Charlotte, NC

A few days ago, I received a really nice comment from a lady who wanted to know if there are clubs in town where she could hear some good music, and not have to pay the high-prices of “stadium acts.”

First of all, Pam, I appreciate that comment, because, as a former entertainer and rock historian, I can tell you that most people miss out on great acts simply on the basis of their not being “name” or “stadium”! I mean, there are hundreds of great singers, rockers, hip-hoppers and more right here in Charlotte! They might not make the big CDs or hit the front pages of Rolling Stone, but that doesn’t mean they sound anything less than fantastic!

Now, the main place that most people turn to find out what’s happening in local pubs, bars and dance arenas is Creative Loafing. Normally, it’ll give ya the 411 on the who’s and where’s in the Queen City area.

But, for the best, why not turn to Amos’ Southend, The Big Chill, Bopper’s Bar & Boogie, or The Milestone? These aren’t just great places to catch good acts (call to check their schedules), but, more importantly, they’re time-tested! They’ve been around awhile (an important point if you’re looking for quality).

One thing I will warn you about: Anything that has Gentleman’s Club or Sports Bar included, along with clubs that have dates at the end of their names are generally more pick-up joints than anything. You’re a lady, and don’t deserve goin’ into a place where you’re gonna be considered “fresh meat!”

But, wherever you go, be sure to be safe! Go with friends, your husband/mate/companion/whatever. Enjoy your time-out, and, if you drink a bit, please be responsible and careful, okay??

More coming up tomorrow …

Have you ever wanted to sell your own line of products by way of a personal website? If you’re like many Charlotteans who have either personal care, auto, home or defense products that they sell independently, it’s a dynamic idea! You can reach thousands of potential buyers and more quickly than by printed ad! And a site normally costs much less than a print ad as well.

You might be thinking, “Well, it sounds great, but I’m not a computer whiz. So how can I do that?” Well, if you really want to get the most out of your business, just turn it over to the best in ecommerce software — a company that thousands of first-timers and professionals trust: Ashop Commerce! For a small monthly fee, they’ll help you build an online store that’ll be able to go toe-to-toe with the big sites! You get the best advice from successful marketing professionals, too — even be able to take credit card orders in “real-time”. They’ll show you how can customize your site to your specifications, and so much more!

I know some who’ve used their dynamic software and they’ve all been delighted with the results! You see, Ashop offers the most complete online-business solution package of any site of its kind on the web! But don’t take my word for it; see for yourself with their ten-day free trial!
Believe me, if you’re wanting to be successful in business these days, you’ve got to go “online.” And, to do that successfully and at a great price, you need the place that offers the best in shopping cart software.
It’s like having the ultimate “business partner”! So click on that link now, and start reaping the benefits of a successful online business soon!

Roll up … for the Not-So-Mystery Tour!
Actually, what’s comin’ up at the Big Beach is right up the Relic’s alley … and I wanna take a moment to introduce ya to it (I’ve got a special one comin’ up in a day or two about clubs here in Crown Town, but … man, I just gotta do this one!). It’s (ready??) an amusement park geared to Rock-and-ROLL!

Called the Hard Rock Park (gee … wonder who sponsors this one?), it’s gonna have rides and other goodies themed to some of the coolest and greatest rock anthems and groups in history (for example, one ride’s called Whole Lotta Love, after the Led Zeppelin hit. btw, they will reunite for one show only next month in London!).

And, on Wednesday, three of the legendary Moody Blues (Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward and John Lodge) will be at their Backstage Pass area at 10 AM to christen one of the rides (betcha it’s called Go Now! lol).

Now, the Park’s not scheduled to open until the ‘08, but, hey — who knows what they’ve got cookin’ up until then? (How about other rides — like, ummmm, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Flip, Flop and Fly, or Lee Dorsey’s Ride Your Pony. Maybe even the Beatles’ HELP! or Twist and Shout?)

Any way you wanna look at it, it’s bound to be a load of fun. Now, not only is the Relic a Rock historian, but he’s a native Charlottean who, like the rest of us, loooovvvves Myrtle Beach! That’s why you’re seein’ this here!

So get ready to ROCK in the ‘08! Check out their site for more!

