text:
Friday, August 31, 2007
Farragut Rolls Over Central
Chad Tindell and Metro Pulse Get It Wrong
Chad said: Funny comment I heard at the Submitted by CBT on Mon, 2007/08/27 - 6:25pm.
Funny comment I heard at the meeting...Frank Gencay, the 'Greek Po Boy Brown'...with respects to the departed Mr. Brown.
Interesting meeting. The settlement proposal was DOA. No surprise on the pipe, except only 10 voted for it. Based on some conversations I had with some concrete people, I thought the flexibility would pass pretty easy. It has to pass again, but, I don't think concrete can move the one vote. I've heard about concrete, but it seems to me there are always variables...it depends on the application, it depends if it's installed right, etc.
Cosby confronted Arms in front of a reporter outisde (sic) the assembly room after the meeting. It seems it may have been Arms doin' (sic) the name callin' (sic) when Cosby was at the podium. Arms was directly behind Ragsdale in the front row. Cosby was pointing his finger at Arms (pretty much in Arms face) right in front of Channel 10's reporter. Don't know if it will make the news or not. Cosby's no showboat, he's a mad taxpayer with experience and smarts. Despite the Mayor's passionate speech, this stuff is far from over.
Then Metro Pulse printed: Show Time Retired CPA Louis Cosby answered questions from Knox County Commission at a meeting Monday concerning his examination of the county's finances. Cosby cited a litany of management failures he laid at the feet of County Mayor Mike Ragsdale.
During one peroration, he whirled to face Ragsdale, who had said a tad too loudly, "What a showboat." Cosby asked Ragsdale what he said and Ragsdale denied saying anything.
When Cosby left the meeting, he and Chief of Staff Mike Arms had a heated discussion in the lobby of the City County Building and then went outside for a 20-minute discussion, mostly nose to nose.
Cosby has demanded an apology from the mayor. The former county auditor told Commission he was through with his examination of the books. His report will be turned over to the state Comptroller's office. Cosby said Tuesday that if he did not get an apology, he might reconsider his decision to drop the matter. Cosby has a website, www.knoxexpenses.com, where comments from the public on his findings have been piling up.
There was no in the face hostile argument between Cosby and Arms. They were discussing the TVA days and the need to sit down and talk in the near future. No screaming, hostile confrontation like Chad and Metro Pulse would like for people to think.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Here Is A Great Announcement About a Knoxville Event In April 2008
I'm With Fred Presidential Campaign
BREAKING NEWS: Will Fred Announce Before The Close Of The Day?
UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: WATE in Knoxville, TN got the Knoxville scoop.
UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: Fox News is reporting that Fred will announce on September 6, 2007. One week from today.
UPDATE 3:55 p.m.: LA Times is reporting a 4:00 p.m. Conference call announcement.
Original Post 3:48 p.m. Unconfirmed sources say that it may be likely.
Stay Tuned.
CMA (Country Music Association) Finalists Are Announced
Musician of the Year
Eddie Bayers, Jr. – Drums
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar
Music Video of the Year(Award goes to Artist and Director)
Martina McBride
Directed by Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood
Directed by Roman White
Emerson Drive
Directed by Steven Goldmann
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jason Alexander
"You Save Me"
Kenny Chesney
Directed by Shaun Silva
Musical Event of the Year(Award to each Artist)
Reba McEntire with Kelly Clarkson
"Because of You"
MCA Nashville
Tracy Lawrence featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Rocky Comfort Records/CO5
Jimmy Buffett with George Strait and Alan Jackson
"Hey Good Lookin'"
LiveMCA Nashville
Alison Krauss and John Waite
"Missing You"
Rounder Records
Vince Gill with Guest Vocalist Alison Krauss
"The Reason Why"
MCA Nashville
Song of the Year(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
"Anyway"Martina McBride/Brad Warren/Brett Warren
Delemmava Music/Bucky and Clyde Music
"Before He Cheats"Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins
That Little House Music/Mighty Under Dog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys
"Give It Away"
Bill Anderson/Buddy Cannon/Jamey
JohnsonSony/ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba Music/Slow Run Music/EMI Blackwood
"Lost In This Moment"
John Rich/Keith Anderson/Rodney Clawson
Rich Texan Music/Warner-Tamerlane/Writer's Extreme/EMI April Music/Romeo Cowboy
"Stupid Boy"
Dave Berg/Deanna Bryant/Sarah Buxton
Song Planet/That Little House Music/Cal IV Songs/ BergBrain Music
Album of the Year(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
5th Gear
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley
Produced by Brett Beavers
Capitol Records Nashville
Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing
Keith Urban
Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville
These Days
Vince Gill
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville
Single of the Year(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
Martina McBride
Produced by Martina McBride
RCA Records
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records
"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Produced by Big Kenny and John Rich
Warner Bros. Nashville
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Wreckers
Vocal Group of the Year
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Dixie Chicks
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Horizon Award
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Little Big Town
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Josh Turner
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Carrie Underwood
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban
Knox County Candidates
Original Post: The following candidates have appointed Treasurer's in order to solicit and receive contributions for possible and probable campaigns. Nominating petitions will be distributed beginning September 14, 2007. The deadline for submitting a nominating petition is December 13, 2007 at 12:00 noon.
Note: An * indicates the individual is either the Incumbent or the 1/31/2007 appointee.
County Commission
First District, Seat A
Second District Seat B
Fourth District, Seat A
Ruthie Stone Kuhlman - Republican
William Daniels - Republican
Fourth District, Seat B
Ed Shouse - Republican
Lee Tramel - Republican *
William Daniels - Republican
Fifth District, Seat C
Sixth District, Seat A
Matthew Jones - Republican
Sharon Cawood - Democrat *
Eighth District, Seat B
Jack Huddleston - Republican *
Ninth District, Seat A
Tim Greene - Republican *
Register of Deeds
Sherry Witt - Republican *
Fred Sisk - Republican *
L.B. Steele - Republican
County Clerk
Foster G. Arnett, Jr. - Republican
Scott Moore - Republican
George E. Stooksbury - Democrat
Billy G. Tindell - Democrat *
Property Assessor
Phil Ballard - Republican
Mike Lowe - Republican
Law Director
School Board Members
District 2
Indya Kincannon*
District 3
District 5
District 8
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Few Republicans Are Embarassing Me And Others. How About Becoming A Christocrat?
Quote From Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee
"The American people will forgive us for being sinners. They will not forgive is for being hypocrites."
Amen, Governor Huckabee. Give this man a national stage.
Add One More Position On The Knox County Ballot In 2008
County Commission
First District, Seat A
Property Assessor
Law Director
School Board Members
District 2
Now add the position of Knox County Criminal Court Judge Div. II - Ken Irvine was appointed to fill in during Republican Criminal Court Judge Ray Lee Jenkins illness. Now the Democrat Governor "Prince Phillip of Nashville" must appoint Irvine or another more electable Democrat to fill in until the Primary and General elections are held in February and August 2008.
Possible Republican candidates are Knox County Republican General Sessions Judges Chuck Cerny and Bob R. McGee and Knoxville Attorney and Republican Ray H. Jenkins.
It Is Football Time In Tennessee. Wish That I Was On Ole' Rocky Top!
Sat, Sep 1st, 2007 at California 08:00 PM Memorial Stadium
Sat, Sep 8th, 2007 Southern_Miss 07:00 PM Neyland Stadium (PPV - Pay Per View)
Sat, Sep 15th, 2007 at Florida 03:30 PM Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Fl
Sat, Sep 22nd, 2007 Arkansas_State 07:00 PM Neyland Stadium (PPV - Pay Per View)
Sat, Oct 6th, 2007 Georgia TBA Neyland Stadium
Sat, Oct 13th, 2007 at Miss_State TBA Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field
Sat, Oct 20th, 2007 at Alabama TBA Bryant-Denny Stadium
Sat, Oct 27th, 2007 So_Carolina TBA Neyland Stadium
Sat, Nov 3rd, 2007 UL_Lafayette 04:00 PM Neyland Stadium (PPV -Pay Per View)
Sat, Nov 10th, 2007 Arkansas TBA Neyland Stadium
Sat, Nov 17th, 2007 Vanderbilt TBA Neyland Stadium
Sat, Nov 24th, 2007 at Kentucky 01:00 PM Commonwealth Stadium
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Breaking News: WATE Loses The Best Guy That They Have On Air
No reason for me to watch Fox at 10 or WATE for any reason after September 18th. Darn it.
Congratulations Adam. You have improved K-Town while you have been here. I don't know if the improvement will last. Look what has happened to the GOP just since I stepped out.
UPDATE: I have just remembered that Melissa Dipane is the lovely better half of one Adam Longo. With his departure to Orlando. Melissa is sure to follow creating not only a void on Fox News 10 p.m. newscast with Adam, but a void on the Good Morning Tennessee Weekends with Melissa. Good Luck to both.
Commissioner Cawood Is Now In The Business Of Messing Up A Karns Neighborhood
Is it so that she can get a sizable campaign contribution from a developer so that she can continue mailing out her campaign literature? We are just asking the questions.
You tell us why you think she did it.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Fountain City Focus Expands COUNTYWIDE
This my friends is a little, no allot of good news today.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Finally Tells Them To Go Find Another Whipping Boy
Gonzales resignation is a statement to the barrage of liberal attackers. The statement is: Go find yourself another whipping boy.
You did a good job, Mr. Attorney General. When the liberals hate you so bad that they make up lies and repeat slanderous statements about you, then you sir are a good man. You will be forever known by the enemies that you keep. Hold your head high.
An enemy of the liberals is a good man indeed.
Knox County Commission Meets And Moncier Sentencing Today
I would suggest that former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison teach the anger management class and Sheriffs Department employee Mike Ruble teach the three hour legal ethics class.
Original Post 7:09 a.m.: The Knox County Commission meets today at 2:00 p.m., I have a business commitment that will keep me busy this afternoon.
I am predicting that the re-do will not pass. I hope they pass the storm water ordinance, but come up with language that will allow concrete and/or metal pipe. I understand the arguments and I respect Sam Parnell who sent me some great information on the city's ordinance. I just don't like a mandatory prohibition for anything other than one form of drainage piping.
