I went to see Capote today; it's about Truman Capote's quest to write his nationally acclaimed book, In Cold Blood. While this R-rated movie is anything but uplifting, it is a must-see for all you avid readers out there who are interested in book-related movies. This is not, however, a remake of the movie In Cold Blood, but rather the story of how the book came to be written.

Yesterday was the first of two Citizenship days at school. I am in the gleaning group, and got to go out to a farm and pick up sweet potatoes that were left behind after the harvest. We picked more than 3,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, and each pound yields about 3 servings-- i.e. 9,000 people will get food solely from what we picked. And we only picked for about two hours. Wow. It was really awesome to be working so hard at something, and knowing the whole time that a hungry child, an impoverished woman or a man who had a string of bad luck would be able to eat because of what I was doing.

Oh yeah, my letter to the editor (N&O) got published on Monday (11/07/05)!!!! AND I have been accepted into my first college! Purdue University has rolling admission and I went ahead and applied. I got my acceptance letter last week, and I am very, very happy, and much less stressed. I don't think I have a first choice school per-say, but I think Purdue would be a pretty cool school.

I got a semi-part-time job with a friend of the family. He owns his own business selling records/LPs on eBay. I am going to log records into the computer database for him, which is pretty cool. And the pay is decent for the seemingly mindless work. I'm excited, because I get to have a job, but it doesn't require insane numbers of hours.

My birthday is soon!!! 42 days!!! And Christmas is in 45 days. I can't believe how quickly time flies...senior year is going to be gone before we know it! And that makes me pretty sad.

I'll post more later.

Wow. It's been quite a while since I last updated. Right now, I'm busy studying AP Psych, doing AP Spanish work and memorizing some Hamlet for English class. Bah.

There's not too much to say, which is why I guess I've been so lax about updating. I love Elon University, and could definitely see myself there for four years.

I'm going to Costa Rica this spring with Mr. Slattery, Mr. Day and some kids from school, and I'm super-excited about that. We're doing home-stays, so Rachel (sophomore) and I will be staying in a house with a family for a week, and there will be whole-group excursions during the day, as well as spanish-classes. It sounds pretty cool to me. :)

There's a big to-do with the newspaper (The Flame) right now because, as many of you know, we sell ads to local businesses in order to make enough money to produce the newspaper 7 times each year. Well, one student this year sold an ad to a family that she knows. They want to take up a full page (envision the N&O size, 'cause that's how big it is) and all they want on the page is: In God We Trust. Now, I don't have a problem with this because, though I think proselytizing isn't always appropriate, I believe strongly in our first-amendment rights. All of us on the newspaper staff want freedom of the press, and with that, we have to accept freedom of speech. As I told our editor-in-chief, who is particularly upset about this ad, "We won't stop selling ads to Domino's Pizza if the veagans get upset, will we?" He thinks it's different, but I don't. The other thing is that if we were content-neutral when we started selling ads, we have to remain content neutral throughout. Well, our editor-in-chief, Ben, wrote a petition and got (at last count more than eighty) students to sign it--- saying that they didn't support the inclusion of this ad in the paper (ARGH-- people, it's an ad that clearly says it was paid for by a certain family, whose name I am not going to print on my blog). The N&O has printed ads before that say "If you don't believe in such and such you are going to be doomed to so and so for ever." That's just the way it goes. It's clearly not a newspaper-supported thing. It's funny how people think editorials are okay, but the second we put in an ad that people don't like, everyone goes nuts. In fact, there's another full-page ad for Moe's Southwest grill that basically says that Moe's is #1 for burritoes. And you know what, Q'doba-lovers (Q'doba is another burrito place) are not getting hot and bothered about it. You know, it's not that people aren't entitled to their opinions or that I think they shouldn't speak their minds, but the thing is, this is much ado about nothing. Well, anyway, back to the story. Apparently the News and Observer got wind of the advertisement and the petition and called our faculty-sponsor (Dr. Busonik) and they want to run a story! It amazes me sometimes the reactions people have to certain things. Funny isn't it, that we freaking out over this, and yet people in Congo (Africa, for those of you geographically-challenged) are dying of starvation daily because the world has turned a blind-eye. And yet the second that there's an advertisement going in a measely 16-page newspaper at a 500-person school, the freaking state-wide newspaper takes notice. Ironic, yes? I think so. K, I'm done ranting now I guess.

