Intruiging people of 2009
By Cat
Last week Time — the magazine — unveiled its annual Person of the Year: Ben Bernanke, the 56-year-old chairman of the Federal Reserve and arguably one of the most influential people in America.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, shown testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington before the House Financial Services Committee, was Time's Person of the Year for 2009. AP Photo
And yesterday CNN published its list of the 10 most intriguing people in the world, including President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, Sarah Palin, Michael Jackson, "Britain's Got Talent" sensation Susan Boyle, Tiger Woods and — my personal favorite — Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the airline captain who successfully landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River, saving all 155 lives on board.
To be honest, I was surprised Oprah Winfrey, who announced she was retiring in 2011, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, "Twilight" stars Robert Pattinson and Kirsten Stewart, and made-for-reality-TV divorced couple Kate and Jon Gosselin weren't on the list.
It got me thinking: who would be on the Most Intriguing People list for Hawai'i?
Here's what I've come up with so far:
• Gov. Linda Lingle for her decision to deal with the state's budget crisis by delaying tax refunds and pushing for cuts in government spending, which led to state teachers to a 6 percent pay cut in the form of Furlough Fridays, among other things.
• U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie, who resigned from Congress to pursue the governor's position.
• eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, who gave $50 million over six years to the Hawai'i Community Foundation.
• City Council members Barbara Marshall and Duke Bainum, both of whom died this year.
• Golf phenom Michelle Wie, who finally earned a LPGA victory by winning at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational last month.
• UH football head coach Greg McMackin, who made national headlines by using a gay slur in reference to the Notre Dame football team during a press conference. (He was suspended and got his pay cut.)
• UH women's volleyball head coach Dave Shoji, who racked his 1,000 career win this year.
• Father Damien, now canonized and a saint.
Any to add?
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Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com.
The Daily Dish
December 29th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Hi Cat. No be shy. i nominate you. You certainly deserve to be on that list. Just by sheer role model example alone,i defy anyone to keep a schedule like yours...and not drop from exhaustion.You're a credit to our community and your accomplishments speak for themselves. Happy New year.
December 29th, 2009 at 4:46 am
O.K. old shoes I second the nomination
December 29th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I second that, Old Shoes. Your blog is on my favorites list and you never disappoint us. Happy New Year, Cat, and keep on blogging in 2010.
December 29th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Keith Amemiya, amazing organizer and ability to bring people together for a common cause. The following HA article summarizes his 10+ years as executive director of HHSAA: http://hawaiipreps.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091114/SPORTS03/911140340&template=PrepSports/Amemiya+to+step+down
He will be stepping down at the end of this school year but hopefully will take his talents on a broader level.
December 29th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Good morning Cat!
I agree with Old Shoes and Kim...
December 29th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
December 29th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I wouldn't vote for Cat. She fakes questions on Dr. Dish. There is no "inbox," she just regifts her own questions and then we try and solve her problems with free advice.
But anyways, most intriguing:
1. Rosette - the originator of the multi-post expression
2. All the people who signed Coach Mack as the highest paid state employee, making more than we paid June Jones - a former NFL head coach.
3. All the UH faculty members who seem to feel they are above pay cuts and salary freezes just like the rest of us.
4. That lady who allegedly, okay - she said she did it - hammered to death that peacock.
5. All the Legislators who took their 36 percent pay raise while cutting most every other program we have and raising our taxes.
Oh, what the heck, I'll vote for Cat too.
Happy Holidays to all our blogger brothers and sisters. Peace out.
December 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
@#5: I guess it is intriguing when you have a pastor who lives in a multimillion dollar abode.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Cat's mystery man (boyfriend) is pretty intriguing as 2009 draws to a close. We see glimpses of him from time to time and know he's wonderful, but what do we really know about this young rascal? I put the pair of them on the list.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Can't forge Tiger Woods...
December 29th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Sorry, posted that one too fast.. Tiger Woods isn't in Hawaii.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Manoa Mist, you too much!
Incidentally, about my inbox, I made the stupid mistake of using that email address for my Twitter account and now it's inundated with messages about people following me! I just checked it and it was 99 percent full! ARG!
Keith Amemiya is a good choice, too. Forgot about him. I briefly considered Benjamin Davis, the 19-year-old who was arrested for attempted murder after stabbing two people at Koko Head but changed my mind...
December 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Cat, Michelle Wie won a "L"PGA event, not a PGA event (unless the LPGA is under the PGA umbrella).
December 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
GAYE CHAN: of the UH-Manoa Art Department; Teacher, Artist, Activist, Visionary - an all round brilliant person.
December 29th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Max: Thanks for the catch!
December 29th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
How about that Hawaiian "king" who broke into the palace and couldn't find the toilet? I'd like to know what kind of mice are spinning the wheel in his brain. I have to disagree with the Michelle Wie choice. She plays golf, sure, but when she opens her mouth, I haven't heard anything that begs for more inquiry into her life.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:05 am
I agree with the choices of Dave Shoji and Father Damien or should that be St. Damien? Also agree with two on CNN's list: Susan Boyle and Capt Sullenberger. And agree with many above who said they would nominate Cat and would add that I would include several of the Advertiser bloggers on my list of 'intriguing' people.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
For me, Cat, Kim and Melissa are the most intriguing people. Who would imagine we ordinary people would be interacting with media people. And Steven Tsai too, but with all the posts, it takes me three hours to go through his blogs looking for insights and learn a little more on sports. Your blogs are my favorites and those who post. Rosette is one of a kind. She is my SNL, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and from the good old days, the late J. Akuhead Pupule and Johnny Carson, combined in one package. She rocks! Never mind her attitude. She cracks me up and I assume many others on the HA blogs with her comments and ad infinitum posts.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Susan Boyle.
Turns into a Swan.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:48 am
There are many unknown Heros. Out of the spot light and 15 minutes of fame. Just ordinary people. Too many reality seekers.
lingle?
December 30th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I'm so NOT intriguing...