Also, today in Greeneville Herb Moncier is scheduled to be sentenced on his contempt charge. I will be professional, cordial and will simply await the sentencing.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
An Individual Member Of Knoxville's Media Amazingly Demonstrates Ignorance
This morning Republican County Commissioners Richard Cate of the Fourth District and Phil Ballard of the Eighth District along with Knox County's Republican Law Director John Owings were in studio and on the air. One of the four Democrats on the County Commission also appeared on the show.
This morning the biggest mis-informed statement ever made by an on air host occurred. It was Michael Grider. One of the Commissioners was saying that it is necessary to speak with his district commission counterpart as well as other commissioners to make them aware of concerns in their individual districts.
Michael Grider interrupted and said "NO, you represent your district and the at large Commissioners represent the whole county." An awkward silence fell and one of the commissioners informed Grider that there are no at large Commissioners. He said "Oh, I thought there was"
Citadel should pull Michael Grider from ever covering County Commission until he can learn the fundamentals of the County governance model of representation. Especially since his boss Mike Hammond is a County Commissioner.
It was such a bad mistake that a fifth grader would automatically know that Grider was wrong, the moment he uttered his knowledge or lack thereof.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
New Slogan for Hilly!
Towers campaign slogan was: "double your pleasure, double your fun — vote against Johnson two times, not one."
If we Republicans are so lucky as to have Hilly as the Demo candidate. Brian's Blog suggest a similar slogan "Triple your pleasure, Triple your fun, Vote Against Clinton...for the Third Time and it's Done"
Farragut Admirals CRUSH West Rebels
Way to go Admirals.
Karns Finally Wins One With New Coach
Coach Fulkerson was recruited to and is teaching and coaching in the State of Georgia this year.
The new Karns coach scheduled Lenior City for his first regular season game last night and Karns won 36-13.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Knox County Republican Criminal Court Judge Ray Lee Jenkins Has Gone To His Eternal Reward
Our prayers are with Michele, and his stepson, Robert Carter Ball; his former wife, Elizabeth; his daughter, Leigh Ann Jenkins Workman and son-in-law, Mark Workman; his son, Ray Hal Jenkins and daughter-in-law, Belinda; his daughter, Linda Miriam Jenkins Hatcher and son-in-law, Mark Hatcher; and his eight grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
I am most grateful that during my time as Chairman of the Knox County Republican Party that I was able to assist in a leadership position in re-electing Judge Jenkins (2006) to the bench that he served so distinctively for so many years. He was attacked during the campaign and after, but in the end we won.
The Jenkins family have been instrumental in the growth and development of the Knox County Republican Party. For that we are all forever grateful.
Judge Jenkins, you did good
Brian's Blog Exclusive: Sandra Lea Sets The Record Straight and Bids Farewell To The Liberal Blog
Please note and adhere to this statement. Not for Publication or Distribution by KnoxViews.
Randy Neal/KnoxViews:
I first contacted you last week, requesting permission to use Tyler Harber's email printed on KnoxViews. In that first email to you, I said, "Due to the continued scandals erupting in Knox County government there is now a renewed interest in the Knox County Sheriff's Tyler Harber Report. Knox County Citizens have asked me to write a condensed version of the Report for distribution...." At no time did I refer to my work as a "Report" as you alleged. Permission was granted to use Tyler's email with a request to be kept informed upon completion of my work.
Once my work, (which we'll now have to call Lea's Report), was completed, I sent you a courtesy copy in a multiple addressed email to a few of my friends containing the words, "Ready for distribution," meaning my friends were free to share this with their friends. My Report had already gone out to the Citizens' group under separate cover, and in hindsight, I should have sent your courtesy copy under separate cover as well. The next thing I was aware of was an ecstatic email from you saying, "The post is up to 200 reads already." Logging onto KnoxViews I was greeted by bold headlines declaring, "Boss Ragsdale: Knox County bombshell report," followed by some cut and paste comments taken from my Report. Contrary to your definition of the word "distribute" verses "publish," I did not give you permission to publish my work, nor did you ask, even though you made the comment, "The Great Pretenders: Pretending to be Public Servants...My guess is that it's a draft of a book, in 'condensed format.'" Correctly guessing that Lea's Report might be material incorporated in a book draft, you also didn't bother to inquire if this material might be under copyright. But that's all water under the bridge now, and all is forgiven.
What is almost unforgivable is the frenzied attack you subjected me to, not only by you, Randy Neal, but by your Users as well. Inviting me to logon and "converse" is like inviting a guest, a complete stranger, into one's home, then attacking and bashing that guest, and encouraging your Users to join in the fun, all in the pretense of "constructive criticism." You've given me a brief dose of what our school kids must be subjected to by school bullies.
In my Report I write: "...Due to the excessive numbers of typos, misspelling, and lack of punctuation, the transcripts of ...(the Sheriff's Report) makes for very difficult and frustrating reading...Language and vocabulary of the Knox County officials and employees...has been quoted verbatim..."
It's now perfectly clear that your KnoxViews Users don't know what the word "verbatim" means. I quoted the exact words and vocabulary of your own elected and appointed officials, complete with misspellings and all, to give an example of your tax dollars at work. I did take the liberty of cleaning up the punctuation and some of the most egregious misspellings, and putting the statements and comments in dialogue form in order to make the Sheriff's Report more readable and understandable.
However, you and your Users, in a narcissistic attempt to impose your pretense of intellectual superiority, attacked me, believing that I'd made such statements as "Them there people," when in fact, I'm quoting your own officials and employees from a report, the Sheriff's Report, that you've spent thousands of tax dollars to produce. This is a damning report; a smoking gun aimed at the deceitful, vindictive, spiteful characters of your elected officials.Their waste of your tax dollars; their self-serving natures, are exposed for all to see. Few read the original 408 page Sheriff's Report of the Investigation of Tyler Harber, and it was hurriedly buried, hopefully to be forgotten. A few good Citizens did read it, and couldn't forget it. They resurrected it by asking me to rewrite, critique and comment on it. Hence, the Lea Report. It's most unfortunate that you didn't get the message contained in this damning report, but chose instead to attack the messenger. Too bad, indeed.
The frenzy appears to have subsided now; your fury appears to be over. Your Users appear to have exhausted themselves after their verbal binge of sarcastic hostility against me, a complete stranger to you all. I imagine they now lay panting, franticly planning, gloating even, in anticipation of their next attack and another opportunity to toot their own horns.
Your attacks, spurred on by your leaders, the bean & clark* antagonist, focused not only on me personally and my "Report", but also against my publication, Whirlwind: The Butcher Banking Scandal. I, more than any other, am terribly embarrassed by the typos found in this book. I acknowledge that it contains double the numbers of typos found in the average book, while pointing out that my book, at 647 pages, is twice the size of the average 250-300 page book. A volume containing over a million words is bound to have errors, and for that I'm sorry, but the factual content is accurate and complete.
However, since my professional integrity as an author has been called into question, I feel I should also be allowed a little toot. And you must be obliged, under the circumstances, to indulge me this toot.
How many books have you and your KnoxViewers published? And if any of you have published books, how many of your books have hit Number One, twice, on the B*A*M Best Sellers' List? How many of your books never slipped off the Top Ten on the Best Sellers' List for over two years?
How many of your books are in university law libraries across the nation, and have been designated as required reading/teaching guides in major university courses such as Law, Economics, and Criminal Justice? And if you've published books on the topics of fraud and banking, how many of your books can claim the distinction of being declared a "Classic in American Corporate Fraud," by Dr. Roy Davies, the Librarian of the St. Lukes Campus, University of Exeter, in Devon, England?
The life of a book is five years at most. At the end of the five-year life of your book, when the bookstore shelves remain empty of your title, how many of you have experienced a price soar of over $4,000 for a single, unautographed copy in a two month time period? (See Attached) I'd say none of your books have, since my publisher has said that this is unprecedented, especially while the author is still living.
Whirlwind can claim success in all of the above. How successful have your literary efforts been? You may revile me and blast my writing style as you please. You may refrain from buying any of my books, that's fine with me. There are thousands of readers who're tired of the bland choices placed before them. They crave a bit of flavoring and spice in their word soup. They like word pictures painted in bold strokes; they like analogies. I aim to please them, and hope I do. I have my little niche in this world, and so do you. From my niche I speak to thousands and thousands, internationally. Your niche is regional and appears to consist of less than a hundred, except when you print Bombshells. We're noncompetitive. I won't venture into your little niche, and you'll never venture into to mine.
And if a picture paints a thousand words, then how shall I paint you KnoxViewers? This is not Knoxville's finest hour. I should think you'd want to put on a prettier face, especially while the eyes of so many strangers look upon you during this time of turmoil. This author is very much alive. This stranger's eyes are piercing, and you've shown yourselves to me clearly. What I've seen isn't pretty. What this stranger's eyes have seen is ugly.
In all honesty, I wish I could say that my brief visit with you has been pleasant. But I can say it's been very entertaining.
I will own up to one statement you made, although I don't like your tone: "She writes, and writes, and writes." That's what I do.
Farewell, KnoxViews.
* Not a typo.
2007 Sandra Lea --The Great Pretenders: Pretending to be Public Servants
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Demo's Need Our Help.
Here are the lame Carvillian suggestions.
W Is Out - Send the Right Wing With Him
No Republicans Left Behind in D.C.
What Have Republicans Done for You Lately?
2006 Was Just the Beginning - More Dems in '08
Here are several excellent suggestions from The New Pundit that was left as a comment over at The Ward View.
We Can't Surrender Without Your Vote
John Edwards: I'm Your Girl!
For the Love of Allah, Vote Democrat
Our hero Rush Limbaugh suggested a few excellent ideas on his radio show today. The two that I wrote down were.
Dumb it down for the Democrats in 2008
LBJ's Great Society - Another Decade Should Do it.
