In Our World

  • Old-time Gas Pumps Close to the End of Their Lives

    Those of us who live in the big city (as if Charlotte is a big city) may not be aware of this problem, but it seems that there is a problem with some gas pumps in the world. Not the ones with electronic digital displays, but those that…

  • DaVinci Last Supper Music Sample

    By now, I'm sure you've heard about the possibility that Leondardo DaVinci may have hidden notes in The Last Supper. Whether this is true or not will certainly be a matter of debate – or something you dismiss. But it's certainly an interesting theory. I think that most…

  • Bury My Memory at the Mall (Please Spare Me)

    It seems like every day I pass by some new sign – I mean an actual sign – that tells me about something that happened somewhere. The memorial bridge to Bob, a t-shirt that extolls the virtue of the thug who died in a hail of bullets, someone's…

  • How Much Pre-empting is Too Much?

    While we sit through shows with commercials advertising hundreds of stations (or those of us without DVRs do, at any rate), and even basic cable has dozens of channels, and as broadband and cell phone penetration reaches something of a saturation point, when is pre-empting going to be…

  • Are USAirways In-Flight Movies Worth $10 Million?

    According to what I've read, the reports are saying that domestic flights from USAirways are undergoing a bit of a makeover – they are having hardware removed so that they will no longer be able to show in-flight movies. This makeover will allegedly save $10 million per year…

  • Steve Smith Suspended (Again)

    The star receiver for the Carolina Panthers who is perpetually carrying a chip on his shoulder, Steve Smith, is in hot water again. This time for his fight with cornerback Ken Lucas. No one really knows what exactly happened, but there is not exactly any love lost between…

  • All the Slow-Turners are in the South

    Maybe I'm just getting old. If I am, I hope that it doesn't involve the need to signal that I'm going to turn a mile down the road – and then come to a complete stop before starting up again to actually make the turn. I'll admit that…

  • Windjammer Dumped Us in Costa Rica

    For just about as long as I can remember, I have wanted to take a Windjammer cruise, which was odd because I really don't care for cruises in general, and I'm not even a huge fan of sailing. I think the thing that I dislike about cruises -…

  • A Disney Rewards Card (With Free Bambi DVD)!

    I don't get a lot of junk mail. I have the warning message on my credit report, I've used as many pre-screenings as possible, and I'll opt out as often as I can. I've even tried to get out of the Valassis list (they are the ones who…

  • What's Up With the Department of Motor Vehicles?

    The laughingstock of nearly every state, the DMV is the place where just about everything goes to die. Your morning is wasted. Don't even think about a lunch hour. Try and go in the afternoon and you'll be lucky to get home before the evening news. Reports in…