The thirteenth season of South Park, an American animated television comedy series, originally aired in the United States on Comedy Central between March 11 and November 18, 2009. The season was headed by the series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who served as executive producers along with Anne Garefino. The season continued to focus on the exploits of protagonists Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny and Butters in the fictional Colorado mountain town of South Park.

The season was the first of three new seasons Parker and Stone agreed to produce for the network under a renewal deal. It consisted of fourteen 22-minute episodes, which aired in two groups of seven episodes separated by a six-month gap. Prior to the season's premiere, all South Park episodes were made available for free viewing on the official series website, South Park Studios. The 13th season was the first to be broadcast in high definition and in widescreen. Continuing their practice from previous seasons, Parker and Stone wrote and produced each episode within the week before its broadcast date.

The 13th season satirized such topics as the ACORN scandal, Japanese whaling, piracy in Somalia and the marketing tactics of The Walt Disney Company. Celebrities were spoofed throughout the season, including the Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Carlos Mencia, Paul Watson and Glenn Beck, all of whom publicly responded to their portrayals. The episode "Fishsticks" attracted particular media attention due to rapper Kanye West's declaration that its jokes about his arrogance were funny but hurt his feelings. "The F Word", in which the central characters attempt to change the definition of the word "fag", was especially controversial and prompted complaints from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. A broadcast of "Pinewood Derby" in Mexico was pulled, allegedly due to its depiction of President Felipe Calderón. "Fatbeard" was praised by the crew of , which was involved in the 2009 rescue of  from Somali pirates.

The 13th season received mixed reviews: some critics called it one of South Park's strongest seasons, while others claimed the series was starting to decline in quality. The season maintained the average Nielsen rating viewership for the series, around 3 million viewers per episode. The episode "Margaritaville", which satirized the global recession then affecting much of the industrialized world, won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).

Episodes

Production

Crew

Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were the executive producers of the 13th season of South Park, along with Anne Garefino. The season was distributed by Comedy Central, where the series has aired since its inception in 1997. Frank C. Agnone II served as supervising producer, while Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Vernon Chatman, Bruce Howell and Erica Rivinoja worked as producers. Parker also served as director and writer for the thirteenth season. Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader, who had previously worked as a consultant on the show, was credited as a producer starting in season 13. Hader said of his role with the show, "It's really Trey and Matt who kind of write everything, and you're just in the room kind of helping them. Basically, I'm friends with them and they're just nice enough to invite me into the room and let me goof around." Ryan Quincy served as director of animation during the 13th season.

Development
South Park was set to expire in 2008, but in August 2007 it was announced the series would be renewed for at least three more seasons, extending it through 2011. The new seasons, 13, 14 and 15, were each to consist of 14 episodes. Stone said of the announcement, "Three more years of South Park will give us the opportunity to offend that many more people." Parker and Stone also announced they would partner with Comedy Central to create a Los Angeles–based digital animation studio called South Park Digital Studios, which would serve as the center for all digital extensions of the South Park franchise and other animated projects.

Prior to the broadcast of the 13th season, Parker and Stone made every episode from the previous 12 seasons of South Park available for free viewing on the official series website, South Park Studios. New episodes from the 13th season were made available for one week after the original airdate, then removed for 30 days, after which they were returned to the site permanently. The episodes were uncensored and ad-supported, so no membership fees were required to view the shows. In a statement, Parker and Stone said, "We got really sick of having to download our own show illegally all the time. So we gave ourselves a legal alternative."

Two months before the 13th season premiered, South Park Studios announced that it would be the first season to be broadcast in high definition and presented in widescreen. Episodes from previous seasons were also converted to high definition. The season's episodes first aired in the United States on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Comedy Central, and were repeated Wednesdays at 12 a.m., Thursdays at 10 p.m. and 12 a.m., and Sundays at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., all EST. The first seven episodes of the season aired from March 11, 2009, premiering with "The Ring", and ended on April 22 with the mid-season finale "Fatbeard". The season returned with seven more episodes, resuming on October 7 with "Dead Celebrities", and ending on November 18 with the season finale, "Pee".

Writing
Continuing their practice from previous seasons, Parker and Stone wrote and produced each episode within the week before its broadcast date, although as in previous seasons, only Parker was listed as writer in the end credits. The duo conceived a list of episode ideas at the start of the season, but said they preferred to wait until the last minute to start working. Deadline pressure, they explained, energized them as if they were doing a live show. Stone said of the practice, "We kind of need that [chaos] to work. We're, like, 'We have to do something right now. It's going on the air in just a few minutes.'" For example, three days before the broadcast of the season premiere, "The Ring", the script was only half-finished and the animation was incomplete. Likewise, they did not start work on "Whale Whores" until five days before the episode aired, and the scripts for "Margaritaville" and "Pee" were both still being finished the day before the episodes were first broadcast. Parker and Stone said "Dead Celebrities" was a particularly challenging episode to make—they were up all night working on it the day before it aired, and did not finish until 11 a.m. on its broadcast date. Some critics have said that this short turnaround process helps South Park stay fresh and allows the show to address current events in a timely fashion.

The 13th season introduced the characters Katie and Katherine, stars of a television show, The Queef Sisters, that consists largely of vaginal flatulence jokes. They are female equivalents of long-time characters Terrance and Phillip, who are initially angered at the competition from Katie and Katherine, but end up romantically involved with them. Season 13 also marked the final appearance of long-time supporting character Gordon Stoltski, the third grade student who read the morning announcements for South Park Elementary. In the episode "Dances with Smurfs", Gordon is murdered while reading the announcements by a gunman who mistakes him for a truck driver who slept with his wife. Some critics found the scene disturbing and inappropriate in the light of recent school shootings in the United States. In the 2009 Blu-ray commentary for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Parker mentioned that they originally had an idea for the season to bring back Saddam Hussein, one of the show's most prominent antagonists during its early run and who last appeared in the 7th season finale "It's Christmas in Canada", but such plans didn't come to fruition.

The running gag of killing protagonist Kenny McCormick continued, though he was killed only three times during the season: in the episode "The Ring", he contracts syphilis after engaging in oral sex; in "W.T.F.", he is shot by a rocket launcher during a professional wrestling match; and in "Pee", he drowns in the urine that inundates the water park. During the final half of the season, aliens were hidden in images throughout the episodes as part of a contest offered by South Park Studios. Viewers able to find the alien in the episode could enter a contest, with the grand winner getting an animated version of himself or herself placed in the South Park opening credits starting the next season. In December 2009, Matthew Klinner was announced winner of the contest.

Cultural references
The 13th season also continued a South Park tradition of lampooning celebrities and timely issues. The episode "Margaritaville" satirized the global recession affecting much of the industrialized world at the time of the episode's broadcast. Parker and Stone said they had long planned to do an episode about the recession, but did not want to rush it because they wanted to make sure the script was strong. "Fatbeard" was based on real-life piracy in Somalia, which began receiving increasing international media attention in 2008; the Somali pirates are portrayed in a sympathetic light in the episode. "Dances with Smurfs" parodied the political commentary of Glenn Beck, a nationally syndicated radio show host and Fox News Channel political pundit. In the episode, Cartman makes outrageous claims with no basis in fact under the guise that he is simply asking rhetorical questions and seeking further discussion, a practice for which Beck has been criticized.

The episode "Whale Whores" addressed the controversies surrounding Japanese whaling, condemning not only the whalers who engaged in the practice, but shows like Whale Wars and activists like television celebrity Paul Watson who profit from fighting whaling. "Butters' Bottom Bitch" featured a scene in which Butters visits an ACORN office seeking benefits for prostitutes working for him, a reference to a similar 2009 scandal. The episode "Eat, Pray, Queef" demonstrated a double standard between rights of men and women by showing the South Park men, who have no problem with farting, strongly objecting to vaginal flatulence from women. The season finale, "Pee", satirized the disaster film genre, especially the movie 2012, which was released five days before the episode aired. Cartman interprets the large number of minorities at his favorite water park as a sign of the 2012 phenomenon, the prediction that cataclysmic events will occur in the year 2012, which is said to be the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar.

"The Ring" featured parodies of the pop-rock boy band Jonas Brothers and a foul-mouthed, greedy, physically violent Mickey Mouse, satirizing the Walt Disney Company's exploitation of family-friendly morals to disguise its profit motive. "The Coon" served as a parody of dark-toned comic book movies, like The Dark Knight (2008), The Spirit (2008) and Watchmen (2009). "Dead Celebrities" mocked numerous recently deceased celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and David Carradine, as well as the show Ghost Hunters. "Dances with Smurfs" mocked the 2009 James Cameron film Avatar, suggesting the plot borrows heavily from the film Dances with Wolves and comparing Avatar's blue aliens to the cartoon Smurfs. The episode "W.T.F." parodied professional wrestling in general and World Wrestling Entertainment in particular, highlighting the soap opera aspects of wrestling storylines and fans who believe the stories are real.

Music

Several original songs written by Parker and Stone were featured in the 13th season. The episode "Fatbeard" features a song, "Somalian Pirates, We", in which Cartman and his crew of pirates sing in the style of the Golden Age of Piracy. In response to fan requests, the full 90-second version of the song was made available for download on South Park Studios the week the episode aired. The season finale, "Pee", features a tune sung by Cartman, "(Too Many Minorities) Not My Water Park", in which he despairs over the large number of African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American patrons at his water park. Among other topics, Cartman expresses his anger about long lines full of minorities and park employees speaking Spanish rather than English. The episode "Eat, Pray, Queef" features "Queef Free", a charity single recorded by the men of South Park after they realize women should be free to queef just as men are free to fart. The song has been described as a parody of such celebrities-for-charity songs as "We Are The World".

The 13th season also featured or spoofed real-life songs and bands. The episode "Fishsticks", which prominently featured rapper Kanye West, includes a two-and-a-half minute song, "Gay Fish", that parodies West's "Heartless". "Gay Fish" satirizes the rapper's tendency to rely on audio processing to correct his mistakes in pitch. After "Fishsticks" aired, the full song was made available for download on South Park Studios. Several fake Jonas Brothers songs, with lyrics about the band members' physical attractiveness, were written for "The Ring". Some songs also emphasize the band's belief in sexual abstinence, with lyrics like, "Who needs sex and drugs and partying when we can cook a meal and sit around and watch Netflix?" The strongly erotic reactions of the young girls at their concert parody the frenzied female fan reactions the Jonas Brothers tend to elicit, even though their image projects wholesomeness and chastity. In the episode "Whale Wars", Cartman plays the video game Rock Band and performs a rendition, praised by critics, of the Lady Gaga song "Poker Face". On March 16, 2010, Rock Band developer Harmonix released this version of the song (along with the original version) as downloadable content for the game. In "W.T.F.", during an audition for the boys' professional wrestling league, one of the participants sings a Broadway-style number—parodying the song "Nothing" from A Chorus Line—about why he wants to be a wrestler.

