I am determined. No matter what, I am going to initiate conversation with Ann as soon as I see her. No matter what.
The next day, I enter the high school and go up the stairs to the third floor, nervously looking about for her. As I approach our home room, I see her outside the door talking to an unknown boy. No matter what.
As I go past, I say, "Hi, Ann."
As I enter the home room, I notice quizzical looks from them both with my peripheral vision. I walk ahead with my self-confidence booming. I sit down.
Soon, Ann enters and takes her seat next to me with a surprised look on her face, which is looking better.
"Now I know who you are, the boy on my left. What's your name?"
"Bennie. (pause) So, how's school so far?"
"I don't know. It's only been a day. What about you?"
"I think it's gonna be great. (bell rings). See ya tomorrow, Ann."
"Yeah, see ya, Bennie."
We both get up to leave home room, this time side by side, with smiles on our faces.
What a day this has been, what a grand mood I'm in, why it's almost like ...
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Sunday, April 19, 2020
A Tale of Lisboa
Last September, Cristina and I flew to Lisbon (or Lisboa to its inhabitants) as part of a twelve day trip to Portugal. We loved it. It's a beautiful city with historic architecture, modernity, security, a large choice of souvenirs, great food (especially pastel de nata) and comfortable hotels.
However, what we didn't see was a disturbing past. What happened in Lisbon (or Lisboa) 514 years ago today, on April 19, 1506?
By then, about 90,000 Spanish Jews, who had been expelled from their homeland in 1492, had settled in Lisbon (or Lisboa). One condition for living in their new country was that they convert to Catholicism. However, many of these New Christians, as they were called, still secretly practiced Judaism.
Early in 1506, a drought and an epidemic was claiming the lives of 100 Lisbon (or Lisboa) inhabitants per day (sound familiar?). Anxiety among the population grew. An ignorant reaction led some to point the finger for this crisis at the New Christians (or Jews) who must have angered God in some way. (Today with Covid-19, it's Asian-Americans.)
On Sunday, the 19th, one congregant at the convent of Sao Domingoes de Lisboa claimed to have seen the illuminated face of Jesus at the alter. Oh, contrar. One New Christian (or Jew) said it was only an optical illusion. For expressing his opinion, he was beaten to death. Better to keep your mouth shut.
After all the other New Christians (or Jews) in the church were likewise murdered, the violence spread to other areas of the city. It is alleged that more than 500 New Christians (or Jews) were killed that Sunday.
The violence continued for several more days during which up to four thousand New Christians (or Jews) were slaughtered before order was restored. In spite of their conversion to Catholicism as required, the New Christians were still regarded as Jews.
Why were the Jews singled out? Why were they scapegoated that day in Lisbon (or Lisboa) over 500 years ago?
I believe it started some 2,000 years ago with the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the Jewish people and later the failure of the Jews to adopt the new predominant European religion, Christianity.
As punishment for these rejections, the new Christian church blamed the Jews for killing Jesus even though the responsibility for the crucifixion rested solely with the governing Roman Empire.
Such alleged guilt by the Jews led to the rise of violent antisemitism which played out 514 years ago in Lisbon (or Lisboa), and continues to the present day in various locations throughout the world.
However, what we didn't see was a disturbing past. What happened in Lisbon (or Lisboa) 514 years ago today, on April 19, 1506?
By then, about 90,000 Spanish Jews, who had been expelled from their homeland in 1492, had settled in Lisbon (or Lisboa). One condition for living in their new country was that they convert to Catholicism. However, many of these New Christians, as they were called, still secretly practiced Judaism.
Early in 1506, a drought and an epidemic was claiming the lives of 100 Lisbon (or Lisboa) inhabitants per day (sound familiar?). Anxiety among the population grew. An ignorant reaction led some to point the finger for this crisis at the New Christians (or Jews) who must have angered God in some way. (Today with Covid-19, it's Asian-Americans.)
On Sunday, the 19th, one congregant at the convent of Sao Domingoes de Lisboa claimed to have seen the illuminated face of Jesus at the alter. Oh, contrar. One New Christian (or Jew) said it was only an optical illusion. For expressing his opinion, he was beaten to death. Better to keep your mouth shut.
After all the other New Christians (or Jews) in the church were likewise murdered, the violence spread to other areas of the city. It is alleged that more than 500 New Christians (or Jews) were killed that Sunday.
