... odds and ends..and really odd...

Some thoughts on Memorial Day...

CRANE GUY - Finally came down after 50+ hours; "+" being thousands of lost work hours and 10's of thousands of lost work dollars for the Atlantans living and working in Buckhead. All because we had to "save" a guy accused of murder in Florida, a state with the death penalty. Since his loved ones couldn't speak up for him (having been beaten to death by him), I think after 12 hours, the NRA should have sold sniper lottery tickets to bring the guy down and to help cover the financial impact to the neighborhood.

PROBLEM SOLVING, ATLANTA STYLE - So what is it about Atlanta and people trying to run away from their problems in public? Brian Nichols kills people in court (wrong way to enter a "not guilty" plea), Jennifer Wilbanks tries to disappear under cover of a nation-wide manhunt, and this guy "hides-out" on a crane. Is Jerry Springer off the air?

PAGEANTS - We saw the "Miss/Mrs./Miss Teen Georgia International Pageant" Saturday night, having missed the "Mrs. Senior and Junior Miss Georgia International" finals the night before. These were "pay-for-play" competitions that purport to improve women's self-esteem by letting them walk across stage like a hooker and be judged by total strangers based solely on their looks (and 1 pre-pageant speech), fulfilling a life-long dream to be in a beauty pageant. It was completely self-congratulatory and exploitative. These women were painted-up, sprayed-down, stitched-in, decked-out and altogether completely phony (and not feminine) -looking. There could only be one winner that night (going on to the "National Miss/Mrs. International" Pageant - no lie), but I assume we will see them all again, decades from now, still seeking attention, in the "Mrs. Georgia Feeding-Tube International" Pageant (Terri has the national title wrapped up for 2005).

P.S. Big news flash, ladies! If your self-esteem gets a boost by being chosen from a line-up by total strangers that you'll never see again, then go stand out on Ponce in those same outfits with the rest of the working girls; some John will pick you based on your looks and you'll even get paid!

P.P.S Love this footnote from the rules and regulations: "Contestant must be a born female married to a born male. " I really can't believe they would turn down anyone's money; so much for me trying to enter "Miss Transgendered Georgia International" next year.

P.P.P.S. So, bottom line, you win this pageant and you get a crown, a couple of prizes, a free trip to Chi-town, and bragging rights for a year. Say! I've got an idea! Why don't you save a couple of bucks and give this a try - Need gratitude? Go hammer nails on a Habitat for Humanity house - a needy family will be grateful for their entire lives. Need acceptance? Go work a soup kitchen - the homeless are happy to see you and their next meal. Need love? Go hold an AIDS baby at Grady Hospital - he/she will love you instantly and unreservedly and without judgment.

That's "beauty". That's life. And there's no entrance fee.