1 APR 09: Fin de Fiesta

We should put a disclaimer at the top of today's post. Yes, we know what day of the year it is - but we don't engage in spoofs or "fake-you-out" posts. We save our humor for the punchlines. And we will not stoop to making up absurd fantasy stories -- which is the trashy level of National Public Radio.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of Columbus not marking Cesar Chavez Day, your blog learned Tuesday "Fiesta Columbus" will NOT be held in May - and may not be held anymore at all. Next thing you know, the El Vaquero restaurants will be sold to a Canadian doughnut chain.

One question actually led to another here. When we noticed the city was doing nothing for Cesar Chavez Day, we wondered about the next Hispanic-themed event on the calendar. But the Civic Center schedule didn't mention Fiesta Columbus in May. Of course, it also doesn't list any high school graduation ceremonies - and I expect at least a few seniors will be eligible.

So we called the Columbus Civic Center office Tuesday to ask if Fiesta Columbus was still on. The receptionist admitted it would not be held this year, but she didn't know the reason why. It's those deep questions which divide the managers from the receptionists....

Later in the morning, we called the Civic Center again and asked for Robin Walker. The Marketing Manager called us back, and actually said this about Fiesta Columbus: "It was not canceled. It simply was never scheduled." Ohhhhh. Isn't that like saying the Russell County High School Principal wasn't fired, because her "contract was not renewed?"

Robin Walker explained the Columbus Civic Center had a three-year contract with the carnival company which set up in South Commons for Fiesta Columbus. That contract ran out last year -- and you'll notice the carnival tends to run out of town, while the Civic Center staff does not.

Robin Walker added the Columbus Civic Center has a small staff, which is hosting several events this spring. For instance, the Cottonmouths have a winner-take-all hockey game tonight against Fayetteville. A Columbus win, and it's on to the finals. A Cottonmouths loss, and the Lions won't have to practice in the parking lot for several weeks.

We asked Robin Walker if the decision not to bring back Fiesta Columbus was based more on the economy or Civic Center staffing. She clearly wasn't sure about how to answer that, and repeated the explanation about the contract expiring. But are we down to only one carnival company in this country? Do you really need a Ferris wheel to honor people with last names like Fernandez?

When Fiesta Columbus began three years ago, the Civic Center staff assured people it would be an annual spring event [4 May 06]. It even was billed as the city's first big "multicultural" event [7 May 06]. Now you may have to hope for the local soccer leagues to merge.

I didn't realize until Tuesday night that the Columbus Civic Center hired a company in Indiana three years ago to design the Fiesta Columbus web site. Maybe that was the problem - the event offered Indiana "corn dogs," instead of changing the name to maiz.

(The Fiesta Columbus web site has disappeared since last year, and the domain name now is open for anyone to take. You'd think SOA Watch would claim it, because a "fiesta" sounds much more appealing for visitors than a protest march.)

The demise of Fiesta Columbus means Broadway Springfest becomes the city's big spring celebration - and this month will mark only the second time it's been held. It promises musical performances, crafts, live animals and a "motorshow." That's far more than how I heard one person describe last year's event: "three snow-cone stands."

By the way, Robin Walker told me things are going well financially for the Columbus Civic Center. Attendance is up this year, and revenue was up in March. That comic ventriloquist must inspire people to buy more beer than I realized.

But consider the impact of this news on the Hispanic community in Columbus. First no Cesar Chavez Day celebration - and now no Fiesta Columbus. It's a bit like being told the only place in town to eat Mexican food is Taco Bell....

-> How are the Thursday night poker games going? Check the results and more at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <--

E-MAIL UPDATE: This warning reached us Tuesday night, but it might be too late for you....

April virus will hit update windows NOW

Unlike other Internet threats that trick people into downloading a malicious program, Conficker is so good at spreading because it finds vulnerable PCs on its own and doesn't need human involvement to infect a machine.

Once inside, it does nasty things. The worm tries to crack administrators' passwords, disables security software, blocks access to antivirus vendors' Web sites to prevent updating, and opens the machines to further infections by Conficker's authors.

Wow, a "lack of human involvement" can lead to an infection. It sounds a bit like that Blakely, Georgia peanut plant.

Thankfully, I was protected against the Conficker worm because I subscribe to anti-virus software. My last computer didn't have any protection for several years, because I was trying to save money. When an insulting message showed up on my web browser, followed by the CD tray opening without any help from me, it was time for a change.

Now for some closing thoughts from the close of March....

+ Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley told frustrated homeowners at a Council work session the city is NOT liable for recent flooding in their yards. So go to the church pastors, who encouraged worshipers to pray for all the rain.

(Columbus wound up with more than 12 inches of rain in March. The smart people left buckets outside, filled them with precipitation - and now will turn them into jugs of water to stash away for hurricane season.)

+ A Lee County judge scheduled the Courtney Lockhart murder trial for 29 March 2010 -- more than two years after the death of Lauren Burk. Yet attorneys on both sides predict the trial will last only two weeks?! Are they writing their opening statements in longhand?

+ A manager of Sweetbriar Smokeshop on Whitesville Road complained to WRBL about today's increase in federal tobacco taxes. He fears it's an attempt to hurt small businesses. Yeah right - such as all those small-sized Circle K stores selling Marlboros by the case.

COMING SOON: Two blockades, two dead ends and a one-lane bridge.... and no, it's not Hurtsboro....

The number of unique visitors to our blog is up 16 percent so far in 2009! To advertise to them, offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 692 (+ 27, 4.1%)

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

© 2003-09 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.