Amid all the issues facing our leadership at almost every level, what does the Georgia Legislature make one of its very first orders of business in the new session?
According to this story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among the first few acts for the legislators was to make sure it was more difficult for people to claim sexual harassment by Georgia lawmakers.
Hey, squabble about the details all you want - and the importance of the #MeToo movement should not diminish the rights of the accused along the way - but just from a PR angle, this is so short-sighted Ray Charles is scratching his head.
You stay classy, Golden Domers.
Not all advancement is good advancement
If you're like me, it's hard to imagine life without a slew of modern-day advancements - from the super computers in the palms of our hands to the cars that show us how close we are to being hit by the cars behind us.
Well, not all advancement are positive. Take this week's story about nicotine toothpicks.
Goodness, that's where we are.
Heck, I can remember when cinnamon toothpicks were contraband. Now we have cigarette picks. Who knows what's next?
Strike that. As a parent, I'm pretty sure I don't want to know.
Fast-food goodness, part I
You probably have heard that President Trump served fast-food hamburgers and pizza to the national champion Clemson Tigers football team when they visited this week.
It made most of the papers and TV broadcasts.
A few things were lost in the shuffle amid the cries that Mickey D's, BK and Wendy's were not "a champions dinner. That's a middle school field trip."
OK. The players seemed to enjoy it. Talk about the danged-if-you-do, danged-if-you-don't world of Trump, know this: During the government shutdown, if Trump had rolled out the red carpet, the lobster Thermidor, prime rib and champagne, the Trump-haters would be bemoaning his frivolous ways during a tight time.
Fast-food goodness, part II
The day before Trump made culinary news with his silver platter Big Macs, there was the Lord's work happening in Mobile, Alabama, at a drive-through window at a Chick-Fil-A.
And, for those who are familiar with the way Chick-Fil-A operates, this is even more special.
Normally closed on Sundays, the Mobile location opened up for Elijah Sprague, a 14-year-old boy with autism and cerebral palsy. He had always wanted to work the window at his local Chick-Fil-A.
So on his birthday last Sunday, the store opened and allowed Elijah to hand out cookies to friends and families as they pulled around.
"He was pumped," Elijah's mom Rene told news outlets. "He would yell their name and get excited. Every time a new car came up, he would get excited all over again."
All told, Elijah passed out close to 70 cookies before he and his friends - several of whom also have special needs - enjoyed the Chick-Fil-A playroom uninterrupted.
Well-done - the chicken sammiches and the gesture.
Obit observation
First, thanks to all the folks who offered positive feedback for this new addition to our Saturday morning chats.
Of those was the keen observation from one reader who noted that the first attribute/distinction of a person after family in an obit can tell you as much about the region as it does about the person.
Around these parts, that first connection often is about church. That makes sense.
So this week, the Observation could not help but notice the passing of Ernestine Hawkins, who died on Tuesday.
Ernestine - gang, the name Ernestine has been overrun by Sophias and Emmas and Olivias - lived a rich life. And a long one.
How long? Ernestine was a member of the East Chattanooga Church of God for more than 93 years. Yes, friends, she was a fixture among her church committee for almost a century.
Rest easy, Ernestine. You will be missed.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.