Today I read an article by the Associated Press. It detailed an interview a House committee had with the U.S.’s five biggest oil executives. The execs actually claimed that the astronomical gas prices are not their fault, and they certainly did not even hint at relief anytime soon. The oil industry in the U.S. made $123 billion last year alone! That’s huge profit. Also, while 4 of the 5 big names are currently researching and investing in alternative fuels like solar power and biofuels, one company just is not trying.

So what are motorists (like myself) supposed to do when they cannot afford to drive anymore? Take public transportation? Ha! That’s all well and good in big cities, but not in Batesville, AR where there is no such thing. I’m from a decent-sized town about an hour from Lyon (Batesville is Lyon’s hometown), and the public transportation there is just now getting started. So what is another option? Staying in one place forever? It’s definitely getting pretty frustrating.

So, dear reader, do you have an opinion about the oil moguls or alternative fuels? I’d like to hear it! Ciao!

This commercial made me smile, but it also made me realize how much texting and cell phones influence our day to day activities.  I recently took a weekend trip with my girls to Little Rock (we had a blast, of course!) and was amused by the dependence that we all had upon our cell phones.  Texting is probably the easiest form of communication…it’s quick, easy, and prevents you from having a twenty minute phone conversation when you really needed to ask one question.  Texting isn’t all cake though…how many times has someone walked smack into you at Wal-Mart because they were texting and not paying attention?  How many wrecks happen because a driver was busy texting and not watching the road?  Just something to think about….

 Well that has changed! My friend Jessica (who also blogs on here) and some others got together and formed the “swim club” last week. My friend Ashley is currently recruiting swimmers to join them. I am so proud of their efforts! I will definitely support them when they actually get to have a meet…if I can’t swim with them, I can at least keep time or do something useful! I’m a little bit excited, if you can’t tell. Ciao!

Current students, prospectives, alum….share your opinion.  It’s sort of like voting in a presidential election….we can sit around and talk about whom we want or don’t want running our country, but if we don’t go out and vote, our words will fall on deaf ears.  Let us hear what you think!

 note: I probably didn’t spell “newb” correctly, but you can’t blame me…I’m not that big of a nerd!

The technical “Homecoming Weekend” begins Friday with a “Celebrate Me Home” gathering at Josie’s (one of the best restaurants in Batesville!) for both alumni and current students.  And Saturday, mmm, I get tired just thinking about all the activities planned for Saturday!  For the early birds, the Lyon Cross Country Team hosts a 2 mile Fun Run at 8am.  Then there’s Founder’s Day Convocation at 11am, followed by volleyball and soccer games.  The Homecoming Coronation Ceremony starts around 2:30 on the soccer field and will include the introduction of the 07-08 Homecoming Court and crowing of this year’s Homecoming King and Queen.  Rounding out the day is “An Enchanted Evening Costume Ball” (aka Homecoming Dance) at 8pm.

It may seem like there’s no possible way to fit anything else into this busy weekend, but there’s still more!  The Board of Trustees will be here this weekend, and there’s several times that they meet and talk with students.  I think this is their Fall Meeting….so I guess the students aren’t the only ones that will be busy!  And on Sunday, there will be a Kirkin’ of the Tartans Ceremony in the Chapel.  Also, one of the sororities is also hosting a benefit Golf Tournament.  As for Monday, well, we’ll all try to catch up on the sleep that we missed over the weekend.

When I got to the chapel, I had to smile.  Along with Dr. Ong and the guys in my class were Dr. Thomas, the security guard Wally Hightower, and, believe it or not, Peggy Roettger, the President’s wife.  We all climbed up a ladder that’s near the back of the stage, and made our way to “the room”.  And that’s pretty much what it was….just a room.  There were years worth of names written all over the walls, just so no one would forget that Bob was here on this day or Sally loved Jim…stuff like that.  Oddly enough, there was a really old, gross mattress laying in the floor too.

Now I can honestly say that I’ve been to “The Room” in the chapel.  But sadly, we didn’t get climb to the Bell Tower or the top of the Lyon Building this week in lab, we actually had to do some work. Imagine that