Tennessee writer

Jim Dykes passes

2011-11-20T09:52:00.002-05:00

East Tennessee lost a print media icon this week. Jim Dykes wrote for the long dead Knoxville Journal, published a series of books, was an unofficial ambassador to the 1982 World’s Fair and the secret ruler of Rockford, Tennessee. Because he was mostly a print guy and because he worked for a newspaper that was much better than its competition he wasn’t front page news, but those who knew Dykes would say he would have been just fine with that.

Personally I only had three contacts with him; the first was in 82 at the World’s Fair where I found him lounging around early one morning in the pressroom. I was working for a radio station that had a remote studio down the hall from the press area and on a news break I walked out to see if any of the foreign press had come in. Dykes was on a couch, draped out like a dead man with his dirty boots resting on one of the pillows. It was my first physical encounter with the guy and I was taken by how long he was, had to be well over six feet, and how big a foot he had. Looking at him and hearing him snore with such conviction reminded me of the old adage about letting sleeping dogs rest and I did. Two hours later when my show was over Dykes was awake, enjoying a free beer, a Little Debbie snack and working the door to the press room like a Wal-Mart Greeter. As I walked by him, headed to the hall I complimented him on his derby.

Encounter number two was in Gatlinburg. We (CP and I) were working a big Christmas party for a very large oil company. After we told our jokes, helped give out gifts and turned the evening over to the DJ we moved to the bar for a few bracers to get us back to Knoxville. The room quickly filled with inebriated dancers trying to do “The Bump” and various free form interpretations when a side door opened. Due to the fact that one full wall of the hall was glass, allowing those walking by to see the festivities, Jim Dykes and his bride Peg spotted the private gathering as they strolled past. Without hesitation Dykes and said bride entered the far end of the hall, embraced and executed a very good waltz right through the gyrating throng. Without missing a beat, Dykes managed to open another door and continue waltzing right out of the room and into the hall toward the lobby. CP and I both gave the couple 10s for style, grace and balls.

The third and final encounter with Dykes came in the mail, as in the real mail that you walk across the yard to retrieve. I had been fired from something, can’t remember if it was a newspaper job or radio, but whatever it was he had found out about it. On the side flap of a Pall Mall carton in real ink (not the ballpoint pin crap but the real deal) he said he saw I now have some free time and suggested I come visit him at his estate (Condorhurst) in Rockford. I had moved to Rockford in 1978 and to the founders like Dykes I was more or less an outsider. Getting such an invite from a guy I had admired, read and in a left handed way stalked over the years made the dark situation I was in fade away. Unfortunately I did not get to visit him, meant to do it, and thought about it but a combination of shyness and a touch of inferiority kept me from making the drive over. I so wish I had now that he is gone.

Sort of an update since back then

2011-09-18T22:16:00.010-05:00

Since last time...A band has happened, a trip to Alaska, fall in East Tn. and today
I saw an eagle over my TN home. Go figure!

back..

2011-01-31T09:47:00.019-05:00

Sorry for the delay but being retired does cause scheduling problems
. Working in vital activities like naps, eating out, naps, and travel
are harder than you think when you no longer do the 9 to 5 routine.

After years of avoiding cruising, age has pushed us back into
that slower travel form. We are Holland America fans and
will be going on our third with them this summer and our 4th
this winter.

New Years was spent aboard the Eurodam

We started the adventure the 26th of December in Knoxville, TN.
The plan was to leave our local airport at 6 AM, be in Miami two hours later,
shuttle to Ft. Lauderdale and board the Eurodam around lunchtime.

Our American Airline pilot modified that schedule by
showing up a half hour late for the flight and then
driving our jet off the runway and into the soft grass and
heavy snow. An HOUR later we were evacuated from the American
jet by a very professional and efficient "Local" firefighting crew, carried by
bus back to the terminal and in general abandoned by American. In
short, thirty hours later American Airlines flew us to Miami. After
demanding they send us on to Belize (the first stop for the ship that
they had caused us to miss)
we took the first tender out to the Eurodam two days into
the cruise.

Our travel agent told us American was
the worst when it came to correcting
mistakes and we agreed.

Once on board the Eurodam things improved
greatly. Joining a ship is much different than
embarking on the first day of a cruise.
The crew of the Eurodam went out of their way
to welcome us and although we were required
to leave our passports with the front desk for the duration,
the service and general attitude of the
ships crew was light years ahead of what
we experienced with American Airlines.

Our first day (third for the cruise) was spent in
Guatemala visiting a large Mayan village featuring
many ruins.
The country has a per-capita income of less than
$300 dollars a month but is very
rich in history and tradition. The Eurodam
docked at a container port secured by
a private police force sporting fully
automatic weapons. The small town at the port
was third world with hungry dogs and horses
wandering the streets.

The following day we were in Roatan, an
island off the coast of Honduras.
The port was built specifically for
cruise ships and featured a new shopping village
and a great beach, accessed by a chair lift from the
dock. Shopping was normal island prices and
the products were mostly imported.

New Years Eve was spent
on the Yucatan Peninsula
touring the ruins of Tulum
all day followed by a
really great Mexican late lunch and beach
walk before we took the 7 PM ferry ride back to the
Eurodam that evening.

One more day at sea,
enjoying the Eurodam
before
reaching Ft. Lauderdale..then an over night
stay in Miami
before heading back to
Knoxville...on American.

Next stop is Alaska!

Florida...Ft. Myers, Captiva and more

2009-06-26T12:15:00.018-05:00

The resort was at the very northern tip of Ft. Myers Beach and a short walk to a park that covered the top of the island. Sucker was PINK..either because the name was The Pink Shell or because the owner had stock in Pepo-Bismol? Despite the color it was a heck of a place to make base camp. Three heated pools, great breakfast and flat ON the beach.

Looking south down the beach from the hotel toward
the pier and Times Square (village not unlike Gatlinburg
before the tattoo parlors but still with Rebel Corner)were
less than a half a mile walk. Easy because when the tide was out the beach ran almost to Texas.

Looking north from the resort was the park and
off to the left Captiva. Reportedly folks
loved the shelling and after the tide went out
many were seen humped over looking for them.
Years ago after after a Florida tide went out all
you found were panties, condoms (too soggy for re-use), and beer cans. All
gone now, very VERY clean beaches!

At the far end of Captiva were two good
beaneries. The first was the Mucky Duck.
Off the wall "shack" elegance with some
really good food. Outside an "Island" guy
was entertaining on the pans, trumpet, guitar,
and flute. The man (too old to be called a dude)
could play anything on any of his instruments mixing
Duke Ellington with Jimmy B. Lots of folks
came off the sand about sundown (a major event on Captiva)
and enjoyed several adult beverages while listing to
this guy.

The beaches on Captiva were without
commerce as in hotels, T Shirt shacks,and
Surf Shops.. miles of really nice sand
with multimillion dollar homes
hidden just behind the flora and
fauna.
Another place near the Duck
that defied description but dished out
some really good grits (yep they had one
grit on the menu) was the Bubble Room.
Staff dressed in Boy Scout uniforms (had to
deep six the official badges cause the real
scouts got pissed at their uniforms being
worn by those who served adult beverages)
and thousands of toys covering the walls, floors and
shadowboxed into the tables took dinning
to a new level. Flaming cheese (no not a
THING to do with an alternate lifestyle)
BUBBLE BREAD and a tray of goodies
after the meal that gave several servers
hernias make this place special. Off season
(the summer) it packs out just at sunset, rest of
the time it is always crowded.

Just a few more pictures starting
with the lab at Tom Edision's
summer home in Ft. Myers

Edision's house

Beach outside the suite at Ft. Myers

Boats for rent
across the street from the resort.

Sunset cruise coming in
on Captiva. Guy was singing
Jimmy B's Lovely Cruise and
he sounded just like Mr. B!

EARLY morning..thunder heads....
dock....sun up..

Calm on the back bay at
Ft. Myers

Elderly HIPPIES
love to ride the beach

OCT. IN DRYVALLEY, CADES COVE

2008-10-12T22:07:00.006-05:00

TOWNSEND...DRY VALLEY..CADES COVE

FALL IS HERE

2008-09-24T10:42:00.005-05:00

EAST TENNESSEE IN THE FALL IS
OUTSTANDING!

COOL AT LAST

2008-09-15T21:56:00.006-05:00

FALL temps showed up tonight!

Hidden Maryville

2008-08-23T16:14:00.007-05:00

Pistol Creek and the downtown area.

Asheville, NC 8-7-08

2008-08-10T22:50:00.012-05:00

ASHEVILLE
is all they say and then some.

LOOKING BACK

2008-07-22T17:37:00.005-05:00

A few pictures from over the years

NEW E MAIL

2008-07-04T09:04:00.006-05:00

Due to the sudden demise of
AOL the old e mail address
wjonair1@aol.com
has passed away.

East TN

2008-06-17T00:16:00.015-05:00

This site has been rather
still for a bit.

With a great spring just ending and a
hot summer on us it feels like a good time
to look at the East Tennessee Valley.

Some of these pictures are hours old
and some are a few months, but ALL
of them are from right here in East Tennessee.

Remember, if you want to make
them bigger just click on them.

Thanks

2008-03-21T09:02:00.010-05:00

Thank you very much for the many e mails about
my mother's passing. She is still with me
and will be for the rest of this life and
for the others to come.

She had a beautiful funeral.
Every flower sent looked like something
she would have picked out and there were
so many of her friends there it turned something
sad into something very warm and loving.

We played the next night as I promised
her we would do and she was right there with
me. Then with Wyoming family on board
we headed to a cabin in Townsend to
talk about her and decompress.

Here are some pictures of the show
and the mountain trip. Mom is in all of them
you just can't. see her.

Again thanks to everyone who called, e mailed and
came by. She loved all of your support for her
kid and family.

LaRue Johnson

2008-03-16T11:46:00.012-05:00

Alta LaRue Abercrombie Johnson
February 18, 1916 - March 12, 2008

Birthplace: Lovell Wyoming
Resided In: Maryville TN USA
Visitation: March 14, 2008
Service: March 14, 2008
Cemetery: Clarks Grove Cemetery

JOHNSON, La Rue Abercrombie, 92, passed away March 12, 2008 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Born February 18, 1916, the only child of Harry and Alta Abercrombie, LaRue grew up in Wyoming. She attended the University of Wyoming where she served as president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was elected Sweetheart of Sigma Chi fraternity. It was during this time she met her future husband, Charles W. Johnson of Maryville who was president of Sigma Chi.

Following their marriage in Billings, Montana in 1941, LaRue moved to Maryville where she lived for 67 years. LaRue was active in many civic organizations including Chilhowee Club and Junior Service League where she served as president. She was also a past board chairman of the Blount County Children’s Home and was an active member of First Baptist Church of Maryville.
In 1966 LaRue helped to organize the Epilson Lambda chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She was an inventor, patent holder, and an avid bridge player.

Preceded in death by her parents and husband of 58 years, Charles W. Johnson. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Walker and Denise M. Johnson of Rockford and several nieces and nephews.

SHOW TIME KIDS

2008-03-10T15:05:00.006-05:00

WOW it is JUST about here!
CALLTHE BARN NOW @ 865-448 3812!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are going back and forth on
calling to make your reservations
for the BIG St. Pats dinner/show
in Townsend let me push you over
to the FUN SIDE.

THE FOOD!
GOOD YUMMMMMMMMM YUMMMMMMMMMS and
every fork full features authentic
IRISH dishes that even Martha O Stewart
would be proud of.

THE PLACE
BEAUTIFUL inside and out.

THE BAND
Four guys that make their
species proud! Everyone
knows a minimum of 4 chords
on both guitar and banjo and
they have promised management
they will both wear something
green AND TAKE A BATH for the show!

COST
Twenty five dollars per person (checks or cash only)

This is your last chance to
book so call the barn right now
and bring a bus load of your
neighbors on up to Townsend, it
will change your life!

CALLTHE BARN NOW @ 865-448 3812!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TABLES GOING FAST!

2008-02-11T12:04:00.004-05:00

THE BIGGEST ST. PAT DINNER SHOW IN THE FREE WORLD
AND TOWNSEND IS JUST ABOUT TO SELL OUT!
CALLTHE BARN NOW @ 865-448 3812!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHEN
St. Pats WEEKEND..Sat. MARCH 15
WHERE
THE BARN IN TOWNSEND 865 448 3823
WHAT
Traditional IRISH dinner and SHOW
The menu includes shepherd’s pie, corned beef with mustard cream sauce, twice-cooked Irish potatoes, dressed cabbage, Irish dessert and more.
COST
Twenty five dollars per person (checks or cash only)
MUSIC
The Mountain Folk Reunion..FEATURING HIT FOLK SONGS
of the 50s..60s..70s..and 80s
HOW
Call RIGHT NOW for reservations 865-448 3812

The FIRST dinner/concert show
of 2008 is just about sold out!
We WANT YOU THERE..so call The Barn
in TOWNSEND to reserve your table
@ 865-448 3812!!!

Come hear the boys
at The Barn
in Townsend, Tennessee.

This beautiful NEW venue is right on
the main drag in Townsend and
on the 15th of MARCH The Mountain Folk
Reunion will bring in the St. Pats
weekend with a big show filled with
your favorite songs. The price is
right the music is outstanding and
the experience will have you bragging
all weekend about the great time you had!

