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Edward Ellsberg

Edward Ellsberg, OBE (November 21, 1891 – January 24, 1983) was an officer in the United States Navy and a popular author. He was widely known as "Commander Ellsberg".

Early years
Ellsberg was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up in Colorado. He was one of the very few Jews who were accepted into the United States Naval Academy, which graduated him with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914. He earned his Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1920. He received an honorary Eng.D. from University of Colorado at Boulder in  1929.

First service with the U.S. Navy
Ellsberg was commissioned in the navy in 1914 and served on active duty until 1926. He became an expert in undersea salvage and rescue. In 1926, he raised the navy submarine, S-51. For that success he was promoted to the rank of commander by an Act of Congress and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Navy Department, since which time he has been popularly known as "Commander Ellsberg", regardless of his rank. Ellsberg described the raising of the S-51 in his 1929 book, On the Bottom.

On June 1, 1918, Ellsberg married Lucy Buck. In letters to her he signed his name as "Ned". Lucy Ellsberg bore their daughter Mary on 29 August 1921.

Return to civilian status
After leaving active duty, Ellsberg worked for the Tide Water Oil Company and began writing books about his exploits and about historical events.

In December 1927, Ellsberg volunteered for active duty to rescue survivors trapped in the sunken submarine S-4. The rescue efforts failed and Ellsberg returned home in early January 1928.

Ellsberg's 1931 book, Pigboats, inspired the 1933 movie, Hell Below, starring Robert Montgomery, Robert Young, Walter Huston, and Madge Evans.

His book Hell on Ice was adapted for an episode of Orson Welles's The Mercury Theatre on the Air that aired October 9, 1938, on CBS Radio. An adaptation was also presented on Welles's The Mercury Summer Theatre of the Air, broadcast August 9, 1946.

World War II naval service
Immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ellsberg rejoined the navy. His first assignment was to conduct salvage operations at the newly liberated port of Massawa, Eritrea. Working in beastly heat with virtually no staff and poor administrative support, Ellsberg salvaged a large floating dry dock and several of the ships that had been sunk to block the harbor.

Ellsberg returned the port to operation and the ships salvaged were added to the Allies' merchant fleets. During his work in Massawa, Ellsberg reported to the Lend Lease coordinator in Cairo, Egypt, US Army Major General Russell Maxwell. Ellsberg renamed the SS Liebenfels, a large German freighter, salvaged and refitted at Massawa, the General Russell Maxwell. He described the salvage of the port of Massawa in his book Under the Red Sea Sun. Ellsberg was promoted to captain by presidential order on June 19, 1942. The next year he was awarded the Legion of Merit by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in honor of his salvage efforts in Massawa.

In Under the Red Sea Sun, Ellsberg complained that the American contractor that was assigned to give him administrative support was very unhelpful, but he did not name that company. The company, Johnson, Drake & Piper, itself claimed credit for clearing the port in the privately printed book, "Middle East War Projects of Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc., for the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, 1942–1943" (New York: Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc., 1943). That book contains photographs and drawings showing wartime projects around the Middle East.

From Massawa, Ellsberg went to North Africa to become Principal Salvage Officer in that theater. He worked under Admiral Andrew Cunningham, the British officer commanding naval forces in the area. Ellsberg's activities were detailed in his book No Banners, No Bugles.

Ellsberg, worn out from constant work, was ordered home in early 1943 to recuperate.

After a time inspecting ship construction activities, Ellsberg was sent to England in time for the Normandy Invasion, where he was instrumental in setting up the Mulberry harbour off the Normandy Beach. He also prepared 89 damaged or superannuated ships for scuttling to make artificial harbors. That operation gained him great admiration in Britain where he was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Ellsberg described his experiences in his book, The Far Shore.

Retirement
He rose to the rank of rear admiral before he retired from active duty in 1951 to enjoy Maine and Florida with his wife of 33 years. He continued to write, to lecture, and to consult on engineering projects. He died in 1983 at the age of 91, and is buried in Willimantic, Connecticut.

Decorations
Rear Admiral Ellsberg's ribbon bar:

Publications
Writing was an Ellsberg hobby. He wrote many articles and reports. His books include the following:
 * Report on Salvage Operations: Submarine S-51. (Washington: US GPO, 1927)
 * On the Bottom. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1929)
 * Thirty Fathoms Deep. Fiction, The first in a trilogy of salvaging gold from the Santa Cruz shipwreck, (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1930)
 * Pigboats. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1931) Adapted for the movie Hell Below (1933)
 * S-54, Stories of the Sea. ( New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1932)
 * Ocean Gold. The second in a trilogy of salvaging gold from the Santa Cruz shipwreck, (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1935)
 * Spanish Ingots. The third in a trilogy of salvaging gold from the Santa Cruz shipwreck, republished under the titles "Submarine Treasure" & "Treasure Below". (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1936)
 * Hell on Ice: The Saga of the 'Jeannette'. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1938) See the article on the USS Jeannette (1878)
 * Men Under the Sea. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1939)
 * Treasure Below. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1940)
 * Captain Paul. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1941)
 * 'I Have Just Begun To Fight!' the Story of John Paul Jones. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1942)
 * Under the Red Sea Sun. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1946)
 * No Banners, No Bugles. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1949)
 * Cruise of the Jeannette, 1949, about the Jeannette Expedition
 * Passport for Jennifer. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Compney, 1952)
 * Mid Watch, a Novel. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1954)
 * The Far Shore. (New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, 1960)

See related

 * John Alden. Salvage man : Edward Ellsberg and the United States Navy. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1998)
 * "Ellsberg, Edward". ''The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography" (1942). F:116–117.
 * "Ellsberg, Edward 1891–". Contemporary Authors, 5–8 (First Revision):347–348. 1969.
 * "Ellsberg, Edward 1891–". Something About the Author, 7:78–79. 1975.
 * "Edward Ellsberg, Naval Salvage Expert, Dies" New York Times. January 26, 1983. Page 17.

title: Edward Ellsberg


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Adela Peña

Adela Peña is an American violinist best known as a founding member of the Eroica Trio.

She was born in New York City and began playing the violin at age 4. In New York, she studied at the Henry Street Music School with violin/viola teacher Rochelle Walton.

She began playing with Erika Nickrenz, the trio pianist, when they were both 9. She has a bachelor's and a master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music, where she won the Mendelssohn Violin Competition. She also won the Washington International Competition.

Peña was the violinist for the Eroica Trio from its founding until 2006, when she left the ensemble. she performs with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Adela Peña


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Harry Porter

Harry Franklin Porter (August 31, 1882 in Bridgeport, Connecticut – June 27, 1965) was a high jumper from the United States of America. He was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, and won gold in the High Jump in the 1908 Summer Olympics setting an Olympic record at mark of 6'3".

Porter was born on August 31, 1882 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and graduated from Cornell University in 1905.

According to his 1910 trading card; "it was not until after his graduation that he became imbued with the athletic spirit. In 1907 and 1908, Porter won the National Amateur Athletic Union championship indoor running high jump title, making a new record, 6ft 1½ inches, and in the latter year he won the outdoor National and Metropolitan Amateur Athletic Union championship." Porter won five United States championships, including four AAU high jump championships, from 1908 to 1911.

Porter used a modified scissors jump to set a new Olympic record of 1.905m (6ft 3in).

