Sun 'n' Fun XI: Ars Longa, Tossups Brevis on August 14th

[SnookerUSF]

I would like to announce Sun 'n' Fun XI: Ars Longa, Tossups Brevis

This year we will be doing this a little differently, in my constant and perhaps misguided desire to experiment, I would like to make this tournament half-packet submission. That is, I will ask for half-packets from teams in order to play, this allows a number of advantages (I hope):

1) It allows the tournament to more comprehensively reflect the interests and knowledge base of the community, while still retaining the flavor and interests you have come to "love" from SnF.
2) 12/12 is much less daunting for players and teams, I think.

Also, to add to the fun, if you submit a packet any time before August 1st, your team can play for $50. Of course if you enjoy the idea of writing a full packet, I will not say no to such kindness, and you can play for $30. Generally speaking, if you wish to play to WILL NEED to write a packet; however, if you are a team that would not need to write a packet according to ACF rules (you know who you are) then the submission is optional. Also, if there are multitude of half-packets, I am amenable to allowing other teams play but you will pay the full $120 to participate, but this is not guaranteed. So pretty please submit a half-packet, seriously: 12/12 is something like 1/1 a week between now and the tournament.

The distribution for the half-packet is as follows (for full packet please follow the ACF Distribution, Geography Optional)
2/2 Lit (1/1 English-language, 1/1 non-English language)
2/2 History (1/1 North America/UK, 1/1 Rest of World)
3/3 Science ( 1/1 Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
2/2 Fine Arts (1/1 Non-Operatic Classical Music, 1/1 Whatever)
1/1 RMP
1/1 SS
1/1 GK/Current Events/Georgraphy/TRASH

A word on difficulty, power marks and length:
I would like the difficulty to approximate ICT or ACF Nationals, though please feel free to include a tossup and bonus or two on worthwhile but post-Nationals level difficulty. Also, in the spirit of shorter, snappier tossups please restrict tossup length to no longer than seven lines 10pt TNR font (one inch margins). Also if you would please place (*) power marks in your tossups, but understand that they may be altered slightly.

Mirrors are of course encouraged and welcome. If any one would like to assist in the editing process, please e-mail me: aragab at mail dot usf dot edu, science and history editors would be appreciated.

Fee Structure:
Teams not submitting a half-packet: $120
Teams submitting a half-packet before August 1st: $50
Teams submitting a packet before August 1st: $30
Mirrors can adjudicate discounts for buzzers, staff and laptops as they see fit.

I look forward to receiving your questions!

[Auroni]

I might be able to freelance a full packet for this, but I'm not sure yet.

[Skepticism and Animal Feed]

I'll probably show up to this again, unless it conflicts with VETO

[Mike Bentley]

I'll probably show up to this again, unless it conflicts with VETO

I just heard that VETO will be on 7/17.

[Duncan Idaho]

A mix of current and recently graduated high schoolers from the South Carolina/Georgia area are considering attending this, and, to that effect, I have some questions about (half or otherwise)packet writing.

Generally speaking, if you wish to play to WILL NEED to write a packet; however, if you are a team that would not need to write a packet according to ACF rules (you know who you are) then the submission is optional.

When you say that submission is optional for teams according to the ACF guidelines, do you mean by the ACF guidelines of the 2009-10 season (whether a player played a collegiate academic tournament before 9/1/2008) or of the 2010-11 season posted with the global announcement posted by ACF Fall (before 9/1/2009)? It doesn't make a huge difference, because we will probably write anyway to get the discount, but I'm just curious, since I am our team's offending party, having attended ACF Regionals in 2009.

Also, in the spirit of shorter, snappier tossups please restrict tossup length to no longer than seven lines 10pt TNR font (one inch margins).

If our submitted are restricted to seven lines, how long will the edited tossups be? A quick glance reveals average tossup length from last year to be about ten and a half lines. Are tossups at this tournament going to be more like Sun 'n' Fun 08?

[SnookerUSF]

To answer your questions:

Yes, I would you to write a half-packet.

and

7 lines.

[Ethnic history of the Vilnius region]

I was just wondering if there were plans for a Florida-area mirror for Sun n Fun. I had heard Orlando a while back and was just wondering if that was still the case. Myself and some other current/former South Carolina people are interested in attending.