Clarity in a world of chaos

So, whose fault is it?

 

I don’t know about you Dallas- but I for one, am tired of these $2.00, $3.00, and now near $4.00/gallon prices.  More than that- I am sick and tired of hearing everyone who may be at fault, lie to us by repeatedly saying, they’re not at fault. Well, if it’s not the trader’s on Wall Street’s fault, if it’s not Big Oil’s fault, if it’s not OPEC’s fault, and it’s not our government’s fault, then whose fault is it?

 

Moreover, please- don’t say it’s the consumer’s fault.  We all have to get from A to Z, be it in a Prius or F-450 dualie. Don’t say it’s due to increased demand from China. The VAST majority of Chinese people are still walking or bicycling where they want to go. Yes, they have a LOT of people, but America is still the number one consumer. Why aren’t we still getting our OPEC Protector employee discount?

 

There is some good news, it seems the House passed a bill to sue OPEC over their decision to restrict supply. But, guess what- the White House threatened to Veto that bill…  Anyone surprised?

 

Source: ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080520/pl_nm/congress_opec
_dc )

 

While trucks and SUV’s are popular today, they've been popular since 1991. In April 1999,  I bought my first full size truck, and 87 octane was $0.79 - $0.89 a gallon. I could barely squeeze $22 into the tank. Today, $25 is less than a quarter tank in my truck. Shortly thereafter, an article ran in the news (Must’ve been on Fox 4, since that’s who I usually watch) where they said, “Gas hasn’t been this cheap since the 1970’s”.  It’s as if someone was listening, and fuel has been on the rise since that day.

 

When it reached $1.79 in 2000, I thought that was bad, but soon it dropped back into the $1.29 - $1.49 range for the next 2-3 years.  In Dallas, we neared $2.00/gallon in December 2003, while California was at $2.39 a gallon when we went out there for Christmas that year.

 

If memory serves, ExxonMobil denied any implication- all the way to the bank that year, raking in more dough than even Wal-Mart. However, it was no one’s fault they were doing so well. Surely, it’s not the fault of “Big Oil” for not building new and more efficient refineries to ensure adequate supply in the US. It's not their fault for creating our dependency on foreign oil by firing US employees, and importing the oil from overseas.  Oh no, as a multi-billion dollar corporation, they are just on for the ride.  There’s nothing they can do to help (or at least not hurt) average Americans.

It’s not the government’s fault for making it illegal for a precious commodity, such as oil & gas, be traded on the stock market. Why is that allowed? Why let people bid on, and invest in a product (any product) that is the life’s blood of this nation, and indeed- the world. If ever Government regulation was needed over in industry, the Petroleum industry is it.

 

Let it be known, I have no problem with companies making money, even if it’s insane and obnoxious amounts of money. As long as it’s done in a way that’s fair to the consumer- and that we as consumers are not manipulated through intentional gestures, such as reducing supply in the face of increasing demand.  Play supply & demand games with X-Box’s, and Playstations, even with cars- but not with gas. Rich or poor, we all rely on fuel to get us from A to Z, and much more.

 

August 2005, Hurricane Katrina showed “Big Oil” (Or the stock market, or OPEC, or someone) that they really had us (consumers) over a barrel (No pun intended). It showed them they could exploit us mercilessly, relentlessly, and publicly, with no retaliation- and all we could do is grit our teeth, open our wallets, and pay for them to do it to us.

 

We watched as gas prices soared from $1.89 to $3.05 in the DFW area and higher in other places, due to supply and/or demand fears.  After a month or so of public fleecing under the guise of damaged refineries, reduced supply, and heightened demands due to “fears”,  prices stabilized, and returned to normal (If you call $2.00 - $2.50/gallon normal). Little did we know- it was the beginning of a paradigm shift in the cost of fuel in the USA. Today, we would feel LUCKY, indeed blessed- if we could find gas for $3.00 a gallon.  Why? Why does gas have to be so expensive?

 

People like to say, “Well- a gallon of milk costs $4.00/gallon and no one’s complaining about that”.  Yeah, well- I don’t have to buy 10 - 30 gallons of milk every week.

 

Since August 2005, we have been flirting with $3.00 a gallon, in a reckless manner. Now, we’re looking at $4.00. If you drive something with a more fuel-efficient diesel engine, it’s as if, since you can go further on a gallon and wouldn’t normally have to buy as much, we’ll just have you pay more for each gallon. I saw diesel fuel recently as high as $4.75/gallon.  I know the GM and Dodge 2500, 3500, and Ford F-250 & 350 owners cringe every time they pull up to the pump. Not to mention the OTR big rig owner/operators- and their 200 ($800) – 300 ($1,200) gallon tanks (fill-ups).

 

So, who’s going to help us?  Don’t expect Wall Street too. They use every excuse to drive the prices.

• A “predicted” busy Hurricane season (Prices rise).
• Venezuela said they don’t like America (Prices rise).
• Middle East instability (Prices rise). When was the last time the Middle East was stable?
• Iran is out of control (Prices rise).
• Colder than normal winter may increase demand for heating oil (Prices rise). 
• M*A*S*H reruns are out of order (Prices rise).

   

Even though there have been no serious hurricanes, warmer than normal winters in most of the US since 2005, and no military concern at all from any threats from Venezuela. None of those fears, once they failed to materialize, resulted in lower prices.

 

At least when fuel costs began to soar- President Clinton opened the strategic reserve to bring prices down.  President Bush hasn’t even tried to help us out. I guess when you’re a multi-millionaire, or better yet- your gas is free, you forget or are out of touch with what it’s like when a necessary commodity (like fuel) have its price tripled and in some cases, quadrupled under your watch. Now we get a $300 - $1,300 stimulus bone thrown at us.  Thank you, but that's going to help no one for more than a week or two- maybe.  If you want to help, refund all the taxes (income and purchase) we paid for one year.  That's help.

 

Folks now say Clinton’s decision to open the reserves was detrimental, because the refineries intentionally scaled back production to keep costs stable.  If that is true, then explain to me again how Big Oil bears no fault for fuel prices being what they are.  If they were doing what they could to keep costs down, they’d INCREASE supply when the strategic reserve opened, not reduce it.  Intentionally reducing supply, in my opinion, makes them guilty of fleecing Americans.

 

OPEC, knowing we’re entering the travel season, was reported today (YaHoo! News) as saying they WILL NOT increase supply at least until their next meeting on Sept. 9, 2008. (Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_pri
ces  )

 

 Increased demand (some people will still travel), and reduced supply (because it’s not in Big Oil’s interest to stockpile fuel, or increase refined supplies) will only drive prices higher. Therefore, they’re guilty too. However, does anyone expect non-American’s consider American interests?  No- we have to look out for ourselves. We need to put American’s in Lubbock, Odessa, and other West Texas towns, as well as Louisiana, and California’s oil fields back to work, and wean ourselves from OPEC’s petroleum udders.

 

I don’t know about you, but if I have to pay $3.50 - $4.00/gallon (with some analysts saying it could be $10.00/gallon within 2 years), I’d feel better knowing it put thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of American’s back to work in our own oil fields, than for it to be the way it is now. I’d mush prefer that, than to have our money absorbed by OPEC, a few billionaire and millionaire investors, and their corporate and wall street minions, raking in record profits, record dividends, and all the while claiming no responsibility in why things are, they way they are.

