Monday, October 26, 2009 Afternoon

Officials in Ft. Collins, Colorado, released some documents from their investigation of the Heene family’s alleged “balloon boy” hoax. They indicate that the mom confessed that the stunt was a pre-planned hoax to land a reality show.

But proving that roses can grow out of a pile of fertilizer, a couple of the Heenes’ neighbors, Cheri Foster and Tamara Failla, are handing out fliers urging people to show compassion for the Heene family. They say we’ve all made mistakes, and that the anger at the Heenes is disproportionate to what they did. They’re urging neighbors to cool off and leave messages of support and forgiveness on the Heenes’ lawn. I think I’ll wait until I hear what comes out in court first. But I would like to suggest that if anyone gets a reality show, how about for once choosing someone who’s deserving, decent and a good role model? I nominate Cheri Foster and Tamara Failla.

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Saturday, some Lebanese chefs showed national pride by making a plate of hummus that weighed over two tons. They took back the world record for biggest plate of hummus from Israel. Wouldn’t it be nice if all Middle Eastern disputes could be settled by making a giant plate of hummus?

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Some good news on the housing front: the National Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales took an unexpected leap of 9.4 percent in September. First-time buyers are taking advantage of low prices and an $8,000 tax credit that runs out next month. Wow, so lowering taxes stimulates the economy. Who’d a thunk it?

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The British pop star Morrissey, former leader of the Smiths, collapsed Saturday at a London show. He had trouble breathing and fell to the floor after one song and was rushed to a hospital. He’s now home and postponing upcoming concerts.

Also in sick bay, legendary Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. He revealed that he’s undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. But he says it was caught very early, and he expects to be back at work on a sequel to “Phantom of the Opera” by the end of the year.

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Finally, there’s a new book out called “Welcome To Obamaland,” in which a British author warns Americans of where we’re headed if we follow the same high-tax, big government-controled, PC-dominated course that Britain has. The U.K. has become fertile territory for jokes in recent years about political correctness run amuck. And here’s the latest: the Tipton Amateur Repertory Theater Society was just forced to change its name after 20 years because someone complained that the acronym was sexist. They’re known as…”the TARTS.”