Homeless to House Owner

By: Alex Marcus

October 9, 2009

An article in the Dallas Morning News describes the incredible story of a man who “moved his cheese” from a life on the streets to having a job and his own home.

Mark Choice had lived in a cardboard box under a freeway in downtown Dallas for 15 years; in fact, he was identified as “mayor” of the freeway under which he lived. However, this past Wednesday, with the generosity of David Timothy, Choice was given the keys to a new town home.

David Timothy runs the nonprofit organization SoupMobile, which distributes food to the homeless. SoupMobile was such a success that Timothy developed the idea for a housing program called SoupMobile Village.

Back on April 1, Timothy also known as the “SoupMan” hired Choice as an assistant warehouse manager, where he received his first paycheck in 20 years. Choice had done such a great job that Timothy wanted to make him the first resident of the new SoupMobile Village. Choice, who had his home made of boxes torn down countless times, knew it was time to make a change in his life.

Choice’s situation about change can be applied to Spencer Johnson’s book “Who Moved My Cheese.” In the story, four characters, 2 mice, Sniff and Scurry and 2 little people, Hem and Haw face unforeseen change when their cheese is suddenly gone. Sniff and Scurry go their own way and find new cheese while Hem and Haw try to figure out where the cheese went. Haw eventually put aside his fears and begins looking for new cheese, while Hem keeps to his regular routine. Haw quickly adapted to change, having to find new cheese and once he found it, he realized he must enjoy what he has, but continue to “move with the cheese.”

In Choice’s situation, he was a little like Hem at first, continuously rebuilding his box home, living under a freeway, but once Choice was offered a real job with responsibility, he realized he must step down as “mayor” of the freeway, change his life and “move with the cheese” he was offered. By “moving with the cheese,” and taking the job opportunity, Choice showed that he is worthy of employment and in turn received a home in which to live through the help of donors and a very kind man. By doing this, Choice has found himself in a better living situation and is now able to keep “moving with the cheese” to continue living a better life.

Article taken from The Dallas Morning News
Picture taken by Courtney Perry, Dallas Morning News

Dreamer into Doer

By: Alison Lambert

Yesterday, Martha Stewart featured a special segment on her TV show where she honors two winners of her annual Dreamers into Doers contest. These women have turned their passion into a business or philanthropic venture-one woman for running a non-profit business and another who runs a for-profit company.
Erin Slagle won the non-profit category. She is the CEO of College Mentor for Kids, an organization that pairs at-risk elementary school students with a college mentor through weekly activities in order to expose them to higher education. This gives the kids the opportunity to achieve their potential and create a nurturing atmosphere.
Erin faced some hardships before she identified her goal in life. After she lost both her parents at age 16, she made some poor decisions and failed her last semester in college. Disregarding college altogether, she met her own personal mentor who changed her mind and talked her into enrolling in Purdue University. This same mentor asked Erin to start a program called College Mentor for Kids later on. After successfully graduating college, Erin worked at College Mentors for Kids headquarters and expanded to program nationally. Erin took over as CEO and has consistently made impressive changes regarding youth development and educational achievement. Through higher education, culture, and community service activities, kids are constantly gaining an extensive knowledge and expanding their view of the world.
Erin is an inspiration for all young entrepreneurs in the world who want to make a difference. Although Erin’s life took an unexpected turn for the worst at a young age, she learned from her experience and dealt with it successfully. Erin is a great example of the principles illustrated in Spencer Johnson’s book “Who Moved My Cheese?” She was touched by her mentor and looked for “her cheese” by getting a degree and becoming a successful CEO. From being the “Least likely to succeed” to the “most likely to succeed”, she moved her cheese by defining her own success and learning to be happy in life.

Arizona Sheriff Gets Cheese Moved by Federal Authorities

By: Kati O'Kelley

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, also known as "America's Toughest Sheriff," is facing an investigation by the Justice Department into allegations of civil rights abuses and American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona is suing the sheriff over immigration raids conducted by his department. The ACLU's class-action suit alleges that Arpaio abused the power given to him under the agreement he had with Homeland Security. In this agreement, that has been held since 2007, Arpaio and the Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff's department were allowed to enforce federal immigration laws.

