THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Chris Gardner in Sacto

His story was the inspiration for the hit movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness” and now Chris Gardner will be a keynote speaker this Friday, Sept. 21, for Perspectives 2007 – produced by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. Back in the early 80’s, Gardner was homeless in San Francisco while trying to raise his toddler son. Gardner lived in church shelters and even a BART bathroom to survive – and never gave up his dream of financial independence.

He started in the financial industry and worked his way up the ladder. Today he is the president and CEO of Gardner Rich & Co – a Chicago-based financial firm he founded in 1987. Gardner was portrayed by actor Will Smith in the 2006 movie. On Friday, we hope to sit down with Chris Gardner and find out how his life has changed since the movie.

VIOLENT VIDEOS

GOVERNOR FILES LEGAL APPEAL FOR KIDS

As the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in many violent movies. But as Governor, Schwarzenegger signed a law banning the sale of ulta-violent videos to minors. That law was struck down by a federal judge and now the Governor plans to appeal that decision.

In a one-on-one interview, Gov. Schwarzenegger told me, “When I do movies, I never minded if someone says it’s an R rated movie and parents should be aware that it’s an R rated movie. I mean if the parents go and say well my kids can go see it anyway, or if the parents go out and get the video, or the DVD for their kids, that’s fine.”

To the Governor, it’s all about disclosure. “Let people know if something’s R rated,” he added. “Let people know what is in that DVD. So that’s basically what we’re saying is to protect the kids.”

HEALTH CARE MOMENTUM SHIFTING?

The Governor has been pushing hard for health care reform and on Thursday he announced a new ally: the California Hospital Association has agreed to join in the financing of the Governor’s plan that includes a 4% fee on hospitals. Somehow, through a complicated formula that includes medicare reimbursements the Gov claims the plan will help California collect nearly $4 billion in new federal funding and ultimately save hospitals money and provide expanded coverage for the more than 6 million Californians who have no insurance.

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy