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John Edwards, living the dream

American Dream, indeed.

A charismatic politician with a carefully crafted image as a devoted husband and father is caught in marital infidelity by a tabloid and forced to confess on national television. What's next for this disgraced former candidate?

The speakers' circuit, of course! For $65,000 a talk -- an increase over his former fee.

John Edwards will address University of Illinois students next month on the subject of the "American Dream."

If America is a country where scandal raises someone's star power, Edwards is cashing in on the dream.

Not cool. Not cool at all

Obviously not content with all the stuff there already is to steal, thieves are targeting air conditioning units for the copper and aluminum they contain.

Construction areas and vacant houses are the main targets, but some crooks haven't ruled out occupied homes in established neighborhoods.

Sometimes they strip the metal from inside the unit. Sometimes they simply take the whole thing.

Last month, the Mount Zion Baptist Church had nine air conditioning units stolen, and Blandwood Mansion and the Salvation Army Boys' and Girls' Club have been targets as well.

Manhole covers were bad enough. Now they're hitting us where we worship and live.

What's next? Telephone poles for the wood?

Storytelling time in Greensboro

The Monti -- a Chapel Hill-based storytelling program -- held its first event in Greensboro last Wednesday night, and by all accounts it was a success. Even though it was Fay day, the event drew a full house at The Underground.

"I would estimate that about 90 were there, and we were tightly packed," said Monti founder Jeff Polish. (See themonti.org for Polish's interesting story on why he named the event "The Monti.")

Appropriately, for a debut event, the night's storytellers talked on the theme of "Firsts." Local authors Justin Catanoso ("My Cousin the Saint") and Quinn Dalton ("Stories from the Afterlife") told stories, as did singer/songwriter Molly McGinn, musician Catie Braly-Sellars (The Popovers) and Polish.

Polish modeled The Monti on New York City's The Moth, which has had sell-out crowds for 10 years.

Fortunately, says Polish, The Monti's Aug. 27 event in Greensboro won't be its last. "I hope to do a Greensboro event every few months," Polish said.

We think an evening featuring political types of varying persuasions might prove a draw here, especially coming up to the election. We bet -- no, we know -- politicians could tell tales.

State of Community: A bit long

The State of Our Community luncheon has been a welcome addition to the Greensboro agenda since it debuted under the leadership of former Chamber of Commerce head David Jameson eight years ago.

The luncheon provides a good opportunity to take stock of opportunities and challenges in the community in a group setting. And it's always interesting to see the patterns -- or lack thereof -- in the various reports from the county, the city, the school board and the Chamber.

This year it was crystal clear that completing the International Civil Rights Center and Museum was a priority. Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Guilford commissioners Chairman Kirk Perkins and Chamber Operating Group President Tim Rice all mentioned it prominently in their speeches.

One gentle suggestion: Could the speakers be a tad briefer next time? Rice clocked in at a manageable 10 minutes or so. The others, well, did not, and the audience began to grow thin as the hour grew later.

One way to streamline the session is to dispense with introductions of elected officials, some of whom were recognized more than once. They're good people and we appreciate their service. But we know who they are.