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entries tagged with: Dennis Mcnerney

Christie faces ‘uphill battle’ in blue-law fight

Blue law advocates and detractors criticized Gov. Chris Christie’s plans, announced last week, to repeal Bergen County’s blue laws limiting businesses on Sunday, in order to boost state tax revenue.

The governor suggested the plan as part of a $29.3 billion 2011 budget that includes caps on property taxes and cuts to hundreds of state programs. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak told The Jewish Standard that repealing the blue laws would require legislative approval but would result in an additional $65 million in tax revenues for the cash-strapped state.

Christie “has no philosophical support for shopping on Sundays,” Drewniak said. “It was merely a practical recognition of potential revenues.”

The announcement drew a storm of criticism from Bergen County, even from those who support loosening the Sunday shopping restrictions. State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37), who ran on the Democratic ticket for lieutenant governor in last year’s election, said Christie made “a rookie mistake” in thinking he can gain support to repeal the Sunday restrictions.

“Blue laws can’t be wished away,” she said. “There is a law on the books that it can only be done by county-wide referendum.”

Bergen is the only one of New Jersey’s 21 counties that still maintains the restrictions.

In 2002, then-Assemblywoman Weinberg tried to advance a bill for individual communities in the county to opt out of the laws, but she was met with fierce opposition in the form of thousands of e-mails and voice messages.

“It’s one of the few issues I’ve ever dropped,” Weinberg said. “The telephones were so overwhelmed, the staff couldn’t work here.”

Elie Y. Katz, a Teaneck councilman and former township mayor, experienced a similar backlash in 2006 when he tried to push a referendum that would allow towns to opt out.

“It’s certainly not going to be a cakewalk for the governor,” Katz said. “Based on my personal experience as mayor and Sen. Weinberg’s experience as assemblywoman, the governor’s got a real uphill battle.”

At the heart of the issue, according to Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, is the quality of life for county residents. During a telephone interview on Tuesday, McNerney accused Christie of trying to raise the taxes of Bergen residents, who would foot the bill for the effects of Sunday shopping.

“There’d be more traffic,” McNerney said. “That means more police, more first responders, higher property taxes, and a deterioration in the quality of life for many residents.”

McNerney also lambasted Christie’s plan to open the Xanadu shopping center in East Rutherford, still under construction, for Sunday shopping.

McNerney accused the governor of creating “an artificial crisis” and questioned his anticipated revenue of $65 million. Weinberg also questioned the figure’s source.

Drewniak in the governor’s office had no answer when asked about the figure’s origin.

Rabbi Shammai Engelmayer, a columnist for this paper and an outspoken critic of the blue laws, criticized Christie’s budget proposals, which include many cuts to education services, but praised the governor for attempting to tackle the blue laws.

“Overall the governor’s budget proposals, especially in the area of education, will destroy New Jersey,” he said. “In this one instance, I think he’s finally doing something smart.”

The North Jersey Board of Rabbis, of which Engelmayer is the former president, has come out in support of allowing individual towns to opt out of the blue laws. The board has also taken issue with Saturday-only sales, citing discrimination against Shabbat-observers and Seventh Day Adventists, who also observe a Saturday Sabbath. The board favors creating a voucher system that would allow Saturday Sabbath-observers to receive the discounts from Saturday-only sales on the following Monday.

“It would be a fair approach, especially since some of the Saturday-only sales are not really Saturday-only,” he said. “They’re weekend sales but because there’s no Sunday [shopping, they are Saturday only].”

The governor faces a June 30 deadline to complete the 2011 budget. McNerney and other county Democrats have been organizing press conferences and other protests, and, according to McNerney, they have attracted scores of supporters through the Internet.

Repealing the blue laws does have the support of business-owners, Drewniak said, but Christie is aware of “some public opposition” to lifting the restrictions and he will work with legislators to determine if repealing them is the best move.

The governor is “also looking for other ideas on replacing that $65 million,” Drewniak said. “We don’t want to backtrack from balancing a budget.”

Brotherhood-Sisterhood brunch marks 24 years of breaking bread in Bergen

The Interfaith Youth Choir performs at the event under the direction of Gale S. Bindelglass, left, Cantor Ilan Mamber of Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff, and Jane Koch.

This is Bergen County — we talk to each other here.

That sentiment might well have been the theme Sunday at the Interfaith Brotherhood-Sisterhood Committee of Bergen County’s annual brunch. It was the group’s 24th such event, at which representatives of the religious and secular sectors of society gathered to celebrate the county’s diversity and unity.

“The world is one family,” said Jyoti Gandhi of the Hindu community, which was the host for this year’s brunch. “We are here to find commonality in diversity,” she said.

“Sit with someone you don’t know, come out of your comfort zone,” Gandhi told the gathering of some 420 guest as they filled the banquet room and looked for seats.

The group is composed of eight faith groups — Baha’i, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Sikh —and representatives of each were on the dais, sharing their prayers. Each year a different community hosts the brunch, giving insight into its beliefs and practices, and this year the Hindus filled that role.

Gandhi served as mistress of ceremonies, introducing the guest speaker, Rita Sherma, a professor at Binghamton University and a theologian. She spoke about the Hindu tradition — what makes it unique and what it shares with other faiths. “It sanctifies and bestows meaning to our lives,” she said.

Sherma dispelled what she said is a misconception that Hindus believe in multiple gods. “We don’t have gods,” she said. “We believe in the one God who is personal and beyond personal. That God has many powers and energies for us to harmonize with.”

“Our many traditions are different windows in which to see God, but our vision is clouded,” she said. “If we step out of our boundaries, we see a panoramic view of God, of truth, of reality.”

She spoke of the Hindu concept of “dharma,” explaining that it refers to what “sustains you and allows you to unfold into your true self.”

“If you follow the dharmic way, you are on track with God’s purpose,” she said. “It is the unity that pervades the cosmos and creation.”

Sherma shuns the term “Hinduism” as too limiting. She spoke of the Hindu path as “a way of life” with an extensive tradition involving medicine, drama, aesthetics, dance, nutrition, economics, ethics, “and so much more.”

“The thread is that everything is connected, interrelated,” she said.

Gandhi said that while the brunch is a focal point for the interfaith group, there are activities year-round. As an example she cited a model seder last Passover.

Performances were woven into the program, beginning with a prayer-in-song by Sunia Kapur Aurora and singing by the Interfaith Youth Choir. When the choir sang “America the Beautiful,” it was impossible not to feel the warmth of the gathering.

Young women from the Hindu community staged a dance program, and Gandhi explained that the dancing is a form of worship, rather than entertainment.

She praised the Interfaith committee’s youth group. “We think we are teaching them, but they are our gurus,” she said.

Habib Hosseiny of the Baha’i community continued the tribute to the youth group, noting how they themselves came up with ideas such as attending one another’s services and holding interfaith classes. “Our hope, our future is on their shoulders,” he said.

Commenting after the event, Father Donald Sheehan of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Ridgefield said that Sherma clarified the idea that Hindus believe in one God. He said her talk was a demonstration of “how much holds us together.”

“We are looking for a denominator that is common, not the lowest common denominator,” he said.

“This is a very diverse community,” said Rabbi Steven Sirbu of Temple Emeth in Teaneck. “We don’t often see that diversity, but we can today,” said Sirbu, vice chairman of the Intergroup Relations Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council of UJA Federation of Northern New Jersy.

