A light look at Mubarak's reversal

We've found video of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak's most recent speech, in which he says he's staying, but then flees. It's the first 12 seconds of this video:

Don't mess with people's barbecue

Sure, gay marriage or health care reform gets some people stirred up. But if you really want to get tongues wagging, weigh in on barbecue.
When First Lady Michelle Obama cited Charlotte's "great barbecue" in announcing that the Democratic National Convention was headed here, we wondered if she needed to lay off the sweet tea. While there is some good barbecue in Charlotte, we argued that true connoisseurs had to go to Lexington or Shelby or elsewhere to find the finest.
We agree with John Shelton Reed, author of "Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue", who told the Associated Press: "Complete the sentence: As a barbecue town, Charlotte is one, not what it used to be; two, like Minneapolis for gumbo; three, good enough for Yankees; four, not far from Shelby."
Politico also weighed in. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, in an interview with the political website, didn't defend the Queen City: "We have good barbecue in Charlotte, but there's great barbecue [elsewhere] across the state," Foxx said. "I have had great barbecue in Charlotte that's been brought in on a truck."
But he said Charlotte will not let down the Obamas.
"If barbecue is what the First Lady wants, she will have all the barbecue she needs," Foxx said. "We'll make sure of it."
USA Today has also written about the flap.
None of this sits well with national Democrats, who are e-mailing us to remind us that Bubba's, off Exit 16 on I-77, was named the third best barbecue in North Carolina. And for some reason, the whole issue really gets in the craw of Jamison Foser, a blogger at Media Matters.
As for us, we reiterate our invitation for some intrepid investors to open a real barbecue joint in the heart of uptown, with nanner puddin' on the menu every day.
-- Posted by the Observer editorial board

Charlotte = great barbecue? Who knew?

Michelle Obama may know a lot about haute coutre in Chicago, but she doesn't know hushpuppies about Charlotte's culinary scene. In announcing Charlotte will host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the First Lady says:

"Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an 'up by the bootstraps' mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South. Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue."

Huh?!?! We appreciate all the compliments, and they're all spot-on until that last one. We like Spoon's, Mac's and Bubba's just fine, but everybody knows to get the best stuff, you gotta drive north to Lexington.

Maybe this will be the publicity Lexington BBQ needs to open an outpost in Charlotte. Or how about a consortium of Lexington/Wilber Shirley/B's/Skylight Inn/Allen & Sons at the corner of Trade and Tryon?

-- Posted by the Observer editorial board