Here's the google thinga-majiggy for today:










SPOOKY, huh?

I've been really slack about posting, I know. Anyway, I figured I'd try to briefly update on my life: nothing much is new, though. I'm applying for the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship, and even though I probably won't get it, it would be nice. (but it would mean that I would have to stay in-state. I mean, we have some awesome schools in NC, but other places have awesome schools too, lol).
I went on the fall retreat at CHBC this weekend; it was held in King, NC, at a YMCA Camp. It was super-fun and I had a great time. Of course, I came home sick...but it was well worth it.
College applications are slowly beginning to overtake my life!!!! AHHHH. It's kinda exciting but also stressful and scary at the same time.
Riley is doing well and has completely become one of the family. Hope still isn't wild about him, but whatever.
Tomorrow is a 1/2 day at RCHS, and Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT, while us lucky seniors get to attend a crash-course in how to write college application essays. *yawn* But it's all good because we get Thursday and Friday off from school. I guess that's about it.
If y'all want to check out some cool music from a band that was formed from some members of my church, go here. They're called SpencerAcuff, and their music is awesome. I encourage you to purchase the cds if you like the demos online--- all proceeds are currently going to the RedCross to benefit victims of hurrican Katrina.

That's all for now. I'm tired...later dudes.

I know I haven't updated in forever, but school has kept me busy, busy, busy. There's not much new to report:
-I've finally come out of my country/clay aiken only shell, and started listening to other genres. Five Iron Frenzy, Seven Day Jesus, Squad 5-0, AC/DC, ColdPlay, and Caedman's Call are some of my new favorites
-I'm going to Costa Rica over Spring Break
-I mail my first college application in tomorrow-- (no, it's not early decision, but rather "rolling admission.")
-I went to the Silver Ring Thing tonight, and that was pretty fun.
-The first dance of the year went pretty well. We didn't make all that much money, so our senior gift to the school...well, let's just say hopefully we'll make more money by gift-giving time.
-The Fall Retreat at church is this coming weekend! I'm so excited.
-I made a final decision not to take the SAT a second time. I was pleasantly pleased by my first score, and the added stress (even though I've worked through a 900 page workbook) of taking it again isn't something I need to deal with right now.
-I really love all my classes this year. I miss some of my former classes, and some of my old teachers and other staff from RCHS, but this year is certainly going to be a good one (except for some of the students who are really wearing on my nerves and wearing me down in general).
-My college list is as long as ever and showing no signs of shortening. Oh well. The first four apps I get around to doing will probably be the places I go to. (I'm sure UNC-CH and Meredith will be in there...and of course, if I get the Teaching Fellows Scholarship, I'll definitely go somewhere instate). I'm also looking at American U., Purdue U., Northeastern U., Boston U., U of Richmond, and some more instate schools. Bleh.

Time for me to hit the hay. I promise to try to be better about updating. No guarantees, though.

Wow. We're in our second full week of school. It won't be long before I'm graduating and heading off to college. Wow. That's scary.

I babysat overnight this weekend for a two-year-old and a four-year-old. We went to the neighborhood park, watched movies, and just played in the yard or in the house. It was pretty fun, but the two-year-old seemed to have a cold. Now, I'm pretty sure that she probably had a sore throat because that's the most likely place that I got mine from. Though, it does seem that something is going around. I know about five or six people with sore throats right now.

First Friday was fun. A great success for Environmental Club, but also for RCCF and the Flame.

Our first flex days are next week and the week after, and our first dance (hosted by the Senior Class-- yeah 06) is September 23rd. It's a costume dance...though most people have told us they're not coming if they have to dress up. The two best ideas us four senior class officers came up with were-- Joe's: Animal House (which was quickly overruled by our teacher advisors) and a movie theme, which took the biscuit. Oh well. I'll be dressed up and I'll have fun. We're giving out prizes to the best individual and group costumes!!!

That's all that's happened recently in Lindsay-land.

