Dec 28, 2008 | 12:57 AM
Category:
News
There's still time to make a difference. I'm talking about donating to your favorite charities. Do so by the 31st and you can even get some help with your taxes. That should be secondary, but if you get a benefit, why not? So..gather up those clothes, toys and furniture and call your charity. Monetary donations go a long way. Many charities make it easy for you go online. Some credit cards make it real easy..with a one stop shop for ALL of your charitable giving. C'mon do some good...you know you want to!
Dec 15, 2008 | 12:53 AM
Category:
Sports
Hey..did you catch USC Coach Pete Carroll on 60 Minutes? Forget about football, here's a guy out there on the mean streets of L.A. actually trying to make our community a better place to live. When he's there, it's not about the big time NCAA coach, but just a regular guy talking to others...extending a hand or an ear. If you ever get a chance to meet Coach Carroll, you'll see what I mean. He's like that with his players as well. I remember covering SC at the BCS title game a few years back in Miami. Following that victory, he wanted all of his players to stay up all night and relish every moment, so they wouldn't forget. Pretty neat! Yeah, I'm a SC alum, but there's no bias. Again, it's not about football. It's about a guy making the most of a situation and making sure others do as well. Way to go Coach!
Dec 7, 2008 | 12:54 AM
Category:
Sports
Many fans didn't see that coming. Sure..a lot of folks thought the Pac-Man would defeat the Golden Boy...but few thought Oscar De La Hoya would call it quits in the 8th round. Yes, the younger fighter prevailed, but it was a surprise to see Oscar couldn't go the distance. The pay per view cost $55...a lot of money. For that..some say they expected to see a knockout or all 12 rounds...not a towel coming out to end it suddenly. It would seem Oscar is finally headed for retirement...although some might say it should've happened after the last bout.
Nov 27, 2008 | 12:55 AM
Category:
News
In covering the recent fires, I am amazed at how victims who've lost everything can put everything in perspective. Time and time again, I've been told how lucky they feel to be alive and that the contents in their home...are just things that can be replaced. Sure, these contents represent a great portion of their lives, but in the end, they say it's just stuff. What they represent and the memories they recall from that will never perish. Here's to you for all you've been through and will encounter as you move on. We should all have your philosophy!
Nov 21, 2008 | 12:51 AM
Category:
News
Are you ready for those super duper deals the day after turkey day? Retailers are hoping you are. They are out to provide some really deep discounts, since few of us have been enticed to do any early holiday shopping. There are some pretty good deals being offered (you can check them out early by going on the internet). If shoppers don't open their wallets and wide...the future for some retailers could be in jeopardy. You know what...I know a lot of folks who can't afford to open those wallets wide during these tough economic times.
Nov 6, 2008 | 12:54 AM
Category:
Political
Words can't really describe how many Americans feel in wake of Barack Obama's historic win to become the first African American President. It's a day few thought they would witness in their lifetime. As late as Tuesday evening, with the polls showing Obama way out in front, some still worried that somehow, someway, Obama would lose. Obama's victory is huge for this country and all of its people. For many African Americans, it's the realization of a dream..rooted during slavery and perhaps showing up on the national radar in wake of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. Obama's win proves that anything is possible. For so long, the U.S. Presidency was seen as off limits for people of color. Granted, there was no law preventing it. It just appeared that as a nation, American people would not come together to elect a black man to be the leader of the free world, regardless of his ability. It's gratifying to see that Americans shattered that myth once and for all on Nov. 4, 2008. There are many serious challenges that the president-elect and the American people face. Somehow, you get a sense we will get through it. I recall that old refrain often sung during so many civil rights marches during the 60's, "We shall overcome, someday."
Oct 15, 2008 | 11:45 PM
Category:
Sports
Ok..I'm sure many of you are saying it was just a matter of time before the Cowboys' Adam "Pac Man" Jones got into more trouble. And get this...he apparently targets his own body guards, employed to keep him out of trouble. What is with this guy? There's a code of conduct and if you want to play in the NFL, you follow the straight and narrow..keep your nose clean and do your job. If you can't do that...even after you've been warned, then perhaps Pac Man should packup and find another line of work. Who knows, he may have to should NFL officials decide he's no longer welcome. What a shame! It's a privilege and an honor to be able to play in the NFL. Do you think Pac Man knows that.....or cares?
Oct 14, 2008 | 12:58 AM
Category:
News
Here we go again. Brutal Santa Ana winds pound the Southland, pushing fires and firefighters to the limit. What can you do? Make sure you have a lot of that defensible space around your property. You know, keep a clear area around your home free of combustible materials. With high winds, there's no guarantee, but every little bit helps. Also, do yourself a favor...stay indoors and don't breathe that crummy air. It's very bad for your lungs and can cause many problems. Finally...stay alert and stay tuned to Fox 11 for the very latest. Quite often...YOU are the first line of defense!
Oct 11, 2008 | 12:49 AM
Category:
News
I've covered some pretty gruesome stories in my career...but this one ranks right up there as one of the worst. A daughter convicted along with her ex boyfriend, of stabbing the mom with three knives in her home, dumping the body in the ocean....oh..and let's not forget...plunging a butter knife in mom's eye. For that, the daughter will spend at least 25 years in prison, if not her entire life. All of this, reportedly because mom was laying down some strict rules for the daughter, which led to her being grounded, which led to the murder. At the daughter's sentencing, you almost felt sorry for her. There she was telling the judge, she didn't do it, that she loved her mom. Her dad, pledging his support for her, while telling the court the mom, his wife, was not the woman everyone thought. Brutal.....and sad at the same time.
