Congratulations Diana Nyad!

For the past three years, I've been glued to Diana Nyad's pursuit of her lifelong dream to swim from Cuba to Florida. She's attempted to achieve her goal five times since she was 28 years old. She turned 64 a couple of weeks ago.

Don't know who Diana Nyad is? Never heard of her? Leaving aside that you may live under a rock, she is a world renowned swimmer. In the 1970s, she was the greatest long-distance swimmer in the world. Oh, and she's a Phi Beta Kappa member of the Lake Forest College Class of 1973.

As I said, she's attempted this swim FIVE times. First, when she was 28. She did not make it and at the age of 30, after setting the world distance record, she quit swimming. In January 2010, she realized that her dream was still alive and well, burning deep within her. So she started training and training.

She made her second attempt at the Cuba to Florida swim in August 2011, because she wanted to prove to other 60 year olds that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. Just 29 hours after she started, she had to abandon her dream due to weather conditions and box jellyfish stings.

Just one month later, in September 2011, Diana tried again, but was again stopped because of box jellyfish and Portuguese Man-of-War stings.

Never one to quit, she gave it another shot in August 2012, this time covered in a special jellyfish suit, but that attempt failed too. Three days later and only half way to her goal, she was forced to stop due to a horrible storm that put her swim too far off course and jellyfish stings.

Just about 52 hours ago, at 9am ET (August 31st), Diana Nyad began her fifth and final attempt to swim from Cuba and Florida. Just before 2pm ET today (September 2nd), Diana completed her swim. 110 miles in 52 hours without a shark cage.

This time, the universe seemed to be on her side. According to her team's blog, the first jellyfish siting happened this morning and Diana hasn't been stung. The weather has been practically ideal, with just relatively brief storm.

Diana gave an inspiring TedTalk in October 2011. Watch it. I promise you'll be glad you did.


CNN has also done a great job covering Diana's journey.

Watch the trailer for The Other Shore, the movie about Diana's journey.

President Barack Obama congratulated Diana shortly after she arrived:

Listen to Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats talk about Diana Nyad on WBBM Newsradio.

Diana's pursuit is heroic. She has not only pushed herself beyond her own limits and lived to tell about it, but she's inspired millions of other people around the world to stop beating themselves up, forgive themselves for the times they fell short, and told them that dreams are ageless. For Diana, this is about proving that no matter your age, you can be your best self.

For me, she answers the timeless question that I grapple with daily: "What would you do if you were not afraid?"

What would YOU do if you were not afraid?

Congratulations Diana! Foresters around the world are celebrating your victory today!

Day 3: At the Wall

Today was the third day of the Run Across Palestine. For some unknown reason, Dave didn't send me a text while I was sleeping last night and my day was almost over when I finally heard from him. I had been pretty concerned most of the day, because, let's face it, the Middle East isn't exactly the safest place in the world and their group has already had one run in with Israeli military. But his text to me and his Facebook posting below put my mind at ease.

Here's what Dave had to say on Facebook:

Today, our third leg, approximately 27 miles. We all did very well, that is until the very end. The 6 miles inside Jerusalem was smooth, as was going through the wall. Having never seen the Berlin wall, I can only speculate as to its similarities, but how different can 16 -20 ft masses of concrete and barbed wire be. Once beyond the wall Reuters or the AP, not sure, wanted to interview Meryl, and she did a great job. I think I can speak for us all when I say that running was much better after the wall. Lots of support and encouragement from so many people we passed, literally hundreds, maybe thousands. I'm sure I have never greeted so many people in a day. As I said earlier the end was not easy. After gradual long climbs and slow descents we came upon a beautiful view from what seemed to be the highest point for miles only to see a very long descent leading to the steepest climb so far. Thankfully we were meet by some of the people and children of Arura that ran the last leg with us. We were greeted warmly, lots of cheers, hand shaking and good will, even the governor of Ramallah was on hand. The ladies of the town prepared a wonderful dinner of chicken, couscous, and soup, perfect after our run, which we shared with town elders. Finally, we met our hosts for the night. Josh and I slept at a home even higher up the hillside where we could see the lights of Tel Aviv and the nighttime darkness of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be spectacular in the morning. Before bed we shared good conversation and we were brought to a neighbors house where Josh jammed with new friends. After 4 days I have learned much, to much to tell it all here, but with absolute certainty I can say there are no invented people here, only real people.

