Six months ago, I received an impassioned e-mail from a woman in south Chandler. She was responding to a column I had written a week earlier about Bishop Thomas O'Brien's long history of coddling and secretly transferring priests who had molested children.
In the e-mail, the woman told the story of how, in 1979, Thomas O'Brien had told her and her husband to keep quiet about a priest's molestation of her son.
The mother, Doris Kennedy, was hesitant about talking further. Soon, though, her strength grew and she was willing to sit down to discuss what had happened to her son, and how church officials told her to keep her mouth shut.
At the time, she says, her son would not talk. He was embarrassed. He wanted the issue to disappear.
A few weeks later, Mark Kennedy also found the courage to speak publicly.
Then, the Kennedys found the courage to talk to investigators with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Thanks to the testimony of the Kennedys, last week, Father Patrick Colleary was indicted on three felony charges of molesting a child.
This summer, another family came forward with accusations nearly identical to those of the Kennedys. Benedict and Peggy Kulina say they also went to Thomas O'Brien in 1979 to report the sexual abuse of their son, Benjamin, by Father John Giandelone. They say O'Brien told them to keep quiet and that Giandelone would be transferred to another church.
Giandelone was quietly transferred to another church in Chandler, where, in 1984, he was arrested after a father walked in on Giandelone performing oral sex on his 15-year-old son.
Based on the Kulinas' testimony, Giandelone was arrested last week for molesting Benjamin Kulina in 1979.
Both the Kulinas and the Kennedys knew they would be stigmatized by coming forward. Both Benjamin Kulina, now a lieutenant with the Mesa Police Department, and Mark Kennedy, a Marine and paramedic, knew all their friends and family would look at them differently once they spoke of the abuse they endured as boys.
Kulina says Giandelone forced 15-year-old Ben Kulina to put his mouth on the pastor's penis. Colleary, Mark Kennedy says, fondled him several times at the family's church and in the family's home. At one point, Colleary fondled the boy's rectum with his finger, Kennedy says.
Still, both Kennedy and Kulina had the courage to come forward and tell the truth.
The same can't be said for Bishop Thomas O'Brien.
Indeed, if last week's indictments prove anything, it is that moral authority has shifted from the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix to those willing to report sexual abuse by his priests.
As children and families spoke of their pain, O'Brien and his attorneys began spinning.
On two critical points, diocese officials went to ludicrous lengths to distance O'Brien from the growing scandal.
In a press conference last Wednesday, diocese attorney Mike Manning called it "improbable" that either the Kennedys or Kulinas ever spoke to Thomas O'Brien in 1979.
Both the Kennedys and the Kulinas say they reported the abuse of their sons to O'Brien, who was then vicar general, diocesan chancellor and secretary for then-bishop Rausch.
O'Brien says he doesn't remember any such conversations.
His memory lapses regarding reports of abuse closely mirror those of another church official, Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston.
In addition, Manning says it would not have been O'Brien's responsibility to speak with families reporting abuse.
This, at best, is obfuscation.
Diocesan policy clearly states that it is the duty of the diocese chancellor to field complaints about priests from parishioners. Both the Kennedys and the Kulinas say they remember very clearly being directed to Thomas O'Brien.
"I know who I talked to," Doris Kennedy says. "It was one of the most traumatic moments of my life. I know it was Thomas O'Brien who told me to keep the molestation of my son quiet." She says O'Brien asked if she had told anybody about the sexual abuse. She told him that she had spoken to one other person. O'Brien, she says, told her angrily, "You should not have done that!"
Attorney Dick Treon, who represents the Kulinas, echoed Doris Kennedy.
O'Brien told the Kulinas, Treon says, that disclosing the abuse would "hurt Benjamin, it would hurt the church and that nobody would believe them."
In the county attorney's summary of the Giandelone investigation, obtained by New Times through a public records request, investigators stated: "Father O'Brien told the Kulinas they should not say anything about this to anyone. Father O'Brien said that they don't want to spread this around, it's not going to be good because it will just do Ben more harm, it will ruin things."
Even Giandelone says O'Brien talked to him after the Kulinas complained in 1979. Giandelone says O'Brien told him on one occasion that he and diocesan officials were unsure what to do with Giandelone following the Kulina accusations.
In time, officials decided to send Giandelone to St. Mary Parish in Chandler, where, Giandelone admitted, he had immediate trouble staying away from children:
"They moved me from the frying pan into the fire, out to Chandler," Giandelone said, according to tapped phone conversations with Kulina obtained during the county attorney's investigation. "They wanted me away from there so I would have absolutely no contact with you."
Also, there's good reason to believe more witnesses to O'Brien's role in blocking his priests from justice will soon be coming forward.
Paul Pfaffenberger, leader of a new Phoenix chapter of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, says the Kennedys and the Kulinas are not the only parents who claim to have been turned away by O'Brien.
"The experience of the Kennedys and Kulinas is the experience of several of our members," he says. "Right now, these people aren't to the point where they feel ready to go public. It's so painful, it takes time. But I imagine that, in time, they'll be willing to speak out also."
As the evidence mounts that Thomas O'Brien was personally involved in sheltering molesters, diocese officials get further mired in double talk.
This summer, O'Brien promised to cooperate fully with county investigators.
Now, he says he won't talk to prosecutors openly unless he is given immunity from prosecution.
Again, he is acting like the CEO of Enron rather than the leader of the Valley's largest religious and moral institution.
In a press conference last week, diocese attorney Mike Manning told reporters that he has never discussed with O'Brien whether the bishop indeed told parents of abused children to keep quiet.
Manning has been O'Brien's attorney for six months. It seems extremely implausible that the diocese's lead attorney never discussed such a critical issue with his client.
Also, O'Brien promised to turn over all diocesan documents pertaining to sexual abuse by priests.
What prosecutors are discovering, however, is that diocese officials never made written reports for many of the accusations with which they were presented. This is a problem for prosecutors around the country. The church promised openness this summer. That openness, investigators are finding, has meant nothing more than turning over thousands of documents that diocesan officials know contain nothing because they know no records were kept.
Now, echoing the Thomas O'Brien of old, the bishop is once again blaming prosecutors and the media for all of his problems.
He is once again choosing a cowardly and unethical path.
He promised openness in the summer. As Christmas arrives, he still is not delivering.
Bishop Thomas O'Brien must immediately tell county prosecutors everything about his role in the diocese's sad history of protecting pedophile priests.
This is the path of courage, down which O'Brien must follow the Kennedy and Kulina families.
Get the This Week's Top Stories Newsletter
Every week we collect the latest news, music and arts stories — along with film and food reviews and the best things to do this week — so that you’ll never miss Phoenix New Times' biggest stories.
- Satanists Scheduled to Give Invocation at Scottsdale City Council Meeting in April
- Arizona Priest Arrested in 1960 Texas Beauty Queen Murder
- Joe Arpaio's Favorite Deputy Back at Work After Allegedly Sleeping with Crime Victim


Many are reporting that Trump protests appear to be professionally organized. Paid participants are found using Craigslist ads and they are showing up on chartered buses. Someone is paying for all the signs, buses, and actors. All indications point to Soros. In this segment, Vin Armani explains why Soros frequently funds upheaval.
Watch the full broadcast here:
* * *


LOVE THANK YOU
THIS IS WHY HE HATES YOU
Do you love him? Yes
Why do you love him? I just don’t know.
This is love, for love has no reason to love you. He loves you, not because you are the best or you have no faults or weaknesses, or you are the most beautiful…love just love you, love is not looking for something, love has everything, all he want is to share what he has, and that is what love does…sharing. Love is joy, so he gives you joy. Love is peace so you are peaceful with him. Love is longsuffering, so he will be with you in the time of trial. Love is kind, and you know it. Love is good, and he always make sure you are first. Love is faithful that is why he cannot lie to you. Love is gentle and he is never hash or full of wrath. Love is self-control, and he will never disrespect you or fight you. Love is love, those who have love says thank you for accepting me just the way I am.
Those who hates others, cannot love you, because they don’t have love, don’t bother, you can only give what you have, love and hate are two different personality, they cannot stay together in one body, it is like saying light and darkness are friends, or salt water and fresh water are from the same source.
Those who are selfish, cannot love you, selfishness means me, myself and I, all he does is for himself, he doesn’t think of others, the only time he thinks of others is for others to help him achieve his selfish desires, that is why he is selfish.
Those who are envious of others cannot love, for envy is not a fruit of love but of the carnal mind, as I say you can’t give what you don’t have. A man of envy, cannot love you.
Outburst of wrath, this is the character of an evil mind, this person cannot love you, he need help and his helper is a man of God. He is easily angered, because he is afraid of losing his pride, he interprete every word from an egocentric perspective, and when he replies you, he does it with hash words, even when you say to him, I love you, his reply is hash, because he is not capable of showing you love, for he cannot give you what he doesn’t have.
Love is God, for those who love, first love God, and God gave them love, and told them to do likewise, “Love your neighbor as yourself” for this is a great commandment, and because of their love for God, they obey Him, so is obedience, love is respect.
Did he love God? I don’t think he does…then let him go. If he is your spouse give him love, don’t run away, allow God to help you, then you will help him.
Did he love God, yes he is kind, he is gentle, he is faithful, he has self control, he is not selfish, he is patience and very prayerful, he always talk about his God. Then love thank you.
This is why he hates you, he has no love and cannot give what he doesn’t have.
If you want to love so that you can give love, say this prayer with me.
O lord my God, I am very sorry, I want to love you, now I know why I cannot love my neighbors and those who love me…I open my heart for you to come in, take more of me and give me more of you, more of your love, more of your power and more of your sound mind. I want to be more like you. Help me Holy Spirit of God, I want to live right, in spirit and in truth, so that I can love. In Jesus name I pray.
If you says this prayer sent me a mail saying” I am now in love” to firstname.lastname@example.org
We will always pray for you.
Remain bless. I am just a messenger, sent to you. For the times are evil.


