A wonderful bunch

          Good evening, 919 Gang. With my team out of the NCAA tournament and football months away, my sports world is barren (sorry, Padres). And I got to wondering what happened to some of the sports that entranced me as a kid. For instance, roller derby and demolition derby.

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          ROD RIGGS writes:

          A read of the 919 Gang posting is like walking through the newsroom, from business to Sports and back, collecting a lot of both useful and irrelevant information, before launching into whatever project was on for the day. My god, but we were a wonderful, inspirational bunch of people.

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          BOB ELLEDGE writes:

          Catching up on issues

          On scores, I think Chevy Chase once did a bit on Weekend Update that ended with "and here's a partial score: 7."

          There used to be a weekend sports anchor on KFMB-TV in the 70s. After reading a bunch of football scores one Saturday night, she finished with: "and UCLA 13, Stanford 13, and that was a real close game." Now that's telling like it was.

          Speaking of Stanford, I was recruited by the school briefly in 1968 as an All-State football player from Illinois. At least, until they got my transcripts. Then I received the strangest letter from the coach at the time, John Ralston. It read, "Although you have excellent size, speed and strength, we do not feel you are a fit for our program this time." My high school coach and I wondered if they were only recruiting small, slow and weak players. Later we found out why they weren't interested. I don't remember my class rank other than I was in the upper 25 percent, at least 15 percentage points lower that the requirement to gain access to Stanford. But that was fine. In those days, Stanford sucked at football.

          The late, great professor Jim Julian, in class one day responding to the ultimate preposition question, said "Sometimes a preposition is the best thing to end a sentence with."

          Milliman is the name of the company holding the Copley pensions.

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          DANA WILKIE writes:

          Thanks to everyone for weighing in on the pension. Like Lisa Petrillo, I was directed to Millman and was assured that the pension is there, intact, and we need take no action until we're ready to cash in. There is a 10 percent government penalty for withdrawing it before age 59.5 and no matter what age, disbursements are taxed at 20 percent. Given what I read about the sad state of pensions overseas -- with workers getting nothing they were promised after a lifetime of service -- I'm reluctant to rely on any "promises" any corporation provides on pensions, particularly in these economic times.

          STAN KETTERER writes:

          Thank you for running the information about the pension plan. Could you please ask Lisa Petrillo for the telephone number of Millman Financial Services? We worked together on the City Desk.

          RICK SHAUGHNESSY writes:

          Assuming the UT Pension is being handled by the firm Milliman, Inc. (and not Millman Financial Services), I am breathing easier over this than I have since leaving the paper in 1995. While news of recent years has shown that, like political leaders and newspaper publishers, our financial institutions often have feet of clay, Milliman has a solid reputation as a pension consultant and benefits administration firm. They are not a part of a bank, brokerage or insurance company, which is reassuring. Their core skill set comprises actuarial sciences, risk management, record keeping and administration. Hey, there are no guarantees but this could be a whole lot worse. I can’t think of an organization I’d rather see in charge.

          REBER: Tonight's posts mix the spelling Milliman and Millman. I don't know which is correct.

--------------------------------------------

          DENNIS FOLEY writes:

          Thanks to my friend T.R. Reinman for his astute question. I think if Rob Curley had added the word "only" to the second half of his quote, it would have been clearer as to what he meant. The offer of housing in addition to pay for summer interns made it more likely that students would apply who otherwise would not be able to afford the high cost of living in Orange County. The 125 applications did come from far and wide, but no, we do not inquire as to socioeconomic status. We did choose two interns from Syracuse, a terrific program with at least one graduate who is a Gang member.

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          DAVID FARMER writes:

          Sometimes I feel like the proverbial buggy-whip maker: a person with skills that are no longer needed or even possible to use. Among the things I could do if the equipment were still around:

          Remove a questionable vacuum tube from a radio or TV, take it to a grocery or drug store, test it in a machine placed there for the public's use, buy a replacement, and plug it into the radio or TV.

          Perform elementary calculations with a slide rule. Before computers, skyscrapers, airliners and spacecraft were designed with these primitive devices in the hands of skilled engineers.

          Start a car by turning a hand crank inserted in a channel through the radiator.

          Color a pound of dead-white margarine by breaking a small dye capsule in the package and kneading until the result faintly resembled butter--with disgusting stray white spots.

          Read lines of type upside-down and backward as they sat in newspaper page forms.

          While driving, signal turns by sticking my left arm out the window and holding my forearm at appropriate angles.

