Smiley Anders for April 29, 2008

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: Apr 29, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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A word about the selection of items for this column.

Sometimes I pick items because they are about historic events that alter and illuminate our times.

At other times I select items that I feel will make my readers more informed, well-rounded citizens.

And sometimes I run items just because they make me laugh out loud.

Like this one from Ann:

“Mr. Webster needs to update his dictionary.

“I was reading a book with my 6-year-old grandson, Devin. He pointed out a picture of a boxcar on a train and said, ‘This is where hobos live.’

“I asked, ‘What is a hobo?’

“His reply: ‘A man who doesn’t have cable or Internet connection and                no teeth.’ ”

For the birds
Carl Spillman comments on our story of the Audubon Society’s Thursday program at LSU on whooping cranes.

Speaker Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis., is described as following the cranes’ annual migration to Florida, and working on crane conservation programs in China and Russia.

“Let me see if I got this story straight,” says Carl.

“This lady follows the whooping crane from freezing Wisconsin every winter to sunny, warm Florida, then on occasion may take a little vacation in China or Russia.