Opelika Daily News resurrected online

By Joe McAdory

Remember the Opelika Daily News? Of course you do. That’s the former name of this newspaper before the growing city of Auburn was added. That made sense because this newspaper aimed to cover both communities. Anyway, the Opelika Daily News has been resurrected online by Jerry Katz. Be sure to check out his Web site. He’s got great insight on community events and people and it’s worth stopping by.

The link to his site is: http://www.jerrykatz.cc/

First toothpaste, now tomatoes

By Joe McAdory

How many more American foods and/or products will be labeled as “dangerous” because an organism or poison or something really freaky is wrong with it? Last year, we had lead in some toothpastes. Well, if lead makes my teeth whiter, maybe I need some regardless of the side effects. We’ve had bad beef and even bad peanut butter. If smart scientist-type government folks find high levels of arsenic in Diet Mountain Dew, well, I’m sorry, I’m just going to keep drinking high levels of arsenic. Maybe that will explain some things.

Anyway, it was discovered recently that some tomatoes are being pulled from store shelves because they might also be dangerous. Below is a link to a story. It doesn’t really bother me, I don’t care for ‘maters anyway.

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1213028644299520.xml&storylist=alabamanews

Polled Alabamians preferred Clinton to Obama

By Joe McAdory

Received results of a poll a few days ago conducted by the Capital Survey Research Center regarding Alabamians and the upcoming presidential election. Granted, this poll was taken before Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton bowed out of the race. But that doesn’t make results of the poll less interesting. In this poll, more of the 607 respondents barely preferred Clinton to Barack Obama. In February, Obama won the Alabama primary.

1.  In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time? 

                        Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Satisfied                   110   18.1%
  2 Dissatisfied                 447   73.6%
  3 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other       50     8.2%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

2.  Who would you prefer get the Democratic Party nomination for
president?
                        Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Hillary Clinton               209   34.4%
  2 Barack Obama                 204   33.6%
  3 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other     194   32.0%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

3.  Who do you think would be the strongest Democratic Party candidate to run against John McCain, the Republican Party candidate?

                        Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Hillary Clinton               228   37.6%
  2 Barack Obama                 269   44.3%
  3 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other     110   18.1%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

4.  Who do you think will be elected the next president?

                        Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Hillary Clinton, Democrat         37     6.1%
  2 Barack Obama, Democrat           185   30.5%
  3 John McCain, Republican         290   47.8%
  4 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other       95   15.7%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

If the general election were today, for whom would you vote for president: 

5. Between:                Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Hillary Clinton, Democrat         229   37.7%
  2 John McCain, Republican         332   54.7%
  3 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other       46     7.6%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

6. Between:                Frequency   Percent
                        ————-  ———-
  1 Barack Obama, Democrat           203   33.4%
  2 John McCain, Republican         348   57.3%
  3 Don’t Know / No Reply / Other       56     9.2%
    Total Qualified               607   100.0%

For results of previous polls, check out the center’s Web site at http://www.myaea.org/Surveys/AEASurveysPoliticalPolicy.html

Presidential poll shows tight race

By Joe McAdory

Not long after Barack Obama earned enough delegates to claim the Democratic nomination for president, pollsters are already hitting the streets to get an early feel for the upcoming election. CNN.com reported that Obama held a slim lead over Republican opponent John McCain in this early poll, which really amounts to nothing more than a conversation piece.

For the story, here’s the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/05/campaign.wrap/index.html

It’s gone

By Joe McAdory

Below is a column printed in February. Today, I said farewell to the best car I ever owned.

My windshield wipers work only when the left turn signal is displayed. The lock to the driver’s side door is broken. A crack zigzags its way across my windshield. Neither the cruise control nor alarm has worked for five years.

That hideous check engine light has shone brightly since the turn of the century. What does this mean? Nobody seems to know, other than the light itself seems to be functioning quite well.

One headlight shines brighter than the other. That’s fine. I don’t have to look at them when I’m driving.

Part of the hood is scratched and dented from the hoof of a deer, which successfully used my car as a launching pad to reach the other side of the road and escape into the night.

The radio picks up only a handful of FM stations and the CD player hasn’t worked since Britney Spears was innocent.

The center console has always been a place to store documents, pens and other miscellaneous goodies. It’s still good for that, but its cover — which also serves as my armrest — has come unhinged.

An oil leak has contributed to the painting of my driveway for years. I suppose 10W30 can be viewed as abstract art. Sometimes the low engine oil level light comes on. I figure it’s a good idea to put a couple of quarts in right away if I want to preserve my automobile.

The backseat has a few stains. I have no idea what the stains are, but I can’t remove them. Doesn’t really matter. I don’t sit there anyway.

It’s tough to load the trunk after sunset. Why? The trunk light no longer functions. I suppose I could replace the bulb, but I haven’t gotten around to it.

The battery has been replaced three or four times. So have the alternator and starter. Notice a trend here? I’m convinced there’s a short somewhere, but nobody around here has been able to solve the riddle. At least when she won’t crank, I have a good idea what the problem might be.

My 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix has 196,000 miles on it. I’ve driven that thing all over the state, to the Super Bowl, the Masters, Talladega, the Florida beaches and the Tennessee mountains.
I have newer vehicles that have operable windshield wipers. But my old red car still rides like a dream.

Despite its infirmities, I don’t hesitate to say it’s the best car I ever owned.

It’s easy to grow attached to cars. Over time, our hands and steering wheel become one with the ride. They are extensions of ourselves, whether we are taking curves too fast to the tunes of Sammy Hagar, or simply cruising late at night with the brights on trying to make our way home.

Sometimes we take refuge within the seats of our vehicles. Windows rolled up. Radio on. Nothing inside the compartment but you and a few empty cans of Diet Mountain Dew on the floor. Inside there is peace. Inside there is sanctity.

It appears the time has come for me to part ways with my red Pontiac and the handful of petrified French fries that I’m sure occupy the space below my seat. There are questions about dependability, among other necessary functions. I’m going to miss that car, stains in the backseat and all.