Here's the new video about the day.



And check out this amazing picture of Dave in front of the wall dividing Palestine and Israel.

Where Were You on 9/11?

We all have moments in our lives that we never forget. We know exactly where we were when we heard certain news. For some people that moment was when Pearl Harbor was attacked, when JFK was shot, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, or when the OJ verdict came in. For almost all of us, one of those moments surely was the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

I was sitting at a networking group meeting at Ada's Restaurant (it's no longer there) in Arlington Heights. Tom Gosche was speaking, although I can't tell you what his talk was on, as a morning news show caught my eye on the tv across the room and I could focus on anything else. Tom had his back to the tv and it was on mute, so he had no idea what I or anyone else saw. The screen was showing a plane flying into the World Trade Center and then smoke billowing from the building. Sitting there in silence, I had no idea if anyone else in the group had just seen what I saw. And, of course, I didn't really know what I'd seen.

Shortly thereafter, the meeting ended and no one said anything about what I'd seen on the news, so I figured I was the only one who saw it. When I got into my car and flipped on the radio, I immediately realized that what I'd seen was no accident. Immediately, I called my friend Jason who worked in the financial district in New York, but the cell phone lines were jammed.

Arriving home a few minutes later, my brother Dave, who was in town for Mom's birthday the next day, was glued to CNN and I walked in just in time to witness the second plane fly into the World Trade Center live. Mom wasn't home because she'd gone to O'Hare to pick up her lifelong friend Kathy, who just happened to be flying in for a work conference that morning from Memphis.

At the time, Dave was living in Brooklyn, but had just happened to come to town for a week. He tried calling his friends, but ran into the same jammed phone lines I reached.

Not knowing what to do and like the rest of the nation, bouncing back and forth between confusion, horror, and dismay, Dave and I finally decided to go give blood. We didn't know how it might help, but we figured there would be lots of people needing blood and that was all we could do from the suburbs of Chicago.

One of the things that struck me about that day, and still remains in the forefront of my mind as we celebrate the ten year anniversary of September 11th, is the amount of sacrifice that police officers, fire fighters and other first responders made not just that day, but every day.

As people were fleeing New York and Washington DC, police officers and fire fighters ran into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Every single day, they put their own lives in danger, even in the safest communities in our nation. When police office pulls over a speeder, he doesn't know what he'll encounter when he approaches the driver. They run into burning buildings. They work in all kinds of weather and on all the holidays. And they do so without complaining. By all definitions, police officers and fire fighters are heroes.

I don't know about you, but I'm awfully grateful for our first responders and the sacrifices they make. They make those sacrifices so we don't have to worry and can feel safe. If you have the opportunity today stop and say thank you to all the police officers and fire fighters you see. They more than deserve our gratitude.

The Kindness of Strangers

Have you heard the story about the Southwest pilot who held a plane so a man running late thanks to TSA could see his dying grandson one more time?

It's true. We're 17 days into the new year and already the kindness of strangers has made me cry. Ya, I know I'm a wuss, but trust me, you're going to get misty-eyed too.

