Your Brain on Kids is a little mushier than it probably used to be. Kind of like the baby food you're feeding them.

I didn't intend for this blog to turn into a column about faith, but when it comes to children my mind always seems to go there.

This is a fun time. The guessing game of what Jude is trying to say. I know she's saying something important...if only I had an interpretor.

It seems like a lot of people we know are adopting or considering adoption or have adopted...what a great way to make a difference.

Jude has started walking at 16 months, but Toddling better describes her gait.

These are the "dog days of summer" for sure but it seems fish don't think it's too hot to bite a lure or night crawler. And that's a good thing. Getting out early in the morning or late in the evening or even night fishing helps beat the heat and that's when the fishing is best anyhow.

Even though it's hot, and I mean hot! you can always find places where the fish are biting here in the Ozarks. Whether it's a spring-fed stream, a cold tailwater or fishing deep in our lakes, there's hungry fish to be found.

Bill Babler, fishing guide, reports trout fishing is off the charts on Lake Taneycomo. Bill and I have been fishing and guiding on these waters for over 27 years and neither one of us have seen it this good, numbers and quality of rainbows.

Area lakes are just a little high due to heavy local rains this past three weeks but fish don't seem to mind much. Anglers are finding fish to be fairly agreeable. Stockton, Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Taneycomo are all fishing pretty well.

Dallas, TX - In the end all of the expansion speculation and rumors came down to three universities, Colorado, Nebraska and Boise State.
That's it? Don't forget Texas too.
The University of Texas showed its trump card to secure the Big 12 Conference would stay competitive. Texas talked the remaining ten schools into developing a new television package deal that favors the Longhorns. Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said the negotiations went beyond money.
"I don't want this portrayed this was all depending on a TV deal we will make in the future," said Beebe.
Beebe continues to talk up the market values of some of its remaining members. For instance, Mizzou. Missouri sits smack dab in the middle of two of the country's top 30 media markets. Despite that, it may take years before it plays out favorable for Missouri.
"The University of Missouri has certainly prospered during its time in the Big 12, and we are looking forward to future opportunities in the years ahead," said Mizzou athletics director Mike Alden.
Last year the Big 12 schools earned anywhere from $7 million to $10 million dollars depending on its national television appearances. The conference's deal with Fox ends in 2012. The conference's deal with ESPN lasts through the 2015-2016 academic year.
"Obviously, we are buoyed by the commitments of our existing colleagues and league institutions to preserve the Big 12 Conference and its position as one of the nation's top leagues," said Kansas State athletics director John Currie. "Our league has a very bright future and we are looking forward to new levels of growth and opportunity."
Of course the Wildcats' boss would say that. Kansas State, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State and Missouri had the most to gain to keep the league together. It ultimately got what it wanted, a promise to earn more money.
"We have a very solid future in our television exposure and revenue," said Beebe.
An expected cable television deal could be worth anywhere from $17 million to $20 million each year per team. Mizzou's jump to the Big Ten guaranteed it somewhere around $22-$24 million a year. Less yes, but the numbers are comparable.
No Big 12 school will secure as much of the revenue pie as the University of Texas. The conference's biggest university is expected to set up its own network to showcase all of its sports competition. That's what kept Texas from going east to the Big Ten Conference or west to the Pac-10 Conference.
Is this the end of expansion? Don't bet on it. The ten remaining Big 12 schools still will make or break the conference if it fails to show them the money.

Columbia, MO - Where they be a Big 12 Conference by 2012?
ESPN is reporting four more Big 12 schools will join the Pac-10 Conference. The University of Texas, Texas Tech University, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University will announce its intentions to leave next week. The Texas schools' board of regents will meet Tuesday to discuss expansion.
“We have had a couple of disappointing days here at the Big 12 Conference," said Commissioner Dan Beebe.
Texas A&M athletics boosters continue to push the school into discussions with the neighboring SEC. However, the school remains mum on where it's next move may be.
The University of Nebraska followed through what many had speculated for weeks. It will join the Big Ten conference in the 2011-2012 academic year. Nebraska had been rumored to go east for sometime. Many thought the University of Missouri would join it. So far, that's not the case.
"When the dust settles Mizzou will be in a strong position nationally," said Mizzou athletics director Mike Alden. "We don't know the timeline of all of these activities, so your patience and commitment is appreciated."
It's likely the Big 12 would fold if it lost theoretically the Big 12 South division. Beebe says he's working tirelessly to keep the remaining teams together.
"When you look at what you can do as a 10-member conference, in terms of the media landscape, teams in this part of the country, fans that can get to games readily, we can compete well with our value compared to any conference in the country if we just hold together," added Beebe.
What about speculation Mizzou would join Nebraska? Beebe says Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany gave him assurance it was unlikely the conference would pursue a second Big 12 school.
"We are committed to the Big 12 at this time," said University of Missouri-System board of curators chairwomen Judy Haggard.
College athletics has changed in the past decade. Now, television contracts detail just how successful a school's athletics program can be. Nebraska's move guarantees them nearly double what they earned under the Big 12 revenue sharing package. Who can blame them?
The University of Texas remains the biggest piece of college sports expansion yet to fit in the puzzle. The university presidents of the Big 12 understand that. And so does Beebe.
"We have pretty good evidence that if we stay together we have more value as ten than the 11 in the (expanded Pac-10)," noted Beebe.
If he can persuade all ten to stay, he'll then have to prove it to them of face this merry-go-round years later.

