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Photo: University of Virginia School of Law | Charlottesville, Va.
Monday, August 30
Godfrey's New Look
Steven Godfrey, the ageless Daily Mississippian columnist, has a new photo. This pose is very GQ, and attempts to demonstrate Godfrey's new image -- as a wise, worldly, serious, and battle-tested veteran of student media. 
Rick Cleveland, who hasn't changed his Clarion-Ledger photo in 15 years, should follow Godfrey's lead and update his photo.
Reinventing the GOP
David Brooks, one of the few moderate / conservative voices at the New York Times has discussed the reinvention the GOP in an article Sunday.
Interesting read about a party that seems to be rapidly changing.
GOP Convention
The GOP Convention is this week. Anticipating an event as bland as The Democratic Convention that preceded it a few weeks back, I don't expect to watch much -- or any -- of it. The era of nominating conventions of substance has long past, and now these weeklong pep rallies consist of canned and cautious sound bites, and the least offensive speakers and speeches possible. For 206 of the 208 weeks every four years, the most outrageous statements of the Ds and Rs get most of the attention. But on convention week, the rabble rousers of the respective party are sedated or quarantined, and for once, moderation triumphs. This makes for feel-good TV, but in a generation that prefers Roseanne over Leave It To Beaver, people may agree with the sweet and sensical message, but will wind up spending their late evening watch Nip & Tuck instead.
So that being said, very few of us, besides hardcore political junkies, will be watching the convention. But here's what needs to happens for the Republicans to have a good week.
1. Protesters go overboard. Americans appreciate freedom of expression, but detest weirdos who march the streets and tear up stuff. These people are not patriots -- they are hooligans, and hooligans do not attract undecided voters. These extremists and troublemakers will alienate the mainstream American, and instead of hurting George W. Bush's re-election prospects, will actually help him.
2. Bush gives a commanding speech. Bush's speech does not have to be memorable, or even very good. He just needs to sound as if he's in control and convince us the country is heading in the right direction. Conservatives need to get the feeling that another Bush Administration will demonstrate some fiscal restraint, and moderates need to feel that Bush is welcoming, opening, and caring to the typical American.
3. Bush outlines an agenda for the next four years. Kerry has been vague. Bush needs to be more specific. And by specifics, I don't mean he needs to say 'we're going to make the world freer and America safer.' Outline some domestic policies. Give us some views about future foreign policy. Don't talk to the public like they are 4th graders.
4. b>Guiliani and McCain deliver. The GOP has no rising stars. Every up-and-comer on the national stage right now seems to be a Democrat. Heck, even Parker Wiseman is a Democrat. These two "mavericks" may be the autumn of their political careers, but their speeches are important in harnessing The Rockefeller Republican in all of us.
Fact is, I don't expect Bush to get a bump in the polls from the convention. If he does, I'd predict only 2 or 3 points. It might be enough to push him ahead in some battleground state polls, but he won't break free this week.
Like I said earlier, these conventions are pep rallies. The real game has yet to begin.
Sunday, August 29
Major League Bust
As I take a break between reading the fascinating (I say this tongue-in-cheek) history of common law and the restatement of torts, I thought I would bring your attention to one of major league baseball's most major disappointments over the past decade. 
Hideki Irabu was billed as "The Japanese Nolan Ryan" or something like that. The pitcher had won numerous awards in the Japanese League and was expected to have an immediate impact for the major league team that was lucky enough to sign him. As usual, George Steinbrenner's New York Yankees won the bidding war, or traded for his rights or something. Anyway, it doesn't matter. The Yankees got their man.
Expected to bolster a rotation that already included some of MLB's best, Irabu instead struggled to find control or consistency. It was painfully obvious that Hideki was not in Osaka anymore.
The cantankerous righty was shelled by major league hitters and the New York media alike, and he quickly fell out of favor with George, who referred to him as a "fat toad." Thanks to strong run support, Irabu managed a winning record in his two full seasons with the Yankees, but realizing he had made a bad investment in Japanese stock, Steinbrenner traded Irabu to the Montreal Expos, the major league veteran's equivalent of being a horse sent to the glue factory.
I don't believe Irabu is in the majors any longer. He probably lives in a dank apartment in Encino smoking meth, eating Frito Lays, and watching the Game Show Network all day with roommates Jose Canseco, Steve Howe, and Todd Marinovich.
Final Medal Count
The Olympic Games are over. Woe is I.
The Final Medal Count
1. United States - 103
2. Russia - 92
3. China - 63
4. Australia - 49
5. Germany - 48
6. Japan - 37
7. France - 33
8. Italy - 32
T9.South Korea - 30
T9.Great Britain - 30
11. Cuba - 27
12. Ukraine - 23
13. Netherlands - 22
T14.Romania - 19
T14.Spain - 19
Countries without many medals
Canada - 12
Mexico - 4
Ireland - 1
Sudan - 0
Sweden - 7
Friday, August 27
ATO Fire
Most of you have heard by now, but three members Alpha Tau Omega died early this morning when their fraternity house caught on fire. Dad emailed before class this morning to tell me there had been a fraternity fire, but details at that time were sketchy. When I read the blurb an hour later, I literally got chills. Hearing that young people have died is especially tough, but under these almost unimaginable circumstances, it's extremely disconcerting. My deepest condolences go out to the families, fraternity brothers, and friends of these three people. Wednesday, August 25
How to Heal Health Care
In a rare display of bipartisanship in the U.S. Senate, Bill Frist and Hillary Clinton have jointly published a column in today's Washington Post about rectifying a health care system that is in grave danger. You can read the article here.
