Olympics - A huge sigh of relief from Chicago friends over the Olympic decision.  Already high property taxes were expected to rise DRAMATICALLY to fund the Olympic games, had they landed in Chicago.  I even heard that $250 million in new taxes were contemplated for downstate Illinois to fund the money-grab for the Windy City.

David Letterman - David Letterman did a HUGE favor for lots of celebrities by his handling of the blackmail issue. 

    "I don't know any celebrity in America that isn't shaken down for money, blackmailed, extorted -- whether they are male, female, gay, straight, young, old," said celebrity publicist Michael Levine, who has represented stars like Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and Michael J. Fox. 

    Letterman's story will make potential blackmailers think twice about the consequences of attempting a "shakedown" of a high profile individual.  

    Funny though, with the attention being paid to celebrity blackmail, the press has yet to find it's voice regarding political blackmail.  Illegal (or immoral) activity by our politicians opens them up to the same type of blackmail, but we hear nary a word about the topic.  But the consequences for our country are even more severe than if David Letterman is paying someone off.  

    Politicians, like John Edwards, who chose to lead a risky life open all Americans to the consequences of blackmail.  Then again, maybe I'm just being terribly naive and blackmailing never occurs with politicians.