Actually, someone once did something similar for me. I never got to say thank you because the internet didn't exist and I didn't have a public forum like Little Merry Sunshine in which to shout my gratitude from the rooftops. I was flying from Washington National to O'Hare early on a Saturday morning for my Grandma Gardner's funeral. My original flight was canceled due to mechanical problems and when United got me on a later flight, they put me in the last row of an overcrowded flight. I hadn't slept more than a couple of hours most of the week because of a huge legal filing we were getting done, and once I got to my seat, I took my first deep breath and all of my emotion over the death of my grandmother came pouring out. To add to my grief and tears, if we landed on time, I had 30 minutes to make it to the funeral and no way to tell my dad, who was picking me up at O'Hare. A passing stewardess asked me what was wrong and upon hearing my story, walked away. She returned a few minutes later telling me to get my purse and follow her. Someone in first class gave me their seat so I could get off the plane as quickly as possible, run through the airport, and make it to the funeral. Wow. Even now, 15 years later, I'm still grateful for that random act of kindness by a stranger.

So maybe that's why I'm especially touched by the Southwest pilot who went above and beyond to make sure a man he didn't know got to see the person he needed to see without worrying about all the places the other passengers wanted to be.

Hero Pilot Pulls Out the Stops to Help Grandpa Reach Funeral: 2011's Most Heartwarming Travel Story?
by William Lee Adams, Time.com

The most important trips aren't about getting somewhere. They're about getting to someone. (via Elliott.org)

But in an age of mounting airline fees, reduced in-flight services, uncomfortable security pat-downs and multi-day delays caused by erupting volcanoes, it's easy to forget that.

Amid the cries of "I've already paid for my hotel!" and "You need to get me to Atlanta!" anger and inconvenience frequently blind us to the fact that travel is ultimately about people. We also forget that airline employees—bound by big company rules and regulations—get frustrated, too.

Enter Nancy, whose travel triumph, tempered by a great deal of sadness, has turned an unnamed Southwest Airlines pilot into an online hero.

Nancy reads a blog by Christopher Elliott, a consumer advocate and journalist, and wrote to him about her husband's recent ordeal traveling on flights from Los Angeles to Tucson to Denver. Their situation makes complaints about leg room look downright petty.

"Last night, my husband and I got the tragic news that our three-year-old grandson in Denver had been murdered by our daughter's live-in boyfriend," she wrote. "He is being taken off life support tonight at 9 o'clock and his parents have opted for organ donation, which will take place immediately. Over 25 people will receive his gift tonight and many lives will be saved."

So early in the morning, after what must have been a torturous night's sleep, Nancy and her husband arranged for him to fly from Los Angeles, where he was traveling for work, to Tuscon, where he would step off one plane and immediately onto another one headed to Denver. "The ticketing agent was holding back tears throughout the call," Nancy wrote. "I'm actually her step-mother and it's much more important for my husband to be there than for me to be there."

Mourning the loss of his child's child, and no doubt worrying about his grieving daughter, he was likely in no state to travel. Airport stress only compounded his despair. He arrived at LAX two hours before his scheduled flight time, but quickly realized that delays at baggage check and security would keep him from making the flight.

According to Nancy, he struggled to hold back tears as he pleaded with TSA and Southwest Airlines staff to fast-track him through the lines that were moving like molasses. Even though missing his flight could mean missing a final chance to see his grandson, no one seemed to care.

Too much was at stake to simply roll over and cry. When he finally cleared security—several minutes after his flight's planned departure—he grabbed his computer bag, shoes and belt, and ran to his terminal wearing only his socks. The pilot and the gate agent were waiting for him.

“Are you Mark? We held the plane for you and we're so sorry about the loss of your grandson,” the pilot reportedly said. “They can't go anywhere without me and I wasn't going anywhere without you. Now relax. We'll get you there. And again, I'm so sorry.”

It's hard to underestimate the courage of the pilot's decision. The flight, which ultimately departed 12 minutes late, likely had hundreds of passengers rolling their eyes in contempt. And given that any delay has knock-on effects for passengers at the destination airport, his decision placed Southwest at risk of facing the wrath of travelers, and more than a few demands for compensation.

Elliott, who brought the story to the blogosphere's attention, approached Southwest about the story, half expecting the airline to be outraged by a pilot's refusal to push the on-time departure.

Instead, they told him they were "proud" of their pilot, a man who clearly understands that taking a child off life support has consequences that run deeper than a flight taking off late. As Nancy wrote: "My husband was able to take his first deep breath of the day." Hopefully, over time, his daughter can do the same.

