Washington, DC — "This constitutional amendment simply restores the authority Congress exercised during the first 200 years of the Republic to prohibit physical desecration of the ‘Stars and Stripes,’" Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt said today in voting for a resolution which would amend the Constitution to allow Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag (H.J. Res. 4).

The measure was approved by a bipartisan majority in the House by a 300-125 vote. Amendments to the Constitution require two-thirds votes in the House and Senate, as well as ratification of three-fourths of state legislatures.

"Our Constitution protects citizens’ right to express anger at the United States, but this measure draws the line at destroying or damaging the American flag that our veterans have followed into war," the Majority Whip said. "Our flag is the ultimate symbol of freedom and the sacrifices many have made for our nation, and its desecration cannot be tolerated. I urge the Senate to act swiftly, so our flag can enjoy the Constitutional protection it deserves."

The 17-word amendment was made necessary by Supreme Court decisions in 1989 and 1990 holding that physical desecration of the flag is protected by the First Amendment. In the last decade, all fifty state legislatures have passed resolutions calling on Congress to undo the court’s decision with a constitutional amendment reflecting the overwhelming support of the American public for protecting the flag.

Nashville Talent at Carthage Acoustic Festival.

Nashville recording artist Cody James will perform at 5 P.M. this Saturday at the Carthage Acoustic Music Festival on the Historic Carthage Square.

Originally from Oregon, Cody has resided in Joplin for the last couple of years.

In 1997, he gained the respect of his peers when he caught the attention of Loretta Lynn. After hearing only a few of Cody’s songs, Lynn signed Cody to a three year contract as a writer. During that period he co-wrote Lynn’s single "I Can’t Hear the Music," a ballad about Lynn’s late husband Dolittle. The song appears on Lynn’s album "Still Country". During and since his three years at Coal Miners Music, Cody has had cuts by Mark Chestnut, Pam Tillis and numerous other independent artists.

NASCAR to the Max

Since Ryan Newman made the jump to full time NASCAR Winston Cup racing last season, he has been a terror during qualifying earning more poles (first starting positions) than any other driver last season with six. The trend has continued into this season with Newman claiming four poles through the 13 races contested so far. Though Newman was named the 2002 Rookie-of-the-Year and finished sixth in the 2002 points race he hasn’t been able to parlay his poles into victories.

Newman claimed his forth pole of the season for Sunday’s MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 from Dover, Del. Once the green flag dropped, Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart dominated the early going. Stewart was penalized for a pit infraction and though he ultimately finished fourth was never again a threat for the win. Stewart’s trade mark hot temper reared its head for the first time this season with the driver exiting the track without talking with reporters. Newman began to show his muscle, literally and figuratively, near the halfway point of the contest. Newman’s power steering went out just past halfway and had to rely on brute strength to muscle his car to the finish. Newman, listed in the NASCAR Media Guide as 5’11" and 207 pounds, both considerably larger than the NASCAR average, needed his extra mass to horse his 3400 pound Stocker through the late going. He took the lead on lap 368 and held off hard charging Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte to claim his second win of the season but first from the pole.

NASCAR heads this weekend to one of its more unique tracks, the triangular Pocono (PA) Raceway. The 2.5-mile speedway with very minimal banking features the longest straightaway on the circuit at 3,055 feet which will see speed near 200 mph. Though cars will string out three, four or sometimes five wide down this straight, they must fall into single file line to successfully navigate turn one. Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and Bobby Labonte are drivers with successful runs at Pocono in the past.

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s.

Not a bad forecast for the upcommin’ weekend festivities.

Seein’ as how the Mornin’ Mail is responsible for keepin’ the show goin’ for the Carthage Acoustic Music Festival, the weather on this Saturday has become the center of attention ‘round here. The entertainment, the stage, the sound system have been secured. The weather is ‘bout the only thing that could change the schedule a little.

Although bad weather would modify the day some, there is an indoor facility lined up if it is needed. The show will go on no matter what the weather.

So, just in case the weather forecast is flawed, come on down to the Square to spend a dry afternoon of free entertainment.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am about to change the brake pads on my car. I have heard that new brake pads need to be broken in, or "bedded." How does one do this? And if I don’t do it, will I end up a smear on the road when I try to use the brakes next. — Felix

RAY: Yes, it IS true that brake pads need to be broken in, Felix. But it’s normally something your mechanic will do during his test drive, before he gives your car back.

TOM: The way the car stops is, the pads are squeezed together around the brake rotors. When new pads are installed, they are perfectly smooth. But if the rotors aren’t replaced at the same time, the rotors are not perfectly smooth. They usually have grooves and ridges from the previous, say, 30,000 miles of stopping.

RAY: Because of those irregularities, the flat brake pads will not make 100 percent surface contact with the rotors at first. So they have to be used a few times, until the surfaces conform to each other. Then you get complete surface-to-surface contact, and you get all of the braking power you’re supposed to have.

TOM: So if you change your own brake pads, you’ll want to be very careful when breaking them in, because your stopping power will be diminished at first. We always do it for our customers, because we don’t want to put them in any danger — any more than they’re already in from letting us work on their car, that is.

RAY: Here’s our procedure: We take the car out on a deserted road and drive about 40 mph. Then every 100 yards or so, we apply the brakes and slow it down to 20 mph, then speed back up to 40 again. After doing that awhile, you can start to feel the stopping power improving dramatically.