Oliver Stone is set to make a movie about Bush. He says it will be a "fair, true portrait of the man" that explores how Bush went "from an alcoholic bum to the most powerful figure in the world." Sounds pretty fair and balanced. Should be great.

WBIR: Moncier files to oust Moore, Pinkston from office

In the complaint, Moncier calls for the commissioners' ouster due to violations of the Open Meetings Act and alleged violations of their oath of office.

CNN is displaying a Breaking News banner. They confirm that Ole Fred has thrown in the towel.

From KNS

Bank of America 4Q profits plunge

Hurt by the deepening credit crisis, Bank of America Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings fell 95 percent, and Wachovia Corp. reported its earnings tumbled 98 percent.

Net income at Bank of America, the nation's second-largest bank, dropped to $268 million, or 5 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31 from $5.26 billion, or $1.16 per share, a year ago.

But don't feel too sorry for BofA. Yet. Earnings in 2007 were $14.98 billion, v. $21.13 billion in 2006. Looks like the party was over in the fourth quarter, though, which does not bode well for our economy going forward.

The police scanner was lit up with calls for police and EMT over here in Blount Co. It's starting to calm down now, but they were overwhelmed there for a while. Wreckers are still busy, though. None available at the moment. Several reports of abandoned vehicles coming in now.

Lots of wrecks, several calls for head injuries and broken bones from falls on the ice. Curiously, many of the wrecks involved SUVs. I guess people think they are invincible in those things.

Michael Silence has the Knox roundup.

News Sentinel: two fatalities, interstate closed, Knox E-911 Center inundated.

Heh.

When voting on Feb. 5, remember Jan. 31

Tramel and Cate are just two examples of the old order of Knox County politics, the old order that has been such an embarrassment to our county this past year and is trying to maintain its power.

Both are running in a crowded primary field on Feb. 5 and are no doubt hoping voters will forget the day of Jan. 31.

But this history teacher is hoping that voters remember certain dates in recent Knox County history.

Read the whole thing to find out why.

The exhibition at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts closes Jan. 26,2008. I posted a blog TennViews on the similar topic with a different painting. If you haven't had a chance to see it, try to figure out a way to see it by Saturday. It will be well worth the trip.

This exhibition is not just an outstanding exhibition, but it explains how modern art came to be appreciated in America. The Societe Anonyme was founded in 1920 by Katherine Dreier, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. They started an "experimental museum" for contemporary art and eventually to develop a collection which is a time capsule of modern art from 1920 to 1950.

The painting by Marcel Duchamp, Tu m', was probably his last painting on canvas. It is oil and Graphite on canvas with bottle-washing brush, safety pins, nut and bolt. 27 1/2x 122 3/4 . Using the bottle-washing brush as a ready made attachment to the canvas, a sign-painter to paint the hand,the painted reference to the ready made bicycle wheel on the stool,and even the title of the piece illustrates the Dada influences in the 1920-30's.

There are more pictures on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...) about other new exhibitions.

Sherrie

This may be non-Knox like but thought I would share a good experience this weekend on trip to Nashville. Maybe someone will bring this band to Knoxville. If they do I will be there.

While visiting family they and one of their friends decided they wanted to go see Johnny Neel and Criminal Element at posh Norm's River Roadhouse. I had never heard of him, but I am not the most musical person in the world.

I was told he had played with the Allman Brothers and was an outstanding keyboard player. Mostly I just wanted to go drink a few beverages and see something new.

After trying my new Garmin GPS out for Norm's and getting nada we reverted to Mapquest. As we drove to what I think was the western area of Davidson County we were becoming convinced we may have typed in the wrong address, maybe even state. It reminded me a bit of out in the boonies Cocke County. I didnt know Davidson County had that much undeveloped area. After the typical, lets drive a little farther before we turn around, conversation, just ahead on the right we see our destination, Norm's. It's dark, very cold
and the parking lot inventory made Lumpy Lambert's car lot look like a BMW dealership.