DOUBLE HEADER SATURDAY

2007-10-08T13:23:00.001-05:00

FIRST WE ARE PLAYING IN MARYVILLE FROM 3:30-4:30
ON THE DOWNTOWN STAGE FOR THE FALL FESTIVAL...

THEN:

The Mountain Folk Reunion is headed

to Loudon’s historic Carmichael

October 13: It’s a Saturday afternoon,
and the Vols game
will be over, so we invite you to top it
all off by coming on down to the
historic Carmichael Inn in downtown
Loudon for an evening of 60s-era
folk music and a sumptuous meal.
You may bring your own libation,
if you choose.
The show will be from 6-9 p.m.
We will be singing the songs of
a less complicated time, including “MTA,”
“Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Mrs. Robinson,”
“Joy to the World” and more.

To assure seating on the spacious deck by the Tennessee River,
get there early.
Seating is first come, first served.
The cover charge, collected in cash by the Reunion,
will be $4 per person.

The Carmichael Inn is on the south bank of the Tennessee River
at the end of the bridge, 600 Hackberry Street,
next to the Courthouse.

WE ARE BACK THIS SUNDAY

2007-10-02T12:25:00.000-05:00

PLEASE call them and move your reservations to THIS Sunday if you can!
THE JOINT SCREWED UP...BUT WE WILL BE THERE SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!

WE START SUNDAY at 5 and go to 8!!
Call them to MOVE your reservations from FRIDAY to SUNDAY @
458 1000

THANK YOU!!!

ANOTHER SELL OUT

2007-09-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

The MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION thanks
ALL of you who came to Catinos
SUNDAY! As before the deck sold out
two days after the show was announced!

WE WILL BE BACK THE FIRST AND
SECOND FRIDAYS IN OCTOBER.
Check the post JUST under this one
for the phone number and make
your reservations now!

Brothers and Sisters the fun
that is had is indescribable
and lasts all weekend long!

Join us under the big tree
the first and second FRIDAYS
of October!!!

THE BAND IS BACK!

2007-09-18T21:52:00.001-05:00

Here we come again!

The Mountain Folk Reunion

At Catino’s Friday, Sept. 21

Our last show at Catino’s was a sellout, and the restaurant turned away about 100 more. It was a hoot and a half, with the crowd singin’ and swayin’ to “Tom Dooley” and “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” “MTA” and more. This time Catino’s will be serving a more limited menu in order to get folks their food in a more timely fashion. But the music selection will be broader and the fun will be overflowing, with such tunes as “Abilene,” Doo Wah Diddy,” “Hello Mary Lou” and “Midnight Hour.”

Make your reservations early to assure seating on the deck. Call 458-1000.

Catino’s, 222 Lakeside Plaza, in Tellico Village

Folkies to the core, The Mountain Folk Reunion brings back the natural sounds of the Folk Era, performed with high-brow harmony and low-brow humor by Walker Johnson, Vern Lindsey, Kelley Massey and Bobby Wilson. Visit our Web site at www.themountainfolkreunion.com.

Now accepting bookings for holiday events. Call 865.803.8203 or 865.405.0203

MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION BAND TO PLAY LIBRARY

2007-07-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

The MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION BAND will be
playing a free concert at
the Maryville Library this Thursday
at 7.

We will be in the Rotunda and the
majority of our songs will
be FOLK MUSIC that was
popular in the 50s-60s
and 70s.

The set list will include:
Tom Dooley
Blowing In The Wind
If I Had A Hammer
MTA
Early Morning Rain
Don't Think Twice Its Alright
Sloop John B
Michal Row The Boat To Shore
Greenback Dollar
Where I'm Bound

and a BUNCH MORE!

Bring the family and come on
out...singing along is both
encouraged and appreciated!

We will see you THIS
Thursday at 7 PM at the
Maryville Library!

§ Thursdays in August, 7:00 pm, “Hot Summer Nights Concert Series.” All concerts will be indoors in the Reading Rotunda of the library except for the final concert:

o August 2, The Mountain Folk Reunion, in the spirit of the 1960s folk music era, Walker Johnson, Vern Lindsey, Kelley Massey and Bob Wilson harmonize and play acoustic instruments in the Reading Rotunda of the library.

SOLD OUT AT CATINO'S

2007-07-07T07:26:00.000-05:00

A BIG OLD THANK YOU FROM THE MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION TO ALL WHO CAME TO HEAR US AT
CATINO'S IN TELLICO VILLAGE!

The SOLD OUT CROWD came early and didn't leave till the band finished
their last song. We will be back!

COME SEE US JULY 6th!

2007-06-29T07:21:00.000-05:00

CATINO'S
FOR SEATING ON THE DECK CALL 458 1000

IF you get a recording keep trying and when you get
a live type person tell them you are
coming to see the band..THEY WILL
make it happen for you!

MAP QUEST Catino's by using LOUDEN and this address...222 LAKESIDE PLAZA!!!!!!!

JULY 6th the band will be at Catino's in Tellico Village. Starting at 7 on the deck we will be playing until 10. THIS could be fun, they DO have adult beverages..WE sound BETTER if YOU are having an ADULT BEVERAGE!

PLAN your long 4th weekend around THE MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION. Great fun, great songs, and a pure HOOT to see these decrepit old men trying to find their glasses and remember words to Bye Bye Love!

MORE SHOWS COMING

2007-06-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

THANKS FOR COMING TO TOWNSEND AND HELPING RAISE SOME BUCKS FOR NEW HUMANE SOCIETY!
COME ON OUT AND HEAR US AGAIN!!

DA MOUNTAIN FOLK REVIVAL BAND!!!

More shows are on tap this month and into July.

Earth Fare 6/30/07 ?

Catinos (Tellico Village) 7/6/07 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Blount County Public Library 8/2/07 7:00pm

Great FUN this weekned

2007-05-27T07:50:00.001-05:00

HOT WEATHER AND GREAT PLACES TO PLAY OUR SONGS THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION gathered at Wally World in Maryville for a short set of
sprituals Saturday morning then jetted down to the dam for Rockin On The Docks!

LOTS of fun, great crews at Rockin and nice new fans in both places. West 105 carried
the entire show and we got some very nice e mails from folks who caught it.

THANKS to all who came and those who put on these fun holiday concerts!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS WEEKEND..DOUBLE HEADER!

2007-05-20T10:06:00.001-05:00

The N E W Walmart (ON HWY 411) in Maryville
THIS SATURDAY MORNING
May 26, 2007
11:00 AM
On the patio
THE MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION
Brought to you by WJBZ 96.3

Come see the guys before or after your Saturday chores/breakfast

Ft. Loudoun Dam
Rockin The Docks
May 26th, 2007
3:PM
On stage
The MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION
Brought to you by Metro Pulse

A full hour of the band! Bring your sun screen and get ready for
songs you thought died decades ago! Come early and stay late..a full day
of music with the BEST FIRST! Come by boat or car but be there by 3
to hear the band that is sweeping East Broadway in Maryville and all points south!!

DOUBLE HEADER END OF MAY

2007-05-14T15:37:00.000-05:00

GREAT TIME AT SOUTHLAND BOOKS SATURDAY! If you visit the store be sure to have your picture made next to our names. We got to SIGN THE STAGE! Hey that picture on
E bay could bring you a small fortune!! a VERY small fortune!

COME SEE THE MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION:

Wal-Mart (Maryville) 5/26/07 11;00am – 12:00

Rockin’ the Docks (Lenoir City) 5/26/07 3:00pm – 4:00pm

On June 9 we have been asked to play for the Blount County Humane Society at the amphitheater in Townsend where they hold the Passion Play in the summer. Time and length of set to be determined shortly.

THIS SATURDAY BIG CONCERT

2007-05-08T18:17:00.000-05:00

COME HEAR THE
MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION
BAND

WHEN? This Saturday
WHAT TIME? Six p.m.
WHERE? Southland Books in Maryville.
AND THAT IS WHERE? In the old T.C. Drake Building
WHICH IS WHERE? Coming from Knoxville go left past the Hilton into Alcoa. At the first major intersection past
Kroger turn left on Broadway and less than a block on your left is Southland BOOKS! FREE PARKING in front and behind the store.

Southland Books has been a jewel in good old Blount County’s crown for years and now they have moved into a building big enough for all their books, records, stain glass shop, gourmet coffee area and stage for live concerts.

The music area in Southland Books is reminiscent of some of the finer listening rooms in Nashville. You are almost on stage and if you get there early you can nail a coveted place on one of the couches!

This is your chance to see the Mountain Folk Reunion band so close you can smell their Jade East and Old Spice! Come on it is free…fun…and in a heck of a cool bookstore! See you THIS Saturday at 6 p.m.

">
WEATHER

GREAT FUN IN TOWNSEND!

2007-04-29T07:12:00.000-05:00

COME SEE THE MOUNTAIN FOLK REUNION:

Wal-Mart (Maryville) 5/26/07 11;00am – 12:00

Rockin’ the Docks (Lenoir City) 5/26/07 3:00pm – 4:00pm

On June 9 we have been asked to play for the Blount County Humane Society at the amphitheater in Townsend where they hold the Passion Play in the summer. Time and length of set to be determined shortly.

THE BAND'S DATES!

2007-04-23T20:57:00.000-05:00

COME SEE OUR BAND!

The Mountain Folk Reunion will be appearing at the following places:

Townsend Visitor’s Center 4/28/07 5:25pm – 5:55pm 30 min
Heritage Center (Townsend) 4/28/07 3:30pm – 4:30pm 60 min

Wal-Mart (Maryville) 5/26/07 11;00am – 2:00pm (2) 20 min sets

Rockin’ the Docks (Lenoir City) 5/26/07 3:00pm – 4:00pm 60 min

On June 9 we have been asked to play for the Blount County Humane Society at the amphitheater in Townsend where they hold the Passion Play in the summer. Time and length of set to be determined shortly.

Join us and sing along to the tunes you grew up with!!!

MORE SMNP Pictures

2007-04-02T08:08:00.000-05:00

Last week in the SMNP

More Spring Mountain Pictures

2007-03-31T07:59:00.000-05:00

Most of these were taken in the park. The "blooming" season up there is between mid
April and the end of May. Now is a good time to see things normally hidden by the leaves.

NEW MOUNTAIN PICTURES

2007-03-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

A FAMILY WEEKEND IN THE NATIONAL PARK FOUND TONS OF GREAT THINGS TO TAKE PICTURES OF!

MARCH 22nd PARTY!!!!!!!

2007-03-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

MARCH 22
A PRE-GAME PARTY
YOU ARE INVITED
THE ATOMIC OUTHOUSE WILL PLAY
DOWNTOWN MARYVILLE
SULLIVANS
FROM 7 P.M. UNTIL THE LAW IS CALLED

April Foolies...(American Idol On Acid)will be March 31 @ Wilson Auditorium, Maryville College. Tickets on sale at the United Way office (98 2 2251) and the beautiful Capitol Theater (look for the biggest marque in downtown Maryville) at this very moment. Food starts at 5:30 then the Show Of Shows kicks off at 7.

More APRIL FOOLIES TV SHOOT PHOTOS

2007-03-10T16:51:00.000-05:00

April Foolies...(American Idol On Acid)will be March 31 @ Wilson Auditorium, Maryville College. Tickets on sale at the United Way office (98 2 2251) and the beautiful Capitol Theater (look for the biggest marque in downtown Maryville) at this very moment. Food starts at 5:30 then the Show Of Shows kicks off at 7.

Here are more pictures of the TV shoot (finished product to air on Charter in days)and if you will scroll down a post you can see even more of the behind the scene action. If you think the people in these pictures humiliated themselves you really need to be at the show and see humiliation on the NEXT LEVEL!

APRIL FOOLIES SHOOT

2007-03-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

Pictures from the TV shoot for the April Foolies. The spots should start on Charter next week and the show is March 31st, Maryville College in the Wilson Auditorium. Buy a ticket and sport three great agencies.. Child Net, New Hope and United Way Success By 6. Tickets now on sale at the Capitol Theater in downtown Maryville.

As always, click on the picture to make it bigger...some of these you might wanta think twice before you do!

APRIL FOOLIES IN MARCH

2007-03-05T16:23:00.000-05:00

WELCOME IF YOU ARE NEW, if not welcome anyway! We are into a beautiful March with only a few major fires to worry us.

Please remember to mark your calendar for the April Foolies (Naturally they are in March) at the Wilson Auditorium on the Maryville College campus.

Food starts at 5:30
Show starts at 7:00

Three wonderful agencies benefit from your attendance and the efforts of Blount County's finest talent! Ok, some acts stink but kind of like the American Idol auditions they are great fun to watch!

Tickets on sale at the United Way East Broadway Maryville.

FLORIDA UT GAME FUN

2007-02-28T17:23:00.000-05:00

Florida is so mad today after we nailed them to the wall last night. Pat did her thing and here are some pictures taken from WAY UP HIGH of her. CLICK on them to make them bigger and GO VOLS!

global WHAT

2007-02-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

Between , ALGORE'S GLOBAL WARMING and the open warfare between Hilla and BimBamBomber reading the paper is now kinda fun!

