Well, it’s finally done. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors have finally decided on a tax rate and, thus, a budget.  It’s been a long process and, in the end, I fear that we are in for a tumultuous year.

The key to a long life? Eat plenty of fatback. 

CONCANNON FIRE

While the Democrats continue to peck away at one another like a gaggle of angry geese, giving John McCain an unexpectedly wide range of travel options for unfamiliar GOP territory like New Orleans and Selma, one major factor of the campaign-that-never-ends may be rather overlooked.

I didn’t have much in common with my fellow veterans when I joined the American Legion 12 years ago. American Legion Post 117 was still dominated by the old guard-the “Dubya Dubya Two” gang as younger vets liked to call them.

As soon as he takes office in January, President Barack Obama should cancel the presidential helicopter replacement program. 

A day in the life of commuting, specifically slugging, can be hectic and it can be a delicate system that is easily upset.

Another primary and still no finality for Democrats.
Hillary Clinton claims the tide is turning toward her. The seemingly never-ending race goes on. 

Why are people becoming more violent? Why are we losing our humanity? 

Bea Jackson doesn’t look like anyone’s idea of an angel. She wouldn’t be mistaken for one of the flaxen haired creatures with iridescent wings and flowing robes that grace Christmas cards in season, but she is an angel nonetheless. 

Stephen Hawking has always been among my favorite astrophysicists. I’ve got his rookie card and planned to paint a large “K” on my bare chest so the gang and I could spell out HAWKING on the front row at his next lecture. 

CONCANNON FIRE

This column deals with a very disturbing story that you may not have heard. Many of you will find this offensive or even shocking. 

Remember when traveling used to be fun? Sort of fun anyway? It was probably never really a barrel of laughs (except maybe on those redeye flights out of Las Vegas), but hardly was it the most frustrating thing to do, either. Like it is now. 

A strange thing happened last week. I went to a fight and an Olympic torch relay broke out

There is a legal concept known as “strict liability,” sometimes also referred to as “absolute liability.” It means, in essence, that a person or a company can be held liable for damages to others even though the person was not negligent and did not commit an overt act of any kind to cause the harm.

I am not Catholic but I am sure glad Pope Benedict XVI came to America last week. 

It wouldn’t be a presidential campaign without charges that Democrats will raise your taxes. 

In reference to a recent column, a reader wrote to me and asked me if anything made me upset. 

I had a decision to make: Should I slip into the bright red boxer briefs, dig through the dirty clothes or go commando? 

Concannon Fire

Staff Writer Josh Eiserike shares his thoughts on pop culture in his weekly column.

Tuesday was tax day, the day when we are all supposed to have completed and mailed our federal tax returns. I am notoriously bad about filing my tax forms — I just finished my 2006 returns over the weekend. 

On March 18, the U. S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the District of Columbia’s law prohibiting private ownership of handguns. 

CONCANNON FIRE

The cherry blossoms are great, but those Condi-as-veep rumors are giving the capital a real case of spring fever.

I don’t usually think too much of the French. I have only had limited experience in France, but the people I met, while pleasant, did nothing to make my visit easier.

Visitors to and residents of Louisiana will not get a chance to chug the state’s official cocktail and wake up on a French Quarter sidewalk with no wallet, no memory and no pants. 

This week, while waiting in my doctor’s office, I came across a trade magazine called Modern Healthcare. In this particular issue, July 2/9, 2007, Senator Barack Obama wrote an opinion piece regarding his proposal for a solution to our healthcare “crisis.”

Politics might not only make strange bedfellows, but when it comes to presidential politics, it also seems to have a tendency to make even respected politicians embarrass themselves.