The Bachelor

Just me tonight. Wife's out of town on a church retreat, kids are at their grandparents. Going to go see Chicago finally, and see if Peter Cetera makes a guest appearance...

World's Worst II

Ok, riff on the World's Worst....SuperVillain

POW!! BAM!!! SPLAT!!!

Have at it.

Democrats actually do run businesses, and are nice people, too...

Bill Hobbs continues to be impressed Governor Bredesen, which is great, and compliments his stand on waiting a year for lottery money to be used for scholarships. But...

Is he really a Democrat, or does he just play one on TV?

I hope you don't really mean this. Are you expressing amazement that a Democrat might be able to make a common sense, informed decision that doesn't pander to his business or special interests? I think other parties (not naming any names) can be equally blamed in that category. And besides, the issue discussed has nothing to do with wantonly raising taxes (a typical Democratic stereotype) and simply points out a sound business decision - to wait and get a better idea of what revenues a lottery might generate before applying it to scholarships. The year's worth of money generated can help prop up the government, then when they get a handle on the amount it can be applied to schools next year. Amazing a Democrat would have had a good business thought!

You have a great blog, Bill and I respect your writing a great deal, but I hope you don't let these kinds of biases slip through very much - that's why we have Rush.

P.S. When are you going to add a comments section, Bill?

UPDATE: My mistake - Rich from Shots Across the Bow guest-authored the article on Bill's site.

Man of Electrodes

You will believe a man can breathe.

I have no doubts that Christopher Reeve will someday walk again. I just feel it. Good for him, one of my childhood heroes.

Midwives at the Carousel Theatre

Paige M. Travis reports on the new play at UT's Ula Love Doughty Carousel Theatre, Midwives in this week's Metropulse.

I worked in the Carousel Theatre several times as an undergad at UT and it's a very interesting place to do a show. What I remember most is the ability to remove the walls and let the outside air come in, when desired. Theatre in the round, or when the stage is partially or totally surrounded by the audience, is a very intimate form of theatre that keeps the actors always in view. On a traditional stage, there's always the opportunity to disappear into the wings or behind a set piece, but in the round you're always there and always somewhere in the scene if you're on the stage. As such, an actor has to always be "on", and even when they have no dialogue or movement, they have to remain true to their character and not disappear into themselves. Very challenging, but very rewarding.

UPDATE: There's a letter to the editor in the 'Pulse today, too, about theatre and coverage of the Arts in general in Knoxville.

Commentus Interruptus

Looks like my Comments section is acting up. Please send me an email at innofthelasthomeinsolace@yahoo.com if you want to comment on something I've posted. Meanwhile, my crack team of Gully Dwarves (who will speak to me if I feed them) are looking into the problem....


UPDATE: Comments fixed! Glub like comments! Want rat, make stew. Stew good...life like stew. Stew like life! Mmmm...rat...

Confessions of a Salty Mind

Ok, I have a confession to make. I've been needing to get this off my chest for awhile now, and I think it's time.

I am going crazy.

But not why you might think.

You see, I have an addiction. A terrible addiction - yes, it's out there now. I can talk about it. The freedom, the liberation, the blessings that only exposing the problem to the world can bring. For you see....

I am addicted to potato chips.

Oh, the horror! The indignity! I scarce can face myself, much less my loyal readers, and even my Gully Dwarves shun me. The shame has grown too much to bear.

For you see, it's not just one kind of chips - I mean all chips. Barbequed, Wisconsin Cheese, Ruffled, Wavy Lays, Pringles, Bacon&Cheddar, Golden Flake, name brand or store brand, it doesn't matter... Late at night, in the dim light of the television set I grab a bag and munch until my mouth has a little yellowish/orange ring and there are crumbs all over the floor. But it doesn't stop there - oh, no, foolish mortal. Then there's the blessed world of Cheetos. Crispy, Baked, (and when they haven't pulled it from the shelves - curse their souls!!! - the X's and O's....*drool*). Of course, marching tauntingly behind are the Nacho chips: Scoops, Bite Size, Rounds....the mind staggers. Sometimes I'm even been known to smuggle into the house some Funyons, or maybe, on a wild day....a Sun Chip.

However, now comes the rub. They are all gone. I have *sob* --- say it!!! say it!!! --- given up chips for Lent.

*Sigh*.. Ok. Now you know. Since Wednesday night last week, I haven't had a single chip. I've been tempted---oh, my, I've been tempted. The conveniently huge bag of Doritos my wife bought last week, before she knew what I was going to do. Unopened, it sits on the shelf, mocking me.

Mocking me.

I pass a little tray at Kroger's that has Cheese Puffs out for your tantalizingly tasting pleasure. No! Get thee behind me, Satan! Tempt me not with your delectable cheesiness!

The little bags in the snack machine at work. Oh, they taunt me....Trust us! No one will know! There's only two chips in these bags anyway - who will know???. But so far, I have resisted.

Can I hold out until Easter? 6 days down, 34 to go. I don't know -- I just don't know.

There is one small consolation - I have allowed myself popcorn and crackers. A guy can only take so much torture, you know.

