Wednesday’s open line
So what’s the hot Christmas gift this year?
I still remember the days when parents beat each other up over Cabbage Patch Kids. But I’ve always been nostalgic.
Here’s your open line.
December 9, 2009
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Historians also faulted Mr. Reid’s curious reference to the Senate civil rights debates of the 1960s. After all, it was Southern Democrats who mounted an 83-day filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill. The final vote to cut off debate saw 29 Senators in opposition, 80% of them Democrats.
Comment by kevin — December 9, 2009 @ 12:55 am
Among those voting to block the civil rights bill was West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, who personally filibustered the bill for 14 hours. The next year he also opposed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Byrd still sits in the Senate, and indeed preceded Mr. Reid as his party’s majority leader until he stepped down from that role in 1989.
Comment by kevin — December 9, 2009 @ 12:58 am
Since 1909 Democrats voted 209 times against anti-lynching legislation put forth by Republicans. Here’s an easier way to understand what I just said. Democrats voted 209 times to allow the lynching of black people. You can see from the quote below the prevailing thought of Democrats throughout history on this issue:
“Mr. President, the crime of lynching . . . is not of sufficient importance to justify this legislation.” –Sen. Claude Pepper (D., Fla.), 1938
Comment by kevin — December 9, 2009 @ 1:22 am
Health Care Reform News..just in..
“WASHINGTON (AP) — After days of secret talks, Senate Democrats tentatively agreed Tuesday night to drop a full-blown government-run insurance option from sweeping health care legislation, several officials said, a concession to party moderates whose votes are critical to passage of President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.
In its place, officials said Democrats had tentatively settled on a private insurance arrangement to be supervised by the federal agency that oversees the system through which lawmakers purchase coverage, with the possibility of greater government involvement if needed to ensure consumers of sufficient choices in coverage.
Additionally, the emerging agreement calls for Medicare to be opened to uninsured Americans beginning at age 55, a significant expansion of the large government health care program that currently serves the 65-and-over population……”
also included in the report..liberals lost bid for an expansion of Medicaid.
The children’s government health care coverage, already in place, will remain as is, and separate, until 2013-14.
Comment by ziggy — December 9, 2009 @ 1:53 am
“Here is a math problem for you: Assume that the legislation establishing government control of medical care is passed and that it ‘brings down the cost of medical care.’ You pay $500 a year less for your medical care, but the new costs put on employers is passed on to consumers, so that you pay $300 a year more for groceries and $200 a year more for gasoline, while the new mandates put on insurance companies raise your premiums by $300 a year, how much money have you saved?” –economist Thomas Sowell
Comment by kevin — December 9, 2009 @ 2:37 am
Kevin, you are becoming as obnoxious as Ira
Comment by galloping gourmet — December 9, 2009 @ 7:26 am
Jason, I have no idea what is hot this year, but do remember standing in line waiting to get one of those Cabbage Patch Dolls. Last year it was Wii, and they have come down in price some this year. I understand those “over the top” Lego building blocks are a hot item.
Anyway, it will take a bulldozer to clear my grandkids room from last years toys before any new “got to haves” can go in there.
Hope your holidays will not be a repeat of your Thanksgiving one and you stay healthy.
My prayer is that everyone will get on a positive note, for a while at least.
Comment by galloping gourmet — December 9, 2009 @ 7:34 am
P.S. I thoroughly enjoy people’s reminisces of the ghosts of Christmases past in Henderson, when we had a wonderful town, one that was not torn by divisiveness and bitterness.
Comment by galloping gourmet — December 9, 2009 @ 7:40 am
Tickets to Northern Vance Mens Varsity Basketball games, from what i saw last nite at Northern Vance High School, a ticket to a Northern Vance Basketball game will be whats hot for Xmas. Not just for locals but for people all over the NC and VA. This year’s team is really really really something to behold. i know Northern has been good in the past but this team is something special. THEY HAVE LOCKDOWN DEFENSE, WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE AND RUNNING REBEL OFFENSE. (not meant to be offensive folks, i know how we get sometime ON HERE)
If you are a basketball fan and a lover of the game, you will not be disappointed. They even have a few D-1 college prospects on this years team and that could be the start of something BIG for Vance County Atheletics.
Comment by NorthernVanceFan — December 9, 2009 @ 7:49 am
Sorry to disappoint but obviously you don’t know what a D-1 athlete looks like. If you did then you would know this team doesn’t have any. They are a good basketball team but the quality of opponent is severely lacking. The way to beat NV is to make them shoot the jump shot. The only one that can consistantly shoot the jumper is Shawn Brown. The rest get their points running the floor. Cameron Butler is okay. He runs the floor well and is quick. Handles the ball okay but if it wasn’t for Coach Baskett telling him to stop shooting jumpers, he would have sent airballs up all night. Sorry to disappoint you Anthony but maybe you should stick to rabble rousing and not being college basketball scout.
