Op-Ed: Everyday fools need recognition too

On any given day Hollywood stars and politicians are reported doing and saying the most ridiculous things imaginable. Doubt me? Listen closely to the next "star" interview you randomly stumble across.

Thanks for the ride, chump... But what about average dolts - everyday fools one might run into at the local grocery store or barber shop. For example, this story out of Syracuse, New York. Police arrested a man for refusing to pay a $12 cab fare. He was shopping for cheap cigarettes, and wanted a free ride. Interestingly, the cheapskate refused to pay his $12 fare after the cabbie drove him to a couple of stores where he claimed the smokes were too pricey. More interestingly, the 68-year-old New York man had $5,000 stashed in his pockets. After the cabbie called police, the man became uncooperative so officers handcuffed him and searched his pockets where they found the wad of cash. It was unclear if the man lit up during the confrontation but he was likely fired up after being charged with theft of services. Cultural insanity Of course, diverse cultures embody many tenets and rituals that make precious little sense to the Joe Six Packs of the world. Take baby-tossing priests, for instance. When adults toss infants off high rooftops, it gets my attention, not to mention first-place in the "Large Groups of Fools" category. It seems that baby tossing is a religious rite of sorts in India, and goodness knows that I am all about religious freedom. That's why I chose to embed a video on this one. Viewers can decide and comment accordingly. One is the loneliest number How about that Nadine Schweigert from Fargo N.D. This narcissist fool married herself in March in front of 45 family members and friends, vowing "to enjoy inhabiting my own life and to relish a lifelong love affair with my beautiful self." Anyone else curious how many batteries she packed for her honeymoon? Can I say that? Nuclear Silo Condos What fool would buy nuclear silos in Kansas left over from the Cold War era and turn them into a stack of cylindrical condominiums enclosed by 9-feet thick concrete walls? That would be condo developer Larry Hall who is already one-quarter sold out of the upscale doomsday units he is building in an abandoned underground Cold War-era Atlas-F missile silo near Salina, Kan. Wait a minute..these things are selling like firecrackers on New Year's Eve. Never mind.... Updates? Watch for more columns spotlighting everyday fools - who knows who will be the star.