Reception

Reviews

Ramsey Isler of IGN said South Park continued to be the "best animated comedy show on TV" during its 13th season. He said the season had some low points, particularly "Eat, Pray Queef", but that episodes like "The F Word" and "Dances with Smurfs" delivered significant social commentary. Isler described "Fishsticks" as a well-timed, hilarious episode that became a "phenomenon". Ben Flanagan of The Tuscaloosa News said the 13th season was one of the strongest yet for South Park, and that the series continued its tradition of entertainingly combining gross-out comedy with social satire. He wrote, "Whether they tackle the Jonas Brothers, Somali pirates, Kanye West, The Dark Knight, the current economic woes or just the frequent greed and foolishness of the human race, the show continues to solidify itself as not only the funniest show on TV, but the best."

Not all reviews of the season were positive. A.V. Club writer Sean O'Neal called it "one of the more hit-or-miss seasons of South Park in the show’s history", but said he was confident the series could do better and that it had yet not entered the "staggering animal begging to be put out of its misery stage of a show's lifetime". He described the season as a "weekly exercise in South Park schizophrenia", with some episodes faring better than others, although he said the first half of the season was generally strong. Josh Modell, also of the A.V. Club, agreed that the season was uneven, with several episodes "you kinda shrugged your shoulders at", but others like "Butters' Bottom Bitch" that he found "pretty damn funny".

"Fishsticks" particularly attracted media attention, and some critics declared it one of the best episodes of the season. In the episode, Jimmy writes a joke that becomes a national sensation, while Cartman tries to steal the credit. A fictionalized version of rapper Kanye West fails to understand the joke. He cannot admit that he does not get it because, in reference to a perceived ego problem on the part of the real West, he considers himself a genius. On September 13, 2009, during the MTV Video Music Awards, West interrupted an acceptance speech by country singer Taylor Swift, walking on stage, grabbing the microphone and praising her competitor Beyoncé Knowles. The incident received considerable press coverage and, as a result, Comedy Central rebroadcast "Fishsticks" for two straight hours on September 15.

"The F Word" was especially controversial, even by South Park standards. In the episode, the South Park boys attempt to change the official definition of the word "fag" from an anti-homosexual slur to a term describing loud and obnoxious Harley bikers. The uncensored word is voiced casually and very frequently throughout the episode. A.V. Club critic Genevieve Koski argued that "The F Word" advocates a philosophy that language is ever-changing and that taboo words receive their stigma purely due to social circumstance. Although some LGBT activists accepted that the episode had noble intentions, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation nevertheless objected to it, claiming that it still used "fag" as a means of insulting others and could be unintentionally harmful to the gay community. Some critics praised the episode and said it addressed an important and difficult issue, whereas others felt the satire was ineffective and unfunny.

Celebrity reactions

Some celebrities who were spoofed in 13th-season episodes responded to their portrayals. The day after "Fishsticks" aired, West wrote on his blog, "South Park murdered me last night and it's pretty damn funny. It hurts my feelings but what can you expect from South Park!" West thanked the South Park writers in his blog entry and acknowledged he has a problem with his ego, but said he was trying to change. The blog post drew substantial media attention; Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone said: "Many have tried, all have failed, but in the end it only took four animated children from Colorado to topple Kanye West's ego." Carlos Mencia, host of the Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia, was also spoofed in "Fishsticks". He is portrayed as knowingly stealing credit for a joke he did not write, which is a reference to accusations other comedians have made that Mencia plagiarizes jokes from other people. After the episode aired, Mencia wrote on his Twitter feed, "They just made fun of me on South Park. I thought it was hysterical. Catch the rerun."

In "The Coon", Butters suspects heavyset comedian Bruce Vilanch is Cartman's superhero alter ego based on his physique. After the episode aired, Vilanch sent a card to Parker and Stone thanking them for referring to him. Shortly after "Whale Whores" aired, Paul Watson said he was not offended by his portrayal in the episode, and was glad South Park brought the issue of dolphin and whale slaughter, and the Japanese role in it, to a large audience. After Billy Mays appeared in "Dead Celebrities", his son Billy Mays III said he loved the episode and found its portrayal of his father tasteful and respectful. Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, the stars of Ghost Hunters who were also mocked in "Dead Celebrities", said they loved the parody and encouraged fans to watch the show on their Twitter accounts. The day after "Dances with Smurfs" originally aired, Glenn Beck discussed the episode on his radio program and said he took the parody as a compliment. The Jonas Brothers' publicist specifically forbade reporters from asking the band members about their portrayal in "The Ring". Nevertheless, Nick Jonas said, "We are always open to make fun of ourselves."

"Pinewood Derby" drew considerable media attention in Mexico when it first aired due to its depiction of Mexican President Felipe Calderón. The episode was due to air in Spanish on MTV Latin America on February 8, 2010, but it was pulled a few hours before the scheduled time. Media reports indicated the decision stemmed from the episode's depiction of Calderón irritating the international community and frivolously spending alien-provided "space cash" on water parks. MTV said the South Park creators did not get a special permit needed to broadcast an image of Mexico's flag, but the explanation was met with skepticism by Mexican South Park fans, some of whom accused MTV of censorship.

"Fatbeard" included prominent references to the April 2009 hijacking of  by Somalian pirates. The crew of , the  guided-missile destroyer that participated in the rescue of Richard Phillips from Maersk Alabama, contacted the South Park creators to commend them on the episode. Ensign Jonathan Sieg, the Bainbridge public relations officer, wrote, "Pretty much everyone onboard our ship—from Captain to seaman—is a huge fan of South Park, and when we heard about the episode 'Fatbeard', as you can imagine, we were thrilled and very interested to watch."

Ratings
The 13th season of South Park generally maintained the average Nielsen rating viewership for the series, around 3 million viewers per episode. The season premiere, "The Ring", was seen in 3.41 million households. That would prove to be the largest individual viewership for any Comedy Central show that season, outperforming even a highly anticipated and publicized episode of The Daily Show involving Jon Stewart's ongoing feud with CNBC and pundit Jim Cramer. The 13th season of South Park received its lowest viewership in the episodes "Dances with Smurfs", seen in 1.47 million households; "W.T.F.", seen in 1.37 million households; and "The F Word", seen in 1.99 million households. However, "The F Word" was the highest rated show of the season among viewers between ages 18 and 49, and outperformed The Jay Leno Show, NBC's primetime talk show. The season finale, "Pee", was seen in 2.87 million households, which made it the most watched cable show of the night. Likewise, "The Coon", seen in 3.27 million households, was the most watched cable program among ages 18 to 49 the week it aired. Several episodes from the 13th season of South Park were the most watched Comedy Central shows the week they aired, including "Margaritaville" (2.77 million households), "Fatbeard" (2.59 million households), "Eat, Pray, Queef" (3 million households) and "Fishsticks" (3.1 million households). The latter two episodes were watched by over 1 million more viewers than the network's second-highest-rated shows in their respective weeks.

Awards
Parker and Stone decided to submit "Margaritaville" for an Emmy Award because they had received a large amount of positive feedback about the episode from adult viewers. Since most Emmy voters are older, they decided "Margaritaville" stood the best chance of winning. Stone joked, "If an Emmy voter were to watch this, they might think the show was smarter than it was, so they might be fooled into voting for us." "Margaritaville" ultimately won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for Programming Less Than One Hour against competing nominees Robot Chicken, The Simpsons and American Dad!. The victory marked the third consecutive Emmy win for South Park, which won in the same category in 2007 for the 10th season episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft", and won the award for Outstanding Animated Program for Programming One Hour or More for the 11th season episode "Imaginationland". Parker, Stone, Agnone, Stough, Beard, Howell, Rivinoja, Chatman, Hader and Quincy were all recipients of the Emmy.

In February 2010, "Whale Whores" was nominated for a Genesis Award in the television comedy category. The Genesis Awards honor news and entertainment media for outstanding work that raises public understanding of animal issues. "Whale Whores" ultimately lost to the Family Guy episode "Dog Gone."

Home media
The season was released by Paramount Home Entertainment in the United States on March 16, 2010, on both DVD (as a three-disc set) and Blu-ray (as a two-disc set). Each set included all 14 uncensored episodes in 1080p video and Dolby TrueHD sound, as well as brief audio commentaries by Parker and Stone for each episode, seven deleted scenes, codes for unlocking a character and challenge levels in South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! on Xbox Live Arcade, and a special mini-feature, Inside Xbox: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour of South Park Studios, describing the show's animation process.

See also

South Park (Park County, Colorado)
South Park City

References

External links

 South Park Studios – official website with streaming video of full episodes
 The Comedy Network – full episodes for Canada

2009 American television seasons


Paul Grafer (born August 7, 1974) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper who spent six seasons in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids and MetroStars.  He was the goalkeeper coach for the United States U-17 men's national soccer team between 2007 and 2012. He has been a FIFA Instructor and assistant coach with Chivas USA of Major League Soccer.  He has also been professionally affiliated with Athletes Helping Athletes and SAFE, organizations that provide lifeskills development and training to student athletes. Paul's current professional role is Technical Director for Major League Soccer.

Youth
Grafer graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1992 where he was a Parade All-American.  He then attended The College of William & Mary where he played soccer from 1993 to 1995.  He was an All-American his senior year and gained his degree in kinesiology in 1997.  In 2007, William and Mary inducted Grafer into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids selected Grafer in the 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft.  The Rapids sent him on loan to the Long Island Rough Riders of the USISL for the 1996 season.  In 1997, made Rapids first team, playing thirteen games, gaining only one win, in 1997 and 1998.  On September 30, 1998, he broke his left wrist in practice.  The Rapids waived him on October 30, 1998.  He signed with the Charleston Battery on January 28, 1999, but suffered a major neck injury during the pre-season and lost the entire year.  Instead, he spent the entire year coaching with the Williamsburg Soccer Club.  In 2000, he signed with the Long Island Rough Riders, having an excellent season.  That resulted in him being called up to the MetroStars in 2000 after starter Mike Ammann was injured and backup Tim Howard was playing in the Olympics.  In one of the odder moments in MLS history, the league held a draft consisting of only one player, Paul Grafer, after he signed late with the league.  The San Jose Earthquakes selected Grafer, then traded him back to the MetroStars for Ramiro Corrales on February 23, 2001.  He retired following the 2003 season.  In 2005, he returned with the RoughRiders. He played nineteen games and was named second team All League.

MetroStars folklore
Throughout his career with the MetroStars, he became known for his long, black pants, leading to the chant, "They’re long, they’re black, they’re halfway up his crack – they're Grafer's pants – they're Grafer's pants!"

Post playing career
He earned an MBA and taught at Adelphi University while working as a Program Coordinator for Athletes Helping Athletes, a New York-based non-profit that uses the power and appeal of sport to address social issues.  In 2007, he became the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. U-17 national team. He left USSF in 2012 and became a FIFA Instructor for their Goalkeeping Programme, while helping develop SAFE LLC., a financial literacy and career development company for college student-athletes.  In 2014, he joined Chivas USA of Major League Soccer as an assistant coach. In 2015, he joined MLS' League Office in the Competition Department.