Comment by In the know — December 9, 2009 @ 8:15 am
ha ha in the know, you sure are. He’s been marketing both his kids on here for a few weeks now. NV has a good team and will do well.
Athletics btw
Comment by warren co who? — December 9, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Cameron Butler can ball with the best of them! Ask Coach Baskett who his most reliable player is and he will tell you that it is Cam! His jumper is pure!
Northern Vance has as strong of a basketball program as any team in the state year in and year and out. Coach Baskett has done an amazing job of teaching these kids about basketball and about life! Go Vikings!! Keep it up guys!
Comment by Truth — December 9, 2009 @ 9:20 am
My first job was working at Charles Dept Store (where the Wildflower operated) during Christmas. We were paid $.75 an hour and the girls at Roses were really rich, raking in $1.25. Most people shopped downtown and could find everything they could afford right here in town. The parade was always a highlight of the season and most of us had our Christmas centered around church activities, Each classroom had a tree up. I do not understand to this day how Christ came out of Christmas.
Comment by Just a thought — December 9, 2009 @ 10:12 am
Remember to give to charities and ministries. They are really feeling the pinch. And remember to give only to those who are responsible with their contributions. Personally, I prefer those who reach out with help for spiritual and physical needs. If you really believe the Bible, you know what I mean.
Perhaps giving directly to someone who is in need will be an option to consider: a gift certificate for groceries, clothing, miscellaneous health/beauty items. They don’t need fancy, just the basics. I know by experience. It’s a hard road when no one seems to care.
Comment by Lil Lamb — December 9, 2009 @ 10:35 am
I am not attacking NV or any of the players but when you come on here and make ignorant statements about D-1 talent then obviously you don’t know D-1 talent. I haven’t seen anyone come through here locally that could play on a high level in college. There have been a few that made it to small D-1. Coach Baskett is a great coach who gets everything he can out of his players. He has built a solid program and I hope his health improves so eventually he can get to that state championship game. But NV problem is and has been in the past a lack of competition in the regular season. Baskett can easily go 25-0 and get into the third round of the playoffs. But it is here that the competition picks up and the Vikings suffer for the lack of competition every year. Maybe this year they can get over the hump since the likes of Dudley and Kinston are gone from 3A but you still have to contend with Rocky Mount and Tayshawn Mabry. NV doesn’t have anyone inside to contend with him this year. Sometimes the truth hurts!
Comment by In the Know — December 9, 2009 @ 12:00 pm
as good as the 74 team
Comment by e thomas — December 9, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
Someone asked me if I thought the current Vikings could beat the undefeated State Champion ’74 team. I told them I sure hoped so….most of the ’74 team are now over 50 years old!
Comment by Ask Wilton — December 9, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
LMAO!
Comment by Follow the White Lines on the Road — December 9, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Ask Wilton–LOL.
Comment by north star — December 9, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
well if baskett is such a “GREAT COACH”, then why don’t more of his players go on to play at a 4-year college or even a JuCo? It’ because of the system he runs and it doesn’t let the scouts(if any of them show up) get a chance to see how athletic or just how good an individual player is. He has tried to run the slow down-defensive minded-”boring” brand of basketball that wins a lot of games against the teams in his conference but when it’s time to play the “big boys”, he gets run out of the gym. By the way, whatever happened to the “charges” that he faced? Were they dismissed or dropped or what? It was public information so I’m sure someone knows something. Vance County has more basketball players that are better playing on the courts at Chestnut St. because they either didn’t have the grades or have dropped out of school. Shows just how important education is around these parts!! Baskett needs to “turn his players loose” and let them show just how good they really are!! Then, and only then will you see more of NVHS Basketball players going off to universities and junior colleges!! Also, whatever happended to the rule where an administrator couldn’t coach a team? I thought he was one of the Asst. Principals at NVHS at one point? Is he still? If so, is he in violation of this policy that has been around for a long time that says no administrators could be the “head” coach of a team. I guess with it being Vance County they have found a way around that the same way they did when they let the guy at HMS coach the football/basketball team and the only degree he had was the “3rd degree”. Check into that and get back with me!!………until later…….remember to give me some of that thug passion BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by thug passion — December 9, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
We are really trying to get on a nostalgic Christmas, reminiscing type of thing and you sport die-hards won’t bite.
Comment by galloping gourmet — December 9, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
perhaps a switch to forums created by the people who use them may be a idea to consider. I am very happy we will be celebrating CHRISTmas. But at the same time I want people to be aware of how bad a president we have and how important it is we take away his veto proof majority in 2010. We are getting to see what happens when you elect a community organizer that sat in a Racist church for 20 years.
