L-E headline in Sunday's newspaper: "Columbus Chamber president apologizes for ‘bad decision’ to wear white tablecloth following 2009 event" -- After digesting the story, it's apparent that this was a 'bad decision' on Mike Gaymon's part only because Tom Wyatt had a 'bad, delayed, and vindictive response' to Gaymon's special talent to inject levity into the aspects of cleaning up after an event when everyone would simply like to be leaving with the invitees. My wife and I point this out when we book events at our place of business, that the hosts/hostesses can leave fresh and go home to a clean house.
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What's scarier, to be a visitor caught up in the turmoil in Egypt, or to be a resident of Chicago or Detroit the night after the Bulls or Pistons win or lose a NBA championship game?
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Thank God and our forefathers for making sure we can own personal firearms! Egyptian citizens are having to pick up bats and shovels and golf clubs to protect themselves and their families with.
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Online headline: "Democrats Accuse Republicans of Losing Jobs Focus" -- How can one group of politicians who have no grasp of what makes free enterprise work accuse another group of politicians of not focusing on creating non-government jobs? Didn't America just soundoff on this very subject in November and reject the DUMB&DUMBERat concept?
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From L-E story on Cuzzin Jimmy's comments on Egypt/Mubarak: "The former president pointed to the control of the media. * “As news organizations -- television or newspapers -- criticized Mubarak, they were put out of power or in prison,” Carter said." -- Hmmm, isn't that what the potUS Imam-a led DUMB&DUMBERats want to do by giving the President and internet and Fox News "kill switch"?
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From a Chitwood column: "As prefaced in last week’s winter countdown, Tuesday is Groundhog Day, referencing not only the varmint-based superstition in a Bill Murray movie about repeatedly reliving the same day (something you might not even notice in Columbus), but winter’s midpoint." -- The L-E hasn't had a designated 'proof reader/editor' in years, but I guess when they let the last 56 people go, they eliminated the "truth editor". Tuesday is February 1st. Wednesday is February 2nd which is "Groundhog Day" for everywhere else in America and Canada.
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Passed on from a fellow BCer - From a Dick Morris commentary on the Egypt crisis: "The Iranian government is waiting for Egypt to fall into its lap. The Muslim Brotherhood, dominated by Iranian Islamic fundamentalism, will doubtless emerge as the winner should the government of Egypt fall. The Obama Administration, in failing to throw its weight against an Islamic takeover, is guilty of the same mistake that led President Carter to fail to support the Shah, opening the door for the Ayatollah Khomeini to take over Iran." -- Isn't this the same Carter who thinks Mubarak should "leave"?
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From the same BCer - This is a vintage quote that is more pertinent today than when initially proferred: "Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself 'Lillian, you should
have remained a virgin..' Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter).
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In an AP picture carried in the L-E, there are a bunch of people identified as Pakistanis carrying a professionally manufactured banner sign reading "Stop American Terrorism - Bring AAFIA Home". Hmmm, I thought, what's wrong with this picture? The sign is in ENGLISH! Bet not one of the Pakistanis holding it had a clue what the sign said.
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Online headline: "Obama: 'Cut Wasteful Spending' and Focus on Job Creation" -- DOH! Now he gets it.. A Trillion Dollars and 2 years 'too short', and he didn't understand that "cutting wasteful spending" was the way, is the way, to lower taxes and more job creation.
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Republicans should analyze all the government programs it wants to target for budget cuts so it can tell affected voters the amount of dollars spent on administering the program in comparison to the actual dollars that reach people who depend/need those services. Most budget cuts will have little effect on the users, but many unneeded job positions will go.
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After Egyot's President shut down cell phones and the internet, potUS Imam-a's spinmeisters were on Fox saying the bill circulating around Congress giving potUS Imam-a the same "kill switch" was nothing like what has happened in Egypt...BS! With nternet and cell phone connections shut down, the only news source most Americans could depend on would be the Fox News Channel, and how long do you think it will take for potUS Imam-a's FCC Tsar to shut that down , too?
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Advancement of race relations will not progress as long as the black community will defend its own for racial hatred. Throwing the 'race card' with disregard of its impact on conversations is like trumping your partners Ace winner. If the Chamber Board will not support Mike Gaymon, I see no need for being a member of the Chamber. If the L-E cannot see who the real racists are in this 'issue', it needs to hang up business license.
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Isaiah Crowell is in the proverbial 'driver's seat', but at this stage, if he hasn't made a choice, its really sad, but he could take the heat off by saying that if either team continues to contact him before signing date, he'll take his ball and go elsewhere.
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Got these figures from the City as they are important to understand what has gone on in the past two years since the new City LOST and MCSD SLOST taxes have been in force:

Original LOST (1% on all sales)
Calendar Year 2009 $32,361,730
Calendar Year 2010 (only 11 months, have not received December distribution) $31,929,991

New Other LOST (no additional tax on Hotel/motels or automobiles)
Calendar Year 2009 $30,145,848
Calendar Year 2010 (only 11 months, have not received December distribution) $28,023,704

As you can see, sales tax revenues overall will be higher for 2010 than 2009 unless some 'glitch' has secretly happened in December.

One thing that stands out glaringly is that the MCSD SPLOST was suppose to raise nearly $45,000,000.00 per each of the 2 years to pay for the $223,000,000.00 in projects spread out over the 5 year limitation. So instead of the nearly $90,000,000.00 projected by the MCSD board, it looks like only about $66,000,000.00 will actually be generated, making projections between $24 M and $25 M short. Even with giving the MCSD benefit of the doubt with no more declines in receipts for the next 3 years, it looks like the revenues coming in will be $60 M +/- short of projections, unless sales tax revenues can average over $52,000,000.00 over the next 3 years. Demand the MCSD curtail their project starts so we aren't saddled with such debt that it will be asked that we support another SPLOST just to pay off that debt.
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L-E headline: "Will Mubarak heed Obama’s call to listen to protesters? " -- Like potUS Imam-a listens to the American people..... yeah, right.
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L-E story: "(Astronaut Al) Worden said he is not very confident about the future of the space program. He said that President Barack Obama is not a supporter. * “He just doesn’t understand,” Worden said. “It’s not just about exploration. Much of what we have today such as cell phones and MRI’s are the result of what has been done in the program.” -- potUS Imam-a doesn't understand the American voter, nor the NASA program...why is this man our President?
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L-E story: " PARIS — France’s law prohibiting gay marriage does not violate the constitution, the country’s top constitutional watchdog ruled Friday, all but challenging parliament to debate overturning the ban." -- Bet potUS Imam-a wasn't counting on this when he named France as 'our' best ally.. nor with DUMB&DUMBERats being drummed out from the 112th Congress.
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L-E headline: "Obama offers strong defense of health care law" -- Only in the mind of liberalism.
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L-E headline: "Shortage of execution drug widespread in U.S. * Switch from sodium thiopental could put many executions on hold " -- Hey, Walmart's has plenty of 30 caliber rifles and ammunition to tide the executioner over, and if Wlamart's runs out, I will donate mine. Game on!
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Myself, Newt Gingrich, and Bill O'Reilly are for "winning the future"...even potUS Imam-a claims to be for 'winning the future'. Somehow, I think potUS Imam-a sees the future in a different light than folks with good common sense, and an eye on target in front of us.
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L-E story: "WASHINGTON — The American economy registered moderately stronger growth in the final three months of last year, buoyed by rising exports and the biggest increase in consumer spending in four years, the Commerce Department said Friday. " -- "Rising exports" really means imports were taking a big hit, and if anything triggered an increase in consumer spending, it was that the DUMB&DUMBERats had to replace the the underwear they were wearing on Election night.
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L-E headline: "Ford profit misses expectations; shares fall " -- This is real... based on what appears to be pretty effective advertising of Ford products, it's also a warning to look at any 'good' numbers coming from Government Motors with a healthy dose of skepticism.
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For years/decades, liberal elitists in education and psychology have chastised parents for correcting, pushing, urging their children to excel, improve their skills, or become leaders because it might damage their self-esteem. Now we have a generation suffering from obesity, lack of self-confidence to take personal control of their lives, and content to vote for government nannyism. Its time to take back the education system, the government, and our grandchildren's futures.
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Looks like the worst campaign promises potUS Imam-a has broken are HOPE and CHANGE, unless you consider we're still hoping we will have change left when he leaves office.
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How can an appellate court consider a judge asking the prosecutor if he is satisfied at establishing 'venue' for a case is something unfair to the defendant? To me, it means the judge is making sure his court and time are not being wasted, not to mention saving the taxpayers from having their money wasted.
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The Left must be cringing knowing that potUS Imam-a's best line in his State of the Union speech was taken from the title of a Newt Gingrich book, "Winning The Future". Some speech writer is about to draw his last paycheck.
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Online headline/story: "Scientists Say 'Blunt Force Trauma' Killed Arkansas Blackbirds * The tests revealed hemorrhaging "consistent with blunt trauma," according to a Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. "In most instances, such traumatic injuries in wild birds are due to flying into stationary objects such as trees, houses, windows, power lines, towers, etc." -- Or could it be so simple as they had blunt force trauma FROM HITTING THE GROUND after flying disoriented?
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Online story: "Ferocious Storm Slams Winter-Weary Northeast" -- Ooops, my bad. Thought for a moment Algore finally reappeared.
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A WTVM9 story: "WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the budget he plans to send to Capitol Hill next month will trim spending with a scalpel, not a chain saw, and that it will save about $400 billion. * In an interview Thursday on YouTube, Obama also gave one example of a program that might be cut, citing community action grants for cities. * Says Obama: "Frankly, we're just going to have to trim some of these programs." -- Wonder what Las Vegas odds are on whether he's read it or not, or is this another one of those bills Congress has to pass before we know what's in it?
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.L-E story: "WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has chosen Jay Carney, the communications chief to Vice President Joe Biden and a former magazine journalist, to be the next White House press secretary."-- potUS Imam-a took the easy way out. He simply "replaced" Gibbs with Biden's "gaffe-a-minute" PR person, but what he needed was an "Extreme Makeover".
