historians. Spinning out of control, the joke unintentionally became a public hoax and embarrassment to those who had once confirmed its authenticity.

Localised legacy.

The localised legacy of Drake's New Albion claim is evident in several ways. The inspiration of various local namesakes is owed to the notion of this declaration. New Albion Brewing Company, located near Drake's 1579 landing, is the first United States microbrewery of the modern era, and Sir Francis Drake High School is located in San Anselmo, California, several miles southeast of Drake's landing. Also near Drake's landing is Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, an arterial road running east-west in Marin County, California.  The Drake legacy was promoted in an Arts and Crafts movement literary magazine, "The Golden Hind", published in Marin County in 1902.  From 1999 to 2006, "The Drake Pageant" was hosted annually by NPS Ranger Lanny Pinola at Drake's Beach. Many local groups including the Mother Lode Musical Theatre and Sir Francis Drake High School acted, and played and sang English and Coast Miwok music.  The Prayerbook Cross, also known as the Drake Cross, erected in 1894 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, was donated by the Church of England to commemorate the 1579 church services held by Drake's chaplain, claiming they were the first-ever held in English in the region.

New Albion, also known as Nova Albion, was the name of the continental area north of Mexico claimed by Sir Francis Drake for England when he landed on the North American west coast in 1579. This claim became the justification for English charters across America to the Atlantic coast and soon influenced further national expansion projects on the continent. Today, Drake's landing site is known as Point Reyes, California, a marine environment which is the setting of several small towns, ranches, and Point Reyes National Seashore.


Baseball career.

Atlanta Braves.

Schafer was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft out of Winter Haven High School. In April he was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after being accused of HGH use. He was the first player to be suspended by Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations.  Schafer was named the Braves' starting center fielder for the 2009 season on April 3, 2009, despite never having played at a higher level than Double-A. He made his major league debut on April 5, 2009, becoming the 99th player in Major League Baseball history to hit his first career home run in his first major league at bat, off Brett Myers of the Philadelphia Phillies. He finished the game 2 for 3, with the home run, a single, an intentional walk, and a strikeout.  On June 2, 2009, Schafer was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett Braves after batting only.204 with 63 strikeouts in 167 at-bats. He was called back up to the major league team on May 24, 2011.

Houston Astros.

On July 31, 2011, Schafer was traded with Juan Abreu, Paul Clemens, and Brett Oberholtzer to the Houston Astros in exchange for Michael Bourn.  On April 29, 2012, Schafer was ejected from a game by umpire Marvin Hudson after disputing an out call on an attempted steal.

Second stint with Braves.

On November 1, 2012, the Atlanta Braves reacquired Jordan Schafer from the Houston Astros on waivers. Schafer was placed on the disabled list on July 4, 2013 with a stress fracture in his ankle. He was designated for assignment by the Braves on August 1, 2014.

Minnesota Twins.

Schafer was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins on August 3, 2014. He was named the Twins' 2015 Opening Day center fielder. The team released him on June 18 to make room for an influx of outfield prospects.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Schafer signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 13, 2016. The Dodgers converted him to a pitcher and assigned him to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. He performed well enough that he was selected to participate in the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game. He pitched in 31 games for Tulsa, six for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers and another three for the Arizona League Dodgers. Overall, he was 1–1 with a 4.93 ERA in 49 innings.

St. Louis Cardinals.

On December 12, 2016, he signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He joined the team for spring training, during which, on March 14, 2017, it was announced that Schafer would undergo surgery on his left elbow. He missed the entire season.  Invited to spring training in 2018, he was among six cut to minor-league camp on March 4. He was released on March 12.

San Francisco Giants.

On April 3, 2018, Schafer signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He was released on June 9, 2018.

Jordan James Schafer (born September 4, 1986) is a former American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins as a center fielder.


"A River Runs Through It".

"A River Runs Through It" is a semi-autobiographical account of Maclean's relationship with his brother Paul and their upbringing in an early 20th-century Montana family in which "there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing." Pete Dexter, in a 1981 profile of Maclean in "Esquire" magazine, described the novella:  As he describes his brother's alcoholism and gambling addiction, Maclean also explores how both afflictions have always followed the history of his family, even back to their earliest origins among Scottish Gaelic-speaking Presbyterians on the Isle of Mull.  The story is noted for using detailed descriptions of fishing and the Montana landscape to engage with a number of profound metaphysical questions. In a review for the "Chicago Tribune", critic Alfred Kazin stated: "There are passages here of physical rapture in the presence of unsullied primitive America that are as beautiful as anything in Thoreau and Hemingway".

"Logging and Pimping and 'Your pal, Jim'".

"Logging and Pimping and 'Your pal, Jim'" tells the story of Maclean working as a logger for the Anaconda Company at a logging camp on the Blackfoot River during the summer of 1928, when he was 25 and in graduate school. At the end of the previous summer working at the camp (1927), Maclean had made an arrangement to work the next summer with the camp's best logger, Jim Grierson. Maclean describes how Grierson would work the logging season at a camp, then find a town with a nice Carnegie Public Library, get a library card, find a whore, preferably from the South, and spend the off-season reading, drinking, and having a relationship with the prostitute.

"USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky".

"USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky" tells of part of the summer of Maclean's seventeenth year, 1919. He spent that summer, as he had the previous two, working for the United States Forest Service, this time at Elk Summit, Idaho, west of Blodgett Canyon and approximately walking distance almost due west-northwest of Hamilton, Montana, near White Sand Creek, and north of East Fork Moose Creek.  Working for the Forest Service in a very remote part of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the Selway National Forest (now Clearwater National Forest), Maclean had to extinguish wildfires, build trails (with sledgehammer, chisel and dynamite), pack horses and mules, spend time alone on lookout duty at Grave Peak, and string telephone wire.  The Elk Summit Work Center is located at the junction of Horse Creek and Hoodoo Creek, north-northwest of Hoodoo Mountain and north-northeast of Hoodoo Lake, at (46.3265874, -114.6476053) and an elevation of.

Publishing history.

"A River Runs Through It and Other Stories" was first published by the University of Chicago Press in May 1976, and has since been published in several formats: as a collection of short stories, bearing a title starting with that of the novella, and as a standalone novella, usually as an art book with many photographs or with many illustrations such as woodcuts. For much of its publishing history it was purposely not advertised, its publicity depending on word of mouth and critical mention. Talk of the "never advertised" book generated a considerable amount of publicity.  A hardcover illustrated version issued in Chicago by the University of Chicago Press in 1989 with is still in print. The anthology of short stories with the novella, "A River Runs Through It and Other Stories", was issued as a paperback by the University of Chicago Press in 2003 with.

Pulitzer Prize.

In 1977, the Pulitzer Prize committee for Fiction (a.k.a. "fiction jury") recommended "A River Runs Through It" be awarded the prize for that year. The Pulitzer Prize Board, which has final say for awarding the prize, chose to override their recommendation and decided not to award for fiction that year.

Adaptations.

"A River Runs Through It".

In 1992, Robert Redford directed a film of the same name starring Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, and Emily Lloyd. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, with Philippe Rousselot winning for his cinematography. The film fueled a rise in the popularity of fly fishing for a number of years before the sport waned to previous levels.

"The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky".

"USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky" was adapted into a 1995 ABC television film titled "The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky", also known simply as "Hole in the Sky". The film was directed by John Kent Harrison, with the adaptation written by Robert Wayne, and stars Sam Elliott, Jerry O'Connell, Ricky Jay, and Molly Parker. It was filmed in British Columbia, Canada.

Others.

The following quote from the film version of "A River Runs Through It", which is not present in the novella, is displayed at the base of the statue of Michael Jordan at Chicago's United Center:

A River Runs Through It and Other Stories is a semi-autobiographical collection of three stories by American author Norman Maclean (1902–1990) published in 1976. It was the first work of fiction published by the University of Chicago Press.


Biography.

Charles E. Sexey was born in London in March 1818. His surname is unusual and the name can be traced mostly to the Hampshire/Dorset area of England. The most famous person bearing this surname is Hugh Sexey of Bruton, Somerset, an auditor for Queen Elizabeth I.

New Zealand.

In an account recorded on 17 April 1935 by Mr. J. Oliphant, Sexey's daughter Elizabeth Mainwaring stated as follows: "This is the story of Rihi Huanga daughter of Charles Sexey a Pākehā (European) who came to the Waikato in the early days, long before Morgan the Missionary. He was one of four stowaway boys, all Pakehas, who came up the Waikato from the coast. Porokora and Hakepa, two of the Waikato chiefs, adopted them."  Although Sexey's arrival in New Zealand has not been dated, the New Zealand Government Gazette of 1841 gave notice of a letter awaiting him at the post office. By that time, he had adopted a local name, Tiara Tikitini, and he was living in Te Awamutu. Te Awamutu was a pa, a settlement occupied by the Waikato people. They had fled there from Ngāpuhi at the time of the Matakitaki massacre in 1822 and were given shelter by the Ngati-Ngutu people and land at Otawhao. There a pa was built by Ngutu, son of Whaita of the Ngati-Turanga or Tainui people. This was the world of the young Charles Sexey, a pa occupied by the Waikato people, with the ministry of the Reverend Morgan, a devout Protestant and staunch anti-Catholic.  According to local custom Sexey married a chief’s daughter named Rihi (Rea) Tahuta and they had four children, Catherine (birth date unknown), Henry (born about 1843), Sarah (born 23 October 1846) and Elizabeth (born 26 March 1848). During the early years he is recorded as making his living as a ‘flour miller’. In 1847, a Mr. Hardington of the Victoria Hotel appointed Sexey as his agent and an Auckland street directory of 1848 shows him as having a shop in Shortland Street. However, on 6 June 1849 he left New Zealand forever, leaving behind his wife and four young children. He was off to make his fortune in the goldfields of California. He sailed on the brig "Fanny", which arrived in San Francisco on 29 August 1849, with Captain Francis D. Leathard in charge. On board were 42 passengers with children.

Mining prosperity.

Sexey set up as a trader in gold mining towns. Gold had been discovered on the Yuba River in June 1848 by Jonas Spect of Pennsylvania, and by the spring of 1850 there was a population of 1,000 with six stores, eight hotels and eight or ten saloons. He was listed on the census for 1860 at Long Bar, a Yuba County mining town on the main Yuba River above the confluence with Dry Creek, near Parks Bar. The diggings there gave out in 1864. He is also listed as having a store in a mining camp, Browns Valley.

Marysville.

