Especially for my friends in my home state, Virginia.
My Virginia friends of my generation know what it was like to grow up there in the 1960s. I remember writing “reports” for assignments in elementary school and junior high school. I remember making covers for them. I used stencils that we bought at the stationery store in downtown Hopewell to put the titles on the covers of my reports. And the cover needed a picture too. Seems to me the picture was more often than not a cut-and-paste (not digital, of course, but with real metal scissors and Elmer’s Glue) from a brochure picked up out at Battlefield Park—normally one of the Confederate generals, or a Confederate flag.
Now, the elementary school where I was turning in these reports was segregated. When my middle school was integrated, and when I got to high school, I don’t recall ever asking any of my new African-American classmates how they felt about such symbols. I’m pretty sure I never asked them. The history was already learned, the culture engrained, before I ever met them.
How many Civil War battlefields did I visit as a child? Memories of the Confederacy were everywhere. There was a kind of sweet, sad, rich nostalgia for the lost elegance of the South—never mind that most of my own forebears were still somewhere in the hills of Slovakia or Switzerland or else up in Illinois the night they brought old Dixie down! Still somehow the Old South was my history, and my loss. The land, the rivers, the hills and valleys, the plantations—to have any sense of place, any connection to or rootedness in the soil all around us was to participate also in a certain veneration not only of the Revolutionary-era leaders but also of the Confederacy and its generals, who we knew were not only better soldiers and strategists but also at least in certain prominent cases (Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson) men of better manners and morals, and more devout Christians, than the dissipated riffraff who suited up as generals for the Northern cause (the corrupt and uncouth Ulysses S. Grant, the sadist-arsonist William Tecumseh Sherman).
It’s not that we didn’t know which side won the Civil War, or didn’t learn to respect Abraham Lincoln, or didn’t study the history—though in the history I learned, the main issue was not so much slavery but economics: the South’s heroic but doomed effort to hold on to a genteel, agrarian way of life over against the newfangled plagues of industrialization and urbanization. My home town—where Grant camped out before and during the siege of Petersburg—commemorated Northern generals along with the Southerners. When I was born my parents took me home to a house on Grant Street, and as a teenager I delivered papers up and down Sherman Avenue. Other streets in the neighborhoods I lived in had names like Hooker, Moultrie, Lee, Miles, Hill, Clark, Clay, Stonewall, Jackson—intermingling Northern and Southern generals—along with Norfolk, Portsmouth, Roanoke, Danville.
The most remarkable street of my childhood memories, the one most heavily suffused with reminiscences of the War, was over in Richmond. Monument Avenue featured (and still does) statues of Robert E. Lee, J. E. B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Matthew Fontaine Maury. Sometimes when my family went over to Richmond to shop, or for my piano lessons at VCU when I was in high school, we would return to I-95 by way of Monument Avenue rather than Broad so we could see the statutes. As recently as this past November, when I flew down to Virginia and drove my mom to a cousin’s wedding in Richmond, I diverted down Monument Avenue—somehow I couldn’t not go there—and on the way down the avenue held my phone out the car window and snapped the photo displayed with this post.
If you think the names of Lee and Jackson and the soil around Manassas and the Crater exert a certain pull only on the hearts of openly racist rednecks who ride around in pickup trucks flying confederate flags, then I think you don’t know many Southerners of my generation very well. (Also, don’t identify such attitudes behavior too exclusively with the South: I have recently seen such a truck here in Michigan, on the country roads southeast of Grand Rapids.)
So why say all that? So that I can now commend to your reading the transcript of the recent remarks of New Orleans major Tom Landrieu regarding Confederate monuments. What he says seems to me entirely and undeniably true and right. There is no room any longer for the kind of nostalgia for and veneration of the Confederacy that was woven into my (Southern white) generation’s cultural formation and is still stamped onto the public landscape of many American cities. A century and a half has been enough. Reconciliation requires truth, and the subjugation and exploitation of the black race is not a matter for celebration with statues on pedestals in public streets and squares. Move them to a museum-park, and embed them in a truthful telling of the whole complicated—and yet not so complicated that the ugly central truth can legitimately be obscured—story of what those men stood for and fought for. Do not idolize them, do not demonize them, do not forget them. Remembrance enables self-knowledge, and self-knowledge can be a precondition of repentance and salvation.
The transcript of Landrieu’s speech: http://pulsegulfcoast.com/2017/05/transcript-of-new-orleans-mayor-landrieus-address-on-confederate-monuments.
(I will also paste in the text below, in case this URL expires.)
Transcript of New Orleans Mayor Landrieu’s address on Confederate monuments
Just hours before workers removed a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee — the fourth Confederate monument to be dismantled in New Orleans in recent weeks — Mayor Mitch Landrieu gave a special address at historic Gallier Hall.
Here’s a full transcript of Landrieu’s remarks:
Thank you for coming.
The soul of our beloved City is deeply rooted in a history that has evolved over thousands of years; rooted in a diverse people who have been here together every step of the way – for both good and for ill.
It is a history that holds in its heart the stories of Native Americans: the Choctaw, Houma Nation, the Chitimacha. Of Hernando de Soto, Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the Acadians, the Islenos, the enslaved people from Senegambia, Free People of Color, the Haitians, the Germans, both the empires of Francexii and Spain. The Italians, the Irish, the Cubans, the south and central Americans, the Vietnamese and so many more.
You see: New Orleans is truly a city of many nations, a melting pot, a bubbling cauldron of many cultures.
There is no other place quite like it in the world that so eloquently exemplifies the uniquely American motto: e pluribus unum — out of many we are one.
But there are also other truths about our city that we must confront. New Orleans was America’s largest slave market: a port where hundreds of thousands of souls were brought, sold and shipped up the Mississippi River to lives of forced labor of misery of rape, of torture.
America was the place where nearly 4,000 of our fellow citizens were lynched, 540 alone in Louisiana; where the courts enshrined ‘separate but equal’; where Freedom riders coming to New Orleans were beaten to a bloody pulp.
So when people say to me that the monuments in question are history, well what I just described is real history as well, and it is the searing truth.
And it immediately begs the questions: why there are no slave ship monuments, no prominent markers on public land to remember the lynchings or the slave blocks; nothing to remember this long chapter of our lives; the pain, the sacrifice, the shame … all of it happening on the soil of New Orleans.
So for those self-appointed defenders of history and the monuments, they are eerily silent on what amounts to this historical malfeasance, a lie by omission.
There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it. For America and New Orleans, it has been a long, winding road, marked by great tragedy and great triumph. But we cannot be afraid of our truth.
As President George W. Bush said at the dedication ceremony for the National Museum of African American History & Culture, “A great nation does not hide its history. It faces its flaws and corrects them.”
So today I want to speak about why we chose to remove these four monuments to the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, but also how and why this process can move us towards healing and understanding of each other.
So, let’s start with the facts.
The historic record is clear: the Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and P.G.T. Beauregard statues were not erected just to honor these men, but as part of the movement which became known as The Cult of the Lost Cause. This ‘cult’ had one goal — through monuments and through other means — to rewrite history to hide the truth, which is that the Confederacy was on the wrong side of humanity.
First erected over 166 years after the founding of our city and 19 years after the end of the Civil War, the monuments that we took down were meant to rebrand the history of our city and the ideals of a defeated Confederacy.
It is self-evident that these men did not fight for the United States of America, They fought against it. They may have been warriors, but in this cause they were not patriots.
These statues are not just stone and metal. They are not just innocent remembrances of a benign history. These monuments purposefully celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy; ignoring the death, ignoring the enslavement, and the terror that it actually stood for.
After the Civil War, these statues were a part of that terrorism as much as a burning cross on someone’s lawn; they were erected purposefully to send a strong message to all who walked in their shadows about who was still in charge in this city.
Should you have further doubt about the true goals of the Confederacy, in the very weeks before the war broke out, the Vice President of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, made it clear that the Confederate cause was about maintaining slavery and white supremacy.
He said in his now famous ‘Cornerstone speech’ that the Confederacy’s “cornerstone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race — is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.”
Now, with these shocking words still ringing in your ears, I want to try to gently peel from your hands the grip on a false narrative of our history that I think weakens us and make straight a wrong turn we made many years ago so we can more closely connect with integrity to the founding principles of our nation and forge a clearer and straighter path toward a better city and more perfect union.
Last year, President Barack Obama echoed these sentiments about the need to contextualize and remember all of our history. He recalled a piece of stone, a slave auction block engraved with a marker commemorating a single moment in 1830 when Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay stood and spoke from it.
President Obama said, “Consider what this artifact tells us about history … on a stone where day after day for years, men and women … bound and bought and sold and bid like cattle on a stone worn down by the tragedy of over a thousand bare feet. For a long time the only thing we considered important, the singular thing we once chose to commemorate as history with a plaque were the unmemorable speeches of two powerful men.”
A piece of stone – one stone. Both stories were history. One story told. One story forgotten or maybe even purposefully ignored.
As clear as it is for me today … for a long time, even though I grew up in one of New Orleans’ most diverse neighborhoods, even with my family’s long proud history of fighting for civil rights … I must have passed by those monuments a million times without giving them a second thought.
So I am not judging anybody, I am not judging people. We all take our own journey on race. I just hope people listen like I did when my dear friend Wynton Marsalis helped me see the truth. He asked me to think about all the people who have left New Orleans because of our exclusionary attitudes.
Another friend asked me to consider these four monuments from the perspective of an African American mother or father trying to explain to their fifth grade daughter who Robert E. Lee is and why he stands atop of our beautiful city. Can you do it?
Can you look into that young girl’s eyes and convince her that Robert E. Lee is there to encourage her? Do you think she will feel inspired and hopeful by that story? Do these monuments help her see a future with limitless potential? Have you ever thought that if her potential is limited, yours and mine are too?
We all know the answer to these very simple questions.
When you look into this child’s eyes is the moment when the searing truth comes into focus for us. This is the moment when we know what is right and what we must do. We can’t walk away from this truth.
And I knew that taking down the monuments was going to be tough, but you elected me to do the right thing, not the easy thing and this is what that looks like. So relocating these Confederate monuments is not about taking something away from someone else. This is not about politics, this is not about blame or retaliation. This is not a naïve quest to solve all our problems at once.
This is, however, about showing the whole world that we as a city and as a people are able to acknowledge, understand, reconcile and, most importantly, choose a better future for ourselves, making straight what has been crooked and making right what was wrong.
Otherwise, we will continue to pay a price with discord, with division, and yes, with violence.
To literally put the confederacy on a pedestal in our most prominent places of honor is an inaccurate recitation of our full past, it is an affront to our present, and it is a bad prescription for our future.
History cannot be changed. It cannot be moved like a statue. What is done is done. The Civil War is over, and the Confederacy lost and we are better for it. Surely we are far enough removed from this dark time to acknowledge that the cause of the Confederacy was wrong.
And in the second decade of the 21st century, asking African Americans — or anyone else — to drive by property that they own; occupied by reverential statues of men who fought to destroy the country and deny that person’s humanity seems perverse and absurd.
Centuries-old wounds are still raw because they never healed right in the first place.
Here is the essential truth: we are better together than we are apart. Indivisibility is our essence. Isn’t this the gift that the people of New Orleans have given to the world?
We radiate beauty and grace in our food, in our music, in our architecture, in our joy of life, in our celebration of death; in everything that we do. We gave the world this funky thing called jazz; the most uniquely American art form that is developed across the ages from different cultures.
Think about second lines, think about Mardi Gras, think about muffaletta, think about the Saints, gumbo, red beans and rice. By God, just think. All we hold dear is created by throwing everything in the pot; creating, producing something better; everything a product of our historic diversity.
We are proof that out of many we are one — and better for it! Out of many we are one — and we really do love it!
And yet, we still seem to find so many excuses for not doing the right thing. Again, remember President Bush’s words, “A great nation does not hide its history. It faces its flaws and corrects them.”
We forget, we deny how much we really depend on each other, how much we need each other. We justify our silence and inaction by manufacturing noble causes that marinate in historical denial. We still find a way to say “wait, not so fast.”
But like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “wait has almost always meant never.”
We can’t wait any longer. We need to change. And we need to change now. No more waiting. This is not just about statues, this is about our attitudes and behavior as well. If we take these statues down and don’t change to become a more open and inclusive society this would have all been in vain.
While some have driven by these monuments every day and either revered their beauty or failed to see them at all, many of our neighbors and fellow Americans see them very clearly. Many are painfully aware of the long shadows their presence casts, not only literally but figuratively. And they clearly receive the message that the Confederacy and the cult of the lost cause intended to deliver.
Earlier this week, as the cult of the lost cause statue of P.G.T Beauregard came down, world renowned musician Terence Blanchard stood watch, his wife Robin and their two beautiful daughters at their side.
Terence went to a high school on the edge of City Park named after one of America’s greatest heroes and patriots, John F. Kennedy. But to get there he had to pass by this monument to a man who fought to deny him his humanity.
He said, “I’ve never looked at them as a source of pride … it’s always made me feel as if they were put there by people who don’t respect us. This is something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. It’s a sign that the world is changing.”
Yes, Terence, it is, and it is long overdue.Now is the time to send a new message to the next generation of New Orleanians who can follow in Terence and Robin’s remarkable footsteps.
A message about the future, about the next 300 years and beyond; let us not miss this opportunity New Orleans and let us help the rest of the country do the same. Because now is the time for choosing. Now is the time to actually make this the City we always should have been, had we gotten it right in the first place.
We should stop for a moment and ask ourselves — at this point in our history, after Katrina, after Rita, after Ike, after Gustav, after the national recession, after the BP oil catastrophe and after the tornado — if presented with the opportunity to build monuments that told our story or to curate these particular spaces … would these monuments be what we want the world to see? Is this really our story?
We have not erased history; we are becoming part of the city’s history by righting the wrong image these monuments represent and crafting a better, more complete future for all our children and for future generations.
And unlike when these Confederate monuments were first erected as symbols of white supremacy, we now have a chance to create not only new symbols, but to do it together, as one people.
In our blessed land we all come to the table of democracy as equals.
We have to reaffirm our commitment to a future where each citizen is guaranteed the uniquely American gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That is what really makes America great and today it is more important than ever to hold fast to these values and together say a self-evident truth that out of many we are one. That is why today we reclaim these spaces for the United States of America.Because we are one nation, not two; indivisible with liberty and justice for all, not some. We all are part of one nation, all pledging allegiance to one flag, the flag of the United States of America. And New Orleanians are in, all of the way.
It is in this union and in this truth that real patriotism is rooted and flourishes.
Instead of revering a 4-year brief historical aberration that was called the Confederacy we can celebrate all 300 years of our rich, diverse history as a place named New Orleans and set the tone for the next 300 years.
After decades of public debate, of anger, of anxiety, of anticipation, of humiliation and of frustration. After public hearings and approvals from three separate community led commissions. After two robust public hearings and a 6-1 vote by the duly elected New Orleans City Council. After review by 13 different federal and state judges. The full weight of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government has been brought to bear and the monuments in accordance with the law have been removed.
So now is the time to come together and heal and focus on our larger task. Not only building new symbols, but making this city a beautiful manifestation of what is possible and what we as a people can become.
Let us remember what the once exiled, imprisoned and now universally loved Nelson Mandela and what he said after the fall of apartheid. “If the pain has often been unbearable and the revelations shocking to all of us, it is because they indeed bring us the beginnings of a common understanding of what happened and a steady restoration of the nation’s humanity.”
So before we part let us again state the truth clearly.
The Confederacy was on the wrong side of history and humanity. It sought to tear apart our nation and subjugate our fellow Americans to slavery. This is the history we should never forget and one that we should never again put on a pedestal to be revered.
As a community, we must recognize the significance of removing New Orleans’ Confederate monuments. It is our acknowledgment that now is the time to take stock of, and then move past, a painful part of our history.
Anything less would render generations of courageous struggle and soul-searching a truly lost cause.
Anything less would fall short of the immortal words of our greatest President Abraham Lincoln, who with an open heart and clarity of purpose calls on us today to unite as one people when he said:
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to do all which may achieve and cherish: a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”


Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of recognizing African and African-American heritage and traditions. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga and In 1966, the first one was celebrated. The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest.
This year The Greensboro Kwanzaa Collective, will present a week-long Kwanzaa celebration in Greensboro. This is the first ever week-long Kwanzaa celebration in the city of Greensboro. Join the families for libations, drumming, art, story-telling, and community at the Hayes Taylor (1101 E. Market St , Greensboro, NC 27401) today from 6:00pm – 9:00pm!


Iris Chang has completed her long-awaited narrative history of Chinese Americans, to be published by Viking Penguin in May 2003. This will be the first Chinese American history written for a general audience that includes the story of the newest wave of immigrants, who arrived after normalization with the People's Republic of China. The book covers 150 years of Chinese contributions to America, drawn from interviews, archival research and synthesis of the scholarly literature. Chang is best known for The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II (1997. She wrote her first book, Thread of the Silkworm (1995) on Tsien Hsue-Shen (Qian Xuesen), the Chinese American rocket scientist who was accused of being a Communist and deported to China during the McCarthy era. Ms. Chang was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by The College of Wooster on May 13, 2002. (Source: Committee Bridges, Fall 2002).


The founders of La Concorde Bakery, Rena and Michael Anousakis, left Greece in 1958 to start a new life in South Africa. They arrived in the country with nothing, except for the many years of experience that they had acquired working as bakers and confectioners. They soon found work at a restaurant, but set their minds to one day opening their own bakery. They had a simple vision for their future business: To introduce traditional, homemade, and authentic Mediterranean flavours to the South African bakery experience. At the time this style of food was not prevalent in Johannesburg bakeries, which fuelled their desire to share the unforgettable tastes that they grew up with.
In 1968, they were finally able to open their own restaurant with a bakery element. They named the business “La Concorde,” after the Place de la Concorde in Paris – where the world’s finest baked goods and confectionary could be found. Situated in the old Johannesburg CBD, La Concorde had an authentically European menu, store design and ambiance. It made a name for itself as the only restaurant offering traditional European and Jewish cuisine and baked goods.
In the 1970’s Rena and Michael decided to focus exclusively on their bakery, and so removed the restaurant component from the business. At this time there was a growing demand from wholesale customers requesting baked goods delivered to their premises. Unable to keep up with the large volume of wholesale orders, it was time for La Concorde to expand.
And so, during the 1970’s and 1980’s Rena and Michael’s sons opened new La Concorde bakeries in Emmerentia, Bramley, Westgate, the East Rand Mall, Kilarney and Norwood. They kept with the traditional La Concorde heritage, but now also had the operational capacity to service the ever-growing demand from wholesale customers.
This business model remained successful until the 1990’s, when it became apparent that shifting customer preferences had transformed the demand for bakery products. It was clear that the future of baking was no longer in retail stores, but rather in wholesale. They decided to take advantage of this market opportunity by leveraging La Concorde’s existing wholesale capabilities. And so, in 2000, the decision was made to focus exclusively on wholesale. All retail stores were closed, and La Concorde was consolidated into one large wholesale factory, based in Linbro Business Park. The business now had capacity to service the wholesale needs of the entire Gauteng region, making it a market leader in the industry.
In 2005 the third generation of the family took over the management of La Concorde Bakery, and currently remain in this position. In 2017 La Concorde Bakery acquired a second factory, also based in Linbro Business Park, allowing it further opportunity to expand and to focus more extensively on mass production.


KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --
One hundred years ago on Dec. 4, 1917, the U.S. Army established a home for science and technology research at McCook Field, Ohio. The organization was dubbed the Aircraft Engineering Division and would ultimately become the Air Force Research Laboratory. On Nov. 9, the Air Force Research Laboratory's New Mexican directorates celebrated a century of evolving lineage from their ancestral unit at McCook.
The early pioneers at McCook understood that research was the key to military supremacy, a fact that was not lost on presenters at Kirtland's celebration, according to Dr. Kelly Hammett, director of AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate.
"When looking forward into the future, it's good to take a look back and know who you are, where you came from and what got you here," he said. "Soon the role that this organization locally, and the role that the greater Air Force Research Laboratory has will chart the course of the Air Force for the next 50 years. So it's just important and special to pause for a couple hours and look back at the tremendous accomplishments we've made here."
The event lauded breakthrough technologies developed in the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles directorates, including harnessing lasers and high-powered microwaves, and composite applications like the Roll-Out Solar Array.
AFRL NM also offered presentations on the "Impacts of Generational Development in Science and Technology," and "Agile Innovation," as well as the Counter Electronics High Power Microwave Airborne Missile Program.
AFRL NM's Matt Fetrow said the day was also special because members of the community and Team Kirtland outside AFRL joined in the celebration.
"The Air Force has been around for 70 years, but our technology history dates back to 1917," Fetrow said. "We are inviting the community and the rest of the base, and we are just thrilled to see civic leaders and other folks here to celebrate with us.
The celebration also served as an unveiling of the Heritage Annex, which includes historical memorabilia ranging from wooden bolts from the Trestle to parts from the MAX POWER counter-IED system. What was once a storage area near northeast corner of the intersection of Aberdeen and Kirtland Avenues, has become a showcase of AFRL history and a gathering place for Team Kirtland.
"This is now serving as a gathering place where we have a lot of informal meetings and it's really decked out. We are really thrilled to introduce this facility," Fetrow said.


Welcome to this enchanting piece of history nestled on a peaceful tree-lined street. Built in 1900, this captivating home exudes timeless elegance with its classic architecture and picturesque front porch adorned with intricate gingerbread trim. Step back in time while enjoying all the modern comforts that have been thoughtfully integrated into this well-maintained residence.As you approach the property, the inviting front porch beckons you to sit and unwind, savoring the gentle breeze and the sights of the neighborhood. The gingerbread trim showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of the era, adding a touch of whimsy and character to the home's exterior. Upon entering, you are greeted with a warm and welcoming ambiance that radiates the charm of yesteryears. The living spaces boast original hardwood floors, high ceilings and abundant natural light that gives the interior an airy and spacious feel. With three generously sized bedrooms, this home offers ample space for a growing family or those who desire extra room for guests or a home office. Each bedroom boasts unique details that preserve the home's historical character, while large windows invite scenic views and gentle sunlight. The home's two renovated bathrooms are a testament to the perfect blend of classic charm and modern design. Elegant fixtures, tasteful tiling, and luxurious amenities create a spa-like retreat, ensuring a tranquil escape from the world's hustle and bustle. Stepping outside, the lush backyard provides an ideal space for outdoor gatherings, gardening, or simple relaxation. The private sanctuary is surrounded by mature trees, offering a peaceful haven in the midst of the city. Located in a desirable neighborhood, this home is conveniently close to local amenities, schools, parks, and public transportation. Its historic appeal combined with modern conveniences makes it a rare find in today's market. If you are a lover of history and an admirer of meticulous craftsmanship, this charming home with gingerbread trim is a must-see. Embrace the past while enjoying the comforts of the present in this truly captivating property. Don't miss the opportunity to own a piece of history that will surely continue to charm for generations to come. Schedule your private tour today!
Type: Residential Single Family
Listing Status: Active (00/00/0000)
Lake Name: N/A
Foundation: Crawl Space
Siding: Wood Siding
Floors: Tile, Wood Floors
Utilities: Alabama Power, City Utilities
Sewage: City Sewer
Water: Dadeville Water Co.
Heating: Central (Elec)
Cooling: Central (Elec)
Exterior: Fenced, Porch, Shrubs
Covenants Allow Rentals?: Y
Rental Term: Negotiable


The lottery is one of the oldest forms of social welfare, where the proceeds of ticket sales are donated to charitable organizations. Each state donates a certain percentage of its revenues, and the money raised is typically used for public sector initiatives. Lotteries have been around since the Old Testament, when Moses distributed land to the Israelites. Lotteries were also used by Roman emperors to give away slaves and property. They were brought to the United States by British colonists and banned between 1844 and 1859 by ten states.
Lottery games originated in the Netherlands and became popular there in the seventeenth century, when they were used to fund public purposes. As the lottery grew in popularity, it also became a popular way to tax people. The first lottery in the world is the Staatsloterij, which is still in operation today. The word lottery is derived from the Dutch word ‘lotterij,’ meaning ‘fate.’ But despite its popularity, many people consider it to be a form of hidden taxation.
The history of lottery games is ancient. Ancient Greeks and Romans used lotteries to settle legal disputes, assign property rights and even distribute unpopular jobs. In Europe, the first recorded lotteries were played in the circuses where emperors would throw numbered pieces of parchment. The winners were awarded articles of unequal value. Today, lottery games have evolved into worldwide phenomenons. Their popularity and benefits are well documented.
Strategies for winning
Several strategies for winning the lottery are available. These strategies are based on proven theory that identifies the most likely lottery numbers to be drawn. While it is impossible to beat the lottery’s odds, a lottery strategy can keep you motivated and prevent you from losing money. This article addresses some of the most common questions regarding winning strategies. We’ll also answer some common misconceptions about them. The key to successful lottery strategies is to be aware of your odds and understand how to calculate them.
Taxes on winnings
Winning the lottery is a dream come true for most of us, but the reality is that you will soon face a tax bill. In addition to the federal tax, you’ll face a state tax bill as well. If you’re the winner of a New York lottery prize, your tax rate will be 8.82 percent, while in other states it will be lower, perhaps even zero. Here are some tips to minimize the tax burden.


1966 Shelby GT-350
289 4V Supercharged
Red with White Stripes
1966 Shelby GT-350 Supercharged, number matching, fully sorted showroom quality with documented history from day 1.
1966 Shelby GT350
VIN # SFM6S1108
· Numbers-matching, original engine and drivetrain
· All numbers confirmed by SAAC
· Upgraded with period correct Paxton Supercharger
· Factory red
· Factory four-speed
· Factory documentation
· Listed in the Shelby Registry
· Also has an alternative full 5-Speed set-up in the trunk
Supercharged 289 CI HiPo V-8 advertised at 377 HP. Original four-speed manual transmission car, front coil springs and rear leaf spring suspension, power-assisted hydraulic front disc and rear drum brakes; wheelbase: 108"
When it debuted midyear in 1964, the Mustang created the "pony car", and it quickly became Ford's most successful model launch since the Model A. In order to make the affordable to the masses, Ford used the existing Falcon platform and borrowed common components already in production to keep the costs down. Despite its well received sporty appearance, performance was lacking, and when the first of the muscle cars began arriving on the scene, Ford wanted to create a package that would transform the Mustang into a proper sports car capable of competing with the Chevrolet Corvette at the race track.
Initially, Ford was rebuffed by the Sports Car Club of America – the sanctioning body for amateur sports car racing - as the Mustang was a 2+2 design and thus not a true sports car. Ford then turned to former racer and resident performance expert Carroll Shelby to rectify the situation. The result was the 1965 Shelby GT350 purpose-built to homologate the Ford Mustang for SCCA racing. The original GT350 exemplified Ford’s “Total Performance” campaign and conferred an unbeatable high-performance image that the "pony car" lacked. Starting with a standard production Ford Mustang GT built at the San Jose plant, the Shelby was transformed into essentially a racecar for the street at the Shelby American facility in Venice, California. After numerous performance modifications and subtle styling changes to visually distinguish it from the base Mustang, the GT350 was ready for the competition. On the track, the GT350 immediately accomplished its mission and dominated the opposition to secure three straight SCCA B-Production championships for Shelby and Ford from 1965 through 1967. Just 562 of these potent performers were built for 1965 in order to homologate the Shelby as a production sports car for SCCA competition.
Initially Ford viewed Carroll Shelby's operation as a specialty shop, and the success of the GT350 on the track and the favorable publicity it generated justified the expense in building a limited number of high performance sports car for competition use. However, the public response to the 1965 model convinced Ford's marketing managers that they could sell a lot more than a few hundred cars and the potential profits that would come with increased production. However, this would require making several changes in production thereby giving the car wider appeal and at the same time reducing production costs.
Aside from the elimination of a few Shelby-unique features, most of the changes for 1966 were cosmetic coupled with the addition of several new options including a choice of color. Most notably clear plexiglass rear quarter windows replaced the rear quarter vents and louvers, and functional side scoops were installed on the quarter panels in order to duct air to the rear brakes. The front grills were changed as well giving the GT350 a more distinctive look from the standard Mustang. The optional GT instrument cluster was installed, and for the first time Shelbys were available with an automatic transmission, a fold-down rear seat, and even an optional factory supercharger.
The GT350 offered here is one of 1,365 non-Hertz Shelby GT350s produced in 1966. It was assigned the Shelby number SFM6S1108. Upon completion at Shelby's LAX facility, the car was shipped to Reynolds Motors, Inc. in Syracuse, New York on March 22, 1966. A few months later, it was purchased by its first owner William S. Whitley of Endwell, New York for $4400 on June 29th of that same year. This Shelby is an original Candy Apple red car with factory white Le Mans stripes, and it was fitted with a fiberglass hood with a steel frame and 14" aluminum 10-spoke wheels as documented in the Shelby Registry. At the time of purchase, Mr. Whitley specified that the dealer install 15" steel wheels and an AM radio. The Shelby would remain in Whitley's ownership for the next 39 years until it was sold to James Clark in 2005 with just over 55,000 miles on the odometer. After his purchase, Mr. Clark commissioned a full rotisserie restoration of the car to exacting standards using NOS parts and a complete mechanical rebuild at which time a period correct Paxton supercharger was sourced and installed on the car. The Shelby was sold a few years later to Reid Jenson from whom Phoenix Restorations acquired the car.
SFM6S1108 retains its original numbers-matching 'Hi-Po' engine and Borg Warner T-10 transmission. The hidden Ford VIN stamps have been verified by Howard Pardee and SAAC as corresponding with the Shelby number on file, and it is listed in the Shelby Registry. Additionally, the Shelby is documented by copies of the dealer invoice and shipping order as well as paperwork from the original owner, and the original owner’s manual remain with the car. This fully restored 1966 Shelby GT350 is a very correct and original example worthy of the show field, but with the added power from the Paxton supercharger, acceleration is exhilarating and begs to be driven.
Speaking to provenance there are multiple receipts down through the years from various owners. Reid had the engine rebuilt and installed roller rockers and generally “explosion proofed” the engine with high end components while retaining the original block and heads. Multiple point of sale documents accompany the car. In 2019 the underside of the car was detailed to correct original factory paint specs with red oxide primer, detailed upper and lower a-arms and a detailed engine bay.


