I saw the Shopper so I know what next Monday's Sentinel will look like. While the size is OK for a weekly, I dread having that small of a daily, along with no longer getting a TV guide. I wonder if newspapers are really in such dire shape or if the shrinking is just about more profits at the top. I notice the 10lb magazine skirt! put out by Scripps seems to be doing well. I like skirt! but would rather have a big thick paper about real news.
If the situation for papers is dire it almost seems a self-fulfilling prophecy. Shrink the paper and turn the websistes into mini-cinemas and see which direction people go. Knoxville seems to have no shortage of varying weeklies and monthlies, that I assume do well. I just hope the day doesn't come that papers will eventually be microchips inserted into one's head that are re-activated every day. Websites are fine for headlines and comments but don't have the same fulfilling feeling as something hand-held, same goes for books.

Its a worst of the worst case scenario, but who thought we'd have W for a second term.....Would the people so interested in giving the mayor more power still be that interested in it if Tim Hutchinson or Tim Burchett became mayor? Do the people who keep on saying let the people vote, want the various anti-gay and anti-abortion ideas to go for a state vote? If you live in a district that has two commissioners people like, how do you decide who has to quit if the commission is cut in half?
I agree with a good nepotism policy but am unsure about the rest of the issues and think people shoulg give term limits a chance to make things work better. I'm fine with the Sentinel promoting the petition drive but I'm tired of their snarky editorials telling the people to accept them all.

I got my stimulus package in the first round in perfect timing to pay some bills. For the first time in my adult life, or maybe in 8 years, I'm proud of my government, at least until I saw W blame congress for everything today and put in silly plugs for McCain. But, I'm glad for the cash.

"We want this to be quiet. This is a funeral procession." On the upcoming joint effort of many funeral home workers and Knoxville Right to Life for a funeral procession through downtown, as reported in Sat's Sentinel. I'm sure 30 hearses aren't going to attract any attention.

You can get a great view of the South Knox water tower near the Broadway and Central area, I can't imagine how it is to live right by it. I noticed its been painted a bluish color now. I think it should be turned over to the public art committee and changed with the seasons, a lovely dogwood scene would be appropriate right now.

Unless you were there or caught it on WBIR, you may have missed the downtown library's assinine, short-lived, random (aka homeless)metal detector and pocket search. They called it a "pilot program" for that one library, because metal detectors are a "way of life." It lasted about one more day after WBIR reported it. Nobody seems to know whose idea it was. I suggest if they go that way again to make Lumpy Lambert really earn his county money and have him toting a machine gun at the front door. Or maybe Campfield can get the librarians armed.
As a frequent library user, for the most part they seemed to have quelled the homeless and pervert problem when they required library cards for computer use a few years ago. I have no idea what brought this on. I have seen more of a perv problem at the small Edgewood library than downtown.

I'm excited that Sundown is back soon, but one thing, I wish they would do away with the yellow shirt cops. I don't mind to have a guy look through my purse to get on a plane, but for a concert that went on for 9 years without incident without them, I find it violating, and frustrating that I can't bring a bottle of water. I also wish the Wailers were coming this year, they're my favorite Sundown band, but Tedeschi puts on a great show. If you haven't seen tomorrow's MP yet the list is there.

I see the school board didn't pick Bingelli. I'd just like to know how to pronounce his name, depending on the talking head, its either Bin-jelly or Bing-ul-ee. Also, I'd like to hear why McIntyre wants to leave Boston to come here.

I think its overkill to take the art bears off the street. They should grandfather in current art and send any new art through the "art committee." While the bears aren't First Friday elite art, I find them cute and amusing and have never been offended by or tripped over one. Don't larger cities like Chicago have bigger and more successful animal art shows?
The sidewalk "obstruction" reasoning to take them up is like the creative "blight" rulings to get people tifs. I don't have faith the city council will do anything but accept the committee decision. I don't know if this group has ever questioned each other or Haslam. At least with this current ornery commission, you at least know people will question things. I'm glad city council feels the love, but too much isn't good.
If we must get rid of all things that obstruct, start with the water tower or the Sunsphere.

Obama Montana
Barack Ray Cyrus
Obamorgasm
Obamarama
Obamallama
Obamomentum
Barack H. Kennedy

The Sentinel's editorial yesterday was supposed to be about letting the public vote on appointing the fee officers or not. What it sounded like was a kid kicking and screaming, "we must appoint those offices now you stupid people, now, now, now, now ,now," either that or somebody had waay too much coffee. There are pluses and minuses to appointing or electing.

But, every time I really get a good feeling about the Sentinel's and the "good government group's" quest for voting and openness though, it seems more like what they really want is to assert themselves and their power base into the process. That doesn't sit any better with me than Scoobie wanting to do the same.