 

Just last week I had to make a 1,000-mile trip on family business.  That trip cost me $200.00 in fuel, to drive my F-150 1,000 miles, all highway driving. That same trip in May of 1999 would have cost me $60.00.  For the first time in my adult life, flying is less expensive than driving. The only reason I didn’t fly, is because I’d still have to rent a car when I got there, and pay rental and fuel costs for it. Therefore, I spent 16 hours behind the wheel instead.

 

• Are you tired of $45 - $120 fill-ups every few days?
• Are you tired of excuses of why it’s no one’s fault?
• Are you tired of no one doing anything about it?

   

Well, say something then.  Maybe this will get the right person’s attention, and maybe someone, somewhere can get a grip on the reins, and stop this horse before it runs off the cliff, and takes us off with it.

After two years of choking from our beloved Cowboys, (Can you believe that 2nd half performace?  That from what had been all year, a second-half team?) I find myself not really caring about the SuperBowl. Why should we sulk?  After all, Roy &  T.O. Rushed off to hang out with the Lyric's, Claudia's, and Melyssa Ford's of the world (I don't blame them) and Romo probably got a nice back run from Jessica Simpson (Not a bad way to end the season). After all, it's just a game- at the end of the day.  But oh, what a game!

Sure, I'm going to watch the Super Bowl, but mainly as an excuse to wolf down some wings, and laugh at the commercials.  I'm not really a Giants fan, or a Patriots fan.  I like players on both teams- ( Michael Strahan is the only Giant I like), but on the Patriots- I do like Randy Moss, Tom Brady, and Junior Seau. 

But, I'm an NFC man, not an AFC man, so if I have to pick one, I'd rather see the Giants win.  The odds are stacked against them though. On one hand, I'd like to see the Patriots go 19 & 0, on the other, I'd like to see the Giants upset them- thus proving you can sneak into the Playoffs, and still walk away SuperBowl Champions, on any given Sunday.

There's something cool about watching a giant fall, and the Patriots have been head & shoulders above the league all season.  Sometimes the under dog wins.

Glenn beat Roy Jones Jr. (Say what?)
The Miami Dolphons Beat the Super bowl Shufflin' bears (Fluke)
Villanove beat Georgetown (I loved that!!!)
David beat Goliath
Red Sox came back from 0 - 3 to beat the Yankees...
The Heat came back from 0 - 3 to beat the Mavericks- (OK, that wasn't cool...)

So, while we'll have to see if Romo can get a ring, and the girl next year. And, Brett may have to retire with only one ring instead of two- what do you guys & gals feel about the Super Bowl.  Do you care who wins?

 

 

 

Scenario: (Hypothetically, of course...)

 

You're New England's head coach.  You're 15 - 0 going into the last game of the season. 

 

Playoffs are locked, you got a 1st round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

 

Do you play your starters in that meaningless game at a chance to go 16 - 0, or do you rest them for the playoff run?

 

• Why would you play your starters?

   

• Why wouldn't you play your starters?

   

• Would you let your starters play the whole game?

   

***********************************

 

 

 

Depending on whom we're playing- I'd start the game with the starting players, and right out the gate, for my first 2 - 3 possessions, I'd go into hurry-up offense.  If I can strike them quickly, and put 14 - 21 points on the board before they have a chance to blink (See 1994-1995 NFC Championship game between 49ers and Cowboys for example), then I'd pull my offensive key players (Brady, Moss, etc..) and save them for the playoffs.

 

If that plan didn't work, and I had to grind out the scores, I'd only play them the first half. 3 quarters at the maximum.

 

What would you do, Coach? 

 

 

 

I can't say this years has been especially heinous, truth is- it may be mild compared to years past. But we have heard of some brutal crimes this year. Gang rapes, torturing, etc..  But, because the world is interconnected now, news travel across the country and around the world in milliseconds- Consequently, we are hearing more than we normally would.

I guess what's bad about this crime, beyond an ordinary rape & beating, is that this one lasted for days, and was commited against one woman, by men and women. Not only was she raped and beaten, she was forced to perform sex-acts on the women as well (Read the Police report on "The Smoking Gun" website (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/09110
71logansix1.html

Read on.

**If this is a re-post, my apologies in advance**

More info, and video at: http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/9712762.html>

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6 Arrested in Weeklong Attack on Woman 6 in W.Va. Charged With Beating, Sexually Assaulting Woman Held Captive in House for a Week The Associated Press LOGAN, W.Va. A woman was sexually abused, beaten and humiliated while being held captive in a home for at least a week, sheriff's officials said Monday after making six arrests. Those arrested, including a mother and son and a mother and daughter, are white. The victim, a Charleston woman who was being treated at a hospital Monday, is black. The FBI plans to investigate it as a possible hate crime.
"The things that were done to this woman are just indescribable," Logan County sheriff's Sgt. Sonya Porter said.
Deputies found the 23-year-old victim Saturday after going to the home in Big Creek, about 35 miles southwest of Charleston, to investigate an anonymous tip. One of the suspects, Frankie Brewster, was sitting on the front porch and told deputies she was alone, but moments later the victim limped toward the door, her arms outstretched, saying, "Help me," the sheriff's department said in a news release.
Besides being sexually assaulted, the victim had been stabbed four times in the left leg and beaten, Porter said. Both of her eyes were black and blue. The woman's wounds were inflicted at least a week ago, deputies said.
During her capture, the victim was forced to eat rat and dog feces and drink from the toilet, according to the criminal complaint filed in magistrate court. The woman also had been choked with a cable cord and her hair cut, it alleges.
One of those arrested, Karen Burton, is accused of cutting the woman's ankle with a knife. She used the N-word in telling the woman she was victimized because she is black, according to the criminal complaint.
Deputies say the woman was also doused with hot water while being sexually assaulted. The Associated Press generally does not identify suspected victims of sexual assault.
The sheriff's department requested the FBI's participation, said agent Jay Bartholomew. The six suspects were arrested Saturday and Sunday. Deputies were still trying to determine whether the victim knew her assailants and how she came to be at Brewster's home, Porter said.
Frankie Brewster, 49, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and giving false information during a felony investigation.
Her son, Bobby R. Brewster, 24, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and assault during the commission of a felony.
Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, is charged with malicious wounding, battery and assault during the commission of a felony.
Her daughter Alisha Burton, 23, of Chapmanville, and George A. Messer, 27, of Chapmanville, are charged with assault during the commission of a felony and battery. Danny J. Combs, 20, of Harts, is charged with sexual assault and malicious wounding. All six were held Monday in lieu of $100,000 bond each, and all have asked for court-appointed public defenders. 

I hate it, when I wake up too late on Friday, and Miss the Car-Guy Ed Wallace give his weekly review on a particular vehicle.  Talk about a man doing a job I'd do just about anything for. 

Aside from family, there isn't much I love more than cars. To get paid for road-testing and writing reviews on different cars?!?!  That'd be like Heaven on Earth, for me. This is evidenced by the fact that in the last 10 years, I've purchased 13 cars- would have been more, but one of those years was spent in South Korea.

