Oh, to be famous. We’ve all at some point dreamt of seeing our names plastered on billboards and TV screens, being interviewed on Larry King Live, or being featured in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless.But is fame worth the baggage that comes with it? Consider the recent troubles of a few public figures…
Time for Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) to cut and run. Seems that Mr. Foley had taken an interest in a 16 year-old boy who worked as a page for Representative Rodney Alexander (R-LA). Hey Mark… did you think this would go unnoticed?
Foley sent a series of e-mails to the page, at one point asking him what he’d like for his birthday and even went as far as requesting a picture of the kid. The page, to his credit, referred to Foley’s actions as “sick.”
Mr. Foley has tendered his resignation to both House Speaker Hastert and Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Whether Mr. Foley ends up being charged for his behavior remains to be seen.
Jeanine Pirro is presently running as the Republican candidate for State Attorney General in New York. Unfortunately, Mrs. Pirro has an idiot for a husband. The man has a history of philandering, and he’s done some hard time for tax fraud, too.
More recently, a tape of a conversation made over a year ago has been leaked to the media. In this tape, Mrs. Pirro was speaking with friend and former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik regarding the possibility of bugging her husband’s boat. She suspected at that time that her old hubby was again engaged in an illicit affair, and she was looking for proof.
Mrs. Pirro says that while she considered the idea, she never acted upon it. The conversation was taped by the FBI because they were investigating Kerik in a separate matter. Isn’t it odd that the tape would surface now, so close to election time? I’m sure this is only a coincidence. The Democrats would never stoop to leaking private information for political reasons, right?
Would anyone care about this if Mrs. Pirro was just another anonymous citizen? Of course not. But Mrs. Pirro is a fairly high-profile political figure, and while the timing of the tape’s release is questionable at best, this is the kind of thing that so often comes back to haunt those who live in the spotlight.
And what about Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens? Terrell isn’t “just” an NFL star. He’s a controversial superstar who has in the past made a habit of letting his mouth get him into trouble. And here he is in his first season as a Cowboy and he’s already sidelined with an injury. Dallas Police recently responded to a 911 call and found Terrell in a drugged stupor with an empty pill bottle nearby. The media went into a feeding frenzy, speculating upon whether Terrell had a drug problem, or if he’d attempted suicide.
As it turns out, it was neither. The bottle was almost empty before he took a prescribed dose (painkillers for his injury), and Terrell’s condition was the result of an unanticipated drug interaction with legal dietary supplements. Now the sports media, which is no less predatory than the leftist “political media” has been forced into damage control mode.
Consider this little tidbit from Owens’ publicist, Kim Etheredge:
"I am just upset that I just feel they take advantage of Terrell. Had this been someone else, this may not have happened."Sorry Kim, but it wasn’t “someone else.” Your client happens to be one of the most recognizable names in sports, and as such he’s fair game.
(Fox Sports)
Hardly a day goes by that we aren’t bombarded with the latest scoop on political figures, athletes and the Hollywood elite. Whether it’s the mindless chitter-chatter on Fox and Friends or ranting and raving from the Blogosphere, the stream of vulgar sensationalism continues unabated.
Worse, the American public laps it up like the sweetest nectar. Some simply like to see the mighty fall. Others engage in pathetic attempts to live vicariously through celebrities. Still others look for the chance to cluck their tongues and wallow in a pool of self-righteousness as they look down their noses at the recently-fallen. We live in a sick society.
Equally sick is the way so many well-known personalities conduct themselves, all the while knowing they run a high risk of being exposed. How could Mark Foley possibly expect to send inappropriate correspondence to a minor child without getting caught? The media’s bloodhounds are everywhere, and their bread and butter is catching the famous in an act of poor judgment, if not criminal activity. In Mr. Foley’s case, getting caught may be a good thing, since the possibility exists (and I make no accusations here) that he had “plans” for this young page.
Considering all the above, I’m a bit divided as to my own aspirations to fame and fortune. Each week, a few more people are kind enough to read what I write. It’s gratifying to know there are people out there who like what I do, and it’s exciting to see my tiny reader base slowly becoming larger.