I don't feel so good about giving up my right to vote or two commissioners per district just because some do-gooders had some meetings. Everybody has an agenda, no matter how pure they try to come across.

I thought the most amusing part of one of Stacey Campfield's recent proposals was that university faculty and staff should be able to go armed if the head of their instutions requests that they do so. I wonder if Peterson would ask the UT faculty senate to go armed? Maybe Mark Harmon and Lumpy Lambert will both be carriers.

There is a concert in town through tomorrow targetting kids that includes country music, a magician and Army exhibits. It was supposed to go to some schools but I think that since they closed kids can go to Sat's show free. It seems to be more or less a military recruiting tool called something like the "my real life tour." Between this and the Graham hype its getting to be a bit much. Knoxville has enough Hummers and mega churches as it is. I am glad to see the Knoxville Jazz Fest will be here the same wknd in April as Graham, something to take the edge off.

Roughly what Bush said about Fidel and Raul this morning: "They need to have a free and fair election, and I mean free and fair and not one of those staged elections that the Catro brothers hoist upon us."

Gore on George and Jeb in 2000 "Your brother is not the final authority on this."

I saw the big Sentinel headline yesterday about a suprise and I figured it was another Muslim prisoner asking for a prayer rug, but no it was that Amy Henley-Vandergriff had put her name in for the clerk appointment. Even though she had changed her mind, it should not be more of a suprise than Sherry Witt or JJ Jones or whoever seeking the appointments in their races. Don't know if that was the best idea for Amy, but I've met her and like her, and I think the Sentinel, after seeing how well Amy did in the primary, which was a suprise, they feel they need to go to bat for their board member Foster Arnett.
I think the Sentinel and these "good government" groups have skated a really fine line in doing a public service about "Black Wednesday" and using it for personal gain and asserting their influnece.
All that said I think the appointments should ALL be given to qualified caretakers if there is a race for the seat in August. I've heard people say that since McKenzie in the first district is a Democrat and its a Dem district he should get the appointment. I say no, thats unfair to Baah and he deserves fairness as much as the rest of the candidates.

Every Saturday Good Morning America ends the show with Threee Words of the Week. Its a lame emotional mess where viewers send in photos of pregnant bellies and transplant scars along with three words and sappy music, the hosts cry like on a makeover show. Anyway, here's mine for this week:
Happy V-Day!
Jane says C*%t!
Cynthia says Bye!
Sux being Ragsdale!

She's young, she's hip, she's hot!! Please join me in supporting Hannah Montana for President. People want "change", she's the expert on change, switching from Hannah to Mylie to Hannah right before the audience's eyes. She's brought together a coalition of tweens and their rich parents like never before, thousands pay thousands of dollars and fill arenas to see her. Forget about the Kennedy's. This kid has reached Beatle's proportions!
Talk about a "Two for One" deal, her Achy Breaky Dad, Billy Ray Cyrus would make a sexy VP, and her God Mother Dolly Parton would be on anybody's "short list" for Secretary of State.
Hannah is like so beyond partisanship, she's all about "Pumpin up the Party" and she's got the "Best of Both Worlds."

It never ceases to amaze me that after all the yelling over getting to vote the good government groups want more appointments and less representation. I wonder if some of this is throwing the baby out with the bath water. I think some action on nepotism and conflict of interest should be taken, but not sure how strict. I dislike the developer back scratching as much as the family back scratching. I dislike a government run by Scoobie's folks as much as I would by these good government elitists. Balanced thought gets lost in all this.

I saw on GMA this morning something about a National ID law that was set to take effect soon. I thought that was just something being debated, but found some info that said it was passed in 2005. A few states have refused to abide by it, they said, and it would effect people at airports. Sounds creepy and sneaky, I had certainly forgot about it. . Do any countries actually have it?

There's been alot of talk about the restaurants, newspapers etc that downtown had--when downtown was dead. That caused me to remember the chinese place that used to be on the Square--not an uppity place, a place with a good, cheap buffet and lunch. I enjoyed it but forget the name. I think I remember my last meal there. It was around this time of the year in 1997. It was snowing and I was practically the only person downtown one afternoon, but the meal was great. BTW, I tried Oasis Buffet by the Fellini Krogers yesterday. Its very nice and pretty inside andf the food is good, not something I expected given the Fellini.

I noticed there has been alot said lately about Tim Graham and his 6 mil in TIF's etc. But its being lost on people that he's hosting this free expo in the middle of the month to meet candidates. Does he own the expo center where its taking place? Its a great idea to have the forum, but it seems to taint Knox County's supposed fresh start with it being a Graham, or any developer's love fest. I also hope people who aren't politicos actually come meet the candidates. I've been to many of these type of things where only each candidate's volunteers show up.

