kimblr.com

6 p.m., Conversations About Poetry, at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square : Join X. J. Kennedy, poet, anthologist and editor of numerous poetry textbooks; Lewis Turco, poet, memoirist, prosodist and authority on verse forms from all over the world; Rhina P. Espaillat, local poet and a founding member of the Powow River Poets; and moderator Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, for an informal and wide-ranging conversation about poetry. The discussion will be shaped in part by comments and questions from the audience, but some of the topics likely to be touched upon are the role of poetry in the life of the individual and in the society as a whole; the unique features of this oldest of all the literary arts; the relationship between poetry and the other arts, both old and new; and the significant contributions of translation to the world of poetry.
Presenters: X. J. Kennedy, Lewis Turco and Rhina P. Espaillat. Moderator: Dana Gioia
8 a.m., Echoes and Whispers: Breakfast with Poets, Central Congregational Church Social Hall, 14 Titcomb St.: Is there a better way to start the day, and the Literary Festival, than with bagels and poetry? Enjoy a continental breakfast as the Powow River Poets read their poems and share stories about poets who have influenced their own verses and visions.
Presenters: Michael Cantor, Robert Crawford, David Davis, Midge Goldberg and Len Krisak.
   10 a.m., The Shameless Muse, at the Central Congregational Church Social Hall, 14 Titcomb St.: Since the days of ancient Greece, poets have penned verses to serve the muses. In turn, the muses have bestowed inspiration on the poets. Still, one never knows what enchanting oddities await discovery: A ruined maid’s hang-ups, a pariah’s trials and travails, or the life and times of the locals from a Jerry Springer town. Join us to celebrate the bawdy, the ribald and the debaucherous.

wickedlocal.com

Matt Edwards went to Edinburgh, and he watched lots and lots of films. Lots. And lots.
The Dead By Dawn horror film festival took place this past weekend and consisted of a variety of features and shorts. I went for the first time this year, lured to Edinburgh under the promise a truly memorable long weekend.
I was accompanied by Mrs. Matt, a nearly qualified student nurse. I asked her for a quote on each film, which I’ve included here to give you an idea of what someone slightly less nerdy than me might make of these films. It’s probably fair that I mention that I elicited these quotes at four in the morning by shouting at her until she said something I felt I could use.
These trivialities aside, lets get to what really makes any festival; the films.
The festival opened with Outpost, a war-themed Brit horror about a small team of soldiers who end up in a haunted bunker under the constant threat of attack from ’something’ in the surrounding areas. The film features some decent action, a fantastic animated sequence and some interesting ideas. That said, it’s quite slow to get going, the story is a little muddled and we aren’t really offered a great deal of character development. I would also question whether Nazi zombies is something that needs to be played straight.
Mrs Matt: "It was too slow and they faffed about too much. There wasn’t enough action, but when there was action it only lasted for 2 minutes and then they just went back to faffing about again. Who was the guy from Spaced in it?"
Double bill of the first two entries of Argento’s Three Mothers Trilogy (the concluding part of the trilogy was shown later in the festival). It’s hard to imagine a better experience watching Suspiria than on a big screen with a booming soundtrack. The print of Inferno was apparently new and looked spectacular. Great fun.

