Your Grrrs | Stupid Lit’l Dreamer
Keith O. in Norfolk, Va., on “Missing in Aruba”: I have to Grrr on the missing young woman in Aruba. Why were young high school students running around a foreign country improperly chaperoned? Even in the Navy we have a “Two-man rule” (you need a buddy). But, we’re talking high school kids here, and I’ve been to Aruba, and it’s a wonderful country, but haven’t we learned anything from within our own country about taking safety for granted? I’m seriously hoping but doubtful this will turn out well … and I’m seriously Grring on the lack of adult responsibility exercised for this event. They didn’t even miss her until the flight! That’s some good supervision there!
Chaz in Tucson with his media Grrr!: How far have we gone as a nation to bring up old news (i.e. Deep Throat). Are we as a nation being deprived of news! Who cares … it is O.V.E.R! Is it going to make any difference as to the outcome of the Watergate investigation? NO. President Nixon has passed on and most of the investigators have passed on as well. Shame on the news media for doing this.
Rebecca writing from cyberspace on “Russell Crowe”: Your article was right on the money! So many entertainers believe they are untouchable or that they are so special that one would almost consider it a privilege to be assaulted by them! I’m so disappointed in Russell Crowe because I’ve liked his work up to this point. The public has to realize these are people who are subject to the same rules every one else is! Admittedly, I’ve been star-struck in the past until I realize that it’s the character the actor is playing that I really like! So, I should be “writer-struck,” right?! I think if Denzel Washington does something of this nature, I’ll give up movie watching for good! He’s my all-time favorite! I’ve already given up on pro sports! I think their salaries are sinful!!
Will Moseley in cyberspace writes: You are right on about Russell Crowe! I’ve thought these same things about him quite a few times before and he’s always struck me as being conceited and totally spoiled. I’ve liked him a lot in a couple of films, but I’m going to send him a message by not going to see his flicks. What’s this? Burt Reynolds and Christian Slater … also guilty of the same atrocious behavior? Don’t you at least have to have a little talent before making the public endure your monumental arrogance?
Thomas S. in Springfield, Va.: Celebrities are endowed of their magnificent station in life, not because they’ve always felt they deserve it, but because WE made them that way. We, the regular Joes and Janes of this world, have made OURSELVES beholden to these men and women. And well … you know what they say about absolute power. We CARE what these people think — no matter how foolish they are. We want to know how THEY think about issues … and so every election year they tell us how to vote. They are above the law because we raise them up there. A man may escape conviction on child molestation charges because we think he deserves a “fair shake” regardless of the lack of fairness involved; facts of his own admission would’ve been more than enough evidence to convict any other NAMBLA poster boy. As long as this great society worships our celebrities, the celebrities will continue to believe they deserve it. And you are not blameless, Mike. You did, after all, devote a nice piece of column space to still more goings-and-comings of celebrities.
Bransom in cyberspace says: I too am sick of the celebrities running around because they need to act like children who do not get their way. The police are too important to be going to see what they have done now. The law should stick with them as it does for everyone else as well. I truly think that they make too much money the way it is.
Bob O. in Austin, Texas: I never call them stars. I save that for our police, firemen and the wonderful members of our military. The STAR in my house is my wife of 47 years. These obnoxious actors should be treated exactly the same as any other person who is guilty of assault. Hope we can find judges with the guts enough to do exactly that.
Jim in cyberspace writes: I think you were a little harsh on Russell Crowe. If you haven’t ever felt like throwing your cell phone, then maybe you don’t own one or something. Because I get the urge to chuck my cell phone at … whatever the closest thing is … about five times each day.
Trudy P. in Baldwin, Md., says: Thank you for hitting the nail on the head with your article on Russell Crowe and others. Hollywood needs to clean up its act and I applaud you for talking about it. I for one am turned off by the political and personal actions of certain “actors” and show it with the only means possible I have … my purchasing power. Sometime ago there was an e-mail circulating giving information on the education level that certain stars had reached — it really made you think. These people are so self-absorbed that they just can’t comprehend that they are ONLY doing a job of acting and that doesn’t equate to PhDs, or somehow give them the right to act in a manner other than what is acceptable for the average Joe. The saddest thing is that our youth are so impressed with these “stars??????” I look forward to them burning out sooner than later!
Marcia in Virginia on “Brad Pitt”: I’m all for Brad Pitt doing some charitable “work” trying to end poverty in Africa. But am I the only one who sees this as an opportunity for him to get with Jolie? She’s been doing her thing for a while, and wow, now he is too. Maybe I shouldn’t grrr him for doing it for the wrong reasons; at least he’s doing something good for humanity after all this time.