Storm of Controversy, Firestorm, Firestorm of Controversy, Media Storm, Media Firestorm.

Happy New Year.

I've heard a pundit say that Huckabee was a televangelist and another say that he was an aprrentice for a televangelist. I wonder who the televangelist was? With Romney, what I'd most like answered is the question about Mormon's special underwear, that in all seriousness they wear to weddings. I'd also like to know about Obama's Muslim heritage, just out of curiosity.
In all seriousness, if we can't elect a Democrat this year I think it would do the country good to bust up the hold the religious right has on the Republican Party.

On Friday WATE kept running teasers about the ice rink may have to close. It may have just been to drum up ratings, when they interviewed a manager she said the stakes were different now that its a non-profit but that they are making plans for next year. She also said the county might help.
I figured the city gave money for the event. Do they not? I worked there the first year and working there sucked, but the customers seemed to have a great time, the only problem being too many visitors. I trust some of the kinks are worked out now and it adds a great festive vibe to downtown. I think it would be worthy of some tax money if that's what it took to keep it open and affordable.

I saw on a long list of candidates who have taken out petitions that Phil Hamby of Knoxville Journal fame has taken out a petition to run as a Democrat for a fee office. He ran for school board about 10 years ago. For years he ran the Journal. I enjoyed reading the arrest reports and rumors about Tim Hutchinson, Victor Ashe, his ex-wife or whoever he didn't like just for kicks. Then after years of drama his ex-wife Renee won the paper in a divorce settlement about 2 years ago.
At first the paper was pretty good with Renee in that the scandal sheet was gone and it still had the arrest reports and added a new column by Colvin Idol along with Susan Estridge and Bill O'Reilly. A few weeks ago I noticed Colvin was gone and they've added religious columns by Renee, Renne's sister and Renee's first husband. Renee's first husband is a preacher who ends his columns "God Bless the United States and the Nation of Israel." I think that's creepy and would take Phil's scandal sheet over that, but Ear is still good at printing rumors.

I've participated in several MLK parades with Knox Dems and though the party often has a float the elected officials never ride on it! While I think Don has made a good statement, I've never seen those guys have any interest in the party's float.
In 2003 there was no party float and several party volunteers who were kicking off Jim Gray's run for chair marched with "activist turned felon" Perry Redd and the Sincere Seven. From 2004-2006 Jim Gray and Delainia Davis and others got a float and or organized a walking group for party volunteers labor people and others. Some rode and some handed out fliers at the end of a tiring walk we would be greated by Diane and Joe ect back-slapping with the GOP down at the church. They never asked to be with us and to my knowledge nobody asked them.
As for that church service I went in 2003. The preaching and music were wonderful but the hypocricy on display was too much, ie: Victor Ashe singing "We Shall Overcome" in Danny Mayfield's church.

I've been eagerly watching the video running on one of the "art walls" near Krutch Park assuming a cool new music venue was about to open. I heard on WBIR Saturday that the new place is going to be home to "Knoxville Fellows" an offshoot of the Cornerstone Foundation that's lettinmg them use the site for a couple of bucks. Recent college grads can apply to live in the lofts on top and participate in some sort of religious internship called Knoxville Fellows that trains future Knoxville leaders.
I had a slight fear Cornerstone might have had the idea to turn World Grotto into a church but they bought another building and I'm glad. I wonder what the fellows will do. Join the street preachers? Maybe we can have them watch that crazy Amy Broyles at the voting sites. :) But seriously, this pseudo downtown religious stuff is kind of creepy, like the All Souls church that first met at the Conv. Center and now the Holiday center, that has Ragsdale friends as ministers and downtown development as a church goal, and the funky new church that meets at the Riviera. I just have a better feeling about straight up fundamentalists than fundamentalists glossed over with hip buildings and Starbucks at church. But anyway that this may happily exist by the World Grotto speaks to the pecuilar bi-polarness of Knoxville.

Fred Thompson has been endorsed by the National Right to Life. Its interesting that they chose him instead of Huckabee, a Baptist minister. They said Fred can best beat Rudy.

I think the Christmas calender is going the way of the school calender. Of all places, the parking lot at the Fellini Krogers is already decorated with Christmas lights. Santa comes to the mall on Friday !? I don't ever remember Santa on Veterans Day. Even last year I think he came much closer to Thanksgiving. I assume the storesd are trying to jump start a slow economy.

Folks should check at the Knoxville Pearl cereal bar by Pilot Light in the Old City. Its like stepping back into childhood and they have a huge selection of teas. Apparently cereal bars have been taking off in other cities for a while but this is the first one I've heard of. Its interesting.