Here are Brian's Blog Suggestions:
I Vote Democrat because I'm Stuck On Stupid
It's About The Money In The Freezer
Vote Democrat, Because The Levee Wouldn't Have Broke
Vote Democrat
I will continue to update with additional idea. Feel free to submit your ideas through comments or send me an idea via email and I will submit them for you.
Check out this website. You can order bumper stickers like
Democrats Enabling the Poor and Screwing the Rich
Democrats Hard On Fetuses Soft on Terrorists
Metro Pulse
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Liberal Blog Organizer Believes The Government Should Reward Lazy Parents With More Taxpayer Dollars
O.k. so he believes that when a parent doesn't care to even show up and be involved in their child's education that they should get a check to encourage them to be involved. What a slap in the face to every hard working taxpaying citizen that cares about their kids. This is a typical item on any socialist agenda. Reward the lazy and punish the ones carrying the load and paying the freight.
In my community parents work hard 8-12 hours a day and still attend to PTA meetings, parent/teacher conferences, volunteering in the classrooms, doing whatever it takes. At the same time we pay our county taxes and feel good about it. Until, some liberal comes along with a dumb idea like this. He wants to spend our tax dollars on rewarding laziness and incompetence. It would be like paying money for a weekly Slopper News.
Let's see in Knox County we spend nearly $8,000.00 a year per child for public education. After a k-12 education Knox County taxpayers have invested $104,000.00 per child. If a parent can not recognize the value of what the taxpayers are investing and can't spend some sweat equity into the process. Then so be it. They can just stay at home eating their Cheetos (no offense to Cheetos) and watching Jerry Springer or Maury Povich guessing which one of the 6 daddies is the father.
Commissioner Mark Hamon Admits On Liberal Blog Of Violating Sunshine Law Before January 31st
The democrat said on 8/10/2007 at 9:15 a.m. "The court, of course, will decide whether any of the many commissioners' efforts (including my very small role in asking others to consider a candidate being overlooked) violated the sunshine law."
In a separate but related comment on a separate thread on Tue 08/21/2007 at 11:38am. The liberal blog organizer opines and attempts to spin the democrat Commissioner's sunshine law violation by excusing it as he wasn't successful so it is o.k. "Yep, it cost the Dems a seat, but at least they retained some semblence of integrity, because it was pretty obvious they didn't cut a deal ahead of time."
To violate the law whether you are successful or not is unacceptable. It is like saying well, you attempted to robbing the store but since you were unsuccessful it is o.k..
Certainly the liberal blog and its 6 participants have a double standard. If you are a liberal, democrat or tabloid media, the rules and laws do not apply to you.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Waste and Abuse By Knoxville City Councilman?
City Council members are given a parking card to park in the City County Building for Council meetings. No citizen (handicapped or non handicapped) is allowed to park there. However, Rob parks there everyday and walks to his office in the First Tennessee Bank building for nearly 10 hours a day.
This issue came up a year or so ago during the re-election campaign and Rob said he is always sticking his head in City department doors while going to and from work. Brian's Blog has talked with numerous City departments in the City County Building and they rarely see Rob Frost except at Council meetings.
During Rob's campaign, the News-Sentinel and WBIR were not working so diligently in exposing waste and abuse. Maybe they will now look into this one.
Rob Frost, parking in the City County Building everyday because membership has its privileges.
Monday, August 20, 2007
The Liberal Blog in Knox Vegas And The Attacks They Launch
Additionally because Sandra and Betty can't live with continually being exposed and because Catfish is getting ready to be yanked out of the water. They ban me and then spend 40 comments continually creating Fiction and attempting to make it non-fiction. It seems that ole' Bizzy is a former member of Cathy Quist office and I am not talking about Hubert Smith.
So, that these liberals can not deny that they resort to personal attacks on Conservative Republicans. Here is a few examples of three of them and their attacks on me. These are attacks that they have personally leveled toward me. This does not count for when they are posting under many of their other names.
Sandra Clark "some Republicans are smarter than others." -- s. 7/17/07 8:59 p.m.
Betty Bean
"Won't be solved until he can figure out how to find his ass with both hands." 8/14/2007 6:24 p.m.
"come off like a semi-literate" 7/18/07 5:02 p.m.
"Big Mouth, not that bright." 7/18/07 8:18 p.m.
"permanently puckered from sucking up to Ragsdale" 7/14/07 9:57 a.m.
"infamous Hornbackian." 6/10/07 6:39 p.m.
"all Hornback gets is no respect, no job except for an unpaid chairmanship nobody else wants" 6/11/07 7:09 a.m.
"His incompetence" 2/20/2007 6:49 p.m
"blubbering, fulminating would-be bully" 2/20/2007 9:45 p.m.
"Things will get interesting for several folks if Tyler Harber actually makes his return." 2/20/2007 11:32 p.m
and for the organizing liberal R. Neal he said "he is that stupid" 8/16/2007 6:45 p.m.
The liberal blog only has one "Republican" (CBT) and he is a RINO (Republican In Name Only).
Betty Bean Losing It Over On The Liberal Blog?
I'm dying for somebody to ask Scoob about the clothing allowance and the multi-week paid maternity leave the sheriff's department gave his wife when she was hired to do a job that previously required a college degree (which she, of course, doesn't have).
I am reliably informed that he shopped the poor girl all over the courthouse looking for a suitable sinecure for her.
Since Betty Bean is reading Brian's Blog, here are three questions for you. Why don't you ask Scobby the question? Sandra holding you back? Is it because Larry Van Guilder is far more qualified to cover the county than you?
ORIGINAL POST: 2:39 p.m. Betty Bean, E.W. Scripps reporter posted the following this afternoon over at the liberal blog.
Re Dwight VandeVate: He's Submitted by Bbeanster on Mon, 2007/08/20 - 2:19pm.
Re Dwight VandeVate: He's facing people who are demanding that he pay back car money -- a couple of year's worth would be $24,000. That's something to worry about. And in fairness, I doubt Dwight asked to be paid that way.
I'm dying for somebody to ask Scoob about the clothing allowance and the multi-week paid maternity leave the sheriff's department gave her when she was hired to do a job that previously required a college degree (which she, of course, doesn't have).
I am reliably informed that he shopped the poor girl all over the courthouse looking for a suitable sinecure for her.
When she makes reference to the "Scoob", she is talking about Commission Chairman Scott "Scobby" Moore. Why is Betty making reference to Scobby as a woman? "the clothing allowance and the multi-week paid maternity leave the sheriff's department gave her when she " It is obvious that Betty needs some time off for something. She has always been confused, but dang, now it is getting bizarre.
BTW, Betty is a supposed "investigative" reporter. Why doesn't Betty ask "Scoob"?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Matthew (Matt) Jones for Sixth District Commissioner
Matthew Jones is a native Knoxvillian. He was born on August 29th, 1978 which makes him 29 years old this month. He has been married for 5 years to his wonderful wife Bridget who is an 11 year employee of St. Mary's Hospital, and they have two happy and healthy children, Brittany 11 and Turner 2. Their son Turner was born Feb 16th, 2005 with several major heart defects, but by the grace of God he survived three surgeries in Washington D.C. and two years later he is perfectly okay and is a constant reminder that God is in their home.
Matthew graduated from Fulton High School in 1996 and his involvement in basketball and student government at Fulton lead him to Maryville College. He graduated from Maryville College with a B.A. in Human Services in May of 2000. He took his first job out of MC with Helen Ross McNabb and started working the day after graduation. He supervised aftercare probation for juveniles transitioning back into the community after release from the state's custody. After two years at Helen Ross McNabb, Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Carey Garrett offered him a chance to work for the Juvenile Court which he grateful and enthusiastically accepted.
He was at the court for one year when he ventured outside of his field of study and left the court to manage restaurants for both Ruby Tuesdays and Panera Bread. He returned to his calling when once again Judge Garrett welcomed him back to the court in November of 2005. Matt is a juvenile probation officer at the Knox County Juvenile Court and he loves his work.
Matt has lived in Powell for 6 years and has grown to love the small town and family community feel of both the Powell and Karns communities. Their church home is First Baptist of Powell. Their daughter attends Powell Middle School and they are members of the PTA. Matt is very encouraged to see how many involved parents are active in the lives of their children in the community.
He is currently running a campaign to become the next Knox County Commissioner of the 6th district. He is running for several reasons but most of all he is running because he has children in the district and he wants to be the one helping to make decisions that effect the most important people in his life. He is also running because he is tired of the corruption that has become commonplace in Knox County Government. Our local government has forgotten that their elected positions are positions of service to others and not simply social status symbols. In Knox County we need hard working, family men and women who have the well being of the citizens of Knox County at their heart and Matthew Jones is that man.
Check out Take Back Knox on a regular basis as it will soon be the go to place for Taking Back Knox.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Utimate Elvis Tribute Artist
As evidenced by this youtube video Shawn is good. The artist that I have seen in concert that I have been impressed with is Travis Ledoyt. Travis Ledoyt's website is located here. Travis has won contests as the Best Young Elvis. However, it appears that the contest held this week that Shawn won is the Ultimate crown.
A New Karns Singing Duo Making Their Way To Nashville?
Their first song is a re-make of an old country song. Their version is entitled "Heaven Is Just a Send Away."
"Heaven's just a send away, oohhh"
"heaven's just a send away"
"I need more postage again today,"
" there's more I need to send..."
" I hear the postman coming now"
" I need enough postage to mail a cow"
" Heaven help me, Lord I pray"
" There's more I need to send..."
Friday, August 17, 2007
A Report on Mayor Ragsdale?
If you can believe what the local tabloid editor girl has to say. She had this comment.
Lea's standards Submitted by Sandra Clark on Thu, 2007/08/16 - 9:19pm.
Lea's standards are not high. I was amazed at the lack of professionalism in both writing and editing in Whirlwind, but Lea does tell a good tale.
She's a wind-up doll writer -- somebody sticks a pen in her hand, tells her what to say and she writes (and writes and writes).
Jesse Barr was behind the scenes on Whirlwind. For Boss Ragsdale, I'd guess the villians are Scoobie, Lumpy, Chucky, Sneezy and Doc. -- s.
