THE BEST OF THE INTERNET AND MEDIA - Life's curiosities - the things that make us smile; ponder; discuss and wonder about. Everything from political news to the arts, with lots of variety in between.
I’m a b-a-a-a-d blogger – it occurred to me today that I left you all hanging with my final installment of this article. The last entry in this series of posts was on August 10, 2009 (just in case you want to refresh your memories.) Anyway, here are two items that I have eaten, which are often considered quite gross by most folk’s standards, but I have enjoyed them immensely. What’s your take on these two delicacies?
Yep, it’s cow tongue, but it’s not just “cow tongue” if it is prepared properly, and IMHO that requires boiling, slicing it in such a way that it no longer resembles tongue, and serving it with a delicious sweet and sour raisin sauce.Mm, Mm good!!! And, if prepared this way you will think it is the finest, most tender and flavorful cut of beef you’ve ever eaten. Plus it will look like this.
The next unusual delicacy that I’ve really enjoyed, I was introduced to as a child at a restaurant that was known for this specialty, Phil Schmidt & Sons, which unfortunately (two years ago) closed its doors after 97 years in business.
Can you guess what it is from the “before” picture or the "after."
If you’re still not sure, check out the video below. Now, what about you - care to share anymore? Bon Appétit'!
Today marks the birth date of one of those rare, multi-talented entertainment hyphenates, puppeteer-actor-producer-director-writer and composer, Jim Henson, whose legacy lives on in some of the finest children’s programming ever created.
Born in 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi, Henson accomplished an outstanding, award-winning body of work in his 53 years of life, encompassing both television and film.
Widely known as the creator of “The Muppets,” it was Henson’s skilled presentation of some of these beloved fabric characters, such as “Kermit the Frog” that provided dual stars for him and his amphibian characterization on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
It was also Henson’s puppetry talents that were instrumental to the success of one of the longest running and most honored children’s programs, Sesame Street.
Henson’s life was cut short May 16, 1990, dying within a matter of days after contracting a streptococcal infection.
Today, Henson’s creative work continues through his family-run Jim Henson Company, the Jim Henson Foundation and the multitude of products that bear his signature.
Henson’s alter ego, better known as “Kermit the frog” lives on as well and is voiced by the talented actor, Steve Whitmire.
Henson once said, “When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there.”
On September 26, 1992, Henson was proclaimed, "Humanitarian, muppeteer, producer and director of films for children that encourage tolerance, interracial values, equality and fair play," when he was posthumously awarded the Children’s Peace Award. This honor, which is part of the Courage of Conscience Awards, places his name and work alongside that of humanity’s finest contributors: names such as Mahatma Gandhi; John Lennon and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
The next time you hear the song “Rainbow Connection” from the 1979 hit film, The Muppet Movie, which was originally sung by Henson as Kermit, remember the man who gave so much to us all.
Over the last few months, I have witnessed a discourse that borders on the ridiculous over healthcare.
Supposedly, intelligent and informed people are debating this issue by yelling, screaming, going ballistic, spreading false information, utilizing scare tactics and even biting body parts – frankly, I don’t understand it.
Healthcare reform is an issue that needs to be addressed whether we are Republican , Democrat or Independent, and whether we like it or not. The financial stability of this country is dependent on reform.
The National Coalition on Health Care, the nation's largest non-profit and “rigorously non-partisan” organization that represents 70 organizations, who in turn employ or represent about 150 million Americans, provides irrefutable statistical information (the hard facts and numbers) about the need for reform, and they don’t have an axe to grind, or an election to win, or a profit to make.
If after perusing NCHC’s website, and seeing the surprising number of mainstream and medical organizations involved that support the dissemination of real facts, or if you have still have doubts, fears or are confused about what a “Public Option” is, versus a "Co-op," the two-minute/39 seconds video below, featuring Robert Reich, is without a doubt, (IMHO) the most succinct and understandable explanation of the facts.
After 26 years of giving children reasons to read and opening up the possibilities that the love of literacy provides, PBS KIDS Reading Rainbow turned its last page Friday, August 28, 2009 when the powers-to-be gave the popular television show walking papers.
Over the years, Reading Rainbow was hosted by the genial yet kid-energizing Hollywood star, LeVar Burton, and even with the show garnering two dozen Emmy wins, a Peabody Award, TV Critics Award and NAACP Image Awards those factors did not prevent the program from being shuttered.
