Anyone who knows me or who reads this blog probably knows that, all things considered, I’m probably best described as a conservative when it comes to politics. I voted for George W. Bush twice. I even voted for Alan Keyes when he ran for Senate in Illinois.
But you should also know that I’m probably one of the harshest critics of both Republicans and the conservative movement. I like to consider myself something of a contrarian in that regard.
I discovered the annual Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN several years ago. It’s one of those kooky not-quite-a-real-sporting-events that used to be a staple of ESPN. The whole world of competitive eating is a little bizarre, if not flat out creepy. But I’ve found it compelling.
The Michael Jordan of the competitive eating world is a diminutive Japanese contestant named Takeru Kobayashi. He’s dominated the competition for years, setting the hot dog eating record at 53 3/4 hot dogs. The guy has been untouchable … until now. There is a new king, and his name is Joey Chestnut:
Joey Chestnut, 22, shattered the record held by Takeru Kobayashi of Japan by downing 59 1/2 “HDBs” - hot dogs and buns - during the Southwest Regional Hot Dog Eating Championship at the Arizona Mills Mall in suburban Tempe.
Kobayashi’s old record of 53 3/4 was set last year at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, held at Coney Island in New York, said George Costos, who helps runs the regional contests for Nathan’s.
I’m always amazed by the lifestyles of people who make their living as spammers. You’d never think that spam would be so lucrative.This story illustrates what I mean:
Soloway pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon to all charges after a judge determined that — even with four bank accounts seized by the government — he was sufficiently well off to pay for his own lawyer.He has been living in a ritzy apartment and drives an expensive Mercedes convertible, said prosecutor Kathryn Warma. Prosecutors are seeking to have him forfeit $773,000 they say he made from his business, Newport Internet Marketing Corp.