United! – Acts 2:42-47
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 11, 2017
Unity, what does it mean to be unified? I know as a military unit you have to work together to achieve the same objective in order to win the battle. As a company you have to be on the same page as to what your objectives, projections, and costs are. And if you are a church the Scriptures teach us that we are to be united as well in order to achieve the kingdom of God here on earth until Jesus returns, but what does that mean and what does it look like?
In our day and age few churches teach about unity except as a spiritual concept or construct but few believers understand or know what it means for the body of Christ, his church, to be unified. In the book of Acts, which is the early history of the first century church we discover that they were united in purpose. Let’s find out what that means for us today…
If a group wants to achieve anything worthwhile the members have to be on the same page and working together. When they don’t they are dysfunctional, however, in the Book of Acts we discover that…
I. The early church was dedicated to their spirituality! (Vv. 42-43)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
1. Dedication comes in many forms; some make their dedication into a ritual. They do the same things every day in the same way in order to achieve a specific goal. Whether it is running a certain distance, losing weight, or reading through the Bible folks who are successful in achieving their goals have a certain amount of dedication and the early church was no different. However, notice what they were dedicated to: First, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”. There was no New Testament written yet and so they devoted themselves or steadfastly continued in what they had learned about the gospel message and the teachings of Jesus. The gospel became their basic manual and teaching for how they were to conduct themselves and live their lives as Christians. Paul and other apostles began to write commentary in the form of personal letters in how to achieve this. They also continued in “the fellowship” of the church. This means they were members of a local church and made sure to keep themselves in fellowship. The word is the Greek koinonia which refers to a communal attitude and intimate working together. This is possible because believers share the Holy Spirit. Their devotion to learning, being discipled, and to their church was a conscious decision. It demanded personal sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure! Secondly they devoted themselves “to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. Now some suggest that this means eating together rather than observing the Lord’s Supper regularly, but I am more inclined that Luke meant it as further evidence of their devotion to fellowshipping with one another in a spiritual capacity. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper and common prayer does unite a church body and we discover that because of their willingness to focus on spiritual learning and furthering their spiritual connection to one another that “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Much of the modern church has lost its awe of the wonder of God in its midst because we think church should be about promoting us and not our common relationship with the Lord. Here in Acts we discover that the early church was dedicated to their spirituality!
EXAMPLE: She and her children wept when they found out they had to move out of the area. They wept because they were leaving a church family they loved. Being a part of something because it fulfills a check off list for your kids, your personal experience, or the jazzy music is not the same as becoming part of a local body that becomes your spiritual family. When you worship, serve, pray and are discipled together you form mutual spiritual bonds that are strong or even stronger than your physical family. Because we share the same Spirit we call one another brother or sister. The early church understood this and was dedicated to their spirituality!
Families come together as they build relationship through love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Churches are like families and they too are to build relationship through love, acceptance, and forgiveness; this is done according to the Book of Acts as well. We discover that…
II. The early church was willing to share with one another! (Vv. 44-45)
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
1. Notice that Luke tells us that within the Jerusalem Church “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” In the original Greek it literally states that “all that believed” were together. This is important because it tells us that the first requirement of being part of the church was to be a member. In order to be a member certain criteria had to be met: 1) Members had to be a believers meaning that you had to have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and you had to have followed through in baptism; complete immersion. The word used in the Bible for church is the Greek word ekklesia, meaning a group of called out (ek – a primary preposition from which the action proceeds, like example) or specifically elected people (klesia a derivative of kaleō – where we get call from) who are called out to do a specific task. In this case the spreading of the good news. Christ does his work through his called out folks in the local church. The church is Jesus’ called out body in the world. As Paul would state, “we are members of his body”. (Ephesians 5:30 NIV) It is through the local church that our time, our talent, and our treasure are best utilized for the furthering of God’s Kingdom! The church knows that “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Matthew 25:29 NIV) We know that “the collection for God’s people” should be done “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income”. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NIV) And Paul again reminds us that our time, talent, and treasure are to be measured out generously: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV) We find that the early church had this spiritual concept down pat and had implemented it in the real world by “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” True believers have a generous spirit because Jesus gave to us generously and was willing to sacrifice for those he never met! The early church was willing to share with one another!
EXAMPLE: This is not communism, which some vainly try to equate it with. It is not the government taking everything from the populace and then doling it out as it sees fit. Rather this is a communal sharing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the lives of Jesus’ body the church by its active members. They were not compelled to do this but did it willingly out of the abundance of their own hearts. The early church was willing to share with one another!
We are often told that “Good things happen to those who do good things.” The Scriptures teach us continually that one reaps what they sow in this life so if a church stays united we learn that…
III. The early church experienced physical and spiritual growth! (Vv. 46-47)
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1. The outcome of a church fellowship staying close and being united was evident. We discover that the result for the early church was that “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” This would be like our church meeting every day down in front of the county court house praying, worshipping, and singing hymns together! Every day the early church in Jerusalem went up to the temple, at the time of prayer! Wow, can you imagine what kind of witness this was for the early church to the rest of Jerusalem and the Sanhedrin. Later the early Christians would be forced out of their local synagogues and the temple because so many of the Hebrew people were being converted to Christianity. We also learn that in places like Ephesus “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus” instead. (Acts 19:8-9 NIV) In fact, because so many people were converting to Christianity in the area of Asia Minor it affected the sales of silver idols and so “About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.” (Acts 19:23 NIV) The fact is that when believers are unified and doing what they are supposed to do they influence their communities, neighborhoods, and nations! We find that the church “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” This is being the salt and light, the holy leaven in a sinful world. The outcome of such unified living is that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” If the church stays united there will be physical and spiritual growth!
EXAMPLE: Some churches depend on programs, music, a really good show to bring in the people, but this is in a way false advertising. When the music, program, or show changes the audience leaves. They are not invited to become part of the family of God, the body of Christ. Instead they were brought into a concert hall atmosphere whereby if the entertainment is not to their liking they will leave and go to the next “spiritual” venue down the road. Yes you can grow a crowd and call it a church, but a true body of believers is made up of those who have commonality in Spirit, relationship, and discipleship of the gospel. We discover that the early church experienced physical and spiritual growth!
The early church was dedicated to their spirituality! The early church was willing to share with one another! The early church experienced physical and spiritual growth!
This article is copyrighted © 2017 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.


Are you a person or a person that is shower? Or, like me, does it depend on your disposition? If the invigorating feeling of a full body spray, the gentle fall of hot rain or the soothing, muscle-relaxing pulse of an oscillating spray sounds great, this ideabook is for you.
Luxurious materials, magnificent settings and the latest in technology brings to the experience in these sensational shower designs. Once you go in, it may be a lengthy time until you come out.
This Moroccan-inspired shower makes my fantasy record for its sheer dazzling magnificence of this jewel-like mosaic tile, the colours on the wall and that fairly fuchsia cupboard. In addition, I adore the raised platform of this shower surrounded with a hardly there frameless glass enclosure. What a fashion!
Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers
When I watched this clear, totally tubular shower, my first idea was “Beam me up, Scotty.” Then I understood Scotty could not actually beam me anywhere much better than this. It’s a movement sensing door which opens automatically, which is fairly space era.
This ought to appeal to wannabe go-go dancers; nothing like a little exhibitionism to begin daily. It is the Transtube 360 from Roca.
Large glass doors using a curbless transition into the outside in conjunction with a skylight and back-painted glass the colour of water and skies create an experience that is like showering out in the open. A very free atmosphere and one which requires a secluded site.
Speaking of dreams, this shower nevertheless is only that: a fantasy. This is a photorealistic 3-D rendering done to conceptualize the entire space before building. The designer has envisioned a wood floor that continues in a curbless fashion from the main tub to the shower. River stone outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is continuing indoors around the shower stage. This is like showering out in the jungle with no bugs.
Many designers are operating with 3-D modeling applications to give a flavor of what the room will really look like before the customer commits to building the layout. The more photorealistic the manufacturing, the more it costs to get it generated, but it sure beats the hell out of a floor plan in pencil on chart paper for visualization.
Tracy Stone AIA
What could be dreamier than showering in a warm rain when gazing up at a blue sky? What a great idea for getting sun in your shower whilst still maintaining your privacy.
The Grene Group
A luxurious stone texture fills one wall of this shower. The handheld showerhead is as sleek as they come, but it’s the rain showerhead that will make me feel like I was in a secluded, natural grotto.
Combining sauna and shower is another luxury idea. The rough-hewn granite and hefty logs create a grounding environment in which to sit back and unwind.
This shower is simply pure opulence, with the walls and floor covered in beautifully colored stone. Just being in here would make me feel like a million bucks.
Flüff Designs & Decor
A very dramatic look is achieved with book-matched marble with a striking vein pattern. When you look closely you’ll realize there are body spray fixtures set in the wall into the left as well as a square rain showerhead in the ceiling and the other showerhead on the wall. Setting fixtures to the wall allows the rock’s beauty stand out with minimal interruption.
Savio & Rupa Interior Concepts (Bangalore)
A shower pillar is another way to bring the luxury of body spray fixtures and several showerhead features without needing to run pipes.
At first glance you notice this shower shares a beautiful tile wall using the vanity. But what is not so noticeable is the high-tech character of this shower. It’s the Kohler DTV ll digital showering system, which controls the temperature, steam, spray, sound and lighting of your own shower all from one controller. It also has Kohler’s SoundTile speakers plus a rain-shower panel on the ceiling that offers mood lighting. Watch the end of this ideabook for the product links.
Phil Kean Designs
This shower gets exactly the same DTV ll controller, and here you get to realize that mood lighting in actions. Pretty slick.
This is one of the most whimsical and artistic showers I have ever seen. All those blue glass plates create a shower display reminiscent of big bubbles. 1 commenter notes that all you would need to do to wash them is pop them in the dishwasher.
Christopher Scott Homes
This is a shower worthy of a castle. Creamy rock, graceful arches and a vaulted ceiling all create ambiance fit for royalty.
James Patrick Walters
An indoor shower right next to an outdoor shower would have me saying, “Eeny meeny miney mo.” They are both so pretty; I don’t know if I could handle having to create such a hard decision first thing in the afternoon.
John Lively & Associates
For those who like to sing in the shower, this one has speakers all the way round. The view and amazing wood-beam ceiling give you something to sing about.
John Kraemer & Sons
The sensual lines of this undulating shower seat offer an inviting spot to perch.
Stockett Tile & Granite Company
Showers for 2 really are a terrific attribute, whether the objective is for 2 people to prepare at the same period in the morning or only keep each other company.
Occasionally an extremely lovely tile is enough to make a shower feel like a fantasy. This metallic damask is simply lovely.
PLAN architecture | layout | strategy
A shower does not have to be enormous to be fantastic. I adore this light-filled shower-and-tub combo. The gossamer-thin white shower curtain onto a ceiling track is a fairly look, plus it accommodates those who are modest.
Who says humans are the only ones who should have a fantasy shower? A handheld showerhead and custom tile create a shower which will make any pooch feel positively pampered.
DTV II Digital Showering System – $1,882.65
Control sound, steam, temperature and more at the touch of a button.
SoundTile Speakers – $378.25
These SoundTile speakers give you music to accompany your singing and will not get in the way of you shaking your booty.
Contemporary Showers – $3,508.95
This rain showerhead glows with coloured mood lighting for a truly sensual shower.
Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR
Skyline Showerpanel | Hansgrohe US
One of my favorite shower panels, this one by Hansgrohe sports two fold-away showerheads at different levels, plus a fold-away nonslip footrest so ladies have a place to set their foot whilst shaving their legs. Insert the five body sprays and neat hose handling and this is a real winner.
Inform us : Did you see the shower of your dreams here? Is there anything that these photographers left out which you’d include in yours?
Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers
The situation for a Curbless Shower


