The Wright Way

2006-07-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Reasons I’m glad we moved…

1.Less work related stress. I don’t bring home as much stress and there is a much easier going attitude.

2.Disc Golf. There’s a disc golf course in Estherville. I haven’t lived near a disc golf course in years. The one in Toccoa wasn’t close enough. The one in Estherville is close. I can pack up the suburban, take Joseph and Kallsen to the course, play nine holes and be back home in 30 minutes.

3.More time with my kids. The less stress and the fact I’m not bringing the stress and actual work home like I did in Georgia means more quality time with my wife and my kids.

4.KILR. At KILR it’s more about building for the future than getting results right now. And I’m better at working with clients and getting them results so they spend more in the future.

5.Sidewalks. We can walk to the grocery store. To the park. Joseph will be riding his bike to school. He already is riding his bike to the community pool(s), to the library and to the park.

6.Iowa is close to Minnesota

7.Swimming. I’m taking the boys swimming about once a week. A nice indoor pool with two water slides and a diving board.

8.Ethanol Gas or E85. Forty cents less a gallon. And the suburban runs great on E85. I just wished the camery could take E85

9.Cheaper utilities. Electric, Gas, Water, Sewage, Garbage…all included we’re spending no more than $125 a month. In Georgia, electric alone was more than that and water was more than $50 a month.

10.Being valued. I’m a valued member of the team here. I never was treated that way in Georgia. At least never told I was valued.

What I miss about Georgia…

1.My church. I loved my church. I truly enjoyed getting up and going to church every Sunday and for Wednesday night suppers.

2.Talking with David. David Shideler has a great way of looking at the world and of understanding politics on a global level. He also understood the way news in small towns is supposed to be done.

3.Nathan. I miss seeing and talking with Nathan.

4.Baseball games. I really loved going to watch Joseph play baseball. He had a great coach and the boys played with passion.

5.My clients that trusted me and got great results because of that trust…Jim Brown Chrysler, Mountain Heritage Bank, Duvall Ford, Lisa’s Corner, Tech Place, The Old Clayton Inn (when run by Chris Grimes) and Stephens Federal Bank.

6.PartyWright, LLC. We owned a rental business that while it took lots of time on the weekends and that was time away from family, it was fun.

7.Lunch with Patrick. My friend Patrick lives in Franklin, NC and every couple of weeks, when I was seeing clients in Franklin, we would meet for lunch.

8.My talk show with Bill Oliver. The Friday Morning Coffee Break. We made a difference.

9.Being close to Sara’s family. Her mom and brothers were three hours away. Now it will be a year between visits.

10.My cat. Pumpkinhead ran away the day before we moved. He must have gotten out of the house when we were loading the truck. I spent several hours looking and Joseph spent several hours looking and we never found him. I loved my cat.

I'm Glad We Moved

2006-07-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Just need to say it. I'm glad we moved. I like living here better for several reasons. Other than my church and two friends, Nathan and David, I'm happier here. A lot less stress and a much healthier work environment.

What Would Jesus Do?

2006-05-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

I believe I know or I believe that Jesus would never turn his back on someone. Apparently some of the folks at Jonesville Baptist Church in South Carolina think Jesus would turn his back on some of his people.

Jonesville Baptist Church is considering a rule that says the church will not announce on the pulpit or in the bulletin the birth of a child to an unwed mother. They're also going to consider a rule or bylaw that would also ban any baby showers for unwed mothers from being held at the church or any of their buildings.

These are the same people that wear t-shirts and bracelets with the WWJD? Imprinted on them. What Would Jesus Do? I don't think he would turn his back on someone. Maybe Jonesville Baptists Church in Jonesville, South Carolina needs to understand that maybe a pregnant, unwed single women needs the church in this type of situation more so than ever. And the church is going to turn their back on them.

This is a type of bylaw that would make me leave a church. And I don't think I want to visit a church that does this type of thing. Ridiculous.

There's a Reason for Separation

2006-05-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm a Christain and I do my best to teach my children about the love of God and how they one day will accept Juses Christ as their savior. But it's my job and which ever Church I choose to teach my children about God and Jesus. Not the schools.

Last week, Rabun County Schools let teachers distribute bibles to all the 4th grade. I'm told the children have the right to refuse and not accept the bible. But we all know how pure pressure can do to children. Public schools should not be doing this.

If I were still doing editorial in Rabun County, while it would not be popular in this community, I would take this issue head on.