By 1863 he was on his way to becoming a property developer as evidenced by a newspaper reference to "a building Charles Sexey will erect on D Street." This was the Tremont Block on the corner of 2nd Street and Maiden Lane. Etchings of the place show a massive construction that was to house the Appeal Steam Printing House, the Daily and Weekly Appeal, F. Buttleman & Co, Wholesale and Retail Licquor Dealers and W.L. Lawrence, Harness and Saddlery.  In 1864 at the Catholic Church in Marysville, Sexey married Jane Frances O’Donnell, born in Ardare, County Donegal, Ireland. She was aged 26 and a devout Catholic.  Sexey went on to become one of the seven trustees of the local woollen mill, a highly successful venture incorporated in the spring of 1867 with a capital stock of $50,000. By the time of the 1870 census he is noted as being a 46-year-old Englishman with a 32-year-old wife and a young Chinese cook. His assets are $80,000 with $20,000 in real estate. He is recorded as resident at 5th near the corner of Maiden Lane. There are many records during these years of his buying and selling property in Marysville, such as on 28 January 1870 at 2:20 PM, he purchased the famous ‘Ramirez Castle’ for $4,125 in gold coin. In spite of the high cost he and Jane never lived in the house. By 1870, it is said he "enjoyed a comfortable standard of living from the wise investments he chose." A lithograph shows his home as being built of brick, quite large and occupying a substantial corner site.  Charles Sexey was naturalised as an American citizen on 3 November 1876, with registration of same not taking place until June 1880.  The Marysville Appeal Directory of 1878-79 reported that Charles Sexey was a Levee Commissioner born in England who held of land. William Turner Ellis Jr, a levee commissioner appointed in 1900, wrote of an event when the dam broke and raging waters hurled towards Marysville. A telegram was sent to "the mayor or Charles Sexey" giving news of the imminent danger. Sexey and several others raced to the town to give warning. However, the flood was averted because the levee on the south bank of the Yuba River had broken, allowing water and debris to run through the township of Linda to the Feather River as other floods had done before.  First appointed a director in August 1881 and having served for at least three years as president, he resigned the Anti-Debris Association on 3 May 1887, saying that the duties of the office were "onerous" and his health had been greatly impaired. The Board refused to accept his resignation; nevertheless, he insisted and left on a year-long trip to Europe. On 24 July 1888, he caught a chill during a trip to Oban in Scotland and died.

Sexey estate.

For the purposes of probate the estate was appraised at $100,000 and included stock in the San Francisco Gas Light Company, California Insurance Company, California Electric Company, Spring Valley Water Company, and the Bank of California. In addition to this he was a stockholder in the Marysville Woollen Mill, and had both business and residential property in Marysville.  His widow Jane lived on for approximately eight years. During this time she spent time in San Francisco as a semi-permanent guest at Lick House, an expensive and fashionable hotel, and it is there she died in late August 1896. It was reported that the deceased had no known relatives and that her money was left to charitable institutions. On 10 December 1897 Charles, who had died in Scotland, and his wife Jane who had died in America were ‘laid to rest in one mound’ in Oakland, California according to Jane's wishes.  Charles Sexey’s four children in New Zealand never received a penny of their father’s wealth or ever derived any benefit from it.

Charles Eamer Sexey (March 1818 – 24 July 1888) was an English trader. He first visited New Zealand as a young man where he farmed and traded. In 1849 he travelled to San Francisco and took part in the Gold Rush as a trader in the mining camps. Eventually, having made his fortune out of the mining industry, he moved to Marysville, California, where he became a Levee Commissioner, landowner and President of the informal anti-mining activist group, the Anti-Debris Association, which was concerned with protecting landowner rights. He built some of the most important buildings in the city, one of which housed the "Appeal" newspaper, now known as the "Appeal-Democrat".


Early life.

Kate was born and raised in Hong Kong. Her father is a businessman and her mother is a homemaker.  Prior to winning her beauty queen title, Tsui had originally aspired to become a professional dancer. She had begun practicing ballet since the age of 4, but was forced to quit when she was 11, due to an injury on her right ankle. At the age of 14, she had begun to practice Jazz dance, Salsa, and Argentina Tango.  She was educated at Kiangsu-Chekiang College (Shatin) and eventually graduated from the University of California, Davis, majoring in Japanese and minoring in Spanish and Marketing. After completing her degree, she had returned to Hong Kong and worked as a translator and project coordinator. She had previously worked at an engineering firm.  In 2004, she entered the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant and was crowned the winner along with the titles of Miss Photogenic, Miss International Goodwill, and the Slimming Beauty Award. After the pageant, she had signed with TVB and began her career as an actress.

TV career.

2005–2006.

Following guest roles in The Zone and When Rules Turn Loose in 2005, Tsui made her official TV debut in TVB series, La Femme Desperado in 2006. Professional Taiwanese film critic, Mai Ruoyu, while critiquing Tsui's film performance, had said that Tsui had demonstrated strong charisma and had effectively held her own in La Femme Desperado, even while starring alongside veteran actresses, Sheren Tang and Melissa Ng. Her role as Ida in the series was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category, as well as the Favourite Female Character category, in the TVB Anniversary Awards 2006.

2007–2008.

In 2007, Tsui had three TVB series released, including The Brink of Law, On the First Beat, and Steps. The roles cumulatively earned her the Most Improved Female Artist award from the TVB Anniversary Awards 2007. Her role in Steps also earned her nominations in the Best Actress category, as well Favourite Female Character category for the same awards show.  In 2008, Tsui took on her first villain role in Moonlight Resonance, and the role had earned her a Top 5 position in the Best Supporting Actress category of the TVB Anniversary Awards 2008. On the other hand, her leading role in Speech of Silence, in which she played a deaf character, had earned her a Top 10 position in the Best Actress category of the aforementioned awards show.

2009–2011.

