International Conference of Shakespeare Scholars
To be Held at Mark Twain House and Museum
NATIONAL - An annual gathering of top Shakespeare researchers, scholars, and published authors from around the globe will take place Oct. 17 – 20 at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn. Members of the Shakespeare Oxford Fellowship from the US, Canada, and parts of Europe will converge to share their recent research and findings on the Shakespeare Authorship Question during the four-day conference. The conference will also feature a schedule of presentations available to the public, including a performance of “Is Shakespeare Dead?” by actor Keir Cutler 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.
In 2012, the Mark Twain House was named one of the Ten Best Historic Homes in the world in “The Ten Best of Everything,” a National Geographic Books publication. Conference presentations will take place in the 175-seat auditorium in the modern Mark Twain Museum, located next to the Mark Twain House. Twain (Samuel Clemmons) lived in the house for 17 years. It is the location where he wrote such classics as “Huckleberry Finn,” “Tom Sawyer,” and “The Prince and the Pauper,” among other great works.
Twain’s importance to the Shakespeare Authorship Question cannot be overstated, as he is perhaps the most prominent writer to express open doubts that William Shakspere of Stratford was the author of the works of “William Shake-Speare.” The lack of any substantial historical evidence pointing to the man from Stratford, and Twain’s own familiarity with the use of a pseudonymous pen name, had him believing the Stratford story was a myth.
“So far as anybody actually knows and can prove, Shakespeare of Stratford-on-Avon never wrote a play in his life,” wrote Twain in his publication “Is Shakespeare Dead?” rejecting the myth outright.
The Mark Twain House and Museum is at 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, Conn. Additional information is available at www.ShakespeareOxfordFellowship.org.
Conference Admission
The full conference registration fee is $270 for SOF members, and $285 for non-members. Full conference registration incudes all conference presentations, three lunches, one dinner, admission to Keir Cutler’s performance, and a tour of the Mark Twain House. Daily admission is available ranging from $45 – $100. Tickets for “Is Shakespeare Dead?" are available for $20. Students with valid ID may attend conference presentations at no charge (meals not included).
Public Presentations
Members of the general public are invited to attend select presentations throughout the conference:
4:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, Emmy Award-Winning writer and published author Hank Whittemore will present “The Launch of the Pen Name: Who Knew What and When?” Free admission.
4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, Richard Waugaman, professor of psychology at Georgetown University, will present “Did Shakspere Write Shake-Speare? – Internal and External Meanings of Pen Names.” Free admission.
4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, James Norwood, PhD, retired humanities professor from the University of Minnesota, will present “Mark Twain and Shake-Speare: Soul Mates.” Free admission.
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, actor Keir Cutler presents his one-man show, “Is Shakespeare Dead?” Tickets are $20.
9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, published author Bonner Miller Cutting presents “Connecting the Dots: How a man who could scarcely write his name became revered as the greatest writer of the English language.” Free admission.
11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, Robert Meyers, retired journalist from the Washington Post, presents “Was It Really William? – an overview of the Shakespeare Authorship Question.” Free admission.
The Mark Twain House and Museum is at 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford, Conn. Additional information is available at www.ShakespeareOxfordFellowship.org.
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BBB: Watch for scams targeting college students ahead of new semester
Salt Lake City, UT - With tuition payments, financial aid applications and school supplies, August marks the month for students looking to spend their money on going back to colleges or universities. However, scammers take on this opportunity to sway students who are looking for better ways to manage their money. Whether you’re starting school yourself or have kids who are vulnerable to such scams, BBB suggests students watch out for these financial scams before heading into the new semester.
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Safe Credit Reports - After the age of 18, it’s a good idea to start becoming more aware of your credit score and start adapting some healthy money habits. It’s also a helpful signifier of any unusual activity and possible ID fraud. While there are multiple traps online trying to snag your social security number with a fake credit score scam, safely check your credit score at annualcreditreport.com.
Scholarship and Grant Scams - Phone calls from companies guaranteeing they can help reduce loan payments or set you up with a hefty grant are worth researching. Even searching the company online could bring up scam alerts from other victims. Contact the school’s financial aid office for advice on the company’s legitimacy or how they can help otherwise. Scholarship scams can affect college students even after graduation; read our tips on scholarship scams.
Employment Scams - In 2018, employment scams were the #1 culprit for scams attacking 18-25 year olds. Job offerings can be sent directly to school emails, promising flexible hours and a beyond expected pay. There would be no need to send a social security number electronically without knowing exactly who you are sending it to. For more types of employment scams, visit BBB's Tips: Employment Scams.
