The Masters Golf Tournament made me want to take up golf again. The only problem is the courses I can afford to play aren’t anywhere near as spectacular as Augusta National. But, I suppose in the end I’m not a spectacular golfer like Phil, Tiger or this year’s winner Charl Schwartzel. I’ll stick to my public courses and my Charles Barkley swing/Nick, UIdaho Argonaut. More Off The Cuff column material here. (AP photo: former Masters champ Phil Mickelson helps Charl Schwartzel on with his green jacket for winning 2011 tournament)

Question: How good of a golfer are you?

My tattoo and I celebrated our one-year anniversary two days ago. We have been joined at the wrist since then and it has been a beautiful relationship. Although some people were not terribly excited about the addition to my body, it represents an important part of my life and reminds of the changes I faced at the time. A year later, I love it more than the day I got it/Elizabeth, UIdaho Argonaut, Off the Cuff column. More here.

Question: Do you love your tattoo today as much or more than the day you got it?

Sometimes it hits me like a lightning bolt — nothing is more important than a positive outlook. Even when it seems like to be optimistic is completely rooted in irrationality and is blind, what choice do we have? It is not naïve to hope for the best, it’s the only option. The alternative is too heavy, too depressing. Life will get better and the sun will shine again — this I know/Tanya, UI Argonaut’s “Off the Cuff.” More here.

Question: Generally, do you tend to be optimistic or pessimistic?

“Ladies, it is that time of year. UGGs with sweatpants are not OK. That is all I have to say, you’ve had your warning” — Dara, UI Argonaut Off The Cuff column.

Question: What “fashion statement” do you most dislike seeing women wear?

Ilya, from UI Argonaut Off The Cuff column, writes: “Am I the only one who doesn’t get the point of a tablet? BlackBerry just announced the release of their tablet, and every other big company under the sun is unleashing their tablet on the world. Did I wake up in a day and age where we don’t have cheap, light, powerful and portable laptops for computing? The irony - I wrote this very message on said cheap and portable laptop, which cost less than any tablet yet is twice as,  if not more, powerful. Perhaps ignorance really is bliss.” (AP photo: The PlayBook is displayed at the  BlackBerry developers conference 2010 in San Francisco on Monday)

Question: Are you excited re: Blackberry’s release of its tablet?

Writing for Off The Cuff (a University of Idaho column), Tanya says: “Saturday night I said goodbye to my career as a waitress. Now that I am no longer a member of the serving community, I would like to request a few things from the public. Please tip your server 20 percent since 10 percent is what they were tipped in 1980, do not say you are ready to order unless you really are, if you know you will need 15 cups of extra ranch then please give your server a heads-up, and remember servers are human too, and make mistakes sometimes.”

Question: Have you ever served as a waiter or waitress? What would you like to say to the dining public?

Kelcie Moseley/UI Argonaut writes: “I can’t believe the news about this oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I keep seeing pictures of dead sea turtles and fish and it makes me sick. Then I read last night that it happened because BP didn’t think their blowout preventer would ever fail. Excuse me, didn’t we learn this lesson from the Titanic? The supposedly unsinkable ship? Didn’t we learn almost 100 years ago to always be prepared for the worst? And now thousands of sea life have to die because of their ignorance and stupidity. Congratulations, oil companies, you’ve successfully made yourselves even more detrimental to the environment and economy than you already were.” More Off The Cuff here. (Associated Press photo)

Question: Is it hypocritical for anyone in this country to slam oil companies when we’re dependent on them for fuel to get us around in our various vehicles?

I’ve noticed life mimicking art lately. For example, the oil spill in the Gulf reminds me of a passage from J.R.R. Tolken. He wrote, “The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep.” I find it to be a perfect statement of what is happening to our society today/Ilya, UI Argonaut. More Off The Cuff.

Question: Are there any other life lessons that can be learned from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books about Hobbits and Middle Earth?

It just kills me to read the ridiculous names people have been coming up with for the opposite political party within debate. Dumbocrats, DemoRATS, Obamacrats, ReTHUGlicans and Repugnicans are just a few that come to mind. Let’s quit the grade-school name-calling and focus on the issues/Photo Editor Jake Barber, UI Argonaut. More Off The Cuff here.

DFO: I agree w/Jake. I’ve gotten to the point that almost all name-calling in blog comments is a turnoff. I stop reading when I see some of the juvenile swipes that some here take at the other side. It might play to the choir. But it loses the desired effect of swaying support.

Question: How about you. Do you mind the dismissive jargon that some partisans use for the other side?

Yesterday I went to the library to print some pictures for a class. I was in a hurry because I had the class in 20 minutes, so I wasn’t paying close attention, but when I looked up the guy diagonal from me was spitting his chew in a Dr. Pepper bottle. Say whatever you want, but that is disgusting, and my instant reaction was to gag. The sad part is he was cute until I saw him do that/Elizabeth Rudd, FrontRow Editor. More Off The Cuff here.

Question: Have you ever chewed tobacco? Or dated someone who did?

“Every time I go to John’s Alley, the drunkest person there finds me. They sense a kindred spirit. They know. I’m one of them. On Tuesday, this guy sits at the bar, and after 20 minutes of drooling on himself and staring at his drink, manages to scream, ‘Chinese food?!’ My beer-drinking compatriot with me translates, ‘I think he’s offering you Chinese food.’ I politely decline. At this, he takes his leave, but not before slurring, ‘Hasta luego, Taco.’ Hear this, Drunky: I will not now, nor will I ever be, your ‘Taco’/Editor Christina Lords, UI Argonaut. More Off The Cuff.

Question: Has a drunk ever hit on you? How did you handle it?

Quotable Quote: Not only did “The Boss” nearly die trying to get his old ass up on the piano Super Bowl Sunday, but in a dramatic turn of events, old Bruce found himself singing a couple of octaves higher after accidentally slamming his nads into the camera after a 5-foot knee slide. The “Glory Days” are over, and “The Boss” should retire — Levi, UI Argonaut. More Off The Cuffs.

Question: Is it time to put a fork in Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band?

People made a stink over Dr. Joseph Lowery’s benediction at the inauguration. They say his prayers for a day when “brown would stick around,” “the red man would get ahead, man” and “white would embrace what is right” are in bad taste. He was merely throwing a little humor into a serious event and hoping for a day when we are all equal. Lighten up/Jake Barber, photo editor, UI Argonaut. More Off The Cuff.

Question: Were you bugged by Dr. Lowery’s light-hearted prayer at the inauguration?