- Albert (originally known as Alberto Malich), Death’s manservant, butler, and cook, was once a wizard and founder of Unseen University; he attempted to gain immortality by reciting the Rite of AshkEnte (a ritual to summon Death) backwards, believing this would force Death to stay away from him. Instead it brought him directly to Death’s Domain. Since time in Death’s Domain does not flow in the same way as it does on the Discworld, Albert succeeded, in a way, in gaining immortality. Before he returned to the world in Mort, “Albert” had 91 days, three hours and five minutes of time left on the Disc, most of which he spent shopping and using the soap and baths at the “Young Men’s Reformed Cultist of the Ichor-God-Bel-Shamharoth’s Association” (Death is not very good at plumbing). After Soul Music, he had only a few seconds left, and could no longer leave Death’s Domain. Albert was a highly idiosyncratic cook, who believed everything needed to be fried to get rid of the germs, including porridge.
- Massachusetts (Wikipedia)
Massachusetts (/ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsɪts/ MASS-ə-CHOO-sits, /-zɪts/ -zits; Massachusett: Muhsachuweesut [məhswatʃəwiːsət]), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode Island to its south, New Hampshire and Vermont to its north, and New York to its west. Massachusetts is the sixth smallest state by land area, but with over 7 million residents, it is the most populous state in New England, the 15th most populous in the country, and the third most densely populated, after New Jersey and Rhode Island. The state’s capital and most populous city, as well as its cultural and financial center, is Boston. Massachusetts is also home to the urban core of Greater Boston, the largest metropolitan area in New England and a region profoundly influential upon American history, academia, and the research economy. Originally dependent on agriculture, fishing, and trade, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution. During the 20th century, the state’s economy shifted from manufacturing to services, and in the 21st century it is a global leader in biotechnology, engineering, higher education, finance, and maritime trade.