Huh?, So Sad, and Goodbye ~ Current Events Wrap Up

Ok, it’s Thursday, and you know what that means… It’s time for The Current Events Wrap Up meme, hosted by the amazing Julie Arduini at her The Surrendered Scribe blog. The Current Events Wrap Up meme is the vision God gave Julie for discussing what is going on in the world, nation and even our own lives. This is really a fantastic meme and we would love to see it grow. There is so much happening these days and it would be amazing to have a team of conservative commentators discussing their thoughts. Please go and check out Julie’s blog, and if you like current events or news, think about joining in and/or spreading the word!

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Ok, from the world of “what the heck are people thinking…”

~ A woman in Florida, Latreasa L. Goodman, 27, calls 911 three times to report the emergency that she was at a McDonald’s and had ordered and paid for a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. However, after paying, it was discovered that McDonald’s had run out of Chicken McNuggets. Stating that McDonald’s doesn’t give refunds, the cashier suggested other items from the menu. This apparently was the emergency that warranted three calls to 911.

While I do believe McDonald’s could have handled the situation better, what the heck was this woman thinking?


~ A man from Canada, Desiderio Fortunato, was pepper sprayed by a U.S. border patrol agent for telling the agent to “say please” when he was told to turn off his car. He refused to do so, because he wanted to be asked politely. He apparently had no problem with complying with the order, but wanted to be treated with courtesy. The border patrol states that the agent did nothing wrong.

I too, long for a more polite, courteous society, but I’m not sure I would have been so adamant about it in post-9/11 days, with a border agent. However, did the agent have go as far as pepper spraying the man, seriously, what the heck was he thinking?


This is just so sad…

On Saturday, Feb 28th, two NFL football players and two friends (also football players, but not pro), went fishing off the coast of FL in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat capsized when the men were pulling up anchor. One has been found. Four days later, the others are still missing.

This story is particularly sad to me. Yes, I’m sure the NFL status has brought more attention to the story than what would have happened if they were not. However, that’s really not my interest in it. We watch one station for news here – the NBC affiliate (we don’t get Fox News, so it's just NBC). Bruce Cooper, father of NFL football player, Marquis Cooper, has been a sports broadcaster here, at the NBC station, for more than 20 years.

Bruce Cooper has a wonderful reputation. He is known to be a really great guy. Seriously, everybody loves Coop! He is just one of those guys who seems to be amazing, down to earth, real, and oh, so nice! Coop always has a smile, a big, infectious one, and is highly regarded and respected here. Oh, and he’s a Christian too. I didn’t know that before. I mean, how many media people does that apply to? But he is. And not just one of those sound-bite Christians either. In recent interviews, he has talked about prayer (which doesn’t mean much these days), talked about his faith (ok, a little warmer), talked about God (slightly warmer, since most people talk about ‘god’), but beyond that, he has talked about and called on the name of Jesus. And to go just a little further, he’s been quoting Scripture. And I’ve been hearing that Marquis is just like his dad.

For Marquis, it has always been about football, fishing, family, and faith. He’s recently added to the family part, with a wife he loves very much, and a 3 year old daughter he lives for.

Anytime something like this happens, it is a tragedy. But when it is someone “known,” it seems to touch you just a little more. Marquis grew up here. He went to high school less than 10 miles from where I live. No, I don’t know him. And no, I don’t know his father. But in a way, they’re family. I don’t know why these things happen – especially to the good guys. But they do. And while most would say that all hope is gone, still these families hope, and pray, because they know that our God is a miracle working God. And even if the miracle doesn’t happen, Coop knows, that he knows, that he knows, that one day he will be reunited with his son.

For now, I’ll continue to join the families in hoping and praying for a miracle, for peace, for comfort, and for closure in this very difficult time.


And a brief, but heartfelt goodbye…

Also on Saturday, Feb. 28th, we said goodbye to a beloved radio newsman. Paul Harvey died at the age of 90, in a hospital here in AZ. He was a pioneer in broadcasting, beginning in 1933, and had millions of fans.

Harvey received many awards through the years. He was named Salesman of the Year, Commentator of the Year, Person of the Year, Father of the Year, and American of the Year. He was elected to the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and appeared on the Gallup poll list of America's most admired men. In addition he received 11 Freedom Foundation Awards as well as the Horatio Alger Award. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ most prestigious civilian award, by President George W. Bush. On May 18, 2007, he received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Oh, how we will miss his voice, his style, and the way he told “the rest of the story.” Goodbye, Paul, well done.