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Yes, before you ask, I do know about what's going on with Mr Crowe right now. He was arraigned (or something -- I don't know any legalese) on charges of second-degree "assault."

And what was his "weapon" of choice? A telephone. Yes, that's right, folks, you read this correctly, a TELEPHONE! You know, that infamous, murderous, lethal device used to choke off the life of so many innocent unsuspecting victims...

Good grief. What a joke. So the concierge at Mercer's couldn't protect himself from the big bad flying telephone? Poor baby.

Now, I will admit that was a childish thing to do. Mr C was upset because he couldn't phone home to Oz to call Dani and Charlie, and the concierge was giving him fits -- that's the explanation. But throwing things is never a good OR an effective way of dealing with one's problems. Trust me, I know, I've done it. Yes, Russell has some growing up to do. But so do I. Don't we all!

He has the reputation of being a "bad boy." (Just for the record, I really HATE that phrase.) How did he get that reputation? Would he have had it if he was a nobody back home and didn't dwell in the public eye? I think not. He would be considered pretty normal. Big and scary and intimidating, maybe (and he can't help that), but normal. ;)

If you were to live the life of a big star and deal with everything that that entails, can you honestly say it wouldn't change you? Stress you out? Make you do crazy things?

Russell Crowe, whether you love him or hate him, is talented, and he's an "actor's actor." He acts because he loves it and he is darn good at it -- NOT because he wants fame and adulation. And when the news media and the populace at large all start treating him as if he does, he naturally gets upset.

All this to say...don't judge him (or anybody else, for that matter) by the measure of your own life and personality. At first I was tempted to do just that, much as I admire him, but then I got to thinking.

Normally I wouldn't throw a telephone at anybody no matter what they'd done. I'm not a violent person. (Actually, I'm nothing but a little mouse, but we'll leave that discussion for a later date. No, I didn't intend for that first statement to be taken literally.)

However, if I had to live the life Mr Crowe lives, Heaven forbid and the Lord protect me, I would go absolutely insane. I think in that case I could become a violent person very easily. I've had little tastes of mild fame for various reasons, and I can honestly say that I hate it.

I've been sorely tempted to bash people over the head numerous times. But I can't and I won't. For one thing I'm not brave enough, for another thing I'd have to deal with the repercussions.

Bottom line? It's ridiculous. The local TV anchor looked as if he wanted to burst out laughing while he delivered the news. Imagine -- the concierge can go home and regale his family and friends with the story of how he survived a Perilous Encounter with "Aussie bad boy" Russell Crowe, who in a moment of frustration tossed a telephone against the wall, which rebounded and hit the concierge's face. It's just amazing the concierge lived through that. Gosh, the sheer bravery of it all! I'm speechless.

This was more of a vent than a post, wasn't it? Sorry.

I will leave you with two quotes:

The first is Latin, and I don't know who said it. "Ira furor brevis est" -- anger is brief madness. (I could point out the fact that the first word of this sentence is also Russell's middle name, but somehow I don't think that would help my case any.)

The second is from country singer Brad Paisley. "When you're a celebrity, it's 'adios, reality!'"

And now I'm going to go to sleep. :)