I instantly put one and one together and came up with two. 1) Jesse Barr is Finance Manager at Dean Stallings Ford. + 1) Former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison is a partner in the ownership of Dean Stallings Ford. = 2) Sheriff Tim must be behind it.
So, according to the inferences made by local tabloid editor girl Sheriff Tim was the man behind the report.
But then this afternoon, guess what happened. Sandra Lea opined into the forum and surprise, surprise, surprise. Local tabloid editor girl got it wrong again. Dang, I hate when that happens to her. Really, I do.
Here is what Sandra Lea said in response to Sandra Clark.
Lea's Standards Submitted by Sandra Lea on Fri, 2007/08/17 - 2:34pm.
Sorry, Sandra Clark. You're wrong again. Jesse Barr was not behind my book. I didn't even contact Jesse for interviews until about six months become Whirlwind went to the publisher.
A Brian's Blog note to Sandra Lea. You don't need to apologize to Sandra Clark. In recent weeks and months she has been continually reminded that she rarely get the facts straight or right. It has become expected and according to my sources her Supervisor's at E.W. Scripps are becoming accustomed to it.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
KNS Editor Admits Conflict With Chancellor Fansler
I called in and asked a couple of hypothetical questions. Immediately following my call. County Commission Chairman Scott Moore called and asked Mr. McElroy if he was aware that Chancellor Fansler's daughter is a roommate with the News-Sentinel's Associate Editor's child.
Mr. McElroy said yes. Hoyt Canady's daughter and Chancellor Fansler's daughter will be roommates at the University of Tennessee. Mr. McElroy explained that it was a chance incident. At this point in this developing story, I will accept the explanation given.
Chairman Moore continued. "Well, Jack if this were an elected officials child. It would be front page news." Mr. McElroy said. "I will get it printed in the newspaper"
I just wish the News-Sentinel had disclosed this on their own and would have not been caught and exposed by the very person they are suing for unethical behavior.
With this entire ordeal. I just wonder who and what is next?
Local Blog Forum Admits To Paying For Editorial
Would this need to be sent to the E.W. Scripps Ethics Committee?
Here is the post.
KnoxViews in the media
Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2007/08/16 - 8:54am.
My Monday morning schedule was all messed up from staying out 'till 4AM trying to photograph meteors, so I was just now getting caught up on this week's reading when I saw this. Thanks, Sandra! The check's in the mail.
Elvis - Long Live The King
Where were you? I was 10 years old, just a few days from being 11 years old. We had the visiting Pastor and his wife that was conducting Revival at our church to our home for dinner. I remembered sitting in the living room and hearing him say that Elvis had died.
My ipod is full of Elvis performances. Long Live The King!
Two Rivers Church in Nashville
This is sad that conflict happens. It is a travesty when the enemy is successful in having the public exposed to it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
A Positive Weekly Newspaper
Well, if you are looking for a positive community newspaper. One that leaders like Mayor Bill Haslam reads. Check out the Fountain City Focus. It is on the streets and on the world wide web every Tuesday. Because Mondays are saved for all the gossip and lies that are fit to print.
Shock News About A UT Coach
The primary reason, NO one should watch shock television news. This is not NEWS, people. This is the coach's personal life. This is an issue only for the coach's family, not us fans. It will not affect the coaches ability or inability to coach college sports. Leave the personal family issues alone!
There are some good reporters at WATE. However, the station continues to make bone headed decisions like this one. And you wonder why WATE keeps staying at the bottom of Knoxville's ratings numbers.
Local Blog Forum Bans Brian Hornback. Brian Is Pleased!
In addition, I discovered tonight who the poster Catfish is and that has unnerved Catfish, Sandra and Betty and they squeezed R.Neal to ban me before I outed him. Catfish, time will reveal your identity maybe not at the local blog forum.
Brian's Blog has more readers than the local blog forum. The difference is their members and lurkers are refreshing a couple of hundred times a day. That makes their numbers look larger than they really are.
KnoxViews is upset that Brian's Blog exposed Sharon Cawood. They are upset because we ensure that our information is accurate and they do not. Again, I have my name on this blog and R.Neal won't even show his face. He is All anonymous, All the time. Kind of cowardly, if you ask me.
I have always been told you can know a person by the enemies they keep. I know that I am living on the right side when Sandra, Betty, Chad and others are on one side and I am on the right side. I have never resorted to such personal attacks, like Sandra did at Halls Republican Club targeting a competitor of hers. (Sandra told a former elected official and Publisher of the competitive paper to go do something to himself)
Mayor Ragsdale's Neighborhood Night
There were many residents that praised Cynthia Finch and the work she has accomplished serving as the Community Services Director for the Mayor. A gentleman even brought his young child to have the Mayor's picture taken kissing the young child.
WATE and the Knoxville News-Sentinel were in attendance. As soon as WATE discovered that there was no controversy, they immediately packed up and left. The reporter for the Sentinel Ansley Haman remained through the entire evening and in this morning's paper not one printed word about the positive reaction to the Mayor and his Neighborhood Night. I am sure that was the Editor's call and not Ansley's.
Someone Overheard Sharon Cawood Say.
When I send Mark to the store, he must have a list and it looks good to have the list on the Commission letterhead. As Mark leaves the store he drops the list so that people see that a Cawood is still on the Commission. After all in Karns it's a Cawood family tradition.
I had to order so much stationary in four months, because with all the stationary that Mark has left over, I kept losing mine.
I like to write thank you letters. Mark, Thank You for giving me your old job at the Commission.
Sharon Cawood Exposed For Abuse and Fraud
The Ethics Committee should fast track a request for the D.A. to investigate Cawood for potential criminal fraud and abuse.
Let's review.
1) She gets a job for $42,000.00 a year in the Court Clerk's office, after her husband voted to create the job in December 2006.
2) Her husband gives her his job as County Commissioner.
3) Her husband goes to work for the Sheriffs Department prior to vacating his Commission seat.
4) She attends meetings, ribbon cuttings and check presentations instead of attending to her full time job in the Clerk's office.
5) She takes the taxpayers to the cleaners with stationary and postage in the guise of Commission mailings.
6) In retalitation to unflattering exposes that first appeared on Brian's Blog, she has a 6 year veteran of the Court Clerk's office (Hubert Smith) placed on laid off status.
Hubert Smith is not and was not a source for any post appearing on Brian's Blog.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Chancellor Fansler?
Wasn't it reported that on January 31st the Oath of Office for Chuck Bolus was administered by one Chancellor Fansler?
Why then didn't Fansler recuse himself? or Is this a make-up call?
A make-up call is when a ref makes a bad call on one team and a short time later makes a similar bad call on the other team. So, if Fansler in hindsight feels that Bolus being sworn in early was a bad call, did he just make another bad call to make-up for it?
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Twelve White Men Have Been Replaced By Seven (Which Includes Three Women)
Former State Senator Ben Atchley and former Knox County Executive Tommy Schumpert appeared at the West Knox Republican Club to discuss the Public Trust PAC which they have formed with five other individuals. They are Henrietta Grant, Sam Furrow, David Moon, Sherri Lee and Suzanne Schriver.
It is interesting to hear Senator Atchley discuss term limits, when he ran against Fred Berry he campaigned on the fact that Fred Berry had served too long. (18 years) Atchley the stayed 30 plus years. One of his last re-elections he raised and spent over a quarter million dollars in an attempt to embarrass the opponent that dared oppose him.
Some of the elected officials present were: Register of Deeds Sherry Witt, Marianne Thompson representing Sheriff J.J. Jones, Law Director John Owings, Bob Griffitts representing Congressman John J. (Jimmy) Duncan, Jr., City Councilwoman Barbara Pelot, County Commission Chairman Scott Moore, County Commissioners Frank Leuthold, Lee Tramel, Richard Cate and Tony Norman. State Representatives Stacey Campfield and Frank Niceley and Trustee Fred Sisk.
Candidates present were: Elaine Davis a Democrat running for County Commission in the Fourth District, County Commission candidates in the Fourth District Ruthie Kulhman, William Daniels, Walt Wojnar. County Commission candidate in the Sixth district Matthew Jones. County Clerk candidates Scott Moore and Foster Arnett. Trustee candidates Fred Sisk and L.B. Steele. City Council candidate Ray Abbas, Law Director candidate Bill Lockett arrived late.
Members of the media present: Georgiana Vines and Sandra Clark, reporters and employees of the News-Sentinel's parent company.
Tommy Schumpert explained that the PAC has two criteria 1) persons who are Good Leaders and 2) persons with good integrity. The PAC will endorse in the primaries. Electability is a possible criteria. A gentleman asked about the Hart voting machines that Knox County has purchased. Schumpert said. "I don't have a clue about the voting machines, but I think there good." The gentleman said with a group of seven are you bypassing the people? Schumpert said he could see where that could be believed and that the PAC will have to prove itself during this election cycle. He also said he was personally not committed to the PAC long term only through the next three years through September 2010.
I asked Schumpert two questions.
1) Would you name the current officeholders that are not good leaders with good integrity. He would not. He made a reference to the immediate Past Chairman of the Knox County Republican Party which led me to respond. "They have said worse stuff than that about me." To which the room laughed loudest at my comeback. I had far more friends in the standing room only crowd than he did, even with Sandra in close proximity.
2) Would the committee consider how much money a candidate had raised and had on hand before making an endorsement? Schumpert said that in the interview process a candidates budget and on hand will be discussed. He said because the committee does not want a candidate to solely rely on the PAC to fund the campaign.
A question was asked about how the committee formed itself. "It appears to be a Chamber committee." Schumpert said they formed themselves.
Next month. September 10, 2007 Mayor Bill Haslam will be the speaker. However, you will probably have to show your Republican credentials at the door. Too many Democrats are invading the club, the next thing you know the Sentinel will send three reporters, Georgiana, Sandra and Betty.
Prince Phillip of Nashville (aka Governor Bredesen) Appoints the Candidate That Knox County Rejected
Knox County citizens just one year ago rejected him as Knox County Criminal Court Judge. The same post that he has been appointed to.