The violence continued for several more days during which up to four thousand New Christians (or Jews) were slaughtered before order was restored. In spite of their conversion to Catholicism as required, the New Christians were still regarded as Jews.
Why were the Jews singled out? Why were they scapegoated that day in Lisbon (or Lisboa) over 500 years ago?
I believe it started some 2,000 years ago with the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the Jewish people and later the failure of the Jews to adopt the new predominant European religion, Christianity.
As punishment for these rejections, the new Christian church blamed the Jews for killing Jesus even though the responsibility for the crucifixion rested solely with the governing Roman Empire.
Such alleged guilt by the Jews led to the rise of violent antisemitism which played out 514 years ago in Lisbon (or Lisboa), and continues to the present day in various locations throughout the world.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Bad News, Good News
On the very same day, near the end of April 2008, I encountered an extraordinary duality of experiences. I had a moment very low (bad news), followed almost immediately by a moment very high (good news). Wow! What an unforgettable day!
I was living alone at the Pinegate Apartments in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I had come there the year before singing the old Frank Sinatra tune, "if I can make it there (New York), I can make it anywhere (including Chapel Hill)." How naive? I was getting nowhere with my dream of working either at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or nearby Duke University.
Instead I had part-time jobs at Kohl's Department Store (Where You Can Expect Great Things) and with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Regarding the latter, I was a substitute teacher. Or I should say, a substitute baby sitter.
I remember when I was a student growing up in Oswego, New York how my classmates and I reacted when a substitute teacher showed up. Not good!
Most of the time when I received an assignment to be a substitute, the regular teacher left instructions which amounted to "busy work." It was some meaningless thing for the students to do to keep them from making trouble. The children in the early grades were very obedient. The high schoolers ignored me and quietly did what ever. The real problems were with the students in between.
The week before the day I had a difficult experience. The middle school students in my care were given an assignment by their absent teacher (through me) to sit at their desks, read a text quietly and answer written questions based on the reading. I walked around the classroom trying to make sure they were all following the directions.
Suddenly, I turned around and saw, what appeared to me, one female student standing above another with her arms around the second child in a menacing grip. I previously observed the two arguing. In a protective mode, I shouted at the one standing to immediately return to her seat, which she did. A few minutes later, she ran from the classroom.
At the end of the period, when the rest of the students left, a school administrator came and asked me what happened. Of course, the girl told a different story. I was accused of manhandling the child, throwing her into her seat. She claimed she was only giving a friend a hug, which it didn't look like to me.
The next day, I was summoned to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools administrative offices to give an official statement. They told me that after a final decision was made I was welcome to return and discuss the matter further, which was a lie. When I returned, they wouldn't talk to me. They hid from me.
I should have expected I would be fired. The girl probably told her parents her version who would then have wanted me to be removed immediately, if not sooner. What would I have done if my daughter Rachel had told me she had been pushed by a substitute teacher?
But when I opened my mail box at Pinegate that day and received the official notice of my dismissal, I was forlorn (bad news). I returned to my apartment in a somber mood.
However, very soon I received a phone call from Nancy Edwards, Secretary for the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She asked if I was still interested in the position in OSR I had applied for six months previously. Sure I said. She then set up a time that afternoon for a phone interview (good news) with Kevin Maynor (Director, Cost Analysis and Compliance), who was looking at candidates.
My somberness was replaced by joy. I felt a sense of confidence that this was the break I had been looking for since I moved to North Carolina the previous year.
I was right. The phone interview led to an in person interview with my future boss/friend Kevin the very next day. That led to a job offer a couple of days later, which I gladly accepted. The substitute teaching job was forgotten. Almost!
I was living alone at the Pinegate Apartments in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I had come there the year before singing the old Frank Sinatra tune, "if I can make it there (New York), I can make it anywhere (including Chapel Hill)." How naive? I was getting nowhere with my dream of working either at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or nearby Duke University.
Instead I had part-time jobs at Kohl's Department Store (Where You Can Expect Great Things) and with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Regarding the latter, I was a substitute teacher. Or I should say, a substitute baby sitter.
I remember when I was a student growing up in Oswego, New York how my classmates and I reacted when a substitute teacher showed up. Not good!
