That show, called Two and a Half Men, has stopped production on their show for the rest of the season; since Charlie has made a public statement on interviews that disparages the producers of the show, television show creator Chuck Lorre, Alcoholic Anonymous, his ex wife, and women in general.   He says horribly vile things about Chuck Lorre and shows nothing but contempt for women, in my opinion, when he says things about women such as he has fame and those women have nothing and that all they will ever have is that night with him and that he will forget about them as soon as they leave.  He says that he is “special” and will never be one of the AA because they are a “bootleg cult”.  Seriously? 

It comes across through many of these examples that he considers himself above everyone else.  He believes that he alone cured his (in his opinion) so called disease with his own mind.  He has made recent statements to the fact that he is in control of his partying.   The truth of the matter is that he couldn’t be more wrong.  He has been in legal trouble for alleged domestic violence, he has had custody issues with his ex-wife who does try to support him in public while at the same time  tries to shield their daughters from the horror of these out of control antics that are harming him physically, emotionally, spiritually,professionally, and financially. His young sons with his second wife are very young…but they will grow up with the legacy of their father’s public displays as well.

People who work with individuals who struggle with addictions will give you all of the facts on how addicts fool themselves into thinking that they are “in control” and the rest of the world is the one with a problem.  Charlie may not live on the streets, he might not be homeless, he might not be stealing to support his habits…but he is in denial about his lifestyle choices and the effect that it is having on those who care about him (meaning his friends and family).

He has children that are growing up; and they are now, and will continue to be affected by his behavior and the choices that he makes.  He has a famous brother Emilio Estevez and then of course, there is his father Martin Sheen they have stepped up and said they continue to love him, support him and pray for him.  He has ex-wives who love him enough to try to work through their issues to maintain some sort of relationship for their children. Who can help an adult who is in a situation such as this? Can he be forced to get help through an emergency order? Is he having some sort of emotional breakdown or is he just acting out because of the damage caused by his partying?  He appears to feel all powerful and that no one has the right to tell him no, or draw a line in the sand regarding his conduct.   He has fans that he asks to support him; even though he is acting in ways that are hard to support.  He wants them to help him fight against the injustice of it all…saying that his fans are his people…not “theirs”.

In response, to the decision of his show stopping production, he slams the powers that be for stopping it…saying that they are keeping money from him, his family, and the crew of the show.   In my opinion however, if they continued to produce the show they would be irresponsible…enablers of a man who seems to be bent on self-destruction.  A week or two ago, there were articles that claimed that Charlie said that he only partied when he was bored and not working.  When he was working, he says, he was fine.   There are consequences to behaviors…and recent pictures of him show him possibly having had his teeth affected by his conduct.

Relationships suffer, professional connections become damaged and finances can become scarce because of a persons addictions.  In his case, this doesn’t just affect Charlie…he has a whole crew that is going to suffer consequences because of this situation.   A professional intervention needs to happen, because even though he says he is clean…that doesn’t mean he is stable.   I say, if he isn’t careful to get medical help, put his rehab knowledge and education to heart, and live addiction free…he is going to be bored to DEATH; and, we will be reading Charlie’s very sad obituary.

That would be a terrible waste of life; how much better to see him find his way to health and wellness and use his experience to help others in the same situation?  People who do not have fame, fortune or money deal with addictions too and the consequences are no less severe for them or their loved ones.

What are your thoughts? Do you love someone who struggles with addictions?  What have you done to survive the ups and downs?  Where did you find help?

Twitter is not a place to be a wallflower.  You have to speak with others, comment on things that they say; break the ice with someone you may not be familiar with.  You are in charge of who you accept into your Twitter stream or conversation by who you follow and who you allow to follow you.  Choose wisely based on what you are trying to accomplish on Twitter.  In other words, choose people to interact with who interest you, don’t offend you and last but not least people who support your personal growth as a person, business owner or in an area of impact that you wish to be a part of.