But what if I someday reach a level of popularity that qualifies me for celebrity status? I mean, if anyone ever found out about that joint I smoked back in ’75… oops.
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As someone who constantly travels the USA and drinks a lot of coffee, I consider myself to be a coffee connoisseur. I can’t tell you who uses what specialty coffee beans and what South American nation produces the best coffee. But I can tell you where I find the best “on the road” coffee for my picky little taste buds. With so many Americans traveling these days, “to go” coffee has become a hot item (I know, bad pun). As an all-around nice guy, I will endeavor here to save you from the aggravation of getting a truly revolting cup of coffee while you’re traveling during the upcoming holiday season.
In my opinion, the best is found at “QT” (“QuikTrip”) stores. Their coffee is good no matter how you drink it. I add Splenda or Equal to mine. They generally offer “gourmet” flavored creamers and your choice of either sugar or several artificial sweeteners. But you don’t have to add anything. It’s good black as well, and even the decaf is pleasant. The only drawback to QT is the fact of their having limited locations (only 9 states).
First off, if you visit a truck stop or convenience store, look at the coffee dispensers. If the establishment proudly proclaims that they sell “Community Coffee” then you should bolt for the door. The stuff tastes more like insecticide than coffee. Farmer’s Brothers commercial coffee isn’t much better. Both of these companies’ offerings are bitter and leave a despicable aftertaste. I’m told that their coffee sold for home use is better, but I’ve not tried it.
Okay, that covers the national and regional chains that I frequent. Many independents offer good coffee, but there are too many to rate them all. I will say that the Lehigh Truck Stop in Lexington, VA has great coffee. Favorable nods also go to Simmons’ Truck Stop in Bracey, VA, Sam’s Restaurant in Fairfield, TX, Mom’s Diner in Minden, LA (the restaurant, not the store), Jimmies Truck Stop in Madison, FL and the Davy Crockett Truck Stop near Greenville, TN. Additionally, all of the aforementioned independents have great food - especially Sam's and Lehigh.
Americans and other civilized nations have considerable difficulty comprehending a culture that is built upon a foundation of death and destruction. The continual calls for diplomacy and concessions regarding Radical Islam are evidence of this fact. Diplomacy has little chance of working, and the reasons are obvious if one is willing to confront a few unpleasant truths.
Even the most mundane vices are denied the masses. No Jack Daniels, no Playboy Magazine, no Monday Night Football. And, I believe it’s safe to assume that the Victoria’s Secret catalogs aren’t widely circulated, either. Last time I looked, Victoria didn’t offer burqas anyway. 
Israel will be attacked again, and Israel will retaliate again. And the busybodies around the world will brainlessly call for a ceasefire, complete with more pointless talks and soon-to-be-broken agreements. All the while, terrorists will be gleefully sharpening their knives in preparation for their next act of violence. 
If you’re a regular reader of my column, you may be familiar with the ongoing plight of my good friend, Kent Knudson. There are new developments in the case and I hope you’ll take a moment to read about them. Kent is slowly gaining support in his fight, and that support is coming from both sides of the political fence. 
After spending over $40,000 on legal defense, Kent was convicted a few days ago. His sentencing is scheduled for September Twenty-Fifth. For defending his property, Kent could face up to one and half years in a state prison. It’s worth noting here that due to existing fences between his property and that of rancher Dee Johnson, it would be impossible for the cows to reach his gate without a fence being cut or knocked down. And according to Kent, the ballistics test of the bullet in the cow didn’t match his gun. Kent also has bigger guns than the .22. Had he sincerely wished to kill the cow, he had multiple options for weapons.
Law enforcement officials in border counties are finding irrefutable evidence of border crossings by Muslim terrorists. It appears that the terrorists enter Mexico, learn to speak Spanish, and then use the same crossing methods used by other illegal aliens to sneak into America. It is believed that much of this is done with the assistance of Mexican drug cartels and elements of the Mexican military.
