Although the Red Hat society is sometimes referred to as “dis-organization” there is a hierarchy of structure among its chapters. Who are the Chapter Queens of the Red Hat Society and what do they do? Are there Co-Queens or Vice Queens and what if a chapter wishes to change their Chapter Queen?

The whole concept of Chapter Queen began when the founder of The Red Hat Society rather jokingly referred to herself as the “Queen Mother” after she started the first group. The Chapter Queen is usually the person who registers the group and may also be the person who plans the activities. Although most groups will handle the activity planning in their own ways and then the Chapter Queen will not have quite as much responsibility. Someone other than the Chapter Queen can also be in charge of registering the other members of the group.

The Chapter Queen wears many hats. She may act as the lawyer of the group and have a fitting name or she may be the Mother of Creativity. She can choose any name that she feels is best for her personality. Some days she may be the “Mistress of Fun” and other times she may serve as the Tea Party Queen. It is really up to the Queen herself.

Co-Queens may be chosen but they do not receive the special status awarded to the Chapter Queen. If Co-Queens choose to become Purple Perks members they will receive those benefits, however.

If a chapter is planning a change in the role of Queens it may be best to do so when it is time to renew the chapter’s membership. The current Queen should make the phone call and have all the pertinent information about the person who will be taking over the responsibilities. The transition will go more smoothly when handled in this manner.

Being a Red Hat Society Chapter Queen is an honor and it is also a lot of fun. You will be able to encourage the other members of your chapter to have fun and form new relationships.

May 24, 2011. I woke up this morning to the sun shining in through the window with one thing on my mind – I wanted to try out my new jigs I bought (“Crappie Queen’s” from Lindy). So I loaded up the boat and headed for the lake. Central Park has great Crappie and Bluegill, and it is just about time for them to start spawning. After getting the boat in the water and checking my lake map (which was FREE from Iowa DNR web site), I headed to the one spot I thought I would find Crappie – the south side of the lake were my map shows a sharp drop off or ledge. OK, maybe not the best spawning spot, but I knew there would be fish there. How did Lindy do with this jig?

This is what Lindy says about their jig: “The Crappie Queen’s wings and front hackle give this insect-like jig a rare zig-zag and slow-sink action. That means more time–and more bites!– in the strike Zone!” Lindy Crappie queen’s”

THE QUEEN BUMBLEBEE 1/16 (Bee)

I tied the bumblebee on and made a few casts, experimenting with different jig methods. I noticed real quick that the bee was a slow sinking jig so there was no need to think that this little jig was sinking straight to the bottom as soon as I gave it a little slack. After I realized that and gave it time to work its magic, it started slowly sinking to the bottom. I had two hits right away by large mouth bass. However, I did not land these two fish. I don’t think it was due to the design of the jig. Oh, lets call it operator error. Here’s my jigging method: Cast pole, tighten line, pull on pole straight up, let pole drop while reeling in the slack. Repeat until jig is back to your boat or on land. I give this jig a 8 out of ten. No Crappie caught, but I’ll fight large mouth all day long if I have too.

THE QUEEN WHITE 1/16.

I found this jig to react the same as the Bee, however I did not get any bites or fish with the jig. I give this a 8 out of 10 because it did do what the packaging said it would do. It may not have caught fish, but I don’t think the fish wanted a white color bait today.

THE QUEEN HOT PINK 1/16.

What can I say? When LINDY called this jig hot pink they meant it. It is so bright that the guy mowing the park gave me a feminine wave as he drove by on his mower, but I didn’t care as long as I was catching Crappie on Central Park Lake. Give me a pink Barbie pole with LINDY’S HOT PINK QUEEN, and lets fish! Again, I give this jig a 8 out of 10. It would have been a 10 out of 10 if it would have been a good-looking girl on the mower waving.

