Friday, May 28, 2010

Gary Coleman 1968-2010

Remember the TV show Diff'rent Strokes from the 1980's? I believe the thing many of us remember the most are the problems the child stars had in their personal lives after the show went off the air in 1986.

Gary Coleman died today at the age of 42. He suffered from kidney disease as a child and had two kidney transplants, losing his first one at age five. As an adult, he suffered many medical problems which helped to end his life prematurely.

You can see the Associated Press video obituary by clicking here if the video does not open.



He had many health-related issues his whole life but had a hard time shaking that image we all had of that precocious little Arnold Jackson. According to his filmography on imdb.com, he continued to act up until last year, albeit never with the kind of success he saw as a ten- to eighteen-year-old child star.

The point is: he continued to pursue his passion despite all of his physical, personal, legal and financial problems. I have a great deal of respect for him for doing that.

RIP, Gary Coleman.

As always, I welcome your comments.

Later,

Mike

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Music In The Schools

The world is full of very creative and artistic people. Once again, one of my favorite television shows, 60 Minutes, did a piece on one of them tonight. Bob Simon's piece on Conductor Gustavo Dudamel shows what he is doing to give elementary students an opportunity to learn how to play an instrument in an orchestra. As this piece shows, and many experts will tell you, it is all about opportunity.

You can view the piece by clicking here if it doesn't show up on this video:



Watch CBS News Videos Online

As anyone who has anything to do with schools these days knows, funding is being cut in many areas, especially the arts. Often times, entire programs are being cut. My youngest brother is also doing something about it in elementary schools in Southern California. I will write about his program in another post.

Studies show how important involvement in school is for young people. I believe this video shows how this opportunity improves a young person's confidence, self-esteem and personal responsibility. Plus, it teaches them an entirely new set of skills. I cannot say it enough times, "It is all about opportunity."

I look forward to your comments.

Later,

Mike

P.S. I am sorry I have missed a few weeks. I just spent another thirty-eight days in the hospital. I am still a little weak, but I am back!