denofgeek.com

From the food drive at a Miami magnet school to drop-off points in Palm Beach County, everybody seems eager to help Haiti. Soaring food costs there have triggered riots and spawned further worries that a much more serious food crisis is imminent.
International relief agencies and Haiti experts warn that the uncoordinated flow of aid can be counterproductive in a country where food is plentiful on store shelves but most people can’t afford it because of high unemployment and global price hikes. Delays getting food out of the port before it rots also have been a recurring problem.
”People are very generous, but it’s just best to let them demonstrate that generosity by giving money to the professionals,” said Ron Waldman, a professor in public health at Columbia University in New York, referring to the many international nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, already trying to respond to the crisis in Haiti with their own food distribution efforts. “What they need is money.”
Still, for some people the idea of walking into a grocery store and then delivering the bags is more satisfying than writing a check. Others worry that giving money doesn’t always reach the needy.
About three dozen Miami-Dade County officials and activists on Friday outlined a plan to address the crisis, from pressing for immigration reform for Haitians to debt relief from the Bush administration, to figuring out how best to feed people.
”It’s just one small thing that’s happening,” said Amy Carswell, program officer for the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board, which helped organize the emergency summit. “One thing we’re looking at is, how do we get food to the people who need it the most, immediately, without it being subject to graft or sitting in the port?”
The U.S. Southern Command in South Miami-Dade County is working on that, said Col. Bill Costello, SouthCom’s chief public affairs. For instance, several staffers are working to help the Pan American Development Foundation move 18, 40-foot containers of rice from the Midwest to Port-au-Prince. Staffers are also helping a kids organization ship 500,000 high-nutrition meals to the Caribbean nation.

miamiherald.com

Gretta Hurst wants to give back to the community in a special way and says her horse Rosie does, too. Gretta and her husband, Floyd, own Red Rose Farm in Otto and want it to become a place where children with autism and other special needs can have a better quality of life because of their experiences there. They believe they can do this by letting the children ride Rosie.
Horseback riding is a method of healing known as hippotherapy (hippo is the Latin word for horse). Using the horse as a treatment tool is said to improve balance, posture, mobility, and function. It may also affect psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communicative function for all ages, Gretta said. But she just wants to focus on the young children now.
It all began with the Hursts’ friendship with the family of an autistic boy named Jacob. Jacob was the first to ride Rosie and it seemed to make him so happy that everybody wanted to continue. Jacob climbed on Rosie, laid down on her, petting her and singing a song from a popular children’s movie, “The Lion King.” Jacob and his friend Daniel ride Rosie once a week for an hour now and it has helped them tremendously, Gretta said.
It takes three volunteers each time a child rides. One leads Rosie and one stays on each side to hold onto the child.
“It makes the mothers so happy to see their children like this,” Gretta said. The boys are now learning to take care of Rosie – feeding, watering and grooming her. The Hursts would like to add another horse to the program and eventually add goats, chickens and a garden to provide the “total barnyard experience” to kids. But that will take more volunteers and more funding. The Jacob’s Ride program is a non-profit organization. A recent yard sale and a donation of a hundred bales of hay have helped get it off to a galloping start. Much more is needed, though, Gretta said. She would like to soon be able to get an enclosed riding arena so weather wouldn’t affect the program.

maconnews.com

Lancia Brings Together the Greats of German Cinema: Such historical figures as: Rudolf Thome, Dieter Geissler, Reinhard Hauff, Mario Adorf, Ulrich Felsberg, Volker Schloendorff, Edgar Reitz, Peter Fleischmann, Ingrid Caven, Peter Berling and Margarethe von Trotta
This was made possible due to the fleet of Lancia Musa, Lancia Thesis and New Lancia Phedra cars that provided a ferry service between the Principe di Piemonte hotel and the Politeama theatre for such historical figures as: Rudolf Thome, Dieter Geissler, Reinhard Hauff, Mario Adorf, Ulrich Felsberg, Volker Schloendorff, Edgar Reitz, Peter Fleischmann, Ingrid Caven, Peter Berling and Margarethe von Trotta.
On Saturday 19 April, the final day, Lancia hosted a cocktail party for the press and festival guests in the presence of festival director Felice Laudadio and the German ambassador to Rome Michael Steiner, followed by an awards ceremony and a concert by Ingrid Caven, an actress and singer who has performed in no fewer than 15 films by Fassbinder.
The joint venture between Lancia and EuropaCinema continues at the Casa del Cinema in Rome, where the films competing in the festival will be re-run from today to bring together the professional audience and Roman aficionados.
Christopher’s journey is guided by a mysterious black box. How does it know where to send him? Where has this dark technology come from? And will it help Christopher find his dream or lead him into his worst nightmare? Find the coordinates. Solve the mystery.
Take on the Black Box mystery for your chance to win a Nokia 500 Auto Navigation.
All images courtesy of and copyright their respective manufacturers, unless otherwise indicated, without the express written permission of whom they may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any way. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Model news and specifications are presented as provided by manufacturer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of AutoSpectator.com. No warranty is made by AutoSpectator.com with respect to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.

