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Friday, January 21, 2011
I won't be working with Microcosm anymore
Microcosm's Statement:
It has been way too long since Cindy Crabb asked us to write a public statement regarding allegations of Joe Biel's history of emotional abuse and manipulation. It is not because we have chosen to ignore this issue. On the contrary, we have spent many hours discussing this topic. But we are not writing today to provide excuses. We hope to provide some answers and to encourage more questions.
Cindy is right that collectives need to confront abuse in all its forms by members within their collectives, even if it is just a collectively-ran business, but especially when that business lays claim to radical politics. It is for this reason that we want to say that we do recognize Joe's history of emotional abuse and manipulation. Not just with Alex, but within other relationships as well. We know that Joe has been involved in one failed mediation attempt with Alex. We also know that he was involved in a more recent process that fell apart (this was outlined in posts by Cindy and Alex). Unfortunately, the collective was made aware of this latter accountability process only shortly before it fell apart. We, the collective and Joe, have recently started working with a counselor who is helping us to reconcile many issues within the collective. We do not believe this is a replacement for a larger accountability process, but we do see it as an important first step for our involvement and for the betterment of Microcosm as a collectively-ran company.
We recognize and agree with the statement put out by the Athens Support Network, who mediated the last accountability process.
"Joe is in therapy, and we feel that he is making progress through therapy. He has identified a large number of behavior issues and has done work and continues to do work to change them. He believes that he honors Alex's experience. We, however, feel that he still has extreme problems with control, manipulation, defensiveness, and portraying himself as the victim."
We have noticed some positive improvements in Joe's behavior, but he does have a long way to go. We do believe that he can work through this and therefore choose, at this time, to continue working with him. We welcome suggestions on how we, the collective, can better facilitate this process. In the meantime, we will continue to work through this and figure things out as we go.
Cindy also pointed out that she would like more transparency about how things are run at microcosm. For that reason, we will soon be releasing some information on our website about how we run things. We honestly want to be a more transparent organization (which is why we've started posting annual financial statements). Over the past year, we have begun to change and implement a lot of new policies to help spread power among all of the collective members. We are excited about these changes and equally excited to share them with you.
Alex was right in that we need to hear from you. We know that Microcosm could be better and we want it to be so. For that reason, we need to know what it is that you think we need to fix. We've already heard some great things and we've worked to improve those. We'll share more about that later, though. We want the focus to stay where Cindy and others have asked us to focus it for now - on Joe's accountability.
Thank you Cindy, Alex, Ciara, and everyone who has put pressure on us to make change. It is a wonderful example of collective action. And we hope it proves that while we may be relatively large in the zine world, we are still just a small group of people who still love the community we are a part of and hope to make it a better place.
With sincerity and humility,
The Microcosm Collective
In response to Microcosms statement about Joes manipulative and abusive behavior.
This statement is to let it be known that despite Microcosms recent public statement finally acknowledging Joe Biel's abusive and manipulative behavior, I will not be distributing Doris though Microcosm any longer. They published Doris 23, the Doris Anthology, the Support zine and Learning Good Consent, so I don't have control of those publications.
In July, 2010, I asked Microcosm to write a statement, or have each collective member contact me with a personal statement, as a precondition to my continuing to work with them. I was following my sincere belief that organizations should have a chance to admit to the abusive behaviors of members, and that as long as they show a commitment to change, they should not necessarily be shunned. Below is part of the statement I made.
I believe that collectives, even when they are just collective businesses, are responsible for confronting issues of patriarchy (and other forms of domination) within their collectives, and working on change and transparency. I believe that Joe's behavior stems from patriarchy … the communication/manipulation models he uses are … patriarchtical.
In order to feel comfortable continuing to be published by Microcosm, I would need to know either from each collective member or from the collective as a whole (with a minority dissenting opinion) that they don't think Alex was crazy or that the attempts to deal with the situation are a witch-hunt. I would need to know from each member, or the collective as a whole (with a minority dissenting opinion,) that the collective recognizes that Joe still has issues with control and manipulation… I need to feel like the collective takes this seriously and does not put the burden of instigating change on the survivor/s, or on people negatively affected by Joe's behavior.
I do believe there are good people who work at Microcosm. I don't want those people to suffer because of Joe's behavior. I wanted to give the workers at Microcosm a chance to show their commitment to confronting Joe's manipulative behavior, and a chance to make a strong stance against abuse. The statement that was recently released by Microcosm is too little, too late. I can't believe it took 6 months to write a statement that could easily be summed up as "we agree with the statement made by the Athens Support Network." Microcosm's statement gives the impression that Joe has made more changes than he has.
I was hopeful that Microcosm might be able to take a strong stand against abuse. I feel like they failed. If this statement had come out immediately, and they had followed up with concrete examples of change months later, that would have been great. If they had waited six months and come up with a statement that firmly placed the responsibility of change on Joe's feet, discussed concrete changes the collective was making to deal with his abusive behavior, and took a strong stand against abuse, that would have been great. This statement is very weak, particularly considering that Joe's abuse has been known for years.
There have also been a number of incidents and issues that have come up since I made my request for a public statement that have contributed to my decision to not work with Microcosm anymore:
- I had asked that a public statement be made or that each collective member contact me with a statement about their beliefs. I received two statements, both of which referred to problems between Joe and Alex; neither called it abuse.
- Joe wrote a statement about his behavior, which I found extremely disturbing. Among other problems, it was very minimizing of Alex's experiences of abuse, and minimizing of the extent of his current manipulative behavioral problems.
- I had a number of business discussions with people at Microcosm, where the communication was unclear and I felt like I was being manipulated.
- I was told by someone at Microcosm that they were unclear what exactly Microcosm would need to do for me to continue working with them. This was months after I had made these conditions known. Often, in accountability situations, the perpetrator and the people who benefit from continued friendship/relationship with the perpetrator want to know exactly what needs to be done to fix it. This need for an exact recipe puts the burden back on the survivor/people who support the survivor.
All of these things have added to my feeling that the collective is not taking Joe's abusive patterns seriously.
I would like to take this chance to clear up some misconceptions about the accountability process I was involved in with Joe:
In late 2009, Joe told me that he had been in intensive therapy, had changed, and had no way of clearing his name. I helped set up an accountability team that was designed to confirm that Joe had recognized and changed his behavior; to help him deal with rumors, and to help him make amends. It was not designed to be a full accountability process.
Early on, it became clear that Joe still had very abusive/manipulative behaviors and that he was unwilling to own up to most of it. Joe had lied about the level of changes he had made. Because of this, the accountability process was disbanded.
I am disgusted by Joe's abuse of his former partner, disgusted by his continuing manipulative behavior. I do not think he has even begun to make the kinds of fundamental changes necessary. I take abuse very seriously and while I think there are some people in Microcosm who are committed to working for a world without abuse, I also think there is complicity within the organization. I have been disturbed by my recent interactions with people working at Microcosm. I am glad they made a public statement, and that they have a counselor helping them deal with internal issues but am skeptical about their priorities, since they have not posted their public statement on their website. I feel mistrustful of the organization. I have a hard time not thinking that most people just signed on to the statement, hoping to save their pants. I understand that they have been working to be more transparent. I hope that they are able to change. I, however, will not be working with Microcosm any longer.
6 comments:
- Sarah Sky said...
I hope that this helps set the bar for other writers/zinesters/people who dont agree with the way microcosm has dealt (or not dealt) with joe's behavior. I appreciate your insight and very much agree. im glad your not working with them anymore.
sarah sky
- January 22, 2011 at 1:36 PM
- Slice Harvester said...
This is really different from the impression I was given when I agreed to let them distribute Slice Harvester Magazine and really makes me question that decision. I don't think I can necessarily pull old issues, but I will be thinking twice and having a few more conversations with them before I send them anything new. Thanks for this.
- January 22, 2011 at 10:01 PM
- Marc Arsenault said...
I don't have any concept of what the current production situation is at Microcosm, but I gained some deep insight into the goings on at a printer they used heavily in the past. If you could hear what it was like it would turn your blood grey and cold. But, then again, it was pretty typical of the personalities I've encountered among pressman in the past all over the country. I won't quote anything trite about 'means of production' here. But that sort of thing does leave an impression. Um, so to speak. Otherwise, I have no concept of all this brouhaha, but, since I know a few other of their authors, so... I take an interest and hope something positive emerges for you all.
Sadly, this confirms my belief that all collectives ultimately resolve down to the influence of one utter asshole or a complete saint who still loses in the end.
In defense of no one... 'Motives that aren't selfish are suicidal'.
- January 23, 2011 at 10:51 PM
- Unknown said...
Cindy, I knew you many moons ago when there was the Pink Haus and all sorts of good wildness. I feel such fierce loyalty and admiration for you that I do not dither when people ask me what I think about this controversy.
- March 7, 2011 at 4:16 PM
- Cantankerous Titles said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- September 28, 2017 at 4:33 PM
- Cantankerous Titles said...
Alex and I separated in November 2004, nearly thirteen years ago. We haven't talked since February 2006. Yet she continues to insert herself into my life even as I've cooperated with her requests and gone through tremendous effort to help close this open wound. And in doing so, Alex has gone to great lengths to erase my perspective and deny my experience—that she abused me for years until I was suicidal. And then to drag Cindy into the situation on moral grounds.
I've spent years trying to resolve this situation so that we can both be left alone and move on with our lives. (https://medium.com/@joebiel/how-i-joe-biel-have-been-accountable-for-people-ive-hurt-c7dc239e2258) Each attempt at doing that has been summarily ignored or declined. I've done everything that was asked of me and there is just no resolution. What is gained by holding onto this?
There is a vast difference between supporting and rebuilding survivors of abuse and campaigning to bully and harm a disabled survivor of abuse. There's nothing radical about that. At least twice per week I am asked about any number of rumors that Alex has spread in the campaign against me. I am bullied online several times per week by strangers advocating on Alex's behalf. Alex continues to harm and spread rumors about me thirteen years later but you don't see me campaigning for people to boycott her, harm her, or even asking anyone to pick sides. Alex has consistently characterized my motives, feelings, and perspective about the situation—things that she cannot possibly know. Alex has even gone to great lengths to erase my perspective and deny my experience—that she abused me for years until I was suicidal. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-biggest-mind-blow-ever/answer/Joe-Biel
Microcosm, Cindy, and I resolved this situation even. (http://doriszineblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/blog-post.html) So let this situation rest so we can all move on and realize that it was resolved a decade ago.
- September 28, 2017 at 4:37 PM


