Archive for June, 2008
June 12th, 2008
That’s what Register Star motorsports writer Doug Goodman called Dani Maxwell, WREX-13 anchor, and me after watching us talk smack about each other on a video about a June 20 race they’ll compete in at Rockford Speedway.
I beat Dani last year by two feet; Dani beat me the year before by a foot. Check it out, and see us, other media staffers, police, firemen, politicians and more race at the event that benefits Barbara Olson Center of Hope and The Police Memorial Museum at Midway Village Museum.
Winning last year was one of the biggest rushes of my life. Tell some of yours.
June 11th, 2008
Yep, you read that right, “Zhounielsenfraser.” That’s the name I made up for the combo team of the Zhou Brothers, Rick Nielsen and Donald Fraser, who’ll present June 13 the Divergent Minds live painting event by the Chinese abstract artists inspired by music by pop rocker Nielsen of Cheap Trick and classical composer and pianist Fraser. 
(photo provided to the Register Star via Rockford Art Museum)
It’s kind of like “Brangelina.”
Got other names for politicians, local celebrities, whomever who are joined at the whatever? Bring ‘em on.
June 10th, 2008
Americans increasingly fear that the national bargain has unraveled, that their once-steady march toward affluence has derailed, so says a new USA TODAY story. The most recent official data indicate that in 2006, half of all families made more than $58,407 and half made less. That compares with an inflation-adjusted peak of $59,398 in 2000.
This financial stall marked the first time since World War II that the typical family was worse off at the end of an economic expansion than at the start, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a left-of-center think tank in Washington, D.C.And that was before a financial crisis emerged last year from a remote corner of the U.S. housing market to stalk every worker, firm and family.
That’s why I’m feeling so fiscally uneasy. I’m being stalked. Good analogy, I think.
Barack Obama’s style won’t allow him to use Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
But he is going after McCain’s economic policies. Wonder what Obama’s coined phrase might be.
Any suggestions?
June 9th, 2008
On “The Today Show” this morning, Ann Curry interviewed a woman who gave advice on cutting costs during harder economic times caused in part by the record-setting $4-a-gallon gasoline set nationally today.
(photo from blogs.chron.com)
Tips included giving up bottled water and paying credit card bills on time so you won’t have to pay a late fee.
I’m not yet to the point where I’ll give up bottled water totally.
What won’t you give up locally in hard times? That delicious fish fry on Friday nights? That trip every week to the raceway? Pedicures?
June 5th, 2008
In Sweden, children’s names have to be approved by the Skatteverket — the National Tax Board, and the members said no to a couple naming their girl “Elvis.”
Wonder how they handle “Terry” or “Morgan”? I was named after my dad, and really didn’t like being called “George” too much in high school. The “ette” saved me, I guess. Wonder if the Tax Board would go for “Elvisette”?
Then there’s Johnny Cash’s, “A Boy Named Sue.” Well, that’s another story.
June 4th, 2008
As we watched and listened to the great orator Barack Obama live on CNN last night speaking after he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, my son was so taken with him, his speech and his promising future that he proclaimed: “I’ve found my new Brett Favre!” (APObama photo, gbpackernation.blogspot.com for Favre photo)
June 3rd, 2008
Before you tell me how self-centered I am, let me tell you that I learned this principle in journalism school. Readers want to know this about a news story upfront: What’s it mean to me?
So, here’s what the Janesville SUV plant closing announced today means to me. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to sell my 1998 Grand Jeep Cherokee (with only 118,000 miles on it) for much more than a song and dance. (My Jeep looks like this one at offroaders.com.)
GM CEO Rick Wagoner Wagoner said the change in the U.S. market to smaller vehicles likely is permanent. “We at GM don’t think this is a spike or a temporary shift.“
Just to be clear, I do feel for those losing their jobs and for the community.
So, what’s the plant closing mean to you?
June 2nd, 2008
An LA Times story today says: “Pointing the way to a peaceful end for the tumultuous presidential primary campaign, some key supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday that they accepted a new finish line in the race for delegates.”
Hillary’s not the only one of us who has hung on to something too long.
What have you found hard to let go? A relationship? A job? That heaping hot fudge sundae?
And how did you finally convince yourself “it” was over?
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