From CrunchyCon blog Link...

Whatever might be said about her husband's politics, Mrs. Dennis Kucinich has exquisitely crunchy tastes in clothes-shopping: she buys a lot at resale shops and thrift stores. I'm never prouder of my wife than when she brings out Baby Nora in some gorgeous piece of clothing, and I think, "Oh gawd, how much did that set me back?" -- and Julie says, "Got that for 50 cents at the Salvation Army -- isn't it beautiful?"

According to a news story on WVLT-TV, Senator Randy McNally, who is the chair of Tennessee's Open Government Committee, OPPOSES the proposed changes to the Sunshine Law that would allow up to a quorum of legislators to meet in secret.

Selected quotes from the article:

"A state panel appointed to improve the state's open meetings laws last week recommended weakening a provision that prohibits two or more members of a local government panel from meeting privately to deliberate on public issues. The panel instead voted to allow up to a quorum of a body to meet for discussions closed to the public."
. . .
"Senator Randy McNally of Oak Ridge says it isn't something he favors."
. . .
"The Tennessee County Commissioners Association supports the proposed change."

THANK YOU, SENATOR MCNALLY! Send an email to your state legislator today to let them know you support Senator McNally and that you oppose the proposed changes to the Sunshine Law! Click here to find your Senator and here to find your state Representative.

And while you're at it, send an e-mail to County Commissioner Mike Hammond, who was on the subcommittee and voted for the changes, and the other Knox County Commissioners to let them know you don't want the Tennessee County Commissioners Association to support the changes either!

I've become so inured to Republican presidential candidates talking like drunken hare krishna bag ladies that this one slipped past me when it was reported. But when I watched the video, it made my eyes cross.

Sometimes we talk about why we're importing so many people in our workforce. It might be for the last 35 years, we have aborted more than a million people who would have been in our workforce had we not had the holocaust of liberalized abortion under a flawed Supreme Court ruling in 1973.

Putting aside the inflammatory topic and obnoxious rhetoric, what's amazing it that anyone could get away with that logic in a non-institutionalized setting.

No matter how many of these I read, I always seem to find at least one new hint that I've never heard of before. This has some weird tips, but it's got a lot of good ones too. It's interesting to find out how many of these you already do...or will do...

Link...

We made up 93 treat bags. They're almost gone (and lots more are still coming). I was going to make a hundred, but, some of the contents, uh, disappeared during assembly.

Best exchange so far: Are you Donald Trump? No (rolling eyes), I'm Harry Potter!

Best costume so far: A skeleton mask that spurted blood from the skull and trickled down the face when we handed out the treat.

UPDATE: Costume runner-up: The entire Kiss Band.

UPDATE: Exchange runner-up: Kids dressed as warriors, one as a ninja with a sword and the other in camo. Dad dressed as a Rabbi. The Mrs: What's with the weapons and war and a Rabbi for peace? Dad: It's all about the duality.

Here is an interesting fact. Dead people make money. Or at least their estates do. A lot of money in some cases.
The King is still the King; Elvis made $49 MM last year, John Lennon $44MM, Charles Schultz $35MM, George Harrison $22MM, and Albert Einstein $18MM. Who would have thought that Einstein would make more than Tupac? ($9MM)

Senator Clinton is clearly the target of most right-wing campaign rhetoric. At last night's debate, she said that this is because she has waged such an effective fight against the Republican agenda--i.e., they are attacking her because she is a thorn in their side.

Senators Obama and Edwards countered by suggesting that the GOP may want to run against her because they think they can beat her.

Which do you think is the better explanation?

In her new Book of the Dead, Patricia Cornwell's crime-solving forensic pathologist, Kay Scarpetta, uses Y‑12's Large-Chamber Scanning Electron Microscope to find crucial information that helps solve the crime.

I got an email from a colleague who still works in "the old country". He tells me Cornwell visited earlier this year and was fascinated with the SEM that has a chamber large enough to scan a V-6 engine block.

“For more than twenty years,” Cornwell said, “I've been researching scientific techniques and instruments here and abroad, and I've never seen anything as stunning as the LC-SEM at Y‑12.”