Assault Weapons
In a few short weeks, the ban on assault weapons in America will expire, meaning, I think, that automatic and semi-automatic weapons will return to the market, on the shelves of gun stores and at gun shows across America. Nicholas Kristof said not extending this ban will mean more dead Americans. What America needs in the 2nd Amendment debate is balance. On one hand, you have the gun control advocates, who think gun manufacturers are more responsible than gun users for gun crimes and think by taking away guns we will somehow live in a society that is more tranquil and free. Then on the other end of the spectrum, you have the hardcore 2nd amendment folks, people who seem to every America should have life, liberty, and the pursuit of a Howitzer in his backyard. As Americans, we should certainly have the right to shoot game and protect ourselves, but do we need a fully-automatic machine gun to do it? Monday, August 23
Liberty Law School
The University of Virginia has a new in-state rival in the law school world. Liberty University, the ultra-conservative Christian institution founded by Jerry Falwell, is opening a law school . "We want to infiltrate the culture with men and women of God who are skilled in the legal profession," Falwell said Tuesday in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "We'll be as far to the right as Harvard is to the left." Falwell wants to train attorneys who will fight Roe v. Wade, gay marriage and other issues he feels that the liberal legal establishment has imposed on the public. The law school, located in Lynchburg, Va., will begin classes today. Its first-year class of 61 students arrived for orientation this week. Besides being well-known for its Christian values, Liberty University also can claim Clinton native Colin 'Scraggs' Mascagni as a graduate. Sunday, August 22
New state plane tab is partisan mythology
By Sid Salter
ssalter@clarionledger.com
The proposed Medicaid cuts slated to go into effect Sept. 15 have created a new political mythology in Mississippi. The myth centers primarily on why Medicaid is in a mess, but there's another element as well.
I call it the Fantasy Island myth — as in the old television show with a little man in a white suit yelling: "Boss, the plane! The plane!"
But first things first.
Despite the fact that many Democrats — including the Democratic leadership in the House — voted in favor of the Medicaid Reform Act, state Democrats are now actively selling the myth that Medicaid cuts are solely a Republican plot. Clearly, the House and Senate journals put the lie to that contention. That's the first myth.
Democrats and Republicans alike who lacked the guts to either raise revenue sufficient to fund the state's existing Medicaid program or face up honestly to the program cuts dictated by their "no-new-taxes" stance voted for the Medicaid plan pushed by Gov. Haley Barbour because it let them off the political hook.
Beyond that, the "Medicaid cuts are a Republican plot" myth has a second element. The second mythology is that Medicaid wasn't in a mess until Barbour took office.
Medicaid spending
The facts are that Democratic former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove led a willing Democratic-majority Legislature in expanding Medicaid eligibility in Mississippi beyond the scope of current revenues to pay for it. Musgrove and the Legislature spent washtubs of non-recurring special fund money to pay the recurring expenses of Medicaid.
The third Medicaid myth is that the evil Republicans took Medicaid prescriptions out of the hands of the poor in Mississippi while spending $3 million in new money to buy a brand new airplane for the governor.
Makes a good story. But the facts as documented by the state Department of Finance and Administration don't back it up.
DFA reports that when Gov. Barbour took office, the state had three planes — a 1981 Lear Jet, a 1982 King Air 200, and a 1993 King Air 350 that was acquired in 2001 during Gov. Musgrove's tenure through a lease purchase agreement with payments of $296,000 annually.
The two older planes were owned by the state debt-free when Barbour took office, but the debt on the 1993 plane lease purchased during the Musgrove administration was $925,000.
DFA further documents that on Barbour's watch, the state sold the 1981 Lear Jet for $1.6 million and the 1982 King Air 200 for $1.25 million. That left the state with two less airplanes and $2.85 million in cash.
Barbour sought and received legislative spending authority to use up to $3 million toward the purchase of a new plane. With that authority and the proceeds of the sale of the two older planes, the state paid off the lease on the 1993 plane and bought a 1996 Citation Ultra Jet for a net $1.67 million.
Annual cost savings
The state fleet of planes was reduced from three to two and the annual lease/operating costs were cut from the previous $761,000 to $749,000, an annual savings of $12,000 per year.
Capital debt on the state plane fleet increased from $925,000 to $1.67 million or 81 percent.
That's your state plane tab.
Yet Medicaid spending in the state increased from $1.894 billion in 1999 to $3.11 billion in 2002 or 164 percent. Go figure.
Raiders Return at No.1
The Jackson Academy Raiders enter the 2004 high school season defending a state championship and holding on to their No.1 ranking in the Clarion-Ledger's preseason poll. Adam Shaffer, one of the most efficient waterboys when I was a senior at JA, is now the team's starting quarterback, and Reid Neely, a 6-6, 285 lbs. offensive tackle and Ole Miss signee, anchors the interior. What is odd about this year's ranking is that in their infinite wisdom (or foolishness), has ranked Hillcrest No.2, two spots ahead of Jackson Prep. Anybody who follows MPSA football knows that Hillcrest could put Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders in their backfield and Prep could convert its dance team, The Pacers, into the starting lineup and Prep would still probably find a way to beat Hillcrest by three touchdowns. Apparently, Hillcrest has gone all across Southern Hinds County, recruiting players from Raymond, Clinton, Forest Hill, and Terry. These new stars probably give Hillcrest the best team they have ever had, while JA and Prep classes seem to have average to below average talent compared with other teams they've fielded over the last 10 or 12 years. Hillcrest's football program is finally reaching the level of their basketball and baseball programs, two of the best in the MPSA. Not since 1998, when Seth Smith had been installed as quarterback and Gabe, Varnado, Patrick Anderson, and Brian Pope were leading the Cougars, has their been so much hope on Siwell Road. Still, JA and Prep have dominated for so long in the MPSA that it's difficult not to rank them No.1 and No.2 until other teams finally prove otherwise on the field. Academy AAA preseason poll The Clarion-Ledger 1. Jackson Academy 2. Hillcrest Christian 3. Washington 4. Jackson Prep 5. Lamar
NCAA Football 2005
Since I have abandoned my PlayStation2 in Jackson, my NCAA Football 2005 dreams must be lived vicariously through other gamers. How are the Rebels faring in the game? Any great stories from your video game dynasties?