Porter also helped found the Society of Industrial Engineers in 1907.

Porter was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, and into the Niagara Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010.

title: Harry Porter


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Springbok Radio

Springbok Radio (spelled Springbokradio in Afrikaans, ) was a South African nationwide radio station that operated from 1950 to 1985.

History
SABC's decision in December 1945 to develop a commercial service was constrained by post-war financial issues. After almost five years of investigation and after consulting Lord Reith of the BBC and the South African government, it decided to introduce commercial radio to supplement the SABC's public service English and Afrikaans networks and help solve the SABC's financial problems. The SABC would build the equipment and facilities and would place them at the disposal of advertisers and their agencies at cost for productions and allow them to make use of SABC's production staff.

On 1 May 1950, the first commercial radio station in South Africa, Springbok Radio, took to the air. Bilingual in English and Afrikaans, it broadcast from the Johannesburg Centre for 113 and a half hours a week. The service proved so popular with advertisers at its launch that commercial time had been booked well in advance. The service started at 6:43am with the music Vat Jou Goed en Trek, Ferreira. The first voice on air was that of Eric Egan, well remembered for his daily "Corny Crack" and catch phrase "I Love You".

Many drama programmes during the 1950s were imported from Australia, but as more funding became available, Springbok Radio produced almost all its programmes within South Africa through a network of independent production houses. By the end of 1950, some 30 per cent of Springbok Radio shows were produced by South African talent or material and independent productions were sold to sponsors. At the same time all air time had been sold or used and transmission time was extended. By the end of the 1950s, the revenue of Springbok Radio was £205,439, in 1961 it had grown to over two million rand (£1 million) and by 1970 had reached R 6.5 million.

By 1985, Springbok Radio was operating at a heavy loss. Stiff competition from television, despite the late arrival of the medium in 1976, saw Springbok Radio's urban listenership sharply decline and it lost all listeners in rural areas with the handing over of its shortwave frequencies to Radio 5. Springbok Radio ceased broadcasting on 31 December 1985.

List of programmes
Springbok Radio's programme schedules reflected the white, primarily English-speaking, suburban lifestyle of the period, when many women were housewives. Weekday schedules broadly comprised a breakfast session (05:00 – 08:30), women's programmes (08:30 – 14:00), Afrikaans soap operas (14:00 – 16:15), teatime chat shows (16:15 – 16:45), children's programmes (16:45–18:15), dinnertime programmes (18:15 – 19:00), the main news bulletin (19:00 – 19:15), and family shows (19:15 – 24:00). Saturday programmes were generally light: music, sitcoms and quizzes. Sunday was more sedate: music, chat shows, requests for the armed forces (during the 1970s and 1980s), news commentary and drama. For several years from its start in 1950 there were no advertisements on Sundays.

Programmes included:

Children's

 * The Adventures of Jet Jungle (1973–1985) – "most amazing man of our time"; created by Brian O'Shaughnessy and sponsored for many years by the Tiger Oats Company makers of Jungle Oats and Black Cat Peanut Butter
 * The Air Adventures of Hop Harrigan (1950–1957) – from Australia
 * The BP Smurf Show (1982–1985)
 * The Casey Kids (1960s)
 * Chappies Chipmunk Club
 * Luck of the Legion (1979)
 * My Pal Shep (1960s)
 * Ricky Roper, Schoolboy Detective
 * Superman (1950–1957) – from Australia
 * Tarzan, King of the Apes (1950–1955) – from Australia
 * The Twilight Ranger (1950–1953) – originally from Australia

Comedy/variety

 * Father, Dear Father (1974–1985) – produced by Tom Meehan
 *  Friends and Neighbours – Pat Simpson and Valerie Miller-Brown (later Jim Williams and Bella Mariani) as the Duffs, David Horner and Gillian Lomberg as the Loaders; and Frank Graham
 * The Goode Life (1969–1971)
 * Leave It to Van der Merwe
 * Life with Dexter (1967–1969) – from Australia
 * Loudspeaker Show
 * The Men from the Ministry (1969–1985) – "the bowler, briefcase and brolly brigade"; produced by Tom Meehan, starring John Simpson, Roger Service, Maureen Adair, Tommy Reed, Frank Graham, Tom Meehan and Pat Simpson; adapted from the BBC radio series
 * The Navy Lark (1973–1985) – "the craziest crew afloat"; adapted from the BBC radio series
 * Next Stop Makouvlei (1969–1972)
 * The Nugget Bunkhouse Show (early 1950s) from Australia, where it was simply known as The Bunkhouse Show
 * The Pip Freedman Show (1968–1985)
 * Taxi (1969–1972) (1975–1978) – "the trials and tribulations of a New York taxi driver"; written and produced by Joe Stewardson; directed by David Gooden at the Sonovision Studios, Johannesburg. It starred George Korelin as Chuck Edwards, Tony Jay as Red Kowalski and Patricia Sanders as Mertyl. The series started its run on Sunday evenings in 1969 and ended in 1972. A second season of the series started in 1975 and continued until 1978 on Monday evenings. Some of the second-season episodes were written by Tony Jay and George Korelin. During the second season Tony Jay briefly left the series and the role was taken over by actor Adrian Egan. Tony however returned and the series became just as popular as what it was during the original run. Due to the success of the series, a full feature film was made in South Africa by Killarney Film Studios in 1971, starring the original stars from the radio series. The series is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Mondays.
 * The Bloodhounds (1975–1976)

Documentary

 * Call Back the Past (1968–1982) – devised and presented by Percy Sieff; the series was broadcast every Tuesday evening at 18h45; it is being rebroadcast at present on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Tuesdays
 * Cameos of the Holy Land (1981–1985) – compiled and presented by David Brown

Drama

 * Death Touched My Shoulder (1966–1970)
 * General Motors on Safari (1965–1969) – highly acclaimed series of the African Bushveld. Most episodes were dramatised stories, although some of them were presented as true-life documentary. The series was produced by Michael McCabe and was broadcast on Friday evenings at 19h30. Sponsored throughout its run by General Motors South Africa. The series is being rebroadcast at present on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Tuesdays.
 * High Adventure (1972–1985) – a series of dramatised adventure dramas. Replaced the series "Next Stop Makouvlei" on Tuesday evenings. The series was directed by Henry Diffenthal at the Olympia Recording Studios in Durban. Writers included Ron Evans, Denver Morgan, Norman Partington etc. The series moved to Thursday evenings in 1976 and then Saturday evenings in 1979 and ended in June 1985. Rebroadcasts of the series can be heard on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio on Tuesdays.
 * Medical File (1969–1973, 1975–1979)
 * Scoop (1974–1977) – true stories that have made headlines; produced by Delphine Lethbridge; can currently be heard every Friday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * Tales of Antiquity (1975–1976) – written and produced by Kenneth Hendel; broadcast on Springbok Radio, on Saturday evenings; the original series ran for 30 minutes per episode; the series made a brief appearance on Radio South Africa in 1986 but this time running for only 15 minutes
 * Tales from the Seven Seas (1974–1979) – written by Annette McKenzie and Jack Mullen and Produced by Andre Bothma; can be heard every Thursday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * The World of Dick Francis (1981–1984) – dramatised novels
 * The World of Hammond Innes – dramatised novels