Sheriff Arpaio has built his reputation as "America's Toughest Sheriff" by the way he treats his inmates, by housing many of them in tents, humiliating them by making them wear pink underwear, and bragging on being able to feel them for less than a dollar a day. Now, Arpaio's is saying that Homeland Security is revising their 2007 agreement by limiting his power to checking the immigration status of inmates already in his Phoenix jail.

As for the suit brought against Arpaio by the ACLU, they are alleging that Arpaio acted unconstitutionally and racially profiled many people in the Maricopa Community that appear to be or are of Latino decent. They say Arpaio has held many high-profile raids to appeal to his supporters.

Sheriff Arpaio says that the allegations against him are "garbage" and contends, "We do not go on street corners and grab people that look like they're from another country. Pursuant to our duties, when we come across illegals, we take action." Arpaio says that he will continue to crack down on illegal immigration.

In the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, the four characters get their cheese moved. The moving of the cheese represents a problem arising in their life and all of the characters react differently to this. Hem, one of the human characters, is the least accepting of change and refuses to change his behavior. Sheriff Arpaio's behavior parallels the character Hem with his refusal to change his behavior that is obviously harmful. Though it has been pointed out to him by multiple sources that his actions have gone too far, Arpaio has no plans to change his ways. This kind of attitude did not work well for Hem in the book. Hem's refusal to change his behavior even though things were changing around him lead to problems in his circumstances. Arpaio's refusal to see that he has been doing wrong and change change his behavior is sure to have negative consequences.

Image via CNN.com and Getty Images

Brett Favre also known as Haw

Brett Favre also known as Haw

By Kacie James

Doesn't this quote sounds familiar, "Brett Favre, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers."

No, not anymore! As of Winter 2008, Favre was asked to resign from his position as the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. After playing for 16 years, Packers management had to make a decision to keep Favre for a couple more years and risk losing their current quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, or ask Favre to retire. Obviously, they believed it was in their best interest to let go of Favre and focus on Rodgers.

This decision led Favre to move his cheese and prove it was a wise decision. At the age of 39, he now plays for the Minnesota Vikings, the team that defeated the Green Bay Packers on Monday, October 5, 2009.

Although Favre was unhappy with the incident that took place last Winter, his performance on Monday showed that he adapted to the changes in his career and continued to play with passion. Favre's football career is a great example of the principles illustrated in Spencer Johnson's book "Who Moved My Cheese?"

Just like Hem and Haw, Favre was complacent in his career for 16 years and then faced with an unwanted change. Initially, Favre had the same negative attitude as Hem and Haw. He wondered how they could do that to him and claimed their decision was not fair, but soon he developed the same thoughts as Haw and decided to "look for new cheese."

As Haw found his new cheese, so did Favre. Through his maze, Favre has found a new team that is currently undefeated and relit his flame that originally made him such a great player.

Photo received from google images.

Sooners no longer booming through college football

by Erin Jackson

BOOMER SOONER!

This yell can be heard from Oklahoma Sooner fans almost every weekend during the fall football season. This season, however, along with that yell you are likely to hear frustrated groans of anger and disappointment.

Photo from soonersports.com

Why you ask?

Oklahoma has already lost two games this season, one against Brigham Young and another against Miami. Both games were lost by 1 point. Unfortunately three key players on the team- Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham, and most recently Ryan Broyles- have been determined unable to play due to various injuries. This comes as a major blow to the Sooners as they lost many great players to the NFL draft over the last 2 years. As a result of these losses, the Sooners have a current record of 2-2 and are currently ranked number 19 in the nation, a major downfall from being ranked number 2 at the beginning of the season. Many believe that there is no chance for a national title run and the only reason worth playing now is for a Big 12 Championship title, which will result in a BCS bid. Anyone who follows OU football knows that this very unlikely for the Sooners, who are under the direction of coach Bob Stoops.

The Sooner’s cheese has been moved. The athletes, coaches, students and faculty alike all expect a winning football season with many positive outcomes, but this season has started off disappointing Sooner fans. Although this season has not been and is not likely to be as promising as those past, Gaylord stadium is sure to be full of die hard, screaming, crimson-clad fans. Why? It’s the Sooner way!

