Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority. - William Jennings Bryan

Saturday, March 05, 2005

SWAC Update

Thursday night was our SWAC match at Virginia High. Here's how the scores went...
ENGLISH...John Battle (45)...Virginia High (60) Loss.
MATH...John Battle (20)...Virginia High (70) Loss. {To Danielle: If you had spoken up, we would have got 70 points! :)}
SCIENCE...John Battle (50)...Virginia High (55) Loss.
SOCIAL STUDIES...John Battle (60)...Virginia High (50) WIN!!!
ALL AROUND...John Battle (45)...Virginia High (35) WIN!!!
Well, hey, 2 out of 5 ain't bad, but I'm hoping the teams will continue to improve and after Monday's match against Patrick Henry I'll be saying 4 out of 5, or 5 out of 5.
Congratulations to..
Social Studies Team...
Yours Sincerely (Captain)
Justin (Captain Pro Tempore)
Scotty (up both rounds)
Bobby (up first round)
Thomas (up second round)
And Congratulations to Danielle. You prettied up the whole Math team! :)

Ok, quick politics stuff..
PENNSYLVANIA
All in one day, three candidates have entered the race for U.S. Senate in 2006. Dr. Chuck Pennacchio, and State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr. Casey is considered the front-runner, and is the only one polling higher than incumbent Senator Rick Santorum (R).
COLORADO
Getting a BIG jump on everyone else, Congressman Mark Udall (D) has announced he will be a candidate for U.S. Senate...in 2008. The incumbent, Senator Wayne Allard, made a campaign promise in 1996 to only serve two terms, which would put his career at an end in 2008. Whether Allard stands by his promise is yet to be seen.
Ok, that's all for now. I think I'll go watch a Hee Haw DVD.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Decisions, Decisions...

SWAC!!!
Today (March 3rd) is our first SWAC match; we had one on February 28th, but it was cancelled because of snow. We're playing the city team, and I'm Captain. Woo hoo! Pray for me, y'all.
TN SENATE
Well, thus far, Harold Ford (D-Memphis) is still the only Democrat to have entered the race. Former Congressman Ed Bryant (R) has the highest name recognition according to a poll by a state newspaper. Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker has the highest negative name recognition, but is the leading alternative to Congressman Bryant. Hmmm...Not good for the TNGOP.
DECISIONS DECISIONS
I called my late-night post by this name because of my little personal strife I'm having in my decision on whom to support for offices in my home state of Virginia. On one hand, I want to support State Senator Phillip P. Puckett (D-Lebanon) for Lt. Governor because (A) I once lived in Lebanon, (B) He is one of my Papaw's old friends from his {Papaw's} farming days, (C) He was Principal of Lebanon High School when my Mom went there and Principal of Oak Grove Elementary when my aunt went there, (D) He's Vice President of the Bank we have most of our money in, and (D) He's an all-around nice guy. On the other hand, I want to support State Delegate J. Chapman Petersen (D-Fairfax for Lt. Governor because (A) At 30, he is much younger than Puckett {58}, (B) He is the front-runner (C) His office is courting me more actively for my support, and (D) He may be more electable. What do you think I should do?
FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE
Here's a new feature; Music suggestions!!! Let me make for my first suggestion, "50 Years of Hits" By George Jones. This is a 3 CD compilation set of the reigning King of Country Music. THere are 50 songs; one from each of the past 50 years. The first, 1955's "Why Baby Why" all the way to the last, 2004's "Amazing Grace" show just how great a country singer the Possum really is. My personal favorites are, in this order:
1) Wild Irish Rose (1998) -- I picked this because it is a hauntingly beautiful and tragic song about a man who is sent to Asia (presumably Vietnam) and comes home insane. He is treated poorly, just like our nation's veterans are, and ends up dying drunk on the street. This is probably the best song on the entire album.
2) The Grand Tour (1974) -- This is one of my favorite Jones songs, because it tells the story of a man whose wife has left him, taken their child, left everything else, and obviously broken his heart. He seems to be trying to sell away all the memories of her, and in the process, hurting himself even more.
3) Still Doin' Time (1966) --This song tells the story of a man who has probably cheated on his wife, and is missing her a great amount and regretting what he has done. He says that he's doing time in a "honky tonk prison", possibly drinking his sorrow away. A great tragic love song.
4) Choices (1999) -- This is the sound track of the Possum's life. To an extent, it is probably the sound track to most of our lives. It was released just as he was almost killed in a car crash that turned his life around. Pretty powerful timing.
5) Radio Lover (1988) -- This is a sad song that kind of turns cheating on its ear. I won't ruin the story by telling you the ending, I will say its similar to "The Cold Hard Facts of Life" by Porter Wagoner, only much, much different.
6) You Couldn't Get The Picture (1991) --A Great play on Post-It Notes. What more can I say?
7) White Lightning (1959) -- This is a great party song about a good ole' boy who just loves runnin' that good ole' shine back in the North Carolina mountains.
8) The Race Is On (1964) -- A love song/horse race song. I'm sure no body had thought about this analogy until hearing this song. Ole Possum should have won a Grammy for this one, only the Grammys didn't particularly care for "Country and Western" music way back then.
9) He Stopped Loving Her Today (1980) -- I can't say anything about this song that hasn't already been said. I'll only say this much; This is THE greatest Country song of all time.
10) One (with Tammy Wynette) (1995) -- Reunite The President and First Lady and what do you get? One of the greatest love songs I've ever heard. And I think they mean't every word of it.
Okay, Im done. Off to bed.