User:Jenmedia/sandbox

=User:jenmedia ⓙ= Hi, this is my Wikipedia "sandbox" workspace -- research, edits, and material shown here is either previously written and published or current work in progress...

=A few (but not all) previously written=
 * Jason Sutter
 * Al Jackson (artist)
 * Nate Najar
 * Lisa Casalino

= Current Work in Progress =


 * Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.

(Excerpt / Draft / Verifying proper template usage here first; ref links/urls not carried over; this is a preliminary draft; reviewing guidelines prior to final edit and publishing)=

Proposing dubious template for the following underlined/italicized excerpts of the existing article:

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. is an American company engaged in deep-ocean exploration with a focus on the exploration, development and validation of subsea mineral resources...  (ref 1 is broken) 

///history

Odyssey was founded in 1994 by shipwreck exploration pioneers Greg Stemm and John Morris.

' Between 1998 and 2001, Odyssey Marine Exploration searched for HMS Sussex and stated that it believed it had located the shipwreck off Gibraltar at a depth of 821 metres. The English ship sank in a storm in 1694 during the War of the Grand Alliance as it was transporting 10 tons of gold coins to buy the allegiance of the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II, against France. '

In September 2002, Odyssey reached an agreement with the British government on a formula for sharing any potential spoils, under which Odyssey would get 80 percent of the proceeds up to $45 million, 50 percent from $45 million to $500 million and 40 percent above $500 million. The British government would get the rest.  The company was poised to start the excavation in the late summer of 2003 according to the approved project plan and engaged Gifford and Partners to assist with archaeological aspects, but the project was delayed when Odyssey discovered and began excavating the SS Republic which continued until early 2003. 

 Odyssey’s first big treasure discovery came in 2003 when they found the Civil War-Era shipwreck of the SS Republic.  An extensive archaeological excavation was conducted that included a pre-disturbance survey and around 2,500 underwater high-resolution images captured and used to create a photomosaic of the entire site. Over 51,000 gold and silver coins were recovered from the site  as well as 14,000 artifacts . Six archaeological reports were written about the shipwreck project and two books were published, Lost Gold of the Republic and Bottles from the Deep. PBS and National Geographic also aired documentaries on the discovery.

The company has also discovered several less famous shipwrecks of archaeological importance including one code-named “Blue China” a 19th Century trading vessel found in 2005 during the company’s search for the Republic. When Odyssey returned to the site in 2005, an extensive amount of post-wreck destruction caused by modern fishing trawl nets dragged over the site was noted. The company moved forward with creating a photomosaic and recovering the remaining artifacts before further destruction occurred.

In December 2005 Odyssey began an archaeological investigation of the site believed to be HMS Sussex. The company adhered to the project plan submitted and accepted by the Sussex Archaeological Executive, a committee of archaeological consultants approved by the UK Government. As of 2009, Odyssey had completed Phase 1A (the non-disturbance survey) and a substantial portion of Phase 1B (trial excavation of the site believed to be HMS Sussex) to the satisfaction of the UK Government. Odyssey was authorized by HMG to complete phase 1B of the project.

Before Odyssey could complete Phase 1B of the Sussex project plan, it was stopped by the Spanish authorities, in particular, the Junta of Andalusia in January 2006. In early June 2006, Odyssey provided clarification to Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the offices of the embassy of the United Kingdom. Odyssey then awaited final comments on the plan before resuming operations on the shipwreck believed to be that of the Sussex.  In March 2007, Andalusia gave its assent for the excavation to start with the condition that Spanish archaeologists take part in order to ascertain that the shipwreck to be excavated was indeed the Sussex and not a Spanish vessel . While waiting for Andalusia to appoint an archaeologist to participate in the Sussex expedition, the company began operations on the "Black Swan" excavation. In 2009, Odyssey Marine Exploration published an archaeological report on the Sussex project and the groundbreaking work they had completed to date.

