I need a passport by the 20th, and I'm looking at places like
http://www.prioritypassports.com/ and
http://www.thecityofdallas.com/executive-passport/.  Can these places
be trusted?

Is there a passport office in your hometown?  I live in a small town,
and the postoffice has a passport service, where ruch service is
available (2-3 days) for an additional fee.

Thanks prssurcookr!  I was able to do rush service.  Turns out it
takes 5 business days if you pay the extra $26 for overnight delivery
both ways, and $60 for the 3-business-day processing.  Even then, they
tell you it could take up to 10 business days.

I wonder how some of those rush passport services do it in 24 hours!