Just a little reminder to those of our readers who haven't noticed yet - we've got video on our Web site!
We have posted videos of responses to our Question of the Week on our main page at www.tribunecourier.com. We're also kicking around ideas for other ways we can use our video capability on the Web.
Feel free to send us your ideas!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
It's just ice
You may have noticed the recent weather patterns and their impact on local roads. It brings to mind (my mind, at least) how different people here are from people in naturally colder regions.
People around western Kentucky can probably count on their hands the number of times snow, sleet and ice have made roads impassable. People in, say, Michigan or Minnesota certainly could not - unless they have sprouted many, many extra fingers.
Yet, when even the THREAT of snow and/or ice comes our way, people go nuts. Bread and milk fly off of store shelves. Schools close. Roads are barren.
Not to say there isn't some real danger in driving on icy roads, but let's have some perspective. People up North drive in those conditions throughout the winter, but you don't see them going crazy at the drop of a snowflake.
Being cautious is one thing. Being insanely cautious is another.
Last night, I drove to Murray from Hardin at about 5 p.m. I set the cruise at 55 mph and left it there for almost the entire trip. Traveling south, I passed almost no cars. Not that traffic in south Marshall County/north Calloway County is usually bustling at that point, but still, not much traffic. Heading north was a pretty steady line of vehicles, all being driven very, very slowly. I make no remarks about the people driving those cars - I usually like to sarcastically joke about stereotypes in those situations, but I'll leave it be this time. However, I can only imagine they were all worried about ice. Ice, mind you, that was not there. Even in the western Kentucky twilight, it was easy to see the roads were clean and, for the most part, dry.
I'm sure everyone got safely to where they were going, and that's the most important thing, I suppose. I just find it interesting how people overreact to weather sometimes.
People around western Kentucky can probably count on their hands the number of times snow, sleet and ice have made roads impassable. People in, say, Michigan or Minnesota certainly could not - unless they have sprouted many, many extra fingers.
Yet, when even the THREAT of snow and/or ice comes our way, people go nuts. Bread and milk fly off of store shelves. Schools close. Roads are barren.
Not to say there isn't some real danger in driving on icy roads, but let's have some perspective. People up North drive in those conditions throughout the winter, but you don't see them going crazy at the drop of a snowflake.
Being cautious is one thing. Being insanely cautious is another.
Last night, I drove to Murray from Hardin at about 5 p.m. I set the cruise at 55 mph and left it there for almost the entire trip. Traveling south, I passed almost no cars. Not that traffic in south Marshall County/north Calloway County is usually bustling at that point, but still, not much traffic. Heading north was a pretty steady line of vehicles, all being driven very, very slowly. I make no remarks about the people driving those cars - I usually like to sarcastically joke about stereotypes in those situations, but I'll leave it be this time. However, I can only imagine they were all worried about ice. Ice, mind you, that was not there. Even in the western Kentucky twilight, it was easy to see the roads were clean and, for the most part, dry.
I'm sure everyone got safely to where they were going, and that's the most important thing, I suppose. I just find it interesting how people overreact to weather sometimes.
The perfect valentine
Valentine's Day. Without doubt the single most overrated holiday of the year.
Let's take a moment to think about what Valentine's Day truly means: Greeting card companies and florists making mass amounts of cash in the name of "love"and mass marketing, and hordes of men worried sick about what to get their sweethearts for that special day, because God knows, you don't want to screw this one up.
So, here's my contribution to the cause. Guys, if you really want to impress your sweetie, avoid the traditional gifts like flowers and chocolate. No matter how hard you try, that $50+ arrangement of flowers WILL DIE, and chocolate won't do anything for your girl but contribute to that 10 pound weight gain she's been trying to work off since Christmas.
Diamonds, perhaps?
Um, no. The next time you think about getting your girl a rock, think about the little kid in the middle of the Congo who probably got his arm hacked off for it.
Do yourselves a favor and go with something simple but heartfelt. Make her dinner, and then actually clean up your mess. You have no idea how many points you'll score just for doing the dishes.
Make a scrapbook. Repaint her bathroom. Get up with the kids so she can sleep in.
Clean out her car. Now there's a Valentine's Day present.
Let's take a moment to think about what Valentine's Day truly means: Greeting card companies and florists making mass amounts of cash in the name of "love"and mass marketing, and hordes of men worried sick about what to get their sweethearts for that special day, because God knows, you don't want to screw this one up.
So, here's my contribution to the cause. Guys, if you really want to impress your sweetie, avoid the traditional gifts like flowers and chocolate. No matter how hard you try, that $50+ arrangement of flowers WILL DIE, and chocolate won't do anything for your girl but contribute to that 10 pound weight gain she's been trying to work off since Christmas.
