Wade on October 2006

A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

Talking points: The debate was merely a formality.

That’s how it seemed when Bob Riley and Lucy Baxley squared off in the only gubernatorial debate. Riley had maintained an insurmountable lead all summer and managed to beat his opponent in the televised contest without saying much.

Everybody hates Borat: Comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen apparently made a faux pas or two at a Helena dinner party. The hostess, Cindy Streit, works as an etiquette consultant but has earned newfound celebrity status as one of the ~~dupes~~ stars of “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” (She’s on the left.)

Embarrassed but not enough to grandstand, she hired a lawyer in November to ask the California attorney general to investigate for fraud. Streit also asked for relief, such as a share of the profits from the film’s earnings, nearly a quarter billion dollars in under eight weeks. Wait till she finds out the contract she signed also entitles Baron Cohen to one of her kidneys …

Get together: Business leaders have said it. Gov. Riley has said it. Birmingham lacks leadership.

A group of representatives from the city’s hottest commodity, young professional organizations, met as part of a Civic Organization Roundtable. What do they want? What will happen next? Can they work together?

And can they save the cheerleader, thus saving the world?