David Letterman Scandal

David Letterman extortion suspect Robert Halderman threatens press as he goes to bank, cleaners

BY Henrick Karoliszyn In Norwalk, Conn. and Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Sunday, October 4th 2009, 4:00 AM

Hagen for News

Suspected David Letterman extortionist Robert 'Joe' Halderman carries his dry cleaning during a brief outing from his home in Norwalk, Conn.

Alone and angry, the hotshot CBS producer accused of extorting David Letterman left his home Saturday to go - where else - to the bank.

A day after he was charged with trying to shakedown Letterman, Joe Halderman emerged from his Connecticut home and barked at reporters camped outside.

"Get off my property or I'll call the police," the rattled news vet, who is free on $200,000 bail, said. "This is a private road. If I see one more of you guys on this road, I will call the cops. This is trespassing - it's against the law."

Dressed in an Arizona State University shirt and a Titleist golf hat, Halderman hurried to his gray Honda Accord for a quick trip to the bank and laundermat. It was unclear if the Bank of America he visited was the same branch where he deposited the phony $2 million check Letterman gave him as part of a sting operation.

Later in the day, Halderman received a visit from a middle-aged couple and a young teen. Halderman gave the woman a long hug when she met him at his door. He muttered something, eliciting laughter from the trio who left after a couple of hours.

Prosecutors say Halderman tried to shake down the multimillionaire because a divorce from his wife, Patty Montet, had left him in debt, saddled with $6,000 a month in support payments.

Friends said he also was distraught that Montet had moved to Colorado with their 11-year-old son earlier this year. He recently split with his girlfriend, Stephanie Birkitt, 34, a "Late Show" staffer believed to be one of Letterman's "other women."

Halderman has reported from more than 70 countries during his award-winning 30-year career and covered complex crimes for "48 Hours." Colleagues were stunned by allegations that he left a blackmail threat - in the form of a screenplay treatment about Letterman's dalliances - in the host's car and then tried to collect $2 million from him.

"I am surprised, mystified and stunned to hear these allegations against Halderman," former CBS anchor Dan Rather told People magazine. "They are almost impossible to believe. He was always a solid character, steady, reliable, and a good, swift writer."

The current scandal that is going on with late night talk show host David Letterman is a perfect example of "Who Moved My Cheese?" because he is now going through something that is affecting his life and could put his career in jeopardy. A CBS producer was reported to threatening Letterman to give him $2 million dollar to protect Letterman from the information of the scandal getting out. An intern is also spilling information on Letterman. Supposively, Letterman has had various sexual relations with women that work in his show that he would like to keep unnamed and in private for the sake of these women's safety. Letterman addressed the scandal on national television during his show last Thursday evening, October 1. He tried to make it funny and shook it off that it was not that big of a deal. The producer Joe Halderman is thought to be the extortionist. There have been reports that Letterman's wife is very hurt and upset about this scandal. Letterman's cheese is being moved because this has become and inconvenience for him, even thought this was something that he indirectly caused because he does admit to having these relations with these people on his staff. This is affecting his job, reputation, and even his home life. Many people are shocked that Halderman is thought to be the man threatening Letterman in this hard time. Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges of larceny. He is currently suspended from his job and could face up to 15 years in jail. Letterman on the other hand is not completely giving his side of the story.

American Express President Moves his Own Cheese

American Express President Moves his Own Cheese

by Kasey Hendrix

NEW YORK - American Express Co. said Monday its president, Alfred F. Kelly Jr., will step down early next year. Kelly, 51, wants to run a company as a chief executive, a position that is unlikely to come open anytime soon at American Express as chairman and CEO Kenneth Chenault, 58, is entrenched in the job. Chenault said Kelly will continue to lead the card issuer's transition to a bank holding company until his departure. He has been president and head of the global consumer group since 2007. Kelly is just the latest banking executive to leave his position as top-level management has been increasingly turning over in the financial services sector. Last week, Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis said he will retire by the end of the year. Bill Winters left his role as co-CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s investment bank as well. With Kelly leaving, American Express' global consumer, small business and network businesses will report to Edward Gilligan, who is a vice chairman at the company and is 50 years old. Separately, American Express also said it created a global services division that will cover customer service, technologies, operations, business processing and information management. Stephen Squeri, 50, has been named the group's president. He previously was in charge of technologies and corporate development.

