Lighters Banned

All forms of lighters are now going to be banned on airlines:

Airline passengers will have to ditch their lighters or lose them to airport security screeners when a new ban on lighters takes effect in April.

The ban reflects Congress' fear that lighters could be used to ignite bombs on planes or otherwise damage or destroy them. The Transportation Security Administration until now had banned all types of lighters, except for butane, which were limited to two per passenger.

Also under consideration is a ban of other items such as luggage and even clothing.

Only in Tennessee

One of Lt. Gov. John Wilder's "GOP water boys," Mike Williams (R- Maryville), has been accused by a former girlfriend of misusing campaign funds to buy...NASCAR memorabilia.

Only in Tennessee.

Mission Trip

Just a reminder...I'm still attempting to raise money for a mission trip to Moldova in July. Read here for details.

If you would be so kind as to consider some type of donation, I would be greatly appreciative.

Also, if you are still in the giving mood, be sure to head here to support a fellow Tennessee blogger.

Employer Priviledge Tax?

And I thought that Naifeh said the income tax issue was dead. Of course, considering the biased Income Tax Study Commission recommended instituting an income tax (without recommending any type of spending reform), that may not be entirely true.

So...Up pops HB2027 by sponsored by Rep. Mike Kernell (D-Memphis).

*HB2027 by *Kernell.

Taxes, Privilege - Enacts a 1 percent privilege tax on employer's payroll and dedicates revenue to funding special payments to certain hospitals and funding some portion of a reenacted Tennessee Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 6; Title 56; Title 57; Title 67; Title 68; and Title 71

Well, actually, it's not an income tax in definition. It's an "employer priviledge tax." That's just a fancy phrase for a tax that would implement a taxation on an employer's payroll. In this case, 1%.

The text of the bill reads like a bleeding heart's pity party for TennCare. This almost leads me to believe the bill was written as a means to push TennCare reform along in a "if TennCare isn't going to be fixed, we have to raise taxes" kind of way.

Apparently 1/2 of the money would go to hospitals providing uncompensated services and the other half would go to the "Tennessee Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool." It's not known how they would pay for the additional staff to implement such a redistribution system.

This bill was only filed in the last few days, and it may not have a chance of going anywhere, but you always have to keep an eye on these things and remain diligent.

In theory (and this is what, I'm sure, legislators would bank on), this would not affect taxpayers directly. But as always, when it comes to government and taxation, what you don't know CAN hurt you. When businesses are taxed, it not only affects everyone who lies underneath the taxed entity but it also tends to stiffle business/economic growth. Plus, who is to say that it will stay at 1%...or that it won't eventually be passed on to workers directly?

This is just another example of legislators looking for the easy way out of a budget situation. Instead of tackling the issue that is causing the problem (spending), they seek more revenue from the taxpayers (yes, businesses are taxpayers too).

Stay tuned, and be sure to contact your legislators (here) to make your voice heard.

You can contact Rep. Kernell via email (rep.mike.kernell@legislature.state.tn.us; via phone - (615) 741-3726; or via fax - (615) 741-8752.

Thanks to Michael Silence for the heads up.

Update: Bill Hobbs has more.

Update 2:

Another bill filed by Rep. Kernell...this one would be considered a full blown income tax:

*HB2120 by *Kernell.

Taxes - Enacts the "Tennessee Investment and Economic Development Act"; reduces the general state sales tax from 7 percent to 4 percent; eliminates the Hall Income Tax and state and local sales tax on food; imposes graduated income tax; holds local government harmless for loss of revenue from reduction in sales tax. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 12; Title 16; Title 30; Title 36; Title 39; Title 40; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 55; Title 56; Title 57; Title 61; Title 62; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71.

"Tennessee Investment and Economic Development Act" ??? Why do politicians name these things in ways that are completely opposite of what they actually are?

Read the entire bill here. The rhetoric used in the language of the bill is laughable.

Special Class of Citizens?

To all police officers: Just because you are a police officer doesn't give you the authority to be a thug. You are not in a "special class" of citizens that can trample on people's rights. You are servants of the public. When one of you ignores these facts, it gives all of you a bad name.

With that being said, I have relatives and friends that are police officers, and I support those that understand what it means to serve. However, when the line is crossed between being a servant to becoming a badge carrying thug (many times ignoring the fact that we have a Constitution), that's when I speak up.

I point you to South Carolina:

The incident occurred at Simpsonville Park in Simpsonville, S.C. last Wednesday. A group of mothers and children from Upstate Homeschoolers Unlimited were socializing and playing in the park – a common activity for homeschool support groups.

After a call came in to police about someone in the park having a knife, a plainclothes policeman rushed into the picnic shelter where some of the homeschoolers were gathered.

According to parents who witnessed the event, the policeman began shouting at two teenage boys, pushing at least one to the ground. When he went to grab one of the boys, a mother, who at the time was holding another woman's baby, stepped in to stop him, not realizing he was a police officer.

More:

One of the moms at the picnic, Priscilla Adams, said Snow (the officer) confronted the 16-year-old boy near the shelter, pushed him down and reached for the knife.

Adams said no one knew Snow was an officer, because he was dressed in street clothes.

She said when another mother tried to intervene, the woman was arrested for assaulting a police officer.

"[Snow] told the uniformed officer to arrest her. We said, "For what?" and he said for assaulting a police officer. I said to him ,"She didn't know you were a police officer", and he told me, "Shut up or I'll arrest you too," Adams said.

Luckily, this guy was fired by a common sense police chief who understands what it means to be a police officer. I only wish there were more like him out there.

See Gunner for more.

That was fast

From Tennessee Tax Revolt:

Senators Ketron and Ramsey have withdrawn their support from the wheel tax bill, SB0698.

Good golly miss molly!! We did it!!!! Thank YOU!! Thank YOU!! Thank YOU!!!

>>>>>Thanks to everyone<<<<<<<< for such quick action on the wheel tax bill. All the talk radio, emails and calls and blog postings had an immediate effect.

The new media is becoming the new force!!

Yes, indeed.

Tax Alert

I received the following alert from Tennessee Tax Revolt today:

TAX ALERT, Your Immediate Action Needed, If we don't contact Ketron and Ramsey's offices we will be invisible to them, Please call, email and fax them!!!!!

This Bill, SB0698, which is being sponsored by Ramsay and Ketron in the Senate will

1- remove the right of Tennessee taxpayers to petition to get the wheel tax on the ballot once it is passed by the county commission.

2- It will also make it much easier for local governments to raise the wheel tax by requiring only a simple majority instead of the 2/3 majority now required.

It is on the calendar for the state and local government committee in the Senate next week on Mar. 1.

PLEASE Contact Senator Ketron and Senator Ramsay and tell them you strongly oppose this bill SB0698.

Bill Hobbs has more.

Thursday Car Blogging

In the spirit of such things as Friday Bird Blogging, White Trash Wednesdays, etc., I'm starting my own "Thursday Car Blogging."

Last week, my story on the Land Rover rebuild and MG clutch woes started this entire thing, and I thought it would be a good thing to make this a weekly spot of sorts.

