I had the opportunity to visit a local company this week and watched scientists passionate about their topic. But these scientists, while they enjoy their jobs, were there for another passion — encouraging young people to study science, math, or engineering in college. 

Chances are, I will be shot in the head with a nail gun. 

“Stupid” is such a stupid little word, and certainly politically incorrect, but it does sort of get to the heart of the matter, yes? I’m not talking about the fairly mild, almost humorous term that was used more than 15 years (and increasingly again today) in the oft-quoted “it’s the economy, stupid.” Today’s definition of “stupid” seems to cut a bit closer to the bone.

Be careful for what you ask for. You just might get it.

How would you like to reduce your gasoline expense by more than $250 monthly? If you are a typical motorist who drives 13,000 miles annually, half in the city and half on the open road, you can do this easily. Simply trade in your gas-guzzling, 8-cylinder sport-and-utility vehicle (SUV) on a small 4-cylinder sedan.

Last Wednesday, I got a frantic phone message on my cell phone from my wife. The nervous tone of her voice said it all, “there is a tornado warning in Southeastern Prince William County, I think you had better pay attention to the news.”

Nobody listens to Jimmy Carter anymore, but once in a while, they should. 

All right. We’re now set on our presidential candidates for November — John McCain and Barack Obama. With a couple of months left until the conventions, all speculation will be turning to the vice presidential candidates. 

Back when I was in school, we used to spend a lot of time sitting around.  Actually, that sentence could end right there since that is what literature majors do. 

The following is a public service announcement. 

If you really wonder about all the talk about Republicans being in a real quandary this election cycle without offering a “viable brand” to voters, as the politicos like to say, we have to look no further than my mailbox this week.

Ever since they took the reigns of government in 2007, the Democrats have been trying to “end the war” in Iraq by quitting the fight and leaving Iraq in the hands of our enemies. Time and again the House and Senate took up legislation to force troop withdrawals and to deny money for supplies and weapons.

By mid-summer, presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL, 46, will have to select a running mate who shares his vision for the future and who also will appeal to a broad section of the electorate. 

In just a few weeks many of our young people will walk across stage, grasp their well-earned diploma, toss their tassel to the opposite side and enter into the kingdom of adulthood. 
Welcome! Now comes the fun part, trying to pay for college.

Near the end of “What Happened,” Scott McClellan’s tough-love critique of President Bush and his failed presidency, he recounts a bizarre and telling moment in the Oval Office. 

I’ve spoken about housing issues before, mostly in reference to how expensive it is to live in this county. I commended Chris Martino on his proposal to use interest income to keep mortgage interest rates low. I was astounded to hear on the news that towns near military bases have hugely high foreclosure rates, with Woodbridge being the second highest. And I am frustrated, as many are, about the lack of action on the government’s part to help us out of the crisis.

The intergalactic keg party is in jeopardy. That’s because someone clogged the space toilet. 

The “Liberty wall” in Manassas is a pro-immigrant billboard at 9500 Liberty Street in Manassas City, facing the Manassas train station. It is 12 feet tall and 40 feet wide. 

I’m not sure what they wound up playing, but I know what theme song they could have blared out in that hall in Phoenix earlier this week when John McCain surreptitiously squirreled George Bush inside for their covert fundraiser. When in doubt, look to John Lennon, so how about “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” by the Beatles?

The National Zoo is a nice place to take the wife and kids on the weekend because it’s free. Parking is a different story.

On May 20, a federal appeals court in Richmond overturned for the second time Virginia’s law on late-term abortions. The court ruled that the law created an “undue burden” on women by going beyond the guidelines set last year by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Gonzales v. Carhart.

Let’s take a time-out from the daily grind for a minute, it’s Memorial Day. 
But the time out is not so we can catch our breath from the daily commute or because its an opportunity to pile into our vehicles and get an early start on vacationing, although that is what’s going to happen. 

Nothing says capital-D Democrat like the lions of the left from Minnesota — Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy and Walter Mondale. 

A little while ago, about three blocks from where we live, an unfortunate young man came through an intersection and slammed into a traffic light pole. It happened about 4 a.m., but we did not know about it until we saw the pictures on television later from the news helicopters. 

When I moved to California a little over a year and a half ago to attend college, I knew that life on the west coast would be very different from the comfort of Woodbridge, which has been my home for nearly twenty years.

I’ve always lived by the motto, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” It has saved me lots of money and heartache in my short life. That’s why I am looking for the small print in Chris Martino’s recent proposal before the Board of County Supervisors about helping county employees purchase homes. 

Thank goodness divers off the Florida Keys found my 385-year-old gold toothpick and earwax spoon.
I’ve been looking for that sucker everywhere. 

CONCANNON FIRE

Last week I discussed the absurdity of the Democrats saying we need to end our dependence on foreign oil, but prohibiting new drilling to accomplish that goal.  But the problem isn’t just Democrats — sometimes there’s a bipartisan rush to enact meaningless legislation.

When our founding fathers still walked the Earth in their dogged pursuit of creating a new nation 232 years ago, surely they did not have in mind the electronic images of Bill O’Reilly, Chris Matthews, Keith Obermann and Wolf Blitzer showing up on glass screens in our living rooms every night.