Can Vick find a Home?

article by: stacia_doss.

Former NFL star, Michael Vick,was released from home confinement 10 days ago after recently serving a nearly two year prison sentence for dog-fighting. One week later, this Monday, Vick was reinstated by the National Football League...what's next?

Since the announcement of reinstatement, Vick has been on a search/patient wait for a team to sign him. As of now, he is still a free agent, and internet users and bloggers across the nation are wondering if he will even be able to find a team.

Immediately after his termination of house arrest, the buzz across sports news was that the best option for Vick to play would be in the United Football League. Coach Jim Fassel of the the Las Vegas/Los Angeles franchise in the UFL already says he would sign him, saying "Everybody gets a chance to re-prove themselves...he deserves another chance."

Voices of spokespersons from various NFL teams, such as the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, have said that their teams are already sufficient without Vick. So far, the only public announcement of a team with real interest in considering Vick on their team has been the Baltimore Ravens. He [Vick] told reporters early today that he was getting closer to finding a team. As of now, there is no official home team for him. Will he successfully find one by next week?

Unnecessary questioning of Citizenship?

written by:stacia_doss.
I came across a link to this video on a political blog I visit often. You will find it interesting how many politicians cannot seem to make a clear, coherent statement as to a yes or no question. Check out THIS article.

My take: The first half of what the last Senator said, excluding the negative remarks are basically where I stand. A process of background checking was done-several months ago-on establishing the citizenship of all Presidential candidates and I trust that it was done and completed correctly. This kind of controversy has never been questioned post that background check of any Presidents before him, so why now? We may all know the unspoken answer, but it shall remain just that-unspoken.

Senate to make history with Sotomayor

article by: stacia_doss.
The Senate judiciary committee confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor this morning in a 13-6 vote. Of the 19, only one Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, voted in favor of confirmation.

The question on many minds lie at the root of the strong Republican opposition. The outcome of today's vote could soon make Sotomayor the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Is this historical, racial barrier-breaking event at all tied to race?

Several reports last week quoted Democratic Senator, Patrick Leahy, in saying "Stop the racial politics." The statement was intended towards the Republican party regarding its opposition in voting for Sotomayor.

"I'm deciding to vote for a woman I would not have chosen..America has changed for the better with her selection," said Senator Graham, justifying his vote. Opposing Republicans made comments stating that their opposition was a result of Sotomayor's lack of defense for justifying some of her previous statements, not race.

"There's not one example — let alone a pattern — of her ruling based on bias or prejudice or sympathy," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Judiciary Committee chairman. "She has administered justice without favoring one group of persons over another,"he stated, in opposition to a Republican consensus.

The entire Senate will soon vote on what is predicted to be confirmation for Sotomayor.

Additional Sources: The Daily News and Associated Press

American Pastimes:Baseball and Criticism

written by:stacia_doss.
Last night President Obama visited the city known for its Gateway Arch, Saint Louis. Just hours after he threw the first pitch in the baseball Allstar game, Americans were already criticizing him. He was a little short, and many said he doesn't have nearly as good of an arm as George W. Bush, but who cares? Honestly, how fair is it to link how someone throws a baseball to how they run the country?I'll let you decide.
On a nicer note, several articles shed light on Willie Mays, a
baseball legend who walked off the plane with Obama upon his Saint Louis arrival. He reportedly cried the night our current president was elected...tears of joy. It is touching to read how proud he was of Mr.Obama, along with his admiration for Mays, in return. "As you get older, it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary."-Earnest Hemingway

Fresh Idea, NYT.

written by:stacia_doss.
Today I saw a commercial advertising the New York Times' "Weekender" newspaper.Now, I may be a little late, not sure, because I just saw this on television today and had never heard anything about it before. I think this is a great idea. The commercial is very relate-able, as it shows average Americans talking about their "Friday, Saturday, Sunday" newspaper that they so thoroughly enjoy reading. =) The only thing about it was, the specific commercial I saw only advertised to call for this paper and receive 50 percent off of an already low price. Now, I can't speak for everyone, but I am more likely to sign up for something like this online verses picking up my phone, even though the paper will be delivered in print form. I don't recall seeing any link to the website, but I saw a YouTube one that did..hmm...maybe if that was the one I'd seen today, I would have actually been enticed enough to go online and sign myself up. Anyway, this seems like a good approach to keep printed, hand-held newspapers alive.Good job, NYT

Will employment drops yield eventual employment?

article by:stacia_doss.

Less than a week after the close of June, several reports reguarding unemployment had already surfaced. The country's rate is now at 9.5 percent, the highest in 26 years.

While the worry of several Americans has been expressed to news stations across the country, President Obama has expressed reassurance and optimism."I'm absolutely confident that we can, at this period of difficulty, prove, once again, what this nation can achieve when challenged," Obama said.

Since the president took office over five months ago, the economy has seen the same, steady increase in joblessness. As unemployment continues to hit homes across the nation, however, some Americans are remaining optimistic."I think that people will eventually be employed again, but in different areas of employment," said a higher education employee and Saint Louis resident, Valerie Johnson. "They should take this time to prepare for other fields."

After being elected, Obama stressed that short term losses would lead to long term gains in this economic downfall. He reiterated that promise in his meeting in the Rose Garden early last week. While optimism seems less than rare in households across the country, others, like Johnson, are confident in the words of the President. To sum up the goals of President Obama, Johnson continued, "The economy is slowly reshaping itself."