tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74794442011-08-16T23:12:33.616-04:00Ruminations and observations from a scattered mindPatrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.comBlogger9611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-70783766002175508462011-04-06T22:30:00.001-04:002011-04-06T22:31:15.716-04:00

I have no idea why my formatting evaporated on the last post. Perhaps that is my punishment for being away so long.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-47502586713964871072011-04-06T22:13:00.005-04:002011-04-06T22:31:46.282-04:00

The Masters golf championship begins tomorrow morning in Augusta, GA. I had a chance to attend the practice round on Monday, and had to decline through gritted teeth. I missed a beautiful day there, before the storm blew through, and it looks like the weather will be perfect through the tournament. Phil Mickelson is the clear favorite to win. Dude has three Masters titles, along with ten more top

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-13419476178853855802010-06-16T23:10:00.001-04:002010-06-17T08:39:33.684-04:00

The U.S. Open golf championship begins tomorrow at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three courses (along with Shinnecock Hills and Pinehurst CC #2) locked into the unofficial US Open rota. The course often features high wind and rain, but the weather looks clear and cool for the next four days.Past U.S. Opens at Pebble have produced wins for the best golfers of the day, and I think the hottest

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-22140229076639028572009-08-11T09:12:00.001-04:002009-08-11T11:03:32.037-04:00

I find it odd Charles Davenport, Jr. used the following quote in his most recent opinion column: "In no other occupation is mediocrity -- or positive incompetence -- so thoroughly entrenched as in the teaching profession today." (emphasis mine)It's strange Davenport would use a quote referring to teaching as a profession, when just a few weeks ago he argued that teaching is not a profession. Of

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-67294203431428745522009-06-18T00:01:00.005-04:002009-06-18T00:08:15.737-04:00

The US Open golf championship begins today at Bethpage State Park's Black Course, the second visit to the first truly public facility to host the championship. This is a long, mean course that only yielded one subpar finish in 2002.The course has received lots of rain recently, and they expect a good bit more over the next few days. Unless the USGA moves the tees up (a real possibility), there

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-47062641837833473002009-04-09T05:22:00.000-04:002009-04-09T06:55:36.879-04:00

Masters Picks 2009The Masters golf championship begins this morning in Augusta, GA. I was fortunate enough to attend Tuesday's practice round, when it was cool, cloudy, and extremely windy. Fortunately, conditions look great through Sunday. The course should get firmer during the tournament, and that will allow the cream of the field to rise to the top.Sergio Garcia: #3 in the world, drives the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-90230756427755405192009-03-09T20:33:00.002-04:002009-03-09T20:45:26.470-04:00

The All-ACC team was announced today, and senior Tyler Hansbrough was a unanimous selection for a record fourth year. It is an incredible accomplishment that needs no inflating, but the press release at the conference web site noted this curious tidbit (emphasis mine):"Hansbrough last year became the third player in league history to beunanimously named to the all-ACC team three times, joining

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-84876827281145321492009-02-22T14:12:00.006-05:002009-03-07T12:21:57.440-05:00

I usually watch the Oscars, if for no other reason than to see a couple of train wrecks. However, wifey has other plans for us this evening, so I will miss all the fun.As has been the case the last few years, I have not seen all of the nominated films and performances, but neither have a lot of the voters, so I should be in good shape to nail a few predictions.Supporting Actress: This seems like

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-74018696442105168282009-01-14T10:22:00.004-05:002009-01-15T09:39:14.710-05:00

Durham police are looking for Harry Wayne Massey, Jr. in connection with the attack on my uncle, Martin Eakes. Massey is charged with having Martin's stolen cell phone the day after the attack. Massey is believed to be homeless, so I will be very interested to find out if he is located.Update: Massey has been arrested.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-46951706557522915022008-12-23T11:10:00.001-05:002008-12-23T11:16:22.092-05:00

My favorite version of my favorite Christmas song

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-87051797961707731572008-12-03T11:30:00.003-05:002008-12-03T11:38:35.036-05:00

You might have read that my uncle Martin Eakes was attacked last Monday night as he walked from his office to his car. The brutal beating left Martin with a severed left biceps, a ripped hamstring, and in need of 15 stitches in his forehead.If anything, the news reports failed to capture the severity of the attack. Martin questions whether he would have survived had the noise from going through a

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-34277350618070572792008-11-22T10:23:00.003-05:002008-11-22T10:36:28.606-05:00