At the end of the day I landed one bluegill and had two large mouth Bass on the line. I don’t think that is bad for 2 & 1/2 hours of fishing. The time of year is iffy on Crappie and Bluegill, so I can’t blame Lindy for not catching Crappie. The product did what it said it would do and also put fish on my line. I will be keeping a few of these jigs in my tackle box for the right time. I suggest you grab a few too. At less than $3.00 a jig it’s worth it. All in all I rank LINDY’S CRAPPIE QUEENS a 8 out of 10. Thank you LINDY for this great jig!

Nate Trotter Average Jo’s Fishing

Cebu City is one of the most important cities in the Philippines. It is hailed as “The Queen City of the South” due to its importance in trade, shipping and tourism in that part of the country.

Geography

Cebu City lies along the eastern shore of Cebu Province in the Visayan region. It has a total land area of 291.2 square kilometers and a population of some 800,000 people according to the latest census. The city consists of 80 barangays divided into two districts. The native dialect is Cebuano.

Trade and Economy

While the cities of Manila and Makati are the business centers of the northern Philippines, Cebu is the trade capital of the south, Visayas and Mindanao.

Because of its location, it is only natural that business in Cebu would revolve around the sea and seafaring. The city is the country’s largest shipping hub, being home to 80% of all domestic shipping lines. Seafood is abundant in the area, and in fact one type of fish was named after the hero Lapu-Lapu (see below). Recently the outsourcing of companies to Asia has benefited the Cebuano people. Many have found jobs in call centers since English is widely spoken.

One of the Philippines’ two international airports, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, is a half-hour drive from the city. Due to its strategic location, Cebu is often used as a hopping point by travelers to other tourist destinations in the region.

History

Even before the advent of Spanish rule, Cebu was already a well-developed and prosperous city that enjoyed trade relations with other Southeast Asian countries. On April 7, 1521 the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the island. He was welcomed and befriended by Raja Humabon, the king of Cebu. Humabon and his people converted to Catholicism and became the first first Filipino Christians. But the people of nearby Mactan Island were not so friendly, and Magellan was killed in battle by their king, Lapu-Lapu.

In 1562, more than forty years after the death of Magellan, the Spaniards under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi returned to the islands. Legaspi then established a new Spanish colony with Cebu as its capital.

Sights

Cebu City is a major tourist destination in the Philippines. Its best-known landmark is the Cross of Magellan. Legend says that it was erected by the explorer upon his landing on the island. It is sacred among Filipino Christians, who regard it as the symbol of the birth of their faith. In 1835, the local bishop ordered that the cross be moved to a wooden case and guarded in a chapel. This was to protect the cross from being vandalized by devotees who would chip away pieces at a time.

Nearby is the Minor Basilica of the Holy Infant (Basilica Minore de Santo Nino). The church is home to the country’s first religious image, the Santo Nino.

Every year in January, the famous Sinulog festival takes place. Originally a dance ritual in which dancers mimicked the motion of the river (sulog), it is now performed in honor of the Infant Jesus.

At last the most anticipated ship of the year was launched in October and named by Her Majesty the Queen. On an unseasonably warm and sunny day in October we were gathered with a host of dignitaries and celebrities from the Prince’s Trust to witness the pomp and ceremony of the naming of the 3rd Cunard ship to bear the name: Queen Elizabeth.

At the modern & spacious Ocean Cruise Terminal in Southampton we were treated to champagne, canapés and tea while being entertained by a 30’s style jazz band resplendent in tails and spats. A taste of things to come on board! This was certainly an occasion to remember – after all not every ship is launched by the Queen! We were supplied with an order of Ceremony and separate guest list in glossy keepsake brochures.

During the proceedings we spotted Alan Titchmarsh, Judith Chalmers, Simon Weston, Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth), Alan Wicker and Jimmy Saville among others. We were entertained by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the outside seating area and the delights of Lesley Garrett.

The Cold Stream Guards marched on to the stage and were put through their paces together with the fanfare of Trumpeters of the Irish Guards.

After the Queen had inspected the ship she arrived in her Rolls Royce to name the ship and press the button to release the champagne bottle and “Yes” it did smash – always a good sign. Incidentally the Queen is the only person alive who has been present at all 3 Queen Elizabeth ship naming ceremonies: when she was 12 years old in 1938 for the original Queen Elizabeth and in 1967 for the QE2.

