Patrick Eakes

I appreciate mayor Keith Holliday's article describing the events that led to David Wray's resignation. I had read just about all the information in his piece at different times, but his summary is useful.

I believe if the city, its staff, and/or its elected officials had released information like this during the last year and a half, public perception about Wray's departure might be different. Their silence has left a vacuum that has been filled by people who have legitimate concerns and others who see a witch behind every tree.

Kristen and I went to see Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me at Wait Chapel Thursday night. The show was good fun, although it started late because it took forever to get the 2,000 ticket holders through a single entrance at the front of the chapel.

The highlight of the show was the Not My Job segment, which asks unusual questions of a celebrity guest. Thursday night, W-S native Chris Paul was their first-ever professional athlete for the segment. Known in some circles as Nut Punch, Paul was remarkably witty and well-mannered.

You can enjoy the show, too. If you listen closely, you can hear me clapping.

Update: Apparently, Sarah Beth Jones and Anthony from Plead the First were at the show, too. I wish I had seem them to say hello.

I was driving on I-40 West to Clemmons a little past noon yesterday when I noticed a blue light behind me. It was a motorcycle cop, so I immediately checked my speed - 71 mph - not too bad.

I was in the far left lane, and he aggressively waved me to the right. I assumed he needed to get by me...until he moved over with me. He waved me to the right again. We repeated that drill a couple more times until I got to the right shoulder.

Dude asked for my license, and then he asked forcefully if I was running late. I replied I might be five minutes behind schedule. He then asked me if I knew the speed limit with all the charm typical of that situation. I replied it was 65mph. Clearly growing impatient with me, he barked "No! What's the speed limit on Hwy 52?" I replied with a less-than-confident "55?"

He finally realized he pulled the wrong care over, perhaps because my license confiemed I live in Greensboro and probably had only taken I-40 on my drive. He shoved my license back at me, and said "Drive slower!"

Nice.

With this help, I was now ten minutes behind schedule.

I like Wake Forest to make a strong showing at home against Nebraska today. Despite their great season a year ago, a team like the Nebraska will probably take the Deacons lightly. I give them a 50/50 shot to win and a very good chance to keep the game close even if they lose.

Martin Eakes predicted the collapse of the subprime mortgage lending industry a year ago. He told me this debacle would start in 2007. and he says the worst is still to come. I learned a long time ago to listen to what he says, so I would start bracing for a rough housing market in 2008.

I have read many viewpoints regarding the tug of war between Moses Cone and Blue Cross Blue Shield, but I think Karl Fields gets it right in today's News & Record.

He illuminates two important facts - Moses Cone shows its commitment to community and patients by treating thousands without insurance each year, and BCBS' executives have demonstrated their greed publicly in the past.

BCBS' attempt to convert from not-for-profit to for-profit a few years ago bordered on criminal behavior. The billion dollar net worth of the company was accumulated with essentially no income tax paid, so any conversion to for-profit status had to be to the benefit of the public. Instead, it was a raw cash grab by the executives that would have led to increased premiums and greater numbers of uninsured in North Carolina.

It was a despicable move a few years ago, and it leaves Blue Cross with no credibility today when it tries to put the blame on Moses Cone.