Views from Point Breeze

As I approach the 2011 Holiday season, I am content with the fact that I won't have the resources to buy gifts for everyone in my close circle.  I have already informed my wife that we won't be charging anything.  We will have a Christmas Eve get together and enjoy the valued friends and family that make up our foundation.  Otherwise, we will try to make the children appreciate the season.  Our children are 18 and 22 and experienced some of the best that Christmas has to offer.  We would wait for them to go to sleep and we would wrap gifts until the wee hours of the morning.  Now, we share pictures and ideas along with our enjoyment of get togethers.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Family, food and friends all day.  Shout out to Kevin Wallace and the Wallace Family.  The holidays wouldn't be the same without them..  Also, to my sisters Kia and Leah.  Love U both forever.  The weather is beautiful today and in spite of ...

The overthrow of Hosni Mubarak's long rule in Egypt was met with much joy and celebration in Egypt in February of this year.  Mr. Mubarak, an ally of the United States, had become too entrenched for the masses of Egyptians who wanted him removed.  Luckily, he did not suffer the same fate at Colonel Qaddafi.  He came to power after the assassination of Anwar Sadat and ruled for more than 30 years.  The Muslim Brotherhood, which was outlawed under Mr. Mubarak, had played a key role in some of the protests earlier this year.  Sadly, the protesters have come back to Tahrir Square.  This square was the scene of violence during the quest for new leadership.  At least 38 people have been killed during the recent protests against the slow turnover of power from the military leaders.  What is occuring now should make those of us living in the United States grateful for the civilliberties that we enjoy.  There have been offers for the present leader...

The winningest Division 1 football coach in history was shown the door this week.  It is ironic that he recently passed Eddie Robinson of Grambling the week before the bye week.  It wan't anything that Joe Paterno did.  It was what we didn't do.  At least 8 boys were abused, allegedly, by then defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, during Joe Pa's tenure.  In one instance, he was told about an encounter on Penn State property that should have led to an immediate arrest.  Instead, the person was supposedly banned from campus and life went on.  I think Joe Pa was blinded by his sungular goal of becoming the winningest coach in division 1 history.  He touted the fact that Penn State was never sanctioned by the NCAA.  I have been to at least two games in Happy Valley.  I was there when he won his 400th game.  What a sight it was.  One hundred five thousand people in a stadium to wintess history.  It is a shame that the abuse...

Vince Fumo is currently serving a 55 month sentence in Kentucky.  He was convicted of misusing the public trust.  He used Commonwealth of PA employees for personal errands, to spy on his ex-wives and girlfriends and other tawdry deeds.  He used yachts of boards that he sat on for personal trips.  He also fleeced a community organization that he got an enormous amount of funding for from PECO.  Even though Mr. Fumo was wealthy, he enjoyed using other people's money.  Many of his colleagues lamented the fact that we had lost a powerful figure who bought millions to Southeastern PA.  Some would assert that what he did was wrong but paled in comparison to his many good deeds.  Currently, prosecutors are seeking a resentencing based on the fact that he was responsible for almost $2.5 million in theft.  The presiding judge was too lenient in his sentencing.  I agree.  Corey Kemp is still in jail.  He was convicted during the John ...