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The day ITC (Gold Flake brand) signed up with KSLTA and ATP as title sponsors for the Bangalore meet, Chennai was in danger of losing its five-year-old principal financier. ITC�s contract with IMG, owners and promoters of the Chennai meet, expires after the current edition ends Sunday.
The Bangalore deal has been struck for two years (2000 and 2001), but The Telegraph has learnt that the top brass of the tobacco giants wants it renewed for a much longer term. The Garden City earns one-third of ITC�s total revenue and it will help give their business a further boost by associating with doubles at which Indians have been so successful.
Till last year, IMG was certain they wouldn�t have any problems persuading ITC to sign up for five more years. The tournament, after all, had established itself as an important fixture in the country�s sporting calendar. The highly enthusiastic crowd and participation of some really big names pushed the profile of the event sky-high. But suddenly, IMG officials discovered that they are up against it.
Of course, they are trying to show there�s nothing to worry about. �Talks are going on with ITC and we are hopeful of our wonderful association with them to be extended,� said Ravi Krishnan, IMG�s Delhi-based vice-president. But in case ITC says no, have they lined up an alternate sponsor? �I can�t discuss those things now. Let me just say IMG is a company which plans well in advance.�
When the decision-makers at ITC sit down to finalise the budget for the next financial year, there is bound to be a strong case in favour of choosing just one international tennis meet. Even for a company as stable and prosperous as ITC, a two-event involvement with a combined prize-money of over one million dollar may just be a little too much.
There will, obviously, be some hard bargaining over the next couple of months. IMG will no doubt be willing to retain their old sponsors even if it means a scaling down of �demands.� Now whether that will be enough for ITC to strike a compromise remains to be seen.
Not that the Chennai event is in danger of closing down if it loses its title sponsor. It�s too good a tournament for IMG to let go and they will surely find another corporate house as replacement. But that, they fear, may mean starting from scratch all over again.
The demise of defending champion Jerome Golmard (No. 5) and Andreas Vinciguerra (No. 6) this evening meant that an unprecedented seven unseeded men will feature in Friday�s quarter finals. And that includes two qualifiers � Frenchman Cyril Saulnier and Danish Kristian Pless.
An average journeyman from Russia set the ball rolling for the underdogs, blowing Vinciguerra off court with a 6-1, 6-3 win in an hour. And after Magnus Norman-conqueror Taylor Dent had been overpowered 6-7 (9-11), 4-6 by Pless, left-handed Golmard conceded his match to Adrian Voinea, bothered by a recurring bad back. Voinea was serving 1-2, 30-0 at that stage.
In between, all this drama on Centre Court, Dutchman Peter Wessels dispatched Mikhail Youzhny on Court 2 to book a quarter-final slot. The 22-year-old Wessels, who clinched the Newport title last year to finish inside the top-100, whipped the Russian teenager 6-0, 6-4 in under an hour.
The Stoliarov styleFive feet and ten inches tall, Stoliarov hardly looks a modern day tennis player. The groundstrokes lack much punch and his serves look innocuous to the naked eye. What the 23-year-old does well is use his head � be it while playing from the baseline or serving � and minimise the mistakes.
Making the 19-year-old Vinciguerra run from end to end, Stoliarov angled his returns wide enough to hustle the Swede into errors. The left-handed Vinciguerra, one of ATP�s New Ball Please kid, couldn�t handle the Russian�s soft but varied serves as well, winning no more than 30 percent of the return points.
Add to that a series of unforced errors, and you have a complete picture of a man in total distress. But for a couple of crunching forehand winners, Vinciguerra resembled a novice who had been pushed to the big stage against his wish. A far cry really from the Vinciguerra of 2000 when he won his first title (Copenhagen) and beat red-hot Marat Safin twice.
The only period Vinciguerra looked to be in the match was in the marathon third game of Set 1 when Stoliarov was lucky to hold serve after a dozen deuces. Had the sixth seed from Malmo used any of six break-point chances, it could have been a different story. The Swede was down a break then and who could say he wouldn�t have turned the tide after getting back on even terms.
In the event, Vinciguerra dropped serve a second time and just about managed to avoid a 0-6 washout.
The second set went on serve till 3-3 before Vinciguerra collapsed into a sorry mess. Stoliarov broke in the seventh game with a hell of a good point, sprinting all the way back to throw up a defensive lob measured to perfection. And in the ninth game, Vinciguerra ended his agony with a double-fault on match-point.
�He played better than me today, I just couldn�t hit the ball well,� was Vinciguerra�s simple explanation of a shocking performance.
Dent, the son of former Aussie pro Phil Dent, had impressed one and all with his aggressive brand of tennis against top seed Norman the other night. He came out firing on all cylinders today also but came across an equally hard-hitting opponent.
The first set was as close as it gets, Pless taking it on a faulty Dent backhand. The Dane, who won three hard-fought qualifying matches in the weekend here and followed it up with a straight-set victory over Wayne Black in the main draw first round, got the crucial service break early in the second set. And that was all he needed to close out the match.
RESULTSSINGLES, 2nd round: Andrei Stoliarov (Rus) bt Andreas Vinciguerra (6, Swe) 6-1, 6-3; Peter Wessels (Net) bt Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) 6-0, 6-4; Kristian Pless (Den) bt Taylor Dent 7-6 (11-9), 6-4; Adrian Voinea (Rom) bt Jerome Golmard (5, Fra) 1-2 conceded.
DOUBLES, quarter finals: Ota Fukarek & Frantisek Cermak (Cze) bt Eyal Ran (Isr) & Jairo Velasco Junior (Spa, 3) 6-4, 6-2; Byron & Wayne Black (2, Zim) bt Vadim Kutsenko (Uzb) & Aisam Qureshi (Pak) 6-2, 6-0.
Failing to rise above the script at the Eden Gardens today, the visitors could do little as Bengal continued their domination and reached a mammoth 608 for five before closing their innings.
Rohan Gavaskar became the third centurion for the hosts with an unbeaten 121, while Deep Dasgupta fell 11 runs short chasing one.
Bihar, needing to win this tie to qualify for the next stage, will now have to try and save it. At stumps � drawn six overs too early because of poor light � they were 107 for three, still 302 runs away from forcing Bengal to bat a second time. Having lost a great deal of ground on the opening day, Bihar�s flickering hopes rested on some quick wickets today, and it was no surprise when skipper Rajiv Kumar claimed the new ball first thing in the morning.
With a little luck, they would have had Gavaskar in the very first over � an unfinished one from yesterday�s bad-light finish.
Dheeraj Kumar, who teased Gavaskar with well-directed away deliveries, induced a couple of outside edges and one of them flew past Nikhilesh Ranjan at gully. Gavaskar was then on 16.
While he survived this and some more anxious moments, skipper Devang Gandhi was not so lucky.
He left in the fourth over of the day, having added eight runs to his overnight 63, when Mihir Diwakar found the edge with a fine outswing. While there was very little wrong with his forward defensive plod, Devang was done in by the late movement.
It was reward for some very impressive bowling by the youngster over the two days of the match.
Devang later failed to take the field because of a problem with his left knee. After an X-ray at CAB�s medical unit revealed no damage, he had to go for an MRI at a nursing home. The report is expected tomorrow.
As a precaution, Devang may sit out the rest of the match. Srikant Kalyani is leading the side in his absence.
The runs couldn�t have come at a better time for Gavaskar, for he surely looked to be struggling for form in the early part of the innings. It is to his credit that did not let that spoil his focus.
His was at the crease for over four hours for a 174-ball innings, and ended up hitting 11 boundaries.
Deep, with whom he added 197 runs for the fifth wicket, looked good both with the bat and the big gloves today. He fell trying to rush to his hundred before the declaration, slashing Dheeraj way outside his off-stump for Kunjan Sharan to take a brilliant diving catch at gully.
It signalled Bengal�s declaration. Bihar began their reply well, but things took a turn when the Bengal new-ball bowlers switched ends. The line and length was suddenly better, and Shib Sankar Pal made the breakthrough with his first ball from the High Court end. Zeeshan-ul-Yaqin, who was showing and aggressive streak, was bowled through the gate.
Next over, Laxmi Ratan Shukla removed Zeeshan�s opening partner, the ball going onto the stumps off Nikhilesh Ranjan�s pads.
Skipper Rajiv fell to a rush of blood, spooning Utpal to deepish mid-on and new-man Sunil Kumar could have gone next ball, Alokendu failing to snap up a sharp chance at silly mid-off.
Welcoming Nandan Bal�s induction to the hot seat, Leander Paes said the team needed a coach and it would help ease captain Ramesh Krishnan�s job. �We have worked with Nandan in a couple of ties before, he�s good at his job,� the Indian No. 1 observed.
The Pune-based Bal had worked jointly with Enrico Piperno during two home ties in 1995.
The job went vacant after Piperno�s contract wasn�t renewed at the beginning of last year. The Calcuttan, who has been named to take over Bal�s place as Fed Cup coach, had served the Davis Cup team for 10 long years.
Mahesh Bhupathi felt it was high time a coach was appointed. �I�ve been saying all along that you need a good support system for the Davis Cup team. A coach is a must and I�m happy we�ve got one.�
Some in the AITA had wanted a younger man to do the coach�s job and the names of Gaurav Natekar and Asif Ismail had been discussed. But the experienced Bal got the nod because it was felt he deserves the prestigious post after serving well with the women�s team.
The Iraqi team list has not been received.
AIFF chief Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had claimed that the national teams will be sent from Romania, Chile, Uruguay, and Cameroon. The lists available are on second string sides only.
Not that the claim of the availability of Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas from Chile was taken seriously, the list available now does not include them. Howsever, the AIFF hopes that since Chile has only sent 19 names so far, one of the stars may join the squad later.
Bangladesh and Jordan will send their full squads.
Jordan, playing in group 3, have eight first team players in the squad. Their most experienced internatioinal is 35-year-old midfielder and skipper Jamal Abu Abed who plays for Al-Faisely club, the champion club of Jordan. Others from the champion club are defender Haitham Al-Shaboul and sweeper back Adnan Al-Shuaibat.
The Jordan team also includes striker Bassam Al-Khatib who played for Mahindra United last season and promising 23-year-old striker Ghanem Al-Dayeh who plays for their premier league club, Shahbab Al Hussein club.
Indonesia, drawn in India�s group, have also named very few of their players who participated in the Asia Cup final rounds in Lebanon. Their talented strikers Rochi Putiray who plays as a professional for Instant-Dict in Hong Kong and 21-year-old Bambang Pumangkas are missing.
Cameroon have only Carlos Kameni and Mohammed Idrissou from their squad which won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Star players like defender Patrick Wome, striker Patrick Mboma and midfielders Samuel Et�O and Geremi Njitap Fotso who play for European club champions Real Madrid of Spain are missing.
Romania have also sent a second string list.
In Calcutta, the AIFF released names of the Yugoslav squad, adds a Staff Reporter. Yugoslavia are in group A and play their matches in Kochi. The Kerala city, incidentally, will also host India�s matches, in group 2.
This evening the Bengal players were put up at a city hotel. According to CAB joint secretary Debdas Banerjee, all security arrangements to bring the visiting team from the hotel near Park Circus to the ground have been made �from 5 am�.
The association has, however, decided to postpone by a day all Vijay Merchant Trophy quarter final matches scheduled to begin tomorrow.
The Ambar Roy Memorial sub-junior meet matches remain scheduled. Matches which fail to start will be rescheduled later.
The final round of the Bengal ladies amateur golf championship at the Royal will be held on Saturday.
Medium pacers Rajesh Chakraborty (six for 68) and Ambar Roy (four for 62) ended East Bengal�s run chase at 136.
SUMMARISED SCORESTollygunge Agragami 372. DKS 305/5 (Utkarsh Gautam 133, Pitambar Dutt 75). Match drawn.
BNR 270/9. Customs 223/7 (Nilambar Saha 42, Dilip Dubey 37). Match drawn.
Kalighat 391/5. Burnpur 145 (Sourav Mitra 52; Timir Chanda 5/40). Kalighat won by 246 runs.
City 172 (Sarfraz Ahmed 5/74, Siladitya Mazumder 3/30). CPT 173/5 (Sanjeev Pandey 60, Mithun Mazumder 45). CPT won by 5 wkts.
Young Bengal 143. East Bengal 136 (Rajesh Chakraborty 6/68, Ambar Roy 4/62). Young Bengal won by 7 runs.
Aryan 387/3. Excelsiors 310 (Vikash Mansatta 67). Aryan won by 77 runs.
Suburban 317. Belgachia United 321/3 (Biplab Singh 110 n.o.). Belgachia won by 7 wkts.
Kumartuli 332/9 (Ayan Nandi 113). Cal Rangers 232/6 (Parikshit Nanda 109). Match drawn.
ACCEPTANCES1. Wiseman Cup 1,200m (Cl I; Rt. 88 & over) 12.30 pm: Mystic Hill 60; Tsavo 58.5; Anolini 57.5; Highland Flame 55.
2. Alokananda Stakes 1,200m (Terms, 3-y-o only) 1 pm: Caloresce-nce 54; Albright 50; Andrada 50; Lamborghini 50; Maid To Measure 50.
3. Golden Can Handicap 1,600 (Cl V; Rt. 00-28) 1.40 pm: Blessed Spirit 60.5; Soviet Port 60.5; Eau Savage 60; American 60; Crest Star 54; Adeline 50.
4. Rising Bell Handicap 1,400m (Cl III; Rt. 44-72) 2.15 pm:Santa Monica 60; Lovely Prospect 56; Lockers Park 56; Aragrove 55; Sky Command 54.5; Gambino 53.5; High Life 53; Gentle Priest 52; No Regrets 51.5; Just Kidding 51; Black Mane 51; Crucible 50.
5. Aphroze Handicap 1,100m (Cl III; Rt. 44-72) 2.50 pm: Santillana 60; Winning Hand 60; Endless Surprise 57; Abstract 55; Scarlet Raider 53.5; Andestine 53.
6. Kingfisher Calcutta Derby Stakes 2,400m (Terms, 4-y-o only) 3.30 pm: Andreyev 56; Daggers Drawn 56; Earl Grey 56; Soviet Ace 56; Wandering Warrior 56; Altimara 54.5; Alvarada 54.5; Silver Toy 54.5; Tsaynen Blue 54.5.
7. Glasgow Courser Handicap 1,400m (Cl IV; Rt. 22-50) 4.10 pm: Spanish Drum�s 61; Remember The Day 58; Cool Quest 58; Red Trident 56; Stella Blue 54.5; Falconaire 53.5; Abashed 53.5; Russian Czar 53; Supreme Desire 52; Alembic 52; The Stud 51.5; Calculus 51; Ghunghat 49.5.
Jackpot: 3; 4; 5; 6 & 7.
It was no ordinary victory for the Vijay Singh-trained filly. Yes, she was carrying 52 � kg by the terms of the race and was at a considerable weight advantage against stalwarts like Alternator (62 � kg) and Artwork (59 kg). But the Gaswar-Dancing Flame daughter is beginning to peak now and the way she is improving with each run it is just a matter of time when she learns to tackle the opposition at even terms. It was her sixth victory in-a-row.
C. Rajendra, the Mumbai-lad, made no mistake on Fame Star. He had her settled behind Bountiful Treasure who tried to steal a march from the 1,000m marker. In the process, the Zari Dara-shah-trainee managed to burn herself out, thus shifting out alarmingly and making Rajendra�s task much easier.
Alternator, the favourite to strike an encore in the Gold Cup, did come with his customary finishing run but Fame Star had no consideration for his reputation. The three-parts of a length verdict recorded over the favourite looked exaggerated.
Vijay had a tailor-made day for his stable. He won five events and could have made it six had Actress retained the advantage she build up from the start in the opener, the India Automobiles Opel Trophy. Running after nearly five months, the 6-4 favourite was given a fair ride by Cristopher Alford. But the Exclusive Virtue-Simpatica daughter lacked the cutting-edge and surrendered meekly a stride or two from the wire when Rajendra on Alkido came charging. Alkido was first of the three winners booted home by Rajendra. His third chance came right in the next race and he, once again, demonstrated as to why he is emerging as one of the most feared horsemen.
The wily jockey displayed no urgency when Alsheim, the 8-10 favourite in the 1,200m The Telegraph Cup, made a tardy start. Rajendra nursed the Tecorno-Krishma�s Pet colt in the mid-bunch before pushing her into the lead in the final two furlongs. The Vijay Singh-trainee led and countered a strong challenge issued by the Asfand-trained Princelene.
Asfand, however, did not have to wait for long for his New Year�s Day prize. In the Nepal Gold Cup over 2,200m, he found his ward Colonial handing a comfortable defeat to Surfside, trained by his mentor, Darius Byrami.
S. Rajesh, who partnered the winner, was not in a hurry when Allosaki tried to upset the rhythm of the free and front running six-year-old. Allowing Allosaki to lead till 300m the Vijay Mallya-property took over and cruised home.
Mallya�s other ward, Soviet Song, too, was an easy winner of the Tez Tea Calcutta Sprinters� Trophy. The Darius Byramji-trainee made her own running and justified her short odds. The speedy daughter of Bold Russian- Palace Music is in line for an encore.
Vijay claimed the rest in the eight-event-card. However, two of his other winners who also impressed were Ansbach in the baby race, the George Williamson Indian Produce Stakes and Annalee, the winner of the Eveready Heavy Duty Cup.
Ansbach won the way the Alnasr Alwasheek-Pass The Secret colt liked in the hands of Aslam Kader. Annalee�s win was equally creditable as she easily beat a highly rated Arctic Fancy.
Day�s Best: Deep Blue
RCTC will not conduct inter-venue betting in Calcutta on Friday.
1. Mrinal Plate, Div-II 1,100m: (2-1-3) Persian Lord (Prakash) 1; Color Me Good 2; Wings Of Fire 3. Won by: 8; 2-1/4; (1-17.7). Tote: Win Rs 22; Place: 13; 18; 14; Quinella: 52; Tanala: 235. Fav: Persian Lord (2).
2. Mrinal Plate, Div-I 1,100m: (7-1-2) Texas King (Prakash) 1; Dalsinghar 2; As A Rule 3. Won by: 5-1/2; 5; (1-8.3). Tote: Win Rs 18; Place: 12; 15; 32; Quinella: 27; Tanala: 207. Fav: Texas King (7).
3. Bright Hanovar Trophy 1,200m: (6-4-7) Green Paradise (Prakash) 1; Immaculate 2; Soviet Ride 3. Won by: 3/4; Hd; (1-13.5). Tote: Win Rs 71; Place: 22; 18; 14; Quinella: 256; Tanala: 1,568. Fav: Soviet Ride (7).
4. Thumbelina Plate 1,200m: (4-3-7) Supreme Statesman (Prakash) 1; Super Sword 2; Blues Clues 3. Not run: Secret Obsession (8). Won by: 1/2; 1-1/2; (1-15.3). Tote: Win Rs 23; Place: 12; 22; 369; Quinella: 78; Tanala: 5,215. Fav: Supreme Statesman (4).
5. Greek Baron Plate, Div-I 1,200m: (5-3-8) Rapallo (Bajrang) 1; Adam�s Blessings 2; Shanillo 3. Won by: 1-3/4; 2-3/4; (1-14.3). Tote: Win Rs 52; Place: 19; 14; 24; Quinella: 62; Tanala: 413. Fav: Adam�s Blessings (3).
6. Maharaja Sir Harisinghji Trophy 1,600m: (8-17-7) Regal Equity (Marshall) 1; Top Mover 2; Star Fortune 3. Not run: Crystal Man (1). Won by: Nk; Hd; (1-38.1). Tote: Win Rs 101; Place: 38; 23; 18; Quinella: 434; Tanala: 3,911. Fav: Al Dente (9).
7. Greek Baron Plate, Div-II 1,200m: (11-6-4) Royal Secret (Rajendra) 1; Adam�s Touch 2; Natural Spark 3. Won by: 2-1/4; SH; (1-13.8). Tote: Win Rs 53; Place: 17; 14; 14; Quinella: 57; Tanala: 319. Fav: Adam�s Touch (6).
8. Endurance Plate 2,400m: (8-7-11) Count Dracula (Belose) 1; Suratha 2; Zongrilla 3. Won by: 2-1/2; 5; (2-36.1). Tote: Win Rs 237; Place: 36; 31; 17; Quinella: 1,047; Tanala: 44,280. Fav: Great Alliance (6).
9. Unforgettable Plate 1,600m: (14-1-3) Rigged For Revenge (Rajesh) 1; Balahak 2; Demedici 3. Won by: 3; 3; (1-41.4). Tote: Win Rs 341; Place: 63; 28; 17; Quinella: 1,143; Tanala: 6,583. Fav: Valid Appeal (13).
Jackpot: Rs 1,36,066 (Carried over); (C) Rs 34,988.


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The Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival was founded by award-winning Bay Area filmmakers, actors, critics, artists and cinephiles to catch the independent films that fall through the cracks and end up... underground.
Although we are "underground," that has more to do with the "underground" nature of the filmmaking (low budget, independent) than genre. We showcase dramas, comedies, action, adventure, crime, musicals, horror, sci-fi, thrillers, fantasies, mysteries, romances, animation, children's, religious, lgbt, foreign, documentaries, experimental – basically anything, and it doesn't have to bizarre or on the fringe, though we definitely delight in those.
We do love our crazy home state with all of its rogue pythons, sequenced hurricanes and face eaters, but we have plenty of slots for films from beyond the Sunshine and from around the world, plus other worlds and worlds that don't even exist – just as long as it's interesting and innovative. In 2016, TBUFF had a program of 155 films from all across Florida, as well as from New York to Los Angeles and a dozen foreign countries. We've had filmmakers attending from as far away as Ireland and Poland.
Most attendees of the 2014, 2015 & 2016 events declared that the awards ceremony was the highlight, as we played clips of all nominees in each of the 22 categories in televised awards show style, and not just any random clip, but clips highlighting why each film or performance was nominated for that particular category. Yes, a lot of hard work, but more entertaining than most film festival award ceremonies featuring just names of films many audience members didn't see and so was well worth the response. One filmmaker pointed out that it was almost the equivalent of getting an additional showing in front of a filled auditorium. We also had winners unable to attend (which were just a handful) send in an acceptance video that we played after announcing them as winners at the ceremony. And there was an Awards Party following the ceremony at a nearby upscale restaurant, among other parties. Please see the TBUFF site for pictures from the awards ceremony/party and nominees/winners.
TBUFF is an all-genre festival and plays both shorts and features, including narratives and documentaries. Film selection is by nature a subjective process so it's difficult to put a finger on exactly what we're looking for – it's just like Potter Stewart said, we'll know it when we see it.
Awards & Prizes
In 2016, we gave out 24 awards at our Academy-like ceremony , including Best Feature, Best Short, Best Director, Best Documentary, Student Film, Leading and Supporting Actor and Actress, several different genres including comedy, horror and sci-fi/fantasy, technical categories, audience awards for both short and feature, and of course, Best Florida Film.
Rules & Terms
1. We accept works in progress, but they must be at a stage such that we can see its potential, and we reserve the right to reject a selection if the film is not in a polished format by the time the schedule is released. On a similar note, we currently do not have qualifying production dates but more recent productions (and central Florida premieres) do recent priority consideration during the selection process.
2. Non-English language films are accepted but the submission and exhibition versions must have English subtitles.
3. Entries will only be returned if an appropriately self-addressed stamped mailer is included with the submission, and TBUFF is not responsible for any damages to submitted materials.
4. Filmmakers must have all rights to all material contained within their submitted films, including music.
5. Each film submitted requires a separate submission fee; there is no limit to the number of films one individual may submit for consideration in any year.
6. If your film is selected for TBUFF exhibition, you will receive free festival passes as well as some tickets to your own showing, but with rare exception, the festival will not cover your travel or lodging costs. You do not have to present to win awards.
7. If your film is selected, short video snippets and stills from the film, along with any other promotional materials provided, might be used to market the festival.
8. TBUFF reserves the right to disqualify any film submitted through these websites without refund of any application fees.
9. Multiple versions of the same film will not be considered.
10. If TBUFF cannot get your film submission to play, we will attempt to contact the applicant for a replacement but if a replacement cannot be delivered to TBUFF before the final deadline, TBUFF can disqualify the entry and is under no obligation to return the submission fee.
11. TBUFF reserves the right to disqualify any film for non-payment of the submission fee or for not meeting any of the stated rules on this page or other TBUFF pages on this website.
12. TBUFF is under no obligation to provide comments regarding submitted films -- all decisions about film festival selections and scheduling are final.
13. By clicking here the submitter acknowledges and agree that to the best of his/her ability that he/she is duly authorized to submit this film to the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival and holds all rights within the film, and will allow the film to be exhibited at TBUFF and its promotional materials to be used for marketing the 2017 festival.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Golden Calf narrative is perhaps one of the most memorable tales from the pen of the Elohist. But the story is not as ancient as one might think. In fact, it most probably was put to pen some time in the 8th or 7th century BC. The specific contradiction presented here is not so much a contradiction between two textual traditions; rather, it is between some apparent inconsistencies in the narrative itself.
For instance, the people clamor for gods who "will go in front of us" since Moses has apparently disappeared. Aaron abides by their wishes, and melting the peoples' gold jewelry down he "fashioned it with a stylus and made a molten calf," and then proclaimed: "these are your gods Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." As our first textual anomaly, we notice that one calf is made, yet the text proclaims "gods" in the plural. Why?
Second, and largely illogical in the larger narrative context, merely days after the Horeb revelation, the giving and acceptance of the laws by the people, one of which stipulated no images, and apparently only a short time after witnessing Yahweh's "signs and wonders" in his destruction of Egypt, their land, livestock, plants, and all firstborns, and the parting of the sea of Reeds, it is these new gods who are proclaimed as the gods "who brought you out of Egypt." There is much that initially does not make any sense here.
Lastly, Aaron builds an altar before the molten image and proclaims "a festival to Yahweh tomorrow!" And then we're told that "they got up early the next day and made burnt offerings and brought over peace offerings"—that is, common sacrificial offerings to Yahweh. So, what or who exactly is being celebrated: Yahweh, the golden calf, or the "gods" who apparently brought Israel out of Egypt? Additionally, what is the relationship, that the text firmly implies, between Yahweh, the Golden Calf, and the "gods" of which it speaks?
Believe it or not, these questions can all be satisfactorily answered. But let us first examine more closely the literary context within which this story finds itself, and then secondly its historical context, that is in what historical period was it written and why.
The story presented in Exodus 32 is a self-contained unit and can be understood without knowledge of what preceded it and what follows. In fact, the story fits oddly into its literary context, more so with what immediately precedes it—a long Priestly insert detailing the parts of the Tabernacle to be built (Ex 25-31), and which is then built in Ex 35-40 where Aaron and his descendants are appointed as officiating priests, in contradiction to the portrait of Aaron drawn in the Golden Calf narrative.
But even if we go back to the last Elohist text in Exodus, our present story still makes no sense in its literary context. The last E material is found in Exodus 20-24 and narrates the divine theophany on Horeb, the people's witnessing and fearing the theophany, the giving of the covenant law code, whose first commandment is—
"I am Yahweh your god who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from a house of slaves; you shall not have other gods before my face; you shall not make an image or any form that is in the skies above or that is in the earth below or that is in the water below the earth; you shall not bow to them, and you shall not serve them" (Ex 20:2-4)
—and the people's consent to follow the covenant code, and finally the ratification of the covenant through the sacrifice of burnt offerings and peace-offerings of bulls to Yahweh! The Elohist passage ends on this note: "And Moses and Joshua, his attendant, got up, and Moses went up to the mountain of the god" (24:13).
A long, and later, Priestly insert, now Exodus 25-31, tells of Yahweh's instructions to Moses about the construction of the tabernacle, and then the Elohist source comes in again at Exodus 32:1:
"And the people saw that Moses was delaying to come down from the mountain, and the people assembled at Aaron and said to him: 'Get up. Make gods for us who will go in front of us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him!"
This, they say merely days, weeks, after witnessing Yahweh's theophany at Horeb, accepting Yahweh's covenant, and acknowledging themselves as Yahweh's people.
Even more puzzling, this all occurs right on the heels of the Exodus, the miraculous crossing of the Red sea, the witnessing of Yahweh's ten terrifying signs and wonders by which means he destroyed Egypt and redeemed the children of Israel. The story of the Golden Calf makes no sense within this literary context. Even granting the people's inclination, if you like, toward disobedience, it still makes no sense following the array of Yahweh's awesome signs, wonders, miracles, and theophany, as well as their own verbally expressed consent to be Yahweh's people and uphold his covenant. Like so many of the murmuring stories in Exodus and Numbers, the stories have little historical semblance and make no sense in their literary contexts (see also #222, #333, #444).
Rather, the Golden Calf episode was written as an independent story with a specific message to a specific audience. It was later inserted, rather poorly it must be said, into its current literary context in Exodus. Furthermore, the meaning and purpose of this text is discernible once one understands the historical circumstances that prompted our author to write it—that is, what he was writing about.
So what is the purpose and message of the Golden Calf narrative? Later biblical traditions, like the Deuteronomic, will view the Golden Calf incident as just another rebellion story associated with the hard-necked wilderness generation (Deut 9). And we may note that like other stories of rebellion, they served a specific theological need and function: to showcase and warn about dangers, such as infidelity, that lead to national catastrophe and punishment by the deity (but see #111). But besides how later tradition might have understood this story, what else might be said about its purpose and date of composition?
A good starting point is to examine the verse which exclaims "these are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt" (Ex 32:4). Recall that this is said in the context of: 1) a single molten calf, and 2) a festival to Yahweh—both of which initially make little sense.
Yet there is another passage in the Bible that might clue us in to what is really going on here in the Golden Calf narrative. In fact there is only one other place in all of the Bible that duplicates word for word the verse above, and it is found in 1 Kings 12:28: "These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
Could both the account in 1 Kings 12 and the Golden Calf narrative be recounting the same or similar event? Is one of these texts alluding to the other through the use of this exact phrase? It certainly seems so.
The statement in 1 Kings 12:28 is claimed to have been said by Jeroboam I, the northern kingdom's first king after its secession from Solomon's tyranny. It must also be borne in mind that this is what the author, most likely the pro-Solomonic southern Deuteronomist, says Jeroboam says. It's certainly a discriminating remark, and was used despairingly to depict Jeroboam as an apostate. This was, no doubt, the Deuteronomist's intention. The reference, however, whether Jeroboam actually said this or not, has a real historical referent. "The gods" of which the Deuteronomist has Jeroboam proclaim are actually two molten calves, or more precisely young bulls, that Jeroboam establishes at Dan and Bethel to rival the cultic center at Jerusalem. This explains the plural, "gods" in the Golden Calf narrative. As a matter of fact, the presence of "these gods" in the golden calf narrative is a direct reference to Jeroboam's two bull altars (2 Kgs 17:16). Could the rest of the Golden Calf narrative be referring to this 9th-8th century BC northern cultic practice?
The question pondered by historians is what was Jeroboam doing or thought he was doing? And secondly, can this be ascertained apart from the pejorative and biased portrait of him intended by the pro-southern Deuteronomist? Regardless of the Deuteronomist's biased report, the biblical and archaeological record do attest to the fact that Jeroboam erected two bull altars at Dan and Bethel, and furthermore, they were most likely intended to serve as a rival cult to the Jerusalem-centered cult of Solomon, which we should not forget worshiped Yahweh together with Baal (1 Kgs 11:5-7)! But what is unclear is what was Jeroboam doing: Was he reviving an older form of Yahwistic worship?
Both the Golden Calf incident as well as the Deuteronomist's account portray Jeroboam and his Aaronide lead cult as apostates. But many scholars think that this is far from certain, and moreover the portrait of Jeroboam meshes too well with the Deuteronomist's ideological agenda as found elsewhere in the books of Kings.
First, there are numerous biblical passages that mention Yahweh, most often El Shaddai, in connection with the bull. Gen 49:25 identifies Yahweh-El (#27) as "the Bull of Jacob," and similarly Psalm 132:2-5, and Isaiah 49:26 and 60:16. Compounded with the fact that bull figurines have been unearthed at many of the major cultic sites throughout Canaan the evidence strongly suggests that Yahweh-El was worshiped or associated with the young bull.
Even more startling, an archaic poem preserved in Numbers 23 mentions El in the guise of the bull, as the deity who lead Israel out of Egypt: "El who liberated him [Israel] from Egypt has horns like a wild ox." This reflects a time when Yahweh and El were viewed interchangeably. It appears therefore that Jeroboam was indeed reviving a more archaic form of Yahwistic worship. But the Deuteronomist portrays Jeroboam as an apostate, setting up new gods.
In all intents and purposes, it is highly unlikely that the bulls symbolized Yahweh, but rather like the cherubim seat in the Temple of Jerusalem, they symbolized Yahweh's throne seat. In any event, the Deuteronomist has indeed successfully painted Jeroboam as an apostate. In fact, "the sins of Jeroboam"—namely his two bull altars—appear throughout the book of Kings like a leitmotif and is used by the Deuteronomist as a foil to theologically explain why Yahweh brought the Assyrians against Israel and finally wiped them out in 722 BC, and conversely did not destroy Jerusalem. Moreover, in 2 Kings 17, Jeroboam's sin is referred to with exactly the same words used to describe the sin produced by Aaron in the Golden Calf narrative: "the great sin" (Ex 32:21).
It might be concluded that the Golden Calf narrative is both a parody and a polemic on Jeroboam's two calf altars in the north. The historical circumstances that prompted the writing of the Golden Calf, and what the narrative polemically targeted, was the establishment of the counter-Jerusalemite Yahwist-El cultic calve altars in the north by Jeroboam in the last half of the 9th century BC. The only question remaining is: why is Aaron depicted as the one leading the Israelites into sin?
The answer to this question gets at the roots of another contradiction—more a rivalry—namely the fierce bitterness between the Levites who traced their lineage back to Moses and the Aaronids who traced theirs back to Aaron (see #333). Both the Levite texts of the Elohist and Deuteronomist place a higher premium on Moses and the Levites. It is surmised that when Jeroboam built the two bull altars, the Levites expected to officiate the sacrifices there, but Jeroboam expelled them. We must infer from the texts that he hired Aaronid priests instead.
The added narrative detail that Aaron is preparing a festival and sacrificing to Yahweh via his "calves" also plays on the parody of presenting the apostate, Jeroboam's priests, as 'claiming' that their bull altars were Yahwistic shrines, which in all likelihood they were.This is a perfect example of how ancient scribes wrote archaized stories as polemical attacks on contemporary rivals.
There is another curious element that ties Jeroboam and the Golden Calf narrative together as well, the similarity of both of their punishments—tomorrow's contradiction.