ALGORE made a movie that Hollyweird loves and will honor Sunday night in the record breaking Acadamy Awards show. Talk about a mega BACKFIRE, rather than getting the man who forgot to take the hanger out of his jacket a back door pass to become the leader of the free world all the flick did was to scare little children across the pond! Flash, this just in, ALGORE has cut a deal with the Academy that if he wins he will not wear his Aluminum Hat on stage provided Tipper can have a drum solo as the band plays him off.

As for Hilla and BimBamBomber man what fun those two children are having! Here is the dark side...(OK bad choice of words sorry) Although it is great fun to see these two start to snarl and scratch if they do manage to keep each other out of the race then WHO will represent their tribe in 08? Lord help us all Tiny Tim if they hit the ditch then you know who (see Aluminum Hat and scared children above) could actually have a shot! Play NICE BIMBAMB and HILLA, the nation depends on it.

THEM demoRATS are fighting

2007-02-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

Watching the left pick and chew on each other is better than Live Rassselllen on WTVK even with Big Jim doing the play by play! CHECK OUT WHAT The Post is saying about it!

AIR AMERICA again?

2007-01-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

AIR AMERICA LIMPING BACK

The left wing radio voice got a small shot of adrenalin yesterday when a couple of brothers picked up the long over due tab on the networks debts.

Stephen Green and brother Mark, described as real estate investment moguls called the move a personal investment adding that the sale should be done in mid-February. Both guys are said to be joined at the hip to the democrat party. Brother Mark was beaten in 2001 when he ran against New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Stephen says he is going to fix the horrid ratings, management mess and general lack of cash. He also has plans to think “out of the box” find some talent for the network and figure out a way to lure more listeners.

Here is the upside for the joint; word is Al Franken will not be around to see the new attempt at finding an audience. This time out the liberal agenda will be spread by new talent as they try to expand the Air America “brand” into other marketing and broadcast areas.

Good luck!

The wake behind the first run with the network is still filled with the dead. Advertisers and today even democrats have found associations with Air America can be about as beneficial as a malignant melanoma. The hate speech driven agenda is the brand and the fact that the format only generated two million listeners nation wide is a great incentive to both fire the staff and burn the brand simultaneously. Air America was a plan that never worked. Couple that with failure on the level of a Kerry or Gore and you can see why any linkage to the old brand would be a disaster.

Can the new Air America work? Sure, start by having closed door meetings with those who are successful in the world of talk radio. Take some of the “investment” money and structure a new talk radio model around their style, then hire unknowns to bring a fresh approach to an aging product. Air America was selling a product that had no customer base. If the Greens want to make their adventure fly look at who is listening to talk radio and mold your network into something they want to hear. Sure the hate speech and the left agenda will have to be tossed but if you are looking for success you have no other choice.

POLITICAL THOUGHTS

2007-01-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

It is great fun to see posts from the left coast pop up on the blog. Unlike knoxviews.com they are welcome and never edited.

Question, what causes the RAGE in the party of Jessie Jackson and Teddy Kennedy? Is it just me or do these people seem mad at the world? If any of them can explain it man share it with us OK?

On this side of the river we are growing faster than you can say, LETS MOVE OUT OF KNOX COUNTY! The Daily times had a nice overview of our newest area of expansion, dash over and check it out! http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/NEWS/701230305

Also downtown is coming back beautifully. Unlike the OLD CITY we don't have the crime or the tax problems and as far as I can tell we have yet to have a dope dealer buy up very many buildings?

Come visit and spend money!

Now here is something to ponder and if you are a member of the above mentioned demoRAT party feel free to post your thoughts! Bless your heart.

>>WHY I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER !!!
>> The Democrats new promise "A New Direction For America"
>>
>>
>>
>> The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are
>> back.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Oil prices are plummeting.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Taxes are at 20 year lows.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last
>> year.
>>
>> A new direction from there means. what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not
>> surfaced
>>
>> in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs are
>> either
>>
>> dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British
>> Intel,
>>
>> including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being
>> exploded
>>
>> in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary
>> of the
>>
>> 9/11/01 attacks.
>>
>> A new direction from there means, what?
>>
>>
>>
>> Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:
>>
>> The economy to go South
>>
>>
>>
>> Illegals to go North
>>
>>
>>
>> Taxes to go Up
>>
>>
>>
>> Employment to go Down
>>
>>
>>
>> Terrorism to come In
>>
>> Tax breaks to go Out
>>
>>
>>
>> Social Security to go Away
>>
>>
>>
>> Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone

>> I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward
>> K,
>>
>> Howard D, Harry R, and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive
>>
>> National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay
>>
>> Rights Plan, Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance
>> of Everyone and
>>
>> Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six
>> Months
>>
>> Plan, A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name,
>> and a How
>>
>> Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan. I forgot the No More
>> Katrina Storm Plan.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now I know why I feel so good after the elections. I am going to be
>> able to
>>
>> sleep so much better at nights knowing these dedicated politicians are
>> thinking of
>>
>> me, my life's savings and my welfare.

STATE OF UNION SPEECH PULLS 6.7 RATING/10 SHARE FOR FOX-TV, TOPS NBC'S 6.6 RATING/10 SHARE, 5.7/8 CBS; ABC LAST PLACE AT 5.0/7... MORE... TOTAL BIG 4 'STATE' 24.0 RATING/35 SHARE OVER 'IDOL' 19.0 RATING/28 SHARE ON FOX...

OLD BUT STILL FUNNY

2007-01-21T00:27:00.000-05:00

These have been around the block a few times but they are still both funny and TRUE!

Mattel recently announced the release of the improved limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Knoxville market:

"Farragut Barbie"
This princess Barbie is sold only at Turkey Creek. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

"Cedar Bluff Barbie"
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

"Magnolia Barbie"
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife,a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ..unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

"Sequoya Hills Barbie"
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

"Maynardville Barbie"
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

"Halls Barbie"
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Farragut Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.

"Old City Barbie"
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Old City Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

"Knoxville Barbie"
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

"Carousel Barbie/Ken"
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts

NEW MEDIA REPORT UP

2007-01-16T15:38:00.000-05:00

I MISS the fall!

At last a new media report...just do the profile thing and click over!

Lots of dieting going on at the bunker, so naturally I found a great sounding CAKE to make! Knock it out and share a slice with me.

CHOCOLATE MAYO CAKE

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups water
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Lightly grease
two 9 inch layer pans.

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, and sugar
into a large bowl. Stir in mayonnaise. Gradually add water
and vanilla and blend until smooth. Pour batter into pre-
pared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Cool,
remove from pans, and frost with your favorite chocolate
frosting.

2007-01-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

Just got this and because we are blessed to live SOUTH of Ohio we don't have to deal with snow. From this note it sounds like the folks in DENVER did a great job!

Weather Bulletin - Denver

Up here, in the "Mile-Hi City", we just recovered from a
Historic event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of
"Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up
to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees
in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of
motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated
scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come.

FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

No one even uttered an expletive on TV.

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this
category 5 snowstorm. Nobody demanded $2,000 debit
cards.

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.

No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.

Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.

No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews
and No Geraldo Rivera.

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to
be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.

Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow
engulfed cars.

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't
ask for a penny.

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire
departments delivered it to the snowbound families.

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or
Coleman lanterns.

We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is
"Work or Die".

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to
get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a
welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home'
checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never
fallen this early, we know it can happen and how to deal
with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets
north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the
world's social problems evaporate."

It does seem that way, at least to me.

I hope this gets passed on.

Maybe SOME people will get the message. The world
does Not
owe you a living.

2006 WAS GREAT FUN

2006-12-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

A NEW YEAR!

If you get a second dash over to Media Report (hit my profile and click on it) some pictures of a small Knoxville radio reunion show on AM 1180 this week will be up Sunday (12 31 06) night. Included in the gossip and remembrances of old radio "daze" there is an inside report on the now famous Eddy Beacon Bank Robbery, don't miss it!

Looking back at 2006 my favorite story was Barbaro. I saw him pull up in the Derby, and then later followed the coverage of him being moved to the hospital. Over the next few weeks everyone from the docs to the fans had him in the ground, but Barbaro fooled everyone. It is both odd and sad that while the liberals are sobbing over the neck tie party given to SoDamnInsane (check it out, it will make you throw up
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3034002) this great Champion's victory over death is going unreported by the drive by media.

Across the river the stories that made me laugh the most were all political; bless their hearts Knoxville just has SO much fun around election time. Remember the tempest in the tea pot blended up by Da Bean with her interview of the former rogue politico now reportedly hiding in a cave north of Bristol? A giant three part story that was founded on a source with the credibility of Clinton (I did NOT have sex with…) and fueled by the fire of liberal scribe who never read the rule about having two or more sources before you touch off your cannons. The positive side of the story was its literary value, granted at this point most if not all of it is under the heading of fiction. We all LOVED the threads of cloudy assumptions that the star of the canard has yet to return to Knoxville to back up. Sprinkle in the other stories about the shooting at a candidate (still under intense but quiet investigation) and the near gun play of an elected official and you have a political year rivaled only by the long dead Cas Walker.

In Blount County we have grown our downtown, seen Alcoa develop a baby "Turkey Creek", and celebrated two high school state football champions. There are tons of other great things just about to surface in Knoxville's largest suburb but to mention them would just give more folks the idea that Pell Parkway is the road to heaven and move on over. We love you guys visiting, but often you bring YANKEES when your tribe moves in mass into our county! Bless their hearts not only are more than a few of them democrats, all of them just don't get it. Come visit and spend money, but keep voting in KNOXVILLE! Thanks and have a heck of a 2007.

SANTA WEEK!!!!!!!

2006-12-17T05:38:00.000-05:00

Santa WEEK!

Is it as good as it was when you were a kid or is it BETTER?
Ponder that in your heart and then drop a note with your thoughts either in the comments, or e mail them to me at wjonair1@aol.com.

I sure know it is different. A quick glance at the way we sing about the season lets you know this ain't your carols sung by a choir holiday anymore. Back in 1993 my favorite new Christmas singer, Bob Rivers released (or some say let escape) a seasonal record on Atlantic called I AM SANTA CLAUSE. Tunes on this now family favorite include:

WALKIN 'ROUND IN WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR (tune of Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree)
I CAME UPON A ROADKILL DEAR
TEDDY THE RED-NOSED SENATOR
THE UNDER TREE WORLD OF JACQUES COUSTEAU
And a host of other fine renderings.

In 1997 Rivers let another CD out of the pit called Bob Rivers presents MORE TWISTED CHRISTMAS. Featuring such heart warming tunes as:
It's THE MOST FATTENING TIME OF THE YEAR
SLED ZEPPELIN
YELLOW SNOW
THERE'S A SANTA WHO LOOKS A LOT LIKE ELVIS
BUTTCRACKER SUITE
HEY YOU GET OFF MY HOUSE
RUMMY ROCKER BOY
and a few more selections to mellow your Yule Log.

Both CDs are on Atlantic and I am sure if you are a down loader of music you can find them this time of year.

The upside to Christmas is it only comes once a year and the down side is it still only comes once a year. An old tune once talked about keeping Christmas all year long, good or bad? Again, discuss and let me know.

Things I always miss about this time of the year when February rolls around are Claxton Fruit Cakes (found at a gas station near you), TV Christmas shows including the day time drama's week long parties, and the twenty four hour cable channels that go all holiday movies. Check out the Media Report (as always go to my profile and click) for more on what is on when. Last but not least I really miss those five inches of advertising inserts in the local rag that are all done on slick paper designed to make them fall into the street or yard the second you try to find the Local section when you open the thing up.

Key to this time of the year is it is what you make it so enjoy the eggnog, eat way too much, dance alone at the office party, and start getting excited about 2007.

Merry Christmas!!

Good and Odd thoughts!

2006-12-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to dash over to the media report (just click my profile and then hit the link) it updates every Sunday evening. This week there is a picture featuring the founder of the Fulton High School radio/media department and some students. As always if you can NAME anyone in the shot you win nothing!

I just got something from a regular reader of the column that fits beautifully into the season.
Check this out.

YOU CAN'T STEAL
MY CHRISTMAS

Poem by Sharon Steege

I don't know who they are
Saying I can't greet the crowd
The way that I want to
Can't say CHRISTMAS out loud.

I walk into a business place
See things that I rather not see
But dare I not say CHRISTMAS
And ask for a "holiday" tree.

What happened to freedom of speech
And living in the land of the free
How can they take my CHRISTMAS money
But can't say MERRY CHRISTMAS to me.

Men and women have given their lives
So we could still go free
I wonder how they would feel
At saying "HOLIDAY" TREE.

Earlier this week an e mail showed up featuring a news story on WVLT. Folks I kid you not, THIS made the air!

Kingston Police Looking For Coin Thief
Updated: 12:26 PM Dec 11, 2006

"Kingston, Roane County (WVLT) - Police need your help finding a man they say has found a unique way to steal.
This surveillance video shows the suspect putting a five dollar bill into the automatic change dispenser at "BJ&E" car wash.

The man puts the bill in just far enough to trigger the coin drop, but not far enough to keep the machine from taking the bill.
Police believe he's done it twice to the same machine in the last two months.
They're looking for a white man, with dark hair, a stocky build and he's in his twenties to early thirties.
If you know who this might be, call the Kingston Police Department at 376-2081."