          I'm betting that people reading this have similar obsolete skills.

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          BOB RODRIGUEZ writes:

          All due respect to John Sweeney, who wrote "...Southwest deserves a pass for their magazine cover ..." Shouldn't the "their" be "its"? Also, anyone noticing those signs that read, "Please Clean Your Feet Before Entering." What is meant is "shoes," not feet. I'm easily irritated anymore by such "stuff," such as cafe menus advising that the prime rib comes "with au jus." Or "on a daily basis," when "daily" will suffice. Etc. Exit in a huff, stage right.

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          CHRIS COOK writes:

          To Joe Brown's story on the lede (pun) about a prisoner ending his sentence on a proposition; that one was lore in my family of journalists. It was attributed to the Chicago Daily News and its coverage of the scandalous Loepold and Loeb case in 1924. Two young law school students at the University of Chicago from well-off families  (their fathers were at or near the top of the Sears company) decided that they could commit the "perfect crime."

          They kidnapped a 14-year-old neighbor, killed him, hid the body in a culvert and attempted to extract a huge ransom from the family. However, the body was found even before the ransom arrived, and Leopold and Loeb were soon caught and charged with murder. They hired the most famous defense lawyer of the day, Clarence Darrow, who managed to keep them off death row, but both got life sentences. Leopold served out about 30 years and was paroled in the 1950s.

          Loeb was another story. A polished, well-spoken English major who prided himself on proper usage — no doubt he would have made a good editor at the U-T eventually — he was killed by a fellow prisoner when he tried to solicit sex.

          Thus, the famous headline: "Loeb, despite his erudition, today ended his sentence with a proposition."

----------------------------------------

          VINCE HOTTLE writes:

          Jerry Windle: It's alright (oops) all right (still confused which to use) to grieve over your loss of that large collection of Spike Jones records. Now I am no detective but I'll just play like one: First thing I'd check is whether you remember ever inviting Frank Green over for a beer or an afternoon of skeet shooting -- have you? Just a wild thought.

          Second idea -- ask Wayne Carlson, my super agent in charge of my record division -- if he can locate the record ID numbers--that might provide a lead.

          As far as getting old, some people look it -- some just act it -- just enjoy every day, alright? All right!

          Memories, thank goodness I can still recall from the Ed Sullivan TV show and a very talented Spanish ventriloquist Señor Wences, who had a gruff-voiced Pedro, a disembodied head in a box simply growling, "s'awright" ("it's all right") – when the performer opened the box's front panel with his free hand.

--------------------------------------------------

          JERRY RIFE writes:

          Soft landing.

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          JERRY WINDLE Writes:

          MULE TRAIN OR RIDERS IN THE SKY?: As it turns out, I got confused in my old age and am a fan of Spike Jones’ version of RIDERS IN THE SKY. Apparently in 1950, Spike recorded a “Chinese” version of MULE TRAIN. It’s funny as well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQdrIvxVXQo

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          KEN STONE writes:

          George Carlin also did a score shtick:

http://www.salon.com/2008/06/23/carlin_3/

Jack Justus Reber

P.O. Box 2239

Ramona, CA 92065

U.S.A.

The pension

          Good evening, 919 Gang. We've had questions about the U-T pension plan. This report should reassure some folks.

          LISA PETRILLO writes:

          Hi gang, re the new Copley pension trustees, the U-T HR gave me the number for Millman Financial services (sp?) which i called and they ran the number for me -- either take a lump sum cash out at $$$ that you roll into an IRA of your own control, or you can start your annuity (monthly pension) any time after you turn 55 and get X amount per month. That is presumably and hopefully for life. They will run the numbers on scenarios you request: What if i wait til I'm 60 and take the annuity, or 65? They won't give you the numbers over the phone but will mail them. That's been my experience so far. Don't know who they are, or what they are, but that's the story.

--------------------------------------------

          MICHAEL CANEPA writes:

          Nick continues to make slow, but steady, progress. He's been moved from Scripps Mercy Hospital to a long-term care/rehab facility to continue his recovery.

          REBER: Thanks for the update, Michael. Nick Canepa's progress is welcome news to his numerous fans among our members.

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          T.R. REINMAN writes:

          RE: OC Register internship program. The AJR piece on the Register’s program raised questions for me.

          From the AJR: Deputy Editor Rob “Curley explaijns [sic] the rationale for the program. . . But my parents couldn't have afforded to do that, and at some point you realize, do you want the young journalists who deserve to be here, or do you want the young journalist whose parents can afford to have them here? We wanted the best."

