Homeless Not Hopeless-Ted Williams

The media is bombarding us with a feel good story about a man by the name of Ted Williams.  He has been homeless for quite some time as he struggled with drug and alcohol addictions, as well as legal problems.  That is not all that unusual when you stop and consider the large number of people living on the streets and learn about their individual stories.  Often you will find that there is a dependency on either drugs or alcohol, or even possibly a mental illness that often goes untreated.  With the economic disasters of the last decade, there are more people out on the street because they have been uprooted by a sudden change in their finances.  Military veterans often struggle with a return to civilian life and end up homeless.   Runaways also can end up homeless after they have run through the willingness of their friends and family to allow them to couch surf for a period of time.  Still, people become homeless for a variety of reasons and it doesn’t have to be permanent.  People living on the street can also become a victim of violence or intimidation.   Homelessness can be a reaction to a temporary situation in a person’s life.  Homeless does not have to mean a hopeless situation.  If you would like to read more of this post click here: WriteWhereYouAre

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Let Oscar’s Be About Recognition Only

         Ok, I get it…the Oscar awards are supposed to be about recognizing the best in the film industry; however, over the years…the Oscars have turned into an industry unto itself.  There are Oscar parties, pre-Oscar and post-Oscar parties, the Barbara Walter’s pre-Oscar interviews, the morning shows that preview the menu’s and the decor of the dinning areas…come on!  Enough already. 

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Breakfast With O.J.

       On Friday, O.J. Simpson was declared guilty in a court room in Las Vegas, Nevada, of all 12 counts that he was charged with that were associated with armed robbery.  This morning, O.J. is sharing breakfast with other inhabitants of the local jail.  This case had centered on an armed robbery of sports memorabilia related to O.J. Simpson’s career in football.  The case made headlines around the world because of the cast of characters involved in the robbery.  During the trial it was a he said/he said situation.  Some of those involved on both sides of the accusations have had their credibility questioned due to previous run-ins with the law.  There were recordings that appeared to shed light on the actual drama behind the scenes.  Of course, this case could have long lasting implications…O.J. and C.J. Stewart, his co-defendent were both found guilty and could spend the remainder of their lives in jail.  They will be formally sentenced in December for their involvement in this case.

      Of course, we all know of the infamous case against O.J. Simpson back in 1994 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, her friend and a waiter, from a local restaurant she had visited earlier in the evening.  O.J. was declared not guilty of those murders in the criminal sense…but, many people never believed in his innocence.  He was found to be liable for their deaths in a civil suit. 

        O.J. has made headlines in the news since he began his football career at USC in the 60’s.  He has had a varied career since he retired from football.  He was an actor, a football commentator, a business owner and an author.  He wrote a very controversial book called If , I did it.  This was supposedly a book of fiction surrounding the murders; and, how he would have murdered them, if he did it.  There was a very intense public outcry towards the publisher of the book and the television network that were going to give it attention on their media network.  In a series of events, the publisher lost out big time.  Then Ron Goldman’s family sued the publisher for the rights to help satisfy O.J’s debt in the civil suit that was brought against him for being liable for the deaths of Ron and Nicole.  They were able to win the rights to the book and retitle it, If, I Did It: Confessions of the Killer; and add commentary to the book. 

        In a life of such highs and lows…this latest development could appear to be the final chapter; however, when a person who is used to such intense attention and focus, it begins to feed a core need in that person.  Even if O.J. is sentenced to life behind bars…this will not be the last you hear from him.  I am sure that there will be interviews, blogs, and possibly more books all expressing his views and need to be heard and seen.  Still, you can’t help but feel for those most closely aligned with Mr. Simpson…his children, his siblings and anyone who has been most closely and directly involved in his life.  This is another painful chapter for them to endure. 

           Those who thought, that when O.J. was incarcerated, that it would bring them some closure will probably be disallusioned.  He has had many issues with the law.  There have been domestic police calls(regarding spouses, girlfriends & children), murder trials, fender benders and robbery.  Each of those situations have had people impacted by O.J.’s choices and actions.  I am sure in this situation, there will be a period of satisfaction for some, that they will feel vindicated that he is getting his due.  But, i have to wonder if that part of them that feels he has “gotten away with so much”, will eventually feel empty when their opponent is no longer free to do battle with them anymore.  After all, he isn’t being punnished for the issues that they feel he should have been punnished for. 

           Just because he is being put away in jail/prison…doesn’t mean that he is going to go away.  He is a big personality.  He will find a way to still get the attention that he feels bound to command.  There will be interviewers who will feel duty bound to get the interview and record it for posterity.  He will be incarcerated and be getting 3 meals a day, housing and medical care, all at the tax payer’s expense.  Yes, he will have lost his freedom, but, he will still not give them what they want and need, total satisfaction that he is getting everything that he deserves.

Update:  On Friday, October 19, 2008 The lawyers for O.J. Simpson filed a motion for a new trial because they believe that they did not get a fair trial.  It was an all white jury except for one hispanic juror; that, plus two African-Americans were dismissed from the possible pool of jurors.  We will see where this goes.  I know that O.J.’s co-defendent wanted to have a seperate trial from O.J. because he felt that he would be lumped together with the prosecution of O.J. and that he would suffer the consequences of people who wanted to pay him back for the idea of  “getting away with murder” years before.

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When Family Members Of Rich and Famous Make The News Headlines!

        There is something to be said for being a part of the middle class…without any of  the demands expected of the rich and famous.  Have you ever stopped to think about what your life would be like if you were one of those celebrity names in the tabloids?  Every family has issues in their family tree with some relative or another. 

        Think about it…what if cousin Ralph committed a crime and was photographed for a magazine, making sure to give an interview which made a connection between his name and your’s in the article; or, your sister decided to become a singer (and she howled like your neighbor’s hunting dog) but still, she badgered your professional contacts to try to get an audition; or say, your Grandma decided to go on a talk show and talk about her sex life before she married Grandpa?  Maybe your father wants to write a best seller that very closely resembles your life pre-celeb days? Or a relative goes on a large shopping spree that they can’t possibly afford to pay for on their own?   How would you handle it?

         In today’s world, with everyone having access to so much digital information…if you are a celebrity, and the media decides to do a little digging…they are sure to find some family member, friend from the past, or ex-boyfriend/girlfriend who is more than ready, willing and able to spill the beans for a little $$$.  What’s more…you don’t even have to wait for the media to find those who are willing to spill the beans for a fee…your relatives can go viral just by publishing a blog.

          You don’t have to look far to see examples of what I am talking about.  After all, there are painful family issues that allegedly haven’t been able to be resolved in private, such as families like the Lohans who make the news regularily, with custody battles, blog posts, or writting letters to media outlets criticizing one another; rehashing the past and the present family problems.  These issues are deeply personal and have the ability to cause life long discord with in a family unit.  

           Then you have the media’s flavor of the month, the Spears family.  Either they focus on the latest exploits of Brit, Jamie Lynn, her mother, father or ex-husbands and boyfriends or they hint at some kind of rumor that vaguely resembles a sliver of truth and wait to see the fireworks.  You can understand the potential added damage done to an individual when there is intensive media scrutiny focussed on them. There is enough family drama in most families, without having to create an intense watch and see environment.

           What about family members who stay in the background until they have shopped around the possibility of writing a tell all book…like Oprah’s father, allegedly considered doing?  Or a little less reclusive personality, such as…Madonna’s brother, Christopher Ciccone who actually did write a book recently, detailing his complicated relationship with his sister.  Remember many years ago, the explosive book called Mommy Dearest, written by Joan Crawford’s daughter about her very famous mother?

           We’ve all seen that the tabloids will exploit a family member’s run- in with the law.  Or, maybe a business owner or individual who slaps a lawsuit on a family member of a celeb, knowing that it will get settled because of the negative PR.   A recent example of a legal situation was when Hulk Hogan’s son was sent to jail for allegedly being the driver in an accident that seriously injured one of his friends.  All the while, his family was going through a seperation/divorce and the media attention only added to their personal difficulties.  This fed the flames of many articles and celebrity gossip shows for many weeks.

            There is never a lack of divorce related stories or custody issues either.  We have come to know more about certain star crossed couples, and their problems, than we need to know; think of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, or Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin, Pamela Anderson and any of her exes.  In these cases, many times the courts are often at fault for allowing legal records to become released to the public through the media; that is why you occasionally hear of circumstances where divorcing couples use a private mediator to settle their marriage issues.  Sometimes it is through individuals or their family members that we learn what is often harmful to the well-being of the couples or their children.  I am sure in the long run they come to regret the fact that so much private information has become public knowledge. 

            What about those situations where family members are estranged from one another and they use the media to communicate with each other about family issues.  I think about in that case, Angelina Jolie and her father.  Or, maybe Kellie Pickler who had a difficult relationship with her estranged birth mother.   Or Jennifer Anniston and her mother who allegedly became estranged, from one another, over too much personal information being given out. 