"We Can Be Better" - President Obama

Did you see President Obama's speech tonight at the memorial service in Tucson? I saw most of it and can honestly say that I was moved to tears at moments. (Surprise, I know.) It is my believe that this speech will go down as one of his absolute best. It's also my hope and prayer tonight that the President's words will help calm the vitriol.

I think that would be the best way to honor all of the victims of the horrific tragedy this past weekend. We all need to remember that words matter and have consequences. Maybe some of the recent rhetoric played a role in the shooting and maybe it didn't. I actually don't think it matters. We need to listen to each other and differing points of view. We need to remember that we can disagree without being disagreeable. We need to make sure that those on the fringes don't fall through the cracks. And we need to make sure that mental health care is fully funded.

In case you missed it, spend 30 minutes to watch the video below. It will change you or at least touch your heart and remind you of what is good. Tonight, our Commander in Chief was our Healer in Chief.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You can also read a full transcript of the President's remarks here. Of course, those are the prepared remarks. You won't get his off-the-script comments about Congresswoman Giffords and his other unscripted remarks.

Who's Brad Meltzer's Hero Today?

Brad Meltzer and me at The Book of Fate book tour, September 2006.

ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HeadlineNewsmakers - Jessica Gardner Honored as Hero (Sorry, it wouldn't allow me to embed the video. Linking was the best I could do.)

My Next Favorite Book: Heroes for My Son

It's no secret that I love Brad Meltzer books (and Brad himself) and that I plug them and him every opportunity I have. Well, it's time for Brad's new book to hit the shelves.

Heroes for my Son is Brad's first non-fiction book and contains "52 real-life heroes. 52 stories. 52 reminders that anything is possible." "Since the day my first son was born, I've been writing this book for him. It's a collection of heroes throughout history. Some are famous (Jim Henson, Rosa Parks, Mr. Rogers). Some you've never heard of. The result is this book - a gift to my sons. As I share it with them, I hope you'll share it with the heroes in your life." (both quotes from the promotional postcard for Heroes for My Son).

See the story behind the book below.






I'll be at my local bookstore on Tuesday getting my copy of Heroes for My Son. I'll probably have it read before I close my eyes. I can't wait. The world needs more heroes and I think Brad is a hero for reminding us that there is a hero in each of us.

Go buy Heroes for My Son. You'll love it. Trust me. And buy a copy for your favorite hero.

Call Your Mother

Me, Mom, and Nana in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Circa 1975.

In case you have forgotten, Sunday is Mother's Day. In spite of what Glenn Beck says, Mother's Day is not a Hallmark Holiday. Mother's Day officially became a holiday on May 8, 1914 with the signature of President Woodrow Wilson and thanks to the hard work of many women throughout history.

Personally, I'll be chilling with my mom, which is what you should be doing too, if you can. If you can't be with your mom, you should at least call her. Why? Because she suffered through 27 hours of labor without drugs and your teenage years. That's why.

You should also reach out to anyone who was like a mom to you at any point in your life. Why? Because she cared about you. She probably loved you like her own and bandaged up your bloody knees a time or three. You ate dinner at her table more times than anyone can count and ran away to her house when life got tough at your house. That's why.

In our lives, Dave and I had our mom and Nana and Joan Green. Joan was always around after school and Dave especially hung out at the Green's house, but I always knew the door was open to me as well. The Green's were our second family. Even after we grew up and moved away, Dave sent her Mother's Day cards. When I moved back to Arlington Heights, I loved knowing Joan as an adult. She went from being that second mom to me to being my friend. Joan passed away 2 1/2 years ago and I still miss her. Just the other day, I was thinking I wanted to get her opinion about something and started to walk down the street before remembering I couldn't.