The most successful people who use Twitter still understand it’s basic component and that is the power of connection whether it be connecting to other Twitter users have a social relationship or to bring people together for a common cause, interest or purpose…Twitter is a boon.  People who are already interested in your “business” aspect are predisposed to interact with you.  If your business is to get a message out on a certain subject…there are people out there who are predisposed to interact with you.  It is the same.   Most importantly Twitter is about relationships.  People who love Twitter get that.  They harness that understanding to meet, greet and connect with like-minded people.

Like any positive and productive and long-standing relationship it needs time, attention and respect.  Twitter not working for you?  Think about how you are using it.  Are you talking at people, or with people?  Are you exchanging thoughts/ideas or interactions that not only benefit you but benefit others in a way that they can appreciate you?

So whatever you are about, wanting to share, hoping to achieve, wishing to impact; let’s remember that you need to be aware of not only “minding your own business” on Twitter; but consider some other issues as well.   Take the time to support, encourage, draw out and interact with those people who you can enjoy some spending time with and be your authentic self; just like in your real, everyday offline life!  Twitter is your social network whether you use it to connect to famous celebrities, find friendship, support social causes, spotlight non-profits, proclaim your faith, or brand your business and gain customers.  Whatever you use Twitter for, just remember that your words have impact as do your connections & relationships; make the best of it.

       For once in recent months, she is not at the mercy of someone else out to make news headlines from standing on top of her tragic connection to the negative headlines concerning her husband’s alleged infidelities.   I am sure this is not how she originally planned to announce her son’s birth; however,  it is good to have a bright light in this situation…Sandra’s celebration of her new life with her son.

        Sandra who is known for her clean and loving image and reputation has been dealt a raw deal by those alleged mistresses and their stories that they’ve shared in the media.  Their public claims of “sorry for the mess” carries little weight, I am sure.  Their requests for one- on- one time with her to discuss their “relationships” with Sandra’s husband…should not be given the time of day.  Sandra owes them no such gesture.  

       All along, Sandra has kept her peace and her dignity.  Not easy to do with some of the muck that was published.  However, Sandra is now voicing the fact that she is divorcing her husband, and also sharing the joy of her leap into single motherhood.  She has the finances and the support systems to be able to parent quite well as a single mother.  She will not face many of the challenges that many other single mothers face and that is a blessing.   The dissolution of her marriage is a tragedy…leave her alone to heal on that.   Allow her to celebrate and enjoy the things that bring happiness to her and her loved ones; for once, don’t pick at what should be a private family event.

        The People article speaks of the fact that Sandra and Jesse were adopting her son Louis together in January.  Then came the Oscars…they were waiting until that event was over to announce the adoption of their son.  We all know that a week after the Oscars the headlines gleefully announced the assault on Sandra’s marriage.  Women came out of the wood-work to share the gory details of their encounters with Jesse James.  Sandra moved out of the home she shared with her husband and his children from former relationships.   The tabloids took joy in following up one lurid headline after another…and it is unfortunate that there is a huge market for selling such newspapers on the backs of other people’s pain and misery.  It doesn’t speak well of our culture to have such an environment for our children to grow up in, in my opinion.

          She kept quiet in the media, except to declare the fact that an alleged sex tape did not exist.  That had to be painful enough to have to address something related to the horror of those stories; still, now it is easy to understand why she made the statement.  It was to distance herself from being tainted with the poor choices of those who brought down her marriage.  She was not reponsibile for making such personally devastating choices with her own behavior; even though allegedly her husband and those who had physical relationships with him are.  Sandra should not be held accountable for their actions nor should she suffer the loss of her son because of them.  By stating that there was no sex tape with her in it…she was standing tall and distancing herself from the immoral activity that was affecting her because of her association with it just by being married to Jesse. 

        I can imagine the fear and despair she felt as a new adoptive parent.   She had to have been fearful that the agencies that approved her adoption process would rightfully question whether that adoption should be finalized.  It is every adoptive parents concern that “something” will happen to derail an adoption and tear apart a parent-child relationship that has formed.  

