This is a companion piece to yesterday’s celebratory post honoring the DoorDash driver who completed her delivery after being hit by a car. With her “the show must go on!” exemplary professionalism, Menitoff’s composure under extreme “EW!” has to be cheered, and, arguably, was even more impressive than Miracle’s performance under duress.
Menitoff was reporting live for KTLA in Los Angeles on the lingering effects of Southern California’s heat wave when a huge flying cockroach landed on her shoulder and crawled across her chest.
“And it’s a lot more comfortable at this hour, but we’re still in the 80s here in the Valley,” Menitoff was saying, “So overnight temperatures aren’t necessarily dropping, and this leads to less recovery time from the daytime heat…” Meanwhile, the ugly thing was visible as it scurried across her stomach, chest and neck before jumping onto her microphone, presumably to make a statement.
Only after the live shot ended did Menitoff exclaim, “Oh gosh! Oh, I feel something,” and try to deal with the bug. “I knew it was on me,” she said later. “But I knew if I took notice of it, I wouldn’t be able to continue on with the report. So I said to myself, just get through this moment and then kind of shake it off.”
Brava. Unfortunately, since everything is political now, even this incident was quickly exploited for partisan effect. In a classic of over-reach, Vigilante ex-mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt shared the clip on X to criticize Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the 2026 mayoral race. Pratt said the insect symbolized conditions in Raman’s council district, where the Rachel’s report took place.
Ethics Alarms 
Well, truth be told, I thought the uber/food deliverer lady was amazing, considering that she could have been terribly hurt when the car hit her. I say kudos to her on a job well done.
As for this reporter, I might just give her the edge, though.
See, we live in Houston and those palmetto bugs are frickin’ huge, disgusting, and, quite frankly, terrorists of the bug world. I loathe, hate, and detest them.
We had our kitchen redone and the guy who fixed the plumbing didn’t seal the pipe leading outside allowing a veritable battalion of those evil, detestable beats to enter our house* and cause an insurrection near the stove.
My long-suffering wife was out of town so she left me in charge. Big responsibilities require big decisions. I saw one of them crawl out of the cabinet, clearly scoping the place so that it could give updates to the squadron. I reacted fast, weaponry in hand, and launched lethal volley of Nikes and Adidas shoes in its direction. Man! Those buggers are fast. It took note of the incoming projectiles and retreated under the cabinet.
I, breathing heavily from the footwear onslaught, analyzed the situation and texted my wife with an update of the battle. I felt victorious; she felt otherwise.
My elation was shortlived, though, when I heard more insectal rumblings in the kitchen. To my great horror, the Beast had returned with reinforcements who were preparing to engage with me. Realizing I was outnumbered and out of appropriate footwear, I quickly checked if we had bug spray or insecticide in the house or the garage. Nope. I then checked if the nearby Walmart was still open – it was, closing in 30 minutes. I ran to my car (hopping over rocks and other debris in the drive because I was not wearing shoes [see above]) and drove with reckless abandon the 2 tenths of a mile to Walmart.** As I entered, the security guard accosted me, informing me that I needed shoes. He relented when I related my situation and ran with me over to the household cleaning aisle.
I made assessment of available items and filled my arsenal with sprays, insecticides, and bug bombs, checked out and bolted home, fearing that the Beasts had assumed control of the kitchen and had planted their flag. Happily, they were still disorganized from my prior attack so they had not set up defensive perimeter yet. Yet.
I set up camp, organized my armaments, and set up a plan of action. In no time flat, the scout came out from under the cabinet, I released a barrage of bug spray on it, dispatching it to its next lifetime in no time flat. My attack must have been noticed, because a cadre of two others came out to inspect and recover their fallen comrade. Big mistake because I was ready. Another tightly focused spray in their direction would do the trick. But, they were prepared and moved with extreme agility, and avoided the spray. Damn! They dodged under the cabinet to regroup. In a matter of seconds a whole flock of them surged from under the cabinet Steven King style, making their way toward me. Horrified, I fell back to the living room, scrambling to alter my attack plans.
Well, those six-legged bastards are frickin’ fast and moved with surgical precision. Fearing all was lost, I opened the first bug bomb and launched it into the middle of the brigade, slaughtering about half of them. They were not dissuaded and kept coming. I launched a second and a third bomb. To no avail.
Abandoning all hope that incesticidal batterings were hopeless and lost for all time, I realized that the only remaining option was to unleash my final weapon – a flamethrower with a 30 meter reach. Yes, dear Ethics Alarmists. Extreme dangers require extreme measures. I fired it up and let loose the Flame of Death, frying the entire army, along with the kitchen, living room, and master dining room along the way.
My neighbors came running when they saw the house aflame, having called the fire department, who had sent trucks to control the conflagration. After the fires had been squelched and the danger subsided, the Fire Chief asked about the situation, while inspecting the smoking wreckage that used to be our home. I explained what happened. He looked at me, somewhat confused, and made a report.***
So, yeah. I would have forgiven the reporter had she simply collapsed into a terrified, shivering mess on air. She, didn’t so I give her all credit.
jvb
*Ed. Note: This author is overly dramatic. There were two of them, localized to the kitchen sink and not a threat to anyone. Sheesh.
**Ed. Note: Walmart is not a place for civilized city boy at 11:00 p.m., let me tell you.
***Ed. Note: Neither my wife nor the insurance adjuster were amused.
Friend: Did you have fun at your grandparents’ house?
Grandson: Yeah, grandpa told the palmetto bug story again.
Friend: Was it as good as last time?
Grandson: It was better! But do you know who Stephen King is?
P.S. That was hilarious and fantastic!
When Woody Allen was funny and Diane Keaton was incredibly young.
Bing Videos
I’d forgotten the character Woody Allen plays in all his movies is the prototype for the Trump Deranged.
Many thanks to all of you for a good belly laugh …
BTW, we have scorpions which arrive through the shower drain. Unlike the beast-bug, they are shy and easy to flush.
That’s what husbands are for. (Apologies for that grammar …)
Ed Note: “incesticidal” should read “insecticidal.”
jvb
Over here in South Carolina we deep fry ’em for a crunchy low carb snack. But, the reporter was impressive for not breaking character.
Dear God! You eat them? Why on Earth would you ever do that? We climbed out of the trees and built dwellings so that we didn’t have to deal with them, let alone eat them. Have you sense of decency? At long last, have you no sense of decency? I fear South Carolina is lost, along with hope and lunch.
jvb
And here I thought palmetto bugs were the state bird of Florida. Does the Palmetto State claim them as such? Growing up with them in South Florida, I’ve never been put off by them. We used to catch them and examine various parts through our microscope. The transparent wings, their legs. They sure as heck don’t bite and the easiest way to pick one up if they’re dead or dying (that’s what pest control companies are for) is by their antennae. Mrs. OB hates them, but she tolerates them bravely. They are common in Arizona, as it turns out.
I have learned that “palmetto bug” is merely a nice way of saying “frickin’ disgusting spawn of Satan and all that is evil.”
jvb