           Some celebrities don’t publically acknowledge their family problems…others confront them head on.  Which way is most effective for them, sort of depends on why the violations take place in the first place.  Some celebs feel that they must go public and defend themselves and others…keep a quiet counsel and deal with things privately.  It is not easy either way.  The power of criticism is strong…and you can’t please everyone, no matter what action a celebrity chooses to employ to deal with the fallout. 

           Regardless of celebrity status…it is helpful to remember that those people are human beings with feelings too.  They have relationships that can be damaged, and, they are often afforded little privacy as it is.  You would think that their family members would have a little bit of loyalty and a desire to keep some issues private; and, not turn their private relationships into some sort of pay- per- view.  But often, these situations aren’t JUST about money.  Sometimes, the interviews and books are written out of more complex issues; such as, unresolved issues involving trust, envy, control, anger, betrayal, neglect, abandonment or favoritism.  So when you see one of these interviews or books; remember that it might be more about getting even, than it is about getting rich!

           Certainly, the people who publish the reports, interviews, books, and celeb gossip programs aren’t going to keep potentially scandulous information to themselves; not when it is their bread and butter.  So think about that, the next time you purchase one of the tabloids, weekly celeb mags, tune in to the gossip programs, or purchase the latest personal memoir about someone famous; you are enabling them to sell out their own family members.  What if your friends or relatives did that to you?  What kind of tales could they tell about you to allow them to make money off from you or your past?

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Barbara Walters-Where Is Her Dignity?

         With all of the hoopla surrounding the publication of Barbara Walter’s book called, “Audition” i have to wonder; where is her dignity?  i think she lost it somewhere between bragging on her affair with a married man approximately 20-30 years ago and dishing on the ongoing public tongue lashing of her former co-hosts Rosie O’Donnell and Star Jones.  There is so much more, i am sure, in Barbara’s memoirs but i have to wonder…with all of the truly outstanding news stories she has brought to our attention over the years…why resort to digging dirt?

        After all, the book would have been interesting enough because of some of the all time history making interviews such as Fidel Castro, Monica Lewinski, President Gerald Ford, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Rudy Giuliani former mayor of NYC  and the list goes on.  Then there are all of the famous celebrities she has interviewed over the years as well.  Some celebrities doing a PR spin on whatever scandal they were going through at the time…there would have been enough sex, drugs, violence to attract the gossipmongers to the book strickly because of some of those interviews.

        Barbara’s book would not have been short on excitement, intrigue, or interest had she concentrated strickly on those interviews and all of the behind the scenes regarding them.  I fail to see the need to tell us of her sex life and such. She is interesting in her own right just because of her childhood, her professional life, her adoption of her daughter Jackie and the famous people in and out of her life. 

          I wonder if this type of publicity buzz will have a disasterous backlash when it comes to the sale of the book; or, whether it will bring publishing to a whole new level of indigity itself.  The business of publishing has been going through it’s own destructive roller coaster over the last decade or so; regarding making a profit, plagerism, fictionalized memoirs, editors who publisher hop from one company to another; and then, the spector of how digital publishing is affecting printed publishing financially.  When dignity is for sale we all lose out. 

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Two Fisted Blogger-books in review

       I am going to be a two fisted blogger…working on two blogs at once.  The second blog will not be added to daily simply because of the type of blog it is.  It’s  a blog of book reviews.

      Now, I am an avid reader.  My husband would probably call it an obsession…but i love to read.  So, as fast as my brain can consume and process a book…i will attempt to post my recommendations.

       This blog is going to be called:  www.bookinreview.com/blog/.  The blog has just begun…but it will be my goal to recommend children’s books, adult books, teen books, as well tweener books.  It is not my intention to post negative comments about books…so, i think i will solely focus on books that i could recommend to a friend or family member.  This is purely for fun. 

       I am hoping you will check out the new blog and see if it is something that will be a benefit to anyone. 

        Eventually, it would be awesome to post author interviews.  I think to those who love reading…there is a real interest in the way writers come up with ideas and how they go about turning their ideas into books that people want to read. 

        Check out the new blog at: www.bookinreview.com/blog/.

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Nicole and Joel have their baby

     Nicole Richie and Joel Madden have welcomed a new life…their baby girl was born in the last twenty four hours.  I hope that now that their child is born, that the media will not hound them and chase them around looking for ways to glorify and vilify them as parents, like they do so many other celebrities.

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