While Tsui's TV career quieted down during 2009 to 2010, due to her focus on her film career, 2011 proved to be fruitful for Tsui, with six of her TV dramas airing on TVB. Of the six roles, Paris Yiu from Lives of Omission had garnered the most attention. For the role, Tsui was awarded a My Favourite TVB Female TV Character award from the StarHub TVB Awards, nominations in the Best Actress and Favourite Female Character categories for the TVB Anniversary Awards 2011, as well as a nomination for Outstanding Actress in Television by the Ming Pao Anniversary Award.  Additionally, in 2011, with the high turnover rate in contracted TVB artists, TVB executive, Virginia Lok, appointed Tsui, Myolie Wu, Linda Chung, and Fala Chen, as the new Top 4 "Fa Dans" (a Cantonese term that is used for actresses with high popularity and status in TVB), with their predecessors being Flora Chan, Ada Choi, Kenix Kwok, and Jessica Hsuan.

2012–2014.

2012 is arguably Tsui's peak year in her TV career. In Highs and Lows, Tsui portrays an extremely tragic character that struggled with substance abuse, gang rape, and eventually, drug dealing. Tsui described her experience of filming this drama as "being on an emotional roller coaster", to the extent that she did not wish to speak to anyone or pick up the phone after work. The producer of the drama, Lam Chi Wah, referred to Tsui's role in Highs and Lows as the greatest breakthrough in her career and applauded her for setting down her image as a beauty pageant winner to dive into such a complex character in the drama. Film director, Patrick Kong, also noted in his column that Tsui's acting has greatly matured in Highs and Lows, particularly in her portrayal of emotional scenes.  The role at last earned her the Favourite Female Character award for the TVB Anniversary Awards 2012. Tsui was also nominated in the Best Actress category and was one of the top 5 finalists for the award. Aside from the aforementioned Hong Kong TVB-based awards show, Tsui also received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the Asian Television Awards, which is an awards show held in Singapore that recognizes production excellence in over 15 Asian countries.  In 2014, Tsui took part in a TVB-produced micro film, A Time of Love, which consists of four individual stories, each with a separate theme. Tsui starred opposite Taiwanese actors, James Wen and Chris Wang, in the "sorrow" themed story. After the airing of the micro film, TVB received 39 individual viewer statements that commended Tsui of her outstanding performance in the micro film. Column writer, Ko Leung, of Macao Daily, also stated Tsui portrayed her character in the micro film perfectly and that Tsui's acting is comparable to that of Bai Baihe in The Stolen Years.

2015.

In 2015, Tsui's management contract with TVB ended. However, Tsui said that she is still on very good terms with TVB, and TVB has settled job arrangements for her up until February 2016. Despite having received several offers, Tsui stated that she will not finalize any management contract agreements until she has completed her jewelry design courses.

Film career.

2007–2008.

Aside from her development in television acting, Tsui also experienced success in developing her career in the film industry. In 2007, through a series of auditions, Tsui was cast as the female lead, alongside A-list actors Tony Leung Ka-fai and Simon Yam, in Eye in the Sky, which is a film produced by Johnnie To and directed by Yau Nai-hoi. With her performance in the film,  Eye in the Sky was praised by professional Hong Kong film critic, Sek Kei, as the best Hong Kong film in the first half of 2007. The film was subsequently entered into the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Shanghai International Film Festival. Through her performance in the film, Tsui was widely acclaimed to be talented in acting and a rising actress worth looking out for.  With her performance in Eye in the Sky, Tsui earned the Best Newcomer – Gold Award from 2007, as well as Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer from the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards, held in 2008. The latter is a particularly outstanding achievement, for Tsui is, so far, the only individual to have received a Hong Kong Film Award, while being fully contracted by TVB, since Anita Yuen, who coincidentally is also a Miss Hong Kong pageant winner, won the same award back in 1993.  Professional Taiwanese film critic, Mai Ruoyu, had openly criticized the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, a film festival and awards ceremony held in Taiwan, for excluding Tsui and her performance in Eye in the Sky from a nomination in the Best New Performer category. He had further praised that Tsui has the most potential and talent in acting among all of TVB's Miss Hong Kong-turned-actresses, since Maggie Cheung.

2009–2011.

In 2009, Tsui starred in "I Corrupt All Cops", a Hong Kong crime drama, directed by Wong Jing, who was impressed with the success of her debut performance in "Eye in the Sky". Eason Chan, who plays Tsui's husband in the film, said Tsui's character is based on Shuang'er from Duke of The Deer and the Cauldron.  In 2010, Tsui starred in Wuxia film "14 Blades", alongside Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, and Wu Chun. The director of the film, Daniel Lee, said the casting of Tsui's character, Tuo Tuo, was the most troubling and extensive process of all. She eventually won the role while being backed by nearly half the votes of a public online poll held by Sina, in addition to being a Hong Kong Film Awards recipient.  In 2011, Tsui reprised her role as Paris Yiu Ho Ho from the TVB series "Lives of Omission" in its film sequel, "Turning Point 2", in which she starred opposite Francis Ng. Playing a character with a mental disorder in the film, Tsui said that collaborating with Ng was a valuable experience because Ng was extremely willing to teach and give her suggestions about her acting and performances. From working with Tsui, Ng had openly praised her for her acting potential.

2012–2014.

In 2013, Tsui took part in a comedy film, I Love Hong Kong 2013. It is also the first film that veteran actress, Veronica Yip, has taken part in since her retirement in 1996. In the film, Tsui plays the younger version of Yip's character. The producer of the film, Eric Tsang, specifically praised Tsui for providing the best performance out of the entire cast, referring to it as a "Best Actress performance".  In the same year, Tsui was also cast in Giddens Ko film, A Choo, alongside Ariel Lin and Kai Ko.  In 2014, Tsui had originally been cast in the film version of Triumph in the Skies, starring opposite Louis Koo. However, for unspecified reasons, Tsui was eventually pulled out of the film and replaced with Charmaine Sheh.