Sirbu noted that the Hindu tradition shares the value of reaching such a point of enlightenment that we would never cause a “sentient being to suffer.” “That is a basic value of the Torah and prophetic tradition,” he said.

The attendees included the secular as well as the religious. Emerson Police Chief Michael Saudino was there in his role as president of the Bergen County Police Chief’s Association, and his mission was to glean a better understanding of the county’s diversity.

“The more we can learn about each other, the better we can work together,” Saudino said.

The brunch served as a window on the religious makeup of the county. Wendy Martinez, the director of the county’s Office of Multicultural Community affairs, said that, “little by little,” Bergen is learning about and honoring the various religious and ethnic groups that make up its population.

“As we talk, we learn that we are all human beings and that is the most important bond,” she said.

County Executive Dennis McNerney read a proclamation setting May 1 as “Interfaith Bortherhood-Sisterhood of Bergen County Day.”

“Diversity diminishes no one,” he said.

Prayers were offered by the representatives of the eight faiths.

“Let our eyes be open to the divine image of one another,” said Sirbu, quoting from the morning prayer.

“Where there is hatred, let us bring love…. Where there is darkness, let us bring light,” said Imam Saeed Quareshi of the Dar Ul Islah mosque in Teaneck.

The event was “a wonderful collaboration of the interfaith community and an appreciation of working together,” said Joy Kurland, director of UJA-NNJ’s Jewish Community Relations Council and a key organizer of the event. “Bergen County is a tapestry of groups that form a beautiful quilt,” she said.

“Whether we like it or not, our community is becoming more and more diverse,” said Gandhi, so it’s important to learn about one another’s faith.

The youth choir, under the direction of Gale Bindelglass with Cantor Ilan Mamber and Jane Koch of Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff, closed the event, singing, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me….”

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Last Will and Testament of Robert B. McAfee

Robert B. McAfee wrote his last will on April 6, 1846. He died March 12, 1849. This transcription was kindly provided by , a descendant of Robert B. McAfee through his daughter Eveline Breckenridge McAfee Edelen.

I Robert B. McAfee of Mercer County, Ky, calling to mind the uncertainty of life and wishing to dispose of my worldly estate, do hereby constitute this writing as my last will & testament, all which is in my own handwriting. 1st I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it in full reliance upon the merits of my Saviour alone and my body to be decently buried by my Executor at New Providence near my little daughter (1) who is buried there, and then I desire that all my just debts be paid.

2nd I will to my son William and his heirs all that part of the farm he lives on, which lies above a line beginning in Salt River at the mouth of the dry valley Branch below his house hence East to the back line if that line will include three hundred & sixty acres or more, but it if will not include the quantity named then to include that No of acres by Beginning lower down on the River and he is to pay my two daughters Hannah and Eveline seven hundred and fifty dollars each within five years after my decease and I will to my daughter Mary C. the ballance of the 2d tract of land except four acres which the trustees of the N. Providence church may have east of the present lott or one acre of which may be taken on the west side I mean the trustees of said branch of N. Providence church belonging to the constitutional General assembly of which Dr. Rev. Thomas Cleland is pastor provided the said trustee pay to my said daughter Mary, one hundred dollars within two years after my decease and if not the land is to go to her and her heirs.

3rd It is my further will that my beloved wife Mary and son James shall have the tract of land & plantation on which I reside including my mills as tenants in common during the life of my wife remainder to my son James and his heirs forever but my wife is to have such control of my house as she may choose during her life and they are to pay to my daughter Nancy Hooe seven hundred and fifty dollars to aid in paying for the house and lott she lives on in Harrodsburg and an equal sum to the children of my deceased daughter Sally C. Olds.

4th I will will to my wife and son James as tenants in common one hundred acres off the East Side of the tract of land I bought of James Thompson on the west side of Salt River to extend North to Simon Vanarsdalls tract of land, the ballance of said tract of land I will to my daughters Louisiana J. Alexander, Nancy C. Hooe, Hanna J. and Eveline B. & their heirs. The shares of the two latter named to be off the North End including the Phillips place all to have an equal quantity of acres. The first named hundred acres at the decease of my wife shall go to my son James and his heirs.

5th If my son James departs this life unmarried or without children previous to the death of my wife the land willed to him shall continue in my wifes hands during life and then shall be disposed of as she may direct to any four of my children. Robt. B. McAfee the son of my son William being one. But if my son James outlives his mother then he may hold and dispose of the land as he pleases in fee simple.

6th I hold a note on David Magee and John Cardwell for five hundred dollars which is in dispute between the Danville College and Lewis Roses Heirs to be given to the successful party.

7th I hold another note on David Magee and John Cardwell for about three hundred and forty nine dollars which I will to my daughter Louisiana J. Alexander with its interest.

8th I will to my wife Mary all my bank stock in the Northern Bank of Ky. And Girard Bank of Philadelphia during her life for her support charged with the payment of my note in the Danville Bank by its interest.

9th After the decease of my wife I will my Northern Bank stock to my sons William & James & my Girard stock to my daughters and their heirs.

10th I hold a note on my son James for five hundred and two dollars which belongs to Lewis Roses Heirs subject to settlement for my services for which I expect five per cent on the whole Estate.

11th I will all my religious books to my wife and the ballance to my sons William & James. The first portion willed to my wife she may at her death dispose of to my daughters.

12th My farming utensils, horses, cattle, sheep & hogs I will to my wife & my son James to pay my debts.

13th I will the choice of five of my blacks to my wife & son James to their own use, remainder after my wifes death to James & his heirs and he is to see his unmarried sisters provided for and supported until they are married. I will my black boy Henry or Claiborne at the option of James to my son William.

14th I will to each of my daughters Mary C., Hannah & Eveline each one black girl or boy the issue of my Black girls Susan & Harriet and if any remain to be divided equally between all my children, to be selected by my wife.

15th My household & kitchen furniture I will to my wife during her life giving to my unmarried duaghters on their marriage and to my son James at my decease such portion as she may choose. I also will my unmarried daughters to have a colt, horse or mare at my wife's option when they marry.

16th I nominate my sons William & James & my wife Mary my Executors & Executrix with full power to make deeds to any land I have sold and to qualify without appraising my Estate or giving security--witness my hand and seal this 6th day of April 1846.

Robert B. McAfee (Seal)

Mercer County April County Court 1849
The foregoing last Will & Testament of Robert B. McAfee decd was this day produced into Court and filed & ____ and at the May County Court 1849 the Same was proved to be wholly in the hand writing of the said Robert B. McAfee by the oaths of Samuel Daviess, John D. Thompson, Isaac Gray & Thomas Allin and ordered to be recorded, which I have done. Attest
Thos Allin (Seal)

Transcriber's Notes:

1: This daughter was Mary H. McAfee, born Mary 7, 1820 and died May 30, 1822. (Source: New Providence Cemetery Records, transcribed by Harrodsburg Historical Society).

