A crowd of media representatives, friends, family and onlookers gathers around Fond du Lac's Don Gorske as he eats his 25,000th Big Mac at McDonald's in Fond du Lac./(The Reporter photo by Justin Connaher)
A McFlurry of media arrived in Fond du Lac Tuesday afternoon to capture a Big Mac moment.
At about 3:30 p.m., Don Gorske consumed his 25,000th Big Mac to cheers from the crowd that packed McDonald’s at 699 S. Military Road.
About eight television cameras jostled for position to film the world record while a band beneath the golden arches played Dixieland music to celebrate the Fond du Lac man’s accomplishment.
...[Owner Dave] Rause said he woke up Tuesday morning and thought, “Don did it.”
Gorske, he said, is the perfect customer.
“As a business, we’re exceptionally lucky to have a customer like Don,” Rause said. “He’s just an exceptional guy and a sweet, sweet man. He’s also a Big Mac enthusiast. When you have a customer who’s enthusiastic about your product, it’s a great thing.
“You hear a lot of bad news. Then you have a guy like Don who does something interesting from a human standpoint.”
Prior to eating his 25,000th burger, Gorske made a lap around Fond du Lac’s first McDonald’s and the 100th built in the company’s history to pass out free meal cards and shake the hands of his friends and admirers.
A group of students from Winnebago Lutheran Academy rushed out of school to witness the feat.
This really has to be Michelle Obama's worst nightmare.
Don Gorske bites into his 18,000th Big Mac in this November, 2001, file photo. (AP)
I don't now which is more astounding -- the fact that Don Gorske has consumed 23,000 Big Macs or the fact that he has lived to tell about it.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A 54-year-old man says his obsessive-compulsive disorder drove him to eat 23,000 Big Macs in 36 years.
Fifty-four-year-old Don Gorske says he hit the milestone last month, continuing a pleasurable obsession that began May 17, 1972.
...Gorske has kept every burger receipt in a box. He says he was always fascinated with numbers, and watching McDonald's track its number of customers motivated him to track his own consumption.
The only day he skipped a Big Mac was the day his mother died, to respect her request.
Today, Gorske will pass another milestone in the journey that he began on May 17, 1972.
Don Gorske plans to eat his 25,000th Big Mac on the 39th anniversary of eating his first.
A special ceremony is planned at McDonald's in Fond du Lac Tuesday afternoon.
The 57-year-old Fond du Lac man said he ate nine on May 17, 1972 and has only missed nine days since then, for various reasons. He usually eats two a day.
He has kept most of the boxes or receipts or has made specific notes in calendars that he's kept.
Gorske said he probably has an obsessive-compulsive disorder but he doesn't consider it a problem.
He jokes that 25,000 is a milestone because people didn't think he'd live this long. But he said he recently saw a doctor who said he was in good health and his cholesterol was low.
Some people really can eat whatever they want and not suffer ill effects.
Take note, Michelle Obama. ________________
View the Fon du Lac Reporter's photo gallery of Gorske's Big Mac moments.
[The Obamas will celebrate] American poetry and prose by hosting a gathering of poets, musicians and artists.
Those slated to attend include Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Common, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann and Jill Scott. The performers, using music and verse, will highlight poetry's influence on American culture, according to the Associated Press.
As per usual, Michelle Obama will use the event to teach young ones. The first lady will host an afternoon workshop connecting students from all across the country to the evening's performers.
"An Evening of Poetry" is part of White House's music series, which began in 2009 with a jazz studio. Since then, Michelle Obama has hosted a celebration of country music, classical music, Motown music, Latin music, a salute to Broadway, music of the civil rights movement and a dance tribute to Judith Jamison.
"An Evening of Poetry" doesn't sound very controversial, but it is.
The source of the controversy is the White House invitation for Common, aka Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., a poet and rapper from Chicago, to participate in the event.
Common and the Obamas go way back.
They were all members of the very controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ.
Watch Common freestyle the sermon, and campaign for Obama, at the Church's 2008 New Year celebration.
Common defended his pastor when Wright came under fire back in 2008. Obama, of course, eventually threw Wright under the bus.
Here's another performance by Common, "Can a Black Man be a President."
Clearly, Common is politically active and a longtime Obama supporter. He's done plenty of campaigning for Obama. Watch "Vote Hope: Common for Barack Obama."
Given their history, it's no surprise that the Obamas would want Common to attend their celebration of American poetry.
The issue is some of Common's "poetry."
One of his "poems" speaks of killing police and burning President George W. Bush.
That violent imagery is a problem, especially since Michelle intends to use the event as a teaching moment for kids.
As per usual, Michelle Obama will use the event to teach young ones. The first lady will host an afternoon workshop connecting students from all across the country to the evening's performers.
I don't know that it's a good thing to connect American students with Common.
Common writes some rough, hateful stuff. I don't think that's a good message to send to kids.
Use your mind and nine-power, get the government touch
Them boys chat-chat on how him pop gun
I got the black strap to make the cops run
They watching me, I’m watching them
Them dick boys got a lock of cock in them
My people on the block got a lot of Pac in them
and when we roll together
we be rocking them to sleep
No time for that, because there’s things to be done
Stay true to what I do so the youth dream come
from project building
Seeing a fiend being hung
With that happening, why they messing with Saddam?
Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no button
Killing over oil and grease
no weapons of destruction
How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one
The government’s a g-unit and they might buck young black people
Black people In the urban area one
I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.
Peace, ya’ll.
I have no problem whatsoever with Common expressing himself through his art.
However, because some of his work contains very violent imagery and inflammatory rhetoric like calling to "Burn a Bush," I don't think it's appropriate for the Obamas to highlight him at their poetry soiree.
Where's that new tone of civility?
Common's "A Letter to the Law" isn't vague. It's very specific about President Bush and police being the enemy, and dealing with them violently.
Would the Leftists mind if a Republican president invited a performer to the White House who called for Obama to be burned?
The crowd learned a little tidbit about the first lady, courtesy of her husband.
Said Obama: "I asked Michelle the other day, I said, ‘What’s your favorite food’ -- because we were sitting around with the girls. She said, ‘Ah, Mexican food.’"
The crowd loved the news.
"You do not want to be between Michelle and a tamale," joked the president. "It’s true. It’s true. But she’s moving, though, so she can afford to have as many tamales as she wants," said Obama in a nod to his wife’s "Let’s Move" healthy campaign.
Obama was joking. It was all in good-natured fun, but let's be realistic.
Michelle is moving, but she can't afford to have as many tamales as she wants.