Sports Illustrated invited its writers to nominate candidates for their annual Sportsman of the Year award. The award often goes to athlete at the peak of his/her career or after s/he has made a great contribution outside the competitive arena.I found it interesting that SI's top NBA writer, Jack McCallum, nominated Greensboro' Joey Cheek, after China revoked his visa just before the Olympic

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-57099558431883729682008-11-04T00:25:00.001-05:002008-11-04T00:25:52.591-05:00

Four years ago, I won the electoral college prediction poll at Mathew Gross' blog with a direct hit (unfortunately, he wiped his archives before 2005, probably in an attempt to avoid giving me my prize for the win). Of course, that election was more predictable than now since most states fell in line with the 2000 election.So this year, it will be a little tougher. Here goes.NC Governor: Pat

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-83896857318885300682008-10-30T13:10:00.003-04:002008-10-30T13:25:25.735-04:00

Orson Scott Card has had plenty of success as a writer, but he has reached a new peak now that Snopes has commented on his most recent article.Related

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-58154886744801061412008-10-25T19:18:00.002-04:002008-10-25T19:29:20.205-04:00

Well that explains a hell of a lot.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-19430450033627267822008-10-22T07:00:00.000-04:002008-10-22T07:00:00.910-04:00

While NC State's football team continues to struggle, its Wolfpack Club is raising tons of money and establishing an expansive member base that is the envy of most peer institutions. Leading this charge is Bobby Purcell, the executive director.Purcell is a true pro that gets the big picture and the smallest details right, and there is no denying those skills are responsible for the Wolfpack

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-19647875130959871832008-10-20T10:50:00.005-04:002008-10-20T10:54:25.862-04:00

"Subprime lenders made irresponsible loans that they knew most families could never pay back and would need to refinance, generating more fee income for brokers and mortgage companies. Now-bankrupt mortgage lenders and Wall Street investment banks put large fees ahead of prudence, and instead of demanding sound lending practices, chose to look the other way."The cockroachs who created the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-83790046047129509872008-10-19T17:59:00.004-04:002008-10-21T12:52:39.761-04:00

Now that Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama, I wonder how long it will take the McCain campaign or its surrogates to smear Powell.My bet is less than 36 hours.***UPDATE***I am pleased there has not been a full-on smear campaign against Colin Powell, although it is disappointing that P.T. Limbaugh reduced Powell's eloquent explanation of his decusion to one based solely on race. That is about

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-71682168342646384012008-09-17T17:18:00.002-04:002008-09-17T17:21:08.545-04:00

This picture of the world's shortest man and the woman with the world's longest legs just begs for a caption contest. Have at it.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-19282327506209485492008-07-03T11:20:00.004-04:002008-07-03T11:31:43.579-04:00

I kept this quiet for awhile, but it is now time for the Big Announcement.'

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-77038014098093836662008-06-11T20:22:00.005-04:002008-06-12T12:22:48.583-04:00

The US Open golf championship begins today at Torrey Pines, only the second public facility to host the championship. Also unusual is the U.S. Open being staged at a course that has a regular PGA Tour stop, although the Open version of Torrey Pines will be significantly harder than the soft course the pros see each January.Here is my analysis of some of the top players in the world:Vijay Singh:

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-35493955767794424572008-04-21T19:47:00.009-04:002008-04-21T20:47:47.169-04:00

Throughout the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I have tried hard not to think of the wounded and dead in abstract terms. I know these wars are very personal for thousands of military families.On Friday, we learned that Sgt. Lance O. Eakes, my second cousin, was killed in Iraq. Lance was a generation younger than me, so I did not know him well, but I still feel a great loss because of the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-81137782238031525762008-04-10T08:44:00.005-04:002008-04-10T09:28:34.280-04:00

The Masters golf championship begins this morning in Augusta, GA. The course is wet and will play very long, limiting the number of legitimate contenders. I do not have time for my traditional analysis and full-scale predictions, so I will provide some quick hits.Short to medium hitters will have a very tough time getting in the mix this weekend. That is unfortunate, because golfers like Luke

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-8736797143064089102008-03-12T20:13:00.002-04:002008-03-12T20:17:15.570-04:00

Isn't it about time to rename this place the Socially Significant if Frequently Off-Key Hall of Fame?

