FRIDAY'S HUM ( 12-01-06 )

REP. JOHN TRACY RESIGNS; WILL WORK IN-STATE FOR SEN. LEAHY
Green Mountain Daily, quick on their feet, reported on the story soon after it broke, just another example of how blogs are changing the face of news reporting. Read their report now.


CHRIS GRAFF UNVEILS $24.95 BOOK
Former AP head Chris Graff delivered a steady presentation last night at the Book Rack in Essex. He spoke on why Vermont has gone from Repub to Dem, answered questions, and read a bit from the book, Dateline Vermont. The book is 240 pages long, or short, depending on your point of view.
With Graff being such an important part of Vermont's recent press history, and the book eagerly awaited, we couldn't figure out why only a handful of people showed up. Hmmm.
More on the book later.


IF YOU SMILE AT 35 PEOPLE, HOW MANY WILL SMILE BACK?
Our Better Letter award goes to Heather Matthews of Colchester with her missive entitled, Brighten holidays, smile at neighbors. She describes, in Thursday's BFP, what happens when one smiles at a given number of people in a supermarket. Interesting stuff.

Vermont Hum, in a focus group with seniors, asked what they would do if someone they didn't know smiled at them in a supermarket.

• Respondent A said he would ignore the smiler.
• Respondent B said she would think they were up to something.
• Respondent C said she would punch the person in the nose.
• Respondent D said there is no reason to smile.
• And so on.

So much for the tune: " When you smile, the whole world smiles with you."

To read the Burlington Free Press Letters to the Editor (and comments), click here. But first, can you guess how many people smiled back?


SUCKS TO BE LIBERAL TALK RADIO
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Air America, read this. Now, according to Maloney, there's lib infighting.


FIVE CORNERS UPDATE
I really didn't feel like driving this morning, so I was glad when the Essex Junction Five Corners light went on interminably. I nestled in the seat and pulled out Howard Coffin's An Inland See from the backseat bookcase. The book, chronicling the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, is actually a fun read, believe it or not. No, I'm serious! For example, did you know that former Bishop John Marshall was a HUGE Boston Red Sox fan. We're talkin' addicted. He loved the Celts, too.
And,of course, a book about the Catholics in Burlington wouldn't be complete without a McClintock in there somewhere, but that's another post.
Go here to see the beautiful picture that graces the cover of the book and for more info.