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China now admits to a 5% inflation rate, but the reality is much higher. Easy money and credit has created a 'property bubble" which has driven up prices in urban rental property as well. Sound like deja vu? Of course potUS Imam-a and his Financial Tsar deny any inflation at all in our country. Of course, the President has his wife and children growing a garden in the backyard of the White House.
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We hear glowing reports of Columbus being a shining star economically because of BRAC and KIA, but why do Savannah, Augusta, Warner Robins, and Valdosta have lower unemployment rates, and Columbus' just rose again?
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L-E headline: "Platt gets 2 consecutive life sentences for killing pregnant wife" -- While death should have been the conclusion, we can only surmise that the jury may have heard the stupid comments of the public defender made about the case, and that spurred them to a quick and sure verdict. Of course, the asinine comment may give the murderer a claim of inadequate representation and a new trial.
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L-E headline: "District officials vow to prosecute parents lying about residency * Living out of district, not paying tuition is felony theft in Georgia" -- Well, in the same vein, school administration/teachers living out of Muscogee County and collecting the local taxpayer funded salary supplement should be some kind of theft, too.
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From L-E's "Late Laughs" : " EGYPT iS now in its second day of angry street protests, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for calm. Nothing enrages an inflamed Arab country like a powerful woman ordering it around.", Conan O’Brien " -- Conan may be finally "getting it", but he just estranged himself from the Left.
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L-E story: " “Social Security has been the most successful social program initiated by the federal government in the history of this country,” said Sen. Bernard Sanders, a Vermont independent who’s the caucus’s leader. “We are getting very tired of hearing Republicans saying Social Security is collapsing.” * It’s not, and estimates are that its trust funds won’t be exhausted until 2037. " -- Only in the minds of a liberal is a failing entity a success, and the most successful of government programs, to boot. That part is true...sad, but true.
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Online story: "U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich is suing a restaurant company for $150,000 for selling him a sandwich containing an unpitted olive, the suit alleges. * The olive caused Kucinich "serious and permanent injuries" as well as "pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment," according to a complaint filed in Superior Court in Washington, D.C." -- Rumor has it the restaurant is counter suing Kucinich for imitating a Congressman, and is renaming the sandwich for him; now it is known as "The Pits", and will be giving them away free to all DUMB&DUMBERats.
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What's all the discussion about whether only Sodium Thiopental be used as a sedative during lethal injections to carry out court ordered death sentences? Why any sedative? Personally, I think everyone sentenced to death needs to face it wide awake so what they are dying for is the last thing they think about.
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How can the Imam-a administration be upset at China manipulating its money when the Fed is manipulating our money system with falsely low interest rates?
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L-E headline: "Columbus Council wants panel to assist city manager in search for ice rink manager" -- Why not just hire Don Rickles to do the search. He has always been good at identifying the 'hockey pucks' in his audiences.
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potUS Imam-a education in reality is obviously lacking. He still thinks government spending will get him out of the financial hole this country is being overwhelmed with. My grandfather had a simple bit of advice that applies here and in pretty much any kind of hole you find yourself trying to get out of....stop DIGGING yourself deeper!
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L-E headline: "Judge’s comments trigger new trial * Third time in two years appellate court reverses Pullen for same issue" -- We need to do something about this! Let's elect/call in all chips for his appointment, whatever it takes, to get Doug and other judges he recommends to fill the appellate courts!
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L-E headline: "Jimmy Buffett recovering after falling off stage in Australia, hitting head " -- You have to wonder if his head was spiining...and spinning counter-clockwise , when he fell.
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An obvious liberal "soundoff" in the L-E: " A government-sponsored health plan wouldn’t involve itself in burgeoning insurance industry profits and the obscene pay and bonuses of their executives. It would process claims efficiently and set rules for reasonable services." -- Like Fanny Mae, The US Post Office, and Congress?
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L-E headline: "Georgia executers inmate for 1988 murder of teacher " -- We can all sleep easier now. There's one less threat some liberal activist judge can rule for a release on some technicality. Too bad the victim's friends and family have had to endure him breathing for the past 21 years.
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potUS Imam-a called for "a Sputnik Moment".....well since his first two years have been " a Scud Missile Moment", he picked a perfect regressive analogy for the direction he has led the US so far.
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L-E headline: "Obama says ‘we will move forward together’ " -- Unfortunately, potUS Imam-a's concept of forward is driving while in reverse.
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If I had been giving the Republican Response to potUS Imam-a's State of the Union speech, I think I would simply ask where was that speech 2 years ago, and promise if the President and his 40 Tsars and Harry Reid won't get in the way, we can and we will accomplish those things, and then wish everyone a good night's sleep, and sit down.
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What's with potUS Imam-a naming GE's Jefferey Immelt to lead an economic development team? Immelt was his campaign supporter and economic advisor, but later turned on potUS Imam-a for his waffling. Guess it's waffle season ... again!
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From L-E story: "“What it boils down to is, if you find that he (Zyderrious Platt) killed her (his wife, Jilani Platt) in another way (other than a gunshot to the head), you can’t convict him,” (Public Defender Robert) Wadkins said. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the law.” -- This is what give the public such low opinion of lawyers...parsing the 6th Commandment for loopholes in common sense. It looks as the victim's brother should have thrown 'the legal loophole book' at Wadkins rather than "the chair" at the murderer.
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Hmmm, the accused in the above case is charged with murder and feticide because his victim was pregnant. How can the law make killing an unborn baby inside a woman who was killed a crime, yet allow abortion as a form of general birth control to be legal?
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One Columbus senior letter writer is advocating for more funding/staffing at the local City Senior Centers to keep senior users from getting frustrated. Hmmm, sounds like a job for Executive Director of Crime Prevention...we wouldn't want a bunch of seniors on the warpath, would we?
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Love it when the L-E goes after politicians/government on ethics. Today's editorial is a good example of the effectiveness a newspaper can be in bringing light to the shadows of politics. The Parks and Recreation scandal was another good one. Hope the L-E is as diligent on keeping up with and analyzing the expenditures of Public Safety/Infrastructure LOST and MCSD SPLOST. The L-E could do Columbus a great favor by quarterly reporting the revenue receipts of the LOST/SPLOST.
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A dear friend of ours just sent a picture of her son's PreK cursive writing paper at his school in Louisiana. It was amazing... especially since our children haven't been taught cursive here in Columbus; in fact none of them has been instructed at a school to even know how to hold a pen/pencil correctly. They write with the same grip as they learned to color with crayons. I try at home, but the schools never reinforced what I tried to show them. Two of them are in college now.
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L-E headline: "Poll: Americans split on altering health care law " -- Yeah, by a line between those who know who pays for it, and those who think the HELL-thScare fairy sprinkles cure dust on their brains while they sleep... and for free.
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L-E headline: "Very few students proficient in science" -- When you get down to it, very few people are proficient in most subjects, but all could/should have basic knowledge of usefulness and limitations of science, and that's largely missing.
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L-E story: "NEW YORK — The first, and possibly the last, Guantanamo detainee (Ahmed Ghailani ) to have a U.S. civilian trial was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for his role in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa, a case that nearly unraveled when the defendant was convicted on just one of more than 280 counts." -- You know what is possibly the saddest aspect of this result is? Ghailani has increased his probable life span compared to his contemporaries, and even in our prison system, Ghailani will have a higher standard of living than them also.
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L-E story: " MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed revenge Tuesday for the suicide bombing that killed 35 people at a Moscow airport — a familiar tough-on-terrorism stance that has underpinned his power but also led to a rising number of deadly attacks in Russia. " -- Bet Putin doesn't sentence the heinous activists to a 'life sentence, Putin will send the s-o-bs to Hell as quickly as he can.
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L-e story: "CHICAGO — John Stone said that when he went to work Monday morning at Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn, Ill., he decided to wear a Green Bay Packers tie he has had for years to honor his late grandmother, a huge Packers fan. * Little did he know that the seemingly innocent gesture would cost him his job, Stone said." -- What a misrepresentation of what happened! Stone didn't get fired for wearing a Packer tie to work in Chicago, he got fired for being stupid.
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L-E Business Section headlines: "Unemployment rises in 20 states" * "HOME PRICES FALL IN MAJOR U.S. CITIES - 19 of 20 cities in the price index show a drop in November" -- And in potUS Imam-a's advisors' minds, this is a verifiable sign of economic recovery....
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One thing neither potUS Imam-a nor DUMB&DUMBERats in general understand is that 'tax loopholes' wouldn't be tolerated/necessary if the tax rates/system were fair to begin with. Corporations really shouldn't be taxed on profit/income, and charitable people really don't make donations because some of it is tax deductible. Charitable people do so because they are generous and loving. Who helps the person on the street and demands a written receipt of such?
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Online headline: "Rahm Emanuel Tossed Off Chicago Mayoral Ballot; Case Heads to Illinois Supreme Court" -- Maybe there is justice in Chicago; of course it may be just that Emanuel couldn't drum up enough dead judges to vote for him.
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Online headline:"Justice Clarence Thomas Failed to Report Wife's Earnings, Watchdog Says" -- Hmmm, will he take the Charlie Rangel, the Tim Geithner, or the Clinton line of defense....forgot the facts, Turbo-Tax, or depends on how you define the facts.
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Online headline: "Arizona Shooting Suspect Jared Loughner Pleads Not Guilty" -- This just kills me....why would someone who goes out to make a 'statement' then retract his belief in what he was saying? Old time western justice should prevail. Trial today; death tomorrow.
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Online headline: "Carol Browner Leaving as Obama's Chief Adviser on Energy and Climate Matters" -- Another one bites the dust! Of course, this was a job that didn't need to exist filled by the perfect (since Algore wasn't available) employee for the job.
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L-E headline: "Ga. man convicted in 1988 killing is set to die" -- Maybe justice will be carried out before all the relatives of his victim die of natural causes.... maybe. Everyone pray.
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From L-E story: "Council will also hear a request to pay the University of Georgia $58,000 to develop a promotional testing program for the Muscogee Sheriff’s Department. * UGA currently provides a similar service for the Columbus Police Department. " -- DOH! Then why doesn't the CPD let the Sheriff's Office just use its program?