This is an attempt by Prince Phillip of Nashville to make it easier for Irvine to win the seat in 2014. First, by being sworn in as Criminal Court Judge he will retain the title as Judge even after Judge Jenkins returns to the bench. Second, Bredesen's actions demonstrates his desire to ignore the public opinion by promoting someone that the citizens have rejected at the ballot box. Lastly, Bredesen's actions demonstrate that the only way the Democrat party can gain seats in Knox County is for him to use his dictatorial authority to do so.
And you thought the rumors, gossip and lies that power, control and dominance was a Republican thing were accurate. No it is the MO of Prince Phillip of Nashville and the Democrat Party.
Tommy George Thompson Drops Out
It is certainly sad to see Tommy Thompson depart the stage, however it appears to be the right thing for he and his family. He is the author of the book "Power To The People" that details his Conservative results as Governor of Wisconsin.
In his statement issued yesterday he said. "I have no regrets about running," "I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as president, but I respect the decision of the voters. I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America."
"I have very much enjoyed my years in public service and I am comforted by the fact that I think I made a difference for people during that time," Thompson said in the campaign announcement. "I hope to continue working to serve others over the next few years."
While serving as HHS Secretary he directed the passage of the Medicare prescription law and was a key player in Bush's AIDS initiative, a commitment of $15 billion over five years for treatment and prevention of the disease that was rapidly spreading overseas.
Mitt Romney Evidently Has/Had Tabloid Media in MASS.
Karl Rove
Good job, Karl!
Keep giving them the truth and for them it feels like Hell.
School Matters
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Knoxville's Sunsphere - Biography of a Landmark
A friend of mine Martha Woodward is the author for this book. Here is the cover concept for the book, a brief bio on Martha and the story about the book. Martha is from right here in Knoxville.
Knoxville's Sunsphere; Biography of a Landmark takes an historical look at the unique tower which was built in 1981 as the theme structure for the 1982 World's Fair.
How this book came to be written is also an incredible story of an amazing woman who would not accept failure as an option.
In 1998, Martha Rose Woodward was a single parent with 3 children. Her income, as a school teacher, was in the $49,000 range. She owned her dream condo, on the trendy side of town, in a good school district She spent her free time playing tennis, or taking her children on vacations. She had a Chevy Blazer, a circle of good friends, and life was good; not perfect, but good.
Suddenly, in May of that year, at age 49, she took ill, and, after several months of tests, and doctor's visits, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The cancer was massive and she was told to write a will; prepare her estate, spend as much time as could with the kids, because she would probably be dead in 3 months.
At one point, the doctors were at their wit's ends, and decided to use a harsh treatment of chemotherapy, which, she was told, "would heal her or kill her". Obviously, the drugs healed her, however, the treatments were so harsh, that the chemicals burned the small air passages in her lungs, leaving her with only 50% usage, and putting her 100% on oxygen for life. She had to retire, and spent 2 years in bed, needing care round the clock.
Within the space of 9 months, she has lost her job, her condo, her car, which her daughter wrecked, the custody of one of her children, and her hair. She went down about as low as an individual could go.
HERE IS HER MESSAGE. IF a person who went as low as she went can recover, anyone can. Here is the good side of the story.
As time went on, she began to get some strength, and wanted to do some small jobs. She slowly gained enough energy to substitute as a teacher for one half day. She worked a day a month, and maybe the next month, 2 days. She would earn $60 to $100, and it felt good to be productive.
As time passed on, she, literally, took in sewing for people. As a lifelong quilt maker with a sewing machine, she made and sold quilts, and repaired clothing for people. She made a few extra dollars, and it was good to be active.
Time moved on, and she got better, and increased the days as a substitute teacher, and did odd jobs; things she could do for a few hours. She was hired by political candidate to make phone calls, and did a variety of things; making a few extra dollars.
As time went on, she was earning $2,000 to $3,000 extra per year, which gave her some "flexible spending money".
NOW to the book.
As a teacher, she had spent a lot of time writing: newsletters, units of study, letters, grants, and more. People had been telling her for years that she should write a book.
Since she retired, she had time to DREAM. She became interested in learning how to make videos, wanting to make a historic record of her quilts. This lead her to taking a editing class, which is offered for $24 from a local cable access station. THIS lead her into the idea of making her own weekly, 15 minute television show. For the last year, she has been hosting and producing, "Homespun Hobbies" a show about "a woman and her hobbies". She became a local "star"who gets fan mail and is recognized on the streets.
She has produced over 50 shows, and some of the topics are: How to Make a Tomato Sandwich; Martha's Quilts; How to Crochet; Traveling; Gardening; and more. She also make video biographies of local politicians.
Everything is POSITIVE, and it is a sweet show. While thinking of topics for her show, she was out making videos, and decided to film the Sunsphere, which is a tower in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was built as a "monument to the sun". After that show aired, people were coming out of the woodwork to tell her how they loved it, so, she did 3 more shows, and along the way, became obsessed with the Sunsphere. She began doing research, making google, and yahoo searches, and read, read, and read.
After about a year, she saw that she had so much material that she could write a book, and became determined to write it.
To write the book, she treated the Sunsphere as if it were a person, and wrote about its conception, its birth, and followed it throughout its 26 years of life. She made special effort to keep the book wholesome and clean, since she wanted it to be read and studied by students, however, she almost wrote one chapter, "Sex and the Sunsphere", but decided to keep that information private.
Senator Lamar Alexander, and the Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe, both sent her comments to use, and there have been a couple of people who have promised to "hand deliver" a copy of her book to Laura Bush, since the First Lady loves teachers and books.
Martha Rose Woodward has an amazing story to tell. She can be reached by email or on her web site at here.
If schools are interested in buying the book in quantities of 4 or more there will be a discount. Martha will be available for book signings and she will donate a percentage of sales to schools. In addition to the two contacts above, email can also be sent here.
Brian's Blog will continue to keep you informed.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Hallerin Hilton Hill Morning Show
The reason for my call was to explain the TN Sunshine Law. A previous caller had asked if a meeting between Mike Arms Chief of Staff to Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Commission Chairman Scott Moore was a violation of the Sunshine Law. I explained that the Sunshine Law addresses meetings between members of the same body. (ie. Commission, School Board, City Council, MPC, Industrial Development Board)
Hallerin then asked about my blog and the lay-off of Hubert Smith. I explained to Hallerin that I was happy to address it.
I informed the listeners that my blog was the only media in December 2006 that reported the Commission approving the position of Supervisor of Juvenile Court Clerk's operation prior to the vote in creating the position. My blog pointed out that then County Commissioner Mark Cawood voted to create the job for his wife. As history will reveal, that was an accurate report. Within 45 days, he nominated his wife for another county paycheck, that of taking his place as the County Commissioner.
I explained to Hallerin three examples of where my sources have called me to ask and inform me of her activities that are not part her county job in the Court Clerk's office.
I have received many calls from the Karns community concerned that she attends the meetings and activities of the Karns Professional and Business Association meeting and is never rushed to get back to her county job.
I have received many calls from the Powell community concerned that she attends the meetings and activities of the Powell Professional and Business Association meetings and is never rushed to get back to her county job.
One recent morning, she and fellow County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert traveled to every school in the Sixth district delivering county tax payer checks to help fund school activities. Several parents called asking why she wasn't attending to her county job with the Clerk's office.
I explained that Hubert Smith was NOT a source or the source for any post involving Sharon Cawood or the Clerk's office. There are many constituents of Sharon Cawood that call and inform the Brian's Blog staff where Sharon is and what she is doing.
I reminded Hallerin and his listeners that the reason my blog exposed this gross misuse of tax dollars was due to her comments at the July Commission committee meeting that all who have resigned should be named. Well, Sharon wasn't named until Brian's Blog but now she is resigning on August 17, 2007.
So, based on her public position on the issue, the county should name her as well.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Congratulations to Barry Bonds on #756
Monday, August 06, 2007
Leaders Are Developed Through Hard Work and Determination
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Death By Committee
However, for those committees that have just been busy work or accomplished less than desired, this quote from my Senior Pastor Dr. Doug Sager fits.
"A Committee is a group of the unwilling elected by the unfit to do the unnecessary."
Obviously, he intended this quote in jest. However, there are some incidents and committees that this might just fit.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Take Back Knox
The website has a forum as well. I have registered to participate in the forum and encourage all Brian's Blog readers to check it out, register and let's engage in the process of public discussion as Knox County moves toward February and August 2008.
I look forward to seeing everyone participate in the forum. I know that Brad and Mpurdy (the sites organizers) along with a couple of other individuals began participating before me.
While using the words of our United States Senator Lamar Alexander. I would like to encourage you all to "Come On Along"
Mark Cawood Resigns
Cawood served on the Board of Governors as the male representative for the Sixth district. His resignation will leave Sue Stewart as the sole representative of the Sixth district until the Board of Governors can meet and replace Cawood.
A Question.
I do not have the answer.
So, you try to answer it.
Here is the question.
Why would Sharon Cawood resign a $43,000.00 plus a year job, in order to retain a $19,000.00 plus a year job?
Knox Dem Chairman Is Conflicted In His Call On Commissioner's To Resign
As the Immediate Past Chairman of the Knox County Republican Party I understand that sometimes you have to ask questions and do things that you may personally be uncomfortable with, but that's your job.
As Chairman I led the Knox County GOP to a countywide sweep in 2006. Retaining all countywide positions. We lost one County Commission district race. The Commission appointed a Republican to the other district seat on January 31, 2007.
Don is calling on two Commissioners to resign their county jobs. Craig Leuthold an employee of the Knox County Trustee office and Lee Tramel a longtime employee of the Sheriffs Department. Don is not calling on the school employee to resign. He says "Educators, I put them in a little bit different place" The reason Don puts Educators in a different place is because his brother Michael Leon is a Bearden High School teacher and a two time candidate for the Third district Commission seat.
Both times Leon's residency became an issue. It has been alleged that Leon and his wife reside in a home they jointly own in the Seventh district but he used his mother's address in the Third district as their home. Don was the Chairman for Leon's last campaign, thus the reason he places educators are in a little bit different place.
As for the merits to his request. Craig Leuthold when first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 was open about his employment in the Trustee office. The voters have overwhelmingly elected and re-elected him. Don's party has never even fielded a candidate against Craig Leuthold.