As with all Cunard cruise ships they cut a very imposing presence in any port of call. This together with the established Cunard name and sailing on a Queen seems to attract attention away from all other ships in any particular port. The Queen Elizabeth is a home away from home for Queen Victoria fans and also Queen Mary 2 patrons. The decor on board is lighter, fresh and 30’s style in contrast to the heavier & darker Victorian theme of the Queen Victoria.

The aft pool deck has been extended further back for much more sunbathing space and you can no longer overlook the suite balconies below from the stern of the ship. Gone are the pastel tones and light wood shades that can be found in the Lido buffet restaurant of the Queen Victoria to be replaced with a much more sophisticated and sumptuous decor. The forward top deck games area has been upgraded to a covered bowls / croquet lawn club and looks lovely complete with Astroturf.

On decks 2 and 3 further enhancements have been made. The staircase in the Grand Lobby bears a wooden fresco of the original Queen Elizabeth and the portrait of her Majesty the Queen is not to be missed. The Chart Room Bar (found on Queen Victoria & QM2 ) has been replaced by an extended dining room area of the Britannia restaurant which accommodates the single seating Britannia Club dining for high grade balcony stateroom passengers. Also the Cafe Carinthia and the Veuve Cliquot champagne bar have been merged to form one larger bar area.

At last on board there is a new alternative dining restaurant which replaces the Todd English restaurant found on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. This one is French and called the Verandah; it is has a sparkling 20’s style decor and looks very enticing indeed. They have also enhanced the shops on board with a Fortnum & Masons plus changed the art auction show room to an art gallery with reasonable prices. Unlike the art found at auctions on board other ships – the pictures and paintings for sale in the showroom on board the Queen Elizabeth are items that you would actually want to hang on your wall and show off!

As with all Cunard cruise ships you will still find the signature touches that make these cruises simply unbeatable. The FREE guest launderettes on each deck, the Commodore Club and the Golden Lion pub serving FREE Fish & chips at lunchtime. Of course the Queens Ball room particularly sets Cunard ships apart from others. This is a big band formal entertainment venue and the setting for daily afternoon tea with white china and white gloved waiters serving scones and clotted cream.

Don’t forget the FREE alternative dining evenings in a section of the Lido restaurant – dine by reservation with Waiter service and menus. They alternate the themes of Traditional English Carvery, Indian, Oriental, French and Italian throughout the cruise.

The Royal Spa is well worth the extra charge payable for the hydro therapy pool and the thermal relaxation lounge. The fitness centre is free and the segregated changing rooms each have a FREE Swedish sauna that are very popular.

All in all – a lovely sophisticated ship and not just a cloned production line job!

Many people think that “Beauty Queens” are just brainless girls with pretty faces who happen to look good in a swimsuit. I want to tell you that this rumor is not true. Admittedly, some pageants exist in which the only thing that counts is your looks. But it takes a lot more than good looks and a nice body to take home the crowns in the more reputable pageants. I competed in the Miss America set of pageants, and I will tell you, it was tough.  First of all, the Miss America organization gives out over a million dollars annually in SCHOLARSHIPS. This means that they give money to deserving women that is applied toward their pursuit of higher education. They do not simply write checks to pretty girls and tell them they can go buy clothes, shoes, make-up, or other fleeting frivolities. Second, there are several areas of competition in which contestants are scored.

One of these categories is the interview which, in the Miss America Pageant, comprises 40% of your total score. In my experience, these are tough interviews during which you are grilled about several topics ranging from current events and political issues, to personal history and opinion. You have to be able to think on your feet, be very aware of the world around you and present your opinions in a way which is both poised and charming. Another heavily weighted portion of the competition is the talent category. Successful Miss America contestants have typically spent countless hours training in their particular area of performance. You cannot just decide one day “Hey, I am pretty, I think that I will try for Miss America”. If you are not already well rehearsed in a skill that you could use to compete for talent then you may have missed the boat. Now, let us not forget the swimsuit competition.