Perhaps it can be a collaborative effort? A Thursday Car Blogging Carnival? If you want in on this (Chris? Miss O'Hara?) let me know. Any vehicle topic goes...even if it involves a Yugo General Lee. Of course, most of my focus will be on old British vehicles, so it would be nice to have different people to mix it up a bit.

Today's episode...A Bad Brake Caliper. (yes, British vehicle ownership can be a weekly adventure)

Last week I received some new parts for the Land Rover rebuild (new brakes, etc), and I planned on putting them on this past Saturday. I decided to bring the MG out to drive to where I am keeping the Land Rover.

I don't drive the MG that much during the winter time. For one, it's not a good cold weather car (no roll up windows, the heater stinks, etc), and secondly, it's just not as much fun driving when you have the top up. With that in mind, I'll have to say with past experience, the less you drive one of these cars, the more it tends to break. Disuse brings about disrepair.

Before I pulled out of the garage, I had noticed what looked like a small puddle of water on the concrete next to the front, right tyre (it's spelled "tyre" if it's a British car), but I marked it off to the fact that my garage was built in the 30's and during the recent rain, the water probably got in under the door or something.

Well, I slowly backed the car out of the garage, but when I push the brake to slow down, the problem becomes pretty apparent as the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor without any resistance (sound familiar?). Of course, without brakes, the car keeps moving. Luckily, before my rear fender reaches the fence on the other side of the alley, I am able to turn it slightly uphill to the point it will stop. I am then able to coast back into the drive and stop it with good old clutch power.

It ends up that fluid in the floor wasn't water after all. It was good ole, diluted brake fluid (hey, it even tasted like water...heh). At least I found this out next to my garage before leaving instead of it happening while going down the road at full speed just as I'm coming up behind a line of stopped traffic (yes, that's happened to me before as well...a story for a future time though).

I pull out the trusty jack, remove my front tyre, and it takes me a minute to figure out where the leak came from exactly. My first thought was that either the brake hose had gone bad or it had come loose from the caliper. It actually ended up being a leak from around the inside caliper piston. In fact, I had never had this particular problem before. Brake calipers tend to be pretty reliable and really don't fail that often, but in this case, it had. Rust had probably gotten onto the piston shaft and caused fluid to seep around the seals. A bad enough leak, and you end up loosing brake pressure.

Now I have three options...1) Find a good used one; 2) Order a rebuild kit and attempt to put new seals on it; or 3) Buy a rebuilt caliper.

I've attempted option 1 to no avail. MGA brake calipers are harder to come by than MGB calipers (in fact, I probably have a few MGB calipers laying around somewhere, but they won't work on the MGA). I'm a little leery of option 2 because if the problem is the piston (which is more than likely), then it would cost almost as much as a new one to replace.

So, it looks like I'll be going with option 3...a rebuilt caliper from Apple Hydraulics. Not cheap, but they do an excellent job rebuilding their hydraulic parts...Brass sleeving of pistons (bye bye rust), new seals, etc.

By the way, I didn't get that much done on the Land Rover due to the MG issue. I did, however, get the hub assembly back together for the front, right wheel. I'm going to be ordering new inner and outer wheel bearings for the left side this weekend (I replaced the wheel bearings on the right side not long before she broke down).

The adventures continue.

Next week: Update on the brake caliper along with a Land Rover update. Oh, and I'm going to be getting a new digital camera very soon so that I will be able to provide good pictures with these updates. For example...pictures of brake fluid stains on the floor, etc.

Quotes of the Week

Pat Buchanan wondering why several Senators are so concerned with Russia's internal affairs:

Why are these internal matters of the Russian republic any business of John McCain's? Putin is the elected president of Russia. Who elected McCain to anything outside of Arizona?

And, I agree with SayUncle that Gunner has most humorous quote of the week in regards to AL's sex toy laws:

What happens between me, my wife, the inflatable doll, the midget in the corner and the camera man is my own business.

RTB

I just noticed that Thursday Night Fever is not listed in the annals of the Rocky Top Brigade. Can we have this injustice rectified? At least for the sake of "navel gazer" blogs everywhere.

Also, can we make a motion that the 5th edict in the RTB constitution be stricken? (that nonsense about Phil Fulmer and UT)

Just curious...

Tennessee News Roundup

A quick Tennessee News roundup from around the RTB...

Mike Hollihan has an excellent analysis of the upcoming Senate race in TN. Some are calling it definitive.

Bill Hobbs points out why Phil Bredesen was elected...to fix TennCare. What has he done? Botched it.

Adam Groves exposes a recent plan by Bredesen to use lottery money for pre-K programs as nothing but big government in action (agreed).

Michael Silence reports that the state Senate Ethics committee investigating state Senator John Ford isn't too ethical itself. Politicians? Unethical?

Glenn Dean provides good reasoning on why he doesn't support a move to keep gay or lesbian couples from adobting or taking in foster children. Bruce Barry of Pith in the Wind provides less reasoning and more emotion, but he is still against it (hey, I still love you guys though).

Speaking of which, last week Egalia of TN Guerilla Women spoke out against the recent votes on banning gay marriage in Tennessee.

South Knox Bubba discusses renovating the World's Fair site in Knoxville. At least I'm not alone in thinking of this when someone mentions the World Fair site.

Who can forget sports? Big Orange Michael asks what the Titans will do next year after the recent salary cap woes.

And...Finally, Mr. Roboto reports that there was a not so General Lee parked out in front of the CMT building in Nashville yesterday.

More Ex-Felon Voting Rights

There was a lot of response to the issue with allowing ex-felons to vote (read here for my view on the subject), and it seems that some in the Tennessee General Assembly is also looking at the same thing:

Proposed legislation that would make it easier to restore voting rights to convicted felons is causing early debate among lawmakers.

"Once these people have paid their debts to society, we ought to encourage them to get back involved with their communities, and voting is one of the best ways to do it," said Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, sponsor of one of several bills that would facilitate the process.

Currently, Tennessee law varies on which felons can take steps to regain voting rights, which usually involves hiring an attorney, going to court and asking a judge for reinstatement. Felons convicted between Jan. 15, 1973, and May 17, 1981, never lost their citizenship rights and don't have to do anything, according to state law.

More:

Wally Kirby, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys Conference, said that when citizenship rights are restored in Tennessee, "it's an all-or-nothing proposition."

In addition to granting voting rights, he said, felons also would be granted permission to carry firearms, which might jeopardize other citizens and put the state out of compliance with federal law.

"We probably won't have any problem with that person being able to vote, but we might have a huge issue with that person being able to possess a firearm," Kirby said. "We would oppose anything that is automatic."

I don't think it has a chance to pass, but it's something to keep an eye on.

Mission Blogging Pt VI

This is Jake's final report from his mission trip in Mexico:

No One Told Me About This Part

Wow! A little warning would have been nice. We had such a great day, and week, right up until 1 hour ago. After dinner we went to the Friday night service at the church. After the message, the pastor, Omar, thanked us for coming this week- this was expected. We all know the routine- well, at least I thought I did. They began to talk about the history of the church 50, 100, or even 200 years from now, if the Lord tarries that long. Then he said that our names were written forever on all of the walls that we built at the new church and in all of the lives that we touched, that we would never be forgotten. Yeah, I know, thatīs the same part that got me too.