Saturday, August 21
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Warren St. John, a Birmingham native, graduate of Columbia University, and a writer for the New York Times, has written a book about the fanaticism and mystique of Alabama Football. You can visit Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer's website and blog here.This book is first on my list for leisure reading. Hopefully, Freddie Kitchens and Phyllis from Mulga will be mentioned. Here's a bit from the RJYH website: What is it about sports that turns otherwise sane, rational people into raving lunatics? Why does winning compel people to tear down goalposts, and losing, to drown themselves in bad keg beer? In short, why do fans care?
In search of the answers to these questions, Warren St. John seeks out the roving community of RVers who follow the Alabama Crimson Tide from game to game across the South. A movable feast of Weber grills, Igloo coolers, and die-hard superstition, these are characters who arrive on Wednesday for Saturday’s game: Freeman and Betty Reese, who skipped their own daughter’s wedding because it coincided with a Bama game; Ray Pradat, the Episcopalian minister who watches the games on a television set beside his altar while performing weddings; John Ed (pronounced as three syllables, John Ay-ud), the wheeling and dealing ticket scalper whose access to good seats gives him power on par with the governor; and Paul Finebaum, the Anti-Fan, a wisecracking sports columnist and talk-radio host who makes his living mocking Alabama fans—and who has to live in a gated community for all the threats he receives in response.
In no time at all, St. John himself is drawn into the world of full-immersion fandom: he buys an RV (a $5,500 beater called The Hawg) and joins the caravan for a football season, chronicling the world of the extreme fan and learning that in the shadow of the stadium, it can all begin to seem strangely normal.
Along the way, St. John takes readers on illuminating forays into the deep roots of humanity’s sports mania (did you know that tailgaters could be found in eighth-century Greece?), the psychology of crowds, and the surprising neuroscience behind the thrill of victory.
Reminiscent of Confederates in the Attic and the works of Bill Bryson, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is not only a travel story, but a cultural anthropology of fans that goes a long way toward demystifying the universal urge to take sides and to win.Newsweek writes a short blurb on the piece.Friday, August 20
From Quarterback to Senator
Friday morning, Senator George Allen (R) spoke to an audience at The Golden Corral in Charlottesville. My roommate Frank and I went, two of the four non-staffers in attendance under the age of 40.
For some reason, breakfast at the Golden Corral costs $6.99. Breakfast should be the cheapest meal of the day, though I did notice that the Golden Corral offered such delicious breakfast buffet items as carrot cake, chocolate chip cookies, cheese pizza, and ice cream. Maybe that justifies the price. We decided to pass on breakfast and just stay for the speech.
Allen is doing a folksy "listening tour," traveling to steakhouses and club meetings in mid-size cities around the state taking questions from consituents. Hillary Clinton popularized the term "listening tour" during her run for the U.S. Senate 2000. New York's Junior Senator would cringe if she knew that Allen, one of the Senate's most conservative members, was borrowing from her playbook.
Allen is familiar with playbooks. The son of a former Washington Redskins Head Football Coach of the same name, Allen was a starting quarterback for UVA during the 1970s before attending law school and then entering Virginia's House of Delegates on the road to several other offices, including Governor and now Senator.
Sadly, Mississippi has not yet had a quarterback who has used his celebrity to vault him into a political career, and frankly, I don't see Russ Shows, Sleepy Robinson, or Lee Roberts becoming future U.S. Senators anytime soon. But there is still hope. In 20 years, maybe we'll be go to listen to Senator Brett Favre or Congressman Kevin Fant deliver a speech at The Beacon in Oxford. Or maybe not.
Anyway, Sen. Allen spoke about a few important policy issues to him -- national security and preventing taxation on the internet -- and then took questions from the audience. Looking at the audience, I was expecting a two-hour answer session about medicare, medicaid, and prescription drug coverage, but surprisingly, the questions were varied, ranging from tort reform to No Child Left Behind to judicial filibusters.
Mississippi received a plug during the address, albeit a negative one. Allen was talking about jackpot justice, and how lawyers were abusing the system by filing cases in plaintiff-friendly counties, specifically mentioning Marion County, Illinois, and "some county in Mississippi." Since I doubt he was referring to Rankin or Desoto County, he was probably thinking of Jefferson County. I have family roots in Jefferson County and on occasion when we get down there, we pass rows of rundown houses with one monstrous 2-story home in the line that is called a "tort home" or something that like. These are the mansions of the people who were opportunistic enough to attach their names to one the huge class action lawsuits. I guess since Mississippi doesn't have an official lottery, the courts have become Mississippi's version of Powerball.
The Albermarle GOP County Chairman beared a striking resemblance to a middle-aged Vince Vaughan. Probably the most humorous part of the event was hearing an old woman scream at the man delivering the opening prayer, yelling at him to "speak up" two or three times. Guess she forgot the man was trying to talk to God, not to her.
