Pat O’brien Is Leaving The Insider…What’s The Secret?

        I read that the host of a tabloid television show, The Insider, is leaving the show.  Pat O’brien has been on The Insider since 2004 he was the host until he had a couple of stints in rehab for addictions.  He made tabloid news himself when he left recorded messages sexually harrassing a female person on the phone.  Before he was the host of the Insider, he was on Access Hollywood for something like seven years.  Some people watch those shows regularily.

         So, he is leaving the show now.  It has been said that the decision to leave is a mutual one.  Yet, no real reason has been disclosed for the leave taking.  However, there has been speculation from; he slipped in his sobriety again, to, he is leaving because of an email that he sent to the staff at The Insider.  The email supposedly alledges that the staff of The Insider is out of touch with their real life viewers; who are struggling with day -to- day financial survival, and are not interested in the elite Hollywood fashions and over-indulgences of the stars. 

           If it is true that he was let go from the show for holding that opinion…i would tend to agree that the powers that be, are indeed out of touch.  However, I am sure that Mr. O’brien could have gotten that message across in a much more effective way than sending an email.  It is a valid point to say that mainstream America is struggling to maintain some semblance of financial stability…hearing about celebrities who toss away untold amounts of money on non-essentials is a bit of rubbing it (their wealth) in the viewer’s faces. 

           In general, i think the viewers would much rather hear about celebrities who are doing “good” in the world, with some of their “excess money”, than to hear about the latest mansion they bought or, how much money they spent on their last shopping spree!  In that, i agree in the theory behind the alleged email.

           I think that there will be a backlash in the sports world, the celebrity arena, the political figures, and other areas of our culture that continues to endorse reckless handling of money.    Reality for most people is not financial wealth; after the collapse of our banking systems, the mortgage crisis, the credit card crunch; and, the constant raising of prices of gasoline, home heating prices, and necessities such as groceries.  The American public is fighting to regain a financially secure life.  The impact of that is going to carry over into all areas of life including entertainment shows!

           If Mr. O’brien has had a change of heart over the types of stories that he felt his show should cover…he has to acknowledge that he also contributed to the environment of that show, for quite a period of time.  That however, doesn’t mean that a person can’t change their actions and raise awareness.  Good luck to everyone involved.  Let’s get real in our expectations and our actions…stop living in a fantasy world that very few people experience.  If the television executives cant do that…then, let those select few be their audience! 

           The Insider is supposed to be about the entertainment world…and it isn’t entertaining to their viewers to watch those who have been blessed financially live in ways that are wasteful when they are struggling to live above the poverty level.

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Borrowed Books…Pay On Time Or Else! Love Your Library!!!

        Wow, i messed up.  Yesterday, i received an email notice (in an old email account) telling me that i had overdue books at the library.  I didn’t realize that my email address  that they had on file for notices was an old one.  So, it is an old account; and, i do not check it but every couple of months….that was a costly mistake.

         When i saw the email yesterday…it said that i owed like 6 or 7 dollars…ouch that hurt, but ok.  I found the books; took them in and went to pay the fine at the library.  When i told her that i had book fees and that i just found out about it she smiled at me.  I thought that is nice.  But, i did mention that since i checked those books out a couple of months ago…i had probably checked out another 30 books since then, and no-one had told me that i had overdue books & fees.  I found that strange.

          Anytime i have had fees in the past…as soon as i went in to check out more books…i paid them as soon as i found out.  They didn’t send me any notice in the mail or anything…no phone call either.  So, i was shocked when i read the email.  But anyway, when i got ready to pay her…she seemed embarassed and said…actually the fee was like 13.00 because more fees accrued since the notice was sent.  OUCH again.  But, i owed it…what could i say…i paid it.  I love my library and i would never, not pay it…nor would i go very long without paying it, if i owed them, once i knew about it…so it was a bit embarassing.  However, the worker was wonderful and gave me my receipt.

         Still, i wonder if people actually understand that sometimes people don’t pay their fines.  It can actually affect your credit and if you do have fines and don’t pay them…a library can contact a collection agency to get their money from you.  Wow, that is terrible that a library would actually have to do something so drastic.  It is important to understand that if you borrow it is important to return them on time…and when you mess up…pay promptly. 

          Like i said, i was embarassed…the two books were tucked underneath some newspapers in the enclosed footstool; where i keep library books that aren’t being read at the moment, so they were overlooked for return, when they were due.  🙂  Glad to be in right standing with my library.  I check out about 10 books a week…so, i want to stay friendly with my buds at the library!

           Then today, i read about a woman in Wisconsin who borrowed books from a library and wouldn’t return them and wouldn’t pay her fines.  They repeatedly sent her notices, called her, and the library even contacted the police who cited her and set up a court date.  The woman did not repond to any of the notices, nor the phone calls….nor did she show up for the court date.  She was arrested…i am saying…geez…pay up or return the books already…that is nuts!!!  She ended up paying like a $170 fine.  But the woman says, she is not returning the books…she considers them paid for.  Say what??? i hope she has that in writing…’cause i just bet that the $170 fine was a fine just for court costs…i bet she still owes fines or fees for the replacement cost of the books. 

          I am glad that I opened that old email account…you can bet that i will update their records, so that they understand how to get ahold of me; if i should ever mess up turning in my books by the time they are due again…i try not to let that happen…but, i sure want to know about it; if i somehow miss my due date!  Love your library, treat them with respect, and you will have a lifelong lending/borrowing relationship with your pals at the library!!!  There is no where else in the world where you can get to know so much, go so many places, or meet so many wonderful characters as at your library.  It is great entertainment…and, as long as you return them on time…it is fairly cheap enterainment! 🙂

         

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