        The headlines screamed all kinds of concern about the stability of Sandra and Jesse’s relationship at this point.  It would only be right of those concerned about the welfare of a child to want to know how that would impact Sandra’s son.  Remember, courts have to insure the best interests of the child; that is a big responsibility.   But, for most adoptive parents, any concerns an agency or court would have would normally be addressed privately…not in the media.   No adoptive parent wants something to come into play that would jepardize their blossoming relationship with their child or perhaps end their quest to come together as parent and child.

          For those who have no relationship with adoption, you should know that adoptive parents often live with others putting their parenting under the microscope.   People in general feel that it is ok to voice their input about an adoptive parent should or should not do in regards to parenting their child.  In Sandra’s case, she was a victim of circumstance and timing.  Jesse made those choices and Jesse has to address those issues within himself.  

        Jesse went off to rehab…and allegedly left rehab…only to return.  In the meantime, I am sure the behind the scenes details continued to be worked out in regards to the adoption.   Strength and courage in the face of challenges comes from a person’s internal character.  It doesn’t make the devastation any less with the dissolution of a marriage…however, I am sure that Sandra’s relationship with her friends and family will help her to heal. 

          I would caution readers to remember that there are many “innocent” people in these situations from in-laws to friends and neighbors.  They all suffer when these things happen; that is both the beauty and the pain of having deep personal relationships with others.   With the announcement that Sandra is now adopting her son as a single parent and stating that the adoption is no longer including Jesse, the concerns about stability and appropriateness should now be eliminated.   Louis will be loved, protected, and cared for and that is the goal of adoption.  It is all life changing news that Sandra “chose” to share with People magazine. 

        Congratulations Sandra Bullock on the adoption of your son.  May you have a long, healthy & happy life together as mother and son.  No matter what happens with your marriage, I hope that you are able to continue having a loving and supportive relationship with Jesse’s children.   They will need that and so will you. 

         Life gets so complicated sometimes and the innocent are often caught up in the ripples of negativity from the actions of others.  Sandra has been a constant in Jesse’s children’s life for quite a few years now…hopefully that can continue.  I am sure that the older children have begun to bond with Louis as well…may peace and love be yours once again.  Oh and by the way, let me be the first to say, Happy Mother’s Day in a couple weeks!

       It was said that Michael left a note saying that he planned to kill himself because of his depression.  He said it made him feel like he had no friends and didn’t fit in.   This is so tragic; he was only 18.  Michael is one of Marie and her ex-husband Brian Blonsil’s eight children.  He was adopted as well as several of the other children.  It has not been revealed to the public what sort of issues that Michael had been dealing with over the years…and maybe it should never be information for the public to know.  Those issues were private…and even though some of the Osmonds are very public people…they have a right to privacy as they grieve.

       I do know that when you are an adoptive family, you often live under a microscope.  People feel free to judge or to freely give advice on raising those children to the parents who have chosen to add them to their family.   It adds a level of interferrence in the raising of adopted children who are being grafted or blended into an existing family.  This is sometimes no easy feat; especially if the children happen to be a bit older when the adoption takes place.  I can only imagine how much more difficult the situation is when there is fame involved with the adoptive family.

        Depression is a big challenge and unless you have some personal relationship with the issue…it can be hard to understand.   However, Marie herself struggled with post partum depression after giving birth to one of her children.  It can severely affect not only the individual who struggles with it…but anyone who loves them.   It is important to get help if you are dealing with depression.  Many people don’t realize how serious it can be.  Sometimes depression is a chemical imbalance and medication can help; other times, other therapies can be helpful.  Talk to a health professional right away if you or someone you care about is struggling with depression.

        I can only hope that the media will respect this family as they try to deal with the loss of Michael.  Suicide leaves a lot of damage for the survivors left behind.   There will need to be some major healing time for this family.   May God help them all.

       Please, if you are someone who struggles with depression or suicidal thoughts; or, you know someone who is…please seek immediate help by checking out this site:  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  or by contacting a health care professional.

