en Sports 15 Texting while driving is so obviously and inherently dangerous that you would think a law against the practice would not be necessary. But the ability of human beings to think that somehow the laws of probability don't apply to them means that far too many people risk their lives in such a foolish way. Just when it appeared that the controversy over whether school Superintendent Barbara Thompson had misled the Montgomery School Board about her doctoral status had died down, Thompson revived the issue by threatening the school board members with legal action if they continued to discuss it. Only in the Orwellian world of liberalism would the following make sense. Earlier this year, some liberal politicians once again decided to try and take more control over the people's lives by trying to take more control over their health care. Sharply rising tuition rates at Alabama's universities get most of the attention, but a big jump in rates for the state's two-year schools carries significant consequences as well. Given the importance of a better educated populace to the state's future economic well-being, keeping higher education affordable for Alabama families is critical. Whose idea was it to bring an adulterous, race-hustling thug to Lanier to speak about "life?" Considering that Jesse Jackson supports abortion on demand for any reason, his theme would have more properly described as "choose life unless you're an inconvenient fetus." Mary McLemore states on Oct. 27 in her criticism of Brandt Ayers that "it was the Republicans who passed the Civil Rights Act." Major error of fact. Anyone living today should know better. James Evans used his Sunday column to give a sophomoric book report on Dan Brown's latest book, "The Lost Symbol." He does, however, caution conservative Christians that this book may reveal some truths that will cause them to have fits of massive jerking of the knees accompanied by the burning of books. I have come to the conclusion that our elected officials are confused, bless their little hearts. They think they are movie stars and the press is the paparazzi. Thomas P. Davis should be commended for his Alabama Voices column "Working Together Pays Off." The Network of Alabama Academic Libraries under the leadership of Dr. Sue Medina has not only been the guiding light for growth and development of academic libraries within the state, but has also offered to include special libraries, HBCU libraries and public libraries in all of its collaborative programs. If a legislative committee is successful in derailing a $13 million sole-source contract for a modernization of Alabama state government's purchasing procedures, it also would derail a possible savings to the state -- and to the state's taxpayers -- of more than $4 million a year after several years. I think it is a wonderful thing to have Breast Cancer Awareness Month because it does make women and men alike aware of this disease. Three more Alabamians have died from the H1N1 flu, underscoring the need for people to take reasonable precautions to prevent catching the disease and to ensure they do not spread it to others if they do get it. Alabama's automotive industry hasn't escaped the impact of the economic downturn, and there are certainly still some rough patches of road ahead. But there also are signs that the auto industry -- at least that portion with production in Alabama -- could be poised for a comeback. The long-battered housing industry both locally and nationally received some bittersweet news this week. Don Nolte opined that he envisions the day when the "heretofore" middle-class white Anglo-Saxon Protestants would open their wallets to give more to help those in need. Mr. Dilworth has chosen to go to Louisiana. No surprise. After all, the Board of Education just had to offer him more money and a contract extension, which made him look more desirable to the folks in Louisiana. Makes me wonder if they really wanted him to stay here. There is an excess of hypocritical outrage from our congress, our president and many of my fellow citizens over the ill-considered bonuses paid to AIG executives. In reality, the administration and Congress negotiated an agreement in the "stimulus" package to allow these specific bonuses and now claim they didn't realize what they were doing. There are far more important issues in Alabama than the gaming machines, Gov. Riley. The board that oversees Alabama's troubled Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Plan really didn't accomplish much when it met Tuesday to consider ways to rebound from investment losses that threaten the financial ability of about 48,000 Alabamians to attend college. Amid the economic gloom and doom, optimistic Alabamians can find a ray of light here and there if they look hard enough. Everyone is upset about the AIG executives getting millions of dollars in bonuses with taxpayer money. Locally there were 650 teachers pink-slipped. Why in the world would the PACT board invest heavily in stocks, when even I had sense enough to pull my money out of the stocks for my government retirement and invest in a "safe" fund more than a year ago when things started to look shaky and the stocks started to fall? I am just a novice; I don't follow the stocks daily or invest. The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions has voted to take Halcyon Forest homeowners to court to resolve a property use dispute. At issue is the proposed development of 14 acres owned by the Baptists at the southwest corner of I-85 and Taylor Road, across from the entrance to the Shoppes at East Chase in east Montgomery. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jamey Johnson strokes his long scruffy beard, pauses a moment, then unloads. BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The reunion of Tori Spelling's Donna and Jennie Garth's Kelly on the CW's "90210" is an attention-grabber for fans of the original drama. LOS ANGELES -- This month's NAACP Image Awards ceremony could be a real knockout. NEW YORK -- Was "MacGruber" a "Saturday Night Live" sketch or Pepsi commercial? LOS ANGELES -- An appeals court on Monday rejected a bid by Roman Polanski's attorneys to disqualify all Los Angeles Superior Court judges from considering a request to dismiss a rape case against the fugitive film director. LOS ANGELES -- Adele is in vogue, and soon to be in Vogue. NEW YORK -- New York Fashion Week is getting a new look. SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Authorities say they arrested actor and TV host Gary Collins on suspicion of drunken driving. LOS ANGELES -- Britney Spears will not have to undergo questioning in a Florida civil case filed by her former manager at least until summer. NEW YORK -- Erykah Badu gave birth to a baby girl this weekend -- and twittered about the experience. TAMPA, Fla. -- Bruce Springsteen wanted to make sure even the people watching the Super Bowl at home were paying attention to the halftime show. LOS ANGELES -- "Slumdog Millionaire" continued its rags-to-riches march through Hollywood's awards season as its filmmaker, Danny Boyle, won the top honor Saturday from the Directors Guild of America. MONTREAT, N.C. -- George Beverly Shea is skipping from memory to memory of his globe-trotting career as evangelist Billy Graham's crusade crooner. When words can't explain, he bellows out a song. NEW YORK -- Imagine what might have happened to Katie Couric a couple of weeks ago if she hadn't kept her briefing books straight. TAMPA, Fla. -- Jennifer Hudson returned to the spotlight Sunday with a flawless performance of the national anthem before the Super Bowl.