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NORRISTOWN – For the second time in three years, a Delaware County man has been sent to jail for violating the probation he was serving for attempting to have unlawful contact with a minor nearly 10 years ago.
Richard John Reed, 31, whose last known address was Dougherty Drive, Swarthmore, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to six to 12 months in the county jail, to be followed by two years' probation, after he stipulated that he violated the terms of his previous probation by failing to participate in court-ordered counseling and treatment. Reed, according to court documents, was discharged from a counseling program in May 'due to non-compliance with reporting instructions,' according to court papers.
Judge Thomas P. Rogers imposed the punishment.
'He was removed because he missed approximately seven sessions since the beginning of the year and that was a violation of his special conditions,' explained defense lawyer Francis Genovese.
'The reason he missed this time and the explanation offered to the court was that his position of employment required him to be pretty much on the job until the job was done, on a daily basis. He worked for a tree removal service and quite frankly they had a lot of business this winter with all the snow and ice. There were many days he was just stuck on the job and couldn't make it to the group therapy sessions,' Genovese added.
It's the second time in three years that Reed, who was nabbed during an Internet sting operation conducted by a county detective posing as a 12-year-old girl in East Norriton in January 2005, has been sent to jail for violating his sentence.
In September 2011, the judge sent Reed, who has repeatedly professed his innocence, to jail for 30 days to 12 months, to be followed by four years' probation, after probation officials alleged Reed 'failed to cooperate and participate' in a sex offender counseling program by refusing to admit that his motive for his 2005 conduct was sexual gratification.
'Things were different this time around. It wasn't that he was resistant to the treatment or didn't want to comply with the court's order, it was just kind of circumstances beyond his control,' Genovese said about the latest violation.
Reed, who has a fiance and a son, potentially faced being sent to state prison for the violation.
In January 2011, Reed, after winning a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, was sentenced to five years' probation, and avoided a jail term, after a four-year legal battle regarding whether his conviction should be graded as a felony or misdemeanor.
In the end, the state's highest court ruled in favor of Reed, determining his conviction of attempted unlawful contact with a minor should be considered a misdemeanor for sentencing purposes.
At that time, Judge Rogers also ordered Reed to be placed under sex offender supervision. While on probation, Reed was required to participate in a sex offender counseling program.
Assistant District Attorney Jordan Friter previously argued that non-compliance undercuts the conviction of the jury and undercuts the goals of supervision.
Following a three-day trial in April 2006, a jury acquitted Reed of felony charges of attempted rape of a child, attempted statutory sexual assault and attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in connection with the incident.
However, the jury did convict Reed of one charge of attempted unlawful contact with a minor.
While Rogers, considering the charge a first-degree felony as was originally charged, initially sentenced Reed to jail, on appeal the state's Superior and Supreme Courts agreed with Reed that the conviction should be considered a misdemeanor for sentencing purposes and in January 2011 Reed was sentenced to probation.
During the 2006 trial, prosecutors maintained Reed engaged in two online chats with an undercover detective who was posing as a 12-year-old girl on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13 of 2005.
Reed, during the chats, allegedly stated he wanted to meet and engage in sexual activity with the girl, according to prosecutors.
Reed agreed to meet the undercover detective on Jan. 14 on the parking lot of a donut shop on East Germantown Pike in East Norriton. Reed was arrested when he reached the donut shop.
But Reed claimed at trial that he was simply 'messing around' online and that he had no nefarious intent. Reed claimed he arranged the meeting only to uncover with whom he was conversing online and that he never intended to have inappropriate contact with an underage girl.
Follow Carl Hessler Jr. on Twitter @MontcoCourtNews

subset: commoncrawl


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StumbleUpon today laid off 30 percent of its staff, the company has confirmed to TechCrunch. The move, which brings StumbleUpon's employee count from 110 to 75, is part of a larger restructuring plan that will bring the web content discovery company to profitable operations in the first quarter of 2013.
"The main drive here is to become more streamlined and to better execute against our goals for 2013," StumbleUpon's CFO and interim CEO Mark Bartels said in an interview this afternoon. Now that 40 percent of StumbleUpon's traffic is from mobile devices, he said, a "rebalancing" of the engineering team was in order. While the bulk of today's layoffs impacted non-technical company divisions such as marketing and community, some desktop-focused engineers were also let go.
Bartels was keen to note that StumbleUpon is not having trouble on the top-line part of its income statement. The company's revenue has grown by 300 percent in the past three years, and it now has 80,000 paid advertisers including the likes of Procter & Gamble and Kraft Foods. "The company is in a healthy financial state," Bartels said. "What this change does do is it brings us into a profitable situation."
It seems that StumbleUpon's newfound profitability could make the company more attractive to a potential acquirer. But when asked if that was a factor in the restructuring, Bartels said a sale was not a priority at the moment. "The way I see it is that profitability allows us to experiment more," he said. "The board and the leadership team here want to be an independent entity. We're not looking at strategic options right now. We want to continue to grow and continue to hire."
A look back
StumbleUpon has had a unique history: The company was co-founded in 2001 by longtime CEO Garrett Camp while he was pursuing a post-graduate software engineering degree in his native Canada. Shortly after taking on just $1.5 million in seed funding in 2005, the company was acquired by eBay in 2007 in a splashy $75 million deal. The post-deal integration did not go as planned, though, and in 2009 Camp and one of his original co-founders Geoff Smith bought the company back with the help of a group of investors, with Camp reassuming the role of CEO.
For the first couple of years after the buyback, things at StumbleUpon had apparently gone swimmingly. The company boasted growing user numbers and engagement, brought on $17 million in fresh funding, and attracted a number of talented staffers to join the fold.
Recent stress
But the past year or so has brought some well, stumbles. Newcomers in the content discovery and sharing space such as Pinterest took off with amazing success. After a big redesign in December 2011 fell flat with users, Camp stepped down from the CEO role in May 2012 to focus on other projects.
Another major Pinterest-like redesign in September once again drew mixed reviews — and according to some metrics, its traffic was feeling negative effects.
Profits — and a more stable future
Bartels acknowledged today that the first half of 2012 did bring a "softening" in user growth, but he said that reports of the company's demise in user growth were exaggerated, as many third-party data sources on app growth do not accurately monitor mobile users. Regardless, he said, being profitable should bring the flexibility needed to make sure StumbleUpon's mobile users are better served.
And despite today's turmoil, StumbleUpon's interim CEO says that he is committed to building a stronger future from this point on. "This is on a one-time event. This is not going to be a slow-drip effect" into a series of layoffs and cost-cutting moves, Bartels said. As StumbleUpon continues to be a very fun app to use, and a favorite destination for many people on the web, here's hoping that is indeed the case.


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The Dark Side of BYOD: Privacy, Personal Data Loss and Device Seizure
February 6, 2012 3 Comments
Many employees don't understand the implications of using their personal devices for work. Many companies don't understand that they are in fact liable for the consequences. This post covers the things you always wanted to know about BYOD but were too afraid to ask.
Good News: Your company offers a BYOD program. You can finally stop carrying that boring corporate phone and use your own shiny new iPhone for work. Even better, you can now check your corporate email from home while streaming YouTube videos on your Galaxy tablet. Your company picks up part of the bill and even provides enterprise-grade help desk support to help you with your gadgets. It looks like an offer you can't refuse.
Bad News: You joined your company's BYOD program. One morning you wake up, reach for your iPad to check the email but it doesn't turn on. Your iPad is dead. Totally bricked. After a quick family investigation you realize that the little one tried to guess your password to play Angry Birds before you would wake up. Too bad the security policy enforced by the corporate email account triggered your iPad self-destruction to prevent sensitive corporate data from unauthorized access. Angrier than those famous birds? Wait until you realize that the device itself can be brought back to life and your corporate data restored. But that your pictures, videos and songs are gone. Forever. Note: the case above is based on a true story, my son's name is Luca.
Don't read the rest if you are scared enough already. This is not the worst it can happen to your data, to your privacy and to your device. Many employees who use their personal devices for work are shocked to find out that their smartphones, tablets and laptops may be subject to discovery request in the context of a litigation involving their company. Employees may be asked to surrender their personal devices – in which they have browser history, personal information and documents they created – as they may be subject to review by 3rd parties in connection with litigation.
If you were too impatient to read all through the Acceptable Use Policy that you signed when you joined your company's BYOD program, or if you simply were not too eager to know what you were really getting into, this may be a good time to go back to that document or to contact your IT or HR department to ask for clarification. Here are the things you should know about your company's BYOD program and that you shouldn't be afraid to ask.
- Personal Data Loss. When your personal smartphone, laptop or tablet is used for work related activities, such as access to corporate email, calendar or corporate directory, there is a good chance that your company relies on built in features and additional software tools to secure and manage the data in your device. As a first line of defense, many organizations enforce ActiveSync policies, preinstalled in most consumer mobile devices, to enforce password protection and remote wipe and lock. More sophisticated IT departments may request the installation of additional Mobile Device Management software agents to extend corporate IT reach into any application and functionality of your device. While security and manageability are legitimate concerns for the company, most BYOD programs rely on IT tools that don't make a clear separation between personal and corporate data and applications. As a result, in case of unauthorized access – real or presumed – the whole content of the device is more or less automatically deleted and the device itself made unusable.
What you should ask if you are not too afraid of the answer: Is the data in my device susceptible to automatic or remote deletion? What events trigger the automatic deletion? Is remote deletion part of the standard employee termination process? Is my approval sought or required for the remote deletion? Is my personal data retained in case of automatic or remote wipe? Does the company provide a mean to recover the personal data deleted? Am I entitled to any reimbursement for the loss of personal content such as songs, videos or applications?
- Privacy. From a legal standpoint, the fact that you own the device is irrelevant in case of a litigation. To discover and preserve evidence, the court may require forensic review of all devices in connection with the litigation. Employees participating in the BYOD program may be asked to produce their personal devices for 3rd party examination. You will have to make any personal information stored in your devices accessible. This includes the history of the websites visited, songs and movies downloaded and played, copy of financial transactions or statements, the list of your personal contacts and your electronic communications with them including personal emails, personal phone call, text messages and various social media activities including Facebook, Twitter and VoIP services such as Skype and similar. This extends to the personal information of any other family member or third party who may share the use of that device. Personal data stored in the device is not the only privacy concern. Your location and your online activity may be exposed to your employer too. A main feature of Mobile Device Management software is the ability to track in real time the location of the device. The feature is intended to help determine whether a device is lost rather than stolen before initiating a remote lock or remote wipe. It can also be used to selectively disable camera and microphone when the device enters restricted company areas to prevent sensitive data loss. Modern devices can get quite accurate at pinpointing location even when inside buildings where GPS technology is typically complemented with Wi-Fi access point detection. Although not intended for this use, your IT department may be able to track your whereabouts anywhere and anytime, deliberately or accidentally, and you may not even be aware of this. In addition, when your personal device connects on-campus to the corporate Wi-Fi network, there is a good chance that your online activity is monitored and filtered to comply with various regulation and to protect the company from any liability arising from an improper use of corporate resources.
What you should ask if you are not too afraid of the answer: May I be required to produce my personal devices for forensic analysis? Does this apply to devices shared with other family members? Who will then get access to the personal information stored in my device? Is my company able to track my location? Under what circumstances can this happen? Is my approval sought and required to track my location? Do I get notified? Are these systems active outside regular work hours? Is my personal online activity on-campus monitored and logged? Is this information retained when I leave the company?
- Device seizure and loss of use. Mobile devices are small and you take them with you everywhere. No surprise they are the most likely to get lost or stolen. But when you use your gadgets for work related activities, you have a couple more reasons to worry about. Your device may become unusable as a result of a company initiated remote lock or wipe. Or you may be asked to surrender your inseparable smartphone for legal examination in conjunction with litigation. Either case you could lose the use of your device for some time and likely find yourself in need for a temporary or permanent replacement.
What you should ask if you are not too afraid of the answer: Under what circumstances may I be asked to surrender my personal device? Is the company going to provide a replacement? Who is responsible for backing up and restoring personal data and applications if the device is seized? Under what circumstances can the company initiate a remote lock of the device? Is my approval sought and required? What is the process to regain use of my device?
In this post I covered the less known and less user-friendly aspects of BYOD programs. In a next post I am going to share best practices and legal advice for IT managers to build sound BYOD policies that minimize the impact of these issues to fully unlock the business benefits of Consumerization
NEXT: BYOD Best Practices – Three pitfalls you can't afford to ignore.


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Call 24/7 1-800-748-4024
Call 24/7 1-800-748-4024
An assisted living facility is a community that serves seniors who require assistance with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing or grooming. The services and amenities offered at these communities are designed to enhance the independence of seniors. Residents typically live in apartments and receive services including meal service, housekeeping and transportation.
The stories of seniors capable of living at home into their 90s are inspirational and represent a future we may desire for our parents or ourselves. In an ideal world, we picture older adults who remain capable of cooking meals and taking care of chores, albeit a little slower and perhaps with the assistance of a neighbor or family member who visits once a week.
However, the reality is that not everyone will remain physically or mentally capable of living at home—or will even want to live at home. This is where assisted living communities can provide an engaging lifestyle that not only encourage a loved one's independence but also have the built-in support for when assistance is needed.
If, after reading this article, you would like to find out more about senior living communities, or you need to discover a community that may be right for you or your loved one, please give us a call. Our dedicated team will help you find the right community, in the right location, with the right services and at the right price—all for free.
Adventure weeks that allow residents to kayak the Chicago River, outings to local community festivals on community grounds: These are just a few of the opportunities available to residents at assisted living communities. For families who think that assisted living communities are synonymous with nursing homes, it is time to dispel a few misconceptions.
Assisted living communities are just that, assisted living, where residents retain the freedom of choosing activities, meals, outings and other aspects of their life. Residents are typically free of serious mental and physical impairment and only require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing or bathing, and may walk unaided or require use of a walker or scooter to move about.
|Activity of Daily Living
|% of Residents Needing Help
|Medication Management
|Meal Preparation
Communities are similar to apartment complexes with common areas easily accessible and centrally located. Courtyards with garden beds or walking trails throughout the campus are also common features. Some communities are single-story while others may be multiple stories with elevators.
For families with a parent who has substance abuse issues and is in need of assistance with ADLs, they likely think that these communities won't accept their parent. On the contrary, having a parent with substance abuse, whether prescription or alcohol, is quite common; if a community can keep a resident safe, then a senior with substance abuse may be accepted. However, you should understand that assisted living communities are not detox or rehabilitation centers. Staff will strive to keep the substance abuse habits manageable, but they will not infringe upon a resident's decision to consume pills or alcohol.
According to a 2013 study produced by the National Center for Health Statistics, 75- to 84-year-olds comprise 32.4 percent of assisted living communities' population and 50.5 percent are 85 and older. Nearly three-quarters of communities' population is women, and men comprise 28 percent of the population.
The number of features found in an assisted living community is often related to whether the community is part of a larger campus where independent living or 55+ living is also offered. In these instances, assisted living residents often have access to all the community amenities. These amenities can include upscale features like ice cream parlors, indoor swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness rooms, spas and on-site gift shops.
For communities that only offer assisted living, community features may be a library which also serves as a community gathering room and an activity room that doubles as an exercise room. A TV lounge is also a gathering space typically found at most communities, along with a community dining room and private dining room.
While cable and phone service are standard options, more communities are advertising themselves as having Wi-Fi and Internet access, with a computer area designated for resident use. An on-site beauty salon/barber shop also provides another convenience.
Communities frequently have gardening areas for residents, and some communities even use the herbs or vegetables grown in the community gardens in the meals served to residents. Pets are also permitted at most communities, though weight restrictions may apply. There may even an option for pet service if residents need assistance caring for their furry friend.
Apartment sizes may include studio, one- or two-bedroom floor plans, or just studio apartments with a companion or private option available. Many communities include a kitchenette in the apartment, along with a private bathroom. There typically is no washer/dryer in each apartment, though communities often provide laundry facilities on each floor or have their staff handle the laundry.
Depending upon the community's size, there may be a designated staff member who is the activity director. While bingo, cards and movie nights are standard activities, other communities have creative offerings that include manicures and pedicures, spelling bees and cooking classes. Outings to restaurants, shopping excursions or local festivals are also popular offerings.
Assisted living communities typically market themselves as having a lifestyle free from homeowner responsibilities and daily chores, with the benefit of living in a community setting. Services such as meals and snacks, housekeeping and laundry services, and scheduled transportation for errands, outings or appointments are offered, along with assistance with ADLs.
At assisted living communities, advanced healthcare services, such as skilled nursing services which are available at nursing homes, are typically not offered. Instead, staff members provide assistance with ADLs, which may include medication administration and assistance with dressing, bathing and grooming. However, depending upon the size and licensing type of the community, there may be separate wings or neighborhood for residents who do require skilled nursing services or specialized memory care for Alzheimer's or dementia.
Just as amenities vary at communities, so too does pricing, and it is difficult to compare one community against another. The monthly rate for most communities includes the cost of rent and services such as housekeeping, laundry and meals. Oftentimes, utilities are included except for telephone. A one-time community fee is standard, and there may be a one-time pet fee. Some communities also charge an application fee or an assessment fee. The costs also vary by state, with Alaska and Delaware having the highest median monthly costs and Georgia and Missouri the least expensive. Many communities are private pay or accept long-term care insurance.
Expect the costs of ADL services to fluctuate after your parent joins a community because he/she might need increasing levels of service as he/she ages. Care plans, which outline the level of services being provided, are often reviewed yearly or quarterly, depending upon a resident's health, so that the appropriate level of services is being provided. Some communities include a basic level of ADLs and medication reminders within the monthly fee, and a higher level of assistance, such as memory support or continence reminders, is an additional fee. Other communities assign care points to the level of support your parent will need and charge a fixed amount per care point, in addition to the monthly fee.
The states with the most expensive median monthly assisted living costs are:
The states with the least expensive median monthly assisted living costs are:
Once you find a community that meets your price range and desired location, it is important to assess the community, not only to determine whether your loved one will fit in with the community but whether its staff are properly caring for residents.
Unless ADL assistance is being handled by a third-party home care agency, most assisted living communities are licensed and inspected by a state agency charged with oversight of long-term care facilities. These inspection records are available from each state, either online or through a public records request. Most states also require assisted living communities to post or make available their most recent inspection results upon request. By viewing several years' worth of records, you can see if there are patterns of failing to follow procedure, and whether the violations are life-threatening or minor.
Touring a community at different times is recommended, as this way you can view residents and staff throughout the day, rather than just at lunch or during activities. And because touring can be overwhelming at first, bring a checklist with you to note certain features. Also, make sure to use all of your senses to study the community. If you smell urine or see the building is in need of repair, it could be a red flag.
Upon finding a community that your parent likes, the next step is an assessment by the community's clinician to determine the level of services your parent will require and create a care plan. The community's priority is keeping residents safe, and during the assessment, you should share your parent's complete medical history, whether it is frequent falls, forgetful moments or substance abuse. No matter how sensitive the information, you should feel safe disclosing it, because the clinician is not there to judge and will maintain confidentiality. If your parent's substance abuse, or another sensitive issue, doesn't come up during the admissions process, do not count this as fortunate but rather as a red flag to search for another community. Clinicians can tell when information is being withheld based upon a review of a person's medical history and how the family acts during the interview.
If your parent is exhibiting early signs of dementia, it is important to be honest with yourself whether an assisted living community is the best fit and if you feel ashamed at his/her memory loss. There is still a stigma associated with memory loss, and joining a memory care community doesn't equal a loss of independence. Instead, memory care communities are designed specifically for residents to feel independent as they freely and safely wander. In this instance, ask the clinician whether their assisted living community provides memory care, and if so, what services are offered. What you don't want to face is moving your parent because his/her level of care exceeds what a community can provide.
If you have done your homework, your parent should easily settle into the community. Many communities have welcome ambassadors and new resident gatherings each month to make everyone feel welcome. There are also family nights and community-wide celebrations where family is invited to join in the fun. Ultimately, an assisted living community should feel like home, albeit with more friends and less responsibility.
Written by SeniorHomes.com's Andrea Watts.
SeniorHomes.com is a website that has assisted more than 100,000 people in finding senior care. We offer a nationwide directory of senior care services and articles that educate people on the latest senior living trends.


