And now for your Grrrs ...
Trevor Y. in cyberspace writes: Hi Mike. I love your Grr column. It reflects my same frustration at today's society and morals. I just wanted to tell you that this last weekend my youngest daughter, 4 years old, was nearly killed in front of my eyes upon our busy street. She had followed a group of neighborhood kids across our busy street. I saw her across the street, where she is forbidden to go. (She is only allowed in our backyard. I pointed this out to my wife, and she went out front to call her home. My daughter obliged and set foot into the street to cross ... just as a speeding car was coming. My wife saw the car and yelled at my youngest to stop. Thank GOD she heard, and listened. She stopped, mid-foot into street, as the speeding car sailed pass. Mike, I almost watched my daughter die in front of my eyes. I too have experienced the glory of coming home and have my daughters run to me in glee, shouting "Daddy, Daddy!" I have watched them cling to my legs as I return from work. Please remind your readers to teach their children safety, and to cherish every one of those exquisite moments. Work may be hell, but coming home to gleeful children makes up for it all. If I had to witness my youngest's death, I would forever live with the horrible thought that I never would again enjoy a simple, heartfelt "Daddy, Daddy" again upon coming home. Protect your children. Teach them ... and most of all ... watch them. Never be lazy about watching your children.
Wayne M. writes: Kudos on coming home and having your young one scream out Daddy and comes a' running ending in a big hug. Makes all worth while. Everything else is oblivious.
FREE VIDEO: Mike's got The Real Deal on Ben and Jen: Part Deux
Anthony in cyberspace says: Even when they are 12 and 9, they still bring tears to my eyes. That's what going home is all about ... and I wouldn't trade it for any amount of money.
Matthew S. in Atlanta: You are right. We need more good news. So here's some: I love my wife. Eleven years later and we are still on the honeymoon. I haven't called her by name since we dated. To me, her name is Beautiful. I love my children. I cannot imagine life without my daughter and son. Take the greeting Maxine gives you and double it. Very few things in life are as perfect as getting tackled at the front door by your children. The basement hobby I started four years ago is now a full-time job with a half dozen contract employees. I've worked extremely hard at building the business, but not by ignoring the people around me. My friends return my calls, my cats don't shed, the garden is blooming and I can order a pizza online. Everyday my wife and I thank each other for the joy that is our lives. And that's my good news.
Alan P. in New Jersey with his own good news: I heard Oreo cookies are going to be trans fat free!!!! Bring on the milk.
Debra in Md. in response to Tia from the last "Your Grrrs" page: Newsweek should definitely be held accountable for their sloppy journalism. But to suggest that they are directly responsible for the deaths caused by rioting is ridiculous. The rioters are responsible for the deaths and destruction they caused!
Megan L. writing from cyberspace says: In reference to the Newsweek scandal -- what I find horrifying is that the world's opinion of the United States is based on the distorted sensationalism of our own media. We jokingly say, "Don't believe everything you read!" but the primary source of information about the U.S. outside the U.S. is our own press. We must come to realize that what we say about ourselves is the only point of view the rest of the people of the world see. We only hurt ourselves.
Ellen in cyberspace says: This is written in hopes of Oblivion (and therefore) Grrr! Prevention. It was announced that the 2005 Hurricane Season is expected to be worse than average on the East and Gulf coasts. In other words, to those who live in these areas, please go to your local stores NOW and start stocking up on the items you will need when the hurricane hits your town. Save yourself the embarrassment of being in a fist fight over a gallon of water on national news. Save us the eye-rolling and Grrr!-ing when we see it reported. Trust a northern friend, we survive winter by doing similar preparations every October.
Andrew in Illinois writes: I'd like to send a Grrrrrr! to dramatic television shows that feel the need to show previews of the next new episode either at the end of every episode or as commercials during the days prior to the next episode. There is nothing more annoying because all these previews do is either hype up the episode or give away the surprise. Shows like "The Sopranos," "24," "The Shield" and many others try and use suspense to bring their audience back for the next episode. What they seem to not understand is that these shows have a core audience who will make it a point to either watch the next episode or at the least tape it. Now the previews don't really come straight out and say what big surprise is going to happen to what character, but more often than not they do let you know that something big is going to happen and most of the time they give a very obvious hint as to what that is. It would be understandable if shows with poor ratings were doing this to try and attract an audience, but the fact is it's the major shows that always have millions upon millions of viewers for every new episode.
Dan B. in Virginia on Oblivions: I've committed myself to anger management counseling to deal with all the obliviots and left-hand vigilantes on the roads because I no longer cannot handle it. Wish me luck.
R.G. in San Antonio: Oblivions who finish smoking their ciggies and then toss the still-lighted cigarettes anywhere. Do they think they look sophisticated or tough doing this? Have they no idea they are littering? It's people like these who make me wish the federal and state governments would impose a $5-a-pack tax on cigarettes, not only to care for these rude smokers when they contract a smoking-related disease but to clean up the landscape after these oblivions.
Michelle in South Carolina writes: My Grrr has to do with the out-of-towners or people just driving through an unfamiliar neighborhood or area that choose to put on the brakes repeatedly while looking for their destination. I have seen people attempt to make a left turn from the right lane and vice versa. I mean, how hard is it to simply pay attention and continue to drive with traffic knowing that if you pass the location you can almost always simply turn around. Do they not realize what kind of danger they are putting themselves and other drivers in?
Pam S. from Duncansville, Pa.: I love your Grr column, it never fails to make me smile.
This isn't a Grrr but I think Ian Rosenberger from "Survivor" should be commended for the way he walked away from the game. It was nice to see someone who believed his integrity and the respect of his teammates was worth more than $1 million. He represented the Penn State area well. Plus, he wasn't bad to look at while he was on the show!
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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