I don't know about you, but I love Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Road & Track, Automobile, Truckin', and more. In fact- there have been times when I was subscribed to all of them. One thing bothers me though, especialy about MT and C&D is the fact that they look for the "sports car" in every car, truck, or SUV they drive- rather than report on the vehicle for what it is. Why look for Corvette performance, ina Deville DTS? I recently purchased a new vehicle (who would've guessed, right?) and decided to write a review about it.  Unlike Ferrari 550 Maranello's, Lamborghini Gallardo's, and Mercedes S550's, this vehicle actually has a chance at making it into most of our garages. 

Here is my opinion, of the 2007 Ford Edge SEL Plus, Crossover SUV.

Introduction:

I recently traded my 2006 Acura MDX Touring in favor of a 2007 Ford Edge SEL (Plus).  I did not get the fully loaded model, the only items missing are: [*]Panoramic roof.
[*]Navigation
[*]AWD*

 

I intentionally skipped on the roof and AWD, because my MDX was AWD, and they insured me at the 4 x 4 rate, as if someone would really take an MDX rock crawling at Moab.  As for the roof, I live in Texas, so I'm not looking for ways to let more heat in.

I picked it up on Thursday night, they detailed it and completed delivery on Friday, and as of today (Tuesday) I already have 975 miles on it.  Here is what I think of the vehicle, after 5 days of ownership. 

 

Snapshot / Overall impression: 

According to Autobytel.com, “The 2007 Edge is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 6 trims, ranging from the SE FWD to the SEL Plus AWD. Upon introduction, the SE FWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 265-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway.” They went on to say, “The SEL Plus AWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 265-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. [My sticker says 18 city, 25 highway. I was getting 26 on the highway.] The 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. The 2007 Edge is all-new for 2007.” (Autobytel.com, 09-04-2007)

The unbiased Big-Hersh Review:

At 75.8" wide, and 185" long, the Ford Edge is only 1.2" narrower and 6" shorter in length than my 2006 Acura MDX. In the front seat, that 1.2 inches is not missed. With the baby seat in the second row, I can tell some width is missing from the MDX.  At 77 inches wide, the 2006 MDX was only one inch narrower than the 2003 Ford Expedition I had, not to long ago. Clearly, Ford spent a great deal of time on the interior of this car. Upon initial entry, everything in the unit looks and feels first class. The leather on the seats is well crafted- the best I've seen in any Ford vehicle, including the Lincoln Navigator. They seem well-suited to the daily tasks of entry and exit. This is one thing I can not say about my 2006 Acura MDX. I was surprised at how the leather began showing signs of its age after only 18 months.  

 

 

 

 

Ford has had a string of hits lately, and the 2007 Edge is no exception.  I fully expect this SUV to bump Ford's SUV sales back into the number one spot, eventually outselling the Explorer (if it isn't already), and surpassing Chevy's trailblazer. As you all know, crossover SUV’s (Car based: MDX, RX350, etc.) outsold traditional SUV (Truck based: Explorer, 4Runner) in 2006, for the first time.

Interior and Exterior Fit & Finish:

After sitting in it for a while, one begins to realize the extensive use of plastics in the vehicle. The dash, the door molds, and pretty much everything surrounding the driver is plastic- except the material on the top of the armrest/storage bin (which is deep, integrated into the floor shifter, and well done by the way). Ford’s extensive use of plastic doesn't give the same feel of luxury as one would expect of a vehicle in this price range ($30K plus), nevertheless, it does "look" good. The gaps are not evenly spaced all around. This would only be noticeable to someone (like me) looking for problems to note- in order to give a thorough, albeit brief review.  The average consumer would not notice these shortcomings. No car is perfect. The instrument gauges, while standard (speed, tach, oil, temp, etc..) are bevel ringed, and classy. This is something one would expect on an Infiniti. The 6-speed automatic transmission gives almost undetectable up shifts, and the 265 HP V6 engine provides ample "giddy-up" when the accelerator is pressed. I haven't done any dead stop, wide-open-throttle runs with it, but it feels every bit as quick (if not quicker) than my 2006 MDX was. The second row (Source of the numerous complaints of my 2006 MDX), is actually roomier (leg wise, with my seat all the way back) than in my MDX- and rivals that of the 2003 – 2007 Expedition (The 1997 – 2002 Expeditions were actually roomier in the front 2 rows, than the new ones).  

With over 600 highway miles driven this weekend, I heard not a single complaint (on space) for the entire 400+ mile trip (675 miles total). That may have had something to do with the multimedia DVD player.  There were complaints about the air conditioning (too cold), and this unit lacked separate controls for the rear-seat passengers. On the second row, the material on the seats looks good there too.  From what I’ve read, Ford usually puts vinyl on the subsequent rows, but in this vehicle, both rows are leather trimmed. If vinyl was used, I can't tell where. The seats look and feel very good.

Driving Characteristics:
As for the ride-, most times I can't wait to get off the road. In this vehicle, I wanted to go further.  It is a very comfortable vehicle, and with the cruise set to 80 MPH, it is smoother than most cars at 60 MPH. I had a hard time staying under 80, with its unobstructed view of the road, and cockpit feel of the driving position. You don't realize you're going that fast.  The vehicle tracks and handles well. U-turns on city and neighborhood streets are no problem. With prowess equal to, if not superior to my 2006 MDX, the Edge feels like a lifted sports car. With its smooth transition, crisp turns, the steering wheel’s on-center feel, 18" wheels & tires, dual exhaust, and engine/exhaust note when getting on it- conspire to make this is a fun vehicle to drive. Ford did a good job of smoothing the ride, and isolating road noise. Even grated road surfaces were not overly obtrusive. Prior to getting the Edge, I thought the 2006 Ford Fusion had the best factory stereo I'd ever heard.  Move over Fusion, this 9 speaker, subwoofered, Audiophile stereo in the 2007 Edge has replaced you (in my opinion) as the best sounding factory stereo I've ever heard. It offers crisp highs, clear mids, and heavy bass; in a word- perfect. I'm sure the 17 and 18 speaker systems in the Infiniti and Lexus vehicles are better, but- I haven't heard them.  Without a doubt, this system sounds way better than the 7-speaker Bose system that came with my 2006 MDX, and is a dead-even match for the DVD-Audio system in the Acura TL. The Edge also came with a 6-month complimentary subscription to Sirius radio, so- I won't miss my Acura’s XM radio.

Head-turner:
Everywhere we stopped- I got a lot of looks and compliments on this vehicle, from admiration, to shock- "Ooh, that's pretty!", "Wish I had one.", "Beautiful color.", "How does it ride?", "That's a Ford?".  Just for driving mine to the family reunion, my wife's cousin plans to go buy one today, when he gets back to Sacramento, CA.

Closing:

While some won't consider this a true SUV, because it's not a body-on-frame SUV, in the same vein as the Explorer, Pathfinder, and 4-Runner, this is a great SUV.  If you need to haul five people or less, this would be a perfect vehicle.  You get V-8 power, with V-6 fuel economy, a vehicle well-balanced between sport and touring. Very generous truck space. In-floor cargo management, one touch folding 2nd row seats (optional), all for a starting price of $25,000.

Is the new 2007 Ford Edge superior to the 2006 or 2007 Acura MDX.  In a word, "No". But, if you want a vehicle that does everything right, hardly anything wrong, with all the bells, whistles, style, and class of an Acura MDX or Lexus RX350, at a price that’s $10,000 - $15,000 less. You'll be hard-pressed to find a vehicle that does so much, so well- at this price. Bravo Ford.  I love your new Edge. As a watcher, and now- as an owner.  Hopefully Ford won’t flood the rental chains with Edge’s, which will end up lowering it’s resale value. This is another home run for Ford.  With every new model launched, Ford is proving you don’t have to buy a Japanese car, to get great quality at an affordable price.