As for my 3 children they asked for Pillow Pets this year, picked them up at Northgate today for a little over $80.00.
Comment by kevin — December 9, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
At least we are talking about relavent stuff instead of being a bunch of old farts who complain about everything and reminisce about the way things used to be and want to resist change for the sake of it is just not how it used to be. Who cares how it used to be. It is freaking almost 2010! It is time for this town to progress no matter who leads it. Now back to the real conversation.
Baskett’s system is the same as Duke U in that it is a system that works for the level in which it is played on and it doesn’t really showcase players for the next level. Actually, the problem with today’s athletes around here is that 99% of them think they are better than they really are. 99% of them don’t even have the grades to play in college and no matter the showcasing of the players by the coach, no grades, no play on the next level. Then there is the 99.9% of parents who don’t understand that HS basketball is not where you get recruited anyway. It has not moved to the AAU level and the AAU coach. You don’t play AAU, you probably have little chance of playing in college.
Now back to the old farts conversation.
Comment by In the Know — December 9, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
Post #10
Mr or Mrs. In the Know U don’t know Beans
you are surely clueless with your assessment of D-1 potential athletes on NVHS basketball team! but lets just wait and see if anyone sign a letter of committment to a D-1 University before we conclude this conversation. But i don’t think you are Dave Telep or Bob Gibbons, maybe you should consult one of those gentlemen about some of the talent on that squad. You might just realize how little u really know about college D-1 player assessments.
I do agree with some of the comments U made about Cam but if you know Cam you know he’s working hard to get better were he’s lacking. Shots he’s missing now he want miss them in Feb when its WIN OR GO HOME. And thats what school is about, learning life’s lessons and getting prepared for the future and not just scoring baskets in the present.
There are plenty of people all over Henderson that can hit a jumpshot and sink baskets from anywhere on the court. (they are Chestnut St, YMCA, AYCOCK allstars) but they can’t read or write at a level high enough to gain meaningful employment? what eles can they do other shoot a jumpshot? NOTHING!
Cam and other athletes at NVHS are preparing to become a productive citizen of the world and not just a jumpshooter at the Y.
Northern Vance entire basketball team is extremely smart, talented and working very hard to reach their goals. Their rewards will be based upon the work they put in and the lessons they learn in the classroom and on the basketball court.
THEIR SUCCESS IS NOT BASED ON ANYTHING BEING SAID BY YOU OR ANY OF THE OTHER HATERS.
Now on the subject of air balls
I agree that airballs were shot but thats no big deal to a REAL shooter. If you have ever laced them up with Cam or any other real baller then I need not say anymore to you on the subject of shooting. Cam will shoot 99.9% of ballers young and old out of the gym anyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
Lastly you must be one of those people who always wanted to be an athelete but just did’nt have talent or your kid just don’t have it AND YOUR A LITTLE BITTER.
WELL (N THE KNOW) WORK HARD AND U TO CAN BE WHATEVER YOU DESIRE.
good luck
c u @ the game
Comment by U DON'T KNOW BEANS — December 10, 2009 @ 1:39 am
Jason I think I saw on TV these moving hampster looking pet toys..can’t remember what they are called, but they have a swirl on the back. Kinda cute.
Swirlees, maybe.
but what we saw on QVC a couple weeks ago are these stuffed pets..life sized and interactive..they move and squirm, and make sounds matching the animal. They come in a choice of different animals.
Comment by ziggy — December 10, 2009 @ 1:57 am
In the Know from post 10, I’m waiting on your response to post 24.
Could you be one of those people thats never experience success or happiness in life?
Are you that person that REFUSE TO try because of a fear of failure?
Were you constantly rejected as a child?
Did you not realize any of your hopes and dreams?
well get over it!
And get to work!
DID YOU WORK HARD TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
DID YOU WORK HARD TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY?
You must work hard and not just pontificate and theorize.
Get out and make something happen instead of waiting & watching it happen then rushing to have a negative comment on HIH.
If you have knowledge that is beneficial to the live’s of young folks and you claim you do, then take a bold stand and share it with them. Lets build a stronger better community, because some NVHS BALLPLAYERS are gonna leave Vance County on graduation day, go off to a MAJOR D-1 UNIVERSITY WITH AN ACADEMIC AND OR ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AND NEVER RETURN.
SADLY, MOST NVHS STUDENTS WILL REMAIN HERE WITH YOU BEING DESTRUCTIVE AND CONFUSED AND WISHING THEY HAD WORKED HARDER IN CLASS AND ON THE COURT.
have no regret, always always always be your best DO YOUR BEST.