          Today, Bernie Madoff the so called-mastermind of the biggest Ponzi scheme perpetuated on the world of financial investing was sentenced to 150 years behind bars for his crimes.  He actually stood before the judge and said that he was NOT asking for forgiveness; nor, was he going to be offering any excuses for his behavior.  He tried to communicate how he is shamed, and that he must live with the pain and the suffering that he has caused.   Those sentiments do not jive well with the allegations that approximately $15 million dollars of company money was allegedly transferred into his wife’s personal account when it became clear that this scheme was about to come to an end.   Good Lord…is Bernie Madoff delusional? 

           Bernie…at least Robin Hood GAVE to the poor…he didn’t steal from them!  In the stories of Robin Hood, he is forced to steal from the rich to survive and he shares his gains with those less fortunate.  He becomes a champion of those who are suffering.  In this scam, Bernie has probably gone as far away from being a champion, of the oppressed, as you can get…rich or poor, his victims do not hold him in high regard.

        Alot of the media coverage has focussed on celebrity victims and high profile people who lost fortunes with the Madoff scam.  However, the truth of the matter is…there were many average people who invested their retirement funds with him and his company.  The thing is…no one deserves to have their money stolen from them when they put their trust in a company and it’s employees to invest for them.  It isn’t about how much money people can afford to lose…investing is sometimes a gamble; however, that is dependent on the market…not on the companies who are expected to conduct themselves honestly in their financial dealings.  Is there no agency, organization, or government branch that is supposed to oversee these types of transactions; deal with complaints, and look for patterns of improper behaviors.

         A person who is ashamed of their behavior does not say something like, I am not asking for your forgiveness or offering any excuses.  When you injure another person…there needs to be words expressed that explain the circumstances… there needs to be offered, true repetence.  That is obviously not going to happen here.   Bernie Madoff stole from those, both rich and poor.   He took from his friends, his acquaintances, his clients and from complete strangers.  Bernie Madoff…let’s remember, even Robin Hood GAVE to the poor!  No one, rich or poor, deserves what this Ponzi scheme has done to them.

         For each person scammed, there is a horror story.  There is a future that was stolen.  There is a trust that will never be extended confidently again to another individual.  There are folks who have suffered terrible financial losses, personal losses, health ills, and the list goes on. 

           I think that the judge hit the nail on the head when he said, that Madoff’s crimes were “extra-ordinarily evil”.    I think that there is no better description of what took place.  There are so many questions still standing…where is the rest of the money?  Did his wife know what he did?  She worked in his same office and had financial information, since she worked on the books.   Did his sons have any involvement in the scheme?  Are there any other relatives or employees involved in the cover up that took place, for all of those years?  

          In court, it appears that a message was trying to be conveyed.  Ruth Madoff said this in a statement that was released by her attorney; I am embarassed and ashamed.  Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused.  The man who committed this fraud is not the man that I have known all of these years.  

           To me that sounds like a defensive move…one that is trying to say that he “wasn’t himself” or that she is trying to distance herself away from the crimes…even though she has not YET been accused of doing anything illegal.    Whether she is involved in the crime herself or not…loving the man or not; how can she continue to live in a multi-million dollar home that she shared w/her husband that was more than like paid for with the money from the lives of the very people who have lost their investments through her husband’s schemes.   Wouldn’t the guilt alone eat most people up?

         Some people say that she should get to keep some of the money since there isn’t any evidence proven so far of her involvement.   Money that was stolen from innocent people is sitting there in the bank account of the Madoffs silently mocking the words of sympathy and understanding, for the losses of all of those innocent people.    Isn’t it possible to set up a foundation which could attempt to some sort of restitution for those who have lost their life savings and could prove their investments with their company?  That would go a long way towards healing the ill will that many victims of the scheme feel towards the Madoffs.   

          Mrs. Madoff  has said that  by keeping silent all of these months…that her silence has come across as being uncaring or insensitive.   Fair or not, many have held hard feelings towards her and the rest of her family while they themselves are suffering devastating effects from their losses…Bernie’s family continues to live in environments that many would consider well off.  Surely their lives are going through changes as well…but, ill will is going to be hard for many to overcome, as they struggle to meet their most basic needs while some of the Madoff family members do not have the same concerns.