///black swan

In May 2007, the company announced the recovery of 17 tons of mainly silver and some gold coins from a site in an undisclosed location in international waters, which the company code-named the "Black Swan". Some believed that the shipwreck could be the Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which exploded and sank in the action of 5 October 1804, but no definitive shipwreck hull or unique cargo was discovered to conclusively prove the theory.

Following the discovery, Odyssey brought the coins and artifacts recovered into the jurisdiction of the United States Federal Court by filing an admiralty arrest pursuant to admiralty law. At that time, the Spanish government claimed that they believed the site was in Spanish territorial waters. The Spanish Government has since conceded that claim and sought to claim the discovered treasure based on their belief that the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes should be afforded sovereign immunity.

On July 12, 2007, the Civil Guard seized the Odyssey Marine Exploration research vessel Ocean Alert 3.5 nmi off the European coast. The Spanish Civil Guard claims to be responsible for customs control and European Union borders in this region, under the EU Schengen Agreement. This, however, is disputed by the Government of Gibraltar and the UK Government who claim that the ship was detained in international waters near Gibraltar and that Spain therefore had no legal authority to board the vessel without the express consent of the flag state of the ship—in this case, Panama. The Gibraltar Government stated that although this was a matter for the Government of Panama, they are "concerned that international shipping using Gibraltar port should be interfered with in this way in international waters." The ship was ordered to sail to the Spanish port of Algeciras to undergo a search and inspection.  Issues include the value and cultural significance of the shipwreck and the disputed status of Gibraltar between the UK and Spain . Panama is also involved because Odyssey's vessel is flagged there. In 2010, Odyssey's Captain Sterling Vorus was cleared of all charges by a court in Algeciras, Spain, relating to the blockade and boarding of the Odyssey Explorer. The Spanish court ruled that Spanish officials did not have proper authorization to board or search Odyssey's ship in 2007.

In January 2011, Odyssey Marine claimed that the language used in recently leaked diplomatic cables showed that the US State Department had been involved with negotiations to assist the Spanish government in receiving the treasure in exchange for the return of allegedly stolen artwork to a US private citizen. The US State Department declined comment while Spain denied Odyssey Marine's claim. The Department of State's Office of Inspector General subsequently investigated the charges in response to a request by Representative Kathy Castor of Florida. In March 2011, it determined that it could find no evidence of a connection between the Black Swan case and the negotiations for the return of the artwork in question (a Pissarro painting).

A U.S. federal judge awarded the treasure to Spain in December 2009, on the ground that the ship remained the property of Spain, but Odyssey appealed the ruling. Finally, after a five-year legal battle, in February 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Odyssey Marine to relinquish the treasure to Spanish authorities. Spain's culture minister indicated the treasure would be divided among several national museums. In September 2013, a U.S. district judge further ruled that Odyssey had acted in "bad faith" and did incurred in "abusive litigation", should have recognized Spain's right, and should thus reimburse $1 million in Spain's attorneys fees. Odyssey then issued a statement recognizing that this case was unusual since it was the first time a court has made an order without accepting jurisdiction but that the court ruling has clarified the applicable law, which Odyssey is committed to respecting.

///Gairsoppa discovery and beyond

In 2009, Odyssey Marine Exploration's searches were the subject of the Discovery Channel program, Treasure Quest. The program revealed that Odyssey discovered Admiral Balchin’s long-lost HMS Victory shipwreck that had eluded explorers for 265 years.

In 2010, the UK Department for Transport awarded Odyssey Marine Exploration an exclusive salvage contract for the cargo from the SS Gairsoppa, a steel-hulled British cargo steamship that was enlisted in the service of the United Kingdom Ministry of War Transport and sunk by a German U-boat on February 16, 1941, approximately 300 miles southwest of Galway, Ireland. Odyssey announced it discovered the shipwreck site in 2011 at a depth of 4700 meters with the recovery of 61 tons of silver. Through a two year expedition, they recovered over 110 tons of silver ingots. The expedition was the subject of a three part Discovery Channel docuseries called Silver Rush. In addition to silver, 717 letters, the largest collection of mail found on any shipwreck worldwide, was recovered and archaeologically conserved from the shipwreck and are now on display at the Postal Museum in the UK.

