Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 3

TAKE TWO Longview News-Journal, Friday, June 15, 2007 3A Gun-toting liberal gets a CHL 1 signing a T-shirt; e-mail me to place an advance order. Make no mistake. I'm a liberal. If that was an option 1 could check on the census form, I'd do it. 1 realize in these parts that may be a minority opinion, but that's the great thing about being a Literal.

We are absolutely in and often no meat at all. This does not make me a better person, but maybe it will lower my cholesterol. So the only things I shoot are targets and cans, with one of three handguns I own. And I have a half -century old Remington 16-gauge SiKirtsman 18 shotgun I take out occasionally Matthew McConaughey vt I i i a STARS NEIGHBORS GARY AUSTIN -My buddy Frank and I are sitting bleary -eyed in a Masonic Lodge at 7 a.m. on a Saturday in Loander, which used to bo 25 mill's northwest of River City before folks started gobbling up all the country for subdivisions.

Now Leander is Extremely North Austin. A dozen or so of us have gathered to take a 12-hour concealed handgun class. We will learn the laws concerning concealed handguns when it's legal to use deadly force; a primer on anger management; the difference between a semi automatic and a revolver; and several stories about the instructor's wife and grandchildren. Eleven hours of talking is a large hole to fill, after all. We'll actually get to shoot for just an hour or so.

Frank is my longest-tenured fj'iend. We met 3G years ago while Volunteering at a Longview crisis hotline staffed by teens who had no business counseling themselves, let alone anyone else. The males became involved in hopes of meeting girls who would overlook their inherent nerdiness and raging acne, and actually le at traded even if only briefly to a guy with the sensitivity to listen to someone on the phone engulfed in teen angst. Actually, this approach sort -of worked, but that's another story. I'm here to talk about gun-toting liberals, am a GTL, as is Frank.

We're de room portion of the course. I made a 98 on the test; Frank made a 100. (i le's always been an overachiever.) I'm pretty sure I woidd have made a 90 without ever taking the class; 70 or better is passing. 1 Though being legally blind is a hindrance to holding a CHL, it wouldn't stop one from passing the shooting portion of the test. It's ridiculously easy.

Anyone who can't pass that portion probably shouldn't be driving. (I will modestly say here that 1 had a perfect score and beat Frank. We're competitive that way.) I now hold a CI 1L, having passed the background check with flying colors, even after being fingerprinted. I wrent to a gun show with Frank a few weeks ago and bought a lightweight .357 Smith and Wesson five-shooter to carry in the car hen traveling. It was my first gun show.

I immediately noticed how polite everyone was; it pays to be civil when surrounded by that much firepower. I bought a bumper sticker that made me chuckle, given my line of work: "If guns kill people, then do pencils missjx-11 words?" Wih I could blame the pencil, largely replaced these days by the keyboard. Especially when the e-mails start pouring in from NRA meml'MTS. And non-GTLs. Gary ordt-rs is publisher of The Lufkii Wy News l-rnail.

gbcr coxnews.com. favor of people having minority opinions! Not so sure that's the case with a lot of conservatives I run across. Given this liberal caveat, I am also a strong backer of the Second Amendment, though not as rigidly as my conservative friends. I am close to a First Amendment absolutist. Since the Second Amendment deals with bullets instead of words, I am a bit more cautious.

Someone could get hurt. And you couldn't talk me into joining the NRA if you put a gun to my head. Well, may! then. I've shot guns since my dad took me out piinking with his single-shot Remington .22 rifle when I was a squirt. Hunting never appealed to me because 1 don't like to kill animals, really don't want to cut them up, and have evolved into a quasi-vegan lately.

I've quit eating mammals strictly fish and fowl these days A FAR (Low) New camera filter promises better photos in poor light BY BEN DOBBIN Business iMer ROCHESTER, N.Y. A year from now, capturing a crisp, clear image of a candlelit birthday party could be a piece of cake even with a camera phcr.c. Eastman Kodak Co. said Thursday it has developed a color-filter technology that at least doubles the sensitivity to light of the image sensor in every digital camera. "Low light can mean trying to get a good image indoors of your kid blowing out the birthday candles.

It can mean you want to take a photograph on a street corner in Pans at midnight," said Chris Mc-Nifle, general manager of the to try shattering clay pigeons, with limited success. Anyway, Frank and I decided to take the CHL class. I travel a lot on weekends and feel safer carrying a handgun in my car. 1 may be a Literal, but 1 intend to protect myself if necessary. A few observations about this CHL process: El Folks who go through the hoops required to get the permit are extremely unlikely to use a gun in an inappropriate manner.