Next Stage is pleased to announce that Caylin Viales has joined the firm as Associate.
In December 2016, Next Stage Consulting launched a search for an Associate to support the firm’s client services including strategic planning, resource development and organizational development. After a search process that yielded more than 80 applicant submissions, it was clear to Next Stage’s Managing Director Josh Jacobson that Caylin Viales was the right person for the job.
“Caylin brings to Next Stage an intellectual curiosity and understanding of nonprofit best practices that will serve the firm’s clients well,” said Jacobson. “She possesses a great combination of project management experience with a desire to strengthen the nonprofit sector.”
Before relocating to Charlotte, Caylin worked as a Program Associate with the GreenLight Fund, a philanthropic organization with roots in the venture capital community. Over a three year tenure, she supported the selection and launch of five high-performing national organizations in Philadelphia.
Prior to GreenLight, Caylin spent six months as a fellow at the national consulting firm Frontline Solutions, working with the Philadelphia office in their efforts to enhance the impact of nonprofit and public sector programs.
Caylin received her BA in Urban Studies from Bryn Mawr College and spent her freshman year in Costa Rica, where she researched the role of gender in community development while working for the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Charlotte with her husband, Jean, and their dog, Nacho.


KINGWOOD TWP. — The 16-year-old boy who disappeared while tubing today, July 18, on the Delaware River was on an outing with two other teens and three adult counselors from the Marlton Family Guidance Center.
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III released some details of the outing this evening in conjunction with the New Jersey State Police. He said the missing teen is from Willingboro.
Kearns said that the group rented tubes from Delaware River Tubing, near the Kingwood boat launch, this morning. About one-half mile downstream, the 16-year-old came off of his tube and tried to swim upstream to retrieve it, Kearns reported, but went underwater before reaching it.
One of the counselors waved down a bicyclist on a recreational path that parallels the river, using her cell phone to call 9-1-1.
The call for help went out at 11:56 a.m. Six minutes later a detective from the Prosecutor’s Office, on his way to work an afternoon shift, was first to arrive, but couldn't find the teen.
Search-and-rescue crews, aided by a Northstar police helicopter, combed the river but were called off the river when a line of severe thunderstorms approached. The search is to resume tomorrow.
The teen was described as African-American, 5-foot, 3-inches tall with close-cropped hair, last seen wearing black trunks, a white or gray Nike T-shirt, white knee-high socks and flip-flops. Kearns said no one in the group was wearing a personal floatation device.
Rescue teams responded from Frenchtown, Stockton, Lambertville-New Hope, Point Pleasant (Pa.) and Eagle (New Hope), in addition to Kingwood and Amwell Valley fire and rescue, Clinton and Flemington-Raritan rescue, Upper Black Eddy (Pa.) fire, county paramedics, the county Office of Emergency Management, State and State Park Police and officers from Frenchtown and Delaware Township, as well as the Prosecutor's Office.
A command post was set up at the Kingwood boat launch on the river.
A Trenton teenager drowned in the Delaware earlier this month at Bull's Island. He was on a large family outing and disappeared on a cross-river swim with cousins.
For updates, return to NJ.com.


Pie in the Sky 2015 : Occu-Pie Boston
Team messageHello and welcome!
Our team, Occu-Pie Boston, consists mostly of employees of Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. We are a very philanthropic company with participation in many fund raisers for a variety of organizations. Last year, the people of Infinity raised ~$2,500 for Community Servings and we hope to do even beter this year with your help!
We are the 99 pie-cent!
If you'd like to have your pie delivered to 784 Memorial drive on Tuesday, November 22nd, use LOCATION 133


Owl Crafts for Kids
A fun-to-do owl crafts for kids project. Let your kids make a picture of a wise old owl using scraps of fun foam.
Try this fun-to-do owl crafts project.
Make this picture of a wise old owl using scraps of fun foam.
Make him brightly coloured and eye-catching like mine or use more natural colours!
You will need:
- Backing board
- Assorted geometric foam shapes
- Pencil, scissors and PVA glue
Here's how to make your owl picture...
- Draw a basic outline of an owl onto the backing board.
- Before you start sticking on any shapes, select the shapes you will need to create your owl and lay them out onto the outline on the board.
- Use foam triangles for the owl's feathers and 5 pairs of circles of decreasing sizes for the eyes. Cut out ears and a beak from scraps of foam.
- Once you have decided on the shapes to use, start sticking the shapes onto the backing board, beginning at the bottom of the picture.
- Layer up the triangles to form the overlapping feathers as shown.
- Make the eyes using circles of foam. Then add a beak and ears.
- Put to one side to allow the glue to dry.


ALWAYS ask me about any XXXrated video or photo set specials I may be keeping secret at the moment!!
Buy 2 pairs of masturbated type panties and receive 2 FREE pussy pops!
Hot and sexy girl on girl package of @minastefan and I! 200+ photos and 3 videos adding up to 10 minutes. We're both topless in this package and my face is in all photos and videos and lots and lots of making out. To order go to giftrocket.com and send $200 to email@example.com and leave your email in the note and the package will be emailed to you ASAP!


There was an immediate connection between SCE and GoodMills during the opening of the new flour factory in Piraeus, Greece. That meeting led to a big contract with the flour producer in 2013: the building of a new silo block in Kamionka with a total capacity of no less than 1.404m³. The delivery of all the components and the construction in Poland went fully according to the expected planning and quality norms.
Apart from the steel and roof construction, the stair tower and the cell deck, we were really successful at GoodMills with the hoppers and the smooth walled silos. The hoppers were completed with large, round corners, which ensured an overall identical angle of inclination and thus optimal drainage. That innovation combines the advantages of a round silo, being good drainage and light hoppers, with those of a rectangular one, namely better use of surface and avoiding hollow spaces.
The silo block is made up of eight silos for flour and ten for bran. The ground surface totals 213m² and the maximum height is 25 meters.
The smooth walled silos for flour are equipped with rounded vertical corners, which also ensures optimal drainage. In the bran silos, our team put in so-called 'noses' that will decrease pressure. This also prevents bridge forming.
All points of the contract were fulfilled perfectly. We can look back on this cooperation with satisfaction. SCE is a company that we recommend 100%.Kurt Schadiger (GoodMills Group)


