In the News

• UA Poetry Center moves into new home (here) : According to Gail Browne, Executive Director of the University of Arizona Poetry Center, they will begin moving to a new facility on Wednesday. With more than 60,000 items it is one of the largest such centers in the country. I'd like to browse through this when they are finished.
• Classified evidence debated / Court likely to allow suit against AT&T (here) Wednesday, a federal appeals court in San Francisco - hearing arguments about President Bush's clandestine eavesdropping program, appeared inclined to keep alive a lawsuit accusing AT&T of illegally letting the government intercept millions of Americans' phone calls and e-mails.
• Acclaimed poet Pavel Chichikov debuts on Catholic Radio International (here)

Screw the Dry Heat Argument

My oldest daughter who lives in Phoenix argues that with no humidity it's a dry heat and that isn't as uncomfortable. Of course she has been here long enough that the remaining uncooked braincells may still believe this. My last visit was during the Spring Training period of the year several years back. It was hot then, but nothing like it is now.

I saw the ASU campus yesterday with youngest daughter. Heat aside it's a pretty nice place. Tomorrow I should see even more of it.

Last night we watched "A Night's Tale" which I really enjoyed. The pop-culture aspect of it was pretty entertaining.

My writing the past few days hasn't been entertaining. It's been pathetic. Heat, change of environment? Who knows.

Child Soldiers [draft)

A slumping night
Wept for those pressed into duty battle
By grown men with archaic presence of mind
To plunder the natural order- peace-

It is all remedial arithmetic.
More soldiers equals more tokens in their hands.
More chips they can gamble away
With low maintenance child warriors.

No enlistment paperwork or die-cast metal tags
To string around their necks.
No toe tags for the dead.

No one knows where they come from
Or cares where they go;
No duty to notify families or messy emotions.
Just a simple war-
With child labor.

Arizona Sunset

Arrived late last night in Phoenix on a mission to safely deliver youngest daughter to Arizona for her next phase of education at ASU. The picture here is taken from the car window in Flagstaff.

Slept so-so last night. Awoke this morning and checked into the office to deal with a couple of matters.

Having a diet coke and trying to orientate myself to the day. Staying with my oldest daughter who I haven't seen in gee, I guess about three years.

Evidently I upset Storm's (the cat) apple cart. Sitting in his place on the couch. Taking over the bedroom where he's been hanging out lately. He had already made it know that I was an encroachment. But when bedroom was readied for me he was totally pissed of. You would not have believed the mean-mugging stare!

Of course I had to stop in Winslow, Arizona of Eagles fame in the song Take It Easy . First time I ever came out here we made a road stop there at a little shit & get place and as we were getting in the car I kept saying Winslow, Arizona over and over to myself and as we were driving away it hit me why it was familiar. Duh!

I'd like to say that the scenery was so inspiring that I stayed up last night writing great material. In the alternative, I'd like to say I slept well. Unfortunately neather would be accurate.

I think it's time to do breakfast...

Stickpoet will be dark for a few days

I will be tied up (nothing kinky) for a few days and if I post at all,
it will likely be very sporadic. Everyone have a good weekend and week ahead.

Insignificance is but one view

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars."

~Walt Whitman

at&t altering content & collecting personal data around the globe

AT&T moves from carrier to censor (story here)