An Open Letter to the Charelston Mississippi School District

To be honest with you, this letter originally took a much harsher and meaner tone. Since I know nothing more than what I have read in two articles. I will reserve my venom for another time.

I still want to let you know that I am astounded that after your were told to integrate your schools in 1970, that it took you until 2008 to integrate your prom. Now I don't know whose decision it was not to integrate, and after a while, maybe it just became an excepted part of what took place at your schools. Needless to say, it is very disapointing to hear that this type of segregation still goes on in school districts in our country.

It saddens me to think that both white and black students and parents would rather have segregated proms, than hold one prom together. It makes me sad to read that even after you integrated your Prom, a whites only Prom was still held, and that it may be held again next year.

I will applaud you for finally making the right decision. I hope that this will lead to a higher level of acceptance that it is apparent your community is in dire need of.

Respectfully,
Eric Powers

What everyone has been talking about

It seems every piece of election coverage I watch, Lincoln's second inaugural address comes up. It seems like this is the end all be all of inaugural addresses, I am not an inaugural speech scholar so I can't really comment, it is a very good speech though. Not only for the message, but for the fact that was conveyed in such a concise speech. The closing really hit home, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Obama use it tomorrow.

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

One Step Closer to a Dream Realized

I don't think the importance of this day and the events taking place tomorrow are lost on anyone. In 1963, in the shadow of another great man. Martin Luther King Jr. put forth his dream. While many people are saying that the historic day tomorrow is the realization of his dream, I think it is one giant step forward, but we have yet to reach the mountain top.

Dr. King talked about a world where his children are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. As much as I hate to admit it, tomorrow, while not the only point of emphasis, Barack Obama is being judged by the color of his skin. He is rightfully being celebrated as the first African American President. The day when the dream is realized, is when we elect a president, and no discussion of skin color is brought into the equation.

To get to that point though we needed to break the barrier. Barack Obama is on his way to shattering it. Even before he takes office, he has started the country on a healing path. He is walking into the oval office with our troops fighting two wars, the constant threat of a terrorist attack, an economy that is in tatters, and the many other messes left by one of our worst Presidents to clean up. Yet much of the country will wake up tomorrow, with a positive outlook on the next fours years.

The shadow of the dream will loom large over this Presidency. With time though, this dream will hopefully quietly fade away into reality. With Barack Obamas swearing in tomorrow, I think we are off to a good start.

Milwaukee Bucks to make NBA finals!!

You heard it here first folks. The Milwaukee Bucks will make it to the NBA finals. What was that? Calling me crazy huh?

At the beginning of the MLB season, if I told you the Tampa Rays were going to make the World Series you would have punched me in the face. At the beginning of the NFL season, check that, at the end of the NFL season, had I said that the Arizona Cardinals were going to make the Super Bowl you would have kicked me in the groin (wow you really are a violent person).

So why is it so far fetched that the Milwaukee Bucks will make the NBA finals? Now I will admit I haven't paid much attention to the Bucks since they broke my heart in 2001, when they were a Glenn Robinson jumper away from the NBA finals. If the playoffs started today, they would be in the playoffs, and are almost at .500. They are playing better defense, and have some offensive weapons.

Now this Bucks team isn't as offensive minded as the Big Three were in 2001, but by the end of the season they are going to be a very dangerous playoff team.

Remember this day people. I called it.

Diplomacy

I've been suckered into playing an online game of Diplomacy with some people that I work with.

For those of you that do not know how Diplomacy is played, here is a quick run down.

The game takes place in Europe circa 1901. The game board has seven countries, England, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Austria, and Turkey. Each player is randomly assigned a country. The goal of the game is to take over 18 supply centers(the map is split up into territories, some of the territories are considered supply centers). The game is somewhat like RISK, except that dice are not involved. You win a territory by taking it over with more force. I attack a territory, and have someone that I have allied with support me with an army of theirs. Two against one, I win that territory.

Since you have to align yourselves with other countries for help, a lot more strategy goes into the game, and a lot more trust.

The one problem is that each move takes 48 hours. While it gives you plenty of time to strategize with others, if you have a gameplan, it just drags everything out. Though they do have a message board to each of the other countries which allows you to strategize, which is nice. Since we all work together, it allows me to talk with others, without having to actually talk to them.

I am playing as England, and have my sights set on Germany. We will see how it goes.

Blame Canada

Disclaimer: Before I get to the silliness that is my post I want to say that Chesley B. Sullenberger III is a hero in every sense of the word. He saved countless lives by landing his plane in the Hudson River. He walked the plane twice to make sure everyone was off. Twice, while it was sinking in a river. Songs should be sung about this man.

I think that Canada has it in for us. Why else would they send their geese to crash our planes? I have been suspicious for a while now. Those geese are just mapping out our week points. Also, only a couple of months ago a moose was spotted in Wittenberg, WI. I mean why else would a moose be in Central WI other than doing recon work for the Canadian Mounted Police.

They've sent us the likes of Celine Dion and Howie Mandel. Trying to slowly lower the overall IQ of the average US citizen through Love Ballads and mindless game shows.

The Canadians are not to be trusted. If we want to avoid calling ham, bacon, playing hockey, and rocking out to Bryan Adams, we must do something to stop the axis of evil to the north.

You have been warned.

The Last CQ

So I have been able to watch two of the recommended movies. On my day off on Friday I watched CQ, and today I watched The Last Unicorn in the car on the way to Appleton.
I first off have to say kudos to both recommendations. I enjoyed both of them, and they were worthwhile purchases.

CQ is a movie from Roman Coppola. I am going to have to say that I enjoy all of the Coppolas and relatives. Francis Ford, Sophia, Jason Schwartzman, and Nic Cage. Roman also has collaborated and assisted with a few Wes Anderson movies. The combination of the two led me to belive that I was going to enjoy this movie before I even watched the movie, and I was correct.

CQ is set in the 60's in Paris. Jeremy Davies character Paul, is working on a troubled movie. It is a Sci-Fi film set in the year 2001. Along with that he is working on his own film, which centers on himself, in which he tries to be totally honest with the camera. To top it all off, his sense of reality seems to be slipping away as well.

The film is visually a beautiful film. It's one where I could watch it without sound, or set just to a musical score, and still enjoy it almost as much.

I really enjoyed the concept of watching a movie about a person making a movie. How the events of Paul's life, helps shape what he is creating.

All in all, a very good movie, and if you ever want to borrow it let me know.

The Last Unicorn, is a very different movie. My recap will be short. I just have two points to make.

1. It is a Rankin/Bass movie. Rankin/Bass movies are always awesome.
2. It has a pirate cat. That's right, a pirate cat. Why in 26 years has no one mentioned this to me.