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-51325306879077879352008-02-28T00:56:00.012-05:002008-02-28T01:16:57.762-05:00

The March edition of USAirways Magazine features Greensboro in its Profiles section. They did a nice job covering G'boro and even managed to include the Wyndham Championship's move back to Sedgefield Country Club. That's pretty slick considering the announcement came just a week ago.Greensboro resident John Maginnes, a former PGA Tour player and helluva nice guy, has his monthly interview with

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-69961216366895619782008-02-24T18:28:00.002-05:002008-02-24T18:45:44.863-05:00

I will keep one eye on the OSCARS tonight. If nothing else, host John Stewart should be entertaining.For the fourth year in a row, I will list my predictions for the major awards. I have made a nice bit of change through the year with wagers on the OSCARS, but this year I have no money at stake.Supporting Actress: Through the years, this has been the one category that has consistently been hard

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-63318182275373497882008-01-08T15:07:00.000-05:002008-01-08T15:19:13.248-05:00

Baseball has not had much to celebrate lately, but the just-released Hall of Fame vote holds some good news.Good News: Goose Gossage InBetter News: Mark McGwire Strikes Out AgainThe fact McGwire did not pick up a single vote from last year is encouraging.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-6054144186845898392007-12-14T11:56:00.001-05:002007-12-14T12:11:56.510-05:00

George Mitchell finally issued his No Shit Report on steroids use in baseball. I was once an avid fan of the game, but work stoppages and all involved in the game turning a blind eye to cheating killed any attraction the game once held for me.Previously

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-88011472297570532372007-10-03T18:01:00.001-04:002007-10-03T18:08:23.185-04:00

Campbell University's underrated law school is relocating to downtown Raleigh in a move that seems oddly familiar. It's just another case of Greensboro envy for Raleigh.I've got think Campbell's law school will be more attractive to a lot of candidates simply because Raleigh has some amenities that Buies Creek doesn't - like legal alcohol consumption in restaurants.nod to alert reader dad for

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-42737287472505102722007-09-15T14:18:00.000-04:002007-09-15T14:40:58.465-04:00

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.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-17299359343694905462007-09-15T13:50:00.000-04:002007-09-15T20:54:05.620-04:00

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

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-91425041678882092312007-09-14T22:41:00.000-04:002007-09-14T22:56:48.289-04:00

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

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-17942137723260497412007-09-08T12:12:00.000-04:002007-09-08T12:42:19.657-04:00

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.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-36740135389351741012007-09-06T21:32:00.000-04:002007-09-06T21:38:54.028-04:00

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.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-3189913682694783762007-09-06T21:14:00.001-04:002007-09-06T21:27:22.328-04:00

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

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-74126357378301314892007-08-18T09:00:00.000-04:002007-08-18T09:06:59.996-04:00

I was lucky enough to play in the pro-am at the Wyndham Championship on Monday. These events allow four amateurs to rub elbows with a pro for a day. One of my amateur partners was a neighbor, and the other two were from Dallas and Chicago. We were paired with PGA TOUR player Jerry Smith of Phoenix.Although I managed to play some of the worst golf in several years, I enjoyed the day. We had

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1411050602202779782007-08-16T06:13:00.000-04:002007-08-16T06:13:18.337-04:00

"Most top players will have qualified for the four-tournament series and will sit out the Greensboro stop to get rest before playing the next four weeks in a big money shootout."I wrote over a year and a half ago that the (at that point still to be renamed) Wyndham Championship would struggle to attract big names to Greensboro. It was completely predictable, so I don't understand all the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-80631262489326305742007-08-16T04:53:00.000-04:002007-08-16T05:55:53.184-04:00

Today marks the 30th anniversary of both Elvis' death and my 11th birthday. Elvis' passing did not make much of an impression on the younger version of me. Come to think of it, I am a little perplexed that he is still such a big deal. Maybe we should focus on cool people with birthdays today instead.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-49603936879461690852007-08-09T06:13:00.000-04:002007-08-09T08:32:26.134-04:00

The PGA Championship begins today at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, OK.. Southern Hills is a bit of a rarity in that it regularly hosts both US Opens and PGA Championships. Most of our great courses align with one or the other.It will be over 100 degrees F each day of the tournament. This will have two big effects. The first is course playability, and the second is player conditioning.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-43752240775157185652007-07-19T00:14:00.000-04:002007-07-19T22:25:52.765-04:00

2007 Open Championship PicksThe Open Championship begins today Carnoustie Golf Links. Carnoustie is the only one of the Open rota courses I have played. It generally is considered the toughest of the Open courses, but it has been softened considerably after a brutal Open in 1999.I had the privilege of playing Carnoustie 23 years ago today with my grandfather. Our caddy was the reigning boys

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-42068678577349876152007-07-06T14:16:00.000-04:002007-07-06T14:24:57.249-04:00