          To Dennis Foley, whom I applaud for his stewardship of the program: Are Curley’s two groups thought to be mutually exclusive? Is an applicant’s family income a deciding factor for the paper? And, would your interns have edited that story better than the AJR?

          BOB ELLEDGE writes:

          This is a bad sign.

http://tinyurl.com/c5b2o5s

          REBER: The Los Angeles Times story Bob links says the OCR is selling ad packages to universities with the promise that news stories will accompany those ads. Couldn't the same deal be made with auto manufacturers? You're right, Bob.

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          JOHN SWEENEY writes:

          I don't often defend airlines. As in never, until today. But I think Southwest deserves a pass for their magazine cover mentioned by Carl Larsen. "The Kids are Alright" was a song on The Who's first album in 1965. They also made a rockumentary with the same title. Perhaps Southwest is making a play for the boomer crowd.

          JOHN MARELIUS writes:

          Alright, Carl Larson, I feel your pain about proper use of the English language, but I fear we're fighting a losing battle. According to my copy of The Who's Greatest Hits, the song is "The Kids are Alright," meaning this has been a lost cause since about 1965. All though I did notice that the recent movie is "The Kids are All Right," so maybe there's a little hope. There was an interesting story in one of the newspapers yesterday (I get four, so I seldom remember where I read something) about the battle in England over the proper use of the apostrophe. Apparently, markets there have signs like "carrot's" and "tomato's". I have told checkers in supermarkets that their sign should say "15 items or fewer" not "15 items or less" and they just look at me funny.

          BOB HAWKINS writes:

          Tell Carl Larsen to keep the faith, although personally "alright" is all right with me.

          The magazine story title is clearly a reference to the 1965 song by The Who and the 1979 documentary about the band, with the requisite soundtrack, also titled "The Kids Are Alright."

          To have written in properly in the face of such an allusion would have been absurdly wooden.

          Fight on if you must, Carl!

          SUZANNE MACK writes:

          As far as Carl Larson's observation about passengers now being referred to as "guests" or "clients"....are we staying at a hotel or seeing an attorney?  It could be worse.  I recall an old movie where the "stewardess" (possibly Ann Francis)  tells the airline captain that the "geese" have all been secured in their seats. High and the Mighty, Fate is the Hunter...???

          On page one of the U-T business section was an article about the guy who started "Mystery Science Theater 2000". It would be great if that show would come back. There is so much to "cap on" is today's movies. They call it "riffing".

          DAVID OGUL writes:

          It's OK to end a sentence with a preposition.

          JOE BROWN writes:

          Your mention of “Never end a sentence with a preposition” reminded me of a clever lead the late Dick Bowman remembered from his time on a Philadelphia paper. The story was that a gay convict in the state prison (I’ll call him “Jack Smith” made a pass at a straight fellow con who, enraged, struck and killed his tormentor. The story lead read: “Jack Smith ended his prison sentence yesterday with a proposition.”

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          ALAN MILLER writes:

          Best wishes to Don Freeman, one of my favorite people.

          REBER: Don Freeman and I had a lot of fun. He would come to my office, seeking help with a computer problem. As I followed him to his desk, he would say, "Walk this way," and then we both would do the hunchback walk from "Young Frankenstein." Probably some folks thought those old codgers had lost their minds, but who cares.

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          PHIL McMAHAN writes:

          Regarding Michael Grant's question about medical plans, doctors, etc. My wife and I have been very happy with the Sharp system. We both are enrolled with United Healthcare's Secure Horizons. My very favorite cardiologist is Dr. Bret Scher, who saved my life in 2009 when it was discovered that along with high blood pressure, I had a 98 percent blocked artery. Today I'm as active as ever. Our favorite primary doctor is, Dr. Alicia Benjamin at Sharp Rees-Stealy. I hope Michael finds the care he needs and is around for many more years.

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          JOE HOLLY writes:

          This would be a good weekend to visit Borrego Springs. The flowers are getting a start along Montezuma Grade, and new sculpture has sprung up along the roads down below. This fierce serpent is on Henderson Road (both sides actually, that line passing through the middle is the road).

          Also, as a bonus, the area around Lake Henshaw has a lush green cover with broad swaths of yellow blooms running through here and there.

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          TRISH BARR writes:

          Happy Easter! 

          REBER: If those bunnies appear unusual, remember that Trish shows Bedlington terriers.

