Year In Review

I normally do a "Year In Review" video but I decided to change it up this year. I thought I would write about my 2011, so here it goes...

First, the bad. Experiencing death in your family is the worst feeling possible. It was doubly tough for my family as we lost my grandma (mom's mom) in February and then my grandpa (dad's dad) eight months later. It was tough as I've never experienced losing two family members in a short amount of time but I know they're in a better place.

Now that we have the bad stuff out of the way, we can move on to the good. I got through my first full year and, now, first sophomore semester at NC State. I've passed all my classes so far and have a good GPA, which is always a blessing in college! I've continued working summer camp at Grey Stone which has its challenges but will give me some good working experience for later in life. Oh, and I (finally) got a Facebook, haha!

2011 also brought some firsts. I went to my first ever UNC/Duke men's basketball game. And took my first ever trip to Nashville where I got to see my favorite band, Rascal Flatts, get inducted into the Grand Ole Opry! Another first (and highlight of 2011) for me was seeing President Obama at NC State. I'll always remember standing in line at the crack of dawn to get a ticket and then to get into Reynolds Coliseum. It's one thing for the President to be somewhere near you but another for him to be right at your school!

Another highlight for me was going to the "American Idol" Concert at the RBC Center. As you all probably know, I got to meet most of the "Idol" finalists including: James Durbin, Casey Abrams, Pia Toscano, Lauren Alaina, and...Scotty McCreery. They were all nice and really cool to be around. It was awesome knowing that you were hanging out with people you saw on national TV just a month or two ago!

The year 2011 had it's up and downs but, when I look back, it was a pretty good year for me! I'm so blessed to have great family, friends, and church family! You guys are awesome! And I couldn't write my last post of 2011 without mentioning you, my readers! When I started "Reflections" I didn't really expect too much out of it, other than to express my opinions. But thanks to you, my blog is being read worldwide and reached a record 1,000+ pageviews in a month; making a total pageview count of almost 10,000! Thank you so much for reading and be sure to continue to read my blog. 2012 will be filled with even more opinions, rants, great stories, and more!

Read More

Bowl Bust

I've got two Oops Awards for you guys. Both come from the 2011 Independence Bowl where UNC faced Missouri. The first award is for the lack of fans at the game. If you watched it on TV, you could probably see the multitude of empty seats in the stadium. I would say there was about 25,000-30,000 fans at the most. I know this is one of the "smaller" bowl games but that was just pathetic. The second award goes to UNC for their lackluster play (at best). They started off with a quick touchdown strike but just went south from that point on. I finally turned my TV when Missouri made it 31-17 but not before I saw this play that capped off a horrific performance for the Heels...

I don't know if it was the weather in Louisiana or an after-Christmas hangover but it seemed like Carolina didn't even want to play in the bowl game. I mean, what does Coach Withers care? He's going to Ohio State and will probably win a national title within a couple years (if that). I now know why I'm a college basketball fan because this game wasn't even worth watching!

Read More

Merry Christmas

I wanted to take some time and wish you all a Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with fun, laughter, and memories with family and friends. I'm so thankful to have a great family, awesome friends, and an amazing church family (you know who you are)! So, from my family to yours, Merry Christmas and remember Jesus is the reason for the season! 

Read More

Christmas Oops

As I did last year, I've posted a video filled with some Christmas Oops. Hope you enjoy!

Compiled By: Chris White
Video Clips: "America's Funniest Home Videos" and Break.com
Music: "We Need A Little Christmas" by Johnny Mathis © 1993, Jon Mat Records, Inc.

Read More

No Cell Phones?

An article on CNN.com has reported that the NTSB is proposing a ban on all cell phone use in cars while driving. This would also apply to headset and other devices. The ban would not apply to devices installed in cars by their manufacturers (like SYNC in Ford cars, which is what I have). According to the article, 3,092 fatalities last year involved distracted drivers, which is too much for the NTSB. They say that cell phone use while driving has become the "new DUI" and "an epidemic" in our country.

I agree that it really has become a problem, but I have a problem with this myself. First off, it doesn't matter what laws are in place, people are going to break them. I mean, having a ban in place doesn't mean every single driver in the nation will stop using their cell phones while driving. They'll always find a way around it. Second, what about other distractions: makeup, radio, eating? They would also have to find a way to "ban" these because they're just as distracting and dangerous while driving as using your cell phone. Finally, if they're going to ban cell phones for us, why not ban the use of laptops while driving for police officers? I get so ticked off when I see some officers cruising down the road (while speeding of course) and using that laptop. Uh, at last check, they're just as human as we are. And, contrary to the government's belief, they can just as easily get into an accident as we can!

I think the NTSB is trying to do something good here but, until they realize that it works both ways and that cops are just as vulnerable as we are in this respect, I will not support this ban. 

Read More

Great Gift Ideas

Ok, if you're like me, you may still be stuck on finding that perfect Christmas gift for someone. Well, fear not because I'm here to give you my countdown of five "great" Christmas gift ideas. Before I begin, all the gifts featured here are real!

First, for all the science buffs in your household...

5. Giant Plush Microbes

Nothing says a good night's sleep like curling up next to your favorite bacteria! Yep that's right and they're apparently selling like hotcakes too.

This next gift is surely one to please the kids...

4. Screaming Monkey Slingshot

Fling this guy around and he'll never stop wailing! The harder you throw, the louder his scream is. This is probably one of those gifts you'll regret giving as a parent or hate a relative for buying.

Know of someone that has trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Well you may want to get this...

3. Twist Equation Alarm Clock

Hitting the snooze button won't stop this clock. No, in order to stop the alarm you have to solve an equation. So, if you ever want to annoy your entire household, I recommend this one!

This one's for all the couch potatoes (and/or Harry Potter fans) in your family...

2. Magic Wand Programmable TV Remote

Add a little spice to changing the TV with this programmable remote wand. You "teach" the wand any command you want, program a movement to go along with that command, and alakazam! You have a brand new way of watching TV.

And now the "best" for last...

1. Sushi Panic Game

Want to add a little international flavor to your Christmas gifts? Well, now you can with this game from, of all places, Japan. Players take turns drawing cards and placing sushi on the table. If your piece makes the table pop and send the sushi flying, you lose. Sounds harmless, right? Well, given the recent earthquakes in Japan, I don't know if this would be the right gift to give.

