IF YOU'RE A WOMAN, DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE L.A. MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH THE DOOR CLOSED?

Weird week, huh? Big 4th of July holiday on Wednesday and then back to work on Thursday? I didn't write a new blog yesterday, but that was because I got called away to do a last minute acting assignment.

How about this Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa story? I was at City Hall Tuesday afternoon and jokes, at the Mayor's expense were plentiful.

We're now told that our lusty Mayor's latest girlfriend has been told to take a leave of absence while officials at Channel 52 decide if she violated any journalistic ethics. I don't know if Mirthala Salinas did anything wrong in her role as a "journalist", but her ethics as a human being are out there for everyone to see. This 35-year old is a social climber of the first order and it will be interesting to see what happens to her relationship with the Mayor if she loses her job over this. After all, she's been in the position of doing the Mayor some good in more ways than one. Prior to her relationship with our lusty Mayor, Ms. Salinas dated California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Who did this social climber date before that? Fear not, good people. In this gossip is more important than things like "Why are we really in Iraq" world that we live in, you can be guaranteed that while I'm writing this, some journalist is doing his or her best to find out everyone the Channel 52 social climber has ever dated. Why? Because that journalist knows that "Inquiring minds want to know". And the pay for those kinds of stories ain't bad either.

Meanwhile, if a woman is called into the lusty Mayor's office for a conversation of some kind and she will be the only person in the room with our lusty Mayor, does she want to be in there with the door closed?

SPEAKING OF POLITICIANS:

And then there's L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine. He presided over his 6th annual 4th of July fireworks extravaganza in Woodland Hills, Wednesday night. KBIG's legendary broadcaster and Honorary Tarzana Mayor Charlie Tuna was the Master of Ceremonies and he did his job....Well, he did his job like you'd figure a pro of his stature would do his job. But the guy I got a kick out of watching was Councilman Zine. I can't remember the last time I saw so much schmoozing. No wonder there were so many sponsors for this event. Congressman Brad Sherman, a professional schmoozer in his own right was also there, but he figured to be taking schmoozing notes from Zine who is looking more and more like a possible candidate for Mayor. What are his qualifications? Well, for openers, Councilman Zine keeps his pants on. By the way, Zine's 4th of July event was free to the public, there were booths all over the place, people were playing volleyball, a lot of kids, a lot of dogs, a lot of people just having a good time. Former Johnny Carson drummer Don Sweeney's SRO band provided most of the music, but they were backed up by a number of outstanding singers. Some F-16's from a local Air Force base did a flyover as did LAPD helicopters, more than 45,000 were in attendance and the fireworks show itself was outstanding. My thanks to Councilman Zine for inviting me. I'm glad I went.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 56 MEN WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

Were you one of the people who received a copy of the story about what happened to the 56 men who signed signed The Declaration of Independence? I was. What a story! The line at the end of the story says it all: "Remember, freedom is never free!"

QUESTION OF THE DAY! "WHAT SACRIFICES HAVE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS MADE, MR. PRESIDENT?"

In a commentary in today's New York Times that's titled, "Sacrifice is for Suckers", columnist Paul Krugman writes about comments made by President Bush during his 4th of July message in which Bush called for "more patience, more courage and more sacrifice." Krugman then asked a question he says that no other reporter has asked: "What sacrifices have you and your friends made, Mr. President?"

ANOTHER INFLUENTIAL REPUBLICAN SAYS IRAQ STRATEGY HAS TO BE CHANGED!

6-term New Mexico Senator Pete Dominici is urging a new course for Iraq. Dominici said (among other things), "I am unwilling to continue our current strategy." Dominici isn't calling for an immediate withdrawal, but he says he is calling for a strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations. Dominici is up for re-election in 2008.

SOME QUICK OTHER ITEMS:

Did you watch that hot dog eating contest on ESPN? If your answer is, "Yes!", here's another question. Why?!?

Are you or anyone you know having any luck reselling your new iPhones? I know. Another "get rich quick" idea down the drain.

Are you for or against the idea proposed by agent Scott Boras regarding the World Series? A best of 9 World Series that would feature the first two games being played in a neutral site. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says he'll discuss the idea after the All-Star game.

Do you miss your "Sex and the City". An announcement was made yesterday about New Line Cinema being close to signing on to produce a film that would include all four of the principal actresses. Nothing was mentioned about "Mr. Big".

LET'S END WITH A SMILE!

Blog reader and radio entrepreneur Jon Badeaux sends the following:

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between stints in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes."

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting." It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor and cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.

The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.

The professor eventually came to. While noticeably shaken, he looked at the Marine and asked, "What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?"

The Marine calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an a-hole. So he sent ME!"

MONDAY: The only thing I know for sure is that I will write another blog that will be up by 7:15 AM, Pacific Time.

I hope that you all have a very nice weekend!