WEEKLY REVIEW (02-23-08)

HUM HOT LIST

1. SANDERS UNINVOLVED IN CLINTON-OBAMA WRESTLE
Heck, if Barack and Hil both gave me 10k, I'd stay uninvolved, too.
Funny curious.
WCAX reported on the 10k donations to Bernie. So did the Free Press.
But the Brat Reformer didn't. Neither did the Times-Argus.
Funny curious.

2. SETBACK FOR LOTTERY LEASE LOVERS
Wall Street honcho advises lawmakers to drag their feet with regards to a lease decision, though the analyst for J. P. Morgan did say that a state or two might bite this year.
WCAX with the best story.

3. ESSEX HIGH TAKES THIRD STRAIGHT STATE HOCKEY CROWN
Yeah, but the fourth is always the hardest.
(Just kidding, boys. Great job!)

4. VERMONT TIMES SENTINEL IS SUPER-SCOOPER
The weekly that wants to be taken seriously has a box on the front page, (re:McCain visit,2-20-05) stating:

[ FIRST ON THE NET This story was first posted online at 5p.m., February 14 on www.Denpubs.com]

Pretty aggressive, huh?

Cool. We could use another newsy weekly in the area. Maybe they could bring in a columnist who doesn't tip too much one way or the other.

5. FREE PRESS CIRC CALL CENTER MOVES TO...KENTUCKY?
You don't think we found this out in the Free Press, do you?
Seven Days with a good solid snoop, on this one.
Oh, while you're there, check out the story on the couple who had community members fix the roof on their trailer, before they sold the joint!

6. DUMMY SHUMMY NOT CHUMMY WITH TRUMMY
Sen. Peter Shumlin's cowardly media attack ('nother one) on Gov Douglas backfired. Shumlin complained that Douglas has underfunded the state police in his new budget, but did not bother to check with Public Safety Commish Tom (Trummy) Tremblay to get his view. Tremblay thinks Shum is wrong on this one and wishes the senator would have called him before running to the microphone.
Free Press with good read.

7. IT'S A BLOG! IT'S A PAPER! IT'S MULTIMEDIA! IT'S VERMONT COMMONS!
Wow! Too much time on their hands? Well, maybe - but in a good way.
Check their site for scintillating thoughts on Vermont's energy future.

8. BUCK'S FURNITURE ITEMS BELOW COST?
Huh? Were we dreaming during the newscast or was Buck's offering their furniture below cost? Do we care? Does anyone listen to this horseshit? Pinch me.
Hey, when analog TV goes away in'09, can the Buck's ads go with it? Please?

9. CAMPAIGN FINANCE MEASURE WINS APPROVAL IN HOUSE
Boston Globe interested in bill. Hmmm.

WEEK IN REVIEW (2-16-08)

Welcome to the newest weekly Hum offering. It's cool and so are you.

HUM HOT LIST

1. FLETCHER ALLEN NAME CHANGE
The venerable institution wants to change it's name to Fletcher Allen Something. We kind of like that.
We've got an alternate suggestion. Fletcher Allen Hospital and Pizzaria.
We're not kidding. Have you tried the pepperoni slices in the coffee shop. Serious pie. Beats the chains. Truly.

2. SENATE PASSES MARIJUANA DECRIM MEASURE
When we asked one the senators for a quote, he simply muttered, "Not now, Dude. I'm too very stoned to produce a salient statement at this point."

3. LOGGER'S ROY'S HOUSING COMMERCIALS
Usually, we find the overexposed Logger mildly annoying, but not this time.
His Roy's ads are fresh and silly; we love the one where he's singing about the wife and him having another set of twins - but not to worry, they've got room.

4. MCCAIN VISITS VERMONT
Photo-op heaven for Governor James (Jim) Douglas.
Who knows. Maybe Gentle Jim will score a sweet Ambassador to Bali position if JM beats BO for the top slot.

5. BHS BASKETBALL 20-0
Yeah, but we bet the New York Giants could kick their schoolboy butts. Maybe.

6. AMY WINEHOUSE WINS TONS OF GRAMMYS
Saw her on the show. Life sure is confusing, ain't it.

7. 100 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE FOR SEASON
Shit, that's nothing. Why, back in the glory days, we used to get 100 inches per snowstorm. Really.

8. FAIRPOINT DEAL HAPPENING
At least Entergy's not involved. Are they?

9. TOM MESSNER
He's so happy. All the time. (See #2)

Check next week's Hum Hot List for thoughts on Buck's Furniture, campaign reform and bloggers who have an incredible amount of time on their hands.

WEDNESDAY'S HUM (02-13-08)

JESUS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
View this incredible photo courtesy of Gordon Metler and the Daily Mail.
Vermont Hum has done 'field research" in Rio.

Amazing moment the world's biggest Christ was struck by lightning

Last updated at 00:34am on 13th February 2008

Comments (13)

This was the dramatic scene as the world's largest statue of Jesus was hit by lightning.

The bolt parted the thunderclouds over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to strike Christ the Redeemer.

The statue is 130ft tall, is made of 700 tons of reinforced concrete and stands atop the 2,296ft Corcovado mountain overlooking the city.

