text:
Academic Advising
Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising Mission: Academic Advising is a service dedicated to student persistence to graduation. At Concordia University Chicago, all enrolled students have access to a professional academic advisor. Students with declared majors will additionally partner with a faculty advisor. Both advisors cultivate a proactive learning partnership with students to help achieve their graduation goal. Advising is provided for all current undergraduate students to educate, assist and empower them in making well informed decisions related to academic goals, program of study, and supplemental learning experiences. Our graduates will serve and lead with integrity, creativity, competence, and compassion in a diverse, interconnected, and increasingly urbanized church and world.
Academic Advisors incorporate the pillars of CUC's mission when we:
- Interpret and enforce university policies and procedures with integrity
- Help students explore, set and achieve academic, career, and personal goals with creativity
- Share responsibility for developing educational plans that will lead to graduation with competence
- Develop mentoring relationships to foster student growth, independence and accountability with compassion
If you are a current undergraduate student and would like to schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor, please contact our office at (708) 209-3256. Appointments are required outside of designated "Drop-In" periods. For prospective students seeking academic information, please schedule an appointment with your Admissions Counselor at (877) 282-4422.
Hours & Location
The Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising is located in the lower level of Addison Hall in room 155. We are open on Monday & Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Advising Theory
The advising theories employed in CUC's Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising are a hybrid of Appreciative and Proactive advising. Appreciative Advising is student centered and incorporates six stages of working with students, some of which may be enacted simultaneously during a single advising session and others are steadily nurtured as relationships between advisors and advisees are built. The stages include: disarm, discover, dream, design, deliver and don't settle (Bloom, Hutson, & He, 2008). This theory was integrated in the framework and development of mandatory individual advising appointments for students at every level from freshmen to senior status.
Proactive advising is used to help create strong connections with the institution in a meaningful way, while constantly assessing warning signs and addressing them before problems, academic or otherwise, become insurmountable (Varney, 2012). These connections and interventions through advising can become the lifeline for students to help improve student persistence to graduation with active engagement through regular outreach and strategic communication. This is enacted through the implementation of mandatory group and individual advising sessions, an Academic Advising e-newsletter, follow-up within the Academic Early Warning System, intentional outreach to motivate strategic student populations, and semesterly grade monitoring.
Advising Approach
Nationwide, advising approaches fall into three frameworks, prescriptive, developmental, or hybrid of the two. The prescriptive approach is focused on tasks associated with a professional transaction that may include registration tasks, degree requirement discussions, or graduation audits. The developmental approach is nurturing in nature and helps advisees cultivate values, goals, and interpersonal skills (Mottarella, Fritzsche, Cerabino, 2004). The Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising utilizes a hybrid approach that is conducive and complementary to both the Appreciative and Proactive advising theories that guides the work and supports CUC's mission.
Advising Models
Professional academic advisors work with students in a variety of roles from general advisor to college specific advisors, underclass advisors, undeclared & pre-professional, to first year advisors and advisors tied to a first year experience course taught by a professional academic advisor in which the students are part of the advisor's load. An institution's size seems to have an impact on the way advisees are assigned to professional advising staff (Education Advisory Board, 2009).
Faculty Advising ranges from a special population of faculty members identified to work as faculty advisors to campus wide faculty advising assignments. Faculty advisors seem to always be connected to their advisees' college or, more specifically, advisees' majors. A hybrid advising model may constitute any combination of the above referenced.
The advising model engaged at CUC is a hybrid of Professional academic and faculty advisors referred to as a Total Intake Model which is indicated as working best for, "tuition-dependent private institutions, where on-going, high touch support from both faculty and staff advisors is part of value proposition" (Education Advisory Board, 2012,p. xxii). At CUC, professional advising staff assist all students regardless of college affiliation; therefore, considered a general advisor. Faculty advisors are assigned based on full-time status and advisees are assigned by major.
Questions about Academic Advising at CUC may be directed to email@example.com.
Reference List
Education Advisory Board. (2009). Meeting student demand for high-touch advising: Strategies and implementation tools for elevating the student experience. Washington, D.C.: The Advisory Board Company.
Education Advisory Board. (2009). Models for academic advising and career counseling: Approaches at seven institutions. Washington, D.C.: The Advisory Board Company.
Education Advisory Board. (2009). Strategies for increasing student participation in academic advising. Washington, D.C.: The Advisory Board Company.
Education Advisory Board. (2012). Next generation advising: elevating practice for degree completion and career success. Washington, D.C.: The Advisory Board Company.
Mattarella, K., Fritzsche, B, & Creabino, Kara. (2004). What do students want in advising? A policy capturing study. NACADA Journal. 24, 48-61.
Varney, Jennifer. (2012, September). Proactive (intrusive) advising. Academic Advising Today, 35(3). Retrieved from here.


text:
Stephanie Bikcen is a public school teacher who has lived on The Avenues nearly two years.
How would you describe The Avenues to someone who'd never been there?
It has a really good neighborhood feel to it. Safe, historic, a wide variety of different houses and styles.
What made you decide to live there?
It was one of the less expensive options. And it was convenient to where I work.
Do you know your neighbors?
I do know my neighbors. One's an older gentleman and an older couple, and then we've got some younger people down the road. Different stages of family life.
What are three "hidden gems" you've uncovered in Cayce?
It may not be hidden, but I love the Riverwalk.
Tony's Pizza on Knox Abbott is delicious. The owners are nice.
There is a park on B Avenue (in West Columbia). I play Ultimate Frisbee there with my friends. So there are a lot of different little parks where you can do stuff.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Chatham Community Players, the oldest continuing performing theater group in New Jersey, is seeking advertisers for the 2006-07 season. As many of you may know, The Chatham Community Players (CCP) have been entertaining residents of Morris County and surrounding communities since 1922. Now celebrating our 85th season, our mission remains constant: to produce high quality theater for a diverse audience, while elevating our standard of excellence and providing a creative outlet with educational opportunities and outreach programs throughout the community.
Program advertising provides much needed funding to CCP and we need your help! If you or someone you know may be interested in advertising with us, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you supported a worthwhile community group and reap countless benefits in the process.
Your advertisement will be predominantly displayed in all four main stage production programs for season. This past season over 5,100 audience members attended our productions. A ¼ page ad, roughly the size of a business card, costs $150. Offset by the regular price of your 2 free tickets for each of next season's shows (a total value of $200); your advertisement has a net cost of only - $50.
The process of advertising is simple. Send your camera ready artwork (could be as simple as a business card) with the enclosed order form and your payment by August 1. You will receive an acknowledgement within a few weeks.
If you have any questions or need assistance with artwork, please feel free to email Kathy Rex.
Your participation is very important to us. Become a patron of the arts by advertising in the CCP program.


text:
More refinements
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 total results
Realestate.com.au is Australia's #1 home for property, listing real estate for sale in Jumbunna, and other property listings by real estate agents in Jumbunna. Find buy a townhouse in Jumbunna packages, Gippsland South new house and land or Gippsland South new apartments in our new homes section where you can also view the latest new land estates in Gippsland South. If you're looking to sell or new home designs from Gippsland South, Realestate.com.au can provide you with Jumbunna auction times, and auction results for Jumbunna. Property data and house prices in Jumbunna is available as well as recent sold property in Jumbunna. People looking for Jumbunna rentals and houses to share in Jumbunna are catered to as well and everyone visiting Realestate.com.au can take advantage of our free and helpful real estate resource section.


text:
The "Breastaurant" Business Is Booming (Sort of)
The Associated Press reported over the weekend that the "breastaurant" segment of the food service industry is booming. What's a "breastaurant"? Well, loosely speaking, it's like Hooters. Except the news AP reported was actually that Hooters is losing ground to competitors: "The nation's top three 'breastaurant' chains behind Hooters each had sales growth of 30 percent or more last year, according to Technomic, a food industry research firm."
Hooters itself seems to be struggling, so we don't really know how the segment as a whole is doing.
What we do know is that the industry structure is shifting to one less dominated by a single firm. And, as ever, that kind of shift has implications for vendors and other complementary firms. For example, there turns out to be such a thing as BreastaurantUniforms.com, which wants to supply your restaurant's staff with attire. In a marketplace monopolized by Hooters, there obviously isn't much of a market for this sort of service. You're basically just talking about commodity apparel makers negotiating with a centralized purchasing office. But smaller firms are much more likely to be willing to pay a modest premium to a firm that specializes in providing services to the niche.
UPDATE: Frustratingly, the AP didn't say what the three chains were, and the Technomic report is proprietary. As best I can tell, Twin Peaks and Tilted Kilt are the other market leaders in this category, but I don't know what the third is or exactly how Technomic defines the segment.