However, if you happen to go into a Weigel's or Pilot Food Mart sometime in the next few weeks and say a poor, lonely guy gibbering in the corner while clutching a package of Bugles....smile kindly and pass on by. Nothing to see here....

Words Fail Me.

French Fries Get New Name in Congress

There is just no gas left in the tank. No words to describe how utterly stupid, meaningless and worse - childish this is. The United States Congress is officially sticking out its tongue and waggling its fingers in its ears at another Western country.

Grow.

Up.

World's Worst...

Say Uncle has been doing an ongoing series on "185" jokes, so in my attempt to capitalize on his idea and blatantly attract more people to visit my site, I'll do one.

This is World's Worst (one of my favorites on Who's Line) : The players step forward and give an example of the world's worst whatever the audience suggested

Round One: Give examples of the World's Worst Blogger.

Curtain up

I feel like Michele - I didn't set out to talk about internation stuff, or politics, just the things about my own life I find interesting and want to share with others. So for the duration of "Company", I'm going to talk some theatre.

And, to start off: What's the best play you ever saw? Leave a comment below.

I'll go first: My favorite play of all time is "Into the Woods" by Steven Sondheim and James Lapine. In 1990 I worked for a summer as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, FL. They're a professional repertory company that specializes in summer and Christmas musical seasons. Their production of "Into the Woods" was the first non-touring, regional theatre production in the US.

If you're unfamiliar with the show, basically it's an amalgamation of several different fairy tales, all happening at the same time. Cinderella runs through the woods with Jack (and his Beanstalk), Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf, the obligatory witch, Rapunzel and many others. It's a fantastic show.

But what struck me then, and stays with me now is one of the central themes of the story:

Take care of your children, be careful what you teach them because children will listen. Be careful of the way you live your lives, because children are looking up to you for "which way to turn, to learn what to be"... We have a responsibilty to our children, not just to teach them right from wrong but to show them the difference and how it affects our own lives. It was a powerful message for me - marriage was 2 years away, my son another 7, but I think the message of that show helped prepare me for fatherhood.

I was lucky enough to be Musical Director for "Into the Woods" in 1998 in Oak Ridge, and that has become my favorite experience in amateur theatre so far. I can't wait to do it again.

Next?

Negative Implications

Net Said to Close Around Osama bin Laden

This supposed "net" or "noose" has supposedly been tightening around Bin Laden for a week now. If it gets any tighter, it's going to disappear and reappear in a parallel universe somewhere. Just get the guy, already, if he's really there.

Audition Success

I got a part! The play "Company" is a Steven Sondheim musical from the 70's about a 35-year-old bachelor, his girlfriends, and 4 married couple friends that are trying to convince him to get married. I'm playing Peter, one of the married men.

Rehearsals start next week, and I'll try to do a blog journal of the process, in case any who's interested in theatre might want to know how it works. The performances are late April-early May and everyone in the Knoxville area is invited (it's at the Oak Ridge Playhouse).

Ark II

Well, it's March 8 and since last October, we've all been waiting to open up the package and find out what doom has been fortold for this date...

March 8, 2003.

So, are we doomed as doomed can be, you know?

Now we have to wait till April 15, 2003.

Tax day. I should have known....

Well, until then I guess I'm selling all my duct tape and buying scuba gear and wading boots....


UPDATE: Super secret sensitive link: Don't tell anyone you got it from me....

Quick Audition Post

Auditioned for "Company" at the Oak Ridge Playhouse today - went pretty well. Got a call-back for tomorrow afternoon, will let everyone know what happens tomorrow or Monday.

Two years and counting since the last stomach virus...

Jay at The Daily Rant posts about getting sick a lot more after you have kids.

Very good points, but here's a bonus:

Regardless of how people feel about nursery school/daycare/preschool versus keeping the kids at home until Kindergarten, I've noticed a marked reduction in illnesses in my kids once they hit 4 yrs old or so, because, being in daycare and preschool since they were 6 months old, they've caught everything they're going to catch and have built up some immunities.

When they were 6mo - 3 years old, they got everything a normal school-aged kid would get: RSV, Rotovirus, ear infections, eye infections (well, they both didn't get all of those, that's just the sum total).

But now that my girl is 3-1/2 and my son is 7 and in 1st Grade, they (and subsequently, we) haven't been sick nearly as much. I averaged 2-3 stomach viruses a year when they were little, which, if you know me know that I consider them to be more torturous than 1,000 flu's, colds, bacterial infections, etc. But that's another story.

Anyway, C.'s only missed a couple days of school since he started Kindergarten, even though I hear daily of other kids in his class that are always sick from various ailments. I would bet the majority of them didn't go to daycare.

So, as I say, rant and rave anyone who wants to about the benefits of staying home with your kids until they start school, but there is one HUGE advantage...

Osama Bin Gotten?

Little Green Footballs is reporting the rumors that Bush's press conference tonight may be announcing the capture of Osama Bin Laden.

Talk about Must-See-TV!

Side note: I used to read LGF a lot, till it got too depressing and too hawkish. Now I only go every once in a while. I read this article, then after perusing the rest of the articles on the page I remember now why I stopped....