         There are rumors swirling about more arrests to come, at the end of the investigation…those however, are mere rumors.  The truth of the matter is, this is not over yet!  There is more to the story behind these events…hopefully, those responsible will be held accountable so that this can never happen again, to innocent people.   Do you know someone who was affected by this Ponzi scheme?  How has it impacted their lives?

         Out of those deaths that were mention in the previous paragraph…one stands out for excess information coming forward.  Michael Jackson’s death had almost an immediate response of speculation about the reason for his death; immediately, close personal friends and not so close friends and family were speaking out about their concerns about his alleged drug addictions….his private financial difficulties , personal relationships, and other issues.

          We’ve all seen it before…this won’t be the last of it.   It seems that the larger the celebrity the more that people cant wait to tell their secrets.  Soon there will be a sad and shocking selling of memorabilia.   There will be more disclosures as time goes on…some of it will be shocking I am sure.  What do you think makes these confidantes speak out with information, that otherwise the public would not be privy to?

          Michael’s childhood was interrupted when he was 11 years old; when his family, The Jackson 5, made their musical debut.   Their father Joe was a steel worker in Gary, Indiana.  When the family began to find some success, everything changed.  Some say that Michael lost his childhood during those years of performing with his family; and later, when he began a solo career after his 13th birthday.  Stories are often told of his stormy relationship with his father and his family; both during those years of performing as a family when perfection was demanded and later in life when he distanced himself from his father and others.  Michael has done interviews where he talked of the mental and physical abuse he says came from his father.  That alleged abuse has affected the entire family of siblings in different ways.  Emotionally this created isolation between some of the siblings and in their relationships with others outside of the family.

            There were financial difficulties, misunderstandings between Michael and some of his friends, creditors who felt ignored…custody battles, divorces, legal wrangling over his property Neverland Ranch, legal disagreements with a Middle Eastern Prince over a recording deal…etc.  There always seemed to be some sort of controversy in Michael’s life.

         Over the years, there has been mystery surrounding Michael’s way of life.  From the strange to the absurd to the fascination with Peter Pan and the Neverland ranch to allegations of child abuse against others.   He also said, in the past, that he never wanted to grow up because he felt like he missed his childhood.   Some of the odd rumors and child molestation accusations created even more of a seperation between Michael and others.   Some of his fans and his friends supported him over the years…but, a few of his antics in public did not help the perception of who Michael Jackson was.  He often covered his face in public and that of his children.  He did some questionable things such as dangling his infant son over a balcony.   Some celebrity friends have made statements about how they feel that Michael was misunderstood.   However, not too many people have denied his creative musical genius.  Berry Gordy, at one time head of Motown, says that he felt like Michael was his son.  They were close throughout the years.  There is a long list of celebrities who felt that Michael was their friend.  Still, other “friends” who are talking openly about concerns they had with some aspects of Michael’s life.  I am sure there are more disclosures to come. 

         Michael’s personal adult relationships have also held questions and mystery.  Debbie Rowe is the woman who carried two of his children; she worked for one of Michael’s doctors when they met.  He later married and divorced her.  Later he married, Lisa Marie Presleythe daughter of Elvis.  She says that she was in over her head trying to prevent what just happened with his death.  She says that he talked about his fear of ending up like her father.   She felt frustrated that she couldnt help him and she allegedly said that she was emotionally and spiritually exhausted trying to help him.

         News stories have alluded to the fact that it is well known, in his inner circle, that he has been addicted to perscription drugs since the days of his injuries that he incurred when he was filming a Pepsi commercial and his hair caught on fire.  That is going back alot of years.  Lisa Marie says that their marriage was not a sham…that she loved him and dreaded what was to come in his life.  His romantic relationships were interrupted through the births of his children and custody issues and then, if in fact Lisa Marie statements are understood to mean that enablers were in his life at that time as well as now…then, he really stood no chance of overcoming his addictions.  As long as he had money to pay for it…they would supply the drugs that he was addicted to.

