Watch "The Soloist"

My husband and I just finished watching "The Soloist", the story of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Jr. originally of Cleveland, an accomplished cellist and violinist who struggles with schizophrenia and at one time lived on the streets of Los Angeles.

Ayers is played by Jamie Foxx, who gives an outstanding performance. Robert Downey Jr. plays Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times reporter who discovered Ayers playing one day in an open park. After getting close to him, Lopez starts writing about Ayers in his column.

Over a period of one year, Lopez befriends Ayers, manages to get him off the street and helps him have a better life, while also reuniting him with the sister he hasn't seen in years. Throughout the year, Lopez continues to write about Ayers in his column. It is these columns that eventually form his book about Ayers, which was ultimately turned into the movie Soloist.

The whole time I was watching this movie, I couldn't help but think about all the other homeless people out there and the stories they might have to tell. I was reminded of a Native American man who begs on the streets of New York. I haven't seen him in probably 7 or 8 years, since I no longer go into New York during the day on business. But I remember his long braided grey hair like it was yesterday. He always seemed so normal to me and I remember coming very close once to asking him, 'Why are you here?' If there ever was a person who was my "soloist", it would be him.

Anyway, if you want to be completely moved, watch this movie.

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Heartfelt Prayers

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Haiti. I pray that we react swiftly and are able to save lives.

I don't understand why we're not seeing reports of aid already on the ground. I understand that ships don't move very fast, but they could easily have flown aid into the Dominican Republic today and driven over to Haiti. We should be on the ground making progress right now. I think we're taking too long.

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Two Thumbs Way Down for H&M and Walmart

I'm shocked and appalled by the story in the news that H&M and Walmart would rather destroy old clothes than give them to the needy, particularly after the year we've had. They don't deserve any of our business.

I'm already pissed off at Walmart because they don't sell any recycled paper products (i.e., tp, paper towels, etc.). They're supposed to be "the most" green retailer in the world and they don't even sell any recycled paper products here. At least I got to say something to a district manager today. Three big wigs were visiting our local Walmart store and were discussing something on the store floor when I walked up and said "excuse me". I was nice about it and they listened. Hopefully they'll do something about it.

But this, this is beyond low. It doesn't get any lower than this. This is pathetic.

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Two Thumbs Up for Domino's Pizza

I am not a Domino's Pizza customer. In fact, if I had my choice of pizzas, Domino's would be last on my list and I'd have to be pretty desperate to eat it.

But I have to give credit where credit is due, and credit is due to Domino's' current television campaign. If you've seen it, then you know what I mean. They bare all when announcing the results of a customer survey. "Our crust tastes like cardboard." "Our sauce tastes like ketchup."

Those are pretty strong statements to admit, but to do it in front of millions of TV viewers is about as vulnerable as it gets.

They are making a commitment to improve the quality of their menu, and I will leave it up to their customers to decide when and whether the new product will pass the test. But they're off to a great start. In this age of the consumer in control and the consumer as the influencer, Domino's gets the concept of transparency and how it leads to customer trust and loyalty.

For that reason, I give two thumbs way up for Domino's' current advertising strategy.

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The Consumer Electronics Association Publishes Electronics Recycling Tips

Just found this article on Yahoo! with tips from the Consumer Electronics Association on what to do with old laptops, cell phones and other electronics you may want to dispose of now that Santa has brought you some great new techy stuff for Christmas.

Before you dispose, be sure to check out the CEA's advice on protecting yourself from identity theft.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/158498

Happy new year to all! May 2010 keep you and your family healthy, happy and rich in love.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Water Bottles Now Worth 5 Cents in Connecticut

According to the Container Recycling Institute, sales of plastic water bottles in the U.S. doubled between 2002 and 2005 from 15 billion to 29.8 billion.

And up until 2009, those bottles were recyclable but not returnable in the state of Connecticut. Now, if you live in Connecticut, you should be aware that your bottles are worth 5 cents a piece when returned along with your soda and beer bottles. If your family goes through a case of water a week, that's an extra $1.20 you could be getting back, or $62.00 a year.

