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Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Friday, May 9, 2008
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Horse racing: Is it humane?
Posted Wednesday, May 7, at 2:43 PM
Better late than never, I guess, to comment on the fiasco at the end of last Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Some have said, more or less, that fallen filly Eight Belles was abused and whipped or on steroids. I've wondered how hard those whips used by jockeys are felt -- and if the horses really, as some claimed post-race, get "up" for the crowd. One comment -- that "Eight Belles gave her life to entertain us" particularly irritated me. I realize race horses are expensive investments (let's hope owners see them as more than investments) and are to some extent pampered. But, if those horses are being abused, then what's the difference between horse racing and chicken/dog fighting besides fans' affluence and governments' acceptance?
That certain courthouse smell I was in Bedford County Courthouse this week and noticed, as I have before, that certain odor which seems to have settled within. It's hard to describe exactly what it smells like. Not exactly musty, not a stink...it just has its own peculiar odor. And it's been there as long as I can remember. I wonder if it smelled that way 50 or more years ago...
Evaluating teachers by video This Australian newspaper points out, www.smh.com.au/news/national/video-cameras-in-classrooms/2008/04/27/1208743317120.html, how some school districts, both there and in the United States, are installing video equipment in classrooms specifically so administrators can evaluate teachers more thoroughly...
How to succeed (??) in business In a way, it seems odd to me that some persons holding supervisory positions in businesses would have to be told how to manage people. Rainy, cool Sunday afternoons are good times to check out bookstores. While I was at one in Murfreesboro I glanced through one of many business books on how to manage employees...
The economy: Fighting back Seems like it's been nothing but dire economic news the past few days. Most of these problems can be traced back to either Big Oil's greed or loans being given to people who had little hope of making the payments long-term. I'm not sure what the solution is. But I'm beginning to pay closer attention to prices of what I buy...
Should burglary victims' names be printed? Should the Times-Gazette publish names of victims of relatively minor crimes -- specifically, individuals whose homes have been broken into? From one point of view, home burglary reports are public record -- and, if a residence is entered, neighbors need to know so they can watch for the possibility of further incidents. It's simply helping keep your neighborhood safe. Also, if neighbors see a police car outside a home, they want to know why...
Freedom to sag Should municipalities -- or states -- regulate clothing styles? From the Associated Press: "A state Senate panel rejected a bill on Tuesday that would make it a crime to wear one's pants too low, even as about a dozen Cajun-country towns around Louisiana have been banning saggy pants from their streets...
Grateful for what we've got While at Central High School last week on another matter, I noticed how striking the newly-constructed portion looks and the amount of additional work going on. (The parking lot seems like a maze compared with when I was a student there, but that's another story.)...
Pro sports in Middle Tennessee When the Nashville Predators first came to Middle Tennessee back in the late 1990s, I wondered how long they'd last. In a way, I'm surprised they've stayed around this long. But I'm glad the Predators are still here. They add a different dimension to area sports...
Keep an eye on China Protests, verbal and otherwise, continue toward China as it prepares to host the Olympic Games. The Olympic torch has been endangered numerous times by protesters. Sports journalists are now complaining China's trying to censor their stories. Meanwhile, General Motors sells cars there -- Buicks are among the most popular cars in China, according to auto magazines -- and Chrysler is preparing to import Chinese-made vehicles here. ...
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David Melson is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette.
Hot topics Horse racing: Is it humane?(8 ~ 11:41 AM, May 8)
Reaching the real Americans
That certain courthouse smell
Evaluating teachers by video
The economy: Fighting back
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