Essay 125

Anger mismanagement with MultiCultClassics Minutes…

• Oprah’s pissed off over being accused of dissing the late John H. Johnson by failing to attend his funeral. The Chicago Defender newspaper criticized Winfrey, calling her absence an “apparent snub of the man who single-handedly made it possible for people like Oprah to launch their own magazines and media companies.” Oprah insisted she sent condolences and flowers to Johnson’s family, but was unable to leave Hawaii. Letter to the Editor of the Chicago Defender: Don’t mess with Oprah.

• Palestinian American Sami Habbas received a credit card offer in the mail from Chase. The letter was addressed to “Palestinian Bomber.” When Habbas called the bank and identified himself with his ZIP Code and invitation number, operators referred to him as “Mr. Bomber.” Needless to say, Habbas is pissed off. But mostly because it would be tough getting merchants to accept a card with that name on it.

• Ohio postal employee Thomas Shaheen must have been pissed off with his coworkers. Shaheen wound up literally pissing into the employee coffee machine. The staff set up a camera after growing suspicious over the funny-tasting java, and they ultimately caught Shaheen making his special delivery. Talk about going postal.

• Folks are growing increasingly pissed off with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his refusal to declare a state of emergency in response to the problem of illegal immigration. Arizona and New Mexico have already called emergency declarations. Given that Schwarzenegger has starred in movies with alien predators and world-conquering enemies, the immigration troubles in his state probably seem calm by comparison.

• FTD Group Inc. is not planning to send a bouquet to rival ProFlowers. Instead, FTD sent notice of a lawsuit, accusing the competitor of false advertising. ProFlowers claims its products arrive “direct from the fields.” FTD argues ProFlowers’ stuff comes straight out of refrigerated warehouses. There’s nothing more pathetic than a war between pissed off florists.