By the school yard

By TIM CHITWOOD --

When the papa found out he began to shout, “It's Monday Mail.”

Home number.

People still are volunteering to help Theresa Jones, whose fire-damaged Beallwood home was condemned by the city before the community came to her aid, demolishing her old house and working to build her a new one. A Saturday update on this effort directed other prospective volunteers to a single telephone number. That’s burning up a cell phone, so Lori Lockwood asked that folks contact her at 706-593-6167. Donations can go to the Special Fund for Theresa Jones, account number 17378729, at any CB&T bank.

Schoolyard bully.

An April 6 column on a Deli Central worker punched while dressed as a giant sandwich reported that no one called 911, but, “Later Uptown Columbus found out and gave police a shout and started the investigation.”

That allusion to a Paul Simon song prompted this message from local music critic Curtis Lynch, who titled it, “Didn’t I see you and Julio down by the schoolyard Sunday morning?”

Started the investigation, indeed. Nice.

Curtis Dear Curtis:

Thanks. You know, a campy, cameo-laced video of that song's at www.youtube.com/watch?v=O859wd7H6h8&feature=related. I like it almost as much as “Cecilia.” Breakin’ my heart. After last week’s Monday Mail used anonymous postings made to columns online, these two comments popped up:

Tim,

You actually check to see what people are saying about you? And it merits a comment from you? Guess you are full of something.

Posted by: Anonymous

Hey Anonymous, You made me smile this morning. Thanks! Posted by: MG

Dear Posters:

Thanks for so modestly suggesting your comments are unworthy of consideration.

Thanks also for illustrating this point: Readers find taunts and insults more interesting than praise, and Web postings are a reliable source, because people anonymously say things they wouldn't have the guts to say if they had to give their names. So this reminds other readers they're welcome to go to www.ledger-enquirer.com, click on my column and post whatever they want.

Thanks again, and feel free to use this to measure the merit of your remarks.