References

External links
 MetroStars Player Profile
 MLS Stats

1974 births
Living people
American soccer coaches
American men's soccer players
William & Mary Tribe men's soccer players
Colorado Rapids players
Men's association football goalkeepers
Long Island Rough Riders players
New York Red Bulls players
USL Second Division players
USISL Select League players
Major League Soccer players
A-League (1995–2004) players
Colorado Rapids draft picks
Charleston Battery players
Chivas USA non-playing staff
People from Port Washington, New York
Soccer players from Nassau County, New York


The Get Loose Tour was the third concert tour by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. The tour showcased material from her third studio album, Loose (2006). A live album, Loose: The Concert, originated from the April 4, 2007, concert in Toronto.

Background
After Loose garnered considerable sales and attention, Nelly Furtado announced a tour of Europe and North America.  Nelly stated:

The set consisted of a white stage, a multi-leveled band setup with LCD screens, two parallel multi-story white palm trees, a large LED screen, and a white stage curtain.

Furtado was backed by four dancers and her six-piece band, including Toronto rapper Saukrates on percussion who also fills in for Loose producer Timbaland on some of the tracks from Loose.

The Get Loose Tour started in North America with seven shows, followed by Europe with 23 shows over five weeks. The Canadian leg began shortly afterward in Victoria, B.C. (Furtado's birthplace) where the mayor proclaimed March 21 as Nelly Furtado Day.  After the first leg was completed plans were announced for Furtado to visit the United States.

The second leg in the United States consisted of a more budget production.  The LED screen was replaced by a light-up disco ball, the white curtains were replaced by a large LED sheet, and most notably the palm trees vanished.  Furtado also wore her hair differently for these shows and changed her costumes.

The third leg consisted of a number of open air festivals during the summer season in Europe.  Costumes for this leg of the tour were provided by a famous French designer.

Setlist
"Say It Right"
"Turn off the Light"
"Powerless (Say What You Want)"
"Do It" / "Wait for You"
"Showtime"
"Crazy"
"In God's Hands"
"Try"
"All Good Things (Come to an End)"
"Give it to Me"
"I'm like a Bird"
"Glow" / "Heart of Glass"
"Força"
"Promiscuous"
"Party" / "No Hay Igual"
"Maneater"

Shows

Notes

References

Nelly Furtado concert tours
2007 concert tours
2008 concert tours
2006 concert tours
Concert tours of Russia


Clathrus columnatus, commonly known as the column stinkhorn, is a saprobic species of basidiomycete fungus in the family Phallaceae. It has a widespread distribution, and has been found in Africa, Australasia, and the Americas. It may have been introduced to North America with exotic plants. Similar to other stinkhorn fungi, the fruiting body, known as the receptaculum, starts out as a subterranean "egg" form. As the fungus develops, the receptaculum expands and erupts out of the protective volva, ultimately developing into mature structures characterized by two to five long vertical orange or red spongy columns, joined at the apex. The fully grown receptaculum reaches heights of  tall. The inside surfaces of the columns are covered with a fetid olive-brown spore-containing slime, which attracts flies and other insects that help disseminate the spores. Although once considered undesirable, the fungus is listed as edible. It is found commonly in mulch.

Taxonomy and naming
The species was first named by the French botanist Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc in 1811. Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck transferred it into Laternea in 1858, a genus intended to accommodate those Clathrus-like species with arms arranged in columns rather than a network; in its current meaning, Laternea includes species that have gleba suspended below the arch of the receptaculum by trabeculae (columns that extend from the peridium to the central core of the receptaculum). Other genera to which the species has been transferred include Linderia by Gordon Herriot Cunningham in 1932, Colonnaria by Eduard Fischer in 1933, and Linderiella by Cunningham in 1942. Colonnaria, Linderia and Linderiella are now considered obsolete genera, as they have been subsumed into Clathrus.

The specific epithet columnatus is Latin, meaning "supported by pillars". The mushroom is commonly known as the "column stinkhorn". Curtis Gates Lloyd wrote in 1906 "in Florida, it is known to the natives as "Dead Men's Fingers." however in recent times Dead Men's Fingers usually refers to Xylaria polymorpha.

Description

The fruit body, or receptaculum, of Clathrus columnatus consists of two to five (usually four) spongy vertical columns, which are separate where they arise from the volva, but joined at the top in an arch. The columns are joined in pairs; the opposite pairs are joined by a short and broad arch similar in structure to the columns. The columns, which are narrower at the base than above, are reddish-orange above and yellowish-pink below. Young specimens have the fruit body compressed into the small interior space of an "egg", which consists of a peridium that is surrounded by a gelatinous layer that encloses the compressed fruiting body. The egg, usually gray or grayish-brown, typically reaches diameters of  before the columns grow. The volva remains at the base of the fruit body as a thick, loose, whitish sack. The mycelial cords found at the base of the volva are made of two types of tissues: a central bundle of fine hyphae that extend in a longitudinal direction, and an outer cortical layer of coarser hyphae that form a loose but highly interwoven structure. Full-grown columns can extend to  above the ground, a location that optimizes spore dispersal. The fetid-smelling gleba, the spore-bearing mass, is smeared on the upper inner surface of the columns.

The spores are elliptical, smooth, and have dimensions of 3.5–5 by 2–2.5 µm. They have thin walls, and are covered by a transparent envelope.

Edibility
The words of William Gilson Farlow, published in 1890, serve as a warning to those who might be inclined to consume Clathrus columnatus: "The odor of fully grown specimens of the order Phalloidea is so repulsive that the question as to their poisonous character when eaten by men has often been the subject of experiment." Farlow described two cases of poisoning, one involving a young girl "who ate a small piece of the fungus, and was seized with violent convulsions followed by loss of speech and a deep sleep lasting 52 hours"; the other case involved hogs that ate the fungus found in patches in oak woods, and died 12–15 hours later. Despite this early report of poisoning, Orson K. Miller, Jr. notes that the taste of the egg is mild, and lists the species as edible.

Similar species

Pseudocolus fusiformis, Clathrus bicolumnatus, and C. ruber have similarities to Clathrus columnatus. The lattice stinkhorn, C. ruber, has a larger, more globular, lattice-like receptacle. The "stinky squid", P. fusiformis, has arms that are attached at the bases, and free at the top. It grows on rotting logs and chip-mulched soil, in contrast to C. columnatus, which grows on sandy soil. C. bicolumnatus has a smaller stature (up to 9 cm tall), and only has two columns.

Development
The American botanist Edward Angus Burt published a detailed description of the development of C. columnatus in 1896. He found that the egg consists of cortical and medullary systems continued upward from the mycelial strand in the earliest stage. The cortical layer gives rise to the outer layer of the volva, the cortical plates and the pseudoparenchyma (thin-walled, usually angular, randomly arranged cells that are tightly packed) of the receptaculum. The medullary portion gives rise to the gelatinous masses of the gelatinous layer of the volva, to the gleba, and to the gelatinous tissue of the chambers of the receptaculum. The elongation of the receptacle begins at the base and after its elongation, the gleba hangs suspended from the arch of the receptaculum by medullary tissue constituting the chamber masses of the receptacle.

Ecology, habitat and distribution

Like all Phallaceae species, C. columnatus is saprobic, and uses extracellular digestion to acquire nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter, like wood. As a consequence of its predilection for dead wood, the fungus is often associated with disturbed habitats. It can often be found growing in and around gardens and residences where areas of cultivation or landscaping have resulted in accumulations of mulch, wood chips or other cellulose-rich materials. The mycelial cords can be traced to buried roots, stumps, and other woody material. The species grows in sandy soil, near woody debris, in lawns, gardens, and cultivated soil. Fruit bodies appear singly, or scattered, and can arise in the summer, autumn, and early winter, especially after wet weather.

Like other member of the family Phallaceae, the mature fungus attracts insects with its smell to help disperse its spores. Psilopyga fasciata, a stinkhorn beetle of the sap beetle family, has been recorded feeding on the gleba of Mexican specimens.

In 1980 Donald Malcolm Dring summarized the known geographical distribution of C. columnatus; the fungus has been collected in Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, New Guinea, Africa, and North and South America; According to Australian mycologist Tom May, the Australian distribution is "presumably erroneous", as it is based on only a single collection in 1948. In Central America, it has been collected from Costa Rica. It is also found in China, in Jiangsu, Fujian, and Guangdong. The North American distribution extends south to Mexico, and north to New York; it is also in Hawaii. The fungus is less common in the southeastern and southern United States. It is thought to have been introduced to North America, as it typically appear in landscaped areas or other locations where exotic plants have been established.

References

Phallales
Fungi described in 1811
Fungi of Australia
Fungi native to Australia
Fungi of Central America
Fungi of New Zealand
Fungi of North America
Fungi of South America
Fungi of New Guinea
Fungi of Oceania
Taxa named by Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc
Fungi without expected TNC conservation status


Suffix beginning with P

Empire Pacific
Empire Pacific was a 984-GRT (1,200 DWT) coaster which was built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Company Ltd. Sold in 1949 to the Straits Steamship Co Ltd, Singapore and renamed Buloh. Sold in 1957 to Tai Ping Steamship Navigation Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Tainamshan. Ran aground on 26 November 1962 at Swatow, China and subsequently sank.

Empire Pagoda
Empire Pagoda was a 6,854-GRT cargo ship which was built by Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Laid down as Empire Pagoda on 6 December 1941. Completed by the Japanese as Gyoten Maru. Torpedoed on 17 February 1944 and sunk by  west of Truk ().

Empire Pakeha
Empire Pakeha was an 8,115-GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. Launched in 1910 as 10,481-GRT Pakeha for Shaw Savill Line. Acquired by the Admiralty in September 1939 and rebuilt as a dummy battleship representing . Used as a decoy in the Firth of Forth. Converted in June 1941 to a cargo ship, now 8,115 GRT. To MoWT and renamed Empire Pakeha. To Shaw Savill Lines in 1946 and renamed Pakeha. Chartered by the Ministry of Food and used as a meat storage ship in the River Thames. Scrapped in May 1950 at Briton Ferry, West Glamorgan.

Empire Palace
Empire Palace was a 977-GRT coaster which was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched in June 1945 and completed in September 1945. Sold in 1949 to Sarawak Steamship Co, Kuching and renamed Belaga. Sold in 1958 to Devidas Gulab, Hong Kong and renamed Kishni. Sold in 1964 to Avon Shipping & Trading Co, Hong Kong and renamed Ocean King. Scrapped in October 1971 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Empire Paladin
Empire Paladin was an 8,141-GRT tanker which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 21 April 1944 and completed in August 1944. To Royal Fleet Auxiliary in December 1946 and renamed RFA Wave Commander. Arrived on 9 May 1959 at Inverkeithing, Fife.

Empire Palm
Empire Palm was a 250-GRT tug which was built by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling, West Dunbartonshire. Launched on 20 January 1942 and completed in April 1942. Sold in 1946 to Ardrossan Harbour Co, Ardrossan, Ayrshire and renamed Seaway. Scrapped in July 1969 at Dalmuir, Ayrshire.

Empire Pam
Empire Pam was a 259-GRT tug which was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley. Launched on 24 August 1945 and completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Société Rem. et D'Assistance, Casablanca and renamed El Hank. Sold in 1947 to Société Cher de Remorquage D'Assistance, Casablanca and renamed El Baraka.