2015.

In 2015, Tsui was cast in thriller film, Knock Knock, Who's There?. The film is the first directorial effort by veteran actress, Carrie Ng. Tsui said that upon receiving the script, she had intended to reject the role because of the frightening content. However, Tsui eventually agreed to the role due to Ng's persistence and persuasion. With reference to collaborating with Tsui, Ng said that Tsui is a very professional and admirable actress.

Jewelry design career.

In December 2015, Tsui launched a jewelry line with K.S. Sze & Sons Ltd.. The collection is called "Rabbit-Duck Illusion". She indicated that her designs are inspired by Ludwig Wittgenstein's concept on the two different ways of seeing, using the ambiguous image of a "duckrabbit". She spoke of the concept behind her jewelry designs, "It's something that I like to remind myself of, that there are many situations in life that aren't worth splitting hairs over, and if I simply adjust the angle that I'm viewing things from, I can easily see a different perspective." In early 2016, Tsui found her own fine jewelry brand and online shop; katetsui.com

Further education.

In 2015-2016, Tsui completed her Jewelry Design course at GIA and Colored Gem Professional Level II at the Gübelin Academy.  In June 2019, Tsui finished her Master's Degree in Psychology at the University of Hong Kong.

Awards.

2016  2015  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2005  2004

External links.

!colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Miss Hong Kong !colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | TVB Anniversary Awards !colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Hong Kong Film Awards !colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Metro Radio Hit Music Awards!colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Commercial Radio Song Awards!colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation!colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards

Kate Tsui Tsz-shan is a former Hong Kong actress, who is best known for her work with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), and to an extent, for her film work and singing career. She also holds the Miss Hong Kong 2004 title. In December 2019, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry.


Career.

Early career.

Patterson's earliest works in animation were for Charles B. Mintz's Krazy Kat/Screen Gems studio, where he started as an inker in 1929. He remained at Mintz for ten years.

Walt Disney Studio.

In 1940, he moved to the Walt Disney Studio, where he animated on "Fantasia" and "Dumbo", as well as several Pluto shorts ("Bone Trouble" and "Pluto's Playmate"). By 1942, he mostly worked on Donald Duck shorts such as "Donald Gets Drafted".

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Patterson left Disney in 1943 to work at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio, his first short for them being "War Dogs". While he mostly worked in the studio's Hanna-Barbera unit, he occasionally provided animation for Tex Avery's unit (as well as Avery's substitute director Dick Lundy). He worked on several Academy Award-winning animation shorts: "Mouse Trouble" (1944), "Quiet Please!" (1945), "The Little Orphan" (1948), and "Johann Mouse" (1952).

Grantray-Lawrence Animation.

Patterson left MGM in 1954 to co-found (with former MGM colleague Grant Simmons) Grantray-Lawrence Animation, which he operated until 1967. GrantRay-Lawrence's early work was providing animation for television commercials, including the original "Winston Tastes Good" campaign. The company later moved on to producing such animated television series as "Spider-Man" and "The Marvel Superheroes."

Hanna-Barbera.

After GrantRay-Lawrence folded in 1967, Patterson joined his former bosses at Hanna-Barbera, where he worked as a supervising director on several animated television series. Patterson was eventually promoted to Vice President in charge of animation direction, a position he held until his retirement in 1993.

Awards and honors.

Patterson was awarded the 1999 Winsor McCay Award by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood for his lifetime of contributions to the animation field.

Death.

Patterson died of natural causes, in Encino, California on December 30, 2001, a month after his 90th birthday.

References in popular culture.

In the episode of "The Simpsons" entitled "Trash of the Titans" (1998), the commissioner of sanitation is named Ray Patterson and played by Steve Martin. In the episode of "Family Guy" entitled "Road to Rupert" (2007), Patterson became archive footage as Jerry's visible.

Raymond "Ray" Patterson (November 23, 1911 – December 30, 2001) was an American animator, producer, and director. Patterson was born in Hollywood, California, and was the younger brother of animator Don Patterson.


Early life.

Montagna was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1971. He was raised in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. In the mid 1980s, at the age of 15, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in the Bronx, New York. It is unclear when Montagna became active in the life of crime or when he became a made man in the Bonanno crime family. During the late 1990s, Montagna's name was overheard in wiretapped conversations between Boss Joseph "Big Joe" Massino and other reputed members of the Bonanno crime family.  He was a dual citizen of Italy and Canada.

Sal the Iron Worker.

Little is known of Montagna's personal life other than that he married Francesca Carcione and lived in a modest home in Elmont, Long Island with her and their three daughters. He started a small metalworking company called Matrix Steel Co., located at 50 Bogart Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn, managed by his wife. Matrix Steel manufactures structural and rail mill products, gray and ductile iron foundry crucibles, foundry converters, casting machines, sizing or embossing presses, foundry mold machines and foundry dies and tooling. It was around this time that Montagna was given the nickname "Sal the Iron Worker".

Acting capo.

In 2002, Montagna was arrested along with the crew of Patrick DeFilippo for illegal gambling and loansharking charges. He refused to answer questions before a grand jury and was charged with criminal contempt of court. He later pleaded guilty to the charge in 2003, and was placed on a five-year probation. In late 2003, US law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) listed Montagna as an "Acting Capo" and Caporegime of the Bonanno family on behalf of DeFilippo and the Sicilian faction based in the Bronx.

Acting boss.