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L-E headline: "Columbus Krispy Kreme anticipates reopening on Valentine's Day" -- How ironic...re-opening the day of love with the number 1 cause of 'love handles'/
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Online headline: "Economists See More Hiring on the Way" -- Yeah...amongst themselves as potUS Imam-a actually tries to learn what non-government jobs are.
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Online story: "The U.S. Postal Service is considering closing in excess of 2,000 post offices across the country this year." -- Hmmm, the next new profitable franchise opportunity may be in drive-thru therapy centers.
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L-E headline:"Mediacom moving Columbus Government TV channel from analog to digita" -- Two questions: 1 - How did Mediacom 'escape' the government mandated deadline for conversion?, and 2 - Is there actually anyone who would tune in to watch who doesn't have cable?
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L-E story: "(Michael) Registe’s attorney, Atlanta lawyer Manubir Arora, recently filed motions on his client’s behalf asking for a change of venue and for certain evidence to be kept from a jury. * Registe argues that he can’t get a fair trial in Columbus and that evidence gained from what he calls the illegal seizure of his cell phone records should be tossed." -- "Fair trial"? The 'fair' comes in October. The death sentence has already been negotiated out of his trial by our government (now it wants to keep 'campaign promises'), what's fair about that!
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Online headline: "The True State of the Union * What America needs to hear most" -- Yeah, like that's going to happen... the truth, that is.
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Online headline: "Tucson Hero to Sit With First Lady " -- Ooops, my bad. Thought someone had already pulled the switch causing Loughner's death.
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Yesterday, there was a report by WTVM on how CITY L.O.S.T tax dollars have been spent. Well it wasn't so much a report as there were no dollar details as to how much has been spent nor how much revenue has been received. Does anyone have access to the actual revenues received in 2009 and reported so far for 2010? I would think this would be critical for the MCSD to know in order not to spend what was outlandish expectations of what its 1% SPLOST would generate during its 5 year limitation.
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L-E story: " Lawmakers in both states (New York and Arkansas) have proposed restrictions on using cell phones and music players such as iPods by people running and walking on the street or sidewalk. The apparent message: Distracted pedestrians are dangerous." -- Yeah, impromptu speedbumps.
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L-E headline/story: "Archives: Historian tampered with Lincoln pardon * Man accused of using pen to alter date on document to make it appear a significant find * Archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper said tampering with a document is a federal crime and that the Archives referred the case earlier this month to the Justice Department for prosecution. But she said officials were told that the statute of limitations had expired so Lowry could not be prosecuted." -- The "statute of limitations had expired".... this isn't a case of fraud occuring in 1998 (when he did it). its a fraud against time, history, and the future. There is no statute of limitations that should be ignored in this case. This was akin to 'murder of the facts, first degree'.
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L-E "headlie": "Economy to dominate State of the Union" -- Wrong! It should read" Lack of Economy to dominate State of Union". Especially the lack of economy in government spending!
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It must be getting close to baseball season, The L-E is back to running foreclosure legal ads in the Sports section. Guess the L-E getting ready by telling us who's 'out at home'.
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As I recall, yesterday was the last day the L-E was printed here in town, and future print editions as of this AM will be printed in Macon. In the past year or so, Columbus almost lost the its crime lab, now has its mail processed in Macon, and now its newspaper is being printed in Macon. Will map makers soon start listing us as a Macon suburb?
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From online story on seating at the State of the Union speech: "Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga) told radio host Scott Hennen that Democrats "don't want civility. They want silence from the Republicans. And the sitting together being kissy-kissy is just another way to try to silence Republicans, and also to show -- to keep the American people from seeing how few of them there are in the U.S. House now. Then when people stand up . . . what the Democrats are going to be doing when Barack Obama spews out all his venom, then, um, if they're scattered throughout all the Republicans, then it won't be as noticeable as if we're sitting apart." -- Broun is right on the mark. but he could have said it in 4 words, "DUMB&DUMBERats don't want honesty."
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Online headline/story: "Case in Giffords Shooting Likely to Take Years * TUCSON, Ariz. -- Investigators have been poring over surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and analyzing items seized from Jared Loughner's home as they build a case in the assassination attempt against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords." -- This is exactly what's wrong with our legal/court system. It's become a welfare system for lawyers at taxpayer expense. What is there to investigate. Put 12 people in a jury box, show'em the available videos, put'em in a locked room for 15 minutes, and make a reservation a no refund with the executioner. The court system should adopt the old Nike motto, "Just Do It".
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Online headline/story: "Guerrilla Art: A Whodunnit in Colorado * It was a 15-foot-tall sculpture and had been silently placed on her front lawn. The artwork consists of a steel-reinforced post set in a concrete base. At the top is a collage of rusty chains and metal objects, a padlock, a socket wrench and a solar light that illuminates it after dark." -- Can all members of our Library Board be accounted for?
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Online headline: "Did China Steal From US Plane for Stealth Jet?" -- Why would they need to steal...XPOTUS Clinton probably sent them the plans along with the ICBM ones.
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Online story: "DETROIT -- A gunman opened fire inside a Detroit police precinct on Sunday, wounding four officers including a commander before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said. * (Police Chief Ralph) Godbee said the gunman has been identified but it was "too early to characterize" him while the investigation was ongoing." --"too early to characterize him"..... .Characterize? The (_@_) is dead and no judge or jury or investigation can undo that, and the world is better off.
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L-E story: "WASHINGTON — Under pressure to energize the economy, President Barack Obama said Saturday he will use his State of the Union address to outline an agenda to create jobs now and boost American competitiveness over the long term. " -- If the AP is going to speak for potUS Imam-a (instead of waiting for him to give his speech), why even waste our time with a televised recap tonight. Oh, yeah, if that was done, the TelePrompter Company would probably go out of business.
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From the "only in California" department - Le story: " LOS ANGELES — Sir Elton John is “fed up” with being a treated like a “second-class citizen” in the U.S." -- DOH? He's a British citizen, and he's no class of citizen here unless its an alien with a work visa.
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Online story: "On the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, President Obama said Saturday said he is committed to protecting what he considers a fundamental principle: "government should not intrude on private family maters." -- Amen! While I do not believe there is anyone, well maybe a few, who ever wants to see any medical procedure be relegated back to back alleys, "government should not intrude on private family matters" by protecting, facilitating, funding or providing for abortions as a form of general birth control, and government should prosecute for first degree murder any person involved in a partial birth abortion unless there is impartial medical confirmation that the death would cause irreparable harm or death of the mother.
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L-E headline/story: "House subcommittee on military construction Bishop named ranking member * Bishop said in a statement after Rep. Norm Dicks made the announcement Wednesday. “This is a great honor for me and it provides great benefits for the state of Georgia and the Second District.” -- And herein lies the problem...Bishop puts himself above the state and District 2. BTW, has anyone followed up to see if Bishop has reimbursed (or seen to that the recipients have done so) the scholarship funds channeled to his family and staff/friends?
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Another L-E headline: "Bishop named ranking member" -- Now, this is a headline I can agree with!
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Has anyone else noticed how long its been since Kaffie Sledge's moniker/face/drivel have appeared in the L-E? I stopped reading her years ago so I've been slow to notice exactly when it stopped, but some of you who let her get under your skin might have noticed earlier. Let me know so I can go back in time and mark my calendar.
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My one Kaffie Sledge story I will continue to remember/relate goes back 15 years or so. After an unusually one-sided political column (which was memorable considering all her political columns had but one side), I called her and left her a message to please call me back. She did, and I asked her a question. Kaffie, I said, "Do you remember the white line on the buses back when we were kids?" You could feel the ice and the bristle of her neck hairs in her 'searching' "Yes.....". I continued, "I hated that line. When my friends and I used to ride the bus down to the Saturday morning movies, our maid would walk to the bus stop on Wynnton, and when the bus stopped she would tell the bus driver which theater we were going to, and we were to sit right behind him, and she would ask him to tell her if we misbehaved in the slightest manner when she got on the bus to go and 'retrieve' us at noon. At noon, my friends and I would be waiting at the bus stop near the theater, and she would get off, herd us up the steps, make sure we put our coins in the turnstile, then parade us to the rear of the bus. She'd then plop us down in the seat just in front of 'the white line', and sit down behind us. No matter how we pleaded, she would not let us sit on the back seat that looked out the rear window. She was just mean that way or so we thought. We all celebrated when that 'white line' disappeared. We rejoiced at being able to sit on the back seat, and press our faces into distortion so the cars behind us could see us in bizarre poses of contortion. I could hear her let out a measured breath of 'huh'? Then she said she had never looked at that from my point of view. I replied, that's is what is wrong about what you write when you add politics to your columns. There is always another side to any story or issue, and to learn from anything, you must understand the other side. I thanked for the opportunity to communicate that to her, and hoped it would give her a new perspective she could add to her writings (her writings about her family were actually quite good and heart-warming). While she may have thought about our conversation for a fleeting moment after we hung up, that thought never made it to her columns. That saddened me.
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L-E story: "The “Celebrity Apprentice” co-host announced Friday on Twitter that she’s pregnant. In 2009, she married Jared Kushner, a New York real estate scion and publisher of The New York Observer weekly newspaper. " -- How novel yet extremely refreshing...a celebrity couple who got married BEFORE they have a baby.
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L-E headline: "L-E promotes editors as part of reorganization " -- Hmmm .... Quite a show of diversity...NOT! Well, two of the 8 were women.
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Having offline discussions about what Jared Loughner should be tried for is strange. Lawyers look at Giffords shooting as only an attempted murder, because she didn't die because of the heroic efforts and expertise of today's medical practitioners. Has it come down to asking doctors to let victims die so the criminal can be tried and convicted for his intent? Loughner is guilty of multiple murders and the attempt on Giffords is one of them.