UPDATE: Well, ok not yet. But maybe tomorrow?

Comments

Y'know, it is perfectly acceptable to leave comments. I'm beginning to feel a bit used ;)

Unconscionable

Parents, teachers worried fine arts, gym classes may be cut

In no way can this be allowed to happen. Fine arts are just as important to the school curriculum as other, more academic subjects.

But then, I'm sure conservatives would worry fine arts are turning out too many liberals - you know, the ones that think, and feel, and understand the world, and actually can express themselves without using numbers and dollar signs? Right, those guys...

I'm Insignificant!!!

TTLB Blogosphere Ecosystem

Things I Ponder

When I'm feeding our cats, I'll talk to them. No big deal - I don't think I'm Dr. Doolittle or anything, I'll just say the usual things like, "Here you go, guys", or "Whoa, take it easy, not all at once", or "Ouch! Hey, you little Furby, stop biting my toes!".

Anyways, whilst I'm making this conversation, by white cat "Tas" (Another Dragonlance reference. You'd think I was obsessssssssed) looked up at me in my eyes.

Now, I know it's typical human behaviour to look into the other person's eyes when you speak to them, but why would a cat? Do they learn this from watching other humans? Maybe he's actually looking at my mouth (where the sound's coming from, for those of you who came in late) and since it's close to my eyes it's just an illusion. Of course, he could just as easily be looking at my elbow, or my kneecap, or my toes ("mmmmm....toes..."). So why would he see the need to look at me in the eyes like a human would do with another human? Does he know something I don't? Do I want to know? Does he own me money? And what about Naomi....

These are the things I think about when I'm putting off going to bed.

My Own Personal Dead Zone

There's a part of my brain that is forever and totally inaccesible. It's the part that understands words and concepts such as:

• Purchase Order
• Balloon Mortgage
• Prime Lending Rate
• Health Maintenance Organization
• Compound Interest
• Invoice
• Certificate of Deposit
• Roth IRA

...and the list goes on.

I'm pretty good at math, but where math intersects with economics - zip. Nada. As Bill and Mike can attest from my posts and comments.

Well, actually this site helped me understand a little about the stock market. Maybe there's hope for me yet...

Don't bet on it.

Welcome to Readers of the 24th Carnival of the Vanities

Thanks for coming. Pay no attention, however, to the man behind the curtain that brought you here.

Next week the COV is being hosted by (full and honorary) Rocky Top Brigadiers Jay and Jane at The Daily Rant. Be sure and visit their site, too -- you don't have to worry about getting stuck in the muck like that other site.

Pardon me while I go wash my hands...

Putting the Pieces Together...

I just want to know if this:

Al Qaeda Chief Was Plotting New Attacks, U.S. Officials Say

"A U.S. intelligence memo dated Feb. 26 warned Mohammed was overseeing plans to attack suspension bridges, gas stations and power plants in New York and other major cities, Newsweek reported Sunday."

...Which also yielded this:

Pakistan raid nets possible al Qaeda names

"Meanwhile, FBI agents are trying to track down possible al Qaeda operatives in the U.S., including some believed to be in Washington and other U.S. cities, after names were found among a "treasure trove" of material recovered during Mohammed's capture, sources said."

...Has anything to do with this:

FBI Says Arrests in Norris Dam Incident Show Good Security

"Norris Dam is considered a hard terrorist target, or a highly-patrolled place. While the FBI says there was never a physical threat to the dam, agents are investigating possible links the brothers could have to terrorist organizations."

...Not to mention this:

Local Law Enforcement Responds on Threats at Hospitals

"The latest reports, which involve unidentified men taking pictures of hospitals and businesses, have authorities again looking into weekly tips"

If any of these events are related to each other, I hope they confirm it quickly.

Lower Forms of Life.

Apparently, according to the Blogosphere Ecosystem I'm not even an Insignificant Microbe...

Well, this disheartened me a great deal, so after several minutes of uncontrolled weeping I emerged from my self-pity to actually submit my site for consideration. Looks like your ranking is determined by how may sites are linking to you, and the results were:

6.

Which puts me in that Insignificant Microbe category. O Joy! O Rapture! I have Evolved!

Waitaminnit...6? C'mon, folks, link to me! Help you friendly innkeeper grow up the food chain. I mean, seriously - I've got hungry gully dwarves to feed here, and when they're not fed they get cranky.

Do you really want Instapundit and Lileks to have all the fun?

Oh crap! I linked to them!! Man...man...man... *hits head Chris Farley-style*.

Oh, and for those who started reading thinking I was going to start talking about Republicans...sorry. Not this time.

Yet.

This Just In...

Philadelphia police say dead man had missing organs and rope around his neck

"Police responding to a report of a dead body turned the victim over and found his heart, a lung and other organs had been cut out. 'Either ... there's a really sick person out there who wants to keep somebody's internal organs, or is there a market for this? Or are they trying to send a message?' homicide Capt. Charles Bloom said after the discovery Friday afternoon."