Engagement sessions are a big hit with couples and photographers. Almost all couples agree for a session before the wedding, so engagement photography has pretty much become a staple of wedding photography. An engagement shoot is done after a couple gets engaged and it usually is captured before the wedding. Some photographers sell this session as a separate product and most photographers include this session in their wedding packages. Regardless of how you like to approach it, understanding the basics of photographing couples and knowing how to coordinate a shoot that involves more than one person is crucial. Hence, I decided to write a piece to explain what goes into the planning process of an engagement session.
1) The Importance of an Engagement Session
If a client chose you as their wedding photographer, they put tremendous trust in your artistic vision and abilities to deliver work which they will enjoy for many years to come. If engagement sessions are something that you do not currently offer, I suggest you to look into offering them soon. Educating your client on the importance of an engagement session might prove crucial for your business and your relationship with clients. It is also a great opportunity for you to show your client what you can do without being in a time crunch.
Look at an engagement session as a practicing ground for the upcoming wedding. While meeting your clients for a consultation can give you loads of information about them, working with them directly before the wedding and learning their preferences might be very helpful for you while photographing the actual wedding. At the same time, engagement sessions give a great opportunity to your clients to understand how you work behind the camera, and give a chance to practice for their upcoming wedding as your subjects.
These are the main reasons why I offer engagement sessions in all of my wedding packages. Other reasons for including such sessions into your packages could be giving an opportunity for your couples to use the photos in their “Save the Date” invitations and also to print and showcase their favorite pictures during their wedding. From a marketing standpoint, both of these can be very useful for your business, as they provide great opportunities for free marketing and advertising.
2) Approaching Your Clients
Be very open with your clients about your preference regarding an engagement session and explain how you typically do it. Be very patient with the couple and let them speak their minds before suggesting anything from yourself. As the opportunity presents itself for you to explain what you usually do, lead them the right way while showing examples of your previous work. Ask questions and make the session about them. Find out if they like certain places or if they have strong location preferences where they wish to be photographed. Are they an outdoorsy couple or do they enjoy the city life better?
Always stay confident in yourself as a photographer and a coordinator. Remember that you are the one leading this photo session and you are the one who subtly will need to educate your clients every step of the way. It is your job to organize the engagement session and keep your clients in the loop about every change that you may encounter.
3) Timeline and Location
Once you know the preferences of your clients, setting a rough timeline will help you determine what to do next. Some of my clients want colorful autumn foliage as a background and we wait for that perfect season to capture what they want. Advise your clients to choose the season wisely and know what to expect as the weather changes. As the season gets closer, check the weather forecast to determine the exact date of the shoot. Make sure that chances of precipitation are not very high and that you have an exact location to go to.
Start your location search by asking your clients of their favorite spots or favorite parks. If they do not have any preferences location-wise, take the liberty of suggesting good locations for them and have some example photos to show the advantage of the places you want to take them. If you do not have many places to showcase, broaden your horizon by doing some research on your own. Check out local parks, open spaces, downtown, museums, cool book stores, coffee shops and more. You can also look at photos of other photographers in your area. If a certain location strikes your fancy, contact the photographer with a compliment to their work and ask about the location where they conducted the photo shoot. If you ask nicely, you will most likely get a response.
If you decide to photograph in a state or a national park, always be very careful with rules and regulations – most state and federal parks do not allow commercial photography without a permit. Always do your homework beforehand, so that you do not get yourself kicked out by a park ranger in the middle of a shoot – apply for permits months in advance. Personally, I avoid the hassle of applying for permits and typically stay away from state or government-owned lands and facilities.
Know that you do not need a lot of space to make great photos. A very small public park can work great to make amazing photos.
Timing of the shoot is very important. I often give my couples two options. The first option is to photograph very early in the morning, and the second is later in the afternoon. Both times, the light is soft and often diffused, so there is no harsh direct light to deal with. This way, I do not have to worry about finding a shade, which can be problematic in open nature parks. Educate your clients on the importance of choosing the right timing. You are the photographer and you should know best what light works for you.
I also recommend my clients to take the whole day off. I want this day to be as relaxing as possible without interference from work or school. Weekends are the best for this purpose. But if your clients are flexible with taking a day off any day, you should keep your options open.
Once the location and time is set, follow up with your clients and make sure to send them the exact address of the location. Google the location using the address you have and make sure it actually takes both of you to the correct place. Always provide your mobile number to make it easy for them to find you when they arrive at the location.
Arrive at least 15 minutes earlier than agreed – you do not want to make your client wait for you. In addition, if the park is closed for some reason or there is a big event taking place that you were not made aware of, it will give you a chance to notify your client and move the engagement session to a different location, if necessary.
This is the biggest question I get from almost all of my couples. While clothing is very subjective, your clients will seek assurance from you that their style is worth being photographed in. Regardless of what you say, your clients will probably end up wearing something they feel most comfortable in. However, from your experience, you can guide your clients into choosing to wear things that will look good in the camera.
I want my clients to be comfortable in what they are wearing. I ask my clients to wear something that will match their personality. At the same time, I tell them that I love working with neutral colors (or even pastels). I am also not quite fond of different textures. My preferences are my preferences and if they do not consider them, I do not get upset over it. I keep on reminding my clients of the fact that if they look good, they will feel good. If they feel good, they will photograph outstandingly.
Usually, I recommend a change of clothing in the middle of the shoot, reserving the wardrobe for something classic (a cute dress and heeled shoes for ladies) and for something more casual. If needed, I will send them a color chart to pick out clothing that compliments the background we chose to photograph against. I also send my clients a lot of example photos of what I mean, so that they can visualize my thoughts.
5) Hair and Makeup
My approach to this particular point may not reflect your opinion as a photographer, but I am a strong believer in a good spa day to make me feel all better. This is true for most of the ladies out there. No offence to boys who are reading this, but my first priority is to make my female clients happy and feel fabulous. After-all, happy wife, happy life, right? Hence, I arrange for a hair and makeup time for my brides right before the engagement session. This is the biggest reason I want them to disconnect from everything they do that day and take a day off. I want them to relax and get their hair and makeup done professionally. This is all done at no charge to my clients. I pay for the services of the hair and makeup artist and I am more than happy to do so. This little trip to the professional salon will assure that your female client will look amazingly confident in front of the camera.
I also suggest my bride to get their manicure and pedicure done according to the colors that they are going to be wearing for the session. Remember that they are scoring a brand new engagement ring and chances are you are going to be photographing it. So, giving a fair warning to your clients about it will save you a lot of work in post-processing and will also save you some great detail shots.
Arrange the time for the makeup artist correctly. Talk to the hair and makeup artist and find out how long it will take for her/him to finish the job. Make sure to include everything in the timeline that you will share with the client. For example, if you are planning on meeting your client at the location at 5 PM, you will need to take into consideration how long it is going to take them to drive from the makeup artist’s place to the location. From there, subtract the duration of time the makeup artist needs and tell your clients to be there accordingly. Give about 15-20 minutes of slack time, so that you do not end up rushing everything. This is especially true for late afternoon/evening photo shoots.
6) Styling the Engagement Session
I also suggest the option of styling the session to my clients. While they can style the shoot according to their own taste, I also recommend getting it done professionally. It is relatively inexpensive and saves a lot of time for the couple. I show portfolios of planners, who stylize events and engagement sessions and put my clients in touch with them.
Most of my clients opt out of the above and go with adding their own personal touches to the engagement session. This is also a perfectly distracting maneuver. Often times, clients feel awkward in front of the camera and don’t know what to do. Accessorizing the shoot and adding some props will shift their attention from you to the objects around them. If the props hold sentimental value to your clients, it will be better for you.
If your clients are bringing their pets to the engagement session, make sure that they have a designated person to come and watch the pets while you are working just with the couple.
This is basically all I take into consideration while planning an engagement session. The next article will be dedicated to taking the actual photos and interacting with your clients during the session. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask or share below. Thank you!


For many years I was like a “spiritual hitchhiker” catching a ride on the latest revelation, teaching or charismatic leader, all the while continuing my search for that seemingly elusive “perfect church.” The spiritual landscape in those days was much like a “theme park” where I would rush from one ride (revelation) to another as there were many unique moves of God occurring simultaneously.
During this time I became a student of the moving’s and manifestations of the Spirit both past and present from Pentecost to Holy laughter, all of which I can personally attest are valid experiences. The question for which I sought an answer in each instance is not what causes revival to begin but what causes it to end?
How sad throughout church history when God reaches out in a unique way to His people and the anointing, manifestation or message begins to flow through that person or group, they commit the greatest of sins by “touching the Glory” and attempting to give it natural form.
They attempt to imprison the vision behind denominational walls and monetize the moves of God. The Holy Spirit is grieved and the presence of God lifts from that person, place or ministry. There is no such thing as a spiritual vacuum so when the Holy Spirit moves out, some spirits of error and deception will fill that void so that what occurs going forward is nothing more than a “spiritual reenactment” of a glory that has departed.
The people are filled with natural zeal so that “His Presence” is replaced with “Programs and Activities” that focus on a message, a move or a charismatic leader as the absence of the Spirit goes unnoticed.
The desire of my heart and the burden in my spirit is to shine His redemptive light on our past as His people so that we may learn and be prepared for what He is about to do in the earth. There is a wave coming that I don’t want any of us to miss.
It will be as a “spiritual tsunami” of the Glory of God. Don’t touch it, take credit for it or attempt to profit from it, just get ready and be prepared to ride the wave of His Spirit as it carries us into His millennial Kingdom. The knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth with righteousness, peace and joy.
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”