text:
It began with Tim Tebow sprinting shirtless through the rain in Cortland, and it wasn't long before the Jets were undressed in public, stripped of their swag, laughed at, ridiculed for crimes against professional humanity.
They have both saddened and maddened their long-suffering fans.
And yet, because this NFL keeps the playoff light flickering for the downtrodden and woebegotten alike, they should be thankful they find themselves tonight 60 minutes from improbable rejuvenation, if not resurrection.
Feast or famine? Which will it be?
Give your fans a season.
Give them a happy Thanksgiving night.
Don't be turkeys.
Don't be patsies.
Don't let Tom Brady and Bill Belichick stand over a green and white carcass in the middle of MetLife Stadium with carving knives in their hands, sadistic smiles on their faces.
Now that Rex Coughlin, er, Rex Ryan, has adopted the Giants' "Talk is cheap play the game" mantra, play the game, remind us what "Play like a Jet" was intended to mean.
Show the prime-time audience who loves to hate you that you are a football team and not the clown princes of Roger Goodell's NFL.
The football gods have done you a favor by removing Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski from the equation. You know, and we all know, this isn't a Patriots team that scares anybody, except for maybe it's defensive coaching staff.
"The past is the past, but just looking back, we never thought it'd pan out like this," safety LaRon Landry said. "Our vision, what we prepared for, and what we hoped to be at this point, we never thought we'd have this type of record.
"But it is what it is. It's how we conclude it."
That vision has been blurred.
"It's been blurred, but not tarnished," Landry said.
It's now a one-game season.
"We gotta win this game," Jets tight end Dustin Keller said, "and whatever it takes throughout the week to get it done, that's what we're gonna do."
Quarterback Mark Sanchez will need to be more than a game manager against Brady. He will need to be a game-changer. A playmaker. Against a "fowl'' secondary Belichick is hoping troubled Aqib Talib can steady.
Sanchez will need his three running backs to help him keep the ball and keep Brady on the sidelines as much as possible.
"This is a trench game," tackle Austin Howard said.
Sanchez will need Mike Westhoff's special teams unit to win the field-position battle. He will need coach Rex Coughlin and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to disguise their intentions and keep Brady disoriented.
And he will need JetLife Stadium.
"I hope we have a loud crowd, that whenever their offense is on the field that it's hard for them to communicate, and they can't do much of it," Keller said.
There has been no chirping about Brady's antics from Rex Coughlin. No defiance about kissing Belichick's rings. No bluster about him against Belichick mano a mano.
"I think we just gotta go out there and just let our pads do the talking," Keller said.
Your pads have talked 4-6. Talk louder, or forever hold your tongues.
"We're not looking at our record," Howard said. "Coach Sparano made it very clear to us, which we have adopted, all we need to do is win one game."
When did he say that?
"Last week."
Now win one game this week.
"I don't know who we have next week or the following week after that, all I know is right now, we have to win one game, and Mark, Nick Mangold, Brandon Moore, in terms of leading this team and adopting that mindset, they've been the front-runners in making sure we recognize the opportunities that we have in front of us."
The AFC has come back to you and presented those opportunities. Don't blow it.
You were accused of quitting against the 49ers. You let the Dolphins smack you around at home. Your Wildcat has hurt more than it's helped. You lost Santonio Holmes and Keller was sidelined and Stephen Hill hasn't stopped dropping the ball and your Ground & Pound was stuck in quicksand and that left your embattled quarterback stranded on Sanchez Island.
You lost Darrelle Revis. Your grumpy veteran linebacker Bart Scott made a locker room scene or two, your owner Woody Johnson revealed he was more consumed with winning than selling hot dogs, some of your anonymous Jets took shameful potshots at Tebow … and none of that matters now.
The six-game season that starts tonight is all that matters.
After all the insanity and ineptitude, after all the tumult and gnashing of teeth over Tebow, it is not too late to use this game as a launching pad for the five-game season that follows.
"We stick together, we can go far, as far as we want to go," Landry said. "We play together, we can go as far as we want to go. It's like a 'Band of Brothers' type of deal, you know? One heartbeat."
Can you keep that heart beating?


text:
Supernatural Midseason Report Card: B-Sean McKenna at . Comments
Ho, ho, ho? More like hi, hi, hi-atus!
With almost every primetime program taking a few weeks off, TV Fanatic staff members are using the break to assess the first halves of various seasons. From Private Practice to The Vampire Diaries, we've already handed out a slew of midseason grades. Up next, courtesy of its lead critic, Sean McKenna, Supernatural...
Best Episode: "Meet the New Boss." While the most recent episode involving Bobby's death was another series high, I have to give it to the premiere episode. Not only was the idea of Castiel as the new God scary, but when he transformed into the psychotic Leviathan, I had no idea how the brothers would handle the problem. Even Sam dealing with Lucifer mind games upped the ante on a great start to the season.
Worst Episode: "How To Win Friends and Influence Monsters." As much as I'm a fan of writer Ben Edlund, this episode didn't stick with me. I recognized the jokes from getting high to eating turducken, but really, that's the grand Leviathan plan? And Dick Roman as the leader wasn't cutting it in terms of scary. Overall, the episode felt all over the place and lacked in the tense and creepy factor normally attached to the show.
Best Character: Bobby Singer. I know it's normally a toss up between choosing Sam and Dean, but Bobby has had far more to do in terms of depth and exploration of character this season. He really stepped up as that father figure and more recently viewers got to see a little of his past. If anything, his death was a fitting ending (even though I still don't want it) to a great character that will truly be missed.
Worst Character: Dick Roman. Or maybe the Leviathan in general. I think Dick's smarminess and politically corrupt agenda would be better suited for a show like The Good Wife. He doesn't come across as supernatural scary or threatening. In fact, the whole of the Leviathan are lacking in that department and maybe it's because we still don't know what their primary goal is. For creatures that are supposed to be worse than all the other big bads that Sam and Dean have faced, they sure don't feel like it.
What worked: I love the return to hunting monsters of the week again. I've missed dealing with urban legends and ghosts, so its been a real treat to see the brother's back to their original work. Even the idea that Sam and Dean are left to face everything on their own is an intriguing concept. Plus, although it's felt more absent in the later episodes, Sam dealing with Lucifer as a hallucination was a fun and thought provoking idea. Is Sam really still in the cage?
What didn't work: Aside from running away from the Leviathan, there's been a lack of direction for Sam and Dean. I have no idea the end goal other than the typical save the world, and I have no idea what the Leviathan want besides eating people. In general, the Leviathan have felt like wasted potential, especially with the set up of the menacing creatures played by Misha Collins in the premiere episode.
Hopes for 2012: Don't get me wrong, I love Supernatural, the brotherly relationship, and fighting off demons, ghosts, etc. But I'm really hoping that the second half of the season gets an adrenaline kick to bring back the scary, the tension, the jaw dropping cliffhangers, and a bad guy worth fearing. Maybe it's been a slow lead up, but it would be nice to see a grand scheme finally revealed to give the brothers something to do on the larger story arc.
Perhaps returns from Misha Collins and Mark Shepherd as well? I recognize that after six seasons, its going to become harder and harder to top the last one, but no matter what complaints or dislikes I might have, it's safe to say that the show pretty much always delivers in the end. I look forward to seeing Sam and Dean dealing with truly being alone and facing that long road ahead of them. And please bring back that Impala!
Overall Grade: B-
Agree? Disagree? Post your grade for the season so far below!
Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.


text:
Call Now for Budget Cleaners Rates in Canons Park
Hiring regular cleaners to help in the home that offer a decent quality service should be something that you can do, no matter what your budget is – and now you can! We offer a full range of high quality services at very affordable prices to make sure that everyone has the chance to benefit. In fact our Canons Park cleaning rates are so low you'll wonder why you didn't call us sooner!
Prices for Regular Domestic Cleaning in Canons Park
*All prices are subject to availability. Please call us on 020 3404 0829 for a quote.
One-Off Cleaning Canons Park Prices
For One Off deep cleaning prices and availability, please call us for a quote at 020 3404 0829
To find out more information on the different cleaning services that we offer, make a booking for a day that suits you or get answers to your questions, call and speak to one of our advisers on 020 3404 0829. They're available 7 days a week and happy to help. You can also use our online form to ask us to call you back or get a free quote. Or get chatting with an adviser now by using our online chat facility and find out about the discounts we offer that make our great cleaning prices even better!


text:
Police investigating a reported rape in Hadleigh are renewing appeals for anyone in the area between around 11pm and midnight last Thursday to come forward.
Officers have been working with a woman in her 20s - who knocked at the door of a home in Angel Street around 11.35pm on Thursday, June 23, reporting she had been attacked - to determine what happened.
The Spooners Lane area has been identified as the possible location for where the incident occurred and police are renewing appeals for anyone who may have been in this area to come forward.
It's now known the incident would have occurred between around 11.20pm and the time of the call to police at 11.35pm and officers would like to speak to anyone who was out in this vicinity at any point between 11pm and midnight as you may have information that can assist, even if you think you didn't see anything of use.
Enquiries are continuing and officers would also like to speak to anyone who saw a man described as white, around 5ft 2ins tall, aged in his 20s, with dark hair, who was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, or anyone with information about who this may be.
If you can help please call Suffolk Police on 101, quoting crime number 40315/16.


text:
Hiding out in a motel room, a newly married interracial couple discovers they don't know as much about each other as they thought they did in "Venom," opening Thursday at the Elm Theater, 220 Julia St.
"The show opens with a man holding a butcher knife while wearing his boxer briefs," said Becca Chapman, who plays the role of newlywed Meadow. "Initially you're just like: What is going on?"
Born out of a mystery, the show goes on to explore the world of Waffle House and seedy motels.
"I tend to be very picky about what I will work on," said Pamela Davis-Noland, the director of "Venom." "I have a hard time doing work I don't love. But this play? By Page 4 I knew I wanted to direct this play. It's a great body of work. I love it."
An original work by Chicago playwright Clint Sheffer, "Venom" is a mix of whodunit, comedy and drama that Davis-Noland says will leave audiences breathless.
"When the audience walks into the theater they will immediately be right in the room with the characters, in an intense, dramatic situation, up close and personal," Davis-Noland said. "Anyone who wants to be on the edge of their seat will love this show."
"Venom" touches on issues of race and the way people learn about and relate to one another. Davis-Noland is a veteran of Fringe Festival, which is noted for its experimental and boundary-breaking shows.
"Elm is doing that kind of work," she said. "I tip my hat to (Elm founder) Garret Prejean for bringing this kind of work to the city. It's bold, and it's perfect for New Orleans."
"What gets me is the story and the world," Chapman said. "I love that seedy motel world and the people who revolve around it behind closed doors. Everybody in the play's motel room is just trying to survive. The question becomes who ends up being more loyal to whom when they're pushed up against the grind?"
Davis-Noland sees the play similarly.
"Naturally as human beings we want to know," she said. "We always want to know more about people and about people's lives. The characters are so interesting that I just had to know."
Aside from its motel room setting, the play also revolves around that most infamous of Southern dining establishments: Waffle House.
"We've all been to Waffle House," Chapman said. "Anyone could be in there. It's a place where real people just go and be real. I look around at people and just wonder what their story is. It's a habitat for characters."
Interesting characters abound in "Venom," as they do in the work of playwright Clint Sheffer in general.
"I'm in awe of his writing," Davis-Noland said. "He has characters who have so many layers and depth and it all comes through without being blatant and in your face. You have to stop and think about these characters."
Besides Chapman, the cast includes Matthew Thompson, Matt Story and the single-name actor Moses.
Davis-Noland promises audience members will spend a long time thinking about "Venom."
"It's not the sort of play you can forget about immediately. "A day later, two days later, you'll stop and say 'aha!' at some realization you'll suddenly have."
"I can definitely promise three things," Chapman added. "Profanity, blood and beer."


