Smiley Anders for Oct. 2, 2012

Dispatch by a soldier at the front

I was surprised and a little excited to read in The Advocate on Saturday an Associated Press story saying The Advocate is in “an old-fashioned newspaper war” in New Orleans.

This sounds like something from “Front Page” — guys wearing hats with press cards in the bands, making wisecracks as they pound away on clackety old typewriters, talking of “scoops” and yelling for “copyboys.”

Since the AP says we’re in a war, I’m enlisting as a foot soldier for The Advocate. (I won’t wait to be drafted.)

I’m willing to do my part for the war effort by increasing my contacts in New Orleans.

That’s why, on Saturday, I’m going behind enemy lines to meet with members of the Resistance.

We’ll gather at Brennan’s restaurant on Royal Street — so I’ll no doubt be making battle plans over Bloody Marys, Trout Amandine and Bananas Foster.

Yes, war is hell. …

Cliché master

We’ve been running a lot of old sayings from days past, some obscure and others very familiar indeed.

Robert Downing addresses the matter of the latter thusly:

“You have really put your readers through the wringer trying to come up with old phrases. I feel like I am in a pressure cooker trying to come up with some. People still make hay while the sun shines, but I haven’t heard anyone say it in a long time. Well, I have to go: I am burning daylight, Pilgrim.”

Dealing with dogs

This column is getting more like “Hints from Heloise” every day.

After Judy Collins asked for a humane way to keep a fence-jumping dog at home, we heard from Clayton J. Joffrion, of New Orleans:

“Call a fence company and buy 45-degree barbed wire arms. They fit over metal fence posts where the caps are now, and point into the property at 45 degrees. They usually hold barbed wire, but you can use regular steel wire.

“The dog should not be able to jump or climb over it.”

And Linda Ryan, of Hammond, offers a musical solution:

“At the animal shelter in Hammond, there are all kinds of dogs, and many have been mistreated.

“I was so impressed with the behavior of these dogs, because the workers at the shelter play classical music for them.

“The soft calming music makes these wild and sometimes mean dogs relax and become sleepy, or just calm.

“She might try this solution. It was amazing to see all the dogs just relaxing to the music.”

Hungarian delight

After a reader mentioned the popular New Orleans cake variously known as doberge, dobasch or dobos, Constance Navratil explained that it is a Hungarian invention.

The multilayer treat was originally called the Dobos torte, developed by confectioner Jozsef C. Dobos in the 1880s.

Thank-you notes

Larry Rice thanks Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana for the Sept. 19 workshop for military veterans:

“The workshop instructed us on employment opportunities and ways we can strengthen our résumé and interviewing skills. I appreciate their efforts and hospitality in helping veterans.”

Worthy causes

• On Saturday, the Rabalais Law Firm holds a “Run for Life” at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center to benefit the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency.

The half-mile walk/run is at 8 a.m. with the 5K walk/run at 8:15 a.m.

Go to http://www.lopa.org.

• A “Relay for Life” to benefit the American Cancer Society goes from 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday at New Roads’ Scott Civic Center.

Contact Gwen David at [phone] or [e-mail]. Volunteers and door prize donors are welcome.

Special People Dept.

• Clothilde Knight, of Oakwood Village Assisted Living in Zachary, celebrated her 90th birthday Monday.
• Willard “Bill” and Wilma Salassi Aydell, formerly of French Settlement and
  now at Old Jefferson Community Care Center, celebrate their 75th anniversary Tuesday.
• Carolyn “Punkin” and Michael Landaiche celebrate 64 years of marriage Tuesday.

Fossils Dept.

Spike Barras asks this about our seminar on old typing methods:

“Should people who remember carbon paper be carbon dated?”

The defense rests

Says Bo Bienvenu, of Prairieville, “There was a headline in the Advocate’s Sports section that read, ‘Saints players happy to have officials back.’

“I imagine they will be euphoric when their defense shows up.”

Nawthun exposure

Mike Muller adds to our seminar on old sayings:

“In the fall of 1968, I left Crowley and went to Louisiana Tech in Ruston.

“During my first week on campus, I heard one girl say to another, ‘Today I feel lower’n a snake’s belly in quicksand.’

“At that moment, I knew I was no longer in southwest Louisiana.”

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.