NOVEMBER 26 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Tye Coats - Texas Glory 2007 Pitcher/Utility - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Hannah Rose Peters-P/st- Shilos, to Dakota Wesleyan University
Auburn signed: Lauren Schmalz (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Angel Bunner (Fairless Hills, Pa.), infielders Cassie Trosclair (Harvey, La.), Megan Mitchell (Huntsville, Ala.) and Kyndall White (Pinson, Ala.) and outfielder Katie Colton (Yucaipa, Calif.).
Tennessee signed: Kelly Grieve (Asheville, N.C./Enka H.S.), Chandra Mogan (Fontana, Calif./Fontana H.S.), Kelsey Stander (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Chaparral H.S.), and Ashton Ward (Charlotte, N.C./Butler H.S.).
III WORLD CUP
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association
announced that advance pre-sale tickets are now available for the III World Cup
of Softball scheduled for July 11-16, 2007 at ASA Don E. Porter Hall of Fame
Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. This world-class event will once again feature
some of the best international softball team’s in the world. A schedule for the
III World Cup of Softball will be released in early Spring 2007 and is expected
to include the top five teams in the world including Canada, China, Australia,
Japan, the European Qualifier, a South American/Latin America Qualifier and the
United States.
Tickets are available now through www.softballoutlet.com or by calling
1-800-654-8337.
ASA NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
Oklahoma City, Okla.---Oklahoma City, home to the Amateur Softball Association’s National Headquarters and the National Softball Hall of Fame, will serve as the host city for the 2008 ASA National Council Meeting. Oklahoma City was chosen over Birmingham, Ala., after bids by Spokane, Wash., and Dallas, Texas were withdrawn before final bidding began. An overwhelming majority of ASA voting members selected Oklahoma City after both cities gave formal presentation to over 280 delegates during its recent annual meeting in Colorado Springs. The 2008 meeting will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City while the Marriott Renaissance and Courtyard by Marriott will serve as overflow properties.
THE WAR IN IRAQ
Civil war is historically defined as war between geographical sections or political factions of the same nation. The king of Jordan warned this weekend about the possibility of civil war erupting simultaneously in three sectors: Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine-Israel. NBC has already declared that sectarian violence is out of control – and that civil war in Iraq is a fact on the ground. The Administration shies away from that term, just as its resists talking to Iran but appears willing of late to have Syria involved in multi-party talks. Meanwhile, key Sunni-dominated states like Saudia Arabia remain on the sidelines, even though Middle East experts suggest Saudis could have some moderating influence on the Sunni insurgents in Iraq. Also lacking a plan: the three factions in Iraq. The Sunnis and Shiites were adamant that they must have an Arab state – dominated by the victor of the current insurgency. Sadly, the ensuing political divisiveness has so weakened the Iraqi bureaucracy that $15 billion in petrodollars which could be employed in rebuilding the country is bottled up in the Finance Ministry. (We still think oil revenues are a linch-pin for a political deal.) Regardless of party, we wish the President every success in talks this week with Maliki and urge him to seek an equitable compromise – with all the factions abroad and those at home.
THE 300
The United States passed the 300 million population mark this year, up from 200 million in 1967. Our country has changed dramatically in those near-40 years – who we are, where we live, how we vote, the faiths we hold. Immigration, scientific achievements, economic expansion have all made their mark since 1915 (100 million) when immigration from Europe was torrential.
Just over 80% of our population is white, but the mix of the remainder has changed. An estimated 14.8% are Hispanic, and Latinos now outnumber blacks (12.8%) which is already having effect on politics and elections, as well as education. And, the Hispanic population is growing at a faster rate than all other population groups. In 1967, the largest segment of the foreign-born came from Italy; today 53% of the foreign born come from Latin America, most from Mexico (not counting 11 million illegal aliens). Women (51%) slightly outnumber men.
Certain statistics (Time Magazine) have profound implications for our future. For every 1,000 Americans: 568 live in the state in which they were born; 455 are employed; 426 voted in the last presidential election; 405 are married; 341 drive to work alone; 173 speak language other than English at home; 159 have no health insurance; 126 live in poverty; 122 are 65 or older; 115 claim Irish ancestry; 23 are in prison, in jail, on parole or probation; 8are grandparents caring for grandchildren; 5 are on active duty in the military, 1 is in kindergarten.
