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Creepy and beautiful cemeteries around the world {Gadling}
Jun 20th 2011 9:51PM I wrote 3 books entitled "Ghostly Tales of Route 66" (www.GhostlyTalesofRoute66.com) and covered the Resurrection Cemetery (Chicago) story pretty thoroughly (especially in the paperback version, although the Kindle also has a story about it) including going to Chet's Melody Lounge (across the street) at midnight. I also visited the Fort El Reno cemetery on November 15, 2008 for one of their Ghost Tours. Very interesting cemetery, in that many of Rommel's troops from North Africa were taken to the Fort and held there until the War was over. Many died and are buried in the Fort El Reno Cemetery (pictures of graves in Volume II of "Ghostly Tales of Route 66.") As a graduate of the University of Iowa, I am also well-acquainted with The Black Angel, and it is interesting, to me, to note that the Riverside Cemetery in Moline, Illinois has Charles Dickens' son buried withn it, who died while on a lecture tour and was buried far, far from merry olde England. Was also in Mexico during their Day of the Dead/Halloween festivities, and that is a trip.
Flavor Flav Opens Opens Fried Chicken Restaurant, Takes on KFC {AOL Small Business}
Jan 26th 2011 4:14AM In Clinton, Iowa? You've got to be kidding.
Buying a Franchise: 5 Things You Need to Know {AOL Small Business}
Dec 3rd 2010 1:10AM I owned 2 franchise businesses. They were great at the beginning. As the franchise becomes "mature," the deck is stacked against the franchisee by the PTB. The first 10 years were good; the last 5 years were not as good. Blockbuster seems extremely screwed-up. My franchise was a good one, but it became a mediocre one over time, and the person I sold it to has not been having any success in RE-seling it to someone else...the franchise puts too many conditions on who can buy it and they are trying to have multi-center owners, rather than individual owners who "took care of business," as I did. The PTB would not let those of us in the field take advantage of in-the-field opportunities for marketing, etc. And the "Field Rep" crap! Don't get me started! A good experience and a successful one, initially; then came the Battle of New Orleans when all of us were talked into turning over large portions of our profits for a national ad campaign...and that was the name of that game.
Expert Take: Are Entrepreneurs Born or Made? {AOL Small Business}
Aug 3rd 2010 12:55AM I started 2 businesses and ran them successfully, even though my background was in teaching (English/Journalism major). I think I have a much higher ability to both assess and take risk than many people, and I had the example of one parent (my father) who founded a small bank in 1941. I also had a mentor who kept saying, "You could start a business." As it turns out, I could (and did) start not one but two successful businesses, one in 1987 (Sylvan Learning Center #3301) and one in 1995 (Prometric Testing Center).
Disney Needs a New Box Office Spell {BloggingStocks}
Jul 20th 2010 2:05AM When I see that Nicolas Cage is involved, I know the film is in trouble. The movie looked terrible just from the previews, whereas "Inception," while puzzling and difficult to understand and follow, is a visual masterpiece, which also showed in the trailers.
Critical Care With Theresa Brown {AOL Jobs}
Jul 1st 2010 3:20PM My final word on that: "Both fields are overworked and underpaid." Imagine going in to a class at a junior college and having a drunk ex-convict (recruited to receive federal money), whom you had seen only once before and were never told was a convicted felon, show up, drunk and disorderly, and threaten to kill you. Later investigation revealed that the "student" (I use the term loosely) had his 4-year-old daughter blow into his DUI device daily, so that he could drive his car.) Having someone's life in your hands is certainly challenging and would be a terrific responsibility. In teaching, these days, sometimes the "life in your hands" is your own, the inmates run the asylum, the inmates just got out of jail, and you are on your own (or were at that time in this school) as to policing and defending yourself. The only help? A sign above the copy machine that said: "If you are assaulted, call the Sheriff," accompanied by a phone number.
Critical Care With Theresa Brown {AOL Jobs}
Jul 1st 2010 12:32AM As a 40-year veteran teacher of English (7th grade, 8th grade, 6 colleges) I'd like to hear the author explain why nursing had it all over teaching, as a career. I think those of us who taught for 4 decades know: teaching is, actually, often harder..or, at least, just as hard. Both fields are overwork(ed) and underpaid.
Confessions of a Census Worker {AOL Jobs}
May 29th 2010 2:55PM I had to call the census people because I own a second home in the city, which I made clear when I filled out my primary form. The guy was practically an imbecile. He couldn't quite get it straight that I had already reported this. I finally asked for his name and his supervisor's name and remarked that he was spectacularly ill-suited for this job. He would not answer any reasonably question I asked of him, and he kept citing "rules." I think someone from this century needs to take over the Census Bureau before they do this again.
Editor's Picks: Tom DiChiara's Top 10 Movies of 2009 {Moviefone Blog}
Jan 5th 2010 7:55PM "The Hurt Locker" definitely needs to be on the list, as noted by "Tim." I saw "Drag Me to Hell" and "Zombieland:" neither can hold a candle to "District 9" for originality. "Avatar," is, of course, a phenomenon, but take at my list of the 10 best films of 2009 on either www.associatedcontent.com; www.weeklywilson.com or www.getyourgoodnews.com. For one thing, "Precious," while depressing, was a far better film than some on this list. I do agree with the inclusion of "500 Days of Summer." It feels like this list was made by someone very young, to me. I'd like to be betting this person $ on the Oscars, because I'd win.
ESPN sex scandal: When you play the field, beware of fame's double standard {Daily Finance}
Oct 26th 2009 10:43PM I agree with this person, who points out that David Letterman was not married legally, but the other guy was...and had been involved in this kind of sexual escapade before. While it is true that Dave is unique and the producer for an ESPN show is not as unique, it should also be noted that the "news' that David Letterman dated some staff members (consenting adults) was hardly "news." One of his former flames wrote the book "It's My F****** Birthday" about her long-time affair with David. What was newsworthy this time out was the boldness of the attempt to blackmail David Letterman over his not-that-secret dating of adult female staff members, one of whom he is now officially married to. And I DO think there is 'a difference" between living together and being legally married, but maybe that's becuse I'm old-fashioned.
