47 years ago, my favorite household pet, Tarheel, a black cocker spaniel who knew to go the Wells Dairies field whenever he saw us putting on our Little League uniforms, died. Oh, and 147 years ago, Lee surrendered at Appomattox. --- Gerry Lester Watson, Jr won the Masters yesterday in one of the most exciting ever. You know, Bubba Watson.. what can I say. If Phil didn't win, Bubba was a good option. Besides, It will be most appropriate that the first ever 'major' to have "Bubba" engraved on it be won in the South. --- Online "story": "Hillary Clinton, perhaps President Barack Obama's most high-profile cabinet member, won't be attending this year's Democratic convention in Charlotte, N.C., citing the duties of her job as secretary of state." -- Yeah....right... Just another 'sign' to her backers not to put Biden in the forefront for a 2016 run at the presidency. --- From online story about Tim Tebow addressing an Easter service in Texas: "(Tebow) also took a shot at professional athletes who insist they are not role models. * "Yes you are. You're just not a good one," Tebow said." -- Amen! Politicians should take note as well. --- L-E headline/story: "Charter Review Commission to reconvene this afternoon to reconsider basic service fee * At issue is a proposal that would allow Columbus Council to impose a $500 basic service fee on all city real estate, ostensibly to address property owners who pay little or no property tax because of the property tax assessment freeze. The fee would affect only those properties that pay less than $500 a year, and would charge only the difference between those taxes paid and $500. For example, a property owner who paid $300 would be charged a $200 basic service fee." -- I hope the Charter Review Commission will look closely at the law that allows every owner of a Eagle & Phenix Condo pay property taxes at an unreasonably low rate. A retired banker paid but $27.08 for property taxes in 2011 for his condo valued at $324,378.00, and a retired doctor with a condo valued at $1,332,812.00 paid but $388.81 in 2011. Even more infuriating is that someone can buy one of these condos, and at the same time keep his/her homestead exemption on another property in Columbus. --- From L-E interview with the chairman of the Land Bank: "To be listed on the National Register of Historic Places a historic building must have some additional significance whether it is unique in its design, a historic event occurred there, an important person lived or stayed at the property," -- Property can be listed because "an important person lived or stayed at the property"? Guess that explains how we got the "Ma Rainey" house where she spent a couple of months of her life. Also explains why so many national buildings proclaimed "George Washington slept here". Sure hope no one ever considers Bill Clinton an important person, Can you imagine all the places that would apply for tax exemption based on him 'sleeping here"? --- One of our fellow BCers just finished a dream vacation with his 94 year old dad which culminated with the Masters. How can one imagine what heaven will be like when you realize that in spite that heaven is not on this earth, the Masters exists. --- L-E "soundoff" some may attribute to me (I wish): "Obama might claim that today’s GOP would reject Ronald Reagan, but he cannot deny that today’s Democrats would reject JFK. " -- --- A liberal's L-E "soundoff": "Mayor Tomlinson is the best mayor this town has ever seen. Why do people constantly carp and make up lies about her? Oh, I forgot — they teach that on Fox. " -- Even though the writer cannot provide any such mention of Mayor Obamalinson by a Fox spokesperson, he/she has to point the finger of blame somewhere other than the "deservee". I'm just surprised the writer didn't also 'blame Bush', too. --- L-E story: "So he (Attorney Frank Myer) wrote to Ron Hamlett and asked if the city would consider some measure to make the intersection safer. Hamlett wrote back that a study of the intersection shows it doesn’t get enough traffic to warrant a four-way stop. Besides, he wrote, city records indicate that there has been only one accident per year for the last four years at the intersection. * “Who are you going to believe, the people who live there, or the computers?” asked local attorney Frank Myers, who lives up the road from the intersection and has been trying for some time to get the situation addressed. " - I believe Attorney Frank Myer answered his own question quite well. --- L-E story: "ATLANTA — The Underground Atlanta attraction has seen its share of ups and downs, but now city leaders are searching for a new way for the downtown project to reinvent itself. * He (Mayor Kasim Reed) added: “Underground, given the right anchor, could be hugely successful. This has to be figured out.”" -- For starters, do what the Coca Cola Museum did, move a mile (or way more) away from there! As for "the right anchor", Reed should consider relocating the Atlanta Police Headquarters there. That or maybe making it the home of 'night school'.. that way the thuigs will be sure to stay away. --- L-E headline/story: "Report: Lobbyists spend thousands on gifts for lawmakers * The analysis shows lobbyists spent $866,747 on gifts for lawmakers between Jan. 1 and March 31 — an average of $9,525 per day. It included more than $17,000 in free sports and events tickets" -- Thank goodness this happens in Atlanta! If it happened in Columbus, even Council would have a hard time getting free tickets to the Civic Center! --- L-E headline: "Braves insist they’re fine after 0-3 start" -- That's pathetic! Even if Atlanta was 2-1 instead, Atlanta shouldn't insist 'they're fine'. --- L-E story: "Brian Baker will be one of four men to be inducted into the Columbus State Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday at the Lump-kin Center. " For all interested...Brian was a Peach Leaguer.