Wanna have some safe Halloween fun on Wednesday? No need to go batty; these things spook for themselves! So don’t be so grave about it — they’re all “clean” (no bier or other rotten stuff). So, after goblin your supper, head on down to one of these! And, if you’ve got a cold (like the Relic’s been fighting) just take something to control your coffin and check these out:

First, there’s the Haunted Mill, at 6325 Wilkinson Blvd. in Belmont. Now in its eighth year, this walk through the “darkside” is definitely not for the faint-of-heart! You have hardcore scares, the Mirror Maze, the Dark Maze and the not-so-romantic Tunnel of Torture. Now, if it’s a little too scary for you, there’s also a blacklight mini-golf course and a horror museum. Bloody good fun, no matter how you slice it. The Mill runs nightly through Wednesday. Tickets are $14 for the Haunted Mill, $7 for mini-golf, $3 for their museum, while combo tickets are $19. And you get discounts for ages 9 and younger (if they’re impressionable, just proceed to the mini-golf. Trust me.).

Another really ghoul idea is to take the Rosedale Grounds Ghost Tour at the Historic Rosedale Plantation. You’ll hear spine-tingling tales about ghostly events that folks have had at the former plantation, where those long-since-dead once worked, played, lived … and died. Don’t be afraid … it’s only an hour long: from 6-7 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Wednesday. The Plantation’s located at 3427 N. Tryon St., and the tour is only $5.00!

Of course, the traditional “trick-or-treat” posses will be out, dressed as witches, goblins, and all sorts of characters and waiting for the candies to be dropped into their little buckets. Now, while some businesses, like shopping centers and malls, will have a time and place for these little rascals to collect, a few parents might opt to let their kids go “door-to-door”. With that being said, PLEASE read the following CAREFULLY:

GO WITH YOUR CHILDREN TO SUPERVISE AND, ESPECIALLY, MAKE SURE THEY’RE SAFE! If you can’t make it, please send an adult whom you trust completely to go with them.
KNOW YOUR CHILDREN’S ROUTE TO THE LAST STEP! Don’t send them into unfamiliar territory! If they go, it should be ONLY to the residences you know personally and are friendly with!
GIVE THE OLDEST ONE OF THE BUNCH YOUR CELL PHONE, with directions on calling you with updates — or 9-1-1 if there’s anything suspicious!
ONCE THEY’RE HOME, CHECK ALL GOODIES, WHETHER WRAPPED OR UNWRAPPED! It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple tangerine or apple. If it looks suspicious, make a note of it, where they got it, then throw it away! They won’t go by that house again next year …With a little “prior preparation,” you can “prevent problem points” before they occur.

Oh … one more thing: Teens, if you see little guys out there canvassing the ‘hood for candy, give ‘em the right-of-way, okay? C’mon … it won’t hold you back but just a couple of minutes! Let the kids have their fun!

With all that in mind, have a safe and happy Halloween, Charlotte!

What better way to start your Thanksgiving than by having a visit from The Police?
No, not the gendarmes (they’re gonna have their hands busy with Shop With A Cop among other things like, crime and stuff) … I’m talking the most famous three-man rock ensemble since The Who! And they’re going to be at the Bobcats Arena on November 15. Tickets are available, of course, through Ticketmaster outlets or at the ticketmaster.com site.
Incidentally, the word is that, though perhaps Stewart, Andy and Sting don’t get along superbly offstage (how many rockers do?), they’re tighter than a drum onstage … and sound fantastic!
And it’s official: The Motown legend, Stevie Wonder, will be bringing his “A Wonder Autumn Tour” to the Bobcats Arena on November 28 — kicking off the holiday season in a grand way!
I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t have at least one Wonder hit among their favorites. Whether it’s the coolness of Uptight (Everything’s Alright), the romantic I Just Called To Say I Love You, the inspiring Higher Ground or the love song to his newborn daughter, Isn’t She Lovely?, each and every song of his is a true classic.
Now, tickets go on sale beginning Friday, November 2, and are bound to go fast, so be sure to get yours early!

GOT SOMETHING TO SELL? YOU NEED TO ASHOP!