LORD HELP LOCK UP THE CHILDREN AND DOGS AND LOAD THE .12 GAGE! No really, if say this string bandit manages to make the change dispenser let go a full five dollars in quarters and he HIT IT twice in two months..UNLESS he is causing all the coins in the machine to drop... his take is just $10.00 or $2.00 a week? Bless his heart, if he would just tilt the LazyBoy in the den of his single wide I bet he could find that much at HOME!

And you are shocked at WHAT???

THE WASHINGTON TIMES
December 12, 2006

"Democratic campaign operatives pushed newspapers to write about then-Rep. Mark Foley's e-mails to teenage pages in the hope that a scandal would emerge before the midterm elections, according to a House ethics report."

AND NOW for the good stuff!!!!

Top ten signs you're on a bad date:

* 10.He eats his steak with his fingers and uses his fork to scratch his armpits.
* 9. During the movie, you notice she's holding hands with the guy on the other side.
* 8. She says "I'll probably finish my dinner before you since I have worms."
* 7. After the goodnight kiss, she tells you her real name is Bruce.
* 6. She doesn't even say "Thank You" after dinner at the A & P.
* 5. You go to Disneyland and she kicks "Goofy" in the shins.
* 4. You keep losing your date because she keeps moving to a different Internet chat room.
* 3. Instead of the bill, the waiter gives you a note that says "You run, I'll stall her!"
* 2. He hurries to drop you off by 10 because Hillary gets home at 11.
* 1. He says "Whoa! 8:15 already?"

This one is funny but dang if it ain't got a slight ring of truth to it?

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fight after school.
>> 1973 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end
>> up best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled.
>>
>> 2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
>> Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
>>
>> 1973 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by
>> Principal. Sits still in class.
>>
>> 2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School
>> gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
>>
>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad
>> gives him a whipping.
>>
>> 1973 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to
>> college, and becomes a successful businessman.
>>
>> 2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to
>> foster care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state
>> psychologist
>> that she remembers being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison.
>> Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to
>> school.
>>
>> 1973 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the
>> smoking dock.
>>
>> 2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
>> Car searched for drugs and weapons.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant.
>>
>> 1973 - 5 High School Boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a
>> special school for expectant mothers.
>>
>> 2006 - Middle School Counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who
>> notifies the ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an
>> abortion
>> without her parent's consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and
>> told to be more careful next time.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
>>
>> 1973: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
>>
>> 2006: Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper
>> articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a
>> requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action
>> lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher.
>> English
>> banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up
>> mowing
>> lawns for a living because he can't speak English.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of
>> July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant
>> bed.
>>
>> 1973 - Ants die.
>>
>> 2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with
>> domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from
>> home,
>> computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and
>> is never allowed to fly again.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his
>> knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to
>> comfort
>> him.
>>
>> 1973 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
>>
>> 2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
>> She faces 3 years in State Prison.
>>
>> +++++++++++++++++++++
>>
>> Scenario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
>> 1973 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes
>> to his car and gets his to show Jack.
>>
>> 2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to
>> jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for
traumatized students and teachers.

Dream Speech

2006-12-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

We are back! Lots of good news over on the media report just hit my profile and click on it to check it out. The pictures were taken the night before the big cold front/wind rolled into our area. They are all from the banks of Little River. It was sunset and the fog was really odd due to the changing pressure.

Last week this great "dream" speech came over the cyber transom. Read it and then send it to all your buds. Do NOT fail to send it to your liberal acquaintances and if any of you can still post on knoxviews.com toss it into that batch of lefties! If you are not a visitor of knoxviews.com better hurry, more than a few folks have told me it is on the skids due to a myriad of problems. I certainly am not saying they are headed under the waves, just what those who hang out in the old city are whispering while they shop for beads and feathers. As I have said in the past I hope the site never fades away, although they are scared of posters outside of their club and they rage against anything GW and the guys do, they are great fun to read!

Here is the dream speech!

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT
OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been
completed.

Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our
mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces
from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now to begin
the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which
have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The
United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the
countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's
nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of
both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those
nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved
during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi
war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world
countries and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money
toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that
note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you
down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.

Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France,
Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring
from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN
diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking
tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and
crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps
have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or
watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the
finest chop shops in the world. I love New York

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely
to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not
ticking us off for a change.

Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government
really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and
infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep,
border security. So start doing something with your oil.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting
now.

We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil
in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to
come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you
to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.

It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens.
Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world
has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet.
It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate
homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from
America. To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you
and we won't forget. To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might
want to learn to speak Arabic. God bless America. Thank you and good night.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English,
thank a soldier.

WE ARE BACK!

2006-11-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks have been more boring than "Sewing Night" on a PBS fund raiser. So we closed the offices, joined hands, and worked as a group to survive Thanksgiving.

Locally the November Nielson numbers kept piling up and the fingernails at the mansion on Broadway keep growing shorter. I wish I knew a quick answer to this viewer shift but the best I can figure is they (the station that used to be number two in local news) are missing the mark in providing the type of coverage viewers want and the other guys are hitting it.

Here are some OLD (like in a week or so back) numbers looking at the news hours only.
wbir wate wvlt

6-7a 6.9 4.2 3.5

6-630p 15.3 9.7 6.1

11-1130p 9.1 1.9 10.92%

Average News Share 49.60% 25.04% 25.36%

Absent from the head to head news numbers is the noon hour because the station that sent these numbers didn't win it. The race at noon is close but because WVLT wins more days than they lose write them in as number one at noon followed by WBIR and then WATE. Also factoring in that noon win for WVLT will change the Average News Share totals pushing WVLT above WATE.

Nationally CBS news is back in the privy but if you look at WVLT locally they are doing much better at 6 p.m. than other CBS stations that have to take the hand off from Katie. As they used to say at the Twin Air at intermission, this thing ain't over yet.

EZ 88.3 FM started their Christmas music before Cracker Barrel had put out their $50.00 black and orange velour sweat shirts with the raised pumpkins and green witches down the sleeves. Not one station in town can match their selection of Ho Ho tunes!

In keeping with the reason for the season let me invite you to check out my favorite link this time of year.

www.extremefunnypictures.com/funnypic291.htm

Nationally two stories caused a few noses to twitch. The way to tell if a story is close to being done is when the last of the "I NEED SOME OF THAT HEADLINE" fools jump into the game. One of the above mentioned stories hit the basement Sunday when the AP reported…..
" NEW YORK (AP) -- Comedian Michael Richards said Sunday he did not consider himself a racist, and that he was "shattered" by the comments he made to two young black men during a tirade at a Los Angeles comedy club.
Richards appeared on the Rev.JESSEE JACKSON'S nationally syndicated radio program, "Keep Hope Alive," as a part of a series of apologies for the incident. He said he knew his comments hurt the black community, and hoped to meet with the two men."

Jesse is always there to pull the last bit of flesh from the bone at the end of a story, just what he does. As for Kramer, Lord help son any of us who have tried to stand up and tell a joke have been heckled but you have to be the BIGGER man in those situations. If we knew the heckler and more times than not we did, we would do this. Find a paper White Store bag, empty the litter box in it, put in on their front porch, light it, ring the bell, and run. Or if you didn't have a cat just jump them on the way to their car with a tire iron.

The other story was O.J. The Simpson book saga took another twist when his former sister-in-law, Denise Brown, accused the media company behind the project of trying to buy her family's silence for "millions of dollars."
A spokesman for News Corp., owner of Fox Broadcasting and publisher HarperCollins, confirmed that the company had conversations with representatives of Nicole Brown Simpson's and Ron Goldman's families over the past week and that the families were offered all profits from the planned Simpson book and television show, but he denied that it was hush money.

Can I get a show of hands of those who are over anything that even mentions O.J. or his immediate or extended family? Personally I think he did it and Robert Blake drove the get away limo.

THEY STILL CAN'T GET OVER WE WON!

2006-11-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

After our GREAT WIN in Tennessee the staff and management took a few days off at our river side retreat just outside of Maryville on the banks of Pistol Creek.

Reflecting back on the win over a large glass of "southern" sweet tea we started to scratch our heads? A standard practice of the Democrats is to fly in lawyers after any defeat demanding recounts and investigations. The left wing networks told us the week before the election said lawyers and aircraft were all on stand-by, but when Tennessee went for Bob they never dropped in? As they say in the "community" whatsup? Granted Jr. did start a small rumor of fixed machines in his home dang town and he even mentioned the manufacturer by name. Fine then where is Matlock and his team? Never showed? I also noticed in the states where the Republicans took it on the chin not ONE lawyer popped up to contest the numbers? Can we derive from this that when we come in second we show class and style and when they take it in the shorts they do everything from crying to their momma to hiring Dewy, Cheatum, and How to come in and try to get a win? Bless their hearts.

If you are board take a minute and dash over to knoxviews.com. Here you will find a very small but very agitated group of, believe it or not, East Tennessee folks who are still pissed that Jr.bought the big one. If you are a normal Republican and feel the urge to post at knoxviews.com forget it. These folks don't want your thoughts and they sure don't wanta hear anything about our W I N!

Bless their hearts they are just a scary tribe (bet they raise hell over that label) that is scared down to their toes of anyone who works for a living or who votes Republican.

I do encourage you to take a look, just to know WHO we are dealing with in 08. Considering their rage and mentality we should be able to beat them provided we have the right candidate and toss enough gas into their personal fire to help them self destruct.

Here is a note I got on election day that explained Jr. and his kin beautifully. Naturally I didn't run it back then cause I knew Dewey and his group would raise the hated R card, but now that Bob is in and Jr. is asking for $25.00 to come have lunch with him I think we are safe.

Fords have played the race card for all its worth to create their base of power in Shelby County and west Tennessee. They have perfected the art of making money in politics by any means necessary.

Sr, John, Ophelia, and another of Jr's uncles all hold political offices and all have been either caught or investigated on numerous occasions for illegal activities tied to their positions. Great moments in Ford family history include:

--Harold, Sr claiming an election victory as a win over the "blue-eyed devils of east Memphis."
--John pulling a gun on MLG&W workers who were working in the street in front of his house.
--John shooting at truck drivers on the interstate
--John having his wife get in a fight at his office with one of his three girl friends who have children by him.
--Ophelia winning an election after the cemetery votes came in
---John being charged in the bribery scandal that has already resulted in convictions (if his trial is in Memphis, he will get off).
--Sr receiving a loan from the Democratic candidate for governor in every election over the past 20+ years.

As always I will never ask who you are (unlike knoxviews.com), but I do ENCOURAGE you to leave a comment or a thought.

LATE BREAKING NEWS!!!!

AGENDA FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION 2008

7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.

7:15 P.M. Pledge of allegiance to U.N.

7:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:30 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton

8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:05 P.M. Ceremonial tree hugging.

8:15- 8:30 P.M. Gay Wedding-- Barney Frank presiding.

8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally. Cindy Sheehan-- Susan Sarandon.

9:00 P.M. Keynote speech. The proper etiquette for surrender-- French
President Jacques Chirac

9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund

9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters fromGuantanamo Bay.
Sean Penn

9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military, A short talk by William Jefferson
Clinton

9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

9:50 P.M. Dan Rather presented Truth in Broadcasting award, presented by
Michael Moore

9:55 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

10:00 P.M. How George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World
Trade Center Towers-- Howard Dean

10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmud Ahnadinejad

11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents Internet

11:15 P.M. Our Troops are War criminals--John Kerry

11:30 P.M. Coronation Of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton

12:00 A.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:05 A.M. Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home

FORD VOTERS LIVE WHERE???

2006-11-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

LOOK where the FORD voters live!

11-9-06
Thursday

The Knoxville paper (knoxnews.com) had a front page map highlighting the areas were both the Ford and Corker voters live. If you look at it then it is obvious the Ford people are clustered in a single area while the Corker voters spread out over the entire county. When you really look at the map you can see in places the separation is by single streets, one side of Kingston Pike went Ford while the other went Corker. It really is a fascinating look at where the Republican's are living and also the Democrats. Oh, just for fun which area (the Ford voter side or the Republican side) of the map would you say pays the most taxes, has the lowest rate of unemployment and higher income? Any and all thoughts are appreciated; just toss them into the comment column.

I took my own advice on election night and avoided the network coverage until 10 then I dashed over to the TWO local stations with early news to find out where we stood.

Nationally, the ratings are in and NBC took it on the chin to ABC!

ABC 9,670,000
NBC 7,000,000
CBS 6,310,000
FOXNEWS 3,050,000
CNN 2,963,000
MSNBC 1,926,000

In the cable race I was surprised to see CNN just under FOX. If you follow cable numbers FOX is wiping the floor with CNN, but not on Tuesday evening. Another eye opener was MSNBC, the lost dog of cable news, bumping a bit on the back side of CNN.

I have yet to see any local over nights, but an ABC news win nationally is about as shocking as Vandy beating Georgia…no hold on make that Kentucky beating Georgia….nope that won't work….look I am out of analogies you pick one.

Rummy took it in the shorts yesterday and reports are the Democrats are after a few more. Personally I will miss his work with the press, that short dude had no problem going after them and it was great fun to watch.

