"Doing Big Things": Madam C. J. Walker's Legacy

We trot her out in February, Black History month, then leave her life and legacy quietly sitting somewhere in the corners of our minds. Most African-Americans know that she was the first female self made millionaire in the United States and we enjoy the fact that she was Black. You probably know that she was recognized by the U. S. Postal Service in 1998 with a stamp in her honor as a part of its "Black Heritage" series. Are you still wondering who my subject is?  She's inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and civil rights activist Sarah Breedlove, best known to the world as Madam C. J. Walker.

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Welcome “Endeavour”: A New "Inspector Morse" Spinoff

After years of reruns, "Inspector Morse" is one of the most popular PBS Masterpiece Mysteries. A new series, "Endeavour", introduces a young, 20 something Morse to his devoted fans. Endeavour deals with the conflicts of the past and carves out the well-known identity of the future "Inspector Morse", whom fans know and love. During the series, his love of opera, horror at the sight of blood, and love for his Jaguar Mark 2 are presented to viewers. In addition, series writer Colin Dexter can be seen in cameo appearances in each episode.

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Never Say Die: Dying With Dignity

 

 

Most of the time, we focus on the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the main stay of political discourse, raising its head most often when an election is close at hand. The greatest freedom may be to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. What we fail to deal with is life’s most inevitable fact-that life will end. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, "Death with Dignity" is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.

 

Two recent news stories have put the issue of “dying”in the forefront.

In mid-September, Ezekiel Emanuel caused a stir by writing in The Atlantic that he wanted to die at age 75, before his faculties dimmed too much, before his life became a litany of medical concerns. "Dying at 75 will not be a tragedy," he wrote. "Death is a loss...But here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss."

Emanuel, 57, said he wasn't planning to end his life at 75, only that he would not pursue health care strategies designed to prolong it past that point. But as the director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the NIH and one of the engineers of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare, aka death-panel central) his piece was a magnet for criticism.

One of the most scathing attacks came from Damon Linker, a writer for The Week. Emanuel's article "clearly amounts to a defense of eugenics," Linker wrote, because it suggests that only lives in top condition are worth living.
Linker's concluding remark appears to reveal the real foundation of his objection: "No one should hope to die—at 75, 80, 90, or ever."

As tempting as it is to get into the Emanuel-Linker debate, let's go to the other recent story on the subject of "Dying with Dignity". The second story, much more visceral than Emanuel's, went viral last week. Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old woman with terminal brain cancer and less than six months to live, says she is planning to end her life with an overdose of medication instead of allowing the cancer to take its ravaging course. "I do not want to die," she wrote in a piece for CNN. "But I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms."

 

Maynard has become a poster-child for the right-to-die movement, and she is an ideal spokesperson: attractive, eloquent, with a tragic story (diagnosed on New Year's Day, a year after her wedding) and all the right bonafides of medical courage (two surgeries, including a partial craniotomy). Despite that—or because of it—she has also become a lightning rod for critics of the movement, and they all seem to rest their case on the simple assertion that life has value.

My purpose in writing this post is to encourage my family, friends and readers to give the subject of dying some thought as painful as it may be. We need to be clear on what choices our loved ones have made and put the mechanisms in place to address those choices when the time comes. Recognize the value of preparing a will and an advance directive as a guide for our end-of-life journey. No one ever wants to discuss these issues, but having a clear view of the wishes of the individual family member will lessen the stress of making these decisions during extremely difficult times. It is also helpful to find out any existing laws that might impact your decisions. Be prayful and walk by faith.

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Show Me the Money: NBA Richest Players of All Time

"Show me the Money!" Cuba Gooding, Jr. will long be remembered for that line and his academy award winning performance in the movie Jerry McGuire. Much is made of the cash made in the entertainment world and in sports. I've taken a look at Rappers, Football players, and athletes in general. Why not concentrate on the cash cows of the NBA.NBA players are well paid and receive their share of fame and glory. In addition to their healthy salaries generated in multiple year contracts, many players enjoy opportunities for lucrative endorsements that feather their nests and launch their careers as wealthy businessmen.

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What I Expect from a Republican Controlled Senate

You hear it on all the news programs and on commentary from political pundits. It seems to be the conventional wisdom that Republicans, who won control of the House of Representative in the last mid-term elections, will take control of the Senate in the November 2014 midterm election.

I agree that the fight for the Senate is real and the coming elections pose significant consequences for country. Personally, I shudder to think about Republicans having the final say on major issues that will affect me and my family during the coming decade.

 

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Political Thrillers Matching Today's Headlines

If you’ve follow my reviews of Netflix offerings, you’ve met some diverse, but hopefully interesting characters, i.e. Doctor Martin Ellingham (Doc Martin) , Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle  (Foyle’s War), and Aldrich Ames (The Assets). Now, let's delve into the world of political dramas. Each starts with a major diplomatic incident, followed by a web of tangled relationships and conflicting interest, and asks the question “who can you trust”.