Empire Pampas
Empire Pampas was a 974-GRT coaster which was built by Smiths Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough. Launched on 11 June 1945 and completed in October 1945. Sold in 1946 to Elder Dempster Lines and renamed Warri. Ran aground on 12 June 1956 at Iwerekun,  east of Lagos, Nigeria. Abandoned, declared a total loss.

Empire Panther
Empire Panther was a 5,600-GRT cargo ship which was built by Columbia River Shipbuilding Corp, Portland, Oregon. Completed in May 1919 as West Quechee for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). To Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc in 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Panther. Struck a mine on 1 January 1943 and sank  off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire.

Empire Paragon
Empire Paragon was a 9,892-GRT cargo liner which was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 25 February 1944 and completed in August 1944. Sold in 1946 to Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co Ltd and renamed Pinjarra. Sold in 1962 to International Export Lines, Hong Kong and renamed Hongkong Importer. Operated under the management of C Y Tung, Hong Kong. Arrive on 26 December 1969 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.

Empire Park
 was a 974-GRT coaster which was built by Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland. Launched on 20 November 1945 and completed in April 1946. Sold in 1952 to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benveg. Sold in 1962 to Ta Hing Co (Hong Kong) Ltd and renamed Grandhing. Sold in 1963 to China Pacific Navigation Co, Panama. Sold in 1964 to Compagnia de Navigazione Abeto, Panama and renamed Sumbawa. Sold in 1968 to Asia Maritime Co, Liberia and renamed Amarina. Chartered at a later date to Fushing Navigation co, Hong Kong. Captured in April 1970 and confiscated by South Vietnam. To Vietnam Ocean Shipping Co, South Vietnam in 1975.

Empire Parkeston
 Empire Parkeston was a 5,556-GRT troopship that was built by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead. Launched in 1930 as Prince Henry for Canadian National Steamships. Sold in 1937 to Clark Steamship Co, Quebec. Refitted and renamed North Star. Purchased in 1939 by the Royal Canadian Navy and converted by Burrard Dry Dock co, Vancouver to auxiliary cruiser HMCS Prince Henry. Converted in 1944 into a landing ship, infantry. After a distinguished wartime career she was transferred to the British Ministry of Transport (MoT) for $500,000 in 1946 and renamed Empire Parkeston. Used as a troopship between Harwich and the Hook of Holland. Scrapped in February 1962 in Spezia, Italy.

Empire Parsons
Empire Parsons was a 6,742-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 23 August 1941 and completed in October 1941. Ran aground on 12 January 1942 at Stroma, Pentland Firth (). Broke in three, abandoned as a total loss.

Empire Passmore
Empire Passmore was a 974-GRT (1,200 DWT) coaster which was built by Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blyth. Launched on 6 October 1945 and completed in February 1946. Struck a mine on 15 April 1947 near the Horsburgh Lighthouse, Singapore and severely damaged. Tower to Singapore by Anhui and repaired. Sold in 1949 to Straits Steamship Co Ltd, Singapore and renamed Beluru. Sold in 1954 to Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd., India and renamed Jalabala. Scrapped in June 1964 at Bombay.

Empire Pat
Empire Pat was a 275-GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby. Launched on 30 May 1942 and completed in August 1942. Chartered in 1946 to British Tanker Co Ltd, Bandar-e Mashur, Iran. Sold in 1949 to Kuwait Oil Co Ltd and renamed Himma. Sold in 1951 to J Fenwick & Co Ltd, Sydney. Sold in 1972 to Pimco Shipping Co, Papua New Guinea then in 1974 to W J Byers, Papua New Guinea. Scuttled in 1977 off New South Wales as an artificial reef.

Empire Path
Empire Path was a 6,140-GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhed & Sons Ltd, South Shields. Launched on 5 July 1943 and completed in September 1943. Struck a mine on 24 December 1944 off Dunkirk, France (). Beached, but her back was broken, declared a total loss.

Empire Patrai
Empire Patrai was a 2,754-GRT cargo ship which was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg. Launched in 1943, seized in May 1945 in an incomplete state. Completed in 1947 as Empire Towy for MoT, Sold to Fenton Steamship Co subject to condemnation by Prize Court. Renamed Empire Patrai in 1950. Sold in 1953 to Hellenic Lines, Greece and renamed Patrai. Sold in 1981 to Celika Navigation Co, Cyprus. Sold in 1983 to Crystal Breese Corp. Operated under the management of Roussos Bros, Greece. Scrapped in 1984 in Perama, Greece.

Empire Patriot
Empire Patriot was a 2,983-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in August 1942. Sold in 1946 to The South Georgia Co Ltd and renamed Struan. Operated under the management of Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd, Leith. Sold in 1960 to Marconato Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Zannis. Sold in 1967 to V Roussos, Greece and renamed Orontes. Sold in 1970 to Marconato Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama. Operated under the management of G D Partikios Ltd, Greece. Scrapped in February 1974 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Empire Patrol
Empire Patrol was a 3,338-GRT cargo ship which was built by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste. Complete in 1938 as Rodi for Società Anonima Adriatica Navigazione, Trieste. Seized on 10 June 1940 at Malta after being intercepted by the British Contraband Control before Italy entered the war. To MoWT and renamed Empire Patrol. On 29 September 1945, she sailed from Port Said, Egypt bound for Kastelorizo, Greece with 496 Greek refugees. Caught fire when  from Port Said and abandoned. Taken into tow but capsized and sank on 1 October when still  from Port Said.

Empire Pattern
Empire Pattern was a 974-GRT coaster which was built by Smiths Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough. Launched on 27 April 1945 and completed in August 1945. Sold in 1948 to Elder Dempster Lines and renamed Forcados. Sold in 1962 to S L Anghelatos, Greece and renamed Barbalias. Sold in 1966 to G Tzortzis & C Sykias, Greece and renamed Agia Varvara. On 12 December 1966, she caught fire off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, capsized and sank.

Empire Paul
Empire Paul was a 242-GRT tug which was built by J S Watson Ltd, Gainsborough. Launched on 7 July 1944 and completed in September 1944. Sold in 1946 to R & J H Rea Ltd. and renamed Queensgarth. Sold in 1949 to France, Fenwick Tyne & West Co Ltd and renamed Beamish.

On 18 October 1949, she was towing aircraft carrier  in company with tugs Hendon and George V from Jarrow to Rosyth when Albion was in collision with   from the Longstone Lighthouse. Maystone sank, Albion had a  hole in her stern and started to sink. The three tugs attempted to beach her near St Abb's Head but were hampered when Hector became disabled when a tow rope wrapped around her propeller. Tug  was sent from Rosyth to assist and destroyer  arrived and took Hector on tow until her crew managed to clear the propeller. Albion was successfully berthed at Rosyth with  of water in her engine room.

Beamish was chartered to Red Funnel for a period in 1951. Beamish represented the British tug fleets at the Coronation Review at Spithead in 1953. Fitted with a new diesel engine in 1964. Sold in June 1970 to R Mellenger, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and renamed R Mellenger. Sold in November 1970 to Industrial Insulators Ltd, Canada and renamed Beamish. Sold in 1973 to Western Engineering Service Ltd, Canada and renamed Thunder Cape. Sold in 1986 to Great Lakes Marine Contracting Co, Canada.

Empire Pavilion
Empire Pavilion was a 974-GRT (1,200 DWT) coaster which was built by Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blyth. Launched on 9 August 1945 and completed in November 1945. Sold in 1946 to Elder Dempster Lines Ltd and renamed Sapele. Sold in 1963 to Bergens Mekaniske Verksted, Bergen, Norway and then sold again later that year to Ocean Industries Ltd, Pakistan. Converted to a factory ship and renamed Mahia. Sold in 1969 to Pan Islamic Steamship Co, Pakistan and renamed Safina-E-Armer. Scrapped in October 1963 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Empire Peacemaker
 Empire Peacemaker  was a 1,333-GRT convoy rescue ship which was built by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd, Paisley. Launched on 8 September 1944 as HMS Scarborough Castle for the Royal Navy. Completed in January 1945 as Empire Peacemaker for MoWT. Laid up at Falmouth c. 1954. Sold to Belgian buyer in July 1955 and towed to Antwerp for an intended refit for service in the Belgian Congo. The scheme did not proceed and the ship was scrapped in December 1955 at Ghent.

Empire Peacock
Empire Peacock was a 6,098-GRT cargo ship which was built by Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny New Jersey. Launched on 13 September 1919 and completed in October 1919 as Bellhaven for the USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Peacock. Laid up at Durban South Africa from 18 May 1942 to 19 July 1943 with disabled turbines. Scuttled on 25 August 1946 with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition at .

Empire Peak
Empire Peak was a 7045-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 4 May 1943 and completed in July 1943. Sold in 1947 to Dorset Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Charmouth Hill. Operated under the management of Counties Ship Management Co Ltd. Sold in 1949 to London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. Renamed London Mariner in 1950. Sold in 1951 to Ragruppamento Armatore Fratelli Grimaldi, Italy and renamed Leone. Sold in 1960 to Aldebaran Compagnia de Navigazione SA. Sold in 1963 to Vinti Freighters Ltd, Cyprus and renamed Marianella.

On 19 October 1967 Marinella sailed from Houston, Texas bound for Calcutta with a cargo of sulphate of ammonia. She put into Kingston, Jamaica after leaks developed in bad weather. During this voyage, her engine fan broke down and her boiler tubes became clogged as a result of steaming on natural draught. She spent some days adrift without power as a result. Main pumps were found to need replacement, spares were flown in from Europe. On 11 January 1968 she sailed for Dakar but put into Takoradi, Ghana. She sailed from there on 10 May bound for Luanda, Portuguese West Africa, leaving there on 15 June and arriving at Cape Town on 26 June with boiler trouble. She was anchored in Table Bay.

The voyage was abandoned when it was discovered that the cost of repairs exceeded the value of the ship. Marianella remained at anchor for five months, putting into port fortnightly for fresh water for her boilers. Her cargo was transhipped for onward delivery as there was no local market for it. Marinella was sold to Italian shipbreakers and left Cape Town on 9 December 1968 under tow of . Arrived on 6 March 1969 at Vado for scrapping.

Empire Pearl
Empire Pearl was a 9,881-GRT tanker which was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. The first attempt to launch on 10 July 1941 resulted in the ship being stuck halfway down the slipway. Launched on 29 July 1941 and completed in October 1941. Allocated to the Norwegian Government in 1942 and renamed Norheim. Sold in 1945 to Ole Berg, Oslo, and renamed Kollgrim. New diesel engine, reclaimed from sunken Vega, fitted in 1950. Sold in 1955 to Dingwall Shipping Co Ltd, Halifax, Nova Scotia and renamed Walton. Operated under the management of Nordstrom & Thulin A/B, Sweden. Converted to an ore carrier, now 10,080 GRT (14,359 DWT). Sold in 1963 to United Shipping and Trading Co Ltd and renamed James Hamel. Sold later that year to Paget Traders Inc, Liberia, and renamed Paget Trader. Operated under the management of Ship Services Ltd, Bermuda. Sold in 1968 to Pecos Steamship Co Inc, Liberia. Operated under the management of Elkan Ltd, Bermuda. Scrapped in January 1969 at Vinaròs, Spain.

