Front Page Follies Preview
According to Jean Ashe, this years Front Page Follies will portray Jack McElroy as good guy and the others as bad guys. This is not real surprising since the Front Page Follies is just an opportunity for the Chamber crowd to get together, have a few drinks, laugh at the "little"people that are having to pay for $3.75 a gallon gas at the local Pilot. While they all stand around afterwards, slapping one another on the back, feeling good about themselves. While the rest of us spend time with our kids, raising productive families.
Here is the preview written by Jean Ashe for all to see the arrogance on parade.
The 2008 Front Page Follies will laud “The Sunshine Boys,” News Sentinel editor Jack McElroy and First Amendment attorney Richard Hollow, for their pursuit of justice after Knox County Commission plunged our area into darkness with backroom deals on January 31, 2007, dubbed “Black Wednesday.”
Maybe not as funny as George Burns and Walter Matthau in the acclaimed 1975 movie or earlier Neil Simon play, McElroy and Hollow made an even bigger impact on the lives of area citizens, who have a more open government as a result of the decision upholding the Sunshine Law.
What will be hilarious, however, are the performances of the Follies cast, led by director Carol Zinavage. Some examples of song parodies now being rehearsed are: “Sunshine in our meetings --makes us nervous….” (to the tune ‘Sunshine on My Shoulders’); City Council members singing “Thank God We’re Not County Boys” (to the tune of “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”); “The Ballad of Pat Head Summitt,” with apologies to Davy Crockett: “… learned how to stare when she was only three….;” and “Bubba Shot the Red Light….”
This year the Follies will also honor the Nine Citizens who joined the legal action, represented by Herb Moncier.
Summer Reading List
I have for the past three summers and will this year participate in the Farragut High School's mandatory summer reading program. This year, all students are required to read "The Man Who Planted Trees".
It is located here. In addition, all students are required to select one of the four books.
1. Persepolis – The Story of a Childhood *– by Majani Satrapi
ISBN: 037571457X
2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time **– by Mark Haddon
ISBN: 1400032717
3. Marley and Me *– by John Grogan
ISBN: 0060817097
4. The Glass Castle *– by Jeanette Walls
ISBN: 074324754X
I have just purchased the last of the four books. I will spend my summer reading all four books. My son will select one of the four to read, I have also offered to share my FHS summer library with a friend's student.
A great addition to this summer reading program is that each and every student will turn in a "report" in August after returning to school.
Here is the link to the Farragut High School summer reading program. This link includes the "report form" along with the parent/guardian verification statement. This is a great improvement as it includes parent acknowledgement and accountability.
As in the past, Brian's Blog will post reviews of the book(s) as I complete them throughout the summer.
I have completed The Man Who Planted Trees, this is an excellent quick 10 minute read. The message is simple in that all good deeds, gone unnoticed proves a life well lived.
Is There One Among Us?
The picture below is from last year. It was at an event during the playing of the National Anthem. Barack Obama did NOT place his hand over his heart, while the others did. Here in Knox County we had a similar incident recently, however it is a tad bit different.
One of our Brian's Blog correspondent attended this years Fulton High School graduation. Everyone on stage did NOT place their hand over their heart with the exception of one elected official. On the stage mimicking the Barack Obama gesture were the members of the administration of Fulton High School, Assistant Superintendent Donna Wright and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
The one official that appropriately saluted the National Anthem was Knox County School Board Vice-Chair Indya Kincannon.
Ms. Kincannon, this is a great way to lead by example. Your respect for our country and its National Anthem has NOT gone unnoticed. Good Job!
Sproles Campaign Rally..Be There to Support an Independent Voice That Will Cast Our Independent Vote
What Agenda is Mike Hammond Married To?
Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond has shown his hand. He said that at the appropriate time, he will make a motion to accept the P-Card Audit, accept the Law Director's opinion and take no other action.
He either should make a motion to clear the Mayor and the administration or make a motion to take some other action. To do neither, asks the question what agenda is he married to?