autospectator.com

Chris Perry goes straight into the squad for Saints vital game against Cardiff City at Ninian Park on Saturday (3pm) but he will not be joined by another deadline day signing in the shape of veteran Sheffield United defender Chris Lucketti (left).
Nigel Pearson’s strategy to dig Saints out of the enormous hole which is opening up beneath them is now clear: he is relying on proven, experienced journeymen who have been there, done it and worn the tee-shirt in most situations professional football can throw up.
Lucketti arrived as the Thursday deadline was approaching his move held up by the fact his wife was having an operation. However, everything has gone through now and Lucketti will team up with his new colleagues on Monday.
By then we will have a better idea just how much trouble Saints are in at the foot of the table.
If three points can be gleaned against a side with one eye on next weekend’s FA Cup semi final and with pelnty of injury problems at the back, salvation would seem to be well within Saints grasp. One more victory would probably be enough to ensure Championship football again next season at St Mary’s.
The last time a side went down with 52 points was in 1996 when Millwall dropped into the bottom three on the last day. How different might the football world be today had Pompey, who occupied the relegation spot going into the final round of games, gone down instead.
Cardiff have plenty of selection dilemmas:Darcy Blake and Kevin McNaughton are out while Tony Capaldi (back) is doubtful. Trevor Sinclair could play as a makeshift right-back while Joe Ledley (hamstring) is doubtful and striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is banned.
For Saints midfielder Inigo Idiakez could return from a hamstring injury.
With Saints relegation rivals, Leicester, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday all at home, it is not inconceivable that we could be in the bottom three by 4.45 on Saturday.

fansonline.net

Recognised in most countries and held in the last week of April the idea was then, and still is, to recognise secretaries for their contributions in the workplace, and to attract people to secretarial/administrative careers.
The Professional Secretaries Association eventually became known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals and in 2000 announced a name change for Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day.
The names were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative workforce.
New Zealand has 250,000 admin professionals – over 20,000 in Auckland alone – 650 belong to the Association of Administrative Professionals of New Zealand (AAPNZ).
The association was established in NZ in 1972 and has 15 groups throughout the country – all of whom will be recognising New Zealand’s Admin Professionals Day on April 30 with champagne breakfasts, lunches or dinners, and networking meetings. “With over 2,200 people nationally attending the 2007 event, this is definitely an opportunity not to be missed, but one that managers can acknowledge their admin professional for their support and dedication shown,” National President, Friday Rountree, said.
“An added incentive from managers to their admin professional is to support their personal and professional development by offering them membership of AAPNZ to enable them to expand on their skills and knowledge and of course, the various networking opportunities available.”
Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. The event is celebrated worldwide, bringing together millions of people for community events, educational seminars, and individual corporate activities recognising support staff with gifts of appreciation.
While as an employer you could observe Administrative Professionals Day by providing training for their administrative staff through seminars, continuing education or self-study materials or by making a commitment toward delegating responsibilities that better utilise the skills of administrative professionals there is no reason why you cannot take advantage of the moment to show your admin staff just how much you appreciate them with a bit of spoiling.