Well, there you have it! See anything you like? Probably not but, if you do, all items were found on ThinkGeek.com. Merry Christmas!

Read More

Welcome Coach Fedora!

Chuck Cook/US PRESSWIRE

After months of searching, UNC has a new football coach. Larry Fedora, who is fresh off leading Southern Miss. to a C-USA Championship, will become the new coach. Athletic Director Bubba Cunnigham knew Fedora from his time as a C-USA Athletic Director (Tulsa) and many others have given nothing but praise for the coach.

Before becoming a head coach, Fedora spent time as Offensive Coordinator at Florida from 2002-2004 under Ron Zook. In 2005, Fedora joined Mike Gundy's staff at Oklahoma State, becoming one of the top paid offensive coordinators in the country. After being a candidate for head coching positions at multiple schools, including Baylor, Fedora accepted the job at Southern Miss. in 2007.

Coach Fedora has done very well at Southern Miss. both in recruiting as well as overall gameplay. In his first recruiting year, Fedora was able to grab five star prospect, DeAndre Brown, who also considered schools like LSU, Ole Miss, and Auburn. Fedora led his Southern Miss. team to an 11-2 record, the C-USA Championship, and the #21 ranking in the nation. His playing style is very aggressive on defense and special teams while being fast paced on offense.

At first, I wasn't so sure about Fedora coming to UNC. He's led his Southern Miss. team to the conference championship, but it's C-USA and not a "big name" conference such as the SEC, Big 12, etc. However, after getting more information about him and watching his press conference, I'm very excited about having him as Carolina's new coach! He's very tough minded but, at the same time, cares for his players and holds them accountable. I think that's exactly the kind of coach the Heels need. Plus, with his list of mentors/friends including: Ron Zook, Mike Gundy, and Mack Brown, I hope he'll be able to lead Carolina to new heights.

Coach Fedora info gathered from Wikipedia.org 

Read More

A Wish Come True

It's crazy that there are only two weeks left until Christmas! I saw this story on WRAL that will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy!

Read More

Great Week!

It's the start of another week and only three finals separate me from Christmas Break! You know, it seems like the semester has really flown by. It's amazing to think that I'm basically half-way through my sophomore year! If you guys remember from one of my previous posts I told you I had a busy week last week. Well, although it was very busy (I basically commuted back and forth between State and Durham) it was still a lot of fun!

First, I'll tell you about the QDR Concert for the Kids. It was awesome! The lineup of performers included: Jason Michael Carroll, Jerrod Niemann, David Nail, Scotty McCreery, and Brantley Gilbert. As you know, I've seen David Nail and Scotty McCreery in concert before but it was cool to get to see the other artists as well! And, if that wasn't enough, in celebration of the DPAC's 3rd Birthday, we were greeted with some free birthday cake! Proceeds from ticket sales of the sold out show went to the NC Children's Hospital and they were able to raise over $1 million. 

Then, the Living Christmas Tree. We had two practices Monday and Tuesday and we did six shows in just four days, starting last Thursday. Although we had some technical glitches during the first couple shows, we always end up pulling it off...and we did! The last show is always special because you never know what's going to happen! I can go on and on about the crazy stuff that happened last night but I'll just say there was a lot of "snow" at the end. So much, it took me forever to finally get it all off of me (no thanks to some of the kids)! I also got to hang out with some of my church fam after the last show, which was awesome! 

We ended up having thirty-five people come to faith in Christ through the Tree which was more than last year! That's the whole purpose of doing these shows. Although we have so much fun before, during, and after, the main purpose is to lead people to Christ and I'm so happy we did that once again this year! Everyone did such a great job and I think our hard work paid off!

Read More

Here's To You

I may be taking this whole 1,000 pageview thing a bit too far but I want to give another Weekly Salute to you my faithful readers. When I started this blog, I didn't know what to expect. In fact, hardly anyone read it back in the day. But now, thanks to my readers (and with a little help from Facebook/Twitter) my blog is booming! Like I mentioned before, my readership extends across the U.S. and even outside its borders, including: Canada, Thailand, New Zealand, The U.K., Japan, and even South Korea and Croatia! Whether you like or dislike my posts, you still have been taking the time to read them and I'm very grateful for that!

One big reason I decided to start a blog was because I knew that I wanted to get into journalism. I'm also a very opinionated person; so I knew I could use a blog to work on my writing skills as well as post my opinions and viewpoints on different things. So far, it has really worked out and I hope for continued success in the future! So, I salute you guys, my readers. Thanks for taking time out of your lives to read my blog!

Read More

The Rumor Mill

I know we still have quite a few games to go until the end of the college football season but the rumor mill is going strong with potential coaches UNC is looking at. According to a friend of mine (and many other reports online) Boise State's coach, Chris Petersen, is at the top of AD Bubba Cunnigham's wish list. Granted, Petersen is probably at the top of all the wishlists of teams in search of a coach, but it's still worth noting.

Carolina's main competition seems to be UCLA who just fired its coach, Rick Neuheisel. According to many sources, Petersen is supposed to visit Chapel Hill sometime this month and some are even reporting that the contract will contain many things including a $3 million/year salary. The reports also said that Carolina has Kevin Sumlin (Houston) and Skip Holtz (South Florida) on its wishlist, among others. 

Of course, you have to take all of this with a grain of salt. A lot of these rumor mill reports contain facts that are either exaggerated or completely untrue. There are so many rumors about this circulating around that something must be true. Cunningham is known for his coach hires but, with possible sanctions coming down the pipe, it may be hard for the Heels to land Petersen.

UPDATE: ESPN is reporting that Kevin Sumlin has been offered the coaching job at Arizona State. They also report that people close to Sumlin denied that it was a "done deal" but UNC may be crossing him off the list pretty soon.

Read More

Happy Birthday!

I wanted to take a second and wish a very Happy Birthday to Mark Twain. Even though he's not here to celebrate it, I still wanted to take the time to do this because he's one of my favorite authors. I've always liked his novels and have enjoyed reading them. I also love his quotes as they not only entertain me but almost inspire me.

Twain was very unique in the fact that he had a great sense of humor with his quotes but he spoke the truth through them as well. Take this one for instance: "The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." Although not one of his funniest quotes, it's really true. He's basically saying what's the point of being able to read if you don't read a good book?