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History of the Loop

Welcome to June Lake Loop Historical Society
Friday, May 07 2021 @ 12:30 AM UTC

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Ron Dunn's Slot Machine Story
Authored by: Osama onThursday, November 07 2019 @ 12:08 PM UTC
For a home to feel like a safe and well-maintained port, it is important to have the perfect cleaning. Your Hometown is a place to stay calm and relaxed, so you will always be clean. Purified algae offers a sense of fresh air and is important in preventing health and safety problems. professional home cleaning


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Adobe Creative Suite 4 — Launch Broadcast

Since writing about the Adobe CS4 live web broadcast a couple of days ago, I was fortunate enough to finally view it. Enjoy!

You may view the video at a higher resolution via http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f1556v1715. You may also find other related videos on that page with regards to CS4. The ones I am interested in seeing would probably be the following:

All I can say is that this is going to be one very nice Suite, and should be fun to play/work with.

Converse — My Drive Thru

In celebration of its 100 years, 3 artists (Santogold, Julian Casablancas, and N.E.R.D) came to make a dope track entitled “My Drive Thru” (produced by Pharrell Williams). You may download the song in MP3 format by going to Converse’s site.

PS. Make sure to check out the video too (also available on Converse site).

Skitch’in It

I finally got to check out what all the talk is about with Skitch.

Skitch.com + Skitch = fast and fun image sharing.

Skitch.com is a webservice that works hand in hand with our application Skitch to give you 1‑click uploading of images for fast and fun image sharing.

Currently, I use Paparazzi to take screengrabs/screenshots of sites/design I feel interesting. Before getting my MacBook Pro, I used a Firefox plugin called Screengrab.

Meanwhile, my first impression of Skitch in adding it to my workflow of documenting sites/design snippets is pretty good. The auto upload feature to Flickr alone is good. I just hope it provides another feature, well a couple:

  • Tags, Title, and Description dialogue/input-box
  • and a way to just specify a URL so Skitch can take a screenshot of the actual page itself

With the latter, what I am trying to say is that currently, I still use Paparazzi to grab the actual webpage, and then “copy (the) image” into Skitch’s canvas to upload it to Flickr; at least I haven’t found out a way for Skitch can do it automatically as I’ve only spent 10-minutes on it so far.

Anyways, Skitch is providing to be better than I expected; especially when I need to do snippets vs whole webpages. I guess the only application I can compare it is with ScrnShots.com’s tool, ScrnShot Desktop. However, I would give point to Skitch as it can just upload to your Flickr account and others, while you’re just stuck with having it ScrnShots (respectively).

PS. I do give a point to ScrnShots.com’s tool as it work with Windows as well.

PicLens — Crazy Image/Video Visualization Plugin

Be sure to check this visualization plugin (for most “modern” browsers). It gives a nice way to navigate through photos (i.e. flickr, google image results, etc.) and videos (i.e. youtube). Not too shabby indeed.

Thanks goes out to Mik for the link.


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Gray (April 2020)

            The Golden State is gray. I traveled by car from my home in Julian to San Rafael, California, a trip that is just far enough to need two days, but with COVID-19, it’s a necessity to make it in one.

When I left, I foolishly thought that a few miles to the north I would escape the slate air of the Valley Fire.  But then I arrived down wind of the Bobcat Fire, then the Dolan Fire, then the Creek Fire, then the Apple Fire and next the Lake Fire. As I freed myself from one, I entered into another, the ash, the color of lead, drifted like singed feathers. The sky moved from one tone of oyster to another, light, dark, lighter, darker.

            “It’s the palette of cremation,” I thought as remains of giant redwoods, evergreens, sage chaparral, tawny deer, and unlucky beige mountain lion all succumbed to the pyre.

            “What am I breathing? A carbonized ancient bristlecone pine needle? Charred particles of a bear’s intestine?”

            I picnicked under stone haze at Tule Elk Preserve, animals brought back from near extinction, now with growing herds.

            “For what?” I thought. “To watch as the flames approach and decimate them once again?”

            “Shake it off,” I said out loud, “it isn’t Armageddon.” But I threw in a sere aside, “Yet.”

I drove on, through the cinereal Central Valley, the ground, the air, the sky all matched, all blended, into hypnotic hue.

            “California is the color of chronic depression,” I thought, recalling days, free of fire that nevertheless looked like this.

            I checked into my motel, stylish in its faddish gray paint, black exposed iron, its interior facing windows.

            I had seen, now, every possible variation of that mousy, smokey, dingy color and thought this was my fate until the fires passed, until COVID-19 passed, until, if ever, my grief over Ellen passed.

            But that next morning, late morning, I woke to a world that was night-in-day and ghoulish dark-room red.

            Confused, dizzied, flummoxed and unglued, I proceeded with what now felt like absurd tasks, leaden.

            The immigrant worker in the grocery store looked at me, anxious black eyes as she fluttered her hand on her chest. “I don’t know,” she said hand still fluttering, “It hurts in here, this sky, it makes me hurt in here.”

            “Me too,” I said, “me too.”

8 thoughts on “Gray”

  1. Wow Carrie so many fires already. Was there ever a break? No fires in Colorado right now. Could be a bad year again. Very little snow so far this year. This was such an amazing adventure, I can only imagine.

  2. Only one word: BRILLIANT!!!!!!! I will add: the choice of words, the movement of the story, the raw feelings and commentary on how climate change is destroying lives and our natural beauty leaves this reader saddened at this reality but uplifted by your awareness and introspection.

    A devastating reality, which I HOPE our administration ( and other enlightened leaders around the world) will continue to spotlight and have the courage to demand and enforce the changes that must start immediately if we are to save ourselves and the planet. Bravo, Carrie. This makes me think of an article in the NYT about the PCH and how our continued efforts to be somewhere we probably shouldn’t be relates to how nature will show us what we have done to our earth. Love it. Miss you! 💜K Sent from my iPhone

  3. Carrie, you’ve captured the emotion that accompanied the physical in this beautiful piece. The touching human connection at the end is what gives me hope for us and for our world. Human beings connecting through the heart.

    PS & you sent me to the dictionary, as good writers often do, with the word “cinereal.”

  4. Carrie, thank you for using your words to describe the innermost feelings most of us cannot express. Yes, it does hurt in our hearts all the time.

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*Can I pay my bill over the phone?

Call 1-855-417-9069 to Pay by Phone.

*Can I have services turned off or turned on the same day the request is made?

Connects and Disconnects must be scheduled by 3:00 PM for the service to be completed the same day. After hours services are available for an additional fee.

*What are the policies and procedures for delinquent accounts and turn off day?

Payment must be received no later than the start of business on turn off day. Any account on the cut off list will be assessed a cut off list administration fee of $35.00. All balances including fees must be paid no later than 3:00 PM in order for services to be restored the same day. If you pay online or in the drop, it is the customers responsibility to contact the office to insure reinstatement of services.

After a delinquent account has been cut off, the account will be closed if all balances and fees are not paid within 7 days. All funds, including advanced payments, will be applied to any balances or fees remaining on the account.

Once the account is closed out the customer must come into the office to restore services. Any remaining balances, a new advance payment and/or charges incurred after being closed such as water usage, tampering, etc., will have to be paid at the time of sign up.

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An updated procedure for cashless conversion transactions

Dear clients,

Due to the changed working hours of the Kazakhstan Foreign Exchange, KASE, from July 7, 2020, cashless conversion transactions may be conducted until 03.00 p.m. (Nur-Sultan time).

Cash conversion transactions are to be conducted as usual during business hours of the Bank's branches and subsidiaries.