        In his death, there will still be controversy…not only for the way that he died…but in the settlement of his legacy.  His finances, his debts…the placement of his children and who knows…maybe in the end; there will be some understanding of who Michael really was.

       Your mother is drop dead gorgeous, talented and very feminine.  Your father a one time musician who ventured into politics and was known for his conservatism.  How do you “come out”?  If you are Chastity Bono…you are outed.  Over twenty years ago that was the exact scenerio that played out in Chastity’s life and in the media.

         If you are age 45 or older, you probably remember a dainty, blonde haired angel who made appearances on the Sonny and Cher entertainment television show.  America fell in love with their only child together.  When they divorced and Cher began a romance with Greg Allman and had another child…she became a big sister to her brother.  Her father later remarried also.   How does a parent reconcile their hopes, dreams and expectations for their only child when something this drastic happens in your family?

         It got complicated.  Her father apparently took the news of Chastity’s sexual orientation better than her mother did when they were both informed.  And yet, Sonny was into politics and didn’t support same sex rights.  Still, he loved his daughter.  Cher had a hard time accepting this part of her child’s life, according to old news stories…in her words…she freaked.  Time has gone a long way towards reconciling their relationships.  Sonny is gone now…having died in a freak skiing accident in 1998. 

          Chastity has become a gay activist over the years.  But she has not been in the media in an attention seeking way.  She has tried to live a quiet life; until now that is.

           Today, the news was inundated with the news that Chastity has decided to become transgendered.  She, from this point on, chooses to live her life as a man.  She will no longer go by the name of Chastity.  She will now be known as Chaz.  Whether she will actually have a surgery meant to change her physique…is not really being clarified.

            I am more interested in the emotional and spiritual transitioning that took place for her/him to arrive at this decision.  How unhappy and disoriented does a person have to be in the body they were born with, to decide to cause such upheaval in their life both publically and privately?  Chastity’s appearance has changed over the years; does this show her inability to accept herself as she was born?  If she/he goes through with this transgendered lifestyle…will the appearance match what he/she feels inside?     I mean surgery or no surgery, to go about making an announcement to the world, that you are for the rest of your life; the second half of your life (she is near 40 years old), that you are going to live  an identity, totally opposite from the  sexual identity with which you were born.

          Cher (if she chooses to support and accept it) will now have two sons…instead of a son and a daughter.   How does a parent flip the switch in their head when they consider all that this announcement will change?   Chastity/Chaz has asked for privacy during this transitioning time.  I don’t know if the media will allow it to happen that way.    I think that they will chew on this “story” for quite some time…wanting to wring every little detail out of it that they can.

            Whether there is surgery or not…trying to change such a major portion of your life is not going to be easy.  I am sure this has taken years to get to this place…this decision.  Some reports say that many who consider themselves transgendered dont actually have surgery…still they often feel trapped in a body that is in conflict with who they feel, they were meant to be. 

              I myself am conflicted about my thoughts and feelings.  I think that people need to be able to accept themselves to be happy; and yet, my faith says homosexuality is wrong.   I’ve been taught that God doesn’t make mistakes; some people in this situation would say that they were born with the wrong body.  I have to admit, I don’t know what to believe in this area.  I do know that no matter what…those who are in this situation, are created by God.  God loves them, just as he loves all of his children.   I know too, that many gay/lesbian people struggle in life with their identity and how they fit in our society.    Often they struggle with drug/alcohol/food addictions because they dont feel comfortable in their own skins.   It is hard to feel and live differently than most of the people around you.   I know that my faith says that God loves everyone; but, he  also says that homosexuality is wrong.  

            I think that gay bashing is wrong…and people who choose to harrass anyone for any reason is wrong.  People need love and support.  Hate crimes are illegal and immoral.   Some say that gay/lesbian people are born that way…others say that they have chosen that lifestyle; that they can change it.  Others will try to say that some traumatic experience “caused” the homosexual identification.  Some say it is a way of life and they do not have to act on those feelings.   Personally, I think having a compassionate heart is important in this situation.   What do you think?