 

 

 

 

Good job, Ford.

Known Competition:

Nissan Murano
Hyundai Santa Fe
BMW X3
Lexus RX350
Mazda CX-7

 

 

Other close competitors:

Acura MDX
Hyundai Veracruz
Honda Pilot* 
Mazda CX-9

 

The Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, and CX-9 are in the Edge's class, with regard to price- but they are 7-8 passenger SUV, compare to 5-pasengers for the Edge, which doesn't put them, at least in my opinion, on the same playing field.

In an era of information over load, ACT Prep courses, AP courses, SAT Prep courses, TAKS, No child left behind, etc., the following article really has me puzzled.

 

With ALL of what today's youth has before them to make life easier, and to finish high school having been exposed to information we didn't receive until college- its unbelievable that kids today 17-19, are actually getting dumber.  I know that's poor English, but it conveys the point.)

 

Last year's graduating class (2006) posted the lowest SAT scores in recent history, only to be surpassed by the class of 2007.  How?  Why?  Back when Jesus and I were in High School, we didn't have ACT/SAT Prep courses, no AP courses, no guidance counselors, no internet, and little of what the kids today have. How can kids with access to all of what's available today, be worse off on average (academically) than those who didn't have it? Some will point to the lengthened test, or that more minorities are taking the tests. What many fail to realize is, a longer test actually increases your chance of passing, it doesn't decrease it.

 

Example: On a 20-question test, if you miss five, you will still make a 75.
On a 50-question test, if you miss five- you will earn a 90.

 

Therefore, a longer test is better.

 

Many minorities have access to similar preparatory material. You can buy ACT/SAT Prep software at Wal-Mart. Are we overexposed now, or have the Nintendo, X-Box, Playstation, and MySpace conspired to warp the value system of our kids?

 

What do you think, Dallas? Read on...

 

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070828/ap_on_re_us/sat_
scores

By JUSTIN POPE, AP Education Writer 23 minutes ago

The class of 2007 averaged the lowest math and reading SAT scores since 1999, the College Board reported Tuesday.

Last spring's high school seniors scored on average 502, out of a possible 800 points, on the critical reading section of the country's most popular college entrance exam, down from 503 for the class of 2006. Math scores fell three points from 518 to 515.

The declines follow a seven-point drop last year for the first class to take a lengthened and redesigned SAT, which included higher-level math questions and eliminated analogies. The College Board, which owns the exam, insisted the new exam wasn't harder and attributed last year's drop to fewer students taking it a second time. Students typically fare about 30 points better when they take the exam again.

The College Board's report Tuesday noted that a record number of students — just short of 1.5 million — took the test. The cohort of test-takers also was the most diverse ever, with minority students accounting for 39 percent: There has been a persistent gap between the scores of whites and the two largest U.S. minority groups, Hispanics and blacks.

In New York, 89 percent of students took the exam, up from 88 percent last year. Maine recently became the first state to use the SAT to meet its Grade 11 assessment requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and 100 percent of students took the exam there, compared to about three-quarters in the class of 2006.

"They have taken a very progressive stand in trying to get more and more students to go to college," College Board President Gaston Caperton said of Maine at a news conference Tuesday morning. "The larger the population you get to take an examination, it obviously knocks down the scores."

The number of black students taking the SAT rose 6 percent, and the number of test-takers calling themselves "Other Hispanic, Latino or Latin American" (a group that does not include Puerto Ricans or Mexican Americans) rose more than 25 percent.

Average scores also slipped from 497 to 494 on the writing portion of the SAT, which debuted with the class of 2006. Many colleges are waiting to see results from the first few years of data on the writing exam before determining how to use it.

Figures released earlier this month on the rival ACT exam showed a slight increase — from 21.1 last year to 21.2, on a scale of 1 to 36 — for the class of 2007.

The SAT has historically been more popular on the East and West coasts, while the ACT has been more popular in the Midwest and inland western states. But more and more students are taking both exams to try to improve their college resumes.

 

 

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It seems every so often, something happens in a small Louisiana town, or parish (county) that gets a name and a number attached.  The LaSalle-3, The Bunkie-3, and now- the Jena-6.

I'm from Waterproof, LA-  a small town, not far from Jena (45-minutes northeast). While my town was also mostly segregated (blacks on one side, whites on the other)- and 40 some years after integration, the white kids still mainly go to private school (Huntington & Tensas Academy) rather than attend the mostly black public schools. With that kind of seperation- we never had anything reach this level of stupidity.

As we all know, racism is stil alive and well in America. It's not as blatant (At least I thought it wasn't) as it used to be. But the undercurrent of hatred and intolerance still exists.  No where is it more evident than in the story below. 

I meant to post this last week, but got side tracked. A new E-mail popped in my Inbox about this today, so- I thought I'd share.  While I don't believe violence is always the answer, clearly- this "prank" went too far, and crossed the line. 

Read on, and tell me what you think:

The “Jena 6” are six Black students who face the possibility of going to prison for many, many years because of a schoolyard fight. This story began on September 1, 2006 in the small town of Jena, Louisiana. A group of Black students sat under a “whites-only” tree in the schoolyard. Racist students responded immediately and the next day nooses were hanging from the tree for all to see. The “Jena 6” are six Black students who face the possibility of going to prison for many, many years because of a schoolyard fight. This story began on September 1, 2006 in the small town of Jena, Louisiana. A group of Black students sat under a “whites-only” tree in the schoolyard. Racist students responded immediately and the next day nooses were hanging from the tree for all to see.
Tina Jones, the mother of Bryant Purvis who is one of the Jena 6, told Revolution what it was like hearing about the nooses hanging on the tree:

“I was like, what? [My son], myself and a lot of family members were really upset about that because to Black people that is offensive because you know over the years Black people were hung in trees. So I mean we felt like the white people were saying, ‘Well if you sit under this tree, we’re going to hang you.’ That’s how us as Black people felt, even though the white people said it was a prank. How could it be a prank when something like that was done to Black people over the years? And then they walk under this tree and then you hang nooses. And you know what that represents and that means to us -- if you go under this [tree] we’re going to hang you. I mean there’s no other way to look at that, and there’s nothing funny about that.”

Soon after the nooses were hung, most of the 93 Black students (out of a total student enrollment of 546) at Jena High School stood together under the tree, in a courageous act of protest. After this, a school assembly was called where a white district attorney told the Black students to keep their mouths shut about the nooses. He told them if he heard anything else about it, he “can make their lives go away with the stroke of his pen.”

When racist white students jumped a Black student, one white student got probation. But when a fight broke out that sent a white student to the hospital for an hour, the law came down on Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey, Theo Shaw, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, and an unnamed minor--arresting these youth, who are now known as the Jena 6, and initially charging them with attempted murder. (see “Free the Jena Six! Jim Crow Injustice in Jena Louisiana,” Revolution #96).

