Camera Obscura at the Movies

Yes, dear reader, I want you to know what I've been viewing. And what YOU have been watching too. In a few weeks, I will offer those unfortunates who want to challenge my Vast Film Knowledge a chance to stump me with a movie trivia quote and will have Prizes to award the winners (if there are any).

But feel free to post movie comments, reviews, questions on this regular Friday location of yer Cup of Joe.

What have I been viewing or anticiapting? Send the children away, this is all for grown-ups.

Be sure to watch for the latest releases from Crewless Productions, which is a bunch of Bama boys who've been working on some funny horror/comedies and have attracted the attention of filmmakers Kevin Smith and Film Threat and bloggers like Ain'tItCoolNews.com. I just watched "Hide and Creep," which is a hit and miss comedy-zombie entry that was way better than you might think. Yes, Ultra-low-budget, but some very funny stuff. The DVD includes a very funny short film as a couple of good ole boys battle the Undead during a phone call to a friend. Crewless must have seen a lot of Sam Raimi and George Romero, but then again, so have I. Ah, George -- watching your visions of one culture consuming another is truly American Cinema at its best.

Don't know if anyone else in TN is thinking this but -- where in the sam hill is the movie actress/director Asia Argento made in Knoxville??? "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" played to terrible reviews at the Toronto Film Festival and I guess she can't find a distributor for it now. I'm hoping for at least a DVD release, but even Asia's web page has no real info into availability. It may be the movie no one ever sees .... It has been playing at festivals in the US and Europe for a year or two and the latest release date in the US I could find is slated for March 2006. Go to the movie's web site, where trailers and details about this oddity are available. Betcha cash money the Knoxville Chamber wants to bury this one in a vault. Warning -- this is a Capital W fer Weird movie.

And now that I've introduced the letter W, that brings up the spankin' new movie from Werner Herzog, "Grizzly Man" is not in ET yet but hits Knoxville screens on Sept. 2nd, but do not miss this one about a luckless loser Tim Treadway, who thought he could just go live with wild grizzly bears and did so until they ate him and his girlfriend. A perfect topic for the astonishing Werner Herzog, whose camera captures Obsession like no one else. If you have never seen a Herzog movie in a movie theater, you have missed one of the great experiences of modern cinema. "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirra" are etched into my memory like Proust carved them into my psyche with a razor blade.

For your DVD pick of the week accept no substitutes for "Sin City".
Frank Miller justly gets co-directing credit with Robert Rodriguez. Miller's black and white brilliance shows what all those film noir movies could only hint -- at his dark criminal world makes Batman's Gotham City look like Disney's Main Street USA. Villian of the Year goes to that cute little Elijah Wood, aka Frodo, whose incarnation of Evil Bad Guy would make Hannibal Lecter scream like a girly-man. Brilliant casting all around -- must also mention that Mickey Rourke was born to play Marv. This ain't no kiddie comic book.

"A" for School PR - Part Two

This started as a reply to some comments to Tennesse Jed's comment below and I got so riled up I decided to place it as a main item -- hope you can stomach some truth, Tennessee:

When was it, I wonder, that the so-called "right" to an education has now transmogrified into "all public school education must lead to employment" in a state with zero worker rights??
If that were true, then the average 22% of Tennesseans who possess a college degree should have their pick of astonishing jobs.
I guess we can remain assured of low-paying occupations, zero job protections, and bare benefits that companies can abandon with government protection when they go belly-up and 25 year employees can go suck dirt -- this is what we have as long as the this state's Dept. of Education is in charge.

The truth is, even the most minimal manufacturing jobs are writing off the Southeast since workers can't even follow picto-grams on the computer equipment.

I don't want to get off on a rant here, but the LAST thing the Hamblen Board of Education and their State toadies want is for the population to see a VALUE in simply being educated, as in creating a population capable of thinking for themselves.

Funding getting low? How about creating a brand new expense of multi-million dollar New Pre-School programs since the school boards can't manage the programs that currently exist?

A few years ago the Hamblen Board got state Awards for crafting a pro-literacy program available ONLY to homes with computer access!!! That was sheer genius for wasting money and computer skill. If Johnny can't read, he won't be surfing the Net looking for help!!!!

One Hamblen County Commissioner just published their 2005 Hamblen school calendar and could not get the word "Education" spelled correctly. Wonder how many school board members/real estate salesman bought ads in that calendar??