Courtroom/detective/police

 * Address Unknown (1956–1970) – originally from Australia. In 1960 after the Australian run, the series was written and produced in South Africa. Many of the episodes were written in SA by Adrian Steed who also played one of the lead roles. The main role of Henry Simon was played by Stuart Brown. The series aired on Saturday evenings and was produced at the Herrick Merrill Studios in Johannesburg.
 * Consider Your Verdict (1954–1985) – "it's time for you to take your place on the jury"; written and produced by Michael Silver at the CRC Studios in Johannesburg; this series started in 1954 after a run of the Australian series Famous Jury Trials; the series aired on Tuesday evenings until 1979, when it moved to Tuesday mornings; ended in June 1985
 * The Epic Casebook (1957–1985) – "in which Inspector Carr investigates"; the highly successful detective series, starring Hugh Rouse as Inspector Carr. It was written and produced by Michael Silver at the CRC Studios, Johannesburg. The series aired originally on Thursday evenings at 21h30, sponsored by the Epic Oil Company of S.A. In 1977 the sponsorship ended and the series was renamed "Inspector Carr Investigates" and moved to the earlier slot of 20h30. The first actor to play Inspector Carr was Don Davis, he was replaced in 1959 by Hugh Rouse. Don returned briefly in 1964 for 14 episodes. However Hugh Rouse made this series his own. A short lived television series was made by the SABC in the early 1980s with Michael McCabe, playing the famous Inspector. The transformation from radio to television was a total disaster. The series ended in June 1985 on Springbok Radio. A local Johannesburg radio station, Radio Today 1485am, tried to revive the series in 1997, copyright issues could not be cleared up and the idea was abandoned. The series is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Thursdays.
 * The Sounds of Darkness (1967–1974) – "Lee Masters, the blind detective"; written by Brian O'Shaughnessy and Louis Ife; produced by Gerrie van Wyk; starring Tony Jay as Lee Masters (1967–1972), Louis Ife as Lee Masters (1973–1974), James White, Hugh Rouse and Brian O'Shaughnessy; can be heard every Tuesday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * Squad Cars (1969–1985) – "they prowl the empty streets at night"; produced by Colin Fish and directed by David Gooden at the Sonovision Studios, Johannesburg; writers included Adrian Steed, Bev Peirce and Anthony Fridjhon; narrated by Hugh Rouse (1969), Adrian Steed (1969–1971) and Malcolm Gooding (1971–1985), and starring Dana Niehaus as Lieutenant Labuschagne. The series originally aired on Sunday evenings unsponsored. When the series "General Motors on Safari", which aired on Friday evenings came to an end in 1969, the series moved to the popular 19h30 slot on Fridays and remained there until 1979. It moved to the 20h30 slot in 1979 where it remained until June 1985 when the series came to an end. The series is currently being rebroadcast by the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Fridays.
 * Best Sellers (1980–1985) – "featuring great works by famous authors of today and yesterday"; originally aired Monday to Friday at 9pm.; moved to the 12h30 slot in July 1985; is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Thursdays
 * Springbok 930 Dossier (1980–1985) – "from the files of interesting and fascinating people"; originally aired Monday to Friday at 21h30; it moved to the 09h30 slot in July 1985; the series is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Wednesdays
 * The Stories of Sherlock Holmes (1979–1985) – starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan as Holmes and Watson; produced by Michael Silver; broadcast on Sunday evenings at 6pm; can be heard every Sunday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio

Espionage

 * The Avengers (1972–1973)
 * The Man They Couldn't Kill
 * My Name's Adam Kane – written by Dale Cutts and produced by Margaret Heale; it aired on Springbok Radio between 1973 and 1985, and then had a short run on Radio South Africa in 1986. It starred Don McCorkindale as Adam Kane until 1979 and then Richard Cox took over the role. It aired on Saturday nights at 21h30 and in 1979 it was moved to the 12h30 slot. The series is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Wednesdays.
 * Paul Vaga
 * Woman in Danger (1977–1979) – written by Brian O'Shaughnessy and produced by Gerrie van Wyk

Soap opera

 * Agent 0-008 en K00S (1981–1984)
 * Die Banneling
 * Basis Bravo (1982–1984) – written by Gerhard Venter
 * Brug oor Satansvallei (1976–1978)
 * Bruid vir 'n Gestorwe Man (1983–1985)
 * Doelwit R.S.A. (1979–1981)
 * Dr Marius Hugo
 * From Crystal, With Love
 * Die Geheim van Nantes (1973–1974)
 * Die Indringer
 * Liefdeslied (1953–1959)
 * Die Mannheim Saga (1982–1983) – written by Lerina Erasmus
 * My Hartjie My Liefie (1984–1985) – written by Lerina Erasmus
 * Oupa Jasper (1974–1975) – written by Mike Heine; this serial was redone again in 1997, with Zach du Plessis playing Oupa Jasper; it can currently be heard every Tuesday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * Die Vrou van Shangetti (1981–1983)
 * Wolwedans in die Skemer (1982–1983) – written by Leon van Nierop

Supernatural

 * Beyond Midnight (1968–1969) – horror dramas, adapted and produced by Michael McCabe
 * Call of the Sea
 * The Creaking Door (1964–1969) – "the creaking door is opening, so do come in"; based on the long running American radio series The Inner Sanctum Mysteries; this series was produced by Michael Silver and for many years was sponsored by State Express 555 Cigarettes; it can currently be heard on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and is aired every Friday
 * The Eleventh Hour (1963–1971) – the first 52 episodes originated from Australia; from 1964 the stories were all original and produced in South Africa; this series is currently being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Saturdays
 * Hitchcock's Half Hour (1973–1984) – adapted by Michael McCabe
 * SF'68 (1968) – science fiction drama, adapted and produced in Johannesburg by Michael McCabe
 * Suspense (1968–1970) (1982–1985) – original series adapted by Michael McCabe, second series from numerous writers and producers

Games shows/quizzes

 * Bingo at Home (1959–1970) – hosted by John Walker and later by Douglas Laws
 * Castle Lager Key Game
 * Check Your Mate (1973–1985) – the family quiz game, hosted in Cape Town by Percy Sieff and Judy Henderson
 * The Cold Power Hotline (1973–1978) – produced by Gerrie van Wyk
 * Dial A Tune (1975–1984) – hosted by David Gresham
 * Eyegene Jackpot Show (1964–1971) – hosted by Bob Courtney
 * Fun with the Forces (1976–1980)
 * Hundred Thousand to Go
 * More Miles with Mobil
 * Number Please
 * Pick a Box (1955–1975) – "the money or the box?"; originally hosted by Jack Bryant and Kim Shippey; produced by National Studios, Durban; later by Bob Courtney and Peter Lotis
 * Quiz Kids – hosted by Henry Howell
 * Road to Fortune (1975–1976) – hosted by Donald Monat, devised by Paul Beresford and June Dixon
 * Super Dooper Shopper Show (1976–1983)
 * Test the Team (1954–1985) – "... the three wise men ..."
 * Twenty-One - sponsored by Drive detergent and later Skip detergent
 * Venture (1967–1985) - "the exciting, dangerous quiz game"; hosted by Kim Shippey and Neville Dawson

Greetings/requests

 * Hospitaaltyd (1957–1979) - "daar's 'n lied en 'n glimlag vir jou ..."; aired every weekday Monday to Friday at 12h30 from 1957 to 1979; hosted by Dulcie van den Berg and produced at the CRC Studios in Johannesburg; the popular signature tune was composed by Bob Courtney and the vocals are performed by Jimmy Rayson

