http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/ en gcurry@thecornernews.com Copyright 2008 2008-07-02T15:53:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/fun-with-spam/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/fun-with-spam/#When:15:35:00Z Seeing as how I work for a major corporation you'd think our spam filter on our email would be a little better than it is. (NOT!) So periodically I get an email [SPAM] that's just plain funny to me and this morning I got one. The one advertising the little blue pills, make her smile and feel good about yourself tonight are all hilarious too, but they all get through our filter about 10 times a day. But this I got this morning just made me chuckle. Here's the entire email, less phone numbers of course.Seeing as how I work for a major corporation you’d think our spam filter on our email would be a little better than it is. (NOT!) So periodically I get an email [SPAM] that’s just plain funny to me and this morning I got one. The one advertising the little blue pills, make her smile and feel good about yourself tonight are all hilarious too, but they all get through our filter about 10 times a day. But this I got this morning just made me chuckle. Here’s the entire email, less phone numbers of course. Note: I didn’t doctor this in anyway, the misspelled words and grammar errors are all theirs. {Subject} FW: Add dr. to you name (Here you can see the abbreviation for doctor is lowercase… It should be Dr.) {Body of Email} Bacheelor, MasteerMBA, and Doctoraate diplomas available in the field of your choice that’s right, you can even become a Doctor and receive all the benefits that comes with it! (Don’t know what to say about this one. Bachelor, Master, Doctorate all have double vowels. Don’t let the fact that this is a run on sentence get past you either.) Our Diplomas/Certificates are recognised in most countries (What is R-E-C-O-G-N-I-Z-E-D for $1000 Alex?) No required examination, tests, classes, books, or interviews. ** No one is turned down ** Confidentiality assured CALL US 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK For US: (phone numbers) Outside US: (phone numbers) (And the coup de gras.) “Just leave your NAME & PHONE NO. (with CountryCode)” in the voicemail our staff will get back to you in next few days WHAT?! So I’m supposed to call you and leave our name and phone number on some random voice mail so some strange person can call me back in a few days? Come on man, if you’re going to run an effective scam you can at least have live people answering the phone. I’m just saying, who in their right my would respond to this? OK, that was a rhetorical question but obviously someone is because I just got the same email. (It’s been almost and hour since the first at 9:54 AM) 2008-07-03T15:35:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/dorsey-delivers-proficient-blues-style/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/dorsey-delivers-proficient-blues-style/#When:14:05:01Z Aside from being a good guitarist, Dorsey has a clean, clear voice, and you can tell he is feeling the music as he sings.Dallas Dorsey is an Opelika native who has been playing guitar for many years now, at least 10 since I became aware of him. An Opelika High School alum myself, I had not heard Dorsey in several years and was pleasantly surprised to hear that he is now gigging around in Alabama and beyond. Aside from being a good guitarist, Dorsey has a clean, clear voice, and you can tell he is feeling the music as he sings; there is a lot of emotion in his delivery. His MySpace page has some great cover tunes, like the Jason Isbell ballad “Dress Blues,” while Adam Hood’s “Take Me With You” is a driving shuffle with a gritty vocal line. Throughout each song, Dorsey proves himself to be a proficient singer and musician who has a strong feel for bluesy, heartfelt performances. Dorsey is influenced by, and has played with, Adam Hood and is a talented songwriter in his own right. Whether it be on acoustic or electric, Dorsey is a local act worth seeing. Dorsey will showcase some of his originals at the Strutting Duck next Wednesday, July 9. For more information, visit myspace.com/dallasdorsey. 2008-07-03T14:05:01-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/bartlett-doesnt-bring-it/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/bartlett-doesnt-bring-it/#When:13:59:01Z Jon Poll’s new-to-DVD film, “Charlie Bartlett,” tries, but never reaches its potential to be the next “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Election,” or “Rushmore.” Jon Poll’s new-to-DVD film, “Charlie Bartlett,” tries, but never reaches its potential to be the next “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Election,” or “Rushmore.” The promos made me think this movie was going to be a fun, quirky comedy about a smart kid defying the prison of high school and coming out on top. If this movie was funny, somebody needs to explain the humor to me. This movie is about