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Do You Know Who I Am?



I’m a long-time fan of the radio news quiz “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” on NPR. I’ve discovered how listening in each week makes following the news more fun. If I pay attention during the week, I might know an answer on “Wait Wait”!  I was excited when one of the call-in contestants this past week identified themselves as Dave from Columbia, Maryland. Suddenly my favorite radio show became a local story.

I felt sure that someone I knew must know who this caller was. So I posted on social media:

Need to know: who was “Dave from Columbia” on last week’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me?

The two particular local people I know named Dave were not the caller in question, alas. Although a friend pointed out that there must be many Daves in Columbia,  I was optimistic I’d be able to locate him. I know it seems ridiculous. And yet…

Not too long after my post someone I knew confirmed that they, indeed, knew “Dave from Columbia.”And that’s really all I needed to know. The story of his winning turn on a national radio show was his to tell, not mine. I was just tickled to be able to locate him. 

If you’re reading this, Dave: congratulations!

Speaking of names, 

Help us choose a “boring” name! 

The North Tunnel is a transformative project that will serve as a model for flood mitigation across our nation and world. As we prepare to break ground on this once in a generation project this summer, I invite our residents to help name the Tunnel Boring Machine that will be used to construct the North Tunnel. Options include: Ellicott Drills, Ellicott Excavator, Granite, Granite Grinder, Hudson, and Rocky. 

Choose your favorite name at https://communityfeedback.opengov.com/portals/howardcomd/Issue_13631


Image from HoCoGov social media 


No, you do not get to submit your own personal suggestions. You may choose from the above options. People who want “Drilly McDrillface” may be disappointed, but those are the rules. I’m sure you may call it whatever you want around the house. I have already voted. The most difficult part was proving I was not a robot. 

Why go through the public process to pick a name for an inanimate object? Possibly to make it less scary? To remind local folks that this is the next step in the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan? To have a little non-controversial fun?

That last one seems to be difficult for some people, if you take a look at the County Executive’s Facebook page.

A few years ago the Columbia Association held a naming contest for their Aqua Mower. The winning name was Chompers, submitted by nine year old Quintin. This is Chompers:


Image from Columbia Association social media 


We don’t have an actual photo of the soon-to-be named Boring Machine. Perhaps we will catch a glimpse once the contest is over. I wonder if local dignitaries will christen it with a bottle of champagne. (From Tersiguels, perhaps? The Wine Bin?)

What do you think? Are the name choices too boring, or not boring enough?


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