Interviews/chat shows

 * Guess Who with All Gold – presented by Stuart Brown
 * In Town Tonight (later simply Tonight)
 * Springbok Spotlight
 * Tea with Mr Green – presented by Leslie Green

Music

 * The David Gresham Show (1985) – with a nightly pop news spot by Jani Allan
 * Esmé's Music Album – Sunday night music programme, presented by Esmé Euvrard
 * From the Bell Tower (1964–1985) – religious music programme hosted by Simon Swindell in Cape Town; broadcast every Sunday at noon; can currently be heard every Sunday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * Keep it Country (1976–1985) – hosted by Lance James; moved to Radio Orion after the closure of Springbok Radio; restarted in 1997 on Radio Today 1485AM. The programme is also aired every Friday on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio
 * Memories Are Made of This / Ek dink nog aan die dae (1972–1985) – musical request programme which aired at 17h00 on Sundays; hosted by Isador Davis, Evelyn Martin, Paul Beresford and Eric Cordell
 * Mr Walker Wants to Play – presented by John Walker
 * Musical Moneybox – Munt Uit Musiek (1973–1985)
 * Pepsodent Platter Parade – pop; presented in London by Bob Holness and produced in Durban by Henry Diffenthal
 * The Springbok 4:30 Special (1982–1985) – pop
 * The Springbok 5:30 Special (1977–1982)
 * Radio Jukebox – Radio Speelkas (1950– ?)
 * Radio Record Club – pop, presented by Peter Lotis
 * Springbok Radio Top 20 – pop
 * The Voice of Firestone (1955–1965) – featuring the Firestone Strings, conducted by Jay Wilbur

News/current affairs

 * Deadline Thursday Night – "for your edification and your delight"' later Deadline Monday Night
 * Top Level
 * The World at Seven P.M. (1957–1985)
 * World News and Africa Survey

Radio plays

 * Castle Playhouse – "from the stages and studios, producers and playwrights of the world"; later Playhouse 90
 * Lux Radio Theatre aka Radio Theatre (1950–1985) – "the finest in radio drama" – This was the longest-running series on Springbok Radio, which started on the very first night of Springbok Radio's opening day. Many of the episodes from the early 1950s were rebroadcasts of Australian made episodes. The series originally aired at 20h30 on Monday evenings until 1979 when the series moved to the earlier 20h00 slot. The main sponsors of the series was Lever Brothers until 1978, after which the sponsorship ended and the series was renamed "Radio Theatre". The series ended in June 1985. Certain selected episodes are being rebroadcast on the Internet Radio Service of Springbok Radio and can be heard on Mondays.
 * Shell Theatre of the Air (1967–1972)
 * Sunlight Theatre of the Air (1950–67)
 * Tuesday Theatre (1972–1985)

Science fiction

 * The Mind of Tracy Dark (1974–1978) – aired Monday to Friday at 19h15; starring Erica Rogers as Tracy Dark; written by Dennis Folbigge and recorded at the Sonovision Studios, Johannesburg; produced by David Gooden.
 * No Place To Hide (1958–1970) – "the world's strangest investigator, Mark Saxon"; created by Monty Doyle; later scripts were written by Adrian Steed; the serial starred Dewar McCormack, Brian O'Shaughnessy, Paddy O'Byrne, Adrian Steed, Stuart Brown and Bruce Anderson
 * Probe (1969)
 * Strangers from Space (1961–1963)

Show business

 * Movie-Go-Round – presented by Pierre Louw
 * Springbok Spotlight – "you're right on the beam"; presented by Neville Dawson

Women's interest

 * Midday Mirror – changed to Weekend Mirror in 1980; hosted by Hugh Rouse; co-hosts included Valerie Dunlop, Patricia Sanders and Clare Marshall; produced by CRC Studios, Johannesburg
 * Nestlé Greets The Bride – hosted by Bob Courtney
 * So Maak Mens (1957–1985) -hosted by Esme Euvrard and Jan Cronje; moved to Radio Suid-Afrika after the closure of Springbok Radio in 1985 and finally went off air in 1987
 * Women's Forum – hosted by Nan Fletcher

Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, this was a non-profit organisation which had collected and archived all sorts of material including sound recordings and photographs related to Springbok Radio. It housed the biggest sound recording archive of the station in the world and was an internationally recognised sound archive. The Society was formed in 2002 by Frans Erasmus in Johannesburg. The archive held many original recordings on tape, reel to reel and transcription discs and also has many private off-air recordings of the station. The society was engaged in a restoration project, transferring the analogue recordings to a digital format. On 1 July 2008, this Society launched Springbok Radio Digital, a service where many of the restored programmes can be heard.

On 8 May 2012, the archives of the Society was handed over to the SABC Sound Archive.

The Springbok Radio Preservation Society website currently broadcasts an eight-hour weekday programme (Monday 06:00 to Friday 06:00) and a weekend programme (Friday 06:00 to Monday 06:00). The programming is distinct from that of the SABC's Springbok Radio Digital listed below.

Springbok Radio Digital / Springbokradio Digitaal
This is a creation of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa with assistance from the SABC, in which certain of the Society's restored programmes are streamed. The service started operating on 1 October 2008 and operates a 12-hour service from Mondays to Sundays, repeated four times. The service concentrates on presenting a selection of old time Springbok Radio programming restored and preserved at the Springbok Radio Preservation Society Archive.

Springbok Radio Digital was officially handed over to the SABC Sound Archive on 8 May 2012.

title: Springbok Radio


text:
Laminin

Laminins are a family of glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix of all animals. They are major constituents of the basement membrane, namely the basal lamina (the protein network foundation for most cells and organs). Laminins are vital to biological activity, influencing cell differentiation, migration, and adhesion.

Laminins are heterotrimeric proteins with a high molecular mass (~400 to ~900 kDa) and possess three different chains (α, β, and γ) encoded by five, four, and three paralogous genes in humans, respectively. The laminin molecules are named according to their chain composition, e.g. laminin-511 contains α5, β1, and γ1 chains. Fourteen other chain combinations have been identified in vivo. The trimeric proteins intersect, composing a cruciform structure that is able to bind to other molecules of the extracellular matrix and cell membrane. The three short arms have an affinity for binding to other laminin molecules, conducing sheet formation. The long arm is capable of binding to cells and helps anchor organized tissue cells to the basement membrane.

Laminins are integral to the structural scaffolding of almost every tissue of an organism—secreted and incorporated into cell-associated extracellular matrices. These glycoproteins are imperative to the maintenance and vitality of tissues; defective laminins can cause muscles to form improperly, leading to a form of muscular dystrophy, lethal skin blistering disease (junctional epidermolysis bullosa), and/or defects of the kidney filter (nephrotic syndrome).

Types
In humans, fifteen laminin trimers have been identified. The laminins are combinations of different alpha-, beta-, and gamma-chains.