While every penny counts today, $62 is still not much -- it doesn't even buy a family a week's worth of groceries. But over five years, that's $310. Ten years - $620. Do it your whole life and you can treat your family to a free vacation just by returning water bottles.

Also, returning the family's bottles and cans is a great way for a child or teen to make their own money. It also teaches them about the environment and about responsibility. And if there's one things kids and teens want today it's their own money.

So if you live in Connecticut, be advised you can now return your water bottles and get a refund.

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10 Ways You Can Recycle

Recycling is easy. Here are several ways you can recycle above and beyond what you're tossing into your the blue bin:

1. Metal hangers: bring them back to the dry cleaner. They will gladly accept them. Hangers are expensive and most dry cleaners these days are recycling hangers.

2. Eye glasses: Many eye glass retailers have a bin for recycling eye glasses. They get refurbished and go to the poor so they are put to very good use.

3. Cell phones: Pretty much every cell phone retailer today recycles old phones for the poor, so don't throw yours away!

4. Ink cartridges: Staples is just one retailer that gives points equal to $1 to for a returned ink cartridge. Return 10 ink cartridges, get $10 in a rebate check. You must be a rewards member to get the rebates.

5. Take your old books to your local library: Most libraries have a used book sale every year. Or, search online for a needy community such as areas struck by Hurricane Katrina that might be looking for books.

6. College text books: There are websites that both buy and sell college text books, including Barnesandnoble.com and ecampus.com.

7. Grocery bags: Bring your plastic bags back to the grocery store. Stop & Shop keeps a recycling bin in the entranceway.

8. Clothes: Donate your gently worn clothes to your local shelter or Goodwill store.

9. Batteries: Take your regular batteries down to your local firehouse. Ours collects hazardous materials on the first Saturday of every month.

10. BBQ propane gas cans: Take your empty propane tanks to a local propane company in your area. They will gladly recycle them.

And don't forget things like mulching your leftovers and making quilts for the poor out of your old clothes. There is a use for everything if you think about it!

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Bravo Jet Blue

Last night, as I was boarding a Jet Blue plane from Austin, Texas to JFK in New York, the flight attendant began to call passengers in order of priority (i.e., those who need special assistance and families with small children first, etc.).

But yesterday was Veterans' Day and the flight attendant did something that I thought was very classy and cool. He asked if there were any veterans on line and he invited them to board first.

Way to go Jet Blue.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

"Alledged" and "Suspect" Are Alledgedly Suspect

I get that the law is black and white. You are innocent until proven guilty. But I feel we banty around these words "alledged" and "suspect" a little too much. When someone clearly did something, such as the major who shot and killed 13 people in Ft. Hood, there is no unclarity there. He did it. What is alledged and suspect is why or how because those facts have yet to be proven.

When a serial killer or a sniper has been "suspected" and the law is on the lookout for the person they feel the evidence is leading them to, they clearly have not yet proven who the killer is and it takes a court of law to pull all the evidence together and do that. The actions of the person they are seeking are "alledged" because it has not been proven that they have the right person.

But this is different. This is clear cut.

Does he have rights that need to be protected? Yes he does. But that has nothing to do with whether he did or he didn't commit the act. He did. Period. So why do we have to call him the alledged or suspected killer? He's a killer. His reasons are alledged. Not his actions.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

This Is It - Two Thumbs Way Up

My husband and I went to see the Michael Jackson tribute "This Is It", a compilation of video footage made from the rehearsals of Michael's "last" tour. I thought it was excellent.

I had my doubts before I got there because I questioned how much footage could they possibly have and how far could they stretch it? I expected it to be padded with a lot of fluff. It wasn't. It turns out, they filmed literally everything during the practices, so they had a ton of original material to work with.

We got to see every dance move Michael planned to make, and every update and new twist to every song, which I thought he did an excellent job of. One thing Michael Jackson never did was stand still. He always evolved, and it showed in the practices for the "This Is It" concert tour.

