James the Game

My Comments (4089 so far…)

Does money buy happiness? How much does it cost?

Thanks Eldebbo. I have more cents than dollars.

Sen. Edward Kennedy Dies at Age of 77

Sad, the passing of Kennedy. I think his legacy will be his ability to reach across the aisle to hammer out legislation that has benefitted millions of Americans.

Does money buy happiness? How much does it cost?

How much does happiness cost? You can get a discount on it at the five-and-dime. But seriously…Money doesn’t buy happiness, per se, because there are a whole lot of unhappy millionaires (and a few billionaires) walking around. Although, I must say, I wouldn’t mind having a crack at being one of those "unhappy" rich folks for a while. Ha!

One thing money definitely does is make it possible for one to stop worrying about how to make ends meet, and worrying about the future. I know I’m concerned about how I’ll pay off my debts, and survive after I can no longer work. It’s a frightening prospect, to say the least.

But there is also opportunity in not having money. And it’s hard to put a price tag on the richness of one’s grounded experiences of having to struggle to pay the bills, learning good values and discovering who your true friends are in tough times.

Marlo Thomas Spends Like Herb Gardner

And Herb was right. I’ve toddled between the poverty line and low- to middle-class my entire life. Many have it a lot worse, so no complaints, although I’ve been miserable a good deal of the time. But I do worry how I’ll survive when I get to the point where I can no longer work. It’s been impossible to save hardly any loot at all. Cheers.

Marlo Thomas's 'Stork' Legs

And it shows!

Have you ever sought out the advice of an expert who truly changed you (in looks, career, life, etc.)?

Howdy, Susan. Thanks. Hope all is well your way - black cat and all.

What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

Tried to eat my own cooking. Other than that? Fighting in karate tournaments with skilled goons. Or maybe going back in for 2nd surgery after the first one coded me for 4-plus minutes.

Do you think ground combat positions in the armed forces should be open to women?

That this question even has to be posed in 2009 speaks volumes.

Caption This!

Jeannot, that was the one I was thinking of! I’ll have to go with "the last remaining Beatle".

What is your most memorable – either positive or negative – interview moment?

It’s fun being the person doing the interviewing. Here’s another egotistical ‘James’ post, but hey….I enjoyed interviewing Al Kaline, the former Hall of Fame right fielder for the Detroit Tigers. I got him to sign a second-year (1950’s) baseball card I have in my collection. Very nice, classy guy. Former Detroit Lions head coach Wayne Fontes, former President Gerald R. Ford.

Some of the most ‘exciting’ interviews are during breaking news. Unfortunately, it can be very sad - and sometimes difficult - because that can involve tragedies and the like. Once in a great while, there is really a super-happy, emotional story to report, and those I love. I have strong memories of anchoring overnight coverage at WFLA-AM in Tampa in September 1989. We had a reporter in Charleston, South Carolina, as it hit, multiple sources were phoning in, and we were doing a live simulcast with another station in Columbia, S.C.

I’m hoping to do several interviews at the new news/talk radio station that launched in Grand Rapids this week. : http://radiotime.com/station/s_27348/WJRW_1340.aspx

And my all-time favorite interview, which was uncovered a few years ago: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/23744/bruce_lee_lost_interview/