Have you ever wanted to sell your own line of products by way of a personal website? You can reach thousands of potential buyers and more quickly than by printed ad! And a site normally costs much less than a print ad as well.
But how’s that done? If you really want to get the most out of your business, just turn it over to the best in ecommerce software — a company that thousands of first-timers and professionals trust: Ashop Commerce! For a small monthly fee, they’ll help you build an online store that’ll be able to go toe-to-toe with the big sites! You get the best advice from successful marketing professionals, be able to take credit card orders in “real-time”, can customize your site to your specifications, and so much more!
I know some who’ve used their dynamic software and, to a man (well, one woman, too!), they’ve been delighted with the results! They offer the most complete online-business solution package of any site of its kind on the web! But don’t take my word for it; see for yourself with their ten-day free trial!
Believe me, if you’re wanting to be successful in business these days, you’ve got to go “online.” And, to do that successfully and at a great price, you need the place that offers the best in shopping cart software.
It’s like having the ultimate “business partner”! So click on that link now, and start reaping the benefits of a successful online business soon!

Back-in-the-day, when I was just a kid hangin’ out at McCoy’s Gulf Station in Pineville, I heard out-of-towners call it Mayberry South, the Sleepiest Town In North Carolina — why, they even relocated us; due to our proximity to the state line, they’d even refer to us as Pineville, S. C. (hmph … they should be so blessed!)
Recently, though, there’s been a lot of talk about what to do with the historic downtown district of Pineville. Some, it seems, want the old buildings razed, while others want major renovations. But most (God love ‘em!) want to keep the stretch, from Polk St. to the railroad tracks, as it is — and with the same quaintness and ambience it’s had for over eighty years.
Now, I just heard from Mayor George Fowler, who’s not only a good friend of the Relic’s but also one of the best town fathers to come down the pike in years. Though the vote (according to Councilman Ken Mills) was re-slated for review in November, the Mayor says (and I quote from his email) “The action on the historic designation on the Yandell property downtown was delayed pending further plans to be presented by the Yandell group.”
My own opinion?? Well, it’s hard not to be biased when you’re brought up in the warm, small-town, easy-living atmosphere that these buildings convey. But, upon closer observation, you’ll find that Pineville’s downtown area has actually attracted more business by virtue of that atmosphere. Also, you’ve gotta realize that tearing down these landmarks to build the “modern” stuff can only mean blocking Main Street indefinitely — which will cause the town’s revenue to take a nose-dive (not to mention that of existing businesses!).
The introduction of cold “concrete and steel” structures will signal the end of personalization — a standard that Pineville’s carried for well over a century! In short, we become “just another place”. Besides, the cost of renovating existing structures will be less than razing, clearing, licensing, new construction, publicizing, etc.
Of course, the people who’ve loved Pineville’s present layout … the taxpayers who’ve supported the town for years … will be tremendously disappointed.
One more thing (and, remember: The Relic’s been all over this country and Canada since my first appearance in town 57 years ago!): If they let new suits have their way, “buy it out” and rebuild to their specs, it won’t be long before they try to oust hometowners from boards, councils, or mayorships. Trust me (I’ve seen it more times than I care to mention!) Power over one situation leads to a thirst for MORE power!
And we can’t let that happen …

