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July 4th: Have we forgotten why we celebrate?
Rush Limbaugh’s $400 Million Deal
Does McCain’s military experience matter to you?
Near Miss: You almost lost your 2nd Ammendment right
A new Johnson City Medical Center: What do you think?
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02
It’s Back! The Ultimate Nascar Giveaway at BMS
Feb 29, 2008
Fans are preparing to make their way to the Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race Week is almost here, and once again we’re giving you a chance to win the Ultimate Bristol Fan Experience.
We’re drawing names March 3rd through the March 11th, and 14 lucky race fans will win the daily prize:
2 tickets to Bristol Pole Day and 2 tickets to the Sharpie Mini 300.
The 14 daily winners will have a shot at the Grand Prize to be announced live on Wednesday, March 12th on News Channel 11 Morning Edition.
The “Ultimate Bristol Fan Experience” includes:
2 suite tickets *with* hospitality to the Food City 500.
2 cold-pit passes for the Food City 500
the opportunity to wave the green flag during Food City 500 qualifying
weekend lodging in an r-v stationed at Blue Ox Campground.
Richard Petty Driving Experience
To enter, enter the keyword TICKETS here on TriCities.com. Also, you can complete the entry form available in the Bristol Herald Courier and send it to:
“Ultimate Bristol Fan Experience”
338 East Main Street
Johnson City, TN 37605
No purchase necessary. You must be 21 years old to enter.
Official rules available here on TriCities.com.
Posted by Josh Smith You’re sick of the “sick and working”
Feb 26, 2008
Wow! Some of you are really sick of the “sick and working”.
A blog entry last week about people who come to work sick sparked lots of debate. Read for yourselves.
I found this photo on-line. Sometimes, I feel like buying these for my children. Especially when they climb on those indoor public playgrounds. A friend of my called them “human petrie dishes.”
An interesting point was made: some have to work even when they’re sick. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. And if they don’t work, they could even get fired.
Thankfully, the folks here at WJHL don’t even flinch when I call in sick - even when it’s during the all-important ratings month of February when our audience gets measured and when attendance is critical. I’m SO thankful because I know it’s not always the case in other workplaces.
On my desk, you’ll find a canister of disinfectant wipes. No, it doesn’t scream “come sit and chat with me”, but after having a house full of sick kids, I’m admittedly concerned about bringing anything else home.
A co-worker who saw me wiping down my phone and computer keyboard said, “Great! You’re helping create those drug resistant super-bugs!”
Maybe we all need to just calm down, get plenty of rest, eat and drink things that are good for us, and good each other a break.
Germs happen.... right?
What do you think?
Posted by Josh Smith Ralph Nader; Unpredictable at Any Speed?
Feb 25, 2008
Over the weekend, Ralph Nader entered the race for the White House.
Nader says the two main parties have “spoiled” the political process. The main party top dogs are calling Nader “the spoiler” for his perceived affect on the Gore campaign in 2000.
As I’ve shared on this blog before, I’ve heard a lot of willingness from local voters to consider another option. Many have shared with me that their candidate of choice was, at best, the least offensive of all the available options.
But is Nader any better? What do you think of the consumer advocate-turned-politician?
Posted by Josh Smith Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of… the stomach bug
Feb 21, 2008It wasn’t a pleasant weekend at the Smith house.
Saturday morning, my boys woke up by throwing up. Within hours, my wife was among the walking wounded. And my Sunday night, I too was on the DL.
According to my wife, it was the worst “stomach bug” she’s ever had.
Eventually, my entire extended family got sick, and one of my kids had to spend the night in the hospital. Dehydration is an ugly thing. He’s better now, and I owe a big thanks to the kind folks at the hospital like Tommy, Allison, Jody, Lynn, and others whose names I didn’t get. THANK YOU!
Have you had the stomach bug? How about the flu? Share you sickness stories.
Posted by Josh Smith Would you donate an organ if a relative was in need?
Feb 15, 2008
Sometimes, my job allows me to meet some of the most inspirational people.
Yesterday, I went in search of “true love” on Valentine’s Day. I ended up at the transplant center in Johnson City where Susan Abad of Marion, Virginia, was getting her 6 month check-up.
6 months since her brother donated one of his kidney’s to her.
Susan told me that she and her brother are doing great. He saved her life, and she’ll never forget that.
But she also told me that, after donating one of his healthy kidneys, people told her brother that they would not have been able to do what he did, even if it was for a loved one.
Honestly, would you? If someone needed an organ or tissue that you could live without, would you be willing to go under the knife?
Posted by Josh Smith 
