Chronicle writes editorial about lack of violence from right-wing extremists, fails to mention violent right-ring extremism

Last week, Bill Clinton spoke about how if you spout violent rhetoric, it can incite violent action. Crazy, I know, but the right-wing media has their panties in a bunch about it, saying "no way, Bill, our folks are fine peace-loving folks. Just because we say we think it's time for revolution doesn't mean we really want people to take up arms." Insert wink and nod.

So, predictably, the Augusta Chronicle took up the issue in an editorial in today's paper.

Bill Clinton purports to be worried about conservative speech inspiring anti-government violence. Again.

Odd. We've had plenty of conservative speech since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 -- in fact, conservative thinking is the most popular product on both talk radio and cable news, and it's mushroomed on the Internet. So where's all the violence?

Here's what they apparently forgot:

1) Richard Poplawski guns down three cops in Pittsburgh because of the "Obama gun ban" (his words)

2) Scott Roeder kills abortion doc George Tiller;

3) James Von Brun opens fire at the DC Holocaust Memorial

4) Jim David Adkisson opens fire with his shotgun at Unitarian Universalist church because of his hatred of the "liberal movement" (his words)

5) Hutaree militia members plot to kill cops with IEDs, the same group who sponsored a Tea Party protest.

So maybe none of that live up to the fine example good ol' Tim McVeigh set, but to claim crazy folks aren't listening to the words of the Tea Partiers is nonsense.

Clever, clever copy editors

In my head, I imagine lovely little Alice Wynn slaving away at her Metro Spirit desk day after day, praying (or whatever she does to constitute summoning a higher power--sacrificing goats, maybe) for the chance to write a headline like this one, from The News-Enterprise in Hardin County, KY.

Pot 'syndicate' to have joint trial
One defendant's testimony weighs heavy before trial

Fret not, Alice, for your day will come.

Mr. Christian goes to Augusta

My Metro Spirit press badge offers me rare glimpses into the inner workings of local government. OK, so anyone can attend the meetings, but cut me some slack, OK? My badge really isn't good for much other than opening doors when I'm locked out (that lamination is first-class). But regardless, this photo is an interesting study in local government at work.

Pictured, left to right: Joe Bowles, Betty Beard, Don Grantham and Alvin Mason. Ass only, behind Beard, is Sylvia Cooper, working on her City Ink column.

Vienna sausage, anyone?

No...that's not a canned meat treat, it's my left pinkie toe. Getting up off the couch yesterday, I smacked it on the ottoman as I was walking. Thinking I had just stubbed it, I walked it off. But then I looked at it, to check it for blood and noticed it was bent at a weird angle. After the waves of nausea passed, I called my doc to get it reduced. Went in 45 minutes later, but he didn't want to take a chance with it and referred me to my sports med guy. So I've been dealing with a bent, swollen toe for about 18 hours now, but an appointment in 6 hours to get it fixed.

Hopefully, I can get that 2 hour trainer ride in tonight.

It's the mini-marsmallows, honey, I swear

So last night, I'm on the Soul Bar message board looking for info about Sky City's pre-opening tonight. Amy comes over from where she's been watching What Not to Wear (which explains why I was on the internets--I'm not that gay...I don't care what anyone tells you).

"Whatcha lookin' at?", she asks.

"Soul Bar message board. Looks like they're open tomorrow," I cleverly retort.

"Cool." she says, walking into the kitchen.

I follow her in, always hungry at that time of night. I'm standing behind her as she reaches up into the cupboard...

...and pulls out coco(a).

Kind of a Freudian pick, I think.

Which is it?

So do I get four sticks with chicken on it? Or a stick with four chickens? Seriously, I'm imagining pulling up to the drive-thru window and them handing me a broom handle with four entire birds, and then gnawing on it two-handed while driving down Washington Rd. steering with my knees.

And, probably, with a window rolled down and a chicken-or-two sticking out. Getting cold fast.

Party's over before it began

This guy totally busted it riding the wrong way on W. Buena Vista in North Augusta, carrying two cases of Bud Light on his bicycle. If my phone shot video, you'd hear the decidedly family-unfriendly words coming out of his mouth as he gathered the runaway beers up. Oh...and did I mention this was just after 7 in the AM? Probably lots of lessons to be learned here, kids. Not the least of which is always wear a helmet when transporting 48 beers the wrong way in traffic.