as predictable as sappy chick-flicks, but it even lacks sap. “Charlie Bartlett” starts off promising, slowly developing Susan and Charlie’s (albeit predictable) relationship. However, the only thing I could concentrate on for most of the movie was how much Susan Gardner (Kat Dennings) desperately needed to remove her too-bright-red lipstick. Even though the movie does deal with pertinent issues affecting youth today, such as the pressures of school and family, the characters were never fully developed and the film does not seem polished. Anton Yelchin, who plays the title character, is a fairly good actor, but his ‘charm’ becomes annoying as the movie drags on. It is a cutesy, bland film leaving me not wanting more. Charlie Bartlett is a good movie to watch if you have absolutely nothing else to watch, but otherwise I would not recommend it. 2008-07-03T13:59:01-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/sing-like-alanis/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/sing-like-alanis/#When:21:03:00Z Alanis Morissette is holding karaoke contest on MySpace through July 13. Record your own version of a song from her last album, "Flavors of Entanglement," and she'll choose winners to win prizes that include tickets to her concert and an autographer microphone. Alanis Morissette is holding karaoke contest on MySpace through July 13. Record your own version of a song from her last album, “Flavors of Entanglement,” and she’ll choose winners to win prizes that include tickets to her concert and an autographer microphone. I checked it out just to see the bad versions of Alanis songs, but there are actually some pretty good karaoke versions. Of course, most people aren’t following the rules and are recording “Uninvited” and “Ironic,” but some of them are actually good. Check it all out here: myspace.com/music/Alanis-Morissette 2008-07-02T21:03:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/outdoor-auburn-adventures-on-a-budget/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/outdoor-auburn-adventures-on-a-budget/#When:15:53:00Z Auburn summers are perfect for outdoor adventures. Hot, sunny days are great for lying by the lake, river, pool or creek. Yet, with the price of everything increasing so dramatically, here are some ideas for cheap outdoor adventures around Auburn. Auburn summers are perfect for outdoor adventures. Hot, sunny days are great for lying by the lake, river, pool or creek. Yet, with the price of everything increasing so dramatically, here are some ideas for cheap outdoor adventures around Auburn. Chewacla State Park is located just past Interstate 85 on College Street. It is a great place to play by the lake or relax by the creek. The park, located near a quarry, is filled with small rock cliffs for climbing and trails for hiking. Chewacla offers eight hiking trails at various levels. All trails are marked by difficulty; there is also a marked mountain biking trail and tree identification trail. Chewacla’s 26-acre lake features a lakefront with a waterslide that is great for families with children and restroom facilities are located nearby. Boat rentals are also available. Throughout the park, there are 36 campsites, 33 with full hook-ups. There are 15 primitive campsites and also a designated site for group camping. Chewacla also has newly renovated rustic cabins that are great for a romantic get away. In addition, there are three pavilions that are available to rent for group or family parties and other picnic areas scattered throughout the park. With a $2 entrance fee and 696 acres, college students and families, can find something to do at Chewacla. “Its biggest appeal is the waterfall and the hiking trails,” said Auburn University senior Lauren Wright. “I have only been able to go twice this year, but I really like to go out there. I just don’t always have enough time.” For more information about all that Chewacla has to offer, visit their Web site at stateparks.com/chewacla.html. Lake Martin, located approximately 30 minutes from Auburn off of U.S. Highway 280, is another location for an afternoon of fun. Even if you do not have access to a lake house, Lake Martin offers around 18 public launch areas. Some of these include: Backwater Grill and Landing, Coley Creek, Double Bridges Park, Kowaliga Bridge, Madwind Creek, Union and Wicker Point. For a more extensive and detailed list of public launches visit lakemartin.com/ramps.asp. “You can swim and lay around the lake anywhere that is not developed,” said Auburn University junior Stuart Stone. “There is actually a small island about half of a mile from Kowaliga Live Bait and Tackle Marina. When the water is down most of the island shows. There are only two palm trees and a couple of pine tress on the island.” Lake Martin is a place for people of all ages. It is easy to find entertainment, from boat and house watching, relaxing on a boat to jumping off of Chimney Rock, there is always something to do. Chimney Rock and Acapulco Rock are