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Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, and Government measures taken to restrict border crossings, KaBeeLo Lodge was unable to open for the 2020 season. Please follow our social media for updates.

If you would like to help, click here

We wish all guests, family, friends good health and look forward to the 2021 season.

what a classy place with classy owners. Can't say enough about the level of customer service, even up this far north!

- The Call Party | Perrigo Lake 2014

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Request A Reservation

We do our very best to ensure each KaBeeLo vacation package is custom tailored to match your groups dates, needs and wants.  Until someone develops an online reservation system reflecting KaBeeLo's appraoch to personalized guest management, we encourage our guests to complete the form below indicating desired arrival and departure dates as well as outpost/cabin choices.  Or better yet, give us a call 800.233.2952!


text:
The Hidden Power of Customer Avatar

Customer Avatar!!

Every Digital Marketer comes across this in the beginning of their Digital Marketing Journey.

Did you too? 😛

And it does not come in one name. It is also known as Customer Persona, User Persona and many such names!

In the early days of my Digital Marketing Journey, I OVERLOOKED this important topic.

And I don’t want you to! Please, don’t! Just don’t!

It is extremely important that you decide who your ideal customer avatar is, not just when you blog, not just when you post on social media – but at each and every stage.

In fact, even before you measure your product fit.

Irrespective of whether you currently have something to sell or not, you still need to understand this!

I have created a video for you, through which you can find the answers to the following questions related to Customer Avatar:

Go ahead and watch this 3 minute video.

If you takeaway even one point from it, you will see that the same efforts that you put online but just keeping these points in mind, will give you 5x better results in terms of the response you receive.

I hope you have noted down your key takeaways from this video on Customer Avatar.

If not, you can quickly comment your one takeaway, which you will apply in the Comments below. 🙂

Kamna Jain

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The rumors are TRUE! I’ve been cast in an upcoming film…

…acting AND singing?

My manager called me last week with the news that I have been cast in the upcoming film Candles staring ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ alum John Schneider. I will be playing the role of his daughter. The role was cast previously, but, there was a scheduling conflict with the other actress. The shooting and release date is currently set for 2015.

Here is the plot outline from the Candles Official Facebook Page:

A young news reporter sets out to find the truths of who raped and slaughtered three innocent girls in a small town setting of Camp Scott. She follows the lengthy manhunt for Gene Leroy Hart in the Cookson Hills in Northeast Oklahoma, then through the circus like trial that took place in a rural courthouse. Thirty years later she is still searching for truths that have questions that have never been answered. Was Gene Hart guilty and was he the only one involved and was there another suspect that was protected by the law? After a visit to death row in McAlester, Oklahoma, will she finally discover the truth she has devoted her life to find?

As I understand, the film will be shot in the New Orleans area. Everything is still in the pre-production stage, but things are moving forward quickly.

There is a strong possibility that I will be able to use my singing talent in the film as well. Absolutely THRILLED about that possibility!!

I will put out more info as I find out. I post regularly on Twitter and my Facebook page. Please “Like” the Candles FB Page to keep up with them as well.

 Candles Official Website

MAGGIE – Part 2

Maggie’s death has changed me…is changing me.

My true friends know that, by nature, I’m a very quiet person…a thinker…a people watcher. I’m so much like my father, and I’m proud of that.

I have pageants to thank for allowing my inside voice – out. At first my mom told me I was a little too blunt. (a lot actually…) But my dad got it! Later, I learned the art of telling what needs to be said and letting others figure things out for themselves. Probably why I like teaching. I see potential when someone else does not…

Right now, I’m finding comfort in my…true nature.

I was forced to watch myself fall apart and that wasn’t…isn’t fun. Those brief moments of sadness…I don’t want to go away. I want to keep her real…because she was…and is real.

I was also forced to see the man I love so desperately want to heal me…and it hurt that I hurt in a way he…no one could help. It’s paralyzing. I still hurt.

When I was in Texarkana, my sister and I tried to get out and do something that Maggie would have loved – like go to Old Navy. When a sales clerk came to over tell us about sales, I wanted scream at her: “My niece is dead, did you know that? How is YOUR day going? Because mine SUCKS!”

I was comforted by the fact that my sister felt the same way.

I still feel that way when I listen to someone telling me about something petty. But I smile, knowing that at some time in my life, I was that person…saying something petty.

Sometimes I feel like she goes with me through out the day. Her smile…especially her smile. How she doesn’t want me to be sad…and I want to make her happy.

It’s the evening of December 6th. I put a different photo up on my Facebook profile and cover page. Something other than Maggie or me and Maggie.

I cried…am crying…

I didn’t realize how hard that would be…

The feature film “Wuss” is WOW!

Back in my Dallas years, a friend of mine thought I’d be great for small role in a short film, called More Air for the Rest of Us directed by Kyle Killen and starring the amazing Johnny Sneed. I had a few lines as a florist where Johnny’s character comes in to buy flowers. The film had a very talented DP by the name of Clay Liford.

Fast forward a few months and I was contacted by Clay for a role in his first feature film, Flowers Grown from Powdered Bones. I played the 1 of 3 cannibalistic sisters. (You gotta see this movie!!) There is simply NOTHING like working on an indie film! The amount of freedom and creativity that gets to flow just makes magic. A magic you just don’t get from Hollywood blockbusters.

Fast forward even again, and I have moved from Texas to LA, married and now live NYC. Through the miracles of Social Media (and the occasional phone calls), I’ve been able to keep up with Clay and his talent.

When Clay announced the Brooklyn premier of his film Wuss on Facebook, I jumped at the chance to see him and catch up. I also wanted my husband to meet the talent I kept talking about knowing that his style of filmmaking was right up his alley. And I was right!

Walking up to the reRun Gastropub, I was excited to not only see my friend’s film, but to catch up with him and his life outside of entertainment! Clay arrived fresh from an interview in Manhattan and we sat and talked about old times, and what’s been going on in our lives.

The reRun theatre was the perfect venue, retro and intimate. Clay introduced a preview short from his friend Leah Shore called Old Man. (Another crazy talented animator/filmmaker!)

Our hero, Mitch Parker (played by Nate Rubin) is a substitute high school teacher turned full time after the unfortunate (and mysterious almost fatal) accident of the current English teacher. Mitch’s character at first is pretty pitiful. He’s a college graduate with aspirations to write novels…who still lives at home with him mom. The first scene sets up his timid, defensive tone perfectly at his 10 year high school reunion (where he now teaches.)

Small town suburbia is nothing like it was when he attended school. Teachers wear tasers and kids sell guns. Mitch has a classroom run-in with a gang leader and subsequently gets beat up by him and his friends. The rest of the film is fascinating. We watch Mitch deal with the humiliation while learning how these kids have learned to survive in circumstances he would have never dreamed.

The film is shot digitally but you would have NEVER known it! In fact, one audience member in the Q&A was certain it was shot on 35 millimeter ! In other words, the cinematography and shot set-ups were gorgeous!

I highly recommend this film!! I have a lot of talented friends in the industry, but Clay is one of the geniuses!

Watch Wuss on Amazon!!

Clay Liford

Clay Liford at AFI Fest

Keep up with Clay on Twitter and his production company Well Tailored Films.

Links to Press:
New York Times Review


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Education City to be established in KPK for children: Asad

LONDON: Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaiser has said Federal Government has failed in holding dialogue with Taliban and anti-national and anti-social elements have won.

