Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Thursday, February 5, 2004 Volume XII, Number 162

Did Ya Know?. . .The Friends of the Carthage Public Library monthly used book sale will be Saturday, February 7th from 8 a.m. til noon in the Library Annex, 510 South Garrison Avenue.

Did Ya Know?. . .The Carthage VFW is having a Valentine’s Dance Saturday February 7th from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Performing for the dance is the Country Express Band. A $3 donation each at the door.

Did Ya Know?. . .You can now adopt some of the Carthage Humane Society’s cutest kittens at the Central Pet Care Clinic and Carthage Animal Hospital during regular hours.

today's laugh

"Doc, what do you charge for a visit?"

"$50 for the first visit and $25 for each visit thereafter."

"Well, I’m here again."

"Fine, take the same thing as last time."

"You don’t even know the shape of the earth."

"I do, it’s square."

"No, it’s round."

"Well, my brother says he’s traveled to the four corners of the earth."

"Why on earth didn’t you watch where the ball was going?"

"Because I didn’t think it was going anywhere, sir."

1904
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Philosopher Was Excitable.

Sir Leslie Stephen, the long-time friend of Herbert Spencer, the recently deceased philosopher, tells this to illustrate Mr. Spencer’s excitable temperment: "He would not join the Metaphysics club," Sir Leslie said, "because he and his temper would not stand it. I remember seeing him at a dinner branishing his knife and fork in the face of a lady with whom he had entered into an argument. He was quite unconscious of the act; his zeal had run away with him." Sir Leslie tells another story of Mr. Spencer: "A lady who was kindly disposed toward the philosophers conducted a party including Mr. Spencer and Sir Leslie over Hampton court. When the maze was reached Herbert Spencer undertook to be the first one at the center. The rest of us," said Mr. Leslie, with a smile, "decided that whatever route Herbert Spencer should take, we should take another. The result justified out selection; the philosopher reached the center last."

Today's Feature

Revenue Per Round Up.

During the Public Service meeting Monday evening, City Administrator Tom Short reported on the mid-year financial status for the Municipal Golf Course.

"Rounds are down, income is up," said Short. "We’re 4000 (rounds) below where we should be."

Currently the course is over half way through it’s first fiscal year of operation after the reconstruction. Short stated that the bulk of the course’s business is in March and April and he is hopeful they can catch-up on the number of rounds then.

"We budgeted $16.13 per round," said Short. "So far we are averaging $18.03 per round."

The half year budgeted expenditures for the course are $255,950. The current year to date revenue total is $230,352.55 with $240,159 in current expenditures.

"We are $9000 in the red for revenues," said Short. "But it’s not a full year yet."

"If it looks like we’ll be short," stated Short. "Mark Peterson (Pro Shop Manager) will adjust his budget and make some cuts to make (the loss) minimal, if any."

Letters to the Editor

Opinions expressed reflect those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Mornin' Mail.

Dear Editor,

I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve seen a Super Bowl half-time extravaganza.

Did you notice that our culture is sliding further into decadence, perversion, and disregard for our country’s flag?

The Super Bowl event is like a national greeting card we send annually to a billion people in the world and unavoidably reflects what our culture highly esteems. Was Sunday’s program the "card" you would have picked out?

Do you think that our adversaries in other countries are saying, "That’s the kind of freedom we want."?

Have you accepted the idea that this is who we are?

Have you decided that it is impossible or too difficult to do anything about our cultural values?

Do you believe the freedom of speech clause in our 1st Amendment gives people a constitutionally protected right to express obscenity and perversion?

How far will you let things slide before you say "ENOUGH!"

Will you wait to speak out until the pedophiles have succeeded in violating your children or grand children?

Why not use your freedom of speech to say how you feel now? You can contact the NFL and CBS at the addresses below. There is also an address for filing a complaint with the FCC. (I don’t think it will do any good to appeal to MTV.)

Contact Information for the NFL and CBS

CBS Contact Information

Main Number: (212) 975-4321

Online: Send CBS Feedback Online

Mailing Information:

Mel Karmazin - President and COO Viacom, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

NFL Contact Information: Offices of the NFL

Phone: 212-450-2000

Online: http://www.nfl.com/help/emailtech

Mailing Information:

Mr. Paul J. Tagliabue - Commissioner

National Football League, 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

You may file a written complaint with the FCC at:

FCC, Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division, 445 12th Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20554

The Commission asks complainants to provide the following information:

(1) the date and time of the alleged broadcast;

(2) the call sign of the station involved; and

(3) information regarding the details of what was actually said (or depicted) during the alleged indecent or obscene broadcast.

For more information about obscenity and the FCC, go to:

http://www.fcc.gov/parents/content.html

A decision to do nothing about our culture is a decision to allow it to slide to the next lower level. If not now, when? How much lower do you want it to go? In a government "of the people," it will keep sliding until you say, "STOP!"

Sincerely,

John Putnam

Just Jake Talkin'

Mornin',

I don’t have much to say about the Superbowl halftime show ‘cept that I’m disappointed in the article givin’ the story a local twist in the Globe yesterday.

The article, entitled ‘Are Americans overacting?’, seemed to be pokin’ fun at readers with continued references by the author like ‘keeping abreast of the controversy’ and ‘getting that off his chest’.

The author obviously didn’t consider some readers feelin’s about the show (see letter to the editor inside).

I suppose to some it was not such a shock compared to other tv shows and videos. I would have to guess that even those would be offended by cute comments in the news section.

Put it in the editorial, or start a column to be cute like the rest of us.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’

Sponsored

Metcalf Auto Supply

Weekly Column

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 2001 Subaru Forester that I love. About nine months ago, I pulled out of an awkward parking space and managed to ding up the driver’s side, towards the back. Thinking it wasn’t too bad, I ordered the "Ding King," of TV infomercial fame, and proceeded to try and fix it myself. Well, it sort of worked, but if left a kind of dimpled look on the car, so I sheepishly took it to the dealer’s body shop to get an estimate. I was quoted $1,600. Is this an outrageous amount to pay for some smallish dings? I hope to drive the car for at least another three years. Will I recover any of this money in resale or trade-in? Really, the damage is very small, and no one notices it until I point it out. My friends make fun of me anyway, for driving what’s essentially a station wagon at my age...so it’s not like I’m too worried about image with this car — Leena

TOM: As long as the paint is intact (which prevents the metal underneath from rusting), I’d just forget all about it, Leena.

RAY: People are much too worried about the appearance of their cars. I mean, if your face was all dinged up, that might be another story. Then you’d want to take the corrective action, like my brother’s wife did. She made Tommy grow a beard.

TOM: The reason it’s so expensive is that the body shop can’t just repaint those small, individual spots. It has to go to the nearest "break" in the body. So, if the damage if just above the rear wheel well, for instance, the mechanics would have to sand down and repaint the entire quarter panel, from the back of the car all the way to the back door — in addition to smoothing out the dings.