The list of homeowners going into foreclosure has topped the one million mark. This week a Georgia newspaper reported the upcoming auction of the home of former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield. His 5,000-square-home — located on Evander Holyfield Highway — has 109 rooms, including 17 bathrooms, three kitchens and a bowling alley.
Holyfield reportedly defaulted on a $10 million loan to Washington Mutual Bank, which plans to auction off his home on the courthouse steps on July 1. (Did he really need 109 rooms?)
Former baseball star Jose Canseco is walking away from his 7,300-square-foot mansion in a Los Angeles suburb. He bought the six-bedroom, five-bath Encino mansion in 2005 for about $2.8 million. The house already had at least one lien placed on it, from the Internal Revenue Service.
Ed McMahon, the longtime sidekick to Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show," defaulted on $4.8 million in mortgage loans with a unit of Countrywide Financial Corp., which filed a notice of default in March, according to ForeclosureRadar, a company that sells default data pulled from public records. The 85-year-old is reportedly $644,000 in arrears.
California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona accounted for 89 percent of the total increase in new home foreclosures.
Who's really to blame for this mess?
Friday, June 06, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Baby Boomers Don't Like to Face Ugly History
Today marks the anniversary of the worst race riots in our nation’s history. It was known as the Tulsa Riots of 1921.
The trouble began on May 31, 1921 when a young black man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting a white girl named Sarah Page in an elevator. Although police questioned her, there was never a written account produced of her statement. Whatever the conversation was between Page and the police, it is generally accepted that the police decided that what had happened between the two teenagers was something less than a serious assault. In any event, the police did not launch a man-hunt for her alleged assailant. They apparently knew who they were looking for, but they felt no great urgency.
Whether or not an actual assault had occurred, Rowland had reason to be afraid. In those days, just an accusation of an assault on a white woman might incite violence. He realized the seriousness of the situation, and Rowland fled to his mother's house in the Greenwood neighborhood.
The morning after the incident, Rowland was located, booked on suspicion of assault, and taken to an interrogation room on the top floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse for questioning.
AND THEN THE MEDIA GOT INVOLVED….need I say more….
By late morning, news of the event had apparently reached the Tulsa Tribune. The newspaper broke the story in that afternoon's edition with the headline: 'Nab Negro for Attacking Girl In an Elevator', describing the alleged incident with the details that could be assembled on such short notice. It was, however, another article in the same paper that is credited with providing the misinformation which sparked the chain of events that ensued later that evening.
When it was all over, the area known as “Black Wall Street” was completely destroyed and it’s believed that more than 300 blacks were killed---although the official number only reported 39 deaths.
As baby boomers, this is a part of history we do our best to shy away from because we know these people were mothers, fathers, other relatives and friends. Even if our family members weren’t directly involved in the Tulsa Race Riot, it’s safe to say the majority of baby boomers have parents and grandparents who were either the racist culprits or the victims somewhere in America. The question is how much of that attitude and racism is still a part of the baby boomers you know today?
The trouble began on May 31, 1921 when a young black man named Dick Rowland was accused of assaulting a white girl named Sarah Page in an elevator. Although police questioned her, there was never a written account produced of her statement. Whatever the conversation was between Page and the police, it is generally accepted that the police decided that what had happened between the two teenagers was something less than a serious assault. In any event, the police did not launch a man-hunt for her alleged assailant. They apparently knew who they were looking for, but they felt no great urgency.
Whether or not an actual assault had occurred, Rowland had reason to be afraid. In those days, just an accusation of an assault on a white woman might incite violence. He realized the seriousness of the situation, and Rowland fled to his mother's house in the Greenwood neighborhood.
The morning after the incident, Rowland was located, booked on suspicion of assault, and taken to an interrogation room on the top floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse for questioning.
AND THEN THE MEDIA GOT INVOLVED….need I say more….
By late morning, news of the event had apparently reached the Tulsa Tribune. The newspaper broke the story in that afternoon's edition with the headline: 'Nab Negro for Attacking Girl In an Elevator', describing the alleged incident with the details that could be assembled on such short notice. It was, however, another article in the same paper that is credited with providing the misinformation which sparked the chain of events that ensued later that evening.
When it was all over, the area known as “Black Wall Street” was completely destroyed and it’s believed that more than 300 blacks were killed---although the official number only reported 39 deaths.