Now, another reason I really like Mark Twain is because I'm "technically" related to him. I will say that it's pretty distant. Here's the relation as far as I can remember*: my grandma's (on my mom's side) great, great, great grandfather was a sibling to Twain's mother.  Yea, like I said, distant. But I'm not making this up! Maybe that's why I have a love for writing, haha!

*If any family members read this, please correct me if I'm wrong. I do believe that's correct as I've been told.

Read More

400

It's hard to believe that I'm writing my 400th blog post here on Reflections. I started this blog not really knowing what I was doing. I was pretty new to the blogging and social media culture. In fact, this was the first form of "social media" I had. Back when I started, I didn't have Facebook or Twitter, so I just communicated my thoughts and opinions to whoever would read them. Now, just 3 years, 400 posts, and many design/layout changes later, my blog has over 7,600 pageviews and has been read in 16 different countries, including the U.S. In addition, Reflections is set to break 1,000 pageviews for the month of November, a new all-time record!

My blog couldn't have been so successful without you! If it wasn't for you guys reading it day-in and day-out, it wouldn't be as successful as it is today. For that, I'm so thankful. Whether you agreed with my opinions or not, I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog (and will continue to read it). I'm hoping the next 400 posts and beyond will be just as enjoyable for you to read as the previous ones. I'm excited for what the coming new year has in store for Reflections and I hope you'll come along for the ride!

Read More

Coach K

I was hoping to get out of doing this but one of my readers pointed out that I should do a Weekly Salute to Coach Mike Krzyzewski. So here it goes...

I'll give "the (Blue) devil his due" for having the most wins in college basketball. It's a big honor for him and I know he's worked hard to reach this milestone. It's amazing to think that he actually didn't start off too well at Duke, going 62-65 and not even making it past the second round of the NCAA Tourney in his first five seasons.

After those "rebuilding years" Krzyzewski's Duke teams made a move toward the upper echelon of college basketball. Under Coach K, Duke has won twenty-five ACC titles, gone to eleven Final Fours, and won four NCAA titles; among other accolades. Even though I'm a UNC fan (and even though it took the other coaches to retire before he got this honor) congrats to Coach K on getting 904+ wins and congrats on getting my Weekly Salute.  

Read More

Busy Week

Wow, what a week I have in store. First off, this is the last week of classes for me. I honestly can't believe the semester is almost over already! I'm glad but now I have to focus on doing well on my final exams. On the brightside, none of my exams are cumulative. In other words, I'll just go to my class and take the exam based on the material I just learned, which will be nice. Another bright side is I'll get two behind me this week as my professors wanted to go ahead with them then. That'll leave me with three next week which is bad enough but not terrible.

In between all that I will have two back-to-back practices leading up to the Living Christmas Tree. After a break Wednesday, I will do six sold out shows in just four days! It's crazy but I always enjoy doing it. It's hard to believe that this will be my fourth Tree! It seems like just yesterday I joined the orchestra and did my first show. I haven't seen the entire show for this year (dialogue and all) but I think it should be one of the best we've ever done! I won't reveal anything in case you're going but I will say that, if you're not going, you'll definitely miss out!

On the one day I have a "break" from Tree rehearsals, I'll be going to the 94.7 QDR Concert for the Kids which is an event held at the DPAC to raise money for the UNC Children's Hospital. Proceeds from ticket sales go to this cause and I'm sure they'll have other ways to contribute as well. This year's show features Jason Michael Carroll, Jerrod Niemann, Brantley Gilbert, David Nail, and, yes, Scotty McCreery. It should be an outstanding show!

It'll be a busy week but an exciting one as well. Please be in prayer for myself as well as the rest of the performers in the Tree as we'll minister to thousands of people during those four days!

Read More

Black Friday Madness

Black Friday always brings out the inner animal in shoppers. I hear some pretty crazy stories every year but I think this one's over the top. A California woman actually pepper sprayed fellow shoppers in an effort to get to the front of the line at Wal-Mart. About twenty people were directly affected by the spray and some others got whiffs of it in the air. No one required hospitalization and the woman made her purchase and left before police arrived.

Seriously, lady? Is there something at Wal-Mart that you have to buy? Quite frankly, there's nothing in Wally World that I want bad enough to pepper spray anyone over! 

Read More

Giving Back

Thanksgiving is the one time during the year that we can all pause and reflect on the things we are thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my church...the list can go on and on. Many times, I'm so thankful for what people have done for me that I forget to give back. I've decided to change that this year: I'm going to give back to some worthy cause! I already have something in mind that I'm going to do and I know the recipient will be grateful. I also know that it will make me feel good to do something for someone else. It's a win-win situation!

My point in writing this is I hope you'll consider giving back in some way this holiday season. Whether it's helping a friend in need, volunteering somewhere, or donating to you favorite charity or church; giving is a great thing to do. Happy Thanksgiving!

Read More

Beef About Facebook

After looking at so many worthy stories for my Oops Award of the week, I decided to give it to Facebook. Why? Because of its stupid friend request policy. If you're an avid Facebooker, you probably know the social networking site has made changes to the way you can send friend requests; making it virtually impossible to send a request to someone who doesn't have mutual friends with you. 

This has happened to me a couple times and now Facebook has really upset me. I was trying to send a request to someone who I knew but didn't have mutual friends with. An error message came up and said the request couldn't be sent because I didn't know the person. I reported it and tried a little later. However, this time, it took me through this "checkpoint" thing and now I can't send requests or message anyone for two days!

I understand why Facebook is doing this but I think they've gone a little bit overboard. I haven't had any problems with this in the past as I'm friends with some of the UNC baseball/basketball players, among others. I sent a request to them (even though we had no mutual friends) and nothing happened.

This really makes me mad because I'm not one of those spammers or "annoying" people Facebook is targeting with these policy changes. I'm simply trying to friend someone, that's all. Plus, reporting the error to Facebook isn't really useful because they may never see your report and/or you have to wait a good while for the tech team to fix the problem. It's funny: Facebook's bio on their Twitter page says "Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." How can we if our accounts get blocked by simply friending people?

Read More

A Turkey Day Salute

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to salute the John Deere Company for their "Can-Do Project." The company is taking over 300,000 canned goods and building a full-sized scultpture of its new S-Series combine (pictured left). The combine is the world's most powerful and the sculpture will be a world record-breaking 60 feet wide, 80 feet long and 16 feet tall and will weigh nearly 170 tons when completed. At the end of the project, all cans of food will be donated to a local food shelter. What a great thing to do for others on this holiday!

