FRIDAY'S HUM (3-31-06)

ALERT
Big quake in Iran overnight. 6.0 mag kills dozens and injures thousands. U.S one of the first to offer humanitarian aid. At this hour, the far left has yet to blame the quake on the Bush administration, but it's early still.

HOT ENOUGH FOR YA?
Temp hit 65 degrees yesterday. Not bad for March 30. Nowhere near the record, though. It was 80 degrees on March 30 back in '46.

SIGN FELL
Hum in the air regarding Tarrant signs at intersections, some of which have been blown or knocked down. Also, people undecided if the early Rich saturation campaign will help or backfire.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Got caught up with some photographs yesterday at the Essex Junction Five Corners light. I was able to organize and fill three photo albums before the light finally changed. The Five Corners is rapidly becoming a place where I get a helluva lot accomplished! I don't know what I would do if they put a roundabout in there and I had to keep moving.

THURSDAY'S HUM (3-30-06)

CARROLL OUT OF PERIL
Super news, gang! Not only was Iraq captive Jill Carroll released, but she's in good health, even stating that she had a room with a window and a shower. Gosh, Abramoff will be lucky if he gets that. But back to Ms. Carroll. She said her captors came in yesterday and said it was time to go. They proceeded to drive her to the Iraqi Islam offices and told her to have a good day. Bet she will.

HE'S GOT GOALS
John Leclair banged in his 400th goal last night, which was his 18th of the year. We predicted Johnny would have a solid 20 goal season and he's just about on target. Hum on the street has Leclair leaving Pittsburg for one reason or another after the season is over. Wouldn't it be cool to see him end his career back in Montreal?

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
If they didn't make money, they wouldn't do 'em! The remakes and sequels keep comin'. Tomorrow we're gonna be assaulted (or insulted) with Basic Instinct 2, Ice Age 2 and another Larry the Cable Guy fartfest. Hmmm. Larry the Cable Guy. Why pay 7 or 8 bucks at a theatre to hear about chainsmoking, Nascar, rage, acute social dysfunction, Budweiser poisoning, and things that make loud noises, when you can just live here and experience them for free. I don't get it.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Wow, did I have fun at the Essex Junction Five Corners light yesterday. I knew the light would be a while, so I brought a portable DVD player, threw in King Kong, popped some corn and sat back. The movie ended just as the light was changing. It was great timing! I drove on feeling so refreshed.

WEDNESDAY'S HUM

DODGEPODGE
The ACEEE (American Council Energy Efficient Economy) has released their list of the top 10 'mean' vehicles and the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is the baddest of the bad. Vermont doesn't see a lot of Lambys or Bentleys, but we do have tons of Rams and 250s. Here's the list:

1. Dodge Ram SRT-10
2. Lamborghini
3. Bentley
4. Dodge Durango
5. Dodge Ram 1500
6. Maybach
7. Hummer h2
8. Ferrari
9. Ford F250
10. GMC Yukon

The next time you see someone lumbering down the highway in a Dodge Ram, play a game with yourself. Try and guess if the individual behind the wheel really needs the vehicle (work purposes) or just doesn't give a hoot (screw-you mentality). And what the heck is a Maybach??

SCARECUT
One of those 'shake your head' stories reported by the AP coming out of the Rutland area. Seems that an angry ex-girlfriend grabbed her ex-boyfriend's new lover and ...snip, snip, snip! The mad snipper was released on terms, one of which was not to possess, uh... you got it, scissors.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
I got so much done at the Essex Junction Five Corners light yesterday. I balanced my checkbook, made a to-do list for the next quarter and cleaned out my glovebox. Just when I slammed the glovebox door shut, the light turned green. It was perfect!

TUESDAY'S HUM (3-28-06)

CARD'S BOLTIN'
JUST IN - White House Chief Of Staff Andrew Card has resigned and budget biggie Josh Bolten takes over. Immediately after the appointment, Bolten was seen walking out of Walgreens with a large bottle of Ibuprofen.

AIDE AND COMFORT
St. Albans Messenger reports ' Teaching assistant charged with sexually assaulting student'. Melanie Hackett, 24 has been placed on leave after confessing she was involved with a 13 year old boy.
The Messenger has a lively website - check out the video of Brianna Maitland.

M-AAA-D
AAA with a screaming ad in the Free Press supporting a NHTSA safety incentive. Seems there is 3 million and change we're gonna be missing out on if we don't get our act together. The ad is on the editorial page.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
How can one be productive while waiting for the Essex Junction Five Corners light to change? Why, just yesterday I was able to read the Wall Street Journal cover to cover AND do the crossword. It was time well spent.

MONDAY'S HUM (3-27-06)

FUELISH
Lundberg Survey releases data collected from gas stations around the country. Average nationwide price is 2.49 a gallon, about what we're seeing in Vermont. Hawaii really getting jacked, with the average being around 2.80. But please don't worry; the major oil companies are putting every bit of their profits back into R&D. Right?

GEORGE MASON DID IT
NCAA teams have been whittled to four. UCLA, Florida, LSU and George Mason. George Mason? How many people reading this know where they are from. Rumor has it they're from Iowa or Indiana. Or someplace like that. Maybe Missouri. Anyway, HUM on the street has UCLA winning it all.

YOU'RE GETTING WARM
Lots of sunshine and warmer temps coming this week with Friday topping out at near 60. Yes!

FIVE CORNERS SLAMMA-JAMMA
How can one be productive while waiting for the Essex Junction Five Corners light to change? Why, just yesterday we were able to listen to the entire Florida-Villanova game while idling at the intersection, complete with tailgate party. The light changed just as Florida was celebrating their win. It was perfect timing.

SATURDAY'S HUM (3-25-06)

MIMEO-GRAFF
There is considerable HUM regarding the article placement in the Saturday Burlington Free Press re: Chris Graff. Neatly tucked away in the Business section, the article explores the correspondence between local politicos and AP Prez Thomas Curley. Seems Douglas, Leahy, Sanders and Jeffords ( sounds like a law firm) want more info about the Graff dismissal, er, resignation, er, dismissal, er, resignation but Curley standing tall, releasing a statement, including this - "...In this situation, AP is not being secretive but respectful of an employee with 27 years of service." Pretty slick, huh? HUM on the street suggests the article was worthy of the front page or at least on the front of the Local section.

WALGANIC
Speaking of AP, they report an interesting and possibly comical story about Walmart going organic . We have a feeling the late night comedians are going to have a ball with this. If you have any good material, send it on.

FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
How can one be productive while waiting for the Essex Junction Five Corners light to change? Why, just yesterday, my passenger and I were able to enjoy a complete game of chess while idling at the intersection. It was fun and time well spent.

GREY GRAY
Question. Would you rather have it 25 degrees and sunny or 40 degrees and gloomy?

WERE JONESIN'
Tommy Lee Jones, that is. Movie tip for the weekend: The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada directed by TLJ, himself.

FRIDAY'S HUM (3-24-06)

SURPRISE!?
You're a day tripper from Montreal , shopping in downtown Burlington. Imagine coming out of a store on the Marketplace and seeing a parade - on a Wednesday - featuring ... a snowplow, a basketball team, drummers, brightly adorned vehicles and an assortment of kooks and weirdos. You must be thinking, " What a quirky place this Burlington is." Well, that's what happened yesterday, folks; a surprise parade among other things for outgoing Mayor Clavelle. Was he surprised?

WHACK-A-SEAL
The annual seal pup slaughter starts Saturday up north. It seems like it would take just one really creative mind to get the idea ball rolling - something we could do to create a win-win situation. Maybe a casino could be built near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, so the hunters (if you want to call them that) could earn a living without having to whack defenseless baby seals over the head time and time again.
Or how about a fabulously wealthy entrepreneur building a business complex up there, with production facilities, and letting these hardworking pupslayers get out their aggression by making something - anything! There has to be a better way! Any ideas? Think hard about this over the weekend.

IN THE FAMILY TREE, I'M THE SAP
Big weekend, friends, for the Vermont maple industry. Lots of events, open sugarhouses and yummy treats planned for Saturday and Sunday. More info can be had at www.vermontmaple.org.

DUKE REBUKE
Lots of Duke fans in Vermont, including us. Tough game last night, but we had a feeling about LSU. A bad feeling. Sad to see J.J go out this way but hey, waste matter happens. He had a wonderful career with the Blue Devils and because of his strong work ethic, will be a solid NBA player. Props to LSU a young and very talented team.

DAILY FIVE CORNERS TIP
How can one be productive while waiting for the light to change at the Five Corners In Essex. Why, just yesterday, we were able to read the entire 'DaVinci Code' as we idled. It was time well spent.

THURSDAY'S HUM (3-23-06)

NOT AGAIN!
Essex Reporter leads with a story about Essex town super Jay Nichols saying bye-bye. This is the third superintendent to leave since July 2004. Seems Nichols had some health issues and needed to regroup.

THANK YOU, HILTON
Nice tribute to Hilton Wick yesterday on VPR's 'Vermont Edition' with Steve Zind. It was a thoughtful and classy presentation with kind words from Lois McClure and David Rahr.

