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Linda Sanchez, the Congresswoman Who Brings Down the House
So, these dating stories -- any of them, you know, true? She'll only say that many have "a basis in fact, but I embellish or exaggerate to make the humor more so."
I've recently been on this kick of dating first-responders. First, I dated a cop, and then a federal air marshal, and most recently a fireman from Maryland.
If I could just hook up with a construction worker and an Indian chief, we'll have the band back together!
I'm Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, and I approve these jokes.
A Diploma and a Degree of Confusion
In 1999, freelance writer Jim Patterson got a framed certificate of appreciation from the Republican National Committee for his volunteer work. Two weeks ago, he was removing it from the frame when he noticed something odd underneath: a 1989 Fitchburg State College diploma granted to Sharon Lisa Higgins .
Patterson was appalled. Had some RNC worker grabbed the diploma off the wall and covered it with the certificate? "I was dumbfounded that someone would be so callous," said Patterson. Could we help him find the rightful owner?
We called the Massachusetts college, which put us in touch with Higgins, now Sharon Jones of East Falmouth, Mass. -- who instantly cracked up: "I used to work for a picture frame company," she explained. The marketing department needed a diploma for a frame, her Fitchburg sheepskin was the perfect size, and thousands of high-quality replicas were created.
"It looked very convincing, like the real deal," said Patterson, who heard the explanation Friday.
Quipped RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt: "We are actually now offering a master's degree in volunteerism if he is interested. With 30 days left, it's all hands on deck."
READERS TELL US
A Virginia reader writes: How many sources would you need before you could say Congressman X is gay?
Just one -- Congressman X himself. Which is why you're not reading a lot of those stories.
Arlington writes: Would you report it if you saw a congressman and his male significant other smooching at, say, Cafe Milano? What does a right to privacy mean to a gossip columnist?
If you really want privacy, don't talk about it, write about it, tape it, IM it or do it in public. Any two people making out in a restaurant are fair game; anyone making out at Cafe Milano is practically begging to be written about. Send us any lip-lock sightings at reliablesource@washpost.com .