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McCarthy has to get his team focused at half time. We are toeing the line of coming apart mentally.
No announcement yet.
Packers-Bills, Week 2
new posts
Originally posted by umphrey View PostMcCarthy has to get his team focused at half time. We are toeing the line of coming apart mentally.
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/aMo_Captain
Our special teams is finally looking like it's clicking this year. Guys are staying in their lane every single Bills return and there are multiple tacklers. Great blocking for Jordy and Jordy is looking like he's playing at his college speed again showing a good burst/cut into the seam on the return.
Thanks to BK for the sig
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/aMo_Captain
Clay Matthews at it again. Very impressed with this kid and he's by far surpassed my expecations since we drafted him.
Burnett looked tenative the 1st half of the game but when he broke for that tackle and ended up with an INT you could see his insticts start to kick in. Nice to see him step up today.
Bulaga stepped in and didn't miss a beat. He had a false start penalty but thats nothing to be concerned about. He's going to end up starting at some point and its looking like its going to be sooner than later.
Kuhn is not a RB and I wasn't happy about the running plays that took him to the outside. Jackson needs to step up and Kuhn needs to run between the guards on limited carries.
Alot of missed tackles and bad angles. Barnett finished with 9 tackles but he could've had 15 or so. This could all be attributed to the fact that the #1 defense hasn't played together all preseason too but hopefully this gets cleaned up.
I like what Ive seen from CJ Wilson in the 4th. I know its the Bills but they couldnt even stop him.
Minor gripe, but the Packers continue to start off slow only to really turn things on in the 2nd half. This has been going on for a while now, so I guess I should just expect it
Run D looked real shaky early on, the missed tackles weren't good to see
Packers Run game was bleh, vs a very bad rushing defense. I wonder if the Bills were auditioning LYnch today. Why did he get all the carries over their rookie first round pick?
All in all, great win for the home fans. No major injuries at all. All I know is that Raji and Brad Jones had knee injuries but both returned. Bad news was seeing Clifton BENCHED...not out due to injury, benched for Bulaga. Bulaga looked good though, and I expect him to start next week
Bulaga looked real nice out there. I think he can battle and go toe to toe with just about any DE. I think he'll frustrate even Jared Allen - Bulaga has the strength, non stop motor, and competitiveness to fight him off IMO. I'm uneasy about him going against speed rushers like Freeney and fast OLBs like Demarcus Ware. It will be really interesting if he gets matched up against Julius Peppers next week. I'm not sure what kind of player Peppers is these days though.
Thanks to BK for the sig
Finally they have depth at OL. People were saying the Packers OL was still terrible after last week, which couldn't have been further from the truth. They had a bad series where they gave up 2 quick sacks, but really, from the 2nd half on and this game as well, they have done a good job. It is nice that Sitton is starting to get recognized as one of the better guards in the league.