It's september and I'm just now updating. Something is very wrong. Actually, school has started and my nights are filled with going to the gym, doing homework and doing club prep. Between senior class (we're planning a dance for Sept. 23-- BE THERE!), environmental club, RCCF, The Flame and soon SLA--- my extracurriculars are jam-packed. And in another two weeks, I'll start tutoring hispanic children at a local elementary school. I like being busy though, it's fun.

All my classes are good so far. Psychology definitely takes the prize, though, but I'm sure Modern Africa (formerly known as Southern Hemispheres) will tie pretty soon.

Gas prices are making my life miserable, as they are everyone else's I'm sure. Last night, I waited in line for gas for 1 hour, and then filled up my tank 3/4 of the way...only to see the price---$30!!!! This is insane. I don't make much money, because babysitting jobs are often sporadic, but I still have to pay my insurance and gas, plus I had to pay a week ago for my car to get new rims and tires-- to the tune of nearly 1000 dollars. Oh well. The not-so-fun part of having a car, I suppose.

The Katrina thing is got me upset. It's hundreds of miles away and yet I feel so useless. Giving money is hard for me though--- I'm worried the victims won't ever see it. I think I'll send canned goods instead. There's a need for everything right now, I think.

I had my senior portraits taken. Not a good experience. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get a few decent shots for relatives and others who want them. The studio was stupid enough to make me take my outside poses (required by RCHS) first. I spent fifteen minutes in mid-ninety degree weather, only to come back in sweating. I'm sure that made me look just dandy for the rest of the pictures. Such is life.

I'm done. I'll try to be more regular about updating. I'm babysitting this weekend from 11am on Saturday until 5pm on SUNDAY! Wow. Two kids. Wish me luck!

Riley update: we haven't even had our new puppy for a month yet, and already he's a staple in our family. Jenna seems to really like him, though Hope still avoids him for the most part. He's well-trained and learns quickly. He likes the vents in the floor that blow cool air, and will often lie down beside them. Whenever he's in the car, he insists on being in the front seat so he can feel the cool air from the vents. Unlike Jenna, the windows aren't good enough for him. He discovered the cat door, but is very much afraid of it. He also discovered the air conditioning unit in our backyard, and barked at it for awhile, until he decided it wasn't posing a threat to anyone. A housefly got in tonight, and Riley watched it for awhile, unsure of what it was. He chews through most of the toys we buy him, including a plastic ice cream cone, a plastic shoe, a stuffed green doll, and one other squeaky toy. He can be rambunctious at times, but for the most part, I have no complaints.

In other news, school starts in two days. Wow. I've got logistical club stuff coming out of my ears. AHHHH. And I babysat for Mr. Grunden's two-year-old daughter the other night. It was a wonderful and pleasant experience. That's all that's been happening lately. I promise to write a very intriguing post next time...

I realized recently that I haven't posted any sort of explanation of flex committee on my blog. Actually, the true flex committee hasn't done much this summer (we've only had one meeting). But I'm also part of the interdisciplinary subcommittee and we've met a handful of times this summer. Two other kids, Mr. Grunden, Ms. Huddleston, Ms. Chalifoux, Dr. Marschall, Dr. Brown, Ms. Warren and I make up this subcommittee.
We are creating a new flex day that will start in the 2006-2007 school year and run as long as there is still available time and interest in its continuation. It is designed so that, while it is a "themed flex day," it is also unique to each grade level, so freshmen entering RCHS in the fall of 2006 will experience four different activities (one each year) that are all linked.
Each grade level's activities are based on the idea of "paradigm shifts" through history and in our personal growth and development. A paradigm shift is defined as "a significant change from one fundamental view to another, usually including a discontinuity of the original fundamental view or practice." Each grade level focuses both on one moment in history and on one major "milestone" in personal development. We have identified four major steps for change: pressure, resistance, change, relfection.
Freshman year: Freshman year, students will be focusing on 500 B.C., which was a major time in the development of communication and also religion. Written language developed, as did the belief in an unseen higher power, which was a switch from the common practice of worshiping statues and other tangible items. For personal development, students will focus on how their lives changed (their social patterns, their view of the world, their confidence level, and their ideas and beliefs about community/family/groups) when they started kindergarden.
Sophomore year: Sophomore year, students will focus on the Enlightment as a major change in the way people viewed authority, community, religion and science. They will explore the roles of the social classes and how change is brought about. For personal experiences, students will examine how their lives, views, ideas, morals, likes/dislikes, social patterns, and attitudes toward authority changed when they started middle school.
Junior year: Junior year, students will focus on the ways in which society underwent a change in the beginning of the 20th century (give or take a few decades). Many areas of life were changed during this time: music (rise of atonalists), art (decline of the impressionists), dance (rise of modern dance, fall of classical ballet), politics (with the influence of people like Marx), philosophy (Kant vs. existentialism, Nietzche), science (Darwin and evolution), psychology (Freud), etc etc etc. Students will also look at how their perspectives, social patterns, lifestyles, and attitudes toward authority changed when they entered (and continued through) high school.
Senior year: Senior year, students will focus on the future, and discuss/debate questions like: are we in the middle of a paradigm shift right now? If so, what is it? If not, when do you perceive the next one to be coming? Why? How do we or how will we know when we are? What will it look like? Will there be resistance to a shift in thought or way of life? Do we prepare ourselves for a shift? How? Why? In 100 years, what shift will they say was taking place right now? Students will also examine their own lives. Who do they want to become? How can they make that happen? Why do they want to become that person? Who are they afraid of becoming?

