Nothing like being the king of the 'Culture of Personality' and having the Crown make a fitting gesture to you.
Funny how lately musicians rate knighthood when people that have actually made a difference or made greater contributions are ignored.

Tony let the fanboy in him run away with his common sense.

Hell, Mother Teresa didn't even rate an honorary title with them, but Bono and Ceaucescu did?

Well, at least Ceaucescu actually *ran* a country. Bono merely kept coming over here, telling us how to run ours.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051126/BONO26/TPNational/Canada

I voted conservative just to see him make that pouty face.

p.s. Ohhh-ohhh-ohhh! Can I tell my close encounter with Bono story? Pleeeeasse?
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Merry Christmas to all you nice folks!
-Ray

Sure. Let's hear it.

'kay. I'm sure my story is probably typical of most Bono-spottings, though.

Last October I had to be in Toronto for a few weeks on family business. One evening, an old buddy, who works late, and lives in a trendy area of downtown Toronto, phones and asks if I want to meet up for a few beers. So I drive down to his place and, since it was rather hot and muggy out, we decide to head to a popular pub across the street, which has a sidewalk patio.

We sat with our brews, and after about fifteen minutes my friend says something like,

"Hey, look. Isn't that the guy from Jerry and The Pacemakers, or something?"

I crane my neck around and see, along with an entourage consisting of a shaved-head bodyguard or two, and a couple of actress/models, a short fellow. Although it's about 11:30 at night he's wearing tinted blue wraparound shades along with a straw cowboy hat.

Bongo and his Memphis Mafia seated themselves one table over, next to the sidewalk railing. His bodyguard hovered over us, just in case we acted up, I suppose.

At another table, a group of young fauxhemian war protester-types noticed Bongo, as well. Incredibly, one was carrying a large, expensively-framed art print of Che Gueverra. The kid got up and was heading toward The Bono, when "our" bodyguard stopped him. The kid said,

"I was just wondering if Bono would sign my poster?"

"Sorry, He's been doing this all night. Let's give Him a break," replied thug #1.

The kid sat down, dejected, but remained with his friends, staring admiringly.

Meanwhile, I noticed some middle-aged guy from the sidewalk was down on one knee (so help me), had reached over the railing and was clutching Bono's hand. I just heard him say, "... and thank you for all You've done! You've really changed my life!"

Every so often The Bono would scan around to check if people were looking at him. Eventually we decided we had better leave, since we were really cracking up, lest The Bono become annoyed at us and fire lightning bolts from his fingers in our direction.

I'm not really sure what Bono was doing in Toronto at that time. Maybe his pop combo were opening for Paul Revere and The Raiders at the auto show, or perhaps he was personally overseeing engineering improvements to the city's sewer system? Who knows.

Great story, rg.

Thanks.
That incident -- along with actually seeing a guy riding a Segway scooter along the sidewalk, while talking into his bluetooth headset -- made me realise I can never live in a large city ever again. Somehow it would all end up with me getting tasered by the police. As usual.

May we all have less baffling irritations in the New Year, and thanks for providing an enjoyable diversion!

Heh. Thanks for the excessively diverting comments.