A Busy Weekend Is Approaching For Tennessee Tech University

Derryberry Hall, administrative building for Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee. http://www.tntech.edu/univadv/support/images/Derryberry.jpg

Tennessee Tech University, a well-accredited university settled in Cookeville, Tennessee, will be a busy place this coming weekend as it hosts four different events.

The action starts Thursday as the campus will be the host to the 2008 SAE Baja East race, which is a competition featuring small off-road cars built by engineering students by participating universities. I understand that there will be nearly 100 teams from eight countries participating in the TTU race. With that, 1,000 people are expected to participate, excluding countless spectators. The competition will last through Saturday.

On Friday, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, Tennessee Congressmen Bart Gordon of Murfreesboro and Lincoln Davis of Pall Mall, as well as other dignitaries, students, faculty and local residents are all expected to be a part of the groundbreaking of Ray Morris Hall, home to Tennessee Tech's new proposed Millard Oakley STEM Center. This will be the hub of the university's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics departments for the future. The groundbreaking is scheduled for 3 PM at Seventh Street and Stadium Drive.

Saturday is scheduled to be the largest commencement in university history. Nearly 1,200 students are to receive their degrees in a ceremony scheduled for 10 AM. Tech is to host another dignitary at this time, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee, who is the third-highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. He is to address the spring graduates of the university. This is to take place at the Eblen Center.

Also on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles baseball team is scheduled to host the Murray State Racers for a doubleheader. The action on the diamond has a planned starting time of 2 PM.

On Saturday alone, three events will be taking place. As such, parking is expected to be a major concern to tackle. A shuttle bus will run from needed areas to help calm the parking issues.

You can expect this writer to be a part of the action, as he is an active part of the university as a student, an extra-curricular organization leader, and a worker with the school's sports information department.

Article on this weekend's action from the Tennessee Tech Public Affairs Department.

BREAKING NEWS: Actor and Former NRA President Charlton Heston Has Passed Away

11:33 PM CST

Popular actor and former NRA President Charlton Heston has reportedly passed away, according to family members. He was 84. The news broke about a half-hour ago.

He was well-known for his roles in the popular movies Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Earthquake, and Planet of the Apes, among others.

He also served as the President of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

In August 2002, he reported that he had similar symptoms to Alzheimer's Disease.

On political matters, he started off as a liberal Democrat, but took more conservative positions on issues, including affirmative action, abortion matters and gun rights, by the 1980s. He changed his political affiliation to Republican, and campaigned for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

His soul, his family, and his friends need to be in our prayers at this time.



BREAKING NEWS ALERT FROM AP
WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE ON MR. HESTON'S LIFE

Vodka Maker Harkens Back To A "More Ideal" Time For Our Neighbor To The South, Not So Ideal For Americans

Absolut, a well-known vodka maker, created a stir in the United States when one of their recent ads drew up an 1830s-era map of North America, showing United States territory under Mexico jurisdiction.

The ad comes at a time when the United States is facing a serious debate over illegal immigration, and whose people are wanting to see the borders secured. Meanwhile, a majority of Mexicans believe the Southwest U.S. still is rightfully theirs.

Absolut has since apologized for the ad, which ran only in Mexico, and have since ended them. The company said the ad wasn't reflective of any immigration or foreign policy issues.

The ad created a bit of an outcry by angry Americans who saw the ad as encouraging a radical mindset that many Mexicans hold that the border states are still rightful territory of Mexico. Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin received a number of e-mails and blog postings reflecting anger over the ad.

I do not support consumption of any alcohol, but if I did, I would still be supporting a full boycott of Absolut. I am in opposition to all groups who support the return of our Southwestern states to Mexico, and this ad only fuels their fire.