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Council Agenda item of note: " EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS * It is requested that council approve payment to American Signal Company (Atlanta), in the amount of $54,246 for the emergency purchase of four variable message signs. * The variable message signs will be utilized on the Moon Road Widening Project. The bids for the construction project are currently scheduled to be opened on Jan. 26. This project includes work at Veterans Parkway/Williams Road intersection, which experiences heavy traffic loads. The signs are critical to notify the public of construction zones and detours. " -- Signs ARE "critical" to notify drivers of upcoming construction zones, but wouldn't a 'silent policeman' stationary sign 'saying' "Construction Ahead - Reduce Speed - Merge to another lane" be just as efficient and a lot less expensive? You know, I'll even bet there are such sign materials already in the city inventory which would cost nothing extra!
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Another purchase item in Council's agenda: "INMATE TELEPHONE SYSTEM (ANNUAL CONTRACT) * It is requested that council approve the contract with Bealls Communications Group for the Inmate Telephone System for the Muscogee County Prison. The contractor will provide a secure turnkey, fully operational and reliable inmate telephone system designed to improve the management and control of inmate telephone usage in the Muscogee County Prison. * The term of the contract will be for five years with the option to renew for five additional 12-month periods.." -- What does this entail? Do prisoners now have phones in their cells? Why does the jail/Council have to outsource something that using guards on duty to monitor a central phone bank wouldn't be more efficient and at no extra cost?
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Remember the sidewalk program a few years ago? One such project built a sidewalk on the north side of Mobley Road extending from Whitesville Road for a few tenths of a mile westward. Can't say I ever remember any one walking on it, but it sure made the Post Office deliverers happy as they used it as their own private drive to put mail in the mail boxes that abutted the sidewalk. Now it's marked with the blue paint showing where the water lines are buried. Looks like the sidewalk will be ripped apart for some water project. That was your tax dollars at work being used unwisely.
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From another legal eagle BCer: "The murder of a federal judge is a federal offense. Also, it carries the federal death penalty. 18 USC 1114 * The attempted murder of a federal official is a federal crime as well. * However, the federal offenses are not in substitution of state law offenses, but in addition to state law offenses. Loughner can be tried twice and sentenced to death twice for the murder of the federal judge, once under state law and once under federal law. And no, it’s not double jeopardy because the federal and state crimes are separate. Double jeopardy standards only apply to being tried twice for the same crime, not for two crimes arising out of the same conduct." -- I stand better informed..I think. Now, for the next question: Can Arizona try Loughner before the Fed trial, and if so, can Loughner be executed before the Fed case is ever heard?
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Interesting tidbit from another fellow BCer:
This year we will experience 4 unusual dates.... 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 .... NOW go figure this out.... take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be THIS year and it WILL EQUAL TO 111. (Only works if you were born between 1901 and 1999)
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L-E headline: "Bishop: Deal includes fraud safeguards " -- Yeah, like the scholarship requirements of the Black Caucus Scholarship fund.....Funny thing about "fraud safeguards"..they don't work if they are ignored or unenforced.
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Another liberal "soundoff" from the L-E: "Animals do not kill for the thrill of killing. Only one animal does that and that’s man. " -- Yeah, guess those random Pit Bull attacks are because they are merely hungry. Ever seen a pack of dogs simply maul/kill another dog? I have. It's not pretty, wasn't provoked, nor did it look like the pack was simply looking for food.
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L-E headline/story: "Couple donates red Corvette to Alabama police department * When the couple decided they wanted to give back to their local police department, Chief Larry Muncey said Jeff Thompson’s memory of the D.A.R.E. car growing up birthed the idea of the new red Corvette. * “So often, kids see nice cars and it makes an impression,” Muncey said. “In lower economic areas, they associate nice cars with drug dealers.” -- So now what will the kids think..that the police are on the drug pushers payroll?
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L-E story: "OAKLAND, Calif. — A second-grade teacher in Northern California was placed on leave while the school investigates a report by a student that classmates engaged in oral sex and stripped off some of their clothes during class, officials said Friday. " -- Pray...pray that the fault line earthquake we joke about comes true.
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Bill O'Reilly is right on in his column today. XPOTUS, Ambassador (or whatever his title is) to Haiti, lead dog in Haitian Hurricane Fund Raising, should demand, even be accountable for revealing where the BILLIONS of donated dollars have gone. It's obvious the bulk of Haitian families haven't benefited.
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A fellow BCer brought this to my attention: potUS Imam-a has caused the Tuscon shootings to be considered Federal offenses rather than let Arizona bring the charges to fruition. In short, potUS Imam-a has basically granted Jared Loughner exemption/immunity from the death penalty. Our tax dollars will feed the s-o-b forever ..... and Loughner, too. Oh, the s-o-b I'm referring to would be the legal team that will represent him continuously for whatever they can dream up. Wonder how many of the attorneys are from Chicago?
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While I'm glad, no, ecstatic, that Mayor OBamalinson recognizes that SPLOST/LOST tax revenues are not static nor accurately projectable, and should not be counted until they are 'in the house' (let's hope, no, pray that Cathy Williams is as astute on this before the MCSD board starts spending its SPLOST revenues it's counting on to pay for its expenditures and finds out it will be very short when the 5 year window closes).
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On the other hand, this statement from Mayor Obamalinson bothers me - From the L-E: "Your bonds, like property taxes, are typically a more steady and secure investment. They can sort of be your safety net, but they don’t bring a great amount of appreciation to the table,” -- Bonds, like our home values, can depreciate in cash value which is what makes late buyers get seemingly higher dividend yields, but the long term holder will suffer. The city does not adjust the property tax assigned based on current market value.
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Jack Nicklaus is 71 today. Wonder how many times he's shot his age in the past 5 years.
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This L-E "soundoff" is one I wish I had dreamed up: "If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk, and spoons make people FAT. Remember: Hold the person accountable for their actions, not the means they chose to utilize. " -- Bet obese liberals are cursing the thought that it's them, not the double caramel latte which causes their condition.
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While it is nice that the L-E finally recognize the life of the late Barnett Woodruff, a couple of days ago would have been more appropriate..as would the front page.
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If potUS Imam-a seriously wants us to 'feel' JFK is the reason he now serves as president, then I 'think' he should adopt Kennedy's message of not asking 'what your country can do for you'.
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L-E headline: "China’s Hu denies country is military threat " -- Well it's certainly apparent that Hu's not on "first", but has already gotten to 3rd, and is trying to score the go ahead run. We can thank X-POTUS Clinton for sending all that missile technology to China..
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Anyone who supports the HELL-thSCare Bull by calling it the "Affordable Healthcare Act" was/is obviously feeling that her on costs would be zero dollars. Sorta like the voters who thought they wouldn't have to pay for homes or gasoline when potUS Imam-a was elected.
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L-E headline: " U.N.: Violence, rape spread across Ivory Coast " -- Way to go, France! Another Viet Nam mess brewing. As Stan usually said to Ollie, "This is another fine mess you've got me in". Bet potUS Imam-a will regret calling FRance our best ally... well, he should regret that!
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Online story: "A Justice Department policy dating to former Attorney General Janet Reno (remember Waco, and the Clintons?) removed a reporting requirement in the 1990s that would have made it harder for the Tucson shooting defendant to buy a gun, the Washington Post reported Wednesday." -- Told ya the libs shoulda kept their distance from blaming Rush, Glenn, Sean, and Sarah...
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From online story: "The Society of Professional Journalists is retiring the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, saying controversy over her remarks on Israel has overtaken the reason behind the honor. * The move comes eight months after Thomas, 90, the former longtime White House correspondent, made remarks condemned as anti-Semitic and lost her job with Hearst Newspapers." -- Must be an unintended result of HELL-thSCare; liberal journalists have created their own 'death panel' though you would think it would have been reserved for conservative talk show hosts.
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After viewing the video of the new CSU spa facility, I understand why CSU claims loudly that they asked the students what they wanted. Coed dorms are tough enough on parents' concerns for their children leaving home for the first time, but I don't think parents would have voted for CSU to build such a spa facility with a mixed sauna or hot tub; especially since it's costing the parents an extra $125.00 per semester, and especially since their children could be sharing saunas and the hot tub with faculty members... makes the mascot seem sort menacing..you know, there may be a bunch of faculty 'cougars' prowling.
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Online headline: "200 Dead Cows in Wisconsin: 3 Facts About Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis" -- Whoa! Hope these suckers weren't flying like the birds in Arkansas!
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L-E headline: "Prosecutor receives pay cut after DUI arrest" -- For his sake, hope the DA makes rehab and AA mandatory for the ADA.
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L-E story: "Eastman Kodak Co. has begun a project that will give the Columbus plant the ability to manufacture advanced digital printing plates. * “We’ve consolidated production of offset digital plates for the Americas market in Columbus, so it serves all of North, South and Central America,” he (Chris Veronda, spokesman for Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak) said Wednesday." -- This is huge! Thanks Mike and Co at the Chamber.
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Arte Johnson is 82 today... he no longer needs make up to portray his "little old man" personna.

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Jared Loughner is not going to be on trial; he's undeniably guilty. Our court system, and the lawyers involved will be the ones on trial. America wants justice to be swift and just...again.. and not only in this incident!

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L-E headline: "2010 ENDS AS 2ND WORST YEAR FOR HOME STARTS * Unemployment high, people buy fewer single-family homes" -- How's that working for your "Hope & CHange" friends who though Imam-a was "the one". Oh, he's the 'one', all right, but he's beginning to smell a lot like "#2".

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After ramrodding the unread 2000+ page HELL-thSCare Bull down our throats, potUS Imam-a is telling businesses he's going to hire more government workers to review all the government regulations to eliminate conflicting directives. A good example is the FDA approving artificial sweeteners and the EPA making the disposal of such a red-tape nightmare. Make up you mind, potUS Imam-a!
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Online headline: "Cheney Undecided on Heart Transplant" -- Well, this ought to upset the liberals who have always claimed Cheney doesn't have one to begin with... but it won't.
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If there is a true remake of "The Wizard of Oz", it might solve the unemployment problem. Libs will give the part of the heartless Lion to Dick Cheney, and every lib will have a shot at doing the role of the brainless scarecrow.