In related news, recent startup internet auction site "SickBay" just reported its online traffic tripling since this time last week. Company officials were unavailable for comment, but were reportedly looking into acquiring rare lettermen's jackets, prosthetic hooks, and New York City sewer alligators.

Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

News from Neverland

If ever you feel in a bit of despair, maybe don't know which way to go, are confused and think things can't get much worse...

Well, (in the immortal words of Dwayne Schneider) always remember and don't ever forget: thank goodness you're not Michael Jackson.

Magazine: Michael Jackson Put 'Curse' on Spielberg

"Vanity Fair reported in the article that in 2000 Jackson attended a voodoo ritual in Switzerland where a witch doctor promised that Spielberg, music mogul David Geffen and 23 other people on the entertainer's list of enemies would die.

Jackson, who underwent a "blood bath" as part of the ritual, then ordered his former business adviser Myung-Ho Lee to wire $150,000 to a bank in Mali for a voodoo chief named Baba, who sacrificed 42 cows for the ceremony, the magazine reported."

So if you're ever in despair, just be glad you're nowhere near this out of touch with reality.

KATC Awards Report

Well, I'm back from the awards.

*Sigh*

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which I directed, was up for a Best Children's Theatre Show Award.....but it didn't win. Oh well -- better luck next time..

But, All Night Strut, the 5-person musical I performed in won Best Short Production or Special Works!. So it was a mixed blessing evening.

The Knoxville theatre community is very interesting. Comprising companies from Knoxville (including the University of Tennessee), Oak Ridge, Sevierville, and Cumberland County, there's quite an eclectic group of people represented from all walks of life. From couples married for years to transient MFA students from UT, to career amateur actors to part-time duffers like me, there's a wide diversity in the personalities in this area.

But I love it. I'm auditioning for Company next week. Here we go again..............;)

Hmm...something's getting lost in the translation...

The Talking Dog, a blog that has a great bloglist, has added Inn of the Last Home to his "Dog Run". Thanks, pooch!

However - here's part of his description:

"The commentary bounces around from matters Tennessee (and Knoxville) to matters national and matters war and peace, and though the perspective is indistinguishably right wing, though in a down-home style that makes it all a little less unpalatable."

Right wing??? Ok, something's obviously not working correctly here. Lemme take a quick glance back at some of my postings...

Supporting religious freedom in the schools, and freedom from harrasment - Check.

Against the discrimination against French and Germans - Check.

Cautiously pro-Tennessee-Income-Tax - Check.

Works in theatre and the arts - Check.

0% Republican - Check.

Stricter interpretation of the 2nd Amendment - Check (comments on other blogs).

Tap tap tap tap...is this thing on? Hm...Universal Translator must be broken - gotta get Hoshi to fix this thing....

Anyway...thanks, Talking Dog!

Half-Bakered Fisks The Commercial Appeal on Bredesen

Mike Hollihan of Half-Bakered delivers a well-earned rebuttal of the Memphis Commercial Appeal's editorial on Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. Good (if lengthy) reading, but a few points:

"Currently seven percent, maybe nine [percentage cuts being made in the state budget]. I'm still amazed to see this, and the apparent seriousness of his actions. I'm still in the "cautiously non-pessimistic" category, though. I'm a deeply suspicious person by nature (You're surprised, right?) and I still think it's entirely possible that this isn't good faith on Bredesen's part. Naifeh and the unions that depend on State money have been far too compliant and quiet here.

I think it may also be possible that this is the setup. Bredesen will make cuts and then sit back. As the complaints roll in, as the evidence piles up of people being "hurt," as "services" are cut, he'll slowly begin to make the case that he tried, but real solutions will only happen if we put the income tax back on the table. In other words, this is the "cover your ass" period, to be followed by the "look over there!" period, then to be concluded with the sad, head-shaking "we have no choice" endgame.

I could be wrong; I worry that I'm not."

MIke, I understand you're deeply suspicious by nature, but so far these seem to be the right things to do. Don't you think you should be giving Bredesen the benefit of the doubt that he is doing the right thing? Somehow, remaining suspicious and waiting for him to grow an evil mustache is not helping matters, and is unfair. If he actually does something you disagree with, feel free to criticize, but don't count your taxes before their hatched...

"Naturally, they don't pass up the chance to repeat the tired "horn-honkers" slur, but to claim that protesters rioted inside the Capitol is a plain, pure lie! There is nothing to support that claim but the cold reptilian minds of the editors. Every television station in the State played video of that protest and the crowds inside were loud and barely respectful, but they were merely an angry, aimless, milling crowd."

Regardless of how you define the word "riot", but that does not excuse the shameful and neandrathal behaviour of all the people involved in that "horn-honking, storm the capital" fiasco. Which leads me to....

"Bredesen promised, under all but the most dire of circumstances, to avoid the income tax if at all possible. Probably. He didn't say anything about 'giving it a rest'..."