She has since used the instrument in her ongoing research as to the true identity of Jack the Ripper.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Karen Hughes, who led efforts to improve the U.S. image abroad and was one of President Bush's last remaining advisers from the close circle of Texas aides, will leave the government at the end of the year.

"This will take a number of years," Hughes said in an interview Tuesday.

Yeah, tell me about it. The next several administrations will have a real challenge cleaning up this mess.

Condi Rice said, "She has done just a remarkable job."

I may need another Pirin tablet.

Link...

A group seeking a recall provision in the Knox County charter has named a leadership organization made up of neighborhood representatives and community activists.

A charter amendment will require a petition signed by 15% of registered voters, or 34,000 signatures. The Knoxville News Sentinel has details.

The American Legion, Knoxville Post 2, is sponsoring the 82nd Edition of the Veterans Day Parade.

This parade has been held annually every year except during World War II as a reminder of the armistice of November 11, 1918 ending World War I.

The parade route is from the Coliseum up to Gay Street and down Gay to Depot Street. The parade begins at 10:45AM with a pause for honors at 11:00 AM on Gay Street at Wall Avenue.

Come out and support our veterans!
They need support now as much as they ever have.

Access the American Legion, Post 2, web site for more information and parade participation.

The Foothills Craft Guild presents A Fine Crafts Marketplace

November 9, 10, 11, 2007
Jacob Building · Chilhowee Park · Knoxville

A Fine Crafts Marketplace will feature the work of over 160 well-known craft artists from East and Middle Tennessee. Join us for a holiday shopping experience in the historic Jacob Building with live craft demonstrations, including raku firing, chair caning, and more!

Open: Friday and Saturday 10 - 6; Sunday 10 - 5
Admission: $6 adults · $5 students and seniors · children 6 and under free

A lot of time was spent going over the same old points---healthcare, the Iraq war, who voted this way or that and when.

It's getting a bit painful to watch Obama struggle to keep up with the candidates who are so obviously more experienced than he is--when they point to their own records he has nothing to respond with other than his "intent". I really like Obama, but he just doesn't seem to have the experience needed to run the government well. On the other hand he did put Hillary against the ropes a few times.

Edwards was the clearest and toughest. Slowly he seems to be differentiating himself that way. He also pinned Hillary down on several issues. He made her get to the point where seemed to get edgy and uncomfortable. This seemed a good strategy for Edwards.

All the carpet cleaners say you should clean your carpets every six months.

Does anybody actually clean their carpets every six months?

Seems excessive to me. We had ours cleaned today for the first time ever in this house. We've been here four years.

Monks, Nudes, and Rollerskates: Life Begins at 40. Purchase it online at monksbook.com. (Hardcover. ISBN: 978-0-980055306 Rocket Squirrel Press)

“When some men hit the middle age crazies, they quit their jobs, buy red convertibles, divorce, and marry trophy wives half their years. James Cortese took a different route, economically and matrimonially, by following his dreams in real-life flights of fancy. What’s more, he did it during the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s–when “respectable working men” (if, ahem, newspaper columnists are included in such lofty circles) were supposed to be above this kind of nonsense.

Cortese’s fun-to-read book chronicles his adventures all over the map: everything from swimming across the Mississippi River, to playing Beethoven in the Grand Canyon, to roller-skating through Texas and much more, all culminating with his appearance on the CBS quiz show, To Tell The Truth.

Walter Mitty, eat your heart out.”

–Sam Venable, Columnist,Knoxville News Sentinel

more after the jump...

In spite of reports saying the State Department has promised immunity to the Blackwater employees being investigated for shooting civilians without cause, the Iraqi government is still going ahead with their own approach to the problem. Hey, aren't we and the Iraqi government supposed to be on the same page? We know the miltary can't win this war, so diplomacy looms as a very important factor. Will this conflict between the US and Iraq bring us any closer to being able to leave Iraq with honor?

Link...

I keep meaning to get down there, but somehow never find time. I wish them well. I'm curious to see what they're doing. Anybody been there?