As an educational, as well entertaining children’s show, ranked only after Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood in longevity, this demise comes as a total surprise.
What caused it? Apparently, it was twofold. Budgeting constraints being one cause (no surprise in this economy) but the other reason, which marked the show for the hit list was an initiative started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration. This initiative placed emphasis on providing children with the basic mechanics for reading, such as phonics and spelling, a niche which the current PBS KIDS program Super Why! fills quite nicely.
In an interview done by Ben Calhoun on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Morning edition, Linda Simensky, vice president for children's programming at PBS explained that when Reading Rainbow was first developed in the early 1980’s everyone was trying to figure out "How do we get kids to read books?"
Well, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of Education, and PBS have indeed provided the tools to help children learn to read with programs such as Super Why! but mechanics alone will not make lifelong readers. Once grasped, the tools for reading are marvelous to have but reinforcement is necessary.
Exposing young readers to the vast world of literary titles, as Reading Rainbow did during the last quarter century, opened children to the love of books, with the unlimited possibilities they provided, which (to paraphrase the show’s opening song) enabled them to be anywhere, and to let them be anything - that’s what’s in a book, just take a look.
CNN reporter Deborah Feyerick was on location covering a story assignment about farming in St. Albans, Vermont.
Little did she know that she was going to be part of the big scoop.
When Feyerick and production crew initially arrived on the scene, the owner of the farm proceeded to take the crew on a tour of the grounds, when all of a sudden they came upon one of his cows that was attempting to give birth.
The farmer immediately recognized that the cow was having a difficult time pushing the calf out, so he did what he always does when one of his cows has this problem; he assisted and allowed Feverick to lend a helping “pull” using a set of chains attached to the stubborn little calf.
It was lucky for cow, calf and farmer that the news crew had been present otherwise the farmer may not have been able to extract the calf, and most likely both cow and calf would have died.
All I can say is “OUCH,” but well done indeed (IMHO.)
Oh, and by the way, cow, calf, farmer and reporter are all doing well!
One of the most remarkable examples of video footage has surfaced on YouTube, in the form of what might best be described as a cross pollination between performance art and avant-garde, but that doesn’t even describe it accurately.
In fact, there really isn’t a pure term to nail it down, other than an artist performing the act of creation.
Kseniya Simonova is the artist, and she recently claimed the winning spot on Ukraine’s own version of our popular, “America’s Got Talent” television show.
Simonova, who utilizes sand as her artistic medium, wowed and reduced her audience (as well as the show’s judges) to tears as she drew pictures with sand, telling the dramatic story of the invasion and occupation of Ukraine by the Nazis during World War II.
Her drawings, illuminated in a PowerPoint format and accompanied by dramatic music, reveal through morphing images, the horrors and losses suffered by the Ukrainian people.
It is estimated that between five to eight million Ukrainians perished during that dark period in history, and it is obvious that very few if any family histories were not touched by the devastation over 65 years ago.
See for yourself this remarkable and touching performance, which was signed at the end, not with her name, but with the simple phrase, “You are always near.”
In my humble opinion, this truly redefines the term “talent.”
8. Chocolate covered crickets… No way bleepin’ way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t imagine crunching away on something that I would rather sit and listen to from my front porch on a late summer evening. I think I’ll take my chocolate the old-fashioned way in a Hershey Bar.
9.Deep fried mars bars…Now don’t get me wrong, I do like chocolate, but never tried this, because basically I can’t imagine deep-frying anything but chicken or fries, and besides I don’t think my arteries could handle this.
10. Larvets …….If you haven’t guessed by the name, I’ll link you to what this is, but before that, I’ll tell you - for me it’s a resounding “PASS!” I like my critters in the garden not in the package!
11. ant candy…In red or green apple flavor… I don’t think so! (Please let me know if you prefer the red or the green.)
Come on now, start submitting more of your favorites.
Tomorrow… a couple of entrees that I bravely tried and found them to be AWESOME!!!!!
In the last few weeks, many notable luminaries have passed from our midst, now part of history, and all having touched our lives on many different levels.
The list of names is long for such a brief period of time: “infomercial king” Billy Mays; actress Gale Storm; actor Karl Malden; the “king of pop” Michael Jackson; actress Farrah Fawcett; “late-night sidekick” Ed McMahon; author Frank McCourt; actor James Whitmore, and broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite.