UPDATE -- The mistaken spelling has been sent back to the presses, and I'm sure they'll work VERY hard to destroy all evidence of their errors.

Tennessee has gushed tax dollars like a decapitated hemophiliac into the State Education dept with decades of constanly abysmal results and their only response is GIVE US MORE MONEY. How about chucking the pointless programs with proven failures, the Superintendents who earn more money than Bill Gates, and demanding some accountability from hypocritical school boards,
and the Endless Fundraising Congressman to actually provide students with the ability to reason, learn, adapt and invent??
Nawwwwwww, Joe, let's blame the County government who have raised school spending by the millions year after year after year. Don't blame the school leaders who won't hire needed teachers or allow public access to public documents.

Hear that Clue Phone ringing? The number you need to call is the Dept of Education and not the Hamblen County Commission. But that was the point wasn't it -- get you so confused you flail away at every shadow and the Dept of Education always appears as the Knight in Solid Gold Tax Armor.

JustThem Sunday 2 -- Now, It's Personal

The Theocracy R Us crowd continued their posturing claims of high moral ground with that ol' time religious zeal this past weekend in Nashville. Let me just offer up a few of those pesky comments from History that shows the difference between leadership and chest-thumping.

"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have no virtues."
Abraham Lincoln

"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."
George Washington at the signing of the Treaty of Tripoli, 1796

"If we have learned anything in the past quarter century, it is that we cannot federalize virtue."
President George Bush, 1991

"For why should my freedom be judged by another man's conscience?"
Paul, First Corinthians 10:29

Every TN Citizen Will Need New IDs

Only one newspaper, the Greeneville Sun, reveals what is in the future for every resident of the state of Tennessee. Here is the story from today's issue -

"Every person living in Tennessee in the year 2008 will have to go into a state office and show proof of his or her citizenship as part of a new federal anti-terrorism mandate, Tennessee Commissioner of Safety Fred Phillips said Tuesday evening.
More than 5 million people will be affected by the new identity-checking, federally unfunded mandate that will apply to everyone residing within the state’s borders in 2008, Phillips said at a fund-raising dinner for the Greene County Democratic Party.
Speaking at the General Morgan Inn, Phillips described the logistics of the new federal law as being an unprecedented massive effort required of this state, but one that Tennessee officials, along with officials in the other states, must “somehow” comply with."

GOP Heads for The Big Bucks, No Whammy!

In a quickly prepared press release to the state's "newspapers," Republican leader Tre Hargett says he's abandoning his legislative duties for the cash offered by Pfizer.

Now even though the Legislator was, according to the KNS, only kind-of-sort-applying for work with them during the legislative session, he can't really remember what happened. The KNS story read:

"During this year's legislative session, one of the most hotly debated bills before that [prescription drug] panel was a measure setting the circumstances when one prescription drug may be substituted for a less expensive alternative. Drug companies were actively involved in lobbying the matter.
Pfizer representatives also hosted all Republican legislators at an Outback Steakhouse dinner during the last session.
Hargett said in an interview that he could not recall when he applied for the Pfizer position, though acknowledging that may have occurred while the legislative session was under way. He said he did not go through an interview for the job, however, until after the session.
"That's a logical question to ask. I have looked back and tried to think how I interacted with Pfizer during the session," said Hargett. "I feel very comfortable with that interaction."

The report goes on to add some nebulous 'clarifications:"
"Hargett said he recalled speaking with Bill Williams, a contract lobbyist for Pfizer, about the legislation, though not the details of that conversation. He said he supported the "generic substitution" portion, but had misgivings about the "therapeutic substitution" portion.
Williams said Pharma, an umbrella organization of pharmaceutical companies that hired a different lobbyist, took the lead role in lobbying the bill - strongly opposing the therapeutic substitution provision.
The version of the bill that ultimately passed included the "generic substitution" provision, but left the "therapeutic substitution" portion to be studied by a special committee.
Hargett said that as Republican leader he had "pushed for a vote" on legislation to stop lawmakers from becoming lobbyists without a year's wait."

Whew! Looks like he made the transition from Legislator to Lobbyist just in time!

Lately, there are so many FBI stings, waltzes and corruption scandals in Tennessee, how on earth can the average voter understand them without the 'spin' from newspapers and lobbysists?