As baby boomers, this is a part of history we do our best to shy away from because we know these people were mothers, fathers, other relatives and friends. Even if our family members weren’t directly involved in the Tulsa Race Riot, it’s safe to say the majority of baby boomers have parents and grandparents who were either the racist culprits or the victims somewhere in America. The question is how much of that attitude and racism is still a part of the baby boomers you know today?
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A Baby Boomer's Review of the Iron Man Movie
Last night my husband and I went to see the movie Iron Man with Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwynneth Paltrow.
My husband had been saying he's like to see it because Iron Man was one of his favorite comic book heroes when he was a child. Now, he knows I am NOT a fan of comic book hero movies so he was quite surprised that I suggested we see it. I figured it's the least I could do since he's always going to see the "chick flicks" I want to see. Besides, I could always say it was an early anniversary gift since our second wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days.
I actually ENJOYED the movie! Although it dragged for the first 30 minutes or so, I could get into the storyline and it held my attention. Robert Downey, Jr. played a self-absorbed millionaire who inherited his father's weapons company empire but got a rude awakening after being held captive for three months in the Middle East. I've never been a fan of Downey's but I must admit I was impressed with his acting in the movie.
Gwynneth played the faithful assistant. I've never been a fan of hers either but I appreciated her acting talent in the movie.
I can't say enough about Terrence Howard. It's like that role was made for him. It's a shame he doesn't get more opportunities to display his talent range.
I almost didn't recognize Jeff Bridges. He looks a lot different than you would expect in this movie. He played the bad guy.
To my fellow baby boomer divas, if you're looking for something to do for a "date night" take your partner to see Iron Man. Take it from one who had a good time seeing her man enjoy watching one of his favorite comic book heroes.
My husband had been saying he's like to see it because Iron Man was one of his favorite comic book heroes when he was a child. Now, he knows I am NOT a fan of comic book hero movies so he was quite surprised that I suggested we see it. I figured it's the least I could do since he's always going to see the "chick flicks" I want to see. Besides, I could always say it was an early anniversary gift since our second wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days.
I actually ENJOYED the movie! Although it dragged for the first 30 minutes or so, I could get into the storyline and it held my attention. Robert Downey, Jr. played a self-absorbed millionaire who inherited his father's weapons company empire but got a rude awakening after being held captive for three months in the Middle East. I've never been a fan of Downey's but I must admit I was impressed with his acting in the movie.
Gwynneth played the faithful assistant. I've never been a fan of hers either but I appreciated her acting talent in the movie.
I can't say enough about Terrence Howard. It's like that role was made for him. It's a shame he doesn't get more opportunities to display his talent range.
I almost didn't recognize Jeff Bridges. He looks a lot different than you would expect in this movie. He played the bad guy.
To my fellow baby boomer divas, if you're looking for something to do for a "date night" take your partner to see Iron Man. Take it from one who had a good time seeing her man enjoy watching one of his favorite comic book heroes.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
A Baby Boomer's View of Memorial Day
Ever since I was a little girl, I remember Memorial Day as a time when we remembered the soldiers who fought and died for our country. My Uncle Bob was a WWII veteran. He was one of the lucky ones. He returned home from the war---even though he was shell-shocked. As a child, I didn’t understand the terminology but upon observing my uncle’s subsequent behavior over the years, I knew it had something to do with his inability to cope mentally back into society.
As a baby boomer, I have memories of Vietnam but I never knew anyone who died in the war. As a television reporter stationed at Camp Lejeune, I covered many stories of Marines preparing for Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm. I covered Memorials and some of the happy homecomings.
On this Memorial Day I have decided I am not going to mourn over the dead. Yes---I will pray for their souls and hope they discovered who God is---but on this particular day I choose to pray for the living. I will pray for the men and women who are in harm’s way daily. I will pray for their safekeeping until they are able to return home to loved ones.
More importantly, I will pray for peace.
As a baby boomer, I have memories of Vietnam but I never knew anyone who died in the war. As a television reporter stationed at Camp Lejeune, I covered many stories of Marines preparing for Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm. I covered Memorials and some of the happy homecomings.
On this Memorial Day I have decided I am not going to mourn over the dead. Yes---I will pray for their souls and hope they discovered who God is---but on this particular day I choose to pray for the living. I will pray for the men and women who are in harm’s way daily. I will pray for their safekeeping until they are able to return home to loved ones.
More importantly, I will pray for peace.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Baby Boomer Obama Wins Big in NC
Despite the fact that North Carolina’s Governor went against the grain and endorsed Hillary Clinton, it was fellow baby boomer Barack Obama who came out the big winner during Tuesday’s Primary election.
