Grammy
Awards Brings New Action
The
Grammy Awards, was held at the Staples Convention Center in Los Angeles, had
mixed reviews as a show. But let’s remember that this 50-year-old awards show
covers a wide range of genres. It also is about popularity and marketability of
songs. After all, download
ed
ring tones of favorite artists’ songs are downloaded mainly by teens and
college-age students. So anyone can download music from the Internet today;
however, there will always be loyal fans supporting their favorite recording
group.
And that
brings me to Tina Turner. Here’s a woman, who at 68 years old, keeps getting
better and has stood the test of time. Her performance, accompanied by Beyonce
Knowles, stole the show. It just goes to show you what a positive attitude,
great talent and great marketability can do for you.
Another
performer who added to the show was the outstanding Morris Day. So if someone
says to you, “was that really music? Or, “There was too much rap.” Or, “There
was not enough country,” and so forth. Remember that music is like people. It
comes in all sizes, shapes and forms. So, it’s not just about rap, but the
Grammy Awards covers everything that sells.
And then
there was Amy Winehouse, the “no-rehab” protestor herself, who took away four
Grammy’s.
Friends Who Pass On
There’s
probably not one of us in this world that hasn’t had a close friend pass on. My
most dear friend Clarence Jones “C. J.” Cansler was one of those quiet,
compassionate, yet remarkable, individuals who excelled in everything he
touched. C.J. did so many outstanding things in his lifetime. From a high school
track star, he went into the U.S. Army as a Ranger. It wasn’t before long that
he was known as one of the best sharpshooters in the service. C.J. lived life to
the fullest. He played hard, and he worked hard. In his hometown in Alabama, he
was a general contractor and later went into electrical contracting.
However,
it wasn’t until he moved to Las Vegas that he helped support the career of his
wife, Dr. Kathleen Cansler, from her internship on through her establishing a
practice. She is one of the finest internist in the valley. They had one
daughter, and she is one of the top junior soccer players in Nevada.
During
C.J.’s last years, when he was enjoying the fruits of his labor, he became one
of the most successful sports photographers in the business. He had that magic
of knowing how to take a picture and make it come to life on the pages.
I was
honored to know C.J. for about 15 years. He was the kind of person who didn’t
have to say a lot; all he needed were a few words to make his point.
And so,
in remembering our friends, we can recall their important life’s highlights.
C.J.’s were his pictures through boxing events, Ultimate Fighting Challenge and
celebrity photo shoots. But most importantly, C.J. was such a giving person. He
was known among his peers as one of the top professional instructors of
photography at Community College of Southern Nevada. He was also a very
charitable person and helped during holidays deliver bags of toys to less
fortunate children.
One of
the things I’ll remember most about him is that he listened to people’s
problems. I know; I was one of those he advised on a personal basis. The truth
is, if C.J. were here today, he would say that there are no shortcuts in life;
that you have to work hard to reap the benefits, and most important, something
he often said: “One good deed deserves another, but one bad act can bring
another one your way.”
A
picture is worth a thousand words, and C.J. Canslers’ photos will inspire
comments for years to come.
Miss
America Judges
When the
stakes are high, and pageant producers have a lot of pressure on them on
ratings, it’s always a point that celebrity judges are a part of the pageant.
Seven celebs determined the 2008 winner.
The 2008
Miss America Pageant, which was held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on
the Las Vegas Strip, had just that. Speaking of competition, one celebrity
judge, Jack Joyner Kersey now working in the field of community service, is
considered one of the great athletes of all time. She is the first woman to win
back-to-back Olympic
Gold Medals in the seven disciplined events heptathlons.
She
is also the first woman to score 7,000 points in the event, and her world record
of 7,291 points remains unbroken. She is also the first American woman to win an
Olympic Gold Medal in the long jump, all accomplished on her way to wining six
golds in four consecutive Olympic games.
It is
those persistent, yet talented, individuals, such as Joyner-Kersey, who make the
world renowned pageant, such as Miss America, one of the most respected pageants
in the Universe. Kersey, who is giving back to her community by spearheading
fundraising efforts, has collected more than $12 million to build a safe haven
for young people. The JJK Center in East St. Louis, Ill., provides services the
thousands of families in the surrounding areas. It offers a variety of
educational and recreational activities, including tutoring, youth sports
leagues, nutrition, health education, character-leader workshops and fitness for
seniors. The famed athlete currently travels as a motivational speaker and the
author of, “A Woman’s Place is Everywhere,” and her autobiography, “A Kind of
Grace.”
“No
matter what you do in life, it’s the persistence that’s going to get you there,”
Joyner Kersey said in press conference at the recent event.
Robin
Meade, one of the other judges, is the lead news anchor for CNN’s “Headline
News” early morning segment is another outstanding personality. She also serves
as co-host with Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Turner’s closed-circuit network, Accent
Health, which delivers consumer-related health programming directly to
physicians’ waiting rooms.
Meade
competed in the Miss America Pageant 1992. She is the recipient of two regional
Emmy Awards and in 2005 was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
From the
field of talent, Jason La Padura, is a casting executive behind Disney Channel’s
phenomena, “High School Musical.” He is currently casting NBC’s hit ‘Heroes,”
and CBC’s “Cane.” La Padura received the Media Access award from the State of
California for his work promoting the profile of performers with disability. He
was nominated for Emmy awards for “High School Musical” and the NBC series,
“American Dreams.”
Other
pageant judges included Sarah Ivens, editor-in-chief of OK! magazine, a leading
celebrity news publication; Kim Lyons, star of NBC’s “Biggest Loser,” and James
Arthur Ray, president and CEO of James Ray International, a multi-million dollar
company dedicated to teaching people how to create wealth. And Trace Ayala,
international fashion designer, was also a judge.
This
year’s winner of the pageant was Kirsten Haglund of Minnesota.
Scenic
San Diego
More
than ever, people are making time to take four to seven day cruises. Cruising is
a part of life that no one should let slip by. There are
also dining cruises, such as
the San Diego Harbor
cruises
for couples, singles and families when they can only take a few hours out for a
day or evening outing. The setting for these cruise are spectacular, especially
that of the skyline of San Diego. This is one of the most breathtaking dinner
cruises I’ve ever experienced. San Diego Harbor Excursions have been serving the
area since 1915. The staff and service is dependable and friendly, plus they
have six ships serving the San Diego Bay. The Spirit of San Diego, the ship I
was on, holds about 250 people, and they offer a variety of cruise packages from
$37.50 for children 4-12, up to $62.50 per adult. This includes a dinner menu
selection of entrees, such as Iron Steak, Grilled Tenderloins, Herb Grilled
Chicken, Dungeness Crab Stuffed in Pacific Snapper. They do offer vegetarian
dishes. Also, they offer complimentary champagne.
For a
breathtaking view of the Skyline of San Diego, including its naval shipyards. I
highly recommend taking some leisure time to experience San Diego Harbor
Excursions or consider holding your special events, weddings, graduations and
other occasions aboard. As the company and others say, it’s “an unforgettable
dining experience on San Diego Bay.”
By just
calling (619) 234-4111 or (800) 44-CRUISE. For more information visit
www.sdhe.com.
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My book of poetry
entitled "Messages" was inspired by my dear friends C.J. Cansler along
with Victoria Boone and Beryl Warren.
The group of poems
along with some beautiful photographs are to inspire the reader.
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