On these flex days, students will not simply sit around and be asked these questions. The questions and ideas posed will be intertwined with an engaging activity in which the students examine the paradigm shifts in a new way, and really think them through. I'll blog about the actual activities later.

If students (or adults I suppose) read this, I'd love to hear comments. The adults on the committee really want us three students to get a feel for whether or not students would like this kind of thing, so please leave your feedback (good and bad) by clicking on "comments." Thanks.

About my last post--- I changed my mind. As exciting as it would be to go where so few have gone and to explore an entirely different world outside of this one, I can think of a lot better things to do with 100 million dollars like feeding the starving populatoins of the world, or funding further research into cures for AIDS and cancer. Okay, I'd still like 100 million dollars so I could put it to good use. And I'll still dream of seeing outer space, other than through a telescope, and I'd still love to go to the moon. But somehow, I can't help feeling that spending that amount of money is a waste when there are people who don't have a place to live, or even enough food each day.

School countdown: 13 days

Now this would be a super-awesome summer vacation! Just imagine what you would write for one of those back-to-school narratives where the prompt is "How I spent my summer vacation"! Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures Ltd, says that his company is "planning a new mission: rocketing rich people around the dark side of the moon." There are actually two different vacation itineraries for these trips that could be taken, the company says, as early as 2008. Wow. Check out the link!

Now all I have to do is find 100 million dollars...ideas? How about a fund: Lindsay's-trip-to-the-moon-fund. Haha. Actually, it says a round-trip ticket is 100 million dollars...maybe I could just stay on the moon!?

Oh well. I kinda like it here on earth anyway.

I stole this from my wonderful friend Katie, but I'm sure she won't mind! Thanks, Katie! :)

Ten years ago, I...
1. was seven
2. was going to be in second grade
3. was going through my parents' divorce
4. had only moved twice
5. was afraid of thunder storms

Five years ago, I...
1. was twelve
2. was in middle school
3. was on the school newspaper staff
4. had moved eight times
5. got Jenna, my golden retriever

One year ago, I...
1. was working at Carmike Cinemas
2. had just gotten back from my first out-of-country trip
3. was going into 11th grade
4. lost a good friend in a car crash
5. had just won a national dance competition, which would be my last time participating in dance

In one year, I ...
1. will be going off to college
2. will be able to vote
3. will find out just what true independence feels like
4. will be an official RCHS alumni
5. have a new beginning, and the rest of my life ahead of me

Yesterday, I...
1. started filling out my online application for American University
2. went to the gym
3. got to see one of the sweetest 7-year-olds in the world
4. played with my new puppy
5. bought and organized school supplies (one of my most favorite activities)

Today, I...
1. went shopping
2. sang out loud in public just because it's fun
3. found out one of the kids I babysit for has an infection and is in the hospital (and has been for five days...she's fine, but she'll have to stay there for about another week)
4. played with my puppy some more (and with Jenna too)
5. won two auctions on Ebay

Tommorrow, I will...
1. babysit
2. go to the gym
3. dogsit
4. finish my summer reading
5. play with my puppy and with Jenna even more