David Biespiel remembers the late American poet
C.D. WRIGHT, WHO passed away this week at the age of 67, was always willing to confront the most savage and tender parts of American life—from the brutality of racism to the banality of death to the dangerous bravura of the erotic. Because she was a true original—a poet who sounded like no one else, framed her poems like no one else, called forth the psyche’s archetypes and addressed the most difficult civic issues like no one else—she is being mourned by those who reject the repetitiousness, and self-righteousness, of poetic fad. But because she chafed at the limitations of the late-twentieth-century American lyric poem of anecdote—a form she mastered and toyed with in her early books—she is also being mourned by those who strive to retool its most traditional elements: emotional urgency, narrative memory, and the sanctification of the singular poetic utterance. If you write poems in the United States today, your poems owe something to C.D. Wright’s vision. And yet she was one of those poets—like Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, W.S. Merwin, Adrienne Rich—it’s dangerous to imitate.
I’m being intentional in putting her in this company. Like Whitman, Dickinson, Merwin, and Rich, C.D. Wright changed American poetry.
I’M WRITING THIS on an airplane, on my laptop, which is apt; Carolyn was always on the move.
We first met in the spring of 1991 about the time her third book, String Light, was coming out. She was giving a reading at the University of Maryland, and I played the small role, as adjunct faculty, of escorting her to the venue and hotel and around campus. That we were both southerners—me from Houston in East Texas, she from the southern Ozarks of Baxter County, Arkansas—ensured we got along swimmingly. We acknowledged it was good to be with kin. That was the word. Kin.
I’d already read String Light in manuscript. The judge of the University of Georgia Press award that year who selected her book was Stanley Plumly. He'd passed the manuscript to me one afternoon thinking I’d find it of interest. It was an easy sell. C.D. Wright had me at “I am the goat. Caroline by name. Née 6 January. Domesticated since the sixth century before Jesus, a goat himself”—the opening of “Self Portrait on a Rocky Mount.”
That day in College Park when she read “Remarks on Color,” she had me (again) with the word “blacktop.” Here’s how the poem, composed in 40 numbered units, opens:
1. highway patched with blacktop, service station at the crossroads
2. cream soda in the popbox, man sitting on the pop box
3. a fully grown man
4. filthy toilets, just hold it a little while longer
5. shacks ringed with day lilies, then a columned house in shade
6. condensation off soybeans
7. someone known as Skeeter
8. his whole life
9. flatbed loaded with striped melons
10. Lopez’s white car at JB’s mother’s house
11. katydids crepitating in the tall grass
12. gar wrapping itself in your line
13. gourds strung between poles
14. imagine a tribe of color-blind people, and there could easily be one, they would not have the same color concepts as we do
15. that’s trumpet vine; that’s what we call potato vine 16. no potatoes come of it though
17. no potatoes I know
18. I come back here about three years ago to see if I could eke out a living then I run on to Rhonda
19. help me Rhonda help help me
And then the climactic units:
30. what the Swede concluded: if you want to know what’s the matter with blacks in America study the other side of the color line
31. I am just telling you what the man figured out
This is a poetry of inventive travel—into and out of word and object, transcending event and scene, phrase to phrase to phrase. It’s a poetry of fierce tenderness, too, where the lives portrayed are seen in motion and in still life. It’s a narrative poetry of clauses. No, too highfalutin. It’s a narrative of shared lives and divided lives, of giving forgiveness and living with responsibility, of showing bravery and generosity.
THIS MORNING MY wife Wendy and I awoke early. We walked the dogs, called a cab to the airport—Portland to New York City. And I’m writing this now somewhere above America.
Down below are Carolyn’s poems. After we met in the early 1990s, that’s how I knew her, more as Carolyn than C.D. Well down below are her poems: the boys in the band and meat on the counter and girls on the stairs. Pop boxes and turned-up radios. Bus stalls and breezes and ice trays and muskrat and wintered tomatoes and hollyhocks and passion marks and stripped truck gears. Down below are hot-water bottles and Yolanda’s buried placenta and a salt-bag quilt and trying “to get used to the Yankee growing season.” Down there, brother, is the poet of dust:
I was the poet
of shadow work and towns with quarter-inch
phone books, of failed
roadside zoos. The poet of yard eggs and
jobs at the weapons plant and the Maybelline
factory on the penitentiary road.
A poet of spiderwort and jacks-in-the-pulpit,
hollyhocks against the toolshed.
An unsmiling dark blond.
The one with the trowel in her handbag.
I dug up protected and private things.
That sort, I was.
My graves went undecorated and my churches
abandoned. This wasn’t planned, but practice.
I was the poet of short-tailed cats and yellow
Of satellite dishes and Peterbilt trucks. Red Man
Chewing Tobacco, Triple Hut
Creme Soda. Also of dirt daubers, nightcrawler,
martin houses, honey, and whetstones
from the Novaculite Uplift.
I had registered dogs 4 sale; rocks, dung and straw.
I was a poet of hummingbird hives along with
The poet of good walking shoes—a necessity
in vernacular parts—and push mowers.
The rumor that I was once seen sleeping
in a refrigerator box is false (he was a brother
who hated me).
Nor was I the one lunching at the Governor’s mansion.
There are open roads down there, too, and those are Walt Whitman’s roads. There are C.D. Wright’s roads down there, as well, and those roads are the lost roads.
EVEN AS C.D. Wright’s poems underline a moral attention to the lives of the working class in America, which the passage above evokes, she appears, often, to challenge it. This quality is one I adore in her writing. Those lives don't need poetry, she tells you, but poetry needs those lives to be poetry. What is meant when she writes, do you suppose, that she is always “the one with the trowel in her handbag?" Suppose we agree that poets are the archeological diggers of the lexicons of our memories in the first place. And suppose we further agree that there exists in America today an amnesia about how American lives are fashioned, about how capital and economies and politics vie to divide citizen from citizen. Then a poetry that doesn’t use volcanic language that has bubbled up from actual living and actual speech—roadside zoos, weapons plant, dirt daubers, push mowers, Governor’s mansion—would be an enemy of life.
WRIGHT’S EARLY POEMS were precise representations of the vernaculars of place, in particular the Ozarks of Arkansas. Deepstep Come Shining, published in 1998, went further than anything she’d done previously. It fused 1) narrative with 2) metaphor with 3) identity. And it did so in one expansive, novelistic, lyric dramatization. But it also did so far outside the confines of the received, traditional free verse of the late-20th century as most people understood that term. I mean, this wasn’t “free” verse. This was liberated verse, on the tip of a southern tongue:
After he lost his sight, he could discriminate colors by their vibration. He was thrown to the ground under the power.
The water here, black marble. The grass, army-surplus green.
Poking around in the woods with a gun. Poke around in the house with a book. Poke around. Poke around.
They bleach their teeth those women.
Are those Casa Blanca lilies. I covet.
We lunch on Onion River. Stop by Cloud’s Fly Shop.
Get the hell out of here, can’t you see I’m not dressed. Can’t you see I’m depressed.
I see. I see. Please don’t put your feet on the chairs, it said in the eye doctor’s office.
Please don’t spit on the floor, it said in my father’s courtroom.
Her Aunt Flo said she hadn’t had any in so long she’d done growed back together.
Are you still working on that drink.
Cold pop. Free sir. Sold here.
We never close. Every nickel counts. Just ask Big Sam. He suctioned every nickel from every small town pocket and he sewed it under his lids, a veritable sheik from Arkansas.
He put a pillow over her mother’s head and shot her. The white piano shivered in the corner like a boy with an orchid. That was a helluva note.
This passage (I’ve bought the airplane Wi-Fi and downloaded the book onto my computer) comes from early in Deepstep. (Hardly anyone, by the way, calls that book by its entire title. It’s just—like a southern nickname—Deepstep.) I was born fifteen years after C.D. Wright and was brought up one state over, but I recognize these people. They exhibit the scars of living without private capital in an economy that lashes them. Like C.D. Wright, I was raised to revere their fortitude and celebrate their stories and affirm their breath.
Writing like this shakes off the studied world-weariness of a poem like Anne Sexton’s “For My Lover, Returning to His Wife” and its exquisite “bright red sloop in the harbor,” its goofy heart and sad permission and its “littleneck clams out of season.” Wright’s poetry, instead, defies the ornamental. Eviscerates it. It’s poetry of the saliva in the spit not spat onto that courtroom floor. It’s what swirls inside the American mouth—and is swallowed. And it’s about lives swallowed up—nearly. Wright's grotesque gorgeousness is a form of lyric protest and also feminist protest. I’m of the opinion that her most essential feminist contemporary antecedent is neither Sexton nor Sylvia Plath. It’s Adrienne Rich. Like Rich, Wright’s poems verify experience.
Wright’s poems also ask questions about Southerness in distinct ways. The book One Big Self, her collaboration with photographer Deborah Luster and a record of Louisiana’s prison population, represents racist terrorism against fellow citizens. Sure, there is throughout her writing both editorial page and tabloid, suffering and meaning. But there’s no arrogance, nor self-pity. Her poems evoke how easily lives can be annihilated. What she restores is the conversation between people—the folk language and folk vernacular of their existences:
Two white horses side by side. Going to take her on her farewell ride.
Ain’t it had.
Half-fare, blind, mhmm.
Nothing in the world beats time.
She said her sister was more like Aunt Flo everyday. Big blond Aunt Flora with the smutty mouth who said she hadn’t had any in so long it’d done growed back together.
In the gated communities the women are bleaching their teeth.
Shielding her eyes among her Casa Blanca lilies with a tad of a hangover she offers spiderweb to staunch his paper cut.
Cloud’s Fly Shop in spitting distance.
Fiddle contest rain or shine, declares the flyer on the creosote pole.
I see. I see.
Don’t you just hate it when your gown catches between your buttocks.
Don’t you just hate it when the waiter says, Are you still working on that drink.
Poke around. Poke around. Can’t you see I’m depressed.
Welcome to my sensorium. You can touch, but you cannot lie.
You must know the Veals of Deepstep.
Mother’s neighbor passes on her mower, riding (sic) her Clancy novel.
She suffers from what Wittgenstein called aspect blindness. Is it a rabbit. Nay, it’s a swan, a swan.
Just because these are lines from a poem, and we understand that we’re meant to empathize with the figures presented, doesn’t relieve us from some responsibility for their suffering. Wright invites us into her writing to reckon with the half-buried past. When she extols everyday lives bred in the earth and buried in the earth, she reminds us of our shared desires and shared atrocities, too.
SEVEN OR EIGHT years ago, I was on a prize panel and was brought to Washington, DC to meet with my fellow judges. As the boxes of poems came in the mail prior to the DC meeting, I found out I’d been paired with another poet who was reading the same poems I was. But, I also found out, I wouldn’t learn who my partner judge was until the meetings in DC. At first I was nervous when I found out Carolyn was my silent co-judge. We’d not been in contact, really, for many years. But because the meetings went for several days, we were able to arrange our meals together and visit and create a friendship anew.
Over lunch one afternoon, she told me this great story: Browsing alone in a small airport bookstore, she suddenly noticed (a few steps away and moving quickly in her direction) the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton. Former president, yes, but also former governor of Carolyn's native state, Arkansas, Clinton is famous for shaking hands with anyone near to him. And here he was now bearing down on the diminutive C.D. Wright in a lonely bookstall in a bland airport.
With just the two of them in the bookstore they struck up a conversation about the books on the shelves in front of them and what each was interested in reading. He detected the mountain rhythms of Arkansas in her voice. (You’ll know what I mean if you’ve ever heard a recording of her reading one of her poems.) And he got out of her that she was from Mountain Home in the southern Ozarks. Got out of her (she was always a determinedly private person, and was determined to keep her name to herself, she said) that her father had been a judge. Just then suddenly Clinton began to get pulled away by the arrival of other travelers and passersby who wanted to shake the president's hand, get an autograph, photos, and now here comes the secret service detail, too. And so the great poet of the American Southland, the poet who was, unbeknownst to most of America, changing what a poem is in America, began to walk quietly away, in solitude, from the greatest politician of the era. (I have to ask 30,000 feet up here above Nebraska or Iowa or wherever we are now, what was in the water in Arkansas in the 1940s and 1950s?)
But before she got too far down the aisle and out of the bookshop to reach her departure lounge, Wright could hear Clinton call back to her. He was waving to her and then said, “Nice talking to you, Carolyn. Good luck with your writing.”
She had not told him her name. Had not said she was a poet.
Now that’s Bill Clinton for you. The great memory. The capacity to comb through the old files: Baxter County, father is a judge, must be old Judge Wright, would’ve had a daughter about this lady’s age, wife's name….kids…got it...a writer…
“Nice talking to you, Carolyn…"
But that’s C.D. Wright for you, too. She was a poet’s poet. The work was what it was. Talking to the 42nd president of the United States and she’s just living in the world. A lady on the way to her airplane who is looking for something to read on the flight. No nimbus here, folks, move along. Just the discreet ego, the fine print of humility of a great American poet. And a kind friend.
courses dirty and deep. Cover the lettuce.
Call it a night. O soul. Flow on.
DAVID BIESPIEL's writing has appeared in The Rumpus, Slate, The New Republic, Poetry, American Poetry Review, and The New York Times. His latest book is A Long High Whistle: Selected Columns (2015).