text:
Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer, Diabetes, And High Blood Pressure By Drinking Water In This Way
Water is an essential part of our daily life. We all know that more than 70% of the human body consists of water.
Consumption of water is very important for the different functions which body organs carry out, such as digestion, circulation and many more. According to Japanese culture, there is a specific way in which you should drink water to eliminate different diseases.
You should drink water first thing in the morning when you wake up.
The proper intake of water can help you to get rid of below health issues-
Body aches
Cardiovascular diseases
Kidney diseases
Eye diseases
Menstrual disorders
Ear, nose and throat disorders
In addition, we are going to present you the way of drinking water due the day:
After you wake up, drink 4 glasses of water immediately. Later brush your teeth and do not eat anything for another 45 minutes.You can have your breakfast after 45 minutes along with coffee or tea. Once you have your breakfast, give a gap of 2 hours and do not consume anything in this period. You should follow the same with lunch and dinner.
In the beginning, it is often difficult to drink 4 glasses of water in the morning. So, you can start with let's say 1 or 1and ½ glass of water in the morning and slowly increase the intake. In the event that you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned infections this treatment is ensured to improve you feel.
In the event that you are for the most part sound, you can, in any case, give it a shot; it will make you feel more enthusiastic.
In addition, we are going to present you the duration of the method for different diseases:
Gastritis (10 days)
High Blood Pressure (30 days)
Diabetes (30 days)
Cancer (180 days)
Constipation (10 days)
TB (90 days) – consult with your doctor first
Joint pain patients – for the principal week they ought to take after the above treatment just 3 days, and from the second week, they can begin doing it consistently.
You have to attempt this technique, and you will see the outcomes.
Share this simple remedy with your friends and family member so that they can also be healthy all the time.


text:
This section contains 339 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis
Alan was in a coma, and Cathy feared brain death and a vegetative state, but nurses assured her a coma was the brain's way of trying to heal itself, and did not always mean brain death. Alan was kept naked to keep his body temperature as low as possible, and a feeding tube was inserted. He was also put on a ventilator to keep his brain as oxygenated as possible.
Meanwhile, Cathy tried to learn everything she could about TBI. Alan's official diagnosis was DAI, or diffuse axonal injury. Cathy conferred with a graduate friend of theirs, Dr. Andy, who specialized in brain injury cases, and Dr. Andy and his wife gave Cathy additional information and sent her a book on brain injury. Cathy grew close with other TBI victim families in the waiting room, including the parents of a teenage...
(read more from the Chapter 2 Summary)
This section contains 339 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)


text: TUPPER LAKE A public information meeting to discuss proposed highway reconstruction in the Village of Tupper Lake will be held Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 4-7 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the New York State Department of Transportation and will take place in the basement of the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library, located at 41 Lake Street. Officials will discuss a proposal for reconstruction on State Routes 3 and 30. At a prior meeting, also hosted by the DOT, the Village sought to designate Lake Street as a State Route and also inquired about realigning the intersection of Route 3 and 30. The DOT is expected to present alternatives to Lake Street and Route 30 realignment projects at the Oct. 1 meeting. The project would begin south of Queen Street and continue north on Route 30, until splitting at the Route 30/Route 3 intersection. The project would end at Pleasant See PUBLIC MEETING, page 2 Avenue north of the intersection, and to the east it ends at McLaughlin Avenue. The proposal seeks to improve just over one mile of highway in the village, and to restore the roadways structural integrity. Additionally, the project includes safety, mobility and drainage improvements. The preliminary plans will be on display for public review between 4-5:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., officials will give a presentation highlighting the proposals main goals. Citizens are invited to ask questions and provide written comments regarding the project.


text:
The Saint Bowie/ Morrissey pack$18.00
For those that worship at the feet of David Bowie and Morrissey, two of the most iconic and important frontmen of all time.
Pin 1 depicts early 80's "Let's Dance" era Bowie.
Pin 2 depicts 80's "The Smiths" era Morrissey.
Each Lapel pin is 1" hard enamel and glimmers in the light. Pin comes with butterfly clutch for perfectly attaching to any jacket, bag, hat, etc. The photos don't quite do it justice.
PINS SHIP SEPARATELY FROM PRINTS. In order to keep prints safe, all prints ship separately from pins.


text:
Windows Rot
During the normal lifespan of a computer you can expect to install, then probably uninstall, dozens of programs, hundreds of Windows updates, and who knows how many registry edits. After all of this is done your computer is significantly different from when it was fresh out of the box. All of these changes affect the formula of how Microsoft intended Windows to operate, and often not for the better. This process is called Windows rot, which is simply the process of a Windows computer slowing down over time due to everyday use and change. The perceivable difference for you, the user, is longer boot and load times, slower responses, and annoying difficulties with everyday tasks.
Really the best way to deal with Windows rot is to do a data backup and OS reinstall. This wipes the slate clean and allows the user to start fresh. Often with pre-built computers such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo, a five-year-old computer with a fresh installation of Windows, performed by Snare Systems, will be faster than when the owner first brought it home from the store. The reason for this is that software companies pay PC manufacturers to install trial versions of their products in the hopes that some of those users will purchase the full software suite after the trial period has ended. The problem with this is that most often this software is junk from square one and that even after the trial period of 30 days is over the software continues to startup when the computer starts, causing lag and increased boot times. With a new OS install our technicians don´t include any trial or superfluous software, only what is needed and what our clients will use.
A fresh installation of Windows is not always needed, however. Sometimes a System Optimization will do, whereby the computer is thoroughly gone through for spyware, applications that do not need to start, registry errors to fix, and junk data. With an Armor Technologies Optimization, we eliminate the problem programs and disable others on startup which are not necessary. The customer will benefit from a system optimization because it prevents you from having to reinstall all of your applications.
So, if you can make a cup of coffee, feed the kids, and watch the Harry Potter series all before your computer makes it to the desktop, then it´s probably time for a System Optimization or reinstall. But don´t worry, Armor´s techs have literally done thousands of installs and System Ops and we´re only getting better at it!


text:
This interlude was used during Beyonce's "I Am…" tour. It has all the right ingredients for a nice Illuminati-agenda pie.
We start with some police sirens and helicopters (police state atmosphere); we then add a Beyonce robot, à-la Maria from Metropolis; and we sprinkle some animal prints to allude the sex-kitten programming aspect; we focus on the leopard booty to accentuate the "sex-kitten" aspect; and we finish with a "one-eye" to make everything Illuminati-approved.
Sweet Dreams was also the subject of a full entire article published over a year ago: Beyonce's Sweet Dreams – Occult Mind Control.


text:
University facilities & services
FCUFS shall be responsible for all matters of policy relating to university facilities and services such as building needs, space utilization, supplies and equipment, administrative services, and parking and traffic problems. Faculty Code, Sec 42-39.
Chair: Rich Christie, electrical engineering. Rich Christie is an associate professor of electrical engineering specializing in electric power systems. He has been a member of the Faculty Senate and the Senate Executive Committee, and has served as chair of the Faculty Council on Faculty Affairs (FCFA).
President's designee: Charles Kennedy, associate vice president for facilities services
Voting faculty:
- Bruce Balick, astronomy
- Laura Little, psychology
- Murray Maitland, rehabilitation medicine
- Ann Mescher, mechanical engineering
- Giovanni Migliaccio, construction management
- Bill Rorabaugh, history
- AnnMarie Borys, architecture
- Ashley Emery, mechanical engineering
- Jan Whittington, urban design and planning
- Bill Erdly, computing and software systems – uw bothell
Ex officio:
- Chris Byrne, ALUW*
- vacant, ASUW*
- vacant, GPSS*
- John Carroll, PSO*
- Steve Goldblatt, UWRA*
- JoAnn Taricani, faculty legislative representative
* eligible to vote
Request access to FCUFS google drive: email moderator


text:
Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Tom Bergeron shows off his Disney Side as he hosts the season finale of "America's Funniest Home Videos" from the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC.
The season finale highlights include videos of funny pranks pulled on people in the office, including a sleeping employee who is awoken by an air horn; a stuffed skunk being pulled across the floor to scare two women; a little boy telling his dad he's never going to drop his tablet and then promptly does just that; and a Great Dane with a slobbering problem. The grand prize finalists are "Mail Slot Menace," with a cat clawing at the mailman through the mail slot in the door; and "Fake Car For Christmas," with a teenage girl in total shock after getting car keys for Christmas, only to find out her brother was playing a prank on her when shown her new toy car in the garage.
One of this season's finalists can show their own Disney side and win the grand prize: a Disney Parks vacation for four to the Disneyland Resort in California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.


