Marcus Hayes, along with the comments that follow, pretty much sums up the brutality, angst, glory, forgiveness, sin, exploitation, joy, pain, love, and numbness of most of the human condition.
Here's the link if you want to learn more about how Ricky Watters helps the kids.
I guess we'll begin to see assessment of how well these football camps for underprivileged kids are protecting the brains and joints of such, but for now, we can just appreciate the idea of Watters as the hardworking good man.
Makes me feel like I should scurry back to my own tasks.
Alex Kudera’s award-winning novel, Fight for Your Long Day (Atticus Books), was drafted in a walk-in closet during a summer in Seoul, South Korea. Auggie’s Revenge (Beating Windward Press) is his second novel. His numerous short stories include “Frade Killed Ellen” (Dutch Kills Press), “Bombing from Above” (Heavy Feather Review), and “A Thanksgiving” (Eclectica Magazine).
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
more homelessness
This blog depicts a national war against the homeless, focusing mainly on aggressive city ordinances until toward the end it implies there could have been foul play involved in the death of an advocate for the homeless in Tampa Bay, Florida. The obituary I found seems quite legitimate though and doesn't suggest anything of the sort. One thing is clear though, that Bill Sharpe's passing will not in anyway help the homeless of Tampa Bay. Here's an excerpt from the obituary:
But his friends say Sharpe had a genuine concern for the poor, and as the economy got worse — and a panhandling limit in Tampa seemed more like a sure thing — he felt he had to do something.
Sharpe told the Times he saw how the often-bedraggled homeless people on street corners sometimes frightened drivers. He thought he knew why.
"They could be us," he said. "We're flat scared of that."
But his friends say Sharpe had a genuine concern for the poor, and as the economy got worse — and a panhandling limit in Tampa seemed more like a sure thing — he felt he had to do something.
Sharpe told the Times he saw how the often-bedraggled homeless people on street corners sometimes frightened drivers. He thought he knew why.
"They could be us," he said. "We're flat scared of that."
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Ridge Avenue
I remember driving by this Ridge Avenue homeless shelter many times on my way to 8:40 a.m. Writing for Business and Industry classes at Temple University. In one of my 10 to 15-year-old economy cars (quality "hoopdees" for all your urban transportation needs), I'd glance to the left, see the men already standing outside, and be grateful I had an apartment, a fine collection of adjunct "opportunities," a working car heater, and more. If I'm not mistaken, Sam Katz once visited and spoke to the men during one of his failed mayoral bids.
And now, poof, the shelter disappears. . .
. . . or, rather, it has been replaced by another Stephen Starr joint, in this case, a catering operation employing 60 people (but the article states none of the previous tenants applied for work at the new venture).
Here's an excerpt from the news:
However, with Gov. Corbett's decision to cut off of general-assistance money to 30,000 Philadelphians in August and with the approaching winter, homeless advocates say the situation could quickly worsen.
"We will not be surprised if we see an increase in the number of people who need shelter," Scullion said. "It might not be today, but when it breaks, it will be tough."
Andrew Latimore, 57, who is homeless, said it's been hard for people who've been cut off from general assistance.
"A lot of people are off their checks now and only have food stamps," Latimore said. "You can't stay nowhere with food stamps."
And now, poof, the shelter disappears. . .
. . . or, rather, it has been replaced by another Stephen Starr joint, in this case, a catering operation employing 60 people (but the article states none of the previous tenants applied for work at the new venture).
Here's an excerpt from the news:
However, with Gov. Corbett's decision to cut off of general-assistance money to 30,000 Philadelphians in August and with the approaching winter, homeless advocates say the situation could quickly worsen.
"We will not be surprised if we see an increase in the number of people who need shelter," Scullion said. "It might not be today, but when it breaks, it will be tough."
Andrew Latimore, 57, who is homeless, said it's been hard for people who've been cut off from general assistance.
"A lot of people are off their checks now and only have food stamps," Latimore said. "You can't stay nowhere with food stamps."
Saturday, October 6, 2012
nothing with my life
It's one of those nights when the world wide web so easily convinces me I've done nothing with my life, and yet, I can still find myself giggling at parts of this story that I wrote when I was about 24. At other sections, I wince, of course.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
austerity
i've decided to add some austerity to my own life. although i have not yet determined exactly how this will be done, i'm leaning more toward cutting back on capitalization as opposed to reducing the ice-cream intake. the ice-cream intake is nothing to be proud of, but i just don't feel it right or proper to radically alter my diet in these troubling times. someone's got to keep the cows and scoopers employed, and i'm not sure i could handle the stress of significant change. status quo has gotten me this far, and i do often at least try to walk it off in the evenings.
in other news, i've found a little local charity i'm jonesin' to contribute to. contribute 44 meals for $11. yeah, sounds too good to be true, and we can be certain they won't be eating the same ice cream i'm eating, but all the same, i liked the little note and the small envelope, and i think i'll write that $11 check right now. of course, i haven't yet sent Oxfam anything even though i added the donate link to my blog. i'm tired and overworked, so give me a week on the $11, too.
like a lot of folks, i'm feeling a little weirded out by the debate last night, and i guess we'll see where it all leads. a lot more job growth and stock-market gains under dem presidents, and yet you never would have known it if you only tuned in last night.
and since this is a more personal note, i should add that they've graciously added proper cement sidewalks to parts of our neighborhood. it makes a difference.
okay, thanks for listening.
in other news, i've found a little local charity i'm jonesin' to contribute to. contribute 44 meals for $11. yeah, sounds too good to be true, and we can be certain they won't be eating the same ice cream i'm eating, but all the same, i liked the little note and the small envelope, and i think i'll write that $11 check right now. of course, i haven't yet sent Oxfam anything even though i added the donate link to my blog. i'm tired and overworked, so give me a week on the $11, too.
like a lot of folks, i'm feeling a little weirded out by the debate last night, and i guess we'll see where it all leads. a lot more job growth and stock-market gains under dem presidents, and yet you never would have known it if you only tuned in last night.
and since this is a more personal note, i should add that they've graciously added proper cement sidewalks to parts of our neighborhood. it makes a difference.
okay, thanks for listening.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Contemporary Austerity Horizon
This essay on austerity and the illegal consolidation of power in Romania in included in the latest print issue of Contemporary Literary Horizon. That would be the one that arrived in my mail over the weekend, and it also features a Romanian translation of "The Bicentennial with Grandpa Andy."
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