Asad Qaiser is on an official visit of Britain along with Education Minster of KPK Muhammad Atif Khan and Agriculture Minister Shahram Khan. Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashood and Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khurro are also in Britain to attend the Education Conference.

They have presented their recommendations for improvement in Education in their respective provinces in World Education Forum, and on these recommendations will consider these recommendations while announcing education aid for Pakistan.

In is Exclusive talk with Kashmir Link London, Asad Qaiser said all political parties gave Government mandate to hold dialogue with Taliban but it failed.

If tribal people were involved the war against terrorism would have been won, he said, adding it is unfortunate the Federal Government is not aware of any operation in province and they have never informed Chief Minister KPK and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, he said.

He said an Education City will be built in KP in which modern education will be given to children. “I am raising the matter with British universities”, he added.

The delegation of KP leaders was welcomed by leaders of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Britain Akram Dhareja, Fazal Rabbi Khan, and Nasrullah Khan.

Speaker KPK will stay for some days in Britain where some events have been arranged by the party workers.

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Spells Gone Wild Releases Today!!!

What would you do if you turned your future mother-in-law into a toad?

Everything was coasting along until Kezia accidentally turned Doreen into a toad. Her neighbors already have a hard time dealing with her, if they find out she’s a witch,albeit a bad one, well all bets will be off…

Oh, the woes of dealing with future in-laws.

Dominic knew Kezia was different but he is determined to marry her. Nothing is ever normal with her but on the day of Halloween she’s acting a little stranger than usual. On top of that his mother,Doreen, is missing…

Some days it’s just better to stay in bed. One way or another Kezia has to fix her problem or lose the man she loves. And do it before Halloween ends.

Today I am posting a brand spanking new excerpt that will only be seen here. Enjoy my friends and thanks for following me. Have a fantastic Thursday.

Dominic reached a long arm out and slapped the alarm clock.
He drew his hand back and cracked open one eyelid when the shrill
ringing continued. His cell phone shook on the nightstand, bumping
along until it dropped off the edge and the irritating tone was muffled
by the thick carpet. He twisted to lean over the mattress and realized
Kezia was wrapped around him. Half of her body lay across his, one
leg was thrown over his thigh, and her arm was draped around his
shoulders. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck. He gently
extracted himself, careful not to wake her, and snatched the phone
from the floor.
“If my office isn’t burning, hang up now.” He spoke low into
the mouth piece.
“Dominic? Dominic, is that you?” Doreen. His mother’s voice
sounded distant.
“Yeah, ma, it’s me. What’s wrong?”
“Why are you whispering?”
“Kezia is asleep.” He pulled the phone from his ear and ran his
finger over the screen to check the time. “Ma, it’s four in the morning.
Is everything okay?”
“Of course everything is not okay, but why would it matter
when you have your precious Kezia? God forbid you wake her by
talking to you mother.”
“You called at this time of night to complain about Kezia?”
Dominic levered himself up and back into bed.
“No, I don’t feel well, honey. My stomach is queasy, and I’m
having cold sweats. I want you to go to the twenty-four hour
pharmacy and pick me up some medicine.”
“Can’t it wait for morning? I’ll come by before I go to work.”
“I could be dead by morning.”
“Really, ma. I’ve got two more hours of sleep before I have to
get up. I’ll be over in the morning.”
“That woman has ruined you. You never use to tell me no. I
told you she was bad—”
“I’ll see you in the morning, mom. I love you.” He tapped the
end button on his phone and wiped a hand down his face.
“Everything alright?” Kezia rested her chin on her folded
hands and looked up at him. A rueful smile was on her face.
He traced an index finger across her upper lip. He loved her
and wanted to marry her no matter what anybody in their little
insulated town thought, including his mother. Kezia whipped through
Jaded Falls like a F5 tornado and turned his world on its ear. She’d
bought the old farm that had belonged to the Florins, one of the
community’s founding families. At a council meeting she announced
she would be turning it into a bed and breakfast. He chuckled. Most
people in this municipality did not like change. Hell, they fought it
tooth and nail. The idea of bringing outsiders to their little slice of
heaven for an authentic but relaxing farm experience had many folks
up in arms. A lot of people would have backed down, given up, and
let the district have their way.
Not his Kezia. Put her in a corner, and she came out fighting.
She filed for permits, and when the board members dragged their feet,
she got a lawyer. The way she worked the system was a thing of
beauty. That’s how he met her, inspecting her roof so she could get
permit approval. He settled lower in bed and pulled her close to lay
her head on his chest. The fact that she was smart was fantastic, but
her beauty, in his book, it was legendary. She kept her hair in tiny
braids that curled around his finger, and her skin was the color of milk
chocolate. Her eyes were so dark he wasn’t sure if they weren’t black,
and she had the cutest button nose. He loved her figure. She was
voluptuous and the perfect size for him. Come hell or high water he
was marrying her.

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General Bio

Kate is registered with the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers. As a life long lover of all beings, especially human, she began her education with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, followed by a Bachelor of Social Work from University of Manitoba during which time she began a family and a career in adult mental health.

Working for a rural hospital Kate’s career has afforded many opportunities for ongoing training. She is a certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST), A life skills coach (Level 1&2) and has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. She has worked 9 years in individual case management, 2 years in complex care coordination and 1 year as an adult mental health provider with indigenous peoples. Prior to starting her career she was also a crisis line respondent working with survivors of sexual violence and trauma.

In her personal life Kate’s deep belief in resilience has been fostered by her own journey with illness and injury. Having recovered first from viral meningitis and then a brain injury resulting in post concussion syndrome Kate has become highly aware of the distinct challenges individuals face during long and complex recoveries.

The journey of personal recovery lead Kate to study yoga, meditation and neuro-plasticity. She has since become a certified yoga instructor and level 1 Irest Yoga Nidra Teacher. Her emphasis is on using these practices to compliment recovery and build resilience.

Mother to two big hearted busy boys, wife to an extremely driven energetic man, Kate refers to herself as the “tortoise among hares”. She has learned a great deal about ADHD, dyslexia and emotional regulation. She understands the delicate balance of advocating for your children both inside and outside the school environment.

Kate believes every experience is an opportunity to grow in our understanding and connect more deeply with one another.  In order for this to work we need to reflect and be willing to share.  She subscribes to a strict philosophy of honesty and authenticity which she strives to pepper with a healthy dose of humour. (The greatest tool in the healing quest!) If you spend time with Kate she will challenge you to welcome emotions, encourage you to get outside, remind you to lengthen your breaths. She will gently nudge you towards acceptance of self and others, and possibly, should the opportunity arise, she may pull you onto a dance floor!

Above all, helping you determine your best life, offering tools and support along your path is Kate’s heartfelt mission and deepest joy.

For coaching or collaboration message directly to discuss opportunities.

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Tabo by Helga Weber

Taboo down under

This is a revised version of Tales of the Travelling Tabo, which I adapted for the Australian Filipina, and it always gets people talking.

Tabo by Helga Weber

Source: Helga Weber

Theres one thing I never leave home without, and it’s not my American Express. On a recent trip to Melbourne, disaster struck. I stared at my open suitcase in horror. I looked at my husband. ‘Oh, my god!’ I panicked, ‘WHERE IS MY TABO?’ The prospect of cleaning my bum with nothing but a flimsy bit of paper leaves me  insecure.