Awareness of Current Scams - As tech savvy as current college students can be, a surprising number of scams reported to BBB’s ScamTracker are from students who learned their lesson too late. Use BBB’s ScamTracker to learn of the latest scam trends and read local reports of specific incidents.
According to 2018’s BBB’s ScamTracker Risk Report, 41.6% of students reported a loss when exposed to a scam as compared to 28.3% of non-students. Students, who are freshly exposed to managing their own finances, are online looking for ways to save. It is important to be aware of scammers looking to take advantage of others. Contact BBB Serving Northern Nevada and Utah at 800-456-3907 if you are unsure of something that could possibly be a scam.
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CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION WEEK ENDING AUGUST 18, 2019 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Weather conditions allowed good progress to be made harvesting barley and winter wheat last week, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Statewide, barley harvest is currently at 62 percent complete, behind the 5-year average of 78 percent. Statewide, winter wheat harvest is currently at 82 percent complete, behind the 5-year average of 90 percent. Box Elder County reports producers were busy harvesting alfalfa hay, grass hay, grain hay, and winter wheat. Statewide, the second cutting of alfalfa is at 89 percent complete, the third cutting of alfalfa is at 27 percent complete, and the fourth cutting of alfalfa is at 2 percent complete. Stock water supplies were rated 10 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus. Irrigation water supplies were rated 8 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. NA – not available (--) – zero DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION Commodity Current week Previous week Previous year 5-year average Days suitable for field work .................................. 7.0 6.8 7.0 6.4 Topsoil moisture (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) Very short ......................................................... 4 3 22 12 Short ................................................................. 31 34 47 42 Adequate .......................................................... 65 63 31 45 Surplus ............................................................. -- -- -- 1 Subsoil moisture Very short ......................................................... 1 2 23 14 Short ................................................................. 34 34 41 40 Adequate .......................................................... 65 64 36 46 Surplus ............................................................. -- -- -- -- NA – not available (--) – zero CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS Commodity Current week Previous week Previous year 5-year average (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) Alfalfa hay 2nd cutting harvested .......................................... 89 80 NA NA 3rd cutting harvested ........................................... 27 13 43 40 4th cutting harvested .......................................... 2 NA NA NA Barley Harvested ........................................................... 62 33 87 78 Corn Silking ................................................................ 81 63 87 89 Doughed............................................................. 17 1 28 29 Other hay 2nd cutting harvested .......................................... 45 23 74 NA Tart cherries Harvested ........................................................... 99 80 NA NA Winter Wheat Harvested ........................................................... 82 65 97 90 CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION Current week Previous week Previous year 5-year average (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) Alfalfa hay Very poor .......................................................... -- -- -- NA Poor ................................................................... 5 2 6 NA Fair .................................................................... 24 28 16 NA Good ................................................................. 60 56 70 NA Excellent ........................................................... 11 14 8 NA Barley Very poor .......................................................... -- -- NA NA Poor .................................................................. -- -- NA NA Fair ................................................................... 20 15 NA NA Good ................................................................. 62 60 NA NA Excellent ........................................................... 18 25 NA NA Corn Very poor .......................................................... -- -- -- -- Poor .................................................................. -- -- -- -- Fair ................................................................... 11 18 16 15 Good ................................................................. 62 58 70 70 Excellent ........................................................... 27 24 14 15 Other hay Very poor .......................................................... -- -- NA NA Poor ................................................................... 8 2 NA NA Fair .................................................................... 20 15 NA NA Good ................................................................. 58 61 NA NA Excellent ........................................................... 14 22 NA NA Pasture and range Very poor .......................................................... 1 -- 17 6 Poor ................................................................... 7 3 31 17 Fair .................................................................... 19 19 43 38 Good ................................................................. 55 56 9 35 Excellent ........................................................... 18 22 -- 4 Cattle and calves Very poor .......................................................... -- -- -- -- Poor ................................................................... -- -- 5 1 Fair .................................................................... 11 11 23 15 Good ................................................................. 77 71 66 71 Excellent ........................................................... 12 18 6 13 Sheep and lambs Very poor .......................................................... -- -- -- -- Poor ................................................................... -- -- 5 1 Fair .................................................................... 10 10 28 19 Good ................................................................. 68 67 65 70 Excellent ........................................................... 22 23 2
