1 AUG 08: A HOLIDAY TO FORGET

"Eighty-four cents," said the woman behind the convenience store counter Thursday afternoon. That's a good price for a big fountain drink on a hot summer day. And since I buy diet cola, the regrets only come from the soda crackers on the side.

But that 84 cents included five cents of sales tax, so I decided to give the cashier a fun test. "Isn't it the sales tax holiday? Does this qualify for the sales tax holiday?"

"I don't know," the woman said. I might as well have told her it was Independence Day in Lithuania.

I then assured the cashier my 32 ounces of soda do NOT qualify for the Georgia sales tax holiday, which began Thursday. Clothing and computers count, but cola does not. Maybe that's why the holiday is scheduled for one of the hottest weekends of summer.

"We must not have anything that counts, then," the cashier admitted. In fact, she didn't know about the sales tax holiday at all. Perhaps she couldn't see the page-one headline of the Ledger-Enquirer below her register, proclaiming it. And these days, the newspaper needs all the advertising from holiday sales it can get....

Once I briefly explained the sales tax holiday, the cashier seemed a little enthusiastic. "I'll have to get out and do some shopping, then." But with gas prices dropping at convenience stores, she'll probably have to work out a budget first.

This was actually the second time Thursday that I stumped a retail worker by mentioning the Georgia sales tax holiday. The first case occurred at a more troubling location - Stein Mart on Bradley Park Drive. Unlike the convenience store, it sells clothing. And during its current clearance sale, even Tommy Hilfiger items are priced below the 100-dollar limit.

Stein Mart is where I usually go to buy socks of unusual colors, which big department stores don't tend to stock. My goal Thursday was to find a yellow pair. But before my family grows concerned - I am NOT converting, to root for Georgia Tech football this fall.

Stein Mart indeed had several pairs of yellow socks, and marked down to five dollars at that. They said "London" with a British flag on the label, but were made in Korea. I think all this travel computes to the sock material costing about 50 cents.

I took one pair of yellow socks and a bonus pair of burgundy socks, which also can be hard to find. But to be honest, I smelled trouble before I opened the Stein Mart door. A banner outside promoted a "clearance sale," but I saw no signs mentioning the sales tax holiday. Maybe this store's clientele is too dignified to care about seven little cents on a dollar....

"Happy sales tax holiday," I said quietly to the woman at the Stein Mart checkout. She was oblivious to my greeting - and unlike the checkout at Old Navy, she couldn't blame it on having to wear earplugs for taking phone calls.

"Ten seventy," said the woman as the total appeared on the register - complete with sales tax on the ten dollars' worth of socks. I know some bloggers who would have thrown a fit on the spot, and raced home to organize the Stein Mart Tea T-shirt Party.

"I think these are supposed to be exempt from sales tax," I pointed out. The Stein Mart cashier stared for a moment, and then seemed to get it. Perhaps I was the first customer all day who actually bought items below the 100-dollar limit.

It took a second credit card receipt to set the record straight, and my next bill will show a 70-cent refund. But I left the store wondering if other Stein Mart customers had paid sales tax when they weren't supposed to do it. Or did all the customers already realize Target has better values for back-to-school shopping?

Big retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart are promoting the sales tax holiday with wide-open arms. But if you decide to shop at other stores this weekend, you might want to give the receipt a double-check. Some might forget we're having a holiday, or may not even know it's happening. And unlike December, passionate preachers aren't likely to come to your defense.

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BLOG UPDATE: A little more detail emerged Thursday about the Lee County Commission mix-up. Candidate John Johnson thought he was in District 3, based on a 2000 Census map - but then the district lines were redrawn, and he was put in District 5. The company making that border fencing in Mexico might want to send some to Salem and Smiths Station.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Based on the message title we received Thursday, a candidate for Muscogee County Sheriff wants to say one thing more about the campaign sign disclaimer issue....

Richard, "Surely you can find something else to talk about instead of the us political candidates", you seem to be able to make up lots of stuff in that sick little mind of yours. As for the psychic evaluation comment you made, "make an appointment idiot", you need to see a shrink yourself for one of those. www.marklajoye.com

We always try to find new things to talk about here. Today's main topic is an example. Then there was Monday's item about First Baptist Church of Phenix City - although I suppose that could be called a case of in-church politics.

Some readers actually want us to resolve questions about political candidates. Thursday's "Hot Tip" was a case in point - and by the way, the two messages we left in Lee County still have no replies. If officials want to store Hot Tips in deep freezers, that's out of my control.

But what is this "psychic evaluation comment" that's seemingly being attributed to me? I've never written that quote in this blog - and yes, I did a search of the archives Thursday to make sure. Please don't confuse me with Richard Hyatt and Dick McMichael's web sites. I'm the young whipper-snapper of the three.

Now without any psychic assistance whatsoever, we'll comment on other Thursday news stories:

+ The price of gasoline dropped another dime in parts of Columbus. Two stations near the Civic Center sold regular unleaded for $3.69 a gallon. Are the dairy companies paying attention to this -- or do we have to switch from milk to non-dairy creamer on our raisin bran?

+ A report from the Reason Foundation declared Georgia in a tie for first, for the best interstate highways in the country. If they weren't so good, few fewer drivers would be speeding on them.

+ Glenwood School held its first football practice of the season, at the stroke of midnight. Uh-oh -- don't give the CSS cable channel any ideas, because it might to schedule a regular-season game then.

+ Instant Message to WLTZ meteorologist Susie Martin: Thanks for marking Americus on your weather maps as "Your Hometown." Now can you convince Columbus and Phenix City officials to change all the city limit signs?

SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK: A surprising sign above a well-traveled Columbus street.... and your blogger has a once-in-a-lifetime announcement to make....

In the first half of 2008, our number of unique visitors jumped 23 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

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