The historical evidence of video games dates as far back as the mid-1950s, when scholarly PC researchers started planning straightforward games and recreations as a component of their investigations. Video gaming did not achieve standard ubiquity until the 1970s and 1980s when arcade video games and gaming comforts utilising joysticks, catches, and different controllers, alongside illustrations on PC screens and home PC games were acquainted with the overall population. Since the 1980s, video gaming has turned into a famous type of stimulation and a piece of cutting edge mainstream culture in many parts of the world. One of the early games was Space War! Which was produced by PC researchers? Early arcade video games were created from 1972 to 1978. It was in the 1970s, when the first home console generation was evolved, including the prevalent game Pong and different “clones”. The 1970s was additionally the time of centralised server PC games. The peak time of arcade video games was from 1978 to 1982. Video arcades with vast, illustrations improved coin-worked machines were regular at shopping centres and well-known, moderate home consoles, for example, the Atari 2600 and Intellivision empowered individuals to play games on their home TVs. In the 1980s, gaming PCs, early internet gaming and handheld LCD games rose; this period was influenced by the video diversion accident of 1983. From 1976 to 1992, the second era of video consoles developed.
The third era of consoles, which were 8-bit units, rose up out of 1983 to 1995. The fourth era of consoles, which were 16-bit models, rose up out of 1987 to 1999. The 1990s saw the resurgence and decrease of arcades, the move to 3D video games, enhanced handheld games and PC gaming. The fifth era of consoles, which were 32 and 64-bit units, was from 1993 to 2006. Amid, this time, cell telephone gaming rose. Amid the 2000s, the 6th era reassures developed (1998–2013). Amid this period, web gaming and portable games got to be vital. The seventh era of consoles was from 2005 to 2012. This period was set apart by colossal improvement spending plans for a few games, with some having true to life representation.The dispatch of the top-offering Wi-Fi console, in which the client could control the diversion activities with genuine style developments of their hands; the ascent of easygoing PC games advertised to non-gamers; and the rise of distributed computing in video games.
In 2013, the eighth era of consoles developed, including Nintendo’s Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. PC gaming has been holding a huge piece of the pie in Asia and Europe for a considerable length of time and keeps on becoming because of computerised conveyance. Since the improvement and across the board buyer utilisation of cell phones, portable gaming has been a driving element for games, as they can contact individuals earlier uninterested in gaming, and those not able to bear the cost of or backing devoted equipment, for example, video amusement comforts.


Eileen Meehl passed away unexpectedly at home on September 1, 2021. Up to that moment, she had been an active 93 year old, driving locally, attending church weekly, grocery shopping, meeting with friends and family, and living a full life. She was born on September 22, 1927, in Brighton, Colorado to Thekla (Barthel) and John Wall, and was baptized on October 9, 1927. She grew up in Brighton in a tight-knit family, with her four siblings Harlan, Norma, Les and Don. Her grandparents had homesteaded near Burlington in eastern Colorado in 1888, and later moved to Brighton in 1904 where her parents met and married. Eileen was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church, attended Zion Lutheran School, was confirmed April 6, 1941, and graduated from Brighton High School as valedictorian of her 1945 class. If she had been a member of a subsequent generation, she would have certainly attended university, but instead she learned bookkeeping and worked first in the office at Kuner’s Cannery in Brighton, and then in the office at Brighton High School. Before WWII, she had met Paul Meehl, an intriguing son of a dairy farmer who lived just up the road from the Wall farm on west Bromley Lane. Paul was also a member of Zion Lutheran Church. They were just acquaintances when Paul left to serve in the Air Force in WWII. On his return, Paul began dating Eileen, and they married on February 8, 1948. The first test of their marriage was a move out onto the eastern plains near the Hudson dryland wheat farm that Paul’s father had purchased for him with his WWII pay. They lived in a small house next door to a larger house where Paul’s parents, his brother Louis, and Louis’ wife lived. The catch was that the small house didn’t have indoor plumbing or running water. This was a major reduction to the standard of living to which Eileen had become accustomed. By early 1951 Eileen was pregnant and Paul and Eileen moved into a house (with running water and indoor plumbing) in what is now the northern edge of Commerce City where Paul had been hired as a “ditch rider” for the Burlington ditch. First son Jerry was born shortly after their move. Paul continued farming wheat near Hudson while doing his ditch company job, and Eileen looked after Jerry and kept the household going. The family, now larger with the arrival of son Mark in 1956, moved to their new home in Brighton where they would complete their family with the arrival of Janet in 1963. While raising Jerry, Mark and Janet, Eileen taught piano lessons in the new house as well, and Paul worked as a Water Commissioner for the State of Colorado. Over her long piano teaching career, she instructed numerous young students, and many would stop by to say hello long after they had grown up. Eileen loved classical music, was a talented pianist, and taught all three of her children to play the piano and enjoy music. She sang in the church choir for 50+ years and was an active member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Bethesda Auxiliary, and numerous women’s groups. Her spiritual and social networks were formed early and lasted a lifetime. She lived out her unwavering faith through her daily life and devotion to her family. Eileen was a strong, intelligent, devout Colorado native, a true “Woman of the West”, and hers is a life to be celebrated.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Paul and her brothers Harlan, Donald, and Lester, and her sister Norma Hahn, and is survived by her daughter Janet Fox (Pete), sons Mark Meehl (Jan, and sons Seth and Ben) and Jerry Meehl (Marla).
The funeral service is at Zion Lutheran Church at 10:30am, Monday September 13, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Given the resurgence of the COVID Delta variant, the family encourages attendees to be vaccinated and to wear masks, and to not attend if showing any COVID symptoms. If you are uncomfortable at all with attending, the service will be recorded and will be available for viewing on the Tabor Mortuary web site after the service (taborfuneralhome.com, click on link in her obituary).
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Eileen's name to either cause that was important to her: Zion Lutheran Church Organ Fund (zionbrighton.org, click "Give Now" and select "Memorial Fund" or mail to 1400 Skeel St., Brighton, CO 80601) - or- Bethesda Lutheran Communities (bethesdalc.org, click "Donate Now" and check "Tribute Gift.")
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eileen Meehl, please visit our floral store.


Istanbul is a vibrant city that spans two continents - Europe and Asia. It is a melting pot of cultures, where ancient and modern collide. With its rich history, stunning architecture, delicious food, and bustling markets, Istanbul is a must-visit destination for any traveler. In this article, we will explore the top 10 things to do in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2023.
The Hagia Sophia is a world-famous landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally a church, it was later converted into a mosque and is now a museum. Its stunning architecture, intricate mosaics, and rich history make it a must-visit attraction in Istanbul.
The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is another iconic landmark in Istanbul. It is famous for its blue tiles and six minarets. The mosque is still used for prayer, so be sure to dress appropriately if you plan to visit.
The Grand Bazaar is a sprawling covered market that is home to over 4,000 shops. It is one of the oldest and largest markets in the world and is a shopper's paradise. From handmade carpets to spices and jewelry, you can find almost anything here.
The Bosphorus is a strait that separates Europe and Asia. Taking a cruise along the Bosphorus is a great way to see the city from a different perspective. You can also see some of Istanbul's famous landmarks, such as the Dolmabahce Palace and the Maiden's Tower.
Topkapi Palace was once the residence of the Ottoman sultans. Today, it is a museum that houses some of the most important artifacts from the Ottoman Empire, including the famous Topkapi Dagger and the Spoonmaker's Diamond.
The Spice Bazaar is another famous market in Istanbul. It is located in the Eminonu district and is filled with the smells of spices, herbs, and teas. You can also find other products, such as Turkish delight and dried fruit.
A Turkish bath, also known as a hammam, is a traditional bathhouse that has been used for centuries in Turkey. It is a great way to relax and rejuvenate after a day of sightseeing. Some of the most famous hammams in Istanbul include Cagaloglu Hammam and Galatasaray Hammam.
The Chora Church is a medieval Byzantine church that is famous for its stunning mosaics and frescoes. It is located in the Edirnekapi neighborhood and is a must-visit for anyone interested in art and history.
Turkish delight, also known as lokum, is a sweet treat that is famous in Turkey. It is made from sugar, cornstarch, and flavorings such as rosewater or lemon. You can find Turkish delight in almost any market or sweet shop in Istanbul.
Turkish cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian influences. Some of the most famous dishes include kebabs, meze, and baklava. Be sure to try some of Istanbul's famous street food, such as simit (a type of sesame-covered bread) and kokorec (grilled lamb intestines).


