Fresh from her surprise win on Dancing With the Stars, 17-year-old Shawn Johnson has been on the move. The kid who reigned as the world champion at 15 and brought home a gold medal from Beijing is riding a new wave of popularity.
How this high school senior-to-be will bear up under the pressure and publicity that goes with her success remains to be seen, but so far she's been a class act.
Like many Americans, I watched the 2008 Olympic Games pretty intently. It was fun to see Nastia Liukin, who lives just up the road in the Dallas area come away as the women's all-around gymnastic champion. But she took the title at the expense of her roommate, Shawn.
Shawn gave us all a little lesson in some of the things all coaches would like their kids to learn. Among those are: accepting defeat with grace, supporting our teammates when things aren't going our way, not letting jealousy over a friends success poison a relationship and of course–don't give up.
It's always good when we see these values displayed by our sports heroes. It's a surprise when the lessons come from someone so young. As long as Shawn holds to those principals, she'll go far.
— Rich Flowers, News Editor
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Make up your mind
President Barack Obama criticized the current government's economic policy — saying it is taking on too much foreign owned debt — at a town-hall meeting in New Mexico.
He then went on to praise government's policy on the economy saying we are turning a corner and "we do know that the gears of our economy, our economic engine, are slowly beginning to turn.”
I wonder sometimes if our President hears himself saying these outrageous things.
You say the debt is going to cause a substantial increase in interest rates when China loses interest in owning our debt. This much is true and we have already seen this happening to a degree. The Treasury Department announced in April it would add "more auctions of 30-year bonds to its calendar to address the increase in projected financing needs."
The May 7 auction received little interest from buyers and was reported as "terrible."
In what universe, Mr. President, does this seem to be good news?
Oh, I forgot...you must be pleased with the increase of gasoline prices recently. That is a positive sign to him, right? He did say during last year's campaign he thought $4 a gallon gasoline was a good thing, he just wished it hadn't happened so quickly. No matter what it did to the regular people.
I'm sorry but I cannot see that the "wheels are turning" on the economy, at least not in the right direction.
It seems to me we are going backwards with a hearty push from the Obama administration.
— Lauren Ricks, Staff Writer
He then went on to praise government's policy on the economy saying we are turning a corner and "we do know that the gears of our economy, our economic engine, are slowly beginning to turn.”
I wonder sometimes if our President hears himself saying these outrageous things.
You say the debt is going to cause a substantial increase in interest rates when China loses interest in owning our debt. This much is true and we have already seen this happening to a degree. The Treasury Department announced in April it would add "more auctions of 30-year bonds to its calendar to address the increase in projected financing needs."
The May 7 auction received little interest from buyers and was reported as "terrible."
In what universe, Mr. President, does this seem to be good news?
Oh, I forgot...you must be pleased with the increase of gasoline prices recently. That is a positive sign to him, right? He did say during last year's campaign he thought $4 a gallon gasoline was a good thing, he just wished it hadn't happened so quickly. No matter what it did to the regular people.
I'm sorry but I cannot see that the "wheels are turning" on the economy, at least not in the right direction.
It seems to me we are going backwards with a hearty push from the Obama administration.
— Lauren Ricks, Staff Writer
Monday, May 4, 2009
Thank God (literally)
The "Most Eloquent" White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced today there would be no bailout for the newspaper industry.
After what has happened to the automobile and banking industries, I am thankful this totalitarian administration is not considering taking over my bread and butter. I could not be part of an industry that does not have independence of thought and the freedom to express opposing views.
The last thing America needs now is for it to go the way of Pravda.
America was founded on the desire for freedom of speech, thought and action. On the ability to choose our own destiny. We are losing bits and pieces of this everyday thanks to a heavy dose of apathy. I pray someday soon the citizenry will wake up and see the destruction all around us, before it is too late.
To some, this may sound much like the rantings of an alarmist. Though I respect others opinions, I would disagree with this conclusion. I am a realist and the things I see going on everyday is disturbing.
A recent example is a charge from a leading bankruptcy attorney Thomas Lauria, who alleges the administration threatened an investment bank with public ruination for not agreeing to the Chrysler deal. According to Lauria, Steve Rattner, the leader of the Obama administration's Auto Industry Task Force told Perella Weinberg Partners the White House would use the press corps to destroy its reputation.
For the sake of posterity, both the administration and the bank have denied the charge.
Considering the "deal" the bank received compared to the Christmas present the UAW got, I would bet something was said behind closed doors. We will wait and see.
As a member of the press, albeit not in the same position of one in the press corp, I an indignant if the White House thought they could "use" a journalist to do their bidding. The profession is not meant to be the attack dog of ANY administration. It is meant to be a unbiased source of factual information.
Unfortunately, I don't believe many of the more powerful newspapers have risen to this standard, which is why they are failing. The best way for the industry to get back on its feet is to have integrity.
— Lauren Ricks, Staff Writer
After what has happened to the automobile and banking industries, I am thankful this totalitarian administration is not considering taking over my bread and butter. I could not be part of an industry that does not have independence of thought and the freedom to express opposing views.
The last thing America needs now is for it to go the way of Pravda.
America was founded on the desire for freedom of speech, thought and action. On the ability to choose our own destiny. We are losing bits and pieces of this everyday thanks to a heavy dose of apathy. I pray someday soon the citizenry will wake up and see the destruction all around us, before it is too late.
To some, this may sound much like the rantings of an alarmist. Though I respect others opinions, I would disagree with this conclusion. I am a realist and the things I see going on everyday is disturbing.
A recent example is a charge from a leading bankruptcy attorney Thomas Lauria, who alleges the administration threatened an investment bank with public ruination for not agreeing to the Chrysler deal. According to Lauria, Steve Rattner, the leader of the Obama administration's Auto Industry Task Force told Perella Weinberg Partners the White House would use the press corps to destroy its reputation.
For the sake of posterity, both the administration and the bank have denied the charge.
Considering the "deal" the bank received compared to the Christmas present the UAW got, I would bet something was said behind closed doors. We will wait and see.
As a member of the press, albeit not in the same position of one in the press corp, I an indignant if the White House thought they could "use" a journalist to do their bidding. The profession is not meant to be the attack dog of ANY administration. It is meant to be a unbiased source of factual information.
Unfortunately, I don't believe many of the more powerful newspapers have risen to this standard, which is why they are failing. The best way for the industry to get back on its feet is to have integrity.
— Lauren Ricks, Staff Writer
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