18 FEB 05: THE POTPOURRI POT
This is one of those days when no big topic comes to mind. So instead, let's address a lot of little ones....
+ Harris County High School received several careful searches, after someone left a message inside threatening it would "blow up February 17." You don't think this came from an insecure chemistry student, do you?!
(What struck me as strange about this threat is the reward being offered for information about it - only $300! What if the high school HAD been blown to bits? Would the payout jump all the way to $500?)
+ Lanett police arrested a West Point landlord, accusing him of throwing a tear gas grenade into the home of a tenant. I've heard of bad customer service, but this takes it to a new low....
(The landlord reportedly was upset because the tenant was behind in paying the rent. But isn't tear gas the LAST thing you want to use? The tenant's "sob story" simply gets worse.)
+ A ceremony in Plains marked the commissioning of the U.S.S. Jimmy Carter nuclear submarine. That's funny - I thought a couple of years ago, Mr. Carter received the Nobel PEACE Prize....
+ Russell County Commissioner Ronnie Reed wrote a letter to the Ledger-Enquirer, claiming all sorts of people are trying to drive African-American commissioners from office. Reed even blamed the "Historic Commission." What did that group do - tell him his meetings aren't at the Seale courthouse?
+ Supporters of the Ma Rainey historic house on Fifth Avenue announced yet another restoration plan. Remember when James Brown came to Columbus about eight years ago, for a fund-raising concert for that house? To drive by it today, they apparently didn't raise enough cash for a good coat of paint.
(We're told this time, the $300,000 restoration of the Ma Rainey house will be paid by government money - half from the city, half from Washington. Current local blues mogul JoJo Benson must be too busy, trying to get his house on the waiting list.)
+ The rhythmic Broadway musical "Stomp" begins a weekend of shows at the RiverCenter tonight. TV ads Thursday declared "great seats" are still available for this show - probably down front by the stage, where your eardrums will be blasted.
(I have a theory about why "Stomp" apparently is NOT selling out the RiverCenter. When people in this area hear "stomp," they think of a gas pedal on their cars.)
+ A half-hour ad-fest called "A Day to Remember" was telecast, all about wedding planning. But there's only one thing this single guy will remember about this show: good-looking host Michelle Bush, with NO ring on her left hand. Hopefully she took notes on everything else -- for me....
+ The radio talk show "D.J. and Friends" returned to WCGT, after being off TV-16 for weeks. I watched carefully -- and host D.J. Jones certainly doesn't look like he underwent cosmetic surgery.
+ The Auburn University "game day committee" held a meeting in downtown Columbus, on how to improve the atmosphere at football games. First of all, it's nice to see we've already moved past the Auburn men's basketball season....
(The discussion apparently was about topics such as parking at Auburn football games. Anyone who suggested the team needs improving must have been a graduate of Southern California.)
+ Meanwhile, Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville signed a new seven-year contract. It starts at $2 million a year - which means he finally can afford to get an unlisted home phone number.
+ The Columbus Riverdragons played an 11:00 a.m. game at the Civic Center, especially for schoolchildren. Yet SpongeBob SquarePants isn't appearing until Saturday. No doubt some Baptists arranged this, so youngsters wouldn't be corrupted by that alleged homosexual.
(It's not only SpongeBob SquarePants coming to town - but "his sidekick Patrick." This reminds me I'm NOT yet a celebrity blogger. You know you've made it as a celebrity when you have your own sidekick.)
+ An Atlanta woman showed off the tattoo she received to advertise an online casino - on her pregnant belly! [True/WXTX] She's receiving about $9,000 to do this. And suddenly, I'm rooting for my bald spot to expand....
(So where is the pregnant woman going this weekend, to show off her tattooed tummy? To the Daytona 500, of course! Somehow, I think the N.B.A. All-Star Game is more appropriate for this.)
+ Cascade Hills Church held its annual "wild game supper." Sometimes, this event includes everything from deer to alligator meat - so I hope they provided plenty of seasoned salt, to cover up strange tastes.
+ Instant Message to the Grill Outlet on Second Avenue: About your big weekend sale - what did you mean in the radio ad when you suggested customers "gear up for Saint Patrick's Day?" Can you really grill a side of corned beef?
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