It's not unusual when a new chairman comes for there to be a number of vacancies at the top.

Oddly, it was sparked when Lucent's chairman said they were going to be profitable, believe it or not. And then what happened it seemed that the basic industry stocks started to do somewhat better.

there have been not one but two Supreme Court vacancies.

In reviewing our tax structure, our lodging tax had not been addressed in a number of years. The recommendation was made by the Industrial Board to the city council that the tax be brought up to the levels of Montgomery and Mobile. Acting on their recommendation, we are going to adjust the lodging tax to 8 percent. It will be effective after a notice is placed in the paper and the owners of lodging establishment are notified.

Occasionally when you get these dramatic cold snaps, you have these delays. It's not wholly unusual. But this is the first one in a while.

So that when you look from a distance you see glitter from all three sides, not just the top.