Hatton Sports F.C (junior teams) together with T.L Darby F.C (senior teams) are part of Hatton Sports and Social Club, based at Scropton Lane Sports Ground Hatton.
T.L Darby F.C was formed in 1973 and is they believe, the oldest formed club playing regular football in both senior and junior leagues.
Starting at Hillfield Park in Stretton, in the early years the club played on various grounds around Burton including Shobnall Fields, Stapenhill Gardens and even Swadlincote Ski Slope (not literally).
The club moved to its present headquarters in Hatton in 1987 and now the social club on the Scropton Road playing fields is used as its headquarters and is central to all the activities involving the fund raising and social side of the club. The local parish council provide the pitches free of charge for the junior teams, appreciating the great effort the club goes to giving local youngsters the opportunity to play sport in a safe and organised environment.


Bank holidays during the period
- May 1, labor day
- May 21, pentecost
Local festivities that may interest you
|Monday, April 23. Dia del llibre i la rosa
On Sant Jordi (saint Jorge’s day), the city of Barcelona is invaded by books and roses. The date coincides with the beginning of Spring, as well as with the burial of Miguel de Cervantes and the death of William Shakespeare (according with the Julian calendar; he died on May 3 according to the Gregorian calendar), in 1616. Traditionally, boys give girls a rose and girls give boys a book. As reported by the media, 1.6 millions books and 6 millions roses were sold in Catalonia in April 23, 2017. It is really impressive to see hoy many Barcelonians walk the streets visiting the book and roses’ stands placed along them. Do not miss visiting the streets Rambla de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and La Rambla on this day!
|Thursday, May 31. L’ou com balla
On Corpus Christi it is worth visiting l’ou com balla (the dancing egg) in the courtyards of many of Barcelona’s historical buildings. Particularly, in the cloister of Cathedral, and the courtyards of the Casa de l’Ardiaca, Ateneu Barcelonès, Archives of the Crown of Aragon (at the Lloctinent Palace), among many other places. The origin of this tradition, started in the XV century, is not totally clear. Find more information here and here.
|Sunday, June 3. Sitges flowers festival
Also related to the Corpus Christi festivity, the catifes de flors (flowers carpets) cover the historical streets of Sitges. From 6pm on Saturday, the Giants Gather at Cap de la Vila. From around 8pm, flowers arrive and volunteers start sketching designs on the streets. They will be working on these until late into the night. From Sunday early morning, you will be able to visit them. More information here (sorry, no English version), here, and here.
|Thursday, June 7 – Sunday, June 10. Tast a La Rambla
Gastronomic tapas festival. Located at the bottomost part of La Rambla, downtown Barcelona, it gathers 50 well known restaurants, tapas bars, and cake shops, who prepare small portions of their specialties. Further information here.


Attention all Half Century Club members! Mark your calendar now for the 2013 Half Century Club Spring Reception to be held Friday, April 26 at the FHSU Memorial Union.
Please join us for a delightful day as we share nostalgic memories of FHSU days gone by and enjoy a University update provided by President Edward Hammond.
Reception at 11:00 a.m.
Brunch at 11:45 a.m.
Program at 12:15 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 19, 2013
The Half Century Club was established on October 18, 1969, as a way of telling graduates, “You are important to us. You are part of our past, and you play an important role in our present and future.” Now over 40 years later, the club has grown to include more than 1,600 living members.
No alumni group better personifies the history and legacy of the university than the Half Century Club. The addition of new members annually reaffirms the heritage of excellence. Graduates of the 50-year class are inducted formally during the Homecoming meeting, and FHSU faculty become members upon retirement. New members receive the Half Century Club pin, which symbolizes our lineage from the past and our foundation for the future.


In 1906, veterinary students at Ohio State University saw the benefits of fraternal life but were frustrated by the lack of a national organization for their profession. After much study and work, 22 juniors and seniors founded the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Psi Fraternity and by 1915 chapters had been established at 15 schools.
Today, there are eleven active Alpha Psi chapters at veterinary schools across the country. If an honor roll were established for the all time leaders of the veterinary profession in the United States, it would be heavily weighted with Alpha Psi fraternity members. Certainly their accomplishments are the result of individual initiative and merit, but in some instances leadership and communication skills were strengthened by their fraternity experience.
Preamble to the Alpha Psi Fraternity constitution
"We, students of the College of Veterinary Medicine of the Ohio State university, in order to promote a stronger bond between the veterinary colleges of the United States and Canada; to create a better feeling among the students of all veterinary colleges, and to infuse a deeper interest in the study of veterinary science, do hereby establish this constitution for the ALPHA PSI, the national veterinary fraternity."
The constitution was written in 1907 and the objectives stated then are appropriate today. Alpha Psi is a social-professional fraternity which restricts its active membership to students who are enrolled in a school of veterinary medicine. It provides an opportunity for the development of lasting friendships between individuals in different classes or schools and is dedicated to the development of these individuals to better serve the veterinary profession.
History of Alpha Psi at VA-MD Vet Med
In early 1983, the Pi Chapter of Alpha Psi was founded at VA-MD Vet Med. Two individuals, Jim McDonald and Paul Howard, were instrumental in getting the chapter established. Members of the Lambda Chapter and National Officers of Alpha Psi conducted the first induction establishing 96 charter members of the Pi Chapter.


It all started back in 1973 with Bob Nealy who was a life long waterman.
He surfed, swam, was an All-American waterpolo player at University of California at Irvine, and a lifeguard. Bob's military service was para-rescue---and there is a tie-in. Back in '73 Bob was surfing and was unhappy with the leather cinch strap on his leash. He went home and was looking at the Velcro on his old military rescue vest when a light bulb went off in his head. He thought "I can make this leash so much better with Velcro". So he went out and bought an old industrial sewing machine and the rest of the materials to make a leash (which pretty much consisted of webbing and Bungee cord). He made a few samples, took them over to Hobie's Surf shop to see what they thought and they immediately ordered 50.
This invention was revolutionary and enabled more people to enjoy surfing – even weak swimmers. If they fell, they no longer would lose their board and have to swim in after it. Any surfer, regardless of ability, could comfortably retrieve the board, paddle back out and catch more waves – “SURF MORE.”
In the mid 70's, there was some latex tubing leashes showing up as alternatives to Bungee Cords. However, they proved just as dangerous as the Bungee cord in the sense that they caused the board to come flying back at you. Bob perfected a way to put several extra feet of para-cord inside the latex tubing to create a limited stretch leash that would absorb shock and not snap back. He even figured out a way to have the first 10 inches of the board end to not have any stretch thereby not thinning out and cutting into the rail. Sort of the first Railsaver now standard on all leashes.
Surf More was the first company to offer a leash that stood out and away from the ankle. Like most who used leashes back in the early days, Bob also was aware that they were easy to step on and in some cases get tangled up in. At some point in the later 70's Bob figured that if the cord was held out away from the ankle rather than dangling right off of the strap, the likeliness of a tangle up would be greatly reduced. So he set off to do something about it. He had a custom molded part made (the first of many dozens of different molds) that would allow a inner-core vinyl tubed leash to protrude 3 or 4 inches away. This evolved into the first XM leash which had a molded urethane strap and stem that worked on the new urethane cords which were becoming the industry norm by the early 80's. This feature is now standard on almost every leash made today. And once again, SURF MORE lead the way.
There was a time when leather straps and bungee cords were used as surf leashes, and to even wear a leash was considered uncool. The hard-core surfers called them “kook-cords”! If you fell, you “paid your dues” by swimming to get your board!
Leashes have become essential to most recreational and competitive surfers, and XM | SURF MORE's original garage operations has grown into a world-wide leader in the surf industry! Meanwhile, XM | SURF MORE has contributed many significant changes to leash technology, such as:
- Swivels to keep the kinks out of the cord
- Pull Tabs to make it easier to release the strap
- The XM stand-out stem on the strap to help prevent stepping on the cord
- The basic bodyboard leash anchor to attach leashes to…
- The EZ Fit™ bodyboard leash strap to provide easier entry
- A dependable, lightweight Power Clip™ quick release for quick exits!
- And the list goes on and on...
These are but a few of many contributions the original XM | SURF MORE leashes have provided surfers for the past 45+ years. We continue that commitment to provide the best product at a very reasonable price!
A BLAST FROM THE PAST (SOME OF OUR OLD ADS)


“As the Olympic Torch rests in Ipswich on its route from Mount Olympus to the East End of London, FIRE! marks the occasion with a night of live art.
The torch relay was devised for the Berlin 1936 Olympics (yes, that one) and echoes the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods. FIRE! explores this tangle of history, mythology and power through live music, film, performances, curiosities and experimental artworks.
Featuring, amongst others, S.E.T.I., Aqua Dentata, Tonesucker, Ypsmael, Brideburger, Menagerie, The Curiosity Collective. Part concert, part cinema, part exhibition, part pagan rite, FIRE! will give the Olympic Torch the send off it deserves.”
Thursday 5th July
The Town Hall, Ipswich
8pm, £5 Entry


The 70th anniversary of D-Day was the perfect occasion to celebrate the spirit of freedom and gratitude that has cemented the solid friendship between France and the United States. The musical stylings of Doc Scantlin with Chou Chou and the Palmettos, as well as costumed WWII reenactors, made for a true 1940’s feel throughout the night.
Chou Chou interacted with the crowd, guests took pictures on a 1940’s US Army Jeep, and a live DJ played music to end the night with a bang!
The wide selection of the area’s finest restaurants, hotels, and pastry shops at the event provided for a delicious and varied assortment of foods while multiple bars added to the fun where guests could enjoy numerous drinks.
The Online and Silent Auctions were a big success with guests bidding on items such as French language classes, exotic vacations, and a dinner cruise. Finally an end-of-evening raffle was awaited throughout the night, where one guest won a trip to Paris for two, courtesy of Air France!


