Here’s our eclectic collection to start your week off right.

First off, if you haven’t seen it yet, join us in the happy big-tent embracing, worldwide growth-sensitive news: Church leaders are now welcomed to speak in their native tongue at general conference. Awesome.

Confucius said, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” That certainly rings true for Aaron Ansarov, a retired combat photographer for the U.S. Navy, who has spent the past two years combing a local Florida beach in search of the elusive Portuguese man-of-war.

One of literature’s most prestigious honors, the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters recognizes individuals who have made an exceptional impact on this country’s literary heritage: Ursula K. Le Guin is the 2014 recipient.

And in other lit news, Louise Erdrich has won the PEN/Saul Bellow Award, a “lifetime achievement honor for American writers.” Have you read and loved her works or are you adding her to your list now?

Anyone want to go to the ballet with us? You will after listening to Misty Copeland’s retelling of her trials, triumphs and continuing journey as black ballerina. Plus, she has a book out for the younger set.

How astute are your senses? This piece from the NYT reminds us to pay attention, many Americans don’t compared to people elsewhere. Who knows what a little more thought may inspire, maybe the next great app (Instagram inspiration credit at the end of the piece).

Even more good and thoughtful things from the Times. Is Adulthood dead in American Culture?

Apple season is here. Glory be! The taste of the fresh cider from my farmer’s market is liquid gold, bottled autumn: Gravenstein, I think. But not all apples satisfy.  Read The Awful Reign of the Red Delicious  and meet Emily’s inspiration for this week’s first draft poem:

In Ecuador I bought
overpriced red
delicious apples,
forking out too much
to taste a bite of home.

Their thick skins and mealy flesh
turned me instead to try mangos
my first time:
I peeled back the thick skin.
Juice dripped to my elbows,
and I chewed mango flesh down to the pit

in the streets of Guayaquil
you find blackened mango pits
discarded by children
who suck them dry

they know better than to overpay
for nasty apples
when decadent mangos
come cheap and sweet.