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          JERRY WINDLE writes:

          MULE TRAIN: My personal favorite version of Mule Train was by Spike Jones and his City Slickers! Believe it or not, I actually attended a LIVE concert in Texas and saw the antics first hand! I also had a large collection of 78 records of Spike Jones. Never knew what happened to those. Spike Jones’ movie career peaked with "Fireman Save My Child! Wow! I’m getting old! Thanks for the memories!!

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          DON BAUDER writes:

          I think it was the '50s comedians, Bob and Ray (one or the other) who did the shtick,"And here are the baseball scores: 5 to 2, 7 to 1, 8 to 3, oh, and here is a close one, 4 to 3...."

 

Jack Justus Reber

P.O. Box 2239

Ramona, CA 92065

U.S.A.

Say what?

          Good evening, 919 Gang. I enjoy Facebook. It's a great way to keep up with what friends and relatives are doing, particularly those who never write or call. LinkedIn isn't something I really use. I joined because friends invited me to link with them. I certainly didn't want to hurt their feelings. But some of the activity puzzles me. For instance, today a contact endorsed me for "public speaking." I have never met this fellow. I haven't even received email from him. He is on a list to which I send monthly messages. But he "knows' I am good at public speaking? Actually, he has no way of knowing whether I am a deaf-mute.

-----------------------------------------

          REBER: We've had questions about the status of the U-T pension plan.

          DANA WILKIE writes:

          On the U-T pension plan -- human resources, of course, was my first stop. The new hire there knew nothing about the plan's provisions, put me on hold to consult with someone senior, then referred me to a toll-free number for more info. Once I've braced myself I intend to call and will report back.

          REBER: The pension plan was a Copley affair, and in one sense had nothing to do with the U-T, but I guess there is no point in calling the Copley office.

          BOB ELLEDGE writes:

          Not exactly on point, but...

          Last year I pulled my retirement from the Copley plan and put it into my 401k after I discovered from a plan rep that my Copley retirement funds are not inheritable. If I died my wife would get nothing from it. She's going to do the same thing with hers as soon as she meets the requirements.

          REBER: There was a way to make the pension inheritable. You could sign up with the provision that a surviving spouse would get your benefit -- actually, I believe, 80 percent of it. Of course, that would reduce your benefit.

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          REBER: I asked members to update their bio in the 919 Gang Directory. David Gaddis Smith was the first to respond.

          DAVID GADDIS SMITH writes:

          I’ve landed an editing position with the Mideast news-and-analysis website Al-Monitor, for which I am working from home or wherever my computer and I happen to be. It is not full-time, but will provide me with a steady base as I also continue my free-lance editing, writing and Spanish-to-English translating (all of which mostly have to do with Mexico and border issues). On Saturday, I took and passed the entrance examination for the translation certificate program at University of California San Diego Extension.

          Al-Monitor runs a lot of translated stories, and even though I don’t speak Arabic, the skills I have learned through UCSD’s translation program have helped me vastly improve translated copy. The program also has helped my overall editing skills, in English and in Spanish.

          If I had not charged into the new media environment after leaving the paper, I wouldn’t have gotten the Al-Monitor work, as the site needed someone with web content-management-system (CMS) skills such as those I gained by putting up my MexicoPerspective website, rudimentary as it may be. The Photoshop skills I gained since leaving the paper also helped me get the work.

          It’s been a long time since (when I was Union-Tribune foreign editor) I read those hundred books on the Middle East following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but I am getting back in the game quickly, and improving lots of stories.

---------------------------------------------

          BERNIE HUNT writes:

          Greetings from Buenos Aires, where I am on a discreet diplomatic mission aimed at persuading the Argies to remove the (Arg) and the malapropic Las Malvinas from maps including the Falkland Islands. The buggers never seem to learn.

          I write to add my two pesos worth to the thread on the fabulous Frankie Laine. Once upon a time, when I was editor of the daily newspaper in Bryan-College Station, Texas -- home to Texas A&M University -- the local symphony orchestra (hold the laughter ... it had some wonderful university-based players) deputed me as a member of the orchestra board to aid with a fundraising effort. I came up with the idea of persuading San Diegan Frankie Laine to come to Texas and give a benefit concert. When I phoned him -- having been given his number by an agent who said Frankie would be interested -- Laine was delighted with the idea. He agreed to come perform for no fee but his flight there and back and a place to stay. A wonderful, public-spirited man. The academics on the symphony board with me agreed it was a brilliant idea, and we set it all up. But our target audience in a college town full of kids had no idea who Frankie Laine was. Concert ticket sales were abysmal. We sold no more than 400 tickets for, I think, about 20 bucks each, in a bid to fill a university concert hall that could seat a couple of thousand. We had to cancel. Shamefacedly, I had to call Mr. Laine and reveal the sad truth. He was gracious as ever, even made a joke about being an old fogey and said he wasn't surprised that young people did not know him. What IS the matter with kids today? Frankie Laine was a good bloke. And a terrific singer. But he is, apparently, no Bruno Mars.

