By Judi McLeod
Monday, November 27, 2006
It's in a way thanks to radio giant Michael Savage that I now know that I look a lot like beleaguered United Nations Secretary General Kofi annan.
It's not that I'm not beleaguered; it's just that the world's top bureaucrat is not someone I am happy looking like.
If I have to have a doppelganger, let it be mega miles away from the politically correct UN.
It was really brave Canada Free Press (CFP) associate Editor arthur Weinreb, who first broke the news to me that he found on the Internet I looked a lot like Kofi annan. But I thought Weinreb was kidding because he has that sort of humour.
I was looking for a picture of myself to send to that adorable, furry fellow named Theodore (Teddy) Trueheart.
But how could I possibly look like the guy that no one is going to miss much when he leaves Turtle Bay next month?
Weinreb suggested that if I didn't believe him, I could take a google gander for myself.
So when I went looking through the Google cache, the first two pictures I saw were photos of Kofi with cutlines underneath reading: "Por Judi McLeod".
Eek! If there is someone I'd rather not look like, it's Kofi. Well, I don't think I'd be too happy looking like his sidekick Canadian Maurice Strong either.
In the gaggle of google photos, there were others. Judi McLeod as a handsome sheikh, though I have no idea which particular one, and another picture of Iranian President Mahmud ahmadinejad with the cutline: "By Judi McLeod". Trust me, ahmadinejad, who says he becomes bathed in a mysterious light when he visits the UN, is in a class all by himself.
But my favourite was the Reuters in Lebanon picture of a Mickey Mouse doll supposedly all that was left in the rubble of war torn Lebanon when the Israelis were attacking that country a few months back. That photo with my byline as its caption gave me a fit of the giggles, for I remembered the blogger who posted this message during the doctored photo controversy: "Oh, my God" They've killed Mickey. Those bastards!
Good thing I didn't email any of the photos to the discerning Theodore Trueheart. We know what he would have done with them.
at the very end of the page was a picture of the real moi, the one that appears at the bottom of my columns. But the cutlline under this picture identified me as "El Iberoamericano Judi McLeod." Tracing it back, I discovered that I had been for some time--without my approval or even knowledge--a columnist for a Spanish speaking website with my very own email.
Imagine this happening all because I wanted to send my picture to the self-proclaimed "mascot" of Theodore Trueheart, the seafaring dog who travels everywhere with Michael Savage.
after my column about him appeared on the SavageNation, Teddy became an overnight sensation. CFP received more letters about Teddy than Nancy Pelosi and any other politician written about in the same time period.
That's because the irrepressible silver poodle is cute on a good or bad hair day. Unlike the politicians of the day, Teddy can look you straight in the eye from the most soulful and sincere brown eyes. Like most pets, Teddy gives unconditional love. Politicians only take and always come back for more.
"Your article and photo were so perfect. Like Savage, I `looovve' dogs so much and so enjoy his Teddy stories," wrote Jen Masse. "Now I can put a face with a name. For sure, Teddy rules the boat and the seal. We need the lightness and the joy a dog brings in such a crazy world that seems to be getting crazier by the minute."
"Many thanks for the photo and news about Teddy," wrote Diana Garibaldi. "I am a faithful listener to his Daddy's radio show. I remember when he got Teddy from Tennessee. and all the wonderful stories, also when he got that terrible ear infection. "I bond with Michael Savage on many issues, but in a way his love for Teddy gave us the desire to go out and get our own little sliver dog, Titina."
Normally guff men wrote to tell CFP that they found Teddy "perfectly charming" and wanted to hear more about him.
Then there were the parents who wrote that their children who fell in love with the pooch wanted one that "looks exactly like Teddy" for Christmas.
The best note of all came from "Teddy's mascot" Michael Savage, who wrote, "Teddy purred when he read his fan mail!"
So many letters poured in that CFP believes that Teddy gave Barney, the White House inky black Scottish terrier, a run for his money.
Teddy doesn't have his own home page, but we can see from the reaction of his fans that he should have one.
Still others thinking, incorrectly that we might have some influence on his Mascot, want Savage to write a book about his tail-wagging constant companion, "because we just can't get enough Teddy stories," as Tim Whalen wrote.
Yours Truly thought about Teddy coffee cups, cologne with a definite sea tang (Teddy's favourite scent) and Teddy togs.
Take that, Whitehouse Barney.
Meanwhile, if there is anything that Theodore Trueheart proved it is that people love reading about man's best friend.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2018 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2018 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement