Smiley Anders for Oct. 4, 2012

Adele Goldsby, of Jackson, got this gem from her friend Julie Moore.

A column in the Everett, Wash., Herald by David Krueger tells of his trip to the LSU-Washington game.

Here are a few quotes:

“We spent Friday night on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where we saw a slew of Husky fans, which got us pumped for the next day’s game. …

“As we walked through the beautiful LSU campus, we were shocked by what we experienced. The LSU fans were nice … ridiculously nice. …

“A woman asked us if we’d like some jambalaya … I have no idea what’s in jambalaya — besides heaven — but it was delicious.

“It was pretty much at that point I fell in love with Baton Rouge. …

“I think I’m an LSU fan now, which is not the outcome I expected from this trip.

“I thought we’d win. I thought I’d hate Tigers fans. I figured they’d be like Oregon fans on steroids.

“Shock of all shocks, I was wrong.”

We get results!

Thanks to Holly for noticing the National Hurricane Center’s quick response to a reader’s suggestion in this column.

On Sept. 14 “Nonagenarian” wrote, “Hurricanes are routinely classified by number (1-5) according to wind speed.

“Judging by our experience with Isaac, a No. 1, wouldn’t it be more realistic to include size and storm movement as criteria in determining the number?

“These factors can have significant impact on hurricane problems, as we learned during Isaac.”

In Monday’s Advocate there was a story from a Miami Herald writer headlined “Rethinking hurricane ratings after ‘weak’ Isaac’s damage.”

Seems the National Hurricane Center learned from Isaac that “hurricanes, or tropical storms for that matter, can’t be judged by wind speed alone.”

Hurricane expert Bryan Norcross was quoted as terming the NHC’s forecasting system “archaic.”

He said, “The message for places like Plaquemines Parish shouldn’t have been that a tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane was coming, but that “the Gulf is coming over that levee and the water will be up to your roof. Now get the hell out!”

Holly says the hurricane center must have read the column and agreed with my reader.

Don’t thank me — public service is my life. …

Good neighbors

Dorothy R. thanks her neighbors across the street for their help after Hurricane Isaac:

“They received power a few days before I did. Chris and his son Trey brought over and hooked up their generator.

“Another kind neighbor, Nannie, brought hot coffee and several meals.

“Thank you for your generosity, and just being plain neighborly.”

Got game?

Volunteers In Public Schools is raffling two tickets to the LSU-Alabama football game and two tickets to the LSU-Mississippi State game.

The drawings take place Oct. 31 at noon. Raffle tickets are $20 for two drawings to win either pair of game tickets.

Visit http://vips.ebrschools.org to buy raffle tickets online, or call [phone].

Looking for stuff

Tonya G. Robertson says the Young Leaders Academy, which has a float in the Southern University homecoming parade Oct. 13, needs beads, candy and throws.

Donations can be dropped off at 419 N. 19th St., or call Tonya at [phone].

Special People Dept.

• Hazel Marchand Schaubhut, of Lutcher, celebrates her 98th birthday Thursday.
• Geneva Costello, of Port Allen, celebrated her 90th birthday Wednesday.
• Gordon “Curly” and Rae Quatrevingt Tullier, of Baton Rouge, celebrated their 61st anniversary Wednesday.

A Southern thing?

We’ve been flooded with examples of colorful speech and weird old sayings, and I suspect many of them originated in the rural South.

For instance, “Old Dog” says his mother back in Mississippi used the phrase “Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine” to express joy:

“I still don’t quite get
it. …”

One that younger folks might not get was used by his older brother to express something not worth the trouble doing: “Not enough sugar for a dime.”

And Ken Wade, of Lafayette, says youngsters might also be mystified by a saying his friend Ed uses:

“He likes to talk, and says he was ‘vaccinated by a phonograph needle.’

“Does anybody out there remember phonographs and needles?”

Colorful idea

Shirley Fleniken says, “According to a recent article I just read on nutrition, eating right doesn’t have to be complicated.

“Nutritionists say there is a simple way to tell if you’re eating right — colors.

“Fill your plate with bright colors: greens, reds, yellows.

“In fact, I did that this morning. I had an entire bowl of M&Ms. It was delicious! I never knew eating right could be so easy.”

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.