          WAYNE CARLSON writes:

          Dear Vince Hottle: I have the answers to your two-pronged second question: Did Sinatra ever record "Mule Train," and if he didn't, why not?

          No, Sinatra never recorded "Mule Train," but that other blue-eyed crooner did. Not only did Bing Crosby have a big hit with the song. which peaked at #4 , but versions by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Vaughn Monroe also crashed the Billboard top ten.

          In the '60s, even Frank ("I'll Remember You-hoo") Ifield got into the act, as did the great Bo Diddley.

          Now, Vince, Sinatra never recorded "Mule Train" because the lyrics did not meet his single prerequisite, which he presented as a to-the-point question. So if lyricist Sammy Cahn, say, pitched Sinatra a song that didn't quite measure up, Frank might say, "This is a beautiful song, Sam, with a lovely verse, a fantastic melody and groovy lyrics … but where's the chick?"

          Alas, there was no chick on Frankie Laine's mule train.

          VINCE HOTTLE writes:

          Three has always been my lucky number, so I sit here fighting the temptation to call Frank Green about his super Frankie Laine giveaway offer, which I found to be, as the TBS self promos claim -- Very Funny.

          Regarding radio: Jack how could you not want to listen to a show with the suspenseful opening line, "I have a lady in the balcony, doctor." Then Dr. I.Q. would reply, "Give that lady two silver dollars, a carton of Embassy cigarettes and a box of Mars Bars if she knows the words of "The Cry of the Wild Goose." Even if she couldn't she'd receive a one silver dollar coin for her effort. A home listener was picked each week to play via telephone.

          With everyone having a Smart phone glued to their hands, maybe I've hit upon a gold mine -- a Dr. I.Q. app. Talk radio is rampant. and I could start by a breathless announcer: "Dr. I.Q., I have two gentleman in the U-T parking lot and one is about to turn off his radio, and the other one keeps singing the words to Mule Train. Which one gets the Mitch Miller producer whip-lashes?"

          On the subject of apps: Is there a karaoke app? if not I am starting to work on one -- so don't even think about stealing my idea. That lady who talks to you on your Smartphone would really sound good and probably look even better at 2 a.m. And she knows all the words and will flash them across the bottom of the screen for you to follow while she sings along.

          Aw, forget it. It isn't such a great idea after all. Mr. Green, what was that number again?

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          JOHN FREEMAN writes:

          So I was having dinner with my father last night at The Venetian in Point Loma, one of his favorite restaurants, and I asked him a question. Given that you're going to be, ahem, 91 years young in a week or so, what would you like for your birthday? His reply: "I wish for good health and long life for my friends at the paper, especially Nick Canepa."

------------------------------------------

          REBER: Last night Michael Grant asked for suggestions for a Medicare provider which would allow him to choose his own doctors.

          CHUCK BOYD writes:

          In conversation, a California friend suggested...

          "Chuck, You might suggest SCAN as an HMO to Michael Grant. It's based in Long Beach and covers San Diego County. There is no monthly charge and he can pick any Scripps doctors. They have a renowned cardiovascular department at Scripps Green Hospital."

          Just passing this along as something Michael might want to check out.

          GLENN GRANT writes:

          Some doctor recommendations for Michael Grant, both in East County:

          Urologist - James Fawcett (really); La Mesa Cardiologist - Zavaro Cardiovascular Institute, El Cajon

---------------------------------------

          JERRY RIFE writes:

          When we hug, we become one.

-----------------------------------------

          CARL LARSEN writes:

          I've always thought of myself as a man of impeccable style.

          That is, until I flew Southwest Airlines a little over a week ago returning from Chicago, or MDW as we call it.

          But now, all is lost, literally.

          For years, I've fought the battle to preserve the adjective "all right" as two words. But I've been outgunned by the illiterate hacks at Spirit magazine, the airline's publication.

