What's up with Knoxviews? When I do a search or attempt to go to a previous page, I get an error message from Cas Walker about table 'watchdog'.

I had hoped to attach this to a prior blog entry; but, since I can't, I'll post it here while it's current.

It appears it's time for TDOT to take a serious look at rail transit in East Tennessee given the recent post concerning Virginia's plans and the following from today's News-Sentinel:

Link...

Per Slate, not in Tennessee. Maybe it should be, especially given how polarized we have become and due to over-the-top hatemongering that's in vogue.

Another way we might use this tragedy to improve our world.

The Obama Death List. Ask yourself, "Self, can there possibly be people who believe this stuff?" AhYup.

AP

Exxon Mobil Corp. reported second-quarter earnings of $11.68 billion Thursday, the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation...

That's about three billion gallons of gas! But it wasn't enough and shareholders wanted more, so their stock is off this morning.

Our President held a hastily planned press conference this morning, before heading off to Kennebunkport.

Violence is low.
Iraq forces are becoming capable.
Progress is reversible.
"Degree of durability in gains."
"its reasonable to expect "further reductions in our combat forces, as conditions permit."

There are still approximately 147,000 US troops in Iraq. There have been 4,125 US troop deaths since the beginning of the war, 85 of these were from Tennessee. There have been over 30,000 US troops wounded in the Iraq War.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan 561 US troops have given their lives for Operation Enduring Freedom. According to the Washington Post, "Nearly twice as many U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq so far this month, marking the lowest death toll of the Iraq war and the first time that the American military has suffered more casualties in Afghanistan than it has in Iraq ."

There's a bright side to how bad we think our economy is? Last week, in Zimbabwe a loaf of bread cost more then $100 billion.

Gono [Central Bank Gov.] acted because the high rate of inflation was hampering the country's computer systems. Computers, electronic calculators and automated teller machines at Zimbabwe's banks cannot handle basic transactions in billions and trillions of dollars.

Inflation is running somewhere between 2.2 million percent and 12.5 million percent, depending on who you ask. Yikes!

Early voting through Jul. 30: 11,521

Party breakdown:

Democratic Primary: 3657
Republican Primary: 8300

Early voting, first 11 days:

2006 Aug. County General: 14,584
2008 Feb. Primary: 16,342

Early voting ends Saturday, and the election is next Thursday, Aug. 7th.

Early voting locations and times here. Note two additional locations and extended hours for last three days (starting today).

Ode to a Summer Garden
Georgia Bailey (1922-2008)
quilt

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "Legacy: The Quilts of Georgia Bailey", a new exhibition celebrating 40 creative quilts by Georgia Bailey (1922-2008). The quilts will be displayed for sale at a silent auction at the Emporium Center on August 1. Visit the Emporium page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...), or the Events page (Link...) for details.

The quilts will be on exhibition Aug. 1 - 29 at the Emporium Center.

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

I came across this picture while uploading a bunch of old slides to Flickr. It was shot at an open house held at the Sunsphere shortly before the opening of the 1982 World's Fair. The color is from the Ektachrome transparency, the gold tinting of the glass, and probably the method I used to digitize the slide.

It was placed in a slide holder attachment for an old Nikon E950 aimed at a blue sky. I played with it in Photoshop until it looked pretty good but the umbrellas became pink and blue so I gave it up.

Anyway it's a fun trip back. Here is the big one and a grayscale version..

BlountViews has the exclusive...

Go to the metropulse.com and check out the tastless Ear. At best its silly gossip but at a painful time to publically put out stuff like this is gross. (joking about Sunshine Violations at TVUUC)

Randy Tyree's blog:

It’s Wednesday.
Never forget.
And, remember, this time YOU decide!

Check out the link at the top of that blog post. Might come in handy.

McCain's new ad - it's got everything but "call me."

Short review: This thing rocks!

Management's response to the draft "Review of Mayor's Hospitality Account" will be posted later this afternoon here Link...