Empire Peggotty
Empire Peggotty was a 2,066-GRT collier which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 25 April 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1946 to Harries Bros & Co Ltd, Swansea and renamed Glanowen. Sold in 1965 to Balmoral Shipping Corporation, Liberia and renamed Balmoral. Operated under the management of Transocean Maritima S M Bull SA, Spain. Ran aground on 12 March 1967 in Weser Estuary in bad weather. Broke in two on 5 April 1967, bow section salvaged and towed to Bruges for scrapping, where it arrived on 12 October 1967.

Empire Peggy
Empire Peggy was a 259-GRT tug which was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley. Launched in May 1945 and completed in July 1945. Sold in 1946 to the Marine Nationale. Sold in 1949 to Williams & Co Pty Ltd, Brisbane and renamed Coringa. Sold in 1974 to Northern Salvage Ltd, Australia and renamed Empire Peggy. Scrapped in June 1977 at Cairns, Queensland.

Empire Pelican
Empire Pelican  was a 6,463-GRT cargo ship which was built by Skinner & Eddy, Seattle. Completed in 1919 as Stanley for USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Pelican. Bombed on 14 November 1941 by Italian aircraft and sunk between Galita Island and Tunisia.

Empire Penang
Empire Penang was a cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Laid down as Empire Penang but launched on 10 July 1941 as HMS Mullion Cove. Completed as a maintenance ship. Converted in 1948 to a 7,146-GRT cargo ship, sold to Clunies Shipping Co, Greenock and renamed Margaret Clunies. Sold in 1951 to Turnbull, Scott & Co Ltd and renamed Waynegate. Sold in 1961 to Pacifico Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama and renamed Katingo. Sold in 1964 to Philippine President Lines, Manila and renamed President Magsaysay. Renamed Magsaysay in 1968. On 19 July 1968 she caught fire off Korea () and was abandoned. The fire was extinguished and she was towed to Pusan, South Korea, declared a constructive total loss and scrapped in December 1968 at Pusan.

Empire Pendennis
Empire Pendennis was a 7,053-GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 11 April 1944 and completed in June 1944. Sold in 1946 to Cunard White Star Line Ltd and renamed Vasconia. Sold in 1950 to Blue Star Line and renamed Fresno Star. Renamed Millais in 1957. Sold in 1960 to Grosvenor Shipping Co Ltd, London and renamed Grosvenor Navigator. Operated under the management of Mollers Ltd, Hong Kong. On 2 September 1962 she was hit by SS Ocean Glory which had broken free of her moorings in a typhoon at Hong Kong. Arrived on 9 September 1966 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.

Empire Penguin
Empire Penguin was a 6,389-GRT (9,600 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Skinner & Eddy, Seattle. Completed in 1919 as Elkridge for the USSB. Sold in 1928 to Oceanic and Oriental Steam Navigation Co, San Francisco and renamed Golden Star. Sold in 1937 to American-Hawaiian Steamship Co and renamed Tennessean. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Penguin. Allocated in 1942 to the Dutch Government and renamed Van de Velde. Sold in 1947 to Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd and renamed Rijnland. Renamed Rynland in 1949. Sold in 1957 to Compagnia Navigazione Maraventure, Panama and renamed Vaptistis. Operated under the management of Lemos & Pateras Ltd. Scrapped in September 1959 at Lisbon.

Empire Penn
Empire Penn was a 5,326-GRT cargo ship which was built by Barclay Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Laid down as Empire Penn and launched on 19 December 1941 as Kong Haakon VII. Launch attended by King Haakon VII of Norway. On launching, she was in collision with  of the Blue Funnel Line and severely damaged at her stern, Myrmidon was damaged amidships. The ship was the first to be handed over to Norway as reparation for war losses. Completed in April 1942. Sold in 1946 to H Staubo & Co, Norway. Sold in 1951 to Compagnia Naviera Arica SA, Panama and renamed Cavofrigelo. Sold in 1953 to Compagnia de Navigazione Golfo Azul SA, Panama and renamed Emporios. Sold in 1967 to Philippine President Lines and renamed Aguinaldo, now 7,068 GRT. Renamed Liberty Three in 1969, President Magsaysay in 1972 and the later that year renamed Liberty Three, now 6,855 GRT. Arrived on 17 July 1972 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.

Empire Pennant
Empire Pennant was a 7,069-GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 30 September 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sold in 1946 to Houlder Brothers and renamed Langton Grange. Arrived on 5 October 1950 at Hong Kong for scrapping.

Empire Penryn
 Empire Penryn was a 6,515-GRT ocean liner which was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched in 1912 as Czar. Requisitioned after the Russian Revolution by the British Government. Returned in 1921 Russian American Line, passed to East Asiatic Co, Denmark and renamed Estonia. Sold in 1930 to Gdynia America Lines and renamed Pulaski. In 1940 was in port in Konakri, Senegal when France Fell. French authorities agreed to detain her but she escaped by night under heavy fire. To MoWT in 1945 and renamed Empire Penryn. Refitted at Calcutta. Scrapped in 1949 at Blyth.

Empire Perak
Empire Perak was a 7,059-GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Bros Ltd, Sunderland. Laid down as Empire Perak. Taken over by the Admiralty in April 1944 and launched on 4 September 1944 as Dullisk Cove. Towed to Smiths Doc Co Ltd, Middlesbrough for completion. Completed in June 1945 as a hull repair ship. Laid up at Holy Loch awaiting disposal. Sold in 1947 to Kefalonian Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Kefalonian, now 7,327 GRT. Operated under the management of Haddon Steamship Co Ltd, London. Sold in 1951 to the Australian Commonwealth Shipping Board and renamed Tyalla. Sold in 1957 to Australian National Lines and resold later that year to Cambay Prince Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Wear Breeze. Ran aground in March 1962 at Jeddah. Refloated and towed by Danish tug Svitzer to Port Said. Repairs uneconomic, scrapped in July 1962 at Yokosuka, Japan.

Empire Percy
Empire Percy was a 138-GRT tug which was built by R Dunston Ltd, Thorne, Yorkshire. Launched on 20 June 1943 and completed in September 1943. Sold in 1948 to the Port of London Authority and renamed Thorney. Scrapped in February 1968 at Bruges, Belgium.

Empire Perdita
Empire Perdita was a 7,028-GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead and Sons Ltd, South Shields. Launched on 10 March 1943 and completed in May 1943. Sold in 1948 to Ensign Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Navarino. Operated under the management of S G Embiricos Ltd, London. Sold in 1952 to NAvigazione Dani SpA and renamed Fortunato B. Operated under the management of Dani & co, Genoa. Arrived in December 1964 at Vado, Italy for scrapping.

Empire Peregrine
Empire Peregrine was a 7,842-GRT type C2-SU cargo ship which was built by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania. Completed in October 1941 as China Mail for American Mail Line, Seattle. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Peregrine. To United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1942 and renamed Ocean Mail. Conversion to a transport ship completed in November 1943. To American Mail Line in 1947 and then to United States Maritime Administration in 1959. Scrapped in April 1969 at Tacoma, Washington.

Empire Peri
Empire Peri was a 4,769-GRT tanker which was built by Fratelli Orlando, Livorno. Completed in 1905 as Bronte for the Regia Marina. Captured by the Royal Navy on 25 August 1941 at Bandar Shapur, Iran. To MoWT and renamed Empire Peri. Scrapped in 1947 at Bombay.

Empire Perlis
Empire Perlis was a 3,359-GRT cargo ship built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, launched on 22 May 1944 and completed in July 1944. Sold in 1946 to Indo-China Steam Navigation Company Ltd., London and renamed Hinsang. Sold in 1965 to Kinabatangan Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Kowloon. Operated under the management of United China Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong. To Concordia Kinabatangan Shipping Co, Panama in 1969 and renamed Horis. On 25 December 1969 she put into Surabaya, Indonesia with damage sustained in bad weather. On 28 December 1969 she developed a leak in her engine room, abandoned the next day, capsized and sank in the Celebes Sea at .

Empire Petrel
Empire Petrel was a LST (3) which was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Quebec. Completed in October 1943 as LST 3520. To Royal Navy as HMS Thruster. Laid up in the River Clyde. To MoT in 1956 and renamed Empire Petrel, used as a ferry during the Suez Crisis under the management of Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd until 1961 and then transferred to the management of the British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd. Laid up in Singapore, scrapped there in July 1968.

Empire Phyllis
Empire Phyllis was a 257-GRT tug which was built by John Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 2 December 1944 and completed in January 1945. Sold in 1947 to Kuwait Oil Co Ltd and renamed Hayat. Sold in 1961 to Impresse Maritime Augustea, Italy and renamed Brucoli. Transferred in 1982 to the Marina Militare at Messina. Did not enter service and was later scrapped.

Empire Pibroch

Empire Pibroch was a 7,046-GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 2 September 1942 and completed in November 1942. Sold in 1946 to Houlder Brothers and renamed Urmston Grange. Sold in 1959 to Argonaut Shipping & Trading Co Ltd and renamed Argo Grange. Operated under the management of C Y Tung, Hong Kong. Arrived on 18 December 1959 at Hong Kong for scrapping.

Empire Pickwick
Empire Pickwick was a 7,068-GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields. Launched on 31 August 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1948 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Clan Mackendrick. Sold in 1961 to Mullion & Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Ardpatrick. Sold in 1966 to National Shipping Corporation, Karachi and renamed Haringhata. Arrived on 16 July 1978 at Karachi for scrapping.

Empire Pict
Empire Pict was an 8,134-GRT tanker which was built by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 11 September 1941 and completed in November 1941. Allocated in 1942 to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norland. Torpedoed on 20 May 1942 and sunk by U-108 east of Bermuda () while a member of Convoy ON 93.

Empire Pierrot
Empire Pierrot was a 235-GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 13 August 1943 and completed in October 1943. Sold in 1948 to the Government of Trinidad and renamed St Patrick. To Trinidad Port Authority in 1966 and renamed Empire Pierrot. Removed from shipping registers in 1978.

Empire Pike
Empire Pike was a 1,854-GRT tanker which was built by the Government Shipyard, Sorel, Quebec. Built i 1903 as W S Fielding. Converted in 1914 to a dredger and renamed P W D No 1. To the Canadian Government in 1943 and converted to a tanker, renamed Riding Mountain Park. to MoWT in 1945 and renamed Empire Pike. Sold in 1947 to Bulk Storage Co Ltd, London and renamed Basingford. To Basinghall Shipping Co. Scrapped in 1949 at Dunston on Tyne.