I remember flipping television channels and catching sales pitches from Mays, and giggling at the antics of Storm and retorts by McMahon; going into a hairdresser and asking for a “Fawcett” cut and sitting in a darkened theater enthralled by performances of Whitmore and Malden; humming a Jackson song and being moved by McCourt’s words, all fine watercolor memories, but for me, Walter Cronkite’s death brought more reflection than any on that list.
He had been a part of my life in the 20th century, perhaps more than any of the others.
It’s odd, but I have vivid memories of where I was and what I was doing when Cronkite broke the heart-rending news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination; the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald; when “one small step” was taken for mankind on the lunar surface and then again, when Apollo 13 Commander James A. Lovell reported he had “a problem.” He was there for us during the violent demonstrations in Chicago reporting the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and he was always there as the numbers of casualties rose day-by-day during the Vietnam War. He was there during the Watergate Scandal; he was there announcing the death of President Johnson and the resignation of Richard M. Nixon. He was a trusted voice and image, always there, always reporting events as they unfolded in real time.
Cronkite also reached back into history and as presenter and host of You Are There during the 1950s and then again, in the early 70s, he took me on historical newsworthy voyages of the past, opening each program with, "All things are as they were then, except... You Are There." and concluding each of those fascinating mini documentaries by saying, "What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times... and you were there."
For many years, Cronkite illuminated us all with his accurate and thoughtful reporting. I will miss this “most trusted man in America” and I will miss his other verbal signature, “that’s the way it is.”
Today we are going to take a bit of a break from bizarre food and cover some ground on a story of real importance that I posted earlier today on my Examiner.com page. Please share this with as many folks that you know. It's for a very good cause.
The distinguished and celebrated actor, James Cromwell once said, “Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life.”
This same philosophy has been demonstrated day-after-day by a unique animal shelter known as Second Chance, located in the small and tranquil community of East Brookfield, Massachusetts, whose reach is nationwide.
Second Chance, with a grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, has instituted a notable program, Party for Pets, which has been designed to not only help animals, but provide birthday fun for children along with a good lesson in the grace of charitable giving.
Second Chance Animal Shelter is a rare breed of shelter, in that it is known as a “no-kill facility,” which means instead of an animal being euthanized if not claimed, Second Chance provides medical care, food, shelter and socialization training if necessary for animals until a new “forever-family” can be properly matched to adopt them.
Over the years, this 1200 square foot facility has done the impossible, and given thousands of dogs, cats and assorted creatures a “second chance” at life after being surrendered or abandoned by their caretakers.
Now, more than ever, with the extended recession and unemployment decimating numerous household budgets, Second Chance has risen to the call and taken in an ever-increasing number of pets as families struggle to keep a roof over their head and food on their table.
If your child, or a child you know, has a birthday coming up, the Party for Pets program will provide a special party package for kids who are having a birthday and who are willing to ask their party guests to provide gifts for the shelter pets instead of themselves – it can be pet food or pet toys; designated shelter supplies or monetary donations; whatever is easiest to mail or ship back to Second Chance.
The child’s party package will arrive prior to their birthday and includes various party favors for their guests along with a special t-shirt for the birthday girl or boy.
In addition, if you live within driving distance, kids can bring the pet gifts to the shelter after their party and they will get a personal tour of the facility.
Whether you ship the gifts or bring them in, all children are encouraged to provide pictures with their written reflections on why they chose to have a "Party for Pets," and they will be featured on the “Star Supporters” web page of Second Chance.
To register for this important program simply follow this link.
As the child in your life celebrates his or her birthday, it will be an opportunity for them to reflect on the importance of their good deed and generosity, which helps to provide a re-birth or second chance for a homeless pet.
4. Heart - I put this in the same classification as those pesky kidneys – soapy flavor and I wouldn’t try again even if it were prepared like this.
5. Lutefisk – I heard about this delicacy from listening to Garrison Keillor talk about lutefisk on Prairie Home Companion. As far as I’m concerned, anything that looks like this after it’s been cured in lye is a definite pass for me.
And, by the way, I’m being playfully wicked about this video but this is kind of where I am at with Lutefisk, although I’m sure some folks really enjoy it. I hope.….
