My Two Cents: Good news, bad hair and Tour de France in headlines this week

By Brett Davis, Editor
I couldn’t think of a specific topic to write about this week. However, since journalists can’t get writer’s block, I thought I’d comment on some of the items that have been in the news recently.
Miner Miracle: With all of the serious and downright scary stories that have been in the news recently – from America’s continuing battle against terrorism to the recent spate of child murders – the rescue of those nine trapped miners in Somerset, Pa. has to be the feel-good story of the year so far.
Even the on-the-scene television news reporters were all smiles at the fact the nine men were retrieved safe and sound. How often do you see that?
(Sorry, about the “Miner Miracle” sub headline. I couldn’t help myself.)
Bad Hair Day: Definitely not the feel-good-story of the year is the ongoing saga of Ohio Congressman James Traficant, who in April was convicted of bribery and racketeering charges, among other things.
Last week, he was voted out of the House of Representatives on ethics violations stemming from those convictions.
Traficant has often been described as flamboyant, which is a nice way of saying he wears ill-fitting 70s style suits, says really weird things and sports a painfully obvious toupee.
I would have thought he would have been indicted on felony bad hair charges a long time ago, but that’s just me.
His rug is so distracting that I can’t believe a reporter hasn’t yet asked him, “What’s the deal with your hair?”
Lance Wins Again: Okay, back to another feel-good story.
American bicyclist extraordinaire Lance Armstrong, who successfully battled cancer in the 90s, has won his fourth consecutive Tour de France.
Not only is his story inspiring, but he’s managed to once again stick it to France, a country that takes itself way too seriously.
How that nation can feel so overly important and superior is baffling, considering their history of military capitulation and Jerry Lewis worship.
Anyway, way to go, Lance. USA! USA! USA!

“My Two Cents” is a weekly column where the author – who has not endeared himself to toupee-wearing Frenchmen this week – gets in his two cents worth, in spite of the old saying that you only get a penny for your thoughts.