For many Filipino expats and travellers, the tabo is taboo—a secret tucked in the corner of the bathroom—but nevertheless essential. Worried about being caught out when youre away from home? Fear not. There are alternatives.

#1 Paper versus plastic
My husband, who grew up in Australia, has no tabo technique and finds it unusable. For him, paper reigns supreme. He assures me he can guarantee top hygiene with his wiping system. But Im skeptical. What about chafing? Dry cleaning may be acceptable to some people, but I’ll take a rinse cycle any day.

#2 Function over form
My husband finds my obsession with the tabo hilarious, and hes fascinated by stories of how I cope with the lack of, uh, facilities. As Ive learned over the years, there are ways to simulate the effect of the tabo. At school retreats, I used the toilet late at night then ran straight for the showers after I’d done my business. At home, an innocuous plastic measuring jug takes pride of place beside every toilet. In public … well, I just don’t go. Sorry, kidneys, but my dignity wins this battle. For dire emergencies, I carry a pack of flushable wipes. Some people prefer the intricate ritual of moistening sheets of toilet paper. If youre desperate, just take a bottle of water in with you.

#3 Affluent effluence
What Filipinos take for granted in the lowly tabo is a luxury in many parts of the world. Economics plays a part in the tabo psychology with the rise of the bidet. In Europe, my husband discovered these dedicated appliances for Extremely Personal Hygiene. He lovingly labelled them his ‘bum washers’. At the end of our trip, my husband sadly contemplated the bidet-less world to which he was about to return. I smirked, the ancient knowledge of the tabo leaving me unfazed.

Living in Australia, land of three-ply toilet paper, has left me feeling marginalised. So imagine my delight when, at a Bangladeshi-Australian home, I discovered a small, red tabo with a long, pointy handle. ‘How authentic!’ I marvelled to my husband, who was clearly disturbed to learn that Id found international allies.

Some Filipino Australians have discarded the tabo in favour of pulp friction. But this is one aspect of my culture I refuse to surrender. The tabo is part of my Filipino identity. When I visit friends homes and see that ubiquitous plastic water jug hiding meekly beside the toilet seat, I feel a primitive bond. Its not just a question of hygiene; its a matter of pride.

My son starts toilet training in a few months. Guess what Ill be teaching him?

This article was published in the May/June 2007 issue of the Australian Filipina. The accompanying photo is by Helga Weber via Flickr.

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• Wamumini House- Westlands
  • Mon - Fri: 8:00 - 17:00
  • +254 20 4443133
  • kccb@catholicchurch.or.ke

Be passionate about your Church,says Bishop Anyolo

The Bishop of Homa Bay, Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo has called on the Catholic faithful to love their Church with passion and courage. ‚  The bishop called on the faithful not to be shy about the Universal Catholic Church but to stand firm in its teachings.

Bishop Anyolo noted that the Church is an important unit of the family. He said the Church as a Family of God is on a pilgrimage to Him. This pilgrimage, he said, is not easy as there are many challenges on the way that threaten to destroy the family.

Do not be shy about your church and its teachings,‚ said the Bishop. ‚ Have faith in Christ and his Church. Stand firm in its teachings. The Catholic Church is at war in the world and there is need for you to remain deeply rooted in your faith. Time has now come for you to have faith not just to move the mountain but to stand above it. Stand up for your Church wherever you are working. Love your Church with passion and courage.‚

The Bishop, who is also the Chairman of the KEC Commission for Pastoral, Lay Apostolate and Family Life was speaking when he presided over mass to mark the official closing of the Natural Family Planning Training and graduation of instructors at the Little Daughters of St. Joseph Retreat Centre in Karen on 3rd November 2011. The training was organized by the Family Life National Office of the Kenya Episcopal Conference Catholic Secretariat, led by the National Coordinator Mrs. Theresa Mera Abuya.

Bishop Anyolo urged the graduands to be militant in their faith and work. ‚ As Christ said, be strong and courageous on the way. You are assured of victory because, by qualifying to graduate today, you are already triumphant.

The Bishop emphasized the importance of upholding what he called the  Family Instinct.‚ Quoting from the Gospel of John, he urged the graduands to stay together in Christ: ‚ Jesus said to the Apostles‚ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me (John 15:4)‚  This is the instinct of the family which is today threatened with extinction  said the bishop.  If God returned today, He would save the family. God has a strong instinct for the family. To remain militant in the pilgrimage to God, one needs the instinct of the family. Even animals depend on the instinct of the family. As human beings, we must also go back to this instinct. In the face of challenge, call on the instinct. The family is the mother of all aspects of evangelization and this is what the Catholic Church emphasizes.

Bishop Anyolo encouraged the graduands to promote family life programmes at the Parish Level as this is the only way to save the family and make it strong.

In her address, Mrs. Abuya thanked the Kenyan Bishops for their continued support to the National Office, especially by providing funds and facilities for monitoring the implementation of its programmes in the country.

The graduation mass was concelebrated by the AMECEA Secretary General Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo. During the ceremony, 17 graduands took their vows to support natural family planning and were awarded with certificates.

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Be reconciled with God and with one another

Dear Kenyans

We are at a point in our country where we need to re-build our nation and especially all that will reconcile us as Kenyan people. After the post election violence, our nation has continued to bleed from the wounds of this scourge. We as the shepherds of the Catholic Church, wish to strongly appeal to all Kenyans to be ready to live with each other in a spirit of forgiveness and to make practical steps towards true reconciliation and not just political re-alignments and re-groupings. We do not have a choice. We must take up reconciliation as our agenda. This should be done and experienced from the lowest to the highest, including the victims of violence, IDPs and our political leaders. We can no longer ignore or postpone this call for reconciliation without at the same time putting the search for true peace in jeopardy. We need to put aside all vengeance and bitterness and seriously embark on the reconstruction of our nation for a better tomorrow. We wish to encourage ongoing efforts for peace and reconciliation in some parts of the country; these initiatives should be supported by all. Now is the time to show our patriotism!
In view of this, we are concerned about the current situation in the country and wish to address some issues that are of paramount importance and profoundly affect us as a country.

We are deeply concerned about the nominees and the nomination process for the positions of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice, given the crucial role they will play in the implementation of the Constitution. Besides, being the senior most offices in the Judiciary, they will have a strong impact on the judicial philosophy that will guide the interpretation of the Constitution of Kenya in the future. Who the future officers shall be will also determine the trust and collaboration they will enjoy in order to effectively bring about positive reforms desired by Kenyans in the Judiciary.

The Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice are officers who enjoy the security of tenure once appointed. Therefore there is need to ensure that those to be appointed to these esteemed offices satisfy all Constitutional criteria, including ‚high moral character, integrity and impartiality‚ (cf. Article 166 of the Constitution of Kenya). We need people with a judicial philosophy that reflects natural law, the Kenyan religious and African cultural values, including our universal respect for life, our recognition of the importance of family wellbeing and our appreciation of the role of religion in public and private life.
It is also necessary that the nomination process should respect the power and integrity of the Executive as the appointing authority. By presenting single individuals to the two Principals, the Judicial Service Commission abrogated the power of the Executive. Now that the names of the nominees have been presented to parliament, it is upon our parliamentarians to defend and protect the interests of the people of Kenya.