Scroll down for more ...

Heavens above: The statue is struck during Sunday's storms

SATURDAY'S HUM (02-09-08)

VT LOTTERY LEASE A BIG GAMBLE
UNPROVEN PLAN NOT A SURE BET

Mucho resistance against Governor Smoothie's lottery lease plan.
Here are bullet points pro and con:

Pro

* Stability. Lease would be for 40 years.
* One time front-loaded payment of 50 million.
* State guaranteed yearly payment of at least 20 million.
* Ability to raise revenue without raising taxes.
* Private lottery management firm would be administrator.
* Yearly payment to Vermont would be basically the same as the lottery derives presently,

without all the mess and fuss.

Con

* Resistance from more than one Vermont political party.
* After one-time payment is spent, then what?
* Aggressive private operator would change complexion of lottery face, encouraging more low income folks to spend their money unwisely.
Also, new lottery administrators would target

wider selection of Vermonters, especially middle-class.

* Other states have rejected lottery lease. Currently zero states have plan.
* Vermont's "play responsibly" feel would be gone.
* Private lease plan is unproven. Would there be damaging 'kinks' in the system?
* Simply put, more Vermonters would have to gamble for this thing to work. Do we want that?

Vermont Hum Gut Feeling

* Don't do it. It's too sketchy. It's too risky. And we already feel guilty enough about legalized gambling without this!

Here's what Bob Donnis feels about the Vermont lottery in general, in a stimulating My Turn. If you have any interest in the lottery issue, please scan this. It will take approximately 4 minutes. (Free Press, 02-06-08)


POLLINA NOT RUNNING
Anthony Pollina was spotted recently, walking, not running. Guess he can't run ALL the time.


ESSEX JUNCTION FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Screeched up to Essex Junction Five Corners light today knowing I had a few hours to kill.

I got on the cell and called my techno-guru, insisting he come up with a clicker for me, one that could change the Five Corners light system at my command, therefore allowing me to create a green light whenever I wanted. I was sick of waiting and I wanted answers!

My TG told me the technology to control the Essex Junction Five Corner light system was about a year away, and to hold on.

I don't know if I can.

THURSDAY'S HUM (2-7-08)

GALBRAITH A DUNNE DEAL?
Excellent piece from the Rutland Herald blog, Vermont View, denoting that Matt Dunne is NOT running for Gov, possibly clearing the way for Peter Galbraith.
Peter Freyne reports that the Dunne-meister is taking a lucrative position with Google.

WEDNESDAY'S HUM (02-06-08)

CITY MARKET VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA
Everyday's Mardi Gras at City Market in Burlington. Walk in virtually any day and you're likely to see characters equal to the ones seen on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. And those are just the employees.
We enjoy City Markup for the entertainment, it's like going out for Halloween every time we're in there. About 3000 people enter the store each day, which allows for some doggone dang good people watching.
Some prices seems steep, but one can shop inexpensively, also. For example -you can grab a basket and throw in a slice of meat loaf and some roasted potatoes from the deli, then get some sushi from the cooler, fresh local veggies from the front, and a few ShurShine products, all for under 20 bucks. And the sideshow is free.
We stumbled on a newish local blog, Yes and No, which presents a cheeky essay on the City Market experience. The writer waxes humorously about the guy with lipstick, and the "checkers" with their unappealing ways. Check it out.

"...Most of the checkers there are young women and many have something unappealing about them: they are obese, they have hair in the wrong places, their clothes either cover too much or too little or they just seem too well educated for the job. The young men are also different - one wears lipstick and it actually looks quite good with his ear ring."

WCAX has a nice story with Jay O'Neill, a City Market bagger who is disabled. The store regularly hires individuals with disabilities.


ESSEX JUNCTION FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
Big tailgate party at the Essex Junction Five Corners light on Super Bowl Sunday. The village, knowing we were going to be idling at the light for hours, possibly days, set up a big screen TV so we could watch the Super Bowl. In fact, the the TV was HD, which gave us a better picture than most of us had at home.
There happened to be a catering truck waiting at the light, and the driver passed around munchies to us all, which was mighty nice of her. She was also worried about spoilage; maybe she was thinking the light wouldn't change 'til Tuesday or Wednesday, and the food would go bad.
A couple of Essex High cheerleaders got out of their Honda and jokingly practiced their routines, cheering for the Giants, instead of the Hornets.
A guy who looked like Belichek got out of his truck and paced the intersection, pretending he was coaching the Patriots.
A group of idlers on the Pearl Street side of the light had a beer delivery truck close by, so they bribed the driver and proceeded to deliver frosty beverages to each one of the 96 people waiting at the light. We all made sure to stop after 2 beers, ensuring that we would be fine to drive, in case the light turned green before the game ended. It didn't.

All in all, we had a great time, and kinda hated to leave when red turned to green.
And, oh yes -------------YAY GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MONDAY'S HUM (02-04-08)

BROOKES RISING
Hear local writer and Champlain College educator Tim Brookes on NPR talking about his experience in Karachi, Pakistan during the period when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.
Brookes' essay was also published in this week's Essex Reporter.