The Roanoke Times has announced it is following its sister paper, the News & Record, down the path of staff cuts. Both publications are owned by Landmark Communications, and it appears declining ad revenues are the cause of cuts at both papers.As more eyeballs go to newer media forms, traditional media outlets will continue to struggle to find replacement revenue for declining ads. I wonder at

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-82033868659657550442007-06-13T22:27:00.000-04:002007-06-13T22:33:01.592-04:00

The US Open golf championship begins tomorrow at Oakmont Country Club, which many golfers consider the hardest course in the country. The course has removed almost 5,000 trees. You might think that makes the course easier, but the increased sunlight and air circulation have allowed the rough to become long and lush.The course is playing at 7,400 yards. With the firm conditions, that is not as

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-76714285699841872132007-05-01T10:21:00.000-04:002007-05-01T10:23:16.608-04:00

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-17261878327554414642007-03-12T08:39:00.000-04:002007-03-12T08:54:11.189-04:00

Sidney Lowe may be the perfect coach for today's college game. He showed smarts and guts as a player, getting the most out of the talent around him. And he is one of the few college coaches who has the entire NBA on speed dial, a considerable asset when recruiting top talent.Although they were picked last in the ACC this year, the Wolfpack showed flashes of great play with wins over Carolina

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-15054486570077785712007-03-11T15:11:00.000-04:002007-03-11T15:42:13.364-04:00

Carolina did everything right.The Tarheels controlled the tempo, played with great defensive intensity, shot 58% from the field, 60% from behind the arc, and made 23 of their 24 free throws. That performance should have allowed them to blow N.C. State out of the gym, right?It wasn't that easy.After Carolina built a 16 point lead only six minutes into the second half, the game could have been

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-62574860872995268112007-03-06T09:52:00.000-05:002007-03-06T11:28:29.991-05:00

Almost exactly one year ago, Kristen was about to give birth to our little boy, John. His delivery was so smooth, especially compared to the delivery of our first child, Sarah. She showed her defining stubbornness even before she made it into the world.John's first year has been very different than Sarah's. She has always been very petite - he is built like a redwood stump. It took her awhile

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-14768456909986856852007-02-25T08:24:00.000-05:002007-02-25T09:03:51.342-05:00

I am looking forward to watching the OSCARS tonight. Our home will be a little calmer than last year, when Kristen was having contractions leading up to delivering John.Like the last two years, I will weigh in with my predictions for the major awards. With two very young children, I have only seen a few of the nominated performances.I have gone at least five for six each year in the last decade

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-8833989977589690252007-02-18T10:50:00.000-05:002007-02-18T10:48:31.223-05:00

This year, I will play golf for the fourth time in 2007. For a winter that has been remarkably mild, I have managed to pick cold and excessively windy days each time I have played.Two weeks ago in Pinehurst, the wind blew at a steady 25mph. Today, the high will barely get out of the 30's, and wind gusts will push 30mph. The other two days have been just as trying.The bad news is that type of

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-44331621310985627892007-02-18T10:44:00.000-05:002007-02-18T10:45:03.823-05:00

My company purchased a building last fall and extensively renovated the factory and offices. We finally got moved in at the first of this year.We generate a fair amount of waste in our operation, and much of it is recyclable. We sell all of the copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless to companies that melt those raw materials and produce new goods with them. Our other recyclable items go to the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-50807360956144518142007-02-18T08:48:00.000-05:002007-02-18T09:15:45.383-05:00

Kristen and I are one of the couples interviewed in YES!Weekly's annual Valentine's Day edition (scroll to near the bottom of the article). We talked with news editor Jordan Green, who is one of the nicest people I have ever met.We knew our place in the line up of couples. I'm an engineer, she is a CPA, and we have two kids, a dog, and a mortgage - pretty traditional profile. Jordan describes me

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-19170463786447894782007-02-06T16:51:00.000-05:002007-02-06T16:54:31.141-05:00

Chris Weaver, aka PhotogBlog, celebrates winning an Emmy for his work on a story during the NCAA basketball tourney in Greensboro last year. Chris is a genuinely nice guy and obviously great at his craft.Score one for the good guys!