We the Catholic Bishops, conscious of the great role the Constitution will play not just in ensuring justice for all but also in enhancing the moral order of society as a whole are convinced that only candidates who meet the criteria of integrity should be considered. The excessive emphasis on academic excellence and radical reformism is not sufficient. Justice fundamentally involves moral order.

We have witnessed unprecedented insecurity throughout the country. The situation of Turkana, for instance, is of grave concern, seeing the seeming negligence of our people in the face of constant attacks. These are Kenyan people and it is the duty of the State to protect and take care of all its citizens. This helplessness is compounded by the drought and famine suffered by these and other people in the country. In the same vein, reports of the anxieties of some of our brothers and sisters living in other areas where the sovereignty of our country appears to be under threat cannot pass unheeded. We are pained by this apparent negligence and the slowness of the State to act. The government must seriously seek lasting solutions to these issues and reassure the people of their safety and security, which includes addressing their dilapidated infrastructure.

We are also equally concerned about the increase in internal insecurity, particularly burglary and thuggery, some of which have targeted our Catholic institutions, leading to losses of lives and property. We are also concerned about the recruitment of Kenyans into militia groups as reported in the media. This situation cannot be tolerated anymore and it needs to be arrested immediately.

The Christian roots of education in this country have never been in doubt. In fact, the Catholic Church has always been involved in the education and formation of leaders. This formation of good leaders both intellectually and morally has always been our mission.

We are therefore greatly perturbed by the current trend to alienate the Church in the education system for this would greatly jeopardise the moral and human formation of future leadership in this country. We need to bear in mind that the Church has always been at the service of all and especially the poor in the area of education. We are opposed to the attempt to push the Church out of the schools and to water down its role in their management. We are also strongly opposed to our Church sponsored schools being converted into national schools because we want them to remain within the reach of the common mwananchi. In any case, the fees currently charged in national schools are prohibitively high.

Our hearts and concern go out to the plight of the common mwananchi, who has been affected so much by the high fuel and food prices. We are especially concerned about those in marginalized areas where the cost of living is even dearer. Currently, certain areas are facing famine due to the failed rains and in some cases people and livestock are dying.

It is the prerogative of the government to prioritize issues and urgently deal with those problems that affect Kenyans most. We call on the government to take charge of the situation in order to safeguard the stability of our nation. Further measures need to be taken to lower fuel and food prices. We feel too much energy is being spent on political in-fighting and re-alignments rather than addressing the concrete problems that threaten to lead this country into a deeper crisis. We also appeal to other stakeholders to move with speed and supplement the efforts of the government in order to avert crisis levels going any further than they have reached already.

Dear Kenyans, even in these difficult times, we place our hope and the future of our nation in the hands of the Almighty God. We invite all of you to sincerely pray for the unity of our country and to make efforts for reconciliation. ‚If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vain glory‚(Philippians 2: 1-3). May our Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace intercede for us.

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue
Archbishop of Nairobi
Apostolic Administrator of Ngong
Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference

  1. Rt. Rev. Philip Sulumeti  Vice Chairman Kakamega
  2. Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth Kisumu
  3. Most Rev. Boniface Lele Mombasa
  4. Most Rev. Peter Kairo Nyeri
  5. Rt. Rev. Paul Darmanin Garissa
  6. Rt. Rev. Cornelius K. Arap Korir Eldoret
  7. Rt. Rev. Joseph Mairura Okemwa Kisii
  8. Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo Homa Bay
  9. Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich Military Ordinariate
  10. Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley Kitale
  11. Rt. Rev. Norman Wambua King’oo Bungoma
  12. Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara, IMC Marsabit
  13. Rt. Rev. David Kamau Ng’ang’a Aux.  Bishop  of Nairobi
  14. Rt. Rev. Anthony Ireri Mukobo, IMC Isiolo Vicariate
  15. Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante Maralal
  16. Rt. Rev. Salesius Mugambi Meru
  17. Rt. Rev. Luigi Paiaro Nyahururu
  18. Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Okombo Kericho
  19. Rt. Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde Machakos
  20. Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria Kitui
  21. Rt. Rev. James Wainaina Murang‚a
  22. Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Embu
  23. Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Nakuru
  24. Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich Lodwar
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Reward Has Been Set On The Fresno Food Vendor Murder

Sad new in Fresno as a food vendor by the name of Lorenzo Perez was killed this past weekend. He was known in his neighborhood for selling food on his bike for years. Police first put out a reward for $5k and that was soon upped to $21,000 by Monday morning, and City Council President Luis Chavez thanked the people who have already delivered tips.

This man was straight up just trying to provide for his family. Senseless and sad act.

If you can help out below that would be great.

Below is the go fund me to donate and help out this mans family.

Click Here To Donate


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Taipei Haiku #71

Sunny day smoke break.

Squirrel chitters, tail a-fluff.

Buy your own, rodent.

Squirrels largely rule the roost here at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, although I have seen the occasional rat. They will be here long after humans are dust.

(I don’t actually smoke, incidentally. But I wouldn’t put it past a squirrel to bum a cigarette if I did.)

If you liked the haiku, or would like to request one on a specific topic, please consider sharing the blog, or making a donation via Patreon or PayPal. Thanks kindly!

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Adolescence and “1979” (1995)

“Faster than the speed of sound. Faster than we thought we’d go, beneath the sound of hope.”

For the bulk of the past year, I enjoyed getting to work an hour before everyone else. Often, I’d be the first in the building- the motion lights of the hallways clicking to life upon my arrival. It felt important to settle into work. Wake myself up fully from the shit sleep I had gotten the night before. As I age, my brain seems to take longer and longer to heat up- like one of those old IBM computers, with the turbo button on the yellowing plastic shell, that would only display green type on a black screen. Back when computers held mysteries and nerds were the only priestly caste who could access them. Now computers are vehicles for advertisements and nerds are the consumers happiest about it.

I enjoyed getting to work early because the roads were empty and I could speed. The highway I’d choose was wonderfully twisted, lined with trees, and toward the end of the school year my backdrop would become a gorgeous sunrise. It felt like playing Outrun, and just the idea that a wrong move could flip my Honda Accord (I chose the “sports model”) and send it bouncing across the road made me feel alive.

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Cannibalism and “Joker” (2019)

Reality struck Matt Kennedy Gould in a flash as every cast member of the show created for his destruction revealed themselves as an actor hired to manipulate him. Every cast member but one, Brian Keith Etheridge- cast as Gould’s best friend, tasked with staying close to him throughout filming and becoming his confidant- remained cautiously silent.

When Gould turns to him, able to digest that the rest of the cast were maybe a lot of Hollywood phonies, out of work actors lowering the bar for a reality gig, he asks Etheridge, with genuine hope, if he’s as much of a liar as the rest.

And you’ll never find a more genuine moment of terror on reality television than the look on Brian Etheridge’s face, as he struggles to explain to his new best friend that he’s just as full of shit as anyone else- that he’s of the elite, Hollywood caste getting paid to make poor, working class Matt look pathetic.

This is where the Joker would pull out a gun and shoot Etheridge in the head- something Etheridge, with emotions and adrenaline running high, feared was possible.