The Evolution of the Jazz Trombone: Part Two, The Swing Era
Wells, who was born in 1907 and died in 1985, eventually moved away from Harrison's influence and developed a style all his own. His was an almost comedic style of playing "full of blase yawns, dismissive grunts and sudden yelps of surprise." (Carr, Fairweather, & Priestly). Wells was fond of employing glissandos and growls during a period in jazz history when trombonists were moving away from these effects used by Dixieland trombonists. His tone has been described as "rugged, warm, and full." (Collier, 276).
Wells' bombastic style earned him work in several prominent New York bands, including Fletcher Henderson, Lloyd Scott, Benny Carter, and Charlie Johnson. In 1938 Wells began an eight-year period working with the Count Basie Orchestra. He left Basie in 1959 to work with Lucky Millinder and Sy Oliver. Wells began to slow down after leaving Basie, primarily due to his alcohol problems. In 1965 he quit music and took a day job on Wall Street. He stayed out of music until 1973, when his autobiography was published, providing him the opportunity to play again. He continued to work sporadically until his death in 1985.
Benny Morton received his music education playing in the Jenkin's Orphanage Band. His early influences included church music and Dope Andrews, the trombone soloist with Mamie Smith's band. Morton's first break came in 1923 when he was hired by Clarence Holiday. In 1926 Morton started working with Fletcher Henderson where he collaborated with Jimmy Harrison. In addition to performing with Henderson, Morton spent six years playing for Don Redman and three years with Count Basie. In the 1940s Morton was employed by Teddy Wilson and Ed Hall while also leading his own band. When he was not playing jazz Morton worked as a pit musician for many Broadway musicals. Morton died in 1985. He was called by one jazz historian "one of the most sophisticated trombonists of the swing era." (Carr, Fairweather, & Priestly).
Morton was highly regarded as a soloist. During his day he was one of a few soloists who employed chromatic passing tones, notes that did not fit in the diatonic scale (Schuller, 624-5).. He had a legato style, employed a terminal vibrato, and was technically deft (Collier, 401, 275).. Morton's phrases were usually sparse; he was fond of using fewer notes to say more (Collier, 275).
The Duke Ellington Orchestra
One of the most influential and successful bands in jazz got its start during the Swing Era - the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The three trombonists who played in this group for most of their careers were Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, and Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton. These three trombonists each had their own individual style and, according to Gunther Schuller, could "cover any possible stylistic approach to the trombone," yet also, "blend chameleon-like into a single sonority." (Schuller, 47). Performing in Ellington's band made Brown, Tizol, and Nanton enormously influential. Each of their distinct styles and tonal colors were utilized the fullest by Ellington.
Lawrence Brown was born in 1907 in Kansas. He began his career with Charlie Echols and Paul Howard. In 1932 he joined Duke Ellington. His great technical command of the instrument, with its "creamy tone, neurotic vibrato and range" was featured with Ellington's band every year in compositions such as "Blue Cellophane" and "Golden Cress," (Carr, Fairweather, & Priestly). Brown left Ellington's band in 1951 to join a band led by ex-Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges, where he stayed until 1955. After leaving Hodges, Brown took a position for CBS playing studio sessions for five years. Brown rejoined Ellington in 1960 and stayed with him until 1970. After leaving Ellington's band Brown quit performing for good. He died in Los Angeles on September 5, 1988.
Brown fulfilled many roles in the Ellington Orchestra - as a balladeer, technical soloist, and section leader. His highly melodic ballad playing as well as his fast technical style inspired trombonists from Tommy Dorsey to Bill Harris. Trombonist Quentin Jackson said of Brown, "Nobody ever heard a trombone player like that. I never heard nothing [sic] so fast. I never heard a trombone player like that, not like Lawrence was playing in those days." (Dietrich, 74)
Ellington admired Brown's soloing ability, but reserved his highest complements for Brown's manner of playing behind a vocalist, calling Brown an "accompanist par excellence." (Dietrich, 78).


The 4th of July is here. It’s time for fireworks, hot dogs, red white and blue, and watching Will Smith punch an alien in the face. Yes that is an Independence Day reference. I dare say you can’t really celebrate the 4th without seeing this classic movie. If you just want to see the clip, you can watch it in all of it’s glory below. Either way don’t read on until you do so, it uh…sets up the rest of what you’ll be reading. Ok maybe not but it is awesome.
[This Clip courtesy of Fandango Movie Clips]
With that out of the way here are 3 Big things you didn’t know about the 4th of July. Share them as some fun trivia with friends today. Enjoy!
1. The Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on July 4th, 1776.
On July 2nd, 1776 a vote was taken and passed by 12 of the 13 colonies whereby Congress officially adopting a position of declaring independence from Britain. However, it took two more days to revise and finalize the language of the Declaration of Independence (July 4th) and another month (August 2nd) for a majority of the 56 delegates to officially sign the document. Harvard research manager Emily Sneff of the Declaration Resources Project adds “It took several months, if not years, for all of the signatures to be added.”
2. Three of the first Five Presidents died on July 4th.
On July 4th, 1826 two of the most famous figures of America’s Independence passed away. An eerie coincidence noticed by many, this date marked the 50th anniversary of the ‘signing’ of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson passed away at the age of 82 at his home in Monticello, Virginia of complications including: “exhaustion from intense diarrhea, toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and finally orthostatic old-age pneumonia. He might have lived longer under modern medical care, but likely not much longer if his fundamental problem was a late diagnosed prostatic cancer.” (Thomas Jefferson Foundation) . Likewise, John Adams passed away from congestive heart failure five hours later at the age of 90 at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts. Just five years later, James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, passed away from Tuberculosis at the age of 73 at his son-in-law’s home in New York City. As the New York Evening Post noted on July 5th, 1831 “Three of the four presidents who have left the scene of their usefulness and glory expired on the anniversary of the national birthday, a day which of all others, had it been permitted them to choose [they] would probably had selected for the termination of their careers,”
3. The earliest 4th of July Celebrations included guns, funerals, and a reminder to fight.
Prior to the summer of Independence in 1776, many of the colonists held birthday celebrations in honor of King George III, however after America’s declaration some of the colonists staged some celebrations of a more macabre nature. As a symbol of an independence they would soon fight for, some of the colonists enacted mock funerals for King George III as a symbolic way of celebrating their desired liberty from the King’s monarchy.
John Adams prophetically quipped in a letter to his wife that he saw Independence day (which he argued was July 2nd, not July 4th) as later being “…solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” The following year, in the middle of the revolutionary war, the colonies did indeed celebrate with cannons, guns and explosives. Although some saw it as merely a moral boost to the soldiers fighting the British, it no doubt helped fuel the desire to pursue ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’. Although the fireworks may not have won the war, it no doubt reinforced the dream of a free America. Fireworks displays have been a tradition ever since, the U.S. Census bureau noted that in 2016 the U.S. spent almost $300 million in fireworks.


Long before the days of eBay themed slot machines, all-you-can eat king crab, and complimentary executive suites, Ariz. was home to one of the Wild West's most infamous gambling establishments.
The Bird Cage Theatre, located at 517 E. Allen Street in Tombstone, Ariz. now stands as a memorial to one of history's most rowdy, dangerous, and infamous places to play blackjack, poker and faro. The building, which originally opened in 1881, stayed open 24/7 for eight consecutive years, as a bar, casino, and brothel. Wild company and lawlessness lead to shootings, stabbings, and famous guests, including Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.
As a place to drink, gamble, and sit in "cages," to watch live entertainment, the Bird Cage Theatre was one of Tombstone's most popular attractions. The theatre was also the setting for a continuous poker game that was played every day for eight years, five months and three days. The minimum buy in was $1,000, which led to the Bird Cage Theatre taking in more than $1 Million dollars between 1881 and 1889.
Today, tourists are able to see the poker and blackjack tables where some of the Old West's most famous figures tested the luck of the draw. With many of the pieces of furniture, and the entire bar still preserved, you can see your reflection in the same mirrors the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday saw their own.
Of course, you might get more than you bargained for, as the Bird Cage Theatre was the site of 26 murders, and allegedly the restless spirits of the victims still haunt the establishment.


The Archaeology of Native North America presents the ideas, evidence, and debates regarding the initial peopling of the continent by mobile bands of hunters and gatherers and the cultural evolution of their many lines of descent over the ensuing millennia. The emergence of farming, urban centers, and complex political organization paralleled similar developments in other world areas. With the arrival of Europeans to North America and the inevitable clashes of culture, colonizers and colonists were forever changed, which is also represented in the archaeological heritage of the continent. Unlike others, this book includes Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, thus addressing broad regional interactions and the circulation of people, things, and ideas. This edition incorporates results of new archaeological research since the publication of the first edition a decade earlier. Fifty-four new box features highlight selected archaeological sites, which are publicly accessible gateways into the study of North American archaeology. The features were authored by specialists with direct knowledge of the sites and their broad importance. Glossaries are provided at the end of every chapter to clarify specialized terminology. The book is directed to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students taking survey courses in American archaeology, as well as other advanced readers. It is extensively illustrated and includes citations to sources with their own robust bibliographies, leading diligent readers deeper into the professional literature. The Archaeology of Native North America is the ideal text for courses in North American archaeology.