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A Guide To The Perfect Timing For Pine Tree Removal And Pruning In Woodstock GA
Since pine trees are coniferous evergreens, a minimal amount of pruning is required. The Mediterranean climate can help many pine trees to flourish, one example is the stone pine (Pinus pinea), in the U.S. Department of Agriculture they have a plant hardiness of 7A through 11.
To shape these trees and get rid of crowded branches, no more should be needed than an annual light trim.
On the occasion that dead or diseased branches have appeared, removing them at the time will stop the infection from being passed on to other trees in your garden.
Since they are ornamental trees, it is vital to choose the correct time of year for carrying out the pruning.
Choosing A Safe Time To Remove Pine Trees Or Prune
Late in Winter through to early Spring, during the dormant period, is by far the safest time to prune pine trees.
This means that as the temperature begins to warm up in Spring, the pine trees have started to recover from their pruning wounds.
Since trimming promotes and encourages new growth, timing the pruning for the dormant period allows the pines to use the warm weather to grow and develop a robust stability.
Pruning To Control Growth During Candle Pinching
Pine trees are in their candle stage between late spring and early summer, in other words from around early June to the beginning of July. From the ends of the branches thick new shoots appear, which we call candles.
It's during the candle period that you can control the pine's growth by pinching between one-third and two-thirds of the candles, this is especially important if you have a small garden that could easily become overgrown by pines!
In addition candle-pinching will promote dense growth hence giving the pine trees a fuller appearance.
Timing Your Pine Tree Pruning Wrong
Significantly pruning your pine trees during the growing season can have detrimental effects.
This growing period lasts from late spring right through the summer, during this time there is a higher risk of fungal infections and bark can be damaged more easily.
Autumn is also a bad choice for trimming branches since fresh buds grow below each of the pruning cuts. Once the temperatures start to fall in Winter, many of these shoots are unable to survive.
Dealing With Diseased Or Dead Branches On Pine Trees In Woodstock, GA
The removal of diseased or dead branches is an exception to the rule.
Quick removal of dead branches or those lacking foliage is vital.
If you're unsure whether a branch is dead, use a knife to scrape the bark, if the underneath is dry, the branch has died and should be removed without delay.
In saying that, it's much better to prune dead or diseased branches in dry weather, since wet weather can up the risk of those deadly disease spores being transferred from your pruning tools to other other parts of the pine tree.
Contact us today with any questions or a no obligation estimate on your pine tree pruning or any type of tree removal project you may have.


