Some Panther notes as Saints week looms

-- Are visions of playoffs dancing in your heads as Panthers/Saints, The Sequel, looms (that's Drew Brees and Cam Newton hugging after the first one above)? Is it weird to you that with only two weeks to go, the Panthers still could finish as the 1,2, 5 or 6th seed in the NFC playoffs -- or out of them entirely? Check out Jonathan Jones' excellent breakdown of all the scenarios. Here is the simplest, though -- if the Panthers win Sunday at home against New Orleans they are IN the playoffs no matter what else happens. Go 2-0, and they win both the NFC South and a first-round bye. Lose to the Saints, and they sure better win at Atlanta the following week or face the danger of falling out entirely.

-- Come join The Observer's Joseph Person, Jonathan Jones, Tom Sorensen and myself, as well as WBTV's Delano Little, for a fun and FREE pre-game tailgate Sunday before the Saints game. We will have free Papa John's Pizza on The Observer's front lawn (600 South Tryon Street) as well as trivia contests with prizes and, at 11 a.m., a Q and A with all of us as we get ready for the big Panthers-Saints game.

-- Speaking of events at The Observer, we have another one this THURSDAY from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in our lobby at 600 South Tryon Street called "Holiday Store." There is limited free parking under the building for this one. Several current and former Observer-ites who have also authored books will be personalizing them with signatures and selling them in The Observer lobby for those two hours if you need last-minute Christmas gifts.

I will have copies of my new Panther book -- "100 Things Panthers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" -- there for sale (one book for $15; two for $25). This is probably your best chance to get it before Christmas -- a number of stores in the area, as well as Amazon.com, are sold out.

-- Our wonderful food writer Kathleen Purvis will be selling copies of both of her superb books in the Savor the South series, "Pecans" and "Bourbon," for $18 each. Former Observer religion writer Ken Garfield will be signing and selling copies of his excellent book on Billy Graham. And editor Roland Wilkerson will be selling a book version of the popular "I'm So Clever" Observer series of reader home tips for $5.99. Come see us. All sales must be by cash or check at this event.

-- Lastly, my friend Brandon Uttley sent me the picture below of Baller the ball python at Discovery Place, who appears to be reading one of my columns before using it for... well... whatever snakes use their cage liners for. This was taken Saturday, and Baller was apparently interested in reading about the Bobcats.