The ubiquitous ‘they’ say, that your “body is like a temple” – thus implying that it is best to treat it with a great deal of reverence or else the gods will rebel.
My hope in this series of posts, over the next few days, is not to offend or inflame anyone, but to open a dialogue and garner insight into the nature of human nature, particularly when it comes to partaking in certain foods that for some, might be offensive, either from personal tastes, physical reactions or dietary law.
Not in any particular order, here’s Day 1 of my list with links to the foods in question.
1. Kidneys – No thank you on these, as I have found they have a soapy, rather acrid taste, at least to me. And, I’m not sure I would try them again, even if they were cooked in sherry and looked like this.
2. Brain – makes me want to stop thinking about it all together – this was a favored delicacy, that from time-to time would appear to those fortunate passengers that rode first class on (I will not mention the particular airline) and were offered brains and eggs for breakfast - I never tried them and never will. Anyone for a serving of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy?
3. Sweetbreads – by any other name, they are a gland, and I’m “gland” I never tried them even if they can be cooked up to look like this.
Tomorrow, more menu selections to signal your thumb’s up, or thumb down.
Once in awhile something unusual happens during a live classical music performance that patrons will talk about for years to come.
It might be an exceptionally fine interpretation of a classical standard, which causes the audience to rise to their feet in astonished devotion.
Then again, it could be something totally different and not ever witnessed before – such is the latter in this case.
On Sunday, June 14, 2009, the Hampshire Choral Society, who’s mission is “to create beautiful music, and to have fun doing it, “certainly made good on their goal!
The society .was giving a lovely performance of Handel’s Messiah, when an unexpected visitor entered stage left, and was deftly dispatched elsewhere by Ms. Anita Anderson Cooper, and with very good humor (IMHO) by conductor Allan Taylor.
You will not believe your eyes! Enjoy – this is a first (in my memory) that will make you smile!
Today we celebrate the men in our lives that we have called “Father;” “Daddy;” “Dad;” “Pa-pa;” “Pop;“ “Godfather;” “Grandfather;” "Grandpa,” and the multitude of other names that are special to each individual – these are the men who have raised us up.
Others have said it much better than I…
“The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering-galleries, they are clearly heard at the end and by posterity.” - Jean Paul Richter
"We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents." – Henry Ward Beecher
"Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance." - Ruth E. Renkel
"It's only when you grow up, and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home—it's only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love." - Margaret Truman
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." -- Unknown
Happy Father’s Day gentlemen – this one’s for you!
For the better part of my working life, I functioned in entrepreneurial mode, holding several jobs at one time. Oftentimes, I was practicing the art of multi-tasking before it was actually given a name and became de rigueur.
In one of my previous incarnations, I maintained my own retail business, worked in broadcasting and held full time in-flight management duties with a major airline.
Spending more than a decade dedicated to the business of flying (with one major and a couple of up-start minors) allowed me to travel, study, and develop my artistic passions for which I will always be grateful.
Finally the time came, when I felt I could clip my wings and venture into full time creative territory and actually have a life. I found that holding only two jobs was really quite liberating!
However, I’ve always maintained an interest in the “friendly” and more recently, not-so-friendly skies. I have watched over the years, how changes in the industry, some enforced by economics and some for safety reasons, led to a depersonalization and lack of joy in the whole experience of in-flight travel.
These days, you can count yourself lucky not to be strip-searched and charged for a bag of peanuts or even the toilet, and one airline even recognizes it.
Yes, Southwest Airlines is one bright spot in the industry - these folks have the right idea about how to get passengers to return.
As a little airline that started back in 1971 and struggled against all odds, it’s in-flight personnel are (IMHO) some of the best in the industry and it is a legacy that was begun with the airlines founder, Herbert D. Kelleher. It was Kelleher and his outgoing personality that created a unique corporate culture that aimed for stress reduction by allowing employees to be themselves and have fun – from their onboard “toilet paper races” to their YouTube sensation, the “Rapping Flight Attendant.
Do any of you have a favorite Southwest Airlines story to share?
Earlier today, I published the second, of two articles on my Examiner.com page about an absolutely stunning documentary that is being distributed worldwide in an effort to promote ecological awareness, today, June 5, 2009 - World Environment Day.
