Last Week's Most Popular Daily RFT Posts, June 29-July 5, 2009

If you missed any of these items posted last week on the Daily RFT -- or were like some of us and just checked-out for the holidays by Monday -- here's your chance to catch up before you have to do any real work this morning.

Michael Jackson Watched Donald Duck to Fall Asleep, Exercised with Incredible Hulk
"I'm really not that obsessed with Michael Jackson's death (honestly!) but an Associated Press story yesterday about the pop star was just odd -- even for a man once rumored to be in the market for the bones of Elephant Man."

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Now ... Billy Mays?
"Waking up this morning to news that Billy Mays -- the ubiquitous product pitchman who talked in ALL CAPS and wore a magnificent Just-for-Men beard -- has died."

Ass Clown of the Week: State Rep. Cynthia Davis
"Which is the greater indignity? MSNBC's Keith Olbermann calling you the "World's Worst Person" in front of a national television audience measuring in the hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of viewers? Or being voted "Ass Clown of the Week" by dozens* of devoted Daily RFT readers?"

Where Not to Drink and Drive this 4th of July Weekend
"It's not that we here at Daily RFT endorse drinking-and-driving. We don't. (Truth be known, we're much bigger fans of drunk jazzercising.) But for those who do plan to imbibe this three-day weekend and get behind the wheel, here's a few areas you'll definitely want to avoid."

Saint Louis Symphony Reports Increase in Revenue, Audiences in 2008-'09 Season
"This past season has been a banner one for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Not only did music director David Robertson make his singing and kazoo-playing debut at Carnegie Hall and management negotiate a three-year labor agreement with the musicians an entire year ahead of schedule, but the SLSO even made more money by playing for larger audiences."

Recent Mizzou Grad Named Miss Hooters International 2009
"Raechel (yes, that's Raechel as in Rachel+Raquel) Holtgrave just graduated from the University of Missouri with majors in math and actuarial science. But instead of landing a job with an insurance firm or another corporate gig, Holtgrave will spend the next year serving as Hooters' official spokeswoman." (With obligatory bikini photo.)

Oh, My GOD. Funeral Protests By Westboro Baptist Church Right-wingers Can Go On While America Goes to Hell
"On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by the state of Missouri, which has a law banning protesters from funerals."

St. Louis Veterans' Group Calls For Obama Administration to Release Photos of Torture
"St. Louis-based Veterans for Peace is circulating a letter it plans to to send President Barack Obama demanding that the White House release photos of abusive treatment of detainees at the hands of U.S. troops."

American Apparel Didn't Locate a Store in St. Louis, but How About a Factory?
"A year ago we wrote how American Apparel (think Old Navy for monochromatic, urban fashionistas with disposable income) was considering opening a St. Louis store. The company even emailed the Riverfront Times asking us our thoughts on where in St. Louis they should set up shop."

Philly Inquirer: Most Recent Newspaper to Compare St. Louis to a War Zone
"Although it can be difficult -- but is never a bad thing -- to hear what others think of your community, I point you to a piece published last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer."