Exploring Social Media: Viper

I don’t have a name for what is happening here online, I do know that strangers are coming together to form friendships and within the bounds of these friendships, actions are taken. I met Melissa once in Chicago and it was like finding your friend you’d been searching the world for. I didn’t need more of her than just those moments, nor she I. Melissa was recently in town for a taping of Dr. Phil so the kids and I met her for a quick dinner at Hollywood and Highland. …

Michael F. Stabile: Father, Husband, Coach

Michael F. Stabile, went to work as a Currency Broker in the towers on September 11, 2001 and was never able to return home to his wife, Roseanna, and his children, Michele, Robert, and Lauren. According to multiple online Guest books, Michael was nicknamed Stubby. He and his wife Roseanne were deeply embedded in their Staten Island community. Micheal F. Stabile was the guy you could call at the last minute to referee a basketball game, and he’d be right out there. Roseanna was his childhood sweetheart. Michael was a …

Kim Jong Il Just Needs A Dress and a Bottle of Chardonnay

My mother was kind enough to cook dinner for my family, a few extra kids and my cousin. Since my cousin works for some arm of the Department of Defense, I asked him if we were going to invade Korea. He glanced at my husband, and then they looked at the ceiling in unison. “Which Korea? North or South?” He asked. “I dunno, either one, are we going to bomb them.” I asked while slurping sipping my wine. “I work with the Department of Defense, we don’t bomb people.” and …

Marijuana

There’s only one good thing about Cancer. Cancer brings about the ability to discuss marijuana in a smart way. Plenty of folks discuss pot in all sorts of ways, but cancer (and other chronic illnesses) bring the medical community into the discussion. If they aren’t stoned, it’ll be a riveting discussion. In 2007 nearly 75,000 marijuana related arrests were made. What is the real cost of those arrests? Is it $100 per arrest? Is it a thousand per arrest? What could those police officers have been doing with their time? …