text:
Walk into any electronics store this holiday season and you'll find a bewildering selection of home-entertainment gizmos with competing claims, formats and services.
Consumers are looking for assurance both from manufacturers and entertainment companies that the hardware and content they buy today will work together smoothly — that their new PC's, digital music players, high-def TVs and DVD players offer maximum choice across the media spectrum.
That's why the decision by Hollywood studios this week to embrace competing high-def DVD formats is a major cause of concern.
High-def DVDs represent the next wave of the homevideo revolution, which has been a rollicking success both for consumers and for Hollywood studios, which now generate far more revenue from DVDs than from theatrical box office.
But the bitter standoff over high-def DVD formats could temper the success of the format, sewing confusion among consumers while dampening the financial bonanza for studios.
Sony, along with its soon-to-be corporate partner, MGM, which together controlled 19% of the DVD market through October this year, has cast its lot with the Blu-ray format, backed by Sony Corp.; Time Warner, Paramount and Universal, which represented 41% of the market in the same period, have chosen HD DVD, whose primary backer is Toshiba.
Without an industry standard, consumers would need two separate DVD players to watch films from these studios — an untenable situation. One format is certain to fall by the wayside eventually, just as the VHS prevailed over Betamax two decades ago.
Competition between hardware manufacturers has certainly been healthy for the home entertainment business, generating a dazzling array of new consumer technologies. But it's important to remember that many Americans are technophobes, easily alienated by expensive and unwieldy gadgetry.
The format confusion stems in part from corporate synergy plays that shaped the media landscape in recent years: Sony Pictures has no choice but to embrace the standard backed by its corporate parent; Time Warner controls some of the patents for HD DVD.
But studios should look beyond the synergies of the competing hardware systems. They should make their libraries available in both formats and grant consumers the power to choose between Blu-ray and HD DVD.


text:
Last German soldier to fight in WWI dies without fanfare
Three British WWI Vets Survive
By ALAN HALL - Daily Mail, London
Last updated at 23:20pm on 23rd January 2008
The last German veteran of the First World War has died without fanfare or recognition at his home in Hanover aged 107.
An undated photograph of Mr. Kaestner, taken some years after WWI.
Erich Kaestner's passing went unrecorded on New Year's Day and was revealed only in a remembrance notice published by his family.
The death of the infantryman who later became a judge means that there are only four Great War veterans left from the major powers of Europe - three British and one French.
Kaestner was a middle class boy who answered his country's call in July 1918.
German commanders had committed an exhausted army to one last push on the Western Front to try to break the Allied defences. Called Operation Michael and launched in April that year, it failed.
As a member of Sonderbattalion Hauck, a group of highly-trained recruits named after a prominent commander in the Imperial German Army, Kaestner served in the ranks trying to halt the Allies as they pushed the Germans back, causing great losses.
In November 1918, shortly before the Armistice and before Kaiser Wilhelm II went into exile in Holland, Kaestner was among a number of troops reviewed by him.
Surviving WW1 veterans: William Stone, 107, Harry Patch, 109, and Henry Allingham
He ended the war back in Germany and became a lawyer.
The death notice says he was a retired judge and had earned the Lower Saxony Cross of Merit for distinguished public service.
The German army's Military Research Institute was unable to shed more light on his military career.
"In Germany such an event doesn't have the same kind of significance as it does in other countries," said institute spokesman Bernhard Chiari.
"Any form of commemoration of military events is seen as problematic here.
"Our veterans only take part in public ceremonies when they are invited abroad to join commemorative events with veterans from other countries.
"World War I is seen as part of a historical line that led to World War II."
Two million Germans were killed in WW1 and Britain and her empire lost a million men
Three of the last four survivors are British - front-line soldier Harry Patch, 109, Royal Naval stoker William Stone, 107, and Royal Naval Air Service flier Henry Allingham, 111.
The fourth survivor is Frenchman Lazarre Ponticelli, 110.
Mr Patch was a 'Tommy' who fought at the bloodbath of Passchendaele - a battle that cost more than 400,000 Allied and German lives with a gain measured in yards.
The veteran, who lives in Wells in Somerset and who served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, last year visited the site where his trench was located when the battle began in 1917.
Henry Allingham is Britain's last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, the sea clash between the British and German fleets that cost 7,000 sailors their lives.
He flew as a spotter for the battleships in a Sopwith plane.
Mr Stone was a stoker who was called up but was still in training when the war ended.
He served on many warships in the war, surviving sinkings and other near-misses.
While Erich Kaestner's passing went un-noticed, the death last Sunday of Louis de Cazenave, the last-but-one French survivor, made headlines around the world.
He took part in the Battle of the Somme and died aged 110 at his home in Brioude in central France.
He was fiercely anti-war, having served in the slaughter on the Chemin des Dames on the front - a place where men bleated like sheep as they filed into the trenches because they knew they were lambs being led to the slaughter.
"His death is an occasion for all of us to think of the 1.4million French who sacrificed their lives during this conflict, for the 4.5million wounded, for the 8.5million mobilised," President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a tribute.
De Cazenave is survived by Ponticelli, a French Foreign Legion veteran wounded in the Battle of the Frontiers when the Germans stormed into France in 1914.
He was discharged from the Legion and later joined the Italian Army in 1915 and was wounded again fighting the Austrians who were on Germany's side.
Hit in the head by artillery, he astonishingly survived.
My own observation: How sad that Germany does not honor its veterans. However, I certainly understand their reluctance, based on the terrible history of World War Two.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Last German World War I Veteran, Erich Kaestner, Passes Away in Cologne, Germany
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The Droid X's bootloader may remain locked up tighter than Fort Knox, but thanks to some industrious users from Alldroid the Droid X community at least has root access to sooth their pain.
As the question of why you would want to root always comes up I'll go ahead and answer it now. Some of the advantages include the ability to use WiFi tethering without shelling out extra cash to your carrier and access to a number of "rooted only" apps in the market including a variety of backup options for your phone.
To reiterate this is only root access and won't allow you to flash new ROMs yet although I'm sure there are many dedicated folks plugging away on that if for no other reason than to prove to Motorola that they shouldn't have bothered locking the bootloader in the first place.
The instructions and download can be found by hitting the source link below. This method does require you to use command prompt/terminal and that you have ADB setup so it is a little more complicated than some of the one click options that have been circulating of late, but if you are having any trouble I'm sure someone here will be more than willing to offer their advice.
Let us know how it goes for you and happy rooting.
Update: I rooted myself last night using this method and can confirm that it works just fine for those that might have been leery about it. As a quick PSA while you can remove a number of the pre-installed apps/bloatware you should not remove Motorola Backup Assistant as there are a number of reports that removing that app can brick your phone.


text:
The Best Designers in Dallas: Mary Anne Smiley Interiors Makes the List
Born in Seminole, Oklahoma, Mary Anne Smiley has since been in Colorado, California and everywhere in between. Her interior design business was firmly planted in Athens, Texas for 18 years, designing ranches and getaway homes, until recently when she moved herself and Mary Anne Smiley Interiors to Dallas, Texas. She has quickly become recognized as one of the best designers in Dallas by peers and experts in the industry.
Her favorite projects are the ones her clients adore, and high quality of her design makes her projects unique and fitting for any home. D Magazine, Southern Accents and Beautiful Homes of Texas are just some of the publications that have applauded her use of fabrics, color and technique.
We caught up with Mary Anne earlier this week to ask her more about her design inspirations…
Interesting Companies: When did you get into interior designing? How? Someone or something?
Mary Anne Smiley: My older brother became a custom home builder when I was in 3rd grade. I was mesmerized the first time he brought home a floor plan. So I started drawing my own for my friends immediately. I could not wait to go to OSU like my brother and become an architect.
Mary Anne Smiley Interiors now has a portfolio of bedrooms that have design and luxury magazines raving and recognizing her talent.
InterestingCompanies: Where did you go to school?
Mary Anne Smiley: I went to enroll in Architecture at OSU, but it was the mid 60s and the Dean told me "women do not enroll in architecture." So I walked across the street and enrolled in Interior Design and Fine Art.
InterestingCompanies: What would you like to do that you haven't already done?
Mary Anne Smiley: Illustrate children's books.
InterestingCompanies: What do you love about Dallas?
Mary Anne Smiley: That anything you can dream up is possible. The greatest clients, greatest showrooms, and unlimited resources are in Dallas.
InterestingCompanies: Where do you like to travel?
Mary Anne Smiley: I love Jackson Hole, New York City and Venice. I think I would love Alaska, too.
InterestingCompanies: What inspires your style? (designing and beyond)
Mary Anne Smiley: Anything new and different. There is an explosion of new materials out there just waiting for a new use. Nothing inspires me more except maybe a design problem to be solved.
D Magazine recognizes Mary Anne as one of the best designers in Dallas for two years in a row. To learn more about Mary Anne and her designs, visit maryannesmiley.com.
This article was originally posted on Directory.Leadmaverick.com.