An "A" for PR, But Failing in Facts

The latest scores for Tennessee high schoolers who take the ACT, which our state prefers over the SAT, has some notable acheivements --
More students than ever took the test.
State students scored higher in English than the national average.
The State Dept of Education said the results are encouraging because 5 percent more state students took the test this year than in 2004.

However, overall scores in math, reading and science show readiness for the requirements in college were below average.

How could this be? Why , in Hamblen County alone, the teachers were seeking adequate pay and benefits --- oh yeah, they were refused those increases by the Hamblen Board of Education which forced teachers into contract negotiations well into the school year.
The HBOE said they would hire extra teachers -- oh yeah, they put up new windows at HBOE offices.
This year, little children went to the Hamblen County Commission saying "just give up more money" (where the average household income is below $24,000) and the Director of Schools, Dr Dale Lynch went on TV to beg for free school supplies (his income is higher than the Governor of Tennessee.)
So why are there NO complaints voiced at School Board meetings, where they decide where every penny of the tens and tens of millions of dollars they receive are to be spent?
Oh yeah, comments from residents will only be heard AFTER the board conducts business.
What is the school slogan this year "Looking Good and Sounding Great"??
Yeah, kids, put that on your resumes and see if anyone hires you.

I'm Taking Bets

How long before the Bush administration actually admits that Iraq is locked in a civil war? It's a partial win for us and allows us to put all the blame on "insurgents," "combatants", and the "struggling parliment." Someone should send W. a copy of T.E. Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." The last one-hundred years of history may be useful.

In the recent military involvement, the US and its allies have settled for geographic splits, walls, and lines of longitude and latitude in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia-How-Many-Names now? and the constant rezoning of Africa.

Petroleum Love 2 and Hating Moms

As I read thru the ultra-rabid hystrionics that anyone, especially A Mom of a veteran, should speak her mind freely in American about the War in Iraq, I have to admit how similar this looks to America in the Vietnam days. However, rather than some idiot spitting and cursing at returning troops, now we have idiots spitting and cursing Cindy Sheehan for expressing her views against the war. Both Rabid Right and Rabid Left see her as some sort of one-size-fits-all tool.
But I was reminded to those old VietHate Days when I read this quote from the authors of the web log Six Meat Buffet -

"So now we know that Cindy is a braindead sockpuppet for the Moore-ons of the left, parroting their tired anti-American, anti-Semitic cliches with the ferocity of Courtney Love at a crackhouse. Cindy has been given more than the benefit of the doubt and it’s nice to see that we can now push that courtesy out of the way and tell it like it is.
Cindy, do your family a favor and crawl back under your rock. Better yet, get a job. That way, when you threaten “not to pay your taxes”, that might actually mean something."

Now unless a writer/reporter has actually talked to Cindy as opposed to listening attentively to the Talk Show Hosts/Hatchet Artists whose jobs depend of the endless creations of the Two-Minute Hate, then their observations are hollow judgemental pleas for attention. Or you could just go spit on her. That was good enough for Nam wasn't it?

The Ignorance of the Media is eager to provide that Two-Minute Hate for yer Talk Shows, because the public would just be bored with Facts about the millions or is it billions in funding now that have gone unaccounted for in Iraq for the Years of the American "reconsturction". See just some of the details at this report --- or just keep spitting at anyone whose opinion is different from yours.

We Loves Us Some Petroleum

I love watching older movies, sometimes because they are so well made, some because I can see that cinematic medium struggling to find new ways to express artistic intent. And then there are the movies that are pure time capsules of America -- just look at those gasoline prices!!! Now, pay close attention here, cause ol' Doc Powell has a lesson fer ye.

I recently watched "Love Finds Andy Hardy" (1938) on Turner Classic Movies. I just happened to stop there while channel surfing as that wacky Andy was 'a gassin' up his car at the filling station. A place where several people were employed and they checked your oil levels, cleaned your windshields, checked your tire pressure -- and knew you by name. But what caught my eye was the price of a gallon of gas --23 cents.

When I was 9 years old, my dad sent me to the nearby gas station (where people still worked, and not as cashiers) with - no joke people - a gallon jug, telling me to get a gallon of gas for the lawnmower. The price - 25 cents. This was in the summer of 1968, so in THIRTY years, the price of gas had gone up two cents.

