to this. According to rules set forth by the writers if any member state turns down the constitution, the whole thing will not become law and things have to start all over again. This is definitely not good news for Chirac. This definitely shows his lack of leadership and his lack of an ability to connect with the French people and their true desires. Some are even calling on him to resign to and dissolve the government. Film editor Emmanuel Zelez had to say this about his no vote on the constitution, "I voted 'no' because the text is very difficult to understand. Also, I'm afraid for democracy. The way the EU functions is very opaque. Many people there are not directly elected." The head of the Chirac's party called the vote on Sunday a "a major political event." Oh really? I do believe people still enjoy democracy and are actually willing to fight for it. Thanks for stating the obvious The Dutch are suppose to vote on the constitution on Wednesday with polls indicating that 60% oppose the measure as well. My bets it that the Dutch definitely vote against it now that the French have. It will certainly be interesting to see what the EU leadership do now. They are saying that votes in other countries will continue on despite this no vote in France that is suppose to stop the document from becoming legal. I feel that they might find some loophole to get this passed anyway despite this majority opposition in France. Things certainly are not looking good though for our friend Chirac. That's definitely for sure. He might have to share a room with his friend Schroeder at the retirement home. Click here for more from Yahoo News.
The event that Kingsportians live and die for: Fun Fest. Yesterday at noon, Fun Fest organizers held a press conference and announced this year's logo design and performers at the popular "stadium concerts." Apparently, there are gonna be some pretty good shows for this year's 25 anniversary celebration. The much popular AFG concert will have some top country performers; this year Trace Adkins and Billy Currington will be headlining. The Friday-night Beach Party will feature Collective Soul and Edwin McCain (?? sorry but I have no idea who these people are ??). The final-night Eastman Concert will headline Travis Tritt. Looks like organizers went all out this year trying to get some top concerts for this 25th year. Obviously, it has come with a price though. For the first time ever, organizers are begging the community for money; this year they have started the "Friends of Festus" program. People who donate $100-$200 get some special benefits, such as free tickets, reserved parking, and reserved seating at the stadium concerts. Sounds interesting. I just want to see how successful this Fun Fest fund is. It would be nice if it went well because that would mean bigger & better events in the future. Organizers have also announced some new events this year. There will be a tomato contest, a 
"Pedal, Paddle, Skedaddle Triathlon," and a Global Fest featuring the ethnic groups of Kingsport (which is mostly Chinese & Japanese restaurants featuring all-you-can-eat buffets). I am really interested to see the triathlon; the Crazy 8s race is always extremely popular so it will be interesting to see if this event prospers. A big change this year is with the tremendously popular AFG Treasure Hunt (click the link to read my AFG adventure last year). Apparently, AFG has dropped their sponsorship and Pal's has taken its place. It will now be called the Pal's Treasure Quest with new prizes of $2500 and $100,000 instead of a trip to Disney World. Fun Fest organizers also revealed this year's design of the very popular Fun Fest tshirt. Looks like this year's design will be nice and not funky like last year. This year's shirt will also be available at Food City in addition to the traditional Fun Fest Store in the mall. I am disappointed, however, that they still have brought back Ice Cream at Allandale; I was really hoping they would bring it back for the 25th anniversary, but I guess not. Sadness. Oh well, looks like this year's Fun Fest holds much promise.
1-866-43657-02/-04/-06
utter disgust, or at least for me. I still can't believe that Scott made it so far! Isn't this encouraging that a wife beater makes it farther than a music teacher that just wants to make the world a better place with music. I don't what was wrong with America. Who can seriously say that Scott was a great performer and actually deserved to make it so far in the competition?! What about Anwar, Nadia, & Constantine? They were great performers! What happened to them? Voted off much earlier than they should have been. I must admit that Anwar started to grow gradually worse, but he was still great! He was certainly better than Scott!! I think tonight could be very interesting. It should be a very tight vote between Bo & Carrie. Both have done well throughout the competition. I say many tonight will have a hard time making up their minds. It will all come down to how well they do with tonight's song selections. It should certainly be interesting! I know who I will be rooting for: my woman Carrie! I really doubt that Bo will be able to win over my vote tonight, but we'll just have to wait and see. Tune into the blog tonight for updates from me! I'm going live, baby! I will add my thoughts and rambles throughout tonight's episode.
Yes, I have been experimenting with my facial hair. First it started out were I shaved only every 2 or 3 days so I was scruffy most of the time. Then it got to where I just let it grow out for a week or more. Now I am at a point where I shave only to leave a goatee type thing on my face. I not really sure if I like it or not. Others tell me that it looks good on me and that it makes me look older. Hum. Not sure what to do. I'll hang on to it for a while and see if it grows on me. If you really wanted to know.