          The March cover blasts: "THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT"

          Well, I nearly choked on the eight peanuts I had been given by the flight attendant.

          The AP Stylebook (the one I remember) clearly says:

          all right (adv.) Never alright. Hyphenate only if used colloquially as a compound modifier: He is an all-right guy.

          Now, for years, many journalists have tried to tinker with the language, chief among them the late Chicago Tribune publisher Col. Robert McCormick, who took a thoro browbeating for attempts to shorten up many words.

          Most of those attempts were quickly extinguished, but in the new social media era, an evolving shorthand has arisen that I can't begin to fathom, created in dorm rooms and at slumber parties across the country.

          Shoe-horned into my middle seat while fighting for a piece of armrest on either side, I realized that the airline was employing the same "cram 'em all in" logic to spelling that it uses on passengers (that's another word that is dying -- we're now clients, or guests).

          I guess my battle to preserve "all right" is over.

          So, "all" has been lost. And, as I march on with an uncertain style to other things, "al" is forgiven.

          REBER: Don't give up, Carl. I was reading a Kansas City Star piece tonight, and twice the writer used sentences such as "Jones is the player that will make a difference." Come on, isn't he a who -- a human?

          I saw a cute grammar lesson while sifting through greeting cards at a store recently. This was a birthday card. Pictured were two women.

          One woman said, "Where is your birthday party at?"

          The second woman replied, "Never end a sentence with a preposition."

          The first said, "Okay, where is your birthday party at, bitch?"

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          JOE BROWN writes:

          The saying that “bigger is better” doesn’t always apply. When we moved to Maine 22 years ago, our local bank was small and very personal, even opened up just for my wife and me on a Sunday morning. Then it began to grow and grow and now is a massive New England conglomerate. One result: nine years ago we opened a home equity line of credit. It took a staffer at the bank about 20 minutes to make two or three phone calls to verify our credit and other factors, then we signed a document and the account was up and running. We repeated the process recently to update the account. This time what took 20 minutes before took SIX WEEKS! Progress?

-------------------------------------------

          CAROL SOTTILI writes:

          Since so many of our members seem to be at the age when knees and hips are starting to wear out, thought this Washington Post article about a new hip-replacement method might be interesting:

http://wapo.st/11DMyBl

          REBER: Thank you, Carol. That's of interest to us because Mary may require a hip replacement. Kaiser uses only the posterior message. We were told Kaiser's only surgeon who used the anterior method had retired. No. 2 son recently had a replacement using the anterior method, and he was soon back to biking, snowboarding and diving. Of course it cost almost $35,000, far more than what Kaiser will charge us.

          BOB LAURENCE writes:

          Any 919ers considering robotic Da Vinci surgery for prostate cancer should read today's NYT science section story.

          Not good.

http://tinyurl.com/cc7rokh

          REBER: The above is a repeat of a message of a couple of nights ago, adding a link to the story.

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          CHUCK BOYD writes:

          As the attached shows, a recent "personal Ad" in the U-T told the plight of four (4) beautiful young ladies, living in the same house, craving to become Pen Pals.

          A buddy of mine mentioned he had seen the ad, felt sorry for them and had sent four (4) pens, one for each of them. He was pleased he was able to make their dream come true.

          I asked him where a "Viking" would come from but he wasn't sure.

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          BRIAN CLARK writes:

          The fuss over Summly app and the lack of details reminds me of a radio broadcast in which the announcer said: "And in sports, we have this score, Chicago Cubs 3."

          That was it. Knowing the Cubs, the other team probably had at least 4.

          REBER: I can't remember the name of the comedian who, pretending to be a sports announcer, said "Now for some baseball scores -- 4-3, 2-0, 7-6, 5-1 ..."

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          MICHAEL GRANT writes:

          On March 23, my blog had 13 visitors, about average for the last week. On March 24, the number was 296. It stayed right below 300 until today, when it went to 324. It looks fishy to me. Have any other 919 bloggers had this experience?

          REBER: The 919 Gang blog continues to draw in single digits each night. Of course, we don't publicize it.

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          TOM GABLE forwards:

          American Journalism Review on youth movement at OC Register

          A bigger news hole to fill; doing it with staff, not wire copy.

http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=5508

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          REBER: For the second time in a week, we wish Happy Birthday (March 29) to Bob Laurence. Bob says this is the correct day.

Jack Justus Reber

P.O. Box 2239

Ramona, CA 92065

U.S.A.