On Monday of last week, I stopped for gasoline at the self-serve, where the only jobs now are cashiers and the folks who come in and stock the drink coolers and microwave sandwiches. The price was $2.37 for regular unleaded. As of this Monday, the 15th, the lowest price I could find was $2.45. Some talking-news-head commented the price has jumped 20 cents in two weeks.

This is progress?? Why, I'd be tempted to think that America has some oil-rich family in the White House, who ..... oh yeah ..... I guess that's why the first job American troops had in "controling" Iraq was to secure oil fields and wait years to bother with getting electrical and water systems on line. I heard full-grown adults back in the 1970s howl they would never pay more than One Dollar for gas.

Just one more note from ole' Doc Powell. Rudolf Diesel, the man who invented the Diesel Engine, designed it to run on VEGETABLE oil. However, he was told by Rockefeller and other businessman this engine would never sell in America unless he converted it to petroleum fuel.
I think, folks, we have met the "Fuels" and they are Us. Like they say, a Fool and his money cling to petroleum like it was something from an all-loving teat.

More tidbits on gas prices can be read at Say Uncle, another proud member of the Rocky Top Brigade.

Are Your Politics Genetic?

A political scientist at Rice University, John Alford, has published a study which indicates your political thoughts and acts are the result of genetics.

So is it your simply your nature, or perhaps the ultimate evolution of your own DNA, to demand that public school abandon the scientific method and teach reglious-themed science with the ironic designation of "intelligent design"?

The full version of Alford's study can be found online at American Political Science Review

Much thanks to Rodeo Monkey for pointing this story out.

Congressman Jenkins UPDATE - Brings Money

This year for the first time, Congressman Jenkins, now in his 5th term in Congress, has said he will meet with the people he represents on a first come/first serve basis as long as they sign some paperwork and fill out some forms. The only real change to this process is that now you don't actually have to call in advance to schedule an appointment with YOUR REPRESENTATIVE when he actually does announce publicly he is in town. (Although he has met privately with many business friends and pals when they ask for time, but you can call his Hamblen Co. office every Thursday from 9 am till 11 am if YOU need to reach him.) (He does Fundraisers, too!!)

You know, his biography page on his website says he's "just a farmer" even though the only jobs he has had since the age of 25 have been in government. Now he does write on his web page that he OWNS a farm. Says he operates it too. But other than state and federal office, being a former TVA board member, Judge, staffer for Lamar Alexander, there aren't any other jobs listed.

He often issues press releases that all start the same way -- THE CONGRESSMAN ANNOUNCES A GRANT FOR (fill in name of your town or project). Most recently in Morristown, he announced a ONE MILLION DOLLAR Grant for a ROAD that leads to the local Morristown-Hamblen Hospital. You may remember the Hamblen County government just recently spent millions of YOUR TAXPAYER dollars for the hospital's debt just as the bank was about to foreclose on the hospital due to failure to keep up interest payments. All done very quickly after members of your local press decided to NOT report those financial failings for months and months. Funny, how it all was "such a surprise", even though members of the county government serve on various boards for the hospital. A million dollar road sure sounds purty, don't it? Maybe next we can get us a Cement Pond fer the back yard!!! Hoo, doogies!!

I wonder -- if someone wants to go to Lakeway Regional Hospital (which has actually been PAYING property taxes to the city and county) and which is ACROSS THE STREET from Morristown-Hamblen, will those drivers have to use a different road??

Congressman Jenkins Scoffs At Crime

Back in June 14 of this year, 1st Dist. Congressman Bill Jenkins ridiculed law enforcement inTennessee and Washington for wasting time on shutting down the illegal gambling in the Del Rio community of Cocke County -- telling the Knox-News Sentinel:

"The government should focus on terrorism and fighting methamphetamine instead of 'diverting FBI agents' to investigate cockfighting."

Congressman Jenkins sees no value in a Four-Year investigation that has led to criminal charges against 143 people, and Federal investigations that have led to investigation into racketeering, corruption, organized gambling, prostitution, chop-shop operations, drug-trafficking, and the hijacking of interstate commerce.

Oh, and also the ongoing investigations allegations that law enforcement officers in Cocke County may be engaged in drug-trafficking, bribery, etc., etc. Congressman Jenkins has been busy outsourcing TN jobs with the passage of CAFTA. Maybe he sees Crime as the next Economic Boom to Tennessee. It has certainly been big biz in the Nashville.