What is the best way to setup a very high density WLAN area.
Such a a conferencing room with 300+ users, which all will be using WLAN connectivity.
Is it possible to use several 'g/n' AP's in close range, eg with directional antenna's ? Maybe by antennas every few yards in the ceiling?
I'm aware that 'a/n' will give better performance to more users.
Is this an good alternative towards the Xirrus WLAN array's? They contain up to 16 AP (integrated) in one enclosure.
They pretent very good perormance and specs but they also are limited to the WLAN standards. ...


This is a summary of wrecked Amtrak cars that will be returned to service. The remainder are apparently beyond repair (an assumption which will be hard to disprove).
UPDATE: here is the document.
I have read that there are 15 long distance locomotives to be rehabilitated and a new station for Beaumont. If the latter is true, this is a significant commitment to the Sunset route.
Cars to be returned to service for long-distance trains:
Increase capacity and fill-in on long distance service: 1 Superliner
Coach-Bag (31006) @ $1.086m; 2 Superliner I Coach (34040 and 34087) @
Capitol Limited Route (will replace the Diner-Lounge Cars which will go
on the Empire Builder Route): 3 Superliner I Diners (38017, 38026 and
38031)@ $.970m; 1 Superliner II Diner (38049) @ $1.055m.
Auto Train Service: 1 Superliner II Deluxe Sleeper (32501) @ $1.073m.
Expand Empire Builder Route: 5 Superliner I Sleepers (32014, 32040,
32046, 32049 and 32065) @ $1.073m; 1 Superliner II Sleeper (32112) @
Supplement daily shortage on long distance service: 2 Superliner II
Trans Sleepers (39008 and 39023) @ $1.065m.
Lake Shore Limited Route: 1 Viewliner Diner (8400) @ $1.634m.
3 Superliner I Lounges (33003, 33011 and 33016) @ $.378m; 1 Superliner
II Lounge (33036) @ $.512m.
The following Amfleet II Coach Cars will be returned from wreck status
at a total average cost per unit of $.872m: 25007, 25055, 25085 and
25103. These cars will be used in long distance service.
The following Amfleet II Food Service Car will be returned from wreck
status at a cost of $.650m: 28019. This car will be used in single-level
long distance service.
(all other cars being restored are for Northeast/Corridor service)
It has been reported that this inventory represents every item of rolling stock that can be restored. The disappointing news is pretty clear for the Sunset and Pioneer.
This is the result of a deliberate political policy of starvation. Previous administrations have seen Amtrak’s political base and recognize the impossibility of eliminating the service, but refusing to provide any ability to operate has been a very successful strategy. With no equipment, Amtrak is perpetually marginalized, while highway and airline special interests are proteced.


“The Doctor-Patient Relationship: Our Post-House-Call Era” is our primary focus this semester, with other topics interspersed. Healthcare issues touch us all in many ways, whether we are clinicians, patients, or family and friends of patients. One emerging ethos–Patient Centered Care–not only mandates that patients be treated with basic respect and decency, but also encourages recognition of the individuality of each patient. (See March 19th Calendar posting.) Within this ethos, a cogent Christian or theistic worldview is a refreshing wind of change in a climate of reductionist medicine with its underlying worldview of materialism.
See our Calendar page, for each week’s presenters and topics. All are welcome, from both sides of Spruce Street!
Dave DeHuff, for the FSCF Steering Group: Ray Townsend MD, Jim Kirkpatrick MD,* Mike Atchison, Phil Gehrman, Gina Barrett (*ad hoc member)


Hello and thanks for stopping by!
In the words of an incredible person [Einstein]:
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
That is my motto in life. Be curious. Very curious. Learn and reap new ideas from the experiences life presents you. I’m a college grad working her way into her “career” and just enjoying this in-between time of life. This blog is an expression of my personal experiences as I live through and enjoy and sometimes struggle as a quarter-lifer. I’m not here to show off my wardrobe or give you the keys to success in adulthood. My posts are merely a glance into my musings, which hopefully many of you will reminisce or identify with.
I love art and graphic design.
Hummus is my ultimate comfort food (Yes, more than chocolate!)
I’m plus-sized and have always been a bigger girl. I feel with those of you who can’t just gorge in their teens and twenties “and not get fat”.
I love owls and swallows.
I’m addicted to pinterest.
I’m a lefty!
I’m a spendthrift of the frugal variety. I love a good sale or thrifting haul.


We might be seeing wind turbines in the skies instead of fields soon. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology startup has come up with a new type of floating turbine that's more efficient — and can deliver power and WiFi connectivity to remote areas.
The invention could have a major impact in places like Alaska, with vast swaths of land that are off the grid, and without traditional sources of power and internet access.
The startup, Altaeros Energies, developed the BAT-Buoyant Airborne Turbine, which is filled with helium and can rise to 1,000 to 2,000 feet to generate power from strong, high-altitude winds. Because the turbines can access these high-altitude winds, they generate roughly double the energy of standard turbines.
In addition to generating lower-cost energy for remote areas, the turbines could serve as sources of internet connectivity and cellphone service. They'll also be able to provide weather data to communities.
The flying turbine transfers the energy through cables that tether it to the ground. This is what it looks like in action:
Altaeros hopes to deploy the new turbines near remote Alaska villages that are off the grid, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The company received a $1.3 million grant from the Alaska Energy Authority to test the turbine there.
Residents in these rural areas pay a high price for energy, and Altaeros could disrupt the $17 billion remote power and microgrid market.
Check out the video from Altaeros:
See Also:12 Striking Pictures From The Tallest Slum In The WorldWatch A $400,000 Lamborghini Go Airborne And Crash In A Swanky London NeighborhoodCEOs Of Stock Exchanges Brawl On CNBC As NYSE Floor Traders Go CrazyThe Final 'How I Met Your Mother' Scene Was Filmed 8 Years AgoAnderson Cooper Won't Inherit A Dime From Mom Gloria Vanderbilt's $200 Million Fortune
SEE ALSO: This Concept Private Plane Comes With 3 Cockpits To Give Passengers Amazing Views


Ministers and their exempt staff (Historical)
Howe, Madison, Student, Chief of Staff (ending August 28, 2009)
There are no expenses listed for the selected person.
There are other expense reports listed for this individual:
- Office of the Minister of State (Democratic Reform) (Honourable Steven John Fletcher - ending May 17, 2011) (no expenses) (Historical)
- Special Assistant - Policy and Communications
- Date Modified:


Radial Engineering Ltd. is pleased to announce their most advanced direct box to date, the Radial PZ-DI – a special direct box that is designed to work with all types of acoustic and orchestral instruments by enabling you to optimize the input impedance to match the pickup or transducer.
According to Radial President Peter Janis: “With bigger and better PA systems in every venue and on every tour, the need to faithfully amplify acoustic instruments has never been greater. In the past, the sound was masked. Today, you hear every nuance. This has spawned a need for a direct box that is equally capable of adapting to piezo transducers as it is to magnetic pickups. Piezos are particularly problematic due to the squawk and peaks that they produce. The PZ-DI is set to easily overcome these problems and is well equipped to help eliminate feedback and resonance caused by low frequencies along with the interaction between the room acoustics and the PA.”
The design begins with a 3-position impedance selector switch that lets you match load with the pickup. This includes a 220k-ohm setting to warm up magnetic pickups, a 1 meg-ohm setting to replicate a classic DI box and a super-high 10 meg-ohm setting to eliminate the squawk and peaks that are common with piezo transducers. To eliminate resonance and modulation between instruments, a variable lo-cut filter lets you dial out unwanted low-frequencies. This also helps improve clarity for a better mix. Should the PZ-DI be called upon to interface a high output active bass or digital keyboard, one simply engages the -15dB pad. A hi-cut filter can also be engaged to gently smooth out the over aggressive top-end produced by many active instruments.
The PZ-DI is fully capable to work double duty as a standard direct box with front panel ¼” input and thru connectors to interface with an electric bass and the stage amplifier plus XLR out to feed the PA. The PZ-DI employs 48V phantom power with an innovative internal switching supply that at once elevates the rail voltage while reducing distortion of all types to deliver a smooth, natural tone with the same perfectly cascading even harmonics normally found on high-end studio preamps.
And as with all Radial products, the PZ-DI is made tough to handle the rigors of professional touring. 14 gauge steel I-beam construction eliminates torque and reduces stress on the PC board for longer, trouble-free performance while a unique book-end design creates protective zones around the controls, switches and connectors. The PZ-DI is backed with a 3-year transferable warranty.
The PZ-DI will start shipping in October 2012. Estimated retail price: $300 USD.
For more information on the PZ-DI.


