Here are a few of your responses to Mike's last column:
Gail D. writes: Mike, thanks so much for you series on Trace Adkins and Heartland. It was a pleasure to read the positive comments you had about Nashville and the people you met in the country music business. I have worked in country radio for many, many, years and have had the privilege of meeting some of the biggest and brightest stars of the genre and for the most part all of them have been courteous and generous with their time and with their money, supporting many charities including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to Make-a-Wish, to literacy programs and many more worthwhile causes. I am glad that you got a chance to find out what many of us have known for a long time. Country music is full of great people, great music and great fans.
Christy in Kansas City writes: As a native Nashvillian who's been transplanted elsewhere, I have to say it was great to see the city (and state) put in such a positive light. Yes, there's country music there. But oddly enough, there's a lot more to Nashville than just country music. There are several other thriving industries, some pretty cool culture and it is truly a beautiful place. I miss it and its people daily. I'm glad you enjoyed your time there. Thanks for admitting it and reminding your readers it's not just a place full of hicks riding horses in 10-gallon hats. Love your column.
Bradford C. writes: I really enjoy your column. The fact that you mentioned Tootsie's gave me a brand new respect for you, though. Living in Nashville and working with CMT for a year of my life was an awesome experience and Tootsie's was one of my favorite places to go. You can always catch a great band playing up front, whether it is 3 in the afternoon or 11 at night. The history and the crowd give you that old-school Nashville feeling. I am glad you had a great time and your article made me want to go back.
Joe in Cincinnati writes: I am glad you have opened your eyes and heart to Nashville and the country music scene. I hope many of your readers who dislike country will find out from your stories and interviews how country isn't all about mamas, cheating and drinking songs. I applaud you for not bashing it, like some journalists do. And that you gave it a chance.
Elaine from Dallas writes: Hi Mike. Your column is my Grrr! therapy. Keep up the great work! Here is a Grrr that I sent to the president of my neighborhood association: "I have an issue I would like to address with you. It involves the tennis court. Many mornings on my way to work I see people using it as their private dog park. They close the gates and let their dogs off their leashes. This morning as I drove by there were several people and 4-5 dogs running around. While I was at the stop sign, I watched one of the dogs raise its leg and do its business on the pole holding up the net. The same pole I had my towel on that I used to wipe my face and the same pole my water bottles were leaning against just yesterday evening! I was looking forward to another game of tennis tonight but ... that really disgusted me." Mike, there is a huge dog park about five minutes from the tennis court! Double Grrr!! I really hope these dog-blivions read your column.
AEW Paris Hilton Grrr: This wasn't one of your topics but I think that Paris Hilton needs to crawl back under that slimy rock she crawled out of and get out of the news. She is making a joke out of herself. Seems like she'd be an embarrassment to the Hilton name. Her parents allow such behavior ... must not matter to them. There never is anything uplifting, wholesome or good in connection with her lifestyle. She is a downright spoiled, nasty-acting, drinking, sexed up for anyone to see on the Internet spectacle. I'd be appalled to think my child was known for nothing but exploits and degradation.
Amy from Nebraska writes: Mike, here is my Grrrr ... I was recently at a restaurant where the couple sitting in the booth next to us had two small children. Now I have nothing against bringing your kids into a restaurant with you … but they should at least have some table manners. The one child proceeded to stand in the booth and jump, stab her dad with a fork, throw her food at her mother and scream and cry when they weren’t paying attention to her … for the whole hour we were there, all while the parents did nothing!! These parents are oblivions, they appear to have no idea what is going on beside them, or how disruptive it is for everyone else in the same area. PLEASE, parents, I pray, as does the rest of the restaurant loving-world … if you are going to bring your beloved monsters into restaurants, PLEASE be aware of their actions and the reactions they get from other paying customers!!
David S. writes: Mike, my Grrr is to all the extremists out there that are highjacking religions worse then Usama Bin Laden has done to Islam. I point out specifically Shirley Phelps-Roper who wanted to protest the funerals for those Amish children murdered by a monster while they tried to learn. She said on your channel that they deserved to die as punishment for the Amish not following the word of God. They live a simple life and worship God as best as they can. I know in America we have the right to freedom of religion, but she has gone too far with this stunt of hers. Christianity is not about fear and punishment for our sins, but the forgiveness of sins. Her “church” is corrupted and she should not be given airtime to voice her hatred. If I am not mistaken that qualifies her as committing a hate crime and she should be punished by the full extent of the law.
Darrin from Pittsburgh writes: Here's a big Grrrr to me -- scientists who spend their whole lives performing research into ways that can vastly improve life for all of us on Earth, compete for the Nobel prize. Their reward: other than a diploma, a medal and the chance to shake Sweden's King Gustaf's hand at the awards ceremony ... $1.4 million. That's per prize! So that if the award went to a "team" of scientists, that money would be split among them. Now compare that to the salaries of professional athletes who "play a game" for a living. THAT just boggles my mind! What does that say about our society's values? $25 million for likes of T.O. vs. $1.4 million to scientists whose work may open a potential new avenue for fighting diseases as diverse as cancer and AIDS. GRRR!! Hope you'll be doing what you're doing for a long time!
Tom from Madison, Wis., responds to Oran in Orlando (Your Grrrs: Oct. 3): I am sorry you are deathly allergic to tobacco smoke. I am deathly allergic to peanuts. Do I want to close every salad bar, remove every candy bar from the shelves? Outlaw peanuts from every public place? No I remove myself from places of risk without inconveniencing anyone. It is my issue, not the rest of the world's. I deal with the hand I have been dealt. Perhaps you should do the same. I am from Wisconsin, care for some cheese with that whine?
Megan, student at UW in Laramie writes: I just wanted to respond to Shell in South Dakota (Your Grrrs: Oct. 3) complaining about the drive thru people not giving her a drink carrier. Why are you in the drive thru lane in the first place?! The drive thru is for people in a hurry. Not to mention if you are ordering for FOUR people, why don't you go INSIDE the store because we all know how much longer it is going to take to get your order for FOUR people together. I bet you are the lady at everyone's lunch hour who holds up the line for 20 minutes because you have to order for four people! You are obviously not in a hurry if three other people are waiting somewhere for you to bring them their food. So please, Shell, do us all a favor on our lunch hour and go inside and get a big bag and drink carrier to carry out your "too large for the drive thru" order.
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