The background checks are thorough, and the number of incidents involving CI 1L holders going postal or robbing liquor stores is miniscule. The knot-heads buying handguns on the street pose the greater risk. Anybody with a clean record and the forlx'aranee or padding to survive sitting in a hard -bottomed chair for 12 hours can pass the class in t-ocus SLICE OF LIFE FROM NEAR OR DOiGyOOll WHAl'S HAPPENING 1 6'oSpTi 'Z 5 -S' 1 -3 'lp VFfl Pct 4CC2 cf 'h CMt 1 A rR I i 1 I 'I I SATURDAY Military Officers Association of America. HKvliDL'. mi.

Saturday, Haoen's. ami L(iiig icw. 'aa Ci.uld.vk. Topic: "A Texas Gi.iracter." S5.i6. Gregg County Democratic Party, pancake brcakt.M, 9 to 1 1 a.m.

Saturday. i nv ciaiic lkl.ckiiark'is, 21 1 'Isler INMNCn FCCM r- phones are using smaller sensors means lower When the shutter is projected onto an electric charge. Half of the millions filtered to collect filtered to let through chip then reconstructs in the final image. The new method, for more than five that are sensitive collect a larger software cnaj-ies filter when capturing a McCcnaughey is People's 'Bachelor of the Year' NEW YORK Matthew McCo-naughey frequently photographed shirtless and exercising on the beach is People magazine's "bachelor of the year." "I love warm weather and summertime," the 37-year-old actor says in the magazine's "Hottest Bachelors" issue, on newsstands today. "What better way to enjoy it than at the teach, where few people wear shirts?" When asked how he maintains his muscular build, the Texan who attended Longview High School says: "I don't really have a workout regimen I follow.

I just live my life. My goal is to break a sweat each day." McConaughey, whose screen credits include "We Are Marshall," "Failure to Launch" and "Sahara," has high standards when it comes to the ladies. "What I look for in a woman is what I love to call the 'two Hs' hot-ness and humor," he says. "But to be honest, a woman with a good sense of humor is always hot." The magazine also names "sexy and sizzling" bachelors such as Adrian Grenier, Zach BrafT, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Reynolds, Ludacris and Apolo Ohno. David Spade, who starred on the "Just Shoot Me!" television series, also makes the cut.

"Luckily we live in a world where women can overlook the physical and focus on things more important, like having a good personality or being on a TV show." the 42-year-old actor-comedian says. Judge restores probation for rapper Foxy Brown NEW YORK Foxy Brown, threatened with jail after being accused of violating probation that stemmed from an assault case, was retored to probation in good standing Thursday by a Manhattan judge. In the past two months, the 27-year-old rapper has kept appointments with her probation officer, gotten permission before leaving the state, passed drug tests and attended required anger management classes. "I see a positive probation report here," the judge told Crown. "It was a reed straggle to get you onboard.

I want to see you finish this sentence and go on to a happy life." Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand. had been on hree years' probation stemming from an Aug. 29, 2004, incident in Manhattan's Chelsea area in which she attacked two mani-curists at a nail salon over payment. Her misdemeanor assault plea deal included a requirement that she get permission from her probation officer before leaving the state. Brown was accused of violating probation when she went to Florida where she was arrested Feb.

15 for allegedly throwing hair glue at a beauty shop employee when lie asked her to leave because the shop was closing. She later struggled with an officer, police said. The judge could have jailed her for up to a year for violating probation. Charged with battery and resisting an officer with violence, Brown was released after posting a $1,500 bond. That case is pending.

Today's local birthdays: Chris Beard, Amy Ilolman, Amy Jackson, Taylor LeGrand, Mike Murley. Delxirah E. Nails, Rachel Rainier, John A. Richardson, Tommy Sehinciler, Donetta D. Turner.

Emily Vowell. Kirston Welge. Today's celebrity birthdays: Singer Russell Hitchcock (Air is 58. Rock singer Steve Walsh (Kansas) is 56. Comedian-actor Jim Belushi is 53.

Country singer Tern Gibbs is 53. Actress Helen Hunt is 44. Actress Courteney Cox is 43. Country musician Michael Britt (Ion-estar) is 41. Actor-rapper Ice Cube is 38.

