In the early 1960s, crooner Tony Bennett popularized a song called “The Good Life.” It is a very harmonious ballad, but after researching the lyrics, I did not get any help in defining the good life. What is the good life? Is it wealth, fame or fortune? Unfortunately, if you have watched the recent news, it seems a number of the “rich and famous” end up in reputably tragic situations—-Michael Jackson, Steve McNair, Bernie Madoff.Perhaps the good life can be better described by our spirit, our relationships and our general well-being. Below are my thoughts on the good life, but I would be interested in hearing from you and getting your thoughts.
August 24 cannot come soon enough for Rochelle E. Oaks, Ph.D., as she prepares to participate in the 2009 Blacks In Government National Training Conference in Baltimore, Md. Viewing the chance to conduct eight workshops during the four-day convention as a great opportunity for her business, Oaks says excitement and anticipation is building day by day.
by Debbie Norrell DEBBIE NORRELL Pittsburgh finally has a casino,. It’s hard to believe. I had to be there on opening day just to give it the once over. I felt like I was in Vegas—well, almost. The place was packed. I found a slot machine to play and found that the machines only take five dollar bills. So if you head there with a wallet full of ones you’ll be out of luck. After I got over the $5 minimum I discovered most of the machines required you to select several lines to play. All of the machines were new and exciting but I didn’t see any of my old favorites that reminded me of Vegas, Atlantic City or the casinos in Detroit.
This summer, you’re really going to do it. There’s no other choice. You’ve stalled long enough. No more dragging your feet. You need some sort of income, so you’ve decided to start your own business, change careers, take on additional responsibility.
Journalist Brian Cook of the American Urban Radio Networks has won his second NABJ “Salute to Excellence Award” last weekend in Tampa Bay, Fla. Out of 80 award recipients, he was the only journalist from Pittsburgh to win “Salute to Excellence” honors. He won previously in 2007 at the Las Vegas convention.
Dear Editor, After reading your article on Aug. 6, “When will community say enough is enough?” I wanted to let you know that North Braddock said, “enough is enough” a long time ago. Two years ago, a Neighborhood Watch program was developed by resident Alison Flora. This program is open to all who are interested and it has helped to stop drug deals and to let criminals know that we don’t want adverse activity in our neighborhoods.
(NNPA)—I am hoping that you have been reading and watching the news. You may have come across stories about these right-wing mobs that have attempted to disrupt town hall meetings that Congresspeople have organized to discuss health care. There are some interesting things about these disruptions: they are virtually all White; they have completely mischaracterized the issue of health care and the proposals that President Obama is suggesting; they are openly and subtly racist; and they are angry and threatening to the point of being lunatic.The extreme political right, largely out of desperation, has decided it must take disruptive measures in order to derail the Obama administration. It is doing this through a combination of appeals to racial fears on the parts of Whites (particularly White men) along with tapping into the larger insecurity that nearly everyone is feeling in the context of the current economic crisis. On one level this should not be surprising since the extreme political right always emerges during times of crisis. What should concern us, however, is that this rabid political right does not disappear on its own. Their objective is power, and not simply the elimination of Obama and the Obama administration.
(REAL TIMES MEDIA)—Last week I packed up my things and headed off to Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh, Pa. Most of you are thinking, what is “Netroots Nation” and are assuming it has something to do with hairnets or hair dye, but neither guess is correct. “Netroots Nation 09” is the fourth annual meeting of the political left’s largest most influential groups of bloggers, writers, and Web activists. All of the big names were there, from Moveon.org representatives to Actblue, and the political bigwigs made sure to put in an appearance with this group that was so instrumental in Democratic electoral success in 2008. Former president Bill Clinton spoke, as did recent Republican-turned- Democrat Arlen Specter and former DNC head Howard Dean. Of course all of that meant little to me at first since I had gone to Netroots Nation with a clear plan and story in mind.
(NNPA)—When it was announced that Michael Vick had been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, echoes of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” became popular again. Bigmouths on sports radio, proposed some new lyrics for the Eagles’ fight song: “Die, Fido, die...”
(NNPA)—Congress is engaged in an enormously important national debate on health care. But we all know our health is also shaped in discussions closer to home—around our kitchen tables and in our communities. So while AARP is working with the President and Congress to make sure all Americans have affordable, quality health care, we’re also working to make sure every person has the resources and the information to take care of his or her health.