The bank also created a new enterprise growth division that is aimed at generate incremental fee revenue and oversee American Express' entry into new payment areas. American Express is currently search outside the bank for an executive to run the unit.

 This story directly relates to “Who Moved My Cheese,” because the current president of American Express literally had to make a decision to stay comfortable in his current situation, or to move on to something more. He was resembled Sniff and Scurry because he was looking for something before he had to. He was ready to move on and had other prospects before his job was in jeopardy. Just like many other executives moving from other major companies in the U.S., he was leaving instead of staying landlocked in a position. One of the lessons in the story was to not simply be comfortable but to always be looking ahead and to always be ready for change. He is just one story of many who have jumped ahead of circumstances in the shaky statuses of jobs currently in the nation. 

Story taken from the Associated Press via MSNBCnews.com

Picture retrieved from American Express.com 

Corzine's Cheese Moves Off Wall Street

Corzine’s Cheese Moves Off Wall Street
by Rebekah Husted

In 2000, when Jon Corzine first ran for governor of New Jersey, his résumé seemed stellar. His years as chairman of Goldman Sachs (as well as the fortune he earned while on Wall Street) boded well for his ability to handle the states’ finances.

Then the economy went south. Goldman Sachs was cast as the villain in the country’s fiscal tragedy. Suddenly, faced with a fiscal crisis and a reelection campaign, Corzine’s résumé is tainted by the very accomplishments that recommended him only a few years ago.

To put the situation into the language of Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese?, Corzine’s cheese has been moved by the hand of fate (or perhaps by his and his Wall Street associates’ mismanagement). Corzine and his advisors are now faced with a decision. They can remain mired in the past like Hem in the story, scrounging for moldy crumbs, reliving the glory days and lamenting the circumstances, or they can venture out into the future like the wiser Haw, accepting that times have changed and reacting to that change. In a business like politics, where staying current and connected to voters is the key to success, it is fairly clear which choice would be more profitable.

Of course, even if the governor’s campaign does decide to move on – as they seem to have done – success is anything but certain. Corzine’s past and his association with a now discredited and loathed organization will not disappear. Indeed, his current opponent is unlikely to let voters forget. However, staying in the past, harping on accomplishments that now only condemn him, will guarantee failure. Only by moving on, taking a risk and following the cheese can Corzine hope to win reelection.

Photo: Jon Corzine and Henry Paulson, co-chairmen of Goldman Sachs in 1998. Associated Press photo via nytimes.com.

Can Rio de Janeiro Handle the 2016 Summer Games?

By: Tiffany Cunningham

There is question to whether or not Rio de Janeiro can support the Olympic games in 2016, but the success the winning-candidate city had in 2007 with the Pan American Games (Pan Ams) proves the city can host the Olympics. Even though the Pan Ams showed challenges Rio de Janeiro faced, the 2007 game and the technical project allowed for higher placement in receiving the 2016 Olympic bid.

Rio de Janeiro will be the first city in South American to host the Olympics. The other three contenders Chicago, U.S. Madrid, Spain and Tokyo, Japan have all hosted the events in previous Olympian years. Chicago was eliminated early on Friday, Sept. 2 from its bid to host the Olympics; Chicago was in disbelief when the announcement was made because of Chicago’s high profile support from President Barack Obama.

One of the reasons Chicago lost its bid may have been the issue with welcoming foreigners into our airports. The experience of tourism has been painstaking at times for foreigners and it was seen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a threat to the Olympic games to have Chicago host the events. Efforts by the U.S. to keep our country safe have backfired for an important event to be hosted by city or state in the U.S.

“It isn’t right that the Olympics be held in the U.S. for the eighth time,” Brazilian President Luz Inacio Lula da Silva said in reference to one of the appeals the U.S. had to the IOC delegates. “It’s not fair that Brazil, one of the ten biggest economies in the world for 30 years; that Brazil, one of the world’s most industrialized countries, a nation that has demonstrated the love of sports; it’s not fair that Brazil not be chosen,” Lula said to Andrew Downie, reporter at TIME Magazine.

