Sometimes we sit around complaining about the fact that there just isn’t anything good on television. Why don’t you take a moment to think about all the great stuff that WAS on television and is now available on DVD? Head to Amazon.com, my thumb-cricking friend and buy yourself the series pack of News Radio or The Golden Girls or even better Designing Women - a show which reminded us that women can work together without killing each other. (throwing in a gay man always helps).

Dixie Carter passed away today at the age of 70 years old from Uterine Cancer.

Dixie Carter - you’re a sassy broad, and dam you’ve got class. You taught me to always love your siblings, put losers in their place with a few carefully heated words, kick undeserving men off your porch and always, always, always be there for you friends. 

Check out her best moments at this great blog - http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/04/11/dixie-carter-ripdesigning-women/

This year has not been kind to the magazine publishing world, with so many publications folding  that there’s even a website called MagazineDeathPool.com.  But that hasn’t stopped Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz from creating a brand new travel magazine called “Afar.”  With a focus on cultural travel, the founders of Afar have a mission to “inspire and guide those who travel the world seeking to connect with its people, experience, their culture and understand their perspectives.”  They have even created an Afar Foundation, promoting cross-cultural exchange for college students and recent graduates who are looking to immerse themselves in another country.  Unlike other travel magazines that focus on hotels and resorts, Afar is all about connecting with real people and places through experiential travel.  To subscribe to the magazine or check out the website, click here:   http://www.afar.com/.

Frank McCourt, author of my favorite memoir, “Angela’s Ashes” died on July 19th at the age of 78.  When I heard the news, it made me reflect on how much I’ve enjoyed McCourt’s writing and what an inspiration he had been in his lifetime.  Growing up in an Irish slum under destitute conditions, McCourt managed to escape the poverty and move to New York City as a young man.  He became an English teacher in the New York City public school system and after retiring in his 60s, he published his first book, ”Angela’s Ashes,” which won him the Pulitzer Prize.  His memoir also became a popular movie that touched a wide audience.

Students of McCourt, some who have become authors themselves, remember him in a New York Times article for his story telling and ability to teach writing.  To read more, click here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/books/20frank.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=mccourt&st=cse.

If you’re single and haven’t had any luck with online dating or friends playing matchmaker, then how about trying something entirely different like bartering for a mate?  That’s what 38-year-old, Kelly O’very, of Salt Lake City did when she placed a classified ad in KSL that read, “Free Jeep with wedding ring… Let’s get hitched!”  We don’t know yet if her barter idea will lead to good news, but I applaud Kelly on her guts and creativity.  For the full article, click on.

One of my favorite authors, Rachel Simon, has published a new memoir, “Building a Home with My Husband,” a story about the re-design of her home and the restoration of love.  What I admire about Simon is that her writing is filled with warmth, humor and keen insights about personal relationships.  She is well-known for her bestselling memoir, “Riding the Bus with My Sister,” which describes her relationship with her mentally retarded sister, and became a television movie starring Rosie O’Donnell and Andie MacDowell.  Now, “Building a Home with My Husband” has been praised by Kirkus Review as “a poetic appraisal of life’s big questions” and by Publisher’s Weekly as “inspirational.”  It is the first book on my summer reading list and I’m already savoring the beginning chapters.  Since love is a major theme, it’s sure to be a memoir that will appeal to a wide audience, even if you haven’t gone through a home renovation.

Simon is currently on a book tour this summer, making appearances in the Northeast.  I had the great fortune of meeting her in person at her first appearance in Princeton, NJ.  I found Simon to be gracious, warm and extremely approachable.  For more information about her memoir and book tour, click here to Simon’s website:  www.rachelsimon.com.

(left) Michelle and Rachel Simon

On July 1st, Ursula Burns will become the first African American female to be the CEO of a fortune 500 company.  She heads up Xerox which has been noted by Diversity Inc as one of their Top 50 Companies for diversity. I still don’t know exactly what a fortune 500 company is, but it sounds like big stuff. Ms. Burns will become one of 4 Black and 15 female - CEOs on the list.

Ursula Burns started as a measly, lowly intern in 1980 (and we all know how that feels). She has since worked her way up through mechanical engineering and then onto President of the company in 2007. Read the article at - Diversity Inc and marvel at how far we’ve come (or not far - if that’s the way you look at it…If that’s so, you may want to read a little something about feminist writer - Bell Hooks )

Is it just me or do you want to go out and buy a copier now? To heck with my 401k! You go Ursula!

In this new age of technology, some folks are chucking their digital cameras in favor of a retro device:  the Polaroid camera!  At least that’s what a group of people in the Netherlands is counting on.  According to a recent article in The New York Times, scientists are working on re-inventing Polaroid’s instant film with the hope that eager consumers will embrace the old analog technique.

I remember the Polaroid growing up and was always fascinated by its instant gratification.  Not even today’s digital cameras can produce a hard copy photo in a snap.  There’s something very satisfying about holding a picture in hand versus seeing the digital image on a screen.  Perhaps there is an awaiting niche market for this retro brand.   To read The New York Times article, here is the link.

Goldman Sachs - which owns Burger King - used part of their bailot money to pay their employees some of the highest bonuses in the industry. If they’d shared their bailot money with their Burger King workers they could have given every employee in America an extra $18,000.

This is kind of old news by now. But Goldman Sachs has actually screwed over many, many people in all sorts of companies and Brave New Films wanted people to have their say. They had a video competition asking people how they would SACK it to the people at Goldman Sachs (ehh..heehhh…).

Carolyn Bear’s husband was one of the people screwed over by Henry Kravis at Goldman. After working for 30 years, he lost his pension and all. Carolyn had a great idea for how to get a little of her pride back - rather creative, too:

Brave New Films, which made this documentary, sits at www.warongreed.org - a truly awesome website sent to me by my very aware friend, Jessica.

She was my favorite Golden Girl.  Her witty humor and wise-cracking remarks would always make me laugh, no matter how many times I had seen the same episode.  Although I first came to appreciate Bea Arthur in her role as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls in the 1980s, she already had an accomplished Broadway career and was well known for her lead role in the hit TV show, Maude.

Bea Arthur died of cancer on April 25, 2009, at the age of 86.  She died at home in Los Angeles and is survived by two sons.

You can still enjoy watching Bea on The Golden Girls weeknights on WE TV.