Most of the time when I received an assignment to be a substitute, the regular teacher left instructions which amounted to "busy work." It was some meaningless thing for the students to do to keep them from making trouble. The children in the early grades were very obedient. The high schoolers ignored me and quietly did what ever. The real problems were with the students in between.
The week before the day I had a difficult experience. The middle school students in my care were given an assignment by their absent teacher (through me) to sit at their desks, read a text quietly and answer written questions based on the reading. I walked around the classroom trying to make sure they were all following the directions.
Suddenly, I turned around and saw, what appeared to me, one female student standing above another with her arms around the second child in a menacing grip. I previously observed the two arguing. In a protective mode, I shouted at the one standing to immediately return to her seat, which she did. A few minutes later, she ran from the classroom.
At the end of the period, when the rest of the students left, a school administrator came and asked me what happened. Of course, the girl told a different story. I was accused of manhandling the child, throwing her into her seat. She claimed she was only giving a friend a hug, which it didn't look like to me.
The next day, I was summoned to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools administrative offices to give an official statement. They told me that after a final decision was made I was welcome to return and discuss the matter further, which was a lie. When I returned, they wouldn't talk to me. They hid from me.
I should have expected I would be fired. The girl probably told her parents her version who would then have wanted me to be removed immediately, if not sooner. What would I have done if my daughter Rachel had told me she had been pushed by a substitute teacher?
But when I opened my mail box at Pinegate that day and received the official notice of my dismissal, I was forlorn (bad news). I returned to my apartment in a somber mood.
However, very soon I received a phone call from Nancy Edwards, Secretary for the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She asked if I was still interested in the position in OSR I had applied for six months previously. Sure I said. She then set up a time that afternoon for a phone interview (good news) with Kevin Maynor (Director, Cost Analysis and Compliance), who was looking at candidates.
My somberness was replaced by joy. I felt a sense of confidence that this was the break I had been looking for since I moved to North Carolina the previous year.
I was right. The phone interview led to an in person interview with my future boss/friend Kevin the very next day. That led to a job offer a couple of days later, which I gladly accepted. The substitute teaching job was forgotten. Almost!
Sunday, April 5, 2020
When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally... is a 1989 romantic comedy produced and directed by Rob Reiner, written by Nora Ephron and starred Billy Cristal (Harry) and Meg Ryan (Sally). Ephron was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (won by Tom Schulman for Dead Poets Society).
Harry and Sally are recent graduates of the University of Chicago who are both going to New York to start the next phase of their lives. They don't know each other, but Harry's girlfriend is a friend of Sally's and she helps to arrange for the two to drive there together.
On the way, Harry and Sally, while not getting along, discuss among other things their different views of male and female relationships. Harry believes men and women can never be friends because "the sex part gets in the way." As with every thing else he says, Sally disagrees.
When I was a young man, I agreed with Harry. However, I think the culture of America has changed and it's now possible for men and women to be friends, sans sex. I enjoy my female friendships.
After parting from their drive to New York (at Washington Square Park) on unfriendly terms, Harry and Sally accidentally run into each other a couple of times in the next ten years. Eventually, they become good friends.
One day, while Harry and Sally are having lunch at Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan (205 East Houston Street) they discuss Harry's bad behavior with women.
Sally: You are a human affront to all women and I am a woman.
Harry: I don't hear anyone complaining.
Sally: Of course not. You're out the door so fast.
Harry: I think they have an okay time.
Sally: How do you know?
Harry: What do you mean how do I know? I know.
Sally: Because they...
Harry: Yeah. Because they...
Sally: How do you know they really...
Harry: What are you saying...that they fake orgasm?
Sally: It's possible.
Harry: Get out of here.
Sally: All men are sure that it never happens to them and most women at one time or another have done it. So you do the math.
Harry: You don't think that I can tell the difference?
Sally: No.
Harry: Get out of here.
Sally fakes an orgasm at their table while fully clothed.
female customer (Estelle Reiner, director's mother) nearby: I'll have what she's having.
Eventually, Harry and Sally start a romantic/sexual relationship, but one that has its ups and downs. One New Year's Eve, they're on the outs. But, they meet at a party.
Harry: I've been doing a lot of thinking. The thing is I love you.
Sally: What?
Harry: I love you.
Sally: How do you expect me to respond to this?
Harry: How about you love me, too?
Sally: How about I'm leaving?
Harry: Doesn't what I said mean anything to you?