Though opinions on this topic vary, the fact is that pageant contestants have to wear a swim suit on stage. You may think it is degrading and demeaning but you still have to admit that this demonstrates their superior physical fitness. Such fitness is a feat that is getting more and more difficult to accomplish in a country in which obesity is occurring in epidemic proportions. Finally, one of the most prevalent fears amongst Americans is that of public speaking. It is tough to get on that stage, present yourself as a package to a set of judges and hope they like you, not to mention the hundreds of onlookers. Many people in this world could not do that. I think it is time that we stop degrading these women and labeling them as “brainless beauty queens” and start recognizing them for the talented and accomplished individuals that they are.

As we plunge head long into the hottest days of summer, it is most important that we arm ourselves with the necessary tools to get us through to Labor Day. What tools would those be, you ask? Well, there is the suntan lotion with SPF 2500, or if you prefer, a full body, chemical and biological protective clothing for when you hit the beach.

But also, inside that tote; you must have a copy of Robert McCammon’s, “The Queen of Bedlam.”

Not being a literary guru, and having barely passed any and all English courses in my life, I do not know much about writing. Yes, I know, you can tell. But I know a darn, good storyteller when I read one. And Robert McCammon is one heck of a good storyteller.

I ran across him many years ago when I picked up his book, “Swan Song,” a story of good versus evil in a world devastated by a nuclear exchange. The story crisscrossed America, and yet, always felt local. The plot was epic, yet the strands of subplots that dealt with the main characters felt intimate, for a lack of better term. That book hooked me to this writer.

Since then, I have read all his books. Like all great authors, to my mind such as it is, Robert brings us (me) into the story. His writing engages me and makes me feel for the characters. The plot needs to be there, having said that, it is the characters and their development within the plot that gets me.

For a while, I just could not find any new books or stories from Robert. Then, I saw a new title, “Speaks the Nightbird,” part I. It introduced Matthew Corbett within a historical setting in the late 17th century America. A woman is accused of being a witch and Corbett must investigate.

It is a tremendous book with so many characters and so many subplots that I have no idea how Robert kept track of all the characters. I had always assumed that Robert wrote in the horror/supernatural genre of books. I assumed that this plot would fall into that genre. This book transcends that genre. It is a novel of suspense and intrigue. Yes, it deals with good versus evil, but all the assumptions twist and turn as the book slowly builds to its conclusion. It is like a force of nature.

It is a darn good book.

Matthew Corbett continues his journey from the “Nightbird” to his rendezvous with the “The Queen of Bedlam.” Again, Robert McCammon showcases his versatility and amazing talent in crossing genres directly into a suspense novel.

This page turner is set in early Eighteenth century Manhattan. There is a serial killer on the loose and Matthew must find him. Then, the book morphs into a journey of rich characters, hairpin turns, unexpected surprises, and a bunch of “wow, who would have thought that.”

For a hot, lazy day at that beach, this book will engage your mind and imagination. Your biggest challenge will be in not forgetting that you are baking under a torturous sun as you read this wonderful novel.

In my forthcoming novel “The Rice Queen Spy” I pay homage to a British Caucasian homosexual who spent his whole life having sexual encounters only with Asian men. In essence “No Caucasians need apply” was his motto. A rice queen is a Caucasian or a black gay man who is either partially or completely devoted to Asian men. It is something of a slangy term as is the term potato queen which signifies an Asian man fond of white men.

I have even heard Asian men who were partial to black men called sweet potato queens or yam queens. Don’t blame me. This is all part of the argot of gay life. Gay terminology and slang have always been a lively and rapidly evolving feature of the gay sub-culture.

Up until the middle of the nineteen eighties, before there was a national crackdown, rice queens were going to the Philippines in large numbers. For quite some decades now Thailand has been the preferred location for rice queens. Sex junkets to Thailand have been organized not only for gay men but for large numbers of straight men who are after female sex partners. Often sex partners who are too young. Many gay Caucasians have moved permanently to Thailand because of the availability of sexual encounters with Thais.