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Trick or Treat: October Weight Management

 October is Family Health Month. It’s a great time to plan for healthier choices and set goals for what you want to achieve this month.  Get a new bag of tricks to ensure your success and figure out how to manage “Halloween”. Image your “future” self, the healthier, lighter, happier person you want to be and start today becoming that person.

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On the Record: Meet Atty General Eric Holder Part 2

Eric Holder will announce today that he will step down from his position as law enforcer in chief.
If you missed my post introducing Attorney General Eric Holder, you missed the short, sweet information on his life, career, and personal background. As promised, here's Eric Holder Part 2, which become a farewell to the nation's Top Cop.

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Secrets of Retirement: There’s More To It Than Meets the Eye

To most young people, retirement means relaxation every day, with mornings spent leisurely reading the paper over coffee, afternoons hitting the links or chilling on the beach, and evenings at pleasant dinners with your spouse and friends or watching your favorite programs.

But for many retirees, it’s just the opposite. Out of 43 potentially stressful major life events, retirement is ranked the 10th most stressful, ranking just higher than a major change in the health or behavior of a family member (11th). The death of a spouse, something many people experience in their retirement years, ranks number one.

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On the Record: Serena Williams, Queen of the Courts

On Sunday, Serena Williams won her 18^th Grand Slam and proved once again that she is “Queen of the Courts”. The Women’s Tennis Association ranked her number one in women’s single’s tennis on 6 separate occasions. She recently won her 6^th U. S. Open championship. She’s earned more than $50 million dollars in prize money, is worth an estimated $100 million and this year made Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people.

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On the Record: Meet Atty General Eric Holder Pt 1

Attorney General Eric Holder makes his way to Ferguson, Mo in the wake of civil unrest after the killing of Michael Brown. After briefing President Obama on the situation, Holder informed the President that he would visit the site himself. His visit is scheduled to begin on August 20th. I thought it might be interesting to learn a bit about the highest ranking law enforcement officer in America.



Eric Himpton Holder, Jr.,  serving in the administration of President Barack Obama, is the first African American to hold the position of U.S. Attorney General. He was sworn in as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States on February 3, 2009 by Vice President Joe Biden.

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Erasing Your Debt: Do's amd Don'ts

Some folks are trying to keep it a secret that the economy is improving. Polls say Americans are uncertain about their financial future. The data shows that Americans are racking up more debt in spite of their so called "uncertainty".

NerdWallet.com reports that our collective total debt is $11.74 trillion, up 5% from last year. the average debt for credit cards is $15,480, mortgage debt is $156,474. and student loans is $33,474 for Americans.

Experts say people make rookie mistakes when trying to rid themselves of debt. Here are some of the major no-nos: Taking out a pay day loan or title loan; transferring a balance to a new zero interest credit card, but failing to pay off the balance when the higher interest rates kick in; borrowing from a 401 (k) retirement account, especially if it involves paying a penalty. Putting creditors on a rotation, that is paying one creditor while making no payments on other debts is another bad idea. These methods seem to be a recipe for disaster. Debt settlement and bankruptcy should only be considered when you've run out of other options.

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Winning the Challenge: Weight Loss Strategies

Several years ago, my family viewed a video from our annual Christmas Eve celebration. We were confronted with the fact that we all needed to lose weight. We started a family "Fit Club" and worked together to eat healthier, move more, and improve our health. In spite of the fact that we have collectively lost more than 240 pounds, our weight loss challenge continues.

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On The Record: Meet Ronan Farrow

Ronan Farrow

While flipping the channels searching for afternoon cooking shows, I lingered on MSNBC long enough to check out the show's host. He was young, blond, handsome, and well spoken. I hadn't noticed him before and it made me wonder who he was and how he got his own show. Before I could check him out, I saw an article in TV Week's The Wrap titled "Ronan Farrow Not having a Very Good Summer on MSNBC". It seems that since the show's February debut through August 8, it ranked third in the cable news competition for the 1 p.m. weekly time slot. My interest grew and I immediately searched for more information about Ronan. Here's what I found out.

Woody Allen-Ronan Farrow-Frank Sinatra

Ronan Farrow is the son of actress Mia Farrow and either filmmaker Woody Allen or Frank Sinatra. (No DNA testing has been done to determine Ronan's paternity. He is estranged from Allen.) His maternal grandmother is actress Maureen O'Sullivan. At age 26, he is an American activist, journalist, lawyer, former U. S. government advisor and host of "Ronan Farrow Daily" on MSNBC. He graduated from Bard College at the age of 15 and is the school's only Rhodes Scholar. In 2009, he  graduated from Yale Law School and later became a member of the New York Bar.

