BIG BIRD: “I don’t know what gets people all worked up about
robins in the spring. It’s a lot more exciting to spot something
like what is shown in the photos from a small pond on our property
between Lantz Corners and Kane today,” writes Matt Benson of
Kane.

“I sneaked to within about 75 yards and took photos and watched
through binoculars while the bird floated around and ducked its
head under water from time to time. I believe it’s a young tundra
swan or whistling swan (different names in different guide books,
but the Cornell website says it’s the same bird).”

FILL IT UP: Kristie Bentley of Grayslake, Ill., writes, “I was
watching ‘The Women’ tonight and two of the characters used a Zippo
lighter. The sound of the lighter clicking shut reminded me of two
incidents that happened a number of years ago. Both were in bars,
one in South Dakota and one in Wisconsin.”

“I realized my Zippo was running out of fluid and motioned the
bartender over while I started to ask if they had any lighter
fluid. When I stopped my request, the bartender asked what I was
wanting. When I told him they wouldn’t have any, he insisted they
might.

“I received a very strange look when I finished my request. I
then had to explain where I grew up and that all the bars had a can
of Zippo lighter fluid behind the bar for patrons to fill their
lighters.”

STONE CASTLE: Chauncey Kan of Panama City Beach, Fla., writes,
“The stone castle at Red House Lake is a great place for
stargazers. Dicky Baker and I used to take dates up there, the
girls always loved it.”

TODAY’S QUOTE: “The founders never held the view that if rich
guys can’t make money off journalism, then we just won’t have
journalism. The nation was built on the idea that we have to put
into place policies that guarantee journalism no matter what.” So
said Robert W. McChesney, author, professor of communication,
University of Illinois, 2007.