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September 11, 2014
All That Has Transpired: San Jose Sharks
We're going to take a look at each NHL team, breaking down every new addition and subtraction, as well as promising prospects leading up to the start of the 2014-15 season.
2013 Season: 51-22-9 111pts – (2nd Pacific Division; 4th Western Conference)
Free Agents Signed:
John Scott (LW – Buffalo)
Michael Haley ( C – Rangers)
Bryan Lerg (LW – Avalanche)
Taylor Fendun (D – Oilers)
Free Agents Lost:
John McCarthy (LW – St. Louis Blues)
Dan Boyle (D) Rights to NYI for Conditional 5th Round Pick in 2015
Brad Stuart (D) to Avalanche for a second-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-rounder in 2017
3rd Round Pick in 2015 to Flyers for Tye McGinn (F)
Marty Havlat (RW)
Promising Prospects
Chris Tierney (C)
Mirco Mueller (D)
Nikolay Goldobin (RW)
Dan O'Regan (C/W)
The Sharks made history during the playoffs last season when they became the fourth NHL team to lose a best-of-seven series after a 3-0 start. With the first round meltdown against the LA Kings fresh in their minds, General Manager Doug Wilson called for changes yet again this off season. But wait, don't you dare call it a 'rebuild' – instead Wilson stated that the Sharks are to become "a tomorrow team." Once you look past the saying he pulled off an executive buzzword bingo card, the intent is for the team to shift away towards a more youthful roster. The first steps of their off-season plan included trading Brad Stuart to the Avalanche, trading Dan Boyle's rights to the Islanders, and buying out Marty Havlat. But when you look at the moves on paper, the Sharks did not really do much to bolster their team or to make room for prospects to move up.
The second shift towards 'tomorrow' focuses on the voice in the locker room. It was announced this offseason that both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have been relieved of their captain/alternate duties. Coach Todd McLellan stated that Thornton wasn't "stripped" of his C, and that all players would have a shot to wear the letters after training camp. Rumored players that could take over these roles include Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. It will be interesting to see if new on-ice leadership helps to bolster the team in times of need, especially during the playoffs.
The Sharks most promising prospect, Thomas Hertl will play his second season in the NHL. He started off with an offensive bang his Rookie year; 15 goals, 10 Assists, and 25 points. However his hot start was brought to a grinding halt when he suffered a knee injury on December 19th, keeping him sidelines till the end of the regular season. Hertl is slated to return to the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. If he can remain healthy, I expect him to be a driving offensive force for the Sharks this season.
Along the blue line, Marc-Edouard Vlasic is coming off a phenomenal 2013-14 season with the Sharks. He ended the season a +31 with 5 goals, 19 assists, and 24 points. Brett Burns filed in offensively last season, but will return to his natural position. However if injuries plague the sharks again, don't be surprised to him slotted into the offense on occasion.
Goaltending will be a hot topic this year as well. Antti Niemi is in a contract year, and is coming off an extremely poor playoff performance. It's not often that you can say a goaltender was benched in game six with a 3.74GAA and a dismal .884 save percentage. Could backup goalie Alex Stalock be seen more often on the ice than on the bench this season? Or will Niemi show that he's still got it and retain his starting position?
On the injury front, Logan Cotoure is expected to be recovered from his hand/wrist surgery by the start of camp. The same cannot be said for forward Raffi Torres, who is listed as out indefinitely. After developing an Infection right knee, it was announced that he has to have right ACL procedure done again. He is expected to return at some point during the 2014-15 season, but the timetable is unknown at this time.
I fully expect to see Hertl and Couture, as well as veterans Thornton and Pavelski to be the driving force for the offense this season. Having Burns back on the blue line should help the Sharks to regain some intimidating size in the defensive zone. I also anticipate seeing more game starts for Stalock, but for Niemi to decisively take regain control of the starting goalie position. Expect the Sharks overall success during the regular season continue, possibly seeing them place 2nd/3rd in the Pacific Division. However the real question is, will history repeat itself in the playoffs? I predict that we will see the sharks make it to the second round, but not proceed further due to the stacked talent in the western conference. One thing to keep in mind however is that if the team does experience another letdown in the playoffs, we may see coach Todd McLellan (7th season) and possibly even GM Doug Wilson forced to 'walk the plank' over shark fan infested waters.
Projected Lineup:
Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Matt Nieto – Logan Couture – Patrick Marleau
Tommy Wingels – James Sheppard – Freddie Hamilton
Mike Brown – Andrew Desjardins – Tyler Kennedy
John Scott – Tye McGinn
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Jason Demers
Justin Braun – Brent Burns
Scott Hannan – Matt Irwin
Matt Tennyson
Antti Niemi
Alex Stalock
PS: In case you were wondering, yes Tyler Kennedy is still on the team after only producing four goals, a -10 rating, and spending time in the regular season/playoffs as a healthy scratch. This is the last year of his contract with the Sharks, and he has a lot to prove if he expects to be re-signed or play elsewhere in the NHL.