The guy that is taking his office is a buddy of GW's dad, former CIA and a member of the Baker team that will be reporting on the war in the near future. New eyes on the sandbox are welcome by GW and if this guy can kick start the Iraq government into securing their cities and protecting their people we just might be able to head back home.
Watch the Democrats snipe at any and all new plans to resolve the situation, it is just their style, and naturally their media will amplify and applaud them in their efforts.

I got an e mail with a break out of the new speaker's history and although these are not my words, there is some truth in the post. Check it out.

Profile on the new speaker of the house of the Democratic Party (socialist) (D) Nancy Pelosi

SCARY

2006 Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.

2005 Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the American Immigration Lawyers Association 100 percent in 20052005

Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the National Committee for an Effective Congress 100 percent in 2005.

2006 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2006, the National Rifle Association assigned Representative Pelosi a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2003-2004 Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the American Security Council 11 percent in 2003-2004.

2005-2006 Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 100 percent in 2005-2006.

2005 Representative Pelosi supported the interests of the Family Research Council 0 percent in 2005

GREAT WIN!

2006-11-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

NICE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-8-06
Wednesday

Tennessee sent a message yesterday to the country that no amount of outside money or media influence can change the facts. Ford Jr. was one scary kid! This morning our state is being slammed and mocked by the left coast liberal movement and we have to look at it as a giant compliment.

Locally Knoxville voters laughed at the joke of the smear campaign mounted against Stacy Campfield and awarded him a healthy 18-point win in the 18th district. Couple his win with the same sex marriage amendment and you can see the direction of both East Tennessee and the entire state.

The national media is dancing with the Democrats, but in the coming months if these newly elected folks don't produce 08 could be a very big win for the Republican party. Don't expect the media to report their failures which are bound to be many, or comment on their attempts to raise taxes. Just won't happen. They are all joined at the hip. The upside is anyone can track how these newbies vote, keep an eye on them!

Congratulation to those who voted for Corker and for those who went with Ford, bless your heart everyone makes at least one MISTAKE in their life!

NETWORKS PUSH FOR THE DEMS!

2006-11-07T08:59:00.000-05:00

The media is in a last ditch stand to twist the election

11-7-06
ELECTION DAY!

VOTE VOTE…and vote!

This morning a cautious national TV news consortium (NBC, CBS, and ABC) were all working over time to twist and fashion the election to their satisfaction.

Tim Russertt (NBC's favorite democratic shill) was saying to watch three states early and if they (they meaning the Democratic Party) were winning then the thing was over and it would be a blood bath for the Republicans. It was obvious his strings were being pulled by the corner offices to try and influence the areas of the country were the voting was still underway. Touting an early (before the majority of the polls close) win for the liberals (Democrats) in their (NBC) mind would cause the Republican voters who had not cast their ballots to stay home.

First listen to the networks, use your head and then go vote. The old style of actually reporting elections and for that matter news is something they laugh about as they pass each other in the halls. Today it is all about creating news and pushing the Democrats while hiding under a thin vale of questionable facts and hack reporting. Locally (Tennessee) NBC was working so hard for Jr.

This morning they started implying a vote CORKER was a racists shot!

Stay focused and vote. If we keep our eye on our state then we will be just fine.

Tonight after you vote try Pay For View, Turner Classic Movies, TV Land, or even The Travel Channel. If you want local results dash over to FOX 43 at 10 P.M. or WBIR.com. Our local stations will be cutting in or running crawls but the giant problem is you run the chance of having to see the networks to get the information. Considering they are dragging out everyone from Tom Brokoff to Dan Rather tonight I would much rather hang until 10 and get the results on FOX 43 and bypass their agenda driven coverage.

Here is one other reason to ditch the networks for coverage.

This year the networks say they are guarding their exit poll results as if they were crown jewels. The results will be delivered to a "quarantine room," access to which will be granted to only two staffers from each network and wire service, who must surrender all cell phones, BlackBerrys and similar devices before entering the room. Only at 5 p.m. will the occupants of the quarantine room be allowed to reveal the exit polls to their bosses. The networks claim to have completely revamped their exit-poll methodology, which in 2004 had surveys in which the results, collected mostly by female graduate students, consistently favored Democrats. The changes will mean the networks will be slower to call the winners. That and the difficulty of adjusting for the large number of absentee ballots could mean a longer night than usual.

Consider turning down the TV to a whisper and either watching the crawl of actual returns on the bottom of the screen or monitoring them on the Internet at sites like RealClearPolitics.com

After you vote today PLEASE drop a note in the comment box and tell us about your experience. How was the crowd, was anyone talking issues, did you have problems with the machines, and be sure to tell us the location.

We have seen the networks fight to move the needle off the economy, LOWER taxes, unemployment, the stock market, and a host of positive things about our country to the single issue of Iraq for this election. The reason was simple, the war is the only issue the Democrats have to stand on, and the sad thing is they have yet to present a plan for either a victory or a resolution to the situation. We can win Tennessee if we vote, that simple, so don't let the weather bother you and DO NOT let what you are seeing on the national TV networks influence you. Vote for Corker, send a message that we believe in what is right for our state and rest with a smile tonight knowing that across the board viewers are abandoning network TV news to the extend NBC announced two weeks ago thousands are about to be fired in attempt to try and recoup their steady drop in revenue!

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!

2006-11-06T14:22:00.000-05:00

NBC tried to out SHOUT the Republicans on Meet the Press Sunday but it didn't WORK!

11-6-06
Monday afternoon
ONE MORE DAY!

Yesterday one of the most LEFT SIDED editions of Meet The Press tried continuously to bait, ambush and when that didn't work out SHOUT the Republican panel members, but never got the job done. The show was another example of the desperate attempt by the network (along with CNN, CBS and ABC) to create a last minute push for their favorite party. Thank goodness Elisabeth Dole stood her ground and countered their attacks and miss quotes with facts and grace. The giant up side is there will be no more Sundays before the election, TOMORROW is the day we answer the liberals at the polls!

This morning even CNN (Clinton News Network) was admitting what they described as a slight turn in favor of the republicans. If you are a numbers person dash over http://www.realclearpolitics.com/latestpolls/ Below is a quote from the site.

"We moved this race to Leans Republican yesterday and the recent polling data confirms Corker has now established a material lead heading into the election Tuesday. Over 50% in the RCP Average -- in a Republican leaning state -- means he is looking pretty good."

The Pew Research Center is finding a shift also.

"A nationwide Pew Research Center survey finds voting intentions shifting in the direction of Republican congressional candidates in the final days of the 2006 midterm campaign. The new survey finds a growing percentage of likely voters saying they will vote for GOP candidates. However, the Democrats still hold a 48% to 40% lead among registered voters, and a modest lead of 47%-43% among likely voters."

No matter how good things are looking for Bob we have to get everyone to the polls tomorrow! Remember the FIRST reports of possible machine tampering (smart cards lost or stolen) came in last week from where else?? MEMPHIS! Way too much OUTSIDE money has been spent to elect Jr. for any of us to relax; those northern liberals want this state in their pocket and will do anything to get it.

Please join us at the polls tomorrow and vote for BOB!

Denver is voting Corker

2006-11-04T08:11:00.000-05:00

The golden retriever (Denver) who allows us to live with him is having a relaxed weekend in the fall sunshine. He made up his mind to vote for Bob Corker two seconds after reading Harold's voting record.

His close friend,Ms. Molly is still wondering. She likes Corker but is a big TV News dog. She told Denver she can't remember one good thing the network news humans have said about Bob?

Denver explained to her yesterday a bunch of humans who analyze network and even cable news coverage said over 80% of what she is watching is slanted in favor of the democrats! When she got the news she just gave Denver a questioning look, (captured here) followed by a long drink and then requested a Bob Corker sign for her food dish.

Have a great weekend

NICE TRY NBC, but no CIGAR

2006-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Friday
11-3-06

Harold Ford's presidential candidate has found a very close friend in the national and sadly at times in the local media.

Before 8 this morning the NBC Today Show hit fifth gear in their drive to spin John Kerry's open attack on the American's fighting in Iraq. In an ambush interview a Today host demanded former white house press spokesman Scott McClellan, to swear that John Kerry was only telling a joke when he said those fighting in Iraq were there because they were stupid. In a beautiful response McClellan reminded the Today Show host of Kerry's long record of quotes demeaning Americans serving their country flowing all the way back to 1971. Unfortunately when confronted with the facts, the Today Show slid more to the left by playing a clip of the President commenting on the words spoken by Kerry and then interjecting their opinion that the comments were all politically based and had nothing to do with what the NBC show felt was the truth.

This dog will not hunt. Harold Ford's presidential candidate said what he said, did not apologize within an appropriate time period, and on the seventh attempt at an explanation of the statement chose the "joke" defense.

Yesterday Bob Corker was in Maryville and said "If you like John Kerry, then you will love Harold Ford Jr." The race is becoming clearer as it moves toward next Tuesday. On one side is Jr. "pretending he is something that he is not" and on the other side is Bob Corker.

As the national and at times local media continue to try to turn local races into a mandate on Iraq and our President they are seeing the spin come full circle and bite them in their shorts. If our President is a problem, yours (John Kerry) would have been a disaster, he proved it this week, and no amount of spin will prove it otherwise.

Early voting has been a very REPUBLICAN experience in Tennessee. Yesterday as Bob Corker spoke on the Blount county court house steps the last of twelve thousand early voters stood in line. Driving by I conducted a very scientific and unofficial poll by yelling "CORKER" and giving those in line a thumbs up, EVERYONE said yes and everyone returned the sign. I was braced for another finger out of the crowd but it was obvious the democrats were home scratching the old Kerry For President stickers off their Yugos. Even though the late afternoon voting poll was positive we still have more than a little work to do between now and Tuesday. Please talk to everyone who used to vote but is going to take a pass this time out and remind them of the stakes. Tell they are not alone in their disenchantment of the national and at times local media support of the Democrats and their single vote is worth much more than an opinion spouted by a TV news reader or national chat show talking head.

Thanks for reading the Southern Writer, thanks for passing it on and thank you very much for your comments.

NBC News helping Jr.!

2006-11-02T09:05:00.000-05:00

11-2-06
Thursday, Six days to go

LOCALLY, the most watched station for TV news (WBIR) had a live one on one with struggling NBC news reader, Brian Williams late yesterday afternoon. Williams openly said they were moving the NBC Nightly News cast (Thursday evening) to Memphis, reportedly to cover the Jr. Corker race. It was blatantly obvious that Williams was given marching orders by the agenda driven network to get down to Tennessee and do whatever you can to get Jr. a win.

The new NBC anchor tossed the issues out and focused on what he called Corker's "attack" ad, saying "we (NBC news staff) have memorized the lines" inferring the spot had really put Tennessee on the map.

Then when WBIR brought up the subject of Bob Corker putting a very large sum of (personal) money into the election, Brian Williams said "Oh just think what all that money could have done if it had been used to help those in need." At first blush the comment sounded like a typical liberal/Democrat talking point trying to punish the party of the haves for wasting their money on themselves rather than those less fortunate. On a second look it was just a giant flag saying we are here to pull out any and all stops to get Jr. elected! It was obvious WBIR was only a platform for Williams but a great follow up from our local station would have been…"Brian, the infusion of personal money from Bob Corker may be one of his greatest contributions to do good for everyone in his state by beating a man whose party ran John Kerry as their presidential candidate in 04." Naturally the rest of the one on one was filled with welcomes to Tennessee and a reminder to tune into WBIR when Brian holds his nose and brings his campaign/News show into our fly over southern state.

Friday night FOX NEWS will be live from Tennessee, for those who want a report and not a campaign.

After the former Democratic Presidential Candidate, John Kerry, insulted Americans serving on the ground in Iraq yesterday the Associated Press found the seed of his thoughts was planted over thirty years ago when he ran for congress.

Then Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to "the perpetuation of war crimes." This morning Kerry is listening to his party and being very still. Even Hilla Rotting Ham Clinton jumped on Kerry's implosion to slam the lid on his 08 attempt by saying "we don't want a rerun of the 04 race" adding he was wrong in his remarks. Hilla glowed internally, knowing that his "John Dean type outburst" would play very well for her when she runs against him in the presidential primaries. It is fun to watch the Democrats eat their own, two years before they try to take back the people's house.

The last bit of the Kerry debacle came late yesterday when Jr. called for an apology from his former Democratic Presidential Candidate. Here is the REST of the story on Jr's attempt to do the right thing and get his candidate for President to apologize.

Nashville, TN -- In a live interview from Memphis minutes ago on MSNBC, Washington Congressman Harold Ford, when asked, said he will not return the $100,000 John Kerry’s PAC contributed to his campaign, prompting the Corker for Senate campaign to say Ford’s weak call for an apology from Kerry is a hollow gesture.

Today Bob Corker will be in Maryville at 1:30 speaking on the court house steps. Across the state one of Jr's biggest supporters, William Jefferson Clinton will be in Memphis campaigning for Jr. Here is one giant reason Bill Clinton is such a Ford supporter.

When Bill Clinton pardoned 16 members of a terrorist group responsible for 150 bombings and 6 U. S. deaths, the Director of the FBI, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and the Tennessee Congressional delegation all opposed the pardons. Well, all but one. Guess who? Harold Ford Jr.

Don't forget your last chance to early vote is today. If you still believe in the values of Tennessee and want a man in D.C. who follows in the footsteps of statesmen like Howard Baker then pass this blog on to your friends and remind everyone how important a vote for Bob Corker is!