Diamonds, perhaps?
Um, no. The next time you think about getting your girl a rock, think about the little kid in the middle of the Congo who probably got his arm hacked off for it.
Do yourselves a favor and go with something simple but heartfelt. Make her dinner, and then actually clean up your mess. You have no idea how many points you'll score just for doing the dishes.
Make a scrapbook. Repaint her bathroom. Get up with the kids so she can sleep in.
Clean out her car. Now there's a Valentine's Day present.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
'Gentlemen start your engines'
The greatest spectacle in sports entertainment is finally here. No it isn’t Wrestlemania, even though that event runs a close second.
It is the Daytona 500 and Sunday will mark it’s 50th running.
Aside from the Super Bowl it will be the hottest sports event on television this year. Don’t believe me then listen up.
First and foremost I am a NASCAR fan. However, I do not watch every race, I do not follow the sport vigorously and I do not know where the next race will be, nor the full line-up of every team.
I do know that I am a Jeff Gordon fan and have been since I was like 10 years old. I do know who placed where after each race and I do know the lingo and the happenings from the sport as I check in on NASCAR about twice a week. (Usually before and after a race.)
However, with all of that said I can say this, I will watch the Daytona 500. Not religiously, but I can guarantee that I will tune in for the first 50 and last 50 laps if nothing else.
This seems to be the sentiment of just about every sports fan. Sure the diehards will watch every lap, but even those like me who simply like the sport and just sort of follow it, we will be watching at some point and that is what separates Daytona from other events such as the World Series.
If I don’t like a team in the World Series I typically don’t tune in. But, Daytona is a once a year event, like the Super Bowl that you have to watch a little bit of just to keep up with the conversation at the water cooler.
You don’t even have to like NASCAR to check in for just a minute. I mean common you have to be a little bit curious to see how Dale Jr. is going to do in his new ride, or to see if Tony Stewart is going to put Kurt Busch in the wall.
I personally would like to see both men knock each others butts out of the race within the first few laps so I don’t have to hear any more about them.
Bottom line even if you don’t watch the Daytona 500 who will end up knowing who wins. You can’t say that about any other race during the year and you can’t say that about any other regular season game from any of the major sports.
NASCAR is now the second fastest growing sport behind competitive fishing, but really who wants to watch that.
I guess the same thing was once said about cars racing in a circle in Florida.
It is the Daytona 500 and Sunday will mark it’s 50th running.
Aside from the Super Bowl it will be the hottest sports event on television this year. Don’t believe me then listen up.
First and foremost I am a NASCAR fan. However, I do not watch every race, I do not follow the sport vigorously and I do not know where the next race will be, nor the full line-up of every team.
I do know that I am a Jeff Gordon fan and have been since I was like 10 years old. I do know who placed where after each race and I do know the lingo and the happenings from the sport as I check in on NASCAR about twice a week. (Usually before and after a race.)
However, with all of that said I can say this, I will watch the Daytona 500. Not religiously, but I can guarantee that I will tune in for the first 50 and last 50 laps if nothing else.
This seems to be the sentiment of just about every sports fan. Sure the diehards will watch every lap, but even those like me who simply like the sport and just sort of follow it, we will be watching at some point and that is what separates Daytona from other events such as the World Series.
If I don’t like a team in the World Series I typically don’t tune in. But, Daytona is a once a year event, like the Super Bowl that you have to watch a little bit of just to keep up with the conversation at the water cooler.
You don’t even have to like NASCAR to check in for just a minute. I mean common you have to be a little bit curious to see how Dale Jr. is going to do in his new ride, or to see if Tony Stewart is going to put Kurt Busch in the wall.
I personally would like to see both men knock each others butts out of the race within the first few laps so I don’t have to hear any more about them.
Bottom line even if you don’t watch the Daytona 500 who will end up knowing who wins. You can’t say that about any other race during the year and you can’t say that about any other regular season game from any of the major sports.
NASCAR is now the second fastest growing sport behind competitive fishing, but really who wants to watch that.
I guess the same thing was once said about cars racing in a circle in Florida.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A simple curiosity...
It wasn't until I was in college that I realized the rest of the world just doesn't see things the way that I do.
No, I'm not talking politics or in any other clever figurative what-have-yous. I'm being quite literal.
Whereas I've come to discover that most people (at least the ones I know) envision things in images, I see words. As in, if someone were to say "bird" I don't see a bird in my mind's eye, I see the word bird. Sometimes on a sign or scrolling marquis, but generally like a little typewriter in my head as the word is hitting the page.
Weird, I know.
So, it's my random curiosity question, and now I'll present it to you, dear reader.
