Soft Leads Exercise

 a.) Earlier this morning, Jesse James was caught trying to fulfill his family's legacy. Not Jesse James, the famous outlaw from the old Westerns. This was his great-great nephew, Jesse James. 

James was trying to "finish the job" that his great-great uncle started nearly 100 years ago, trying to leave the First Fidelity Bank with $20,000.

b.) Picture this: it's a warm March day. 88 degrees, the sun is shining and the smell of sunscreen permeates the air. People are roller skating at the City University and convertibles are driving around with the top down. 

Plot twist: you're in the Midwest, and exactly a year ago on the same day, it was 33 degrees. 

There has never been a March 22 that has been as warm as this one. Joining the city in its little heat wave were Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Des Moines. Temperatures are supposed to hit the low 70s today, but the sun will still be peeking through. 

c.) Would you like to swim with angelfish or tan with iguanas? What about a tour of a volcano? Look down on clouds or up on monkeys? We have the place for you. Costa Rica. 

A Central American country the size of West Virginia, but with hundreds of different kinds of plants, mammals, birds and amphibians. 

Stay in their air-conditioned deluxe accommodations and visit parks where the price of admission is under a dollar. 

d.) How would you like to have class but not be required to go to class? Indiana University is implementing a new way to attend class without students having to trudge all the way across campus every morning to get to class. 

The classes are now being brought to them.

In the fall, almost 100 classes will be taught in residence halls to over 2,500 students. Larry Gaffney, the halls of residence director, said that the summer conference room, Ashton Center, will be converted into a combination of classrooms as well as conference rooms. 

Students will be able to be in smaller classes where they will get help sessions and easy access to instructions. 

e.) "Sometimes I feel like I should be introducing myself as a 40-year-old man," said the 26-year-old Melissa Martinez.

Martinez, an artist and employee of the Scottsdale Museum of Modern Art, leads the installation of millions of dollars worth of art that rotates through the museum each year. 

Looks can be deceiving, as not many artists think that she is up for the task of these installations. But as soon as they see her operate a forklift, hang plaster board or use a crowbar on a crate, they understand that she is the right woman for the job. 

f.) Don't miss your car payments. Otherwise, the tan man with the dark hair and intimidating scar on his left eyebrow will steal your car.

Rick is a 27-year-old who makes a living repossessing cars. Once he gets an "Assignment for Repossession" with the borrowers' name, vehicle registration, type of vehicle, key numbers and a copy of their loan payment record, nothing stops him. 

g.) Lots of things come in pairs. Earrings, contact lenses, shoes. But what if you only have one ear? One eye? One shoe? Well, the National Odd Shoe Exchange (NOSE) can help you solve one of those problems. 

This non-profit agency began in 1943 and has been serving people with either two different sized feet or, like Patrick Hogan, one foot. 

Hogan has been throwing his left shoes into a closet to collect dust while his right shoes get all the glory. But who wants to buy a pair of shoes when you know you are only going to be using one?