Thursday, August 19
Misleading Headline
I received this in an e-mail from Mr. Rutledge. He has a great point.Can anyone please explain to me how the headline of this article, obviously only what most ignorant Americans will read, reconciles with the last two lines (my red)? Am I missing something or is this not absolutely amazing? It's one thing to mislead in an article assuming readers won't question the source, but it's an absolute insult (or validation of) their readers' ignorance to have a headline that is directly contradicted two paragraphs later. Mr. Rutledge Abu Ghraib Probe Points to Top Brass By Josh White and Thomas E. Ricks Washington Post Staff Writers Friday, August 20, 2004; Page A01 An Army investigation into the role of military intelligence personnel in the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison reports that the scandal was not just caused by a small circle of rogue military police soldiers but resulted from failures of leadership rising to the highest levels of the U.S. command in Iraq, senior defense officials said. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the report has not yet been completed, said the 9,000-page document says that a combination of leadership failings, confounding policies, lack of discipline and absolute confusion at the prison led to the abuse. It widens the scope of culpability from seven MPs who have been charged with abuse to include nearly 20 low-ranking soldiers who could face criminal prosecution in military courts. No Army officers, however, are expected to face criminal charges. Link to Post column-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For comparison, here's FoxNews's headline (remember that they are the biased ones): "Abuse Report Blames Two Dozen." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129392,00.html
Mike Tyson's Punch Out
I know we talk about the world of Rocky often, but does anyone ever wonder what happened to the gang from Mike Tyson's Punch Out? Do you ever ask yourself, "I wonder if Piston Honda went on to fulfill his potential?" or "Did Glass Joe ever learn how to take a punch?" or "Was Soda Popinski really drinking sopa pop out of that big bottle?"
Some of us people ponder the serious questions of life and death. Others among us think about nes games from the 1980s. Sometimes, the latter just seems a little more intriguing than the former.
Arrived in Charlottesville
Headquarters has relocated. 
Since Monday evening, I have been living in Charlottesville, VA, where I will be spending the better part of the next three years as a law student at The University of Virginia.
Charlottesville has all the amenities of a solid city -- Best Buy, Office Depot, Super Walmart, Quizno's -- but isn't so large that you have to rely on public transportation or 30-minute minimum drives to get you from Point A to Point B.
One of the highlights so far was getting a photograph of a capsized tanker truck. The authorities had to divert traffic for hours, and even late into the night as I was passing by, a hazardous waste removal company from Staunton, VA, was cleaning the street.
Orientation begins Monday at the Law School, and classes begin on Wednesday.
The Sigma Nu House at UVA House is on the Main Grounds and is prominently located on the main strip running by UVA and the downtown area.
Only a few days have passed, and they are already naming facilities after me.
No fascinating stories to pass along as of yet.
Wednesday, August 18
Let the Professional Wrestlers in Olympics
I haven't been closely following the Olympics, and I know very little about how the Americans are performing in wrestling, or if they have even started grappling yet.
I do know, regardless of the outcome, that America needs to add professionals to wrestling, loosen up the restrictions, add a ring, make pinfalls count anywhere, and add a steel cage to the mix. Then maybe those half-empty seats would be filled. If the City of Tupelo could pack the BancorpSouth Center for RAW, I think the Greeks would show up in large numbers.
This isn't taking away from Rulon Gardner, whomever he is. Congratulations to Rulon for beating that supposedly indestructible Russian Alexander Karelin in the 2000 Games, but Rulon, you aren't the first. In 1985, an American underdog named Rocky Balboa beat the supposedly unbeatable Russian, Ivan Drago, in boxing, a sport much bigger than amateur wrestling.
Think about the possibilities for professional wrestling at the Olympic Games.
Here would be the events:
HEAVYWEIGHT SINGLES (A 16-person, single elimination tournament)
CRUISERWEIGHT SINGLES (8-person, single elimination tournament)
TEAM COMPETITION (Survivor Series Style)
With THE ROCK, KURT ANGLE, TRIPLE H, and the return of "Real American" HULK HOGAN, Team USA would be the 21st Dream Team.
Canada would be the top competition, with Jericho, Benoit, Lance Storm, and Test.
Puerto Rico would have Savio Vega, Britain would have Regal, Germany would have Das Wunderkid Alex Wright, India would have Tiger Ali Singh, Japan would have The Great Muta, Mexico would have Mysterio, Italy would have Salvatore Sincere, South Africa would have Kurrgan, Norway would have The Berzerker, Uganda would have Kamala, and Parts Unknown would have The Undertaker.
I'm telling you -- ratings would go through the roof, McMahon could hawk his sport to a new international audience, and the IOC would have a field day with all the steroid investigations.
Rome on the Olsen Twins
Olsen Twins “dorm” room….one of the cool things about going away to college for the first, is that you finally get a little place of your own. It isn’t much, but for the first time, you have some space that is all yours.
Maybe it is a crappy little dorm room on campus. Maybe it is an even crappier little apartment near the school. It’s small, it’s dirty, but at least it is yours. A rite of passage if you will. Mom and dad aren’t around, you get to make the rules, and you have your own place. Or at least that’s how it is for most people. Not the Olsen Twins.
The Twins, have recently bought a $7.3 million, 5,725 sq ft. Flat in Greenwich Village. That is where the little pixies are going to live while they attend NYU. The place was originally 4 separate units that the pair of non-eating actresses have turned into one giant place. And just think; it is going to be even more spacious considering the fact that they don’t have to build a kitchen into it. Why waste on that space on cupboards, refrigerators, ovens, and stoves, when no one is going to use them anyway? It wouldn’t make any sense. And really, whose “dorm room” doesn’t have walk-in closets, guest bedrooms and a screening room? I mean, I remember my dorm room…it had, well, a desk, a chair and a bed. So, maybe it isn’t like everyone else. But at least they will be getting the college experience. While the rest of the students are dragging kegs into the dorm rooms, they can watch movies by themselves in the screening room. Look, I know you have a billion bucks in the bank, and you can do whatever the hell you want, but a $7.3 million dorm room? I don’t think the rest of the kids are going to be able to relate like that….then again, it might be a little big.
