My handgun carry permit expires in a couple of months. For the first time, I can renew it by mail. In the past, I'd always have to waste half a day and head to the Department of Safety, take a money order, a couple of IDs and wait in line. This time, there's just a form to fill out, put it in the mail, and wait. I would apparently have to go in to the office if my address had changed.

Now, if only I could renew it online. You can renew your driver's license online but not your carry permit. In fact, I'd like to see all licensure/fees/taxes/permits/revenue measures (since that's what they are) handled online these days. I pay annual professional privilege taxes, every other year I have to prove I obtained an arbitrary amount of continuing education (along with another fee), and a few others. Even this one should be available online:

While we're at it, let's get the city .gov's online.

Beautiful effort, Too fun.

UT 80
FL 76

Monday night up next.

. . .In Germany, the Nazis came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me. . . . -- Martin Niemoller

I've sent a message to several folks to help make this site a Roane Views place. I get to be King, but we could use the site to exchange rants. I'm even willing to change the name to something more inclusive, as long as everyone knows that I rule...

(My fingers really wanted to type, "Bring me your Women!" at this point, but I resisted. Bubba's "Don't be an Idiot" rule is gonna stifle me a bit but I can deal, OK?)

It sure is good to see SKB back online. This is a wonderful idea and here's hoping it flourishes.

There is no community designation for Campbell County here so I'll take it upon myself to declare this space for news and events from the area.

In the coming weeks there will be several stories making the news including the court appearance of Kenneth Bartley, Jr. He is accused of killing Campbell County High School Assistant Principal Ken Bruce and wounding two other administrators in a shooting November 8. The court will determine if Bartley will be tried as a juvenile or as an adult.

Also, LaFollette's mayor, Cliff Jennings, may be facing felony charges in connection with gambling machines found operating out of a building he owns. Mr. Jennings happens to own the radio station I work for so one might say I have a special perspective on that story.

In the meantime, I'm going to browse around this site and see what everyone else's talking about....

Left Of The Dial

Followed the link from Instapundit to this site, I must admit I'm really excited about it. I've been really disconnected from local politics and events and have been trying to find a way to keep a better grip on it all. I'm glad to have found this site and look forward to following it.

"This could be the start of a Beautiful relationship." Bogie

This is absolutely fabulous!

I'm looking forward to raking about in the local muck of Roane County. AS muck goes, we got plenty. Seems we got a local judge gone awol, They're recalling the Kingston Mayor (at least), The County Commission got handed their lunch on the jail boondoggle, and worst of all, land deeded to the citizens of Roane County has been handed over to a businessman who seems to be selling it off for lakefront houses.

Oh yeah, did I mention that a candidate for Sherriff has his deputies check the local motel registers for citizens? Knocks on the motel room doors to make sure nithing "bad" is going on.

Yep! When it comes to muck...We've got as much as anybody around...But I still wouldn't live anywhere else!

Peace,

Steve

from indymedia:

On January 1, 2006, the convoy that accompanied Subcomandante Insurgent Marcos departed from the Garrucha Caracol to San Cristobal de las Casas. With that marked the the first step in the new Zapatista political initiative known as The Other Campaign, which hopes to forge an anti-capitalist alliance of the non-electoral Left in Mexico.

...

Nearly 300 people of the Highlands region of the state of Chiapas, who have signed on to the zapatista initiative gathered with subcomandante Marcos, now called Delegate Zero, in his first day of the Other Campaign.

(link...)
(link...)

One of these years I hope to actually attend a World Social Forum. Until then, here's the latest independent reports from the first World Social Forum in Africa (held in Bamako, Mali, as an alternative event to the World Economic Forum).

(link...)

Believing that "Another World is Possible", the World Social Forum is a space for exchanging information and experiences of fighting neo-liberalism.

I used to be a student environmental organizer back in the early 90's.

Met a lot of people from a lot of places. Apparently, one nice fella I remember by the name of Joe Dibee (who taught a rope-climbing workshop at a conference I attended) is now an alleged ecoterrorist on the loose:

(link...)

Someone reported earlier that they have to log back in frequently, like whenever they refresh. Is anyone else experienceing this problem? Do you have to login each time you visit, or when you refresh or during the middle of a session? If so, please send a private message or reply to this post with a) what login behavior you are seeing, b) what OS you use (Windows 98, 2000, XP, OSX, etc), and c) what browser (IE, Firefox, etc.), and c) what kind of antivirus/spyware and firewall you run. Thanks!

Just ran across this on WashPost.com:

Keeping The Progress Going
Afghanistan May Need More of Our Help Than Iraq
By Harold Ford Jr.

Saturday, January 21, 2006; Page A19

I returned recently from a six-day trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan inspired by the progress that has been made in the region. Afghans and Iraqis yearn for a new beginning predicated on freedom. In both places, the keys to a new future are identical: better security and improved services. Each country is at a different point in its development on both of these fronts, and each is at an important crossroads.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Afghanistan stands at a more difficult and precarious junction than does Iraq. With a smaller U.S. military presence, Afghanistan is bracing for a larger NATO role in administering services and policing provinces and borders. This transition comes just as the insurgency in Afghanistan is gaining momentum.

Sounds reasonable...as does the rest of the article, which includes criticisms of Bush on the domestic spying program and a few other topics.

Here's an interesting article from the other day:

Currently, studios carefully control the release of major motion pictures to maximize profits. Films are first released in theaters, then on pay per view, home video, pay cable networks such as HBO, and finally on broadcast TV.

But the time between those windows has been shrinking. In 1994, the average time between a movie's opening in theaters and its debut on home video was about six months. In 2004, that span fell to four months, with some studios releasing films on DVD even sooner.

(Read more after the jump...)

Congrats on the cool new blog-thingy, SKB. This thing is quite amazing with all its whiz bang features and gadgets.

-katie

The race is heating up and there are four contenders for Blount County Mayor, 1 Democrat and 3 Republicans. Joe Gallagher is brave, in my opinion. But, then he is not from around here. I have met and worked with Joe. I like the man.

http://www.blounttoday.com/blnt/home/article/0,2355,BLNT_18867_4380130,00.html

"Gallagher, the only Democrat in the campaign, said he realized the Republican candidate often wins the office in Blount County. "I recognize it is a long shot. My goal would be to be a lobbyist for the people," he said. "

. .

"Kerr said his timeline is to first win the May 2 primary. "The practical reality is, you win that election, you almost have to be run over by a truck not to win the general election," he said. Kerr said that, historically, the Republican candidate usually takes office. "

Can libertarians with conservative leanings play too?

I'm Scott Cardwell decided to use a different name, This is a cool Blog site, I've excited by the idea that I can blog and blab all on the same site very cool. Thanks who ever is responsible.

I had a great morning started off with cello music in Harvard Square. Work sucked, I've drank a few beers going to bed early so I can get a lot done tommorrow.

This fellow was great, I swear he sounded like he was playing something from the Dirty Three.

Welcome back. I guess now that I am here the first question will be about the ignore feature.

What kind of software is this blog using? It has everything but the kitchen sink.

Cheers,

# 9