Maybe I just don't like the endings of

http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-12-08/georgia-bill-would-end-need-concealed-weapon-permit#.TuJy9GNU_SY

I'm from the backwoods, so my opinion on gun control probably isn't the most favorable. But, I really am beginning to hate the way that the Savannah Morning News ends their stories. The endings are either unrelated or unnecessary.

Here's the ending for this article:

'Spencer is picking up the mantel of two of the legislators who have sponsored bills in recent years relaxing gun-control laws. Each just took appointments in the Deal administration and left the General Assembly. Spencer may not have the same luck as Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, R-Sharpsburg, and ex-Rep. Tim Bearden, R-Villa Rica, because he doesn’t have their seniority in the legislature nor their leadership sway since both were committee chairmen.

Spencer was elected last year and quickly learned how little influence a freshman has when he was drawn into the same district with veteran Rep. Mark Hatfield, R-Waycross.'

Why is this related to the gun control story? I don't think Spencer's 'lesson' is related to the issue at hand at all. Freshmen representatives learn lessons like freshmen in college learn them: It's things that the senior people have learned already and aren't that impressed with. It's a part of life, and a part of being a politician.

Why Name the Street?

What's the purpose behind giving the name of a street that a crime suspect lives on?

I haven't seen the Savannah Morning News do this, but I've seen other papers do it, especially those in smaller markets.

But what's the purpose behind that?

I understand the reasoning behind saying where crimes took place, but not behind saying that 'John Doe of a Smith Street address has been taken in for questioning'.

Maybe this ticks me off because the parents in my area always read the paper, and they automatically assume that if someone from that street robbed a bank, every person on that street has the potential to be a bank robber, which just isn't true.

So what's the need in doing this?

Radar hot-spots

Why is a radar hot-spot a news item?

I've seen them talked about on the morning news shows, heard it on news bites from the radio, and seen it on the site for the Savannah Morning News.

Honestly, I don't agree with telling people where police will be checking speed.

I feel like it doesn't encourage people to follow the law.

I know that when I hear where the hot spots will be, I become extra cautious about my speed in those areas. I'm not encouraged to watch my speed all day. I'm just encouraged to be sure that in my 45 minute drive to school, to be sure that i'm not speeding on Abercorn.

But anyways, I really don't think it's the best thing to publicize. Sure, compulsive speeders thank you, but I feel like it does more of a dis-service to the public in the long run.

Herman Cain and the Many Accusers

(Pardon the title. I realize it sounds like a sort of a bad morality lesson.)
Herman Cain used to be a front-runner for the presidential election.

Until he had his good name smeared by...I don't know how many different accusers now (accusers about sexual discrepancies as well as potential affairs).

This interests me for two reasons in particular.

1, Why didn't we hear about all of this until he was considered a true contender? I mean, honestly, these people knew he was running for president. Why wait until he's a front-runner to come forward about everything?

2, Why on earth does it matter that he used to, as one of my family member's put it, think with the wrong head?

Here's my thoughts on number 1: He was the golden boy of the Tea Party, aka the ultra-conservatives. Ultra-conservatives aren't gonna vote for someone who has a fairly questionable moral record. But the timing still confuses me. It's stuff like this that makes for consipracy theories about how the 'higher ups' are trying to ensure that their candidate wins.

Thoughts on number 2-Most people, regardless of political affiliation, won't vote for someone with a history of demeaning women and cheating on significant others. It just doesn't sit well with people.

That being said, it's almost kind of sad that Cain's campaign had to end like this. He would've been fun, if nothing else, to watch in the debates.

November=Adoption Awareness Month

In light of changing up things a little, I'd like to let you all know that November is adoption awareness month. As a sister to 5 wonderful adopted siblings (who are 19, 9, 6, 5, and 4, and 4 of whom are from China) adoption is a big portion of my life.

Now, I'll provide you with a list of people who were adopted (some were adopted by a step-parents, but still). I came up with this list after helping my oldest little sister do a school project on adoption, and I figured it'd be a nice change of pace to share with the class.