What happens if the one, who doesn't eat, decides to go on a hunger strike again? Then she would have to go back into food rehab and the other one, (whichever one it is) would be in that giant place all by herself. That’s not good. Enjoy “college”...and what the hell are they doing there to begin with? To get good jobs? If it is for the ‘experience’, I think they may be missing out.
Talking Points and San Francisco
Figured Alex had been quiet lately. Here's O'Reilly Talking Points about Gay Marriages and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Enjoy.
A big win for the folks.
That is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points" memo. The California Supreme Court today said no to gay marriage and invalidated all the marriage licenses granted by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Sorry, Rosie O'Donnell (search).
Last February, we predicted that would happen. All heck is about to break loose in the state of California. Section 115 of the penal code here says it is felony for a public official to issue false instruments to be filed in public records. Since California law prohibits gay marriage, Mayor Newsom's issuance of marriage licenses for gays seems to violate this order.
Well, what Mayor Newsom (search) did is simply outrageous. He's not going to be prosecuted. But in the year 2000, California's passed Proposition 22 (search), which said marriage in California can be legal only between a man and woman. That proposition passed by an astounding 62 to 38 percent in the nation's most liberal state.
So it's clear the residents of California and all over the U.S.A. want to keep traditional marriages law. But Mayor Newsom didn't really care about that, citing civil rights legislation. He put himself above the will of the people.
And that's happening all over the U.S.A. Judges and politicians are saying we know best. You don't really count. Thank God, with apologies to the ACLU, that California's Supreme Court is still ruling on the law.
But the decision was 5 to 2. Two justices out there believe, as four Massachusetts judges do, that the law doesn't matter.
This is the most dangerous domestic issue facing the country today, that there are judges who believe they should make the law, not elected officials.
So, "Talking Points" is pleased that California law is finally being upheld. "Points" would like to see civil unions OK'd in every state so all Americans can pursue happiness equally.
But traditional marriage is something to be respected and Mayor Newsom should wise up and realize that. And that's the memo.
Bear guzzles 36 beers, passes out at campground
SEATTLE, Washington (Reuters) -- A black bear was found passed out at a campground in Washington state recently after guzzling down three dozen cans of a local beer, a campground worker said on Wednesday.
"We noticed a bear sleeping on the common lawn and wondered what was going on until we discovered that there were a lot of beer cans lying around," said Lisa Broxson, a worker at the Baker Lake Resort, 80 miles (129 km) northeast of Seattle.
The hard-drinking bear, estimated to be about two years old, broke into campers' coolers and, using his claws and teeth to open the cans, swilled down the suds.
It turns out the bear was a bit of a beer sophisticate. He tried a mass-market Busch beer, but switched to Rainier Beer, a local ale, and stuck with it for his drinking binge.
Wildlife agents chased the bear away, but it returned the next day, said Broxson.
They set a trap using as bait some doughnuts, honey and two cans of Rainier Beer. It worked, and the bear was captured for relocation
Tuesday, August 17
Eli Starts
Eli Manning, the first multi-millionaire of my Sigma Nu pledge class, is getting his first start against the Carolina Panthers. Good luck, Eli.
Meanwhile, Chargers 1st round pick Philip Rivers is still unsigned, as the Chargers offer him incentives like "$5,000,000 if you make it to the Super Bowl 5 consecutive years."
Top 10 Party Schools
1. State University of New York at Albany
2. Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va
3. The University of Wisconsin-Madison
4. West Virginia University, Morgantown
5. Ohio University, Athens
6. Florida State University, Tallahassee
7. University of Texas-Austin
8. University of Georgia, Athens
9. University of Colorado
10. University of Mississippi
Comments:
* Congratulations to Ole Miss for returning to the Top 10.
* How can Washington & Lee be ranked 2nd? First, it's a pretty academically rigorous school, and secondly, the town has 2 bars. Columbus has more than that, and you don't see MUW cracking the Top 10, do you?
* Bama dropped out of the T10 after they placed all these rules on bars and Greeks in Tuscalossa. Ole Miss will probably follow suit to try to avoid these rankings.
* However, Ole Miss should have a certain amount of pride for these rankings. After all, two of the publics on this list -- UT-Austin and Georgia -- are two of the south's best public universities. The Chancellor says he wants Ole Miss to be the bridge between Chapel Hill and Austin. Maybe the bridge (or pub crawl stop) between Athens and Austin would be more fitting.
* West Virginia? What do they do to party?
* Where's BYU on this list?
Friday, August 13
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods is supposedly struggling mightily this season and has lost his swing and his way. Even so, he's 4TH on the PGA Tour Money List. The guy is in the biggest slump of his career and he's 4th on the Money List.
Remember, Tiger Woods is not David Duval. Unlike Duval, he is not a permanent meltdown. Unlike Duval, he won't start missing cuts week after week. Unlike Duval, he won't start firing off consistent rounds in the mid 80s. Unlike Duval, he won't be hawking irons at Nevada Bob's in 15 years.
Tiger Woods is still a star in a sport where consistency and domination are most rare. Much to my dismay, but to golf's benefit, Tiger will return to form. He may never be as dominant, but he'll be on the top of the game again. And sportscenter viewers won't be forced to listen to his name in the "other score" category, along with John Daly, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Curtis, Curtis Strange, and the LPGA star with the sponsor's exemption.
In the meantime, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson are the 2004 triumvirate of professional golf.