Empire Pilgrim
Empire Pilgrim was a 2,828-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 20 November 1941 and completed in January 1942. Ran aground on 25 January 1942  north of Aberdeen, holed and abandoned. Salvage commenced on 5 February and she was refloated on 16 February. Towed to Blyth for repairs by Empire Larch, arriving on 21 March. Allocated in 1942 to the Norwegian Government and renamed Astrid. Sold in 1945 to A/S Granli and renamed Tindefjell. Operated under the management of R Ugelstad, Norway. Sold in 1948 to A Schjelderup, Norway and renamed Ringhorn. Sold in 1951 to Jansens Rederi A/S, operated under the management of I Jansen, Norway. Sold in 1958 to Pan-Norse Steamship Co, Panama and renamed Indonor. Operated under the management of Wallem & Co, Hong Kong. Ran aground on 3 February 1960 at Kemojan Island, Indonesia. Sank on 7 February after slipping off the reef she was stuck on.

Empire Pine
Empire Pine was a 250-GRT tug which was built by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling. Launched on 10 June 1941 and completed in September 1941. Sold in 1946 to Steel & Bennie Ltd and renamed Vanguard. Renamed Battleaxe in 1961 and sold later that year to Newport Screw Towing Co Ltd, Newport, Monmouthshire and renamed Dunfalcon. Scrapped in December 1968 at Newport.

Empire Pintail
Empire Pintail was a 7,773-GRT C3 type cargo ship which was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearney, New Jersey. Launched 13 July and completed in September 1940 as Howell Lykes for Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. To MoWT in October 1941 and renamed Empire Pintail. To USMC in February 1942 and renamed Howell Lykes. Converted to a transport ship by Bethlehem Steel Co, Baltimore, Maryland completed in December 1943. Operated as a War Shipping Administration troopship by Lykes as WSA agent until lay up in reserve fleet 5 April 1946. To Lykes Brothers Steamship Co in February 1946. Sold in 1965 to Sperling Steamship & Trading Corp, USA and renamed Kings Point. Sold later that year to American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Inc, and renamed Flying Foam. Arrived on 10 December 1970 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping, but resold to Sea King Corp, New York and renamed Grand Yaling. Scrapped in September 1971 at Kaohsiung.

Empire Pioneer
Empire Pioneer was a 2,076-GRT (2,825 DWT) collier which was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon. Launched on 10 November 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sold in 1946 to Hudson Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed Hudson Bank. Sold in 1959 to Ertel, Bieber & Co GmbH, West Germany. Rebuilt and fitted with a diesel engine, renamed Gertrud C Ertel. Ran aground on 24 December 1965 at Falsterbo, Sweden and broke in two. Declared a constructive total loss. Refloated in July 1968, arrived under tow on 29 July at Oskarshamn, cargo of coal discharged. Sold to Oskarshamn Varv and scrapped in August 1968.

Empire Piper
Empire Piper was a 263-GRT tug which was built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay-on-Tyne. Launched on 28 May 1942 and completed in August 1942. Sold in 1947 to J Cooper, Belfast and renamed Piper. Sold in 1969 to R & J H Rea Ltd. Sold in 1970 to Cory Ship Towage Ltd. Sold in 1970 to A P Papayannis, Greece and renamed Sotirios. Reported sold in 1984 to shipbreakers at Rafina but deal not completed. Renamed Lalrion in 1985 and scrapped in 1986.

Empire Pitcairn
Empire Pitcairn was to have been a cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shield. Laid down as Empire Pitcairn but taken over by the Admiralty while under construction. Launched on 19 July 1944 as Moray Firth. Completed as an aircraft component repair and maintenance ship. Sold in 1947 to Stag Line Ltd and renamed Linaria. Operated under the management of J Robinson & Sons Ltd. Converted to a cargo ship by Tyne Dock Engineering Co Ltd, now 7,333 GRT. Sold in 1954 to Chellew Navigation Co Ltd, London and renamed Eskglen. Sold in 1956 to Esk Shipping Co Ltd. Operated under the management of H M Lund, London. sold in 1961 to Fortune Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Marine Fortune. Sold later that year to Herald Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Scrapped in August 1967 at Yokosuka, Japan.

Empire Pitt
Empire Pitt was a 7,086-GRT cargo ship which was built by J L Thomson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 28 January 1944 and completed in May 1944. Ran aground on 11 November 1946 off Berville-sur-Mer, France. Her back was broken and she was declared a constructive total loss.

Empire Pixie
Empire Pixie was a 263-GRT tug which was built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole. Launched on 27 August 1942 and completed in November 1942. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Flying Swordfish. Sold in 1957 to D Tripcovich & Co, Italy and renamed Fulgor. Scrapped in 1978 in Italy.

Empire Plane
Empire Plane was a 129-GRT tug which was built by R Dunston Ltd, Thorne. Launched on 9 November 1941 and completed in December 1941. Sold in 1958 to Shipping & Freighting Ltd, Southampton and renamed River Eskimo. Scrapped in 1964 in Southampton.ref

Empire Planet
Empire Planet was a 4,290-GRT cargo ship which was built by J Priestman & Co Ltd, Sunderland. Launched in 1923 as Barbara Marie. Sold in 1925 to Sea Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Portsea. Sold in 1933 to Nivose Società di Navigazione, Italy and renamed Cipro. Sold in 1937 to Lauro & Montella, Naples and renamed Stella. Captured on 14 August 1941 by  west of the Cape Verde Islands. Escorted to Bermuda. To MoWT and renamed Empire Planet. Sold in 1947 to Williamson & Co, Hong Kong and renamed Inchkeith. Struck an uncharted rock on 2 March 1955 near Port Meadows, Andaman Islands. Abandoned as a total loss.

Empire Ploughman
Empire Ploughman was a 7,049-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 14 September 1943 and completed in November 1943. Sold in 1946 to H Hogarth & Sons Ltd and renamed Baron Geddes. Sold in 1959 to Paulins Rederi A/B, Finland and renamed Jytte Paulin. Arrived on 22 October 1968 at Shanghai for scrapping.

Empire Plover
Empire Plover was a 6,085-GRT (9,400 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Moore Shipbuilding Co, Oakland, California. Completed in 1920 as Janelew for the USSB. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Plover. To have been renamed Granvale in 1946 but sold in 1948 to Compagnia Maritime del Este, Panama and renamed Plover. Sold in 1951 to Società de Navigazione Magliveras, Panama and renamed Marianne. Sold in 1956 to Compagnia de Navigazione Alexander, Panama and renamed Nicolas. Scrapped in November 1958 at Vado, Italy.

Empire Polly
Empire Polly was a 235-GRT tug which was built by A Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen. Launched on 19 September 1944 and completed in November 1944. Sold in 1947 to London and North Eastern Railway and renamed Central No 4. To the British Transport Commission in 1949. To the British Transport Docks Board in 1961 and renamed Roa. Sold in 1973 to Maritime Commercial Enterprises Ltd, Greece and renamed Apollo. Scrapped in Greece in 1986.

Empire Porpoise
Empire Porpoise was a 7,592-GRT cargo ship which was built by Bethlehem Alameda, California. Ordered as War Rock for the British Shipping Controller. Completed in October 1918 as Invincible for USSB. Sold in 1934 to Havemeyers & Elder, New York. To USMC in 1937, then to National Bulk Carriers Inc, New York in 1940. To MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Porpoise. Sold in 1946 to Marine Enterprises Ltd and renamed Chrysanthemum. Operated under the management of Lyros & Lemos Bros, London. Sold in 1950 to Compagnia Maritima Neptuno SA, Costa Rica and renamed Chryss. Sold in 1952 to Israel America Line Ltd, New York and renamed Athlit. Scrapped in October 1954 at Trieste, Italy.

Empire Portia
Empire Portia was a 7,058-GRT cargo ship which was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Co Ltd, Wallsend. Launched on 9 November 1942 and completed in January 1943. On 26 February 1943 she was damaged by bombs dropped by Junkers Ju 88 aircraft at  while a member of Convoy JW 53. Repaired and returned to service. On 30 June 1944, Empire Portia hit a mine off Selsey Bill. Her engine room was flooded and she was taken in tow by . When off Ryde Pier the towline broke, causing LST 416 to lose control and collide with several other ships. Empire Portia ran aground north of the pier. On 1 July, she was beached and moved to a safer position two days later. Her back broke on 4 July, with her engines and boilers smashed. She was declared a total loss but considered floatable as her holds were watertight. Her guns and equipment were salvaged, an operation which was completed on 25 September. The aft section was salvaged at this time. On 30 April 1945, the forward section arrived at Briton Ferry for scrapping.

Empire Portland
Empire Portland was a 683-GRT hopper dredger which was built by William Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew. Launched on 7 September 1944 and completed later that year. Sold in 1948 to the Federation of Malaya Government and renamed Morib. Sold in 1953 to Queensland Cement & Lime Co, Australia. Sold in 1967 to Maquarie Plant Pool Pty Ltd, Australia. Name removed from shipping registers this year and declared to be a non-seagoing vessel.

Empire Prairie
Empire Prairie was a 7,010-GRT cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 2 December 1941 and completed in February 1942. Torpedoed on 10 April 1942 and sunk by U-654 east of Philadelphia.

Empire Pride
Empire Pride was a 9,248-GRT troopship which was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 14 May 1941 and completed in September 1941. Served as a troopship in Madagascar, North Africa, Sicily and Southern France. In the early 1950s, she operated carrying troops to and from the Korean War. Withdrawn from service in 1954 and refitted as a 10,250 DWT cargo liner at Lübeck. Sold to Charlton Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Charlton Pride. Operated under the management of Chandris (England) Ltd. Sold in 1956 to Donaldson Brothers & Black Ltd, Glasgow and renamed Calgaria. Sold in 1963 to Compagnia Navigazione Fortaleza, Panama and renamed Embassy. Arrived on 27 June 1963 at Hong Kong for scrapping.

Empire Prince
Empire Prince was a 7,050-GRT cargo ship which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee. Launched on 31 March 1942 and completed in May 1942. Sold in 1945 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Clan Angus. Sold in 1956 to Bullard, King & Co Ltd and renamed Umkuzi. Sold in 1959 to Clan Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Clan Angus. Scrapped in April 1962 at Hirao, Japan.

Empire Prize
Empire Prize was a 3,245-GRT tanker which was built by Baltimore Shipbuilding Corp. Completed in 1917 as Holden Evans. Sold in 1926 to European Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Olvigore. Renamed Oilvigor in 1927. Sold in 1930 to Tito Campanella Fu Pietro, Genoa and renamed Clelia Campanella. Scuttled on 8 April 1941 at Massowah, Italian Somaliland. Salvaged and seized by the Royal Navy. To MoWT and renamed Empire Prize. Sold in 1946 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamed Bankivia. Scrapped in October 1949 at Hong Kong.

Empire Progress
Empire Progress was a 5,249-GRT cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow. Completed in 1918 as tanker War Expert. Sold in 1919 to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd and renamed Anomia. sold in 1933 to A/S Brovigseil, Norway and renamed Andrea. Sold in 1938 to M Querci, Genoa. Converted to a dry cargo ship and renamed Mugnone. Seized on 10 June 1940 at Newcastle upon Tyne, to MoWT and renamed Empire Progress. Bombed on 22 May 1941 off The Needles, Isle of Wight and damaged, repaired and returned to service. Torpedoed on 13 April 1942 and sunk by U-402 south of Cape Race ().

