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Thursday, March 5

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.

6 comments:

Julie Arduini said...

Well done, Tracy! I was torn between the mcnuggets and Paul Harvey as I had other blogging news to report. I'm still scratching my head on the 911 call! I had no idea about the pepper spray. Meanwhile, I have this vision of terrorists easily crossing the border during this exchange. Shudder!!!

Thanks again Tracy, I love Thursdays to see what you've chosen and always written with style and professionalism!

Anonymous said...

McNuggets? OMG. I heard that...nuts.

KM Wilsher said...

I love this, Tracy! The MCnuggets thing is so outragous. I'm sure that girl is feeling a little embarrassed! LOL

Travis said...

I was deeply saddened by the news of Paul Harvey. However, he was a Christian man, so he's have a "good day".

I think we should pepper spray people more often. It's a rather shocking experience and it should be the penalty for willful ignorance.

Avily Jerome said...

Hey Tracy!

I hadn't heard about the pepper spray, but I had heard about the McNuggets.

Seriously, people! Running out of nuggets isn't a 911 emergency! And if you run out of something, THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT! Give them a freaking refund- it's YOUR mistake!!!

Thanks for the news updates, too!

nitewrit said...

Hi Tracy,

One problem with stories is we don't always get all the facts from the reporters. I find one thing about the McDonald story a bit strange. That is the claim they did not have the item she ordered and paid for and said their were no refunds. This may have been the sales person misinterpretting a rule. Or a very localized mistake by that particular restuarant. Perhaps the clerk and the woman got snippish about it. We don't know. But it has been my experience in McDonalds that if they goofed up, they attempted to placate you the customers. I have been given free pies or fries sometimes because they have been ultra slow in filling orders. I have been given the wrong item and had them correct it and tell me to keep the wrong item as well at no charge because they only have to throw it away. And I have never known any respectable place that after you paid them for something and they discovered thay didn't have it they wouldn't refund your money. Yes, they might first ask if you would like to substitute, but if you didn't, they refunded your money. So we can't be certain exactly what happened at the counter, but we can be certain that woman should not have called 911. One could plead ignorance in doing so perhaps, but not three times. I heard, but don't know if it is true, that that woman is now suing Mcdonalds for $20 million dollars. Has anyone heard that?

As to the pepper spray, it does seem an overreaction, but at the same time it is a bit foolish to begin getting stubborn with a police officer. Especially when they are asking something that is standard practice, even if they do forget to say "please". Police are always subject to possible danger and if someone begins acting a little resistent they may get nervous. But sometimes you have to respect the uniform even if you are put off some by the guy wearing it.

Larry E.