Great C-L Headline
I've become increasingly disgruntled with The Clarion-Ledger since returning in May. Once a cover-to-cover reader of The Clarion-Ledger's sports section and a pretty intense reader of their Main and State/Metro section, I now skim the headlines, occasionally reading Sid Salter's column and The Sunday Perspective.
I'm not sure if it's the news or the newswriters that are the problem. I enjoyed the C-L through the years so I'm thinking the summer may just be a painfully slow period for news. I'm giving the paper the benefit of the doubt.
However, one completely moronic headline in the Thursday edition of The Clarion-Ledger caught my attention. I'm not sure of the exact wording of the headline, because ClarionLedger.com search function is so pitiful the old articles have seemingly vanished after a day, but the article said something like 'contract prevents Bama from stealing Croom.'
The article went on to discuss Coach Croom's non-compete clause, preventing him from leaving for any other SEC team.
First off, I don't see any other SEC schools knocking down Sylvester Croom's door. Alabama thought about hiring him, but picked up Mike Shula instead.
This article is lame because it jumps to conclusions. The Clarion-Ledger, and the media in general, have decided Sylvester Croom is a great head football coach with a single game of head coaching experience. While I personally respect his accomplishments and his commitment to family and discipline on the MSU football team, I think he has become an overblown creation of the media. What other coach has been so hyped that newspapers were already speculating about other team's interest in that head football coach before he even coached his first game?
Gay Governor
New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's admission that he is a homosexual is, ironically, the least of his problems.
Take this guy's sexual preference out of the equation, and you have a New Jersey governor who has:
1. Cheated on his wife
2. Allegedly sexually harassed an individual in his administration
3. Hired an individual with no qualifications to run The Department of Homeland Security in a state next door to New York.
4. Is under investigation for several alleged incidents of public corruption in his administration
5. Has refused to resign until November so the people of New Jersey won't have an opportunity to select his replacement
Gay. Straight. Bi. Whatever. This guy is wretched, and he should resign immediately. His actions have cost him any credibility, and The Garden State will only wither with three more months of McGreevey's stewardship.
Wednesday, August 11
Dick Cheney
Been a slow news week. Don't really care about the Olympics. Alan Keyes is going to be crushed in the Illinois Senate contest by Barack Obama. WWE needs Hillbilly Jim and other old school wrestler to help supercharge the failing company. Dick Cheney is underrated. Dennis Miller is brilliant. Paris Hilton is not. Mike Tyson deserves another chance at a comeback. America is beautiful. The American Candidate is an embarrassment to television -- at least Jerry Springer is interesting.
Monday, August 9
Ole Miss Lands Reid Neely
Last year's Ole Miss signing class was promising -- until we found out 1/3 of them would be academically ineligible. A good class quickly became a marginal one, and despite the likelihood that many will return to Ole Miss in a year or two, they won't be as productive as they would have been with four or five full years in the Ole Miss system. I'm not sure what has happened in the last few years -- have the recruits become even less inclined to academics? Have the academics standards risen? Or has Ole Miss begun targeting a different kind of student-athlete, more athlete, less students, than they once did?
But with bad news aside, the good news to report is the oral commitment of Jackson Academy's Reid Neely, a 6-5, 285 offensive tackle. Last season, Neely teamed up with 2004 Ole Miss signee David Traxler to form one of the most dominating tackle combinations in MPSA history. Just five years before, JA's offensive tackles were me -- at a whopping 230 pounds -- and David Weems -- 160 pounds dripping wet. When I coached Neely at a football camp as a six grader, he was about the size of most of the 9th graders and was remarkably nimble for a giant kid, so we expected good things from him. Neely is also cousin of JA '99 Bo Allen, the 2-way starter at guard / linebacker for the Raiders in '98 as well as a standout catcher for the baseball team.
Neely received a lot of interest from LSU, Alabama, and Auburn, before deciding on Ole Miss. I wish him good luck this season and know he'll protect JA QB Adam Shaffer's blind side.
Random Musings
Barack Obama should officially change his name to Rising Star, as members of the media refers to him with that title in every article .... Alan Keyes will be slaughtered by Rising Star in the Illinois Senate Election .... Stewart Patridge has become my 2nd favorite Pre-Eli Ole Miss quarterback in the last 20 years, supplanting Mark Young .... Since music stars fade away, so should directors. Spike Lee's best days were done in the early 90s. We don't give Debbie Gibson coverage anymore. We shouldn't give Spike credit either .... WillBardwell.com will quickly supplant Blaggblogg as this board's left-leaning blog of choice ..... Bardwell has a great column about Rocky and AMC in the July 15th edition of The Meridian Star .... Rocky's defeat of Apollo in their rematch is nothing short of amazing. Apollo was prepared, dominating the entire match, and completely physically outmatched the challenger. His 15th round collapse was one of the biggest meltdowns in sports history .... Good commentary about America and Europe in The New York Times's Weekend Review .... I hear so many established, financially-secure people tell me their happiest days were in college. Makes me wonder if life peaks at 21 or if all of us tend to romanticize the past .... Cutcliffe handed down a fair punishment to Bournes and Pittman. Hopefully, Jamal will get back on track and have a great career for Ole Miss. Bournes is a sad story. Not since Erick Dampier has Lawrence County had such a dominating athlete in any sport .....
Sunday, August 8
Follow Us To The Dock
After the Henson-Tyler wedding, the more boisterous members of the wedding crowd decided the party should continue at The Dock, where the hair band metal cover band US would be performing.
I was concerned about The Dock suggestions, as people in suits, tuxedos, and wedding dresses would probably be more welcome at Old Venice, the Mecca of wedding afterparties, Lager's, or even the bar straight out of a BTO song, The Cherokee.