Within a matter of hours, the film has been viewed by over 70,000 people, and that is just the version that is in English.
As the newspaper industry continues to maintain a deathwatch, and Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation’s CEO prognosticates on the future of digital journalism, there is one fellow who must have asked himself the burning question – “If all the newspapers in the world go out of business, what will happen to all the news boxes, on all the street corners?”
A Canadian street artist, known simply as, “Posterchild,” set out to answer the call with action to what has the potential to become a street blighting dilemma, (just think non-operational, graffiti-covered AT&T payphones) and has started planting miniature flower gardens in the abandoned news boxes.
Posterchild, who also blogs under the title, Blade Diary, shares with his readers photo updates of his progress, such as the above, taken on a Toronto street corner.
Leave it to an artist to think up something creative like this - I just love it when people make lemonade out of life’s lemons!
Ownership in toy history changed hands on Thursday, May 28, 2009 as retail toy giant Toys "R" Us completed the purchase (for an undisclosed sum) of the financially failing competitor, FAO Schwarz.
The Schwarz flagship New York store on 5th Avenue at 58th Street will remain open and operating under the historic brand name as will the Las Vegas branch store, which has become a tourist attraction at the Forum Shops of Ceasars Palace, and whose entrance is guarded by a 47-foot tall replica of a Trojan Horse.
In a thoughtful statement made to the press, Toys “R” Us Chairman and CEO, Jerry Storch said, “We have enormous respect for the FAO Schwarz brand and for the special place it holds in the hearts of children everywhere.” He added, “Building upon this storied tradition is a responsibility we take very seriously.”
In addition to maintaining the two retail locations, and offering existing employees of the two stores continued employment, Toys “R” Us will take over operations and maintain the name of the FAO Schwarz e-commerce and catalog divisions, but will be closing down all in-store locations at 260 Macy’s department stores.
Hard to believe, that after 147 years, America’s oldest toy retailer, with a long a rich history of selling some of the world’s finest and most unique toys, was taken down by the great recession of 2009.
How many of you have special memories of a visit to an FAO Schawrz store, and how many have danced upon the giant keyboard?
It seems his newest book has bypassed the traditional publishing industry and has gone straight to press on toilet paper.That’s right, you heard me, toilet paper.
The novel, or is it the tissue, is being promoted as “Japan’s scariest toilet paper.”
More a novella, brief from start to finish, takes a mere three feet to wrap up, which is just about the appropriate amount for one short sitting.
Japan Review. Net conducted an interesting interview with Suzuki, April 23, 2003 that is rather enlightening in so far as getting into the mind of the man who is often referred to as Japan’s Stephen King.
Suzuki’s current literary work is appropriately titled: The Drop and is coming to a bathroom near you.
Here’s a brief glimpse into one of Maine’s favorite sons - the man who has kept readers up all night, and maybe sitting on the "john" for a lot longer than three feet.
As a couple of my regular readers know, recently I began reporting for EXAMINER.COM as their National Children's Entertainment Examiner. I've not been able to post here as often as I would like, but as I ease into my new role I will be back here to post on a variety of grown-up oriented subjects as well as sharing some of the more interesting stories I am covering. I hope you will bear with me for a little while as I make this transition. I would also like to invite each of you to follow me along as I report on entertainment that makes a positive difference in the lives of children.
The article below was published on Friday, May 22, 2009 and it was an eye-opening labor of love, which I want to share with you. The link at the bottom of this post will take you to Part 2 of this article. Please feel free to post your comments on either page, and thanks so much for visiting. Hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend.
Years ago, children would learn about the latest doll, game or toy when a parent plopped down a catalogue for them to peruse for Christmas, or just before their birthday.
Sometimes, it took a trip to a local toy store or hobby shop to reveal a fascination for model airplanes, or paint-by numbers kits, but over the last 50 years, marketing to children has changed, and become immediate and seemingly all pervasive, because it provides an unparalleled source of revenue for entertainment generating corporations.
On Wednesday, May 15, 2009, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Worldwide division, a traditional purveyor of quality cultural programming, both here and abroad, announced the appointment of Tom Keefer as Senior Vice President of Global Licensing for BBC Worldwide.
Keefer, a former Mattel executive will be spearheading BBC Worldwide’s growth in product licensing opportunities for their children’s as well as adult brands.
Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director BBC Worldwide Children's and Licensing said: "One of our core objectives when restructuring the business last year was examining untapped potential in territories outside the UK, especially the US where such a high proportion of the world’s licensing revenue is made.”
Entertainment corporations everywhere are constantly on the lookout to produce additional streams of revenue from ancillary markets, which for some corporations provide their only profit, and for others much more. It is part and parcel of doing business, but what does that say about our society when corporations specifically target children as consumers?
Profit making is a benchmark of capitalistic societies - it is the engine that drives economies, however, our current global recession is forcing consumers to closely scrutinize what they invest their money in, as well as why they invest it, and what is the return on that investment.
When it comes to children, parents are generally the ones that do the “buying,” but more often than not, it is because a child has demonstrated a preference for a particular product that they have encountered through some form of media promotion.
Toys, games, DVDs, books, clothing and even food products are marketed to children through television commercials and shows, product placements in movies, mentioned in music and in pop-up ads on the Internet and even offered at schools with the intent of creating brand loyalty to a generation of customers who are too young to make informed purchasing decisions.
For many parents this translates into the “gimme syndrome” or “nag factor,” which has started a grass roots rebellion among parents and caregivers, who are questioning not only if these products represent the family values they wish to impart to their children, but are these specially branded items worth the added cost to their budgets?
Is it appropriate to be marketing to children when they are vulnerable to sales manipulation, which in fact, may not always be in their best interests – educationally or emotionally?
Have the reach of commercials and entertainment product placements gone too far?
Later today, part two of this series and the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, an organization that is making a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.
If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read:
In February, children all across the nation, grades K thru 12 were invited to take part in the 2nd Annual "Doodle 4 Google" (create-a-logo) contest.
This year’s theme, “What I wish for the World,” brought in 28,000 entries from all 50 states, which according to the official Google blog post this morning, reflects a 70 per cent increase in the number of entries over last year’s contest.
Now, it’s your turn to vote for your favorite young artist. Public on-line voting is open and ends Monday, May 18, 2009.
The prizes are indeed attractive. The National Winner receives a $15,000 college scholarship that can be used at the student’s school of choice, plus a trip to Google’s New York office; a laptop computer, and a t-shirt imprinted with their Google doodle
In addition, the National Winner’s school receives a $25,000 technology grant to be used by the school to either establish a computer lab, or upgrade an existing facility.
The Doodle 4 Google contest is an evolutionary outgrowth from the "unique" logos initially created by Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang when he began his career interning at Google in 2000.
Hwang's nifty renderings of the Google name (such as the one created for visual artist Rene Margurite’s birthday), are the sort of clever depictions you wake up to find on your computer screen, reminding you about holidays and important dates in history.
As I was going through Internet news this morning, I ran across a truly thoughtful piece published through Columbus Dispatch.com.
The article, written by Allison K. Hughes-Randall, is a first-person tribute to her mother, Gail, who is battling cancer.
Gently placing aside the obvious burden of dealing with a loved one’s serious illness, Randall speaks eloquently of the bonds of a mother and child that is most appropriate today.
I hope “Mom's illness sheds light on thoughts unspoken” stays in the Dispatch's archive for a long, long time – it’s well worth reading and remembering why we pay tribute to mothers everywhere.
Born and raised in Chicago, Paula began her career as an on-air announcer/reporter for classical radio, WEFM. An alumnus of NBC-TV’s Daytime Writers Program, she served as head of the Literary Department for the Savage Agency, Hollywood; developed programming for Blair Entertainment, New York and wrote for such diverse publications as: the Martha’s Vineyard Times; Cape Cod Life; Berkshire Eagle; and Scripps-Howard News Service. She is signatory to the Writers Guild of America; a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her acting credits include: "Starman;" “Hardcastle & McCormick;” “Remington Steele,” and “General Hospital;” commercials for clients such as Sears and McDonald’s and stage roles that included Lady Macbeth. She has administered blogs – Paula Slade: In My Humble Opinion and Paula Slade: National Children’s Entertainment as well as a contributing writer and co-administer for Sadie Sapiens: The Voice for Those Who Can’t Speak… At Least Not Yet! Today she is Vice President/Creative Director and audiobook narrator for ARTISTIC MEDIA ASSOCIATES, INC. She and her husband reside on the East coast along with their goofy and loveable cat and dog.