After the Second World War Japan was a haven for rice queens. Then when the economy improved markedly there was a falling off of the availability of Japanese men for rice queens. Also in those early post-war years there was still a great reverence for the elderly; that’s why so many older Western gays felt so at home there. The young people’s compassionate attitude toward seniors became somewhat of a casualty to the youth culture, Westernization and now globalization.

That leads to one conclusion. Many gay men became or were labeled rice queens because they went to Asian countries where the economies and poverty forced some of the men into the sex trade. The Caucasian gays went to those poor Asian countries because there was an availability and abundance of sex partners. Not all Caucasian-Asian gay sex is financial, but a considerable portion of it is.

But for a rice queen, why an Asian man? Numerous reasons are given: Asian men are less hairy, have smoother, silkier skin; many are smaller and less intimidating and threatening than white men; they are better, more accommodating lovers; they are often willing to play a less than dominant role, be more subservient to their Caucasian partners; ascetically they are more attractive; if they do ask for money often it is for food purchases and to support their families because they are so badly in need of financial assistance; the gay Asian men often look much younger than they actually are; there’s less b.s. with Asian men, and on and on.

Some of it may be rationalization. Sex and sexual motivation is a often a labyrinth and a maze of contradictions and obfuscations. It often boils down to a simple “It feels good to me.”

In my most recent novel, “The Daemon in Our Dreams,” I dealt with the rice queen phenomenon, but in a somewhat tangential fashion, and in my first novel, the terrorist thriller “Nine Lives Too Many,” I dealt with it not at all. However in “The Rice Queen Spy” it is, in many ways, the central theme of the book. It is what makes the hero tick, the motivating force in his life. If you read the book, you’ll see the truth to the statement: there would be no Philip Croft (the hero) were it not for his rice queen persona. (For a full discussion of my novels, please visit my website at http://www.senneffhouse.com.)

The full-blooded rice queen makes no apologies for being a rice queen; on the contrary he is proud of it and boasts about it. Lifelong loving relationships have been formed between gay Caucasian and Asian men.

Often what the rice queen encounters in Asia is the young man who is masquerading as gay for economic reasons. One gay stripper club in Bangkok had over thirty straight men who were entertaining and dating gay customers. Their jobs involved a great deal of acting and role playing. There is even an informal school for hustlers to learn what to say and how to act and perform. One thing they learn to do is to roll their tummies in what some people think is a provocative manner.

The rice queen often may wish to sort out the hustlers from those men who are genuinely gay. The percentage or ratio of gays in the populations of Western countries and Asian countries is probably just about the same.

From the nineteen eighties on in some of the Asian countries where there was a great deal of commercial sex and the commingling of Westerners with the indigenous population there has been a serious epidemic of HIV/AIDS. The spread of the disease has been acute among gay hustlers and their families. This consequence of sexual activity was completely unexpected and devastating.

Since the first rice queen spotted his first love object, this syndrome has been growing and enticing outsiders with questions as to the meaning of it all. The explanation is really simple. It is the desire and need for one human being to find love, compassion, friendship, kinship and sexual gratification from another human being. Love makes the world go round, and, in the end love will conquer all. The real rice queen is a lover, plain and simple.

The magazine Ellery Queen has been in publishing since 1941. The over seventy year old publication was originally launched by Lawrence E. Spivak from Mercury Press. The Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, as it is called today, is a monthly magazine. The magazine gets its rather distinguished name from the two-cousin writing team of Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee who penned their stories under the pseudonymous ‘Ellery Queen’. Dannay served as Editor-in-Chief from 1941 till he died in 1982; from where Eleanor Sullivan took charge till 1991. From 1991 till date, it remains under the editorship of Janet Hutchings.

The manifesto for Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine as given by Dannay is, “raise the sights of mystery writers generally to a genuine literary form, encourage good writing among our colleagues by offering a practical market not otherwise available, develop new writers seeking expression in the genre.”