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. -Philippians 1:20, Click here for other versions
Yes, this true. You could have your very own Mr. T and it fits in your pocket! Yes, this is the Mr. T In Your Pocket Keychain. I don't know about you, but I absolutely love this! Click the buttons on the device and Mr. T will share some of his most loveable sayings, such as "I pity the fool..., Quit your Jibba Jabba, Don't Gimme No Back Talk." You have to check this out, click here. And it's only $9.99!
fragile environment. After the 70s, much progress was made with mother earth, but things have been reversing lately. Things are not improving; things are more likely getting worse. When Bush pulled the nation out of the Kyoto protocol; I was fine with that. Our nation shouldn't have to go into economic shock to please the world. However, I do not support his plan that replaces Kyoto. For some reason, he thinks that American industries will reduce emissions without any government intervention (except tax breaks). Are you serious?! What factory would spend millions to reduce their dangerour emissions? Firms are hungry; they are hungry for profit. Do you really think that a firm that is trying to maximize their profit would waste millions of dollars on cleaning up their act? Certainly not. According to their ideas, that's not a way to stay in business. Of course they will not reduce their pollution without government intervention. Any person with a basic business sense would tell you that. Also, I'm not sure about this drilling in Alaska. Do you really think that this small piece of land would have enough oil to supply our fuel-hungry SUVs? Sure this would provide some temporary relief, but what will we do once it runs dry? What then? We need long-term protection for our environment. It is time that we treat our home with decency. We need to show that we really care for our environment. God gave us this wonderful gift of Earth; shouldn't we treat his gift with love and respect?
The other teams got hours ahead of them, but the two were once again saved. When they arrived at one of the locations late at night, they discovered that the place was closed until the morning, which put all of them on an equal playing field. They were once again in a neck-to-neck race through the final leg of the race. Rob & Amber got ahead of the other teams while at the airport to fly to the final city of Miami. They got on a flight by stand-by that would basically guarantee them victory since it would arrive hours before the other two teams. 
When Uchenna & Joyce arrive at the boarding area, the walkway was already being drawn in and the attendants told them that they couldn't get on. They pleaded their life to them to get on that flight. Another intervention. The attendants decide to call the pilot and ask what he wants to do. All of a sudden the walkway is extended back to the plane, and they are allowed on. You can only imagine the faces on Rob & Amber when they saw Uchenna & Joyce. When in Miami, Uchenna & Joyce get another upper hand when they are able to find the Cuban cigar shop much quicker. 
Another dramatic scene takes place though when they are at the finish line with the taxi but do not have enough money to pay the driver. They beg everyone for $40 to pay and finally after pleading their life and losing space between Rob & Amber, they get enough money and make their way to the mat. There, everyone is saying "please, let it be Uchenna & Joyce." When they arrive, the other teams are so excited to see them! It was such an emotional ending and a much deserved win. Uchenna & Joyce certainly did deserve to win the million. They proved themselves throughout the race (especially the the Joyce's hair cut in India and the money problem in Jamaica). 
They were always great with each other and the other teams. These common, ordinary people showed the greatness they could accomplish. Even though I didn't want Rob & Amber to win, I did enjoy their presence since they added much drama to the race. This season, even though short, was certainly an awesome one! Finally we have a season that is free of models! I've always hated that aspect. Another great thing about this race was the constant drama and competition between the racers! Who will ever forget the neck-to-neck footrace in Africa between the brothers and Ray & Deana? Who will ever forget the old couple that made it to the final four? Quite an Amazing season!
Well, this team has certainly been very interesting this season. These Survivors certainly have changed the face of the game. I must admit that Rob (as annoying as he is) is a genius when it comes to the race. He has been very clever along the way, such as escaping the beef roadblock, somehow getting locals to take them everywhere even if they didn't know them from Survivor, and making sure other teams did not get the upper hand. These two have a good possibility of winning this thing. They have certainly done very well throughout the game. Personally, I don't want this team to win. As I mention over and over again, this team does not represent the true ideals of the Amazing Race. These people are famous and have plenty of money. The race is about common, ordinary people with diverse backgrounds proving that they can accomplish much.
Ron & Kelly has been a very strong team so far in the race. They have placed very well in each pit stop and perform the tasks without much difficulty. This team has been breaking up recently though. They have fallen prey to many arguments, including the famous POW blunder by Kelly. This has certainly brought down their morale and certainly has not helped them any.
This is such a great team; they have been awesome to one another and the other racers. They have done reatively well in the race and have come from behind to scare the big dogs. Here me now, I predict that this team will win TAR7. The other two teams are concerned about one another and not this one; Rob proclaims that Uchenna is "stupid." They will not take this team seriously and will end up letting them win. All of this comes down to good luck, though. One mistake or one miracle from God could make or break a team. I have a feeling that this team will go all the way. They certainly are deserving, though! Poor Joyce cut all of her hair off while in India during the fast forward, and the two plan to use the money (if they win) to have another procedure to try to get pregnant. I am personally rooting for this team tonight. We'll just to wait and see though how things turn out tonight. One thing for sure is that it promises to be exciting!