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-54260972694124674032007-01-21T16:15:00.000-05:002007-01-21T16:14:48.489-05:00

Sedgefield Country Club's golf course is undergoing an extensive renovation through late summer 2007. That leaves me with no home course for my gang's weekly game.The bad news is we lose our routine of playing on Sunday afternoons followed by a beer. The good news is that we have playing privileges at many of the better courses in the Triad, so we get to play courses we otherwise would

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1169301094366148422007-01-20T08:50:00.000-05:002007-01-20T08:51:34.366-05:00

I wish someone who has Hillary Clinton's ear would explain to her that she cannot be President.Women will remain unelectable for the highest office for another 10-15 years, until our oldest voters have passed on. A large group of older voters, who still have enough numbers to be significant, think the Oval Office is a man's place.Her husband has one of the best political minds of our time, so he

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1169300591501845502007-01-20T08:36:00.000-05:002007-01-21T14:27:05.810-05:00

"Hi. I'm Art Buchwald, and I just died."This might be the greatest opening line in the history of obituaries.Some thought being a satirist in Washington was like shooting fish in a barrel, but I still think Buchwald was underrated as a funny man

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1167597344179492562007-01-15T19:04:00.000-05:002007-01-15T19:09:38.930-05:00

Kristen and I watched Little Miss Sunshine on DVD Saturday night. It is a quirky look at an offbeat family on a road trip. To its credit, the film sidesteps the typical Hollywood whitewash and remains brutally honest in examining the small and large setbacks we all face in our lives.Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette are as good as ever, but Alan Arkin steals the show as the coke-sniffing grandpa.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1168811134935489192007-01-14T16:40:00.000-05:002007-01-14T16:45:34.976-05:00

The most anticipated NFL playoff game of this weekend is about to kickoff with the New England Patriots facing the San Diego Chargers. Chief among the subplots for this game is the battle between the quarterbacks: veteran Tom Brady against newbie Phillip Rivers.Brady is the model NFL QB of the last decade, leading the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles by the age of 27. He is steady, smart,

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1167595288628815242007-01-01T12:40:00.000-05:002007-01-01T12:39:55.586-05:00

I have been a subscriber to Sports Illustrated for over 30 years, and I have never been more disappointed in their selection of the 2006 Sportsman of the Year.Some years, SI picks athletes who have had career defining years. Other years, SI celebrated career achievements. Every so often, SI has acknowledged athletes whose actions away from competition had a dramatic impact on the world.This year,

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1167594018562006992006-12-31T14:30:00.000-05:002006-12-31T14:40:18.596-05:00

I have not posted regularly during the second half of 2006. I have been busy with a new son, a new time-consuming position in Rotary, and an upturn in my business.I am not making any promises to do better in 2007, but I hope that my circumstances will allow me more time to blog.For now, I will be unloading my brain with a few posts on items from the last month or so.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1165714332305839612006-12-09T20:26:00.000-05:002006-12-09T20:37:34.830-05:00

Wow! I never thought of Jimmy Carter as a sexual tiger.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1165699264657445892006-12-09T16:15:00.000-05:002006-12-09T16:21:04.683-05:00

Former Converger Amanda Congdon has crossed the country, and now she has landed with ABC News. This should be interesting.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1165688487756007522006-12-09T13:20:00.000-05:002006-12-10T10:22:50.870-05:00

You gotta marvel at Ed Hardin.He can create a negative commentary when none is warranted.This week's target is NC State's athletic department and fans. Amid the hiring of new head football coach Tom O'Brien, formerly of Boston College, Cranky Ed describes the Wolfpack family as so dysfunctional that they are fun to watch."There's nothing else like it in collegiate sports, a modern sports machine

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1165099296742119342006-12-02T17:41:00.000-05:002006-12-02T17:41:36.803-05:00

"Oh, here's to Wake Forest,Football's the poorest!"Or not.Wake Forest continued its impressive run by beating Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game. As conference champs, the Deacs will represent the ACC in the Orange Bowl.I recall hearing AD Ron Wellman speak a few years ago. He said he had found one of the best football coaches in America in Jim Grobe, a relative unknown at the time.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1161568730972153672006-11-12T13:27:00.000-05:002006-11-12T13:35:46.276-05:00

This is a much delayed follow up to my previous post regarding the resignation of four members of Greensboro 101's editorial board....There was plenty of discussion a few weeks ago about the resignation of four members of Greensboro101's editorial board. I like and respect all four of the board members who resigned, and I understand the reasons for each person's decision.I arrived at a different

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1161538617705440232006-10-22T13:48:00.000-04:002006-10-22T14:07:40.210-04:00

Roch Smith Jr., founder and administrator of Greensboro101, has issued a public statement about the posting of the RMA report at GSO101 and the resulting fall out with his editorial board. In his statement, Roch thanks the departed board members for their contributions and apologizes for mistakes surrounding the posting.Four board members resigned during a meeting last Monday evening. All four