 * Five alpha-chain isoforms: LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3 (which has three splice forms), LAMA4, LAMA5
 * Four beta-chain isoforms: LAMB1, LAMB2, LAMB3, LAMB4 (note that no known laminin trimer incorporates LAMB4 and its function remains poorly understood).
 * Three gamma-chain isoforms: LAMC1, LAMC2, LAMC3

Laminins were previously numbered as they were discovered, i.e., laminin-1, laminin-2, laminin-3, etc., but the nomenclature was changed to describe which chains are present in each isoform (laminin-111, laminin-211, etc.). In addition, many laminins had common names before either laminin nomenclature was in place.

Function
Laminins form independent networks and are associated with type IV collagen networks via entactin, fibronectin, and perlecan. The proteins also bind to cell membranes through integrins and other plasma membrane molecules, such as the dystroglycan glycoprotein complex and Lutheran blood group glycoprotein. Through these interactions, laminins critically contribute to cell attachment and differentiation, cell shape and movement, maintenance of tissue phenotype, and promotion of tissue survival. Some of these biological functions of laminin have been associated with specific amino-acid sequences or fragments of laminin. For example, the peptide sequence [GTFALRGDNGDNGQ], which is located on the alpha-chain of laminin, promotes the adhesion of endothelial cells.

Laminin alpha4 is distributed in a variety of tissues, including peripheral nerves, dorsal root ganglion, skeletal muscle, and capillaries; in the neuromuscular junction, it is required for synaptic specialisation. The structure of the laminin-G domain has been predicted to resemble that of pentraxin.

Role in neural development
Laminin-111 is a major substrate along which nerve axons will grow, both in vivo and in vitro. For example, it lays down a path that developing retinal ganglion cells follow on their way from the retina to the tectum. It is also often used as a substrate in cell culture experiments. The presence of laminin-1 can influence how the growth cone responds to other cues. For example, growth cones are repelled by netrin when grown on laminin-111 but are attracted to netrin when grown on fibronectin. This effect of laminin-111 probably occurs through a lowering of intracellular cyclic AMP.

Role in peripheral nerve repair
Laminins are enriched at the lesion site after peripheral nerve injury and are secreted by Schwann cells. Neurons of the peripheral nervous system express integrin receptors that attach to laminins and promote neuroregeneration after injury.

Pathology
Dysfunctional structure of one particular laminin, laminin-211, is the cause of one form of congenital muscular dystrophy. Laminin-211 is composed of α2, β1, and γ1 chains. This laminin's distribution includes the brain and muscle fibers. In muscle, it binds to alpha-dystroglycan and integrin alpha7—beta1 via the G domain, and via the other end, it binds to the extracellular matrix.

Abnormal laminin-332, essential for epithelial cell adhesion to the basement membrane, leads to junctional epidermolysis bullosa, characterized by generalized blisters, exuberant granulation tissue of the skin and mucosa, and pitted teeth.

Malfunctional laminin-521 in the kidney filter causes leakage of protein into the urine and nephrotic syndrome.

Role in cancer
Some of the laminin isoforms have been implicated in cancer pathophysiology. The majority of transcripts that harbor an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) are involved in cancer development via corresponding proteins. A crucial event in tumor progression, referred to as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows carcinoma cells to acquire invasive properties. The translational activation of the extracellular matrix component laminin B1 (LAMB1) during EMT has been recently reported, suggesting an IRES-mediated mechanism. The IRES activity of LamB1 was determined by independent bicistronic reporter assays. Strong evidence excludes an impact of cryptic promoter or splice sites on IRES-driven translation of LamB1. Furthermore, no other LamB1 mRNA species arising from alternative transcription start sites or polyadenylation signals were detected that account for its translational control. Mapping of the LamB1 5'-untranslated region (UTR) revealed the minimal LamB1 IRES motif between -293 and -1 upstream of the start codon. RNA affinity purification demonstrated that the La protein interacts with the LamB1 IRES. This interaction and its regulation during EMT were confirmed by ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation. La is able to positively modulate LamB1 IRES translation, so LamB1 IRES is activated by binding to La which leads to translational upregulation during hepatocellular EMT.

Use in cell culture
Together with other major components of the ECM, such as collagens and fibronectin, laminins have been used to enhance mammalian cell culture, especially in the case of pluripotent stem cells, as well as some primary cell cultures, which can be difficult to propagate on other substrates. Two types of naturally-sourced laminins are commercially available: Laminin-111, extracted from mouse sarcomas, and laminin mixtures from human placenta, which may primarily correspond to laminin-211, 411, or 511, depending on the provider. The various laminin isoforms are practically impossible to isolate from tissues in pure form due to extensive cross-linking and the need for harsh extraction conditions, such as proteolytic enzymes or low pH, that cause degradation. Therefore, recombinant laminins have been produced since the year 2000. This made it possible to test if laminins could have a significant role in vitro as they have in the human body. In 2008, two groups independently showed that mouse embryonic stem cells can be grown for months on top of recombinant laminin-511. Later, Rodin et al. showed that recombinant laminin-511 can be used to create a xeno-free and defined cell culture environment to culture human pluripotent ES cells and human iPS cells.

Laminin domains
Laminins contain several conserved protein domains.

Laminin I and Laminin II
Laminins are trimeric molecules; laminin-1 is an alpha1 beta1 gamma1 trimer. It has been suggested that the domains I and II from laminin A, B1 and B2 may come together to form a triple helical coiled-coil structure.

Laminin B
The laminin B domain (also known as domain IV) is an extracellular module of unknown function. It is found in a number of different proteins that include, heparan sulphate proteoglycan from basement membrane, a laminin-like protein from Caenorhabditis elegans and laminin. Laminin IV domain is not found in short laminin chains (alpha4 or beta3).

Laminin EGF-like
Beside different types of globular domains each laminin subunit contains, in its first half, consecutive repeats of about 60 amino acids in length that include eight conserved cysteines. The tertiary structure of this domain is remotely similar in its N-terminus to that of the EGF-like module. It is also known as a 'LE' or 'laminin-type EGF-like' domain. The number of copies of the laminin EGF-like domain in the different forms of laminins is highly variable; from 3 up to 22 copies have been found. In mouse laminin gamma-1 chain, the seventh LE domain has been shown to be the only one that binds with a high affinity to nidogen. The binding-sites are located on the surface within the loops C1-C3 and C5-C6. Long consecutive arrays of laminin EGF-like domains in laminins form rod-like elements of limited flexibility, which determine the spacing in the formation of laminin networks of basement membranes.

Laminin G
The laminin globular (G) domain, also known as the LNS (Laminin-alpha, Neurexin and Sex hormone-binding globulin) domain, is on average 177 amino acids in length and can be found in one to six copies in various laminin family members as well as in a large number of other extracellular proteins. For example, all laminin alpha-chains have five laminin G domains, all collagen family proteins have one laminin G domain, the CNTNAP proteins have four laminin G domains, while neurexin 1 and 2 each hold six laminin G domains. On average, approximately one quarter of the proteins that hold laminin G domains is taken up by these laminin G domains themselves. The smallest laminin G domain can be found in one of the collagen proteins (COL24A1; 77 AA) and the largest domain in TSPEAR (219 AA).

The exact function of the Laminin G domains has remained elusive, and a variety of binding functions has been ascribed to different Laminin G modules. For example, the laminin alpha1 and alpha2 chains each have five C-terminal laminin G domains, where only domains LG4 and LG5 contain binding sites for heparin, sulphatides and the cell surface receptor dystroglycan. Laminin G-containing proteins appear to have a wide variety of roles in cell adhesion, signalling, migration, assembly and differentiation.