Oct 9, 2008 | 9:03 PM
Category:
News
Like many folks, I'm waiting to see the true numbers on the federal bailout. No..not that $700 billion figure...but the numbers some Americans might receive with their new "federal" mortgage. I'm hearing some people with those incredible adjustable rate mortgages could wind up with loans with rates as low as three percent. Well..that's great if you're upside down or in fear of losing your home to foreclosure. What if you're not? What if you're one of those people with a nice, fixed rate mortgage, able to pay your bills on time and fairly optimistic you're secure in your home? Does that mean due to your fiscal responsibility that you'll be paying more than someone who should have known better or conned by some unscrupulous lender? I sure hope not. That's certainly not fair. Needless to say, it sends a very strong message....shoot the moon, go for broke and don't worry...government will come to the rescue.
Oct 7, 2008 | 8:36 PM
Category:
Political
Wouldn't be nice if both presidential candidates vowed to cease and desist with the mud slinging? C'mon...I sense most Americans by now have a pretty good picture of the candidates. Do we really think John McCain is another Keating? Or that Barack Obama pals around with terrorists? For the most part, I think the response is no. So let's talk about what's REALLY important. The economy is in the toilet, people wonder if they're gonna lose their job, have money for housing and food, while wondering whether there is a clear direction and purpose for U.S. military involvement abroad. In less than a month, we'll pick a new president. Both sides agree it's one of the most important decisions voters will make in some time. Let's focus on real issues so we know exactly where these guys stand, so we can make a truly informed decision about who shall lead our nation out of this mess we find ourselves in.
Oct 6, 2008 | 7:44 PM
Category:
News
It's the tape stupid! Audio and video tape convicted OJ Simpson on all 12 counts in the armed robbery and kidnapping case in Las Vegas. As I sat through portions of the trial, I wondered if jurors would take any of the witnesses seriously, given their "interesting" backgrounds. Jurors told the world those witnesses could not be trusted. They relied on tapes secretly recorded to render a guilty verdict and it was clear to them that OJ orchestrated it all, including the use of guns in an attempt to retrieve belongings he once owned. I must admit, I was a little surprised the panel rendered a verdict so quickly. Yes, they spent about 12 hours or so deliberating, but I figured it would take longer given the dozen counts and two defendants. Yes..TWO defendants. Lost in most of this was co-defendant Clarence Stewart, OJ's golf buddy from North Las Vegas, recruited to go along that fateful night and assist in that retrieval. His attorneys unsuccessfully tried to sever their case from OJ's...and with good reason, given OJ's baggage. I thought Stewart would've testified on his own behalf. He had no gun, no apparent knowledge a weapon would be used and might be able to argue that he assaulted no one. Both men face serious prison time, given that Nevada law mandates prison time for armed robbery and kidnapping. As for the other cohorts who accompanied OJ and cut deals with prosecutors in exchange for their testimony, it'll be interesting to see how much time, if any, they'll serve behind bars. There was no winner in this case, with the exception of Thomas Riccio, the man who set it all up and taped OJ's six minute, expletive-filled rant in the hotel room. Riccio was granted immunity for his partcipation and THE TAPE that nailed OJ. Part of Riccio's deal was that OJ would sign copies of the book, "If I Did It," which OJ never did. So, I guess Riccio was a loser in a sense, although he did walk away with more than $100,000 for his audio tape...AND...his freedom. As for OJ...we'll all learn his sentencing fate December 5th...providing the final chapter. That is.. unless...an appeal is filed and a judge grants a new trial. No way you say....with OJ...anything is possible.
Oct 1, 2008 | 12:52 AM
Category:
Sports
It's a whole new season as the Angels take on the Red Sox. On paper, it's all Angels...the best team in baseball in 2008, they took care of Boston during the regular season, they're healthy... But Boston is Boston...even though they're the wild card this time around and they no longer have Manny...you have to take them seriously. If the Angels play as they did during the regular season..they'll advance.
Sep 26, 2008 | 12:35 AM
Category:
Sports
How could it happen?? USC loses to Oregon State! Remember the headlines after they beat Ohio State...talking about the BCS championship? Well...with USC's first Pac 10 loss of the season, they'll need to foucs on a good showing in the conference, instead of nationally. The number one team down 21-0 at the half. Wow! Yes, they did come back and just fell short of winning. But a loss is a loss and folks, this was a big one! Time to get back to basics and focus on football.
Sep 5, 2008 | 12:54 AM
Category:
Political
Here we go... Well..the conventions are history..time for the presidential nominees to hit the road with their vp's in tow to convince voters why they should be elected. I just hope we concentrate more on the issues...specifics please! We've heard the general plans from both men...how bout some real details? It's funny...both sides claim they want to take the high road by keeping the mud slinging at a minimum...but there's plenty of mud being tossed about by all concerned these days. I can't wait for the great debates. Let's just hope the candidates have an opportunity to address real issues instead of fielding questions which mean very little to most voters. By the way, I think voters are generally very smart. If adequately informed about the candidates, voters will do the right thing. If not...they'll have another chance...in four years.
