Kids out at midnight for math?

I read the story in today's Shreveport Times about a camp available for kids beginning at midnight where they could learn math and work out with weights. The article really never sunk into my thick skull, unitl a friend called and asked if I had read the piece.

What in the world are kids doing up at midnight, even in the summer? And to be on the street at that time is nothing short of asking for trouble from a 360 degree angle.

Call me old fashioned, but even during the summer, kids need to be under their own roof with a mama and daddy there with them at the bewitching hour.

Whatever happened to moms and dads sitting down to help their kids with math?

Oh well, they built that $3 million gym for a student population of just over 400. I guess they might as well try something--but at midnight?

You call that a steak and chicken?

Okay, I am one to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, and that would include restaurants. However, after several visits, if the food doesn't taste any better than a wet dish towel, something is wrong--dead wrong.

What is the big deal about Outback Steakhouse? I have visited separate Outback locations in different cities and found both pieces of meat I ordered next to tasteless. Yes, I am serious. That even includes a take out order for good measure.

Can I grill a better steak? You bet I can, so I do have room to talk. The secret is in the marinade, of which the meat-slingers at Outback apparently have little knowledge.

And then there is Cane's Chicken. How bland can a piece of chicken get? Why even put some batter on a piece of yard bird and cook it at all unless it is seasoned? Why, it's a disgrace to all Southerners to offer up our favorite dish with such lackluster flavor.

What puzzles me, after visits to Cane's more than once in Shreveport and Ruston, everyone I talk to agrees that they do not go to the restaurant for the chicken, but for the sauce. Come on folks. It's simply mayo, ketchup and a sprinkle of spices. You can make that at home in less than five minutes.

Atchafalaya 'raceway' no longer fun

I know I reflect on my past experiences too frequently, but I guess that is what happens when one begins to get old. However, the fun is no longer there on the famed Louisiana speed trap known as the Atchafalaya Causeway on I-10 just west of Baton Rouge.

Here we go again with another "back in the day" example. The speed limit on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, or whatever they call it, was once the same as the speed limit one had on the highway leading into the big bridge and as one would leave the same. Due to several miscues and accidents attributed to speeding, the legal limit of 18-wheelers was reduced to 55 mph, while other vehicles could only max out at 60.

The really great thing about the new law stated that 18-wheelers had to stay in the right lane only. I guess that was to tempt those drivers of 4-wheeled modes of transportation to speed on leading to a surprise visit by the man with the lights on his car going flickety-flickety.

It used to be fun staying in that inside lane and waiting for the bumper riders to get right up on my tail lights before I pulled over and let them speed by at up to 80-90 mph. I always knew that either a county mounty, or a full-grown bear was waiting for them just ahead with his ticket book.

But now, for some reason, when going across the same bridge (if I may use a quote from the great bluesman B.B. King), "the thrill is gone." No longer do the Louisiana State Troopers camp out waiting for the speeders, most of whom tote Texas license plates. For the last five years or so, the bright lights flickering behind the speeders on the once infamous Atchafalaya overpass are as rare as hens’ teeth.

Why today, on my return from Baton Rouge, only one parish deputy could be found on that long expanse of concrete over the waters from where most of the free world gets its crawfish.

I guess since the price of oil has begun to skyrocket, there is no need for the income the drivers from the state of Texas once donated to our coffers.

Driving to and from Baton Rouge just ain't as fun anymore.

(I know what you are thinking, and I betcha I am thinking the same thing. I wonder what will be written on this blog when the author gets stopped on that same bridge the next time his foot gets heavy.)

Whatever happened to school pride?

Back in the day, when school started after Labor Day, began at 8:30 a.m. and let out at 2:45 p.m., there was a buzz word that is seldom heard nowadays. I wonder whatever happened to the word "PRIDE" in one's school?

I remember soon after stepping foot on the campus of Woodlawn High School (back in the day), the upper-classmen telling us to develop some pride in our school. They drove and drove those words into our sophomore heads, and one day they became part of our lifestyles and our own vocabulary. Within a year, we even got to tell the new sophomores to develop some pride in our school.

I guess we can blame it on starting schools the first week of August, or that extra hour they added to the school day, but the lack of school pride is so evident today. Students today would just as soon walk by a piece of trash than to bend over and pick it up. Whatever happened to school pride?

Locker bays are littered with empty water and soda bottles, empty bags of chips, wads of paper, and an occasional PB&J with one bite taken out of it. To where did school pride disappear?

Styrofoam plates with food still in them are left on tables in the dining hall, ketchup packets are stomped upon and left to be trampled by unsuspecting others, and litter from the restaurant bags mamas bring to little spoiled children who don't want to eat what the cafeteria workers serve lie ripped open and deserted 15 minutes past the noon hour every Monday through Friday. All this left there for someone else to pick up. Is there no pride?

Broken chairs are stacked against the walls by teachers who spent their time collecting them after students rocked back and leaned in the long enough for them to snap and bend beyond use. "Broken, please fix" the labels read on the damaged furniture leaning against the hallway walls. Where's the pride?

Somewhere along the way, pride has all but vanished from schools today, and that's so sad. Pride in one's school used to be the spark that initiated a positive reputation which would later develop into the very character of a school. What's really wrong with schools today? The lack of pride may just be the answer to that question.