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We're moving!
Writers on the Rise archives have been here for years.
I hope that WordPress will let the archive live on for a good long time.
However, it's time to move on, bittersweet as change may be.
Please come and find me at my new digs: http://christinakatz.com.
And while we're both thinking of it, would you please update your blog links to http://christinakatz.com?
2010 is going to be an exciting adventure.
I'd love to hear what you think of my new blog. Meet me over there, okay?


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Check our full review of the BlackBerry Q10 phone.
The dust has now cleared following BlackBerry's successful BlackBerry 10 launch, giving us all the chance to examine the new phones, compare them to the competition, and have a good read of all the hands-on reports. Perhaps due to it being the first to go on sale, or because it's the cool full touchscreen device, it's the Z10 that has attracted the most attention. But that's no good.
The Z10 appears to be a solid phone, but it's a little bit faceless and could easily get lost among the Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Google, and HTC smartphones of this world. That's OK though. BlackBerry has a secret weapon: the unassuming, late-arriving BlackBerry Q10. Not convinced? Here's a few reasons why if anything is going to stop (or at least significantly slow) BlackBerry's descent into oblivion, it's the Q10.
We're always calling for smartphones to be different or to stand out from the crowd, and bizarrely as it sounds for a phone which could be viewed as staid, the QWERTY Q10 is the different phone we've all been harping on about. Here are some of the current choices for those who want a physical keyboard on which to type: The Samsung Galaxy Chat, with its single-core 850MHz processor, the Nokia Asha 302 which runs Series 40, or the HTC ChaCha, which is now two-years old (and has one of the world's stupidest names for a smartphone).
Using one of these just to enjoy a physical keyboard would mean quite a sacrifice, as would returning to BlackBerry's Curve or Bold; which is something we know nobody wants to do, as otherwise the firm wouldn't be suffering. "We know there are a lot of physical keyboard lovers out there," said CEO Thorsten Heins during the launch event, and luckily for BlackBerry, they've got almost nowhere else to go.
The Q10 looks familiar, but it's all-new inside
By choosing the Q10, the physical keyboard – which just happens to be made by the QWERTY masters, don't forget – is only part of the package. It's accompanied by a dual-core, 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, a 3.1-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 720 x 720 pixel resolution, an 8-megapixel camera and 16GB of storage space. As you can see from the above examples, that's light years ahead of anything else on the market.
Anyone put off by the Q10 because of the unholy mishmash of touch and keyboard that was the last Bold 9900, should remember BlackBerry 10 has been designed to be operated by touch, and there's no trackpad or any other way to bypass the touchscreen, leaving the keyboard only for typing messages. The Q10 runs the same version of BlackBerry 10 as the Z10, so the user experience won't be diluted down or crippled by the presence of a keyboard, plus the design is a modern interpretation of the Bold, complete with a glass weave rear cover to funk it up a bit. If you've been holding out for a QWERTY phone, or have been struggling on with a Bold or, shudder, a Curve; the Q10 must surely be at the top of your shopping list.
Is the Q10 BlackBerry's dark horse?
So, that's all the physical keyboard faithful taken care of, but how difficult is it going to be to draw in users from iOS and Android? Very difficult is the answer, but then it's the Z10 that's aimed at that crowd, while the Q10 will fish in the pool of those yet to make the jump from a feature phone like the Asha. We shouldn't forget how hard BlackBerry is pushing the new software in developing markets – China will get BlackBerry 10 before the U.S., remember – where there are still a lot of users in this situation.
If the Q10 is BlackBerry's unique product, why the delay in its launch? The Q10 isn't expected to go on sale until April and previously, Thorsten Heins said this was primarily due to carrier testing, but it also comes down to marketing and public perception. Everything is about the touchscreen these days, and if BlackBerry had sent BB 10 out on the Q10 instead of the Z10, it would have been accused of not staying with the times. No, it's far better to get the Z10 out to push BlackBerry 10 into the public's consciousness, before getting on with promoting the dark horse Q10.
In an interview with Bloomberg late last year, Heins estimated a three to one sales split in favor of the Z10 following launch. While it'll almost certainly be this way to start, we wonder how those figures will look 8 to 12 months from now; as all those who abandoned the hateful BlackBerry OS 7 hardware for a touchscreen phone, suddenly remember how much they love a physical QWERTY keyboard, and realize there's a decent one on sale again. The Q10 could be a real surprise. We think it has a lot of potential.
Editors' Recommendations
- BlackBerry trailer depicts the rise and fall of the iconic phone
- BlackBerry is better off dead
- A new BlackBerry with a keyboard is still on the schedule for 2022
- BlackBerry rises from the grave: New 5G phone with a keyboard coming in 2021
- TCL won't make BlackBerry phones anymore, sending the brand back into limbo


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CTM stands for for Cæcilie Trier Musik and it is the alias of the Danish cellist, singer and composer Cæcilie Trier's main musical project. Live CTM is a duo consisting of Cæcilie Trier on vocals and pianist Malthe Rostrup. A while ago the two stopped by Black Tornado Studios where they recorded two songs from Suite for a Young Girl – CTM's 2016 debut released by Danish record label Tambourhinoceros and the follow up to the highly acclaimed EP Variations from 2013. We are proud to present the first song from the session 'Escorted/The Road'.
Cæcilie Trier is also known for other musical projects. She has been the cellist in Choir of Young Believers and she is also a part of the experimental vocal group Valby Vokalgruppe. This year she has been playing with Marching Church (signed to Sacred Bones) and last but not least she is known for her former solo project Chimes & Bells (signed to Bella Union).
Cæcilie is part of what many describe as the Mayhem Scene in Copenhagen – a collaborative space in Copenhagen where the likes of Synd & Skam, Iceage, Marching Church, Lower, Andreas Führer, Puce Mary, Communions and others are based. All with different musical expressions. They share rehearsal studios, put up shows and sometimes work directly with each others' music – as when Cæcilie Trier recently played cello on Lower's "Expanding Horizons".
If you are in Copenhagen on Wednesday the 6. of July 2016 you'll have the opportunity to experience her live in a very special setting: Arbejdermuseets Festsal (tickets here). It will be her first concert in Copenhagen since the sold out show at Jazzhouse 12. February and she will be joined by Dawda Jobarteh (kora), Asger Hartvig (saxophone) Maja Malou Lyse (speak) and of course Malthe Rostrup on piano. The concert is a part of 'Something Else', the alternative concert theme of Copenhagen Jazz Festival.


