It’s not quite the home-town scene, but the Bossier City School Board (the other river city — the one with the most casinos) expelled a Parkway High student. A teacher had chased her into the bathroom smelling cigarette smoke, but all a search revealed was some Advil. Implementing their no-common-sense rule…no, I read that wrong…no-tolerance rule they decided her offense justified delaying her education a year. I completely agree with this no-sense approach to handling teenagers. If they mis-behave (or even if you just suspect they do and all you can catch them on is a technicality) you should make sure they have plenty of idle time to consider their crime and feel remorse. I am sure when Amanda Stiles returns to public school next year she will be more motivated to better achieve.

With the recent signing of Lance’s archrival Jan Ullrich back to an already loaded T-Mobile squade, there was already a great soap opera developing for next year’s Tour.

This move makes things even more interesting. Lance’s corp of luitenents is losing one of its best. Roberto Heras, winner of this years Vuelta D’ Espania, who guided Lance so well through the TdeF mountains the last 3 years, is leaving to join the remnants of the ONCE squad.

This move places 3 legitimate contenders as head’s of their own team. Can’t wait. I’m booking my tickets soon.

Since I’ve had to give up beer other than special occasions — it disrupts my sleeping — I may try this as my next big project. I’d love to have home-brewed ginger ale.

(Hey, Rick — brewing your own soda is banned by our firewall. I wouldn’t even mention it out on the sidewalk or you are sure to get fired!)

Got these new ones from Ryan Adams yesterday after much anticipation. I was all set to love the hell out of Rock n Roll with what I had heard about it, ready to have Ryan finally show other bands how to be the next Exile on Main St-era Stones, ready for him to be on record what he was when I saw him live at SXSW right before Gold was released. After a few listens, I just don’t know what my problem is.

Don’t let the right-wingers on the porch over-hear, but “this letter”: at Salon.com makes it seem that Bush has lost the support of veterans.

I had a bumper sticker on my vehicle that stated “We Support the Troops” in bold letters and then below in smaller letters “But NOT the unelected residents of the White House!” … Greg then asked, “How many feel the way the bumper sticker reads today?” … Amazingly, I observed even the staff members at the counter with their hands up! If there were more than a just a few in the room who didn’t have their hands shown, I don’t know where they were.

Googling the author, Terry Dobbelaere, reveals an online activist who presents himself like this:

Hello all!
I am Terry from the Upper Midwest, a early retired USPS worker and
Union Advocate. … I’m here to “stay
informed” and get away from the extreme viciousness of the “ditto
heads” …

no time to comment, but i think this speaks for itself. who knows what to believe anymore?