CHARITY ON ICE
There's HUM all over about the hockey game. The National Guard is playing the State Police in a charity tilt at the Essex rink on Sunday, March 26. The Guard is 0-2 in the annual series and looking for revenge. There will be refreshments and things for kids to do. Start time is 9am and tix are 5 bucks. Call the Essex rink for more info.

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
Seen in the Free Press Buzz Bin - Dave Matthews Band and Sheryl Crow at Fenway Park! Cool! We're looking at July 7&8.

THEY FLEW THE COOP
Speaking of Essex - Chicken Charlie's with a sign on the door thanking patrons for their business and announcing a move to St. Albans.

HUM for WEDNESDAY 3-22-06

Repub Paul Decelles wins Ward 7 runoff by 69 votes. Our solid prediction on Monday (archives) had Decelles winning by 65. Yet another reason why the HUM is rapidly becoming the daily check for a crisp interpretation on local events. Not a heck of a lot of voters came out yesterday, a tad over 800. The sheep that couldn't make it to the polls surely made time in their schedules to watch the insipid 'American Idol', though. Can we change the system so people can vote from the comfort and ease of their couches. Dunno.

SUN, BABY
HUM forecasts real sweet day on Saturday. Bet we'll reach 50 with sun.

SELLING OUT, NATURALLY
Tom's of Maine bought out by Colgate-Palmolive! Tom's, beloved by many Vermonters, gets 100 million and a player to be named later. So, the list goes on. Has Amy's sold out, yet?

FIVE CORNERS TO-DO LIST
Tons of street hum regarding the Circ relieving pressure at the Five Corners in Essex Junction. Hey, what's the big deal? I get a lot done at the Five Corners! Why, just yesterday the light took so long to change I was able to get out of the car and change my oil. Later today, while waiting for the light to change, I'm gonna vacuum the interior. The possibilities are endless. Check in tomorrow for more ways to get things done at the Five Corners intersection.

ARROYO FLUSH
Teen heartthrob Bronson Arroyo traded from the Bosox to the Reds for Mo (swing and a miss) Pena. Huh?

TUESDAY'S HUM 3-21-06

IRV on VPR
Interesting show on Switchboard (Vermont Public Radio) tonight featuring Sandy Baird and Paul Burns. They'll be talking and listening about the future of instant runoff voting in Vermont. 7 pm start.

TSOTSI TURVY
Coming soon to the Roxy! Academy Award winner for best Foreign Film Tsotsi. Thank heaven for the Rox! Not everyone wants to see Slayer 9 or the latest lame remake. Show your appreciation to the folks at the Roxy by purchasing an additional snack next time you're there, cuz you know they make most of their revenue from concessions, right?

SNOW MORE
In the 'It could be worse' department, our shivery weather stinks but... check out the recent snowfall amounts in the west and midwest. Colorado got socked with 2 feet, South Dakota received about a foot and a half and West Virginia got pelted.

DEPARTURE MAYOR
There's Hum around town about Mayor Clavelle's last visit on WVMT's Charlie & Ernie show tomorrow morning. And no - Archer Mayer won't be there.

PLEASE PASS THE PLYWOOD
Our favorite weather site AccuWeather, predicts that a hurricane will hit the Northeast sometime in the next five years. What should we do - move to Florida?

AUTO-GRAFF
Get his autograph now while you can. Is esteemed AP correspondent Chris Graff going big time? Stay tuned.

MAPLE SYRUP HOT FLASH
Please don't be scared away,beloved, by all the chatter regarding an iffy crop of maple syrup this year. We just purchased a half gallon from Palmer's Sugarhouse in Shelburne and it was extra yummy on our blueberry pancakes.

ELLIEFLOP
Word on the street has Decelles winning tomorrow's runoff in Ward 7, Burlington. Our prediction is Descelles by 65 votes. Incumbent Ellie Blaise has done good work for Burlington but will narrowly miss being in the winner's circle.

PANTHERPOOP
The Middlebury men's hockey team won the NCAA Division III championship yesterday against St. Norbert. Who the blank is St. Norbert, you might ask. No, St Norbert is not an obscure cult from 'The DaVinci Code,' it's a great bunch of hockey players from Wisconsin. Unfortunately, they were the poor souls who had to face the mighty shutout brigade from Middlebury and gosh, they were shut out. Helmets off anyway to the game St. Norbert squad and BIG congrats to the Panther hockey teams, men and women.

VERNAL JOURNAL
Spring is here, folks. It's hard to get excited about spring when it's 19 degrees with blowing snow and slippery roads.But despair not because there is a hum about Vermont having a warm spring and an delightfully sunny summer.

Stay Tuned

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