large rocks that have been at Lake Martin since the ‘20s when the lake was first backed up. Chimney Rock is approximately 45 feet at its most popular jumping spot and is 80 feet tall at its highest point. “I have been to Lake Martin countless times and never leave before I jump off of Chimney Rock,” Stone said. “It is one of the hot spots on the Lake. It is normally surrounded by people waiting to jump off.” Even though Chimney Rock and Acapulco Rock attract thrill seekers of all ages, they are dangerous rocks that have led to several deaths and injuries throughout the years. However, Alabama Power Company, owner of the land on which these rocks are located, continue to leave these rocks open for these thrill seekers. They say that these are public areas and people are responsible for their own actions. Lake Martin also offers a variety of entertainment throughout the summer. They have fishing tournaments, poker runs and concerts at the amphitheater. On July 4th, Lake Martin will host a boat parade that will begin at 10 a.m. and a concert and fireworks that will begin at the amphitheater at 6 p.m. To register for the boat parade, go to the Russell Marine location. The fireworks will be visible from the Kowaliga bay area, and the concert will feature Bluegrass Biscuits and Sweet Young’uns. In addition, Lake Martin will also have their annual fundraiser Wags and Whiskers at the end of the summer, and will host a wakeboarding competition later this summer. Bouldering, a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope, is another favorite summer activity in Auburn. There are rocks located throughout the city and surrounding area that are great for climbing and exploring. While this activity is free, it is more suited for teenage and college students.  While girls and boys both enjoy an afternoon of rock climbing, you will most often see college-aged boys visiting these locations. “Bouldering is mainly for college-aged kids, and even then, mainly guys.” said Adam Warnke, an Auburn University senior. Kiesel Park, Auburn’s largest park, is another great location in Auburn for an afternoon walk or morning jog. It is free to use and features a pavilion, garden, pond and 2.25 mile walking trail. “I love to come out here and run during the afternoon,” said Jordan Huff, an Auburn University senior. “It is also a great place to come and walk your dog. And, as corny as it sounds, it can be a nice place for a romantic walk in the evening.” The City of Auburn also maintains two pools for public use in Auburn. Drake pool is located next to Drake Middle School, and Samford pool is located behind Samford Middle School. Both pools feature a main pool and a children’s pool. Samford pool also has a deep pool. Most college students will choose to hang out with friends who live in apartment complexes that have pools. These can be a more challenging place to visit because of restrictions placed on the number of visitors residents are allowed to bring. “I love to lay out at the Creekside pool with my friends,” Huff said. “It’s always crowded in the afternoon, it almost feels like spring break.” Auburn offers a number of golf courses for those that like a more structured outdoor adventure. Some of these courses include Auburn Links at Mill Creek, The Auburn University Club, Indian Pines Golf Course, Moores Mill Golf Club and Pin Oaks Golf Course. Even if golf is a little harder on the budget, there is the option of going to the driving range to work on your swing. “I don’t always have enough money to go play nine holes of golf, so sometimes I’ll just go with some friends to the driving range,” said Caleb Pierce, an Auburn University senior. “It’s still a fun time to relax and visit with friends. I even take my girlfriend out there sometimes.” Most of these outdoor adventure locations can also make great dates. Dates can range anywhere from $20 to $75; however, with these ideas and locations, it is easy to date on a budget this summer. “Chewacla and Lake Martin are great places for dates, bouldering not so much,” Warnke said. “But, you will see lots of couples at Chewacla and Lake Martin.” So, if an afternoon of shopping or an evening on the town is going to blow your budget, there are plenty of outdoor adventures that are easy on the pocket book in Auburn this summer. Elizabeth Toney contributes to The Corner’s Loveliest Village blog. See more from Elizabeth here. Featue1 2008-07-02T15:53:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/more-than-purses-at-pursona/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/more-than-purses-at-pursona/#When:14:19:00Z Pursona is a new chic boutique located in downtown Auburn.Pursona is a new chic boutique located in downtown Auburn. It has a wide variety of brand name shoes and purses, along with some accessories. As soon as you walk through the door, you are surrounded by teal walls that bring a funky vibe to the store. The boutique’s style brings a calm, relaxed feel that is like no other store in Auburn. Angie Dorchak, owner of Pursona, is a former Auburn student and opened Pursona because she thought it was something this town needed. “I think people will find that we have really fashion forward stuff for really great prices,” said Dorchak. Pursona carries brands such as Jessica Simpson, Carlos Santana, Chinese Laundry, Betsy Johnson, Rampage, Kenneth Cole, Bronx, etc. They also carry designer swimsuits and sunglasses. The friendly staff is willing to help you find what you are looking for. So, bring in an outfit and they will help you find the perfect match! 