Laminin N-terminal
Basement membrane assembly is a cooperative process in which laminins polymerise through their N-terminal domain (LN or domain VI) and anchor to the cell surface through their G domains. Netrins may also associate with this network through heterotypic LN domain interactions. This leads to cell signalling through integrins and dystroglycan (and possibly other receptors) recruited to the adherent laminin. This LN domain-dependent self-assembly is considered to be crucial for the integrity of basement membranes, as highlighted by genetic forms of muscular dystrophy containing the deletion of the LN module from the alpha 2 laminin chain. The laminin N-terminal domain is found in all laminin and netrin subunits except laminin alpha 3A, alpha 4 and gamma 2.

Human proteins containing laminin domains

 * Laminin domain I: all laminin alpha chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA4, LAMA5)
 * Laminin domain II: all laminin alpha chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA4, LAMA5)
 * Laminin B (domain IV): all laminin alpha chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA4, LAMA5), gamma chains (LAMC1, LAMC2, LAMC3), and perlecan (HSPG2)
 * Laminin EGF-like (domains III and V): all laminin chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA4, LAMA5, LAMB1, LAMB2, LAMB3, LAMB4, LAMC1, LAMC2, LAMC3), attractins (ATRN, ATRNL1), cadherin EGF LAG seven-pass G-type receptors (CELSR1, CELSR2, CELSR3), cysteine-rich with EGF-like domain proteins (CRELD1, CRELD2), multiple EGF-like domain proteins (MEGF6, MEGF8, MEGF9, MEGF10, PEAR1), most netrins (NTN1, NTN3, NTN4, NTNG1, NTNG2), mucins 3A and 3B (MUC3A, MUC3B), class F scavenger receptors (SCARF1, SCARF2), stabilins (STAB1, STAB2), agrin (AGRIN), angiopoietin-1 receptor (TEK), perlecan (HSPG2), tenascin N (TNN), and usherin (USH2A).
 * Laminin G domain: all laminin alpha chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA4, LAMA5), cadherin EGF LAG seven-pass G-type receptors (CELSR1, CELSR2, CELSR3), contactin-associated proteins (CNTNAP1, CNTNAP2, CNTNAP3, CNTNAP3B, CNTNAP4, CNTNAP5), some collagens (COL5A1, COL5A3, COL9A1, COL11A1, COL11A2, COL12A1, COL14A1, COL15A1, COL16A1, COL18A1, COL19A1, COL20A1, COL21A1, COL22A1, COL24A1, COL27A1), crumbs homologs 1 and 2 (CRB1, CRB2), fat homologs (FAT1, FAT2, FAT3, FAT4), NEL-like proteins (NELL1, NELL2), neurexins (NRXN1, NRXN2, NRXN3), slit homologs (SLIT1, SLIT2, SLIT3), thrombospondins (THBS1, THBS2, THBS3, THBS4, TSPEAR), agrin (AGRIN), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), eyes shut homolog (EYS), growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6), perlecan (HSPG2), pikachurin (EGFLAM), protein S (PROS1), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and usherin (USH2A)
 * Laminin N-terminal (domain VI): most laminin chains (LAMA1, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMA5, LAMB1, LAMB2, LAMB3, LAMB4, LAMC1, LAMC3), most netrins (NTN1, NTN3, NTN4, NTNG1, NTNG2), and usherin (USH2A)

title: Laminin


text:
Harold Gomberg

Harold Gomberg (November 30, 1916 – September 7, 1985) was the principal (first or solo) oboist of the New York Philharmonic from 1943 through 1977.

Born in Malden, Massachusetts, Harold and his brother Ralph studied with Marcel Tabuteau, considered the father of American oboe playing, at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Prior to joining the New York Philharmonic, Gomberg held positions with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony. He was a longtime member of the faculty of the Juilliard School, and recorded several albums of solo oboe repertoire during his long and very distinguished career.

Harold Gomberg was also an avid painter, and was married to the harpist/composer Margret Brill. He died of a heart attack in Capri.

title: Harold Gomberg


text:
SonicStage

SonicStage is a discontinued software product from Sony that is used for managing portable devices when they are plugged into a computer running Microsoft Windows. It comprises a music player and library manager, similar to iTunes, Windows Media Player and RealPlayer. It is used to manage the library of ATRAC (.omg and .oma) and MP3 recordings on a PC.

SonicStage was a requirement to transfer and manage music on all Network Walkman, NetMD and Hi-MD players, and the Clie handheld, before the product was dropped entirely outside of Japan in 2007.

History
SonicStage was first used in Vaio PCs put on the Japanese market in October 2001, and superseded OpenMG Jukebox. Version 2 was found on 2004 model products, and Version 3 on 2005 model products (Sony introduced native MP3 support on its music players in 2005).

The Sony Connect service was used to purchase recordings online, and could be accessed from within the SonicStage program. However, Sony announced that on 31 March 2008, its CONNECT download site would be going offline, affecting SonicStage users. In late 2008, Sony launched a new online music store called "bandit.fm" on a trial basis for a small number of markets. It was expected that Sony would launch bandit.fm globally, however Sony never did this and closed the store in 2016. Japan exclusively uses the mora service, and SonicStage continued to be released for Japanese customers until it was superseded by x-APPLICATION in 2013.

Copying and usage restriction
SonicStage is closely tied to a requirement that the program guard against copyright infractions. Sony music players have a write-only design. Somewhat similar to an Apple iPod, it is not generally possible to move tracks from the music player to the PC hard drive, and thereby from one music player to another. Some earlier models (such as some of the Net-MD line) could not even transfer voice recordings made by the user (with the player's microphone input) to their PC.

Copy restriction is provided by a group of design features and software limitations. The main features being:

In version 3.4, an intermediate update mostly for Hi-MD users, some of the above restrictions are relaxed. SonicStage 3.4 allows tracks recorded via digital or analogue inputs on Hi-MD devices to be transferred back in WAV format. Also, files in Sony's proprietary ATRAC format can now be converted to WAV.
 * 1) The software strictly enforces digital rights management through its use of OpenMG. SonicStage ties the DRM license of each track to the hardware of the computer from which it has been transferred. SonicStage will not allow transfer of tracks from the player to another computer. It is possible, however, to backup "My Library" and import it into another installation of SonicStage on a different computer.
 * 2) Music files have to be "wrapped" by Sony software in order to be played on a Sony music player. Sony has not introduced drag and drop support for music files. Although it is possible to load files directly onto a Sony player without using SonicStage, it is not possible to play music files loaded this way. Neither is it possible in most cases to transfer music files back to a PC. (all versions prior to 3.4)
 * 3) The program does not generally convert OMG/OMA files to MP3 or WAV.
 * 4) The program only supports OMG format, not MP3. The program converts any audio files imported into it into OMG format, including audio files that are not legally downloaded, or illegally copied music.
 * 5) The program lacks a true import album feature for WAV and MP3 files. The program imports tracks as is. MP3 and WAV files cannot generally be used. Imported files cannot be grouped into an album with artist, title and track number fields assigned at the time of import. This has to be done before or after import.
 * 6) When WAV tracks are imported, they remain linked to their WAV source file and the track can only be edited for as long as that file remains on the computer. This makes it difficult to use SonicStage to edit CDs that have been ripped with another program.