Read More

Barbarism At UC Davis

I was watching the news and saw this horrific scene at UC Davis. Police, in riot gear, pepper sprayed students who were peacefully protesting tuition hikes at the school. The cops showed no mercy as the video depicts a group of students sitting with arms locked being sprayed by the officer. And I'm not just talking about a one time deal. The officer continues to spray the same students over and over, until you see their faces turn orange. According to MSNBC, one woman was even treated for chemical burns at a local hospital. The same MSNBC article said UC Davis police told them that students had until 3:00 p.m. to leave and, when they didn't, police moved in. That's the poorest defense I've ever heard in my life. There is no excuse for this kind of barbaric behavior. UC Davis police and officials should be ashamed of themselves for what happened.

This is beyond ridiculous! I don't understand what gives police officers the right mind to do these things. I would like to know what that officer would feel like if someone sat him down and did the same thing. Enough is enough! If I was the police chief and saw this video, I would either not allow him to work on the force until he gets the proper training or fire him flat out, no questions asked. I've always thought that, unless officers are properly trained to use these weapons, they don't need to use them at all!

Read More

Let It Snow

I'm sure the winner of this week's Oops Award was not singing "Let It Snow" after this incident. A man in Alaska was charged with assault and criminal mischief after attacking a snowplow with an ax! The man was angry over snow that was blocking his car. In a rage, the man jumped in front of the plow, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes. After that, the disgruntled citizen reportedly swore at the driver and hit the plow's door with his ax.

Come on, man, where's your winter spirit? Plus, did you really think an ax would do any damage to the plow? Maybe the driver but not the snowplow!

Read More

Trouble In Carolina

With the Carolina Hurricanes in the middle of a two game skid and having won only 3 out of their last 10, I have to pose the question: is it time for Paul Maurice to go? I personally think he should and, quite frankly, I've been arguing this since the end of last season. In fact, I never really understood the reasoning behind his rehiring after Peter Laviolette was let go (the coach who got us our first Stanley Cup). Now, Laviolette is doing very well in Philadelphia, who has been a playoff contender for the past few seasons under him. Even getting to the Stanley Cup Finals a couple years ago.

Maurice did okay the first time he was in Carolina, leading the 'Canes to the Stanley Cup Finals during the 2001-2002 season. He was later fired as the 'Canes started off the first twenty games of the 2003 season with an 8-12 record. "Mo" was brought back after Laviolette's departure and, once again, he hasn't really done anything to show for it. The 'Canes made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009 but were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Since then, the team has been metiocre. Last year, Carolina was in contention for a playoff spot right down to the last game of the regular season. A win would've gotten them into the playoffs but they lost 6-2 to Tampa Bay. This season, the Hurricanes started off okay but have been in a slump ever since; now tied for 14th in the Eastern Conference.

According to an ESPN article, the Hurricanes are pretty active on the phones to see "what is out there" but the writer thinks a player trade will come before a coaching change. I think they may need both to happen in order to improve. However, I think it really falls on the coach's shoulders. We have talented players but the coach as to do his job to build the team.

What do you think should happen? Vote on the poll to the right.

Read More

Fair & Balanced?

I woke up last Saturday morning and just happened to tune into this documentary on TV called "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism." It challenged Fox News' claim of being "Fair and Balanced" with some pretty good facts and evidence from a selection of their newscasts.

I decided to share some of the things the documentary pointed out:

-The film said that, according to a survey conducted by the University of Maryland and reported by the Seattle Times, Fox led among cable news channels in giving viewers "misperceptions of the War in Iraq"

-Over a span of a few months, analysts watched Fox and concluded that Republicans were used a whopping five times more than Democrats (over eighty percent)

-When that didn't work, the documentary showed how Fox anchors would cut the person's mic or do something else to get them to "shut up."

-The analysts also concluded that Fox News had a way of generating fear with some of its stories

The channel focused on the "happier side" of Iraq during the war, making it look like it was worth going to war with them because the U.S. was "improving" conditions there

Bill O'Reilly vs. Jeremy Glick

-Glick's father was killed during 9/11 but he still disapproved of the war

-O'Reilly used scare tactics and intimidation because he was in disagreement over Glick's position

-According to the film, O'Reilly painted Glick as a "conspirator" and later lied about and exaggerated Glick's comments in a follow up show

-According to the documentary, O'Reilly threatened and cursed at Glick off camera after the argument on-air

Carl Cameron and George W. Bush

-Carl Cameron, Fox News commentator, had an interview with then Pres. Bush

-According to the documentary, Cameron's wife actually worked on the Bush campaign

-The film reported that no other news station allowed a "conflict of interests" situation to take place

John Ellis and the 2000 Bush Election
-Ellis was a freelance political advisor (and Bush's first cousin) contracted by Fox News

-He declared Bush the winner against Gore before the recount took place on the news channel

-Prompted other news stations to do the same which was unfair to do before official count came in

-According to analysts in the film, Democrats who did appear were often nobodies who were deemed "weak" and "easy to defeat"

This is just a sample of the many things the documentary noted about Fox News but there were many more. According to the Wikipedia article I found, Fox fired back at the creators of the film, saying they infringed upon copyright laws by using some of their broadcast material without permission. If you don't believe me or want to refute what I've just said, check out the video below beforehand. This is a part of the same documentary (using some of their live broadcast footage) which features how Fox News attacked John Kerry during the 2004 Presidential Campaign (courtesy of Outfoxed.org).

Although this documentary was made six years ago, this problem still exists at Fox News. Everytime I'm flipping through and watch the station for a few minutes, they almost always have some kind of negative story surrounding Democrats and a more poistive one surrounding Republicans. If a debate is going on during a show, I quickly recognize which side the anchor/host is on because they will always interrupt and intimidate the opposing side (especially with politics). This is horrible journalism, in my opinion, and we shouldn't have it freely propogating through our society. Still not convinced? You can watch the entire documentary here and decide for yourself.