Lula and Rio officials have been hammering home: “that fair is fair; that this is South America’s turn,” reported in TIME. There are three reasons why Rio won the bid, the first, Rio promises more transport systems to be implemented in the cities transportation system. The proposal was “detailed and of very high quality” stated by the games committee in their most recent report.

Another reason why Rio was chosen is because it has an honored reputation for having the most beautiful and inviting cities to foreigners and tourism. The budget for the Olympics to be held at Rio was also the largest of the four cities. With a budget of $11.1 billion to be spent in connection with the games’ events there was strong public and financial support from multiple levels of government.

The third reason is South American deserves the chance to host the Olympic games. The city needs to make sure to keep its promises, but in June, South America propelled for the Olympics to be held on a new continent. Africa and Antarctica are the only other continents that have not hosted the games, stated on CBSnew.com.

Rio de Janeiro’s push for the Olympics to be held in a different continent connects the need for a committee, a large body of supporters and individuals to be come more open-mined to new ideas and prospects that could enhance the meaning behind an event or Olympic games in this sense. The IOC saw an opportunity to move on from the routine ways of picking a location for the Olympics. The committee branched out and allowed for chance to occur in 2016 when a new city in a new continent will show they will have great success with hosting the summer games.

The book Who Moved My Cheese? written by Spencer Johnson, is a story of two mice, Sniff and Scurry and two little men, Hem and Haw finding the way through a maze. When change is discovered their “cheese,” something they have become used to and comfortable around has disappeared. Each adapts to the change differently and the story reflects the reasons why change is a good thing and letting go is not always bad to find new ambitions and to challenge yourself to a new level of thinking and prosperity.

Rio de Janeiro could have stopped their push after the other bids looked more feasible to the committee, but they pushed and said to the world, “we deserve our chance.” Like Haw, Rio saw the opportunities they had to invest in the Olympics, but did not give up hope for the bid they placed to be chosen. “Rio de Janeiro 2016!” For more information about the 2016 summer Olympic games visit Olympic.org.

Picture assessed through Yahoo News at Yahoo online.

These Hands are Not My Own, but They Seem to be Working

Man Receives First Double Hand Transplant in US

By Morgan Dickerson

In May 2009, Jeff Kepner was the first person to receive a double hand transplant in the United States, after losing both his hands ten years ago from a bacterial infection. Kepner’s lead surgeon was Dr. W.P. Andrew Lee, who led a team of ten surgeons to successfully complete the transplant. The surgery was projected to take approximately 20 hours, but was finished in less than nine hours. 

Since Kepner’s double hand transplant, he has continued to have a successful recovery. According to Kepner’s doctors, nerves grow somewhere around one inch every month. Kepner does not have feeling in his fingers yet, according to his mother Doris Schafer. To help Kepner re-learn how to pick up items and use his hands he is playing catch and only picking up small items.

Kepner’s ‘cheese’ was moved a decade ago when he lost his hands and his feet, and this has put through a tough time. Jordan Kepner, 13, is Jeff’s daughter who recalls good and bad memories of when her dad got sick. Jordan gets sad when she knows her dad will be gone for a long period for either surgery or rehab, but she looks forward to doing normal stuff with her dad that has been on hold. Losing any appendage to one’s body could only be devastating, at first. But, this story exemplifies how some choose to find new ‘cheese’ and move forward in life. Kepner not only moved on to find ‘new cheese’ but he set out to find ‘better cheese’. Kepner took on the role of Scurry in our assigned book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” Being Scurry, Kepner dealt with his life-changing loss and continued to live and find other options, which were real human hands.

Kepner is not the only person in this world who has experienced this type of tragic loss, but he is the first and only person in the United States to ever receive a double hand transplant.  Kepner appeared on NBC’s, Today Show, to let all of America see how the surgery has changed his life for the better. Kepner demonstrated that he can bounce and pick up a tiny bouncing ball and slightly move his fingers. Kepner’s story and other stories like his show how individuals who experience tragedy are determined to live life fully and happily by finding newer and better ‘cheese’ for themselves; even though there are those who are too scared to move forward and rebuild their lives.

Image Information: Courtesy of Fox News. Jeff Kepner with Therapist Kim Maguire.

Web Source: Fox News.