Money where your mouth is

If you read Dave Rose's regular column in the Brighton Blade this week, you noticed that Herb's BBQ Shack, 201 S. Main St., here in town is contemplating closing later this summer if business doesn't turn around. I've always been a big fan of Herb Findley and his restaurant since they opened a few years, so I don't mind giving him a little plug. I'd hate to see him shut down. But to local residents and anyone for that matter, I say it's time to put up or shut up. We spend a lot of time paying lip service to the importance of local businesses and how important they are. "We've got to fight Wal-Mart-yada, yada, yada. Here's a chance to support to support a local restaurant that brings a unique flavor to Brighton. I hope you do it – http://www.herbsbbqshack.com/.

Our jail envoy

Just as former Prime Minister Tony Blair begins his work to bring peace to the Middle East, it appears Paris Hilton is on the path to other important social work. After hearing bits of her Larry King interview last night, I think she should be appointed as our prison envoy. She was talking about how bad the food was and the horrible humiliation of being strip-searched, guess it's different when it's your boyfriend conducting the strip search on a widely-distributed Internet video. But wouldn't Paris' jail exploits and all the suffering she went through be enough to scare kids straight or at least maybe, rich, spoiled, snotty kids. Good luck in your second life, Paris, you can make a difference.

Gene Sears, this car is for you

OK, I'm no dummy. I know by sticking Gene Sears' name in my blog subject – I guarantee a thousand extra hits and visits from anti-Union Pacific folks and maybe a special guest appearance by a pseudonym known as Mike Cooper. Nevertheless, I was thinking of my co-worker when I ran across this beautiful automobile and a story about it.
NEW YORK - A steam-powered car, billed as the oldest car in the world that still runs, will be sold in a Pebble Beach, Calif., auction in August. The car was built in France in 1884, about a year before Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz of Germany built their first experimental gasoline-powered cars (The two were working independently of one another.) Henry Ford, the man many Americans mistakenly believe invented the automobile, built his first car 12 years after this one. The four-wheeled De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux, nicknamed "La Marquise," was originally buit for the French Count De Dion, one of the founders of the company. The car has had only two other owners since, according to auction house Gooding & Company, which is handling the sale. In an 1887 demonstration drive, the car covered a 19 mile course at an average speed of 26 miles per hour. The following year, it won the world's first car race, according to Gooding, beating a three-wheeled steam-powered De Dion-Bouton. Fueled by coal, wood and bits of paper, the car takes about a half-hour to work up enough steam to drive. Top speed is 38 miles per hour.
I love that it takes a half hour to get going. Perfect for anybody waiting behind a train.

Go home, Nancy Grace

Last night was a tough night for Nancy Grace of CNN fame. For what had to be the 10th night in a row, she was reliving the tragic murder of a pregnant Ohio woman. At one point, I actually thought she was going to break down as they discussed how the woman's 2-year-old son had been left alone with a soiled diaper. Not break down because emotionally it was just too much, break down from exhaustion because its just so hard to feign that much sympathy. Nancy Grace is a fraud if I've ever saw one. I don't think she could cook up enough crocodile tears to even fill a bucket. I get nauseous when she acts outraged or devastated – she lines her bed sheets with other people's tales of woe and misfortunate. Nancy Grace is all that's wrong with TV. She could possibly be all that's wrong with America. Oh, by the way, Nancy, they've haven't found Natalee Holloway either!

Use caution

OK, what the heck is going on? Last week, some lady got attacked by a rabid coyote. I always presumed they only chased roadrunners with shoddy mail-order capture projects. Then, a poor little girl in Denver gets attacked by a fox. A freakin fox. If this was a Fox TV show – they'd call it "Attack of the Benign animals." Since when do foxes attack people? What's next? Heat-packing rabbits, vicious robins?

New hospital nearly ready

Hey, I've been goofing around this week. Hope there are no complaints and keep your own driving commandments coming, I love 'em. Did want to drop in some real news. I'll be busy the next few weeks as Platte Valley Medical Center get's ready to open its new campus. This is a beautiful facility and really a testament to the support of this community. Look for a special section in next week's Blade and other articles leading up to the July 10 opening. Stay cool and we'll see you back here on Monday.

Straight from the Pope's Mouth

Double-blog Wednesday, kids, to bring you,
on the heels of the Vactican's 10 driving commandents, the commandments that didn't make the cut.

11. Hey, thine child, puttest down thy melting ice cream cone.

12. Thou shalt not pass me when I'm already going 15 mph over the speed limit.

13. Thou shall blink their lights to inform me of a pending speed trap.

14. Thou's buttocks shall not be exposed and used as a form of taunting.

15. I shall slow traffic behind me as I emphasize a point during my cell phone conversation.

16. Thou will exclaim "If you're in such a damn hurry, then I'm going to pull over so you can go around me." (Hi Dad!)

17. Thou will continue at a reasonable speed and not endanger others while driving by an accident scene.

18. Thou shalt "Stop it right now or thine will pull this car over." (Again, props to my Dad)

19. Thou driver will not eat fast food in the car until McDonalds has invented the hands free Big Mac.

20. Thine old lady will be able to see over dashboard to get thine license.

21. Thine SUV shalt not conceive stupidity during winter driving conditions.

Enjoy. Feel free to pass on any additional needed commandments.