The future, as projected by Time: we will be more educated; will marry later or not at all; we will have smaller families; we will be more Hispanic. And, we will be older.
Loving County Texas has only 62 residents, but New Jersey, the most densely populated area, has 1,134 people per square mile. Harrisburg has more people than all of Wyoming.
Sociologists and some politicians worry about economic distribution and fairness. Half of Americans earn less than $30,000 a year, 90% less than $100,000. This the high-tech era, but for every 1,000 working people, there are 27 cashiers but only 3 computer programmers; 16 janitors and cleaners but only 11 elementary school teachers. However, the occupations projected to grow the most by 2014 are postsecondary teachers, home health aides, software engineers, medical assistants and preschool teachers.
On a daily basis, we buy 628 Toyota Camrys but only 34 Porsche 911s. We buy 87,431 Slimfast milkshakes, but we buy 1.9 million Krispy Kreme doughnuts, 2.4 million Burger King Whoppers, and 500,000 Hostess Twinkies.
An estimated 34% are evangelical Protestants; 22% are mainline Protestant’ 21% are Roman Catholic; 11% are unaffiliated; 5% are black Protestant; and 2.5% Jewish.
Whether you are planning shopping malls (downtown is showing some resurgence; or mass transit or highways; or new schools; airports; or how to protect our environment, these and other data have vast implications. Are you ready for this emerging America?
(PS: while recent elections confirm that America has become more centrist politically, there is no limit to what Americans can be led to believe. Census data show that 25% of Americans believe UFOs are spaceships from other worlds; 37% believe places can be haunted; and 18% believe in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster.)
I’VE SURVIVED CANCER (so far) BUT CAN I SURVIVE SATURDAY?
My nephew John (a Morgan Stanley veep in St Louis) called this morning to announce he had scored two tickets for Saturday night’s Big 12 championship game between Oklahoma and Nebraska. Have to see my beloved Sooners. Booked a round trip ticket, and pulled out my OU letter sweater. Tonight, I learn that the temperature in Kansas City will drop from 43 to 24 by game time. Bearable. Then, John calls back to advise that our seats are in the middle of the Nebraska section. Cornhuskers are not known for being civil at football games. Maybe I will wear my ankle-length Michigan parka!
OK, THIS ONE
WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD!
>>
>>
>>Mr. and Mrs. Fenton are retired, and Mrs. Fenton insists her husband go
>>with her to Walmart, but he gets bored with all the shopping trips. He
>>prefers to get in and get out, but Mrs. Fenton loves to browse. Here's a
>>letter sent to the Mrs. Fenton.
>>
>>Dear Mrs. Fenton,
>>
>>Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion
>>in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and may ban both of you
>>from our stores. We have documented all incidents on our video
>>surveillance equipment. All complaints against Mr. Fenton are listed
>>below.
>>
>>Things Mr. Bill Fenton has done while his spouse was shopping in Walmart:
>>
>>1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's
>>carts when they weren't looking.
>>
>>2.
>>July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute
>>intervals.
>>
>>3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the
>>restrooms.
>>
>>4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone,
>>'Code 3' in housewares..... and watched what happened.
>>
>>5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on
>>layaway.
>>
>>6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
>>
>>7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other
>>shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding
>>department.
>>
>>8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry
>>and asks, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
>>
>>9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror,
>>and picked his nose.
>>
>>10. November 10: While
>>handling guns in the hunting department, asked the clerk if he knows where
>>the antidepressants are.
>>
>>11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the
>>"Mission Imp ossible" theme.
>>
>>12. December 6: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna look" using
>>different size funnels.
>>
>>13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through,
>>yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
>>
>>14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
>>assumes
>>the fetal position and screams "NO ! NO! It's those voices again!!!!"
>>
>>And last, but not least ....
>>
>>15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile,
>>then yelled very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"
>>
>>Regards,
>>Walmart
>>
>>