The people are different, but the scene’s the same, no matter where you go, it seems. In Leigh Dyer’s blog on Charlotte.com, there’s a discussion about angry drivers who either pull up right behind you at an intersection, cut you off when you’re tryin’ to make a turn, or whatever … then lay on the horn or maybe mouth off a few silent words (well, I guess; ya can’t hear through the rolled-up side window!).
If fact, they might even show you their patriotism by waving the American salute to Iraqi terrorists (otherwise known as the, er, one-finger salute [guess which finger?]). Whatever the case, this is becoming a problem around Charlotte as much as it is everywhere else! I was coming off Highway 51 into Pineville a short while back when a white Itsamess model pulled up in the right-turn lane at the light … then, on the green, proceded to go through the intersection and right in front of me.
Man, I got mad!! I threw down my bag of chips, told the person on my cell phone I’d call them back later, closed my Sudoku for Dummies book and … (??? No, I didn’t! Actually, I was 10/2 on the wheel, ready to rock! But, hey … made ya read, didn’t it??)
Yeah, I thought about givin’ that driver a few choice epithets, maybe to the background music of my horn (providing it’s still working) … but I didn’t.
You see, the “road rage” thing isn’t the Relic’s forte. I’ve got a little better way of handlin’ the situation (’course, in that particular case, I didn’t have time). First, you’ve gotta realize that both you and the other driver’s in a metal monster that, at any time, could turn into a serious pain machine if we’re hit. Gotta TCB first — and that means gettin’ to your destination in one piece. Secondly, remember: You’re only near the other (and obviously blind) driver for a few seconds to a couple of minutes! Why screw up the other 23 hours, 58 minutes of the day due to his/her movement (or lack thereof?).
Thirdly, ya never know if that dude or dudette has a biiiiiiig chip on his/her shoulder. They might get outta their car and get a little violent! (Now, there’s an oxymoron: little violent. Ya either are or aren’t. No little to it!!) So save your oxy, and let the moron just go on through.
For the most part, we folks are known for our patience. Old folks, teens, blue-collar workers … even doctors … are known for their patience! And a little of that stuff — even when behind a turtle-speed driver — can help you out tremendously!
My mama used to say “kill ‘em with kindness”. So, what I do is look directly at them, wave happily and smile like I’ve known ‘em since the Second World War!! It throws ‘em off-guard … and, who knows? It might just change their attitude a bit … it might just keep you cool, as well.
Nonetheless, we are Charlotteans … and, if we want to keep it all clean and healthy, we’ve gotta stay cool in on the roads, obey the laws, and, if others don’t like it … well, it’s their problem! Our objective oughtta be gettin’ from Point A to Point B safely … no matter how many mules have escaped from the pasture … okay::

(snif!) Dis tibe, I’b (ahhhh — ahhhhh CHOOO!) wridin’ with a case of the flu … so please excuse the bessidess on the boditor …
Actually, it seems that more people are gettin’ down with the bug today than at any other time in recent history. And, to quote Mike Nesmith, it’s a “stone drag”, believe me. I’ve tried just about everything to knock this sucker out, short of smoking it to death (incidentally, can someone tell me why some people think that cigarette smoking helps the stuffies, etc? I mean, why trade influenza for cancer?), and the best I get is “This med will knock it out! Just give it a week to 10 days!” (D-UH! don’t most?).
But there are some pointers I’ve learned (mostly by trial-and-error):

• First, do drink a lotta fluid (except milk and alcoholic beverages). The reason is they’ll not just replenish any fluids ya lose, but you’ll also be … er, “passing” more fluid and, ummmm … well, other stuff. And that’ll carry out some of the bug.
• Next, try to find some way to sweat part of it out, without working a lot. Again, it’s the same principle: The bug can’t live on your skin surface (it’d kick the bug-cket!), so you’re ridding more of it!
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol, since that’ll weaken your immune system.
• DO lay into the vitamins, especially the ACE combo (vits A, C and E). But just take them as daily supplements.
• Pop some Beatles, Monkees or other upbeat music into your CD player. Being positive and upbeat can help you beat the bug at its own game.
• Finally, Be Patient! Everybody’s either got or had this, it seems … you’ve probably even had it before … so ya know it’ll pass!

So, with those ideas (which I use every day until this rascal’s done), you could soon be kissing the bug good-bye!

As reported in The Charlotte Observer, The C. D. Spangler Foundation’s pledged $4 million to help our schools increase its Teach for America corps next year.
Now, for those of you who are wondering, this is one of the most important and welcome projects that has been formulated in years. You see,
Teach For America (sometimes called a Peace Corps for public education} recruits highly-moraled and idealistic college grads who didn’t major in education, then gives them a six-week “crash” course in teaching impoverished kids and sends them to urban and rural schools that don’t have (and can’t find) enough teachers. It started placing them in our schools four years ago, with 45 recruits signing up for two-year stints. Today, that number’s grown to about 130.

The money will recruit 70 more quality grads to teach in CMS’s neediest schools — and that’s in addition to the 80 the school board’s already planned to add. Now, we’ve got a bond referendum coming up concerning our schools (though the pledge by Spangler was totally coincidental), and there might be some who wonder if this program really works.

All you need to do is look around you. There are alumni of this program that are making some positive changes in their lives … and, since I travel with my journalism and announcing, I’ve seen this program in action beyond the Queen City. It is nothing less than a true Godsend to these children who, otherwise, might not have the quality education and care of solid, understanding and patient teachers!