Empire Prome
Empire Prome was a 7,086-GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 1 March 1945 and completed in April 1945. Sold in 1947 to Kaye, Son & Co Ltd, London and renamed Martagon. Sold in 1959 to Ipar Transport Ltd, Turkey and renamed Mehmet Ipar. Scrapped in September 1970 in Istanbul.

Empire Prospect
Empire Prospect was a 7,331-GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Launched on 15 March 1945 and completed in June 1945. Sold in 1947 to Goulandris Brothers Ltd, London and renamed Ronald M Scobie. Renamed Plover in 1954. Sold in 1965 to Kowloon Carriers Inc and renamed Kowloon Venture. Operated under the management of Wah Kwong & Co (Hong Kong) Ltd. Arrived on 27 April 1969 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.

Empire Prospero
Empire Prospero was a 6,640-GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Launched on 29 November 1942 and completed in March 1943. Sold in 1947 to W H Cockerline & Co Ltd, Hull and renamed Corinthic. Sold in 1951 to Marine Enterprises Ltd and renamed Marine Flame. Operated under the management of Lyras Bros. Sold in 1951 to Reliance Steamship Co SA, Panama and renamed Shahreza. Sold in 1952 to Compagnia Navigazione Acapulco, Panama and renamed Faustus. Operated under the management of S G Embiricos, London. On 6 November 1952, she came ashore  off the North Breakwater, Hook of Holland during a storm. The next day, she was driven through the breakwater and capsized, almost blocking the Nieuwe Waterweg. Dredgers and explosives were used to settle the wreck into the sand and clear the channel.

Empire Protector (I)
Empire Protector was a 6,181-GRT cargo ship which was built by Cantiere Officine Savoia, Genoa. Completed in 1921 as Artena. Sold in 1928 to La Mer di Navigazione SA, Italy and renamed Cariddi, renamed Sebeto in 1932. Sold in 1935 to Società di Navigazione Polena, Genoa and renamed Pamia. Sailed from Sunderland, but captured at sea on 10 June 1940 by , escorted to Methil, Fife. To MoWT and renamed Empire Protector. Torpedoed on 30 May 1941 and sunk by U-38 at .

Empire Protector (II)
Empire Protector was an 8,158-GRT tanker which was built by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees. Launched on 20 July 1944 and completed in October 1944. To Royal Fleet Auxiliary in November 1944 and renamed Wave Protector. Relegated to a storage hulk and jetty at Ras Hanzir, Malta in March 1958, replacing War Hindoo. Scrapped in August 1963 at Le Grazie, Italy.

Empire Prowess
Empire Prowess was a 7,058-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 6 February 1943 and completed in April 1943. Sold in 1947 to J & C Harrison Ltd, London and renamed Harperley. Sold in 1955 to J A Billmeir & Co Ltd and renamed Elstead. Arrived on 22 October 1959 at Nagasaki, Japan for scrapping.

Empire Ptarmigan
Empire Ptarmigan was a 6,103-GRT cargo ship which was built by the G. M. Standifer Construction Company, Vancouver, Washington. Completed in 1919 as Abercos for the USSB. to MoWT in 1941 and renamed Empire Ptarmigan. To the Norwegian Government in 1942 and renamed Norelg. Operated under the management of Wallem & Co, Panama from 1946. Sold in 1948 to New Continental Steamship Co, China and renamed New Asia. Sold in 1950 to Wallem & Co, Panama and renamed Norelg. Sold in 1951 to Purple Star Shipping Co, China. Norelg was deleted from the shipping registers in 1957.

Empire Puffin
Empire Puffin was a LST (3) which was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched in 1945 as LST 3015, then to Royal Navy as HMS Battler. To MoT during the Suez Crisis and renamed Empire Puffin. Operated under the management of Atlantic Steam Navigation Co Ltd. Management passed in 1960 to K C Irving, St John, New Brunswick. Arrived on 5 July 1966 at Spezia, Italy for scrapping.

Empire Puma
Empire Puma was a 7,777-GRT cargo ship which was built by Pusey & Jones Co, Gloucester, New Jersey. Completed in 1920 as Ethan Allen for USSB. Managed by Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc from 1933. To MoWT in 1940 and renamed Empire Puma. Sold in 1946 to Williamson & Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Inchwells. Sold in 1951 to Compagnia Navigazione Bellavist, Panama and renamed Point Clear. Sold in 1952 to Società Per Azioni Stellamaris, Italy and renamed Giacomo. Sold in 1954 to A Ravano, Italy and renamed Enrichetto. Sold in 1958 to Panamanian Oriental Steamship Co, Panama and renamed Silvana. Operated under the management of Wheelock, Marden & Co, Hong Kong. Scrapped in May 1959 in Hong Kong.

Empire Punch
Empire Punch was a 325-GRT coaster which was built by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft. Launched on 31 January 1942 and completed in May 1942. Sold in 1947 to Lovering & Sons, Cardiff. Sold in 1951 to T G Irving Ltd, Sunderland and renamed Oakdene. Sold in 1967 to G & E Sealy, Sunderland.

Empire Purcell
Empire Purcell was a 7,049-GRT cargo ship which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Launched on 17 January 1942 and completed in March 1942. Bombed on 27 May 1942 and sunk at  while a member of Convoy PQ 16.

Empire Pym
Empire Pym was a 2,370-GRT tanker which was built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Grangemouth. Launched on 27 November 1943 and completed in March 1944. Sold in 1946 to Refast Steamship Co and renamed Refast. Operated under the management of Stevinson Hardy Ltd, London. Sold in 1948 to Counties Ship Management Ltd. Sold in 1952 to Marcou & Sons Ltd, London. Sold later that year to Nolido Compagnia de Navigazione SA, Costa Rica and renamed Cassian. Sold in 1954 to Société Mazout Transports, France and renamed Mobilsud. Sold in 1964 to Société Anonyme Monegasque d'Armement et Navigation, Monaco and renamed Janson. Sold in 1966 to Sarda Bunkers SpA and rename Capo Mannu. Operated under the management of A Garolla & Co, Italy. Laid up at Naples in 1976 and scrapped in 1980.

See also
The above entries give a precis of each ship's history. For a fuller account see the linked articles.

Sources

References

P


Whap or WHAP may refer to:
 "Whap", an episode of Harper's Island
 AP World History, a high school college credit course offered by the Advanced Placement Program
 WHAP, a sports radio station in Hopewell, Virginia


Shibuya-AX (stylized as SHIBUYA-AX) was a concert hall in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, near the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

It was the only purpose-built concert hall or "live house" in the Tokyo metropolitan area that could accommodate 1,500 people. It was a popular venue for concerts by both Japanese and western artists.

On September 27, 2013,  was announced through official site the end of activities for next May 31, 2014. The staff of Shibuya-AX requested J, the artist with the most performances at the concert hall, perform one last time at the venue. The concerts entitled -Thank You AX!! Good Bye AX!!- were held on May 3–4, 2014.

Notable events
 Buck-Tick's 2004 live album At the Night Side contains songs that were recorded at their April 30, 2003 performance here.
 Sonata Arctica's performance in this venue on February 5, 2005 (during the Reckoning Night world tour) was recorded and later released as a live DVD For The Sake of Revenge (released in 2006).
 Lady Gaga performed here on June 8, 2009, during The Fame Ball Tour.
 From May 5 to 9, 2011, J held five consecutive concerts here titled "J 14th Anniversary Special Live Set Fire Get Higher -Fire Higher 2011-", each day with different bands such as Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Nothing's Carved in Stone, Avengers in Sci-Fi, Pay Money to My Pain and The Hiatus.
 South Korean Girl Group, T-ara held First Showcase in this venue on July 5, 2011, before release their debut Japanese single Bo Peep Bo Peep .
 Shibuya-AX served as one of the venues for A-Nation 2012 Music Week.
 For consecutive 3 years, Shibuya-AX was the official "home" of Shibuya-based pop idol group Passpo☆ (last show was on March 1, 2014)

References

External links

Former music venues
Dentsu
Music venues in Tokyo
Nippon TV
Mass media in Tokyo
Music venues completed in 2000
2000 establishments in Japan
2014 disestablishments in Japan
Buildings and structures in Shibuya


Silver Saddle (; also released under the titles The Man in the Silver Saddle and They Died With Their Boots On) is a 1978 spaghetti Western. It is the third and final western directed by Lucio Fulci and one of the last spaghetti Westerns to be produced by a European studio. The film was based on an original story written by screenwriter Adriano Bolzoni and directed by Fulci for the Italian studio Rizzoli Film Productions.

This was also the final western film role for leading man Giuliano Gemma, whose breakout role was in the 1965 spaghetti western A Pistol for Ringo, although he would continue acting in other genres for more than twenty years afterwards. Along with Gemma, the film also starred Sven Valsecchi, Ettore Manni, Gianni De Luigi, Cinzia Monreale, Licinia Lentini, Donald O'Brien, Aldo Sambrell, Philippe Hersent and Geoffrey Lewis. Although Gemma, Manni, O'Brien and Sambrell were all experienced veterans of the genre, for most of the cast this would be their first and only spaghetti Western appearance.

Cast
 Giuliano Gemma as Roy Blood — a bounty hunter who wanders the Texas frontier following the murder of his father. He eventually arrives in Cerriotts, where he intends to take revenge on the land baron who is ultimately responsible for his death.
 Donald O'Brien as Fletcher — a murderous gunman who works for Barrett.
 Geoffrey Lewis as Two-Strike Snake — a colorful drifter who befriends Roy Blood and becomes his companion. He is often seen stealing the belongings of men who Blood has killed in gunfights.
 Gianni De Luigi as Turner — a blond-haired cowboy with uncertain intentions towards Blood. He initially offers Blood a murder contract, which the bounty hunter accepts when he learns the target is Barrett.
 Licinia Lentini as Shiba — Blood's ex-girlfriend and madam of the local whorehouse. She hires Blood to stop Garrincha from extorting her and later helps Blood in his feud with Thomas Barrett.
 Sven Valsecchi as Thomas Barrett, Jr. — the only son of Richard Barrett, the land baron who cheated Roy Blood's father years before. He and his sister Margaret are under the care of their uncle Thomas Barrett, Sr.
 Cinzia Monreale as Margaret Barrett — the older sister of Thomas Barrett, Jr. and niece of Thomas Barrett, Sr.
 Ettore Manni as Thomas Barrett, Sr. — a ruthless and manipulative land baron who uses Roy Blood's desire for vengeance to further his own plans.
 Aldo Sambrell as Garrincha — a Mexican bandit whose gang is extorting Shiba. He becomes an enemy of Roy Blood when the gunfighter kills several of his men who are threatening Shiba.
 Philippe Hersent as The Sheriff — the town sheriff, he is initially suspicious of Roy Blood and eventually believes he is in league with Garrincha. He is largely focused on breaking up Garrincha's gang and is unaware of Thomas Barrett's intentions.