text: Inspired by oreocat's fabulous story, I concluded that the best way to buy a new Chanel is by going to Sak's gift card events. Get $300 and apply it towards your next purchase on the next gift card event and get a new card. Round and round it goes. Maybe this is not news to you smart ladies but I just figured it out. I felt so dumb Or by the way, what are the cons for doing that? any cons except that you tend to spend more and more for more cards?


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Kyle is an therapist in training and geek who enjoys video games, cosplay, anime, and long walks on the beach. He also has an unhealthy obsession with Scarecrow, and will likely become a super villain some time in the next few decades.
Superman is one of the most recognizable characters in the history of comic books. Starting with the first issue of Action Comics way back in 1938, Superman has appeared ...On April 14, 2016 / By Kyle
Batman and Psychology…ah, two of my greatest passions. We all knew the day would eventually come where they would collide, and it's finally here! Although I take a very surface ...On April 14, 2016 / By Kyle
As a child, I was sucked into the world of Harry Potter; the maturity of the books grew with me as I grew older. By the end, I ...On April 6, 2016 / By Kyle
Ah, yes, the psychology of Deadpool. We all knew it would come to this. Despite my extreme dislike for all things Deadpool, the hype surrounding the movie was ...On March 12, 2016 / By Kyle
For the second episode in a row, Josh and Kyle try to fight a Griffin that just will not give up for some reason. Despite their problems in ...On July 1, 2015 / By Kyle
Once more into the Witcher… Kyle and Josh continue their epic battle against a griffin, and realize that SOMEBODY hasn't leveled up yet… Fun fact, the first boss ...On June 26, 2015 / By Kyle
Josh was insistant that we play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While enjoying the visual aspects of the game, we find that the bugs make the game troublesome ...On May 29, 2015 / By Kyle
So the good news? Game Gab is out! The bad news? This is actually from last week as I continue my tradition of not having time to write ...On May 27, 2015 / By Kyle
What's that? We're actually planning to finish a game? Poppycock! We would never do such a thing here on Game Gab! I'm offended that… wait… we ARE going ...On May 22, 2015 / By Kyle
© 2014 Geeks Podcast, LLC. All rights reserved.


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January will make three years since I started freelance writing. During the holiday season of the first year, things got pretty slow, but I just thought I was going through a "famine." When it happened again the second year, I grew suspicious, and now that it's happening again, I'm pretty sure I'm seeing a pattern.
Is it normal for freelance writers to see a drop in business during the holidays? How can I keep my freelance writing business from coming to a standstill next year, too?
Hey Theresa,
My answer is sort of two-fold: First, yes, it is somewhat normal for freelance writers to experience a drop in business during the holiday season. (This is actually the first Christmas season since 2005 that I've been up to my eyeballs in work; in years past, I've had a certain level of "free time" during this time of year.)
Don't get me wrong – there are still plenty of clients and work out there – but some businesses slow down during this time of year (to put final touches on projects you're not affiliated with, set goals for the upcoming year, etc. – things they need in-house employees or other types of professionals for), which means they don't always need as many – or any – contractors.
Second, there are plenty of things you can do during this "slow" time – productive things that will actually benefit your freelancing career.
List time!
2. Keep applying for jobs.
3. Keep your blog updated. You can also get that editorial calendar moving into the new year, as well as go ahead and write and pre-post a few blog posts.
4. Stay active on social media. Keep schmoozin' it up on Facebook and Twitter (and Google+ if you've made that leap yet). First of all, you have friends on there who deserve it, and second of all, you never know when your networking is going to introduce you to a new client.
5. Send "touching base" e-mails to former clients. 2010 was one of the most lucrative years for me as a freelance writer, and it's because of one – ONE – e-mail I sent out wishing a former client a Happy New Year and inquiring about upcoming projects. If I remember correctly, I wrote something along the lines of, "I have some availability coming up and was wondering if [The Company] has any projects in the works?" Seriously, that simple.
6. Scope out a few blogs you'd like to write guest posts for, and query the owners.
7. Write articles for your Ezine, Hub, or other article distribution sites.
8. Draft letters to local businesses you'd like to provide services for in the new year. I don't recommend actually sending them until January's had a little time to get underway and everyone's on track again.
9. Come up with a column for your local newspaper. Contact the editor with the idea, and maybe even a few samples.
10. Catch up on your reading. I've said it once and I'll say it again: You need to keep studying your craft. (That "To Read" folder in your e-mail inbox counts, too.)
11. Work on your online presence. Tweak your website or blog to finally get it just the way you want it, or look for Web and graphic designers to create a logo for your freelance writing business. You might even find designers offering holiday specials or end-of-the-year discounts.
12. Think of a magazine article or two you'd like to write, or finally query that editor with that idea that's been bouncing around in your head since last spring.
13. Re-evaluate your rates. Maybe now's the time for a rate increase, or to create those product/service packages you've been thinking about.
14. Clean up and get organized. Your desk, your internal and external hard drives, your filing system – all of it.
15. Have some fun! Spend some time with your family and friends, playing with your new gifts, and just taking a break from it all. A fresh, rejuvenated brain is better than a tired, burnt out one any day.
If you already know the holiday months will be slow, set aside some money each month leading up to the season. Anne Wayman of About Freelance Writing provides five solid ideas for solving freelance writing's uncertain income.
How about you, readers? What ideas can you add? What do you do when "business" is slow, but there's still plenty of work to be done?
This post is part of the Ask Alicia series at WritingSpark.com. Learn more, check out some other columns, or shoot me an e-mail directly at alicia [at] writingspark [dot] com (or click here) with "Ask Alicia" in the subject line to ask your own question.