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Category Archives: louvre

Every moment of her life had been marked by her soul, waiting and restless, trying to elevate itself.  Yearning.  In the end, she had done what she had HAD to do… she recognized herself only from a great distance.  Was she Mary Poppins?  Pollyanna?  A doe-eyed Disney princess?  She remembered driving across Western flatlands, as fast as she could, her head out the window, her face into the sere wind.

She, an Air Force pilot’s daughter, felt bad for the poor stewardesses, who knew what was coming in a way mere passengers could not know… stoically dumping everyone’s shoes in the bathroom.  Collecting all sharp things, taking people’s eye-glasses away from them.  She remembered walking along the edges of the Atlantic, feeling the cool sand under her toes.  Mother Universe keeps her eyes on us all.

Someone reached out to grasp her hand, solid & firm.  She grasped back.  She looked at the sun through the little window, a flashing brilliant light, and lightly closed her eyes.  It would be quick, merciful, and good.  And right now?  Right now she was still alive.  She was still a witness.  There was no other way to get through life.  Mercy was revealed, and blinded her.  Everyone was waiting.

Filed under compassion, courage, death, earth, eternal, eternity, faith, fiction, grief, hope, kindness, loss, louvre, love, marble, mortality, mourning, peace, prose poetry, sculpture, soul, spirit, spiritual, spirituality, transcendence, transitions, truth, universe

The Elephant In The Room, an essay

illustration the elephant in the room

The Elephant In The Room, an essay

The American “Tea Party” is a radical, far-right organization which stands for nothing less than  rolling the evolution of contemporary civilization back by one, or two, or even three or four hundred years – back to a time when only rich, white, men governed society, and, preferably, rich, white, men governing that society in as “selective” a group as possible.  Monarchy – in extreme cases, even Feudalism — is, to Tea Partiers, the “good old days,” which they would like to see “restored.”  A potent ingredient to the Tea Party hallucination is “private enterprise,” a Holy Grail represented by entities like General Electric.  The United States of America is home to 13 of the 20 largest “transnational” corporations on the globe.  Multinational corporations are far more powerful than any prior tyrannical force in history.

Thus, the Tea Party explains, poor people are poor because they are stupid and/or lazy, and therefore “deserve” to be poor.  Rich people are rich because they are smart and/or hardworking, and therefore “deserve” to be rich.  The passage of inherited wealth from the elite class to its offspring must be protected because it is “deserved” by the offspring of such smart and/or hardworking people.  There is, of course, the mythology that every so often, one of the poor will find their way into the ranks of the rich, and one of the rich will find themselves thrown down into the ranks of the poor.

The history of the present multinational corporation is — much like the history of King George III of Great Britain (as observed by Thomas Jefferson) — “a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny[.]”  This is precisely the moment the United States of America has reached; will we, as a people, do the work of rebuilding our troubled, restless, suffering nation?  Will we stop our own decades-long moral, structural, and economic demolition at the hands of a regressive, elitist, antidemocratic, power elite?   Will we abdicate our own social responsibility and continue to allow “too big to fail” multinational corporations to do irrevocable harm to us and the rest of the human beings on this planet?  Will we become, in reality, merely the Corporate States of Amerka?

Mass cultural hypnosis and mass public disinformation is essential to root out the harmful weeds of “equality,” “democracy,” “fairness,” and “justice.”  Dumbing down the population by a few decades of underfunding public schools is a prerequisite to the suitability of hypnosis and disinformation; as is a very carefully planned, gradual, economic destruction of the unpredictable, possibly dangerous, middle classes (who often demand treatment inconvenient to the ruling elite, and unlike the lower “wage slave” classes, actually have some power with which to back up their demands).  It is important to deprive the middle classes of adequate education and economic security with such a gradual, gentle, patient hand that the tightening of that “hangman’s noose” goes unnoticed until it is secure and inescapable.

Most important, however, is the control of the one branch of American government which is practically impervious to democratic principles or controls:  the federal judiciary.  Since federal jurists are appointed for life, popular opinion and social movements have little to no effect on the judicial branch, unlike the executive and legislative branches, where at least the fiction of “responsibility to the electorate” must be maintained in order to perpetuate the critically important elements of mass cultural hypnosis and disinformation.

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Heads of Caracalla, a poem

illustration 1 heads of Caracalla

illustration 2 heads of caracalla

MC 0464

Heads of Caracalla, a poem

There are three of the ancient busts on display
in the Louvre.  Poor soul:  he only controlled
his great empire for six years.  I’ve been married
for seven, and though it isn’t like ruling Rome,

it’s hard enough.  Thus, I can’t imagine how
he managed, even if he could imprison or execute
at will.  Maybe stress did him in at twenty-nine.
True enough, during the heated third century

after Christ, the common man was too often dead
by thirty, teeth rotted away to stumps,
complexion scarred and worn, creased deep
like pegged and scraped hides drying in the sun.

Surely Caracalla’s own hands were soft,
languorous and pudgy, with those meticulous
shiny nails?  Perhaps he was afflicted
with diabetes, or simply poisoned by his lovely

but illiterate wife.  Will anyone wonder
what carried me off after a thousand years —
or even ten?  During three decades on earth,
sculptors recorded all his secrets:  first the pretty

baby, innocent and round-cheeked as any three-year-old,
blunt-cut curls springing away from his tender forehead
like the petals of an iris.  Around the time
of his ascension, he had become sullen, his eyes

impenetrable, glassy, his torso clumsy, thick-necked,
his full, full lips bowed with palpable cruelty.
I must admit, by the year of his death, he’d grown
into his flesh — he looks wise, even kind,

and his drilled marble eyes are lively, holding
a gleam of curiosity for something outside his own
imperial body.  I place my finger against the hard marble
cheek, hearing my own frail life tapping its brisk heels.

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text:
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Faith Flips the Script

If Chip and Joanna Gaines aren’t talking color schemes or floor plans, they’re playfully picking on one another or shopping with their kiddos. No matter the case, every flipped home gets doused with tender love and care. What sets these projects apart, however, is the faith behind them.


text:
Hey, it happens: Sometimes fans mix up celebrities... and such was the case for Reese Witherspoon, who was recently mistaken for Carrie Underwood.

The 44-year-old actress revealed the mistaken identity incident via social media on Sunday (June 28).

"To the woman in the parking lot who just asked me if I was Carrie Underwood: You officially made my day," Witherspoon wrote alongside a smiling heart emoji.

Underwood quickly responded to the tweet. "YOUR day?!?!?!?! That lady just made my whole life," the 37-year-old singer wrote.

The fan who mistook Witherspoon for Underwood, Noha Hamid, explained what happened in a TikTok video.

"The craziest thing just happened," she told the camera. "I'm with my husband in Nashville, Tennessee, eating at a barbecue place and I swear I see this lady with her husband and kid and I'm like, 'That looks just like a celebrity and I'm trying to think of who, and I'm like, 'Oh, Carrie Underwood?'"

Hamid explained that Witherspoon was wearing a mask and a large cowboy hat so it was hard to identify her but after discovering on Google that Underwood lived in the area, she assumed that it it must be her.

Hamid confronted Witherspoon and asked if she was the "Before He Cheats" singer.

"Hey, oh no, I'm not Carrie Underwood, but have a great day," Witherspoon responded.

Hamid thought she was lying at first but after a moment, she realized that she was actually chatting with Witherspoon.

See the tweets, below.

Celebrity Doppelgängers