At Keezhadi, a village not far from the southern bank of the Vaigai river near Madurai, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking a massive excavation, possibly its biggest to date in Tamil Nadu. Already 42 trenches have been dug in two locations in a coconut grove at a place called Pallichandai Thidal in the village. K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI’s Excavation Branch VI, Bengaluru, is leading the excavation, which has thrown up quite a few surprises and is attracting many visitors, among them schoolchildren and tourists. Amarnath takes time off to explain to visitors the significance of the finds. One such is a “deep terracotta ring well with 13 rings” that promises to go down further. “Here we have a ring well in association with a structure built of big-sized bricks. This is a peculiarity,” he tells a few visiting archaeology buffs. He contrasts this with the ring well excavated at Vasavasamudram near Kalpakkam (near Chennai), which stood independent of any other structure. The same is the case at Arikkamedu near Puducherry, he adds.
The structure associated with the well is made of burnt bricks, and the floor is also paved with big bricks. In fact, trench after trench, each five metres long and five metres wide and several metres deep, has structures made of burnt bricks. No mud bricks have been used. One trench features two brick walls, looking imposing and meeting each other. One of the walls is ten bricks thick and set in mud mortar. Each brick is 36 cm long, 24 cm wide and 6 cm thick. Another trench features a rectangular brick structure that looks like an antechamber. Large-sized hand-made grooved tiles have also been found in this trench, suggesting that the structure may have had a tiled roof. One trench has a channel made of bricks, perhaps for releasing water. In most of the trenches, below a certain level, layers of river sand have been found, signalling the existence of paleochannels in the area many centuries ago. There are big storage jars, pots with spouts, twin pots, big decorated pots, black and red pottery, white-painted black ware, and so on, jutting out of the trench walls.
There are potsherds and artefacts, too. When this writer visited the site, K. Vadivel, a research scholar in the Department of History, Government Arts College, Krishnagiri, was showing them to schoolchildren standing around him. He is one of the five research scholars from the college, led by Assistant Professor P. Venkateswaran, assisting the ASI. The others are K. Vasanthkumar, D. Balaji, R. Manjunath and G. Karthick. “What do you see engraved on this potsherd?” Vadivel asked the children, holding aloft a potsherd that he picked up from one of the several boxes on the table in front of him. “It is a fish,” exclaimed one of the children. Vadivel took out artefact after artefact and held them up for the children to see —pearl micro-beads, a big quartz bead with a superb engraving, ivory dices, terracotta human figurines, a copper rod for painting eyelashes, bangles made of conch shells, potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, arretine ware, and shining white-painted black pottery. At the end of it, the children appeared mesmerised. “Were all these that were shown now found here?” asked one of them.
In fact, all these and more found here point to this being a Sangam Age site. “This is definitely a Tamil Sangam Age site…. It was a habitation site. It was purely a Sangam Age site,” said Amarnath Ramakrishna. What is “impressive” is the discovery of big brick structures in the trenches. “We have got good structures. We have found big-sized walls.” Similar brick structures were found at Arikkamedu, Kancheepuram, Uraiyur, Kaveripoompattinam and Azhagankulam. “On the basis of a comparative study of Keezhadi with these sites and the availability of black and red ware at stratigraphically lower levels, we can say that this site belongs to the 3rd century BCE. This is tentative. We have not done carbon-dating yet,” the Director of Excavation said. The Sangam Age of the Early Historic period is datable from circa 3rd century BCE to 3rd century C.E. Keezhadi derives its importance from its proximity to Madurai, the capital city of the Pandya dynasty. The Pandya kings were known for their patronage in convening assemblies or gatherings, called Sangam, at Madurai, where Tamil literature was composed and compiled.
V. Vedachalam, veteran epigraphist and domain expert for the excavation, said, “The excavation provides strong evidence that a habitation site belonging to the Sangam Age existed close to Madurai. This site is important because we have got here all the evidence that we normally get from a Sangam Age site. We have got intact a portion of a beautifully built house. Nearby there is a deep ring well. A number of brick-built structures have been unearthed. These must have been elite people’s residences.” He argued that educated people must have lived there because many potsherds had on them the Tamil-Brahmi script. The trenches also yielded black and red ware, Roman arretine ware, rouletted ware, hundreds of beads made of semi-precious stones, ivory dices, iron spearheads and so on. “We have got a rich haul of antiquities. They show the nature of the habitation site of the Tamil Sangam Age and provide evidence about the culture that existed then,” said Vedachalam, who retired as Senior Epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department.
K. Rajan, Professor of History, Pondicherry University, who visited Keezhadi, also asserted that it was an Early Historic site that had many urban components. “It was one of the urban centres on the Vaigai river basin. It was located between the capital city of Madurai and the port city of Azhagankulam of the Pandya country,” he said. Its urban components were indicated by its civic amenities, external trade, existence of a multi-ethnic society, a communication system, use of luxury items, occurrence of expensive pottery, and so on. The discovery of carnelian beads indicated Keezhadi’s external trade links—the carnelian stone came from Gujarat. Luxury items such as pearl micro-beads and ivory dices showed that the Early Historic residents of Keezhadi had surplus wealth. Potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions showed the prevalence of a communication system. While Brahmi was the script used, the language used was both Tamil and Prakrit. The name “Tissa” inscribed in Brahmi script on a potsherd belonged to the Prakrit language. Rajan was sure that the Prakrit name signalled that Keezhadi had maritime trade with Sri Lanka.
Keezhadi was a chance discovery. In 2013-14, the ASI conducted a survey of the Vaigai river basin, covering about 400 villages on either bank of the river in Dindigul, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Theni districts. The river, a major lifeline for southern Tamil Nadu, originates near Vellimalai in Theni district in the Western Ghats and traverses about 250 km through the aforementioned districts before debouching itself in the Bay of Bengal near Azhagankulam, a port city that belongs to the Sangam Age. Amarnath Ramakrishna led the survey, and the team included Vedachalam and the assistant archaeologists N. Veeraraghavan and M. Rajesh. The aim was to identify sites for excavation in order to help in the understanding of the cultural transformation that took place in southern Tamil Nadu during the various periods.
“Despite having immense archaeological wealth, the Vaigai river basin remained neglected for an intensive excavation. Barring sporadic diggings in the pre-Independence era, no appreciable effort was made to explore and document archaeological remains along the Vaigai river valley,” said Amarnath Ramakrishna.
In the 1950s, K.V. Raman of the ASI Southern Circle undertook a village-to-village survey of Madurai, Melur, Periyakulam and Tirumangalam taluks and reported several archaeological sites and remains. The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department excavated Kovalanpottal near Madurai. In 2006, Vedachalam, Rajan, S. Selvakumar and V.P. Yathees Kumar found several archaeological sites in the Vaigai valley, especially in its upper reaches.
“In the Vaigai river basin, the excavations done were minor in nature. The only major excavation done was at Azhagankulam by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department for six seasons in the 1980s,” said Vedachalam. Thus, there was a felt need to document the villages on the banks of the Vaigai for their archaeological remains and, therefore, choose a site for excavation. With ASI Director General Rakesh Tewari clearing Amarnath Ramakrishna’s proposal for exploring the Vaigai basin, the four-member team embarked on the survey within a 5-km distance on either side of the Vaigai. They were assisted by Professor Venkateswaran and the research scholars mentioned above.
“We found archaeological remains in 293 sites in the form of urn burials, megalithic circles, dolmens, menhirs, hero stones, potsherds and gold bars with the Tamil-Brahmi script, Early Historic inscriptions, sculptures of the Buddha, Tamil Vattelluttu inscriptions and even inscriptions in Arabic,” said Amarnath Ramakrishna. Among the discoveries the team made were the ruins of a Siva temple and a dilapidated choultry, both at Kallikottai near Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district. While the Siva temple, with important inscriptions and exquisite sculptures, belonged to the 13th century, of the later Pandyas, the choultry was built by Rani Mangammal of the 17th century, of the Nayaka period. “We were disappointed to find that many of the sites that had been discovered earlier had disappeared under the onslaught of urbanisation, cultivation and industrialisation,” said Vedachalam. For instance, the habitation site Uthamapuram, of the Sangam Age/Early Historic period, has vanished. In fact, expanding cultivation has erased many sites of the Sangam Age in the Cumbum valley. The habitation site at Dombichery has also disappeared. It is at Dombichery that a hoard of punch-marked silver coins of the Early Historic period was found. Called the Bodinaickanur hoard, it was important enough for the historian D.D. Kosambi to write an article about it.
As the survey was winding down, the team reached Madurai city proper. Around Madurai, its team members once again studied the Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions chiselled on the brow of natural caves situated atop hillocks at places such as Arittapatti, Keezhakkuyilkudi, Keezhavalavu, Kongarpuliyankulam, Mankulam, Melakkuyilkudi, Tiruvadavur, Varichiyur and Arittapatti. These Tamil Brahmi inscriptions are datable from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century C.E. The team documented the Jaina bas-relief sculptures, Jaina beds and Tamil Vattelluttu inscriptions of the 9th century in these sites. However, in Madurai city proper, the team found no evidence of any Early Historic habitation site because the entire cityscape had been built up.
Truck driver’s tip-off
As the team members came down further, they reached Keezhadi. There a truck driver, who was loading coconuts into his truck, suggested to them in the course of casual conversation that they go inside the coconut grove and study the place. “The grove is littered with potsherds,” he told them. They went, and what they saw took their breath away. On the surface of a sprawling mound (Pallichandai Thidal), which had become a coconut grove, they saw hundreds of potsherds, some inscribed with graffiti, lying everywhere. Big fired bricks were scattered around. An earthmover was digging a pit in a vacant space among coconut trees. The team members could not believe their eyes when an ancient brick structure—two walls meeting each other—came into view inside the pit. There were other brick structures, too, in the exposed area, besides a lot of black and red ware. The team realised that it was on to something big and that this was an ancient habitation site. For, a few days earlier they had found an urn burial site at Konthagai, about a kilometre from Keezhadi.
Of the 293 archaeological sites that the team located in the Vaigai river basin, about a hundred turned out to be habitation sites. On the banks of the Vaigai, each habitation site does not have a burial site of its own. A cluster of four or five habitation sites had one burial site.
Soon, the team shortlisted three sites: Keezhadi, Maranadu and Sithar Natham for excavation. While Sithar Natham is 50 km from Madurai city, Maranadu is 30 km away. Keezhadi is only 12 km south-east of Madurai. In fact, it is located in Tiruppuvanam taluk, Sivaganga district, adjoining Madurai district. Besides, Vedachalam had, in 1978, documented Tamil inscriptions of the later Pandya king Maravarman Kulasekara Pandya I (regnal years 1268 to 1311) on the plinth of a small Siva temple in Keezhadi village itself.
“After seeing the brick structures, we surveyed the Keezhadi site four times. It was impressive,” Amarnath Ramakrishna said. A contouring of the site was done. The area of the archaeological mound, that is, Pallichandai Thidal, was estimated at 80 acres and its circumference was 3.5 km. The mound’s height was 2.88 metres from the ground level. What was touching was the generosity of Sonai Chandran, the owner of the coconut grove, who readily handed it over for excavation. “I liked the way Amarnath spoke to me. We knew that the ASI will not take away our land permanently. Besides, we are getting important evidence that our village belonged to the Sangam Age. So I told Amarnath and Vedachalam that they can do the excavation in my grove for as long as they want,” Sonai Chandran said.
Pallichandai Thidal is surrounded by Keezhadi, Konthagai and Manalur. If these villages were to form a circle, it is as if Pallichandai Thidal forms the centre point of the circle. Keezhadi and Konthagai were together called Kuntidevi Chaturvedi Mangalam in the 13th century. The eastern portion of Kuntidevi Chaturvedi Mangalam was called Keezhadi. Kuntidevi Chaturvedi Mangalam later got corrupted to “Konthagai”.
The original credit for discovering archaeological artefacts at Pallichandai Thidal goes to V. Balasubramanian, who was the headmaster of the Government High School at Keezhadi. In 1978, Balasubramanian found 14th century terracotta artefacts at Pallichandai Thidal and informed Vedachalam. “I reached Pallichandai Thidal and saw the male, female and Ayyanar [a folk diety] terracotta figurines,” said the noted epigraphist. “Then, in the survey we did in 2014, we identified 293 sites with archaeological remains on either side of the Vaigai river. Of these 293 sites, I said Pallichandai Thidal was an important site. We went there, saw the mound, the brick structures exposed by the earthmover, and potsherds lying everywhere. So we decided to excavate at Pallichandai Thidal because there has been no major excavation in the recent past in the habitation sites in southern Tamil Nadu,” Vedachalam said.
Burnt bricks and artefacts
The first season of excavation began on March 2, 2015, and ended in September. Forty-two trenches were dug and, astonishingly, many of them yielded structures made of large-sized bricks that typically belong to the Early Historic period. For instance, a trench dug in the highest point of the mound yielded a massive brick wall. They were all burnt bricks. Another trench yielded a pot with a conical bottom, whose occurrence was rare. Yet another trench yielded a small room built of bricks, whose floor had a spread of river sand. This led to a debate on whether it was a dry toilet. The centre of the mound revealed a lot of structural activity. Small brick-built rooms threw up plenty of pots.
A bonanza of artefacts was found in almost every trench. What stood out was a big quartz bead with a superbly made engraving. “We can say with confirmation that it was made about 2,200 years ago,” Amarnath Ramakrishna said. “It was found at a depth of 180 cm,” he added. A perforated shallow dish was found as well. “This is a rarity in Tamil Nadu,” he said. Prized discoveries included gleaming pearl micro-beads and hundreds of beads made of semi-precious stones such as carnelian, agate, lapis lazuli and quartz. Glass beads were also found. From the surface of the mound, Vedachalam picked up a human terracotta figurine.
Other artefacts found in the trenches included shell bangles with decorations, ivory dice incised with concentric circles, terracotta gamesmen and spindle-whorls with iron roads (indicating the existence of a textile industry).
Amarnath Ramakrishna said: “The artefacts are a confirmation that Keezhadi was a trade centre and that a big town existed there [during the Early Historic period]. Stratigraphically, in the lower levels, we get all the material such as arretine ware, rouletted ware and white-painted black ware which are associated with the Early Historic period. A wealthy, cultured society must have lived there. Stratigraphically, we have found a lot of deposits which offer good evidence to correlate Madurai with the Sangam Age. This site definitely gives a clue to the date of the Sangam Age.”
Vedachalam also argued that the occurrence of brick houses, which were “elite people’s residences”, black and red ware, arretine ware, rouletted ware and russet-coated ware, hundreds of beads, ivory dices and so on revealed “the nature” of a habitation site of the Sangam Age. An irrigation tank, too, existed at Keezhadi. He said: “We did a complete exploration of the archaeological sites on both banks of the Vaigai river, right from the place where it originates to Azhagankulam, where it empties into the sea. Then we chose Keezhadi for excavation. The excavation at Keezhadi will help us to appreciate southern Tamil Nadu’s history and the life and culture of the people of the Sangam Age. Similar exploration should be done on the banks of every river in Tamil Nadu to locate archaeological sites, and excavations should be done in important sites to help us understand the settlement patterns in ancient times. Only then will we understand fully the sweep and magnitude of Tamil Nadu’s cultural antiquity.”