As always, your thoughts are welcome and will be posted. Thank you for not only reading the blog but forwarding it to those on your e mail list. After the election we will get back to jokes, dog pictures, and whatever is tossed over the cyber transom.

For the Local Media Report just dash over to http://walker-mediareport.blogspot.com/

ELECTION TIME IN TN!!!!

2006-11-01T11:16:00.000-05:00

Halloween is over and it is time to get into the real scary event of the fall the ELECTION!

This blog has always been a mix of whatever is fun on the web mixed with some pictures of the locals at play. Between now and next Tuesday we will focus on nothing but the election.

The first rule is there are no rules. For all other rules see the first one.

If you want to post your feelings none will be edited or removed. Please give us time to be first notified of the post by the blog god and then to ramble over to the dashboard and get them published. Again, ALL will be posted so just hang in there!

Ready to play? Cool!

11-1-06

On the national scene the story that has sucked all the air out of the room is Democratic Presidential Candidate (former and future) John Kerry talking about those who serve in Iraq. If you missed it here it is.

At a Democrat campaign rally Kerry said, “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

As anyone can see the words speak for themselves. The first spin out of the Kerry camp was the man was tired when he made the speech. Although the explanation was floated as a trial balloon on ABC radio news, it didn't get off the ground. After going behind closed doors the Kerry handlers called a fast press conference and gave him a caustic short speech filled with everything but an apology.

"I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq. It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country, lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have."

This morning the Today Show drug out Tim Russert to try and toss some water on the flames by alluding that what Kerry said would have zero impact on the way American's would vote next Tuesday. He and the Today Show host agreed that Kerry's response to the speech (see above) showed him as a stronger candidate then in the days when he would not "dignify" the Swift Boat facts with a response.

Even with all the work done by the Today Show, their tiny news channel (MSNBC) dropped the ball when televised radio host Don Imus had Kerry on live to try and swim out of the mess he created. You have to see it to believe it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMRecdL_No

The rest of the stories flying out of the Kerry implosion mostly center on Democrats calling his keepers and canceling him from their campaign appearances.

Brucy Braley (A Democratic Congressional candidate from Iowa) says Kerry's recent comments about the Iraq war were inappropriate. Braley is running against Republican Mike Whalen in Iowa's First District congressional race. It's a contest considered to be one of the most competitive House races in the country.
Braley's decision to distance himself from Kerry came as a furor grew from comments Kerry made about the Iraq War during a campaign stop in California on Monday.

The cancellations grew all morning, although Kerry is standing firm on his second or third spin of the story and trying very hard to turn his own words into what he calls an attack by the President.

Locally Ford Jr. is at it again.

After the Memphis Meltdown, where Jr. crashed a Corker campaign event in Memphis his poll numbers started to slide (see CNN "Clinton News Network" for the latest on the race) but apparently those left wingers running his campaign didn't see the cause of the tipping point.

Yesterday Jr. showed up in Corker's home town at yet another Corker event trying to grab both voters and a bit of the media thunder that is now surrounding the leader in the election. Voters are agreeing the facts are catching up to Jr. and he is running out of ways to side step them.

His voting record is open for everyone to see and it sounds much more like a Mass. Democrat than a statesman from Tennessee. The record also shows he has missed many important votes and again when he did push the button the invisible hand of Teddy Kennedy was guiding him.

This is going to be a very important few days for our state. Early voting is closing soon and if you have yet to get out then do it. Those early votes could decide if we elect a man who revitalized Chattanooga, grew up in Tennessee (not D.C.) graduated from UT, created and achieved everything with a personal work ethic and has a great record of LOCAL service to our state. Bob Corker will certainly go to Washington without family members hovering around the big federal wallet and will always have his state and America's needs as his guide.

More posts daily as the news progresses. If you want to jump in you will not be edited or tossed. I will say though, if you take a side and then do not vote you forfeit all credibility so get out there and make your mark for your candidate.

HallOOOOOOOOOweeeen!

2006-10-30T22:05:00.000-05:00

OK, if you want to do some scary on line stuff then below the babble are just a few places to FLOAT into!

If you are going to get out, beat on the door and shove the old potato sack in my face then we are ready! All of the crap is wrapped. When I was a kid, (just after Lee surrendered to Grant) I remember going around in Sunset View (my neighborhood) and Mrs. Cruse would ALWAYS have these home dang made POP corn BALLS! Naturally today if a child brings home something like that first Mom tosses it into the radiation detector, then Pop runs in through the X ray unit and THEN the drug/chemical sniffing dawg has a go round. IF it checks out, it is then given to Granddaddy who is watching Everyone Loves Raymond and will eat anything placed in his knobby fingers!

At the bunker we are featuring a mixed bag of name brand candy. All guaranteed to pull a crown off on the second bite, so make sure they all go to the children!

Have a great DAY and if your office encourages everyone to come in costume, I suggest a pint of 101 rum in the parking lot to REALLY get you into the spirit!

Check out the links below, have a wonderful day and remember with all the new advances in shaving it is near impossible to get a blade in an apple anymore.

http://www.irelandseye.com/ghost/webcam/iugeur3ig.shtm

Join the great Irish ghost watch – look out for the ethereal apparition of a young lady whose spirit, many believe, haunts this former Irish linen mill. Elsewhere on this site you can read viewers' accounts of the appearance of the phantom, and the tragic story of Helena Blunden whose spooky phantasm reveals itself at the witching hour.In order to participate in the ghost watch on this page it is necessary for your computer to be java enabled. If you can't see anything or if you want to save a sighting of any apparition or just copy the picture

http://www.libraryghost.com/

http://www.ghoststudy.com/camlinks.html

What Is this Site About?
The Willard Library Ghost Cams were inspired by the question "Is Willard Library Haunted?" It has become a fascinating, and somewhat credible, legend that drives thousands of people to search the library for remnants of lost spirits. The site is a virtual ghost hunting mecca. Take a virtual tour of the library with Greg Hager, Willard Library Director, and see if you can locate the cams hidden in the building. Libraryghost.com offers three cams for your ghost hunting pleasure. The Children's Room cam and the Research Room cam are both refreshed every thirty seconds. The newest cam, which is located in the basement, is virtually live - it refreshes every second!
is a collection of popular sites featuring ghost cams. If you are an armchair ghost hunter or you don't have the equipment necessary to capture ghostly phenomena out in the field then here is the
chance to do it from you home!

Ghost web cams

The Lexington
Willard Library
Willard kids room
Willard Basement
Deserted Hospital
So weird G-watch
GhostWatch<b>r>Queen Mary Ship
Ghostwatchers<b>r>Boudon Street
Haunted Diary
Theater cams
Lincoln ghost cam
Night star cam
Nottinghamshire<b>r>Paris catacombs
Haunted studio
Asylum (NEW)
Even more cams

Leprechaun
Just for fun
UFO Cam
Loch Ness 1
Loch Ness 2
Wailing wall
Ton of cams!

http://www.asylumcam.com/

Hello and welcome to the Asylum! The Internets most popular Paranormal Community.
We have 10 cams live 24/7 including one with Night Vision capability.
Forums with almost half a million posts.
15,000+ members.
Thousands of images taken by members.
Live chat for the higher membership levels.
Welcome to your new addiction. Feel free to click the 'Staff' link if you have any questions
and PM any of the Staff members. We will all be happy to assist you!
The Asylum

Remember who Jr. is!

2006-10-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

El Rushbo sliced up the now famous Ford Jr. TV spot this afternoon with the skill of Daniel(see the Old Testament)! Like everyone else, he couldn't find a thing racial in the copy but he did point out how it spotlighted Jr's views on everything from his porn dealer contributions to his stand on gun control! Beautiful job!

This afternoon the spot was pulled after MSNBC spent most of yesterday trying to fill buses to head south for another march in Selma. Naturally NBC jumped into the game on their nightly news and this morning The Today Show rolled in the "reported indignation" allegedly painted by the spots reflection of Jr's beliefs.

Kids the key to getting Bob Corker elected has nothing to do with Jr. being first generation kin to the Memphis Political Mafia, or the fact that NBC along with CNN (Clinton News Network) loves the guy. It all hinges on us remembering first that Jr. has been a part of the problem in D.C. for ten years, and second that he has been joined at the hip to Teddy ("When I came back Mary Joe and the car were gone") Kennedy in the D.C. voting process. The few times he did vote it sure didn't reflect the feelings of this state, here check it out! http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/f000262/

SO, if you know of folks who are planning on voting early make sure they know the real Jr. Also if you have an elderly family member (got mom right here) and plan on taking them, don't risk a rainy or cold election day where they might not be able to get out. Tomorrow put them in the car and both of you go vote for BOB!

If Ford Jr. wins Tennessee LOSES!

Jr. is slipping!

2006-10-23T16:36:00.000-05:00

Jr. is dropping in the polls but not enough to where we can sit back and relax. This is one slick fellow with talking points sharper than Prince Mongo's spear! OK, hold on, before you call me the R word, P.M. is one of my favorite Memphis icons, just Google him for more info. IF P.M. was running I would rent a bus and go on the road with this guy, be he isn't and Jr. is.

What can we do?

E mail everyone who votes and tell them to go early and as Ray Blanton used to say and vote OFTEN! Corker did a great job with Chattanooga so just imagine what a guy like this can do for the entire state! Jr. will say anything, promise anything and then if you elected him he will follow the Ted Kennedy school of voting just like he did in the past. Like that famous Cable Guy said…"I'd rather hunt with Chaney than ride with Kennedy!"

Pictures are mostly of the National Park, some might be from the Blount County side, and all of them remind us why the Yankees all wanta move here and why we need to keep folks like Jr. out of Washington!

FORD JR IS NOT THE WAY

2006-10-20T21:17:00.000-05:00

Look at these great pictures of our state and then think about our future. Ford Jr. is a major cog in the Memphis political machine (see FORD FAMILY) while Bob Corker is a son of Tennessee with a clean family and personal track record.
No joke it is just that simple.

Please vote for CORKER, if Ford Jr. wins TENNESEEE loses!

Hope you like the pictures!

Monday 10-16-06

2006-10-16T06:59:00.000-05:00

If you wanta ramble over to the media report http://walker-mediareport.blogspot.com
there is a story about our local number two TV news station becoming number three.
Also today is income tax day for those of us who played the extension game, I know it is the 15th but that fell on a Sunday so we get a pardon!

I bet this has been around the net a ton of times but some of them are kinda true!
Have a big MONDAY!

PONDER ON THESE SAYINGS:
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that
most people die of natural causes.
Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you
are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is
to buy a replacement.
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.
Life is sexually transmitted.
Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can
die.
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for
anything,
but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble
down the stairs.
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in
hospitals dying of nothing.
Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days
no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no
attention to criticism.
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the
world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it
takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think
I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever
comes out?"
Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song
about him?
Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time,
but don't point to their crotch when they ask where the
bathroom is?
Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed
if they are going to look up there anyway?
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come
from morons?
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he
gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he
sticks his head out the window?

Fall looks

2006-10-13T19:29:00.000-05:00

MORNING WORKERS

2006-10-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

Double click for a better look!

this and other falls

2006-10-02T23:31:00.000-05:00

DENVER!

2006-09-25T18:14:00.000-05:00

MONDAY 9 25 06

Denver taking in the evening fall sunshine!

Bored? Check out the new media report blog
walker-mediareport.blogspot.com/

FALL 9 21 06

2006-09-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

FALL

Florida Game DAY

2006-09-16T16:13:00.000-05:00

Last night MHS won, today Vandy has been beaten and although LSU did score we are lighting candles for Auburn.

After being told over and over it was TOO early for mums I bought some any dang way. Check them out as we get ready to slice a gator in about 3 hours!

FALL

2006-09-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

Fall at last! No joke, this summer went way over the allotted 100 plus degree days, time for it to be over.

In the distant to very near future the good old Media Column may become a cyber event. I "think" those hunting it will still be able to go to hallsnews.com and click on my name for access but right now all is in the planning stages.

Upside is I will still be writing in that publication with extended space and art. The plan is a series of feature stories each month on living and or dead (personally I am pulling for the dead because they won't argue with me on little things like facts) personalities in and around Knoxville. It will be fun to branch out a bit, but it will be even more fun to do the column on line. Now it certainly will NOT be encumbered by space limitations and at the end it will be wide open for any and all comments. Because things are still in a state of flux (a T tiny little area south of Vermont) the media column may be a monthly in the paper, but either way I am sure it will be on line.

Ok, as for the rest of the week, read the new column at hallsnews.com and figure out a plan to beat Florida.

Thanks for reading the blog and the column!

BOOMSDAY..PREACHER..POLITICS

2006-09-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

The crew you are seeing all worked for the OLD U102 (WMYU) back in the day when folks listened to radio stations and radio stations put on big events, like BOOMSDAY.

Monday evening WBIR thought it best to broadcast a tape of BOOMSDAY the day after the event and although it was one of the best fireworks shows ever seen on the river the fabricated history that belched out of the show still is stinking up my rumpus room!

A grizzled looking B 97 kid said he MCed the first BOOMSDAY and said the crowd count was around seventy five thousand folks. Truth is he may have been at the first one but I didn't see him on stage with CP AND WALKER counting down the start?