text:
LCC on 'QED!Laughlin was featured on Pittsburgh 360. Check us out!
Founded in 1956, Laughlin Children's Center has a long tradition of offering multi-disciplinary educational support services to children from preschool through high school.
Laughlin's work centers on academic services such as traditional tutoring and Orton-Gillingham services for students with dyslexia; psychology services such as counseling and evaluation; occupational therapy; and speech services such as screenings and therapy.
Although they focus on different outcomes, these services work together comprehensively, providing support to the whole child.
As a community-based non-profit resource, Laughlin's goal is to help each child build a bridge to successful learning. Click on the icons on the right, or the services link for a list of our programs, including our NAEYC-accredited Village Preschool.
Laughlin Children's Center is a special place where every child achieves personal success and develops confidence as a learner.
Learn more about LCC by liking us on Facebook!
A few Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare my child for his appointment?
Laughlin Children's Center is child-focused and its clinicians have many years of experience in helping children with a variety of needs. You can truthfully tell your child that Laughlin is a place that helps kids, that there are no medical tests or shots, and that they will feel cared for by the staff. Feel free to visit us before the actual appointment if you think that would be helpful for your child.
What ages of children are serviced?
We see children ages two through 18.
What should I bring with me?
You will complete a parent history upon your arrival, so any materials that will help you answer the questions would be helpful, such as a baby book, health records, copies of recent reports, an IEP, a list of current medications, and any augmentative devices the child typically wears, such as eyeglasses or hearing aids.
Also, you should plan to bring your insurance card and be prepared to pay your portion of the cost of the visit (such as a copay, coinsurance or deductible), for those services that are eligible for insurance reimbursement. For more information about insurance at Laughlin, please see the payment methods FAQ below.
What methods of payment are accepted?
Laughlin accepts cash, personal checks, and credit card payments, and takes most major insurance (for those services which are covered). Here is a list of currently-accepted insurance providers, but you should contact the Center for more information.
Please note that individual providers at Laughlin Children's Center may not participate in some of these insurance networks. Also, there may be specific plans within these broad networks in which Laughlin Children's Center is not participating.
Commercial Plans:
Blue Cross Plans (includes Highmark)
Health America/Health Assurance (behavioral health only)
Value Options (behavioral health only)
United HealthCare/Optum
Medicaid Plans:
Aetna Better Health (behavioral health only)
Gateway Health Plan
Medicaid Fee-for-Service (HIPP plan)
United Health Care Community Plan for Families
UPMC for You
CHIP Plans:
Blue Cross Plans
United HealthCare Community Plan for Kids
UPMC for Kids
Do I need to stay while my child has his or her appointment?
We ask that you do not leave the Center premises while a minor child is attending an appointment. We have a comfortable waiting area for you during the visit.
Who will see my child?
Laughlin Children's Center differs from other centers in our multidisciplinary approach. Clinicians from one department, or several, may see your child in the course of providing services. A clinician or our client information coordinator will share with you more details about the suggested course of action and who might be involved; the child will be treated or evaluated only by clinicians from departments that parents or guardians consent to.
What are your hours of operation?
The Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm, and Fridays from 8 am to 4 pm. Not all services are available at all times; contact the Center for more specific information.
Are you accessible for clients or visitors in wheel-chairs?
Yes, the Center is compliant with ADA requirements.
Academic Services
Laughlin's academic services span a child's school experience, from preschool through high school. Our education programs are... Learn more...
Psychology Services
The psychology department at Laughlin Children's Center offers services to all area students, along with... Learn more..
Speech Services
Because speech and language are critical to social development and academic success, children need... Learn more...
The Village Preschool
The Village Preschool is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and licensed by... Learn More...


text:
People use DVD instead of CD due to some extra benefits. DVD holds clearer pictures and better quality sound, and stores the entire movie in one single disc, so we don't need to carry many CDs. Can we record DVD and save onto the hard drive, so that we can repeatedly play some splendid moments without wearing the disc or DVD drive?
With a built-in DVD recorder, it is possible for use to record DVD as MPEG-2 video with DVD X Player. Let's have a look at how to record DVD movie.
Record DVD Movie Guide
Step 1. Startup DVD X Player
Startup DVD X Player. If you haven't installed it, click here to get the latest version and follow the prompts to install it.
Step 2.Load the DVD
Insert the DVD into DVD drive, the player will auto start to play the disc if you have set it as the default player.
Step 3. Record DVD
Click the red button on the main panel to start. A small window with warning will appear. To protect DVD copyright, DVD X Player only allows you to record DVD video within a time limitation: 45 minutes for DVD X Player Professional, 15 minutes for DVD X Player Standard. Please read it carefully and abide by the agreement.
To stop recording, just click the button again. Then video files you recorded have been saved on C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\Aviosoft\DVD X Player.


text:
New Yorkers who lived through the arson and looting that ravaged the city during the blackout of 1977 were understandably edgy when the lights went out on Aug. 14. But it was clear by late evening that the blackout of 2003 would be nothing like its predecessor. This night did not belong to arsonists or looters; it belonged to families and neighbors who poured into the streets to use the headlights of parked cars for block parties and barbecues.
Why were things so quiet? For one thing, the World Trade Center tragedy taught New Yorkers to recognize the difference between a genuine disaster and a temporary inconvenience. This blackout also favored us by starting during the daylight hours -- instead of after dark, like the last one -- allowing the Police Department to station officers strategically around the city before nightfall.
A more important difference between this blackout and the last one is the massive, publicly financed reconstruction effort that has rebuilt neighborhoods like the South Bronx from scratch. The program, begun by Mayor Edward Koch in the 80's, has produced more than 200,000 affordable apartments and houses, revitalizing burned-out communities and turning record numbers of New Yorkers into homeowners with a vested interest in keeping their areas safe.
The recoveries of the South Bronx and Harlem are familiar stories by now. But nowhere was the contrast between the 1977 blackout and the recent one more vivid than in Bushwick, a struggling but improving Brooklyn community that was widely known during the 70's for its breathtaking lawlessness and decay. Like many poor communities of the period, Bushwick watched its middle class disappear, replaced by the poor families dependent on welfare.
The layoffs and service cuts that came with the city's fiscal crisis in the 70's further undermined an already disintegrating community. By the middle of the decade, Bushwick's decaying wood-frame houses were more valuable to their owners when they were burned for the insurance. Arson became a nightly occurrence. Truck drivers who entered the community first arranged for police escorts. Some department stores refused to deliver to Bushwick at all, requiring buyers to pick up their furniture and appliances at the stores.Continue reading the main story
This brand of civic quarantine would seem outrageous in New York today. But it was common in the 70's, when communities like Bushwick, the South Bronx and, to some extent, Harlem were so cut off from the rest of the city that they seemed like distant, third-world countries.
The filmmaker John Sayles lampooned this phobia of minority communities in his 1984 movie ''The Brother From Another Planet.'' In the film, a subway magician says he can make all the white people disappear from a train heading uptown to black Harlem. At the next stop (the last one before Harlem), the white commuters exit en masse and -- poof! -- the passengers turn black.
The sense of civic isolation in places like Bushwick was intensified by police officers who took a casual attitude toward crimes in depressed areas that would have been swiftly punished elsewhere. Criminals who learned that they could act with impunity took control of depressed communities. These criminals organized the looting in the 1977 blackout.
In their book about that period -- ''Blackout Looting!'' -- Robert Curvin and Bruce Porter found that experienced criminals had actually kept large crowds of less experienced looters at bay until the most valuable merchandise had been stripped from stores and carted away. At the time, the combination of looting and arson proved especially devastating on the 30-block stretch of Broadway in Brooklyn between Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant, where just about every major store was ransacked and many were torched. Bushwick became part of the so-called devastation tour, in which visitors to New York were ferried by bus to view urban blight.
By the early 80's, New York was faced with a housing shortage and the challenge of rebuilding burned-out, deteriorating neighborhoods. The city committed $5 billion to build affordable housing in these desolate areas with the aim of revitalizing the communities. The rebuilding effort coincided with the rise of community policing, which got officers out of their cars and into closer contact with residents and civic groups. The stabilizing effect has been dramatic in central Harlem -- where the home-ownership rate has nearly quadrupled over the last decade alone. The white people who once disappeared so magically from the uptown train now buy houses in Harlem and walk its streets.
A similar transformation is unfolding in Bushwick, where the New York City housing agency has sponsored new construction and the renovation of 4,000 homes and apartments -- more than a quarter of them occupied by owners. Earlier this year, more than 2,000 people, including police officers and firefighters, inquired about 61 new houses that are going up in Bushwick, a few of which carry a price tag of more than $300,000. The demand for these houses marks a big change from 20 years ago, when middle-class New Yorkers were even afraid to drive through the neighborhood.
The calm that characterized Bushwick and other rebounding neighborhoods during the recent blackout vindicates the housing initiative begun during the 80's. The progress of the last 10 years reminds us that investing in the poorest communities benefits the city as a whole.Continue reading the main story


text:
Chastened by Market, Better Place Sweetens Deal for Electric Car Buyers
Better deal offered because company had problems breaking into the consumer market, said industry sources.
After five years of preparations, Shai Agassi's electric car vision has reached the consumer market - with a number of last-minute changes. Better Place announced new plans for consumers on Sunday as it started selling cars not only to vehicle fleets but also to private customers.
Better Place launched its first advertising campaign this week offering the general public its Renault Fluence ZE electric car, and is also offering consumers simplified payment plans for using and charging the cars, based on the number of kilometers traveled. The reason the company is offering new customers a simpler and better deal is the problems Better Place has had breaking into the consumer market, said industry sources.
Customers now have the choice of two plans. The first includes the purchase of between 40,000 and 80,000 kilometers over three years - at a price of 55 agorot per kilometer - with a commitment in advance. Until now, Better Place offered this option only for four years and a minimum of 80,000 kilometers, which put off many customers who felt this was too great a long-term commitment. Better Place expects most customers to sign up for this plan as the average Israeli drives 17,500 kilometers a year, and for new cars, up to five years old, the figure is 20,600 kilometers per year. Better Place is also promising that the prices will not rise during the three-year commitment period.
The second package is called Pay As You Go, and customers will pay 65 agorot per kilometer with a minimum of 1,000 kilometers per month. This plan will replace the previous packages which included 20,000-30,000 kilometers a year at a fixed price of NIS 1,090 to NIS 1,600 a month. The change resulted from customers' preference for packages without a set commitment.
The new fixed prices represent a slight price cut from the previous packages, which cost between 64 and 68 agorot per kilometer.
The cost of gas for a family-sized sedan is estimated at 69.8 agorot per kilometer, based on the widely-accepted price list published by Heshev Information Systems. This would mean savings of up to NIS 2,600 over the three years for an average family sedan - though this of course could change dramatically depending on changes in gasoline prices.
Better Place says its customers will also save a lot of money on other costs, such as the low price for maintenance of the electric cars, since they come with a full manufacturer's warranty for four years, as well as their road service package.
The Fluence comes in seven colors. After the tax breaks for "green cars," the price will be NIS 121,200 for the standard model and NIS 128,100 for one with more accessories. Customers will also no longer require a three-month advance notice period before ending their commitments, and now will be able to cancel the package at any time without penalties if they want to sell the car, but the battery will remain the property of Better Place. If the customer wants to buy the battery too, that will cost another NIS 77,000.
Better Place also plans to start offering trade-in services soon.
The company has already installed some 1,500 charging points for the general public, and will open 38 battery changing stations by September. Carasso Motors, the official importer of Renault cars, will service the vehicles.
Want to enjoy 'Zen' reading - with no ads and just the article? Subscribe todaySubscribe now