Mychal Bell has already been convicted of second degree battery and conspiracy to commit second degree battery and could be sentenced to up to 22 years in prison. And the system is trying to make good on the threat to ruin the lives of the other five youth who still face serious charges. Many people still do not know about this tremendous outrage. But a nationwide struggle to free the Jena 6 is beginning to grow--and MUST get much bigger. The next court hearings for Mychal Bell and the rest of the Jena Six are scheduled to begin on September 4. Bell’s sentencing is scheduled for September 20.

“We Want the Entire World to Hear”

On July 31, some 300 people rallied in support of the Jena 6 at the courthouse where Mychal Bell was scheduled to be sentenced. People came from all over the country, including people from New Orleans fighting for justice in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. And a massive stack of petitions, which organizers said contained 43,000 signatures, was delivered to the Assistant District Attorney of Jena. On August 5, Al Sharpton spoke at a church in Jena. And while the story of the Jena 6 has been way downplayed in the mainstream media, these events helped get more national and international coverage.

Mychal Bell has now been sitting in jail since December 4 and was not able to graduate. His trial was a complete outrage, with the court-appointed lawyer not even calling any witnesses! Now, a group of lawyers from Monroe, Louisiana have come forward to take up Bell’s case. Bell’s new legal team says their goal is to overturn Bell’s conviction. Bob Noel, one of the lawyers now on the case, said they got involved not only because Bell came to them, but because it was the right thing to do. "The interest of justice cried out [for us] to get involved," Noel said.

The weekend before the July 31 scheduled sentencing of Mychal Bell, the “whites-only” tree in front of the high school was cut down. NPR reported that “Jena High School had the big shade tree in the courtyard chopped into firewood.” But the tree disappearing hasn’t in any way lessened people’s anger and their determination to spread the word about this case and build the struggle to free the Jena 6.

Talking about the significance of the July 31 rally, Caseptla Bailey, mother of one of the defendants, Robert Bailey, Jr., said, "This is a beautiful thing that I’m seeing here today— all types of browns, seeing all types of blacks, all types of whites. We love that, people coming together." And Khadijah Rashad, representing Lafayette’s Community Defender television show, said, "We must remember that the entire world is watching… When there is going to be sentencing again, we need to flood this area with as much people as we possibly can. We want the entire world to know” (thetowntalk.com).

Bell’s father, Marcus Jones, agreed: “Justice, that’s the main thing we want. He’s still in jail, and we want justice for him and the other boys. And now the whole world sees the wrong done to these boys.”

Bell’s mother, Melissa Bell, told The Town Talk (a paper in Alexandria, Louisiana) that the actions on July 31 should send a message to the community: “We are serious, and everyone is serious about freeing these kids.”

Confronting Reality in Jena and Beyond

School starts on August 17 and the school board is already setting a repressive tone and atmosphere. A “Resource Officer” from the La Salle Parish Sheriff's Department will be at Jena High School this year.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the local Jena Times, attacked the “outside” and “liberal” media for supposedly distorting the situation in Jena, saying, “The ‘racial unrest’ that has continually been reported simply does not exist here.” (“Outside Media has transformed Jena” 8-8-07) Things in Jena are very polarized—right now, there are very few, if any, white people who are even speaking out against the nooses on the trees or the unjust way the Jena 6 are being treated--let alone, taking a clear stand against white supremacy. And this reactionary editorial gave voice to those backward whites in Jena who continue to claim, “We’re good people. This is a good town”--which really amounts to defending the racist status quo.

In contrast to what anyone might declare about how nice a place Jena is, we’ve heard stories which show how the hanging of nooses on the tree at Jena High School and the violent enforcement of white supremacy afterwards is not an exception but is consistent with day-to-day reality in Jena. Black people say they cannot get their hair cut at the barber shop in Jena. Someone showed us photos of nooses that had been put on an offshore oil rig, laying about, and hung up in a bathroom--meant to intimidate Black workers. One parent told us that she overheard white people talking about how the “BLEEPs“ who were relocated to Jena from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina “are worse than the BLEEPs here in Jena.” This is the ugly history--and present reality--of not just Jena, Louisiana, but the USA.

At the same the whole struggle around the Jena 6 is shaking things up, forcing a lot of white people to think about the reality of relations between Black and White people in not only Jena, but this whole country. We walked in on a discussion going on among four Jena residents who were taking a break at the office where they work. One Black person was openly talking about how what was happening to the Jena 6 was outrageous—and bringing out the history of resistance and rebellion against racism and injustice, like the 1992 L.A. Rebellion. The white people were listening—one somewhat reluctantly, another with some interest nodded his head in agreement. A third said, “I don't think Jena's racist, it's not racist is it, do you think it is?” This shows how people fighting back and sharply polarizing things creates the basis for a realignment in society.

The significance and stakes of this struggle go far beyond Jena. Alan Bean, an attorney who works with the group Friends of Justice, recently wrote: “You probably won’t find 'white trees' and nooses in New York and Los Angeles—that’s a Southern thing. But you will find the same kind of racial profiling regime that insures that young black males are disproportionately watched, hassled and arrested by the police; and you will discover that the over-prosecution of young black males is just as rife in our coastal paradise as it is in our southern purgatory. That’s what Friends of Justice calls ‘the New Jim Crow’; and it ain’t just a Southern thing. Jena is America.”

Spreading Resistance

People need to seriously ask: Why are the school and local authorities, courts, and federal officials all working together to ruin the lives of these six Black youth? Is it because they got into a schoolyard brawl where another kid was (not very seriously) injured? Or is it because these youth and nearly every other Black student at the school went and stood under the “white only” tree in defiance of the openly racist threat of the nooses on the tree? In the eyes of the system of white supremacy, these students crossed the line, they “forgot their place,” and must be punished.

Black students at Jena High have been talking about what to do on August 17, when school begins. One idea they have been thinking about is all wearing “Free the Jena 6” t-shirts on that day. And as people across the country learn about what’s happening in Jena, many are outraged and feel compelled to act, to stand with the Jena 6. In Cambridge, Massachusetts the City Council passed a resolution, going “on record in support of the young men and their families in Jena in their pursuit of justice” and stating that “This frightening example of racism calls to mind an earlier time in the United States in which segregation and the ‘lynching’ of African-Americans was common practice.” Some people in New York City who have heard about the case have put a call out to others to help organize support for the Jena 6. On August 14, Al Sharpton is scheduled to return to Jena, along with Martin Luther King Jr. III, to voice support for the Jena 6 with a service at Antioch Baptist Church and a town hall meeting.

Picture of the tree: and more...
http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtmlp>

Another update:
http://www.pursuingholiness.com/2007/06/26/jena-6-up
date/

 

 

 

I know this might rub some the wrong way, and the chances that it will change anything is 0.000000000000001%, but I think something needs to be said.

 

Like many I know, including myself- I am the product of a single parent home.  My father was one of those sorry men who rolled out on the mother, and didn't send a nickel in support for 18 years.  We did well without it; would have done well with it- but didn't get it.  I doubt many kids in my class, at least 90% of which were in the same category.  Mom raised the kids; dad was off doing his thing. My dad was so slick; he'd deny being who he was, anytime someone tried to serve him with a subpoena. He'd say he was "his brother" (he was an only child), and therefore, never went to court, and never paid a nickel.  I've never seen him, and only talked to him on the phone once. Back then, child support was what- $50 a week. ($200/month)? Yet, men still shirked that financial responsibility. 

