Colbert's Big Wiki Thing

Since Stephen Colbert is likely the only Charlestonian who knows what a wiki is, or has a staff that can operate a computer, he's of course got his own "challenge" to Wikipedi now. It's Wikiality: The Internets Tubes Dedicated To Truthiness. Hilarious. Give it a whirl.

Now switching to Yo La Tengo, in keeping with my Bands Beloved By NPR Listeners (that's urban code for "smart liberal geeks with glasses" of course) theme this am.

Holidays Are Just Around The Corner

If you're Jewish, they're here. It's probably not cool to say "Happy New Year" or "Happy Rosh Hashana" (I wouldn't know as I'm not Jewish), but in cool holiday news, a Nashville high school played their usual Friday night football game last night (Thursday night) instead of tonight to respect the Jewish high holy days kick-off, Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown today. The WKRN video story here.

The Nashville coach said that by playing Thursday night and not tonight, he had the opportunity to teach the team, by example, respect and tolerance; and that such a gesture was simply the "gentlemanly" thing to do. It's good to see the best of southern culture flourishing in such a way.

Housekeeping item #1: Longtime Atlanta writer and one-man Chamber of Commerce, Doug Monroe, has an Atlanta gov and politics blog over at Atlanta Magazine now. This is kinda a shame as he's now tied to their (yawn -- theirs not his) editorial apron strings, and that defeats the whole purpose of blogging, n'est ce pas? If there was ever a word-dog who should be let off the leash, it's The Big DM - a very wicked, very funny, very talented dude. Let's just hope Ms. Burns lets him have his way around there. Don't miss the radio (WLYO - Lyons) politico-smackdown fest entry, though.

Housekeeping item #2: Second Life fashions are in the WSJ today, featuring a quote from pal Cath!

Also... please send feedback on whether I should turn this blog into a daily vidcast, something along the lines of that guy, who's name I can't remember, nor his site, who does the close-up rant thing? Of course, mine would be all lovely moonlight and magnolias. Sure hon...

Since Christmas is truly just right around the corner, here's a truly great gift idea for the snark-happy Colbert fan on your list. Start stitching now so it'll be ready by Dec. Click image for kit ordering info.

Take This Grit And Shove It

Oh Lordy, here we go again. Another Charleston, S.C. foody piece by the word-stuffed R.W. Apple. He's the Pat Conroy of the culinary world, all puffed up on ludicrous, flowery verbage of every flavor. Apple writes about the South only to name-drop at a furious pace and announce, again, that he just happens to be married to a bona fide Charleston blue blood from the such-and-such line of so-in-so's. As if he picked a spouse from a horse auction catalog.

I'd no sooner announce I was married to a Charlestonian than I'd, uh, attend a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Say Gag) show. It's nothing to go around bragging about.

In my considerable experience, Charlestonians are some of the most dangerous, secretive, alcoholic, paranoid, provincial, repressed, repressive, conservative wackos on the planet. After all, who started one of the bloodiest, costliest wars this world has ever seen because a few Yankees pissed the blow-hards off? Wasn't exactly a bunch of dudes from New Orleans. No, it was a bunch of the stubbornest men the world has ever known -- ones straight outta South Carolina. I'd know a little something about them too, as would John McCain.

But don't take my word. I just grew up there. So did Stephen Colbert; here's what he has to say on the subject. Don't say I didn't warn you.

One true confession, the Hominy Grill Apple writes about in today's NYT is really quite fabulous. The food is mouth-watering and the notable locals-watching superb. Also, an authentic Charleston relative sent, at my request, the Hominy Grill's pickled shrimp recipe. Wouldn't dream of going to a pot-luck, steeplechase, tent revival, Cocks game, fox hunt or visitor day at the State Pen without a big 'ole tub of it. Smack Your Lips Say Yum. Now don't you wish you had that recipe? If you're nice to me and link to my blog a lot, well maybe just maybe I'll post it here.

tags: R.W. Apple, Charleston, SC, Stephen Colbert