Humorist Dave Barry recaps a “year that we will be happy to put behind us.” Though there was plenty of bad news, Barry contends that “in almost every instance, there was offsetting good news.” For example, he wrote:
“Bad news: Ominous problems loomed abroad as — among other difficulties — the Afghanistan war went sour, and Iran threatened to plunge the Middle East and beyond into nuclear war.
“Good news: They finally got Roman Polanski.”
Taxpayers built it, and the big acts keep coming to the Intrust Bank Arena. Last week brought news that Dave Matthews Band will perform Aug. 14, that Michael Buble (in photo) will perform June 23, and that interactive show “Walking with Dinosaurs” will be here April 21-25. Arena officials also recently announed that Daughtry will perform May 24. These acts join other top performers, including Taylor Swift, George Strait and Reba McEntire, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Elton John, and Nickelback. And contrary to all the moaning and groaning before the arena opened earlier this month, parking has so far not been a big problem.
Given how most politicians bend in the slightest breeze, Gov. Mark Parkinson deserves credit for his decisiveness about not running for his job in 2010. But he’s “reaching the point — if he’s not there already — when breaking his promise would be the noblest thing he could do,” wrote Topeka Capital-Journal columnist Ric Anderson. That’s because Kansans deserve a real gubernatorial campaign with real issues and debates, not simply a coronation for Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Without a real Democratic candidate such as Parkinson, Anderson wrote, “What we might see instead of meaty discussion are commercials of Brownback walking around in a wheatfield, shaking hands with farmers, parading down old-timey Main Streets with his smiling family and telling us how Kansas is one goshdarn great state” — nice TV, he concluded, “but not so great for democracy.”
The Huffington Post gathered some of the dumbest quotes of the past decade, including:
“I think gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger (in photo)
“Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many ob-gyns aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” — George W. Bush
“They misunderestimated me.” — George W. Bush
“Uh, uh, Chuck Graham, state senator, is here. Stand up, Chuck, let ’em see you. Oh, God love you. What am I talking about?” — Joe Biden, to wheelchair-using Missouri state Sen. Charles Graham
“It may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: ‘Sit down and shut up,’ but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out.” — Sarah Palin, announcing her resignation as Alaska governor