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Are you thinking about applying for the Aspire credit card?
The minimum recommended credit score for this credit card is 630.
What else do I need to get approved for Aspire credit card?
There's no guarantee that you will be approved for a credit card, regardless of how high your credit score is. Your credit score is probably the most important factor when considering your credit application. However, Aspire Federal Credit Union also considers other factors such as your income, debt, and any negative items on your credit report.
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Approved for an Aspire Credit Card
Getting approved for an Aspire Mastercard or Aspire Cash Back Reward Card requires a little planning. Most credit card offers require very good credit. So, when applying for new credit, it's essential to know your credit scores and what's on your credit reports.
Credit card issuers want to see a strong credit history, steady income, and low credit utilization. If you're using too much of your existing revolving credit, it's a sign that you may not pay them back. You'll also want to make sure you haven't applied for too much credit in the recent past. Having too many credit inquiries can lessen your chances of getting approved.
Need help improving your credit score?
One of the best ways to improve your credit scores is by removing negative items from your credit report. Lexington Law can help you dispute (and possibly remove) the following items:
- late payments
- collections
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They have over 18 years of experience and have removed over 7 million negative items for their clients in 2020 alone. So if you're struggling with bad credit and want to increase the likelihood of getting approved for new credit, give them a call at (800) 220-0084 for a free credit consultation.


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The State of the Franchise Recap
|Image courtesy of BlueJays.com
Let me begin by saying a huge thank you to none other than Captain Latte for inviting me to the Blue Jays State of the Franchise meeting.
I myself am not fortunate to be a season ticket holder, but it was great to crash the party and pretend like I was one for one evening.
They called it the "State of the Franchise" but essentially it's a shareholder meeting where the shareholders are season ticket holders. It's purpose is to get everyone excited about the upcoming season and it did exactly that.
What was said by Alex Anthopoulos and Paul Beeston was a lot of what we've heard in the past about building a winning franchise, but last evening those things were said with such strong conviction that I got goosebumps.
First it was Paul Beeston on putting together a winner:
"We're not here to be a competitive baseball team. We're here to win the World Series. And we're here to win the World Series on a sustainable basis. How long that's going to take, I'm not sure. But I do know one thing; we're absolutely headed in the right direction."
In his introduction, Alex Anthopoulos echoed the same sentiment as Paul Beeston when he spoke on getting the Blue Jays back to their winning ways:
"We want to get this there as fast as we can. What we won't do is shortcut it, because when we do get there, it's not going to stop, it's going to be a freight train that's going to keep going."
In contrast to J.P. Ricciardi's "5 year plan", Paul Beeston and Alex Anthopoulos didn't fill us up with empty promises of making the playoffs. They did however convey the Blue Jays want to build a sustainable winner, something I would hearken back to the Blue Jays of the late eighties that were always in contention.
As a former pitching coach, John Farrell touched on the starting pitching staff and had nothing but good things to say. One notable thing he mentioned was Brandon Morrow would likely only be stretched out another 20-25 innings this year (which would put him somewhere around a 170 inning cap).
Farrell has already mentioned in previous interviews about how he wants to step up the running game for the Blue Jays, and he talked about what it was like to face the Blue Jays last season:
"In preparing against this team, it was one that seemed to be one dimensional and a little predictable. I'd like us to become a much more aggressive team on the basepaths. That doesn't mean we're going to try to make Jose Molina a base stealer.
But it does mean that there are opportunities where we can turn guys loose … to make us that much more unpredictable so as an opposition in preparing against us, there are multiple ways we can beat that team. We can't sit back and wait on the home run only."
Despite AA's reputation as a calculated assassin, Anthopoulos reiterated that when doing trades with other General Managers, in the end he wants both teams to emerge as winners. He doesn't want to "fleece" other teams because that could burn bridges in the future:
"From a trade standpoint, the win/win component is important because I only have 29 people to deal with. I know it's a cliche to say, but if somebody wins a trade, somebody's going to lose.
That's ultimately going to cut off the hand that feeds both ways, so you do want both trades to work out and you want for both teams to get what they want out of the trade.
You're going to need to continue to have that dialogue, and I've seen it as well, there's not a good relationship and that's another trade partner you've cut off and you never know when you might need that trade partner going forward."
J.P. Arencibia's name was brought up a few times, and I got the impression the Blue Jays are ready to roll with JPA behind the plate this year 100 percent. AA had some strong words for anyone suggesting the team isn't committed to J.P. Arencibia moving forward:
"We really don't want to get in the way of J.P. Arencibia because we do believe he's an important component of this team. He's been in Las Vegas two years in the row … he has nothing more to prove down there. He needs to get an opportunity to play up here."
Regarding last year's catching situation, somebody had the stones to ask why J.P. Arencibia didn't receive more playing time in the latter part of the 2010 season. Alex Anthopoulos' answer was that he simply gave his word to John Buck that the catching job was his:
"When John Buck was signed to a one year deal, the promise was made to him that he'd be an everyday player from start to finish."
Following that, AA opened up about the way Blue Jays do business with players and how they are working to distinguish themselves as a respectable ball club with a great reputation around the league. It's a distinction that Alex Anthopoulos is very adamant on building to not only maintain players, but attract new ones as well:
"From a negotiating standpoint, your word is paramount. It's something that we won't break … in the long run that's what this organization is going to be about. When we give our word to someone assigning a player, that's part of our brand.
I cannot tell you how many times we've been able to acquire players, get them to waive no-trades or things like that because of the way we handle ourselves. People in the game are starting to realize the way that the Toronto Blue Jays operate, they're men of their word."
I'm sure you heard by now that the special guest in attendance was none other than Roberto Alomar. It was great to have him there and the Blue Jays paid tribute by showing a very special video montage of his storied career. Robbie was also very gracious to sign baseballs for everyone.
By the time I left the Rogers Centre around 10:00pm, he was still signing baseballs which he started signing around 9:00pm. That was very generous of him and I think a little unexpected on the part of the PR staff there, who had to quickly scramble find hundreds of baseballs.
Of course no evening like this would be complete without a little bit of comic relief. After about a 3-4 preamble leading up to his question, somebody asked John Farrell if he though Manny Ramirez would be a good fit for the Blue Jays.
I guess this older gentleman doesn't check MLB Trade Rumors as furiously as most of us do, as he was completely unaware that Manny had signed with the Tampa Bay Rays already.
And then there was a strange case of mistaken identity when one woman questioned the character of Juan Rivera since it was reported he stole Derek Jeter's glove from back in his days with the Yankees. Sam Cosentino promptly corrected her saying it was Ruben Rivera she was referring to.
All in all, it was a very positive experience and it's a damn shame that all fans couldn't attend the State of the Franchise because I feel this is something that every Blue Jays fan should have access to.
Needless to say, when you hear the President, General Manager, and new Manager speak so highly about this team, it's easy to get excited about where the Blue Jays are going in 2011 and beyond.