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1161462799775867072006-10-21T23:59:00.000-04:002006-10-22T02:02:32.533-04:00

I attended the auction of my maternal grandparents' home and possessions this morning.As I walked past piles of auction items in their yard, it was like a warped version of This Is Your Life. I saw Christmas ornaments from my childhood, dinner plates that served so many holiday and birthday meals, and a 30-year old Monopoly game.My grandfather was the sole provider as a Methodist minister during

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1159723868597781942006-10-01T13:21:00.000-04:002006-10-01T13:31:08.626-04:00

“Get it right this time.” - Dick Cheney to Donald Rumsfeld immediately after the Defense Secretary was sworn in.Whoops!A Newsweek excerpt from Bob Woodward's upcoming State of Denial provides a fascinating view of the fatal mix of arrogance, incompetence, and insolence so characteristic of Don Rumsfeld.'“I’m the secretary of defense,” Rumsfeld insisted repeatedly in his first months in 2001. “I’m

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1159480216861197902006-09-28T17:30:00.000-04:002006-09-28T17:50:16.896-04:00

This has got to be a mistake.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1159239278654889152006-09-25T22:47:00.000-04:002006-09-25T22:54:38.870-04:00

UNCG professor William Brown Jr. recently testified before the U.S. Senate banking committee in support of payday lenders that prey on military personnel. In many states, these lenders take advantage of men and women in uniform by charging rates exceeding 400% (NC rightly caps the rate at 36%).These predatory loans frequently lead to deeper financial problems that cause military personnel to lose

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1158900411397438172006-09-22T00:54:00.000-04:002006-09-22T01:00:52.256-04:00

For the first time ever, the USA enters the Ryder Cup as an underdog. They earned it by getting blown out in the last Ryder Cup two years ago and having four rookies on their squad this time.Excepting Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, the US players are off form. However, several Euros are playing well, and they always seem to bring their best to the Ryder Cup.I thought the Euros would upset the US in

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1158013206327886612006-09-11T18:14:00.000-04:002006-09-11T18:20:11.240-04:00

For me, no one has captured the essence of 9/11 like Ed Cone.Today's column follows a string of exceptional writing on the topic. I do not know how Ed summoned the strength to write so well about something so personal and tragic, but he has made 9/11 more real for me than anyone else.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1157833788798222232006-09-09T16:24:00.000-04:002006-09-09T16:29:48.836-04:00

It happened again today. NC State lost to Akron.To put this loss in perspective, the Zips now have two wins over I-A football teams in their entire history. The other victim was Temple, whose football program is so bad it was kicked out of the Big (L)East Conference.Despite a lackluster effort by the Pack, this loss was completely avoidable.State scored with a minute to go. Rather than realize it

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1157416831517160972006-09-04T20:36:00.000-04:002006-09-05T12:17:50.300-04:00

I am at the coast for a much-needed vacation with my family. Our kids are not yet to kindergarten age, so we take advantage of this week. The crowds are gone, but the weather and surf temperature are still perfect.I have noticed a few things you don't normally see back home:- Multiple dogs in the swimming pool, and no one minds- Local TV reporters doing their spots sans shoes- Lifeguards who have

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1157310893947229762006-09-03T15:11:00.000-04:002006-09-03T15:15:12.856-04:00

Mr. Sun has stepped out from behind anonymity. He is Jim Rosenberg, longtime local funnyman and more recently a humor columnist for the News & Record.Two years ago I suggested that Jim was the local resident most in need of a blog. Hogg replied that Rosenberg would be a bore. That seemed odd at the time, but now I know Hogg was having a laugh at my expense.About a year ago, I read something Mr.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1156873773805196722006-08-29T13:36:00.000-04:002006-08-29T13:49:33.846-04:00

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld offers this pearl:"But some seem not to have learned history's lessons."Remarkably, he was referring to administration critics rather than himself. While he considers the topic of history, he might want to consider how it will feel to sit on the short list of defense secretary disasters.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1155775167204908812006-08-16T20:33:00.000-04:002006-08-16T20:39:27.966-04:00

The PGA Championship begins tomorrow at Medinah Country Club.Medinah is a long course with huge trees that line most fairways. Putting is always paramount in championship golf, but driving the ball long and straight will be just as important this week. Also, this is the last week PGA Tour players can earn points for the Ryder Cup, and that will affect golfers on the bubble.Here is my analysis of

