« July 2009 | Main | February 2010 »

A replay of the State of the Union

Here's Wednesday's State of the Union by President Barack Obama, in case you missed it.

I really enjoyed listening to the president. I didn't really care for all of the excessive clapping after each point and counterpoint. Can't we just let the guy say what he's got to say and then applaud him as he leaves the room?

I'll be honest, I didn't listen to all of the his speech. I like a lot of Americans who rallied around his ideals during his election, have started to feel like his armor has dulled a little. He's the president, but it doesn't seem like he's knight he was when he took office.

Has he made the right choices in every sector? I don't really know the answer to that question.

He's been in the for about one year, and after watching him last night and based on my impression of his determination, I'm backing the guy again.

The country is a messed up place, but I'll back him.

Texas is a messed up place, but I'll back him. Heck, even Wichita Falls is starting to feel the effects. I'm tired of hearing about layoffs, especially in this city.

Like his campaign strategy before, all I can do is hope. That is all anyone can do. I just hope we, the nation, are tough enough to see a lot of our dividing and common problems come to a end.

Posted by Clayton Hein at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Debbie did Dallas... and MSU

Last semester, during some odd week, probably in November, a group of MSU students decided to test their mettle and the temperament of others around them and hosted a viewing of the legendary smut work, "Debbie Does Dallas."

I call it a win.

I might view things a little differently than a lot of people, it might be because I'm from that younger generation that is good for nothing.

MSU progresses a little further (I'm not sure which direction, but it's a direction nonetheless) and the students get to see that their university, or at least someone on campus, doesn't mind throwing caution into the wind.

In the last 10 years that I've been associated with the university this move by the students might be the riskiest move I've seen. Sure we've had Ben Stein, but he's no "Debbie Does Dallas."

Regardless of what I think about the actual event, I heard a nasty little rumor on campus yesterday that blew my mind.

Midwestern, directly or indirectly, lost about $4 million in donations from said showing of smut.

I don't know how much of that rumor is true, but who doesn't love a good rumor. They could have possibly received a little more than they would have by showing the movie, but it looks like they took a major hit from the ones with deeper pockets.

I know it might sting now, but I think it might be showing the current student body backbone for the decisions that passed through the university.

I certainly hope it wasn't as catastrophic a number as $4 million. I can only guess that figure might represent a third of the total donations to the school last year, maybe more. And now the university is saddled with the responsibility of cutting $1.2 million from their budget.

Lord, help them.

And I'll add that I don't exactly have my ear to the ground with anyone important that works for the university, and this figure might be more than public knowledge by now, but I figured I'd go ahead and get it out there anyway.

Posted by Clayton Hein at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wish the Generals would at least try

I'll start off by saying I had a blast at the Harlem Globetrotters game last night. Those guys know how to put on a show.

Sure, a little of their generational thunder was taken by the And 1 nonsense, but I'm glad I was able to see what they were capable of last night.

It was my first time seeing them. I always wanted to see what they could do, but just never had the time or cash, I guess.

But if I could just say one thing about last night's performance - and I'll stick to strictly calling it a performance - I wish the Generals, those dastardly Generals, would but up more of a fight. I might root for them - I love an underdog - if they tried to stop the show on the other side of the court.

It's cool to see the same play ran over and over again with a little razzle dazzle at the top of the key, but would the Globetrotters really play well against a more adept opponent.

I know it has a purpose, and I'm pretty sure it is for the kids and the kids in all of us.

My son, for one, had a heck of a time. I made last night a father-son night, but it can be hard given his age. He's only 2-years old, so his attention span ran out a little bit before halftime.

He got his mini- basketball and he got his autographs, and of course it was a lot better after he had M&Ms in hand. So we sat there and watched.

He watched the antics as I pointed them out and I watch one team on the court. The Generals are there to make the Globetrotters look good. So I'll just lump them together. They've been playing each other for years and it'll be that way for a while, I assume.

I'm just glad I was able to go this time.

Posted by Clayton Hein at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)