Someday, I will...
1. travel the world
2. make a difference
3. (hopefully) run for president
4. publish a novel
5. be a mommy

Riley update: He's doing wonderfully. He barked at the vacuum today when I was cleaning, and he wasn't thrilled when I left him inside while I mowed the lawn. And we have this singing frog stuffed animal that I showed him tonight. He was definitely perplexed by it (to say the least). He follows me around all the time now...even if I just go to the next room, he's right there behind me. We're working right now on new tricks: roll over and speak. He and Jenna have adjusted well to being around each other. Despite the age difference (Jenna is 6), they rough-house all the time, fighting over toys, playing tug-of-war, chasing each other, and fake-biting. The only one who hasn't adjusted is Hope, our cat. But that's to be expected. We have to keep them separated because Hope views Riley as aggressive when he barks, and he barks louder and stronger when she hisses at him. He's officially mastered the "puppy face" and I'm a complete sucker for it (and he knows it too!). He doesn't really get into much trouble, but when he does, I can't stay mad at him long because he just gives me THE FACE and I melt. Oh well. He's still unsure about the whole backyard thing and insists that someone be out there while he does his business. Once he's finished relieving himself, he races back inside. Unlike Jenna, he doesn't seem to enjoy just hanging out in the yard, playing, digging or whatever.
He's got some sores from wherever he was staying before he came here and they're concerning us...we can't figure out why they're there. They are not located in areas where he could have scratched or bit himself and caused these sores. It's odd and disconcerting. I'm sure we'll talk to the vet about them in two weeks, when he goes in for his heartworm pill.

It's official. I have my first over-night babysitting job Labor Day weekend. I'll be with two kids for two (very long) days. They are ages 2 and 4, and it should be okay. I really do adore these kids and I've known them since...forever. I mean, I've stayed overnight before by myself, even in other people's houses when I was house sitting...but never while being responsible for two kids. The mom told me (when she asked if I was free that weekend) that she wouldn't trust anyone else to do this...wow. No pressure or anything. I'm sure it'll be fine.

That's about it for now...I'm starting to get pre-school year jitters, and the college thing is actually starting to sink in as far as applying and actually going somewhere. Wow.

Riley Update: Riley is doing wonderfully, and is learning the ways of our household (and plenty of new tricks, as well) very quickly. He still loves socks and cries only occassionally when put back in his crate when we leave the house. The crating will stop after we're positive that he's completely housebroken. For the most part, he is. It's just that if he gets excited...well...you get the idea. He's still fascinated by the swiveling office chairs and uses them as his own personal amusement. He hasn't quite figured out how doors work yet, though. The fact that they can enclose him in or lock him out of an area is very perplexing to him, as is their ability to swing back and forth. He spent most of today finding his voice: he barked at the neighbor's kids who were running between our yard and theirs. He barked at Hope, our cat (who, by the way, still hates Riley and hisses at him ALL the time). He barked at the fireplace too, even though it wasn't on. All in all, though, he's really easy-going and sweet. I don't understand why someone gave him up in the first place--- he doesn't get into stuff, and he's obedient and smart. (Yes, I am very, very proud of my little puppy).

I've been thinking about college a lot lately, and I've decided that the idea of "the rest of my life" totally freaks me out and I am more worried about it than I thought. I'm not worried about getting into a school. I'm not worried about the workload. I'm not afraid of being long distances from my family, or of having true independence. I think I'm afraid because I don't have a "plan" for the rest of my life. Up until now, my life's been pretty much decided for me--- I had to go to school until I was 16, and my mom made sure I stuck with it even after that (not that I would drop out...I actually love school). The county decided where I went to school, and for HS my mom decided that one, really. Everything's been pretty much dictated by the adults around me. College is my choice. I have to choose one. Choose a major. (a minor). I can go to grad school or not. I get to choose where to apply to work. etc etc etc. I'm afraid of choices, I think. I'm afraid I'll choose wrong. Or that I'll choose right and screw up. I'm almost positive I want to major in history (BA in History) and get an MA in secondary education and teach. But I don't want to teach forever. Just for a few years. But then what do I do with a history degree? I've thought about med school after a stint in teaching, but I don't know if I want to go to school forever...I want a chance to settle down and have kids. This is all very overwhelming to me...not that any of you who read this care...but that's what's been on my mind.