Works Cited 

Greenwald, R., Busby, L., Gilliam, J., McArdle, K., & Smith, D. (Producers), & Greenwald, R. (Director). (2006). Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism [Motion picture]. USA via: Google Videos 

Outfoxed. (2011, October 9). Retrieved November 16, 2011, from Wikipedia.org 

Image courtesy of Fox News Channel

Read More

Pa and Bobbie

This Weekly Salute is for two people: my grandma who I affectionately call "Bobbie" (you'll find out why in a minute) and my grandpa, J.T. White, otherwise known as "Pa" to all of us. They were grandparents on separate sides of my family. My grandma on my mom's side and my grandpa on my dad's. They both meant so much to me so I decided to write and celebrate their lives.

First, my grandma. Let me start off by saying I feel kind of bad I didn't salute her earlier but now is a good time to do so. She was an amazing person! She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill (smart lady) and became a RN (registered nurse). I started calling her "Bobbie" several years ago after changing it from "Baba" which was what I called her when I was younger. I'm not exactly sure why I called her "Baba" but it stuck ever since the first time I did so. She was also a great woman of faith and an active member of Grey Stone for over a decade. In fact, I have her to thank for introducing my mom and I to the church; so every Grey Stonian reading this has her to thank for that, haha! I have to mention that I get two things from her: love (of sorts) of school and being on a soapbox. Those were two distinguishing characteristics of her's and I think she passed them right down to me! She died in February of this year but I will always remember her and the great legacy she left behind.

Next, my grandpa. He was one tough customer but he also had a caring side and would help you out anytime you needed him to. He served in the Navy during WWII and even saw Gen. Douglas McArthur sign the Treaty of San Fransisco, ending the allied occupation during the war. Funny thing was he was so proud of all that, he bragged about his service right up until he passed away. He was married to my grandma for sixty-seven years and they seemed to have a very happy marriage. One lasting memory I will have was the time my high school, Northern, had a lockout and subsequent fights outside. When we were finally released from school, I saw my grandma and grandpa outside waiting. Normally, if was just my grandma but he was there too and he grabbed my hand as we walked to the car. I'll never forget the display of how much he cared for me that day.

Although these two wonderful grandparents are gone, I know they're in a place that's much better than our world and I will see them again someday. So, rest in peace "Bobbie" and "Pa" you will be missed!

Read More

Best Interests?

I'm sure you've all heard of the big scandal going on at Penn State. In the wake of that, both the university president and legendary head football coach, Joe Paterno, have been fired. This sparked outrage among students at PSU who subsequently rioted in the streets. Paterno had already announced his retirement shortly before the news of his firing came but it obviously wasn't enough. In case you've been living under a rock and didn't know, this who scandal began after reports surfaced that a former head coach under Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, sexually abused boys in the PSU locker room. Now, eight years after the incident, the scandal came to life. Paterno came under fire because this happened on his watch and he was notified of the situation. He told Penn State officials of the incidents and pretty much did nothing else in response.

The Board of Trustees fired Paterno as well as the president which begs the question: why was then graduate assistant (now assistant coach) Mike McQueary not penalized? In fact, he gets to keep his job and even coach at the Nittany Lions' game against Nebraska this Saturday. I may be ignorant on some of the details of this situation but how come nothing was done with McQueary? I mean, he was the one who saw these alleged incidents happen. He did notify Paterno and other officials but, still, he should've notified the police about this. I guess all could have (and should have) notified the police but if one goes they all should. McQueary should be fired as well. It's almost like the board is setting a double standard. They fired Paterno and others for not reporting this to authorities while not firing McQueary who supposedly saw it happen and did not report it to the police.

All in all, I think everyone involved did wrong and I just hate it for the kids who were involved. It's ashame that things like this happen in our world so much!

UPDATE: Penn St. put McQueary on paid administrative leave Friday. Reports say that he has left State College, PA as a result of receiving multiple threats. It's still just a slap on the wrist (not to mention he gets paid as well).

Read More

The Will To Play Golf

In one of my PRT classes, we're studying about social issues that surround sport on a daily basis. One in particular is people with disabilities. As a homework assignment, we had to watch an ESPN "E:60" video about a man, Mike Reeder, who fell in love with golf and had one big dream: to play "The Old Course" at St. Andrews. In case you didn't know, St. Andrews is the most storied golf course in the world. Located in Scotland, the "Old Course" has hosted numerous legends including Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

So, what was stopping him? He served in Vietnam and ended up being involved in an attack that amputated both of his legs instantly. After two years in the hospital and numerous surgeries, Reeder was released from the hospital, married, and found a job in the music industry. While in the music biz, he worked with the likes of Carlos Santana and was even nominated for a Grammy.

He later quit the music biz to be a stay-at-home dad, where he soon became fascinated with the game of golf. He met another man who quickly became his friend and playing partner. They made a pact to go to Scotland and play at St. Andrews. However, his friend died from lung cancer before they could make it there. But, with determination, Reeder did make it to St. Andrews and became the first person in a wheelchair to play the course. Congrats to Mike Reeder who gets my Weekly Salute!

P.S. My words alone can't describe this remarkable story. Please take the time to watch the video of the full story below...

Read More

That's Gotta Hurt

You see this a lot in movies but rarely in real life. A Fayetteville man was arrested and charged after hitting a woman on the head with a frying pan. Police said it started when the woman allegedly threw a grape jelly jar at the man's head after he told her she could not take his bags while they packed to leave.

The man struck back by hitting the woman on the head with the frying pan. The woman, who was in a recent car accident previous to this incident, was taken to the hospital and released. Detectives charged the man with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a woman. He was released after posting bond.

Read More

Magical Performance

The new show "Anderson" hosted by journalist Anderson Cooper, featured a group of kids who all stuttered. One of the kids, sixteen-year-old Phillip Garber, said on the show that he was told by one of his professors to keep quiet during class so he "wouldn't disturb" the other students. Despite this, Garber and a few of his counterparts going through the same thing got together and formed a singing group called Our Time. Let's just say that professor might backtrack on what they said after this!

I chose this as my Weekly Salute because it really touched me. I'm taking a class on diversity and inclusion in school this semester and we've been talking about including everyone regardless their race, gender, religion, disability, etc. We've also talked about educating those who may not be comfortable with including people like these kids in normal, everyday activities. It's very important that, regardless of who the person is or where they come from, we treat them all with dignity and respect.

Read More

Unconstitutional?