Just look at the T-shirt business that is now offering apparel to east Tennessee, with t-shirts that show a crowd waving flags that read "Go Cocks!" and also show two roosters with boxing gloves sparring and the phrases:

"Raid on innocent cockfighters $400,000 -- Money confiscated $40,000 -- and the price of living in Cocke Co-- Priceless."

These Blogs Are Made Of People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Right war of words is taking place because of Bill Hobbsian logic. Find out the details by clicking here.

See how many times BH changes his story and explains that his invititation for "Tennessee bloggers" gets changed to "I only have room for 12 people". There are waaaaaay more than 12 writers in TN, and certainly, not all deal with politics. It is just hilarious stuff to read -- tip of the hat to Hard Right, a fellow member of the Rocky Top Brigade for keeping an eye on this ever-changing story. It reminds me of that old Nixon quote about "knowing what you think you might know but not knowing or actually understanding what I meant."

Three more additions to the debate about political blogging -- one other state legislator also gives voters a chance to follow activities via the Internet (see "Boycotts, Ethics, and the Blog" of Aug. 9 on this page). Longtime State Senator Roy Herron also has a page for you. Thanks for Hamblen County Commissioner Linda Noe for that addition.

Second, the Lance In Iraq web log says, if you the read the "about me" section, a former Republican "lobbyist/party organizer" as if you could not tell from the postings ripping party politics in TN while sitting in Iraq doing .... not sure about that part, really. What he wrote was "Before that gig, I was Legislative Director for the TN Republican Party in 2000 and Political Director in 2002." And is it just me, or does the picture he posted on Bill Hobb's web log dated Aug 10th look just like Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now"??? BH says he got the pic from Rush Limbaugh's "Club Gitmo" photo collection. Is Limbaugh still working? Isn't he due in court for buying prescription drugs in a parking lot?

One More Tidbit -- If you are reading this, then studies are showing you are among the brightest and the best.

And oh yes, thanks to Michael Silence at the Knoxville News Sentinel for mentioning yer Cup of Joe on his roundup of news regarding the bloody shootout in Roane County.

Lifetime of Failures

After the shootout in Roane County and the re-capture of George Hyatte and his wife Jennifer, a few items seem clear as clear can be -- the TN Corrections system and George and Jennifer Hyatte are all part of years and years of Failure. Reading the AP stories alone tell volumes about this case:

"It was at least the fifth time he had gotten way from law enforcement officials. The other escapes were from local authorities in east Tennessee in 1990, 1991, 1998 and 2002. In the escape three years ago, Mr. Hyatte and another prisoner fled from a county jail after threatening guards with a knife made from toothbrushes and a razor blade.

When one guard turned over keys to the inmates, they then used them to beat another officer until he was unconscious. The two escapees were captured in Florida a few days later.

Mr. Hyatte was 9 when he first entered the court system, for school truancy and unruly behavior. By the time he was 17 he had already been through a treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse.”

Not to say it is all the fault of the Corrections System, but he has spent plenty of time under their questionable tutelage and his only expertise is in being a professional criminal.

Writers On The Storm

As one of the newer members of the Rocky Top Brigade (122 and counting) I have been dutifully been readin' thru the many many writers and wordsmiths who have been writing about their lives and the news of the world. There are vast amounts of information of all kinds and some darn fine writers. You don't have to be Southern to write well, but after you live in Tenessee just a little while, the stories you tell start to stretch out and relax and move as natural as a river.

This is just an introduction to a nicely told tale which I read on this site. I found it courtesy of a mention on the Soulfish Stew blog. I don't endorse everything you read/find on the RTB, but there are some fine writers out there if you have time to look and read. Their words won't likely sell a bajillion copies a minute like Harry Potter tale, it's just mostly free people telling you how they see the world.

One lucky writer/traveller has been hauling his Irish perspective all over the world and I also found those perspectives addictive reading. He's not an RTBer, but being Irish can also make you a fine storyteller.

Kutztown and Klutztown

The Kutztown 13 are kids who easily figured out computer codes on the free laptops their school gave them. School officials say it is a felony while the kids and their parents have taken the battle online. I keep looking for a phrase in these press reports about how all this will "go on their permanent record!!" Oh wait -- that's what a Felony means -- even though the school's internet tech people are the ones who left the password taped onto the laptops. Luckily stupid is not a Felony.

