So more than a few of you have noted that my sig has changed.
“Sig,” by the way, is a newspaper term: It’s short for “signature.” For columnists, a photo is used for their signature or byline.
Anyway, it’s probably fair to say that I now have the most current sig at The Columbian. Before, not so much.
Truth be known, I’ve been indifferent to the whole “get your sig updated” thing. Lots of newspapers insist that columnists regularly update them.
I don’t.
I feel it’s a personal choice, and as long as you’re not using George Clooney or a young Sophia Loren photo, I’ve been OK with it being the columnists’ choice.
Of course, anyone could abuse the guideline. I remember when Ann Landers — God rest her soul — was still writing. Her sig must have been 30 years old. So that might have been stretching the limits a bit.
Then there was a columnist nearby who finally decided to update her sig. A few weeks later, she’d had enough. She went back to her previous sig.
Folks all have different reasons for either changing or sticking with a sig. For me, I was fine with the old photo but also had no problem in getting a new one. So, I eventually strolled into our photo department and requested a photo. Hey, I think I look exactly the same.
Honest!!
ooo
Writing and reading are two of the most important things a human being can do.
They can stimulate, excite, entertain and educate you.
Plus it’s more difficult to eat biscotti and fry your brain watching “Temptation Island” on TV all day long.
A few weeks ago, I was at the Green Eggs and Ham thing that Beaches Restaurant — with a little help from its friends — puts on in schools. It’s done in honor of Dr. Seuss. Think of the millions of kids who learned how to read with all those great books.
Sure, I was the egg man in helping to feed the kids and sure, I put more eggs on the floor than I did on the plates. But please people, encourage your kids to read!
Speaking of writing and reading, I’m heading to a book signing today that a good buddy of mine is at.
Randy Wayne White — whom I worked with in Florida where we both were reporters — is a compelling writer.
His latest venture — “Deep Shadow” — is No. 6 on the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover fiction.
Randy has been doing his cross-country book tour, and I’m meeting up with him on his last stop.
I haven’t read “Deep Shadow” yet, but it’s certain to be sweet.
So read, read, read. If not this book, read something. Anything.
ooo
Speaking of deep shadow, I heard from former Mayor Royce Pollard this week.
He took a peek at our latest poll we’ve been running on www.columbian.com and gave me a shout out.
The poll has to do with the marginally dysfunctional Congress we’re living with. The poll asks who was to blame: the Democrats, the Republicans or both.
And in the “both” option, we threw in a little good-natured zinger that surely Pollard played a role in the problem.
Pollard quickly shot me an e-mail titled “Your &%$^^@ poll.”
“You gotta be kidding me … I only got what (26 percent.) It’s rigged!!! I am gonna vote again for myself!!!”
He continued. “I will discuss with legal counsel. I may have to demand a recount!!!”