-Steve Jobs (former Apple CEO)

-Michael Oher (Player for the Baltimore Ravens...also the subject of the movie 'The Blindside'

-Art Linkletter

-DMC (rap artist)

-Eleanor Roosevelt

-Faith Hill

-Leo Tolstoy

-Malcolm X

-President Gerald Ford

-President Bill Clinton

-John Lennon

-Jesus Christ (This can get a little tricky considering you deal with the meta-physics and all, but Jesus was technically adopted by Joseph, so just go with it)

-Nancy Regan

-Scott Hamilton (champion figure skater)

Equally important in the adoption process are the parents. Here's a list of a few famous adoptive parents:

-Barbara Walters

-Al Roker

-Angelina Jolie (I lost count of her kids...)

-Hugh Jackman

-Bob Hope

-Katherine Heigl

-John Denver

-Julie Andrews

-Dan Marino

-John McCain

-President Ronald Regan

That's just a short version of the list. But I found it interesting, and I figured you all would as well!

This is ridiculous.

So this article on the Diamond Casino being raided by federal agents just strikes me as DANG ridiculous. Mostly, the ending bugs me.
You can access the article at this website:

http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-11-15/feds-armed-search-warrants-board-diamond-casino#.TsLNXcNU_SY

Okay...they have absolutely NO information as to why the agents where there in the first place, so I'm really confused as to why this was reported on in the first place. However, the last part of the article is what really got me. This is what it reads:
'The Diamond Casino website describes the 200-foot-long vessel as the “finest casino cruise vessel” with numerous amenities including two floors of Vegas-style gaming and a third-floor observation deck. It offers more than 240 slot machines and 18 tables of Vegas-style excitement along with a large variety of video and reel slot machines in denominations from $.01 to $5.'

Now, I don't know if that information was even necessary, but if it was, there was a better way to talk about it without it sounding like a big advertisement for the casino. This is a news story about a possible federal investigation, not an advertisement.

Shorter Controversy.

(I start this blog post with the knowledge that I am going to tick at least a couple of people off. I am a Christian and have served with the Georgia Baptist association in missions programs, so if this slant bothers you, then now would be the time where you go look at another blog post of mine. With that said, you've been aptly warned.)

I've been paying attention to the controversy surrounding Shorter University. If you're not familiar with it...let me educate you.
-Shorter University is a private, Christian university that is funded by the Georgia Baptist Convention (a subset of the Souther Baptist convention).
-Shorter hasn't traditionally kept to their heritage, and the Georgia Baptist association has distanced itself from Shorter (although it is still classified as a GB university by many).
-Shorter gained a new president, Dr. Don Dowless, who's decided that he wants to return Shorter to being an actual Christian university.
-The things that Dr. Dowless and the board of trustees are asking the faculty to sign and adhere to several things (you can view these here: http://www.shorter.edu/about/faith_integration.pdf http://www.shorter.edu/about/Philosophy_of_Education.pdf http://www.shorter.edu/about/personal_lifestyle_statement.pdf)

Now, you can read these for yourself. But the thing that has everyone up in arms is the fact that the personal lifestyle statement asks for them to abstain from homosexual lifestyle and to abstain from consuming alcohol in setting where they may come in contact with students.

I really and truly believe that, considering the college is funded by the Georgia Baptist convention, and Southern Baptists believe that the Bible prohibits certain things, such as homosexuality, and that's their religious belief, then there shouldn't be a problem with asking their professors to abstain from that lifestyle. I feel like this would be a bigger issue if this were a public university with no religious affiliation, but since this is a private, and for all intensive purposes, church-funded organization, I don't think that there should be a problem with the personal lifestyle statement.
Now the thing about alcohol consumption. I'm aware that the bible does not specifically disallow drinking alcohol, but at the same time, the bible does state that Christians should be 'above reproach' and not give anyone a reason to doubt them and their walk. Thus, the reasoning behind the school asking professors not to partake of alcohol in settings where students might be.

I honestly feel like these are acceptable things for a church-run school to ask of their professors. If you believe that people in religion are wrong for believing certain things, that's one issue. But don't start working for an organization that you know has certain beliefs and then get all furious when they ask you to adhere to a certain standard.