All week I couldnīt believe how hospitable these amazing people were. From Marco and Vickie (Marco is the brother of Omar),who opened their house and their kitchen to us, to Chuyito and Paul, the mother and son from the church who took in the other half of us, to the church for being so welcoming and eager to shake our hands or hug us. They are the ones who have no idea what they are sending back to the United States. If they only knew what they have taught us.

What a week. I wish there were more weeks to do more work. I pray that God will make a way for my whole family to come back and experience the love and joy that I have. I came to help and have a unique experience. No one told me I would go back broken, humble, and wanting just one more day. Blake, get ready. I will be the one to warn you: leaving is infinitely harder than any amount of work you will do while you are there. The kids smiles, their hugs, their tender hearts soaking in the love and attention that you will be feverishly trying to dish out, will be in your heart forever. I pray they will remember me as Rosey Cheeks (the nickname they gave to me), the gringo that brought love, dulces (candy), bibles, and a church in which to find hope in an otherwise hopeless existence. But mostly I hope they remember the love of Christ, his unequaled sacrifice and gift to all mankind, and that he loves them more than I could ever hope for.

I leave you with the most important Spanish that I learned from my amazing little Gramma just before I left the States:
1. Jesus Cristo morio por sus picados.
2. El sangre de Jesus Cristo limpiandos sus picados.

Part I; Part II; Part III; Part IV; Part V

Also, be sure to read about my upcoming mission trip to Moldova and how you can help.

Mission Blogging Pt V

More from Jake in Mexico:

First thing this morning we went to the house of the sick girl to check on her. When we walked in on the dirt floors she was sitting up in bed smiling and eating jello. We were so happy to seer her up and smiling. She was still tired, but she was much better.

The mother cried when we got there because she was so happy that her daughter was better. It was even better when we got to explain to her that it was God who is the giver of all good things, not man. She told us that her husband who we prayed with the night before talked about our visit all night. She said that when he prayed, he felt a change inside of him. His heart was softened towards his family and he was so excited to learn more about this decision he had made. The only problem was that they both needed glasses to read the bibles that we gave them. We took them to a place that gives free eye exams and you can buy prescription glasses for $20. She cried again.

The church that we are here to build is going great as well. The building, which now seems secondary to the lives that are being touched, is now showing signs of progress. All of the footers have been poured and the block walls are being built. Man, today was awesome!!

Blake, Iīm so excited to hear that you are going to go to Moldova. I will definitely support your trip, just as you supported mine, and most importantly will be praying for your efforts there. It is not for the faint at heart, which I found out a couple of days ago, but it will change not only hundreds of lives there, but your life as well.

Pictures of our trip can be found here

Part I; Part II; Part III; Part IV

One for the good guys

Remember the story about the school in California that subjected students to RFID tagging? Well, due to pressure and outrage by the public, it looks like the company involved has pulled out.

A small victory...but, as Gunner says, "they will return."

Noonan on Blogs

Peggy Noonan's column today heaps tons of praise upon the blogosphere...

When you hear name-calling like what we've been hearing from the elite media this week, you know someone must be doing something right. The hysterical edge makes you wonder if writers for newspapers and magazines and professors in J-schools don't have a serious case of freedom envy.

The bloggers have that freedom. They have the still pent-up energy of a liberated citizenry, too. The MSM doesn't. It has lost its old monopoly on information. It is angry.

Go read the entire article...it's a must read.

Mission Blogging Pt IV

Latest update from Jake in Mexico:

This morning at the construction site we were visited by a woman who lives in Century 21. She needed a ride to the general hospital because her little daughter was sick. We drove by her "house", and Iīm tempted to use double quotes on that, to pick her up. We threw together some pesos for her hospital visit and medication. The poor little girl couldnīt even open her eyes. We dropped her off and went on our way.

Later in the day, during work, I was asked to go make some visits on behalf of the church we were building and, of course, I went. We went to the house of the little girl to check on her. She was asleep in bed and moaning. She had all but one of the medicines she needed to get her better. We talked to the mother a little bit and found out her 10 year old son had been going to a bible study done by the church we were there with. He goes every Monday and Wednesday without fail. The mother decided to go check this thing out to find out what her son was so interested in. When the mother arrived at the house for the bible study, she was surprised to find out that it was a Bible study for the women of the village. That is how hungry these little kids are for some hope.

While we were there talking to the mother the father came home from work. We prayed for the little girl as she slept. We talked with her parents awhile too. They both asked Christ to forgive their sins and to come into their hearts. My day could not have been better! And we still have two more days!!!

Part I; Part II; Part III

Also, be sure to read about my upcoming mission trip to Moldova below.

Ex-Felon Voting

I'll probably be shunned by some of my conservative friends for saying this (and I am thinking there might be something wrong with me as well), but I agree with Hillary Clinton. Just on one thing though, and the reason for the agreement is coming from completely different angles.

Clinton (along with a host of other high-profile liberals), is pushing for the "Count Every Vote Act." It's essentially nothing more than political posturing making it look like Bush stole the election...even though most of the irregularities that I saw taking place would have favored Democrats (of course, at the same time, all the accusations came from the Democrats)...but I digress.

I don't think this act will pass, but one provision in it would allow ex-felons to vote. I happen to favor this.

In our country today, we have the largest population of prisoners ever going well over 2 million! According to 2002 data, one person in every 142 citizens resides in prison. When Democrats talk about this, they bring up the fact that most of those are African American. When I talk about this, I talk about all of them as being simply Americans.

Once these Americans get out of prison, they really aren't considered Americans anymore. A felon looses their right to vote, their right to self defense (firearm ownership), and their right to privacy. They are owned by the government at that point.

Whatever happened to the attitude of just doing your time to pay for your crime? Instead, they end up paying their entire lives, and the government can do whatever they want with you. Pass a law that says felons can't do such and such? Fine...they can't vote against the lawmakers, and the voting population generally will support it because they aren't felons themselves.

We should absolutely be tough on crime in this country, but at the same time, when a person is legally born here, they should be allowed the rights and priviledges that come with citizenship for life. If we believe that rights are derived from a higher authority (and not government), then we can't allow the government to arbitrarily take those away from an entire class of free citizens.

I dont' know, but maybe this is just where the Libertarian comes out in me.

Update: Be sure to read Glen Dean's personal account relating to this.

More - 10:27 PM: Mark Christopher mentioned this post tonight on his radio show and countered my point by asking, "what about pedophiles?" This very question did in fact cross my mind in writing this. I didn't want to start venturing off into the gray areas here, but this is, no doubt, a very gray area.

There are lines that have to be drawn. Where those lines are, I don't know. But, as JakeC mentioned in his comments, the government is creating more and more laws that are creating more and more felons. Many of these laws are upgrading mere misdemeanors to felony status. More and more people are losing rights that are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights because the government is getting bigger and bigger.

On the other hand, I consider rapists and pedophiles to be the lowest form of life that exists in the criminal world. To me, those are pretty much deserving of the death penalty. Yes, that's extreme, but I have strong feelings against those particular crimes.