Calvary sprouting palm trees for movie

So far the scheduled filming of the movie Comeback has been postponed three times on the Calvary campus.

In the meantime, Calvary's Jerry Barker Stadium has taken on a new look, not unlike that of the old Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Palm trees are growing all over the football complex.

There are palm trees next to the press box, behind the press box, in the end zones and all around the perimeter.

It makes for a beautiful, tropical site when one takes in the lush green of the new artificial surface on the gridiron.

It just may be the closest thing to Florida one can get this time of year. If you haven't driven by, it might be worth your time.

Meanwhile, who knows when they will actually begin filming the movie at Calvary.

Some things need explaining

I often tell folks that when I get to Heaven, I have a long list of things I want to ask God.

For instance, why in the world were mosquitoes invented? What about fire ants? Why do we have moles digging tunnels in our yards?

Answers to the quesions above will just have to wait, but there are some things created by man that I just have to find out about before I am called home to Glory.

The list could be extensive, but I will limit it to just two that crossed my path today. Ready? Here we go.

Why do hot dog buns come in packages of eight, but the hot dogs come in sets of 10? The only thing I can figure out is that they must throw in a couple of extra ones just in case the cook puts mustard on your bun when you really wanted mayo.

Finally, have you ever checked out the label on a package of Baked Cheetos? The label says they are "naturally baked". Will someone please tell me how something can be "un-naturally baked"?

Rude, inconsiderate, selfish smokers

Nothing ticks me off more than a smoker. They are rude, inconsiderate, selfish and socialists. My tax dollars and yours will help pay for the end result of their nasty habit one day; not to mention our insurance rates skyrocketing to help offset their willingness to inject themselves with lung cancer and other diseases.

Last night, I took my wife out to eat and as we waited outside on a wooden bench on a warm February evening, here comes Joe Smoker out of the restaurant door and lights up a stinking cigarette. Even though he was over 50 feet away, the wind blew the smoke right toward us.

The smoker and I stared at each other as he sucked in the carcinogens. Then he spit on the parking lot, scratched himself, took another drag and threw his cigarette on the pavement. There really should be a fine for that.

Why do smokers think they have a right to stand at the front door of an establishment and bless us with the stinking mess they blow into the air? They belong out back smoking next to, or better yet, inside the dumpsters.

The South should have Hestered it

What's up with this microphoned coach on the sidelines at the Senior Bowl and his San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator?

No offense, but this little horsey they put in at quarterback from Hawaii couldn't make most middle school teams around here. Finally, a Tennessee quarterback had to come in and direct traffic.

But then, get down on the goal line with four opportunities to break into the endzone and throw three floaters to receivers not much taller than I am against NBA-sized defensive backs? Give me a break!

LSU's Jacob Hester was in on at least a couple of those plays and could have broken the plane with one touch. Instead, you give it to some chomper from Florida to get the glory.

The only thing I could figure must be that the defensive coordinator for the South had little faith in his ability to stop a quick comeback with John David Booty scheduled to come back in at quarterback for the North; or, they knew that Hester played on the kickoff team and might hurt some of the players who never heard of eating black-eyed peas, grits or crawfish.

And while I am on my soapbox, what's up with those white LSU helmets? Paint them things gold, or scrape off the logos and use 'em for flower pots.

Things about to get busy at Calvary

For the most part, football has a season of its own at Calvary. Oh sure, basketball starts about the time football playoffs do, and with the birth of cross country at Calvary, that sport somewhat invades the sacred ground that the gridiron once held on the calendar.

But then comes, January! From now on out the sports fans at Calvary become dizzy trying to decide just what sporting event to attend. Basketball for boys and girls is still going on, soccer is kickin' right now, baseball, softball, golf and track are about to launch into their seasons as well.

There's an old saying that describes idle time as the devil's workshop. If that is the case, the Cavalier family is probably in good shape about now.

The thing that I have learned over the many years in this business is that keeping so busy makes the school year seem to fly by. Not that there is anything wrong with the school year, but there's this thing called summer vacation peeking around the corner, if you know what I mean.

Congrats Academic All-State football players

Congratulations to Kyle Rutledge, Sam Walker, Jacob Baker, Zach Cozine and Craig Rascoe for being named to the LHSAA Academic All-State Football Team. The Calvary seniors are well deserving.

It's refreshing to know that many other Calvary athletes are waiting in the wings until they can become seniors and make the same team the Cavaliers named above are on.

Calvary is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but is sure is a great place to get an education. Right now the big talk around the school is just who is going to step up and be the leaders after this great group of seniors graduates.

Any volunteers?

Hands off our sports writers Florida

First off, let me say how much the local newspaper has improved its coverage of high school athletics in the last few years. The folks downtown on Lake Street listened to the cries from the public about the lack of coverage of prep sports and did something about it. Kudos to The Times.

Sitting next to the local sports writers each Friday night during football season over the years has afforded me the opportunity to get to know many of them on a first-name basis. That experience has actually helped me appreciate the art and science of their trade.

What is so frustrating is to develop a professional relationship through the weeks and years with some of these guys and then watch them disappear without notice. First, there was Brian, and now Joel. Both headed off to more sunny pastures, or beaches to be more accurate, in the state of Florida.

Now look guys, it would be nice to have some of you stick around now that we have a decent sports section in the local paper.