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Gators having trouble against blitz, with pass protection
GAINESVILLE — Not only did LSU physically whip Florida last Saturday in Baton Rouge, the Tigers also may have revealed the blueprint for shutting down Tyler Murphy and the Gator offense.
The Tigers threw an assortment of blitzes and different looks at the Gators that the offensive front failed to consistently pick up or handle. The linemen seemed confused at times, leaving defenders unblocked to take free shots at the Florida quarterback.
Murphy was sacked four times, forced to operate under heavy pressure for most of the game, and the offense failed to find the end zone in a 17-6 defeat.
It's no secret now that upcoming opponents, starting with No. 14 Missouri on Saturday, are going to bring pressure.
"I would if I was scheming against us," starting guard Max Garcia said. "Seeing that we had troubles against the blitz, I'd probably do the same thing."
After the game Saturday, Murphy blamed himself for the sacks, saying he needed to get rid of the ball quicker.
The reality is, the poor protection was a combination of things, and the blame can be shared by many, offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Tuesday.
Pease said the biggest breakdowns occurred when the Tigers threw odd fronts at the Gators, with linebackers slipping into gaps or lining up outside and rushing off the edge.
"When they've got four defensive linemen, it's pretty simple," Pease said. "But when they start covering the center and it becomes what we call an odd front, your protection calls have got to change too because the numbers are different.
"So that's what they went to. They went to an odd front and in some cases we're built to handle it and we didn't get it done. It's fixable, and you've just got to get better at it and it's unacceptable to let it happen, but we're not just going to stay like that. We're going to make sure we've got it fixed and cleaned up."
The Tigers rushed more than five defenders 41.2 percent of the time in Saturday's game.
The offensive front seemed physically overwhelmed at times. On other occasions, defenders came free as the result of miscommunication involving Murphy, center Jon Harrison and the running backs and wide receivers.
"It starts with the center and the quarterback," Pease said. "They've got to make sure that everybody is on the same page. Because then it goes to the quarterback knowing, 'Hey, who am I responsible for, who is the line responsible for?'
"And then the back is involved in the protection. We've been pretty good up until then. They caught us with it twice in a row (on UF's final drive). It was something that we worked on. I don't really think noise had an issue with it for us not to get it done. You get better at it or you try to adjust your scheme a little bit."
For the offense to have a chance in upcoming games, the Gators are going to have to protect their quarterback.
One way to do that, Pease said, is to increase the number of players involved in protection.
"More of a six or seven-man protection," Pease said. "But then you're limiting the number of people you're sending out, which is fine if teams play you in man. It's not so great if they're playing zone because they can get more people over there to cover your receivers."
Although it was clear the Gators lost both lines of scrimmage Saturday, Garcia and offensive tackle D.J. Humphries said most of the problems in pass protection were mental, not physical.
"Just miscommunication," said Humphries, who was beaten on the final sack on UF's last possession Saturday. "We just weren't on the same page. Looking at the film the next day, it was simple stuff we could have picked up and communicated and been on the same page.
"It was a collective effort. Some of it was on us, some of it was on our backs. It's just collective effort of the whole offense. We just weren't wired together. If we're wired together, a lot of that stuff gets picked up."
Garcia said the offensive linemen need to sharpen their focus this week.
"We're just going to try to do our best against the blitz in practice and make sure we're mentally there," he said. "Physically, we are there. I don't think we have a problem with strength and getting bull-rushed out there. It's just the mental part of the game that we've got to get down, and it really comes down to communication."


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This article is more than 1 year old
Home Office gets another ad agency for ID cards
Tell a lie big enough, and keep repeating it
The Identity and Passport Office has appointed another advertising agency to persuade the public of the apparent benefits of ID cards.
The IPS has chosen Proximity after also hearing pitches from EHS Brann, Tequila and TMW. The firm will deal with "below the line" marketing - typically PR and promotions rather than billboard or media advertising.
The three or four year contract covers ID cards, passport and promotion of the General Register Office - where births, deaths and marriages are recorded.
The IPS already employs M&C Saatchi to promote the introduction of ID cards for foreigners to employers.
Back in March the IPS announced a "three to four year" contract with ad agency Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO to promote its services.
The IPS is already buying Google search terms to get its own website at the top of results for surfers looking for ID card information.
Apart from spin doctors the IPS has also awarded other contracts for the £4.7bn project.
These include CSC, which has grabbed the £385m contract for the enrolment system, while moneymaker De La Rue gets £400m to print new passports.
IBM will make the biometric database in exchange for £265m. ®


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More victims' relatives testify at Bulger trial
Bulger jurors see photos of victims' remains
It was Mother's Day weekend 1982, and Michael Donahue stopped in at his wife's salon for a haircut.
He said he was going to get some bait to take their 8-year-old son fishing. She never saw him alive again.
Donahue was gunned down that night as he and another man left a Boston restaurant.
Prosecutors say Donahue was killed by reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He happened to offer a ride home to Edward "Brian" Halloran, a man Donahue had occasionally worked with as a Teamster. Prosecutors say Bulger targeted Halloran, a former associate, because he had become an informant.
As Patricia Donahue described that day from the witness stand Friday in Bulger's racketeering trial, her three sons she was left to raise alone - now grown - wept.
Donahue said she was cooking dinner that night when she heard a television report about a "gangland slaying." She said she didn't give it much thought until she glanced at the TV minutes later and saw her father-in-law's car, which her husband had been driving.
"At that point, I was hyperventilating, I was confused, I didn't know what was going on," she said.
Around 10 p.m., police came to her door and took her to the hospital, where she saw her dead husband.
Bulger, seated just feet away from Donahue in the courtroom, appeared to glance at her only once as she testified.
The 83-year-old Bulger is charged with participating in 19 killings in the 1970s and '80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. He was one of the nation's most wanted fugitives from 1994 - when he fled Boston - to 2011, when he was finally captured in Santa Monica, Calif.
During cross-examination, Bulger's lawyer, J.W. Carney Jr., asked Donahue about a lawsuit she and her sons filed against the FBI and former FBI agents John Morris and John Connolly, claiming they shared responsibility in her husband's death. Morris testified that he told Connolly about Halloran becoming an informant. Prosecutors say Connolly then told Bulger, who decided to kill Halloran to keep him quiet. Connolly was later convicted for protecting Bulger from prosecution, while Morris received immunity in exchange for his cooperation against Connolly and Bulger.
Judge Denise Casper repeatedly sustained objections by prosecutors over Carney's questions about the lawsuit, but Patricia Donahue did get one answer in.
"I don't understand why all these people that were involved in my husband's death are walking around like nothing ever happened. I don't think it's fair and I don't understand why the government lets that happen," she said
Bulger denies being an informant, and his lawyers have spent much of the trial trying to knock down that claim and portraying the FBI as complicit in some of the killings.
The brother of another alleged Bulger victim also testified Friday. Steve Davis described learning about his sister's disappearance in 1981 and the discovery of her body in a watery grave in Quincy 19 years later.
Debra Davis was the longtime girlfriend of Bulger's partner, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi. Davis said his sister first met Flemmi when she was 17 and dated the much-older Flemmi until she disappeared at age 26. He would give her jewelry and other expensive gifts, including cars, Davis said.
Flemmi has testified in other trials that Bulger strangled Davis. But Bulger's lawyers say it was Flemmi who killed Davis because she was leaving him for another man.
During cross-examination by Carney, Davis acknowledged that Flemmi was possessive and did not like it when Debra Davis talked to other men. Davis testified that Flemmi continued to come to his mother's house after his sister's disappearance and said he was doing everything he could to try to find her.
"I didn't believe it from the beginning," he said.
In other testimony, a convicted drug dealer who refused to pay Bulger $100,000 to stay in business said he changed his mind after his 17-year-old brother was shot and Bulger told him: "You're next."
Anthony Attardo was one of several people who testified about their fear of Bulger and his reputation for violence.
Attardo's brother survived and Bulger was never charged in the shooting. Attardo said he paid Bulger $80,000 and Bulger told him "don't worry about the rest."


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The Jesuits in the United States have published a book on Catholic social teaching with the title Our Best Kept Secret. I am dismayed how often this turns out to be true, even with Catholics highly committed to practising their faith.
Twice in recent weeks I have sat down with Catholic men who over a period of many years have lived out their personal commitments to social justice though active involvement in their trade unions. In each case, they said they had never heard about Church teaching that addresses issues of human dignity in the workplace and that affirms the vital role labour unions play as agents for justice. In each case, they regretted not learning about their Church's social teaching decades earlier.
Pope Pius XII shared this concern about making Church teaching on the dignity of human labour better known when he instituted a feast day dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker in 1955. Significantly, he chose May 1, International Workers Day, as the date on the liturgical calendar.
Papal social teaching statements, from the 1890s until today, support the right of workers to organize into trade unions. In 1986, the Canadian bishops published a statement with the title Supporting Labour Unions: A Christian Responsibility. This had special meaning for many of us in Edmonton because it came out just as the bitter, six-month long strike at the Gainers meatpacking plant was starting.
The bishops state: "Labour unions have an essential role to play in preventing the violation of the dignity of human work and serving as a mouthpiece for the struggle for social justice."
Labour unions make it possible for workers to have a public voice and to participate in decisions affecting their own lives. They are democratic institutions.
They support struggles for fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions. Unions are not only to protect the rights of their own members, but to work for workplace justice for all workers.
Catholic social teaching takes a realistic view of strikes. There is a recognition that for workers to have a meaningful voice, they need to be able to exercise power in collective bargaining which comes from the ability of workers to withhold their labour in a strike. Church teaching is clear that the right to strike should not be abused and speaks of conditions for a just strike.
Obviously, labour unions, like all other human institutions, can become corrupt, undemocratic and self-serving. To counter this possibility, the bishops encourage Catholic workers to take their responsibility as union members seriously and participate in union meetings, volunteer for committees, and be willing to run for union leadership positions.
It is important that workers participating in union certification votes and in votes to decide between competing unions in their workplaces recognize these decisions have serious ethical implications.
What does this mean in practical terms for those of us who are not union members? Father Michael Ryan, a respected professor of Catholic social teaching from London, Ont., argues that Catholics should respect picket lines. He cites the late Cardinal John O'Connor of New York who said, "I unconditionally disapprove of using facilities where workers are on strike."
We can decide to purchase our goods and services from companies that respect the human dignity and basic rights of their workers, including the right to organize.
Worker justice issues are still very much with us in Alberta. We hear of workers receiving poverty-level wages having to go to food banks to feed their families. Newspaper headlines regularly speak of workplaces where workers are seriously injured or even killed.
Many workers fear for their future as senior citizens, because of inadequate pensions and retirement benefits. Workers coming to Alberta in the Temporary Foreign Worker program are vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment.
Many of us, regardless of our workplace role or status, are committed to working towards greater justice in our workplaces. It is important for us to know that our Church, through its social teaching, fully supports and encourages these efforts.
For those of us who are labour union members, this teaching is explicit. It is time that through preaching and catechesis in our parishes, and teaching in our schools that our Catholic social teaching on worker justice no longer be our Church's "best kept secret."
(Bob McKeon: email@example.com)