In 2014, Odyssey Marine Exploration was selected to salvage gold from the 1857 shipwreck of the SS Central America. The expedition led to the recovery of more than 15,500 gold and silver coins, 45 gold bars and hundreds of other gold nuggets, gold dust, jewelry and artifacts.

In December 2015, Odyssey announced the sale of part of its assets to a company called Monaco Financials for $21 million. This capital allowed the company to reimburse a $11.7 million bank debt. Sold assets included the company's headquarters building in Florida, 50% of underwater mining business Neptune Minerals and a profit-sharing agreement on future shipwreck salvages. CEO Mark Gordon also stated that the company would refocus on underwater mining, while shipwreck exploration would remain "part of the mix".

Artifacts recovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration are displayed in venues across the world, including a Virtual Museum, which is free to the public. The SHIPWRECKED Treasure Museum in Branson, MO, is home to over 500 artifacts recovered by Odyssey from different shipwrecks. Pirates Treasure Museum in St Thomas, USVI, also houses many of the artifacts recovered by Odyssey.

(Pending:) Nick Griffin (comedian)
(Final revision in progress; estimated May/2022)
 * name         = Nick Griffin
 * image        = JENMEDIA IPHONE IMAGES NICK GRIFFIN SIGNING CD FOR FAN POST SHOW TAMPA FL AUGUST 2015.jpg|
 * imagesize    =  210px
 * caption      = Griffin in Tampa, Florida, August 2015
 * birth_name   = Peter Nicholas Griffin
 * birth_date   = December 23, 1966
 * medium       = Stand-up, television, film, music, art
 * active       = 1987–present
 * birth_place  = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
 * module =

}}

Nick Griffin (born Peter Nicholas Griffin on December 23, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian and writer. Griffin began his career in stand-up comedy during the late 1980s and has performed extensively over the years, receiving international acclaim.

Early life
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Griffin is one of seven children. His father, a stock broker, and mother, a homemaker, raised the family in Overland Park, Kansas. Griffin attended Rockhurst High School, having an interest in boxing. It was during these years he fought as an amateur boxer in two Golden Gloves bouts, both resulting in losses. After graduation, class of 1985, Griffin attended William Jewell College where he studied communications and theatre. He played college football as defensive back for the Jewell Cardinals during this three-year tenure before pursuing a career in comedy wholeheartedly.

1980s
In 1987 Griffin began performing stand-up locally which soon led to more shows outside his hometown. The young comic would spend the next three years performing in comedy clubs located all throughout the midwest.

1990s
Griffin moved to New York City in 1990, practicing stand-up at comedy clubs in various neighborhoods and districts including midnight shows at Greenwich Village. In 1994 he moved to Los Angeles where he'd continue to practice at area clubs, steadily gaining experience and honing his stand-up craft even more while also writing comedy for other outlets such as television and radio, i.e. The Keenan Ivory Wayans, Bobby Slayton and Sue Murphy shows respectively. A few years later, in 1998, Griffin booked his first major television debut performance on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. That same year he performed at The Comedy Festival also known as the U.S. Comedy and Arts Festival, a (former, now inactive) event sponsored by HBO and held annually in Aspen.

2000s
By 2000 Griffin, now a familiar face in comedy, was headlining shows and traveling to perform in more cities beyond while also appearing regularly on Comedy Central's televised Premium Blend. In 2005 he relocated to New York City, booking more work on a higher echelon including televised performances on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and the Late Show with David Letterman among others. Gaining popularity and more exposure, Griffin, now deemed seasoned and respected by many in the industry, was performing at some of the most prestigious festivals worldwide including Just for Laughs in Montreal and Cat Laughs in Kilkenny, Ireland. Soon hereafter, in 2008, Griffin found himself sharing the stage with a renowned veteran in comedy whom he greatly admired, opening twice for George Carlin at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California. Later the same year Griffin was featured in his own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special.