After longtime Bonanno boss "Big Joe" Massino became an informant in 2004, Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano was recognized as the reputed Boss of the Bonanno crime family, only to discover that Massino would testify against Basciano as well. In 2006, as Basciano was facing jail time, he stated that he would promote the Sicilian faction of the old Bonanno crew back into the family's leadership, as Montagna was recognized as the reputed acting boss of the Bonanno crime family from 2006 until 2010, with Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora as underboss and Anthony Rabito as consigliere, making the administration of the Bonanno crime family once again complete. At that time, Montagna gained the nickname "Bambino Boss" due to his relatively young age, being 35. In 2008, Montagna was still the reputed acting boss of the Bonannos, controlling the entire Bronx faction of the family, as the "Daily News" linked Montagna to known Sicilian Bonanno official Baldassare "Baldo" Amato.  On April 6, 2009, Montagna was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as he left Matrix Steel. The 2003 criminal contempt conviction allowed U.S. authorities to strip him of his greencard and deport him to Canada; he was succeeded by Vincent Badalamenti as Bonanno family boss. According to mob writer Jerry Capeci, it was understood Montagna would have no standing or authority within Montreal's then-dominant Rizzuto crime family.

Montreal area activities.

After a slide in power of the Rizzuto family, Montagna started to show his influence. Months prior to the assassination of Nicolo Rizzuto, he had tried to convince the old patriarch to step down, and let younger blood rule.  In 2011, following the assassinations of several major Rizzuto mobsters starting in 2009, Montagna was identified as one of three major mobsters trying to fill the resulting power vacuum, if not take over the Montreal Mafia himself. He, along with Joe Di Maulo and his brother-in-law Raynald Desjardins attempted to take control of Montreal's mafia from the Rizzuto family.  Montagna and Desjardins had a falling out in 2011, later said to be over control of such aspects as loansharking and bookmaking in Montreal.

Death.

Police responded to gunshots in a suburban district of Ile aux Tresors on November 24, 2011, and found the body of Salvatore Montagna on the shore of Île Vaudry on the L'Assomption River, in the city of Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, on Montreal's North Shore region. Witnesses reported that Montagna jumped in the river in an attempt to escape his killers. Law enforcement believed that Montagna was brought to the house of convicted smuggler Jack Arthur Simpson, as his vehicle was later found parked on a Montreal street.  By June 2016, authorities were more specific as to how Montagna had died: "Montagna was shot three times inside Simpson's home... and ran outside in a futile attempt to escape. After crossing a narrow section of the Assomption River, Montagna collapsed and was later declared dead in a hospital".  The police investigation confirmed that Raynald Desjardin had taken part in the plot to murder Montagna, who, at the time, was suspected of trying to shake down Montreal-area construction companies, due to their alliance with the Rizzuto family. A number people were eventually arrested and charged, including Simpson and Desjardins. In 2016, Simpson, Vittorio Mirarchi, Calogero Milioto, Pietro Magistrale, Steven D'Addario, Steven Fracas and Felice Racaniello, all admitted to participating in the plot to kill Montagna and accepted plea deals except for Racaniello. In December 2016, Desjardins received a 14-year prison sentence, including time served.  "The killing [of Montagna] is thought to be tied to a turf war for control of the Montreal Mafia", the CBC reported in 2015.

In popular culture.

Montagna was portrayed by Joris Jarsky in the television drama series "Bad Blood", which debuted in fall 2017, surrounding the Rizzuto crime family.

Salvatore "Sal the Iron Worker" Montagna (; 1971 – November 24, 2011) was an Italian-Canadian crime boss and acting boss of the Bonanno crime family in New York City, as well as the Sicilian faction-leader of the Bronx section. He had later been associated with the Rizzuto crime family of Montreal.


Playing career.

Hibernian attempted to sign Robertson as a teenager but he asked for time to think the deal over; after Hibs refused, he signed for Heart of Midlothian along with school friend and fellow future internationalist Dave Bowman. Robertson eventually earned the moniker "The Hammer of Hibs" (in addition to his more standard nickname "Robbo") as he scored a record 27 goals in Edinburgh derby matches. In 1986, 20 league goals from Robertson helped Hearts to the brink of a league and cup double. A 27 league game unbeaten run ended with two Albert Kidd goals for Dundee in the last six minutes of the season allowing Celtic to overtake them to win the title. A week later, Hearts lost 3–0 to Aberdeen in the cup final. He scored 106 goals in 202 Hearts league games in this spell at Tynecastle Park.  He left Hearts to play for Newcastle United in April 1988. Robertson failed to score in 14 Newcastle competitive first team games and returned to Hearts in December of that year, and remained there for the next decade. In 1998 Hearts won the Scottish Cup with Robertson an unused substitute, earning him his only senior medal as a player. In this second spell at Hearts he scored at a much less prolific rate compared to his first spell, with this time 106 goals in 310 league games. After an earlier loan spell with Dundee scoring once in 4 league games, he left Tynecastle that summer. He joined Livingston as a player-coach, scoring 14 goals in 41 league games.  Robertson was also a Scottish international, playing on 16 occasions for Scotland. He made his debut against Romania in 1990, scoring in a 2–1 win. He trained with the national team before UEFA Euro 1992, but had to withdraw from the final squad due to injury.

Coaching career.

Inverness (first spell).

Whilst playing for Livingston, Robertson became involved the coaching side of the game. He left the club in season 2002–03 to become manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he guided the Highland team to the SPL for the first time in their history.

Hearts manager.

In November 2004 he returned to Hearts as head coach and despite two cup semi-finals and a good season in Europe as well as finishing fifth in the league, he was sacked in May 2005.

Ross County.