text:
- Filter:
- All
- Most Popular
Nation grapples with fear amid violent clashes
NEW HAVEN >> The rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly may symbolize a greater willingness of hate groups and racists to express their views in public, according to those who study racial issues.
Ending Obama health care subsidies would increase deficit, premiums
HARTFORD >> Ending billions in federal insurance subsidies would worsen the federal deficit and increase insurance premiums, the Congressional Budget Office warned Tuesday in its report.
Violence erupts as hundreds face off in Virginia before white nationalist rally
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. >> A vehicle plowed into a group of people marching peacefully through downtown Charlottesville.
4 sanctuary cities facing loss of crime-fighting aid
WASHINGTON >> Attorney General Jeff Sessions moved Thursday to again punish so-called sanctuary cities, this time threatening to deny federal crime-fighting resources to four cities beset by violence if they don't step up efforts to help detain and deport people living in the country illegally.
'Dukes of Hazzard' star faces indecent assault, drug charges
WALTHAM, Mass. >> The actor who played Luke Duke in the 1980s television show "The Dukes of Hazzard" is facing indecent assault and battery and drug charges in Massachusetts.
Whoa! Amazon holds job fair to fill 50K job openings at US warehouses
FALL RIVER, Mass. >> Amazon is holding a giant job fair Wednesday and plans to make thousands of job offers on the spot at nearly a dozen U.S. warehouses.
1st safe repair of disease-causing gene in human embryos performed
WASHINGTON >> Altering human heredity? In a first, researchers safely repaired a disease-causing gene in human embryos, targeting a heart defect best known for killing young athletes — a big step toward one day preventing a list of inherited diseases.
Safety group: Legalizing recreational marijuana could boost crash rates
A traffic safety organization is warning that two recent studies suggest that legalizing recreational marijuana could lead to an increase in crashes, including deadly ones.
Missouri police: Woman shaved boy's head, wrote 'pervert' on it
EUREKA, Mo. >> Police in suburban St. Louis are investigating the case of a woman suspected of shaving a neighbor boy's head and writing "pervert" on his forehead in retaliation for his interaction with her daughter.
Dow soars above 22,000 for 1st time; other indices fall
NEW YORK >> Stocks are mostly lower Wednesday, but a big gain for Apple sent the Dow Jones industrial average above 22,000 for the first time. Movie theater companies and studios are tumbling after AMC Entertainment gave a weak forecast and said it will cut costs.
July deadliest month for children in hot cars in US
Eleven children died in the U.S. from heatstroke in hot cars during the month of July, according to CBS Connecticut, making it the deadliest month for such deaths in almost a decade.
Hundreds mourn doctor slain after denying opioids to patient
Kelly flexes muscle his first day as White House chief of staff
WASHINGTON >> Raised voices could be heard through the thick door to the Oval Office as John Kelly — then secretary of Homeland Security — offered some tough talk to President Donald Trump.
Los Angeles gets Olympics with an 11-year wait ─ and risks
LOS ANGELES >> By 2028, a new stadium being built for the Rams and the Chargers will have been beaten up by nearly a decade of NFL games. The seemingly intractable problems of Southern California — traffic and homelessness — might get better or grow worse.
President Trump says he won't stay off social media
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump may be trying for a reset in the West Wing, but he is making clear that he is not changing his twitter habit.
Lawsuit: Ex-detective says Trump worked with Fox on DNC aide story
President Donald Trump collaborated with Fox News to concoct a story claiming a Democratic National Committee staffer was killed in retaliation for leaking Hillary Clinton's emails to Wikileaks, according to a lawsuit by a private investigator for the slain man's family.
Explosion in Afghan mosque kills at least 20
KABUL, Afghanistan >> An Afghan hospital official says an explosion inside a minority Shiite mosque in western Herat, on the border with Iran, has killed at least 20 people.
With baby steps, Senate Republicans abandoning the president
WASHINGTON >> There wasn't a dramatic public break or an exact moment it happened. But step by step, Senate Republicans are turning their backs on President Donald Trump.
Rowling apologizes for claiming Trump ignored disabled boy
LONDON >> J.K. Rowling has apologized for tweets alleging that U.S. President Donald Trump refused to shake the hand of a disabled boy.
California man pleads guilty to killing son after Disneyland trip
LOS ANGELES >> A California man pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing his 5-year-old son after a family trip to Disneyland, setting off a search for the boy that lasted more than two months before his body was found near a lake.
Trump on tricky legal ground with 'Obamacare' threat
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump's threat to stop billions of dollars in government payments to insurers and force the collapse of "Obamacare" could put the government in a tricky legal situation.
Tillerson declares he's comfortable in job _ and with Trump
WASHINGTON >> Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his boss. But President Donald Trump's top diplomat says he's comfortable in his job and in his relationship with the commander in chief.
Ohio police: Man hid girlfriend in freezer, lived with impostor
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio prosecutor alleges a man stored his girlfriend's body in a freezer while another woman helped him and assumed the dead woman's life by moving into her home, using her credit cards and caring for her dog.
Lawsuit: Fox coordinated with White House on false story
NEW YORK >> A lawsuit filed Tuesday lays out an explosive tale of Trump allies, the White House and Fox News Channel conspiring to push a false story about Democratic leaks and an unsolved killing in order to distract attention from the Russia investigation that has been swirling around the president
Woman in Ohio allegedly used police chief's card to snort heroin
CANAL FULTON, Ohio >> This wasn't the intent when an Ohio police chief left his business card for a resident: The officer discovered that a woman later used the rolled-up card to snort heroin.
Trump swears in Kelly; insists there's no chaos at White House
WASHINGTON >> Hoping to turn the page on a tumultuous opening chapter to his presidency, President Donald Trump insisted on Monday there is "no chaos" in his White House as he swore in retired Marine Gen.
More than 20,000 fans evacuate festival in Spain after fire engulfs stage
The main stage of a popular music festival in Spain went up in flames Saturday, prompting the evacuation of 22,143 fans, according to regional authorities.
Federal bill would require used cars with recalled parts to be repaired
HARTFORD >> U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey are pushing legislation that would require used cars that contain recalled, unsafe parts to be repaired before being sold or leased.
Water skier rescued after 100 mph crash in Washington state
TACOMA, Wash. >> Authorities say an Australian water skier suffered a broken leg and injured back after crashing at about 100 mph while participating in the World Water Ski Racing Championship in Washington state.
Typhoon injures 81 in Taiwan as another storm approaches
TAIPEI, Taiwan >> Taiwan's first typhoon of the year has left 81 people injured and coastal towns flooded as the island braces for a second tropical storm.
Vermont man thought mother was possessed, pleads guilty to killing her
RUTLAND, Vt. >> A Vermont man who told police he attacked and killed his 82-year-old mother because he believed she was possessed by Satan has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Gold lunar module stolen from Neil Armstrong museum in Ohio
WAPAKONETA, Ohio >> Ohio police say a rare gold replica of the lunar space module has been stolen from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum.
14 dead after suicide bombing in northeastern Nigeria
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria >> Authorities in northeastern Nigeria say at least 14 people are dead after a suicide bombing blamed on the Boko Haram extremist group.
Pennsylvania woman burned in hospital dies of injuries
ALLENTOWN, Pa. >> Authorities say a woman who suffered burns over most of her body when her gown caught fire in her Pennsylvania hospital room has died of her injuries.
Trump appears to favor rough police treatment of gang suspects
BRENTWOOD, N.Y. >> Talking tough on illegal immigration and violent crime, President Donald Trump appeared Friday to advocate rougher treatment of people in police custody, speaking dismissively of the police practice of shielding the heads of handcuffed suspects as they are being placed in patrol cars.
Hunt continues for Russian hackers, but no election link found so far
MOSCOW >> Pyotr Levashov appeared to be just another comfortable member of Russia's rising middle-class — an IT entrepreneur with a taste for upmarket restaurants, Thai massages and foreign travel.
British baby Charlie Gard, at center of legal fight, dies off life support
LONDON >> Charlie Gard, the critically ill British baby at the center of a contentious legal battle that attracted the attention of Pope Francis and U.S. President Donald Trump, died Friday, according to a family spokeswoman.
US hits Iran with more sanctions over rocket launch
WASHINGTON >> The United States is slapping Iran with new ballistic missiles sanctions in response to its launch of a satellite-carrying rocket into space a day earlier.
Pentagon: North Korea fired ICBM, had with enough range to hit US or Japan
WASHINGTON >> A Pentagon spokesman says the U.S. believes the missile launched by North Korea was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Pennsylvania woman attacks husband with ax as children flee
KITTANNING, Pa. >> Police say a Pennsylvania woman attacked her husband with an ax as their terrified children fled their home and called for help.
McCain urges both parties to 'start fresh' on health care reform
WASHINGTON >> The latest on Republican-pushed legislation to repeal Obama's health care law (all times local):
Sessions hopes anti-gang effort will mend fences with Trump
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador >> Attorney General Jeff Sessions is eager to use his aggressive work against the MS-13 street gang to help mend his tattered relationship with President Donald Trump.
US economy expands at solid 2.6% rate in Q2
WASHINGTON >> The U.S. economy revved up this spring after a weak start to the year, fueled by strong consumer spending. But the growth spurt still fell short of the optimistic goals President Donald Trump hopes to achieve through tax cuts and regulatory relief.
North Korea 2nd ICBM test puts much of US in range: experts
PYONGYANG, North Korea >> North Korea on Friday test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile, which flew longer and higher than the first according to its wary neighbors, leading analysts to conclude that a wide swath of the U.
Scaramucci ignites fierce White House fight: 'Shiv in ribs'?
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump's new communications director exploded the smoldering tensions at the White House into a full-fledged conflagration Thursday, angrily daring Trump's chief of staff to deny he's a "leaker" and exposing West Wing backstabbing in language more suitable to a mobster movie than a seat of presidential stability.
Authorities: Man robs bank, strips, then tosses stolen money
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. >> Authorities in Florida say they arrested a man who robbed a bank, stripped naked and ran down the street throwing stolen money.
Jeff Bezos surpasses Bill Gates to become richest person in the world
Amazon.com founder and The Washington Post owner Jeffrey P. Bezos on Thursday briefly became the richest person in the world, displacing
British judge orders critically ill baby to be sent to a hospice
LONDON >> A British judge ordered Thursday that critically ill infant Charlie Gard should be moved from a hospital to a hospice, where he will "inevitably" die within a short time.
Report: Iran successfully launches satellite-carrying rocket
TEHRAN, Iran >> Iran successfully launched a satellite-carrying rocket into space on Thursday, the country's state media reported without elaborating.
Russia sanctions bill exposes Trump's legislative tug of war
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump is likely to sign a tough new sanctions bill that includes proposed measures targeting Russia — a remarkable concession that the president has yet to sell his party on his hopes for forging a warmer relationship with Moscow.