           I would hope that Chastity/Chaz is in, or has been in, counseling to sort through all of the thoughts, feelings and circumstances that will find it’s way into their life.  In my heart, I guess that I would wish a path that was less of a variance from what is considered traditional male/female roles.  I understand that no matter what…there are those on both sides of the fence pro/con gay and lesbian lifestyle who will use this story to further their cause. 

         I would caution those who do, to remember that those who struggle with their sexual identity have emotions and feelings just like everyone else…they can be vulnerable to the reactions of those around them.  Morally, I leave it between them and God to work out.   God considers homosexuality a sin according to my Bible.  Yet, even so…he says love the sinner (we all are sinners) and hate the sin. 

            The first 40 years of her life Chastity lived as a woman; albeit an unconventional woman.  The second half of her life she plans to live it as a male.  Is this truly possible without self destructing?  Spiritually, anyone on this path must search their hearts and minds to try and make sense of their identity in the world and in their relationship with the creator of Heaven and Earth.    What are your thoughts on this subject?

         David “joked” about Sarah going to Bloomingdales to pick up makeup to update her “slutty flight attendant” look.  First off, that is disrespect not only to Sarah but also, to flight attendants who have struggled over the years to fight for respect for the job that they do.  I can’t imagine that this statement has made him very popular with the aviation industry.  I know from the news stories flying back and forth…he isn’t very popular with the Palin family.  That previous statement about the flight attendant wasn’t the worst of his “jokes” I am afraid to say.

          The most offensive “joke” that he made had to do with Sarah and Todd Palin’s daughter.  David said, An awkward moment at the Yankee’s game, during the 7th inning, her daughter was “knocked up” by Alex Rodriquez.  Whoa!  Say what?  How not funny is that?  That implies that her daughter was having sex or was forced to have sex by Alex Rodriquez.  Now, number 1, Sarah’s daughter is 14 years old.  She should not have been made the subject of a sexual joke…in any way!  #2 i doubt that Alex Rodriquez was thrilled to be included in such an insensitive remark.  #3 I am sure that the management and ownership of the Yankee’s was definately not happy about that particular “joke”.  After all, baseball is associated with a family imagine…all American, mom and apple pie….not sex on the field with a minor and one of their ball players. 

         The thing about comedians is that sometimes a joke “works” and sometimes it does not; however, there should be some guidelines that a comedian doesn’t cross; no matter how “big” you are in the industry.  I personally think it is reprehensible that David Letterman would say such a thing.  It wasn’t long ago when a comment was made by another celebrity that included sexual references about Miley Cyrus….that too was not appropriate or funny.   There was a big backlash of public opinion about those comments as well.   Come on entertainers….let’s have some sensitivity training about what is and what is not appropriate to say about young girls and women in general.   Every day on the news we have stories partaining to the fact that some “adult” somewhere has “victimized” a child in a sexual way…these kinds of comments and jokes do not help people to understand what is appropriate behavior between adults and children.  The line is becoming blurred and that is not acceptable. 

         There has to be a call to action for our culture to demand that those in the public eye hold themselves to a high standard of values when it comes to these issues.  It should be a matter of common sense…but, as the bar gets lowered and things happen…the next incident desensitizes the public to tolerate even more degrading things to be said and done all in the guise of entertainment; because…really; we know the intent behind them…it was all in fun…right?  Wrong!   It is a matter of accountability.

        It is no wonder that some females of this generation are struggling with self-esteem issues and body consciousness.   It is no wonder that some males of this generation are confused about what is appropriate conduct at work, at school, at home and on the streets.   Truly, have we NOT gotten past the idea that it is ok to belittle women and girls by defining them in a sexualized manner?  We all have daughters, mothers, sisters, or female friends or co-workers that we care about…try to imagine them in these situations and conduct ourselves accordingly.