2008-07-02T14:19:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/flip-flops/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/flip-flops/#When:14:16:00Z I am often irritated by how little the average person knows about what is going on in the world around them. I am infuriated when I see politicians openly and obviously capitalizing on that and no one doing anything about it. John McCain was an avid opponent of the new GI Bill when it was being debated and voted on in the House back in April. While the bill was on the Senate floor, McCain again voiced his opinion that expanding benefits for our veterans would not be a good thing. The Republican candidate for President did not take the time to show up and vote against the bill (that’s a political move so that his name is not listed as having actually ‘voted against’ it). The White House vowed to veto a new GI Bill if it came to the President’s desk. The Pentagon was official against the bill, stating that increasing education benefits would encourage soldiers to leave the military to go to school. The bill hit the President’s desk as an amendment in a supplemental appropriations bill. He passed it into law on June 30, 2008. In a press conference he read that McCain worked bi-partisanly to help pass this beneficial bill. I wish people would be more honest, if you are against something - be against it and that’s that. 2008-07-02T14:16:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/waverly-brings-out-the-crowds-over-weekend/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/waverly-brings-out-the-crowds-over-weekend/#When:14:14:00Z For the many who had made their first pilgrimage to Waverly this night, excited about the next installment.“I’ve always wondered about this place,” said Emma Keller of Auburn after being asked if it was her first time to Standard Deluxe. “As long as I’ve been in Auburn I have asked so many people where they got the cute shirt they were wearing and it seems like they are always telling me Standard Deluxe.” Standard Deluxe, and its 15 years of sought after work in uniquely designed overprint T-shirts and silkscreen posters, may be Waverly, Alabama’s best kept secret. But what brought the ever growing crowd to normally sleepy Waverly Saturday night was the most recent in Standard Deluxe’s concert performances. Watermelon and other goodies were available immediately after entering the door, and from the opening strums of Mississippi John Doude’s guitar and beat of his bass drum, it was immediate to all that the all ages fun was just beginning. “I am really pleasantly surprised at the turnout tonight,” Doude said just before he took the stage. “I come from a place not too much like this, McCool, Miss., and you really would have a hard time finding a crowd this big coming to anything out there.” Doude showed great musical range as he switched from playing his acoustic guitar to playing slide, and the energy and outlaw-vibe only intensified. “Now we are having fun!” Doude exclaimed as he switched from the acoustic to the electric guitar and finished his set with a flurry of deep and energetic blues songs. Next, despite electrical difficulties that delayed and then halted mid-stream their second song, Blue Mountain of Oxford, Miss., took the stage and their stylized blend of blues and other influences picked up right where Mississippi John Doude left off. At times a listener may be reminded of such diverse bands as Mudhoney all the way to Pink Floyd in just a few bars of music, and the crowd was enchanted with the musical adventure unfolding in the Alabama night. Auburn’s own Dirtnap took the stage for the finale performance and provided one of their best performances in memory. The sizeable crowd, of a few hundred people, never stopped flowing in as the night progressed. For the many who had made their first pilgrimage to Waverly this night, excited about the next installment. 