I came up with this idea that I really want to pursue. There's this little park over by RCHS, kind of bordering the Mordecai neighborhood. Hope Elementary uses it sometimes for recess, but it's too small for all of those kids and it's kind of run-down. I want to get permission (from whoever-- the city or Hope Elem-- owns it) to take it down and rebuild a bigger, newer playground for the kids, as well as some benches and flowers to spruce the place up. Now all I have to do is get permission and then convince other people to help me in this endeavor--- and of course hopefully get company donations (we'll give them a plaque built into the wall at the park) to help cover costs...too bad it'll never actually happen. My dreams are always better and nicer than real life. Bleh.

It occurred to me after my last post that anyone who read that Riley is a black lab-golden retriever mix might envision some sort of golden, blackish...i don't know. He's not. He looks like a black lab, but the people at the adoption center said he was a mix. He's my baby boy. Being a doggie-mommy the third time around is much easier than the first two times. With Jenna, when I was in sixth grade, she was only 8 weeks old when we got her. She cried all night for a few weeks. Riley sleeps through the night, knows lots of tricks (sit, lie down, shake, spin, fetch, and he knows to go in his crate when we tell him... and he even pees on command. Now that, my friends, is a talented dog). Mysti, who I got when I was in 8th grade, is a Yorkie, so she was really tiny when I got her. We had to regulate her food intake like crazy becuase she was so small, and she was diabetic, and the day before we picked her up, she went into a diabetic coma at the house where she was born. So both of my first two experiences with raising puppies were stressful and difficult, but I love Jenna and Mysti sooo much. (Of course, I had already been taking care of my two other dogs when Jenna arrived: Finney and Max). Riley loves his toys and likes to snuggle. He just discovered the the office chair beside the computer desk spins. He got halfway on it, and started spinning around. And seeing him on the hardwood floors makes me laugh because he slides across them farther than he walks.

Now...about D.C. We went up to D.C. last Thursday, and we visited American University that afternoon. Everyone says that when I walk onto the "right" college campus, I will have an AHA! moment, and know once and for all that I was meant to go to that college. I haven't had that moment yet (I've only been to see four...) but I had what I guess is a quazi-AHA moment at American. (And of course, I would love living in D.C.) One of my favorite things about American is their history department and course offerings-- my favorite class that I've seen so far is one that is held during the summer. It is a study of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the students actually travel to Japan to hear victims' testimony and visit the sites. How cool. Another great aspect of being at one of the D.C. colleges (AU, GWU, and Georgetown) is that if you are enrolled in one of the colleges, you can take classes at any of them.

Anyway, while in D.C. we went to the History Museum, Ford's Theater, the Spy Museum, ChinaTown, and toured the monuments. We also visited the house where Lincoln died and toured Georgetown. The funniest moment on the trip was when we passed this pair of elderly couples on the sidewalk (two men, two women who were probably in their eighties). One of the women, apparently the one in charge, was yelling at the men and pointing at them one at a time, saying "You didn't follow instructions. And you (turning to the other) didn't follow instructions..." that was all I heard...but it was quite the sight.

We just got back from Washington D.C. where I visited American University and GWU. It was actually a really fun trip. More on that later, though.

BIG NEWS!!! We got a new dog! Yes, we still have our golden retriever (Jenna), but we decided that she was in great need of a friend. Enter: Riley. Riley is a Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix and is 5 months old...but he has enough energy for three puppies. We just got him today, when we got back from D.C. (yes, we left D.C. at 6:30am so that we could be back to Raleigh in time to adopt a puppy-- I know, we're insane). He's explored the downstairs of the house, and we're hoping that he won't discover the upstairs for a few days...not likely. Jenna seems to be adjusting well to her new "sibling" and they have already spent the evening rough housing. Riley is definitely unsure of the backyard, though, and needs to be coaxed down the deck stairs and around the yard. He's actually already been halfway trained, as he knows sit, lie down, etc. However, the hurdle we're jumping right now is learning his new name. His name with his original owner was Big Henry (*gag*barf*), and the adoption agency named him Grady, but my mom refused to have a dog named after one of the NC Legislators she dislikes, so we gave him the name we had picked out originally...but he still doesn't seem to make the connection that he and Riley are one and the same. Oh well. That'll come with time I suppose. More updates on the pup and pictures, and a D.C. play-by-play report later.