Sally: I'm sorry, Harry. I know it's New Year's Eve. I know you're feeling lonely, but you just can't show up here, tell me you love me and expect that to make everything all right. It doesn't work that way.
Harry: Well, how does it work?
Sally: I don't know, but not this way.
Harry: How about this way. I love when you get cold when it's 71 degrees out (22 Celsius). I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich (like Ephron). I love when get this wrinkle above your nose when you think I'm nuts. I love that when I spend a day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes and I love that you are the last person I want to speak to when I go to bed at night. And it's not because I'm lonely and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
They kiss and marry soon after. Great writing by the late Nora Ephron (1941-2012). Thanks.
Harry and Sally are recent graduates of the University of Chicago who are both going to New York to start the next phase of their lives. They don't know each other, but Harry's girlfriend is a friend of Sally's and she helps to arrange for the two to drive there together.
On the way, Harry and Sally, while not getting along, discuss among other things their different views of male and female relationships. Harry believes men and women can never be friends because "the sex part gets in the way." As with every thing else he says, Sally disagrees.
When I was a young man, I agreed with Harry. However, I think the culture of America has changed and it's now possible for men and women to be friends, sans sex. I enjoy my female friendships.
After parting from their drive to New York (at Washington Square Park) on unfriendly terms, Harry and Sally accidentally run into each other a couple of times in the next ten years. Eventually, they become good friends.
One day, while Harry and Sally are having lunch at Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan (205 East Houston Street) they discuss Harry's bad behavior with women.
Sally: You are a human affront to all women and I am a woman.
Harry: I don't hear anyone complaining.
Sally: Of course not. You're out the door so fast.
Harry: I think they have an okay time.
Sally: How do you know?
Harry: What do you mean how do I know? I know.
Sally: Because they...
Harry: Yeah. Because they...
Sally: How do you know they really...
Harry: What are you saying...that they fake orgasm?
Sally: It's possible.
Harry: Get out of here.
Sally: All men are sure that it never happens to them and most women at one time or another have done it. So you do the math.
Harry: You don't think that I can tell the difference?
Sally: No.
Harry: Get out of here.
Sally fakes an orgasm at their table while fully clothed.
female customer (Estelle Reiner, director's mother) nearby: I'll have what she's having.
Eventually, Harry and Sally start a romantic/sexual relationship, but one that has its ups and downs. One New Year's Eve, they're on the outs. But, they meet at a party.
Harry: I've been doing a lot of thinking. The thing is I love you.
Sally: What?
Harry: I love you.
Sally: How do you expect me to respond to this?
Harry: How about you love me, too?
Sally: How about I'm leaving?
Harry: Doesn't what I said mean anything to you?
Sally: I'm sorry, Harry. I know it's New Year's Eve. I know you're feeling lonely, but you just can't show up here, tell me you love me and expect that to make everything all right. It doesn't work that way.
Harry: Well, how does it work?
Sally: I don't know, but not this way.
Harry: How about this way. I love when you get cold when it's 71 degrees out (22 Celsius). I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich (like Ephron). I love when get this wrinkle above your nose when you think I'm nuts. I love that when I spend a day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes and I love that you are the last person I want to speak to when I go to bed at night. And it's not because I'm lonely and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
They kiss and marry soon after. Great writing by the late Nora Ephron (1941-2012). Thanks.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
High School, Chapter 3
It's just after Labor Day and the first day of high school has arrived. After hanging out with some of my male friends, the bell rings and all students file into the building.
The freshmen report to their home rooms on the third floor where all their classes will be. By the time I arrive at mine, most seats are occupied. I find an empty one in the middle of the room, both east and west and north and south.
In front and behind me are unknown guys. To my left is a male friend. But to my right is an unknown female. So so cute with short brown hair. Her face is not outstanding, but not ugly either. Dressed in a nondescript blouse and jeans. I'm looking at her, but she's looking straight ahead at the blackboard.
In a minute the home room teacher (Ms. Fisher) will tell all to be quiet and give us our class assignments. Here's my chance to initiate conversation with this new female. I can say hi or something else very clever. Where's the self-confidence I've been talking about?
Too late. Ms. Fisher has spoken. We'll all go to our respective first period classes in two minutes. We have to remain quiet in our seats waiting for the bell to ring.
At least I learned her name (Ann) when the teacher took attendance. Nice!