 

Back on task though,

 

Fast forward 38 years later, and I'm proud to say every man I know, whether with the woman or not- is taking care of his children- be it through private arrangement with the mother, or through court order.  While I'm sure there are still sorry, child-support dodging men out there- there are some who handle their business, and could not be torn away from their child's lives, let alone willingly depart from it.

 

In the last three years, three men I know have been NAILED TO THE WALL with child support payments. Another I know, if he hasn't been served or if arrangements haven't been made, will probably get that knock on the door any day now.  My question is, WHY SO MUCH?

 

One guy was hit for $775 for one kid, another was hit for $1,200 for two, and the last one was nailed for $1,200 for his twins.  About 25% of their bring-home pay.

 

Having recently left the formula and diapers phase of parenthood, and knowing what I know about daycare, I know it's not cheap.  In fact, take your child to a daycare such as Crème De-la Crème, and you'll fork over +/- $250 a week in daycare- for infants anyway.  But- to hit a joker (who prior to a court date, could not afford that) with a bill like that is incredible.  Once a child is out of diapers, not drinking Similac, and starts preschool- they don't cost that much to raise. (I've raised another child from 5 - 18, wasn't mine- but I raised him...) so I know a little bit about what I'm talking about.

 

So, can someone tell me why a judge would see fit for a man (or woman) to part ways with 20 - 25% of their net income as a child support payment?  While I'm sure Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders and guys like that may spend hundreds of dollars a month on their children.  However, the average Joe & Jane do not.  This man (or woman) still has to live- so, can someone explain why the custody winning parent needs $600, $700, $1,200 or more in child-support? 

 

Splitting everything 50/50 is understandable, or even percentage wise based on income is to (Say the man makes 80K, woman makes 40K; the man would pay 66.6% of the normal monthly expenditures, while the wife paid 33.3%. That would be fair.  I just do think today's system is fair at all.

 

I think it's just as much "Wife (or husband) Support" as it is child support.  Another girl I know, as soon as the child support payments started coming in, went from a Kia Spectra to a loaded Chevy Tahoe.  Somehow, I doubt Junior is seeing much of that $725 a month she's getting in child support- other than riding in Mom's new Tahoe on the weekends.  What are Tahoe's now a day, $35,000 - $40,000?  Even on a lease, she's paying $525 - $600 a month.

 

Those are just examples.  Thank God, I don't have that problem; but I know anything can happen to anyone.  I know losing 25% of my net would be "lifestyle changing" money for me.  The man still has to find a place to stay, and pay the bills he already has.  Bills they probably made together.

 

I'm sure some of the financial suffrage men endure today, is due to the lack of responsibility in the parenting men of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. The problem is, the screws are being put to the responsible men who step up, today.

 

I'm not saying our kids aren't worth the money.  I'm sure if we all had the $, there's nothing we wouldn't do for our kids.  However, the vast majority of us aren't millionaires, so responsibility needs to be taken with a dose of reason. 

 

Call me crazy, but I think the man gets the short end of the stick, when it comes to child support., 20% - 25%?   Why? I owe you an SUV because you have my child?  That’s not right.  Judges?  What are you thinking about?

 

What do you think Dallas?  How much is enough?  How much is too much?

 

 

On top of everything you have on your plate today- how easy would it be for you to lose 20% - 25% of your bring home pay? Is that reasonable?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At some point, we have all had what I refer to as a “Maalox Moment”.  Other may refer to it as having their “pucker factor” go up, eye-opening event, sweating bullets, etc…  Either way, my definition of such an event, is one that puts you in harms way, usually facing imminent death.  

 

While I won’t bore you with the stories of my falling asleep behind the wheel, I will tell you one that- if you have ever been on an airplane before, will certainly raise your pucker factor, and give you a Maalox moment.  

 

June 14, 1991. After 8 months in country, my time in Operation Desert Shield/Storm/Calm was over.  Most of my peers had gone home in April, right after the war ended.  I was (un)lucky enough to be placed on the stay-back roster, to prepare all the vehicles for the return home. At long last, we were about to get on that big-iron bird, and head back to the land of the big PX.  We were supposed to fly at 8:00 PM, but we were delayed 5 hours.  Our DCU’s and patches filled the air with their newness, as we were made pretty for our return to friends and families, for those of us who would have them waiting for us when we got back.  

 

12:00 AM, we boarded the Pan Am Boeing 747 Clipper.  I couldn’t help but think of Lockerbie, Scotland, as a plane just like the one I was getting on, blew up just over 2 years earlier. Be that as it may, I was going home. We all stayed awake until the wheels left the ground at King Abdul Aziz AFB, when the cabin erupted in cheer. Soon thereafter, we were all asleep.  

 

Next stop, Rome, Italy. 

 

About 5.5 – 6 hours later, I awoke, to the pressure changing in my ears.  We were descending. The guys & gals were joking around with the flight attendants, and I was sitting by the port-side emergency door, right above the left wing. As landings go, things were proceeding normally.  The only oddity being, the pilots had not told anyone to put their seat belts on, restored seatbacks, try tables, etc… There were no chimes, or anything.  A little voice said, “Put your boots back on”.  I did.  

 

We were making our turns, bleeding off airspeed, and altitude.  Common sense said, “Go ahead and buckle up.”  Just then, a flight attendant asked if I would autograph her US flag.  I said, “I would be happy to. Do you have a pen?”  She went to go get one.  We were still slowing, and now we’re so low, I can see the rows in the farming fields below, as well as cars, trees, etc.. (Funny, the attendants aren’t even sitting down, maybe all that stuff they tell us on regular flights is a bunch of hooey.)  

 

She came back, she had both arms out stretched to me.  The pen in one hand, the flag in the other.  As our hands met, there was a hard (a really hard) thud under the belly of the plane.  I just knew a Lear jet, 737, or something had flown into us.  The 747 banked sharply to the left, the engines roared, and our nose went up- almost straight up.  I could hear people scream, I could hear the engines whine, the whole time I’m thinking to myself, “this is it…”  

 

I was on the port side, and amidst all the screams from grown men & women, for some reason, I opened my eyes, and I looked out the window.  I saw the tip of our wing perpendicular, and barely above (6-10 feet max) the ground.  

 

The plane was shuddering, and I closed my eyes in preparation for the impact.  My hands were to the sides of my head, and with eyes still closed, I felt the left wing come up, the right wing go down, and the nose come down.  We regained our bearing, with regard to the runway, and we touched down. Now I’m thinking, “We’ve GOT to be running out of runway.  The engines roared loudly as the thrust reversers deployed.  My the Grace of God, we stopped.  

 

We all were looking at each other, and the cabin was very quiet.  There were a few, “What the ____s?: being exclaimed, and the attendant began clapping and, saying, "They got us down, they got us down!" 

A few of us joined in the applause.  I don’t remember if I did or not.  

 

I looked out my window, and saw 3-4 Italian Police cars racing towards us, with blue lights flashing. A ladder truck came too. I thought they were going to take us all off the aircraft, but they only took the pilots.  They left all 372 of us, and the flight attendants on the plane.  After about 2 hours, they opened all the doors, and told us we could get off the plane, but we could not venture beyond the span of the wings.  

 

We got off, and upon inspection, there were big chunks of mud stuck to the plane, branches ant twigs were in the flight surfaces, and huge chunks of mud was still packed into the landing gear.  It’s clear what happened now…  We had missed the runway- big time.  