Dick Morris on Moldova

Wow. Speaking of Moldova, it's quite ironic that Dick Morris has a column today that talks about the corruption and oppression affecting the people in that country...and why he believes our State Department needs to pay attention to their upcoming elections.

Go read it.

Pajamas at the Gate

Yes indeed...

Mission Trip to Moldova

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my church's mission trips to Moldova (I recommend that everyone read that post) and had mentioned that I was considering going to Moldova in July. I would like to tell everyone that I have made the decision to go.

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe (see map here), and much of their culture is still suffering from being under Soviet rule. On this trip, we will be working with one of the orphanages near the capital city of Chisinau. We will be taking supplies (clothing, socks, school supplies, etc etc), working directly with these kids, and sharing God's love with them.

It's a sad state there with the orphans in Moldova. Once a child turns 18, they must leave their orphanages and fend for themselves. Within a couple of years of leaving the orphanage, the stats for these children are shocking:

7 out of 10 of the girls will be trafficked into prostitution.
7 out of 10 of the boys will end up in prison.
1 out of 10 overall will commit suicide.

Work is being done to provide hope for these children. Not only that, but help is also being provided in giving these children skills to use and places to live after they leave the orphanages.

I've never really been on a mission trip before. I guess that it's a matter of moving outside of my comfort zone here in Tennessee and going outside of it to help others in need. Which is something that I stress churches should do a lot more.

So, I, along with others from my church will be heading over there in July. Two teams will be going each for 10 days. However, it's going to cost. Each person will have to pay $1,750. This is where I would like to ask for your help.

I would be extremely grateful to anyone who would like to donate funds that would allow me to go on this trip. In fact, I've already had a couple of people express interest in doing so. If you feel led to as well, you can give in a few ways. In the Donate section on the left side of this page, you will see two buttons. One for Amazon and the other for PayPal. Amazon donations can be made anonymously, but some people may prefer PayPal. Just be sure to comment that the donation is for my "Trip to Moldova." If you'd rather send a check, you can simply email me, and I'll provide you with a mailing address. Even if it's just a few dollars...every little bit helps. If, by any chance, that I receive more than the amount I must pay, I'll donate the extra to someone else going on the trip.

I will also be blogging this trip. I believe that I will be able to get some internet access there, and hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures up to go along with it.

After the blogger meetup the other day, Bill Hobbs and I were discussing how the internet has changed so many things. As an example, he mentioned that years ago, when a church would hear from a missionary, they would receive a letter that was probably six months old. Now, you can have video shot that very day sent to a church over the internet, and progress on that church's mission work can be shown instantaneously. I won't be sending video, but I will do my best to provide updates to my readers.

Speaking of which, be sure to catch Jake's mission updates (another one should be coming later today). The conversation with Hobbs gave me the idea to start posting those. I hope that everyone enjoys reading them.

WKRN Video

Paul Chenoweth of Chasing the Dragon's Tale has the video up from the Nashville area blogger meetup this past Saturday.

See it here.

The Joy of British Vehicles

Some car blogging for you tonight. I don't think I've ever posted pictures of my '71 Land Rover (unlike the MGA), but there's good reason...she's been "sick" for quite a while.

I've just recently (now that I've had the time) started along the path to get her running again after the engine spun a rod bearing. I'll have the engine ready to go back in soon, but I'm also doing other work such as redoing the brakes, checking and re-packing the bearings, checking the gearboxes, etc etc.

Here's how she looks tonight (at a relative's shop...it won't fit in my garage!)

Of course, she has seen better days...

And...um...worse days as well (prior to my "elaborate" paint job)...

She started out life as a farm vehicle in Scotland (it's still right hand drive and has the original plates...as you can see). At some point (early 90's I think), it was imported into the country by a company in Birmingham, AL and eventually found its way to Mississippi. I happened to know the guy that was selling it, and went down to rescue get it.

Soon she'll be back on the road again...menacing unsuspecting drivers in little cars. Oh, I might also mention that it's easier to go around traffic with this thing. I've never thought twice about crossing a grassy knoll when I don't like the traffic situation that I'm in. I miss that. heh

More: For those of you who don't know the enjoyment of owning British vehicles (FYI...my everyday driver is a Japanese vehicle), let me reminisce on a little adventure I had last weekend with the MG.

Do you know what a thrill it is to break down off of I-440 going up to Nolensville Road at 8:00pm on a Saturday night? Let me tell you...it was a blast. heh

Earlier in the day, I had replaced the pushrod that comes out from the clutch slave cylinder. It had worn out pretty badly. The new pushrod went on just fine...no problems. What keeps it in place on the clutch arm is a little pin that is held in its place with a small cotter pin. Apparently, somewhere between my house and Nolensville Road, that cotter pin fell out thus allowing the other pin to fall out as well. This isn't something you realize until you go to hit the clutch and it goes all the way to the floor without any resistance.

Well...this isn't good. I get out, grab my flashlight (recommended item for British car owners) and look underneath to see what's happened to my clutch. I'm lucky in the fact that the pushrod got stuck in the clutch arm and didn't fall out (along with the piston in the slave cylinder).

So...I pull out my coveralls (another recommended item), pull out some tools (recommended), and attempt to rig it so that it will work. Bad news was that I didn't have anything to rig it with (*note to self: add various bolts and pins to list of recommended items). I was going to be meeting some people at about this time, so I gave one of them a call. He was gracious enough to come over and take me to an auto parts store (which was about to close), so that I could get the necessary parts to make my rig work.

After all that, I get what I need, put it on, and then realize that the piston has allowed fluid to leak out of the slave cylinder. Anyone know what this means? Yeah...no fluid pressure...which also means that the system has to be bled. Keep in mind...the car doesn't sit far off the ground, and I'm having to reach up under the car to do all this with one hand. Well, I grab the brake fluid (recommended item), and we bleed the system out...many times.

One hour and thirty minutes later, I'm back in the game...good as new. Such is the life of a British car owner! Gotta love it! (*note to self: brake fluid does not take the place of cologne).

Mission Blogging pt III

More from Jake in Mexico:

Century 21

The construction site we are building at is in the middle of a community the city named Century 21. It was supposed to trick the people into believing they were getting into some cutting edge, turn of the century houses. It is the community of the future, if the present was 1700. When you arrive at the community, there is a section of semi-new government housing. Adjacent to those is the crowded maze of dirt streets that is completely lined with small "shelters" and primitive dwellings that is the city of the future.

Well, the future isnīt going to be prettyy. These kids are destined for a life of begging, drug dealing, and prostitution. Some kids are already involved in all of these things. Today we took a girl 17 years old to a rehab facility to get treatment for her crystal-meth problem. She had her baby daughter with her. She also will be going to a hospital to get treatment for the leukemia that she is just ignoring, hoping just to die on her own terms.

I have a heavy heart tonight. I want to hold my son and my wife in the safety of our nice home on four acres out in the country with two cows, and forget about what Iīve seen today. The problem is that too many people are doing that already. The one thing I have learned today is that I can never do enough to help other people- in my community, in other states, or in other countries. I have realized that missions are in our backyards, our neighborhoods, our families, our schools and our jobs. I can never give enough, but Iīm willing to die trying.