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Cap City Counseling Website Cap City Counseling
Design a custom Wordpress theme for the Sacramento based counseling office Cap City Counseling.
Cap City Counseling is a marriage and family counseling practice and needed a Wordpress theme to give their web presence a more modern look. I wanted to stick with a nutral color scheme and allow the colors of the image to really pop. The website is fully responsive and displays nicely on desktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Wordpress CMS
- Fonts by Google Fonts


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Babies sleep a lot. When they're not eating, pooping, or crying, they're probably sleeping. It's important that their bed is comfortable and clean, so a mattress protector pad is a good idea. Many are stiff with plastic fibers that are easy to clean, but Universal Comfy Co. offers a soft mattress protector pad made of bamboo rayon fiber that's easy to wash!
Read the full article here: Protect Your Baby's Mattress


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Most kids are familiar with the accessible verse of Shel Silverstein's Where The Sidewalk Ends and Jack Prelutsky's The New Kid on the Block (or his poem, a regular classroom favorite, "Homework! Oh Homework!"). But for many kids, that's as far as their poetry knowledge goes. And in a time of tightened school budgets and piled-on curriculums, it's often the case that beautiful, new poetry collections go undiscovered. That's why today I'm sharing one brand new and three newish favorites. All are collected around the theme of "Seasons," each offering teachers, parents, librarians, and students a terrific selection of poetry goodness.
FIREFLY JULY: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
This brand new collection, strikingly illustrated in watercolor, gouache, and mixed media by Melissa Sweet, has already garnered a host of dazzling reviews. Thirty-six very short poems (none longer than 10 lines, some lines being only one word long) celebrate the seasons, not only as images that remind readers of changes in weather, but also as poems that, against the backdrop of Sweet's colorful art, convey the mood of the chosen season. Take William Carlos Williams's familiar, "The Red Wheelbarrow" which is found in the section titled "Spring," or Carl Sandburg's "Fog," which is grouped with poems about winter. In a strict sense, neither poem need be limited to a particular season. And yet, grouped as each is and taken as a whole – poem and illustration – each offers a refreshing, new way of thinking about seasons.
A mix of familiar (as mentioned above) and unfamiliar poems (such as "In Passing" by Gerald Jonas and "A Happy Meeting" by Joyce Sidman), this is a collection to read, share, and inspire.
As a brand-new teacher long ago, I learned to fill my classroom walls with poetry – seasonal poems that were always there – ready to chant, enjoy, memorize. Poetry became our shared experience; seasonal poems, an important part of our canon. Even using this one book, SHARING THE SEASONS: A Book of Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by David Diaz (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010) , any teacher would have a hard time settling on only four or five poems for each season. Perhaps, "Budding Scholars" by April Halprin Wayland about flowers who've become students. Or "Winter Home" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich about barns and beds, rags, and shreds of cloth tucked into tiny mouskin spaces…
I've mentioned Joyce Sidman's poetry before on ReaderKidZ and her collection RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A Year in Colors (Houghton Mifflin, 2009), for which illustrator Pamela Zagarenki won a Caldecott Honor, is perhaps my most favorite. Color and season come together in this whimsical collection that will inspire students to write their own seasonal/color poems.
Here's a snippet of "Spring" – "Green peeks from buds,/ trembles in the breeze. /Green floats through rain-dark trees, /and glows…/Green drips from tips of leaves…In spring, even the rain tastes Green. "
Looking for a month-by-month collection? Try Julie Andrews' Treasury for All Seasons: Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Year, (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012) selected by Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton, with paintings by Marjorie Priceman – a diverse collection which includes poems by familiar poets such as Langston Hughes ("I Dream a World" , "My People") and Christina Rossetti ("A Christmas Carol") and others, less well known, by poets such as Barbara Juster Esbensen (whose book, A Celebration of Bees: Helping Children to Write Poetry, is an OOP gem worth buying used, or as an ebook).
What are some of your favorite kids' poetry books for all seasons?


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Ron Schwabe
Ron Schwabe began his development and management career in the 1980's in Portland, OR. The company quickly expanded to managing over 5,000 units across 5 states. Ron's affinity for restoring buildings and his love for Downtown Tucson has made an impact in the resurgence of downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. Ron enjoys exploring Tumamoc Hill.


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Sussex Downs College Alumni is free to join and is open to all former students of Sussex Downs College and its predecessor institutions.
Whether you studied full time or part time; as an A level student, an apprentice, an adult learner, or on any other course at Sussex Downs; whether you left recently or longer ago; or whether you attended the college as it is today or one of the predecessor colleges – you are all part of the college community and SDC Alumni is your network.
You can sign up today by filling in our online registration form.
Sussex Downs College Alumni is your network and you can choose how much involvement you want to have.
Sign up to receive email newsletters if you want to find out about news, events, courses and promotions for alumni members.
Let us know if you're able to volunteer your time to talk to current or prospective students, if you're interested in acting as a mentor to current students, or if you're able to make a donation to the Student Opportunity Fund.
Get in touch if your company is able to offer work experience placements or apprenticeships, or if you're interested in finding out about further courses and training for your staff.
Keep in contact if you're a leaving student and want to find out what the college can offer you as you move forward in your career.
Tell us your stories if you have news or successes you'd like to share with the college and other alumni.
And become a member to be a part of the college community and to find out what Sussex Downs can offer you today.
For enquiries, comments or suggestions, please email email@example.com


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It is Friday right? My days and weeks are starting to run together so I am not 100% sure. But let's just go with it.
I had a series all planned for the holidays called Tis the Season to be Crafting. Typically, I tend to get my crafting mojo when the weather turns cold and because I love Christmas more than any other holiday. However, this year had other plans for me so I am left admiring everyone else's amazing projects. Here are just a few of the things I love this year and would love to make one day.
Paper Trees from Jurianne Matter
I love these little muffin/cupcake toppers! They are so simple and cute and make a huge impact on an otherwise ordinary muffin. Keep!
The Christmas Jar via MomSpark
This is such a fantastic idea for kids cooped up in the cold winter months! The jar is stuffed with 25 different activities to do each day leading up to Christmas! It's a great way to count down and also to make it through those long, cold days indoors!
Solo Cup Trees via ohdeedoh!
Oh these trees! Whether you have kids or not, this is an amazingly easy craft that can be as dressed up or down as you like!
Handmade Advent Calendars from The UnTrained Housewife!
I have always wanted an Advent calendar. Next year, Oscar will be 3 and I really want to get our traditions in order! I have been slack knowing that he really doesn't "get it" but this will be perfect for 2011! I love the little pockets and clothesline look of this one!
DIY Striped Paper Ornament via How About Orange!
Ahhh I how love this blog. And hey, not everyone wants to be all red and green at the holidays! Follow the fun tutorial to make this ornament in any color you like!


text: I was watching a video on wedding planning and it mentioned having a family member or close friend become ordained and marry you. I have not figured out how I feel or what I think about this. I don't have any problems with what other people define as their family, or their marriage. I believe it is spiritual and a total commitment, whether the eprson who marries you is a Justice of the Peace or a Priest or a Minister. As long as the couple is committed to each other and their family, I don't really care if they even get married. For us it was with a minister in front of just our closest friends and family. But I think becoming a minister should also be taken very seriously. To just fill out a form online and print a confirmation email out to prove you are "ordained" somehow does not show much commitment. If the person takes it seriously then that is enough, I guess. But people TRUST ministers. They tell them their deepest secrets, and take their guidance to heart when shaping their lives. Somehow it well, almost cheapens, or devalues the ministry if the ordination comes without any training or guidance. What do you think or feel about it? This is NOT meant to be a religious discussion. I am wondering strictly about how the instant minister could possible affect the way the bride and groom think about the commitment.


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8th Circ. Says National Union Owes Travelers $10M
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled Thursday that, while the district court was correct in determining that KCPL was not obligated to remit uninsured losses related...
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We are encountering problem of copying of contents from sanskritdocuments.org
by owners of certain sites.
We have identified some who are routinely involved in practicing plagiarism and
copying texts from many places.
The files are taken without permission and with minimal mention of any
original source or without
courtesy references of people/sites who have worked hard to prepare them.
They are interested in promoting themselves, family, and/or ideologies
they represent. They have
taken significant number of texts prepared lovingly by dedicated
and well-meaning volunteers.
The victims are the volunteers at
vedic reserve,
GRETIL, Hindi Sahitya,
Muktabodha, and so among a few known.
This has certainly violated volunteer spirit at
sanskritdocuments site and have reduced volunteers' involvement considerably.
This is unfortunate situation that has been thrust upon us.
We are aware that
a note about copying question in FAQ,
attempting to prevent a repeat of this sort,
is not going to make difference with the offenders
who are bent on following their "ideology."
Upon considerable deliberation, at this time,
the Sanskrit Team members have decided
not to put up the names of the sites and owners that are profiting from the work
done by volunteers.
We believe that the bitterness caused by public humiliation
is not going to further the cause
of promoting Sanskrit literature study, related knowledge, and associated devotion.
From Sanskrit Team members https://sanskritdocuments.org August 2014.