Propaganda you have to pay to see...

2006-05-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

A new movie, staring Al Gore, is designed to scare you into voting against thepoliticalright. I've always considered myself a moderate. But I must admit right here, right now, that I am not sure which way to vote in this midterm election.

I will be living in Iowa when the time to vote rolls along and I have not had a chance to even begin to look at the representation of where I am going to be living. But with so many more heated debates than in years past, it seems more critical to really look at the issues closer than in the past.

With the war on terrorism, global warming, homeland security, rising gas prices and immigration, what's a voter to do?

I just find it interesting that the democratic candidates have a major motion picture release to push their agenda. I guess thepoliticalright has O'Reilly and Hannity on FOX and Hannity and Rush on radio doing just the same.

I wonder what the value is in dollars for the amount of information or disinformation these new types of campaigns put out. Something to think about.

AJ

The Operator Needs To Be Fired

2006-04-07T06:18:00.000-07:00

Just read and wonder...why?

Woman dies after son calls 911; dispatchers think it's a prank
coreAdsCreate('wnsz_20', 'loc', '100');
(Detroit, April 6, 2006,
11:00 P.M.) An investigation is underway in Detroit after a six-year-old boy
called 911 to get help for his mom, and the operator acted as if it were a
joke.

Detroit NBC Affiliate WDIV reports that six-year-old Robert Turner called 911 on February 20. He thought his mother 46-year-old Sherrill Turner hadpassed out. She was later found dead.911 tapes detail the call, where the boy tells a female operator that his mom had passed out. The operator demands t0 speak to an adult before sending police.

The boy eventually hung up and called back a short time later. This time the same operator warns the boy that he could get in trouble for making a prank call to 911. Taylor says police didn't arrive until three hours later and found his mother dead.
The family is now pursuing a lawsuit. Detroit police are investigating and say they are not sure about what, if any, disciplinary will be taken against the 911 operator.

There is no reason this women should keep her job. A six year-old, calling for help, is treated poorly and his mom dies. And police say they don't know if the operator will face any disciplinary action?

Crazy

AJ

Find News Fast

2006-03-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

Find News Fast. Check out the website.

AJ

Everything is a lesson. If not, it's an achievement.

2006-03-30T05:02:00.000-08:00

I came across this great t-shirt website while looking for an image on Google. If you're like me and enjoy off color political humor, you'll find some sayings that will just make you laugh.

Interesting News Story in Former Town I Called Home

2006-03-30T04:13:00.000-08:00

This story...

S.C. Thief Targets Cancer Donations

2006-03-30 A thief threw a brick through glass at a convenience
store and headed straight for a donation jar to help the family of a cancer patient, according to a security video.

Lewis Boniface, the store manager at The QuickWay, said the jar is
emptied weekly and probably only had about $10 in it when it was taken Monday
night.

"It takes a pretty sorry person to do something that low," Boniface
said. "Somebody in need was crying out to the community for help and someone came in and stole from them."The donations help former Greenwood resident Christine "Chris" Lawson Oden, 32, now of White House, Tenn.

The mother of two has leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant earlier this year. She is expected to be released from the hospital next month, but owes more than $500,000 in medical bills.

Greenwood police are investigating the theft.

I found the story on the Find News Fast website. I used to be a newsman at one of the radio stations in Greenwood. That was some nine or ten years ago.

Total Solar Eclipse

2006-03-28T21:05:00.000-08:00

One day, I hope to travel somewhere there is going to be a total eclipse of the sun so I can see, in person, one of the things that have cause man to question his place in the world.

When I was in Junior high school, my Dad took me out of school one day to go view the eclipse from home. We used a telescope with a sun filter. I've always be interested in the solar system and our place in this universe.

I find this eclipse interesting because it seems to last much longer than past ones and seems to be a complete eclipse over much more of the world than ones in the past.

AJ

What's Wrong?

2006-03-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

???

Gay Marriage

2006-03-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

I'm not one who is for or against gay marriage. I find the debate interesting and I often wonder when people became confused about the laws of this country. Jamie Raskin took the issue head on...

"Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible." -Jamie Raskin, testifying Wednesday, March 1, 2006 before the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in response to a question from Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs about whether marriage discrimination against gay people is required by "God's Law."

What I wish is that the powers that be in this country spend more of their time debating things that made more of a difference instead of using the Bible to hide behind their biases.

