South Bend, Indiana; Feb. 5, 2008

Good News: Aunt Rona’s back.
Bad News: For sports fans. She’s taking up space on the sports page.

Election 2008

Uncle Ron’s Ramblings

Uncle Ron’s Civics Lesson Continues (Yawn): As I was saying yesterday before I was rudely interrupted by the end of the page, there are two important nominations on the ballot for Hoosiers on May 6. Actually there are more but we’ll focus on the race for the Democratic nominee for Governor of Indiana.
As I mentioned in a previous issue, the race to be the standard bearer for the Democratic Party against Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels (who has no serious opposition) has come down to Jill Long Thompson and former South Bend resident Jim Schellinger.
Schellinger is an Indianapolis architect and business executive. He has received the endorsements of several key Democrats, including former First Lady Judy O’Bannon.
Long Thompson served the Ft. Wayne area as a U.S. representative from 1988-94. She now makes her home in Argos and unsuccessfully tried to make a comeback in 2002 against Chris Chocola.
Long Thompson has a comfortable lead in most polls.
I’ll have to visit GOP headquarters to find out who the candidates are Congress.
Announcements

Car Registration: CFH Guests: If you own a motor vehicle, you need to register it with your coach or it could be towed.
“One Step At a Time” Running Group: Three days a week (times and days TBA). Will meet at CFH. Open to Center guests and anyone else who is interested in learning to run. All runners will receive the necessary running gear (i.e. running shoes, shorts, warm-ups, shirts, hats, etc.).
Artistic Newsletter: Are you an artist, poet or writer? Place submissions for the new Artistic Newsletter in Emily Pickerill’s box. Express your talents and ideas by participating. Start submitting as soon as possible.
Art Group: Interested in exercising your creative spirit? Want to see some of your original art work on display in the hallways?
Please see Meg about details for joining a new art group at CFH
Homeless Veterans: If you are disabled and cannot work full-time (or are over 65), you may be entitled to a disability pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
For more information and complete eligibility requirements, call 1-800-827-1000.
You can also contact: Dianne W. Brown, Homeless Veterans Coordinator by calling 317-554-0000, extension 82589 or direct dial 317-988-2589 at Indianapolis VAMC, Room C-2065. Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 2-3:45 p.m.
VA Hospital Van: To schedule a ride to the VA Hospital in Ft. Wayne, St. Joseph County veterans can call Doug Davis (USMC, retired) at (574) 243-VETS (8387).
The van service also provides connecting rides to the VA hospitals in Marion and Indianapolis. .
ABE

▪Dead Poets Society: Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE Room. All are welcome.
We will discuss short stories and poems.
▪Writing: Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., ABE. Improve your basic writing skills under the guidance of a trained instructor.
▪Creative Writing: Thursdays, 8-9 p.m. Develop your creative writing skills. You don’t have to sign up, just show up. Volunteers from Notre Dame will be there.
▪Fractions and Decimals Refresher Courses: Tuesdays, fractions, and Thursdays, decimals, in the second floor conference room. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact ABE.


Herald Sports

Bobby Knight Resigns: Former IU basketball coach Bobby Knight gave Texas Tech his resignation in the middle of his 42d season Monday.
Knight, who went over the 900-mark in career victories this season, turned the coaching reigns over to his designated successor, son Pat. The younger Knight played for his father at IU and followed him to Texas Tech after the elder Knight’s firing there.
The elder Knight, 67, won three national championships at IU. He retires with more wins than any Division I men’s coach.
Montana Son to Walk On at ND: Nate Montana, son of former Notre Dame and San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana, will attend ND as a walk-on.
Nate, who is 6-4, 195 pounds, was third string quarterback at Concord DeLaSalle High School in his only varsity season. He directed the scout-team offense against the first-team defense that helped DeLaSalle win a state championship.
Scouts say the younger Montana has an impressive arm and lots of potential. He attended a quarterback camp with ND quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Dayne Crist.
ND Men Ranked 22/21 in Basketball Polls: The Notre Dame men’s basketball team has been ranked 22/21 in the latest polls after a 89-80 win over DePaul Saturday.
The Irish are 16-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big East They have a 33-game winning streak at home.
Monday NBA Scores: Bulls 118, Sonics 108; Mavericks 107, Magic 98; Hawks 96, 76ers 91; Clippers 103, Knicks 94; Raptors 114, Heat 82; Rockets 92, Timberwolves 86; Suns 118, Bobcats 104; Jazz 110, Hornets 88; Nuggets 105, Trailblazers 103.
Monday NHL Scores: New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT); Edmonton 5, Calgary 0; Phoenix 4, Colorado 3 (OT).
Monday NCAA Men Scores: (2) Kansas 90, Missouri 71; Louisville 71, (17) Marquette 57.
Monday NCAA Women Scores: South Dakota St. 74, IPFW 72; IUPUI 71, Southern Utah 46; Illinois 66, Michigan 61; (3) North Carolina 93, (9) Duke 76; (5) Maryland 74, Virginia Tech 71 (OT).


Ask Aunt Rona

Dear Aunt Rona: I don't understand it. It seems the entire state of Texas (minus the small percentage that root for the Texans), including my own dear little sis are blaming me (not Tony or his teammates or that other team) for what happened to our beloved Cowboys in the playoffs. I was once one of the Lone Star State’s favorite daughters, now supposedly I’m persona non grata (whatever that means, that’s a term that Tony learned in college).
And it really hurts to drag my little sis into this. I mean I practically raised that kid when our parents were off preaching on the evangelical circuit. Hunks come and go, but sisterhood is forever.
And then your idiot sports columnist suggested that the Cowboys have me hold for placekicks. Supposedly the defense would swarm over me and the kicker could waltz into the end zone. Ha, ha.
And then, to add insult to injury, that doofus Gomer Pyle look-alike and his team win the championship against my old buddy Tommy’s Patriots.
Anyway, thanks for letting me get a load off my chest, Aunt Rona (okay Guys, fill in any dirty-minded remark you can think of here).
Sincerely, Jessie from Texas.,
Dear Jess: First off, the people of North Carolina are actually quite proud of Gomer and all those other Tar Heel girls and boys who served in the armed forces although those southern boys do seem to prefer a good hunting dog to a good woman.
As for piling on, I don’t think I’d like to be piled on by Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck (I can’t speak for our idiot sports columnist). I wouldn’t mind piling on pretty boy Tommy or your boy Tony, though. Pant, pant.
Maybe baby sis wants her own quarterback. Eli (Manning, the Gomer Pyle look-alike) is available. The only people rooting for him Sunday were his brother and his parents.
Anyway hang in there, sweetie, and hold your head up. Maybe they’ll do a “Dukes of Hazard II.”
Love, Aunt Rona
Editors note: Actually they did do a “Dukes of Hazard” sequel (without Jessie, someone else played Daisy) that went straight to video although they didn’t call it “Dukes of Hazard II.”