To stay true to his manifesto, Dannay set about finding the most intriguing stories containing elements of crime or mystery, written by both past and present famous literary figures. Around forty Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners were absorbed into the mystery magazine including: Rudyard Kipling, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, Norman Mailer, and Alice Walker. Eminent names like Nancy Pickard, Harry Kemelman and Jack Finney started off their mystery writing careers in Ellery Queen.

An Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine subscription maintains its tradition of literary excellence, with its top-notch crime and detective stories continuing to intrigue today’s readers as well. This magazine has won many several awards of recognition since its beginning and is regarded as America’s oldest and most notable crime-fiction publication.

Many writers have contributed to the collection, churning successful crime stories covering a range of genres including: cozy to the hardboiled; historical to the contemporary; police procedurals; psychological suspense; P.I. stories; impossible-crime tales; locked-room; classical whodunits; and the quintessential urban noir. The Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine also published novels and short stories using a fictional detective named “Ellery Queen”.

The magazine’s success was more like a roller coaster. Its popularity peaked when it started, and slowly lost its glory in between. It is now gaining readership again gradually due to its online presence. The captive audience has grown to 30,000, thanks to its endurance and the belief held by its editor Janet Hutching who is certain that Ellery Queen Mystery e-magazine is going through a rebirth; something that every evolving publication undergoes.

Most magazines have been suffering from diminished readership in the last few years. Factors such as availability of the magazine for circulation, extent of circulation, increased publishing costs, constant locomotion of customers, and many other minute details have affected the distribution of physical magazines. Publishers are now realizing the importance of digital publishing and often make the switch fully aware of the positives and negatives: seeing as the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. The reach of a digital magazine is worldwide as compared to the demographic constrictions of print. With the presence of many apps readily available online digital publishing has never been easier. With a click of a button, millions of readers have access to a magazine in different parts of the world, on any smart device through the internet. Most of the apps that host these publications are offered on mobile devices to download for free to consumers, making it the most conducive platform for publishing.

As global warming impacts us, it is but necessary to join the go-green revolution and make the switch to something greener. The switch to go digital; our small part in the struggle to reduce global warming.

It has been a few years since Cunard introduced its’ Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, so now is a good time to assess its’ merits (or otherwise). The ship shares many similarities with other vessels from the same fleet, such as the Queen Victoria – which existed several years before the Elizabeth. Also, the hull design of the Elizabeth bears much resemblance to other ships from the Global cruise firm, Carnival Corporation. Examples that spring to mind are the Spirit class vessels from Carnival Cruise Lines, the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam (from Holland America), many of the Costa Cruise Ships, and the Arcadia (from P&O Cruises). Thus, the Queen Elizabeth, which is the 3rd addition to the Cunard fleet, has a characteristic cruise ship design and is noticeably different to the Queen Mary Two, which was Cunard’s archetypal ocean liner.

However, while the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are difficult to differentiate, in terms of their staterooms and layout, there are several important features that make the Queen Elizabeth stand out. The decoration aboard the Elizabeth is Art Deco styled, with bright and trendy interior designs, in contrast to the more traditional Victorian design of its’ sister ship. In the public parts of the ship, the soothing tunes of the resident pianist, jazz trio or harpist will charm you. Also, wherever you look on board, you will see stunning works of art, polished wooden surfaces, gleaming Italian marble and dimmed lighting – complemented by impressive chandeliers. All of this combines to produce a unique atmosphere of classic and contemporary glamour.

Usually, there are several different types of guests aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Nonetheless, one thing that all passengers have in common is an interest in the Cunard brand. This is true for people who have just heard about the vessels and want to see what all the fuss is about. It is true for Cunard repeat customers too.

The world cruise each year attracts a diverse crowd from across the globe, although many of these are affluent British and American holidaymakers. Invariably, British passengers make up the bulk of those who leave from Southampton. British and American passengers are known to enjoy shorter cruises as well. Often, first time cruisers (or first time Cunard cruisers) will appear on the Cunard annual mini cruises. Frequently, these passengers are less affluent than those who partake in world cruises. Also, German and Japanese holidaymakers are famous for their love of Cunard cruise ships. Undoubtedly, the Cunard name brings many people back year after year, so the Company is doing something right.