MP3 support
Support for MP3 files in both SonicStage and 2005 model devices is unreliable. A 2005 model device may be unable to play low bit rate MP3 tracks.

SonicStage will play ATRAC3 files directly from a digital music device when the latter is connected to the computer and detected by the software. SonicStage 3 does not play DRM-wrapped MP3 files directly from the device.

OpenMG Jukebox
The origins of SonicStage lie in OpenMG Jukebox, which was created for the Memory Stick Walkman (NW-MS7) and VAIO Music Clip, Sony's first digital audio players. It can transfer files in the newly developed ATRAC3 format to these players, or convert existing MP3 files to ATRAC3.

Version 1
Version 1.5 adds native support for ATRAC3plus and Windows Media Audio (WMA). An MP3 encoding plug-in was sold on Sony's on-line stores (SonyStyle Japan: ¥1,590 ), for their Palm device called CLIÉ. This encoding function for WMA/MP3 was removed in SonicStage Version 2.0, which supports only the decoding function.

Version 2
This is the last version of SonicStage before native MP3 devices were introduced by Sony. MP3 is supported by converting the mp3 file to ATRAC format and downloading that file to the device.

The v2 library manager is "benign" in that it sits on top of what is already on the hard drive, and doesn't change what is already there (it will change a filename if the user has configured it as such.) Users can tell it an album exists in a directory, and import that group of files as an album without having the program change the header information in the tracks.

From version 2.1 onwards, all newly created and managed tracks use the newer OpenMG Audio (.oma) format in place of the previous OpenMG (.omg) format. SonicStage added a batch conversion tool to convert older .omg files into .oma.

Version 3
Version 3 uses the header information in the tracks to get album, artist and track name information. The tracks are placed in the database according to what is in the tracks. When the header fields in a track are blank, the program imports the track into the unnamed album (no name, no artist, no album). As a consequence, when importing tracks, many albums are placed into the album called "Unnamed".

Tracks under digital rights management cannot be changed, and neither can tracks with a missing source link.

As noted above, Version 3 lacks an "import album" feature. SonicStage v3 classifies tracks according to the album-related information present in their headers.

2 GB memory sticks are not supported.

Sony added the option to drop DRM on ripped files in SonicStage v3.3.

SonicStage 3.4 includes an option to de-DRM an entire library (the larger it is, the longer it takes) allowing unlimited transfer and playback on PCs. Users can share non-DRM files with other people. The option to de-DRM files does not work on unplayable OMA files.

SonicStage 3.4 can operate on Windows Vista after some manual driver installations.

Version 4 (SonicStage CP)
Adds the ability to import AACLC, as well as HE-AAC.

The main downside is that a number of features, such as the ability to recover from corrupt track lists, are still missing. Restrictions on what non-administrator users could do were due to restrictions imposed by Windows XP and earlier; these restrictions are not present with Windows Vista and later.

Version 4.3 (called SonicStage CP, for Connect Player) adds Windows Vista compatibility (Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit are not officially supported but Sonicstage will run, though there are no drivers for the hardware). As of October 2008, this is the latest version of the English (and other non-Japanese language) SonicStage. From March 29, 2013 onwards this version is no longer available for download from the Sony website.

Version 4.4, released on January 10, 2008 (only in Japan), added HE-AAC transfer function for new Walkmans.

Version 5 (SonicStage V)
SonicStage V is the final version of the Japanese SonicStage, and features a new user interface like SonicStage for LISMO. Version 5.0 released on October 9, 2008 in Japan. On 9 Feb 2009, version 5.1 was released.

SonicStage V does not work with the Hi-MD/Net MD Walkmans, MP3-CD/ATRAC-CD players (such as CD Walkmans) and other old devices.

Successors
At IFA 2007, Sony announced that SonicStage software would be dropped for all future Walkman products. Music management is instead done using drag and drop, the Media Manager of PlayStation Portable, or Windows Media Player 11. In 2008, Sony created a lightweight Windows and Mac software called Content Transfer that provides drag and drop transfer from Windows Media Player and iTunes.

SonicStage for LISMO
SonicStage for LISMO is a stripped-down version of Japanese SonicStage CP, and is a part of the "LISMO Port" suite. Version 1.0 was released on February 1, 2008. SonicStage for LISMO developed for a new ATRAC service (LISMOオーディオ機器連携) of LISMO, the online music store provided by a Japanese mobile phone operator KDDI (au). There are some useful benefits to using LISMO, but little of value for non-LISMO users. The playable codecs are same as SonicStage Version 4.x, but encoding functions are only available for the ATRAC codecs.

As of October 2008, 16 "au" phones (manufactured by Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, Kyocera, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba) support LISMO's ATRAC service.

SonicStage Mastering Studio
SonicStage Mastering Studio is a related Windows software package. It is a music editing tool and initially allowed users to turn analog sound sources into high-quality digital sound sources. It was first released in 2003 and was followed by version 2.0 in 2005.

Criticism
SonicStage was criticized for being user unfriendly and having numerous technical defects. It is only possible to move tracks from the music player to the PC's hard drive, and thereby from one music player to another, if each device/computer is "authorized" to the user's account with the Connect Store for their country. Users from countries that did not have the Connect Store service were limited to one device/computer.

In late 2005, Sony released the Connect Player software for use with their Walkman NW-A series released at the time. That too proved to be problematic to users, forcing Sony to apologize in January 2006 and temporarily take the software off the market.

MP3 File Manager
Sony offers the MP3 File Manager for Network Walkmans as a very limited alternative to SonicStage. It only provides a simple drag-and-drop interface and is lacking many of the newer, more advanced features of SonicStage (such as the ability to transfer files back to the computer).

The application is intended to be installed on the Network Walkman itself. Although it can be run directly on the device, it is not truly a portable application because it requires that the driver be installed on the computer.

The most recent version (2.0) can be downloaded from here or here. There is also an older version (1.2) for older Network Walkmans available here.

VAIO Music Transfer
As mentioned in this forum, the VAIO Music Transfer software allows files to be dragged and dropped onto the player. It may still require SonicStage to be installed. It works with the NW-A700-series and NW-E00XF-series players as well as the NW-HD1 and NW-HD3.

MP3 Conversion Tool
Sony released an MP3 Conversion Tool in 2007, which can be used to convert non-DRM protected ATRAC® format audio files stored on computers to MP3 format audio files. To run the MP3 Conversion Tool, the OpenMG Secure Module is required (included with SonicStage). The tool can be downloaded from Sony's eSupport page.