I understand people were, and continue to be against an income tax. I don't know enough about economics to have a strong opinion either way, although from what I've been able to gather I wouldn't mind if it were implemented, if it would help the Tennessee economy. BUT...too many people who oppose the Income Tax seem to think there is an unholy quality to the idea. Somehow, if it were implemented the portal of the Abyss would be opened and the draconians from within would leap out to devour us and drag the citizenry back into the Abyss for torment by the Dark Queen Takhisis herself... Folks, it's a tax structure, that's all. It's a way of handling money. There are better ways of getting your points across regarding Taxation Methods than the righteous indignation I've seen from the majority of the Anti-Income-Tax laws. There were lawmakers actually running scared from appearing to support it, and some were actually voted out of office because of it. Other issues such as lobbyist bribes are forgiven or conveniently ignored - but should our State Senator support an Income Tax! Burn the Witch!!! C'mon, how about some perspective???


UPDATE: Half-Bakered responds to my response. Or something like that...

Spring is coming...

I finally got to go out today for a while and soak up some sun. Helped E. ride her bike, walked with her and C. up and down the neighborhood on his scooter. Cleaned some gutters, and just generall enjoyed the sunshine. It's March 1, ergo it's time for spring.

Is it just me, or do other Knoxvillians agree that this has been the lousiest January/February in a long time? Combining snows, floods, cold weather and just general days and days or rain and grey skies, I've never been happier to hear some of the spring birds returning to East Tennessee.

Then, of course, the Vols lost by about 85 points - but I don't let that put a damper on things ;)

I saw my cousin today, who's pregnant with her first child. It was a kick seeing her 4 months along!

Sunday night's the KATC awards. Wish me luck!

End of line.


UPDATE: We're sorry, but reports of spring's arrival seem to have been greatly exaggerated.

A House Divided

Randy Cassingam of This is True, who is following the India Tracy case, discusses the implications of modern Christianity with a preacher friend, Dr. Rev. Rus Jeffrey.

Prominent among Dr. Jeffrey's comments are those which point out the rift dividing Christians today, and how the reasons go against Biblical teachings:

"Rus: You mean how do I personally address it? By always pointing out that it's wrong. By modeling for the people who follow me the right way to live with one another and be speaking words of "life" instead of "death." I actually had to address this with one of our leaders here not too long ago. I heard he was saying things he shouldn't be saying. So, I sat him down and reminded him of Proverbs 6:16-19. In that passage it says there are "six things the Lord hates, and the seventh He abhors....sowing dissension among the brethren." I reminded him that when we say things about others it's out of line and it causes "dissension" even when we usually say "I didn't mean to make anyone mad. I simply don't put up with it.

Amazing how so many of our problems have common roots, isn't it? Rus goes on to say:

"Sometimes I simply point out that even though we don't agree with what someone else might think, it does not give us permission to abuse them verbally. Again, that's "sowing dissension." Sometimes I simply smile and say -- "Well, I guess that person isn't living up to their full potential yet. But then again, they probably figure we aren't living up to our full potential either." :-) "

Sowing dissension. Whether in Union County schools, or when discussing foreigners who don't happen to agree with us, or our fellow citizens who have different opinions about war than you, it's all the same.

Reunite our house, before the splits grow too wide to heal...

Onion'ed

Nationally renowned and critically acclaimed news site The Onion picks up a local story that's been untold for too long.

Breakup Hints Misinterpreted As Marriage Proposal Hints

Childish and Divisive Behaviour Disguised as Righteous Indignation

Justin pointed out this story: Danish pizzeria bans French and Germans

I'm sorry, it's an idiotic gesture, here or overseas.

The French and German governments, not their citizens, are blocking military action in the UN. The entire population of those countries - no matter what their perceived attitudes may be - cannot be assumed to hold the same political opinions as a whole. Did the US turn its back on Germany and Japan after WWII? No, we and the other Allies helped the people rebuild. Sure, we had our own interests to protect but there was altruism there also, because that's who we are. Or at least who we were.

What would happen if a white restaurant owner banned black and Asian customers, and painted cute little color-coordinated sillouettes on the floor with lines through them? The discrimination lawsuits would hit so fast his calzones would spin. And rightfully so. There would be nation-wide condemnation.

Sure, it's cute, and oh yes, it's in that cute little European country of Denmark...but as the article says, the tourist season hasn't hit yet. When he starts losing money, those cute little silhouettes will disappear quickly.

All that this anti-French and anti-German attitude that seems to be pervading America (and apparently other countries as well) is doing is creating mistrust when we need trust, divisiveness when we need unity and xenophobia when we need international cooperation. Ok, maybe their governments disagree with us - but if you have a beef about it, take it up with Chirac. Not the people.

Don't return hatred for hatred - we've seen the multitude of problems that solves. Right.

Here's a thought for all the burgeoning Francophobes out there. How would you feel if someone dumped a load of cyanide in the Paris subway system? Or flew a plane into the Eiffel Tower? Would you feel initally sorry at the loss of life, but secretly glad that those French panytwaists got what they deserved? What if an earthquake devastated Berlin, would you genuinely be horrified at the loss of life but privately feel they got what was coming to them? Well, friends, if you're going to hate have the guts to be equal opportunity haters.

