A few things in the San Diego Union-Tribune I thought I'd share with ya.

One was a comic strip that's actually syndicated. I had the pleasure of meeting the guy that creates it, Dan Piraro, at a party. He and his wife (he drew a few of the tattoos she has on her arms...I asked if her dad hated that, because she married a cartoonist, only to find her dad did Beetle Baily, or some huge comic strip like that).

Well, this one has a guy saying "Wow! Can I have your autographs? My wife & I have been using your restrooms for years!" And, the illustration shows the people as the shadow figures for a man, and the woman, you see on the blue signs on bathroom doors. It's great. 

By the way, this guy is ten times funnier than Gary Larson ever was. You should buy his book (www.Bizarro.com).

The other thing of interest in the paper....I wrote about the fires in San Diego a while ago, and how President Bush promised one guy an autographed Nolan Ryan baseball (he lost one in the fire). So, in Diane Bell's column, she said so many readers wondered about it. And, the guy did get his ball. President Bush also threw in a ball signed by himself, and one of his father. This included a nice handwritten note from the president.

Other people sent items. Recent Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn sent an autographed '84 World Series jersey. He also got a collection of '84 Olympics pins.

A local newscaster had his house burn down on live TV, while he stood, talking into the camera about it. His son lost more than 100 autographed baseballs. He ended up being presented with five balls signed by Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, Padre reliever Trevor Hoffman, and Padre announcer (and former Yankee), Jerry Coleman.