Lee Tramel has been a Sheriffs Department administrator for many years. The News-Sentinel has printed the fact that Tramel is a Sheriffs Department administrator nearly every week since January 31, 2007.
Sharon Cawood received the Juvenile Court Clerk's Supervisor position less than 55 days before being appointed to County Commission. Her husband, former Commissioner Mark Cawood a Democrat, received a position prior to his last day of County Commission service. With a reasonable conclusion the case can be made that Mark's actions were clearly a violation of the County's Conflict of Interest policy.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
The Fall Of Democracy
When the thirteen colonies were still a part of England, Professor Alexander Tyler wrote about the fall of the Athenian republic over two thousand years previous to that time:
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage.
With the Democrats in Washington and Nashville, it appears that we are in apathy and fast approaching dependency and soon bondage.
Sad News for Southwest Knox County.
Lakeshore Park is not that far away and is my preferred daily walking site.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Hubert Smith Can Be Called Back To Work
This evening, Commissioner Sharon Cawood resigned from her $42,000.00 a year salaried position within the Clerk's office.
Now, Cathy Quist can call Hubert Smith back to work and the taxpayers could still see a $17,000.00 savings.
Knox County Confidential Part IV
How is Cawood's desire to enlarge her representation any greater today than on July 16, 2007, the day before Brian's Blog first reported Knox County Confidential?
Here's wishing Sharon much success in the private sector.
WVLT Volunteer TV Covers It Fair
Volunteer TV has been running commercials with Mike Hamilton and Coach Fulmer promoting their new contractual agreement. In the Coach Fulmer commercial in talking about Rick Russo. Coach Fulmer said "In the good times he celebrates with us and in the tough times he reports it fair."
That is so rare in today's media culture. But Volunteer TV have always been fair in their news coverage. They don't have an agenda and they don't try to shock you into watching their news.
It is good to see the good guys, win.


text:
GM Updates OnStar Brand for the Era of Mobile, Social Media
(Page 2 of 2)
locking and unlocking doors and activating the horn and the engine. A prototype app for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle goes further, allowing owners to check battery charge status, tire pressure, and other data.
In a conversation with Nixon after last night's announcements, I asked whether GM felt it had to build more interactive features into OnStar in order to keep up with the expectations created by today's smartphones. He had a long and interesting response, which I'll quote at length:
"We have, as General Motors, responded to what we see going on in the mobile space. The general mobile space is just exploding. We are sitting here thinking about 2014. We've got to predict what 2014, 2015 are going to look like. But if we look back three or four years, the iPhone was just coming out, Facebook was still a campus experience, Hulu was probably on a drawing board somewhere…If we had tried to develop a social media app back in 2008, it probably would have been MySpace, because that's what everybody was doing. We don't know what the future holds, so we have to think about what 'hooks' to put into the vehicles, and design those hooks in a way that they're flexible, so that when the next Facebook comes along, we don't have to rip it apart to make it a reality.
"On the other hand, when we put something into the vehicle, it has to be robust and reliable. Safety and security are our hallmarks. When somebody needs help, that call has got to go through, and that is not something we are going to walk away from. We are in an interesting place because we need to create a robust, reliable platform that can deliver safety and peace of mind but can expand to be flexible and open, so that we can adapt to the change that is coming.
"…Our problem as GM has been, we spend a lot of time engineering things and not a lot of time, frankly, on the PR and marketing campaigns. That's part of what this is about—promoting responsible connectivity. OnStar is safety and security and it's always going to be there, but we can promote responsible connectivity and expand OnStar into other domains. Not radically different domains, but we have a brand, let's build on it and let's tell people the story."
Compare this story to:
OnStar Launches Facebook Integration with "Responsible Connectivity" (Mashable)
Trending on Xconomy
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Northern Maine, with it's vast wilderness, has the largest Moose population in the lower 48 states. We offer guided and non-guided Moose hunts. Our guided Moose hunts are fully guided, a total full service hunt. Our guides are top notch Registered Master Maine Guides that are experienced, knowledgeable and professional. We provide transportation, tracking, and recovery of your trophy Moose. We also provide delivery to a cold storage locker plant and butcher shop. On our non-guided Moose hunts, we provide maps, advice, and directions to areas that hold trophy Moose. We also provide canoes and row boats for our Moose hunters to use, so they can take advantage of the great fishing our lakes have to offer. If you take your Moose early in the week, you can spend your time fishing, canoeing, boating, photographing, exploring, or just plain relaxing. During the Moose hunting season, we also hunt Grouse & Woodcock, Ducks, and Snowshoe Hare with our beagles. We Moose hunt in zones 11, 10, 19, 18, & 6. If you are fortunate enough to draw a Moose permit, give us a call. Let Wilderness Escape Outfitters help you get that trophy Moose.


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Effective Learning Strategies and Study Skills Part 3
By Meaghan Montrose
The focus for this post is how to study using practice worksheets and homework assignments. When you are taking a class, you will likely have some practice problems, worksheets, quizzes, etc. along the way to help you understand the material being taught. When it comes time to study for the test, many students forget about all of these previous assignments and they instead just focus on studying straight from the notes. While it is useful to review your notes, answering actual questions or doing problems is the best way to prepare.
Here are a few steps to take to use this study strategy:
1. Gather together all of your practice problems, worksheets, etc. Make a pile or list of all the questions/problems that you have corrected answers to. These answers may have be given to you by your teacher in class or they might be found in your book.
2. Have someone (friend, parent, sibling) take all of the practice questions and create a mini test by selecting a couple of questions from each assignment and rewriting or typing them. Note- You can do this on your own by randomly selecting questions. Give each question a number then roll dice or pick numbers out of a hat to determine the ones you will answer.
3. Answer the questions as if you are taking the actual test.
4. When you are finished you can get instant feedback by checking your answers with the corrected answers.
5. After scoring yourself on the mini test, determine which topic you had the most trouble with. Have someone create another mini test, but this time have the questions come from the topic(s) you didn't score well on the first time.
Topics: Study Skills and Learning Strategies | 4 Comments »
4 Responses to "Effective Learning Strategies and Study Skills Part 3"
A1 Mom Says:
I am a high school teacher and I constantly remind my students to study using practice problems and worksheets. Thanks for reinforcing this technique!
Melanie Says:
cool idea…thanks for sharing!
Carnival of Education: Teacher Appreciation! | Steve Spangler's Blog Says:
[…] Practice worksheets and homework assignments are excellent study tools.
Math At Play Blog Carnival #7 - Onomatopoeia Says:
[…] Montrose presents Effective Learning Strategies and Study Skills Part 3 posted at […]


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This page will list available and sold proven angelfish breeding pairs. We sometimes have proven breeding pairs for sale. These are excellent quality breeding pairs that we have successfully hatched spawns from. These are from our own breeding stock. Pairs available on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do not reserve pairs or keep any waiting lists.
We make every effort to condition our adult fish for years of productive breeding, however we do not guarantee a breeding pair will continue to breed for you. It is the buyers responsibility to provide these fish the best possible conditions to help ensure breeding activity..
Monitor this page to know when new things are added:
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Click on the different pairs in this list to see their pictures and description.


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We have been getting a lot of requests from churches for Veterans Day pins. The religious organizations plan on honoring veterans in their congregation. Pins will be handed out during Veterans Day services held on Sunday, November 11th.
We have been incorporating the seals of the armed forces on the pins as well as well as an image or emblem of the church that is handing out the pins. This helps communicate the idea behind the event as well as the spirit of the military.
Other designs we have done are a salute to veterans where we incorporate a bald eagle or an American flag waving in the background. Patriotic symbols like these help tie in the theme of Veterans Day to your church's custom lapel pins.
We suggest adding velvet presentation boxes to make the presentation ceremony that much nicer. This gives the recipients of the pins something to carry, store, and display them in when the pins are not being worn on an article of clothing or a hat. It also makes it easier to distribute the pins to large groups of veterans at church services.
Create your own custom lapel pins today. Visit http://www.lapelpinsplus.com to request a no obligation, free price quote and an email containing the artwork that we created for you. Email your request to email@example.com. You can also speak to a representative by calling 1-800-252-0904 toll-free. Get started on the design process today. You still have time to order custom lapel pins from Lapel Pins Plus.


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The Hertel Plant Integrity Competence Centre assists companies worldwide to optimize their energy management and make their business processes more sustainable. Thermography through infrared cameras plays a pivotal role.
Find a local contactFind contact details
Next to raw materials, energy represents the largest single cost element of most manufacturing processes. Hertel recognise thermal insulation as a valuable investment and a tremendous asset to energy conservation and process efficiency.
Properly maintained insulation contributes significantly to a plant's operating bottom line, in turn helping to reduce CO2 emissions, carbon footprint and operating costs.
Hertel gives companies insights into the options regarding energy reduction and decreasing CO2 emissions. We help clients to visualise the costs and corresponding repayment period that go hand in hand with the improvements to be carried out. With our advice, our clients are perfectly primed to reduce their energy usage and to curb losses resulting from gas leaks, etc.
Read more about Plant Integrity on Hertel's plant integrity website
Hertel places great importance on sustainable business. This is why we are involved as board members of the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF). The EiiF is a foundation set up to highlight the importance of sustainable insulation across industry in the whole of Europe. Our Plant Integrity experts are members of the EiiF technical commission (European Industrial Insulation Foundation).
Would you like to know more about the EiiF? Visit the Eiif website
The major advantage of thermography is that we can identify faults in systems at an early stage while there is no need to take the unit out of operation. This avoids unscheduled stops and unnecessary investments in maintenance. In addition, safety standards are better maintained and the environment is spared.
Thermographic inspections can be undertaken within the scope of maintenance management or for activities such as determining heat losses, early localisation of defects and/or the detection of gas leaks. In the end, the goal is to reduce the maintenance costs as a result of lower energy consumption for example, or to reduce losses due to gas leaks.
Hertel provides advice on sustainable solutions for cold and heat insulation systems for sustainable energy management. Hertel Plant Integrity specialises in analysing problems that occur specifically in processes in the heavy industry sector.