Go ahead, America. Harass and make fun of little girls who have different religious beliefs than you. Condemn everyone who may have strong feelings about pacifism as "left-wing peacenik wackos". Call people Anti-American or traitors that don't agree with everything our government says. Start your little boycotts, and your little ad campaigns, and your cute discrimination against those who we need as our allies. Go ahead, hate your neighbor - go ahead, cheat a friend. Do it in the name of the USA, 'cause you can justify it on the radio, in the press, in the blogs, in the streets. Thank you so much for your help, Americans, and thanks for providing this shining example of American brotherhood to the world.

And don't even get me started on "Freedom Fries".

Note: I've talked about this before. Apparently people aren't listening...

Just Saying...

Scott Ritter, former UN Weapons Inspector in Iraq, spoke at the University of Tennessee yesterday. Sounds like it was quite a rah-rah-fest.

But what the Knoxville News Sentinel failed to mention, and the University seemed to disregard, are these recent, er, questions regarding Mr. Ritter's character (hint: they have nothing to do with Iraq):

Report: Former U.N. Inspector Scott Ritter Arrested in Internet Sex Sting (FoxNews.com)

Source: Feds look for case against Ritter (CNN.com)

Ritter case has ripple effect (MSNBC.com)

It seems that someone leaked the sealed court documents to the media in January regarding this case. Apparently to discredit Ritter as his anti-war stances were growing louder and louder. Apparently it didn't work (illegal as it was). Who smeared Scott Ritter? (BostonPhoenix.com)

Regardless of whether it was leaked, or if it was all just allegation, solicitation of minors is a horrible offense and should not be taken lightly.

PS. One Ritter quote from last night at UT:

"If we go to war with Iraq today, then we are no better than the Nazis when they invaded Poland in 1939," Ritter said in the University Center auditorium...

Words fail me. Interview some Iraqi civilians a few months after the war is over, and compare their stories to Polish civilians in 1940 and see if that's still a true statement.

Meow.

Keep Focused...

South Knox Bubba brings up a Halls Shopper report on some efforts to get Halls kids out of school to attend an upcoming religious crusade, and notes the similarities between this and the India Tracy case.

I hope everyone keeps in mind that the fact that, while important issues and ones that bear scrutiny, the question whether students should be allowed to attend religious functions on school time is not the central point here. India was allegedly harrassed, abused, advised by teachers not to go against the system, and forced to attend these extra-curricular functions. The important issue is allowing people to pursue their religious beliefs in their own way without fear of retaliation or intimidation, not whether the dominant religious belief should be encouraged. Children are being blatantly denied their Constitutional rights in front of our eyes.

According to the Halls Shopper article, Tennessee Code states that students have a right to express their religious beliefs at school and be absent to participate in religious activities (under the same circumstances they are allowed to express non-religious beliefs). This should, of course, apply to all religions - not just Christianity - and should equally apply to those not wishing to practice or acknowledge the "popular" religion or any religious belief at all. However, there are some who believe that religious rights only apply to one religion - their own. If you don't follow it, you're an outcast, you're not worthy of our respect. It's interesting that India's family practices Paganism, a spiritual belief even less familiar and more mysterious to Christians than Judaism, Islam, or Buddhism. But what's tragic is that those who profess to be Christians openly advocate discrimination and harrassment. This is not Christianity, it never was, and those who profess to follow Christ and actively participate in this discrimination are hypocrites of the worst kind.

That a child is abuse by his or her peers is bad enough. True, they're middle-schoolers and throughout history middle-school has been a living hell for some people who are "different" than others. I don't think much will ever change that. However, when teachers, bus drivers and school administration stand by and allow it happen, either out of fear, complicity, or just plain amusement, it is time to take a stance and make a change. I hope that if the Tracy allegations are true, justice is swift in Union County.

And if we're not careful, it could happen again in Knox County, in Halls. Or in your community.

Believe in Christianity if you will, but know that religious discrimination is immoral, it's illegal, and it can tear communities apart just when we need them to be united the most.

UPDATE: (2/27)

The Knoxville News Sentinel published an editorial on 2/26 that not only keeps the case in the public's eye, but distinguishes as well the two parts of the issue: one regarding separation of church and state, and the other concerning harassment of children because of their religious beliefs. Keep it up, KNS.

Fire Exit Warning

Does anyone remember this spiel that used to run before each and every single movie in the theatres?

"The management of this theatre, in cooperation with the Tennessee State Fire Marshall's office, requests that you look around the theatre and familiarize yourself with the locations of all emergency exits. The aisleways in which you entered, and the passageways designated by the illuminated emergency exits signs, visible to you at either the Right (pause, arrow) or Left (pause, other arrow) of the forward section have been checked and are clear exits from the building in the event of an emergency.

Thank you for your time and attention."

My friends and I would have great fun reciting along with it, Rocky Horror-style, standing up and pointing left and right with the arrows (one of the film clips had the arrows reversed from the soundtrack), and thanking them out loud for bringing it to our attention.

They disappeared several years ago, and were replaced by Pepsi ads, apparently.

The Oak Ridge Playhouse and other theatres are still required to make a fire announcement (usually taped) before a performance. Why was the requirement for movie theatres lifted? Do they make announcements at nightclubs or concerts any more?