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The "MidTown Civility Project" is intriguing, but 'civility' is the language of 'diplomacy'; 'honesty' is the language of getting things done. One must only look back at the difference between the public words of our White House and diplomatic contingency versus the WikiLeaks publishing their unvarnished thoughts. Locally, one can highlight the vitriol in recent Courier writings, but in honesty, the Courier comments are actually what they are thinking and their biases. Unfortunately, the Courier won't allow its critics the same freedom. That's a shame. The Courier has opened up a path of conversation, but made one-way so nothing good will become of the opportunity.
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Looks like the MCSD board has made a good choice in picking its leader this time.
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Between the recent mayoral election, and the MCSD board selection process, Columbus will soon be scrutinized by most of the country. There are probably some other cities, but I will venture not many, that have women heading both of its tax initiating entities.
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L-E story: "In charging the (Charter Review) commission with its responsibilities Tuesday, Mayor Teresa Tomlinson urged the 25-member panel “to restrain from personal or ideological agenda.” -- Naivety or folly? Mayor Mother Teresa Obamalinson demanding political appointees not to be political is like asking a cat to obey and not be curious. Just more style over substance.
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Looks like this may be the next liberal identifying bumper sticker: "O" the President" :
After ramrodding the unread 2000+ page HELL-thSCare Bull down our throats, potUS Imam-a is telling businesses he's going to hire more government workers to review all the government regulations to eliminate conflicting directives. A good example is the FDA approving artificial sweeteners and the EPA making the disposal of such a red-tape nightmare. Make up you mind, potUS Imam-a!
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Online headline: "Cheney Undecided on Heart Transplant" -- Well, this ought to upset the liberals who have always claimed Cheney doesn't have one to begin with... but it won't.
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If there is a true remake of "The Wizard of Oz", it might solve the unemployment problem. Libs will give the part of the heartless Lion to Dick Cheney, and every lib will have a shot at doing the role of the brainless scarecrow.
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The "MidTown Civility Project" is intriguing, but 'civility' is the language of 'diplomacy'; 'honesty' is the language of getting things done. One must only look back at the difference between the public words of our White House and diplomatic contingency versus the WikiLeaks publishing their unvarnished thoughts. Locally, one can highlight the vitriol in recent Courier writings, but in honesty, the Courier comments are actually what they are thinking and their biases. Unfortunately, the Courier won't allow its critics the same freedom. That's a shame. The Courier has opened up a path of conversation, but made one-way so nothing good will become of the opportunity.
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Looks like the MCSD board has made a good choice in picking its leader this time.
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Between the recent mayoral election, and the MCSD board selection process, Columbus will soon be scrutinized by most of the country. There are probably some other cities, but I will venture not many, that have women heading both of its tax initiating entities.
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L-E story: "In charging the (Charter Review) commission with its responsibilities Tuesday, Mayor Teresa Tomlinson urged the 25-member panel “to restrain from personal or ideological agenda.” -- Naivety or folly? Mayor Mother Teresa Obamalinson demanding political appointees not to be political is like demanding a cat to obey and not be curious. Just more style over substance.
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Looks like this may be the next liberal identifying bumper sticker: "O" the President" :

Thanks to "Simon & Schuster".
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L-E headline/story: "Drivers rolling with 10 mph speed limit increase on I-185 *
City raises speed limit on stretch between St. Marys Road, Smith Road * Kimberly Larson, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation, said the crews have been changing signs over the last two weeks. * The speed limit should have been 65 mph on the road by federal regulations, she said." -- "The speed limit SHOULD HAVE BEEN 65"....hmmm doesn't this mean nearly everyone who has been ticketed for speeding should be issued a refund and had the point (s) removed from their driving record?
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L-E headline: "STOCKING STRANGLER CASE * Gary to appear at Columbus hearing" -- Hey, L-E let me know when Gary is to appear at his death site; other wise, don't bother me.
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If attorneys for Michael Registe want a change of venue, I have one for them. Put him helmetlessly in the batting cage at CSU and let CSU ballplayers all throw baseballs at him at the same time for a couple of hours or so.
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From the "only from the mind of a liberal" department - a L-E "soundoff": "All we have to do is to stop the Mexican cartels from rampaging on both sides of the border is to remove the profits by legalizing them. " -- Yeah, making pusher leave the shadows of the alley and putting their merchandise on the shelves of CVS would really help.
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Another liberal's L-E "soundoff": " A coward always has and always will stand behind a gun." -- These libs just 'kill' me. First they feel that you can stop a bully by appealing to his desire to be nice, then they feel that if you outlaw guns then criminals will turn them in voluntarily.
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Another pillar of the community passes, and it escapes the notice of the L-E. Bet if he ran a bar-b-q restaurant frequented by L-E staff, his death would have been front page news.
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Why is the L-E upset about the state's misuse of fees collected for one thing but spent on another, yet hasn't voiced the same concern over LOST Public Safety taxes being spent on Parks&REC programs? And the portion for Infrastructure...who knows how that is being spent because it doesn't get covered by the L-E either.
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Liberals are everywhere in the L-E! One letter writer wants the retiring CB&T executive to write his Congressperson to vote against repealing HELL-thScare because he wants to keep his affordable healthcare. Of course he wants affordable healthcare; that's why he doesn't want to have to buy some on the market at the higher prices/less coverage that HELL-thScare will cost him!
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Online story: "For more than 100 years, scientists studying Neanderthals, humanity's closest known relative, have pondered one question: Why did they have such massive noses?" -- Does this mean that for the past 100 years or so that scientists studying Neanderthals had nothing else better to concentrate on in their lives? Whatta waste of time and tax/donation dollars!
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Online story: "LONDON -- A former Swiss banker today supplied anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks with two CDs containing account details on more than 2,000 high-profile politicians, celebrities, crime bosses and multinationals suspected of tax evasion." -- Hmmm...if there are any Chicago names on 'the list', I'll bet Las Vegas has taken the bets off the board on when bankerJulius Baer and WikiLeaks CEO Julian Assange will kick the bucket.
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Online story: "Dramatic weather -- and intense precipitation -- has occurred in California during the past two winters, largely eliminating what had been a multiyear drought. Just last month, a weeklong storm dumped 5 to 20 inches of rain across a large portion of the state, including more than 16 feet of snow in the ski resorts of the high Sierra. " -- Hmmm, ever consider this is God's way of welcoming Algore to Hollywood.. and vice versa?
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Online headline/story: "First Amish Man Charged With Homicide Hangs Himself * (Edward) Gingerich, 45, was living in Cambridge Springs, Pa., a small town located about 25 miles from Erie, with his attorney, George Schroeck and his wife, Stephanie * . Katie. * According to police, Gingerich, who had previously been treated for severe mental health issues, attacked his wife in front of their two children, ages 3 and 5. The children stood by helplessly as their dad beat their mother so severely that his fists crushed her skull. Afterward, he undressed his wife and cut out her internal organs. When he was finished, Gingerich burned his Bible and led his children outside. * His community completely deserted him. They shunned him. They kept him from rejoining his family," Schroeck told Reuters. "He was an awfully good person, and he could have helped his community a lot." -- :An awfully good person"? Only in the eyes of a lawyer!
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The Post Office might become profitable if it becomes more competitive with other services. Monday was an observed holiday for the Post Office, but UPS and FedEx were out there hustling and delivering.
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Liberals better hurry and get Jared Loughner put away! As they parry with their consciences about whether the death penalty or waterboarding are too cruel too use to control crime or garner conspiracy info, more and more info is coming to light that Loughner was a "Bush hater" (that ought to sit well with local liberal zealot Judy B.), and was not likely to be a fan of Rush, Glenn or Sean.
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There was a 'celebration' event held at the Liberty Theater on December 30th and it featured a band called "Jihad". How in appropriate (or is it revealing) is that to promote during one of the two major Christian celebratory seasons of the year?
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While it was interesting to read about the forming of the "MidTown Civility Project", it might get better results if it changed its name to the "MidTown Can-We-Talk-Honestly Project".
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L-E headline/story: "Obama to honor China’s president with state dinner * WASHINGTON — When Hu Jintao makes what is likely his final trip to Washington as China’s president, he will get an honor he desperately wanted but was denied during his first visit nearly five years ago: a White House state dinnermparison of the ." -- Guess potUS Imam-a and VPOTUS Biden-Biden will do a retro skit parody ... "Hu's (finally) on first".
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Only the liberal media could draw a comparison to the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr and Gabrielle Giffords.
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You know, I wonder if the L-E is really wanting the housing market/economy to turn around. After all, if the housing market stabilizes and the economy improves, the L-E will get hit in the wallet by the reduction of it's Tuesday edition money making Foreclosure Notice Ad "Legals" section.
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L-E story: "ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Upton and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year contract worth $4,825,000, avoiding arbitration. * Upton batted .237 with 18 homers, 38 doubles, 62 RBIs and 42 steals in 154 games with the AL East champions last season. He is the only player in the major leagues with at least 100 doubles and 100 steals over the past three seasons. " -- How pathetic! How can any 'business' pay mediocrity (a less than 1-in-4 hit success record at bat is mediocre) nearly $5 million dollars without a gun being held to its head?
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L-E headline: "MidTown Civility Project explores methods to increase peace in Columbus" -- There are too many 'leaders' in Columbus (and nationally) that haven't mastered acceptance of what has been accomplished/gained/won since the 1950-1980 time frame. Two pertinent quotes (“With our good manners, we mask incivility very well,” & "No one could have known how tragically timely and repulsively relevant it would be,” ) from the L-E story offer great insight to the problem.. the demand of political correctness. Political correctness has dampened nearly all opportunities to promote meaningful advancements. I hope this group will admit that anyone who has 1 foot and 1 eye focused/locked into the past will not be an asset to the rest of the group. I also wish/hope the "MidTown Civility Project" will adopt the slogan/attitude now used by Baptist churches in their "Girls in Action" program for children, "Go Forward".
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From a fellow BCer who recently came home on R&R and is now back in Iraq: "Every time that Biden has been to Baghdad, explosions increase as well as the rocket attacks. We all laugh because it seems to us that the bad guys know when he is coming. Usually, it is relatively quiet." -- This was in response of my observation that Biden was going around our troops introducing himself.
