There's no happy ending for this story of a boy and his service dog, but it's a testament to a father trying to make the world a better, more loving place for his son.

So, only a little more than two months after releasing the Drod RAZR (my review here), Motorola and Verizon released the Droid RAZR MAXX on Thursday.

The new version has a whopper of a battery they claim gives the longest talk time of any smartphone, addressing the main user complaint about the original RAZR. Now people who bought the RAZR are upset that the MAXX came out just after their return window expired. Plus, they lowered the price of the original RAZR from $299 to $199.

I went up to the Museum of Appalachia Wednesday to shoot a few photos. Turns out their winter hours don't include Wednesdays so I drove on up to Norris Dam and the Rice Mill.

But, even when they're closed, it's hard to hide peacocks.

More here.

View 2012 Shootings in Knox County, TN in a larger map

Shooting based on local media reports.

Update as of January 27, 2012

Based on local media reports found, there have been:

2 shootings in Knox County
1 in city (50.0%)
1 in county (50.0%)

0 shootings resulting in 0 deaths (0 deaths from police action)

0 shootings Center City (UT area) (0 deaths)
0 shootings West (0 deaths)
0 shootings South (0 deaths)
1 shootings North (0 deaths)
1 shootings East (0 deaths)

Yesterday, January 27, 2012, two Tennessee banks failed, BankEast in Knoxville and Tennessee Commerce Bank in Franklin. These are the first FDIC bank failures in Tennssee since 2002.

U.S. Bank, Cincinnati, OH, is taking over all deposits of BankEast. The ten branches of BankEast will open Monday as branches of U.S. Bank. Customers of BankEast can continue as usual with writing checks, accessing the ATM, and making loan payments.

Republic Bank & Trust Co., Louisville, KY, is taking over all deposits of Tennessee Commerce Bank (except for the Cede & Co. deposits). The single location of Tennessee Commerce Bank will open Monday as a branch of Republic Bank. Customers of Tennessee Commerce can continue as usual with writing checks, accessing the ATM, and making loan payments.

Seven banks have failed so far in 2012. Ninety-two banks failed in 2011 and 157 banks failed in 2010.

The Campbell County Children's Center moved into our new home in November but today was our day in LaFollette. We are so proud of our fine new facility and of all those who helped make today's open house and ribbon cutting possible.

WBIR's Inside Tennessee airs Sunday at 9:30 AM. This week's program features Dr. Mark Harmon, Katie Allison Granju, and yours truly (unless they edit me out) talking about the internet and politics and stuff with host Hillary Lake and panelists Jack McElroy, Susan Richardson Williams, and Dennis Francis.

And you thought the closing of the Henley Bridge was an inconvenience...

When a 3,950 ton cargo vessel strikes a bridge, leaving the girders wrapped around its bow, I wouldn't call this a "bridge collapse."

No one was injured in this incident, however, traffic crossing Land Between the Lakes must now route through either Grand Rivers at the northern end of Kentucky Lake or Paris Landing at the southern end to get east and west.

The Delta Mariner was apparently attempting to traverse under the bridge using the recreational channel rather than the navigational channel; it was heading from Decatur, AL northbound. (In the picture below, you can see the river gage painted on one of the columns to the left of the boat. The bow of the boat points north, i.e. towards Kentucky Dam at Grand Rivers.)

The bridge, built in 1932, was in the process of being replaced (courtesy in part due to Recovery Act funds). However, that work was not due to start until 2013.

Perhaps the company that owns the Delta Mariner can provide a free ferry service in the interim.

Business owners and residents met with City Council members and police at the Time Warp Tea Room on North Central to discuss the homeless problem on the North side of town.

they're tired of the loitering, spent condoms, old needles and other problems linked to vagrants in the area

In her ongoing effort to understand the breakdown of the Knox Co. justice system and advocate for reforms, Katie Allison Granju has some startling new information uncovered by Rich Hailey.

Here’s the takeaway: this analysis makes it very, very clear that for some reason, KCSO is simply not identifying, investigating or arresting the drug dealers operating in and passing through Knox County, Tennessee. That conclusion remains constant no matter how many ways you slice or look at this data.

Considers not renewing contract...

A look at the myths which seem to inform Knoxville's State Senator Stacey Campfiled's views, as presented in this recent satellite radio interview. (Huffington Post link)

"On bullying and suicides by gay teens, including two teens in Tennessee in recent months:

"That bullying thing is the biggest lark out there."

"There are sexually confused children who could be pushed into a lifestyle that I don’t think is appropriate with them and it's not for the norm for society, and they don't know how they can get back from that. I think a lot of times these young teens and young children, they find it very hard on themselves and unfortunately some of them commit suicide."

""[Homosexuals] do not naturally reproduce. It has not been proven that it is nature. It happens in nature, but so does beastiality That does not make it right or something we should be teaching in school."

"On what he called the "glorification" of homosexuality in the media:

"Homosexuals represent about 2 to 3 percent of the population yet you look at television and plays and theaters, it's 50 percent of the theaters, probably more than that, 50 percent of the theaters based on something about homosexuality."

"On AIDS:

"Most people realize that AIDS came from the homosexual community -- it was one guy screwing a monkey, if I recall correctly, and then having sex with men. It was an airline pilot, if I recall."

"My understanding is that it is virtually -- not completely, but virtually -- impossible to contract AIDS through heterosexual sex...very rarely [transmitted]."

"What's the average lifespan of a homosexual? it's very short. Google it yourself."

Here...

On Monday, County Commission approved the 27 members of the Charter Review Committee, which will soon convene to discuss what, if any, changes should be made to the county charter. All Commissioners except for Hammond and Ownby will serve on the committee, and each nominated a citizen from their district. In addition, Mayor Burchett nominated a citizen from each district.

Burchett deserves kudos for offering a balanced and qualified slate of nominees, including a few who could fairly be called opponents of him. In district order, they are Ian Hennessy, John Schmid, Margot Kline, Billy Stokes, Diane Jablonski, Tony Parker, Beth Wade, Lisa Starbuck and Brad Sunnison.

Commission appointees are Keith Lindsey, Renee Hoyos, Connie Hughes, Barbara Pelot, Craig Leuthold, David Page, Bob Roundtree, Anne Aker and Ed Fraem.

Ask and you shall receive. In November, 2011, it was announced UT was looking to purchase properties at 1643, 1647 and 1649 Cumberland Avenue.

McMillin's has announced they have sold their building and are closing in February.