Dwight Van de Vate
Chief Administrative Officer
Knox County Government

According to this morning's KNS (Link...) , Minvilla requires even more tax breaks?

~$125k for efficiency apartments originally advertised as "basic, no frills housing".

Oh well,

The local paper is running a misleading ad that offers "CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT - 6.00% APY - FDIC INSURED."

Nowhere in the ad does it mention that the company offering the "CD" is not a bank and is not FDIC insured, or that the CD is not a traditional CD as you would find at a bank.

Los Angeles City Council has decided to fight obesity in the South side by not allowing any new fast food restaurants in the next year.

"Thirty percent of adults in South Los Angeles area are obese, compared to 19.1 percent for the metropolitan area and 14.1 percent for the affluent Westside, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health."

Hey, Tennesseans, look out! We, along with Alabama and Mississippi, have the highest obesity rate in the country. (Stop the animated map at the year 2007.) Will the governor put a moratorium on fast food restaurants in the whole state? I think not. Our unemployment rate will sky-rocket.

Effective July 1, 2008, the CDC is funding a program in 23 states "to develop a state plan for nutrition, physical activity, and obesity (state plan)". Tennessee received funding. Alabama and Mississippi did not. Heh.

Apparently FPL only used 25% of the money customers voluntarily paid for renewable energy projects on anything related to renewable energy. Most of that was spent on out of state renewable energy credits. The majority of the money was spent on administrative, marketing and management expenses.

After allowing the company to collect over $11 million in just less than five years, the State of Florida decides to do an audit. Florida will now decide whether the customers are due a refund or if FPL gets a second chance to invest in renewable energy projects.

This is just one reason I am wary to make a donation through a business. You can pay money to a local utility to help the less fortunate pay their bills. You can add a dollar or more at your local grocer to donate to a variety of charities. You can drop a dollar in a can to help a local cause. How do you ever know where your money goes? Is it just a feel good moment gone bad?

UUA: Unitarian Universalists Respond to Knoxville Shooting Disaster

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), in association with the UUA Thomas Jefferson District, has launched the Knoxville Relief Fund, to bring ministry, spiritual care, and practical financial assistance to those affected by the tragedy in Knoxville, Tennessee. Gifts to the fund will assist members of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church and Westside Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and their loved ones, and will show them that they are not alone during this time of shock and grief.

Income from the Knoxville Relief Fund will go to the Thomas Jefferson District of the UUA to be used at their discretion to assist Tennessee Valley UU Church and Westside Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and their members. No more than 5% of the funds raised will be used to cover administrative costs, including fees for credit card processing, before being directed to the Thomas Jefferson District.

Go to the Knoxville Relief Fund page for more information or to make a donation.

By way of Katie, someone has posted a page with links to local causes that the TVUUC supports if you would like to make a donation on behalf of the church.

We need to address the following:

community mental health needs
how to replace hate-media with more inclusive forums/discussions
joblessness
gun violence
probably a whole lot of other things I've overlooked (please suggest more)

We need a public forum, sponsored by local government, where people can express themselves, not just listen to speeches.

We need action, from concerned citizens as well as local govt that addresses our vulnerability to this sort of crime so that people who want to move/stay/return here can do so without feeling afraid.

I personally would like to see a drive to support more understanding and inclusive programming on local AM stations.

KNS: County OKs TIF funds for project

After a lengthy discussion, commission on a voice vote approved the $814 million tax increment financing for developer John Craig and partners in 500 Block LLC - funding that will be considered by the Knoxville City Council tonight.

Say what?

I just left the candlelight service.
The minster said where there is light there is hope.

When the minster was ask if he thought the individual
that did this horrific deed was going to hell.

The minster's reply was:This man has been in a living hell
on earth for many years.

At the end the young people of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church lead us in singing

"Tomorrow"...Very moving.

"Give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death to guide our feet
into the way of peace."

To the UUs who I know & those who I met tonight

Brothers & Sisters

Peace be with you.