I was watching the news last night, when a story came on that made me shake my head and laugh aloud. There is a growing group of people around the country who are uprooting their families and moving them to South Carolina from all over the nation. Why? you ask. There is a group, founded by people like Cory Burnell, called ChristianExodus. Their purpose? They are calling fundamentalist, conservative Christians to move to South Carolina. They hope to create a a uptopia with laws based on the Ten Commandments. And if the United States government doesn't like it? They plan to secede from the Union. Haven't we already been through this once before with South Carolina????

As much as the London terror bombings saddened and appalled me, and as much as the scare on Thursday reminded me (once again) how we are never truly safe...anywhere, I still cannot believe that members of the London Police shot an innocent man-- five times. It's not that they shot him, because, truly, we do the same things here...(not always, and that's not a criticism of our law enforcement, just a statement that sometimes innocent people get hurt or killed because they are arousing suspicions. Even though, I have to admit, that killing people is probably not the ideal way to deal with something...but is sometimes the only way). My point here is that the officers shot the man five times. FIVE TIMES. I can almost guarantee that after one or two shots, that man was posing little or no threat to the community...continuing to shoot at him seems unnecessary. And on top of that, one witness told CNN that two of the three pursuing officers jumped him and held him down while the other fired five shots...something about that just seems wrong. Feel free to post comments on my blog and agree or disagree. I'd like to hear what other people think.

The 2005-2006 Senior Year Schedule has arrived.
Here it is... (period-class-teacher)

1. Adv. Southern Hemispheres (Montague)
2. Adv. Statistics and Probability (Mahoney)
3. Publications (Busonik)
4. AP English 4 (Busonik, back-to-back...oh yeah!)
5. AP Psychology (Koch)
6. AP Spanish (Krawiec)

Wow...should be an interesting year...let me know if you have any classes with me.

My AP U.S. History teacher at school, Betsy Newmark, had this to say about the places Roberts will go with his position on the courts. Very interesting...
It seems that, once Roberts is confirmed, that he will become the clear choice for Chief Justice if Rehnquist steps down. Roberts clerked for Rehnquist and apparently the Chief thinks very highly of him. I predict that, after a year or two, Rehnquist will step down while Bush is still president and give Bush the opportunity to elevate Roberts to be Chief.

Two years ago, Supreme Court Justice Scalia had this to say about Roberts, whom he called "far and away the best Supreme Court litigator in the country":
No matter how intense the questioning, Roberts is never flustered, and is always able to calmly answer any question whatsoever, while skillfully weaving in the substantive points that he wanted to make in the first place.

Now it's a waiting game...what will happen? It'll be an interesting few days (if it even lasts that long).

President Bush has announced his nominee for the Supreme Court to replace the retired Sandra Day O'Connor-- John G. Roberts. Many women, democrats, and even republicans (first lady, Laura Bush included) were hoping to see a woman nominated. At only 50 years old, he is fairly young for a Supreme Court justice. ABC-11 (WTVD), as well as MSNBC both called him a "rock-solid conservative" and it is said that he does not support the decision in Roe v. Wade. In fact, MSNBC reports that Roberts co-wrote a brief in 1990 that "suggested the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 high court decision that legalized abortion." However, as Roberts told the Senate during his confirmation in 2003, "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the land. ... There is nothing in my personal views that would prevent me from fully and faithfully applying that precedent." Roberts has been an appellate judge (nominated by Bush, and approved by the Senate in 2003) for two years, but experts say that what he lacks in experience as a judge, will be made up for by his experience arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Many people hoped for another middle-of-the-spectrum justice, who like O'Connor, would be the swing vote in many landmark decisions. O'Connor took often liberal stands on issues like the death penalty, when in 2002 (Atkins v. Virginia), she sided with 5 other justices that a mentally retarded criminal could not be executed. She also cast the deciding vote that struck down a Nebraska partial-birth abortion law. She dissented when the majority of the justices supported striking down an Ohio law that prohibited doctors from performing abortions on teen girls without their parents' permission or a court order.

It should be interesting to see how the debate within the senate unfolds. It could go either way...