The basketball program at NVHS is a living, working SHINNING example of being their best always. take a clue FROM THEM.
To be in the know is not the same as to have an understanding.
i understand
Comment by to be in the know vs to aquire an understanding — December 10, 2009 @ 10:23 am
I think I’m going to ride over to Franklinton for the next game and check out this year’s team. I’ll get back to you with my impressions about the team and any potential Division 1 prospects.
Comment by Ask Wilton — December 10, 2009 @ 11:09 am
Anthony, get Cam off of the discussion here. It can’t help.
Comment by Deano — December 10, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
I’ve seen Cameron Butler play for a few years myself. Was always impressed with a young man that played excelllent defense first. A lot of guys can shoot it, not many play great defense and offense. He is a very good student. And beyond all of that, he is a very likeable, personable young man with great manners and a big smile. I’m sure his parents are very proud of him, as they’ve done a great job of helping him become a well rounded person and athlete.
Comment by fasr break — December 10, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
It is hard to argue with someone that can’t be objective. I am objective and I never said Butler wasn’t a good ball player. Everyone likes to throw around D-1 without really knowing what it means. That is my arguement in that I don’t see any D-1 basketball players on any of the boys’ rosters in the area. You are right, some of the guys will graduate and go on to a D-1 school for academics but sadly NONE, and I mean NONE will play basketball for a D-1 school. I just don’t see any college coach that will waste a precious scholarship on a project type player. The last true D-1 players that I saw in the area were Raymond Dunn (borderline, no defense, which he has improved at VGCC), Matthew Williams (really great shooter and driver), Taron Downey (great crossover but had to attend prep school to learn to play point guard), Chris Hawkins (better at football), Eladio Espinoza (tall kid with a decent skill set, needed to work on mid-range jumper), Alassane Bakayoko from Kerr-Vance in the late ’90s was really good. I like Cameron Butler, he is a great kid and I enjoy talking to him when I get the chance. He along with his sister will succeed and so will a lot of players from Northern Vance and Southern Vance. Label me a hater but I am far from that. I think I have said enough on this so this will be my last comment. Have a great day and go Vikings!
Comment by In the Know — December 10, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
In the Know: you seem to know a little something about local athletics so let me ask you why doesn’t the coach at NVHS “tweak” the system a little so that players can be “showcased” a little more instead of that boring style they play? I know it wins him 20-25 games per year but how many state championships has he won? Let me guess? You can count them on NO fingers! The games I have gone to it seems like he wants to be John Thompson/John Chaney/Paul Hewitt/etc. when in fact he is still just a “high school coach”! I saw someone approach him to ask a question after the game and he simply brushed them off like he was some NBA coach and had other obligations!! C’mon baskett, don’t let your ego get in the way b/c after all, it’s just high school basketball!! If you were that “good”, don’t you think some college would have come and “scooped” you up from NVHS? Most college coaches started in the high school ranks!! Good Luck with your season and hopefully with the talent you have, you’ll get to the state playoffs and hopefully out of the 2nd round!! By the way, ALL good coaches delegate some authority to their asst. coaches! All good coaches anyways!
Comment by thug passion — December 10, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
I think he has tweaked his style some this year. He is finally letting his teams get out and run more than in the past. I think that is because he doesn’t have the kids to run his half court offense and sees that he can try to out run people like Southern Vance has done in the past and may try to do this year. NV gets into trouble when they slow the ball down and run the half court offense. They don’t have the Darrius Dunston or Deltonio Moses type player to take over a game. I think Baskett was counting on the Rice kid being his go to guy this year but he didn’t even play against Warren Co. (the only one who didn’t in a blowout). I believe Baskett is a great coach that gets everything out of his group of role players. Plus, I haven’t seen any other team consistantly solve his 1-3-1 defense. Again, like I said before, I think Northern suffers from a lack of competition week end and week out during the regular season. They only had Williams the last four years and throw in Eastern Alamance last season that pushed them. Then when they get to the playoffs, they run up against better teams with better players and they eventually lose. It was unfortunate that they lost to Northern Guilford last year, which turned out had about three or four ineligible players and cost the coach his job. This year, N. Guilford won’t be around, Kinston and Reggie Bullock (UNC signee) dropped to 2A this year and Dudley with P.J. Hairston have moved up to 4A this year. That leaves N. Vance and Rocky Mount with Tayshawn Mabry, who is getting looks from Duke and NC State. NV just doesn’t have anyone to contain him like Savey Alston & Carlos Fields did last year. Oh! Baskett does delegate to his asst. coach and if you notice Ragland does most of the talking for the first 30 seconds of full timeouts during games while Baskett sits on the bench alone.
Comment by In the Know — December 11, 2009 @ 11:48 am