We, in America, have no right to rob any child of his or her education, no matter what age, sex, race, economic situation, religion, background or preference he or she might be. Our only leaders … in fact, our only future as a nation … comes from how we treat these children today. That goes for teachers, parents, preachers, counselors or any other adults.

Here’s where I switch into Rock Relic mode for a minute: If you’ve got a music engine on your computer, download these songs:

• The Oak Ridge Boys –Thank God For Kids
• Crosby, Stills & Nash — Teach Your Children
• Ricky Van Shelton — Keep It Between The Lines

If these don’t touch your heart about the importance of kids (especially that first one), try one of my signature songs (it is hard to find, but you can do it) The Knickerbockers — Coming Generation. That one should certainly do the trick!

God bless Dick Spangler and his wonderful, charitable pledge. This city is stronger and better thanks to him being in it …

A few weeks ago, I ran the story of Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier, a true American (and, I’m proud to say, Charlotte) hero. His courage under fire — his concern for the safety of those in his unit — his dedication to freedom, honor and America are what makes this country truly great.

However, shortly after I wrote the post, I received a comment from his sister, Kendall, very nicely informing me that some of my facts were wrong. Please, allow me to make the corrections here, in honor of this hero who deserves his story to be told correctly. Thank God he has a sister like Kendall! Would that we all had someone like that!!

In my previous post, I had written that he died of injuries sustained when one of the unit’s vehicles drove over a bomb. It exploded, toppling the vehicle. As the insurgent forces began shooting at them, Zachary then took it upon himself to save two of his comrades from the burning wreckage — then returned to man the turret and return fire. It was only that his lieutenant ordered him out of the vehicle due to his injuries.
I had reported this from stories gleaned from both The Charlotte Observer and a WBTV news reporter, and I wrote it according to the notes I had jotted down — not aware that it would sound as though he died from the burns he received.

THE ACTUAL STORY IS A BIT DIFFERENT

Let me quote parts of the comment that his loving sister wrote — and, again, my sincerest apologies for misconstruing the facts:

“Zack did not die from the burn wounds in April. He was killed when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Firebase Wilderness, Afghanistan on September 29, 2007.”

Thank you, Kendall, for “setting the record straight.” Your brother is a wonderfully brave soul who has touched thousands of lives. When we see, in our daily living around Charlotte and elsewhere, the things that confront us on a daily basis — then think what he and thousands of military personnel have to confront in Iraq every minute — our woes are infinitesimal in comparison.
I hope you’ll write back and tell me more about your brother’s background. He’s become a source of strength and inspiration for us all … and we were proud to call him a Charlottean!

Incidentally, I earlier used the words “is a wonderfully brave soul.” His soul is forever present with us …

Whether you were watching local news yesterday morning, MSNBC or the Today Show, you undoubtedly saw the amazing video of a KFC employee wrestling with a would-be robber.
To many, this was a heroic act worthy of appreciation by both community and the franchise itself.

I agree — to a point. You see, had it not been for a single misfired round, this story would’ve had a completely different ending. And while it’s laudable that the young male employee fought back and, to a degree, won, his actions could inspire other employees to take on robbers in the same method.

And that could be dangerous. Most store manuals will tell you that, if anyone attempts to strong-arm rob money or goods from their establishment, employees should comply in as peaceful manner as possible. This is to prevent the already-jumpy perpetrator from becoming “trigger-happy.”

Fortunately, the robber in this case got away with zilch. But, for a weapon that failed to fire, the brave employee’s still alive and well. His determination, attitude and spunk is appreciated … and, I guess, a matter of “seizing the moment.” Fortunately, it worked.

(Hey … since I’m back in the wrestling game, y’reckon this guy would ….? Naaaaah ….)

Hey … Halloween is just around the corner, and Carowinds Theme Park is about to be transformed into SCAReowinds for Halloween weekend. And, believe me, you’re gonna get your wits scared out of ya!

For example, they’ll have 300 characters (in the past, they had about a hundred). You’ll also have four new mazes (The Dream Factory, Dead Inn, Final Summons and Annihilation. You’ll have the Creeper Corps, Scare Zones, more props than a Vegas act (well, almost!) and so much more.

Now, there are a couple or three sensible rules to follow here, okay?