This is just crazy. Utah Congressman, Bob Bishop, is also the chair of the House subcommittee on that oversees national parks and other federal lands. The only problem, though, is he said it's unconstitutional for the federal governement to own those lands. Although he would like to see most federal lands in the West turned over to the states, he said the federal government can keep them because "they're not moneymakers anyway." It gets even better. The congressman went on to say to Think Progress, a nonpartisan arm of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, that he supported mining near the Grand Canyon and thinks that neither the water nor tourists would be affected by it.

Ok, what? It sounds to me like this guy is worried about who controls the national parks but, at the sametime is not. It really doesn't make sense to me at all! I did a little research and found some interesting points on how much Americans gave to philanthropic causes, including the national park system; according to the National Park Service and the American Association of Fundraising Counsel:

• Americans gave over $290.89 billion to their favorite causes in 2010 (including national parks) 
• Total giving, when adjusted for inflation, was up 3.8 percent
• Gifts from individuals represented 73 percent of all contributed dollars, a slight increase from 2009 figures

I think Bob Bishop needs to check his information again. National parks make a lot more money than he thinks and they are much more important than he believes. Why is he the chairman of this subcommittee in the first place? Congrats to Rep. Bob Bishop of Utah for getting my Oops Award of the week!

Read More

Attitude

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference"

                                                 ~Winston Churchill

As a sport management major, I've already learned quite a bit of the business side of sport. I guess that's really what sport management is in a way. One big part of not only being a good manager but being successful in business altogether is having a good attitude towards your clients, customers, and fellow employees. This is something that the Entry Department at the NC State Fair seems to have trouble with. I had to go there and pick up my photo today and I was not at all pleased with the attitude of the person who helped me. I will say that almost everyone who works in the Entry Department is over the age of 50 and everyone I've come in contact with the past couple of years has this attitude problem. Now, I don't think this is the reason behind the attitude problem but I do think it's wrong for them to have this type of attitude everytime.

Here's what I'm talking about. I walked in to the Entry Department and told the person that I needed to pick up my photo. I said my name and she asked if I had my claim ticket. I said I didn't because I actually turned in my photo before the turn in dates to the office of the competiton manager (I was in Nashville at that time). She then asked if I knew the exhibit number and, once again, I told her I didn't. This next part is what I had a problem with. The person got pretty upset and almost acted like it was my fault that this happened. I immediately said to her in an equal tone that it wasn't my fault and went on to say the competition head ok'd it for me to do this in the first place. After that incident, I went to the front office next door and, just as they were paging the competition head, that same person from the Entry Department came over with my picture. She said they had looked up my name and found it.

Now see? How hard was that? Instead of creating a problem she could've simply looked up my information and find the picture. All of the attitude and such was not necessary. I'm writing this to offer advice to those of you who are thinking about getting into business: always try to keep a good attitude yourself and make sure you employees do the same. This is, in my opinion, not only a key to managing a successful business but it's also a key to living a good, wholesome life.

Read More

Hot Wheels For A Good Cause

I decided to give my Weekly Salute to Casey Knott and his sons for something great they're doing for charity. A close friend, Scott Griffin has a son who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Called Duchenne, a website the Griffin family set up said 1 in every 3,500 boys are born with this and there is little funding for research. There is no cure to the disease and, since there is little funding for it, the boys that have Duchenne are often called "The Lost Boys" as little is known about them or the disease. 

As a result, Casey decided to do something epic to raise money for Duchenne MD research: he built the world's largest Hot Wheels track. The track has multiple loops and curves and even goes outside on the sidewalk in front of their house. With the help of his sons, Casey spent many hours putting the track together and filming the Hot Wheel going through it. Now the video has gone viral and the Hope For Gabe Foundation has raised over $10,000 because of it. So I salute the Knott family for their work towards this great cause. I hope you continue to have success!

If you want to learn more or donate, go to HopeForGabe.org

Read More

State Fair 2011

As the sun sets on yet another State Fair, I wanted to take time out to reflect on all the deep fried goodness I had. I ended up getting to go twice and got to taste a lot of different foods while I was there! I went on a rainy Wednesday evening to see David Nail in concert. The concert was great and I even got his autograph after. That's one thing I love about the concerts: if the artists want to, they'll let you stand outside their tour bus and get autographs. I didn't really do anything else except get Deep Fried Cookie Dough which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I could probably write an entire post on just that alone but I'll spare you the salivating, haha!

Now on to the photo competition. Like I figured, I did not win anything this year. I will say, though, that the photo that won first place was amazing! It was much better than the photo that won last year. It definitely deserved it. I plan on doing it again next year and I even got a cool pic of the new Sky Diver ride that I may beef up and use next year. They have a category called "Best N.C. State Fair Scene" and this would be a good one to do for that.

And last but not least...the food. As always, they had tons of crazy eats as well as more traditional favorites. One very interesting thing was a BBQ Sundae. No, it's not BBQ with ice cream but they took BBQ, beans, and cole slaw and put them all in a cup, one on top of the other. I love me some BBQ but I don't know about that one.

Now, the deep fried stuff. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try the Deep Fried Kool-Aid but, the more I got to thinking about it, I'm not that big a fan of Kool-Aid anyway so I don't think I would've liked it. I did try a Deep Fried Brownie. Holy crap that was amazing! All they do is take a moist brownie, deep fry it, and top it off with whipped cream, powder, and cinnamon. The same place that had the brownie also had Deep Fried Banana Pudding Bites. Now that's some good eats! And if that wasn't enough? I saw a place near Dorton Arena selling, yes, Deep Fried Candy Apples and even a place that had Deep Fried Cheesecake! I tell you, it was the year of deep fried stuff at the Fair. But, wait a minute, isn't that every year?

Another quirky thing I tried (that was not deep fried) was a Lemon Stick. If you've ever had Fun Dip, this pretty much had the same concept. What they do is take a whole lemon, cut the top off, and put a peppermint stick right in the middle. Then, you just pull out the peppermint stick and lick it. Who knew lemon juice and peppermint would go together? Now you know!

Well, another State Fair is in the books and I have to say I had a lot of fun. I ate to my heart's content but I've come to the realization that that's the whole purpose of going anyway...well at least in my book! If you went to the fair, I hope you had a great time too and (cough, cough) saw my picture. If not, you should come on down for next year's fair. It's always a great time!