Columbia, MO - Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe is ready to go forward with ten conference schools. But he's not happy.
The University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska made their intentions to leave the conference public. The Buffaloes will move to the Pac-10 conference. Nebraska will move to the Big Ten Conference.
"The Information we have is pretty strong the ten members we have would continue to provide revenue," said Beebe.
He also had a strong message for those ten schools.
"My understanding is there aren't any other conference members considered by the Big Ten," added Beebe.
Maybe that's a message for the Texas schools too. The University of Texas Board of Regents will meet Tuesday. The Longhorns are rumored to go east to the Big Ten or west to the Pac-10.

Lincoln, Neb - Then there were ten in the Big 12.
The University of Nebraska has announced its intentions to apply for membership in the Big Ten conference. The school says it expects to be accepted.
Chancellor Harvey Perlman said it plans to stay in the Big 12 conference through next competitive sports season.
"This will bring Nebraska the stability the Big 12 cannot offer," said Perlman. "Even if we stayed in the Big 12 it could not give this board assurance it would remain the same for the three years, four years."
Nebraska's departure is the second school to leave the Big 12 in a day. Colorado applied for membership in the Pac-10 conference.
Nebraska athletics director Tom Osborne says the move is a good fit, culturally, academically and athletically.
"Athletics tends to be unstable," said Osborne. "We do feel joining the Big Ten will enhance all our sports."

Neither Osborne or Perlman mentioned anything about the University of Missouri following them to the Big Ten.

Harrison, AR - Harrison High School and University of Arkansas' Jordan Pratt is living the dream of playing professional baseball.

Meet the newest Razorback ready to "Call the Hogs." Elise Garretty Replogle was born June 13. She's perfect. She too thinks all of this expansion talk is just a scheme for ESPN to boost its Summer ratings. Elise, her momma and her big sister Grace are all doing well. She can't wait to make a road trip to Knoxville or Tuscaloosa or whatever school joins the SEC in her lifetime.
Oh, she's already appeared on KY3 News at Six.
Click HERE to watch the video.

Fayetteville, Ark. - The NCAA rules it will not eliminate a scholarship from the University of Arkansas basketball program because of poor academic progress.
Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long says he's encourage by significant improvement in the most recent calculation by the NCAA.
The college sports governing body released newest figures Wednesday. The program improved by 47 points. It first scored an 886. Teams that fall below 925 are subject to immediate penalties.
It raised its APR score because of "the team' demonstrated academic
improvement and favorable comparison based on other academic or
institutional factors."

Q: How should we hand the immigration problem with Mexico?  What do you think of the Arizona law?
We must secure the borders.  It is more than an immigration issue; it is a question of national security.  As for the Arizona law, I respect a states' right to govern itself.  I do not support legislation that may impinge on Fourth Amendment protections of citizens of the United States.  I will be an interested observer as Arizona enforces this law and as the courts take up its constitutionality.  Regardless, it is time for President Obama to close the border now.  This administration and Congress must address meaningful immigration reform this year.
Q: How can the Congress promote economic growth and  jobs?

Taxes are too high.  We must reduce taxes on individuals and corporations in order to spur economic growth and provide jobs.  Government debt and out-of-control spending chill investment and stagnates job growth.  It's time for congress to balance the budget and make the cuts necessary to unburden the American taxpayer.  These steps toward stability will spur investment, innovation, and prosperity will follow.
Q: What can Congress do to make our education system more effective?

Our educational standards need to be set high.  Our kids need to compete worldwide and the federal government has a role to play in setting these standards and incentivizing performance thereto.  We are all stakeholders.  It is up to parents, school boards, local communities, the state, and federal government to ensure our children's success.   

Additionally, the federal government needs to set low interest rate loans for college students.  Rising tuition costs and high rates of return are burying our students in debt.   

Q:  Earmarks: what do you think about them and why?
I am opposed to earmarks.  It's time to increase transparency at the federal level.  Right now, we need legislators with the courage to vote on our nations laws, not based on what's in it for them.  I want a vote on the bill, not on the special interest pay-off.    
Q: Health care: where do we go from here now that the U.S. has reformed health care?
The fundamental question is can we afford this bill.  We cannot.  I would not have voted for the healthcare bill and I submit that it must undergo significant revision to be sustainable.  The solution to the country's healthcare crisis is in improving the health of its citizens.  I would like to see bipartisan support for a revision of this bill that focuses on the root cause of health costs and not a more expensive bandage. 
Q: What is your opinion of drilling for oil in national park land and how do you prevent another Gulf oil slick?
We need off-shore drilling to decrease our dependence on foreign oil.  By putting in place stronger regulations and bigger penalties for failures, fewer failures will result.  I support drilling for oil to decrease our dependence on middle-east oil.  It is also important to protect park lands.
Q: Discuss the balance between personal privacy and individual freedoms versus protection from terrorists.
It's a delicate balance.  We live in a free country.  The government is expected to protect its citizens.  The government and its agencies need to share information and take the least intrusive approach to safeguarding America and protect its principles of freedom.
Q: How can our government realistically cut the federal debt?    
It's time to exercise serious "fiscal constraint" in government spending.  We must both plan and take steps certain to balance the federal budget.  Entitlement programs need to be addressed to ensure fiscal viability.  Income taxes must be reduced on individuals and capital gains taxes need to be reduced to spur business investment and jobs creation.
Q: How can the federal government reform Social Security?
The President has appointed a bi-partisan committee to address federal debt and spending.  The report is expected to come out December 1.  It is my understanding all tax and spend items are on the table, including social security.  I intend to review the findings and work with members of congress to ensure social security benefits are protected now and funded in the future.