When you see things, do you see them in pictures or words?
No, I'm not talking politics or in any other clever figurative what-have-yous. I'm being quite literal.
Whereas I've come to discover that most people (at least the ones I know) envision things in images, I see words. As in, if someone were to say "bird" I don't see a bird in my mind's eye, I see the word bird. Sometimes on a sign or scrolling marquis, but generally like a little typewriter in my head as the word is hitting the page.
Weird, I know.
So, it's my random curiosity question, and now I'll present it to you, dear reader.
When you see things, do you see them in pictures or words?
This just in...
In one of my Newswriting classes at Murray State, we were talking about what makes news...news. After discussing politics, wars in the Middle East and the Natalie Holloway investigation, the oh so interesting and stimulating topic of the infamous Britney Spears was brought into question. Don't get me wrong, at the tender age of 18 I must confess that I did, at one time in my life, have a copy of the pop tarts latest album (how embarrassing) but that was when she was running around wearing a Catholic School girl uniform and singing "Oops I Did it Again", she wasn't dancing on a stripper pole leaving little (or nothing) to the imagination. Oh how things have changed. Since her loosing battle with the razor last year leaving her bald, Brittany has become more popular than ever, just for the wrong reasons. It isn't only juicy tabloids and gossip columns that are "exposing" the erotic behavior of a superstar gone bad, professional news programs have jumped on the popstar band wagon to cover her every move.
But the Britney craze isn't the only phenomenon that has monopolized news coverage lately. The tragic story of Heath Ledger and his supposed drug use has been top news for weeks now. Lindsay, Paris and Nicole are all names that even my grandmother has come to know because of the massive coverage of their personal lives in the past year. As much as I would like to blame Fox, CNN, NBC and so many others for reporting on such none sense, America is still tunning in to see what mistake these young adults will make next.
But the Britney craze isn't the only phenomenon that has monopolized news coverage lately. The tragic story of Heath Ledger and his supposed drug use has been top news for weeks now. Lindsay, Paris and Nicole are all names that even my grandmother has come to know because of the massive coverage of their personal lives in the past year. As much as I would like to blame Fox, CNN, NBC and so many others for reporting on such none sense, America is still tunning in to see what mistake these young adults will make next.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Shoulda wore the hat ...
... or Belicheck shoulda cheated again. Maybe both.
Cause and effect. Pre-season, Tom Brady agrees to be Stetson's new spokesman, but the New England quarterback refuses to wear the company's iconic cowboy hat in advertisements. Tonight, Brady and the Patriots lose the Super Bowl and their undefeated season.
Players usually fall to the Madden Curse after being chosen to grace the cover of the Madden video game. Has Brady initiated the Stetson Curse?
Also, don't be surprised if you see one specific fourth-quarter play over and over again for years to come. Patriots ahead by three points with 1:15 to go, New York quarterback Eli Manning appears ready to be sacked, squirms his way out and bombs the ball downfield to receiver David Tyree, who makes a leaping catch by pinning the ball against his helmet and manages to maintain possession while being dragged to the turf. No question, the play of the game.
Glad I watched this year. As a Cowboy fan, I have a responsibility to dislike the Giants. I simply choose to dislike the Patriots, so I would have been fine with the NFL deciding that neither team could win. Until the whole Spygate thing exploded again.
Yeah, Spygate. Google it.
But I gotta say, that was one of the best football games I've ever seen. Low-scoring, sure. But that's really a credit to New York's defense. They dominated the best offense in the league. Kudos.
Cause and effect. Pre-season, Tom Brady agrees to be Stetson's new spokesman, but the New England quarterback refuses to wear the company's iconic cowboy hat in advertisements. Tonight, Brady and the Patriots lose the Super Bowl and their undefeated season.
Players usually fall to the Madden Curse after being chosen to grace the cover of the Madden video game. Has Brady initiated the Stetson Curse?
Also, don't be surprised if you see one specific fourth-quarter play over and over again for years to come. Patriots ahead by three points with 1:15 to go, New York quarterback Eli Manning appears ready to be sacked, squirms his way out and bombs the ball downfield to receiver David Tyree, who makes a leaping catch by pinning the ball against his helmet and manages to maintain possession while being dragged to the turf. No question, the play of the game.
Glad I watched this year. As a Cowboy fan, I have a responsibility to dislike the Giants. I simply choose to dislike the Patriots, so I would have been fine with the NFL deciding that neither team could win. Until the whole Spygate thing exploded again.
Yeah, Spygate. Google it.
But I gotta say, that was one of the best football games I've ever seen. Low-scoring, sure. But that's really a credit to New York's defense. They dominated the best offense in the league. Kudos.
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