text:
Having the right employment law attorney on your side can provide you peace of mind — and make the difference between an unacceptable situation and a favorable resolution. Employment laws change often as Congress and state legislatures pass new bills; and courts interpret existing laws in new ways. Employment law issues involve a complex mix of both federal and state statutes. That is why it is important for Illinois businesses and employees to contact an employment lawyer who is well-versed in both federal and Illinois employment law when they need legal assistance.
Whatever work-related legal challenges you grapple with, the Western Chicago employment lawyers at Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin can provide you with up-to-date, on-target information and recommendations appropriate to your specific employment law situation. We are an employment law firm dedicated to resolving your workplace concerns.
"Every time I talk with you, I'm amazed at your knowledge." — Tammy M.


text:
|Program 1412
For more information:
Producer: Dave Shuffett
No Crying
professional baseball player Pat Scott
Pat as in Patricia, that is. To start this edition of Kentucky Life, host Dave Shuffett plays a little catch with Burlington native Pat Scott, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1948 and 1951-53 seasons. A standout right-handed pitcher, she helped the Fort Wayne Daisies beat out the powerful Rockford Peaches for the 1952 regular-season pennant. (They lost to South Bend in the playoffs, though.)
The AAGPBL, formed during World War II, was the brainchild of Chicago Cubs owner Philip Wrigley. As young men went off to the war, minor league baseball teams found it a struggle to field teams, and some even folded. Fearing that baseball would lose its status as America's pastime (and that major league profits would end up suffering), Wrigley sought ideas for keeping fan interest alive. As in other areas of life on the wartime homefront, one solution quickly bubbled to the top: Let women fill in for the missing men.
And so a group of investors conceived a plan for a women's professional league, and scouts fanned out across the country to recruit potential players. Since the only form of the sport available to girls and women at the time was softball, the new venture was initially called the All-American Girls Softball League. The ball used was larger than a regulation baseball, and pitching was underhand for the first few years. But the distance between bases was lengthened, and otherwise the rules were those of professional baseball, including the additions of a pitcher's mound and base stealing.
By the time Pat Scott joined the Springfield Sallies in 1948, overhand pitching and regulation-size baseballs had been instituted, making the game even more like the men's. But other unique aspects of the women's league (as dramatized in the movie A League of Their Own) hadn't changed. Players were expected to look as neat and attractive as possible at all times—along with a uniform and glove, each was issued a beauty kit and a guide to comporting herself like a lady. They attended a mandatory charm school and agreed to live by rules that included prohibitions on drinking or wearing slacks in public. And a chaperon traveled with each team to keep an eye on them.
Pat's first year in the league saw the highest attendance ever, with AAGPBL games drawing more than 900,000 fans. Interest started to wane after that, and the league ended up folding in 1954. But during its 12 seasons, some 600 young women got the chance to do something they haven't done at any other time in America's history: play professional baseball in "a league of their own."
Kentucky movie trivia: Scenes at the boarding house where the Peaches live in the movie A League of Their Own were shot at Henderson's Soaper-Esser House.
For more information:
Producer, videographer, editor: Brandon Wickey
Field to Table
chef and educator Bob Perry
Bob Perry is a professional chef with more than 25 years of experience in Kentucky and abroad, and today he runs one of Lexington's most exclusive restaurants. Reservations are definitely required for the Lemon Tree: It's open only seasonally, and even then only two days a week, and the only meals served are lunches for which the seatings are at noon sharp. But none of that is because Bob is trying to be elitist. He's the director of the Food Systems Initiative in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, and the Lemon Tree is a project to give his dietetics and hospitality management students some practical experience in the restaurant business.
Bob himself was never one of those students. His college major (at the University of Louisville) was international political economics, and he has a master's degree in sociology. So of course he soon found himself making a living as a bartender and then by putting his self-taught cooking skills to use. He has cooked, run restaurants, or been a food-service consultant in places from the Caribbean to South Carolina to Japan to the Great Lakes. But now he seems to have settled down back home. Among other ventures, he has been the general manager of the Belle of Louisville and the GM/executive chef of My Old Kentucky Dinner Train and is a former director of the food service for the Kentucky state parks.
He's also an avid gardener and an enthusiastic promoter of locally grown ingredients. While working for the parks system, he directed efforts to revamp park restaurant menus to emphasize local specialties and the use of products straight from the fields. He continues that focus at UK through involvement in a wide range of projects to help Kentucky farmers, vintners, livestock growers, and consumers find one another. And at the Lemon Tree, menus change monthly and always include what's just now ripe in Kentucky fields.
For more information:
Producer: Valerie Trimble
One Hot Dog
Woody the Kentucky Wiener
In our next segment, we meet a well-traveled Kentuckian who has become one of the most popular guest "speakers" in schools throughout the state, despite a rather limited vocabulary. Woody the dachshund, also known as Woody the Kentucky Wiener or, more formally, Mr. Dogwood Furr, has developed quite a following thanks to a series of children's books about his adventures written by his "mom," Leigh Anne Florence.
A Murray native, Leigh Anne earned a master's degree in music education at Murray State University and started a teaching career. Somewhere along the way, she also adopted a dachshund puppy, probably not realizing how profoundly that act would change her life. She decided to write a children's book about the experience of choosing a pet, and The Adoption made an instant star of Woody. It was soon followed by several more books starring the wiener dog and a second adopted dachshund, Chloe. Their adventures have also been serialized in newspaper features for young readers, and Leigh Anne has quit teaching to devote herself to the Woody enterprises full-time.
These days, the Florence family (which now includes several other animals) calls Shepherdsville home. But on weekdays when school is in session, chances are that Leigh Anne and her two star dogs are on the road. Traveling in the Woody Bus, they visit schools all over Kentucky to give inspirational presentations on writing, personal responsibility, treating others with respect, and thinking big. When not busy meeting his fans, Woody keeps an online diary and answers e-mails and letters from all over the world.
1410 • 1411 • 1412 • 1413 • 1414 • 1415 • 1416 • 1417 • 1418 • 1419 • 1420 • 1421
1422 • 1423 • 1424 • 1425 • 1426 • 1427: Lincoln: 'I, too, am a Kentuckian.' • 1428 • 1429 • 1430 • 1431
|< Previous Program | Next Program >