• First, the Scareowinds show is NOT recommended for anyone under 12! It can be a little … wellll, pleasantly nightmarish, and young’uns could end up have those of their own!
• No one is allowed to wear clothing (waitaminnit … lemme check that …) costumed clothing (whew !! That’s better!) unless they’re Carowinds employees involved in the scarefest.
• Above all else (this is especially for you teens!) please behave decently! ‘Nuff said …

Now, the tickets are priced at $39.99 (awww, go ahead and say $40.00, willya?), but it’s worth every red penny! If you’re a season passholder of C’winds, you can get ‘em for $19.99.

Now … if you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta go out and get a fresh new shipment of bejabbers so the park will have something to scare outta me!

C y’all next time!

If you were living in Charlotte back in the 1960s, chances are you looked forward to Saturday afternoons so you could flip your dial to Channel 3 and watch the great Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. First hosted by “Big” Bill Ward, it presented television matches (from the WBTV studios) and had greats like George and Sandy Scott, Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy, George Becker and Johnny Weaver and, of course, the famous Great Bolos in its stable.

Every Saturday, the faithful would grab their soft drink or coffee, find a good seat on the couch and watch their favorites in televised action. Most viewers got really vocal about it, acting as though they were there in the bleachers instead of in front of their old Motorolas. Soon, they began broadcasting the show on Saturday nights, with Ward occasionally reminding us to “go to church this Sunday” before he signed off.
If a match ran “over the time limit,” the station would still fade the show and go to the “News” intro — but, before anchorman Bob Bean would finish the newscast, he gave us the result of the last match (the one that was faded).

The Mid-Atlantic era actually began to take off in the early 1970s, though, with names like Jimmy Valiant, Wahoo McDaniel, “#1″ Paul Jones, Jack Brisco … and a young upstart by the name of Ric Flair. Eventually, Ted Turner bought out the organization, transformed it into World Championship Wrestling (and moved the headquarters from Briabend Dr. here to Atlanta, Ga.) … and, as they say, the rest is history.

One of the things that made Mid-Atlantic great for so long (especially during its earliest days) was that it was family-friendly. No one had to worry about someone gigging (what we called “bleeding”) or cursing (the worst was when Big Boy Brown called his opponent a “refugee from a funeral home”). There were no bras or panties exposed on female wrestlers like Moolah or Penny Banner. And the storylines were solid. Not only that, but you had a chance to meet and greet the wrestlers personally, getting their autographs and/or pics made with them.

For years, after my short stint with Mid-Atlantic, I searched for wrestling organizations that would honor that same commitment (I mean, being family-friendly). When the WWF (now WWE) began bombarding the airways with their soap operas, more and more independent (”indie”) organizations began popping up around the country. I took an announcing stint with Championship Pro Wrestling, then one in Florida (until the promotion folded) — still looking for the same buzz that we had in Mid-Atlantic here.

Today, I commute back and forth as an announcer and publicist for Ohio Championship Wrestling based in Ashland, Kentucky. This show is the closest you can get to the old Mid-Atlantic days … in fact, some have said that all it lacks is the old MAW logo. Still, the old “glory days” are missed … and we here in Crown Town have to realize that, if we want that “family-friendly” type of show again, we’re gonna have to “make some noize” at some of the newer shows.

Of course, there are some great young “stallions” in the new Mid-Atlantic territory, and others, like my friends The Stro (formerly The Maestro with WCW) and WCW/SMW legend Bobby Blaze are proud of their Carolina Connection and the Charlotte area.
You see, they don’t all have to mimic WWE. If a promotion’s going to pattern themselves after another, why not the granddaddy of them all — because, after all, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling grew from a tiny studio gig into a tremendously popular organization … just by being family-friendly!

