The answer is not the loss of federal funds. Pam Strickland's column in the News-Sentinel has a succinct analysis: Link...

-- OneTahiti

Darrell played with Robert Plant in the Band of Joy. I'm a fan of water song with a message...

A firefighter at West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department (Link...) says that this year folks have donated "real quality" things for the big annual yard sale coming up tomorrow and Friday, May 10-11.

Stop by Station #1 on Pumphouse Road near Rockwood, have some family fun, meet your neighbors, and pick up some bargains.

For more information, see the event listing at RoaneViews: Link...

-- OneTahiti

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, indicated that, for him, the question of what happened has largely been put to rest.

“I’ve been able to read all of the cables, I’ve seen the films — I feel like I know what happened in Benghazi,” Corker, a Chattanooga Republican, said during an appearance on MSNBC. “I’m fairly satisfied.”

DesJarlais still breathing through mouth...

Link...

The DCS dead children scandal continues. Three dozen dead children in DCS care and its refusal to turn over records to the media would seem like front page news.

Link...

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You have to read this piece to know what I mean:

The Tennessee Valley Authority has named 100 acres of land adjacent to Northeast Alabama Community College between Fort Payne and Scottsboro to its list of data center sites deemed "ready to recruit."

The designation means the site is ideal for building and operating a "data center," referring to facilities that house computer systems to store data for Internet companies, financial transaction processors and various high-tech industries.

NASHVILLE — Tom Ingram, veteran consultant to Gov. Bill Haslam, faces a potential civil penalty for failing for three years to register as required by law as a lobbyist for a company that wants to mine coal on state-owned land near Crossville, Tenn.

Oh pshaw, it was just a silly mistake.

This is beyond ridiculous and into obscene. Tennessee is for sale to the highest bidder. Citizens will have a very weak voice in the future.

Link...

Remember when Julia Hurley said she didn't have to worry about not having any experience, the lobbyists will tell her what to do? Well it turns out that Bill Haslam has the same plan.

Tom Ingram ran Bill Haslam's campaign for governor. He is a political kingmaker, who also ran the campaigns of both U.S. Senators from Tennessee.

So what does this mean to you and me? Turns out The Ingram Group represents the Governor and is also lobbying this:

As NewsChannel 5 Investigates first reported, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is considering a multimillion-dollar proposal from Crossville Coal that would allow the company to mine under a state wild-life area...

This will be a disaster if it is allowed to happen.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is currently negotiating with a coal company to allow coal mining on a wildlife area, as well as an oil company to allow drilling on a wetland...
TWRA is also negotiating with Crossville Coal to allow the company to mine under the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area...

Link...

For a little while at least.

...partly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

I have to say that I've been interviewed by three US networks (not Fox because they didn't give a rat's patootie about an environmental disaster in the USA), ARD (The German Public TV), and talked with any number of print media types, and Al Jazeera was as accurate as any of them. I was not misquoted in the least by any of the international media. The US media were incomplete at best, disingenuous at the most obvious. Therefore I welcome Al Jazeera to Tennessee. I'll change my mind in a heartbeat if I see them mess up or slant their reporting.

Looks like one lane going westbound has a bit of a rock on it.

Link...

CNN Lists this state as number one:

1. Tennessee: Not only does it have a Florida-like climate, but Tennessee also boasts the second lowest cost of living in the country. Combined with a low tax burden and great access to medical care, Tennessee is ideal for retirees living on fixed incomes, Kahn said. The only downside: the state has one of the country's highest crime rates.

WASHINGTON -- A NASA-led modeling study provides new evidence that global warming may increase the risk for extreme rainfall...

...if we look at the entire spectrum of rainfall types we see all the models agree in a very fundamental way -- projecting more heavy rain, less moderate rain events, and prolonged droughts...

Link...

8th over all in corruption risk according to stateintegrity.org.
New Jersey (1) had the best score, while Georgia (50) was worst.

Get your high water boots on.

Link...

"In April, companies hired 165,000 more workers, but they cut everyone’s hours (on average) by 12 minutes. That doesn’t sound like much of a decline, but spread out over the 135 million-strong work force, the decline in hours worked is the equivalent of firing more than 500,000 workers while keeping hours steady."

Read more at Marketwatch: Link...

-- OneTahiti

Jason Eskridge does Otis...and does Otis right well.

Coming to Ladd Landing Friday May 31

Bonus: Jason talks about growing up in Rockwood and his truck.

Link...

By failing to extend the life of the Judicial Nominating Commission, the legislature has left no mechanism in place for replacing judges who step down or retire, said Allan Ramsaur, executive director of the Tennessee Bar Association.

Link...

Folks, the Land Owners Association of Ladd Landing Inc is allowing us the use of their facilities. Make sure you read and understand the Big Legal Note down below and make sure everyone who comes with you understands. We are all guests of LOALLI and we really appreciate . Be nice and be safe.

From the RCN:

“You can no longer give a raise based on years of experience or degrees,” he said. “I don’t approve of it. I don’t know of any other profession that you don’t get a raise for increasing your experience or your degrees.”

Link...

This is more than interesting. The Washington Post has a book length story up on the three peace activists who penetrated Oak Ridge security and got into the most sensitive area of the nuclear reservation.

Click to download 40kb PDF of 8.5x11 poster
For more information, see: Link...

-- OneTahiti

Many people in Knoxville told 6 News they are against his decision to come out, saying they don't support it because it goes against their beliefs on homosexuality.

They declined to go on camera.

Why do I find that telling, ironic, and amusing? Frankly, It's none of my business who you are attracted to. I hope you find a consenting partner who cares for you.

Link...

Transparency in government... 3 local counties fail. Roane is NOT one of the failures.

Link...

RB

The Daily Buzz

How do you make this statement without laughing?

“Right now, there is no investigation going on,” Best said Friday. “We just have an attorney looking at some allegations.”

RCN story

I love this stuff!

New measurements suggest the Earth's inner core is far hotter than prior experiments suggested, putting it at 6,000C - as hot as the Sun's surface.

The solid iron core is actually crystalline, surrounded by liquid.

Link...