Online headline: "Ugly Scene at World Baseball Classic * Canada was holding a 9-3 lead against Mexico -- and then the pitcher pulled a move that threw the whole game into chaos. " -- What'd these guys and fans think... that they were playing soccer?

---

Online 'joke of the day': "Justin Bieber Lunges At Paparazzi, Has To Be Restrained By His Own Bodyguard" -- Yeah, the paparazzi would have really been shaking in their shoes if the "BieB" had been let loose on them.

---

Online story: "LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Ashley Judd, the 44-year-old actress and social activist, has told key advisers and political figures that she is planning to announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate here this spring." -- Rumors has it she's going to chamge her names to "Juggs" to make online billboard images that are sure to be popular.

---

Listening to doomsday sequester protesters, I'm about to conclude that they think the whole government could be run on $85 Billion since they think that cutting spending by $85 Billion will shut the government completely down.

---

If Congress wants any sort of gun ban, it should vote to ban criminals and the mentally ill from buying/possessing/using any type of gun. Yeah,,, oh, we have thousands of laws already on the books that do that... oh, never mind.

---

While we were not given true ground-to-tree-top view of Tiger Woods' tee shot on 17, we did see a bird's-eye view that made it hard to believe he could identify it from the ground. I doubt any USGA official would have made the same ruling for my shot.

---

When he went after big sodas, smoking, and guns being on the streets of NYC, the libs patted Mayor Bloomberg on the back. Now that Bloomberg is on a 'rid pregnant teens for the streets', the libs aree after his manhood.

---

L-E story: "The two outfitters that will run guided tours on the newly constructed Chattahoochee whitewater course beginning Memorial Day weekend have begun to set pricing for trips on the 2.5-mile urban course.

Executives with Atlanta-based Whitewater Express and North Carolina-based Nantahala Outdoor Center said last week they plan to charge about $50 per rafter for low-flow runs on the Chattahoochee and about $80 per rafter for a two-trip run at high flow when the rapids are at their most challenging levels. " -- Hmmm, so much for it being a 'family oriented facility' or a magnet for teen groups.

---

L-E Headline: "More residents applying for Section 8 housing vouchers" -- Section 8 vouchers are what starts an older neighborhood going to ruin... some investor buys a home out of foreclosure or probate and puts it on the rental market. Since the new owner usually doesn't live in that neighborhood, he/she is only interested in the cash flow beginning as soon as possible. Enter "Section 8".. a person/family who isn't capable to qualify on its own applies and Section * makes up the difference to the landlord. The otherwise unqualified person/family gets the lease, then has no interest in maintaining the residence. The residence deteriorates, slowly at first but eventually gets a call made to the Columbus Inquirer feature of the L-E. The homes of surrounding homeowners lose value and no one want to buy them as homes, so one-by-one, they end up as rentals, and the neighborhood becomes a festering hole for druggies and crime. Section 8 is a real bargain for taxpayers...NOT!

---

Speaking of Section 8... there's a local landmark estate home on Hilton Avenue that's coming up for absolute auction the day after IRS Day. Let's pray that Section 8 vouchers don't apply to auction bids.

---

Karl Douglass' column reminds us of one of the duties of a Superior Court judge that may need to be better evaluated. Judges in class action suits retain distribution rights of money not claimed by individuals following the jury decision. Maybe it's time for that rule to be changed. Perhaps the loser in the case should be made to create a special foundation for those funds so at least the companies that are fined could get some good PR out of their penance rather than for the judges getting/taking credit for the distributions.

---

From the Mayor's Agenda for the next Council meeting: "Recommended Reclassifications, Pay Adjustments or New Positions." -- Hmmm dare we hold our breath that some may be Reclassified as unnecessary, duplicative , or over compensated?

---

From the City Attorney's agenda: "Second readings — An ordinance amending Article XXI of Chapter 2 of the Columbus Code to provide that members of the Employee Benefits Committee do not have to be residents of Columbus, Ga.; and for other purposes. (Councilor Judy Thomas) * An ordinance amending Article XX of Chapter 2 of the Columbus Code to provide that members of the Retiree Health Benefit Committee do not have to be residents of Columbus, Ga.; and for other purposes. (Thomas) (NOTE: Councilor Gary Allen will offer an amendment to allow dual service on this committee and other city boards). " -- Instead, how about an ordinance requiring all employees of the City live in Muscogee County so each city employee understands the tax load we all bear.

---

Another from the City Attorney's agenda: "An ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code so as to provide definitions and regulations pertaining to the oversight of free roaming cats through a Community Cat Program to be administered by the Columbus Animal Care and Control; and for other purposes. (Councilor McDaniel) (NOTE: Minor amendment will be offered due to change in nature of grant funding — Motion needed) " -- We must have the only Council in the world that thinks 'cat herding' will work.

---

Hmmm, Auburn basketball.... is Gene Chizik calling the shots there. too?

---

Smart move by our Columbus Lions... to pick up the tab to transport 1500 soldiers to the game after someone blamed the sequestration for the military bailing out on transporting the young trainees. Don't know why the military has budget problems like this, after all, it could probably pawn a few $3,000.00 toilet seats and a few $1,200.00 hammers that haven't even been used to pay for bus fuel.