Maybe I'll run into Ann in one of my classes (I won't). When we leave our home room, I'm right behind her. The view is good, but she starts talking to another female. I've blown my opening gambit. At the door, Ann turns left and I right. But...after all, tomorrow is another day.
The freshmen report to their home rooms on the third floor where all their classes will be. By the time I arrive at mine, most seats are occupied. I find an empty one in the middle of the room, both east and west and north and south.
In front and behind me are unknown guys. To my left is a male friend. But to my right is an unknown female. So so cute with short brown hair. Her face is not outstanding, but not ugly either. Dressed in a nondescript blouse and jeans. I'm looking at her, but she's looking straight ahead at the blackboard.
In a minute the home room teacher (Ms. Fisher) will tell all to be quiet and give us our class assignments. Here's my chance to initiate conversation with this new female. I can say hi or something else very clever. Where's the self-confidence I've been talking about?
Too late. Ms. Fisher has spoken. We'll all go to our respective first period classes in two minutes. We have to remain quiet in our seats waiting for the bell to ring.
At least I learned her name (Ann) when the teacher took attendance. Nice!
Maybe I'll run into Ann in one of my classes (I won't). When we leave our home room, I'm right behind her. The view is good, but she starts talking to another female. I've blown my opening gambit. At the door, Ann turns left and I right. But...after all, tomorrow is another day.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
ERA
The proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution states "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex."
"On August 10, 1970, Michigan Democrat Martha Griffiths successfully brought the Equal Rights Amendment to the House floor, after fifteen years of the joint resolution languishing in the House Judiciary Committee.
"On August 10, 1970, Michigan Democrat Martha Griffiths successfully brought the Equal Rights Amendment to the House floor, after fifteen years of the joint resolution languishing in the House Judiciary Committee.
The ERA was adopted by the House on October 12, 1971, with a vote of 354 to 24. Griffiths' joint resolution was then adopted by the Senate on March 22, 1972 (48 years ago today), by a vote of 84 to 8.
The ERA was then placed before the (50) state legislatures, with a seven-year deadline (to March 22, 1979) to acquire ratification by three-fourths (38) of the state legislatures" for it to become amended to the United States Constitution.
Before the end of 1972, Twenty-two states (Hawaii, New Hampshire, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Tennessee, Alaska, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and California) ratified the ERA. Sixteen more to go.
In 1973, eight more states (Wyoming, South Dakota, Oregon, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Connecticut and Washington) ratified the ERA. Only eight more to go.
In 1974, Maine, Montana and Ohio ratified the amendment. Five more to go.
North Dakota passed the ERA in 1975. Indiana in 1977. Three more to go.
And then the deadline (March 22, 1979) passed, three short of 38. No amendment to the Constitution?
In spite of the passing of the deadline, three more states (Nevada, Illinois and Virginia) passed the ERA during the period 2017-2020. Does that now achieve the magic number 38? Was the self-imposed deadline legally binding?
In addition, four states (Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho and Kentucky) rescinded their previous ratification of the ERA. However, the US Constitution "is silent as to whether a state may rescind a previous ratification of a proposed - but not yet ratified - amendment."
As of now, there is no ERA in the US Constitution (but there is in 26 state Constitutions). As a believer in gender equality, I believe there should be a federal ERA. What about you?
Before the end of 1972, Twenty-two states (Hawaii, New Hampshire, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Tennessee, Alaska, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and California) ratified the ERA. Sixteen more to go.
In 1973, eight more states (Wyoming, South Dakota, Oregon, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Connecticut and Washington) ratified the ERA. Only eight more to go.
In 1974, Maine, Montana and Ohio ratified the amendment. Five more to go.
North Dakota passed the ERA in 1975. Indiana in 1977. Three more to go.
And then the deadline (March 22, 1979) passed, three short of 38. No amendment to the Constitution?
In spite of the passing of the deadline, three more states (Nevada, Illinois and Virginia) passed the ERA during the period 2017-2020. Does that now achieve the magic number 38? Was the self-imposed deadline legally binding?
In addition, four states (Nebraska, Tennessee, Idaho and Kentucky) rescinded their previous ratification of the ERA. However, the US Constitution "is silent as to whether a state may rescind a previous ratification of a proposed - but not yet ratified - amendment."