I miss them, and probably the folks at the Rhode Island night club would've liked to have seen it before the other night.

Fire exits - know 'em and notice 'em.

How to be a Parent. Or, How Not To. Or Rather...oh, skip it.

Katie Allison Granju has new essays up the joys and perils of parenting. Guns, politics, and letting go. Oh my!

Read 'em...Collect 'em...Trade 'em with your friends!.

Y.M.C.A. and those darn commies...

Sofia Sideshow experiences culture shock in Bulgaria courtesy of the Village People and communism.

"This is True" picks up on India Tracy case

Randy Cassingham edits a weekly internet newsletter entitled "This is True". True reports on bizarre-but-true news items from legitimate newspapers from around the world (never "tabloids"). Each story ends with commentary by Randy -- a tagline which is humorous, ironic or opinionated. (description from his website).

Randy recently reported on the unfortunate situation with India Tracy and the Union County Schools, and received a lot of feedback from his readers. He's posted a summary of the story, his opinion, and some of the letters here.

Thanks, Randy, for helping bring publicity to this story and to help kids like India who are the targets of religious discrimination. I emailed him a link to my commentary, and mentioned the other RTB members who've commented as well.

By the way, the Knoxville News Sentinel has removed the original story from their website - likely due to too much traffic. Right? Right? Hm.

The more attention that is brought to this story, the better.

America - Greater Than the Sum of its Parts

Michele at A Small Victory issued the challenge, her readers responded from all over the country and Solonor is presenting it in glorious style. What's it like to be an American? Here are the answers, state by state. Bloggers, on America, from the heart.

I submitted some words about what Tennessee means to me - please, take a look and add your own feelings about this beautiful state so many of us love and call home.

From the "No Kidding" Department...


How Republican Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thank you, that pretty much sums up how a Liberal should be defined.

Thanks to The Last Page

The Stupidest People on the Face of the Earth

Weather permitting, tomorrow morning (well, this morning actually) my wife and I are driving my 7-year-old son and 4 of his 7-year-old friends to Nashville, where we'll visit the Rainforest Cafe and see The Lion King at the Imax Theatre for C's birthday.

Pray for us, for we know not what we getteth ourselves into....

I'll post a report when we get back.

Course, with these storms brewing we may just be sitting at home. I'm stupid, but I'm not a fool to drive through a thunderstorm through the Cumberland Plateau.

UPDATE: (9:45pm)

Trip down: Rain leaving Knoxville, passed burning pickup on I-40, DENSE fog over the plateau, sunny skies toward Cookeville, downpours into Nashville. Kids were good in the van - only one tearburst before we left, and we lasted 10 minutes in the car before the first argument. Typical argument: "HEY, IT'S MY TURN ON THE GAMEBOY!!!"

Nashville: Rainforest Cafe as good as always. Deb mentioned the health problems they had last year, which I remembered but heard they'd cleaned it up. No problems since then, and I would heartlily recommend it to anyone who wants an amazing dining experience. Full of animatronic gorillas, elephants, butterflies amidst a dense foliage and (yes) some mist. Plus every 1/2 hour or so, the lights dim, lightning flashes inside, thunder rolls and the animals go nuts. I want to lobby someone to put one in next to the Gatlinburg Aquarium - it'd be killer.
Lion King in IMAX is amazing. The opening sequence is my favorite Disney moment, and the wildabeast stamped shakes the theatre.

Trip back: Drizzle, cloudy, windy. Typical argument: "HEY, IT'S MY TURN ON THE GAMEBOY!!!"

Tired. Bed. Night.....

Now it all makes sense to me...

This must be why I have aches and pains all over my back, my knees, my arm, my stomach...

Silly me, I thought it was just because I just turned 36! (Or from when my son and I fell down the stairs the other day - but that's another story) Turns out, I'm just terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought! How liberating!

Well, that makes me feel much better, now.

(Thanks Missives Anonymous for the link)

February Sky - Redux

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece wondering if today's kids were still being inspired in outer space like Homer Hickam and his friends did 50 years ago.

Now it looks like, thanks to terrorists and Homeland Security, it may be more difficult than ever to get the parts to build model rockets. UPS and maybe soon FedEx will stop shipping solid rocket motors in order to comply with the "Safe Explosives Act" embedded in the Homeland Securities Act.

So is my point moot? I don't think so, because I wanted to urge parents to encourage their kids to dream. Dream about the stars, dreams about the ocean, dream about affordable health care or tort reform, it doesn't matter. Just please, help your children find the will to want to change the world. It may be more difficult now to do it with model rockets, but there are other ways - in science, in medicine, in the arts, in anything.

And I think Homer would approve.

Thanks to Instapundit for calling this to my attention. Also, Andrew at Pathetic Earthlings has some further comments.

InstaPulsed

Well, looks like Glenn Reynolds has finally hit the big time. The Metropulse article is online, and recounts the genesis of "The Little Blogger that Could": Instapundit (yeah, like it really needs a link).

The interview was written by fellow Rocky Top Brigadier, Katie Allison Granju of "Loco Parentis" (which, to me, has always meant "Crazed Parents" - an apt description of myself).