Hill Cemetery, Church Cowley Road, Oxford.
Grave reference: B1 no.147.
Soothill died on Tuesday 14 May 1935. His funeral was held at the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford on Friday 17 May and he was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery. His grave is approximately 40 metres WNW of the cemetery chapel. It is marked by a simple rectangle of low granite kerbs, engraved as below. The letters are inlaid with lead, but about half of the inlays have fallen out, and the kerbs have sunk below their original level so that the inscriptions are partly obscured.
The first occupant of the grave was Soothill's wife Lucy, four years his elder, who died at the age of 74 and was buried on 30 March 1931.
|S||LUCY · MISSIONARY · BELOVED WIFE OF THE REV W E SOOTHILL / 1856-1931|
|N||WILLIAM EDWARD SOOTHILL MA · MISSIONARY · PROFESSOR OF CHINESE OXFORD UNIVERSITY / 1861-1935|
|W||THE PATH OF THE JUST SHALL SHINE|
|E||THEIR WORK ABIDETH|
|Grave visited with Shen Jia
沈迦 on 30 March 2009.


In The Bubble Decade, a one-hour CNBC Original documentary, Correspondent David Faber reports on one of the most dramatic periods in the history of America’s financial markets. As the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, Faber looks back at the tumultuous era, one marked by ambition and innovation, avarice and excess, and record highs – and lows – on Wall Street.It's hard to believe this decade is almost over. Each decade goes by faster than the last.
The sweeping story of the three economic bubbles that defined the decade begins with the tech bubble, its apex marked by AOL’s audacious takeover of Time Warner. The deal signified the heights and hope of the dot-com boom, a chapter that saw the creation of scores of high-flying internet companies, many of which would die an early death. The middle of the decade brought the housing boom and the formation of the real estate bubble. It was the age of easy money, with banks all too eager to fund new construction, and developers and homeowners all too eager to take on loans they couldn’t afford. The last bubble of the decade to burst was the credit bubble, exemplified by private equity firms awash in money and on the lookout for takeover targets. In some cases, these private equity deals and leveraged buyouts resulted in a lucky few making a fortune, with the targeted company loaded up with debt and ruined in the process.
The rollercoaster ride of the past decade is told through the people who lived it: some who made millions, some who lost millions, and some who did both. Faber profiles Internet entrepreneurs, real estate speculators, and corporate takeover specialists. In addition to reporting the taped segments, Faber will moderate two panels of key players who shaped the biggest financial stories of the decade.
- Sunday, December 13th 10p ET
- Monday, December 14th 8p ET


Nestled in the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea, the island of Hvar boasts a rich history that extends far beyond its sun-kissed beaches and lavender fields. Delve into the island's ancient past, where Greek settlers left an indelible mark, introducing not only their culture but also planting the seeds of Hvar's renowned wine culture.
Greek Influence: The story begins over two millennia ago when ancient Greek colonists, seeking new horizons, established colonies along the Dalmatian coast. Among these venturesome settlers were the Greeks who landed on Hvar, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge in agriculture, trade, and viticulture.
Wine Cultivation: The Greeks recognized the island's fertile soil and ideal climate as a perfect canvas for vineyards. Harnessing their expertise, they introduced the art of winemaking to Hvar, forever altering the island's destiny. The cultivation of grapes flourished, and the hillsides of Hvar soon became adorned with terraced vineyards, each row bearing witness to the island's vinicultural legacy.
Stari Grad Plain – UNESCO Heritage: At the heart of this vinicultural heritage lies the Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally plotted by the Greeks in the 4th century BC, this agricultural landscape is a living testament to ancient land division practices and, notably, the cultivation of grapes for wine production.
Legacy of the Greeks: The legacy of the Greek settlers endures in Hvar's unique grape varieties and winemaking traditions. As you wander through the island's vine-clad landscapes and sip its exceptional wines, you're savoring a heritage that dates back to those pioneering days when the Greeks first recognized Hvar's potential as a winemaking haven.
Modern Winemaking on Hvar: Today, Hvar stands as a beacon of Croatian viticulture, and its winemakers continue to honor and build upon the foundations laid by the ancient Greeks. From the indigenous varieties like Plavac Mali to the modern cellars producing award-winning wines, Hvar's vinicultural journey is an integral part of its identity.
Conclusion: So, the next time you raise a glass of Hvar's finest wine, remember that you are toasting not just to the present moment but to an ancient legacy crafted by Greek visionaries who recognized the island's potential and planted the seeds that would blossom into Hvar's illustrious wine culture.


March 24, 2021
Massachusetts Chocolate History & Virtual Tasting
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Most students of American history know the story of the Boston Tea Party, but did you know that when the colonists stopped drinking tea due to taxation they turned to drinking chocolate? Boston and the state of MA have many historical connections to chocolate, including being the home of the very first chocolate factory in North America, the first roadside retail confectionary operation and the
first forays into commercial white chocolate production. Learn more about our sweet history with this fascinating program hosted by chocolate educator and tour guide, Victoria Kichuk of Cocoa Beantown in Boston.
The final 30 minutes of the program will be a guided tasting of local chocolates led by Victoria. If you would like to participate in this portion, RSVP by March 17 and notify us at the time of registration. The cost is $12 for the chocolate tasting. Pick up will be at the COA on March 24, 10:00-10:30 before the presentation.
Contact the COA to register, 781 786 6280.