It wasn’t all bad

At this eggnog-suffused time of year, many local police departments are busy pulling over motorists who indulge in a bit too much Christmas celebrating. But if you see red lights flashing in your rearview mirror in Rancho Cordova, Calif., don’t panic. To celebrate the spirit of the season, the town police are stopping law-abiding drivers and rewarding them with a $5 Starbucks gift card. Local businesses donated money to buy the gift cards. “They raised a substantial amount of money this year,” said Sgt. Tim Curran. “They’ll be pulling over a lot of people.”

In 1964, Joe Namath set aside his books at the University of Alabama to begin his legendary career with the New York Jets. Though Broadway Joe became an international superstar, his lack of a degree always bothered him. “It was a hole in my being,” he said, “an empty spot.” So he enrolled in a 30-hour program in interdisciplinary studies at his alma mater. Last week, along with 900 other students, Namath graduated in robe and mortarboard in ceremonies at the campus in Tuscaloosa. “It was fun, but it was hard,” the 64-year-old Namath said of his studies. “I had a very difficult time getting myself to sit down.”

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