WELL, THIS MAKES MORE SENSE than that "hated Christians" report, though I suppose the two aren't mutually inconsistent or anything: Police: Accused shooter hated liberals, expected to be killed.

Now what was exactly making more sense? Killing Christians? Killing Liberals? Or Both? Or not in general? Or "I was just kidding and want to buy you a beer!" Or "That's not what I meant." What did you mean, Professor Reynolds?

U.S. Senate Candidate Daniel Lewis Calls for a Repeal of all Federal Gun Laws
Nashville, Tennessee, July 28, 2008 – Daniel Lewis, the Libertarian Party of Tennessee’s candidate for United States Senate calls for a repeal of all Federal Gun Laws.
Tragically we live in a world where events such as Sunday’s (July 27, 2008) shooting at a Knoxville church do occur. Now is a time to reach out with compassion to the victims of this tragedy, their families and their community. Even more tragically opponents of gun rights always react to these events in the same way by calling for more gun laws. Federal gun laws are about 90 thousand words long (or 350 pages). One of these laws, the Gun Control Act of 1968 is very similar in wording to the 1938 Nazi Gun Control law. All tyrannies enact gun laws to leave the people defenseless against oppression and genocide. The American revolution started when the British tried to takes the colonists guns.
Gun statistics generally continue to follow the same trends. Crime is higher in areas where governments create strict gun bans and lower where gun ownership is unrestricted. This is just a logical conclusion criminals are more likely to try to commit a crime where they know they run a lower risk of facing an armed victim. After Washington D.C. passed a gun ban in 1976, its homicide rate rose 200%. Guns are used more often in defense against a crime then they are to be used in the commission of a crime. Tragedies such as the shooting in Knoxville could be prevented with less restrictive gun laws. Statistics tell us it is very likely the outcome would have been less tragic, and perhaps the criminal who committed this act of violence, would not even have considered committing this crime, if he would have been walking into a group of people that he knew might be armed. Only about 7% of carrier criminals obtain guns from a licensed gun shop. Only about 1% of crimes committed with handguns were committed by persons who legally had a right to even have the gun on them at the time. In conclusion it is time to repeal all Federal Gun laws. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I'm saying goodbye to Lili Bean, Rachael and Tim this morning and flying back to K-town. See you all tomorrow.

KPD press conference on yesterday's shooting is about to get underway. Watch it live here:

Link...

UPDATE: KPD chief said killer cites "hatred for liberal movement" as motive, mentions targeting liberals and "gays," TVUU church was specifically chosen.

Recap after the jump...

Many Tennesseans were stunned to hear the news that yesterday morning at 10:18am a lone gunman walked into a welcoming congregation in Knoxville and opened fire on the congregants who were gathered in anticipation of watching their children perform a scene from the musical "Annie" as part of the morning services, killing two people and shooting several more in the head before being tackled to the ground. That church, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, is a beacon of joy and hope in East Tennessee. Its congregation is made up of some of the most loving, kind and gentle people in the fine city of Knoxville, and the horrific tragedy which was visited upon that church is a wakeup call to good people throughout Tennessee to re-examine our approach to gun control in Tennessee and throughout this nation.

We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville yesterday. We know that several readers attend or, like us, have family or friends who do. Our hearts go out to you and yours.

We cannot comprehend what you are experiencing, or how those affected will cope over the coming days, weeks, months, or a lifetime. What we have seen, though, is a community of loving, caring people pull together to support each other, and that's what counts at a time like this. It's also a testament to the decent and kind nature of the people in this church's extended community.

There's not much else to say at this point. In the coming weeks we will learn more about the perpetrator, his background, and his motives. It won't change what happened, though, and there's no explaining such cowardly acts of violence. And it won't bring back the victims or take away the emotional scars.

But what will long be remembered after the perpetrator's name is forgotten is the heroism of the church congregation, and particularly that of Greg McKendry, who by all accounts lived his life as a caring, helping hero right up until his final moments.

Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and everyone affected by this senseless tragedy, and especially the children.