One question: why no mention of the good old Brigade, Katie?

One final thought - is it just me, or does Glenn look like Tony Dimera from Days of our Lives?

"Project Gemini" - New plan in the works to update EPCOT

Jim Hill gives us a preview of what Walt Disney Imagineers have cooked up for a proposed redesign of EPCOT Center's Futureworld - renaming it "Discoveryland" and adding or upgrading a host of attractions. Take a look if you're a Disney fan....

The Scenario

Bill Hobbs paints an interesting and frightening picture of what events may unfold in other parts of the world after the invasion of Iraq begins.

My question is, if such a scenario comes to pass - or a similar one - who will be the first one courageous or historic enough to dub the conflict World War III? It would truly be a World War, with fronts both in the Middle East and Far East, with of course the entire world being a terror front at the same time. While for years, popular visions of WWIII have almost all included nuclear exchanges by the superpowers this may be closer to reality.

Interestingly enough, for Star Trek fans out there this scenario is actually quite close to the one envisioned for The Eugenics Wars, which brought Khan Noonien Singh (as in, "The Wrath of Khan") to power and ultimately exile. Kind of strange when you think about it, if you're into such things....

This Just In...

Bill to pay Nebraska football players advances

"A proposal to pay Nebraska's football players cleared a legislative hurdle Tuesday. The Business and Labor Committee voted unanimously to advance the measure for debate before the full Legislature. State Sen. Ernie Chambers' bill would require a stipend be paid to the Cornhuskers' football players if three other states in the Big 12 Conference pass similar laws. Other states in the conference are Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Texas and Iowa"

In related news: The Alabama Legislature just passed a bill changing yellow and blue to make purple, the Colorado State Senate has sent back to committee a measure required water molecules to add an additional atom of oxygen, and...oh yes, Ohio has just repealed the law of gravity.

Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

Religious Persecution in East Tennessee...Who'd-a Thunk It?

I have been remiss for not commenting earlier, but this story about a little girl's harassment over her religious differences is too important to ignore.

Union County has long been one of the more conservative regions of East Tennessee - which is saying a lot for this area. However, not a lot of stories make it out of the rural back roads into mainstream Knoxville press and it's good when one finally does.

You can almost feel the winds shifting as one drives North Knox County up Broadway through Black Oak Ridge, onto Maynardville Highway and through Halls Crossroads to the Union County Line. I feel uncomfortable writing about it in some ways because a lot of my family is from Union County, and some still live in the Halls area. They are good folks, and this is not directed at them.

But, Union County seems to have developed a fast and loose affiliation between church and state, and in the case of the India Tracy above not conforming to the "state-supported religion", aka Christianity, can cause undue hardship and ridicule. Children like India are persecuted by classmates while their teachers and administrators tacitly look on and condone their actions. Our country was founded on the principles of religious freedom, where anyone anywhere can choose which religion to follow - if any at all. However, to Konservatives Kristians these principles do not apply and anyone who is not a Kristian can be harassed, forced to attend Bible classes, and attacked. Her lawsuit against against the Union County School System states that after writing a paper on religious freedom -- religious freedom!! -- India was advised by a teacher to "keep quiet because you'll get in trouble".

You see, in most cases these folks -- and other, higher profile Kristians like John Ashcroft -- have simply misled themselves into believing they are actually Christians. They just aren't, because while they may embrace some of the easier parts of being a Christian...helping the needy, being a good person....they're missing a central tenet - "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself". Five simple words that mean the difference between a young girl feeling comfortable enough in her religion (or lack of it) that she lives and learns beside other kids to whom her spiritual beliefs are simply points of conversation and not incitements to bigoted discrimination. I think that's the way the Christ I know would handle it...

I would like to see churches in Knox County - on the whole, less conservative than Union County overall but still with a ways to go - do something about their counterparts to the north. Just as we've seen an incident of racial intimidation in West Knox County recently (as SayUncle - here, here, and here - and South Knox Bubba - here and here - have ably kept us up to date on), I think there are opportunities for citizens of Knox County to reach out and communicate to victims of intolerance that not all of us have these same bigoted opinions, we're going to actively work to making our area a better place to live, and that you are welcome here with us.

Peace.

UPDATE: Glenn Reynolds, LeanLeft, and Loco Parentis have also weighed in. Spread the gospel, brothers and sisters....

Just In Case You Were Wondering...

It's now officially been 47 days, and apparently no officers have yet been publicly disciplined, reprimanded, or chastised by either the Tennessee Highway Patrol or the Cookville Police Department, and there seem to have been no changes in policies or procedures related to the Smoak terrorizing/dog shooting incident of Jan 1, 2003. In fact, so far only the dispatcher involved has been disciplined.

A letter to the editor in today's Knoxville News Sentinel reminds us that the real tragedies aren't just the shooting of their dog, but also the tactics and methods used in their detention were way out of line. (Caveat: The letter itself goes overboard in comparing the importance of the incident to abortion and Orwellian future, so take the rest with a grain of salt). Still, I hope this situation is resolved soon before something like this happens again.