 

They decided that plane would no longer be used to transport us, so they searched for another 747 to take us the rest of the way home.  The closest one was in Germany, but it had to be serviced, a crew readied, then flown to Italy, luggage and passengers re-loaded, before we could take off.  7 hours later, the new 747 arrived, and parked near us.  We unloaded the cargo holds (Well, not we- I didn’t get picked- thank God!) and soon thereafter, we de-planned, and boarded the new 747.  

 

Nine hours after the ordeal began, the new Pan Am 747 was thundering down the runway, next stop, JFK in NYC. If there had been a ship going to the USA, I’d have been on that, but- I ended up getting back on the horse pretty quick.  All 372 of us did.  

 

The rest of the flight was uneventful- just like I like them to be.  They let us aviation buffs come up to the cockpit two at a time, and over the Atlantic, at 38,000 feet, I was in the cockpit of a Boeing 747, cruising at 551 MPH.  AWESOME!!!  People talk about snow-blindness, but now I know why pilots wear shades.  The sunlight reflecting off those clouds will blind you too.   

 

The pilot was talking to us (he wasn’t looking out the window) and the co-pilot was looking at the controls.  Giving this engine a little more, taking a little bit off the other.  That was an awesome thing to see.  

 

Who knew a 747, loaded with nearly 400 people, 400 ruck-sacks, and 800 duffle bags could be so nimble, and athletic to be recoverable from the angle we were,  at the low speed we were traveling?  I’m sure Pan Am gave the pilots credit, but in my opinion, God had to lift that plane back right. Given the lack of attention to normal landing procedures, I wouldn’t be surprised if the pilots weren’t asleep.  I just don’t see how the pilot was able to recover us from that, given the little amount of time this took place in (10-15 seconds, max).  Nevertheless, I’m here to tell about it. 

 

Well, that’s my Maalox moment.  What’s yours? 

I don't remember if Chip was involved in this one or not, but I believe he was.  Circa 1999, I seem to remember a helicopter going down in the DFW area, and if memory serves- Chip was on that one too.

While I can't say with 100% certainty that Chip was on there (I believe he was) I do know that word of a DFW traffic chopper going down, severely shook up 104.5's traffic reporter Alicia Speed.  They were talking to her about the hard-landing. I was taking my wife to work that morning, and we were listening to the radio.  Alicia was so shaken up, she cursed on the radio. She said something to the effect of, "I work for a f*****d up company, yall!"  And man, you should have heard Slammy-Sam Putney, and Skip & Company trying to cover that up...  (Hey-hey-hey!!!!)  Seeing that happen to co-workers though, that's an understandable reaction.

I'm sure there was no one on that hard-landing chopper back then, or today that didn't say, "Oh S***!" when they realized what was happening.

Thank God everyone is OK then, and now- and was able to walk away from it.

Walking away from one chopper crash is a miracle. 
Walking away from two means God in certainly on your side.

Dang, when that chopper lost power, it wasted no time coming down.  Good thing they weren't over the water, and that the pilot was outstanding with regard to auto-rotating, didn't over-react, and got everyone down safely. Pat's on the back to the pilot, thanks to God for everyone making it out OK.

We hope you come back Chip, but if you would like some ground time, I'm sure everyone whose ever had a close call in the air, (I have, on a Pan Am 747 in Rome, Italy~ whole different kind of Maalox moment) would understand.

I often hear (and read) how the media tends to support leftist ideals and the right only has conservative talk radio to get their message out.  Like Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker, “Luke, many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view”.  That’s what it’s really all about- personal perspective.  If you agree with what’s being said.  Then media is great.  If you don’t agree, then several media outlets, and thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of competing news agency reporters, producers, and writers- came together to lie to the people in order to push a political (or personal) agenda.  

Now, it may sound like I believe in the media.  For the most part I do. I mean, I can’t be everywhere in the world, every minute of the day- so I have to rely on the media to keep me informed about what’s happening beyond what’s within my own eyesight and earshot.  Am I being lied to?  Maybe, maybe not.  However, I can’t prove they are lying…  I can’t prove there’s even a possibility they are trying to skew the news- without doing what?  That’s right- going to a different media outlet.  One with their own agenda as well.  Therefore, what I chose to believe, or discount depends greatly on my personal point of view.  It doesn’t make my point of view right.  Nevertheless, it’s my point of view. Then, it comes down to statistics- presented as “facts”. From my first QC class, I have been taught that you can take statistics, and make them say whatever you want to say.  Informative, yet- meaningless.
 

So, what’s the regular Joe to do?  What are we to believe?  Do we believe CNN or Fox? Do we believe Bryan Williams or Katie Couric?
 

While I agree the media tends to exaggerate up whatever will get viewers watching- whether that involves spinning it, using inflammatory words, or keeping viewers in suspense until the 10 o'clock show, when the facts were available for the noon show. Honestly: What else would you have the media do? 
 

I cannot say the media is right, but- once you cut through the BS & fluff, the story is there. 
 

There is no escape from media- and no matter whether you get your news from BBC, CNN, and Al Jazerra-; you are still getting someone's VERSION of the news.  You view/hear/read a version, which received a draft from the writers, followed by additional polishing & tweaking by everyone downstream who had to approve it. This was again polished by their boss, which was polished again by the segment producer, before it gets to our ears.  Same with before it goes to print for our eyes.

 So, how can we change media?  I don't believe we can...

Media has been around since the gazettes of Greek & Roman times, up to and including the internet. It's interwoven into our very being.  Moreover, it's revenue generating- so there is going to be a bit of a slant to get viewers watching...  How else will CBS pay Katie Couric all those millions?  Advertisement dollars.  How will they pull in advertisement dollars?  VIEWERS.

So, with that said- How can we change the media?  I don't think we can, and media has no incentive to change to fit what some believe it should be.  Media has existed since there were more than three people- so one could tell the other- what the third person did.  Media has been a part of humanity since writing and reading became commonplace.

What can be done, in 2007- to "change" media?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I'm not the one to celebrate the demise of anyone- I would like to shake the hand of that Marine.

People are tired of being victimized.

It's one thing when an innocent person is gunned down by criminals. I hate that. 
But, when criminals are gunned down by the innocent, I have no problem with that.

You know, in most cases, that man would have been beaten or killed. It didn't happen that way this time...  While it's sad to see a young man not get to live his life- as far as I'm concerned, his death was self-inflicted.

What do you think Dallas? 

/////////////////////////////////////   ///////////////////////////////////////    //////////////////////////////////////////////

Ex-Marine takes down two robbers in Fla.
PLANTATION, Fla., June 28 (UPI) -- A 71-year-old ex-Marine took down two would-be thieves at a sandwich shop in Plantation, Fla., after they attempted to rob him in the bathroom.
Fearing for his life the man opened fired on the two suspects Wednesday night, killing one and critically wounding the other, The Miami Herald reported.

Plantation police reported that two masked gunmen entered the shop while the Marine, the only patron in the store, was finishing his meal.

They then allegedly robbed the cashier before attempting to shove the ex-Marine into a bathroom and rob him as well.

He gave them his money before pulling out his handgun and shooting one of them in the head and chest and the other in the head, the Herald said.