Third-party alternatives

 * voidMP3FM file manager is free, and supports some features that the official MP3FM does not (e.g. ability to transfer files back to the computer). voidMP3FM works with NW-E002, NW-E003, NW-E005, NW-A608, and (unofficially) NW-E015F, allows transfer of tracks back to HD, and the compatibility is improved in each version (last release was 6 October 2006). It also works under WINE in Linux.
 * JSymphonic is a piece of open-source Java software that works on Linux, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X and can transfer MP3s to and from the Sony NW-E00x series and HDD NW-A series players. It is a continuation of the NW-E00x Mp3 File Manager project.
 * Grab Your Music (GYM) software allows transfer (upload) of audio files back to the computer from the Walkman.
 * ML Sony is a plugin for the multimedia player Winamp. It integrates with Winamp's library and allows the user to transfer MP3s between the PC and the Sony Walkman. It does not require SonicStage to be installed.
 * linux-minidisc is a project to develop free transfer software for all HiMD- and NetMD-Walkman devices. The software features a library libhimd for accessing HiMD-devices and a Qt-based GUI (QHiMDTransfer); these both can be ported to many platforms, including Linux, Windows and Macintosh computers. Currently, upload (i.e. transfer from the Walkman to the PC) of MP3s and PCM/ATRAC3/ATRAC3+-recordings (all HiMD Walkman) is possible, more functionality (downloads to the device, deleting, renaming tracks etc.) is being worked on. NetMD is supported as well (through a collection of Python scripts) in the form of downloads (all NetMD) and uploads (MZ-RH1 only). The sophisticated debugging and reverse-engineering protection of OpenMG/AVLib made development tedious but linux-minidisc is the only software to provide this functionality to date. As of 2022, the most recent release was in January 2019.
 * Web MiniDisc is a utility created by Stefano Brilli that uses portions of the linux-minidisc project under Chrome web browsers. Unlike SonicStage, this utility can be used under 64-bit operating systems.

title: SonicStage


text:
Paul Kray

Baron Paul Kray of Krajova and Topolya (Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova und Topola; Krajovai és Topolyai báró Kray Pál; 5 February 1735 – 19 January 1804), was a soldier, and general in Habsburg service during the Seven Years' War, the War of Bavarian Succession, the Austro–Turkish War (1787–1791), and the French Revolutionary Wars. He was born in Késmárk, Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok, Slovakia).

He withdrew from military service temporarily in 1792 because of poor health, but in 1793, he was recalled to the Habsburg military in the Netherlands at the request of Field Marshal Prince Coburg and fought in the Flanders Campaign.

In 1799 he was appointed commander of the Austrian forces in Italy and Colonel-Proprietor of the Infantry Regiment N.34, a ceremonial position he held until his death. On 18 April 1799, Kray was promoted to Feldzeugmeister. In the 1800 campaign, Kray commanded the Austrian force on the Upper Rhine, charged with the defense of all approaches to Vienna through the German states. After being out-maneuvered by the French, he was disastrously defeated in five consecutive battles. After the Battle of Neuburg, the French acquired both shores of the river, and commanded access to the Danube waterway as far east as Regensburg. During the subsequent armistice, Emperor Francis II replaced Kray with his brother, Archduke John; Kray was discharged on 28 August 1800 and retired to Pest, Hungary. He died there on 19 January 1804. For all his victories, for his fierce competitiveness on the battlefield, the French soldiers referred to him as Le terrible Kray, le fils cher de la victoire and men from both sides attended his funeral in 1804.

Early career
Kray was born in Késmárk, Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok, Slovakia). He was educated in mathematical and other military sciences in Schemnitz and Vienna.

Entering the Austrian army at the age of nineteen in 1754 in the Infantry Regiment 31 "Hallerstein" and fought in the Seven Years' War. In 1778, he was promoted from grenadier captain to major and transferred to Infantry Regiment "Preysach" 39. After the War of Bavarian Succession, he transferred to the 2nd Szeckler Grenz (border) Infantry Regiment as lieutenant colonel. In 1784 he suppressed a Romanian peasants' uprising in Transylvania. Kray served in the Turkish wars of 1787-91. On 10 May 1788, he defeated a superior Turkish force of 5,000 men commanded by Osman Pazvantoğlu and Kara Mustapha Pasha on the borders of Transylvania. He later led the capture of the Krajova fortress; for this, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa on 21 December 1789, in May of the following year, Kray was promoted Generalmajor and subsequently ennobled by Emperor Joseph II with the title of Freiherr "von Krajow und Topolya". In the Austro-Turkish War of 1787 to 1791 he saw active service at Petrozsény and the Vulcan Pass.

War of the First Coalition
Promoted major general in 1790, three years later Kray commanded the advance guard of the Allies under Prince Coburg, operating in Flanders and the Austrian Netherlands. He distinguished himself at Famars, Menin, Wissembourg, Charleroi, Fleurus, and, indeed, at almost every encounter in the Flanders Campaign with the armies of the French Republic. Promoted to Feldmarschalleutnant on 5 March 1796 Kray served in Archduke Charles's Army of the Lower Rhine. On 19 June, after the Battle of Wetzlar, he forced General Jean-Baptiste Kléber to withdraw from Uckerath. He also defeated French General of Division Jourdan in the clash at Limburg on 16 September. He then fought in various actions, including the victory at Amberg on 24 August, and at the Battle of Würzburg as a divisional commander, when he was largely responsible for the victory of Archduke Charles of Austria. On 19 September, he captured the mortally wounded General of Division François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, one of the ablest and bravest French commanders of the day; he returned the corpse to French lines with a guard of honor of the Bethlen Hussars N.35. On 4 March 1796 he received promotion to lieutenant general (Feldmarschal-Leutnant). In the celebrated campaign of 1796, on the Rhine and Danube, he performed conspicuous service as a corps commander. In the following year, he was less successful, being defeated on the Lahn, and at Mainz. Worse, his command was surprised and defeated by the French General Louis-Lazarre Hoche in the Battle of Neuwied of 1797. Kray was accused of negligence; a courts-martial found him guilty and sentenced him to two weeks arrest. He requested to resign in protest but this was denied.

War of the Second Coalition
Kray commanded in Italy in 1799, and reconquered the plain of Lombardy from the French. He won a sharp action at Legnago on 26 March. For his victory over the French at the Battle of Magnano on 5 April, he was promoted Feldzeugmeister (artillery lieutenant general). This victory caused the French army to withdraw to the Adda River. Nevertheless, Kray was replaced when Michael von Melas arrived to take command of the Austrian forces. While the field army won two more major battles, Kray conducted the successful sieges of Peschiera del Garda and Mantua. At the Battle of Novi, he commanded the divisions of Peter Ott and Heinrich Bellegarde. On 6 November, he was defeated by the French in a second clash at Novi Ligure.

The following year he commanded on the Rhine against Jean Moreau. As a consequence of his defeats at the battles of Stockach, Messkirch, Biberach, Iller River, and Höchstädt, Kray was driven into Ulm. However, by a skillful march round Moreau's flank he succeeded in escaping to Bohemia. After a 15 July truce became effective he was relieved of his command by Emperor Francis II and dismissed from the service. Kray's successor, Archduke John of Austria was disastrously defeated at the Battle of Hohenlinden in December.

"Thoroughly discredited and personally demoralized, the once respected general retired to his estates to live out his life in exile. Austrian society could be cruel to its losers. When the Habsburg officer corps shunned him, he was left almost friendless, the memories of his fine service during the Seven Years' War vanished. Later Archduke Charles would write Kray a flattering letter explaining that the boorish behavior directed toward him stemmed from envy over his previous victories."

Kray died in Pest, Hungary on 19 January 1804.

Commentary
Kray was one of the best representatives of the old Austrian army. Tied to an obsolete system, and unable, from habit, to realize the changed conditions of warfare, he failed, but his enemies held him in the highest respect as a brave, skillful, and chivalrous opponent. It was he who, at Altenkirchen, cared for the dying Marceau (1796), and the white uniforms of Kray and his staff mingled with the blue of the French in the funeral procession of the young general of the Republic.

title: Paul Kray