Smiley Anders for Aug. 21, 2012

Perry A. Snyder wonders about the current trend of male public officials and presidential candidates going tie-less, evidently to show the voters they’re good ole boys.

He cites a recent photo in The Advocate showing “our governor, sans tie and with undershirt showing, speaking to a north Louisiana chamber of commerce.

“On the same day, the commander-in-chief left his tie at the White House, while the challenger spoke in Levis (or were they Wranglers?) and a knit shirt.

“There was a day when a speaker honored his or her audience by dressing in a dignified manner that brought credit to the office to which he or she was elected.”

Perry tells me, “I can think of no greater service you could render our state and nation than to launch a tie drive for the tie-less.

“If you could arrange for tie donations to be tax deductible, so much the better.

“I am confident many of your male readers have ties they would donate gladly, especially those featuring waterfalls, pink flamingos, hula dancers and Tabasco bottles.

“In these troubled times, Smiley, a weary nation turns to you to help effect a much-needed male fashion enhancement.”

Which reminds me

When I was a kid I recall my dad, Smiley Sr., having a tie he received as a gag gift (or at least I sincerely hope so).

It featured a hula dancer and a palm tree in bright colors with lights on the dancer or the tree, or both.

A wire ran from the tie to a battery and a switch concealed in your pocket, so you could turn on the lights when the occasion called for it.

My dad, a fun-loving sort, would put on the tie whenever he and my mom were about to go out.

Of course, she’d make him change into another tie.

I seem to recall that she let him wear it to a Christmas party. Once …

Outmoded expressions

Joel d’Aquin Thibodeaux continues our discussion of old sayings that might not mean a lot to today’s youths.

One is “Don’t take any wooden nickels.”

The other is “Now, you’re cooking with gas.”

Joel explains, “This was a big step up from the old stoves that burned coal, kerosene, or wood; and it meant you were super modern.”

Nostalgia Corner

Doug Treadway says the “gone but not forgotten” comic strips I mentioned recently reminded him of some of his old favorites, such as “Pogo,” “Krazy Kat,” “The Katzenjammer Kids,” “Smokey Stover,” “Little Nemo” and “one that’s not so old, but which I regret is gone: ‘Calvin & Hobbes.’ ”

Worthy causes

Karen Kennedy says the Arthritis Association of Louisiana is holding its annual LSU season football ticket raffle for four tickets to every home game, a $3,000 value.

Raffle tickets are $20 each. The drawing is Friday, and the winner does not need to be present to win.

Tickets can be ordered by calling [phone] or visiting our http://www.aaola.org.

Special People Dept.

• Arie “Maw Maw” Murphy, of Denham Springs, celebrated her 101st birthday Tuesday. (Sheryl Kolb says, “For many years Maw Maw has been planting things and weeding in Spring Park.”)
• Hilda Byrd celebrated her 93rd birthday Monday.
• Sidney and Rita Brouillet, of Simmesport, celebrated their 72nd anniversary Friday in style: they were picked up by horse and carriage and taken to a surprise party at a daughter’s house.
• Darrell and Leda Bowden celebrated 64 years of marriage Monday.
• On Tuesday Dick and Jackie Upton celebrate their 63rd anniversary.
• Robert “Red” and Ida Holden, of Watson, celebrated their 63rd anniversary Monday.
• Carl and Dorothy Williams celebrated 62 years of marriage Aug. 11.
• Ben and Anne Byland, of Port Hudson, celebrate their 58th anniversary Tuesday with a biking and kayaking trip in Virginia under the “Roads Scholar” program.

Grape expectations

Doug Johnson, of Watson, comments on the contention that the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union statue of Hebe, cupbearer to the gods, shows Hebe serving nectar, or fruit juices:

“How did Hebe keep her fruit juice? I had a couple of glasses of fruit juice just yesterday that had been stored properly before being poured.

“We call it ‘pinot noir.’ ”

Only in Louisiana

Holly Hansen offers this seasonal story:

“Mrs. Abadie at St. Luke’s Episcopal Day School assigned her first-grade class their first homework assignment this past week.

“The assignment was for each child to investigate his or her name and find out who they were named after.

“Our son was quite surprised and enthusiastic when we told him he was named after Saint Andrew.

“After thinking about it for a minute or so, he replied, ‘Mom, is he a good player?’ ”

Write Smiley at [e-mail]. He can also be reached by fax at [phone] or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.