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1155304771200472092006-08-11T09:55:00.000-04:002006-08-11T10:00:56.190-04:00

Only three weeks after learning he had pancreatic cancer, Fred Sudermann passed away on Wednesday. My sister Emily is married to Fred's son, Michael.Fred was distinguished in his service to Wichita State University, and he was co-founder of the National Institute for Aviation Research that is based at the school.Fred's true loves were his family and friends, and his art. He and my sister were

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1154663689684966872006-08-03T23:41:00.000-04:002006-08-03T23:54:49.746-04:00

"This is a conflict that began with misinformation, muddled messages, and the Panglossian suggestion that a country whose history has been bathed in blood could be transformed into a little Nebraska."Newsweek's Anna Quindlen nails the core errors that brought us to the conflict in Iraq and predicts a slew of pithy slogans that oversimplify that mess during election season."Last week the General

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1154638515744730952006-08-03T16:51:00.000-04:002006-08-03T16:55:15.780-04:00

Floyd Landis is now floating the idea that dehydration might have caused him to have extremely elevated levels of testosterone when tested at the Tour de France. Sure, Floyd, you were probably the only dehydrated cyclist in the Tour.Dude is starting to run out of excuses, so I thought I would help by referring him to my friend Jake."I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1154635400798035122006-08-03T15:59:00.000-04:002006-08-03T16:06:10.036-04:00

I have a strong stomach, but the thought of bidding on Coach Chuck Amato's shoes (game worn, no less) is enough to make me heave.Can this clown get any worse?

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1153365338096636152006-07-19T23:11:00.000-04:002006-07-19T23:15:39.506-04:00

The British Open golf championship begins tomorrow at the little known Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The last time an Open was contested at Liverpool was almost 40 years ago, so most of the players are unfamiliar with this links course. One of the great elements of Open golf is the unpredictable weather. Sometimes it is calm, but most of the time the wind blows fiercely with squalls always a

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1151785368560278022006-07-02T16:34:00.000-04:002006-07-02T16:38:22.700-04:00

July 4th is just a couple of days away. Some folks make it a tradition to drink too much on this holiday, but watch this video to learn how to deal with your drunken friends.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1151787462955805362006-07-01T16:54:00.000-04:002006-07-01T16:57:42.956-04:00

This magic trick you just have to see for yourself.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1151786810218885842006-07-01T16:45:00.000-04:002006-07-01T16:46:50.246-04:00

I have high hopes for Jeri Rowe's new thrice-weekly column in the News & Record. I have only met Jeri a couple of times, but his writing style makes me feel like I know him better. I like his turn of the phrase and appreciation for the local arts scene in all its forms.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1151785210641160582006-07-01T16:16:00.000-04:002006-07-01T16:20:10.673-04:00

Today marks the tenth anniversary of forming my company, C.P. Eakes Company. We have no sales force and rely on the quality of our metal goods to generate repeat and referral business. We have had a good run and are thankful to still be around after ten years.More on the company

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1151782427135553462006-07-01T15:22:00.000-04:002006-07-01T15:33:47.166-04:00

I have been completely swamped for the last few months. We had a new baby in March, just as my business experienced a steep upturn in volume. This is also my busiest time of year with my volunteer activities, including Rotary and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.The result is only 31 posts in April, 15 posts in May, and six posts in June. Maybe July will bring a few more posts.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1150894393629771212006-06-21T08:45:00.000-04:002006-06-21T08:53:13.670-04:00

At one time, buddy David Hoggard was getting a lot of hits for his tales of canceling his AOL service. The new anti-AOL king is Vinny of Insignificant Thoughts. Listen to his phone call to AOL here.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1150654533299350132006-06-18T14:09:00.000-04:002006-06-18T14:15:33.330-04:00

It is Father's Day and Sunday (I know FD is always on Sunday, but work with me), so I present a reworked Biblical verse sent to me by my dad.Happy Father's Day, Dad!The 23rd QualmBush is my shepherd; I may not relax.He maketh trees to be cut down in national forests.He leadeth trucks into the still wilderness.He restoreth my fears.He leadeth me in the paths of international disgrace for his ego's

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1150624857754429702006-06-18T05:35:00.000-04:002006-06-18T06:00:57.926-04:00

"Survivors of the massacre could come before the Greensboro City Council and, as individuals or a group, apologize for their roles in the terrible events of Nov. 3, 1979."Ed Cone makes a novel suggestion about kicking off the Reconciliation phase of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation process: ask the survivors to make the first apology.Cone is correct that his suggestion is counterintuitive,