Plot
The film opens in a small South Texas border town in the 1850s. A poor farmer and his young son arrive into the settlement where the farmer confronts Luke, a thieving henchman employed by wealthy land baron Richard Barrett. The man complains to Luke that he had been cheated by Barrett, claiming he had been sold a deed to non-existent property. Luke finally shoots the farmer, killing the man in front of his young son. His son then picks up his father's shotgun, uses it to kill Luke, and rides out of town with Luke's horse and a distinctive silver-trimmed saddle.

The boy is next seen several years later and has since become a hardened bounty hunter calling himself Roy Blood (Giuliano Gemma). He meets an elderly drifter, Two-Strike Snake (Geoffrey Lewis), who accompanies him to the frontier town of Cerriotts. Snake is a colorful character who claims that the story of the "silver saddle" and the boy who avenged his father's death is well known and that he wishes to join Blood in his travels. On the way, Snake often scavenges the remains of those killed in gunfights by Roy Blood.

Their arrival in Cerriotts is noticed by several townspeople, in particular, a local cowboy known as Turner (Gianni De Luigi). Blood visits the town whorehouse where he meets with an old girlfriend, Shiba (Licinia Lentini), who is also its madam. She tells Blood that she is being extorted by a man called Shep, who collects the money on behalf of a Mexican bandit named Garrincha (Aldo Sambrell). Shiba enlists Blood's help in taking care of Garrincha and his gang. Indeed, Blood confronts and kills Shep and several of Garrincha's men in a gunfight. Afterwards, Turner appears to offer Blood $2,000 to kill a man called Barrett. Blood is hesitant to take the murder contract, but accepts the offer upon recognizing the name of the land baron who had swindled his father years before.

The murder is arraigned to take place in a graveyard outside town where Barrett is expected to arrive. Blood lies in wait until a carriage eventually pulls up. Its occupant is a young boy however, not the older land baron he had expected, who enters the graveyard carrying a funeral wreath. Blood then sees several men who ambush the child, but before they can kill him, Blood shoots the assassins and rides off with the boy. Blood learns the boy's name is Thomas Barrett, Jr. (Sven Valsecchi), the son of his intended victim Richard Barrett. The elder Barrett has been dead for several years and Thomas, Jr. has since been cared for by his uncle Thomas Barrett, Sr. (Ettore Manni). Angered at being cheated out of his revenge, Blood leaves the boy stranded in the hillside with only a knife and a blanket.

Back at the Barrett homestead, Thomas's older sister Margaret (Cinzia Monreale) is upset over her brother's disappearance. Thomas, Sr. discusses the search with Turner, who is revealed to be the ranch foreman, and is decided by the land baron that Roy Blood is the kidnapper and posts a $5,000 bounty. Meanwhile, Blood is rejoined by Snake, who offers him a deal. Snake reveals that he took in Thomas, Jr. after he left and intends to ransom the boy back to the Barrett family. Blood is also informed that the bounty was a ploy used to kill himself and the boy, with Blood being blamed for the murder.

Blood hides out at Shiba's whorehouse, and where Thomas, Jr. is looked after, while Shiba obtains information on the Barrett family. Using her feminine wiles, she is able to learn that after the death of Richard Barrett, his fortune was divided between his children and his brother. However, Thomas gambled away his half of the inheritance, while the family fortune was possessed by his children. The will provided that if Thomas, Jr. died, Margaret would inherit the entire fortune. It is presumed that is the motivating factor for Thomas Barrett, Sr. to marry his niece.

Thomas, Jr. is eventually spotted by Turner while visiting the whorehouse and Blood takes him to the San Jacinto monastery located several miles away. The gun-toting padre of the monastery promises to protect the boy while Blood goes after Turner. He eventually confronts Turner and his men at an abandoned farmhouse, where a shootout occurs and Blood kills Turner. But at the monastery, the bandit Garrincha and his gang have killed all the priests and taken Thomas, Jr., whom they plan to ransom for themselves. Blood is later arrested by the sheriff (Phillppe Hersent) who believes he is a member of Garrincha's band.

The bandit leader demands $10,000 for the safe return of the boy. Thomas, Sr., against the advice of the sheriff, agrees to pay the ransom and sends out a messenger named Fletcher (Donald O'Brien) to deliver the money to Garrincha's camp. The courier is murdered once he hands the money over to the bandits.

With the help of Margaret, Blood eventually escapes from the town jail and reunites with Snake to track down Garrincha. They finally find the bandit's hideout when Thomas, Jr. flies a kite over its location. Blood and Snake arrive to find Garrincha whipping the boy after discovering his ruse. A gun battle with Garrincha and his men results in the death of the bandit, but not before Snake is killed.

Blood returns to the Barrett ranch with Thomas, Jr. and exposes his uncle's role in the kidnapping, revealing that Thomas, Sr. had planned with Turner to kill his niece and nephew so that he would gain the family inheritance. Garrincha was also part of the plan, Thomas, Sr. staging a false kidnapping and ransom payment to avert suspicion from himself, and had intended to kill Turner as well as Margaret once he married her. Blood kills Thomas, Sr. with one of his ornamental pistols. The film's conclusion shows Blood riding out of town with Thomas, Jr. alongside him.

Production
Lucio Fulci had directed two other spaghetti westerns, The Brute and the Beast (1966) and Four of the Apocalypse (1975), prior to Silver Saddle. With an original story written by screenwriter Adriano Bolzoni and financed by the Italian studio Rizzoli Film Productions, Fulci went to work on what would be his final spaghetti western. Fulci would later find fame as a horror film director, specifically his gore films Zombi 2 (1979) and The Beyond (1981).

Filming between Murder to the Tune of Seven Black Notes (1977) and Zombi 2 (1979), his crew included many Fulci regulars including cinematographer Sergio Salvati, editor Ornella Micheli and composer Fabio Frizzi. The film's screenwriter Adriano Bolzoni was also a top Italian writer, best known for his collaboration with Ernesto Gastaldi in Sergio Martino’s Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972).

Casting
Giuliano Gemma was given the lead role of Roy Blood. Gemma's breakout role had been in one of the earliest successful spaghetti westerns, A Pistol for Ringo (1965), and secured his role as a star in the genre. Several of his co-stars were also highly recognizable character actors. Donald O'Brien, best known for his roles in Run, Man, Run! (1966), Keoma (1976) and Mannaja (1977), had also appeared in Fulci's previous western Four Gunmen of the Apocalypse. O'Brien would later star in Fulci's dystopian film The New Gladiators (1984).

Ettore Manni had starred in Johnny Oro (1966) and both "official" and "unofficial" Sartana sequels I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death (1969) and Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End (1970). Aldo Sambrell, another early spaghetti Western star, had appeared in Gunfighters of Casa Grande (1964), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), Navajo Joe (1966), A Bullet for the General (1966), The Hellbenders (1967), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Duck, You Sucker! (1971). American character actor Geoffrey Lewis had previously appeared in Sergio Leone's My Name is Nobody (1973).

Sven Valsecchi was a well-known child actor at the time of his appearance in Silver Saddle. His first role had been in The Balloon Vendor (1974) and had recently appeared in Nenè (1977) when he was cast in the film. This was his final role in a feature film and, after a guest appearance in the 1979 television miniseries Orient Express, retired from acting altogether.

Cinzia Monreale had been in a few romantic comedies before her appearance in Silver Saddles although the director of her first film, Franco Rossetti, had written the screenplays for Johnny Oro (1965), Texas, Adios (1965) and Django (1966). Monreale would appear in several of Fulci's later horror films including The Beyond (1981), The New Gladiators (1984) and the television movie The Sweet House of Horrors (1989).

This was the first major film role for Licinia Lentini, appearing alongside fellow Italian sex symbol Agnes Kalpagos, and was cast in the female lead despite being relatively inexperienced. She had then been in only a few films, among these being the b-movie science fiction film War of the Robots (1976). Following her appearance in Silver Saddle, she had a number of supporting roles in comedy films herself. In her last film appearance, she starred in Django 2 (1986) which was the first spaghetti western to be made in over a decade since her appearance in Silver Saddle.

Philippe Hersent was a veteran actor with a career spanning forty years and had supporting roles in such films as La Garçonne (1936), The Giant of Marathon (1954), Scipio the African (1971) and Conversation Piece (1974). Hersent was also known for his roles in the James Bond parody film series Agent 077 (Agent 077 From the Orient with Fury and Agent 077: Mission Bloody Mary). This was his last film role and he died four years later.

Filming
Principal filming took place in Almería, Spain under the direction of longtime Fulci collaborator cinematographer Sergio Salvati throughout 1977 and into early 1978. This was one of the two last spaghetti westerns to be filmed in the area, the other being Monte Hellman's China 9, Liberty 37 which was released later that year.

Reaction
The film proved moderately successful following its release in Italy on 20 April 1978, eventually earning 237,000,000 £ (US: 162,462) in its initial run. Silver Saddle was shown throughout Europe during the next two years, and was especially popular in West Germany, Austria and Hungary with a recorded attendance of 887,413 for the latter country. The film was generally rated "above 15", West Germany and Norway both classifying the film as (FSK 16) and (15 År) respectively, while in other countries such as Argentina the film was given an "above 13" rating.

It was never theatrically released in the US, although it was released on VHS shortly after its original theatrical run in Italy. The film's soundtrack, composed by Franco Bixio, Vince Tempera and Fabio Frizzi, came out that same year and featured "Two Hearts" by Ken Tobias which later became a popular tune. Despite the film being re-released on DVD in 2001 by Madusa Video, Silver Saddle remains one of Fulci's least known films. It has generally had mixed reviews by both fans and critics, being praised in Thomas Weisser’s Spaghetti Westerns: The Good, The Bad, and The Violent (1992) and panned in Stephen Thrower’s Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci (2002).

References

Further reading
Matuszak, David F. The Cowboy's Trail Guide to Westerns. Redlands, California: Pacific Sunset Publishing, 2003.
Palmerini, Luca M. and Gaetano Mistretta. Spaghetti Nightmares: Italian Fantasy-Horror as Seen Through the Eyes of Their Protagonists. Key West, Florida: Fantasma Books, 1996.
Weisser, Thomas. Spaghetti Westerns: The Good, The Bad, and The Violent: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography of 558 Eurowesterns and Their Personnel, 1961-1977. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 1992.

External links

Sella d'argento at the British Film Institute
Sella d'argento at the Spaghetti Western Database

1978 films
Films directed by Lucio Fulci
Spaghetti Western films
1970s Italian-language films
1978 Western (genre) films
Films shot in Almería
Films scored by Fabio Frizzi
1970s Italian films


The Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility is a detention facility, located on Ward Avenue in Chesterfield Township, New Jersey, United States. It is named for state corrections official Albert C. Wagner.

History
First opened in 1934, the mixed-security facility is owned and operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.  The facility houses violent young offenders, as well as those incarcerated on narcotics charges. As of August 7, 2009, the prison had an inmate population of 1,235.

The facility emphasizes vocational, academic and social programs as well as individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment and psychiatric treatment.  The Bureau of State Industries operates a metal fabrication shop at the facility.

References

External links

Official website

Buildings and structures in Burlington County, New Jersey
Prisons in New Jersey
Chesterfield Township, New Jersey
1934 establishments in New Jersey