Column

Heroic helmet, fashion tips and the trouble with men

By ERNEST HOOPER, Times Columnist
Published February 4, 2008

I'm thrilled that a bike helmet helped save the life of 11-year-old Johnathan Ferland, who was struck in the head by two poles last week after a runaway truck careened in his direction, and I'm sure his family is just happy he's alive. But I like to see good fortune rewarded, so I fully expect Razor, manufacturers of the helmet, to put Ferland on a commercial. It's a no-brainer....

Tell a tax-cut proponent that less government money means less for nonprofits, and they shoot back: "I should decide where my charitable dollars go." With Amendment 1 passing, people need to put that in action. ...

The Family Justice Center found its 11th-hour angel in the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, which provided enough money for the center to stay open for the rest of the year. The center, a one-stop shop for domestic violence victims, faced having to shutter its doors this week before getting the reprieve. ...

A friend of mine dumped a potential suitor after discovering he wears jean shorts. Well, that's not quite how she tells it, but the story left me, a longtime wearer of jean shorts, incredulous.

However, everybody I asked said she made the right decision. Finally a friend who used to be in the jean shorts club with me said, "Hoop, you need go to Target and get some khaki cargo shorts."

Who knew? ...

Seen on a bumper sticker: Men Are Like Savings Bonds, They Take Too Long To Mature.

Ebony Fashion Fair commentator and spokesmodel Jada Collins will be the featured guest during a Miracles Outreach cocktail reception Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Neiman Marcus. Tickets are $50.

Maybe Collins can give me some needed fashion tips.

That's all I'm saying.

[Last modified February 3, 2008, 23:00:25]