Robertson was appointed manager of Scottish First Division team Ross County in June 2005, but left by mutual consent after four months. He was then appointed manager of Livingston in February 2006, but was sacked in April 2007 after finishing sixth in the First Division.

Derry City.

Robertson was appointed by League of Ireland side Derry City in July 2007. He took club out of the relegation battle to a safe mid table position and also won the FAI League Cup and qualified for the Setanta Cup before being dismissed by the new chairman and board of directors at Derry, and replaced by former Derry boss Stephen Kenny. In 2009, Robertson coached strikers at Scottish Premier League clubs Dundee United and Kilmarnock. In March 2010, Robertson helped coach the strikers at Hearts on a non-contract basis.

East Fife.

Robertson was appointed manager of East Fife in October 2010. In September 2011, his East Fife side knocked SPL club Aberdeen out of the Scottish League Cup at Pittodrie Stadium. On 1 March 2012 it was announced that Robertson had left East Fife.

Inverness (second spell).

In June 2017, Robertson returned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle as manager. On 24 March 2018, the club won the Scottish Challenge Cup. In the 2018/19 season, Inverness qualified for the promotion playoffs but were beaten in the semi-finals by Dundee United. Dundee then made an approach for Robertson, but this was rejected by Inverness. Inverness finished second in the 2019–20 Scottish Championship, which was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In June 2020, his contract with Inverness was extended by two years.

John Grant Robertson (born 2 October 1964) is a Scottish professional football player and coach, currently in his second spell of managing Inverness Caledonian Thistle. His playing career included spells at Newcastle United, Dundee and Livingston, but he is best known for his two spells at Heart of Midlothian totalling about 18 years, where he is the club's all-time leading goalscorer. He has since managed Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Heart of Midlothian, Ross County, Livingston, Derry City and East Fife.


Geography.

Freeport is located at.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and (0.28%) is water.  Freeport is situated at the junction of Four Mile Creek and Lafayette Creek which empty out into LaGrange Bayou, which is connected to the Choctawhatchee Bay.

History.

Freeport is said to have been established "circa" 1830. The settlement was originally known as Genoa, later Four Mile Landing, and finally Freeport. It was supposedly named Freeport because there was no charge to use the dock ('free port') at the junction of Four Mile Creek and Lafayette Creek.  Historically, the economy of Freeport was largely dependent on the local timber industry through sawmills and logging, as well as the processing of turpentine.  After the introduction of the railroad in Defuniak Springs, Freeport lost its position as the economic powerhouse in Walton County. Today it has a sizeable population of people who serve at Eglin AFB.

Demographics.

2000 Census.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,190 people, 500 households, and 327 families living in the city. The population density was 110.4 people per square mile (42.6/km2). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 52.2/sq mi (20.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.77% White, 2.35% African American, 2.18% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.  There were 500 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90.  In the city, the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.  The median income for a household in the city was $25,735, and the median income for a family was $33,214. Males had a median income of $31,375 versus $19,219 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,114. About 18.0% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 Census.

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,787 people, 702 households, and 472 families living in the city. The population density was 110.4 people per square mile (42.6/km2). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 52.2/sq mi (20.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 2.9% African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.1% of the population.

Freeport is a city in Walton County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 1,787. The 2018 population estimate, also according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 2,472.


History.

The anthem came to existence in 1253, along with the canonization of Stanisław Szczepanowski on 8 September in Assisi; Stanisław died a martyr's death on 11 April 1079. The author of the anthem is the first Polish composer in music history known by name, the poet Vincent of Kielcz, OP, a Cracovian canon and chaplain of Bishop Iwo Odrowąż. For a long time he was mistakenly called Vincent of Kielce, and he wrote the hymn to commemorate the canonization of St Stanisław. It is assumed that the first performance of the piece took place on 8 May 1254, during the canonization ceremonies in Kraków.  Vincent wrote "The History of St. Stanislas" in Latin ("Dies adest celebris"). The poet decided to describe the life and accomplishments of Bishop Stanisław and the miracles which occurred after his death, which people had been speaking of for almost two centuries. The legend says that after the body of St. Stanisław was cut into pieces, the parts miraculously regrouped and formed the whole body again, while eagles circled in the sky. This was an allegory of the current state of Poland in those years: split into pieces but hoping to grow back together to form a country again. The uniting of Poland occurred a couple years after the canonization of St. Stanisław under the rule of King Władysław I the Elbow-high.  Within the "History", which contained sung elements, the part "Gaude, Mater Polonia" was after a time recognised as an independent piece. Throughout the years, it eventually became the royal anthem under the Piast Dynasty. The anthem became a part of Polish tradition and history, being sung during the coronation of the Polish monarch, royal marriages, as well as during celebrations of the 1683 victory of John III Sobieski in Vienna. Kings and military commanders gave thanks for their successes by singing the anthem after battle. The melody has been popular for almost 750 years, in which it has since become a key element of Polish culture. Today it is sung at most universities for the inauguration of the academic year as well as during important national holidays.

Music.

From a musical view, "Gaude, Mater Polonia" holds a unique melodic line that does not resemble any known in other Latin anthems. Its melody has a symmetrical structure, of an arc or bow type, making it a story-type melody that is characteristic of folk songs. It has an overjoyed but proud character. Some sources say that the inspiration for the melody was the anthem to Saint Dominic, "Gaude Mater Ecclesia" ("Rejoice, oh Mother Church"), having its roots with Italian Dominicans.  It is most commonly sung in the arrangement of Teofil Tomasz Klonowski (1805–1876). It is written for a four-voice, mixed choir, with the melody being captured in a four measure phrase. Although it is no longer the National anthem of Poland, it often accompanies ceremonies of national and religious importance.