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(CNN)-If half the public says they don't know very much about Mormonism and one-third of Republicans say the Mormon religion is not a Christian faith, how will GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney fare in his bid for the White House?
According to a new national survey, it won't affect Romney in a hypothetical general election faceoff with President Barack Obama, but his Mormon faith may have an impact on the former Massachusetts governor's chances in the GOP primaries and caucuses.
Romney is seeking the Republican presidential nomination for a second time and, as it turns out, opinions about his religion haven't changed since he ran the first time, in 2007.
A Pew Research Center poll released late Tuesday indicates that 52% of Americans said they knew "not very much" or nothing about the Mormon religion in 2007, when Romney sought the presidency for the first time, and 50% say the same now. The number who say Mormonism is a Christian religion-51%–is the same in 2011 as it was in 2007.
The poll also indicates that Republican voters who say Mormonism is not a Christian religion are less likely to support Romney for the GOP nomination. Romney's faith may have a bigger impact on his chances in the GOP primary than the general election.
When asked about their preference among eight Republican contenders, Romney edged out businessman Herman Cain for the top spot in the poll 23-22% among GOP registered voters. The one-percentage-point difference between the two candidates falls within the sampling error for the poll and indicates Cain and Romney are statistically tied among Republicans and GOP-leaning voters.
Among white evangelical Protestants, however, Cain has a nine percentage point lead over Romney-26% said they'd choose the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza in a GOP primary, 19% said they'd choose former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and 17% said they'd support Romney, placing him third. Fifteen percent of evangelicals also said Romney's faith would make them less likely to support him.
When white Catholics and white "mainline" Protestants were questioned about their primary picks, Romney placed first, Cain second, and Gingrich third.
But in a hypothetical general election matchup between Romney and the incumbent President Barack Obama, 87% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters would coalesce around Romney, a number that increases to 91% among white evangelical Protestants, the group that favored Cain for the nomination.
Tied with Catholics, the poll shows more white evangelical Protestants and Catholics back Romney over Obama in a general election than white "mainline" Protestants-84% said they'd choose Romney in the poll. So while he may have more competition in the GOP primary among evangelicals, if Romney advances to the general, the poll reveals he'd have their support.
The Pew Research Center poll was conducted from November 9-14 by telephone among 1,576 registered voters and 716 Republicans and Republican-leaning voters. The overall sampling error of the poll is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The sampling error for Republican and Republican-leaning voters is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Thank goodness there is discussion about the candidates' faith. The history of Mormonism does not bode well for women. In a society where women have struggled for over 100 years to attain rights, a President whose faith is steeped in that history only serves to threaten those rights. All women, Dems, GOP and IND are in grave danger under such a person. It is widely known that tens of thousands of women are suffering in splinter groups of that religion this very day.
Seems to me back when Kennedy was running everyone thought he would push his Catholic religion off on us all. Well guess what? It didn't happen!!! I'll admit I don't know that much about Romney or the Mormons. Also when all of the other presidents were in office were we ever pushed in to their religion or beliefs? No, I didn't think so.
My comment will probably be flagged as inappropriate, but I need to say my piece. Mormonism is a branch of christianity that is obviously made up. Joseph Smith claimed to find some golden plates with indecipherable writing on them. God granted him, and only him, the ability to decipher them. He then wrote the book of mormon. Somebody said hey Joe, I wanna see those plates. Joseph Smith then claimed, uh, god took them back, you will just have to trust me, mmmmmkay.
This is as bogus a cult as scientology, in my honest opinion. I would not vote for a mormon.
On the Republican side of the matter of Romneys Mormon faith I find that they have a double standard in more than one sense.
1) Constitutionally the founding fathers said keep religion out of politics, but here we Americans clearly put religion into the political environment, even to the extent of how they may vote.
2) Most Americans ( do a poll) would be against an Islamic style system where laws are based on the Biblical ( or in muslims case) Qu'ranic dictates i.e sharia law. Incidentally different message interpretations from the SAME GOD!!
3)The constitution clearly gives freedom of religion to all, it clearly does not allow also discrimination to interfere in the decision as to which candidate to support.The people that put religious persuasion above all else in deciding how to vote are aiming for a government which passes laws that follow and support its religious beliefs.
Sorry I do not want to live in that kind of society.
Our founding fathers came here to get away from religious based persecution of minorities in many cases.
Leave it out of who should be an elected person to represent you in the House or Senate
Laws will not eliminate abortion or the existence of gays, lesbians or transvestites, like it or not those individuals are part of the wonderful mosaic of living life in freedom and ones own individual pursuit of happiness.
Sometimes I am amazed at the ignorance and bigotry that exists among people who claim to be Christian. Can someone here really explain how a Mormon president is going to hurt this country more than the so-called Christians? Mormons share many of the same values as other Christian churches, so what is going to be so different?
Lying and/or saying hurtful things about another person is one thing, but since when does changing your mind or opinion on something make you a horrible person?? There is not one person in this world who has NEVER once changed their mind at one point or another. So what if someone changes their mind, get over it! Why do we make HUGE issues out of things that should not be issues to begin with. If someone outside of politics changed their mind, it would not be such a big deal, but if a politician does–Heaven help us all!
If the GOP does embellish Christianity, then, Romney's faith should be a factor. The majority of the people I have encountered in the LDS church actually attempt to live in a Christlike manner – they walk the walk – most Protestants just talk the talk these days. As a Baptist for 46 years and a converted Mormon for 5 years – it was a desire for my son to have a meaningful relationship with Christ that first swayed me to convert – the missionaries that the LDS church sends out in the world are some of the best kids left in the United States – no drugs, no drunkeness or other diversions (no clutter as the great Nick Saban would call it). These kids just have a desire to learn, be good family men and live their life for Christ and they are among some of the most intelligent, knowledgeable and decent young men I've ever met. I wanted that lifestyle for my son. Personally, I feel like the LDS church is the only hope this country has left but yes, I know how opinions are – just offering my humble opinion. NOW, BLAST AWAY antagonists – I know it's coming! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and may God bless you, your family and this country on this holiday and every day.
Before you make a judgement on 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' or often called the LDS Church and or Mormons. Do a little research. May it be by book or books or internet, (e.g., Google, Bing, etc..), try YouTube, where you will see and hear people talking about the LDS Church, some directly from the church itself and some that no longer belong to the church and why.. Their main doctrine is NOT the trinity, they do not believe in the trinity, the LDS Church members believe there are three separate Gods, (God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost), not the Holy Spirit. Other important points to look up would be.., is self-made Prophet Joseph Smith a real prophet ? Did he really see and talk with God and Jesus Christ in the 'human flesh', not spirit. Did an angel called Moroni, tell Joseph Smith about the gold plates, which would become 'The Book of Mormon' or the blue book and where they were buried. If so.., where are the gold plates, now ? Check on what language the gold plates were in.. How did Joseph Smith translate those gold plates ? What about Jesus Christ in South America.., thousands of years after his death. What about all of those secret rituals, handshakes and words.. Don't laugh.., ask any LDS Church member about wearing secret sacred underwear. That one got me, too. They also believe that you can become a prophet or a God with the LDS Church. Ask or research, two of their books, by prophets within the LDS Church, 'The Doctrine and Convenants' and 'The Pearl of Great Price'. There are many problems within the LDS Church, including their past and present feelings toward people of another religion, race or color and or being gay. Well.., the choice is yours, to research for yourself and find out, if you believe they are a cult or not. They certainly are NOT mainstream Christianity. Then ask yourself.., do I really want someone in The White House with those beliefs and doctrines ? Enjoy your research and think for awhile.. Thank you for reading.. Mike in Montana
Mormons are very nice people and helpful to others. If those others are Mormon as well. For everybody else, not so much.
The last thing about Willard that concerns me is which cult he belongs to. These two quotes from the robo candidate says it all. "Corporations are people" & i am not looking to put money in people's wallets". if anyone represents the one percent its Mitt.
Romney did not win a single primary in the 19 southern states in the 2007-08 primary. Why should this prmiary election cycle be different? I do not believe Romney has any chance of winning the GOP primary unless they go into their convention without a nominee. Under that scenario, Romney could possibly be chosen as the party's nominee with someone like Perry or Gingrich as VP nominee.
The republican party has turned into a cult religion underpinned by a criminal enterprise. republicans lie and cheat so routinely it is second nature for them now. (See Romney's recent lying anti-Obama campaign ad for a particularly scummy example.) The republican church has a number of demonstrably false doctrines, including (1) cutting taxes on billionaires creates jobs and benefits everyone, even though bush did that and nothing of the kind happened, (2) deregulating the financial industry is the key to avoiding future fiscal crises caused by lying, cheating, and stealing by banks, even though bush did that and caused a global economic collapse, (3) all science, and in fact anything that is the result of thought, wisdom, and logic, is automatically false and wrong, and (4) the preachers on Fox "News" are fair and balanced and produce an informed electorate, although a recent survey (performed by lying, money-grubbing scientists, of course) verified earlier research showing that Fox "News" viewers are substantially less informed than a person who stares at a blank TV screen all day and watches no news at all!
Every conservative is not stupid, but I swear that every mouth-breathing, uneducated, bigoted fool in the land gravitates to conservatism just as surely as flies "gravitate" to cow poop.
Personally, I think Romney's Mormonism is an asset. Mormons are typically sober, cautious, sensible and conservative with a strong sense of personal morals. America needs that in a leader today. Look at President Obama, he admitted in his book that he smoked weed and used cocaine. President Bush famously said he "didn't want kids to what I did." President Clinton "didn't inhale." A Mormon President might be just what the country needs!
Jesus and his dad are liberals. Vote accordingly.
It's pretty clear that all Romney needs to do is find Jesus if he wants the nomination.
The problem with Romney is not his faith but his hypocrisy.
Religion certainly didn't matter in the last election when the majority of the electoral college put someone in the white house with, at the very least, muslim background and education, questionable lineage and birth place, and an open renunciation of many of the things america holds dear. why would someone with more political experience who embraces the foundations of america, is undeniably american by birth, but mormon...make any difference except to the left?
The reason we don't have any better candidates is the fact anyone worth a crap wouldn't run because of the mud, the distortion and the outright lies generated by BOTH sides...left and right...and promulgated by the MSM.
Before the Evangelical crowd starts in on Romney, please have them explain who Jesus was talking to when he was nailed to the Cross? Or who He was praying to in the Garden? Or who He told the people to pray to......Himself?
The Mormons can tell you EXACTLY who God the Father is VS. Jesus Christ, the Son.
The Mormons can tell you EXACTLY what Jesus mean't when he said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) If we can't become like our Heavenly Father, why would Jesus command us to try?
BTW.....The name of the "Mormon" church is "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints"......sounds VERY Christian to me?
The hateful Mainstream Media never misses an opportunity to raise the issue of Romney's faith.
Let me clue the believers into this, delusion is delusion. All religion is based on one's buy into delusional wish thinking, I don't care if you're Christian, Mu sl im, Hindu or believe in Thor. As Hitchens said, "Religion depends on unchallengeable statements, dogma and faith. Believers are only certain of the principal of uncertainty, manmade delusions including false counseling, claiming to know the mind of God and the origination and destiny of the universe". So any rationale presented here to support or not based on religious beliefs is itself, hypocritical, arrogant and diluted thinking.
Romney has my vote. I have no problem at all with the LDS faith. I know many wonderful LDS people who practice what they preach. Why should we have hard time voting for someone who believes that Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, or that Joseph Smith translated golden plates? What do most Christians believe again? Oh yeah, a man survived 3 days in the belly of a whale....men can survive in fiery furnaces...Jesus walked on the water...Jesus fed 2000 with 3 loaves and fishes...why should it be hard to believe that similar miracles happen today?
There are some who are concerned that Romney will 'impose' his religion on America. This means gay rights and abortion will be abolished, everyone will be forced to listen to the mormon tabernacle choir, etc. What about check and balances? Do you really think the President of the United States will be able to implement such radical changes without congress or the senate blocking these bills? Lets get real people. You should vote for your next president based on his policies, previous practices, and future goals.
What else do you know about Romney besides the fact that he is mormon, and the rhetoric that he is a flip-flopper? Please be educated, and if you are going to criticize him, do it on his political stance (this is a political debate). Cut past the "I would never vote for a mormon", and "romney is a flip flopper" (who isn't?) Lets keep this forum based on political debate...not anti-mormon opinions.
it would be a great idea to just end the disrespect everyone gives to everyone else
Who cares about Romeny;s faith, is his faith going to hurt people? I doubt it. If he's a Mormon who cares. Under the Constitution he is entitled to his faith, no one has the right to criticize his faith. If people of other faiths wouldn't like someone saying you can't worship the faith you want because we don't like it so go off this. The only ones who are making a big deal about this is the liberal press and the people who feel that Romeny should practice their faith because they say so. Don't forget that JFK was a Roman Catholic and he was Irish. I say let everyone practice their own faith and tell the liberal press to take a hike.