Earlier in the same broadcast two odd looking people said they were the ones who started the event, bless their hearts, I don't think they even lived in Tennessee when the first sparkler was touched off. Truth is their radio station was THE station to GIVE the show away and this years attempt by those who now own it to run the one day event into three was a giant failure!

Truths...Boomsday was started by the old JACOR Broadcasting. It was a gift to the people of Knoxville and over 150 thousand were there that first night. As the numbers grew the city tried very hard to take over the event and the local papers would never give the founding station credit in their coverage. Still the show went on and still it grew.

So what happened?

Simple, the founding company learned folks would NOT come to a concert the day before or even two days before the big show. Reason?? FOOTBALL! Friday night is HIGH SCHOOL BALL and Saturday is UT!
Also this year the act on Friday was tangled in litigation over killing a PET and filming the death! Less than 2500 folks showed to hear them sing.
On Saturday afternoon less than 300 came out in the heat to hear the bands and when the promised big screen failed to produce the UT game, most demanded their money back.

Boomsday was fine, the two days before it were a BOMB

Preacher Mull passed this morning. He not only owned a radio station in Knoxville but was the founder of the first traveling gospel singing shows. Lots of broadcast history died with him.

Last of the Tyler story hit the shopper and this morning Da Bean was on 1180 talking about it. A lack of calls this morning may have been a way of saying folks are just over it. IF a TV station picks the thing up it might grow, but chances are very slim. If you wanta see part three check it out at hallsnews.com.

Summer/politics/hallsnews!

2006-08-27T16:48:00.000-05:00

How hot is this summer? SO HOT that my "special" tomato bush got too hot, rambled under the tall grilling table and started growing in the S H A D E! I kid you not, this thing left the patch, dashed over to the lower deck, found the shade and after getting a nice hold to the center of the table went skyward! I bought this plant a few months back at the Maryville Farmer's Market on a cold Saturday morning, after being told by a hippie that it was organically created. Fine, but she forgot to
tell me the sucker was HAUNTED! I have a great story about a neighbor whose dawg chewed up his watermelon vine to the point where his daughter had to toss it on the burn pile (southern term for a place to fire up crap the county won't haul off) and now it is hundreds of feet long and full of melons! I shall get pictures as soon has he and his wife go to work tomorrow.

NOW for the fun part!

hallsnews.com is again a MUST read this week! It has the never ending story of Tyler and his adventures as a political flack for the mayor across the river. I won't give away the ending, go read it and enjoy. I will tell you good old WATE finally bent over and talked about the series of articles in a very left handed way this morning. They have a Sunday show that isn't half what MULLS SINGING CONVENTION is but because they promoed they would talk of the Tyler saga I flat tuned in!
On their behalf they tried to have a good group in their discussion circle but kinda came up short. Some conservative woman who has a blog sat on the far left, a very fat guy who has been a spokesman for EVERYONE in the last few years in the middle and good ol Frank rounded out the tribe.

Gene did get them all to agree if TYLER is such a bad boy W H Y did the Rags hire him and WHY did he keep him? Brothers and sisters this thing is more fun that the petting zoo at the TVA@I Fair! A big old attaboy for Gene, at least he cracked the TV ego ceiling and talked about the story that has ALL of Knoxville (OK, all of the city county building) talking. I kid you not, the powers of the Gods are quaking in their shoes in anticipation of the next installment and I flat love being a bleacher rat!

Check it out at hallsnews.com

Denver,Mother,Tyler! LOL

2006-08-24T17:23:00.000-05:00

My idea of cooking dinner involves car keys and a place where the line is very short! Tonight I did a frozen thing that faked its way into being a meal and that Denver begged for it like a raggedly man on Cumberland headed to Alabama for a job!

Naturally when he was finished he gave me that famous, WHATS YOUR POINT LOOK.

Lots going on in the media/political underworld here in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thought I would give both the town's name AND the state encase that mummified old Mike Wallace might wanta come down and get in on the investigation.

The paper I am privilege to write for (hallsnews.com) is doing a three part story concerning an insider in the county mayor's administration. Up frontI will be the first to say the "insider" has baggage and as a very young republican, privileged to shoulder running with the alledged movers and shakers of said county, reportedly took liberties with his status and reportedly made a horses behind out of himself on several occasions.

That said, this young man is now spilling the beans (as he understands said beans) to the above linked paper. IF a third of what he is saying turns out to be fact, half fact, kinda true, or a dang good rumor the foundations of the county mayor's office might need more than B-DRY to keep from cracking!

From a personal standpoint I really don't care, heck I am blessed to live across the river from the former home of the 1982 World's Fair and although I dig for spending money inside its boundaries my tired old heart is still in Maryville. Still, the expose of a politician is just great fun participate in, even from the bleachers.

Walk with me for a minute...OK, name O N E politician you would want to be seen in public with? How about one you would invite over for a burger and diet coke? SEE!! Bless their hearts most if not all are just strange fellows and ladies who if younger your mother would NEVER let you play with!

If you wanta follow this path (the Tyler story on hallsnews.com) then jump in, it is slated to be a three part series and those in the know say part two is going to be a real barn burner of a story!

PS

If you do know Mike Wallace forward this thing over to him. The local TV stations are all taking a pass cause they both got scooped and some say (not me) they are scared of the consequences! OK, so you don't know Mike, keep e mailing it and eventually someone like MSNBC or CNBC or BRAVO or Shopping With The Stars might get involved, as Andy's deputy used to say..THIS COULD BE BIG!

Media and DAWGS!

2006-08-21T18:27:00.000-05:00

Monday!

After finding two ticks on Denver (first ever) the committee decided a trip to the dog spa for both of the kids was needed. Up this AM before 7, running dawgs outside (they never get up before 9) and then loading them into the old Buick for their appointments.

When I picked them up I mentioned I had pulled one TICK off Denver (the Golden) and there was still one very close to his eye that I couldn't get. I held, the guy went to work and after a couple of yanks he determined it was a small growth! Nothing serious but SURE nothing for a half blind old man and a strong young kid to be pulling on! I apologized to Denver and even though I made him and his bud wear the dork handkerchief home, I fixed him up with all sorts of smoked turkey and peanut butter to make up for my miss-diagnosis!

Naturally when you spend more than you would at a human spa to have the Dawgs trimmed, dipped, bathed and festooned with Yuppie rags you have to take their pictures for the blog. Right now they both just want that junk off their necks but their Grandmother loves it so they are stuck until after she goes to bed.

Media

Early this morning while hanging for the dawgs to do their thing I had the TODAY SHOW on. I hate the TODAY SHOW but someone had fired it up and I was kinda watching the door more than the TV.
Anyway they had a group of experts telling us why HILLA would be the Dem candidate for President and also why she would WIN! After I heard (from my vantage point at the door I couldn't see the TV) one "expert" quote a poll that said she was a polarizing candidate but not near as bad as GW, I had to move closer for a look. Brothers and sisters, the EXPERTS the network were using were all members of the Hillary For President Campaign! I kid you N O T!

Now mark your calendar 8 21 06 as THE DAY NBC launched their candidate for the leader of the Free World! Only thing that would have made it worse would have been if Katie had still been working for this tribe.

Want real news? SO DO I!
Know where to get it?
Please tell me cause you can't get it from the alphabet networks

November should be a wild ride!

Denver takes a walk

2006-08-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2254/1827/1600/NEWDENwk4.jpg">

Good Old Denver took a walk around the Rockford Bunker tonight and confided in me why he still votes republican. He said even though GW has stumbled at times, the Elite Drive-By Media coupled with the John Deans and Teddy Kennedys of this world just scare him to death! He has a point!
PS

He really wanted to include a picture of the Lilly in the front yard because the box it came in said it was a Wyoming Lilly and he knew his grandmother would love to see it on the blog.

TOmattters,evening,mom

2006-08-16T19:53:00.000-05:00

Mother, Molly and I went for a ride at dark to hunt deer. It was too dark cause none of our eyes could spot one in the twilight, but we still had a fine time! Before we left she checked out the GIANT tomato plant and gave a thumbs up to the fact that I had already planted some seeds in a clay pot for next year. She also told me she marked off a place in the laundry room that will provide just the right amount of light for them to grow over the winter. She then added she has picked a spot for them next spring! As we drove along we covered 57 years of memories and although both of us had forgotten more than a few facts, we really enjoyed filling in the cracks with made up thoughts that fit much better than the truth!

MORE GOLF!

2006-08-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

Golf Thoughts!

It is an evil game, filled with ups and downs, but mostly downs.

It is a game that you will never win.

It is a game that everyone and I am talking EVERYONE plays better than you.

It is a game of anger and sadness.

It is a game that looks so simple but it lies.

It is a game that ONE just ONE good hole will draw you back.

It is a well...great damn game!

More golf and media

2006-08-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

Golf at Laurel Valley (Townsend) is now under 30 dollars every day except Saturday. The course is in super shape and the old slow greens are now old FAST greens. Located across the street from the old Laurel Lake, now a wet area (or Tree Hugger terminology for swamp) Laurel Valley has grown from a 9 hole course to a well kept 18 hole track filled with great looks at Rich Mountain and the surrounding hills. The restaurant is open this season and the private pool is also open to those who rent certain cabins. A new addition (to me) is a flock of wild turkeys who hang around between the green at 10 and the T box over on 18. In the past late afternoons would find deer on 9 near the green but I didn't see any this trip.

Now that my knee is working again I hope to head back for some late summer and fall golf in the Valley, if you don't mind a 16.5 mile drive from Maryville give it a try.
448 6690
http://www.laurelvalleygolf.com

On hallsnews.com the new column is up and it links you over to a couple of places if you have an interest in the latest Arbitron numbers. Radio is really just too predictable in East TN and so are the numbers. WIVK is always number one followed by WIMZ, News Talk, B 97, STAR and a host of others. The links on hallsnews.com don't have the numbers for the non-commercial stations but if they did I am sure WDVX would be in the top three.

Da Big Orange have a group of home games up front and a few will be on CBS or Jefferson Pilot (locally WVLT) but if they suck early then the bulk of the season may not make the CBS lineup, still a coin toss at this point. Check out Volunteer
TV.com for your listings provided we manage to beat Cal, Marshal and Florida. Hey, considering all the press coming out of the Large Orange nothing is a lock this year!

Townsend Golf

2006-08-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

First golf of the year and it turned out just fine. Cool wet morning followed by a dry warm afternoon. MORE people and golf on the next post.

Flag letter!

2006-08-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

The "other" blog (http://maryvilleclassof66.blogspot.com) is devoted to my Maryville High class of 1966 and features tons of pictures from our 40th reunion. This morning one of my classmates and long time friend sent out a mass letter on the use of our flag in the reunion pictures. Anyway if you are a pro flag or anti flag or a neutral flag or a non flag thinker, dash over and read it. As always your thoughts are welcome!

Locally I was two for three in the column on hallsnews.com

Seth (the new part time anchor and former Style host) is leaving along with the News Director down the street at WATE.

As for the arbitron, well sometimes you win and sometimes you don't even get to bat. I said B 97 was falling out of the number two slot and STAR was moving up, well they WERE until the last trend and now B is still number 2 and STAR is still number three. I know who gives the south bound brown eye of a rat.

Lots of election fall out which is just about as boring as the Arbitron, talk among yourselves and send me a note on the comment doober. Oh and if you have any flag thoughts I would flat love to read them also!

Late Evening Deer

2006-08-04T21:44:00.000-05:00

Because it was almost dark and because these guys were not close their eyes look like something out of a John Carpenter movie! They are a family mom, dad and an older fawn. Really good looking but because it was late and the parents were very protective of their kid I had to hang back to take the pictures. Worth the ride out to see them though!

HOT days and DORK media news

2006-08-02T17:41:00.000-05:00

HI KIDS

OK here we go, first the dang weather sucks.

I am still a GW man and think GORE is a fool but man this summer is hot!

Now, on THURSDAY the few and the strange will flock to the polls to set the process in motion to elect our congressional leaders. Friends I ask you is there ONE candidate on either side of the aisle you would invite to lunch? Heck no, most of what runs today is pure trash with a streak of larceny running from their toes to their eyes!

Anyway we best go vote OR the party of Babs, Teddy, Diane Boxer, and that wild lady in GA. will take over the seats in Washington! I know lesser of two evils!

Locally lets elect TH for the simple reason that Randy is a nice buy but he is a lost ball in high weeds. No shit, this old man is just rambling around tossing soft
balls at TH and if we don't all go vote some of them might stick.

Moving on... the Jews are kicking butt and I love the fact that GW is letting them do their thing. No joke, we need to run in and make nice AFTER they are finished protecting their country and not a minute before. If you ever wondered where the national media stands look at their reports from Cuba. They love that old man and are all pulling for the last commie standing to keep on trucking 90 miles from Miami!

Read the net for your news, vote your mind and lets all see what happens!

Deer Run

2006-07-30T21:42:00.000-05:00

Sunday evening Mom wanted to find some deer. Last winter we ran into a few off a back road here in beautiful Rockford, but with the heat we had no idea if they would be out or not. It was getting dark when we found this one under a crab apple (you know elderly apples that are always mad about something) tree right in someone's front yard. Due to the fact it was a narrow road with no place to pull over I had to take its picture from a distance in very low light. Still, Mom got to see her dear, the dear found a heck of a tasty apple tree and not one red neck in a pulp wood truck came around the curve and hit us. All in all a good Sunday evening.