Perhaps surprisingly, cruises aboard the Queen Elizabeth only have a couple of evenings each week where you have to dress formally for dinner (mini cruises only have one formal evening each week). The three categories of attire on board are: formal, semi formal and casual. Formal attire is over-the-top, glitzy evening wear, whereas semi formal is just a cocktail dress for women and a smart suit for men. For casual wear, most men just go for a straightforward tie and jacket. World cruises give wealthy guests the chance to flash their cash on formal evenings, so expect plenty of jewels and lavish ballroom gowns.

There are no “artificial” attractions on the Queen Elizabeth, like neon night clubs or water chutes. In contrast, Cunard creates a wonderful ambiance based on its’ splendid history via traditional activities, such as bowls and ballroom dancing. On the web, there is mixed feedback from customers about this cruise ship, however many passengers give the Queen Elizabeth a positive review. Thus, if you have never booked with Cunard before – and you ever get the chance – you could do a lot worse than considering this ship for your next cruise.

One of history’s most unusual conspiracy theories involved Queen Elizabeth I, the daughter of England’s King Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. During the first half of the sixteenth century, Elizabeth was born to the tyrannical English king. When she was about ten years old, she was taken from Henry’s court in plague-ridden London to Bisley, a small town Southwest of London, because he wanted to protect her from getting sick.

According to legend, young Elizabeth died in Bisley. Her caretakers panicked when they found her body, and knew that Henry would return sooner than expected to visit his daughter. Afraid for their lives, they anxiously searched the town to find a girl who looked like Elizabeth. After a futile attempt to find a read-haired girl, they found a boy with red hair who was about the same height as Elizabeth. This boy, whose name was Neville was actually a friend or relative who played with Elizabeth. They brought him back to their home and dressed him in Elizabeth’s clothes. Apparently, when Henry returned he couldn’t tell the difference between the boy and Elizabeth. So, the boy kept assuming the role as the dead princess and continued pretending to be the future queen.

Bram Stoker, the famous author of the novel Dracula, wrote a book called Famous Imposters in 1910. In one of its chapters called, The Bisley Boy, Stoker presents solid evidence that Elizabeth was actually a man. Stoker defends this story with the following facts:

1. In the 1800’s, a trusted clergyman who lived in Bisley reported discovering a coffin in Bisley, which contained the skeleton of a young girl dressed in clothes typical of the Renaissance upper-classes.

2. Despite legitimate offers, the grown Elizabeth never consented to marriage. As a matter of fact, she did not have any intimate relationships with any males. This fact might contribute to the reason why she was called, “The Virgin Queen.”

3. In most of her portraits, Elizabeth has a masculine face.

4. Historians have described her taking action to protect England, more like a confident king than a “womanly” queen.

5. A nobleman had once written regarding Elizabeth that “for a certain reason which they have recently given me, I understand that she will not bear children.”

6. There was a marked difference in the form and content of letters she wrote before and after her stay in Bisley.

7. She owned a large collection of wigs and wore them at all occasions where she would be seen.

8. She would only be seen by carefully selected doctors.

9. Elizabeth made her doctors swear not to do an autopsy of her body after she died.

Although Stoker supports a solid case that Elizabeth I was actually a man, his story was not well received by readers. Many thought that the story was preposterous because if she had been a male, somebody close to her court would have known and the news would have leaked out. However, when Stoker investigated the story, he met a large number of people who really believed the story. Interesting enough, those who supported the story lived in Bisley a few years after the discovery of the skeleton of a little girl, dressed in Renaissance clothes by a trusted clergyman. Whatever the case may be regarding the queen’s identity, “Elizabeth I” ruled England with true loyalty for England and her people and was committed to preserving English peace and stability. After her death, at seventy years old in 1603, she was missed by many of her subjects.