         The Palins have made known their extreme displeasure and frustration over the matter regarding their daughter Willow.  David made a half hearted attempt to gloss the issue over by inviting them to his show to work it out.  The Palins have appropriately refused to do so.  Today, in an attempt to apologize, David said that he wasn’t referring to Willow the Palin’s 14 year old minor…he was referring to Bristol their 18 daughter. 

           Does that make his “joke” ok, because she is an adult who did in fact become an unwed mother?  No, I think not.  Not only that…but, from what i have been able to glean out of the news reports…Sarah was with her daughter Willow at that game…not Bristol; not that it should matter!   Making comments about sexual activity involving the Palin’s daughters (or anyone’s sons or daughters) is a bit over the top, in my opinion.   Dave admits that he was guilty of poor taste…but, he doesn’t come across as truly feeling sorry for these comments that he made.

          I myself , have a problem with comedy when it chooses to go in the mean-spirited direction, or in a way that puts someone else down to get a laugh.  Life is funny enough…we dont have to look for ways to humiliate anyone to be funny.  Self deprecating humor is usually the way to go if you are going to try to underscore someone looking like a fool or to show them with egg on their face to get a laugh.  Cruelty in the guise of humor doesn’t work for me personally, just my opinion.

          Hello Dave, here is a clue….the joke wasn’t funny!  It was not only rude, insensitive, and demeaning to women; but also to the baseball industry, professional ball players, flight attendants and to parents because it goes against everything that parents try to instill in their (sons) & daughters in this world.   Our society has become highly over-focussed on sexualizing our daughters from the time they come out of the womb.  You are definately old enough to know better…and, I would hope that you would truly and sincerely be ashamed of your words and your actions for trying to justify the situation.   After all, you have a child…would use want someone to use him in such a way, publically or privately?  I know you pride yourself on playing things close to the vest on a personal level…but for real, let your human side show on this subject. 

            How do you feel about these types of “jokes”?  Does Dave have carte blanche to say such things?  If he chooses to say them…will it influence whether you watch his show or not?   Do you think that his sponsors or powerful people in New York should express their displeasure?   Do you think that it hurts him professionally to go to this level when performing on stage?  I know that the late night entertainment shows have been going through some changes recently with Conan O’Brien, and Jay Leno changing things up…but, will Dave’s viewership be affected by incidents such as this?  What is your opinion?

       Susan’s appearance was unsullied initially by handlers who often try to make contestants over into an appearance that is slicked up and geared towards making the amateur appear as a professional.  Susan made an impression because she came across as an average woman…then when she opened her mouth and sang…she made eyebrows lift and smiles appear.  She truly has the voice of an angel.  However, under immense pressure during the last weeks..she appeared to become stressed, faultering with the opening of one of her performances, and getting into an altercation with some “fans” which was captured on camera.  After taking second place in the finals on Saturday; news reports say that Susan has checked out of the pressure cooker of the media and the public zone and checked into a rehab place voluntarily for some R & R; and, some help destressing.  I think that is great since she is scheduled to record an album in the next couple of months. 

          Susan Boyle deserves the time to regroup; and, time to prepare to realize her dream of recording and performing, if that is her choice.  These talent shows should stop trying to “package and present” people as a product and let them just do what they are skilled at.  Susan Boyle may not be a person who goes out on concert tours, does talk shows, and morning television shows at a grueling pace.  Not everyone is able to be a superstar onstage; even though they may be gifted with musical talent.   She may just become a recording artist who does only what she loves; serving up her skill in a way that meets her needs, her expectations, and  still gives the gift of musicality to her fans. 

          Isn’t that enough all on it’s own?  Why does she have to change to fit the ideal of someone else’s expectations to how she should use her talent?  She should not be required to become someone else; doing things she is ill equipped to do, and does not enjoy.  What a blessing she could be, just recording her talent….allowing those who market such talent to do so without jepardizing her well-being!  Be well, be happy Susan and do things on your own terms; take joy in your accomplishments.