What a Difference a Town Makes

2006-03-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

In my years covering news and doing radio in small towns, attitudes can differ greatly from town to town. Anyone who says people are the same where ever you go has never really traveled or taken the time to learn a community.

Take for example, the people of Rabun County, GA and Union County, SC. People living in both communities claim to care about their children and want the best for their children. Be it education, recreation, community or culture. But they go about it in very different ways.

In 1999, Union SC was asked to vote for a 50 million dollar referendum that would have built a new junior high school, added enough new classrooms to eliminate the more than 50 portable (see trailers) classrooms used through the county and would have consolidated efforts and would have saved money long term as far as transportation costs were concerned. More than 80 percent of the population voted against the referendum. Most said...'our kids are doing fine...why should we spend the money when our schools are fine.' When the truth was and remains the same today, the schools in Union County, SC need improvement. I'm not saying they don't have fine teachers because they have great teachers. But the building needs are gigantic. Schools that have never been taken care of have such serious issues that when USA Today did a retrospective on poor classroom conditions across the country in 2000, they focused on Union County, SC schools. What an embarrassment.

In Rabun County, GA; the view is much different. There is a referendum on March 21st to extend a one percent local sales tax to improve our schools by building a new gymnasium, building a new fine arts center and converting the current gym and fine arts center to additional classrooms. I've heard no one speak out against the referendum. Not one person. I bet it will pass with 90 percent of the vote.

Once again, I'm not saying one community cares more about education than the other, one just sees the value in providing state of the art facilities and the other does not.

Great Start for HBO

2006-03-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

I watched the Sopranos and Big Love last night and thought both shows were great! The Sopranos started of a bit different that I had thought...they made as if the same amount of time had gone by in the characters life as had gone by since the last season. And that added a new feeling...Johnny Sack has been in jail more than a year, Christopher's been on the mend for more than a year and Tony is back with his wife for more than a year. Interesting.

The thing that added the biggest twist was Tony being shot, a new soldier hanging himself and a hit...all in the first episode of the season.

Big Love is very promising. Probable one of the best series premiers in years. This show, about polygamy, is going to have humor and drama and may replace Entourage as my favorite HBO comedy. It was off to a great start.

The best part about Big Love is them making these Utah compounds seem like the mod in the way they're run and how they handle those that have left the compound for a more 'normal' life. I'm guessing the Mormon Church will be up in arms about this show, if they're not already.

AJ

The answer to illegal immigration

2006-03-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

This is no lie. Our very own state senator Nancy Schaefer is quoted in a the Hartwell Sun Newspaper with her idea to fight illegal immigration...

50th District Senator Nancy Schaefer, who serves on the economic development committee, mentioned jobs, industry and tourism as issues needing attention. She said we need to “make Georgia a destination.”

Commenting on illegal immigration, Schaefer said 50 million abortions have been performed in this country, causing a shortage of cheap American labor. “We could have used those people,” she said.

Nancy Schaefer is an embarrassment.

AJ

Gay Hate Group use military funerals to preach message of hate

2006-02-24T05:31:00.000-08:00

Does God really hate?

I don't think so. And the last time I looked, God wasn't doling out death as a punishment to nations that have legalized gay marriage. God doesn't hate.

It amazes me that so many people, that profess a strong Christian heritage and belief, are filled with such hate. I was raised in the church and I accept Jesus Christ as my savior. I don't hate. Never was taught to hate. Makes me wonder if Kansas was settled by a bunch of former klan members run out of the south.

AJ

Internet Gambling Coming to an end

2006-02-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

I just read a post about 115 lawmakers in Washington who cosponsored a bill to outlaw internet gambling. Making it a criminal offense to transfer money via most any means to an off-shore gambling house because, according to law makers, those off shore businesses only laundry money.

While I know we need to do our best to stop laundering money and we should fight criminal activity. But I also think our law makers in congress could maybe spending their time doing something other than try and create laws that are no more than an attempt to attack thing they are morally against.

Do I gamble? Yes I do. Am I going to lose my house or my family because of my gambling? No I'm not. Do I need congress telling me what I can't do and what I can do when it comes to some harmless betting? No I don't.

I know there are some people that need help with their gambling problem. But those folks are going to find a away to gamble no matter what the law's are...just like a junkie is going to find a way to get high.

Let's get down to real business and stop trying to kill free enterprise.

AJ