KNS has an article about a new addition to Ijams. It's another quarry site, adjacent to Meade's quarry. While this is surely going to be a another great addition to the nature center, it's also a great deal for the quarry owner, Imerys Marble.

Not only do they get a nice tax break for the donation, they will also be released from reclaiming and revegetating the area, cleaning up the lime kiln dust, and demolishing the buildings.

Oh boy.

Perhaps Senator Thompson should invest in a hearing aid . . . and fast forward himself 17 years in a time machine.

117 people voted yesterday, bringing the total early vote for the City of Knoxville election to 881, about 1% of registered voters. Only 47 people voted Saturday. Early voting continues through Wednesday, with extended hours (10AM to 8PM) at all locations.

Sandra Clark says the city is spending too much money to elect one at-large city council seat. So do your part to at least lower the cost per vote.

She also says local elections should be consolidated with state and county elections. I agree. But, as she notes, special interests won't like the higher turnout.

According to the latest reports, Redflex has collected $1,950,378 and paid the City of Knoxville $739,376 and kept $1,211,022.

Report by intersection attached.

Picture This: Link...

I'd rather be looking out than looking in.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, customers of the University of Tennessee's Information Technology department are not happy campers.

Porter Wagoner has gone to his maker. He was 80.

Many Tennesseans, of a certain age, will definitely remember Mr. Wagoner and his TV show. He brought Dolly Parton along with a lot of great country/western/gospel music to our living rooms. Apparently he influenced the Grateful Dead as well.

"We (the Dead) were getting off of that psychedelic run that we were on,” said Hunter, who watched the show each week with Garcia in Northern California. “We had evolved from bluegrass and old-timey bands, but what we didn’t know was country & western, or whatever it was that Dolly and Porter were doing. So a little bit of Nashville moved into the Bay Area, and it was like nothing I’d ever seen.”

Hunter eventually made his way backstage at the Opry, where he told that story to Mr. Wagoner, who smiled and said, “Well, I never did hear nothing by that Grateful Dead that I didn’t like.”

H/T Sharon Cobb.

Porter Wagner

For the second time in four years, the Boston Red Sox sit at the pinnacle of the baseball world. After going 86 years without a World Series title, the Red Sox now have won two of the last four in most impressive fashion.

The Red Sox dominated Colorado, a team that came into the World Series having won 21 of 22 games. Boston outscored the Rockies 29-10 in the four-game sweep. Boston has seven World Series titles, which is fourth on the all-time list.

My Dad was a baseball fan, being from the Cincinnatti area. We attended a few of the Reds spring training games while living in Florida. I find the games much more fun if you're there.

Congrats to the Red Sox!

Just saw Carol on Gene Patterson's Sunday program.

I did not know she was retiring as director of the
Police Advisory & Review Committee(PARC).

PARC was started by Mayor Ashe because the relationship between the Knoxville police department & the black community was very strained.

Carol is the only director PARC has ever had & will be sorely missed.

GREAT JOB CAROL!!

PS:If you're not doing anything till Labor Day there's a job opening in your district for county commission.

Click image for larger view

Still sorting through photos of our New England trip, and I think this is one of my favorites so far. This is near Stockton Springs, Maine, next to an old church that is now an American Legion post on US1/Highway 3 between Belfast and Bucksport along Penobscot Bay.

Did anyone see today's editorial from the News-Sentinel about the committee's recommendation to gut the sunshine law? I'd agree that the law does need some clarification as to deliberation vs. discussion, but to say that the solution is to allow up to a quorum to discuss, deliberate, lobby or whatever else is just wrong. This would mean that 9 commissioners could legally get together privately, without any press notification and totally outside the public's view, and decide how to vote on an issue! I can't believe Mike Hammond voted for this!

Do something about this today before it's too late! Send an email to the following four Tennessee legislators . . .

sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us
sen.joe.haynes@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.steve.mcdaniel@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.ulysses.jones@legislature.state.tn.us

. . . and ask them to please dismiss the committee's recommendation to allow up to a quorum to meet privately, and let's get some actual clarification of the law instead of just gutting it.

Five years isnt much time.

Link...