Also, since the show was only eight days away when he died, all the video backdrop footage was already done, so they had all that to share, as well. And they did a great of showing the personalities of his team, which I thought was nice because he worked every day for months with these people and they became his family. The dancers were awesome and the show he was planning would have been absolutely amazing.

Anyway, bottom line, I thought it was totally worth the money and the time. I felt like I was at a concert. I felt like he was still alive. I felt like he had never left. Go see it.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

TOMS Shoes Gets 15 Minutes of Fame

Okay, that’s an exaggeration, as they are already famous. But I was happy to see them make the “big time” recently when they were featured on American Spirit, a CBS nightly news feature with Katie Couric.

TOMS Shoes is a pretty cool company and I like what they do. For every pair of shoes they sell, they give one pair away to a child in need. Since the company’s inception in 2006, they have given away more than 150,000 pairs of shoes.

The company website explains that their “shoe drops” do a lot more good than just putting shoes on the feet of people who can’t afford them:

“Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.”

In addition, the site says, “Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.”

In Sodo Ethiopia, where the soil is rich in silica – a type of volcanic ash – people suffer from a disease called podoconiosis, which causes deformity, intense pain, ulcers and social stigma and exclusion. It is founder Blake Mycoskie’s trip to Ethiopia which is featured on CBS’ American Spirit.

It sounds like a continuous domino effect of poverty and poor health conditions. And solving this problem can be done with a simple pair of shoes. Wow.

Check out TOMS Shoes at http://www.tomsshoes.com/. You can shop, donate, intern at their Venice, California headquarters, host a ‘design your own shoe’ party, or join or start a TOMS Shoes Campus Club at your college.

Clearly one person, or one simple act, can absolutely change the world.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Good Bye, My Friend

To my friend Adriana who moved away today, there was never enough time to walk. Never enough time to share a bottle of wine, and never enough time to sit and teach you English while you taught me Spanish.

I will miss you, my friend!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

The Day I Almost Met Bill Clinton

One day I had to pick my husband up from work at Pepsico headquarters in Armonk, NY. It was about 2 p.m. I sat in the semi-circle with my car in park, engine running. There were a couple of other vehicles there, but I didn't pay them any mind. I never noticed that the one in front and in back of me were both black Escalades.

As I was waiting, I saw four people come out a side door. I noticed that one coincidentally looked a little bit like Bill. But I would never expect the former president of the United States to come out a side door. Nor would I expect him to have such a small entourage. Just him and three other people, including a woman who looked to me like someone who handled public relations for the firm. In addition, he was wearing an orange polo shirt and a pair of faded jeans and sneakers. The former president of the United States dressed so casually after a speech? Perhaps someone had already put his pinstripe suit in the car. He also looked unusually thin.

As he came closer to the Escalade in front of me, the one behind me moved up and cut in front of my car. Only then did I know for sure that it was really him. I wanted so badly to roll down my window and yell, Hey Bill! and wave. But I was afraid that if I did, I would have 20 secret service men in my face in about three seconds.

I watched him get in the car and the two Escalades drove off. But I'm disappointed that I missed my opportunity. He was only about 20 or 30 feet from the hood of my car. Bill, if you're reading this, perhaps you could make up for it by taking me to lunch one day. Well, at least I've got the memory.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

The African Children's Choir Graces Norwalk, CT Again

For the second year, Norwalk United Methodist Church sponsored a visit by the African Children's Choir, and I have to say, if it is possible to fall in love with 30 children, I did. They also moved me to tears.

We had an hour long free concert on Saturday, October 17th and then an abridged show during worship services on Sunday, the 18th. And these kids are nothing short of amazing. If they come to your neighborhood, I highly recommend you go see them.

The children of the African Children's Choir, which was founded by missionary Ray Bennett 35 years ago, takes in children from war torn Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and other parts of Africa and gives them a life they would never have otherwise. In fact, many of them would be dead right now if it wasn't for the ACC. These kids have lost at least one, if not both of their parents and many of their siblings. They have been homeless, starving and living on the street or in refugee camps.

Once accepted by the African Children's Choir, they travel the world for one year, and are tutored while traveling from 9-5 every day. When they return home, they are provided with an education that goes all the way through college. Because of the ACC, these children have dreams. "I want to be a doctor," one said. "A pilot," said another.