How Can you Help?
Help Us Build Our Permanent Home
Tallahassee Juniors Volleyball Club's continued success path needs your help and support.
Our desires for a new facility are a result of the dedication and hard work from our past and current players, parents, supporters, community and business partners.
Your donation will serve to enhance our capabilities, dedication and economic impact to the Tallahassee community, improve health and wellness for our youngest citizens, and enhance the clubs national exposure.
Your donation to Tallahassee Juniors Volleyball Club is 100% Tax deductible. TJVBC is a non-profit, 501(c)3, organization.
Shankar Nalla & MS Software
Chris & Amy Etter
JJ Scott & MLD Architects
Sam & Stacy Warren
Dr. Jerry & Cay Ford
Steve & Brandi Tanton


Bad days are inevitable it seems. Everyone tends to have them once in awhile. During the course of recovery or when battling a mental illness, these bad days can become 100x worse than they actually are. Those old feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, inferior, or shame tend to creep back in after days or even weeks of feeling healthy. We need to remind ourselves that it’s ok to feel sad, down, or grumpy. These are normal, everyday feelings that everyone deals with. Not everything will go our way all the time but we can deal with it in a more healthy manner. Feel sad and grumpy for a short period of time, it’s ok! Maybe put on some sad music and remind yourself that music is there for times like this.
Read my post on “the liar inside us” as I explain how to write journals on your emotions. The key is to be your own compassionate best friend during your bad day. Nobody else can control how you feel except for you. Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you’re no good; You are deserving of love. Remember that you are a miracle already, in that you are able to exist.
Rejection can trigger old insecurities about yourself that play a big role in your self esteem. Because of this, a lot of us will not take risks or attempt something that could lead to a life changing moment. During your process of recovery, embrace the moments of rejection and think of these moments as a stepping stone or in other words adversity blocking your path of happiness. If we can learn to face rejections head on, digest, and move on then we can become unstoppable.
Babe Ruth is one of our great home run hitters in history. But Babe also led the league in strikeouts. We remember him for his greatness, and his ability to hit the long ball, instead of his many failures to make contact with the ball in the first place.


In the Life and Health Insurance industry, it doesn’t matter what carrier you go with, or what product you are applying for there are two processes that you can count on to be bad, the Application Process and the Approval Process.
On average the complete life insurance application process is taking about 75 days and this is actually considered fast in this industry which is pretty ridiculous. No one wants to wait 75 days for anything and this waiting period has made a large percent of customers give up during the approval process and not get covered.
To bring customers back and eliminate such a long approval process, we started to only focus on products that cut out all of the issues that created such long waiting periods. Application errors, medical records requests, exams and paper applications that require wet signatures.
These products are known as Simplified Issue Insurance products. Simplified Issue Insurance products took the approval time down from 75 days to 10 days. To make the time even shorter there was only one step left to complete and this is where Simply Insurance came into play. We have partnered with some of the top insurance carriers in America so that our customers have access to start insurance application process on their own.
The above benefits have given our clients the ability to apply for insurance at work and be covered before they get off.
We have taken away their worries of passing away before the policy is approved or dealing with hundreds of phone calls from annoying sales agents.


Prevent Frozen Pipes
Freezing temperatures are on their way. This may have you thinking about your furnace, but you should also be mindful of your household plumbing.
When the temperature drops below freezing, there’s always the potential that the water in some pipes may freeze. In the best-case scenario, the ice temporarily stops the flow of water before thawing when temperatures rise. But it doesn’t take extreme temperatures for expanding ice to actually break a vulnerable pipe, putting your home at risk for leaks or even significant flooding.
As we transition to winter, keep these tips in mind to avoid this messy and costly problem.
Knowing is Half the Battle
Most homeowners don’t know the locations of every foot of pipe in their homes. A pipe that is heated or well insulated in some areas may be fully exposed to the elements somewhere else down the line. All it takes is a small frozen section to result in a major break. So to know where you might be at risk, ask your local plumber to conduct a thorough audit of your plumbing system for freezing risks.
Wrap It Up
Once you know where you have pipes that are at risk, protect them with insulation. Some pipes, like those in a cold basement, can be sufficiently insulated by merely wrapping newspaper around them. But for those in colder areas, it’s better to spring for foam tube insulation. For the most extreme temperatures, you may need to use heated tape specially designed for pipes.
Open All Night
If it’s an especially cold night, leave the doors of your under-sink cabinets open overnight. Exposing those pipes directly to the heat inside your home can make a big difference when the temperature outdoors is below freezing.
Keep It Running
In a pinch, you can keep an exposed pipe from freezing by allowing the water to run continuously. This will waste water and can create a small ice skating rink in the case of an outdoor hose spigot, but it beats dealing with a flooded home. Fortunately, just a thin stream of water is enough to prevent a pipe from freezing.
Bring the Heat
If one of your pipes does freeze, you may still be able to prevent damage by thawing the frozen section from the outside. The best way to do this is with a hair dryer; never use an open flame.
Winter is Coming
If your furnace breaks down unexpectedly, you might face an increased risk of pipe freezing during the time it takes to repair or replace the unit. So to avoid this emergency, be sure to get your furnace inspected and tuned up before the coldest weather arrives.
The Main Thing
If the worst happens and you do have a broken, frozen pipe, your ability to shut off your home’s entire water supply can save you from major flood damage. Make sure you know where your main shutoff valve is located.
If you’re still unsure about whether your pipes are ready for the sub-freezing temperatures of winter, reach out to your local plumbing experts for a no-obligation consultation.


Our goal is to fulfill the highest expectations of our customers for delivery and product quality. We work with our suppliers as a team, aligning our respective capabilities in meeting the challenges of the telecommunications marketplace.
The transparent interweaving of resources fulfills the ongoing needs of our customers for innovative solutions at the lowest-possible price. Our procurement processes ensure that suppliers comply with Alcatel-Lucent ethical, social and environmental requirements. Potential suppliers are evaluated before becoming part of an Alcatel-Lucent sourcing strategy.
Alcatel-Lucent believes that a responsible purchasing approach can only be successful if built based on a dialogue with suppliers.
We communicate on social, ethical, environmental, health and safety standards, sharing our policies and practices with suppliers.
Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in the telecommunications industry with an awarding-winning supplier diversity initiative.
A commitment to diversity is deeply rooted in our heritage.
Electronic Manufacturing Supplier (EMS) Price Management
The EMS Price Management Application (EPMA) supports the quoting and negotiation process between Alcatel-Lucent Procurement and the outsource manufacturing suppliers (EMS suppliers) which manufacture orderable items (OIs) per Alcatel-Lucent specifications.
For suspected violations of company policy or the law, Alcatel-Lucent employees, customers, contractors and members of the public have several options for reporting:
- Contact the Compliance Hotline via telephone at:
- +1 908-582-0183
- 1-888-267-7732 (Toll Free: US and Canada Only)
- +1 972-249-0343 (Text Telephone for Hearing Impaired)
- Report incidents online through the secure web-site.
Local laws may limit the types of matters for which the Hotline and online web-site may be used in certain countries. Regardless of location, persons wishing to report a suspected violation of law or policy may do so by sending an e-mail.
All information provided is kept confidential consistent with laws and Company policies. Alcatel-Lucent has a strict non-retaliation policy. There will be no reprisal against any person who reports, in good faith, a suspected violation of company policy or law.


Name: Wendy Lucas
High school: Altoona, class of 1983
My favorite sport: Football
I usually attend games with: My husband, Dan
Favorite high school team: Altoona
Favorite college team: A tie between Pitt and Penn State
Favorite pro team: Steelers
My favorite sports memory: When a friend of mine and I finished in second place in youth doubles at a state tournament in bowling in junior high.
The local athlete I've most enjoyed watching while growing up: Lisa Fubio
My all-time favorite local coach: Judy Geist, my first bowling coach.
The most famous athlete I ever met: Willie Stargell
My most prized autograph or picture is of: A photo of my elementary class with Willie Stargell
If I have a claim to fame as a fan, it would be: My boss, Dr. David Montrella, played football at Pitt in the 1960s.
If I were the boss of local sports, the one rule I would enforce would be?: I don't believe that parents should be head coaches on any sports team in which their child plays. It would be safer to be an assistant coach.
To take part in Fandom, you can call 946-7528 or Email firstname.lastname@example.org


They didn’t have to say a single word.
On 2 May Jarek launched their third album without moving their mouths.
This is a mature band at work. Jarek have been at this game for years, and it shows. On stage they delivered a full run through of their album with confidence, poise and precision. Furthermore, their musical growth over the three albums was evident as well. Sure, their new songs are deeper and clearer – but most importantly they have an unprecedented sense of purpose. No longer in their early days of somewhat unstructured exploration, they know what they want their music to say and they know how to say it.
The musicianship on display was excellent. Each band member was clearly a master of his own instrument. But more than that – they played together in lock-step like brothers. The comfortable connection between each musician was palpable. Led by drummer Jared Brentnall, the band brought together electric guitars and bass, clarinet and keyboards. And while they are an instrumental band (yes – they don’t have a singer, and they’re not looking for one), their songs are dropping with lucid emotion, telling stories of courage and heartbreak without a single word.
They might look a a bit like a rock band. They might even sound a bit like a rock band, but Jarek go far beyond. Living right out at the edge of the envelope, they draw in sounds of prog-metal, psychedelia, folk, and ambient music. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a distinctive and coherent sound. They have moments of explosive anthemic melodies. They have moments of tricky time signatures and deceptive rhythms. They have extremely well judged ambient chillouts in between the high energy bravado. Few bands can do what they do, and fewer still can do it this well.