As of now, there is no ERA in the US Constitution (but there is in 26 state Constitutions). As a believer in gender equality, I believe there should be a federal ERA. What about you?
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Martha Stewart
Martha Kostyra was born August 3, 1941 in Jersey City, New Jersey. When she was ten years-old, she babysat for the children of New York Yankee baseball players Mickey Mantle, Lawrence (Yogi) Berra and Gil McDougald. As a teenager, Martha began modeling. She appeared in television commercials and magazines.
Martha's mother taught her how to cook and sew. Her father passed along his passion for gardening. Martha learned all about canning and preserving from her grandparents.
While an undergraduate at Columbia University, Martha met Andrew Stewart, a student at the Yale University Law School. They married in July 1961 and she became Martha Stewart.
Martha and her husband purchased and restored an 1805 farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut. During the restoration, her "panache for decorating became apparent."
Martha started a catering business in the basement. She later opened her own gourmet food store.
Martha's first of many cookbooks, Entertaining, was published in 1982. She also authored many newspaper columns, magazine articles and made numerous television appearances with such as Oprah Winfrey and Larry King.
Her magazine, Martha Stewart Living, was launched in 1990. Twelve years later, it had a circulation of 2 million copies per issue.
In 1993, Martha Stewart began a TV program, based on her magazine. In 1995, New York Magazine called Martha Stewart "the definitive American woman of our time."
In 1997, Martha Stewart "was able to secure funding to purchase the various television, print and merchandising ventures related to her brand and consolidated them into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO)." On October 19, 1999, MSLO went public and by the end of the day Martha Stewart became the first, self-made American woman billionaire.
On December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart sold all of her shares in ImClone Systems Inc. She maintained the shares were sold based on a pre-determined sell price.
On December 28, 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would not review ImClone's application for its cancer drug. The value of Imclone's stock dropped 18% in value that same day.
On June 4, 2003, Martha Stewart was indicted on federal charges based on the sale of her ImClone stock. Federal prosecutors claimed she sold the stock based on a secret insider tip (illegal) and lied to cover it up.
On March 5, 2004, Martha Stewart was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding and making false statements to federal investigators. She was sentenced to 5 months in prison.
On March 15, 2004 (16 years ago today), Martha Stewart resigned from the Board of Directors of MSLO.
On October 8, 2004, Martha Stewart entered the Alderson Federal Prison Camp in rural West Virginia. Even the definitive American woman is not above the law.
Martha's mother taught her how to cook and sew. Her father passed along his passion for gardening. Martha learned all about canning and preserving from her grandparents.
While an undergraduate at Columbia University, Martha met Andrew Stewart, a student at the Yale University Law School. They married in July 1961 and she became Martha Stewart.
Martha and her husband purchased and restored an 1805 farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut. During the restoration, her "panache for decorating became apparent."
Martha started a catering business in the basement. She later opened her own gourmet food store.
Martha's first of many cookbooks, Entertaining, was published in 1982. She also authored many newspaper columns, magazine articles and made numerous television appearances with such as Oprah Winfrey and Larry King.
Her magazine, Martha Stewart Living, was launched in 1990. Twelve years later, it had a circulation of 2 million copies per issue.
In 1993, Martha Stewart began a TV program, based on her magazine. In 1995, New York Magazine called Martha Stewart "the definitive American woman of our time."
In 1997, Martha Stewart "was able to secure funding to purchase the various television, print and merchandising ventures related to her brand and consolidated them into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO)." On October 19, 1999, MSLO went public and by the end of the day Martha Stewart became the first, self-made American woman billionaire.
On December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart sold all of her shares in ImClone Systems Inc. She maintained the shares were sold based on a pre-determined sell price.
On December 28, 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would not review ImClone's application for its cancer drug. The value of Imclone's stock dropped 18% in value that same day.
On June 4, 2003, Martha Stewart was indicted on federal charges based on the sale of her ImClone stock. Federal prosecutors claimed she sold the stock based on a secret insider tip (illegal) and lied to cover it up.
On March 5, 2004, Martha Stewart was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding and making false statements to federal investigators. She was sentenced to 5 months in prison.
On March 15, 2004 (16 years ago today), Martha Stewart resigned from the Board of Directors of MSLO.
On October 8, 2004, Martha Stewart entered the Alderson Federal Prison Camp in rural West Virginia. Even the definitive American woman is not above the law.
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