In the photo, you’ll see some valuable gold coins minted in Charlotte back in 1859. At that time, we had one of the premier gold mines and exchanges in America.
Even today, Charlotte is a city that loves its gold. Many of you may have that or other precious metals and want to find safe and secure storage for them. Others of you may want to purchase them (and why not? Not only are they valuable, but you’re actually buying a piece of the earth’s history at the same time!).
Now, a place called the Monex Deposit Company (MDC) offers you a place where you can buy gold (or other precious metals). They also offer your choice of personal delivery or to have it stored at a reputable, independent depository (including banks).
This company has had a sterling (no pun intended) reputation in investment for over thirty years; in fact, they’re the leader in that field! Throughout the ages, a man’s wealth was determined by the amount of gold he had. It has had the power to change and influence lives! Today, the gold ingot is a standard in preserving our wealth — as well as purchasing power. And, whether it’s in coin (which has currency value, of course) or ingot (which are pure bullion of a handy size or shape), the best investment you could ever make is with gold.
Now, Monex Precious Metals has a large, well-versed team of professionals who are dedicated to serve any and all your precious metals investment needs. It’s the country’s best dealer and offers a convenient market as well as very competitive prices for precious metals.
So click on that link today! With the growing American desire for investment (meaning, of course, planning for the future … not only of ours, but of our families!) at an all-time high, and with safety being a key issue these days, it only makes sense to go to Monex for your needs, right??
Right!

Notice the heading: Guns AND (not IN) Our Schools. There’s a reason:
Over the past few weeks, the Charlotte Observer has reported a few school-agers who’ve been caught with firearms at school. Of course, these students make excuses and get teary-eyed when they’re caught … but … what if they weren’t? What would’ve happened?
Look … no one brings a firearm on school property for show-and-tell, to trade or for “no reason”. Somebody … another student, teacher, principal … somebody’s targeted by the armed kid (if not an entire group or class!)
And there’s no “excuse”, no “reason” that should let these students get off with a slap-on-the-wrist! If something like that had happened in our day (and, Sabres, Class of ‘69, know this!), it was immediate expulsion and report to the police!
Right?
But, just for the heck of it, let’s look at these “excuses”:

• POVERTY No doubt, it’s a depressant — but that could be discounted if the student has someone to show them that, by hard work and discipline, he can work his way out of it! Poverty’s not permanent unless we want it to be …
• SOMEONE MADE ME MAD Hey … who’s teaching these kids how to control their rage? Who’s counseling them? It doesn’t have to be the CMCMH, or the school itself! It can be … it can be (dare it say it?) loving, sensible parents!
• IT’S THE SYSTEM, MAN! Hmph … that’s a cop-out! But one way to reach the kids is to let them know that, if they finish their education … if they make the best grades they can …if they act honorably … and if they show they can get along with their classmates (good and bad), then they can enter adult society in just a few years and change the system! A gun won’t do it!
• IT’S MY FOLKS … If it’s their parents, then why take it out on their schools? Why not try to talk … communicate with their folks? If they need help, check with friends, churches or local agencies to help get their thoughts across … peacefully!
• And, worst of all, I DON’T LIKE THEM (n-word) AROUND ME! Unfortunately (and as we’ve seen in Louisiana recently), some kids are thinking that. Look … if you’re prejudiced, think about this: Some of the greatest modern heroes in this country — remembered by simple names like Iraq, Katrina or initials like WTC (think 9/11!) — are African-Americans! Do you buy a car just on the basis of its outer appearance — or do you check under the hood and how it operates? Then why do you judge people by their skin color, size or looks?

  One more thing: If any of you have had an injury or operation that required a blood transfusion, then (according to the American Red Cross) there’s a tremendous chance that you’ve received the blood donated by an African-American! And it’s running through your veins as you read this! So how can you be prejudiced against something that’s already part of you? WE ARE ALL EQUALS!

So we need to cut the excuses, get with these kids and teach … listen … LOVE them.

I said “Guns AND Our Schools”. School Board, isn’t it time we added some extra and mandatory classes to reach out to the kids who are most likely to bring these weapons to class? It could put a serious dent in their plans!

Parents, start communicating with your kids! I mean, do it in patience! Teach them by example, first of all … and don’t hold back on the love! If your son or daughter needs help, be sure he/she gets it. And, if you have weapons in the house, be sure they’re LOCKED UP AT ALL TIMES and where no one but you can get to them!

Together, we can keep the Queen City safe … and our schools can get back to teaching without looking over collective backs and worrying.

One final note here: Please note that not one kid does it because he heard it in a rap song! Both hip-hop and rap have been unjustly tied to recent school violence. For more on that issue, click here and follow it up here.

Teachers, for an effective learning tool to help combat the guns-in-schools issue, go here.