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1150546052192103302006-06-17T08:03:00.000-04:002006-06-17T08:07:32.310-04:00

Check out this promo spot for a local tv station in Terre Haute, IN.I am not sure what they hope to accomplish, but I am pretty sure the tag line of "This is Your News, Bitch" is not good for tv news ratings with at least a few important demographic groups.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1150337491445325232006-06-14T22:17:00.000-04:002006-06-14T22:21:14.483-04:00

The US Open golf championship begins tomorrow at Winged Foot Golf Club. The club is legendary for the "Massacre at Winged Foot" in 1974, when the USGA kicked the field's ass with an impossible set up.The course has been lengthened, the fairways narrowed, and the rough deepened since 1974. Still, the players and their equipment have advanced even more, and I predict that at least the winner will

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1149260885786473192006-06-02T11:07:00.000-04:002006-06-02T11:27:31.896-04:00

Bill O'Reilly frequently gets facts wrong. Even when his viewers point out those mistakes, he generally will not admit them. Since O'Reilly only preaches to his choir, he seems generally harmless (unless you are a FoxNews producer).But this time, O'Reilly went too far. He ascribed some of the most heinous war crimes committed by Nazis against Americans at the Battle of the Bulge to the Americans.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1149034017363601082006-05-30T20:01:00.000-04:002006-05-30T20:06:57.410-04:00

I voted this evening about a half hour before the polls closed. I was #12 at my precinct out of over 3,000 registered voters. That is less than a voter an hour and less than one half of 1% of eligible voters at my precinct.It's not a news flash, but it is sad.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148950125055455352006-05-29T20:46:00.000-04:002006-05-29T20:48:45.100-04:00

Warning - moron caught on tape.This one still makes me laugh four years after it happened.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148853928857823542006-05-28T20:45:00.000-04:002006-05-28T20:53:40.313-04:00

We said goodbye to Ruth Thompson, my grandmother, this afternoon.She was entombed at the mausoleum at Guilford Memorial Park, which her parents established on their land early in the twentieth century. The phrase "going home" fits her well, since she now rests a few hundred yards from her birthplace.My grandmother was frequently irascible but capable of being very generous. Everyone at her

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148672083282412902006-05-26T15:30:00.000-04:002006-05-28T09:30:03.466-04:00

I am lucky to have memories of five of my great grandparents. I always felt fortunate to have known any of them, and I felt especially blessed to have "Mama Eakes" in my life until I was in graduate school. She was the smart, snuff-dipping, non-nonsense matriarch of my father's family, and I loved her a great deal.I did not lose a grandparent until I was 29, when my dad's mom died from a stroke.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148615746327847272006-05-25T23:52:00.000-04:002006-05-26T14:36:48.423-04:00

I have been blogging pretty lightly this month. I have been buried at work, have two children under the age of 3, and lots of Rotary responsibilities that come up every May.I thought I would take a break from all that tonight by watching the season finale of 24, which I was sure I had on my DVR. Or not.Although I had the DVR set up to record 24 every Monday, for some reason it did not tape the

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148256848202271912006-05-21T20:10:00.000-04:002006-05-21T20:15:20.276-04:00

Tina Firesheets has a great article on Brandon Davis and Jane Van Middlesworth in today's News & Record. A great teacher can not only change a student's life, but that student can become a teacher and do the same for other students.I knew a talented student like Brandon when I was in high school. I was a senior in the high school marching band (here come the band geek comments), and our band was

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148254043998754632006-05-21T19:24:00.000-04:002006-05-21T19:27:24.030-04:00

This year's celebrity commencement speakers have been taking a beating during and after their speeches. It wasn't so long ago that some graduates embraced their gowned celebrities."Thank you Mr. President, I had forgotten how crushingly dull these ceremonies are. Thank you. "Of course, with an opening line like that, how could Jon Stewart fail?

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148071928010285982006-05-19T16:48:00.000-04:002006-05-19T16:52:08.056-04:00

The Da Vinci Code opens today, but reviews ranging from mildly negative to scathing have preceded its premier. Nice guy Joel Siegel of ABC News has an entertaining review of this movie that apparently fails to please.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7479444.post-1148064124264335752006-05-19T14:39:00.000-04:002006-05-19T14:42:04.296-04:00

I ran into a roadblock a few minutes ago just short of Grimsley High School. The police officers I could see past the roadblock appeared to have shotguns in tote. Now I know why.

Patrick Eakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379957248861844077noreply@blogger.com0