Their smiles are beautiful, and they dance and sing African folk and spiritual songs beautifully. When they spoke, I was captivated. They are so cute when they say in their African accents, "I'm sure some of you would like to adopt us, but we are not available for adoption." (Laughter) "But there is a way that you can take us into your home." Then all the children pull out from behind their back CDs and DVDs and really cute t-shirts. Everyone laughs.

But seriously, the African Children's Choir has saved hundreds of thousands of children from poverty and death and turned them into adults and future adults who will be responsible for saving their country from war, poverty and hunger. Please check out their website at http://africanchildrenschoir.com/ and turn your speakers on so you can hear their angelic voices. Buy a CD, DVD or t-shirt, or simply donate to their cause. You can save a child. No amount is too small.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

The Greenest Town in America

This news item in Native Energy’s e-newsletter really grabbed me and I wanted to share it. On May 4, 2007, a tornado destroyed 95% of Greensburgh, Kansas and killed 11 people. In their efforts to rebuild, the residents of Greensburgh decided they were going to make their town the greenest in America.

They recently broke ground on the Greensburgh Wind Farm, which will generate enough energy to power 4,000 homes, which is more than enough electricity for every home, business, and municipal facility in this little town. The wind energy will displace fossil-based energy and reduce hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon pollution.

Very cool. Go Greensburgh!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Who Is Responsible for the Sound of Music Train Station Video?

I think the choreographed dance routine to the song “Do Re Mi”, which takes place at the Centraal Station in Antwerp, Belgium, is about the greatest thing since sliced bread. I love watching it and I never seem to get tired of it. I’ve already watched it at least a dozen times. It’s playing on my desktop right now, in fact!

But after about the twelfth time, I became intensely curious. Who is responsible for this really creative and original fete?

There are so many things I like about this video. First of all, there’s the wardrobe, or lack of one. All the dancers are wearing their own clothes, ranging from business suits to jeans, hoodies and sneakers. They truly look like 200 people who simply came to take a train and got caught up in the excitement and fun of it all, and oh by the way, they all just happened to know the steps! At one point, you see this fifties-ish guy with grey hair and a tan coat smiling and watching like he thinks it's really cool, and a few minutes later he's smack dab in the middle! And then there's this twenties-ish really tall guy in a dark suit who looks like he could be anybody's accountant in the very last row on the end and he's completely into it!

And I especially like the looks on their faces when the music starts. They’re all looking around like, “Where is this music coming from?” like they have no idea and are really surprised. They pull that off really well.

So I did some Googling and here’s what I found. According to Surfstation.com, the promotional stunt was put on by a Belgian television program, which was looking for someone to play the lead in a remake of “The Sound of Music”. The Huffington Post says it is a promotional stunt for a reality show.

Either way, HuffPo offers a great explanation for why I, and roughly a million other people, enjoy this video so much: “We’re in a global economic crisis, America’s fighting two wars, there’s genocide in Darfur, AIDs running rampant, and a pretty good shot that we could all be killed by bird flu in a year or two. We need this video.” Well that certainly explains a lot.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Kanye West Doesn't Deserve an Ounce of Fame

Did anyone catch the MTV music awards last night, or if not, the news this morning about his actions at the awards?

He actually interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech of the MTV video of the year award, pulled the microphone out of her hands and said that Beyonce's video was awesome. In other words, that she deserved the award. Taylor didn't know what to say after that.

Kanye West is rude, arrogant, pretentious and doesn't deserve one ounce of fame. He deserves to be knocked down a few pegs. How sad that someone can be so uncaring and self-centered in this day and age.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Can We All Have a Moment of Silence Please?

We won't forget. For all the people who died on September 11th, 2001, for all the spouses who lost their other halves, for all the children who lost their parents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and for all the people who lost their bosses, friends, colleagues, buddies and team members. We know you haven't forgotten. We haven't forgotten either.

This moment of silence is for you and for the loved ones you lost.

