Author: Randy Slovacek

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“The Amazing Race” – Survivors – and me

From EW.com: The Amazing Race has not been shy about having former CBS reality stars on the show. Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich of Survivor fame played twice, while Big Brother‘s Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd, as well as Alison Irwin (and her non-Big Brother boyfriend Donny) all have appeared on the program.

But now, for the first time, two winners will team up to compete as Survivor: Africa champ Ethan Zohn and Survivor: The Amazon victor Jenna Morasca head up the cast for the show’s 19th installment (premiering Sept. 25 on CBS), which will also feature some new twists to the game.

For Zohn, racing across the world with his longtime girlfriend is especially sweet considering his recent medical battles after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “Last year I was attached to a pump in complete isolation in a f—ing hospital room, and now I’m out traveling the world with the woman I love. Whatever happens, it’s gonna be okay,” Ethan told EW.com just before embarking on the race. “But if she screws up, I’m gonna kill her.”

Michael, Ethan and I at dinner.  I was 6 weeks out of chemo (still bloated), and Ethan was fighting tough.
This corner of the table was where we talked ‘cancer journeys.’

I met Ethan during the time both he and I were facing cancer. I had the opportunity to have dinner with him in NYC with Olivia Newton-John, and he was really in the middle of it.  He and I huddled at the corner of the dinner table and “talked cancer” and the journey ahead. He was clearly in a tough fight but he was always upbeat and knew he would win. And he did. He’s a quiet, tough fighter.

For a full list of teams click here.

The duos will experience a few new twists this time around, including the show’s first ever double elimination, and something called the Hazard, which is a penalty that one team will incur right at the starting line. And for the first time ever, The Amazing Race will be visiting the countries of Belgium, Denmark, Malawi, and Indonesia.

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Vanessa Williams sings George Green’s “Higher Ground”

George Green, who wrote this song – “Higher Ground” – with Steve Dorff and Kent Agee, recently passed away.

Vanessa recorded the song for her CD “The Sweetest Days.” It was later covered by other artists like Barbra Streisand.

I always loved the song. I think the lyric and melody speak of a life that’s been lived.

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Rick Perry’s travel/security costs to be sealed until after 2012

During a special session that ended July 1, the Texas Legislature, at Governor Rick Perry’s urging, added language to a school finance bill that will seal the governor’s travel records for 18 months — until after the 2012 presidential election.

One Republican legislator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the governor as “extremely concerned” about keeping his records sealed, and said Perry was actively lobbying key legislators to get it passed in the waning days of the special session. The legislator said Perry’s wife, Anita, also was pressing legislators on the issue.

Texas newspapers have tried for years to see Perry’s travel records, which would include the costs of the governor’s security detail. But the state Department of Public Safety, run by Steve McCraw, a former FBI official and a longtime Perry friend, has said that the safety of Perry and his family could be jeopardized if the public knew how many officers accompany them, where they stay and Perry’s traveling patterns.

Records reported in 2005 by the Austin American-Statesman showed that Perry and staff members had traveled the previous year to the Bahamas for a meeting with top campaign donor James Leininger and Grover Norquist, a national anti-tax advocate. The records showed $4,200 in taxpayer money was spent for the six state troopers who went along, including costs for renting scuba gear, golf cars and cellphones, according to the newspaper.

Perry said later that the trip was to discuss education policy and finance with his political and technical advisers “in a setting removed from daily distractions.”

In 2009, Perry traveled to Israel where he was given the “Defender of Jerusalem” award. According to a local television report, he and his wife flew first class at more than $5,000 per ticket, paid for by an energy company financier. Four security detail officers also went on the five-day trip at a cost of more than $70,000 to taxpayers. The expenses included $17,000 for rooms at the King David Hotel, nearly $13,000 for food and more than 350 hours in overtime pay.

Read more at the Washington Post.

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Watch GOP congressman answer the question “After Bush Tax Cuts – where are the job?”

Or rather – he DOESN’T answer the question.

I’ve been asking this question for a long time. IF the Bush Tax cuts create jobs, and we’ve had the Bush Tax cuts for over 9 years… where are the jobs?

History actually shows that job creation does not track with lower taxes.

As a matter of fact, while Rick Perry is traveling around touting Texas’ low taxes (no state tax) his state actually has 8.4% unemployment (July 2011), ranking 27th. If Perry is such a genius and creating so many jobs, why is unemployment that high?

Ironically, the state with the LOWEST unemployment in the country is North Dakota with 3.3% unemployment. And North Dakota has a state income tax.

As a matter of fact, of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates for July 2011 – 8 have state income taxes. (South Dakota and Wyoming do not).

Do the math kids…

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Reid announces 1st hybrid geothermal/solar plant

Sen. Harry Reid kicked off the fourth annual clean energy conference today by announcing the inauguration of the first-ever hybrid geothermal and solar plant, combining Nevada’s two most homegrown forms of renewable energy in a single power-generating project.

The plant, which will be situated about 75 miles outside of Reno, will generate an additional 24 megawatts of power and create about 150 installation jobs, according to Enel Green Power North America President Francesco Venturini.

More of this please.  Renewable energy that creates jobs and doesn’t harm the environment.  Repubs must hate this.

Read more at The Las Vegas Sun.

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Iowa Tea Party books then cancels Christine O’Donnell

From CNN: Organizers for Saturday’s tea party rally in Iowa Tuesday blamed an internal miscommunication over the event’s schedule for rescinding a speaking slot Tuesday for former Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell.

Ken Crow, founder of the Tea Party of America, said initially he was “under the assumption we had an open slot” after her supporters had inquired Monday about whether she could speak.

O’Donnell is on a national speaking tour for her book, “Troublemaker.”

After the request for her to appear at the event was made to a fellow organizer, Crow looked at the speaking agenda and thought there was space for her. She was informed Monday she could speak, event co-organizer Charlie Gruschow told CNN Monday night.
Tuesday morning it was determined there was not enough time for her, Crow said.

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Joey Kovar of MTVs The Real World takes it off for Playgirl

Joey Kovar, who appeared on “Celebrity Rehab 3” and the Hollywood edition of MTV’s long-running reality series ‘The Real World,’ has taken it all off for Playgirl and claims he’s hotter than the guys on Jersey Shore.

Apparently his online profile from ‘The Real World’ has been viewed 68 million times.

Kovar is also taking jabs at his ‘Jersey Shore’ rivals by claiming to be the hottest Italiano. “I’m more muscular than them, I’m tanner than them,” he says. “The Jersey Shore‘ guys have nothing on me.”

Kovar was allegedly paid $20,000 to bare all. The issue of Playgirl with Kovar’s pictures will be available September 13, but check out a few advance pics from the shoot below.

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Remember when the gov’t helped people in times of disaster? Cantor says not without budget cuts.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) today stood by his call that no more money be allocated for disaster relief unless it is offset by spending cuts elsewhere.

FEMA will need more funds than it currently has to address the devastation from this weekend’s Hurricane Irene. Cantor took this position following the tornadoes that devastated Joplin, Missouri and elsewhere in the spring and summer, and after last week’s earthquake, the epicenter for which was in his district, but the hurricane’s level of destruction is far beyond that of those disasters.

Cantor told Fox News that while “we’re going to find the money,” “we’re just going to need to make sure that there are savings elsewhere to do so.”