"Gaude Mater Polonia" (Latin, "Rejoice, oh Mother Poland") was one of the most popular medieval Polish hymns, written in the 13th or the 14th century in memory of Saint Stanisław Szczepanowski, Bishop of Kraków. Polish knights used to sing it after victory in battle, presumably to one of the Gregorian melodies associated with the Eucharistic hymn "O Salutaris Hostia" on which it is based.


Plot.

The bumbling bachelor, Rex Nebular, has been hired by Colonel Stone to retrieve a vase that holds some sentimental value for 75,000 galactars. Rex agrees and sets out for the last known location of the vase.  Rex discovers that the planet where the vase was last known to reside has vanished, but his ship's sensors still detect a planetary mass and gravitational field, invisible to the naked eye. Suddenly a large warship decloaks behind him, and fires. His ship is badly damaged and is send crash landing on the strange planet, seemingly inhabited by women only.  Decades ago, a vicious war between the sexes erupted on the planet. In the end, the females wiped out the male population with bio-weapons. As a result, the females were no longer able to give birth, so they had no way of continuing their species. They invented a machine that would allow them to alter their sex for short periods of time. This machine became known as the Cosmic Gender Bender (or the Gender Bender for short).  The populace of the planet is divided into two classes, Keepers and (breeding) Stock. The Keepers are technologically advanced and reside underground, where they monitor the Stock. The Stock reside above ground and have a primitive culture. Their only purpose is to be impregnated by a gender bent Keeper in order to repopulate the planet.

Gameplay.

The game is divided into three difficulty levels. Higher difficulties have more puzzles and more death encounters. The left mouse button is used for selecting options and performing actions and the right mouse button is used to look at things (an alternative to selecting the 'look' option and selecting where). Some actions like sitting on a chair are automatically performed with just a left click. To get from one room to another the mouse pointer changes to a 'GO' icon where travel is possible. To get from one place to another, Rex will need to make use of teleporters correctly entering the code.  There are 10 different options, two of which are used to interact with people and seven of which are used to interact with objects. Items that are picked up have their own sub-options, most of which the protagonist Rex would not actually do (such as disassembling his binoculars). The player must also take care to prevent Rex getting killed which can happen in many places. Although Rex can die, the game has unlimited chances and the Rex's last safe position will be restored after death.  For the artwork, MicroProse customised their own image processing tools for 3D-rendering allowing for smooth animation with lossless quality and minimal disk space usage.

Reception.

"Computer Gaming World" opined that "Rex Nebular" had "impressive" sound, graphics, and rotoscoped animation. While the magazine called the plot "nothing new", it described the game as "a solid move into the adventure gaming genre [with] the same attention to detail that has won MicroProse raves in other products", and a good first attempt at competing with LucasArts and Sierra On-Line.

Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender is a point-and-click graphic adventure game developed and published by MicroProse in November of 1992. The game is the first graphical adventure game developed by MicroProse. It was developed using the "MicroProse Adventure Development" system, and made use of 256-colour graphics. Tommo purchased the rights to this game and digitally publishes it through its Retroism brand in 2015.


Career.

Jeff Hatrix was the co-founder, and clean vocalist of the Cleveland-based industrial metal band, Mushroomhead. He was also the singer of Cleveland-based thrash metal band called Hatrix, as well as fronting the band Purgatory in the mid 80s. Hatrix also plays guitar in the band Foose, under the stage name "Bob Keeshan." In June 2007, Hatrix launched his own clothing line. The designs are currently in the works, and more are expected to be released soon. In 2011, Hatrix began to pursue acting, and is starring in the upcoming movie "13th Sign" with ex-Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis.  On New Year's Day 2011, Hatrix announced that "The New Psychodalia" album will be "Coming Very Soon" Via his personal Facebook account. In June 2011, Jeffrey's solo band Nothing signed to Suburban noize records.  When asked about the upcoming record, Hatrix stated: "The whole album is about escaping reality. People choose a variety of ways to feel better in the face of the depression that can be caused by trying to survive in a world that can seem completely uncaring and smothering,” commented Nothing about the album. “‘The New Psychodalia’ is like a new safe hallucinogenic that makes all the ugliness in the world beautiful, with no harmful side effects. The entire album is kind of like a twisted, thought provoking view of the truths. It exposes the lies of the American dream that has really become more of a nightmare.”  On August 22, 2011, Hatrix debuted the first single from "The New Psychodalia" on RevolverMag.com  On March 7, 2018, Hatrix announced that he had left Mushroomhead.  Hatrix will be appearing in the upcoming horror film Dwellers which is being directed by Drew Fortier and produced by David Ellefson & Thom Hazaert via their newly formed production company Ellefson Films.

All bands and projects.

Here are all the bands or projects that Hatrix has been in:

Discography.

With White Heat  With Purgatory  With Mushroomhead  As Jeffrey Nothing

Jeffrey Nothing, also known as Jeff Hatrix (born Jeffrey Lewis Hetrick May 5, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the former clean vocalist for American alternative metal and industrial metal band Mushroomhead. His nickname comes from a scene in "Blue Velvet". With a wide variety of face paint and mask designs, Jeffrey's most known look is that of a butcher. However, he revealed a new look in the music video of "Your Soul Is Mine", showing a tan skin mask that somewhat resembles the infamous "Leatherface" from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies". Two of his masks were made from face-molds of famous actors Christopher Lloyd & Bela Lugosi. His most recent incarnation is that of a mask resembling human hands. He is signed as a solo artist to Suburban Noize Records.