This is our first Mother's Day without Nana. Mom and I will be with her (in spirit) when we sit in her pew at church and I'll have a brand new box of Kleenex in my lap. I can't imagine being anywhere else. Trust me, she'll be with us the whole day. I can't tell you the rest of our plans because it's a surprise for Mom, but trust me, it's good.

Moms are our first heroes. They love us unconditionally and help us pick up the pieces when we fall. They cheer us on, even when we have no chance of coming in first. They teach us how to fight our own battles. They never let us give up. They give us wings even when they'd rather keep us little forever.

In honor of moms, watch this terrific video Brad Meltzer made about his mom. If you don't get misty eyed, you may have no soul. And remember, call your mom.

Every Penny Counts

Arranging the pennies. From dailyherald.com

I love this story so much. I love that it started with a kid questioning what he was taught in school. I love that no one told him "that's a dumb idea." I love that it's outside the box. I love that in questioning what he learned in school, Jack Gabriel wanted to do something to help someone else. It didn't raise a ton of money, as we all know, a little does a lot. I love that the community came out to support this wonderful cause.

Jack Gabriel is my hero today.

The Power of Pennies: Fundraiser for Finnertys Raises More Than $1,000
by Eileen O. Daday, Daily Herald, April 19, 2010

An inscription on a child's bookmark triggered a grass-roots fundraiser Sunday in Arlington Heights that drew nearly 100 people, raised more than $1,000, and put a renewed emphasis on the power of pennies.

Jack Gabriel, a sixth grade student at South Middle School in Arlington Heights, set the event in motion when he questioned whether pennies laid side by side for one mile would add up to $844.80.

"I thought that was amazing, and I wondered if it was true," says Jack, 11.

With that, he and his family decided to test it out. They designed the effort as a fundraiser for the education fund benefiting Bridgit and Pierce Finnerty of Arlington Heights, who survived a fire last year that took the lives of their parents and brother.

An initial e-mail blast to 40 neighbors and friends launched the effort, and then it quickly spread by word-of-mouth. Almost immediately, Gabriel family members say, donations of pennies began to pour in.

They came in plastic bags from children of all ages, as well as larger amounts from Arlington Heights merchants. They also drew donations, including one $100 anonymous donation and multiple checks that came in as late as Sunday.

The problem, according to Jack's mother, Kathleen Gabriel, was converting the money into pennies. Over the last few weeks, Gabriel said she approached every bank in Arlington Heights and then hit up those in surrounding suburbs, as far as Glenview, in search of more pennies.

She relates how tellers at Citibank in Arlington Heights generously donated $50 to the campaign, but when she asked them to convert them into pennies, they declined.

"We're out," they told Gabriel.

When families arrived Sunday, they found a wheelbarrow filled with thousands of pennies.

"This must be a world record or something," declared Caroline Ayala, 6, of Arlington Heights, as she dug into the pennies as if they were sand particles.

Children and adults worked together, each one taking a bag filled with 100 pennies and working to place them end to end along the chalk outline, stretched over the mile course laid out around the Recreation Park neighborhood in Arlington Heights.

"I feel like I'm working on a railway, laying down track piece by piece," said Max Barson, 12, of Arlington Heights.

He worked beside one of his classmates, Nick Fowler of Arlington Heights, who agreed, adding that the effort was a first for him.

"It's kind of cool," Fowler said. "You usually don't think that pennies are worth very much."

That was just the point, Kathleen Gabriel said.

"There's no such thing as a worthless penny," she told the crowd. "There's no amount too small to make a difference."

In the end, the so-called "worthwhile mile" took nearly two hours to lay, another 1½ hours to pick up, and drew more than $1,000 in donations. People still interested in contributing, may submit a check to the Finnerty Family Fund, care of Village Bank & Trust, 234 W. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.

Heroes Matter

Yesterday my friend and New York Times Best-Selling Author Brad Meltzer appeared on Glenn Beck's show and they spent an hour talking about heroes.