text:
Robert Friends poetry in this issue
Anthony Rudolfs Obituary and Tribute
Edward Fields Essay on Robert Friend
For all photos of Robert Friend: Courtesy of Jean Shapiro Cantu
Epicure of Essence: Robert Friend 1913-1998
by Gabriel Levin
Introduction to Dancing with a Tiger: Poems 1941-1998 (The Menard Press, 2003)
Jerusalem has had its share of drifters, but Robert Friend may have been its longest-abiding and most comfortably ensconced sojourner. He arrived in 1950, in his mid-thirties, with degrees from Brooklyn College and Harvard, and a dozen years of travel behind him, living first in Puerto Rico, and then Panama and Europe. These had been Edenic years which soothed perhaps the hardships of growing up poor in Brooklyn between the wars. Friend had worked at a variety of odd jobs - inspector of fire-extinguishers, military censor, gas inspector - though for the most part hed taught English as a second language.
Robert came, I suspect, on a lark, and then tarried. For one, the fledgling English Department of Hebrew University was eager to press him into its ranks, Old photos suggest that Friend must have cut an impressive figure: tall, slim, in coat and tie, with a slightly owlish look. He was, by then, somewhat of a cosmopolitan, speaking Spanish, and some French, German, and Yiddish. He had also begun to make a name for himself as a poet back in America, publishing poems in Poetry alongside verse by Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Carl Sandburg, and Hugh MacDiarmid, and bringing out his first collection of verse, Shadow On The Sun, in 1941. Friend took up the offer to teach English and American literature, though again I doubt he believed he was committing himself to anything long term.
He soon found himself a small basement apartment in the old, formerly Arab neighbourhood of Talbia, commenced teaching, and, more importantly, swiftly, effortlessly, became a Jerusalemite: holding on tightly to his mother tongue and foreign manners, he threw himself, body and soul, into the hothouse atmosphere of new-found friendships, of liaisons and betrayals, and intimate, desperate talk, which in the end would serve as nourishment for so many of his poems. The larger issues of nationhood, religion, Zionism, it almost goes without saying, had nothing to do with Friends decision, if one can call it that, to remain in Jerusalem. Much later in life he would write of such questions, though in the most insouciant of manners.
Friends verse during his early days in Jerusalem - witty, meticulously crafted, a touch arch - showed no overt signs of having been written in his new home. There was no trace of the scarred Judean landscape, not even a pine or cypress inserted itself into the poetry to shade the poets musings; nor, for that matter, did he allude to traditional Jewish texts, or the Bible - a favourite pastime of newcomers to the Holy Land. Salt Gifts, Friend's second volume of verse, published in 1964, could have been written in an English tea garden. His poetry remained insistently elsewhere, and although the poet had by now become very much a member of the Anglo-Saxon community (a local term applied to residents hailing from any English-speaking country), he made a point of retaining for years his temporary resident status at the Ministry of the Interior.
And yet the poetrys detached, inward-looking gaze, its shadow reality of innuendo and thwarted desires, does seem to curiously mirror the elusive, dreamy underside of the city, in which so many of its wraithlike inhabitants have wandered, heedless of time and place, not unlike the poets hunchback who studies in the mirror / how well his hunchback fits. Jerusalem has always at heart belonged to the defeated. And the poets early poems partake of that world, even as they turn away from the uncertain realm of a common reality in their insistent practice of absence.
There came a time - the summer of 67 to be exact - when, walking out of his front garden, with its huge mulberry tree, Robert could amble through the half-wild olive field just beyond his home, and then turn down into what had been no-mans-land, before taking the steep incline leading to Jaffa Gate, or Bab il-Halil, the Western entrance to the Old City. For a while, at least, the results of the Six-Day War appeared as a boon. Israelis poured into the Old City, tourism was on the rise, and tiny, backwater Jerusalem began growing at a maddening pace. Robert, undoubtedly, shared in the general elation of the opening up of the city and the consequent uneasy mingling of the two populations, Israeli and Arab. There was, in addition, a personal side to his interest in the Arab community. Friend was gay, and casual pickups in East Jerusalem were generally plentiful and uncomplicated. The poets encounters with Arab men rarely remained solely physical, however. There were lovers and there were long-term friendships, which above all else Friend valued. There were quarrels and eventual reconciliations. There was also a genuine concern for the welfare of Palestinian friends who were detained by the Israeli military authorities during the Intifada, a concern which often turned into concerted action on their behalf. And all along Friend made persistent efforts to learn Arabic.
He didnt get very far in his Arabic, but neither, for that matter, did he ever really acquire a sound knowledge of Hebrew. This didnt deter Friend from beginning to translate Hebrew verse. A certain insularity from the Hebrew tongue seemed to help, keeping him at a slight remove from the meaning, the semantics, of the Hebrew text, while allowing him to concentrate on its meter and rhyme. Roberts natural preference was for the traditional moderns, like Natan Alterman and Leah Goldberg, both major Hebrew poets who began writing in the 1930s. The latter was also a friend of the poets, and Menard Press in London would publish his splendid selection of her work in 1976.
A year earlier Tambimuttu published a slim Selected Poems of Friends under the imprimatur of Seahorse Press. The verse in that volume is coy, vulnerable, with a by-now characteristic penchant for the redolent, at times over-felicitous, phrase. The Complicated lover who is at sixes and sevens / with all his heavens softly revels, even as he is stifled - and the tone is at once resigned and proud - by the tight fit of his own artifice. And yet a handful of poems offer a glimpse of what is yet to come. I am< thinking in particular of such poems as The Irrational Source, A Crucifixion, Young Man and Kitten, My Turn, Absence, where Friend cautiously lowers his guard:
A little more of irresponsible love
and a little less of responsible affection
could have saved. Your code
of honor breeds pestilence of stone,
a clean, dead world where nothing grows.
Justice, too, out of a pure sky
can murder. A little water,
the irrational source, will defeat error
till roses and wheat spring from arid eyes.
Order is a perfect ring - a noose.
Who dangles there is I.
By 1980 Friend had inadvertently become a respected figure. A generation of Israeli poets, Yehuda Amichai, Natan Zach, Dalia Ravikovitch, among others, while undergraduates had attended Friends class in modem American poetry, and had listened to Friend reciting from Frost, Stevens, Moore, and Pound, as he stood or leaned against the large desk in front of the class. Aspiring poets approached him for advice, Hebrew poets asked him to translate their poems. After much needling from the English department he would even acquire a doctorate. And a host of poets passing through Jerusalem had by then visited, or rather descended, into his cat-filled apartment, overheated in winter and poorly ventilated in summer - little more than two large, low-ceiling rooms divided by bookcases: Frost, Auden, Alfred Chester (who died in Jerusalem of an over-dose of barbiturates), and Lowell. who, legend has it, was seen pinching Leah Goldbergs bottom during one such social evening.
Friends sense of having a proper place, after thirty years in Jerusalem, seemed to translate itself into a greater openness in his life and work. Undoubtedly his willingness to speak and write about his own homosexuality was connected, as well, to changes occurring around the world in gay communities, including Israel. He was, moreover, acutely aware of the fact that over the years he had practically lost his American readership. American poetry had undergone a sea-change in the 1960s, and Robert, whose literary models were Housman, Auden and Larkin, hadnt quite found a way to combine his own inner needs for greater directness with his gift and hunger for formal playfulness. He now set about to make that adjustment, or find that voice, which would accommodate itself to both the public nude and the disciplined elegance of the artificer.
1980 was also the year that Menard Press published Friends fourth collection of verse, Somewhere Lower Down. Though appearing when the poet was sixty-seven, it is his most youthful, spirited collection. I remember attending a reading shortly after the book came out. Robert read with a verve which occasionally lapsed into bluster. It was a side I hadnt recognized in the poet before. And in fact it didnt flare up again, at least not with such force, in later readings. But at the time a certain flamboyance and audacity was very much part of the new poetic self Friend was experimenting with: Nose-picker, peeker through a bedroom shutter, / farter in a suburban swimming pool, / my lower self, you are a perfect fool. Thus numerous poems are governed by a sort of late-in-the-day adolescent fever and daring. Though here too the need to shock is more often than not reigned in by neatly rhymed quatrains:
Only because the trains are running
and planes are flying in every direction
to somewhere where a god lies sunning,
waiting for him with an erection,
does he pretend the world is real,
that it means something to rise and greet it.
He gives a shine to an old ideal,
and boils an egg and is glad to eat it.
I dont believe Robert was completely satisfied with Somewhere Lower Down. It did mark an increased directness in speaking of matters of the heart, that old slob, and flesh. And yet, as in the above stanzas from Only Because, the poets treatment of love and sex was most often cavalier - as if nakedness, the stripping of the self, could only lead to self-ridicule.
Fifteen years would elapse between the publication of Somewhere Lower Down and Roberts last, large collection, The Next Room, also published by Menard Press. It is a long period, even for a poet who published at long intervals. During this time Friend translated and published a selection of verse by the poet Gabriel Preil. Preil was a splendid anomaly on the Israeli literary scene: a leading Hebrew poet who was born in Estonia and lived a solitary, near-anonymous life in New York City. He was, so he said of himself, the last of the Hebrew poets living in exile, a poet who refused the comforts of writing in ones homeland and made only three brief visits to Israel rather late in life. It was the perfect match: an American in Israel, endearingly holding onto his expatriate status, and an Estonian-born Hebrew poet living in the Bronx.
During this time Friend was slowly, painstakingly, and at a late hour, trying to consolidate the disparate elements in his new-found style. Translating Preils free-verse poetry might have actually helped, for Preils rueful poems of dislocation are most often skillfully poised between the serious and the comic. And this is especially true when the poet, an incorrigible romantic, speaks of the frailties of old age.
Friend, two years younger than Preil, made every effort to hide the fact that he too had reached his seventies. He was, after all, a certified hypochondriac, forever checking for draughts in friends homes, adjusting his wool scarf around his neck, and calling his physician at all hours of the day. But age would catch up with Friend and - perhaps taking Preils cue - the poet set himself down to record, with the lightest touch, the way a word travels / in a light wind, its incursions.
Age, then, would be Friends grand, insistent theme, during his last years. And time and its vagaries are treated most successfully when the poet chooses the most abbreviated of forms: fifty-odd pages of compact poems, first published in pamphlet form as Abbreviations, in which the poet speaks with grief and humour of the bodys decline after open-heart surgery, and of the demise of friends and lovers. Friend had reshaped, in his late seventies, a style and voice pared down to his needs, as he would admit in The Poem: Mr. Friend, meet Mr. Friend, / and so I was born. / The terrible journey began. / I rushed home to write the poem / I feared to forget. . .
The poems would come, with unexpected ease, irregularly rhymed, casual-looking,frank, even raw, as the unfinished creatures / we are often glad to be. He would write of pissing into the garbage pail instead of the toilet, of foul-smelling undershirts, of eye examinations and of heart failure, of lost cats, of late-night conversations on the phone, of the ice-cream man, his sweet summoner, and of dying with his wretched Hebrew on his lips, desperately trying to remember the words for Quick, Im dying.
Two years later, however, in 1997, cancer was diagnosed. He was given three to
four months, and managed to live, out of sheer determination, for just over a year.
Before anything else Robert decided half defiantly, half-jocularly, to publish
privately an envelope-size book of sex poems, titled After Catallus, which vexed some of
his friends and delighted others. He then put his affairs in order, sold his old flat, and,
refusing to stay in a hospice, rented a small, ground-floor apartment with plenty of sunlight and a view of a majestic, old date palm. Here he was cared for by Nizar, his Palestinian male nurse, and here he entertained, translated, and wrote, propped up in his bed, his last poems.
I'm all bruised bones, he sadly confessed after staring at his emaciated figure in
the mirror, picking up the thread, as it were, of a conversation wed had recently on
Hopkinss Carrion Comfort. But during these last months Friend was also sheer and
clear, and he talked, in the best manner of an old-time Yerushalmi, or Jerusalmite, of
friends and family and books, with a lucidity that comes after the chaff has flown.
I visited Robert in hospital a few days before he died. It was by then difficult for
him to open his eyes, let alone talk. But, with the tracings of a smile, he did manage a
single complete sentence: my sequiturs are non, he sighed, before silently sinking back
into the pillow.
Several months earlier he had written, They tell me I am going to die, / why dont
I seem to care? / My cup is full. Let it spill.