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A Value Efficiency Approach to Incorporating Preference Information in Data Envelopment Analysis
We develop a procedure and the requisite theory for incorporating preference information in a novel way in the efficiency analysis of Decision Making Units. The efficiency of Decision Making Units is defined in the spirit of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), complemented with Decision Maker's preference information concerning the desirable structure of inputs and outputs. Our procedure begins by aiding the Decision Maker in searching for the most preferred combination of inputs and outputs of Decision Making Units (for short, Most Preferred Solution) which are efficient in DEA. Then, assuming that the Decision Maker's Most Preferred Solution maximizes his/her underlying (unknown) value function, we approximate the indifference contour of the value function at this point with its possible tangent hyperplanes. Value Efficiency scores are then calculated for each Decision Making Unit comparing the inefficient units to units having the same value as the Most Preferred Solution. The resulting Value Efficiency scores are optimistic approximations of the true scores. The procedure and the resulting efficiency scores are immediately applicable to solving practical problems.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Volume (Year): 45 (1999)
Issue (Month): 1 (January)
Pages: 103-115
|Contact details of provider:
| Postal: 7240 Parkway Drive, Suite 300, Hanover, MD 21076 USA
Phone: +1-443-757-3500
Fax: 443-757-3515
Web page: http://www.informs.org/
More information through EDIRC
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Tarja Joro & Pekka Korhonen & Jyrki Wallenius, 1998. "Structural Comparison of Data Envelopment Analysis and Multiple Objective Linear Programming," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(7), pages 962-970, July.
- Charnes, A. & Cooper, W. W. & Golany, B. & Seiford, L. & Stutz, J., 1985. "Foundations of data envelopment analysis for Pareto-Koopmans efficient empirical production functions," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 30(1-2), pages 91-107.
- R. D. Banker & A. Charnes & W. W. Cooper, 1984. "Some Models for Estimating Technical and Scale Inefficiencies in Data Envelopment Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(9), pages 1078-1092, September.
- Thanassoulis, E. & Dyson, R. G., 1992. "Estimating preferred target input-output levels using data envelopment analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(1), pages 80-97, January.
- Thompson, Russell G. & Langemeier, Larry N. & Lee, Chih-Tah & Lee, Euntaik & Thrall, Robert M., 1990. "The role of multiplier bounds in efficiency analysis with application to Kansas farming," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1-2), pages 93-108.
- Charnes, A. & Cooper, W. W. & Rhodes, E., 1978. "Measuring the efficiency of decision making units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 2(6), pages 429-444, November.
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The rich kaleidoscope of Anglo-Irish relations is exciting and challeging but can also be daunting for students approaching the subject for the first time.
This is especially true of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the whole island of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom and sent representatives to the Westminster parliament.
Change & Diversity'.
Nationalism versus localism
Diversity of identityThe 'national question'
Diversity of identity
Rebellion & Union, 1798-1801Quiescence, 1801-23The 'Age of O'Connell', 1823-47Rampant localism, 1847-67
Home rule movement, 1870-1918
Election results, 1868 and 1886
Parnell & the Land League crisis
Irish UnionismUlster UnioinismAnglo-Irish relations
Irish Republicans, 1914-21Partition
National aspirations, local realitiesPartition & peace in Ireland


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Come see Christmas Ranch May 12th, 2017 at 9pm
EQUUS Film Festival May 12-14. 2017 at Clark's Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland
Thanks to our sponsors for the Christmas Ranch Premiere December 8th at the Senator Theatre! Kelly Associates Insurance Group, DBMFilmStore.com, The Equiery, College Manor Extended Family Living, EMBRACE THE RACE and Greenmount Farms!
DBM Films is pleased to present the Maryland premiere of Christmas Ranch at the historic Senator Theatre on Thursday, December 8th at 7 pm! Doors open at 6:30pm. Christmas Ranch was produced and directed by Maryland filmmaker, Douglas B. Maddox and was filmed on location in Maryland at GreenMount Farms with thanks to Aris Melissaratos and Angie and Sabrina Moore.
A VIP Reception at 6 pm will precede the screening at 7 pm and portions of the proceeds will benefit several community organizations throughout Maryland. Tickets for the screening and the VIP Reception will be available online. The event is for all ages and the movie has received the Dove Foundation seal of approval for family audiences!
Just in time for Christmas — a feel-good film about hope and second chances! The story is about a strong-willed girl who is sent to stay with her grandmother on her horse ranch for Christmas. She begins to care for her grandmother's pony and becomes determined to help save the ranch from foreclosure.
The official trailer of the Christmas Ranch can be seen by clicking on this link.


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My first film and the First Prize Winner of the 2012 Petra Joy Award. Duty Bound has been included in Petra Joy's compilation DVD … Her Porn 4
2014: Selected for CineKink NYC Film Festival
SYNOPSIS: A woman spent her entire life fulfilling her duties as a daughter, wife,
mother and member of society, all at the expense of her own happiness and
pleasure. At the age of 47 year she decides to begin her sexual exploration
and pursue fantasies that have been simmering for decades and have reached
boiling point…booking and paying for an escort to make these fantasies a


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Thanks to all who suggested names. Kat and I have been suggesting several of them, plus ones of our own creation, to one another over the weekend. The current front-runner is: "Serial Homicide Unit: Hunting the Hunters"
I like it. It's a simple, direct name for a simple, direct game. But, what do you think?
ALSO, the deadline for playtests of this game is six weeks from today: September 9. If you, or anyone you know, has not yet played the game, and would be interested in playtesting (and receiving a free electronic copy of the game for your trouble), please contact me in the comments or at my gmail account: stalwartIP


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River cruises are a relaxing and great way of seeing fascinating cities, historic landmarks and beautiful countryside. Welcoming ships travel along some of the most scenic rivers in the world, you can enjoy historic cities, stunning scenery and quaint villages as you cruise. With so many holidays to choose from it's no wonder that river cruise holidays are so popular.
- Rivers
- Countries
- Operators
Rhone River Cruise Holidays
Enjoy a cruise along the Rhone and witness the lush green vineyards of Burgundy to the sun-kissed hills of Provence and the wild ruggedness of the Ardèche gorges to the medieval allure of Avignon. The river flows through France's gastronomic heartland. Cruises offer many opportunities to taste and buy wine, and it's sometimes possible to dine ashore in one of Lyon's excellent restaurants
Numerous historic towns and cities (mostly in modern-day France) have grown up directly on the Rhône River or its key tributary to the north, the Saône; others occupy the wider Rhône Basin. The Rhône Basin is home to the historic French regions of Provence, Burgundy (Bourgogne), Auvergne, Rhone-Alps and Languedoc-Roussillon.
Discover France's River Rhone
River cruise ships are specially designed to navigate the world's great rivers and waterways and provide passengers with hotel standard comfort and a great dinning experience. On a river cruise you need never struggle with a foreign language, decipher a map, read a road sign, or even pick up a guidebook. Just sit back and let the world glide by.


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Frances E. Allen: Surpasses the Turing Test
turbotodd 100000388Y Visits (3504)
The Turing Award is the ACM's most prestigious technical award, and is given to an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made to the computing community.
Allen was given the award for her pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of optimizing compiler techniques that laid the foundation for modern optimizing compilers and automatic parallel execution.
These techniques have advanced the use of high-performance computing in weather forecasting, DNA matching, and encryption.
You can read more about Ms. Allen's work here, where you can also see video interviews and read an oral history transcript about her early forays in computing.
Also check out the highlight feature on ibm.com.


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CARMEL, Ind. (AP) – Authorities say they've pinpointed the likely source of a smelly chemical that prompted reports of a natural gas-like odor in central Indiana.
The Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency says authorities on Sunday got dozens of calls about the smell of natural gas in Carmel-area homes and businesses. Gas monitors were used and no natural gas readings were found.
Officials say the smell in southern and central Hamilton County likely came from an Indianapolis industrial business. The odor has since dissipated.
Natural gas is ordinarily odorless, but an additive called mercaptan gives it a smell to warn people about leaks. Officials initially said they thought mercaptan was released, but on Monday they said only a "pungent smelling chemical" was to blame.
A similar incident was reported in July.