As much as I can't stomach Glenn Beck's politics, I gotta hand it to him on a job well done (except for the part where he bashes President Obama - if he'd left politics out of this, I'd have liked it even more). This was one amazing hour. Heroes matter. Who we admire and want to emulate matters. Heroes teach us values. They help us be better. Heroes change the world and they also change just one life. They aren't necessarily famous, rich, or obvious. We can each be a hero.

I love the stories Brad tells about Superman, Tiger Woods (not a hero), Frank Shankwitz, and the wives at Fort Hood. You will too.

By the way, trust me when I tell you that Brad Meltzer is a true hero.

Will You Be My Hero Baby?

Over the last 12 months, good news has been tough to find. "If it bleeds, it leads" is not just a cliche it's how most newsrooms run. For proof, just turn on the nightly news. Stories of people doing good things are never the lead stories.

The Dow has had its ups and downs. Too many jobs have been lost. People have died. Wars have been fought. Natural disasters have occurred. Once again, the Cubs had a rough year and the Bears might as well sit the rest of the season out. It's been a tough year.

But in spite of it all, there are people doing amazing things. There are people who not only see the problems, but more importantly, they create solutions. These people are heroes. All too often, they are unsung.

In spite of all this bad news, CNN has spent the year searching out and honoring these heroes. They've narrowed it down to the Top 10 and will honor each of them in a special to air Thanksgiving night.

Help CNN choose the Hero of the Year by voting for your favorite. But hurry! Voting ends at 6am (ET) on Thursday, November 19th.

Don't forget to tune into CNN at 9pm ET on Thanksgiving. Your belief in mankind will be restored. You will be inspired. And have a box of tissues. Trust me, you'll need it.

Miracle on the Hudson

Flying terrifies me. I don't like to give up control in general and always feel like I am doing that each time I'm getting on a plane. I don't know the pilots. I don't know the maintenance crew. I don't know the flight tower personnel. I don't understand how a metal tube that weighs 1 million pounds can be sustained in the air and not fall to earth in line with the laws of gravity. Random birds can bring down a plane. And yet I'm supposed to simply trust that I'll get from point A to point B safely.

Tonight, however, I feel a bit safer. Even though the general consensus is that today's US Airways flight from LaGuardia to Charlotte, North Carolina was brought down into the frigid Hudson River by a flock of birds (I don't think it was a flock of seagulls, but one never knows), the pilot and crew managed to get all 155 passengers safely off the plane with no major injuries. I've heard everyone was off the plane in 90 seconds, which is amazing to me, but I can't find it in writing.

The crew and pilot acted heroically.

We truly saw a Miracle on the Hudson today. I feel just a bit safer about flying tonight. Not that I'm going anywhere.

Set Your DVR's: CNN Heroes - An All-Star Tribute

You watched their inspiring stories and you voted on your favorite. Now it's time to watch CNN announce the 2008 CNN Hero of the Year.

Thursday, November 27th at 9pm ET (8pm CT).

And starting at 8pm ET (7pm CT), Larry King will spend an hour previewing the show and interviewing celebrities who've turned tragedy into triumph.

It should be an inspiring night.

What else are you going to do once you're drunk on turkey? Play another game of Trivial Pursuit with the family? Trust me, this will be better.

CNN Heroes - Ordinary People Extraordinary Impact

I love that CNN is focussed on the positive and is making such a big deal out of the ways previously unsung heroes are changing the world. If only everyone did one thing everyday to make the world better, I believe we could solve most of the world's ills.

CNN has compiled their Top 10 Heroes of the Year and now we get to vote on the winner, who will be announced on Thanksgiving.

Go read the stories - I promise they will inspire you - and vote on your favorite.

But hurry! You only have until 6am ET on Thursday, November 20th to cast your ballot.

Click here to read about CNN's Heroes of the Year and vote.

45 Years Ago Today

Today is the 45th anniversary of the historic "I Have A Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.



As a nation we have come light years from 1963. Nominating Barack Obama as the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States yesterday was proof of that. And it's only fitting that tonight Obama accepts the nomination. I have faith that his speech will live up to the expectations and that Dr. King is celebrating in Heaven.