2008-07-02T14:14:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/fourth-of-july-guide/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/fourth-of-july-guide/#When:15:14:00Z Due to an error in production, The Corner apologizes that page 9 ran incorrectly this week. Please click here to view the correct page. Due to an error in production, The Corner apologizes that page 9 ran incorrectly this week. Please click here to view the correct page. The Fourth of July is a special occasion for any American. Whether you’re with your family or friends, it’s a time of extreme celebration! If you don’t already have plans, then check out this list of fun Fourth of July activities around the area: Auburn The City of Auburn’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration Sponsored by Briggs and Stratton and hosted by the Auburn Parks & Recreation Department, this will be a relaxed, fun-filled evening of fireworks and music by the band Parrots of the Caribbean who performs covers that include Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley. The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at Duck Samford Football Stadium. The music starts at 7 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, July 5th. For more information, contact Auburn Parks & Recreation at 501-2930. or visit auburnalabama.org. Lake Martin Fourth of July Boat Parade Russell Marine will host the 17th annual Fourth of July boat parade Friday at 10 a.m. on Lake Martin. More than 50 boats will participate in this year’s parade from Kowaliga Marina to Children’s Harbor, circling just past the lighthouse and then heading back to the marina. Prizes from largest flag to most creative boat will be awarded. For more information, contact Terri Blackmon at 256-212-1479, or visit lakemartin.com. Fourth of July Blast Concert & Fireworks Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Fireworks are viewable in the Kowaliga Bay area of the lake. There will be music provided by Muse, Bluegrass Biscuits and Sweet Young’uns. Columbus, Ga. 10th Annual Thunder on the Hooch Thunder on the Hooch takes place Friday and is located in the Riverwalk area of Columbus and Phenix City. offers free rides, entertainment, food, craft vendors, fireworks and more. The celebration begins at 9 p.m. For more information, contact Andrea Smith at 406.494.5403. Send us your Fourth of July photos and we’ll print them in next week’s paper and online! Email them to . 2008-07-02T15:14:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/news/comments/wildly-outlandish-action-pic/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/wildly-outlandish-action-pic/#When:17:13:00Z "Wanted" is a super-stylized, wildly outlandish action flick that will pick you up, throw you around, drop you back down on the ground and leave you begging for more.The movie is called “Wanted” and the star is Angelina Jolie. No, it is not a documentary. It is, in fact, a super-stylized, wildly outlandish action flick that will pick you up, throw you around, drop you back down on the ground and leave you begging for more. It’s the ideal, mindless summer thrill ride — one you can never take too seriously, even when it starts to take itself too seriously. Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, “Wanted” follows the unlikely transformation of Wesley Gibson (the increasingly versatile James McAvoy) from miserable cubicle dweller to master assassin. When we first meet him, he’s being berated yet again by his obnoxious hag of a boss; if you know anything about anything, you know that in a fantasy world like this, she will surely get hers in the end. Jolie, as the appropriately named Fox, yanks Wesley from his dreary life and introduces him to The Fraternity, a secret society of freakishly skilled, highly trained killers — of whom his recently murdered father, the man he never knew, was the best of the best. They’ve been around for 1,000 years and, as their cover, they work in a textile mill. Because no one would ever suspect that. Kazakhstan-born director Timur Bekmambetov clearly had a blast emptying his own clip of filmmaking tricks: sped-up sequences, slo-mo, curving bullets that defy the laws of physics. And he serves up one tremendous car chase that will make you apprehensive about driving through Chicago anytime soon. When things finally reach their breathless conclusion, not a hair is out of place in Jolie’s perfect, sexy twist. She’s back in butt-kicking Mrs. Smith mode — lethal but cheeky. The diminutive McAvoy, meanwhile, maintains much of the underdog likability we saw from him in the underappreciated coming-of-age comedy “Starter for 10,” but it’s obvious he’s had a few visits with a personal trainer. (It seems the Scottish actor has also seen a dialect coach, and has come back with a solid American accent.) Sure, you’ve seen plenty of this type of amped-up nonsense before — in the “Matrix” series, or in last summer’s ultraviolent “Shoot ‘Em Up,” which was just as elaborately choreographed and edited but felt like more of an onslaught. That doesn’t make “Wanted” any less enjoyable. And certainly you could have a philosophical debate about the merits of The Fraternity’s purpose: to kill people who were fated to do evil deeds anyway. But that would needlessly tax your brain, and there’s no room for that now. Just sit down, shut up and hold on. “Wanted,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality. Running time: 110 minutes. Three stars out of four. 2008-07-01T17:13:00-06:00