Early light picture from last week, playing around on Instagram
One of my favourite pieces of writing this year has been a writing diary from Scottish author Denise Mina. She read it aloud on a radio programme a few months back and it was honest and funny and I suppose that is one of my favourite kinds of writing. I have a simple relationship with comedy (and with music...) because I just love them, so much of them. I suppose this is partly because I have adored them both from a very young age but also partly because I have never tried to do either of them in any kind of serious way (put something out in the world and say 'I am a musician' or 'I am a comedian'). Poetry, though, is another matter.
And yesterday, here, it was National Poetry Day so I thought I'd have a go at one of those diary-type things (with some poetry-related content). I used to write a lot more like this on the old blog (ah, the golden days of blog... when you'd get up to 50 comments on a post... how did we read them all... etc.) but I haven't done one for a while. So here's yesterday... though the times are only approximate (I put them in after...).
9.00am. It's one of those waiting-for-work days for me (the paid work, not the poetry). When it does come it just arrives by email (some days loads, many days nothing) but today nothing comes (so more time for poetry matters). It’s a good job we don’t rely on my salary to survive.
9.10am. I look at Twitter and see all the National Poetry Day links etc. (along with all the stuff about Hefner... which just reminds me of Watson and Oliver's great bunny sketch... their series is on Netflix these days... go and find it if you can, daughter and I quote several of their sketches regularly). For a couple of years (see back here) I organised a local event to mark National Poetry Day and it was always in October back then so it feels weird to have it in September this year (though here in Scotland it makes sense… it’s school holidays in early October and why should they escape the freedom – this year's theme – of organised words). I write a tiny poem about this calendar issue, post it to Twitter, get a very small response. I am not in a loop, no celebrities retweet me or anything like that, so it's a fairly unsatisfying and quite possibly pointless endeavour. It’s a good job we don’t rely on my poetry (or social media success) to survive.
9.30am. I watch a video from one of the links on Twitter. It features Sarah Crossan, whose book ‘One’ we won as a prize at a books quiz in the summer (Dundee Waterstones, monthly, it was summer, not much competition...). She writes verse novels (‘One’ is one). I really enjoyed ‘One’ (though I'm starting to feel like the queen with all these ones...) – it may be marketed at teens but (a) yes, I am at least part teenager and (b) it’s bigger than that. I’ve never been one for dividing lines anyway. And it’s a good job we don’t rely on my career in marketing to survive (my first proper job was in an advertising agency… in the late ’80s and I didn’t last long... in fact I just left one lunchtime, never went back... well, I had to return the company car at some point... but apart from that). Anyway...
10.00am. I listen to the third part of Don Paterson’s radio series ‘Five poems I wish I had written’ – the one about Michael Donaghy (it’s Wednesday’s). This is the first one (that I've listened to so far...) where I can agree with him about the poem and that might well be because the poem is, at least in part, about music (the poem is ‘The Hunter’s Purse’). Tuesday’s (about Elizabeth Bishop's 'Large Bad Picture') is a great listen, whatever you think of the poem. It packed some punches though and whilst up till then I had not been feeling too bad about my own recent poetic output (I had written two ‘proper’ poems in the past couple of weeks, not shown them to anyone yet but felt I was back on that track a little after nothing but unloved Twitter 4 liners over the summer) this programme knocked me right back down off that artificial high. I am totally crap (and needy) and don’t know the most basic things about form and rhythm and it’s no wonder I am moaning in obscurity most of the time. It’s a good job we don’t rely on my positive outlook to survive.
10.15am. I wonder about the idea of ‘poems I wish I had written’. I’m not sure I think about poetry in that way at all, certainly nothing really comes to mind (what would you say if Radio 3 came knocking..?). I could think of about 100 people whose singing voice I covet… and maybe some songs I wish I’d written… though no, even there I can’t say that’s the way it feels (I can love something, but that doesn't mean I wish I'd made it...). What I can say is that we were looking through the old youtube channel the other day (for admin reasons) and Mark and I both really enjoyed hearing the videos we posted in 2008 of Hugh McMillan (live… in Edinburgh…). I especially loved hearing ‘Three Letters to McMhaolain Mor’ again (‘my heart bleeds in this Travelodge’). I don’t wish I’d written it (how could I have done… it’s Hugh’s history background coupled with his experience of life in some particularly modern-day trenches – schools and pubs and buses – that makes this ring so true and be charming and painful all at the same time). I have non-poetry friends (one in particular) who says poetry only works for them when they hear it (aloud, with or without music) and, although I do read poetry quietly, sitting still, I do also understand the need for hearing (when it comes to enjoying/understanding/wanting to repeat the experience certainly). In the poetry world there is less and less of a divide between 'page' and 'performance' (so I hear, so I read…) and that is a good thing, I think. There are good poems right across that spectrum (there always have been) and many of the best poems (for my taste) can be inhaled either way. After this I watch a video of BBC Scotland’s poet in residence Stuart A Paterson giving a lesson in Scots weather terms (he is a long-term friend of Hugh McMillan, I think). Twenty years ago I wouldn't have known any of the words but now I know about half of them (and will go through and pause with Scots dictionary/friend to get the rest later). That’s a poem I certainly couldn’t have written! It’s a good job we don’t rely on my career in Scots poetry writing to survive.
12.30pm. I do some Mum things…take girl here, go to the supermarket. No one in there is talking about National Poetry Day or seems to be worrying about rhythm patterns. It’s a beautiful sunny day and everyone is trying to get out of there as soon as possible. I worked in shops quite a lot in previous stages of life and the money is so crap but it’s bearable as jobs go. I don’t have a great record when it comes to jobs and making money (but I have a great CV… ). It's a good job we don't rely on my ability to earn money in any kind of regular way to survive.
1.30pm. Essential jobs done I think I should make a National Poetry Day effort so I grab a poetry book (the first that comes to hand - an anthology) and sit in the sun for a brief stretch (as long as a cup of tea). It’s too hot for the dog so she whinges at me and the neighbours seem to have the loudest lawnmower ever made (it’s probably old... as they are). I can’t say anything really grabs me from the book… but that might be the dog, the (very hot) sun and the fact that I’m going out this evening and possibly to a place where people will be sitting quietly in rows (this always makes me anxious). I am much more a cabaret-atmosphere kind of person… in every possible way. It’s a good job we don’t rely on my career as an airline passenger or jury member to survive. And yes, I know you don’t get paid for either of those…. Well, not often.
7.00pm. It turns out that I have tickets for a poetry event in Dundee tonight – a total coincidence as I bought them ages ago before I knew that the national day of poeting had moved closer to the sun. This event features Rachel McCrum and Caroline Bird and I don’t know either of the poets’ work but I have seen them bigged up online by people whose work I do know (and like) so I'm quite keen. It’s a long time since I went to a poetry reading of any kind I realise (other than my own). I used to go to quite a few (particularly at the StAnza festival in St Andrews – I used to go there every year) but in recent times it just hasn’t happened (partly to do with where we live but a lot to do with my weirdness about sitting quietly in an rowed audience). I find the awkwardness of some types of readings really difficult so was disappointed to get to the venue tonight and discover it was my least favourite kind of place (no exit at the back, only one way in and out and that right in front of the whole audience and stage...). It’s hard to explain if you’re not a person who feels this kind of specific anxiety about places but believe me, it does rather spoil your concentration… especially if you can’t have a calming alcoholic beverage because you are going to be driving a car at some point later. I decided to ask for help (always one of the hardest parts...) and luckily the organisers were lovely and didn’t think me at all mad (well, they didn’t say so anyway) and found me a bolthole where I could see but not feel awkward (and no, I'm not going to describe it…). So I did see the show and it started with music from Roseanne Reid (tiny enigmatic songs, liked them a lot) followed by poet Rachel McCrum. She did a few poems about boats and a lot about women (her new book, her first I think, is called ‘The First Blast to Awaken Degenerate Women’) but, though I did find these interesting (facts about Marie Stopes, for example, plenty to go back and read…and in fact the poem that includes them is online here, though it's quite far down the page), the mood I was in (odd, career identity crisis, locked in anxiety bolthole… and not for any lack of feminist tough thinking over the years…) meant I was drawn more to a poem about unusual stars (‘Runaways’). I didn't buy a book but I am thinking I might; there was a lot to take in. After a little break poet Caroline Bird (now on her 5th book apparently, though she started very young) took us to places I really wasn’t expecting (her experiences of drugs and mental health, albeit with a surrealist twist... although if you’ve lived though any of it… which of course I have… you don’t really need the twist). She was very engaging (a bit bouncey, getting herself gradually more and more into the audience…) and if I hadn’t been in an anxiety bolthole (with my poor, long suffering daughter… ‘what weird place are you taking me today, Mummy?’) I would have stayed for the whole thing. But we had quite a trip back, and there’s school tomorrow and Mummy can tell you plenty of stories about that kind of thing on the way home (she is pretty much an adult now...). I have no line here about careers and surviving. I have run out of steam about that.
9.00pm. And then the train… and the car… and the chips (I have an old poem about having chips on the way back from a poetry reciting competition when I was a little girl... I guess this is our version of that in some kind of dragged-out mirror image). And on the radio (I love radio!) it was still National Poetry Day and there was a young guy called Isaiah Hull on the Jo Whiley show on Radio 2. We didn’t catch the beginning of the poem but the bit I heard sounded warm and young and hopeful. Ah, it's a good job we don't rely on my career in misguided nostalgia to survive...
Thanks, as ever, for reading. x