May peace be with you.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

God Bless Tuesday’s Children

Hugo graduated high school last June and is now working in a restaurant with the hopes of becoming a chef. He’s following in his father’s footsteps, but unfortunately his father isn’t there to tell him how proud he is of his son. His father was a chef at Windows of the World on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center. He died on September 11th, 2001.

There are thousands Hugos. Thank God there is Tuesday’s Children. Tuesday’s Children is a nonprofit organization that helps families of 9/11 with parenting, mentoring, legal issues, career counseling, life management skills and health and wellness.

If you or someone you know lost a loved one on September 11th, you are invited to their annual anniversary luncheon. It’s passed the RSVP date, but I doubt they would turn away a new member from their fold:

Date: Sept. 11, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Merchants NY Café
Address: 90 Washington Street
Between Rector and Washington
New York, NY 10006
Phone: 212-363-6000
RSVP: sara@tuesdayschildren.org
Or danielle@tuesdayschildren.org

Out of sadness and pain comes something wonderful. If you would like to donate to Tuesday’s Children, go to http://www.tuesdayschildren.org.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Health Care Town Hall Meeting Rises to a Boil

Last night I attended one of those town hall meetings on health care that have been all over the news. There were about 5,000 people in attendance from Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Norwalk and Darien.

The tension was high. Dissension was high. People were screaming from the audience. Most of the comments were pretty stupid. One woman yelled, "equal opportunity health care is not a constitutional right!" Huh? Another one yelled, "I don't want to pay for abortions!" Again, huh? Wow, there's a lot of misconception and ignorance in the world.

First of all, I believe that equal opportunity health care IS a constitutional right. Let's remember that most of the rights we have today - like the right for women to vote and for integration, not segregation - came long after the original constitution was written.

Here are some other things I know:

FACT: A 36-year-old woman's insurance company wouldn't pay for her $6,000 weekly chemo treatments because the treatment was new and "not proven".

FACT: There have been numerous stories about people who needed bone marrow transplants and insurance companies refused to pay for the expensive procedure because "it wasn't proven". It took years of fighting to get insurance companies to pay for these. I wonder how many people died waiting.

FACT: I've been turned down by insurance companies. My husband has been turned down by an insurance company. Insurance companies should not be allowed to turn anyone down.

FACT: We ended up forfeiting our COBRA because the rates were raised so high that we couldn't afford them. Insurance companies should not be allowed to charge absorbitant rates.

FACT: We're already paying for schools in our taxes. I don't have any kids in the school system but yet I have to pay for it anyway.

FACT: My taxes go to pay for the highways and the roads. I work from home so I don't use those highways and roads as much as most other people but yet I'm still paying the same amount for those roads as everyone else. Why not pay for healthcare out of our taxes?

FACT: From the time we are first old enough to work (i.e., age 16), we start paying into social security, something that none of us uses until we reach retirement age, yet no one has ever complained about paying into that. Furthermore, some people never even reach retirement age and never get to use any of it. Most people never get to use all of it. But no one has any problem with that.

I believe that equal opportunity healthcare is a constitutional right for all Americans. I believe that any government run program that requires us to pay into it from our paychecks should be for documented Americans only (but I also feel there should be better ways and more opportunities for undocumented aliens to become documented). And anyone who thinks that a government run healthcare system is going to pay for free abortions for the poor is an idiot. Unless that person is raped and is an uninsured minor. Then I think it makes sense.

The only shout out in the crowd that I heard last night that makes any sense at all is this: let's not try to boil the ocean. Let's take small steps. Today, pass a law that says that insurance companies cannot deny anyone insurance and make it illegal for insurance companies to deny preexisting conditions or new forms of medicine. That would be a great start. From there, we should move on to make payments affordable.

Perhaps there are certain medical wellness processes that could be government run, such as child vaccinations, mammograms, pap smears, prostate cancer tests, eye exams, blood pressure screenings, etc. Things that we can all benefit from. I am not opposed to government run medical insurance that creates a level playing field for all who need care, and I am not opposed to paying for it out of my paycheck or my taxes. Let's find a workable program that meets the needs of everyone.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.