Is his agenda a Hammond for Mayor campaign in 2010. By doing nothing, he doesn't make anyone mad and helps his future campaign endeavors.
County Commissioners To Have $6000 Placed In Their Personal Checking Accounts?
Knox County Finance Director John Troyer has mentioned at the P-Card Audit meeting of the County Commission that the Commission could decide to take their discretionary funds and place $6,000 in each Commissioners personal checking account and then each Commissioner could write checks out of their own checking accounts to non-profits, etc.
Is this something any of us would want? I hope not.
Appointed County Commissioner Gone Mad
William Daniels, appointed caretaker County Commissioner for the fourth district arrived at the Knox County Mayor's State of the Community Address last Wednesday May 14, 2008 at Hardin Valley Academy High School. Daniels arrived about 10 minutes late. He arrived after County Commission Chairman Tank Strickland had introduced all elected officials and after the County Mayor had started his address.
I noticed that Daniels was speaking to a Sheriff's Deputy, Daniels then approached me and said "this isn't right, my notice said 8:30 and there is no seats for officials." I said, "I don't know and I don't work for the county. Dwight Van de Vate is right there." I was pointing to the County Mayor's PR guy, Dwight Van de Vate.
Daniels approached Van de Vate and they had words, with Van de Vate clearly saying that the address was scheduled and advertised to begin at 8:15 not 8:30. Daniels went back to Van de Vate at least twice more during the address. Daniels also approached appointed County Commissioner Mark Campen of the Second district. Campen shrugged his shoulders and said something to the effect it's o.k., I don't care.
At the conclusion of the Mayor's remarks, Daniels made sure that the County Mayor was aware of Daniels failure to be early for the State of the Community address.
Which One is Lying?
Here is a test for you, our dear readers. Reporters Georgianna Vines and Betty Bean, o.k. reporter is a loose term for both. But this question is which one is lying, more than the other.
On Saturday in the Sentinel Vines "reported" that James Carville had one word of advice for the Republicans. "Pack" Her one line from the story is "
He had one word for the GOP: "Pack.""On Sunday/Monday Bean reported that James Carville had one word of advice for the Republicans. "Panic" Her one line from the story is "“I got one word of advice for Republicans:“Panic!"
Which one is lying? Are they both lying? Did they both attend the same dinner? Carville only spoke in Knoxville at one time and in one place in Knoxville on Thursday night. It appears that their salaries need to be reduced. Both working for the same organization (Scripps owns the Sentinel and Shopper) attending the same event. Reporting on the same one liner and one or both of them can't get it right.
Heck, for all we know. Carville probably said "Prepare" As Larry the Cable Guy says "That is funny, I don't care who you are!"
Write-In Candidates?
Pamela Treacy has started a discussion over at School Matters inquiring if everyone understands that it is not too late to run for School Board.
Read Pamela's post, here.
Is it just a coincidence that Indya Kincannon and Karen Carson, the School Board Vice-Chair and Chair, both waited until February 5, 2008 (the primary election) to select the Superintendent?
For those of you outraged over the treatment of Donna Wright (being scored a ZERO by four board members, Kincannon and Carson being two of them). For those of you outraged at the treatment of Bob Thomas as a finalist. This may be worth checking in to.
IdleAire Questions about Stocks and McElroy's Coverage
The News-Sentinel has produced two editorial cartoons about IdleAire. One has the Knox County Mayor hooked up to a IdleAire duct by one ear and cash flowing out of the other ear. The other cartoon has a White Elephant's trunk as an IdleAire duct.
Here are a question or two for McElroy and Company to consider. Will the stock purchases be revealed in the bankruptcy proceedings? If not will you (McElroy and Co) pursue finding out all the stock block's and all the purchasers of the stock blocks? If so, will you reveal two Knox County Contractors, two other elected officials and one Knoxville media personality that are linked in the same block?