Read More

Game Time

Ah, college basketball. This is my favorite time of year because I know the season is just about to get started. That said, the preseason polls were released today and here's my take on the top ten:

10. Florida (2010-11 Record: 26-7, 13-3 SEC)

The Gators are a little of a surprise for me, being ranked this high. We haven't heard a lot out of them in this regard in a few years so it'll be interesting to see how they handle this high ranking. The Gators have a tough road ahead as their non-conference schedule includes trips to play at Ohio State and Syracuse who are both ranked in the preseason top ten. Not to mention having to play against #2 Kentucky twice. It'll be tough for a Gator team minus Chandler Parsons but it'll be interesting to see what happens. 

9. Memphis (2010-11 Record: 25-9, 10-6 C-USA)

The Tigers have a pretty interesting schedule as well, including trips to play #8 Louisville and an always tough Georgetown. Their schedule also features a home match up against #15 Xavier as well as an early season neutral court match up against #18 Michigan. If the Tigers want to be a top level team, they will need returning players Will Barton and Joe Jackson to step up their scoring averages. Barton led the team but only with 12.3 points per game last season and Jackson averaged 9.9. They will need to up their game if they want to compete at the level they're ranked.

8. Louisville (2010-11 Record: 25-9, 12-6 Big East)

Rick Pitino always knows how to build a team up and this team is no different. The Cardinals are ranked 8th in the preseason. With the graduation of their top two scorers (Preston Knowles and Kyle Kuric) they will still need to beef up their scoring game. Their are some pretty interesting games on tap for Louisville, including an early season away game against unranked Butler; as well as home games against #7 Vanderbilt and #9 Memphis. They also have to play against #2 Kentucky at Rupp Arena, which is never an easy task. However, with Peyton Siva, the assist leader last year, as well as other talented players returning; it looks like it'll be another good year for the Cardinals.

7. Vanderbilt (2010-11 Record: 23-10, 9-7 SEC)

Don't let the record fool you, this is a good team. Returning their top two scorers from last season, the Commodores definitely have a chance to compete with Kentucky and Florida for the SEC crown. They do have some pretty good non-conference games as well: playing #15 Xavier at home and traveling to #8 Louisville and #21 Marquette. They will also have to play #2 Kentucky and #10 Florida twice.

Sidenote: NC State will have to play them at home (11/19)

6. Duke (2010-11 Record: 30-4, 13-3 ACC)

After a disappointing loss to Arizona in the NCAA Tournament last season, the Blue Devils are back with a boatload of talent. The roster features a very talented Freshman class that includes highly touted Austin Rivers. And, as if two Plumlees weren't enough, Duke has added yet another: Marshall. If nothing else, they will definitely confuse a lot of people this season. Their most intriguing non-conference match up is a game at #3 Ohio State. Of course, the games against UNC are always special but this year should be very interesting as well as both teams will more than likely be ranked in the top ten by that time.

5. Syracuse (2010-11 Record: 26-7, 12-6 Big East)

In what will be its last season in the Big East before joining the ACC, Syracuse is once again a team to watch. With Kris Joseph, Brandon Triche, and Scoop Jardine all returning this season, it's no wonder the Orange are ranked #5. Their non-conference schedule is highlighted by a game in the Carrier Dome against #10 Florida on December 2. They will have to face an always tough Big East Conference schedule as well.

Sidenote: NCSU will also play Syracuse at home (12/2)

4. Connecticut (2010-11 Record: 26-9, 9-9 Big East)

The defending champs are once again in the hunt for a title this year. The absence of Kemba Walker will be felt but the Huskies return talented players such as Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier, who will need to step up if UCONN wants to have success this year. One thing that may hurt them ranking wise and come Selection Sunday is their non-conference schedule. They do not play a single Top 25-ranked team during non-conference play. This may come back on them but we'll have to wait and see.

3. Ohio State (2010-11 Record: 32-2, 16-2 Big Ten

Although David Lighty is not with the team this season, don't discredit the Buckeyes. They should be a force especially with big man Jared Sullinger returning. They will need a team effort, though, as they have a very early test against #10 Florida as their second game of the season. They also have a road test against #13 Kansas in one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. Other than that, they should breeze through the conference schedule, although the away game against #14 Wisconsin and the home-and-home match up against #18 Michigan should be ones to watch.

2. Kentucky (2010-11 Record: 25-8, 10-6 SEC)

The Wildcats came very close to winning it all last season; however, coach Calipari's team looks stronger than ever this year with returning players Darius Miller and Doron Lamb. Their non-conference schedule is pretty weak other than the fact they play #13 Kansas, #1 North Carolina, and #8 Louisville. The only problem is all these games are at Rupp Arena which is okay but it would look better if at least one game was played away. Despite that, the Wildcats are poised for another banner year.

1. North Carolina (2010-11 Record: 26-7, 14-2 ACC)

I know I'm going to be a little biased but, where do I begin? The Heels return a plethora of talent including Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, Kendall Marshall, Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, and John Henson. Adding a very talented Freshman class of Stilman White, Desmond Hubert, P.J. Hairston, and James Michael McAdoo; I think the NCAA Championship is theirs to lose. Their non-conference schedule features the highly anticipated "Carrier Classic Game" against Michigan State on an aircraft carrier. The Heels will also welcome #14 Wisconsin and Texas to Chapel Hill while facing #2 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. I think it'll probably be another fight to the finish between UNC and Duke for the ACC crown.

There you have it. So, who will be cutting down the nets in New Orleans this year? Well, like I said, I'm a little biased but I think UNC will of course! I called it back when they won in 2009 and I'm doing it again. It should be another great year of college basketball!  

Read More

State Fair To-Do List

Even though I didn't have success with the photo competition for the third straight year, I still love going and taking in all that the NC State Fair has to offer. From the food, to the concerts, to the exhibits; here are some of my "can't miss" things to do at the fair:

1) The Food

How can you go to a state fair without eating the food? I'm sure anyone reading this who goes to a fair eats at least something while they're there. This is one of my favorite parts because you get to try things you don't get the chance to try on a daily basis. For instance, there's a place that serves fried alligator on a stick. And let's not forget homemade ice cream and all the deep fried stuff.