A few examples of its investigations are:


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One: Bentleg – Lets Do Nice Things
Pop up galleries, life drawing, film showing (Miranda July's 'Me andYou and Everyone we Know' on Mon 26th July at Shop the Shop)
Two: Shop
A lovely community interest company, vintage clothing and stuff and lots of community arts events. They say: "Shop envisages a world where businesses value people and sociability over profits – and creativity is acknowledged as and encouraged to be an essential part of life. SHOP exists to provide a retailing experience which focuses on conscious consumption and prioritises fair prices and original fashion. This consumption provides the financial means to use the shop space as an arts venue for the benefit of the whole community."
Three: The Happy City Initiative
They say: "Whoever you are, whatever your background, Happy City is here to help you make the most of your street, your community, your neighbourhood, your city. Maybe you've got a bright idea and need help making it happen? Perhaps you've got a little time to spare or some knowledge or experience to share? You might have an established organisation, looking for inspiration, ideas and people keen to help out…


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Realism and Constructivism in Twentieth Century Moral PhilosophyREA AuditadoThis chapter traces the development of one of the central debates of late 20th-century moral philosophy — the debate between realism and what Rawls called "constructivism." It argues that realism is a reactive position that arises in response to almost every attempt to give a substantive explanation of morality. It results from the realist's belief that such explanations inevitably reduce moral phenomena to natural phenomena. The chapter traces this belief, and the essence of realism, to a view about the nature of concepts: that it is the function of all concepts to describe reality.
Reflections on the Evolution of MoralityREA AuditadoIn recent years a number of biologists, anthropologists, and animal scientists have tried to explain the biological evolution of morality, and claim to have found the rudiments of morality in the altruistic or cooperative behavior of our nearest nonhuman relatives. In this paper, I argue that there is one feature of morality to which these accounts do not pay adequate attention: normative self-government, the capacity to be motivated to do something by the thought that you ought to do it.
From Duty and for the Sake of the Noble: Kant and Aristotle on Morally Good ActionREA AuditadoAristotle believes that an agent lacks virtue unless she enjoys the performance of virtuous actions, while Kant claims that the person who does her duty despite contrary inclinations exhibits a moral worth that the person who acts from inclination lacks. Despite these differences, this chapter argues that Aristotle and Kant share a distinctive view of the object of human choice and locus of moral value: that what we choose, and what has moral value, are not mere acts, but actions: acts done for the sake of ends.
The General Point of View: Love and Moral Approval in Hume's EthicsREA AuditadoHume thinks moral judgments are based on sentiments of approval and disapproval we feel when we contemplate someone from a "general point of view." But why do we take up the general point of view? Hume argues that we take up the general point of view in order to avoid contradictions in our moral judgments, but this argument does not work because we do not make moral judgments until we take up the general point of view. This chapter proposes a different account. Hume argues that approval is a calm form of love, love of character, which sets a normative standard for other forms of love.
The Neural Bases of Cognitive Conflict and Control in Moral JudgmentREA AuditadoTraditional theories of moral psychology emphasize reasoning and "higher cognition," while more recent work emphasizes the role of emotion. The present fMRI data support a theory of moral judgment according to which both "cognitive" and emotional processes play crucial and sometimes mutually competitive roles.
Rights and InterestsREA AuditadoRights are defined by certain specific duties, and they are justified on the ground that they are necessary to protect important individual interests. The paper examines the relation between a right and the duties that define it, and the relation between a right and the interests that justify it. The latter form of justification is not "instrumental," in a way that contrasts with the justification of other moral claims. The idea that rights conflict and must be "balanced" against each other is a mistake.
Aristotle on Function and VirtueREA AuditadoAccording to Plato and Aristotle, a virtue is a quality that makes you good at performing your function. Aristotle thinks that the human function is rational activity. This chapter asks how the moral virtues could contribute to rational activity. It distinguishes five different answers suggested by the text of the Nicomachean Ethics, and examines their merits and demerits. Combining the most promising of them, it argues that in Aristotle's theory, rationality is a potential that is actualized by the acquisition of the virtues.
The Normativity of Instrumental ReasonREA AuditadoMost philosophers think it uncontroversial that practical reason requires us to take the means to our ends, but have been silent about the normative foundation of this requirement. The interesting question, almost everyone agrees, is whether practical reason requires anything more, such as a principle of morality or prudence. This chapter examines the question what makes instrumental reason normative.
Particular ReasonsREA AuditadoMoral particularists argue that because reasons for action are irreducibly context-dependent, the traditional quest in ethics for true and exceptionless moral principles is hopelessly misguided. In making this claim, particularists assume a general framework according to which reasons are the ground floor normative units undergirding all other normative properties and relations.
Creating the Kingdom of Ends: Reciprocity and Responsibility in Personal RelationsREA AuditadoWhen we hold a person responsible, we regard her as answerable for her actions, reaction, and attitudes. We use the concept of responsibility in two contexts, the legal and the personal. We use it in the legal context when we must determine whether to punish someone for a crime or make him liable for another's losses. We use it in the context of everyday personal interaction, when we are pressed to decide what attitude we will take toward another, or toward some action of reaction of another. It is frequently assumed that these two uses are the same or at least continuous.


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Why is silence so hard to deal with?
What customers say about ChristianCinema.com:
"I think that you have a great service for people. I will contine to use ChristianCinema.com. There is a wide selection with great prices too!! Keep up the good work. Blessings" - Barbara Atkinson
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You say metrics, I say OSLC
Tuan 1200006EEX Visits (5964)
You need to keep your IT operations running smoothly and you want to reduce the time it takes to resolve problems. And to achieve that, you need access to detailed, real time information about your IT resources from all possible sources ( asset management, configuration management, monitoring and so on.) So great, your vendors and IT teams have implemented scen
and to show how easy it is to extend the specification


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Fridays 12:15 – 1:15pm
April 7 – May 26, 2017
8 Week Series: $120 Drop-in: $20 per class
Come to this class to connect your body with your mind, allowing your energy to flow! You will practice Pilates and Garuda exercises on a mat with precision, breath, and flow. The result will be stronger abdominal muscles, increased flexibility, more stable joints, and decreased compression and tension.
Introducing Jena Latham, herbalist, therapeutic touch practitioner, organic gardener, private chef, Pilates and Garuda instructor. A native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Jena moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1989, where she began her healing journey. She received her certification in herbology at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies in 1993. In 1995 she was certified in Therapeutic Touch and Chi Gung at the Body Energy Center. After many years of working in the herbal products industry, as an educator, crafter of products, and organic cultivator, Jena became a private chef specializing in healthy organic fare. Although mostly self-taught, she attended intensive training in advanced culinary techniques at the Culinary School of the Rockies in 2007. Jena' s healthy cooking took her to Hawaii, Alaska, and San Francisco. An avid hiker, Jena enjoyed the beautiful mountains in Colorado, and also took advantage of the myriad of movement classes in Boulder. Jena studied yoga, middle eastern dance, trance dance, authentic movement, swing dance, salsa, tango, and Pilates. After finding Pilates to be the most efficient method for transforming her body, mind, and spirit, Jena began her Pilates teacher training with BASI in Paris France in 2009. She completed her comprehensive Pilates teacher training with Body Arts and Science International in the spring of 2010 in Seattle WA. For most of 2011 Jena lived and worked in Lyon, France, where she taught Pilates in French. In August of 2014 Jena completed her Garuda barre, seated and standing teacher certification in London with world renowned creator of the form, James D' Silva. She is very excited to share this flowing method which combines Pilates, yoga, tai chi, and dance. Jena taught Garuda and Pilates in Bermuda in 2016 where she helped athletes, office workers, and busy Moms get out of chronic pain. With over 20 years of experience in the healing arts, Jena has returned to the shore to help you along your path to wellness. You will enjoy her calming energy and eclectic teaching style.


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Pride Winston-Salem 2014 Festival
The Arts on Sunday festivals sponsored by AFAS, Art for Art's Sake, continue to be one of my favorite series of events in Winston-Salem. The festivals take place every Sunday in October from 1 to 5 pm. The 500 and 600 blocks of Trade Street, along with a portion of the 200 block of 6th Street is the site for all the action. The streets are lined with artists and craftspeople showing and selling their creations. Many of the shops and galleries in this area are open as well. Then there is live entertainment, a well managed kids area, chalk Continue reading
Artful Autumn Greetings! I have recently resigned as the DADA Gallery Hop E-Newsletter Person, a position I've held since Feb. 2012. I am shifting my focus to my TradeStreetTracker.com project, which is clamoring to take a giant leap forward. This website will be undergoing a redesign, and a newsletter is on the short list of tasks to accomplish. TradeStreetTracker.com is a blog site that I established a couple years ago in order to provide comprehensive information about Trade Street and adjacent streets in the Downtown Arts District. When I had my shop on Trade St., I got really tired of Continue reading
Taking a cue from AFAS' Red Dog mascot, "Arrf! My Art is a Business," the series of 5 programs covering most of the important business topics of interest to artists from musicians to painters and playwrights to sculptors will be held during the evening, from 7 until 8.30, at the Unleashed Arts Center, 204 West 6th Street, near the corner of 6th and Trade Streets. All of the sessions are free, open to the public, and will feature discussions by experts as well as an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. The schedule is as follows: April 23 – Copyright Continue reading
See those crazy white streaks? They're SNOWFLAKES. No flimsy flurries, either. It was SERIOUS snow. HUGE flakes, for I-don't-know-how-long-this-afternoon. At least an hour. Tried to get some work done, but it was just too weird.A few days ago, we were welcoming the Easter Bunny. Today we got the Snowshoe Rabbit.Okay, enough already. Could we puh-leeeeeaze get the Energizer Bunny to jump-start SPRING again?