The numbers are beyond impressive! Obama won a lopsided victory by more than 200,000 votes. With 99 percent of the votes counted:
Barack Obama 887,186
Hillary Clinton 654,484
What is even more astonishing is the fact that nearly 1.5 million votes were cast (by Democrats) in the race. According to the NC Board of Elections, there are 2,633,502 registered democratic voters (as of 5/7/08). More than 100,000 new voters were added to the rolls just for this election.
Never in the history of NC voting has there ever been a turnout like this. Yes, Obama overwhelmingly won the black vote, but he clearly crossed over racial lines and received a significant number of white votes as well. (The media’s not talking about that!)
Even though I’m not a fan of FOX News, they reported some interesting statistics:
74% of voters with college degrees voted for Obama
56% of voters with no degree voted for Obama
69% of first-time voters voted for Obama
61% of Obama voters were under 30 (my daughter was one of them).
Obama received 92% of the black vote
Obama received 61% of white women
If you want to learn more about how the early voting went, see my report by clicking on the title of this blog.
The numbers are beyond impressive! Obama won a lopsided victory by more than 200,000 votes. With 99 percent of the votes counted:
Barack Obama 887,186
Hillary Clinton 654,484
What is even more astonishing is the fact that nearly 1.5 million votes were cast (by Democrats) in the race. According to the NC Board of Elections, there are 2,633,502 registered democratic voters (as of 5/7/08). More than 100,000 new voters were added to the rolls just for this election.
Never in the history of NC voting has there ever been a turnout like this. Yes, Obama overwhelmingly won the black vote, but he clearly crossed over racial lines and received a significant number of white votes as well. (The media’s not talking about that!)
Even though I’m not a fan of FOX News, they reported some interesting statistics:
74% of voters with college degrees voted for Obama
56% of voters with no degree voted for Obama
69% of first-time voters voted for Obama
61% of Obama voters were under 30 (my daughter was one of them).
Obama received 92% of the black vote
Obama received 61% of white women
If you want to learn more about how the early voting went, see my report by clicking on the title of this blog.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Baby Boomer Divas on the Move in Daytona Beach
I've been back home a few days after spending several days in Daytona Beach for the First Annual Baby Boomer Girlfriend's Spring Break. Everyone has been asking me, "How was it?"
It's really hard to describe in words because there were so many different things going on. It was a non-stop weekend. It was nothing short of incredible to finally meet some of the baby boomer divas I've been networking online with for more than a year. You would’ve thought we had known each other for years. Actually it felt like a sorority sisters reunion. And when you add in Baby Boomer Actresses Bern Nadette Stanis and Jo Kelly, you get a star-studded event designed for Queen Divas.
One thing I've discovered is, we are truly a group of fabulous 40 and beyond women. Just click on the title of this blog (Baby Boomer Divas on the Move...) and see what I mean.
It's really hard to describe in words because there were so many different things going on. It was a non-stop weekend. It was nothing short of incredible to finally meet some of the baby boomer divas I've been networking online with for more than a year. You would’ve thought we had known each other for years. Actually it felt like a sorority sisters reunion. And when you add in Baby Boomer Actresses Bern Nadette Stanis and Jo Kelly, you get a star-studded event designed for Queen Divas.
One thing I've discovered is, we are truly a group of fabulous 40 and beyond women. Just click on the title of this blog (Baby Boomer Divas on the Move...) and see what I mean.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
First Annual Baby Boomer Girlfriend's Spring Break a Success
After spending a FABULOUS weekend in Daytona Beach for the First Annual Baby Boomer Girlfriend’s Spring Break, I am CONVINCED there are many of us out here who are doing great things. We many not be recognized by the masses but we are still a force to be reckoned with!!!
I want to personally thank those of you who believed in my vision and helped make it a reality. Baby Boomer actress Bern Nadette Stanis deserves a **special** thank you for her participation.
I am inviting you to become a member of Boomer Diva Nation and join us now and beyond as we work to make a difference in the lives of those around us.
See some of the pictures from the event at: http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com
I want to personally thank those of you who believed in my vision and helped make it a reality. Baby Boomer actress Bern Nadette Stanis deserves a **special** thank you for her participation.
I am inviting you to become a member of Boomer Diva Nation and join us now and beyond as we work to make a difference in the lives of those around us.
See some of the pictures from the event at: http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)