Both of the suspects were taken to the hospital, where one of them died and the other remains in critical condition.

Detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department said the ex-Marine is not expected to be charged.

"He was in fear for his life," Rettig said.

************************************

The Plot Thickens

Some are calling a former U.S. Marine a hero for shooting two men — killing one — during the botched robbery of a sandwich shop in Plantation. But the men's friends and family want to know how he could gun them down and not be charged.

John Lovell had just finished dinner at about 11: 15 p.m. Wednesday when, Plantation police say, two men armed with guns rushed inside a Subway shop and demanded cash. After robbing the store, the men turned to Lovell. They wanted his money, police said.

But like his attackers, Lovell was armed.

Florida law gives people the right of "self-defense without the duty to retreat." That means individuals can use deadly force virtually anywhere to prevent death or serious injury.

Lovell could not be reached for comment despite calls and visits to his home.

His attorney, Wesley White, of Yulee, near Jacksonville, said he has known Lovell for 19 years and described him as a "quiet Clint Eastwood-type you don't want to mess with." He is a former Marine who was a member of the helicopter detail that transported Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, White said.

Lovell, a retired Pan-Am and Delta Airline pilot, has held a concealed weapons permit since September 1990. Three months earlier, Plantation police had arrested him for having a loaded .9 mm and three extra clips behind the driver's seat of a Corvette without proper permits for the gun. The Broward State's Attorney's Office declined to file charges in that case.

According to a police statement, :Arrindell ordered Lovell to hand over his wallet. He intentionally dropped it on the floor and refused to pick it up, saying he was afraid. That's when Arrindell ordered him into the women's restroom.

"The victim believed he would be executed and when he noticed [Arrindell] distracted ... reached behind his back, removed his loaded .45 caliber handgun from his holster and fired seven rounds," the statement said.

Arrindell was struck twice — once in the head and once in the stomach — and collapsed. Officers found him face down, wearing sunglasses and a bandanna, with a gun near his left hand. Gadson was hit in the chest and ran from the store. Police dogs found him in the hedges of a nearby office building and bank.

Both men were taken to Broward General Medical Center, where Arrindell died and Gadson was in critical condition Thursday.

Sebastian Shakespeare, 23, of Lauderhill, was going to buy a sandwich at the Subway at 1949 N. Pine Island Road when he saw Lovell, gun in hand, standing over Arrindell. A former employee, Shakespeare worked the night shift and often worried about getting robbed.

He said Lovell did a good deed. "A civilian was a hero."

Lovell's neighbor agreed.

"If I was in the same situation ... I hope I could've done the same thing," said Bryan Sklar, 45.

But Gadson's grandmother, Rosa Jones, said: "He ain't no hero. He is a murderer and God will serve justice."

She and her husband, Ivory Jones, pastor of a Fort Lauderdale church, sat on their front porch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday wondering how a man could shoot two people and not go to jail.
////////////////////////////

Easy, it's called self-defense.

We will not go quietly, into the night!

We will not vanish, without a fight.

We're going to live on! We're going to survive!

Today, we celebrate, our Independence Day!

Supercells

 

I don't know about you guys, but back in 1985, 86, 87- A few years after I proclaimed myself”too old to watch cartoons anymore" I heard kids talking about "Transformers".  We didn't have cable at the time, but my great aunt did- so, I asked- and she let me come over to check it out.  I loved it.

 

So, for the next 2 years, everyday (after football season, and between basketball games) from 3:30 - 5:00 I was over there, watching Transformers, Thundercats, and G.I. Joe.  The Transformers Movie came out- Optimus Prime was killed, and I lost interest.

In the series, the Autobots were now lead by Rodimus Prime, and the Decepticons by Galvatron (Instead of Megatron).  Right before I left to join the Army (August 1987), Optimus Prime was resurrected- but it Rodimus Prime, and Optimus Prime- it just wasn't the same- and again, my interest fell off.  From that point on- having a chance to watch Transformers was rare.

 

Since news of the new movie came out- I began to takeinterest again. When I saw it, I bought my son one of the Optimus Prime toys from Target.  He loves it. so I wanted to get him the original DVD  box set.  I heard they had the original series at Frye's, so I went there to get that for him, they didn't have it-  all they had was the anime versions of Transformers (WHICH I CAN"T STAND). But, I wanted to show him Transformers- so I bought Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon for him. 

 

The most recent artwork and animation is far superior to the 80's work, but excessive in its delivery. There is so much background crap, only a discerning eye can pick out the "robot" from all the "add-ons".  There's so much add-on, cyberkey-crap there, with super huge guns, super-modes, heavy-attack modes, and attacks with no results, that it gets annoying (or- I’m just getting too old)… The new cartoons are delivered in a very Pokemonish– but typically anime-fashion. They all have to "chant" in order to call on their “powers” ; even telling themselves to “transform” before they do anything. Fans of the original series may be sickened by this display (As we were when Alien -vs- Predator came out, PG-13) but my son, and my brother-in-law/son both enjoys it. (I hate anime’).

 

Anyone who grew up watching the original, will have to muscle their way through the gag reflex to watch the new cartoons.

 

But, getting back to the MOVIE:  It debuts July 3, 2007.  The previews have been very well done. Megatron looks crazy and cool at the same time, albeit without his massive fusion cannon. He looks far more evil than the original Megatron.  I certainly hope the previews don't tell the whole movie-(as the previews of most bad movies do).  With Spielberg involved, my hopes and exp[ectations are high. The only way they could possibly be higher, is if Spielberg, Bruckheimer, and Lucas did this together, rather than Spielberg and Michael Bay.

 

The question becomes:  How are us guys aged 26 - 40, going to be able to tell our wives/girlfriends- we're taking our children (who know nothing about Transformers- or probably have little interest) to go see Transformers, and not have it written across our faces, that it's really for us to see- not the kids!  :) 

 

 

OK, I know 635 is under construction (After 10 years, it always seems to be). I don't like drivign 635, but never really feel "unsafe" out there.  Tuesday night, in the rain, was different. 

I was just east of Garland on 635 towards Dallas. It was raining lightly, and traffic was moving kinda slow 40 - 45 MPH.  As I drove I thought to myself, "Are my headlights on?" I checked, and sure enough- they were on. I guess the  reflective material on the stripes of the road has worn off- because I couldn't see more than 3-4 stripes ahead of me.

I figured it was a just a 635 thing, but- when I exited onto 75,  guess what? I couldn't see those stripes much better. Instead of 3 - 4 stripes, I was at 5 or 6.

While I don't expect to see as clearly as one can on a clear/dry night, in the rain- that was ridiculous.  I don't know if the paint has lost it's reflectivity, if there are no reflectors left, or both.  Nighttime visibility on 635 was very poor.  I have 20/15 vision- so I know it's not my eyesight. I know anyone with eyesight worse than mine- were really enduring a Maalox moment.

Perhaps we need to go back to yellow stripes instead of white- or, maybe we just need freshly painted white lines on 635, whenever they finsih doing those HOV lanes.  At least from Mesquite to Irving... It would be very easy to wander into someone else's lane.

I've been here 10 years, and have driven 635 countless times, as well as the Tollway, George Bush, 183, 114, 121, 820, I-35E, 1-35W, 380 and 720.  I've never seen non-foggy roadway visibility that low.

Does anyone else agree, or is it just me?