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I'm not sure how and why the MCSD is promoting such 'doom & gloom' over the GA portion of the school budget. With 4,300 new students expected from BRAC, state supplied per child payments will bring in about 13-14% more state funding. It will be up to the school administration and MCSD board to make adjustments, and spend it wisely & efficiently.
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If Haitians let "Baby Doc" Duvalier back into its politics, the rest of the world should immediately withdraw all physical and fiscal support. One word describes Duvalier...heinous (which rhymes with anus).
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A L-E "soundoff" of merit: "Pick of the day - If thugs feared our courts more, we would need less gun control." -- Jared Loughner is the liberals' nightmare. With no shortage of awareness, witnesses and evidence, why hasn't this 'man' been brought to justice? I mean trial, conviction, and execution.
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There is justice in the NFL....Chicago beat Seattle, which makes Seattle's overall record still a losing season. Maybe this will sober up the NFL playoff rules which should prohibit any team that doesn't have a winning record from participating in the playoffs, and any division that doesn't have a single team with a winning record should be dismantled.
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The Chairman of the Psychology Department at Columbia University said teachers should have the ability to demand that students be mentally evaluated at their discretion. Would he have given gun-totin', brother and colleague shootin', U of A-Huntsville professor that right?
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L-E story: " BIRMINGHAM — Have an idea how to make Birmingham (AL) better? You could win $50,000. " -- Can you imagine the "soundoff" responses?
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Hindsight at what went wrong at Synovus/CB&T will always be clear; the future is not.
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L-E story: " ROME — A teenager at the heart of the latest criminal probe of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday the billionaire media mogul gave her €7,000 ($9,350) when she came to a Valentine’s Day soiree at his villa but reiterated she didn’t have sex with him. " -- Who does this Berlusconi think he is...former NY Democrat Governor/current CNN talk show host Eliot Spitzer?
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L-E headline: "Riots and looting erupt in Tunisia " -- Ooops, my bad. Thought for a minute the NBA had expended and Tunisia won its first NBA championship.
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The "Columbus Regional Bi-State Economic Outlook" seminar/discussion is scheduled for this coming Friday at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Two of the sponsors are Synovus and CB&T. Bad timing.
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From the L-E: "Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie used a word found in no respectable dictionary to describe Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady, calling him an expletive." -- Why does the AP and the L-E deem this worthy to give Cromartie a national soapbox to show off his stupidity and failure of command of the English language?
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Liberals...."Can't live with them" and you can no longer add the traditional option with out giving them a non-substantiated, non-fact supported opportunity to get back on their anti-gun soapboxes. Chances are better than even that Jared Loughner was one of their own disappointed by the failures of the DUMB&DUMBERat Congressional majorities at keeping their campaign promises. Can I substantiate my position? Maybe, maybe not, but what difference should that make to those who defend anything that supports their causes whether it's factual or not?
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Have you looked at the Auburn team roster? 20 numbers are worn by 2 players, one number is worn by 3 players, and 8 numbers (under 100) are unworn (I understand why 7 & 34 aren't since they are retired numbers of former Heisman winners Sullivan and Jackson). In the scheme of things Aairon Savage is lucky he's a senior this year because when they retire Newton's #2, Savage would have had to get himself a new number next year. I wonder if BCS announcers had questions about their eye-sight during the championship game. They saw #18 catch his first career touchdown pass, and another # 18 kick the game winning field goal.
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Have you ever wondered if the person who threw the first roll of toilet paper on the oak at Toomer's Corner envision him/herself as #1; do you imagine Mr Toomer thinking that the same person was a piece of #2 in his book?
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Was Jared Loughner deranged? Of course he was! That doesn't matter; he knew what he was doing when he purchased more ammunition that morning and he knew he was pulling the trigger. Nothing else matters. Give him a speedy trial...today even... by a jury of the members of Giffords' and other victims' families, and have the trial moved to either New Hampshire or Washington, and have the hangman on call with a gallows built outside the court room.
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From the "suspicions confirmed" department - Online headline: "Obama to Ease Cuba Travel Restrictions'" -- Hmmm, it's closer that Hawaii for vacations, it already has HELL-thScare, and potUS Imam-a could finally smoke Cuban cigars legally; of course he wants to open up Cuba!
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From a fellow BCer: This may change between now and April, but as of now, potUS and FLOTUS Imam-a will not be invited to William and Kate's (the Royals) wedding. And this was before potUS Imam-a said France was a better friend/ally than England. Hey, we're not going to invite them to any of our girls' weddings either.
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Not that I care either way, but don't you imagine that the new "Zodiac" signs are a scam? Especially the new one...."Ophiuchus". Has anyone in the L-E even looked closely at the phonetics? O - phiuch - us ..... we've been had...literally.
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In order to curtail government spending, some Congresspersons are advocating that the Social Security retirement age be raised before SS benefits can be claimed. Why don't these same Congressperson pass a law that says no matter when a government employee retires from a government job, he/she cannot start drawing checks until he/she reaches the age that Social Security kicks in? Better yet, if a person retires from one government job, make taking another government job be contingent on delaying any benefits earned from the previous job held at bay until final retirement, and if a government retiree goes to work in a private industry, reduce any government pension/benefits dollar-for-dollar with his/her new salary until reaching the Social Security retirement age.
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L-E "soundoff": Paying $5 a gallon for gas by 2012 means we will pay for the BP losses and expenses. Big Oil has more friends on Capital Hill than we do." -- Not exactly ... $5.00 gasoline has more friends in Washington than we do, but another election in 2012 like the 2010 one will reverse this situation.
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L-E headline/story: "Administration ends high-tech border fence * Napolitano’s decision “ends a long-troubled program that spent far too much of the taxpayers’ money for the results it delivered,” said Lieberman, I-Conn. " -- Hmmm, then if this is to be used as a precedent to evaluate government programs, them how about shutting all government programs, except our military, down. Congress and the White House would be a great places to start!
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From online story: "The doctor accused of falsifying a link between childhood vaccines and autism is also alleged to have orchestrated a scheme to make more than $43 million, according to an investigation by the British Medical Journal. * Dr. Andrew Wakefield is accused of plotting to form hush-hush businesses that would profit from the scare over the MMR vaccine -- the one for mumps, measles and rubella given to children -- in both the U.K. and the U.S." -- If this is charge is but half true, it makes Wakefield the "Al Gore" of 'Global Medicine'. If it's fully true, every parent of an austic child should be given a bucket full of stones and 5 minutes alone with Wakefield.
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Online headline: "Gibbs Spars With Russian Reporter Over Tucson Shooting and U.S. Freedoms" -- While Gibbs actually defended America well in the exchange, I have to wonder why a reporter from the newspaper of a foreign country, any foreign country, was even in the press release room in the White House.
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We ARE in trouble. FOX News had the chair of the psychology department at Columbia on advocating that teachers be given power to order/force mental exams of students, and the Fox 'babe' agreed with him! Look what giving teachers the power to make students take ritalin or be suspended/ousted from schools. I couldn't believe my ears; a FOX News reporter advocating more government nannyism.
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The L-E has moved back a century. I could understand a mechanical problem delaying the delivery of the print edition, which is why I subscribe to the digital edition, but today, the digital edition is late. With back up systems and stacked hard drive storage, there is no reason for the digital edition to be late...unless, of course, the IT guy quit and Dusty Nix is the go-to-fixit-guy.
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I thought it was pretty amusing that when VPOTUS was going around Afghanistan military positions, he had to introduce himself to the troops; and the media was concerned about Sarah Palin as our VEEP. Bet every soldier would have known, well, actually does know, who she is. BTW, our VPOTUS is Joe Biden for those who might not remember......
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L-E headline: "Higher energy and food costs lift wholesale prices " -- And how do the powers that be in GA respond? GA Power is given a rate increase, and the GA House wants to start taxing food again at the higher rates. Nice timing, good ol' boys!
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Oh, the "trade deficit" narrowed..but not because more American goods were shipped overseas, but because American consumers bought less imports (as well as less American made goods).
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How about those 1st time unemployment numbers? Shouldn't have been a surprise except the potUS Imam-a administration promoted all those temp Christmas jobs(which people are losing now) as real job growth last month.
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What the mass media is doing concerning the Arizona shootings is despicable. They are trying to blame talk radio and conservative politicians rather than the person who aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. Jared Loughner the only person to blame.
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Random comments is L-E story on CSU's new Student Spa:
"The center is the result of students voting to raise their recreation activity fees by $125 a semester.* “We asked the students what they wanted and gave it to them,” * “It’s a good way for students to get to know professors, being around them in an informal setting " -- Just proof that academia has lost it. If students want drugs and alcohol on campus (which they'd probably "vote for") is the administration going to provide it for them. Besides, since when do you ask students (versus parents) about raising fees to get 'candy'? I know, why not ask the students if they would like to get A's for every course whether they deserve them or not; they'd probably even vote for an extra $200.00 "fee" per semester for that, too!
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David Nelson.. remember him? Ricky's brother? Ozzie and Harriet's oldest? He passed at age 74. No offense, Bob Hope, but 'thanks for the memories', too, David Nelson.
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L-E headline: "Obama says polarized nation needs healing " -- And a good place to start would be from the Oval Office.
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L-E editirial summation: "The Parks and Recreation flap is hardly the first evidence that the Columbus Consolidated Government’s accountability net has some enormous holes. Those holes have appeared and grown over many years, and there’s plenty of blame to go around. Closing them should be among the new city leadership’s first orders of business. " -- Let's start with the LOST revenues for "public safety" and "infrastructure". Expenditures should be limited to what is actually received per annum, and strict guidelines need to be put in writing to eliminate spending abuses.
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Tom Stryker's and David L. Lord's "letters" today are right on. While they prepared us with the limitations imposed by the L-E (at least for conservative opinions), one they should have included was Hollywood's Chris Rock's demand that President Bush and his entire family be taken out and killed.
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L-E headline: " U.S. warns Beijing over currency " -- Now this is truly a pot trying to call a kettle black!
