Madison Taylor

Here’s the most recent rundown and see the bottom of this post for why we get a pat on the back at the Times-News.
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THUMB’S DOWN to former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina — who seems every day like more of a “no-chance–in-hell presidential candidate in ‘08 — and the University of North Carolina. Apparently when Edwards, who we used to actually like (until he became a $400 haircut money grubber in his battle against poverty), returned to UNC to found a poverty think tank in 2005, he wanted more than just a salary — he also sought luxury tickets to sporting events and other goodies. The exact list of what Edwards demanded was not released (and that why UNC gets a raspberry, too — what a bastion of free thought the university turned out to be). It looks to us like Edwards’ presidential aspirations are getting a direct ticket into the Chapel Hill sewer system. Bon voyage dude.

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THUMB’S UP to the Calendar Guys. They ain’t too buff, as calendar guys supposedly go and even though some parts sag where they didn’t used to, their hearts are in exactly the right place. Yes, a handful of Alamance County men posed somewhat suggestively for a calendar with the proceeds going to the prostate cancer centers at Alamance Regional Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, UNC Hospitals and the Prostate Cancer Center of North Carolina. These guys who are offering an eyeful and a message for charity will be at Brookstone Billiards, 2398-D Corporation Parkway on Friday Dec. 7 for a signing party.
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THUMB’S UP to the city of Burlington for stepping in to pay the surgical tab for one of its former finest, even of the K-9 variety. The city will pay the bill for a local vet to operate on Kojack, the police dog that retired from the department earlier this year. The surgery will ease a painful ear condition. The city is also right to warn that this type of surgery can’t become a costly habit. It’s a one-shot deal, and a good one.

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THUMB’S DOWN to recent cases in which those in the country illegally steal the identities of those who are so they can work and stay in the U.S. In the most recent case, an innocent legal immigrant’s identity was ruthlessly swiped and the thief then went on to be arrested for driving while impaired, a charge that was then on the record of an innocent man.
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THUMB’S UP to getting started. Corporate officials with Honda Aero visited Burlington this week and said they were ready to proceed and quickly on its planned facilities at Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport. That’s a pretty quick turnaround in the Fortune 500 world where plans are announced then often misplaced for a year or 10 before any actual work begins and workers hired. Honda execs say they plan an “aggressive timeline.” The more aggressive the better.

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THUMB’S UP, if it’s true, to word that people are actually heeding the call by cities and towns to save water and that few if any citations are being handed out to those who decide that a nice stand of grass is preferable to a supply of drinking water for their neighbors. We’re skeptical because it’s not uncommon these days to see a couple of homeowners in some neighborhoods running the sprinklers at curious times of night. What’s hard to understand about the word drought?
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And THUMB’S DOWN to the bandwagon effect created by the rather short-sighted decision this week by the state community college office to mandate the enrollment of illegal immigrants on all 58 campuses. All five of the leading candidates for North Carolina governor howled loudly at the decision — rightly so. But doesn’t jump all at once gang, that cart can’t likely hold you all, especially when you kick up such a ruckus.

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And finally to us a THUMB’S UP for not running this photo in Thursday’s paper when we could’ve. Who says we just publish stuff to sell newspapers.

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