Wikipedia details Farrow's impressive and diverse career.
 

Ronan and mother Mia Farrow

During his time at Yale Law School, Farrow interned at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell and in the office of the chief counsel at the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, focusing on international human rights law. 

Hillary Clinton and Ronan Farrow

In 2009, Farrow joined the Obama administration with his appointment as Special Adviser for Humanitarian and NGO Affairs in the Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2011 at the age of 23, Farrow was appointed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues and Director of the State Department's Office of Global Youth Issues 

He has written essays, op-eds, and other pieces for The Guardian, Foreign Policy magazine, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times and other periodicals. In October 2013, Penguin Press acquired Farrow's book, Pandora's Box: How American Military Aid Creates America's Enemies, scheduling it for 2015 publication.In 2008 Farrow was awarded Refugees International's McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award for "extraordinary service to refugees and displaced people." In 2012, he was ranked number one in "Law and Policy" on Forbes Magazine's "30 Under 30" Most Influential People. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate by Dominican University of California in 2012.

Since Farrow is often considered the best connected young man on the planet, I thought he was someone you'd want to know.

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Clean That Fridge For Saftey's Sake

The refrigerator is often the center of the entire household, or at least in mine it is. It’s the first place we go toward when we get home from work or school, the last place we are at night before bed, and in between for every meal. But with all of the food, drinks, condiments, leftovers, spills, and smells, the refrigerator can often be the dirtiest place in your home.

There are plenty of reasons to clean a fridge (unidentifiable leftovers, funky odors) and one big excuse not to — namely, lack of time. But you don’t need to set aside several hours to complete a basic cleanout and scrub down. Get it done in 30 minutes when you follow this guide.

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FICO Score Changes Mean Higher Scores and Lower Interest Rates For Consumers

FICO credit-scoring system is being revised to reduce the negative effect of overdue medical bills and to quit penalizing consumers who pay off debts that had been assigned to collection agencies. The changes to the hugely influential FICO scoring system could make it easier for millions of Americans to get loans at lower rates and eventually save consumers billions of dollars.

For consumers whose only major delinquency is an unpaid medical bill, the changes would increase a credit score by 25 points, according to Fair Isaacs Corp., whose FICO credit ratings are the basis for scores published by the three big credit-rating agencies.

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Dysfunctional Congress: Do Something About It

It's sad to hear opinions of most Americans about our "do nothing" Congress. Americans distrust and disdain Congress. Now that our legislative body is in recess for the coming weeks, we seriously doubt if they'll be missed. Recent polls tell the tale of just how most of the country sees the situation.

A Gallup poll ranks the approval rating of Congress at an all time low at only 15 per cent. Fifty percent rate Congress as "very unproductive" and 74% rated Congress at "very unproductive". Another Gallup poll showed only 7% had "a great deal or quite a lot of confidence" in Congress, while 50% had "very little confidence".

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Keep it Quiet, but Our Economy Continues to Improve

 

As quiet as it's kept, the U. S. economy continues to improve and unemployment ticks downward.

Reports, posted for July, show six straight months of job growth with gains of over 200,000 jobs in each month. The average job gains over the past 6 months reached 244,000 in July, the best average in 8 years.

Unemployment was at 6.2 per cent in July and 6.1 per cent in June. The unemployment rate for African Americans continues to exceed the national rate. African Americans' rate of unemployment  rose to 11.4 per cent in July from 10.7 percent in June. No relief for these Americans on the horizon.

Fortunately,the data continues to show that the nation's economy is moving in the right direction. Consumer spending is up and incomes gains also picked up. American confidence in the economy is the highest in nearly 7 years. All of this is good news for the country after the difficult climb from the financial pitfalls of the past years.

Be sure you don't mention the President's name of course. The media only mentions Barack Obama when things are negative and going in the wrong direction. Fortunately, the record speaks for itself. It is amazing what he's accomplished with no help from the Republicans and in spite of our infamous "Do Nothing" Congress.  I just wanted to give a shout out to the POTUS for hanging tough in spite of the daily difficulties he faces. I often wonder what we could have achieved if Congress did their job and passed legislation that had a positive impact on job growth and reduced unemployment. Well, I can dream, can't I?

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Soul Music Genius Bobby Womack-R.I.P.

You've probably enjoyed the distinct voice of recording artist Bobby Womack. After a dramatic life filled with highs and lows, both personal and professional, the R&B legend went to his final rest in his sleep on June 27, 1014 at the age of 70.

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New Orleans Ex-Mayor Heads to Jail

You might remember New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin's fight to save his city during the chaotic years after Hurricane Katrina. Now, he's headed to prison convicted of Katrina-related corruption.

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