businesstobusiness.co.nz

This year EarthDay Network & Green Apple Festival are putting on eight free simultaneous festivals in landmark parks across the U.S. on Sunday April 20th.
The combined efforts of Earth Day Network (the nonprofit organization created by the founders of the original Earth Day in 1970) and Green Apple Festival has resulted in plans for a nationwide gathering that will get Americans out of their homes and under the trees to celebrate Earth Day 2008.
The events will combine environmental addresses by prominent speakers, the presence of a wide variety of environmental organizations and educational displays on the theme of environmental awareness. The line-up ranges from blues legends to Latin powerhouse pop stars, reggae greats, jam band favorites, conscientious hip-hop artists, R&B icons, rock bands and singer/songwriters during “America’s largest Earth Day celebration.”
The all-inclusive, interactive and free public events will occur in New York City (Central Park), Chicago IL (Lincoln Park Zoo), Miami FL (Bicentennial Park), Denver CO (City Park), Dallas TX (Fair Park), San Francisco CA (Golden Gate Park) and Los Angeles CA (Santa Monica Pier). The flagship event will be Earth Day 2008 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Find out more about specific concert lineups in each of the cities by visiting their website at www.greenapplemusicfestival.com.

abcnews.go.com

Habits of Highly Healthy Families: For Tweens and Teens:
* Be a better role model. Just as we teach our children to wash their hands before eating bread and to recite Grace After Meals, we must also teach them to eat healthfully and in moderation.
* Control the speed at which your children eat. The brain needs time to record the satiety message from the stomach, so second portions should not be given unless fifteen to twenty minutes have passed since the first portion was completed.
* Teach children to read and understand food labels and nutrition facts.
* Provide healthy afterschool snacks everyday. Children love to dip, so serve cut fruits and vegetables with dips. It is somewhat hypocritical when parents complain about their children’s unwillingness to eat fruit and vegetables when they themselves do not eat these foods regularly.
* Advocate for healthy school lunch programs. Portion sizes should be monitored. If you prepare your children’s lunches, make sure they are nutritious.
* The shift toward artificial sugar or substitutes is not a healthy compromise. Although most scientists today feel that saccharin (Sweet’N Low), aspartame (Equal) and the recent sucralose (Splenda) are safe, they do not know the long-term effects these sugar substitutes might have.
* Drink water. Fruit juices, soda and power drinks are full of “empty calories.” Beverages containing high fructose corn syrup should be avoided, and offered only on special occasions.
* Limit eating out to once or twice a week, and teach your children food exchanges. For example, if your child will be eating dessert after dinner, he should cut back on French fries or soda that day.
* Limit screen time (TV, DVD, movies and Internet usage) to a maximum of two hours on a school night. Instead, encourage after-school physical activities, and allow children to “buy” extra screen time with additional physical activity. For example, suggest to your child that he walk on the treadmill while watching a movie.

ou.org

The good thing about Opening Day is, at the end of the day it counts. It’s on record.
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins
I love Opening Day. I think we all do, whether it’s the players, coaches or front office. It’s just a special day in our American culture. It’s weaved into the fabric of what we are, and I think it’s a great day.
Padres manager Bud Black
Every Opening Day, I have this tradition. I pray — hard. One prayer for each loss in the previous season. It usually takes all day. But I think it’s working.
Royals fan “Troy” in Liberty, Mo.
Opening Day is here, first with a pair of Boston-Oakland games in Japan, then with Ryan Zimmerman’s unbelievable walk-off homer to beat Atlanta in the first regular-season game at Nationals Park in Washington, and now with 14 Major League Baseball games today, including the last opener at Yankee Stadium.
There will be pageantry and patriotism galore, bunting on the walls, personal and municipal traditions to follow, and companies everywhere fielding calls from employees who can’t make it to work because of the dreaded Opening Day Sickness.
(Memo to employers: Just go with it. No offense, but this is more important.)
Got your MLB.TV subscription ready? Want to see them all on MLB.TV Premium with that exclusive MLB.com NexDef plugin for 1.2MB clarity viewing? Every one of these games is available to out-of-market MLB.TV subscribers, and here’s a closer look at all the pageantry and on-field excitement coming today:
Royals at Tigers, 1:05 p.m. ET
Kansas City sends Gil Meche to the hill against Justin Verlander. Conventional wisdom says the Tigers have the better odds of going farther in 2008 than the building Royals. But this is the era when conventional wisdom means absolutely nothing. Let the games begin and the colossal surprises begin.

mlb.mlb.com