I talked to one little boy today, Ramone, who ended up accepting Christ into his heart. It was as simple as telling him that Christ loves him. Why canīt I do that everyday?

Part I; Part II

What 10th Amendment?

Gunner over at No Quarters points to this article out of Montana:

HELENA -- Lawmakers in the Montana House of Representatives collectively thumbed their noses at the federal government Monday by approving two bills exempting guns from federal regulations and driver's licenses from national standardization requirements.

The bills by Reps. Diane Rice, R-Harrison, and Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, do different things but are driven by the same concern: the erosion of personal liberties by the federal government.
Koopman said Monday his gun bill, House Bill 366, would inspire a home-grown industry of gun-makers who produce firearms to be sold in Montana. It also sends a message reaffirming states' rights.

Heck yeah! What does the 10th Amendment say again?

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, norprohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,or to the people.

Seems that a state is finally saying "enough is enough" and standing up to Federal encroachment upon state's rights. It's not much, but it is a beginning.

Be sure to go read Gunner's much more thorough analysis.

Tax Time

Today I noticed SayUncle lamenting over his taxes. I actually finished mine up last night as well.

A big thanks goes to Marsha Blackburn and Bill Frist for getting that whole sales tax exemption put through. That helped out a lot. Because of that the government owes me back even more of *my* money.

I wonder if I can get that refund with interest? Considering that I could have taken that money that they temporarily borrowed from me and invested it. Prime plus one perhaps? Heck, I'll be kind and offer them just prime.

Ah well...as per SayUncle's recommendation, perhaps I should take some of that tax refund and take part in buy a gun day on April 15th.

Ah yes...an excellent idea.

Mission Blogging pt II

More from Jake on his mission trip in Mexico (see previous post here):

Well, the first day of work started of without a hitch. The neighborhood went about their business as usual. When we got there, the police truck was at the drug dealers house getting his morning payment, the kids who couldnīt afford to go to school were on the basketball court playing with a refrigerator, and the dogīs were sniffing around hoping we would drop something.

Once we started the work, the kids were eager just to spend some time with us. They would jump in and help whenever they could. One little girl offered to run to the store for me, barefooted of course, and get me a Coke. Another little boy just wanted to work the handle on the steel bender I was using. They would laugh when you tried to talk there language, which I must say I picked up on pretty quick. Then Paul, one of the younger Christians from the church here, had a little class with five little kids who were eager for any attention. They read from a Spanish New Testament and then asked Christ to come into their hearts. I saw more love this Valentineīs day than any I have ever seen. This is just Monday. I am sore, I am tired, and I am sunburned, but I will be the first in the van going to the jobsite.

Please pray for our efforts here, mostly for protection. And pray that when we leave, these kids will remember that love that Christ has for them as they face their everyday lives.

Valentineīs Day indeed.

Refreshing

In contrast to the old media types I wrote about yesterday, Glenn Reynolds points out an article written by Charlie Madigan of the Chicago Tribune rebuking those in the old media:

Shut up with your whining and appreciate the fact that after generations of stagnation, something new has arrived. And like all new things, it's going to take awhile for it to work itself out.

Conventional journalism seems aghast that a whole collection of independent voices from all sides of the political spectrum are popping up now to pick and smear and slander and point accusing fingers, wreck careers, cast aspersions and introduce something besides a century-old sense of entitled hierarchy to the formula for news presentation.

...

What new media gets to do now is exactly what old media got to do back when it was new media, which is work out how it is going to be.

My sentiments exactly! Go read the entire thing (registration required).

VD Day

Well, I wasn't going to mention anything about Valentine's Day, but Ze Frank offers some humorous video commentary regarding this "special" day.

The Guns of August

I haven't written much about the Eason Jordon controversy (aka EasonGate), but it has a lot of big media outlets in defensive mode. (See Instapundit for more comments related to this).

According to the New York Times, bloggers are just "trophy hunters." It is apparently their view that bloggers (common citizens, their readers) are an out of control lot, hell-bent on taking down whoever they can, when they can.

From their reaction, it looks as though they think that this might be a sort of Bastille Day for bloggers and soon a rash of public beheadings will ensue...metaphorically speaking, of course.

Steve Lovelady, a former editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal and now managing editor of CJR Daily, the Web site of The Columbia Journalism Review, has been among the most outspoken.

"The salivating morons who make up the lynch mob prevail," he lamented online after Mr. Jordan's resignation. He said that Mr. Jordan cared deeply about the reporters he had sent into battle and was "haunted by the fact that not all of them came back."

Some on line were simply trying to make sense of what happened. "Have we entered an era where our lives can be destroyed by a pack of wolves hacking at their keyboards with no oversight, no editors, and no accountability?" asked a blogger named Mark Coffey, 36, who says he works as an analyst in Austin, Tex. "Or does it mean that we've entered a brave new world where the MSM has become irrelevant," he asked, using blogger shorthand for mainstream media.

Are we entering a "brave new world?"

More from Jeff Jarvis:

The New York Times media beat reporters got beaten badly on the Eason Jordan story -- by [gasp] weblogs and cable news -- and so how do they react? By catching up their readers on what they missed? Of course not. They react by lashing out at weblogs.

This morning's story by Katharine Q. Seelye, Jacques Steinberg, and David F. Gallagher -- under the headline, "Bloggers as News Media Trophy Hunters" -- is another example of the disdain in which many quarters of The Times -- not all -- hold citizens' media.

I can't help but draw parallels to the current big (old) media and the beginning of Barbara W. Tuchman's classic Guns of August (a historical account of the years leading up to and the first months of WWI).

Tuchman's opening lines describe the grand procession of Edward VII's funeral in 1910:

So gorgeous was the spectacle on the May morning of 1910 when nine kings rode in the funeral of Edward VII of England that the crowd, waiting in hushed and black-clad awe, could not keep back gasps of admiration. In scarlet and blue and green and purple, three by three the sovereigns rode through the palace gates, with plumed helmets, gold braid, crimson sashes, and jeweled orders flashing in the gun. After them came five heirs apparent, forty more imperial or royal highnesses, seven queens - four dowager and three regnant - and a scattering of special ambassadors from uncrowned countries. Together they represented seventy nations in the greatest assemblage of royalty and rank ever gathered in one place and, of its kind, the last. The muffled tongue of Big Ben tolled nine by the clock as the cortege left the palace, but on history's clock it was sunset, and the sun of the old world was setting in a dying blaze of splendor never to be seen again.

You see, the kings and royalty are the old media. They come out in all of their splendor and expect everyone to be awe inspired by them. They are, as you know, a special class of citizens, and one must respect them, but the sunset is here. Instead of embracing the new media, they sit upon their thrones of power and chose to berate and belittle us. However, the "Guns of August" are here, and the very foundations that the old media sit upon will crumble underneath them clearing the way for a new kind of media.

A little too dramatic? Yes, but it is a fitting I believe. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...the media world is evolving. Those that adapt will survive, and those who choose to ignore or berate us are only condemning themselves to insignificance.

Further reading: Bill Hobbs on "The Bloggy Future of Journalism".

More - 6:56 PM: I must add one more thing on the entire Eason Jordan story. This is mainly spurred by various comments I've seen (as from Terry Heaton) saying that the blogosphere went too far with Jordan and what he did really wasn't that big of a deal.

