Trace Adkins – Till the last shot’s fired

Simply profound

Newcomer Jamey Johnson beat out veterans like George Strait and Brad Paisley in nabbing the first honor at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, winning song of the year for his poignant hit about an old man looking back on his life, “Living in Color.”

This photo was taken probably in or around 1982. A trip to Six Flags. Front row Billie Patton, unknown kid, and Christopher Patton.
Back row is Sandra, Jacky and me, the wet rat. The photo was taken by David Patton.

How long will Rick Hendrick be patient with Jr. and Jr.?

Here are the facts as of 4/5/09.

Jeff Gordon won at Texas Motor Speedway for the first time in 17 attempts.

Jimmie Johnson came in 2nd place.

Mark Martin driving the #5 car for Rick Hendrick finished 6th and Earnhardt Jr. and Crew Chief Eury Jr. finished 20th.

How long will owner Rick Hendrick let the Jr. team slide? Every team Rick Hendrick owns except Earnhardt Jr., finished in the Top 10. Do you realize how embarrassing that must be for Jr.?

Look for something to blow up soon. Earnhardt Jr. had a closed-door meeting with his team this week to clear the air. Apparantly, there are lots of people wanting some answers for the 88 team. Eury Jr. may be the answer to all of this. He may have to be the one that falls on the sword and leave. He is a relative of Earnhardt, but the facts are that every team is doing ok but his. Watch for developing information this week.

Robin Hood is interested in west Texas?

 

Get ready for a fight, Texas. You are certainly aware of all of those wind farms popping up in my west Texas home where I grew up? Well, it seems that the wind farm companys have deals worked out with several school districts to funnel money to those school districts and in a way, circumvent the state’s Robin Hood plan.

Ordinarily, much of the tax money generated by the turbines would go to the state’s “Robin Hood” school finance plan, which requires property-rich districts to share their wealth with those less fortunate. But that won’t happen if school officials have their way.

The Associated Press, using data compiled by the state comptroller’s office, found that the agreements will allow 44 school districts, including 21 in the Big Country, to receive nearly $248 million over the next 10 years, the districts’ cut of more than $700 million in tax breaks they granted wind farm operators. Another 21 school districts have made similar deals, but the agreements had not been completed when the data was collected by the comptroller.

“It’s the school districts giving away the state’s money, and the state has nothing to say about it,” said Dick Lavine, senior fiscal analyst for the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities.

It would seem to me that each school district should be able to keep their own money, but I was never a fan of the Robin Hood plan anyway. What are your thoughts?

 

Dozens of school districts to get $248M from wind farm deals (Reporternews.com)