Actor Neil Patrick Hams is 34. STAFI AtF. SCPCRrS IN CIRCULATION -i -i a TS i 7 i jr 9 X) I -1 6 a 1 7arr i ndh i nblla-i vHi 71 In trr.s undated photo re- 1 leased fcy Eastman Kodak Ccrrpar.y is an unidertti-' fed Kodak technician shewing image sensors embedded on a silicon wa'er at Eiitrran Kodak Rochester, N.Y. Kodak is ar.nc'anong ne sensor techno'ogy that II provide an increase in the sensitivity to light. (AP PhotoEastman Kodak Corpany) smaller sensors to begin with and generally mean smaller pixels, which sensitivity." ojvns on a digital camera, an image the sensor, which converts light into Most sensors use the Bayer mask: of cells on a checkerboard grid are green light and a quarter each are red and blue light.

A computer a full color signal for each pixel which has been under development years, adds "panchromatic" cells to all wavelengths of visible light and amount of light striking the sensor. Tailoring algorithms to this unique new pattern shutter sjvhhIs, vhich reduces blurring moving subject, McNifie said. 0CAST YOUR VOTE POLLS AND RESULTS AT New polls Cast your vote at News page Are you glad Paris Hilton had to go back tin jail? I Yes I No Sports page Who do you think is the Major League jawtwR mt yaliiah'o nhyor fn (hit pnin Alex Rodriguez S3 Josh Beckett i mrto Ordonez i 3 John Lackey Someone else Features page In Mother's Day and Father's i gets more attention your mom or dad? mum S3 Dad Online results Here's hat you said on the previous polls: I News page Are you going to submit a slogan that best feJDturesthe spirit of ongview? i ires -2121 -28 voles i No -104 votes i Sports page Which team win the NBA title? Cleveland 24.64 -17 votes San Antonio Spurs 75 36 52 votes Features page If you knew or are one of this year's high hool gradates, wheie are they going nft? i EColk-ge-63 9'W0 votes -5 votes I Job 4 voles 1 Travel, time oil, or aching else 0 0 votes Corrections The KYI Guide distributed in Thursday's rH'vsiaer contained incorrect dates for the Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes is fod.iy. Saturday and Sunday and June 22 2 i.

It is the policy of the longwi News Jew nal ii promptly correct erroi Da requests for necicns or clai'lir ahons to Mlcr Ana Penna tier at (903) 7 MO Spoils corffct-ops iie in koieboJid. Vol 76 No 184 Sub1 'u photography company's image sensor business. Analyst Chris Chute doesn't doubt that the new filter system represents a breakthrough in 1 isting photo quality especially when light conditions are not ideal. "It's often the most simple concepts that can have the most profound impact," said Chute1 of IDC. a market research firm near Boston.

Kodak exacts to provide samples of its new technology to a variety of camera manufacturers in the first quarter of sttl The technol, gy is likely to be incorporated first in mass-market, point -and-shoot cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones Ix-ginning next year. "Typically new features like this would ie more likely to show up in high end products and then trickle down." said analyst Steve llonenberg uf Lyra Research Inc. "Put I think thebrriM I'onria! U'lvtit of this may come in the camera phone environment. Camera Lencview. Infornutkm: i'W) 75-6336.

East Texas Polio Sarvivors Association, 10 a.m. Saturday. Longview Cancer Center, Mi) N. ei'ii!) Infornaa- American Legion Post 140. charity bingo.

1 3 1 p.m. Saturday. 305 American Legion I'M. Longview. Information: B.

Shict.eX!3)75-)-l)546. Waskom Lions Club, dinnermeeting. 6 in. Satuulav, D.iviJ ika: Cattish Villaee, U.S.' Si) at 1 20, Waskom. Meal: S15.

Eaat Texas datebook appears in the longview News-Journal Tuesday through Sunday. The Weeky Planner appears on Mondays. Items should be typed or printed on 812 by-IMnch paper and include a daytime phone number. Releases may be ma'ed to East Texas Calendar, P.O. Box 1792, Longview 75606.

faxed to 757-3742 or brought to the third floor of the newspaper office, 320 E. Methvin St. Submissions must reach the newspaper before noon at least two working days before the desired publication date. IN ADVERTISING i 2 (, TODAY Active AdvHage Center s9 h'OiT d', k1 to 3 si 3)I Ii 1 ron id lit. ii ii i'i II' 0 fS '-tC'icp 1 k' '1a ttn il' iyS a it1 1 I i IM I 11 Ins; 1 leTo vcr tyTS 'or 11 a 1 I I t.

tl fdm 1 Id 1 i 2 1 Loi eK wan i US i i IA Longvif-'A. A1 encsiU Po 1 143 0 p'i A' rl 1 I i I 'yv (-H 05'i6. VfrtPo 1 1183 ir 6 to 9 tt 'u A tr Lon( i I i 29 3bhZ. H0WT0 REACH US Street addrt ss Methvn St. KM Address P0 TX 1702 Main Phone 757 37'i i City'.