Kari in Wisconsin: Speaking as someone who lived in poverty my entire childhood, who watched my Mom’s daily struggle just to feed us, clothe us and afford health care, and NOT because she was a druggie or lazy, Brad Pitt’s quote from his “Primetime Live” interview just Grrrs me! “We have the potential to end poverty (in Africa) in our time. … Man — I mean, what is more exciting than that? The potential’s there. We gotta go for it.” He’s an Oblivion for sure, as are all these actors/actresses investing so much time in foreign countries when there are HUGE numbers of people living in poverty right here in the good ol’ USA! Is it better press to help the struggling masses elsewhere? I just don’t get it.
Mike C. in Rockville, Md., writes: Right on about the folks who feel compelled to shatter the quiet of the morning with power tools! My “Grrr!” is about “morning people” in general and their unjustified air of moral superiority, the way they act as if they’re somehow more ambitious or just all-around better. Get over yourselves, folks. “Early to bed and early to rise” sounded great in Poor Richard’s Almanac, but Ben Franklin himself knew that it was lousy advice — which is why he didn’t follow it. To be candid, early risers always have struck me as the sort of folk who need a cup of warm milk at bedtime. Sweet dreams!
Shirley in SLC says: To all those beach dwellers who resent the “vacation crowd”: Since a good number of jobs in any resort area are seasonal, without the crowds, you’d starve. I’m from northwest Florida, and we in the restaurant business had to work our butts off in the spring/summer to put enough away for the fall/winter when it quiets down. As a coastal resident, if you don’t like the crowds, move. For you vacationers who resent fellow vacationers, go to the beach in January. I’m sure the locals will appreciate your business.
Frustrated in Tallahassee, Fla.: Every time I read your column, I always tell my husband that this week I’m going to write in with my Grrr!! and I never do. So honey, here it goes, my Grrr! Why is it that people think that the fire lane at the grocery store is actually VIP parking? Every time I go to the store, I stare in amazement at the oblivions who park their cars right in the fire lane instead of parking in one of the hundreds of spaces that are provided. When I was nine months pregnant and waddling to my car parked toward the back of the lot, I would wonder what they did with that extra minute saved (probably zoning out at a green turn arrow eating their cheesy poofs). Then I would just tell myself, “They are Oblivions, they don’t know any better!” A radio station the other day sent someone out to a store and confronted people who did this. When asked why they were parking there, the Oblivion responded, “I’m only going to be a second inside,” to which the radio personality said: “That’s right, because the rest of us are parking in the spaces since we will be here all day!”
Ryan from Boston with his Grrr!: My Grrr goes out to my fellow commuters on the subway in Boston. Today started off just as usual, the train was packed when it got to Harvard Square. Being a non-Oblivion, I tried to move to the middle of the train as to let as many people as possible on the train. As I excused myself past a gentlemen near the door, he gave me dirty looks and murmured some criticism because I disturbed his reading time and he had to let me by. Upon reaching my spot in the middle of the car, he complained out loud that the train was taking way too long and “this is ridiculous.” Wake up! If you’re so bothered that other people want to get on the train, move in. If you want people to board quicker so you can get to your destination, move in. The conductor always allows more than ample time to get on and off the train. Thanks for letting me vent.
Stupid Lit’l Dreamer (by FOX News Intern Anne Grappone)
This SLD nominee was sent by Iris Cox in Oregon:
Stupid little dreams really can come true … just ask Joseph Cox, a functional analyst by day, an aspiring author by night. His first book, “Grobar and the Mind Control Potion,” to be released later this summer, has already caught the attention of children and parents alike.
The book focuses on the adventures of a young boy, Short Eddy, and the great penguin spy Thursday, as they save the world from the evil Grober, a goat with a dysfunctional family life.
Aimed at pre-teens, the book is the first installment in the “Short Eddy Series.” Already garnering great reviews, Cox hopes to release the sequels in the coming years.
A self-published author, Cox is the founder of the publishing company Suckerfish Books. He started this company so that he and fellow aspiring writers would have an outlet for publication. Cox graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with Honors in Intellectual History, and recently completed his Master’s degree in Finance.
“Being an author has always been his dream,” says Cox’s sister-in-law, Iris Cox. “He’s truly a funny and caring person whose sense of humor really translates well to children’s books.”
The book will be released on July 28.
Mike Straka is the director of operations and special projects for FOXNews.com, and covers entertainment and features on the Sunday program “FOX Magazine.” He also writes the weekly Grrr! Column and hosts “The Real Deal” video segments on FOXNews.com.
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