Almost Time for Velcro Sneakers

Folks … Has it actually been 40 years since Saturday Night Live first aired? The time sure does fly by. Except for some minor aches and creaking of bones, I don’t usually feel my age. To me, a birthday is basically just another day on the calendar. After all, we only have one birthday, the others are just anniversaries thereof. I’ve noticed in the past several years that I’m getting closer to old age and Velcro sneakers. Perhaps some of you have noticed that they are making remakes of movies that we first saw as adults.
Anyway, last week I wrote about an ancestor of mine who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. If you remember — in honor of Brian Williams — I also said that I made the whole thing up and that there were at least three untruths in the story, which I would reveal this week. Here they are — 1) the Medal was not created until 1861. 2) There were no aircraft carriers afloat during the War of 1812. 3) No one was firing torpedoes during that conflict. To those who missed my previous column, feel free to visit the online archives of this paper.
Rambling on … The Beach Company’s plan for their latest project across the river has sure gained a lot of publicity and public outcry. As one who rarely ventures into that area anymore, whatever is built will probably not affect my life in any discernable way. I do suspect that they’re taking a page out of the playbook of our utility companies. When a utility wants a 3 percent rate increase, they go before the state Public Service Commission (PSD) and ask for a 6 percent hike. Then, when what they actually want is approved, the PSD is seen by some as a champion of the public. Perhaps the Beach Company actually has proposed a large-scale development when a pared back project has been in mind all along.
Closer to home … it appears that the Church Creek Shopping Center will shortly be torn down. The place has been an eyesore for many years it is probably for the best. Many people have cited the absentee landlord for the sad state of the property and it is true that owners should be responsible for maintaining their land and buildings. That said, let me put in a word of defense for this man. I seriously doubt that he drove up from Florida or wherever to spray paint graffiti and strew litter in the parking lot.
On to more pressing items … I’m admittedly not a big fan of the current occupant of The White House. There’s an old saying that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. I sense that America is waning while Obama vacations. For example, for whatever reasons, he refuses to acknowledge the religious inclinations of Islamic terrorists. A State Department spokesperson recently said that these barbaric murderers cannot be defeated by force of arms. She implied that we should help provide them with job opportunities to quell their bloodlust. What’s next? Will the President issue an executive order calling for an Islamic State economic incentive program?
Well, I believe I have rambled on enough for now. Even I wondered where I was going with this column.
James David Altman lives in West Ashley amd is  the son of the late former S.C. Republican House of Representative of John Graham Altman III. You can reach him at rabidreb@gmail.com.