Skirt! magazine began in Charleston. It is owned by Morris Publishing Group in Augusta. Pink! magazine looks too much like Skirt! , according to a lawsuit filed against Pink! by Morris. Elizabeth Millen, publisher of Pink! was quoted in Charleston's Post and Courier as saying, "The similarities between Skirt! and Pink! are about as similar as Southern Living and Cosmopolitan."

Congressman Clyburn had a good week

Clyburn's recent visit to Columbia and his speech to the S.C. Legislature managed to stay clear of the controversial $150 million Lake Marion bridge he supports against loud objections. A lawsuit by environmental groups has put the project on hold, indefinitely.

Chickenfeed

Salaries of S.C. public officials, to include SCANA CEO Timmerman, were disclosed and discussed last week. None in S.C. sports, or out, reached the heights of the five best football coaches' salaries in the U.S.: (1) Saban, Alabama, $4,000,000; (2) Stoops, Oklahoma, $3,450,000; (3) Ferentz, Iowa, $2,840,000; (4) Carroll, Southern Cal, $2,782,320; (5) Mack Brown, Texas, $2,664,000. At USC, food for the #1 Gamecock, Coach Steve Spurrier, is an annual salary of $1,750,000.

Rent

In downtown Manhattan, including Wall Street, the cost of providing space for a typical worker jumped over the past year by 63% from $7,560 to $12,300. In midtown Manhattan the same accommodation costs $16,400 a year per work station. London's West End, at $23,260 per work station, is the most expensive office rent in the world. Columbia's office market rents are typically surveyed on a per foot basis, not per work station.

Greenville bus service, or lack thereof

The Greenville Transit Authority (GTA) runs the worst urban system in S.C. Charleston is best, and Columbia is better. Meanwhile, the GTA is considering dissolving in deference to a county agency, saving money by eliminating duplication of staffers. Avoiding expansion and improvement for the short term, Richland County is running a series of meetings for $500,000 to determine what is wrong with CMRTA and what should be done. And nothing has to be done while the meetings and hearings are being held. Richland County recommendations are due May 2008. Greenville transit people hold a lot of meetings.

Charleston moves ahead

While Columbia and Greenville people sit around meetings looking at each other trying to decide what to do with their bus systems, the Berkeley- Charleston- Dorchester Council of Governments has obtained funding for an in- depth study on regional rail transit, including trolleys - but not the Columbia altered truck body jobs in indefinite storage. Charleston is investigating fixed- rail trolleys, the real deal.

Farmers Market

The new Farmers Market is budgeted to get built for $80 million, about one- third more than the last budget disclosure. The overruns are due to faulty engineering estimates, construction material costs increases, and site problems, reportedly. In other words, it's a classic case of bait and switch, or low ball predictions to get approval before realistic cost estimates come in.

Nascar down, a bit

Television ratings dropped last year during 80% of Nascar races featuring top drivers. Overall, ratings are down 14% compared with last season. For the first quarter this year, Nascar revenue was down 19%.

Mac's on/off Main

Barry Walker, aka Fatback, aka Irmo City Councilman Walker, is expanding Mac's on Main to four additional Columbia locations. Greenville is targeted, too.

USC is recognized

The fuel cell push at USC has attracted attention from the National Hydrogen Association. At the NHA meeting in San Antonio recently, USC received the Dr. Robert M. Zweig Public Education Award.

What really matters

Harvard University is getting a new basketball coach, the man recently fired at the University of Michigan. Harvard has never won the Ivy League title in its 107- year basketball history. Its basketball arena holds 2,000 spectators, and rarely does it fill up. Harvard's student body is a little less than 20,000, counting all programs. The Harvard University endowment is about to hit $30 billion, or more than $1.5 million per student.

The creative class

Gentlemen, wear a tuxedo with a mask. Ladies, wear black or white with a mask. Creativity kicks in with the masks. Come to the Black and White Ball, the Columbia Museum of Art at 7 pm, Thursday, May 10. Call 343-2210 for tickets.