Story on foreclosures among celebrities isn’t news

The press, this publication included, never ceases to make me laugh.

A case in point is the story in the June 23 issue, “Celebs latest victims in housing foreclosure crunch.”

You pretend this is news. Is it?

Are celebrities, such as Ed McMahon any more financially savvy than the average Joe Six-Pack?

In the story, Rick Sharga, vice president of marketing for RealtyTrac Inc. in Irvine, Calif., said that housing woes have expanded far beyond homeowners with questionable credit.

Is Mr. McMahon a victim, as the title suggests, or is his situation, like so many others, nothing more than a consequence of his ignorance and/or greed?

If he is pointing the finger of guilt at his advisers, are they really to blame? Was his credit questionable?

When does personal choice become the culprit?

R. John Miller
First Asset Financial Inc.
Registered representative
Weskan, Kan.

Column about a father strikes a chord

I read Jim Pavia’s column in the June 23 issue, “Lessons from my father,” and I wanted you to know how touching it was to me.

A few months ago, I was able to give a brief presentation, which included a mention of the sacrifices my parents made in order for me to receive a good education that they hadn’t been able to attain. It felt great, and I would expect that Mr. Pavia felt the same when he wrote his column.

Theodore G. Eppenstein
Senior partner
Eppenstein and Eppenstein
New York