| Low prices, high risk: A Wal-Mart patron faces fire like a leader
You can yell back, "You're on your own!" and bolt for the exits. You can mosey on over for a look-see, knowing you'll be shooed outside the minute the firefighters arrive. Or, you can grab a fire extinguisher and pitch in to put out the flames. Modesto's Christie Sipes took the latter option last week when fire broke out in the menswear section of the Ceres Wal-Mart. She'd been in the store that night, Jan. 21, browsing at the jewelry counter when the blaze began at about 10 p.m. "A manager came running over and had the employee in the jewelry department call Code Red over the intercom," Sipes said. "I knew what that meant, plain and simple. Fire." Sipes, 40, is a student in the Emergency Medical Technician program at Modesto Junior College.
Three weeks until it begins anew
With that in mind, three teams can enter spring training realistically counting themselves as contenders for the NL East title. (And some members of the Nationals and Marlins might also try to convince themselves their squads have a shot.) The Braves, like the Mets and Phillies, can make a legitimate claim that if things go well — not if things go perfectly, but just if they go well — they can reclaim the NL East title that New York took from them in 2006 and which is presently held by Philly after the Mets' Great September Collapse of '07. But anyway, we'll have plenty of time to analyze every aspect of spring training and the upcoming race. For now, suffice to say the Braves, from the front office down to every player I've spoken with or corresponded with electronically, believe that GM Frank Wren has addressed every need the team had last season.
Cruel blog, cruel crime
While robbery appeared to be the motive, authorities say no property was taken. "From the get-go, one of the things that was troubling was there was no clear reason this occurred," sheriff's Sgt. Rick Ells said. "It appeared, from the beginning, this was an execution." A two-week investigation and a spate of tips from the public in response to extensive media coverage helped sheriff's investigators identify and arrest the two suspects. Search warrants were served in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, where weapons believed used in the crime were seized. "We're pretty confident we have the guns," Ells said, adding that two weapons were used to kill Thompson and Bodhi. Ballistics tests are pending. While two guns were used to carry out the crime, evidence suggests only one shooter.
Briefs: Floyd receives regional recognition
John Floyd, owner of Murfreesboro-based Ole South Properties, continues to be recognized by his peers. The Rutherford County Home Builders Association, at its Jan. 15 meeting, announced Floyd as the winner of the RCHBA Home Builder of the Year award. The award goes to an RCHBA member who has made significant strides to improve the housing industry in Rutherford County. .
Books, Bricks and DEMOs
Ah, those were the days. OK, if the latter seems odd, check out the work of Nathan Sawaya. (Who knew there were pink bricks?) Anyway, I'm finalizing a story for tonight's Evening News with Katie Couric that has to do with updating brick and mortar abodes, especially for the elderly. Be sure to tune in.
In other news, I am not in Palm Desert, CA, at DEMO '08, but there's plenty of coverage of the semi-elite tech event happening this week. I have been once before, and it's usually an impressive gathering of technologies, though some are often rather niche in nature. By comparison to CES it's lower key and higher tech.
I am, however, rather hooked on 2KGames' "BioShock." (Outside of work hours, of course.) Stunning. I'm planning to check out SOE's "Pirates of the Burning Sea" soon (like I have time for another MMO outside "WarCraft"), and I just finished "Mass Effect" over the weekend, which was a real treat.
Pal: O.J. Requested Firepower
Thanks to what may have been an attempt to look tough, O.J. Simpson could find his position substantially weakened. According to a 45-page transcript of a police interview with accused armed-robbery accomplice Walter Alexander, who has opted to plead to a lesser charge and testify against the former football star, Simpson wanted to bring more than his bargaining skills to a meeting with two sports memorabilia dealers. "O.J. said, 'Hey, just bring some firearms,' " Alexander told Las Vegas authorities, per the Associated Press. "He said…'We won't have to use 'em, but…just to look tough, you know, so that these people know that, you know, we're here for business.' " Simpson, Alexander and four other men were charged last month with 10 felony counts of armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, burglary and conspiracy for allegedly stealing $80,000 worth of memorabilia from two collectors at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino Sept.
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