Every year I go, I'll try any kind of new concoction those crafty vendors come up with. Last year, I tried the Krispy Kreme Burger and deep fried cookie dough. A few years ago, I had deep fried Coca-Cola. This year is full of interesting eats. If you haven't heard already, the most publicized deep fried foods are Kool-Aid and bubble gum. Some lesser known ones are deep fried brownies and, yes, even banana pudding (my grandpa would love that one)! You would think that's all but you can always find something new and exciting.

If you're not in the mood for eclectic foods, my personal favorite is McBride's concession stand, located on or near the midway. They have just about everything from foot long hot dogs to Italian sausages. All are cooked on a grill right there in front of you. Plus, you don't have to fight to find a place to sit. They offer seating right there under their big red tent. You can't beat it!

What about dessert? My favorite place to go is Smitty's Apples. This is located right across from the Village of Yesteryear in a trailer-like structure. They have fritters, turnovers, you name it. But the best thing they have is their apple dumpling. They serve it hot and fresh with this great apple drizzling on it. Simply amazing! I advise you not to wait to get it. I'll normally wait until near closing to get one, but I didn't get one last year because of that. Get it early!

2) The Concerts

For the past few years, I've been going to one of the concerts/events at Dorton Arena. I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the lineup this year, but managed to find a concert I wanted to go to: David Nail. He's a country singer who has a hit "Let It Rain" on the radio right now. The first year I did this, I saw chef Bobby Flay which was pretty cool. I even got his autograph afterward. Now that the Fair has moved solely to concerts, I've seen Julianne Hough in 2009 and Darius Rucker last year. Julianne was my grandma's idea since I got to see who I wanted to see the year before. The concerts are pretty cheap so it's a nice alternative if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the fair for a while.

3) The Exhibits

The exhibits are also pretty cool to go to. Of course, there's the photography exhibit, located in the Scott Building near Gate 11. There are other exhibits where you can try out new things and taste things you never tasted before. There are also many booths set up, espcially those featuring our local news stations. I like these because you can meet and get a picture/autograph from your favorite TV personalities. In recent years, I've met Gerald Owens, Pam Saulisby, and Greg Fishel as well as others from WRAL, ABC 11 and NBC 17. Plus, you can enter to win cool prizes and get a ton of freebies. I know you can enter to win a trip and an iPad at the WRAL tent this year. If you're a journalism buff like me then you'll like this.

I know it's kind of long but that is my to-do list for the NC State Fair. I always love this time of year and I hope you can go out and take part in our fair here or one in your area!

Read More

Photo Competition Update #3

It looks like third time's not the charm with the photo competition. For the third straight year, I didn't receive any notification that my photo won an award. The competition hands out awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place, as well as Honorable Mentions. By not getting a call nor an email I assume my photo did not win anything; not even Honorable Mention! The thing that makes me the most frustrated is you don't receive any feedback at all from the judges.

When you enter, you have to hope and pray you submit artwork that the judges deem worthy enough to award. You have no guidance on what the judges are looking for. For the past couple years, I didn't receive a call or anything and end up finding my photo hanging up for display at the Fair without a ribbon. That's pretty much how it works. I know I said this last year but, unless if things change, this may be my last year of competition!

If you're heading out to the Fair, you can see my photo on display in the Scott Building, near Gate 11 (Blue Ridge Road). 

Read More

Weekly Salute: Rascal Flatts

Who else should I give this salute to than, in my opinion, the greatest country music band ever? Rascal Flatts started about ten years ago as a duo in Ohio. When they moved they added a third member, which began a great career for all.

Now, after many hits and countless awards, the band has been inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry! They definitely deserved this honor and I was so grateful to see it all in person! So congrats to Rascal Flatts, newest members of the Opry and this week's recipients of my "Weekly Salute!"

Read More

Fall Break 2011

I'm normally at home just chilling out during my fall break, but I decided to do something different this time. Several months ago, I saw that Rascal Flatts would be performing at the Grand Ole Opry during its 86th Birthday Bash. It just so happened that this was the same time as my fall break! I saved up the money and, this past Wednesday, I headed out on vacation. We made a stop in Asheville (about half way) for a couple days then arrived in Nashville on Friday. We stayed in, where else, but the Opryland Resort and it was amazing! I've been told it was a vacation in itself and boy was it! It's huge and there are so many things to see and do there. I got to eat at the Jack Daniels restaurant in the resort and got a Sweet Tea Porkchop. 'Nuff said!

On Saturday, I first took a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. This was a backstage tour so we got to see everything from where the stars came in, to the Opry member mailboxes, to every single dressing room. Each dressing room had some sort of theme to it. For instance, there was one dedicated to the USA. Another dedicated to the women of country music. There was even one dedicated to the legend Little Jimmy Dickens and is his room, no questions asked. Probably the coolest dressing room I saw was Roy Acuff's room. This room was not only used by the great himself but other artists such as Vince Gill. The tour guide said the Opry honors his memory by keeping an "open door policy" on the room like he did. This meant we could actually go inside the dressing room. That was a pretty unique experience as we couldn't with the other dressing rooms. At the end of the tour, we got to get our picture taken on the Opry stage. The stage where legends have performed and history has been made. It was an experience I'll never forget.

But that's not all! I then went to downtown and walked along Broadway, the main drag in Nashville. I ate at a place called Merchants. The restaurant opened in what was Merchants Hotel where many country music stars have stayed, including Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. I also passed by many iconic places along Broadway, including The Stage, a restaurant/bar where many celebrities and country music stars have visited. After that, I visited the "Mother Church of Country Music" the Ryman. I ended up getting the last backstage tour of the day and it was fascinating as well! For those that don't know, the Ryman was the previous home of the Grand Ole Opry and was built to be used as a church before that (hence the nickname). Our tour guide was great and knew so much about not only the history of the Ryman itself, but the artists that performed there. I got my picture taken on the Ryman stage as well, and even could've recorded a song in the studio there but decided not to.

Now on to the Opry show itself. It was amazing! There were legends such as Jimmy Dickens, Charley Pride, and Jeannie Seely there as well as Ronnie Dunn and Craig Morgan. But the best came last...Rascal Flatts! They are great to see in person! This was my first time seeing them in person, and what better way than to see them? Not only did the Opry celebrate its birthday that night, but the group became the latest members, making the night even more special!

I've never had as much fun on a fall break as on this trip. I can't believe all the great things I got to do and all the history I came in contact with while in Nashville. This will be a trip I never forget!

Read More