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L-E headline: " Lower corn and soybean output sends prices surging " -- Ooops, my bad. Thought they were talking about gasoline prices... again.
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Received via e-mail: " Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers on their 2011 National Championship! To celebrate, Columbus Civic Center is pleased to offer $11 Tickets* for a limited time ONLY! -- Whatta the AU Tigers gonna do, jump through hoops or bite a head off an animal trainer?




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From L-E story: "The last recommendation from the auditor focused on hotel-motel taxes, requiring periodic examination of the monthly tax return information. *“The payment of hotel-motel tax is currently based on self reporting; therefore, we encourage periodic verification by the Revenue Division,” the report stated." -- On a serious note, I have suggested that the City request of the legislative contingency to create a separate law concerning collections of SPLOST/LOST and other local sales taxes. When I do our monthly sales tax report, I break it down by state and local, but I send it all to the state which then separates it for distribution, but the distribution takes an extra 30 to 90 days to be returned to the City, Why not have the local sales tax revenues sent directly to the City?
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Another thing about the checking account Parks&Rec created at CB&T; which executive authorized opening that account? Such an account couldn't have been opened by a lobby employee.
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Just for the ones who like trivia for trivia's sake: Mississippi State held Auburn to its lowest point total this past season...17.
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From the Letters to the Editor section: Elmer Bechdoldt...Truth be told, you rock!
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If WikiLeaks ever wants to prove it has the public, no, the world's best interest, maybe WikiLeaks should try and locate all Kennedy missives and other writings concerning Chappaquiddick.
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If the NFL goes to an 18 game schedule, by time you add the preseason games and the off weekends for the teams during the regular season, plus the play-off weeks, the NFL season will last almost as long as the NBA season. The Super Bowl may end up being played the same weekend as the Masters.
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For all you 'doubting Thomases' supporting non-SEC football teams: It's official now..."Speak to the Hand". Count'em...i - 2 -3 - 4 - 5....one for finger/thumb; 5 straight BCS National Championships! Now ,ost of our teams will have another chance at knocking off the defending National Champs next season.
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When will Brent Musburger be put out to pasture?Howard Cosell was irritating, but at least he knew how to pronounce players' names correctly.
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I was "all in" last night for Auburn. My MSU cowbell rang mightily (OK, loudly) through the neighborhood (and those nearby) after each AU touchdown.
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Was not the half time 'show' even better than the game. There must have ben a rushing record set when the families discovered their husbands/fathers serving in war zones were behind that big sign!
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The neon yellow socks/leggings/spatz (or whatever they were) worn by Oregon should be banned from football games. Every time an Oregon player showed up late in a play, it looked like a penalty flag was being thrown into the mix.
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Online headline/story: "Wife of White House Aide Found Dead in Burning Car * Ashley Turton, wife of the Obama administration's House of Representatives liaison, Dan Turton, was found dead in a burning car Monday morning * Ashley Turton worked as a lobbyist for the utility giant Progress Energy, according to Politico. She was a former staffer for U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. * "This could be just a tragic freak accident," Breul said, adding there was no indication that there was a crime committed." -- Looking past the tragic result, how can the police officer (Breul) clain 'there was no indication that there was a crime committed'? Didn't potUS Imam-a promise us lobbyist would be welcomed in the White House, yet he allowed his Congressional Liaison's wife be one?
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Speaking of the president, potus Imam-a demonstrated his best leadership attribute when he came out urging all sides of politics to pull together to get throught the tragic Arizona shootings. Unfortunately, the New York Times, and MSNBC's Chris Matthews blew him off.
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Hmmm..former Republican Senator Tom Delay was just sentenced to 3 years in prison regarding misuse of campaign donations; Congressman Charlie Rangel, D-NY, was spanked on the wrist for misuse of campaign funds and tax evasion, and another 2 years as a member of Congress. Equal justice for ALL? Not!
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All right , guys and gals, today is we strive for "unity in the community". No matter how you generally feel, shed your traditional allegiances, and become 'blue and orange' for rest of the day. This is a Southern thing; an SEC thing. I better not hear of anyone cheering for that Left Coast team. We can go back to our normal feelings about Auburn tomorrow...win or lose.
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Online headline/story: "Microsoft's Avatar Kinect: How Close Will Encounters Get? * With the new "Avatar Kinect," Microsoft says it will be able to use its camera to scan in a user's body and then put it in a virtual room with other people's avatars that will be able to talk, gesture and even raise their eyebrows, just like the real people controlling them. * For now, it seems like Microsoft will be doing its best to keep Avatar Kinect clean, but it remains unclear how effectively the company will be able to stem the tide of lechery that could come along with its powerful new piece of hardware. " -- What do they mean when they say, "it seems like Microsoft will be doing its best "? Microsoft has always "tried" to do its best, but MS still crashes all too often. How can anyone expect different results?
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From yesterday's L-E: "Police: Hostage negotiators keep man from jumping" -- Let's get serious...if the man (and his name should be plastered all over because he needs all the prayers we can offer) was really going to jump, he'd have simply gone to the edge and jumped. Why did he wait for a crowd to congregate. Hope the City has a bill in the mail today for all the extra cost of having a dozen PD/FD units pulled away from protecting other citizens.
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Online headline: "Why the Tucson Massacre Has Rattled U.S. Judges" -- Simple..they have been thinking about the criminals they've reversed convictions on based on technicalities versus the bulk of the evidence.
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On page A3 of the L-E is a picture depicting a young boy using a drill-driven sander/paint remover while helping his parents help a widow of an AF veteran. Great motive and inspiration for us all, but while the picture was not done by a L-E photographer, shame on the L-E for publishing such when the child was not wearing any protective eye goggles.
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L-E headline: "ARIZONA SHOOTING * Accused gunman faces federal charges" -- "faces federal charges"? Dang, he ought to be facing the death penalty today! And if a lawyer tries to tell a jury it wasn't his fault, or there were mitigating circumstances, or it was self-defense, then the lawyer should be executed, too!
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I cannot believe the L-E found the story behind this headline, "Male model in custody in slaying, castration * Celebrity journalist from Portugal found dead in hotel" was fit to print for Columbus, GA. Shame on the L-E for considering this newsworthy for its audience.
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Kathleen Parker expresses mixed emotions about editing the thoughts and words of Mark Twain. The American Library Association id active in 'cleaning' up the books on the shelves, but will fight to the end to keep porn access available for any age on the library internet connections because it doesn't believe in censorship... yeah, right.
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The L-E, today, is 20 pages, but it you calculate that the L-E is only 6 columns wide now, it is the equivalence of 15 pages in the previously used 8 column format.

Whoa! There was a 1/2 marathon race that started & finished near our business yesterday morning. One of the earlier finishers was wearing shoes and a 'speedo' (with his number pinned on his rear). Guess the organizers should replace the finish line physician with a psychiarist. Better yet, make his mother be waiting at the finish line. No boy would dress like that in 35 degree weather in front of his mom.
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3 online headlines on AOL news this morning: "How to Cope With Rising Gas Prices" * "How to Cash In on Soaring Food Prices" * "Seven Items That Will Cost More in 2011" -- And even with potUS Imam-a hoping gas will reach $5.00 a gallon, Social Security says there's no inflation to trigger any increases. Have I got some swamp land they may be interested in!
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L-E headline: "Fort Benning to hold town hall meeting on Facebook * (Meeting) will take place Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m." -- While the concept 'is novel', balance will be missing. Why schedule something like this an a WEdnesdat evening when many active church-goers will be at their churches for regular Wednesday food and fellowship events?
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L-E headline: "Key issues facing Georgia lawmakers" -- Oops, my bad. Thought maybe some members were going to have their keys to the Capitol taken away.
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It's an absolute shame when voters turn to legislators looking for work. Legislators think making more government jobs is a solution, but we all know that too many government jobs is already part of the problem as government jobs do not promote economic recovery; in fact since their is no industrial growth involved, government jobs drain money out of the private sector. Voters should only ask legislators to create a better environment to attract new private businesses and investment. (shhhh, lower taxes works, including less local sales taxes).
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From L-E story: "... _____ , director of the Columbus’ Public Services Department, said five trucks filled with sand are ready to tackle icy spots on roads." -- Hmmm if a truck loaded with sand can climd an icy hill, is the hill really to icy to climb?
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In 1990, politics brought me in contact with 3 Columbusites that I had not met before, but made immediate impressions on me: Lonnie Jackson, Margaret Jenkins, and Ronzell Buckner. I came to love Lonnie Jackson, and his death was like losing another father. Margaret Jenkins was, and still is, a community leader, dynamo, and visionary for the future of this town. Then there is Ronzell Buckner. In 1990, i saw an intune and aggressive businessman looking toward the future; now what I see is a bitter man looking backward, rather than forward, in time. That's a shame.
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L-E headline: "ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION * New Alabama ethics law suspends eduction (sic) association’s polling efforts" -- Cannot the L-E afford even cheap spell-checker software? What a setback to Alabama's plans for improving its education system. On second thought, this may be a way the Ledg-Enquir is using to fit 8 columns of news into a 6 column format.
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The Seattle Seahawks upset the defending Super Bowl champs in the playoffs, and Seattle still doesn't have a winning record for the season. Now, the NFL will have to come up with Plan B on how to promote a Super Bowl game with Seattle as one of the teams. Maybe a new rule will be in effect for next year tha a playoff team must have a better than .500 win/loss average.
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Online headline/story: "Parcel Addressed to Napolitano Ignites in DC * In July, Napolitano launched a nationwide "see something, say something" campaign. Her recorded voice can be heard in Washington-area Metro stations, reminding commuters to report suspicious behavior." -- Of course, the Washington phone lines were in gridlock every time Pelosi, Reid and potUS Imam-a were speaking on TV.
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Online headline: "Joblessness Persists as Obama's Biggest Challenge" -- ooops, my bad. Thought Robert Gibbs make have leaked out the latest inside the White House Poll on the 2012 election potential for potUS Imam-a as Gibbs slipped out the side door.