Open on Mondays: Retro Art Ware (R.A.W.), 608 N. Trade Street. Beautiful tie-dyed art to wear by shop owners Sara Knott and Susan Moore. Visit their Facebook page! Walking up the street a little ways, there's Earthbound Arts at 610 N. Trade. Just like the name of the store says: earth and nature-inspired art and craft, much of it created by the owners Lucy Duncan and Gordon Jones. Many photos of their work can be found on their Facebook page. Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub and Kitchen is open every day serving lunch, dinner, and late-night fare; also brunch on the Continue reading
There are 2 places in the world that celebrate Easter Monday: North Carolina and the U.S.Virgin Islands.Why?? They say that a baseball game between two rival teams is the reason North Carolina made Easter Monday a holiday. I don't know why it's a holiday in the USVI, other than the fact that, if a holiday is celebrated SOMEWHERE in the world, they celebrate it in the USVI too. Both places are home to me.I was "bahn heah" in North Carolina; was an ex-pat in St.John for 15 years; and returned a few years ago to my native NC–a happy accident, Continue reading


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Review: Invasion Earth: 1953 by 285 Digital
By Eric Pankoke
Most side scrolling shooters involve aircraft of some sort, but few are taken from the viewpoint of the "bad guys". This is, however, the scenario of Invasion Earth: 1953, a post-Roswellian look at aliens trying to take over our beloved planet. That's basically it for a plot, and there's not a lot of variety to the action. What keeps drawing me back into the game however, are the (sometimes insane) goals and that need to try "just one more time" to reach them. Invasion Earth doesn't have a lot of the bells and whistles of many of its peers, but it has a satisfyingly addictive quality about it anyway.


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Looking forward to the festival season
The preparations and rehearsals have reached fever pitch in Savonlinna. You can see just how much everyone's enjoying the run-up to first night both in Olavinlinna Castle and at the rehearsal halls all over town. This year the Opera Festival presents two new productions of its own, of which the first to be premiered is Otello. Immerse yourself in the rehearsal atmosphere with the OPERA blog (in Finnish). Click here for tickets for Otello.
Ville Rusanen is arrested – watch the video
The other new Festival production is Leoš Janáček's From the House of the Dead – a work of startling, virtuosic music guaranteed not to leave anyone cold. The opera is based on the autobiographical prison-camp novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It would be almost criminal to let this experience of the gulag pass. Watch the video of Ville's fate (in Finnish). Click here for tickets for From the House of the Dead.
First visit to Finland by top conductor Riccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti, one of today's most legendary conductors, will be appearing at the Opera Festival on July 17 with the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra. With them they are bringing two symphonies, both classics and ultra-popular with audiences: No. 5 ("Fate") by Ludwig van Beethoven and No. ("The Unfinished") by Franz Schubert. Click here for tickets.
See our recommended restaurants, accommodation and services.
Check the Club Opera partners here.
Midsummer greetings from Savonlinna!
Sign up for Savonlinna opera festival newsletter!
You can order newsletter here.


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Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to sit down for a one on one interview with Ron D. Moore. You may recognize that name from his Star Trek days, or perhaps his reimagining of Battlestar Galactica, maybe STARZ's hit series Outlander, or even the upcoming Philip K. Dick anthology series for Amazon.
No stranger to conventions, interviews, and fans, Ron was kind enough to bargain a bit of his time for a premiere parking spot — because that's important sometimes. Also, maybe it was the novelty of having one of the shortest raptor pilots in a flight suit interview him; who knows.
Our chat happened right after a panel that Ron was on, where inevitably Star Trek came up, and somehow the topic of replicators was reached. Hence, the first question.
Bleeding Cool: Hi, Ron.
Ron Moore: Hi.
BC: So, that panel you were just on — you talked about the Star Trek writers room, and specifically, how you hate replicators.
Ron: Yes. Replicators are the worst thing ever. Destroys storytelling all the time. They mean there's no value to anything. Nothing has value in the universe if you can just replicate everything, so all that goes away. Nothing is unique; if you break something, you can just make another one. If something breaks on the ship, it's "Oh, no big deal, Jeordie can just go down to engineering and make another doozywhatsit." Or they go to a planet and that planet needed something: "Oh, hey, let's make them what they need!" [The writers room] just hated it and tried to forget about it as much as possible.
BC: I've been fortunate enough to be in a few pressrooms with you now, most notably the first Outlander pressroom at SDCC. It was really neat to hear you talk about the project, which is obviously something you have a lot of passion for. And yeah, I know you've told the story about how you came to the series, that Terry (Terry Dresbach, the costume designer for Outlander, as well as Ron's wife) introduced you to the books.
Ron: Yeah, Terry had been a fan of the books for many years, and Maril [Maril Davis, Ron's longtime producing partner] knew the books. And they'd never really talked about it, but as Galactica and Caprica were winding down, the three of us had dinner and started talking about what's next; what the dream project would be. One of them mentioned Outlander, and the other one went, "Oh my god, you love that too?!" They told me, "Oh, you'll really like them. They're historical fiction, strong female character," and I said OK.
I got the first book and read it, and thought, yeah, OK, I can see this as a TV series. It's interesting, because my first read of it was as a piece of material, not as a fan. I've never really had that experience of reading books for pleasure, instead of giving yourself over to this as work. It's always an analytical process; I can get caught up in being interested and surprised, but it's such a different experience from just picking up a book and kind of losing yourself.
BC: We know that your next project, is based on another notable literary work, namely some of Philip K. Dick's anthology work. That's pretty exciting, considering how well your previous book-to-show adaptation has gone.
Ron: It is pretty exciting, it's a cool interesting project. It's myself, Bryan Cranston, and Michael Dinner, Isa Dick Hackett, who is Philip's daughter. We're all sort of banding together for this project. It's an anthology series and it'll be on Amazon in the United States, 10 episodes for the first season. We're shooting five of them in Chicago and five of them in London.
There's no formal writing staff; we farmed out each episode to writers and directors that we knew who might be interested in the material. Each writer looked at a different short story and decided how big of an adaptation to do. I wrote one of the episodes, and mine is very far from the literal version of the short story. But it still has the spirit and the idea that was embedded in the short. Others hue a little bit closer to the source, story, and characters on the page. It's been a really fun process because every one, every one of these pieces is so different.
BC: And on the topic of that little SyFy show, that Battlestar thing. (Ron smiles and guffaws a bit, humoring me.) It's been 10 years. Have you gone back and watched the show at all since then?
Ron: I have not rewatched the whole series, but I've watched pieces of it with my son. He watched it for the first time a couple of years ago, and so I watched the first night's miniseries, and "33", and I watched the finale with him. But I haven't watched the vast majority since the broadcast, no.
BC: Are you gonna at some point, or are you one of those folks who cannot watch their projects after the fact?
Ron: It's not a matter of not wanting to, it's a matter of if I had the time. I think I'd enjoy doing it; I'm far enough away from it now that I think I can watch them as episodes. At the beginning, you're so close to it, having produced them, and there's that part of your brain which is constantly remembering the earlier drafts of the story, the scenes that got cut, the things you feel you didn't get right, the flaws…just the cumulative process that's always present when you're watching it. If you step back a few years, that does sort of go away, and you can just watch it, just as a piece of television.
I've found that when I've gone back and watched old Star Trek episodes for the Blu-rays they put out when I went in to do the commentary. It was for Next Generation, and it was funny to go back and watch it and sort of ask myself for some of them, "Did I write this?" I think I'm at a place where it would be fun to watch Battlestar.
BC: You do these Q 'n' A's on Twitter occasionally, and the other day, you were talking about Carnivale, and I kind of got the sense by what you and the fans said that you had a tremendous amount of pride for the series, and wish it was better received.
Ron: I think that was a very ambitious show. I only worked on the first season, I ran the first season, but left after that to do Galactica. I am proud of it, it was completely underrated at the time, it was such an interesting project. But in all honestly, I know that internally, we didn't know what the hell we were doing with it. We had no idea what "this" meant, and the creator of the show Daniel Knauf was on the writing staff with us, and he'd be the first to tell you he didn't know either.
(Author's note: The AV Club ran this interview with Knauf in 2013, pretty great background on Carnivale and what his end plan was for the doomed series.)
We were sort of making it up, and remaking it up, and reinventing all through that first season. It was frustrating, it was a very difficult show to produce, and politically in the show and with the network it was problematic in a lot of ways. It was the show I wanted to quit all the time, but then I would watch the dailies, and I would be so moved and impressed that I would think, "Wow, look at what we've created, I've never seen anything like this on TV," with the amazing cast, and it was visually stunning with the world, with the magical realism happening. I do wish it had a bit more oomph in terms of what people thought about it, and how it was received though.
BC: I think that if it was on right now, it would be getting all the love and accolades of something like a Westworld. I mean the Freak Show season of American Horror Story borrowed heavily from Carnivale.
Ron: Yeah, it was way ahead of its time. It was tapping into something that wasn't really out there in the TV landscape.
BC: You've worked now with several different networks, and you seem to get along pretty well with the folks at STARZ. What has that been like, working with them as a network?
Ron: Oh they're great. In all honesty, they're the best network I've worked with. They're very open creatively. You can argue with them, and argue them out of things, which is a rare thing, because typically network execs get very dug in. But with STARZ you can have debates about things, and their point of view is valid, and I get what they're after. Sometimes they'll even say, "Well, if you really believe in it, go for it." I don't really ask much more than that from a network, and they're very supportive of the show.


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Trip Into the Unknown
art by Harvey Kurtzman, story by Al Feldstein(?)
Weird Fantasy #13[#1] (1950)
TALES OF TERROR Feldstein says that this story might be one of the Gaines/Feldstein stories, though he isn't sure. If so it would be one of the only ones drawn by Kurtzman. In terms of story it's always hard to tell how much leeway to give EC stories with major cliches, since in some cases they're the ones who came up with the cliches, or at least were among the first to use them. The twist ending in this one is the case, with an exploration spaceship landing on a world with the ruins of a once advanced civilization of giants, now reduced to savages. Yeah, you can guess the rest.
Kurtzman's art rises above the story, especially the early part of the story with some good use of close-ups and sound effects to make the launch dramatic and the pages of the crew of the ship getting used to zero gravity. I also liked the panels of the now-savage aliens, which has some funny bits.