I, personally, don't really have one opinion or the other on Eason Jordan...which is why this is the first post where I've even mentioned him. However (emphasis), what has brought me out on this issue is the Main Stream Media's (MSM as everyone is calling it now, but I think I'll just stick with Old Media) reaction to the entire situation. It's definitely showing what they really think of the blogosphere...and ordinary citizens for that matter. And *that* is what motivates me.

Mission Blogging

A friend of mine and frequent commentor on this blog, Jake Isham, left a couple of days ago to go to Mexico. He along with others from his church are on a mission trip to help build a church in Los Mochis. He sent me a quick update today, and I have asked him if he can continue this so that I may post his updates for all to read.

Here's his first update:

Well, we made it safely to Los Mochis. You would not believe the place where we are building the church. The "houses" around it are just half completed block structures that people abandoned so the poor buy them from the government at a price they will never be able to pay back. They donīt have complete walls or doors. Itīs so sad. These people need a place to find some hope. It is Sunday, and we have spent most of the day in the Baptist Church that is building the church. I have eaten way too much already. Tomorrow we start work at 9am sharp. We eat lunch at 2pm, then work until 6 or 7pm. We come home next Saturday. Anyway, Iīll try to update you on our progress as we go. Later man. Seacrest Out.

More to come. I'm sure he'll be more formal now that he knows he's going to have a public audience (at least no more American Idol references). heh

Speaking of mission trips, I'm going to have some news to pass along regarding Moldova soon (which I blogged about a few weeks ago). Stay tuned...

Blogger Meetup

I'm late posting about the blogger meetup we had yesterday morning here in Nashville at Channel 2's compound on Murfreesboro Road...but here goes...

It was a good gathering. Conversations seemed to center around the importance of blogging and how media will end up evolving because of it. As I said before...Channel 2 seems to get it.

It was also very nice being able to meet the various people from the area that I knew but had never met. Roger Abramson, Glen Dean, Pink Kitty, Doc B, Rex Hammock, Roboto, TMan, etc etc etc...(why does it sound like I'm giving an Oscar acceptance speech?)

Incidently, the only Nashville blogger I had met previously was Bill Hobbs. I was driving to church one day in the MG (the weekend after blogging about the MG), and someone ran me down as I entered the parking lot. It was Hobbs. heh

Thanks again to Channel 2 and Terry Heaton for organizing this meeting. I'm looking forward to future gatherings. Especially if it involves free donuts and coffee.

War on Burglers

What do you suppose the British have employed now in their fight against rising burglaries?

Large balls...

A large black ball, originally designed by Swedish scientists for use on Mars, could be the latest weapon in the war against burglars. The device, developed at the University of Uppsala, acts as a high-tech security guard capable of detecting an intruder thanks to either radar or infra-red sensors. Once alerted, it can summon help, sound an alarm or pursue the intruders, taking pictures.

It is capable of travelling at 20mph, somewhat faster than a human being. Even worse for intruders, the robot ball can still give chase over mud, snow and water.

Umm...yes....The British ban guns, robberies rise, and they employ balls to protect them. How can I not keep from going low-brow here? It's pretty much impossible...soooo...now for something completely different...sort of...

Anyone ever watch that show called The Prisoner? If so, do you remember Rover?

Good show...you should check it out sometime.

Legislation Rundown

A quick rundown of interesting, firearms related legislation pending in the Tennessee General Assembly...

SB 0188 Jackson HB 1430 West
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES: NRA specialty license plate. Authorizes issuance of National Rifle Association specialty license plate. Specifies that funds produced from the sale of such plate go to TWRA for hunter and gun safety programs for youth. TCA Secs. 55-04-0000; 55-04-0200; 55-04-0202

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Transportation.

---

SB 0221 Miller J.
HB 0016 Newton
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun permit fee increase. Increases the application fee for a handgun permit to $100 dollars from $15 dollars when an audit determines the $15 dollars is no longer needed for its intended purpose or it is not being used for its intended purpose.
TCA Secs. 39-17-1300; 39-17-1351; 62-35-0100; 70-04-0100

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 0960 Norris
HB 0887 Todd
CRIMINAL LAW: Possession of firearms. Permits authorized persons to carry firearms where alcohol is served when such person is not consuming any alcoholic beverage. Creates an affirmative defense for persons in possession of firearms on school property when the firearms are not removed, utilized, or allowed to be removed or utilized.
TCA Secs. 39-17-0000; 39-17-1305; 39-17-1310

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1041 Finney
HB 0770 McCord
CRIMINAL LAW: Military switchblade defense. State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Creates defense to charge of manufacturing or selling prohibited weapon that weapon was switchblade knife that was manufactured and sold in this state and only sold to military or law enforcement personnel or retail establishments that would only sell to such personnel. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.
TCA Secs. 39-17-1300; 39-17-1302

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1288 Ramsey
HB 1358 Gresham
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Exempts person who holds a valid Tennessee handgun permit and displays it to licensed dealer at time of purchase from background check requirement when person purchasing a firearm. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1319 McNally
State Summary: Students - Holds as grounds for student suspension possession of firearm in close proximity to school property or school activity if such possession causes disruption. - Amends TCA Section 49-6-3401.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Education.

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SB 1428 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Removes prohibition on possession of handgun in buildings where alcohol is served for on- premises consumption if possessor of handgun has permit and is not consuming alcohol; creates affirmative defense to prosecution for carrying weapons on school property where handgun is kept in vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1429 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Authorizes persons who voluntarily commit themselves to a mental institution to receive a handgun carry permit after three years following release in certain circumstances and persons who are involuntarily committed after five years following release in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1430 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Deletes social security requirement on criminal background checks for firearms purchasers. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1316.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1484 Jackson
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun permits to apply to firearms. Broadens applicability of handgun permits to allow a holder of such permit to carry any firearms that the permit holder legally owns or possesses.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1351

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1485 Jackson
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun carry permit application fees. State Summary: Handgun Permits - Reduces handgun carry permit application and processing fee from $115 to $50.00 and removes funding provision for TBI fingerprint criminal history data base from portion of fees collected; reduces permit renewal fee from $50.00 to $25.00. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1351

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1487 Jackson
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun carry permits. State Summary: Handgun Permits - Requires handgun carry permits to expire on permit holder's birthdate that is divisible by five; prorates initial permit fees to achieve new renewal cycle for permits; imposes penalties for late renewals of permits. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1351.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.

