While on vacation...

I was getting bids on my roof, as I have to get a new one. So, on Saturday, I got a call from a prospective bidder, who said he would be over but about 20 minutes later than planned. This gave me an opportunity to run to the bank.

So, as I was heading up to Third Federal on Ridge, I encountered some slow traffic on Pearl past Brookpark. I mean REALLY slow. I was third through the light, but, damn, the first car through was like following a horse and buggy. Naturally, I bolted to the right lane for a seemingly easy pass. Just as I was about to make my move into the left lane. I check my mirrors and now the guy is right next to me. WTF?

Yep, it was the old "I was going slow, but I will now prevent that guy from passing me" move. Some sort of strange behavior where he is judge and jury on YOUR driving. As we come to the next light, I decided to get behind this car, which is obviously being driven by an old-timer. As we are now stopped, he looks in his rearview, starts yelling, and seems to be writing something in the air.

I am now truly puzzled, but he is still yelling. I decide to yell back, "Whatever you're writing, you are! Yeah, that's you! That's what you are!" As we approach Ridge Road, I realize this dance is gonna be played again because:

a) We are stopped at another light.
b) We are both turning left onto Ridge.
c) We both know I am passing him pretty much as that light changes and I get onto Ridge.

So, as we complete c, I see him once again crazily pointing his arm towards the right side of the road. It finally dawns on me. He is pointing at the speed limit sign! Which reads 25! So, this is what he had been drawing at the previous light, the number "25"!

Yes, while on vacation, I yelled at a old-timer and called him, in not so many words, a "25".

Meal of Links

S&P downgrades U.S. Treasuries. That kinda blows. First time ever.

The verdicts in the Danzinger Bridge shootings, alluded to very much on "Treme" are in. 5 NOLA cops guilty.

Why the markets are tanking. And not a lot can be done.

The best 2011 road trip vehicles. Porsches, of course.

"Louie" had another great episode last night. It actually touched on the accusations of Dane Cook stealing material from Louis C.K.

WTF? Martha Stewart's empire is actually crumbling?

I mentioned the lack of Joey Barton for Newcastle in Columbus last week. Now Newcastle doesn't want him anymore. For a free transfer.

Exercise Yard

Joe Pos on a forgotten moment of Track & Field. Carl Lewis and the 30-foot jump.

Visitor

18 Down: Wile E. Coyote's supplier (4 letters) Answer: Acme

I watched Usain Bolt break another World Record today. This time at 200 meters. It's like Robert Duvall playing Max Mercy in "The Natural": "I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s incredible! Anything he wants to do, he does!"

First of all, he comes out in a warmup with the line, "Ich bin ein Berlino", in tribute to the goofy World Championship mascot, Berlino. Then in the intros, he yells, "Come get me!".

Then he runs the race. I can't put it into the words. Makes up the stagger on the turn, in, oh, only about 30 meters. Then he keeps widening his lead. He runs a 19.19! Records falling in the 200 are rare and now he's done it twice in a year. The rest of the field is running in the 19.8's. That is beyond comprehension.

Then after the race, he starts clowning around with the mascot. Hey, Berlino does a nice lightning bolt, I must say. OK, Bolt and Berlino lining up and racing was a bit much, but I can't remember anyone lately in track with the charisma that this guy has.

I've already decided that I gotta see this guy in person.

Yeah, He's Fast



Meal of Links

Lookee here. Cleveland Browns Stadium made the latest cut of venues that may host World Cup matches if the USA wins a bid in 2018 or 2022. Looks like Detroit is our closest rival.

How Rotten Tomatoes has changed film criticism. "District 9" has caused the latest dustup.

Not really anything we didn't know already. But Tom Ridge admits he was pressured to raise terror alerts. Whatever happened to those pesky things?

I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those annoying Facebookers.

Hey, whatever happened to those kids from "Slumdog Millionaire"? Shouldn't we have waited a little bit longer to ask that?

Exercise Yard

Shaq stole the idea of "Shaq Vs." from Steve Nash. Don't worry, Nash is getting paid.

Visitor

26 Across: RFK Stadium soccer team (8 letters) Answer: DC United