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[an error occurred while processing this directive] 09/07/2008

Editorial: We recommend Kathy Ward for Collin Co. commissioner
Democrat Jean Power and Republican Kathy Ward are both to be commended for answering the call to seek this office on such short notice, but the better choice is Ms. Ward. A businesswoman with expertise in finding efficiencies and identifying best practices, she is also a former GOP county chair,well-connected to regional and state legislative leaders.

Jennifer McAloon of McKinney: Inner peace - and other benefits of practicing yoga
It was just me and my mind, quiet and, in spite of a room full of people, alone. I began to understand the whole picture. The hour of yoga, moving the body through different states of stretching and strengthening, is preparation for the meditation. It combines spiritual and physical and balances the body in a yin/yang sort of way.

Chase Wofford of Keller: It's personal
Texas Stadium is kind of like a brother or sister when you are a child. It's OK for you to say bad things about it. But when others, notably folks from out of town, criticize a place representing so many memories, it hurts. That's my stadium. My memories.

Vickie McKillip of Carrollton: Silent salute
No airline worker needs a reminder of 9/11; it's a part of the collective consciousness of every clerk, pilot, flight attendant, agent or mechanic. Watershed events in other industries are similarly embedded in their makeup. Think of the Vietnam War's impact on the military. Or the two space shuttle explosions and their effect on the space industry.

Satvika Ananth of Coppell: What do you do?
Most schools provide numerous groups and teams for students to join, from sports to newspaper/yearbook to philosophy or critical theory clubs. They provides not just a shared sense of purpose, but also a sense of belonging. In a large high school like mine, that's crucial.

Laurie Dodic Steinberg of Highland Park: Easy credit?
I wonder if stores still have layaway. I don't think my kids or many of their friends have ever heard of the term. It's a bit novel these days to think of not having something until it's actually paid for.

Jeff Fortney Sr. of Plano: The scarlet 'L'
Many times, when someone can't think of anything else to say about their opposition, they just call them "liberal" and leave it at that. Yet, if you really look at yourself and look at the definition, you have to admit that a part of you could be described as "liberal."

Cherie Bell of Dallas: Five lessons for teachers
Kids growing up in the inner city have taught me a lot about toughness, honesty, flexibility, communication and – believe it or not – love. Here are five of those lessons.

Elizabeth Barnes of Dallas: Lowering the drinking age is the wrong approach
Trying to stop binge drinking by legalizing underage drinkers is like legalizing robbery to stop teen shoplifters. If anything, rather than dropping the practice, some students who stay sober for legal reasons might decide to start drinking.

09/04/2008

Correction
CORRECTION: In Thursday's Sounding Off, a response was incorrectly attributed. The author of the following response was Melissa Lamprich, a teacher at Colleyville Heritage High School: "When I watch the speech, I hope to hear how Sen. Obama believes he can bring Americans together – what he can do to buck partisan bickering. I want to hear what he can do to help us be more "purple" instead of "red" versus "blue."

SOUNDING OFF
Gordon Hale of Grand Prairie: I watched the Democrat hopeful's speech, and I will watch John McCain's. I expect him to say just what he has always said. I do not expect him to make pie-in-the-sky promises for whomever he is aiming at. I expect him to be truthful, as he always has been. I will vote for John McCain. He will be the first major party candidate I have voted for since President Reagan.

SOUNDING OFF
Clint Ellison of Plano: I plan to watch John McCain's acceptance speech. I hope to hear him differentiate himself from his Democratic opponent by outlining his core beliefs: love of country, faith in God, the sanctity of human life, supremacy of the free enterprise system and the concept that less government is best.

SOUNDING OFF
Barbara Perkins of Dallas: Yes, I do plan to watch his acceptance speech. I hope to hear how his plans for the country are different from Bush administration policies. I want to hear how he plans to address this country's serious economic and energy problems. And I want to hear how much money he plans to continue to spend on the Iraq war, what he will do in Afghanistan, and how he'll deal with Russia, China, free trade and balancing the budget.

08/31/2008

Joanna M. England of Dallas: Scratching the surface
The chickens weren't meant as a political statement, though at least one of my neighbors assumed as much. I bought chickens because, well, they're awesome . What other pet will take care of your lawn, dispose of your food waste and make you breakfast, all in the same day?

Elouise Plain of Plano: Happier talk
I do customer support. I am on the phone almost nonstop most days. I'm trained to let my customer tell me their computer problem, then to listen sympathetically and ultimately try to figure out how to solve the problem. If we could just transfer that training to our daily conversations, it would make life much easier. Maybe we could add a new classroom topic for our schoolchildren called "Daily Conversation Etiquette."

Cathy Hynek of Dallas: Hands-on assignments are made for kids
Years of arts and crafts laziness have paid off. My children now build their own mousetraps, space rockets and dioramas without even asking for help.

Keith A. Brown of Pleasant Grove: This Grove is pleasant
In the 1800s, one of the pioneers of our community, W.B. Elam, owned 600 acres of land in what was then referred to as the "Elam Community." Don Lebow, a violinist as well as the first schoolteacher in that community, glanced out the window of the one-room schoolhouse, gazed at a grove of trees at the corner of Gardenview and Alto Garden roads, and commented to his students that, "this is such a pleasant place, they should call this Pleasant Grove."

Betty Meis of Dallas: Teardowns and the tax base
Although the housing crash has devastated much of the country, Dallas – at least North Dallas – has fared relatively well. But there is a storm brewing.

08/28/2008

SOUNDING OFF
Sue Warriner of Flower Mound : Absolutely I will be watching his speech. I'm hoping to hear a definitive plan for the Iraq war, as well as his outline for dealing with the current gasoline crisis and the economy.

SOUNDING OFF
Michele Degnon of Garland: Yes, we will be watching and looking for some resolutions to our economy, health care and the war and his goals.We only can hope that being so charismatic in personality translates into great leadership ability.

SOUNDING OFF
Jerry Keeler of Dallas: I have no intent to listen to the negative and misguided rhetoric of the Democratic Party. They represent a brand of socialism I don't want in America. Our taxes are too high thanks to the Democrats, and government intrusion into our private lives is beginning to erode our constitutional rights. I will not listen, and I won't vote for them.

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