The day started like any other. I got up early and took my 8am final in English 201. I came back and got a much deserved nap for like an hour and a half. I then get a call from Brian that the original Heronians (Brian, Brittany, and myself) are going to make a pilgrimage to our homeland, The Isle of Heron. You that don't know me personally probably don't understand what I'm talking about. My friends & I formed our own independent country called the Isle of Heron on an island in the middle of Cherokee Lake. I hadn't been back since October so I was quite excited to get our inflatable boats back out and make our journey home. Our rowing across the lake, we make our way to the much reduced shoreline of the island (which if you are from TN you will understand why the water level moves drastically). We make our way to pay homeage to Brian's dead goldfish (named Brian of course), and we discover something very interesting. 
The stone was turned away and the coffin was out of the ground! I don't mean to sound sacrilegious, but Brian had resurrected from the grave! Amen! Hallelujah! We then headed to the other side of the island to reenact the Iwo Jima scene with the US soldiers holding the flag after taking the island from the Japanese. We made our way back through the wilderness taking pictures and looking at branches. As we headed back to the dock in our boats, we decide to use the fancy two-story dock of some rich person's house because I needed to get back and it was much quicker. After making some quick moves through some else's property, we escape being found, but we were so tempted to jump off the top into the lake! We resisted though. After our island trip, I rush to Morristown to enjoy a cookout with the Sunday School class that I have been going to. I am so glad I went because I had so much fun and finally got to really meet the people in my class. After Beth & I left there, we met up with our friends at the Creamery in Jeff City. 
We had the idea to go swimming at the dam because we had such an urge to go to the dam and how else is one's time better spent at the dam than swimming? Keep in mind, though, that this is like between 10 and 11 before we head that way. We go swimming and have a good time even though some wouldn't get in. As we head back, the real fun starts. I'm riding with Brittany in her smack-daddy of a vehicle. Her car is making some really weird noises and her dashboard suddenly lights up. She doesn't want to drive it all the way back to campus so she pulls over at the next convenient spot, which happens to be 
J&J Lounge (a bar in the middle of nowhere). Luckily, it was karaoke night! We were all huddled together and soaking wet! Brittany tries to start her car again but now it won't crank. Beth then volunteers to use her AAA membership to get the car towed. We have to wait quite a while for the tower to make their way to the bar. We get kind of scared because these people from the bar with beers in their hands starting making their way to the cars and ask if everything was ok. One guy looked very drunk because he kept asking what was wrong and would rub Jenn Ward's car in a strange manner. He did bring us cupcakes, though. We were a little leary of them and started calling them coccakes; we ate them anyway. 
The tower finally arrives...with his gun! I'm not sure why he wanted to point that out to Brittany. He really had no reason to show her and the others talking to him. As I understand, he just pulled it out and said that he brought because he heard that we were at a bar and it can get rough sometimes. Brittany's SUV finally gets towed, and we finally make our way back to campus to get some rest! This just a week after the terrible incidents in Knoxville. Wonder what next weekend holds for everyone?
Poor Chair Restorers! As a result of a huge alliance, Brian & Brittany got eliminated not once but twice by Adam & Courtney in Morristown and Beth & Melissa in Knoxville. This team ended up wasting a total of 14 minutes, but they made up for it by arriving at the Kodak roadblock as the 3rd team.
I heard that there was quite a bit of crazy driving that went on during the race. When people pulled into the detours and roadblocks, I almost feared for my life. They would pull into the parking lots going like 50 or something. The teams even would pull out and almost slam into another team's car. The "official race policy" was that there would be no speeding at all. One team said, though, that they averaged 90 on the interstate! I'm just glad that no one got a speeding ticket or in a wreck; God certainly was on our side!
The teams received a bad surprise when they arrived for the roadblock at the Smokies Stadium in Kodak. This is the equalizer of the race where all five teams started at the same position. Doubles Partners Jennifer & Brian had their 30 minute advantage eliminated. During this roadblock, one team member had to run to the end of the road, pick up a big mac, run back, and eat it along with 8 Oreo cookies. A few problems with this. Jennifer is allergic to the caffeine in chocolate and the onions used in the sauce while Courtney doesn't eat beef. Another problem is that these girls are not used to eating such hefty portions of junk food. We made it through although some of the people ended up getting sick.
Beth helped boost the Pro Wrestlers during the eating challenge. She crammed down her food and finished well in advance before the other teams. The two then sped off to their final destination, Knoxville. Although they hit some bumpy roads trying to find some landmarks, they consistenly were first throughout the Knoxville portion of the race. They finished the race in downtown at the World's Fair Park. The Doubles Partners and the Schickimicki Girls were in a foot race for the end. The girls found the mat in the park just as Partners did. The Partners, however were closer since they parked their car along the street next to the end. Jennifer & Brian finsihed second after coming back from a fifth placing that was far from the other teams. Carey & Brittany ended the race in third.