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SB 1488 Jackson
JUDICIARY: 2005 Civilians Weapons Act. State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Extends time sale of confiscated weapon shall be advertised in daily or weekly newspaper from not less than three editions and not less than 30 days to not less than four editions and not less than 40 days. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

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SB 1489 Jackson
JUDICIARY: Handgun Carry Permit Records Disclosure Act. State Summary: Handgun Permits - Enacts "Handgun Carry Permit Records Disclosure Act." - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7 and Title 55, Chapter 2.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

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SB 1490 Jackson
CRIMINAL LAW: Firearms kept in employee's motor vehicle permitted. State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Authorizes private employees with firearm permits to maintain firearms in their motor vehicles on their employers' property as long as such firearms are kept in employee's motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1315.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1491 Jackson
PROFESSIONS & LICENSURE: Exempts licensed gun importers from background check. State Summary: Handgun Permits - Exempts licensed gun importers, manufacturers, dealers and collectors from criminal background check requirements where sale of used or second-hand firearm is owned by such persons. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-1316.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

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SB 1492 Jackson
PROFESSIONS & LICENSURE: Certification for teaching firearms courses. State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Requires persons teaching firearm courses to be certified by commissioner of commerce and insurance. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 62 and Title 70.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1499 Jackson
HB 1149 Buck
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun permit report available upon request. State Summary: Handgun Permits - Makes annual statistical report by the department of safety of the number of handgun permits issued, denied, revoked, or suspended available upon request by each member of the general assembly rather than requiring that such report be distributed to each member. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Introduced 2/9/2005

---

SB 1500 Jackson
HB 1151 Buck
CRIMINAL LAW: Sale of confiscated weapons. Increases the amount of time in which a confiscated weapon to be sold under court order must be advertised in a daily or weekly newspaper to not less than four editions and not less than 40 days from not less than three editions and not less than 30 days.
TCA Secs. 39-17-1300; 39-17-1317

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1505 Jackson
HB 1268 Tidwell
ENVIRONMENT & NATURE: Computer-assisted remote hunting prohibited. State Summary: Game and Fish Laws - Prohibits computer-assisted remote hunting in the state; penalty is Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 70, Chapter 4.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Environment, Conservation & Tourism.
House Status: Referred to House Conservation & Environment.

---

SB 1627 Norris
HB 0698 Pleasant
CRIMINAL LAW: U.S. citizenship required for handgun carry permit. Requires that applicant be a United States citizen to be eligible for handgun carry permit.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1351

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1633 Norris
HB 0651 Cochran
CRIMINAL LAW: Firearms permitted in restaurants. Authorizes possession of firearms in restaurants. Defines restaurant to be a place where meals are regularly served and has a capacity of more than 25 seats. Authorizes restaurants to prohibit firearms on their premises, with proper posting of notice.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1305

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1643 Norris
HB 0890 Crider
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun permit fee exemption for retired law officers. Exempts retired law enforcement officers who served more than 10 years from the licensing fees required for handgun carry permits.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1351

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Referred to House Judiciary.

---

SB 1645 Norris
State Summary: Handgun Permits - Exempts persons with concealed carry permits from prohibition against carrying weapon outside of applicable hunting season. - Amends TCA Title 70, Chapter 4.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1865 Herron
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Allows vested correctional clerical officer as well as correctional officer and law enforcement officer to carry firearm at all times and in all places. -

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

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SB 1900 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Authorizes carrying a firearm within confines of establishment selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises provided establishment derives 51 percent or more of gross annual revenue from sale of food. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1901 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Permits handgun carry permit holder to possess firearm in any establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises provided such person is not consuming alcohol and establishment is not posted. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1908 Jackson
State Summary: Firearms and Ammunition - Authorizes person with handgun carry permit to possess firearm within the confines of a restaurant licensed to sell alcoholic beveages for consumption on the premises provided such person is not consuming alcohol while in the restaurant. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

---

SB 1938 Jackson
ENVIRONMENT & NATURE: Local regulation of sport shooting ranges. Specifies that no city, county or city-county government may regulate sport shooting ranges, unless an ordinance or resolution was lawfully enacted before April 8, 1986.
TCA Secs. 39-17-0000; 39-17-1314

Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.

---

SB 1939 Jackson
CRIMINAL LAW: Handgun permits - social security number voluntary. Makes providing social security number voluntary on a handgun permit. Deletes the social security requirement on gun permit application.
TCA Sec. 39-17-1351

Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.

Now...get to writing.

(thanks to the TFA for compiling this list via email)

Old and New Media

Nashville's News Channel 2 just posted a list of area bloggers. It's a good list, and I'm glad to see Channel 2 doing it.

Channel 2 seems to be a media outlet that understands the blogosphere and is doing a good job of reaching out to bloggers in the area. They are also leveraging the power of the blogosphere themselves. I have highlighted a few statewide media outlets in the past (mostly newspapers...the Tennessean excluded, of course) that also understand that leveraging the power of the blogosphere is in their best interests.

The media world is evolving. Those that adapt will survive, and those who choose to ignore us are only condemning themselves to insignificance...and who wants to be insignificant?

Line up...

Line up...we're just cattle anyway:

The U.S. House of Representatives approved on Thursday a sweeping set of rules aimed at forcing states to issue all adults federally approved electronic ID cards, including driver's licenses.

Under the rules, federal employees would reject licenses or identity cards that don't comply, which could curb Americans' access to airplanes, trains, national parks, federal courthouses and other areas controlled by the federal government. The bill was approved by a 261-161 vote.

The measure, called the Real ID Act, says that driver's licenses and other ID cards must include a digital photograph, anticounterfeiting features and undefined "machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements" that could include a magnetic strip or RFID tag. The Department of Homeland Security would be charged with drafting the details of the regulation.
...
The Bush administration threw its weight behind the Real ID Act, which has been derided by some conservative and civil liberties groups as tantamount to a national ID card. The White House said in a statement this week that it "strongly supports House passage" of the bill.

Et tu, GOP? Wasn't I just writing about the GOP no longer standing for small government? Just remember...a big government is a nosey government.

And why can I never get this quote out of my head?

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.” –Benjamin Franklin

More - 9:04 AM: While this ID bill would keep illegals from getting drivers' licenses (a good thing), it goes too far in that it essentially creates a national ID card. This would cross-reference all kinds of private information that the government wasn't able to pull together at one time on ordinary citizens. It's overkill. It's trying to accomplish something that can be done in other ways.

Once you start down this path, there is no turning back. You start with a national ID card, someone figures out a way around that...then they put RFID in the cards (if they don't start out with that), and someone gets around that. Next thing you know, it will be required that all citizens who want to fly, access certain areas of the "Federal" government, or buy firearms have a chip implanted so that we definitely know who they are.

But wait...wouldn't that be the perfect way to stop identity theft? Yeah...then let's require that all citizens who want to buy and sell goods on the open market to have this chip implanted.

You see where I'm going with this? It's only the beginning. It all sounds good up front, but the near term benefits don't come close to easing the long term loss of privacy and liberty.

Whilst they're young...

Teach them while they're young then it will be easier for them to accept it when they're older.

SUTTER, Calif. - The only grade school in this rural town is requiring students to wear radio frequency identification badges that can track their every move. Some parents are outraged, fearing it will take away their children's privacy.

The badges introduced at Brittan Elementary School on Jan. 18 rely on the same radio frequency and scanner technology that companies use to track livestock and product inventory. Similar devices have recently been used to monitor youngsters in some parts of Japan.

But few American school districts have embraced such a monitoring system, and civil libertarians hope to keep it that way.

Read it all.

(ht SayUncle)

More: And who can resist this gem?

Not everyone in this close-knit farming town northwest of Sacramento is against the system. Some said they welcomed the IDs as a security measure.

"This is not Mayberry. This is Sutter, California. Bad things can happen here," said Tim Crabtree, an area parent.