But US apparently had a few fans in the group -- I guess White Snake and Bon Jovi still are popular -- so we loaded up and told everyone to "follow us to The Dock."
They say The Dock is a landmark of the Reservoir. And after going there, I see its parallels with history. It possesses the brutality of Angola prison and the debauchery of Gomorroh. And much like that city of the Old Testament, the Dock will soon be leveled, not by THE LORD, but by postmodern society's new architect of construction and destruction -- the real estate developer.
The crowd at The Dock was a wide assortment, from the muscle-bound hulks who replace anabolic steroids with miller lite as their weekend substance of choice, and who go in search for females and fights, to the more troublesome short fellow with a girl latched to his arm, an angry stare on his face, a baseball cap on his head, and one humongous chip on his shoulder. Along with their girlfriends, some strikingly beautiful, some not, this posse comprised the ruling coalition at The Dock. The minority were the good ole boys who descended on The Dock to drink beer and listen to music; former college quarterbacks; US groupies; and the people from the wedding party.
As you might guess, the ruling coalition doesn't like any kind of minority, and since very few blacks ever frequent The Dock, the majority leveled their animosity on the wedding party crew, meeting them with angry stares throughout the evening.
These polar groups, however, are joined together by the common bond of politics, as I would predict this Dock crowd was 98% GOP, representing every sect of the modern GOP sans The Religious Right.
Shockingly, only a few small skirmishes ensued outside, a long way from the main action near stage, and not involving anyone I knew.
And I had the privilege of meeting Stewart Patridge, the former Pillow Academy signal caller and Ole Miss quarterback who led the Rebel to a dramatic 1997 Egg Bowl victory and a win against Marshall in The Motor City Bowl. Patridge hit it off with Tangy Wells and Thew Ingram, two huge Ole Miss football fans, and they chatted about Clinton, Greenwood, Ole Miss Football, and Walker Jones, another legend from the probation-era Rebs.
I even got to see Brian Pope, a star football player for Hillcrest Christian who was moved from quarterback to received in 1998 to make way for a knew hotshot QB named Seth Smith.
I would love to have all of you share a few of your favorite Dock moments with us.
Haynes-Gentry: "A Baldwyn Extravaganza"
Unable to be in two places at once, SNN reader Andrew Buckley was dispatched to the Baldwyn, Miss., embedded as a groomsman in a wedding between a young couple. These two people -- Justin Gentry and Mary-Grace Haynes -- and two North Lee County hamlets -- Guntown and Baldwyn -- were joined together Saturday Night as Justin and Mary Grace were wed. Gentry, a former Commander of Sigma Nu, graduated from Ole Miss in 2002 with a degree in Accountancy and received his Master's degree in 2003. He is currently employed with Ernst & Young in Memphis. Miss Haynes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dexter Haynes of Baldwyn, was the 2003 Ole Miss Miss Ole Miss, a member of Delta Gamma, and did about 47 different jobs with the Ole Miss Annual. I'm not sure where they are going on the honeymoon. The couple met in high school, where Gentry was the star linebacker for Baldwyn High School. Gentry continued his football career for three years as a guard and linebacker in Sigma Nu Charity Bowl. Here are some pictures....
Groosman before the wedding
The Baldwyn High School Gymnasium has been rebuilt after it was ravaged by a tornado a few years ago
"Hot Bridesmaids" is the title of this photo on Buckley's Ofoto website. I concur.
Amy A. is alive!
Rifle shooting before the wedding.
 Gentry and Mary Grace depart from the reception. Thanks to Andrew Buckley for his reporting.
Henson-Tyler Wedding
With sawdust underfoot, strobe lights overhead, and Eli Manning crooning country ballads onstage, The Pavilion at the Neshoba County Fair was an odd venue for Staci Henson and Brent Tyler to begin a courtship that would culminate in marriage yesterday at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Staci, a National Merit Finalist, Accent, and Student Council Reporter from the famous Jackson Academy Class of 1999, went to Ole Miss, joined Tri Delt, got involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, and even served in The Department of Justice for Clarence Webster and me. She was Miss Ole Miss in 2002. Brent graduated from Kosciusko High School, the Harvard of Attala County (sorry Ethel), went to MSU, joined Sigma Chi, and along with Graham Calvert and Brad Hutto, lived on Planter's Row, arguably the greatest apartment complex in collegiate history. He was the President of MSU's Student Senate, the organization that is now guided by the philosophy of legislation of regular SNN blogger Edward Sanders. Theirs is one of the first mixed marriages of our era -- Ole Miss bride and Mississippi State groom. No word yet if arrangement have been made to split Saturdays between Oxford and Starkville. With the recent fortunes of the two programs, however, spending football seasons traveling to Oxford and basketball seasons in Starkville seems the most likely scenario. The wedding was superb. They had great soloist, and our old Algebra I teacher Susan Elliott played the piano. The girls had to appreciate it for all those things women likes about weddings. The men probably appreciated that it didn't run much over 30 minutes. People start getting restless when church spills over the hour mark and weddings exceed 35 minutes. Attendance was not taken, but the the sanctuary was nearly full at Christ United Methodist Church, one of Jackson's largest congregations, confirming the popularity of the bride and the groom and proving the necessity of CUMC's move to a new, gigantic church complex a few blocks north on Old Canton Road. As the stragglers, Gabe Roberts, Tripp and Doty Yates, Trent Yates, and myself were ushered to the balcony, where I spent most of the 30 minute service craning my neck to see the wedding party, darting my eyes around the balcony for familiar faces not seen in quite a while, listening to the excellent charge from Rev. Cliff Wright, and marveling at the rapid passage of time. I thought it odd that one of my high school classmates was getting married, that her sister and her friends, 7th graders -- little children when I graduated high school -- were now young adults, college students in a matter of weeks. I am a nostalgic person. But I've been even more sentimental the past few weeks, reminiscing about junior high football domination, quiz bowl triumphs, good friends turned passing acquaintances, squandered opportunities. This string of Wedding Saturdays has been a weekly reminder that adulthood is or almost is upon us. Some of us, equipped with wedding bands, 40-50 hour work weeks, house payments, and even children -- are sprinting into adulthood. Others of us (myself included) are being dragged there. But the moments of reflection ended as the wedding ended, and I had a mission -- to avoid the crowd at the wedding reception. An outlying parking spot, passing hellos, and mastery of Old Canton Road got me to the Country Club of Jackson before the first wave, allowing me to enjoy one of the things I love most -- food -- without enduring one of the things I despise most -- long lines. For some reason, people love to talk outside of churches after weddings. Maybe it's a habit ingrained over the years as we churchgoers pour out of the sanctuary to discuss the other spiritual matters of the day -- college football, the latest news, where to eat for lunch. I don't think people would stand outside church and talk as much if they had rows of fried shrimp, egg rolls, and grilled cheese sandwiches waiting for them afterwards. I pondered this as I rolled to the reception. Great reception. The City of Kosciusko had to shut down for the evening. North Jackson reported for duty. Scott Ross, West Point attorney and college board member, was there. So was Tony T. Calverts were all over the place, and I was designated as the official expert on which Calvert brother was which, as that question was posed to me at least 12 times. Band was good. 