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Celebrate Baby's 1st Christmas with an ornament that will be a keepsake for your little bundle of boy for years to come. We carry a set of four baby ornaments that come in a special blue satin box, or buy one of our exquisite European treasures for this major milestone. Our birth announcement plaque is a nursery decoration that comes with a pen to fill in baby's essential birth information.
Boy Ornaments
Note: some white or light colored ornament images may show a shadow that is not part of the actual ornament


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jump to the new blog for more risotto
Osso Buco
Adapted from Marcella Hazan (Below is the full recipe with minor changes, I scaled the recipe down to roughly 1/3 since I was only cooking 2 shanks)
6 - 8 veal shanks
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 Tbsp butter
1 C diced onion
2/3 C diced carrot
2/3 C diced celery
1 C dry white wine
2 strips lemon zest
1 C chicken stock
1 1/2 C tomatoes in juices
1/4 tsp dried thyme or 1 tsp fresh
2 bay leaves
3 - 4 parsley sprigs
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp finely minced garlic
1 Tbsp minced Italian parsley
Some notes from Marcella Hazan:
- Veal shanks are best no thicker than 1 1/2 inches, otherwise they will not cook evenly.
- Do not remove the white skin/membrane around shank, it adds flavor and creaminess to the dish
- Give yourself enough time to allow the osso buco to cook slowly and gently. It's not something you can rush.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Tie each shank tightly with a piece of twine to prevent them from falling apart during cooking.
Flour both sides of the veal shank and pat off the excess. Heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Sear the shanks on both sides until a brown crust forms, remove to a plate and set aside.
Turn down the heat to medium and add 4 tablespoons of butter to the Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook until the vegetables have softened. Add the wine and cook until it no longer smells alcoholic. Nestle the shanks back into the
vegetables. Add the lemon zest, chicken stock, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and parsley. Bring the contents to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven.
Let it cook in the oven for about 2 - 3 hours or until the shanks are fork tender. Baste the shanks by spooning the cooking liquid over them every 20 - 30 minutes. If the pot is getting too dry, add a few tablespoons of water.
Optional step (it wasn't in the cookbook but this is what I did): After the shanks are done, carefully remove them from the pot and set aside on a plate. Puree the contents in the pot (the veggies and braising liquid) in a blender/food processor/immersion blender for a more uniform sauce.
Serve the osso buco over risotto milanese or polenta. Carefully snip the twine around the shank and spoon the sauce over it. Top with a spoonful of the gremolada (which I skipped in the picture).
Risotto Milanese
Adapted from Marcella Hazan
1 Tbsp olive oil (I used bacon fat)
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 medium onion, finely diced
1 C Arborio or Carnaroli rice
A small pinch of saffron threads (I used about 6 - 10?)
1/4 C hot water
1/4 C dry white wine
2 - 3 C chicken stock
1 Tbsp cold butter
1/3 C grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- Do not rinse the rice, the starches on the outside of the grains is what makes the risotto creamy.
- The chicken stock must be hot when you add it to the rice, so keep it in a saucepan on low heat on the stove while you're cooking.
- Add the saffron threads to the hot water and let it infuse.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. Add the rice and cook until the rice is coated with fat and starts to turn translucent around the edges.
Lower the heat to medium low, add the wine and cook while stirring until
the wine has been absorbed.
Add one cup of the chicken stock, keeping it at a simmer, and cook uncovered while stirring constantly until almost all of the liquid as absorbed. After this point add the chicken stock about 1/3 cup at a time. Keep it at a low simmer, and cook the rice while stirring constantly.
About 15 minutes in, after the chicken stock has been absorbed, add the saffron
water (threads too) and continue to cook and stir. If you start running low on
chicken stock, go ahead and use hot water.
Continue adding ladlefuls of broth, waiting until each addition has been almost absorbed before adding the next, cook while constantly stirring until the rice has is al dente, fully cooked but still retains a chew in the center.
Take off heat and stir in a tablespoon of cold butter and grated Parmigiano.