I try to do whatever I can to save the planet. In April 1970, I and about 12 other students participated in the first Earth Day. We stood around and fasted for about an hour. I never have littered. “Please, please, don’t be a litter bug because every litter bit hurts,” as the jingle went in an public service announcement.

Haven’t we been led to believe that ethanol was cleaner fuel, better for the environment, and lessened our dependence of foreign oil? A writer for the American Enterprise Institute said that neither the Administration or the Congress has confronted the fact that 40 percent of the American corn crop is used to produce ethanol. A huge downside of this is that it has increased retail food prices and has strained the budgets of families in the never-ending struggle to put food on the table. Who was it once said that no good deed should go unpunished?

I for one am upset with the folks that want to change the Second Amendment of the Constitution because of a handful of evil and mentally ill individuals. I read where one legislative idiot in Washington said that the Founding Fathers had it all wrong. No mister, you have it all wrong. Patrick Henry was one of those patriots who helped create our republic said that “the Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” Makes sense to me.

I do agree with President Obama’s proposal for deeper background checks. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to hide. I sleep better knowing a 45 automatic is close by. I own a Chinese assault rifle that I’ve had more than 20 years. I bought it because Bill Clinton said I shouldn’t have it. I am donating it to a museum. I don’t need it. Never have. I just don’t want an intrusive government telling me as a proud American what I can own or not own.

Next Sunday is the Super Bowl. The Falcons won’t be going to New Orleans. The 49ers will face the Ravens and Ray Lewis. I am hoping that Ray doesn’t take any cutlery.

The Crescent City’s former mayor Ray Negin is under indictment for corruption, money laundering and littering. New Orleans has had a long reputation for political corruption but is still a very hospitable place to visit. New Orleans can boast some of the finest treats for the palate on Earth. I love gumbo and boudin. I once asked a Cajun chef from Cobb County what was in his gumbo. “Eat it, but you really don’t want to know.” Boudin is a rice, Cajun spice, and ground pork creation that comes in a packing much like hot links. Yummy stuff.

I’ve tried alligator. Does it taste like chicken you may ask? No, it tastes more like a Goodyear inner tube. You can buy gator meat here in town at the Pig. Have you ever watched Swamp People on one of the cable and satellite channels? Cajuns work hard and play hard. I’d love to take up hunting for alligators, but I’ve grown used to having two arms and two legs. Has anyone ever spotted one in the Tallapoosa River?

Are you one of those people that watch the Super Bowl because of the advertising? The eTrade babies, Pepsi, Go Daddy, Doritos and other advertisers have made the spots more entertaining than the game. Do they still run the Bud Bowl during the Super Bowl? I know an ole boy from Heflin who lost money betting on the Bud Bowl.

I saw long-time Tallapoosan Jack Nixon at the Bremen Walmart last Sunday. Jack lives in Chattanooga and drives down here from time to time because he misses home. Many of us totally understand. Jack’s brother, Harvey Nixon, taught many kids in our town how to swim when he was a lifeguard at Alex’s Lake. Harvey is retired from decades in the military and lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Do any of you wish we could get another snow like we had about nine days ago? Tallapoosa’s snow event was all over Channel 3 and Fox 5. A week from Sunday some 2 million pizzas will be consumed as well as 59 metric tons of Doritos for Super Bowl gatherings. I wonder who was the first to think of that dip made out of Rotel tomatoes and Velveeta? If you have any left over it makes good spackling for dry wall projects.

Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Director of Special Projects in the Office of Development at Kennesaw State University. Comments are welcome at P.O. Box 6, Tallapoosa, GA 30176 or via email at rhubarbjones@aol.com Previous columns can be found at www.tallapoosa-journal.com.