The couple with the cake
Readying to toss the garter. Stephanie Henson, 18-year-old sister of the bride, caught the bouquet. Gene Henson, father of the bride, withstood the news, either because of a disbelief in superstitions or a very strong heart. Justin Calvert grabbed the garter, finding great use in it as a headband.
McCrary, making a rare apperance at a club other than The Bayou Bluff Tennis Club in Gulfport, MS, pines for the camera while Trey Clark sports his new Barcelona hairstyle.
Graham Calvert performs the last song at the wedding.
Staci and Brent say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Henson as the crowd blows bubbles.
Press Association Award in Hand, Bardwell Pursues Excellence in the Blogger Nation
Merdian, Miss. -- Will Bardwell, the one-time, self-proclaimed "Most Powerful Man on Campus" who recently became a Mississippi Press Association award winner, has begun a weblog meshing liberal politics with college football, Iron Chef, and Sylvester Stallon films.
The site, WillBardwell.com, was created two days ago and already includes wedding photos and a short piece of the classic 1970s movie, Rocky.
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TEXT OF HIS FIRST POST
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"Took you long enough to get here."
--Rocky Balboa, "Rocky" (1976)
It had to happen sooner or later.
Welcome to WillBardwell.com, the top liberal Web site on your computer screen at the moment. I'm Will Bardwell, and here, we will discuss anything that interests me -- politics, college football, "Iron Chef," and Sylvester Stallone movies just to name a few. For the record, my favorites are liberalism, Ole Miss, Chen Kenichi, and "Rocky," but you're entitled to your own opinion.
Just keep it clean, mildly intelligent, and -- above all else -- fun.
Saturday, August 7
Friday Night Bash
Earlier this week, while chatting with old friends on AOL Instant Messenger, Jim Jacobs decided to have an old-fashioned, high-school style bash. Here are a few pictures from the event. The rest are posted on the photo page.    Friday, August 6
CNN blasts Fox
Time Warner Inc. chairman Dick Parsons Friday described Fox News Channel as "crazy people exchanging views," telling a group of minority journalists in Washington he felt that the channel and his own Cable News Network are two different services.
When asked by Univision Anchor Jorge Ramos why CNN was losing the ratings battle with Fox, he was not ready to concede that. He said that Fox was more like talk radio on TV, which meant that its viewers stayed longer because people tended to "come and sit down for an hour or two and listen to crazy people exchange views." CNN actually draws more viewers, he said, but said they were grazers who didn't stay long.
Parsons said he did not feel CNN was liberal, but instead has a bias for the truth. He conceded that journalists are often perceived as liberal because they tend to challenge the establishment. He did not make an overt comparison with Fox, but he did say that his news operation "does not give a corporate slant to its journalism. We don't tell them how to report."
Roach Returns!
Roach has returned from parts unknown.
Thursday, August 5
Old School Pictures
Formal, 2003 - Big Dog Brett Barefoot
JA Football - 1998
Sigma Nu Woodstock, 2000
Elliott Teague and Kelly Lomax, two of the last great frat guys, in a picture with me.
Kenneth Stokes
The Jackson Free Press interviews Kenneth Stokes, Jackson's most notorious city councilman.
Band of Brothers Against Kerry
Medicaid in Mississippi
I know state government employees read this blog, as evidenced by the IP log. What do ya'll and others who follow state government think about this Medicaid issue? Did Barbour do the right thing? Our Democrats trying to gain traction by dramatizing a minor issue? Do the people taken off the Medicaid rolls deserve to be on Medicaid? Will health care bankrupt Mississippi?
Wednesday, August 4
Neshoba Pictures -- Speaking Day
A few pictures from the Neshoba County Fair last Thursday 
Haley Barbour's speech drove a smatterinig of applause.
Supreme Court Justice James Graves (left) is greets a supporter before approaching the podium to speak Thursday afternoon. Graves is in a tough re-election fight against Madison County Circuit Judge Samac Richardson.
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I am a 23-year-old first-year law student at 