If it were I would have been up on charges long ago. Oh, and of all the readers out there (more than two, less than a nation) only one told me about some problems on my blog (thanks Lee) even though it took me a day to actually listen. Fun to watch me twist in the wind isn't it, especially since I have become one of those "critical" people. Truth be told, I have never needed any assistance to reach Stupid.

Boycotts, Ethics and The Blog

Ever wonder what goes thru an elected official's mind as they help craft policy? Some very revealing snapshots of what happens in those seldom-seen committee meetings can be discovered at the web log of Hamblen Co. Commissioner Linda Noe. Here is a sample from Monday's Audit Committee meeting -

The main agenda item was a letter that had been prepared by Chairman Osborne and that was addressed to Finance Chairman Herbert Harville. The letter remarked on the difficulty (impossibility?) in getting answers to 2004 audit questions from the County Mayor or Finance Director. It said that the Audit Committee is at an impasse and noted that County Mayor David Purkey had "willfully" encouraged other elected officials and departments heads not to respond in writing to the Audit Committee and not to attend Audit Committee meetings.

The Mayor's statement urging officials and departments heads to boycott Audit Committee meetings a couple of months ago was very effective. No one attended the Audit Committee then, and no one attended the Audit Committee today. Today, as the Audit Committee prepared to meet, the Mayor told county employee Jeff Atkins and local news person Paul Meador, "let's go," and they did. They skeedaddled out of there, so you probably won't hear anything about what happened at the Audit Committee on tomorrow's radio news."

You can also take a peek at the state legislature thru the web log for State Rep. Stacey Campfield, and I'm pretty sure he's the only TN rep trying out the blog approach. He's been outspoken on the "Ethics" debate in the Legislature -

"I still believe Lois Deberry should step down from her leadership position in the House and in her party. If she can't see that stepping down from those positions is the right thing to do, then I call on all ethical democrats to ask her to step down.

This would be a good first step in showing Tennesseans that it isn't just Republicans, but Democrats who want real ethics change.

As the old saying goes, all it takes for evil to rule is for good people to do nothing. In the continuing wake of the Tennessee Waltz, silence speaks volumes."

Silence is the rule in TN, I'm afraid.

The Internet and it's Many Wonders can provide anyone with lots of information the sound-bites and coordinating cheerleading press releases seldom provide. Want to know more about the 2003-2004 state audit in Hamblen County? It's right there on the Comptroller's pages. Look for your county audit information on the state map.

Finances and auditing are as Dry as Mummy Dust to most of the public. However, you don't have to be an accountant to see that there were findings that caused the state some concern about financial issues in Hamblen Co. government -

B. The county’s budgeting policies provide for the finance director to post certain transfers of appropriations between major categories without County Commission approval. This policy appears to conflict with Section 5-9-407, TCA, which requires that all transfers of appropriations between major categories be approved by the County Commission. The county has no authority to adopt policies that circumvent state statutes.

C. Expenditures exceeded appropriations in various major categories (the legal level of control) for the General Fund, Highway/Public Works Fund, Special Debt Service Fund, General Debt Service Fund, and Hospital Debt Service Fund

I told a friend just yesterday that the best thing about the Web and the World 'o Bloggers is it provides a chance to view events Unfiltered by "mass media" and instead allows readers to learn and discover all on their own.

More on this later, but also worth noting is that the TN Senate race already boasts the first nationwide Web Log advertising. Pith In the Wind has the details.

Van Hilleray's Fonda Desire

Ever the political hopeful and desperate for Media blessings/attention U.S. Senator candidate Van Hilleary vows to debate Jane Fonda. Poor Van must have been sure that a plan to debate Jane would push him to the forefront of the ......(snicker) ....(cough) ... oh I can't do this with a straight face. What in the Sam Hill is he doing?? Imploding? I met Van many years ago and have had many interviews with him, seen him work the crowds, etc. But during his failed run a governor of TN, I noticed how he seemed ...well, desperate.

And poor Jane, too. Even a movie with J-Lo and an autobigraphy that admits, yes, she's been kinda wacky, can't seem to bring Media Satisfaction and so she is planning on a "tour" on a bus that runs on vegetable oil. WHO writes this stuff?? Ends up making Sen. (I'm A Doctor, Really!) Frist seem almost normal.

All the Tennessee leftovers that have been served up for the U.S. Senate make ya wonder if we have politicial leadership or just another casting call for "Dukes of Hazzard." There ya go, Van - Debate Johnny Knoxville!! Debate Jessica Simpson!! Get a guest spot on the "O.C."!! Cut a duet with Dolly Parton!!!

9 out of 10 Tennessee residents have no idea who is running for U.S. Senate. So even a crumb of attention must seem like a banquet.

How's That Cup of Joe?

Every day you can find new things as the Cup of Joe is being built before yer very eyes.

Thanks to Tenn. Jed for the work ya see here.

A hot, steaming cup of you-know who is always the best way thru the day.

The Fearful and The Weak

The wailing and hand-wringing about NASA and space travel is showing up as Yellow streaks down the back of Americans. Gone, apparently, are the courageus, fearless and innovative views of America and American science. At least, that's what TN "opinion" writers like Frank Cagle think. He frets like a momma over the first chick out of the nest in his latest ramblings in the MetroPulse chatterbox: Risk? Oh no!!! Unacceptable, Unacceptable!! If God had meant for us to fly, we'd have wings!!!

"I still believe, as I always have, in space exploration. But given the immensity of space, would we be better served by more Voyagers, an army of them launched with specific missions? Or will we continue to believe that space can be a hospitable place for humankind and that we must continue to send astronauts out there?

I would be more of a mind to continue manned space flights and send a team to Mars, except for one thing. After two and a half years of safety checks and billions expended, the Discovery “mission” has turned into a mission to find out if Discovery can get home safely. The success of the flight will be judged by whether we get seven astronauts home without them being killed."

Wait until he/or you, dear readers, hear from what most people in my generation say, but first a few glaring Facts. NASA reduced by 80% the falling debris from Shuttle launches with this mission. They also showed the relative ease in performing repairs on the outside of the craft. The Shuttle is operating because Congress has failed to provide the full funding requests of NASA for a new spacecraft, and we have a delivery system that was supposed to have been phased-out so newer technologies could be used -- imagine getting an extra half-million miles on the life of your truck. Is that failure?? So yes, the launches and returns of a transport system operating far beyond the time anyone thought possible is a notable feat. Not a moment for despair. Also to be noted are the bold non-NASA spacecraft developers -- they are reaching for the stars.

I guess Frank watches NASCAR for wrecks, boxing matches in hopes of death -- in other words, it's trendy to report the shipwrecks as opposed to the successful voyages. Garsh, spanky, those sailors could fall of the end of this flat world if they a'keep on 'splorin' like that!!!

Hear's a great view from an email I received from a friend this week, tweaked a tad-bit for 'family reading":
"We were first on the moon. The only ones on the moon. Cling to that memory.
'Cause now we're the Space Puss#*%s.
We sent John Glenn aloft on a rocket that was 30% sure to blow up underneath him.
We sent Apollo 8 into lunar orbit even though we didn't know how to do it at the time.
We sent Neil Armstrong to the surface of the moon without being totally sure he wouldn't just sink through the lunar surface like it was talcum powder.
Now we're spending billions of dollars building camera booms and having unnecessary space walks to make sure the Space Shuttle didn't chip any paint during liftoff.
More people die in automobile accidents in the United States every hour than have died in the entire history of the U.S. and Russian space programs combined.
Let's spend more time checking our tire pressure and less time harrowing our already dwindling Space Program to death.
Did anybody notice they've discovered a new planet in our solar system, or were we too occupied with the latest episode of The O.C.?"

Also, former Apollo flight director Eugene F. Franks, author of "Failure Is Not An Option - From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond", had a very perceptive editorial in the New York Times last week, which you can read by clicking Here. Check out Eugene's powerful perspective versus Cagle's cowering timidity:

"There are many nations that wish to surpass us in space. Does the "quit now" crowd really believe that abandoning the shuttle and International Space Station is the way to keep America the pre-eminent space-faring nation? Do they really believe that a new spacecraft will come without an engineering challenge or a human toll? The path the naysayers suggest is so out of touch with the American character of perseverance, hard work and discovery that they don't even realize the danger in which they are putting future astronauts - not to mention our nation."

Eugene and NASA have said it best - "Failure is not an option."