2010s
In addition to headlining live comedy shows through out the U. S. and internationally, Griffin performs a great deal of stand-up as a special guest on television, notably and most often appearing in higher rated late night comedy, talk, and variety show programming. During the spring and summer of 2015 Griffin performed on both Conan and the Late Show with David Letterman, the later of which he has appeared a total of twelve times. In July of 2015 the comic headlined an event in Hong Kong, marking his first live stand-up performance in China.

Theme, style, and influence
Griffin's overall style has been described as sardonic, encompassing humor and cynicism about life issues, touching on topics like relationships, sex, depression, aging, money, technology, diminishing attention spans, et al. Reviews and other industry relevant publications compare Griffin's style and material to that of Richard Lewis, Woody Allen, Kurt Vonnegut, and George Carlin. During interviews Griffin has acknowledged observing, studying, and having high regard for the said comedians of influence including Carlin whom he had the (aforementioned) opportunity to work with.

Screenwriting
Writing pilot project affiliated with Letterman, currently verifying year/cite ref ... in addition to comedy and television writing Griffin is also a screenwriter, specifically that of the horror film genre. During multiple interviews and other press coverage the comic stated to having been a longtime fan and avid reader of horror film and literature.

Personal
In both interviews and his performances Griffin openly discusses a prior marriage which ended in divorce during his early thirties, thus fueling some of the comic's material on relationships.

Griffin has an older brother, Tim Griffin, who writes for television.

Nick Griffin is based in New York City.

Reference list
Cite checking, verifying sources to finish/compile reference list. Estimated completion May/2022.

=Subsequent research, verification/eligibility=
 * Tom Kartsosis (draft stub entry, ink to brands/related pages/corp. wik urls already existing then rework to full bio)
 * Shaun Hopper (born verify full first name middle initial Hopper, month date, year omitted due to no cite/data source) is an American musician and songwriter most widely recognized for that of acoustic fingerstyle guitar, receiving international acclaim...
 * Clint Bertucci, travr.life (company eligibility, verification)
 * John Markus

=To-do; correct, revise, clean up =
 * Marty O'Brien
 * Thom Russo
 * Tracy Zych ... extensive / media notes for ref...
 * 1) * Life & Style magazine (April 4, 2005 p. 10) Actress Rachel Bilson pictured with the Hamptons stripe clutch
 * 2) * Star Magazine (April 18, 2005 p.79) Actress Rachel Bilson pictured with the Hamptons stripe clutch
 * 3) * In Style Magazine (July 2005 p. 62) Actress Rachel Bilson pictured with the Hamptons stripe clutch
 * 4) * New York Times (Sunday August 21, 2005 p. 3 of style section) Jessica tote featured
 * 5) * Genlux magazine (Fall 2005 p. 12) Reece satchel featured
 * 6) * Celebrity Living magazine (November 21, 2005) Jessica tote featured
 * 7) * People Magazine (July 3, 2006 p. 95) Rachel Bilson pictured with the Edie bag
 * 8) * Teen Vogue (September 2006) Actress Sienna Miller pictured with the Edie bag
 * 9) * In Touch (October 23, 2006 p. 39) Actress Rachel Bilson pictured with the Hamptons stripe clutch
 * 10) * In Touch magazine (February 5, 2007 p. 68) Edie bag featured
 * 11) * OK magazine (June 11, 2007 p. 13) Vanessa Minnillo pictured with the Edie bag
 * 12) * OK Magazine (July 4, 2007 p. 10) Vanessa Minnillo pictured with the Edie bag
 * 13) * Public French magazine (September 2007 p. 46 & cover) Actress Hayden Panettiere pictured with the Edie bag
 * 14) * Life & Style (Sept 10, 2007 p. 11) Actress Hayden Panettiere pictured with the Edie bag
 * 15) * Lucky Magazine (October 2007) Edie bag featured
 * 16) * US Weekly magazine (September 29, 2008 p.91) Kane fringe tote bag featured
 * 17) * Gotham Magazine (April 2009) Edie bag featured