Constantine “Gus” Koutroulakis, owner and operator of Pete’s Famous Hot Dogs on 2nd Avenue in Birmingham since 1948, died this morning at his home. He was 81. As a boy, I remember very well going with my dad to Birmingham on car-related business—auctions, shows, swapping vehicles with his friend Jay, or whatever—and frequently a trip … Read more
Lea bought some jellybeans last week. I had five or six that day. Today I came home at lunch with parts I needed to fix Nathan’s aquarium hood, and spied the jellybean container when I was making a sandwich. I could see through the side that a goodly number remained. Thought I might have some … Read more
Federal prosecutors are trying to seize $7 million in silver in the case of Bernard von NotHaus, who began issuing Liberty Dollars in 1998 to compete with the U.S. dollar. (Liberty Dollars are composed primarily of silver. I guess he has this crazy idea that money should have intrinsic value. What a nut, right?) Thing … Read more