Advice

BEREA, Ohio — For Trent Richardson, the pressure of following in Emmitt Smith's footsteps was inescapable. Richardson tried to carve his own path while playing running back at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Fla., which produced all-time NFL rushing leader Smith. But every time people heard that Richardson was from Pensacola, he said, their response was, "Oh, you got Emmitt Smith from there. " "You're playing at Emmitt Smith's high school, there's tremendous incentive to do the same thing, if not better," said Escambia track coach Derrick Boyd, Richardson's mentor.

In reviewing "Savage U,"  MTV's  sex advice show featuring Dan Savage, I predicted that it was going to be a culture-wars lightning rod at some point. The show debuted with an episode set at the University of Maryland April 3. Well, it didn't take long. On April 7, Brent Bozell, publisher of the right-wing media watchdog website NewsBusters went absolutely off the rails with a column attacking MTV and Savage as merchants of "smut. " Here's how Bozell started his column, and he was only warming up: MTV is now trying to lure young viewers with a saucy sex show in the “advice” category.

At the start of his new MTV series, "Savage U," Dan Savage introduces himself to a group of University of Maryland students as a "big jerk" and a sex advice columnist. While there's not much "big jerk" behavior, there is lots of sound advice from the star of this winning production that launches with an episode filmed in College Park. "Savage U," which brings the columnist and his producer, Lauren Hutchinson, to a different college campus each week for frank discussions with students about sex, will also likely stir some culture-war controversy when it debuts at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Greg Smiith, a former executive with Goldman Sachs, became a hero yesterday to workers worldwide, as well as to everyone fed up with fat-cat bankers. His resignation, published in an op-ed in the New York Times, explained that he was leaving the banking giant after nearly 12 years because it lost its way in a big way: “I knew it was time to leave when I realized I could no longer look students in the eye and tell them what a great place this was to work. When the history books are written about Goldman Sachs, they may reflect that the current chief executive officer, Lloyd C. Blankfein, and the president, Gary D. Cohn, lost hold of the firm's culture on their watch.

The Baltimore CASH Campaign is hosting its 7 th annual Money Power Day Saturday, March 10. Consumers will be able to get a free credit report, one-on-one credit counseling and help with connecting to public benefits. Also, taxpayers will be able to get free tax preparation, provided household income is less than $50,000. Troubled homeowners will receive advice on avoiding foreclosure, and prospective buyers will get free housing counseling. Plus, there will be more than 45 nonprofits, government agencies and businesses that will provide financial advice.

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard left his home in England for Los Angeles 20 years ago, determined to be a movie star. The acting thing didn't exactly work out. But in one of those delightful turnabouts in life, he is now the interior designer to the stars. Ed Norton, the Osbournes, Cher and Kid Rock top an eclectic list of clients. Lawrence-Bullard has made the Architectural Digest and Elle Decor lists of top designers. He is a principal on Bravo TV's "Million Dollar Decorators. " He has a new book, "Live, Love & Decorate," with a foreword by client Elton John.

You may have collected your fair share of antler-inspired decor last fall. Or you might be thinking about finding a spot for that bold tangerine color of the year or even adding one of the woodland-themed pieces expected to be popular. Stop thinking and start organizing. Blindly following home decor trends can result in a home that's an eclectic mess. With spring cleaning right around the corner, now is the time to assess and redefine your style. That means knowing what hot items to display, what items to store because they're destined to come back into vogue, and what items to dump.

To state lawmakers: This is the year of change. There will be no increase in taxes. The Transportation Trust Fund will be put in a lock box so the governor cannot raid it. If hundreds of billions over the years had not been taken to balance your reckless spending, Maryland would have the best roads, bridges and transportation system in the nation. There will be cuts in every item of the budget. This is the year of restraint. Remember, the governor is having billions of dollars brought into this state from his last foreign trip.

Robert Vigorito, founder and race director of the Columbia Triathlon Association, went straight to the top when choosing a spokesperson for his new race, the Iron Girl Columbia Half Marathon and Coed 5K, scheduled for April 29. Vigorito asked Joan Benoit Samuelson, a rock star in the world of racing -- breaker of world records, winner of marathons, and the first woman to win an Olympic marathon. Samuelson, now 54, is an ardent advocate for lifelong fitness, and, believe it or not, she still runs marathons.

Got a retirement or estate planning but don't have the $150 to $300 an hour to pay for professional advice? Now, or at least Thursday and Tuesday, you can get your questions answered without having to pay. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, you can call or submit questions online to a planner with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors . The trade group is partnering with Kiplinger's Personal Finance in...