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Online story: "A federal judge has ordered the government to turn over to a defense lawyer a list of 30,000 names allegedly tied to a massive prostitution ring. * Judge Arthur Tarnow in Detroit told prosecutors to give the list to the lawyer for a man accused of operating an international sex ring out of Miami. Tarnow ruled that the list, to be contained on a secure computer disk, cannot be copied or made public." -- Can't you see the next WikiLeaks saga? On the other hand, shouldn't the Defense lawyer have been able to get a copy from his client?
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Online headline/story: "On Passports, Mother and Father Will Soon Be 'Parent 1' and 'Parent 2' * Gay-rights supporters hailed the move toward gender neutral terminology." -- If this what God had intended, why didn't he just create us as asexual like the earthworm?
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Online story: "One of Andrew Cuomo's first acts after his inauguration as New York's governor was also one of the least-noticed, even though it could have sparked a serious controversy for the rising Democratic star -- he went to Mass and received communion.
* The problem with that, as conservative Catholic activists and some bishops see it, is that Cuomo is pro-choice and divorced, and he backs gay marriage." -- I do not think there are many conservatives who would ever want abortions to relegated to "back allies" again, but we mainly are against abortion as a form of general birth control. Can you imagine God or the Pope feeling any different?
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Online headline/story: "Now It's Dead Doves Falling From Sky in Italy * Nick Nuttall, spokesman for the Nairobi-based U.N. Environment Program, also played down apocalyptic causes but was at a loss to provide a solid explanation. * "Science is struggling to explain these things," Nuttall said. These are examples of the surprises that nature can still bring. More research is needed." -- Makes you wonder how scientist can be so certain there is no God... maybe they should do some research in a sanctuary of their choice rather than a laboratory?
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L-E headline: "Protesters calling for president’s resignation * Organizer says Klan reference clear; Gaymon says he was being ‘ghost’ " -- Mike Gaymon is the ideal person to be head of the Chamber of Commerce. His spontaneity for humor is legendary, and he is generally the 'butt' of his own humor. He often diffuses awkward moments at his own expense. If 10 people is a sign of vast support of his protestors, I imagine there are at least 11 or more people who would gather to protest my humor (most are or have been affiliated with the L-E). Mike, hang in there; don't let a few (_@_) get you down. What is perfectly clear is the lack of future vision by the 10 'protestors'; making a connection to "the Klan" like this is in itself just pure hatred.
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L-E "Thought for Today": “Contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people’s happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race.” — Bertrand Russell, English philosopher and mathematician (1872-1970). -- The L-E must have run this so people could send it to the 10 protestors above.
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Online headline: "Orange Gator Discovered in Florida, But Is It a Dye Job?" -- Oops, my bad! Thought Pat Dye might be getting one last dig in as Urban Meyer sits at home watching AU whip up on some "Duck a l'Orange" for a Gator appetizer.
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Have decided on a new name for the L-E: From now until sanity returns, the L-E will stand for the "Ledg-Enquir" as long as the print version remains a 6-column (versus the traditional 8 column) version.
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L-E story: "ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia mascot Uga VIII has a more serious medical condition than first believed. " -- Hmmm, sounds a great deal like what has plagued the football team this year, too. Must have been "catching" (for UGA VIII).
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Hmmm, wonder if "StubHub" is sending out income tax forms for short term capital gains on the tickets they are buying back from early purchasers to send to late purchasers?
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A sure sign of the economy having false indicators of a recovery is that Detroit is showcasing more 'smaller cars". A real sign of recovery is when Detroit starts pushing big gas gulping vehicles.
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The U.S. Constitution was read aloud in the U.S. House. When you think about how the education system has truncated and revised history, it may have been the first time many of the Representatives have ever heard/read it. This is "CHANGE" we can express "HOPE" in.
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It's already started. Just like her political idol, Mayor Teresa Obamalinson is trying to redistribute the wealth by using tax dollars to improve private properties. Well we have seen how trying to redistribute the wealth has worked (NOT!) for the past 2 years, but I guess she feels the mantra of the liberal, that the right person just hasn't been in charge of it.
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Personal note: If private properties are substandard and the City wants to improve them, then the City should follow legal procedures to attain the property FIRST, THEN fix, and Then sell it back to a private citizen at the new value.
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Another thing...Crime prevention doesn't actually start with more police on the beats, but with prompt due process, and prompt enforcement and the carrying out of sentences. Seeing the consequences while the crime is still fresh is still the best crime prevention. Ask a child who's experienced fair and prompt punishment for lying or taking other's property.
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A 14 year old student had his iPhone and hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards stolen from an unlocked locker at Hardaway. Question: Why would a high school student have all that stuff with him? Observation: This was probably the kids best day of education ever.
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L-E story: "Gunshots shattered a window on a portable at Kendrick High School Tuesday night" -- Having been in a 'portable', it was probably a teacher putting his/her classroom 'out of its misery'.
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If a criminal (and his current lawyer) are making an appeal of a sentence based on the claim that the previous attorney did not represent the criminal well, then the previous attorney should be named so he/she can defend his/her role and actions, AND the public would be more in tune with how tax dollars are being wasted either in the original portion of the process or in the subsequent portion. Either way, the lawyer deemed wasteful should reimburse the system for what was wasted.
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I have put my hands on a print copy of the L-E in a while, but today, I picked up one, and it looks like the L-E has entered the micro-world. Guess the size of the L-E now matches the depth of its news coverage...pretty shallow.
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Online headline: "Pentagon Surprised, Concerned as China Debuts High-Tech Weapons" -- Gosh, it sure would have been insightful had then-POTUS Clinton had not allowed our missile designs to be exported to China.
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This may be considered stereotyping, BUT, how many hockey players do we have in this area who have business degrees to manage aspects other than hockey leagues in the new skating rink facility? Besides, cannot the person running the skating operations at the Civic Center just add this facility to his/her responsibility, maybe with an assistant if one doesn't already exist?
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L-E headline: "Seven local schools recognized by Governor's Office of Student Achievement for high or improved test scores" -- We have 56 public schools which means only 1-in-8 schools achieved high or even improved results compared to state standards.
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Curiosity makes me ask this: Did anyone see the Sugar Bowl results in Wednesday's L-E?
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From the "there oughta be a law" department: Have you ever noticed that when the L-E runs a "correction" it's near the bottom left-hand page of page 2, one of the least likely spots that you will read? A common sense law would be for any media correction be offered in the same print space (or air time for electronic media) as the error.
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From the "another one bites the dust" department: L-E story: "WASHINGTON — Robert Gibbs, the feisty press secretary whose job as President Barack Obama’s chief spokesman and confidant has given him an outsized presence at the White House, announced Wednesday he was quitting for the less demanding, more lucrative role of giving paid speeches and advising the president from the outside world." -- Who's going to hire him...Comedy Central?
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Online headline/story: "Arlen Specter to Teach at Penn Law School * "Arlen's knowledge of the inner workings of the government and lawmaking is second to none," Penn's Law School Dean Michael A. Fitts said in a statement." -- Well, looking at where "government and lawmaking" has taken us in the last 30 year that Specter was in Congress, we can only hope that no students will sign up for his class.
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Passed on by a fellow BCer: Ever wonder about the NFL footballs? This is everything you need, you want, to know -

http://www.reliableplant.com/View/21492/how-wilson-manufactures-nfl-game-footballs


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From the "what's wrong with this picture" department: 8 pounds (1 gallon) of milk costs about $3.00. 16 ounces (1 pound) of non-dairy coffee creamer costs upwardly of $4.00.
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From L-E story: "“All 236 of our rooms are booked for Monday,” said van der Reijden, managing director of The Hotel at Auburn University. * and each room will include rolls of toilet paper wrapped in blue and orange that can be used to roll Toomer’s corner. " --
But you have to wonder what where those rolls of TP will be stuffed by disconsolate AU fans IF the Tigers lose....
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L-E headline: "Georgia Power president defends rate hike * Customers paying $14 more a month " -- Will the any GA POWER EXECUTIVES, Real Estate Brokers and Car Dealers who were able to raise their prices because their customers bought less product please rise? Hmmm, looks like GA Power is standing alone in this room.
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L-E headline/story: "Pelosi says no regrets * Pelosi chided House Republicans for scheduling a vote next week on a bill to repeal the new health care law. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the massive law will slightly reduce the federal deficit over the next 10 years. Repealing the law would therefore increase the deficit, Pelosi said. " -- Can you believe this person was the spokesperson for 254 other DUMB&DUMBERats? Ask the retirees of our City who were looking at a 58% healthcare increase and now are breathing easier "with only a 24% increase". Funny how a 24% increase looks good when facing a 58% increase.
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Where's the L-E on follow up? The L-E printed the seemingly preposterous total of 4,000,000 Christmas trees "Keep Columbus Beautiful" claims it has 'chipped' since 1991, but hasn't gotten/published any documented numbers.
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The L-E's 'political cartoon' is more 'right' than the cartoonist envisioned. The banner across the House of Representatives building reads "Under New Mismanagement". Well, it will be a major improvement over the "Old Mismanagement" we just fired.
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Continued congratulations for Carver standout players Isaiah Crowell and Gabe Wright, and their coach, Dell McGee as they represent Columbus in the televised Under Armour All-American Football Game in St. Petersburg , FL tonight. Tune in ESPN at 7:00 PM.
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L-E story: "BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN has fired announcer Ron Franklin after he reportedly berated a female colleague. * Sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards wrote in an e-mail to USA Today in response to Internet reports Monday that Franklin called her “sweet baby” in a condescending tone Friday. When she objected, he used a derogatory term." -- You know, if women want to be able to be accepted into men's lockerrooms, they do need to develop thicker skins. This is an example of 'overly politically correctness' that is shutting out any honesty in communications, whether gender. racial or political in nature.
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Last night, the Sugar Bowl was played. Maybe I missed it in the L-E this morning, but if I did will someone tell me what page the story is on? BTW, Ohio State won 31-26 making it one of the closer/better bowl games this season.
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While I am looking forward to the whitewater course, how can anyone claim the Chattahoochee River will regain its 1828 free-flowing condition. The course will be dependent on water releases of many dams north of the course site.
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