Um...Mr. Crabtree...something bad just did happen in Sutter.

Governmental Charity

Miss O'Hara mentioned this just a few minutes ago in the comments section here, but I had intended to provide a link to Walter E. Williams' column from yesterday on a favorite subject of mine: governmental 'charity.' It's a must read.

You can find it here.

Reagan Stamp

It's been a long time since I've collected stamps, but I'll probably have to pick up a few of these.

Conservatism No More?

Glenn Reynolds has a piece in today's Wall Street Journal weighing the prospects of Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen running for President in '08.

Don't count Bill Hobbs in the column of Republicans singing Bredesen's praises...that's for sure (or me for that matter).

My simple analysis of this situation is that Bredesen wouldn't be able to win in the primaries if he were to run. He's just not liberal enough for the national Democratic party. On the other hand, if he does make it through the primaries (and if Democrats change their ways and get smart), he could definitely win the White House.

I'm not concerned with that, though. My concern lies with the Republican party. No longer does the Republican party provide a vision for small government. No longer does the Republican party provide a positive vision as it did with the Contract with America era.

Sure, Bush's newest budget is finally making cuts in certain areas, but does he have the guts to veto it when it comes back from Congress with all of those cuts added back? For someone who has never used the veto pen, I say that he won't. At the same time, that budget (before going through Congress) is the biggest budget ever weighing in at $2.57 Trillion!

Of course, I still support Bush...if only for the fact that the other choice would have been much worse. However, if Bush and the Republicans don't curb spending and start cutting the deficit, Democrats may realize that they can hammer us by moving toward fiscal conservatism (or at least the appearance of fiscal conservatism...a la Bredesen). I don't see that as a likely possibility though. The Democrats have their own problems to deal with, and with Dean being the virtual shoe-in for DNC chairman, it only shows that Democrats won't be learning any new tricks anytime soon.

Looking forward to '08, I can see a major struggle coming within the GOP between captital 'C' Conservatives and lower case 'c' conservatives. From a source close to Pat Buchanan, I hear that he will again be running in the GOP primaries (you heard it here first...unless you heard it somewhere else). It seems that he intends to push the issue and try to get the GOP back to its Reaganesque roots...which is exactly what needs to happen. Buchanan has tried the route of third parties but has realized that any viable third party is a long way from becoming reality. No, he won't win, and he knows it, but he feels (and rightly so) that there needs to be a strong, truly Conservative voice coming from the GOP.

At this time, I don't see hardly any Conservative voices within the GOP that are speaking out against what I see as flagrant abuses and complete ignorance of Constitutional limits on spending and power, and that worries me, and I definitely don't see any viable GOP candidates for '08 that will espouse that message.

Well, I guess all I can do is say..."It's better than the alternative." Unfortunately, a lot of us capital 'C' Conservatives are saying that. At least for now.

Yes, indeed.

Baby Names

Here is a very interesting website that allows you to enter baby names into an interactive wizard. It will show the popularity of names over the past century through a chart.

My name has really become more popular over the last decade or so. On the other hand, my great grandmother's name (Nellie), started out strong in the early part of the 20th century but had all but disappeared by the 80's.

Also, some names may spike during one or two decades. For example, the name Marta spiked big time during the 60's, but it had completely dropped off the chart by the end of the 70's.

It's very interesting to see how names spike and sometimes completely disappear (or maybe even become popular again). You can also compare more famous names with spikes in baby names as well as unpopular people's names with drops in baby names.

Anyway...something interesting to pass the waste your time.

Purse Snatcher Update

Well, it seems that the purse snatcher/home invader I wrote about last week is getting bolder and more violent.

Metro Police are still searching for the suspect in a West Nashville home invasion. It's the 17th in a string of recent attacks in the area, and the second in that particular neighborhood alone. Investigators say they're not sure whether these attacks are connected, but they seem to be similar in style and they're getting more and more violent.

The latest victim said that a masked man broke into her Clearview Drive home on Friday night by pushing in the screen of a ground level window. She says his intent was only to get cash, and that he didn't have a weapon. She's sure he'll strike again, and she has some advice for the next possible victim.

"They might pay more attention to what he was wearing and have a better description for the police - that would definitely help them," she said.

I've got even better advice. If someone breaks into your home, shoot them. Then the police can identify the body when they arrive.

Is that so shocking?

This criminal has gotten bolder because no one has stood up and stopped him. When criminals become bold, their crimes become more and more violent.

At least until something like this happens. Problem solved. And I guarantee when other criminals see a story like that, they think twice about going into someone's home in that area.

Nashville Purse Snatcher

I believe the only way to stop this is for some smart, heat-packing woman to do her duty to rid Nashville of this menace before he decides to start upping the ante:

According to e-mail warnings that police are sending out to women, a criminal threw a concrete gutter splash through a sliding glass door on Thursday night to snatch a purse he could see from outside.

A few hours later, a man broke the glass in a woman's home and demanded that she give him money.

According to Metro Detective Billy Cothran, in both cases women did the right thing and gave the robber the cash.

Unmarked squad cars are now combing these streets. Police believe the criminal knew he was being searched for in the Ellington Park area and decided to move on.

And by the way...a tip for all men (just in time for Valentine's Day): Teach a lady friend to shoot. In fact, she may end up being better than you.

No Smoking

This is how it should be:

Smokers who want to light up while dining at Connors, one of Turkey Creek's newest casual dining restaurants, will have to go outside or suppress the urge until they leave the restaurant.

Connors is one of the first restaurants in Knoxville to go totally smoke free.

Bo Connor, chief operating officer of Connor Concepts, said smokers have increasingly become the minority rather than the majority of all diners, and he thinks in a few years all restaurants will be smoke free.

Conners restaurant, on its own, has decided to ban smoking. Is it possible that a private business can make these decisions without the government passing some type of law???

Local governments around the country are looking at banning smoking in most private establishments within their cities (and sometimes states). People tend to applaud when governments pass such "feel good" laws. Just because a law "feels good" doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Tennessee is moving towards allowing local governments to make the decision of whether they will ban smoking within private businesses.

Ronnie Hart, president of the Nashville-based Tennessee Restaurant Association, said three bills have been introduced in the Legislature this year that would have an effect on smoking in restaurants.

All are aimed at giving authority to local governments to create their own laws relative to smoking, Hart said. The restaurant association opposes them.

Hart said restaurants, not governments, should have the authority to decide whether smoking will be allowed.

"It should be their decision. They are the one's with the investment," Hart said.

Exactly. The restaurants can and will make those decisions without the government passing a law. Here in Nashville, there are several restaurants that have banned smoking. Others allow it...all without the help of a nanny-government telling them what they can or can't do. Isn't that what America is about? ...or used to be about anyway.

(ht: Michael Silence)

Token Librul Blogs

Well, it's official. After much prodding, the Token Librul has gone head first into blogging and has even taken on a new name (ChristianLibrul...isn't that an oxymoron?). However, the rhetoric remains the same (yes, some things never change). Yep...South Knox Bubba has a new friend in Tennessee.

Check him out over at Not in My Bible...link him up...and be amazed.

Speaking of local blogging...I'll probably be here on Saturday morning.