11 JUL 05: DENNIS THE DUD?

Why is this blogger smiling? Because thanks to a pair of tropical storms, I haven't needed to turn on my air conditioner three nights in the last six. Sometimes hurricanes can have a silver lining - for my wallet, and not Georgia Power's.

The rain and wind from Hurricane Dennis were strong enough Sunday afternoon to knock out power for thousands of people in the Columbus area. For some guys, it was a bit like the good old days. They listened to the NASCAR race on radio, then snoozed the evening away on the couch.

The lack of electricity was frustrating for some visitors. They fled Florida to escape Dennis, then checked in at motels with no working TV -- so they don't know when it will be safe to go home. How many managers will pay the electric crews to restore their service last?

While motels were filled with evacuees from Florida, several hurricane shelters in our area sat practically empty. At one point Sunday afternoon, only about 20 people were using Auburn University's Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum - almost matching the attendance for some non-conference basketball games.

Because of Dennis, several area schools called off classes for today. They include Pinehurst Christian School in Columbus - where you'd think they'd go ahead and meet, if only to pray for protection.

Russell County Schools called off today's scheduled summer graduation exam because of the storm. Yet Phenix City Central plans to go ahead with its exam - giving its students a vital edge in the "I'm smarter than you" debates outside stores.

I was busy working in an office when Hurricane Dennis came ashore Sunday. I'm told the highest wind gust in Columbus was about 50 miles per hour -- so this storm was more polite than most Columbus drivers, and never went above the highway speed
limit.

While the Columbus area was under a tornado watch for hours, no warnings ever were issued. That problem was confined to south Alabama - the only location this side of Fort Benning where it's paying well to be in the construction business.

Did you see what Alabama Governor Bob Riley did to prepare for Hurricane Dennis? He filed a request with President Bush IN ADVANCE to declare two-thirds of the state a disaster area. The President declared Russell County a disaster almost before the power went out.

Given the lack of severe weather and flooding in Columbus, some of my co-workers declared Hurricane Dennis "a dud" Sunday night. They should tell that to the family on Windsor Drive, which saw a tree fall on their home. For that family, it was more like a thud.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Back and forth we go with one of our blog readers. A Sunday message and our reply brought this:

I'm beginning to agree with the Catholic woman. Every point I've tried to make so far has been shot down by the bully pulpit. It's ludicrous. We were taught to believe that when Blogs became successful it would be the last bastion of debate in America, and it hasn't been true at all. It's another form of talk radio. It's always gotta be one vast side battling another smaller side, doesn't it? There's no debate here. There's a small minority who questions and confronts statements made here, then there's the vast majority who agree with everything Burkard says and slams the minority. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

Yes, I was here several months ago when the Glisson rally took place. I hate it when smucks try to assume something about me that they always get wrong. Listen to local talk radio?? If i wanted a one-sided debate, I'll just come to this page. And for the record, I've been following the Walker case since I got here a year ago. Remember, never assume. It makes an a** out of u and me.

And obviously my statement about military service was not read in full (go figure). I distinctly remember saying that military service didn't always require being a killing a machine. What about training as a computer specialist, engineer, medic, reporter, chef, etc? The list goes on and on. I've known many people who served in the military and only picked up a rifle during basic....

And now for the backlash from Burkard's bully pulpit..................

AR

First of all, AR, let me apologize to you and everyone else in cyberspace for being a "smuck." I guess it all stems from what I usually eat for breakfast - putting Smuckers jelly on my toast.

(Maybe now I qualify to be on that Thursday night TV show with.... no wait. That's called SMACK-down.)

But I'm confused - blogs are NOT a "bastion of debate"?! I've posted everything AR has sent me so far (although if AR doesn't mind, I'm holding a section of this e-mail about Christianity for next weekend's religious discussion). I've seen blogs which don't even let you comment. And a blog in the denomination I attend deleted one of my comments - so either way I'm a loser.

(Maybe we're using an old-fashioned definition of "debate" here - where I express my view, you express your view, and then you expect me to cave in because you KNOW you know more than I do.)

AR claims with sadness blogs are "one vast side battling another smaller side." But let's be honest: what things in life are NOT like that? That's true in the eminent domain debate, many political campaigns -- and awhile back, a smaller side from Tampa Bay actually won some games over the New York Yankees.

Yes, AR did write military service does not mean "being a killing machine." But I hope he realizes U.S. support personnel such as chefs and engineers are just as much at risk in Iraq. One deadly attack on a Virginia unit's mess hall comes to mind -- and sadly, some terrorists seem willing to make ALL of Iraq a mess.

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