Now let's fulfill Dr. King's dream and work to elect Barak Obama our first African-American President in November. Yes We Can!

A Private Thank You in a Public Forum

I have two friends who have taught me a very valuable lesson over the last 18 months or so. What makes this the least bit interesting in my mind is that neither of these friends know each other, although I've certainly spoken to each of them about the other, and certainly neither of them set out to teach me anything. They just did.

My entire life I've been very analytical. I want to know an outcome or probable outcome before I do something. It's not that I can't or don't make decisions on the spur of the moment, I do. In fact, I've moved across country twice without really thinking about it. I think part of the reason I am sometimes overly cautious is because I never want to look bad or be embarrassed. And one of my faults is that I care (entirely too much) what other people think.

Usually being so analytical and worrying about what others will think has worked out okay. But far too often being so analytical and worrying about what others will think has caused me to miss out on what could have been amazing experiences.

So what does this admission of one of my (many) flaws have to do with these two friends? Everything.

Both of these friends have taught me to think less and do more. In their own special ways, they have both shown me how to take chances and step outside of my comfort zone in some huge ways and that it will all be okay. I've learned that whenever one of them suggests I get involved with something, the experience will be far greater than I could have ever imagined. They have both taught me that nothing great was ever achieved by worrying about being unpopular or that someone else will think it's stupid.

These two friends know exactly who they are and I won't name them here. They are two of the greatest people I've ever known and I'm proud to call them my friends.

I hope you have friends who teach you life lessons too.

Feed Your Pets or Yourself?

Gourmet Goddess brought the issue of pets not having enough food in this tough economy to light in a comment on my earlier post "Food Pantries Need Your Help." And now, CNN has picked up on this important topic. Clearly their producers are reading Little Merry Sunshine and were educated by Gourmet Goddess's comment. Thank you Gourmet Goddess for bringing this important issue our attention!

Click here to watch an important video by CNN.

Then call your local food bank and see where you can donate pet food. For many people, their pets are their children.

The Neighborhood Still Matters

I know it's been a few days since I've last posted, but I had a good excuse. I was in Dallas. Dallas in July. And it was awesome. And I'll blog about it over the weekend.

When I arrived home, I discovered, much to my dismay, that the world is falling apart. Now I know we've had problems over the last few months and many of them I've discussed here. Food pantries with no food. AK-47s. The list goes on.

But this is serious. I mean, really serious. PBS is trying to eliminate Mister Rogers.

Yes, Fred Rogers. Of the zip-up sweaters. You'll recall I wished Mister Rogers a Happy 80th Birthday. Mister Rogers is one of my heroes. I don't say that lightly because I don't have many. It's an exclusive club and he's one of the original members.

I'm not feeling very original today, so I'm just going to reprint what Brad Meltzer had to say yesterday.

But please, this is a Call to Action. Save Mr. Rogers for future generations!

Mr. Rogers, People!

I don’t have many heroes. Mr. Rogers is one of them. So when I saw my buddy Whitney post this on PopCandy, my eyes started to bleed. I’m now stealing it as a call to action. If you want to know why you should care, watch Mr. Rogers testify before congress for public television. I dare you. Please do join the cause. He. Is. The. Best.

YouTube link of Mr. Rogers defending PBS.

From Popcandy:

Pop reader Amy H. is worried about Mister Rogers.

Why? Because PBS "is trying to wipe him off the face of the earth by limiting his program to once a week," she says. "I mean, what is their reasoning? He’s outdated? He’s had the same puke-green curtains since 1970, so his being outdated is hardly a new claim. But his message is TIMELESS."

A campaign has been started at http://savemisterrogers.com to try to bring back Mister Rogers' Neighborhood into daily syndication. It was started by a young father who wants his kids to grow up with the man who taught him about human kindness and comfortable sweaters.

Amy adds that a Facebook group has started as well. Hey, if it can happen with Jericho, maybe it can happen with this Neighborhood, too.