Saturday Morning

2006-07-29T12:08:00.000-05:00

Great rainy morning to get out and take the dawg (small one) to the bank. After all, one day the entire estate will be shared between her and her adopted brother so she needs to see where the vast fortune is on deposit.

Banks are getting odd as I get older. In the past you walked in, they knew you and your family and if it was Friday offered you some popcorn. Today everyone that comes into their doors is a thief until proven otherwise. With a hint of trepidation I stood behind the the rope until I was allowed to move forward and talk with the keepers of my money. I fully expected a conflict because one of my transactions was cashing a giant fifty dollar check, made out to the Mrs. Even though she has accounts with the bank and some money markets (a place to put big chunks of your money and get doo doo in interest),I knew there would be questions about me cashing her check. I was right, but after I gave them numerous account numbers, some of which even held more than the fifty in question I noticed the ducks.

Asking about the little floaters I was told the bank was selling them to benefit something and those who bought in would be entered in a race for vast fortunes. Knowing it would get the check cashed I bought two for the race and was given the pictured duck as part of the deal. It was worth the ten dollar duck to get the fifty cashed!

GOLDEN DENVER

2006-07-27T16:05:00.000-05:00

Good days, Bad days, Tired days, Exciting Days, Long Days are all better when you come home to Denver!

READY FOR THE WEEK!

2006-07-23T21:42:00.000-05:00

Good weekend! Farmers Market (downtown Maryville) was rocking on Saturday morning with WDVX pickers, great vegetables and lots of old friends to swap lies with.

Sunday evening I took a Martha Stewart (don't ask) recipe for turkey burgers and substituted ground chuck for the November bird. Man it was good. So easy, get the chuck or the turkey, fold into your burgers salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and cheese, then toss them on the grill. If you are doing the turkey rather than the cow add some bread crumbs, either way roll them up to the size of a soft ball and don't smash them as they cook. Bout the time you think they are done, go back in and watch the end of the open (Tiger is SO BACK) and then ramble back out and put some cheese on them. Ten minutes later bring them in and dress them for dinner!

Got a new column tonight at http://hallsnews.com/columns/johnson.htm so if you are bored dash over and give it a read. Have a fine WEEK!

The link to the swimwear photos from the Miss Universe Pageant. You're
welcome.

http://www.globalbeauties.com/universe/2006/images/coverage/bscswimwear/bscs
wimwear.htm

NICE ENDING FOR THE WEEK

2006-07-21T16:33:00.000-05:00

Friday 7-23-06, 5:38 PM EST

Nice roll-down at the end of this week with the vast majority of problems solved and the dogs finally spending more than six minutes in a none airconditioned environ.
As for the tall plant featured below, it was named Mother's Weed after she planted it from seed and on the 4th Newton let us know its lineage. Cool thing is, Mom ordered extra Miracle Grow and set out on making sure she had potted not only the healthiest weed on the deck but if luck holds, the TALLEST! Next week she wants it placed on the lower deck and her picture taken beside it, her thinking is one more week of food will push it well over the five foot mark, GO FOR IT MOM!

Locally the end of summer is crawling up on us and all the box stores have their fall school supplies right next to their empty but soon to be filled, Halloween shelves. There has been no vacation for the tribe this year due to several projects that had to be completed. Still dreaming of a Jackson Hole Christmas, but right now it is still a dream.

Little to report on the media front. If they do something worthy or stupid or both we will flat let you know! Column out Sunday evening at hallsnews.com, be sure to look for it after Deadwood goes off. Have an outstanding weekend!

HOW HOT IS IT?

2006-07-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

Friends it is so HOT...(please go to ask.com and type in how hot is it) that the dogs have cut their "Lilly watering time" in half!

Now, where were we. This week has been so dang southern, great blistering weather, bumping into old acquaintances, crackling brown grass and a real feeling that the national republican party will really do well not only in local elections but in all of the states that vote for the good of the country. Lord help that is so profound! No really here is the deal, with the major dust up between the Jews and the thugs, the left wing kids have lost all ground in slicing and dicing GW! They wanta find something WRONG but so far only CNN (Clinton News Network) has been able to ratchet up a complaint from an American escaping the fighting on a cruise ship! Yep, that's it, even AIR AMERICA is sucking wind.

Locally (here in the Tennessee Valley) the stumbling blog of WATE continues to amuse the unwashed. After they were exposed on their nothing story about the high sheriff they had to resort to a post a story about a package seen on their former rival WBIR! I kid you not, their anchor was watching Channel 10s remembrances of a weather icon and felt the need to POST about it! Lord help, in olden times when I worked rock and roll radio if we even mentioned a cross town rival our thin be hinds were tossed! Anyway, the key is after posting "nothing" shots at the sheriff and such, they (WATE) felt it would be better to "relax" the rhetoric by talking about their former (the race now is between WVLT and BIR, look at the over-nights)rival by going fluff on their blog. Such a disipoinintment!

Also this great southern week contained a return to an old station (WIVK) to cut a spot and not only did I get to work in the semi-airconditioned comfort of their high tech production room (the kids did have an old R2R on the desk) I ran into Edd and Mike. Both were nice, Mike looked a bit TOOO TAN to be in management and Edd (not sure about the two d's) relaxed a few minutes to remember the olden times.

Friends WIVK is a hell of a place, say what you will, it has just kicked more ass than Hulk Hogan and is still kicking! Got a press release from them the other day about a stack of awards they are going for and knowing the Frog they will get them.
Hey, come here. Think that is enough sucking up??? Ok, cool.

As for the column this week (posted this coming Sunday evening), hallsnews.com, there is a fun story about the local TV debates and an even "funnier" story about a fill-in weather dude at WBIR. The new gate time is Sunday evening on hallsnews.com. I don't have a clue when the hard
copy comes out.

Been re-reading the book Cumberland Ave. Revisited and would suggest anyone who hung around the University of Tennessee from 1966 to whenever go buy a copy. Go to Metro
Pulse (yep they got a web site and no I don't have a clue what it is) and they will tell you how to get a copy. For those of you who ran the strip back them just think YARDARM, The Place, Twin Light, Cats Meow, and naturally the LONGBRANCH! Great summer reading.

Stay cool!

Monday Media Fun

2006-07-17T08:59:00.000-05:00

GOODMONDAYMORNING!

Ok, lame picture, I admit it but I hate just to read a book and not see pictures!

Late last week local news hound WATE looked at their news watches and yelled, HEY KIDS IT HAS BEEN MINUTES SINCE WE WENT AFTER THE HIGH SHERIFF! The top cop in question is none other than TH, a people's favorite (check out his election wins) and a very good public servant not to mention police officer.

Poor reporting and made up facts cobbled together with an ambush "recorded for air" package was not only so wrong it actually caused a reaction on the sheriffs website. After reading the site you can see where 6 blew it again and any reasonable fellow would know it was time to let this dog alone, but not the news hound! Mr. Gene (I was out of town so I don't really know much about the story) posted on his now infamous blog even more slanted and false points concerning the story. The first one to respond came from a local media blog (not sure who it is but if WATE finds out they sure as heck will tell you) and they really did a point by point response to the WATE mess (story) in a calm and well written manner. Here is their site,
http://www.saysuncle.com be sure to check it out.

This morning things really got rolling on the WATE blog when folks responded to the nothing story, all but one post (and according to my IT guys they think it was none other than Mr. Anchor hiding behind a made-up name) were supporting the high sheriff and pointing out the MESS channel 6 is making of their obvious vendetta.

Never believe me, just check out the say uncle blog and get the facts for yourself. It is just scary to think a local news operation is sliding into the Jerry Springer/AllthenewswecanmakeupNewYorkTimes mode! BLESS THEIR HEARTS!

Media and Summer

2006-07-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

The flower and bug are from the front yard and the storm is from last year (so little rain this year it is hard to get good storm pictures)

The column at hallsnews.com now changes every Sunday evening and the one coming up this Sunday (July 17 2006) is about WBIR anchor Bill Williams. He talks about his fill in return, his work with the station and his new contract starting in December.

This week has been a real trip for the local TV stations and I would love to jump into some of the fights but right now I have to just keep still. See you in the paper!

WBIR ratings and my thoughts

2006-07-10T08:21:00.000-05:00

First here is the short and the long of it from WBIR on their May win.

Primary News Time Periods:

HH Rating WBIR/NBC News Share WATE/ABC News Share WVLT/CBS News Share HH Total
6-7a 6.6 65.3% 2.7 26.7% 0.8 7.9% 10.1
6-630p 11.7 46.1% 9.4 37.0% 4.3 16.9% 25.4
11-1130p 10.5 55.6% 3.7 19.6% 4.7 24.9% 18.9
Average News Share 52.94% 29.04% 18.01%
As of the May 2006 Nielsen sweep, WBIR nationally ranks as one of NBCÂs highest rated affiliates in AmericaÂs metered markets:
#4 nationally ranked HH delivery of the ÂToday ShowÂ
#2 nationally ranked HH delivery of the ÂNBC Nightly NewsÂ
#6 nationally ranked HH delivery of over all NBC Primetime

Since these thoughts were sent from 10 they have hired their new anchor and have had more than a few nice wins in the 5 p.m. slot. May has shown advertisers that they can now buy WVLT at 11 and Noon and WBIR either early morning or 6 and spend much less than last May to cover the market. It has also shown Channel 8 growing, Channel 10 continuing to win big (the thought on not buying 10 at 11 was nothing but price, they are still the number one buy at 11) and Knoxville slowly turning from a market with three major local TV news competitors into one with two. As always let the account fellow from the station you are thinking about buying explain the numbers before you make your buy.

Class of 66!

2006-07-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

The Maryville High class of 1966 had a glorious two day reunion last weekend and if you would like to see more of these great folks their blog is http://maryvilleclassof66.blogspot.com

Tons of pictures of kids pushing 58+ and looking not a day over 57!

Here are a few of the tunes the class of 1966 dance to TODAY!

Updated hits of the 60's

1. Herman's Hermits--- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
2. The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
3. Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
4. Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
5. Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
6. Johnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now.
7. Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
8. The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
9. Marvin Gaye--- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
10. Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair.
11. Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
12. The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
13. Abba--- Denture Queen.
14. Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
15. Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
16. Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again
17. Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure and I'll Cry If I Want To.

RATINGS THOUGTS FROM 8

2006-07-02T19:51:00.000-05:00

WVLT Ratings Overview

MAY 2006

WVLT-TV CONTINUES STRONG GROWTH and SOLIDIFIES ITS #2 MARKET POSITION IN NEWS, PRIME, and SIGN-ON to SIGN-OFF!

WVLT VOLUNTEER TV NEWS is the #2 MOST WATCHED LOCAL NEWS STATION in the KNOXVILLE MARKET 6:00 A.M. to Midnight Monday through Friday, according to the most recent Nielsen Media Research for May 2006. The average weekly estimates for Households and Persons 2+ for 6-7am, Noon News, First @ Four, 5-5:30pm, 5:30-6pm, 6-6:30pm, 7pm News, and the Late News at 11-11:30pm confirms WVLT’s position.

STATION HOUSEHOLDS PERSONS 2+

WBIR/NBC 243,000 311,000

WVLT/CBS 152,000 188,000

WATE/ABC 145,000 185,000

LATE NEWS 11:00pm Monday – Friday

· WVLT is #2 in TOTAL Household Ratings for the second book in a row beating WATE in May by 4 full share points!

· Adults 25-54 Ratings:

· WVLT #2 Adults 25-54 with a 25% increase in rating and a 21% increase in share book to book, and beating WATE by 7 share points!

· WVLT also posts a 67% increase in rating and a 70% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)

Adults 18-49 Ratings:
WVLT is #2 Adults 18-49 with a 33% increase in rating and a 33% increase in share book to book!
Plus, a 100% increase in rating and a 78% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)

LATE NEWS 11:00pm Sunday – Saturday

Household Ratings:
WVLT is #2 with a 19% increase in share year to year! (May 2006 vs. May 2005)

WVLT is a strong #2 among Adults 25-54.

WVLT is also a strong #2 among Adults 18-49!

SIGN-ON to SIGN-OFF 7:00a – 1:00am

WVLT-TV finishes the May 2006 rating period as the solid #2 sign on to sign off.

NOON NEWS

For the second ratings period in a row, WVLT Volunteer TV News at Noon takes 1st place with a Household 6 rating/14 share, reflecting growth book to book, and besting both WBIR and WATE. Additionally, WVLT News at Noon showed growth year to year in key demos; Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, and Women 25-54.
This is the third time in the last five ratings periods that WVLT has finished #1 in Noon News…

4:00 NEWS – FIRST AT FOUR

WVLT up book to book and year to year in Key Demos in both rating and share.
Adults 18-49 up 2 share points…+25% Book to Book and up 7 share points…+233% May 2006 vs. May 2005
Adults 25-54 up 3 share points…+33% Book to Book and up 8 share points…+200% May 2006 vs. May 2005

WVLT-TV 5:30 NEWS

WVLT up book to book and year to year in Key Demos in both rating and share.
Adults 18-49 up 1 share point…+11% year-to-year
Adults 25-54 up 4 share points…+40% year to year

VOLUNTEER TV NEWS @ 6:00pm

WVLT – Volunteer News at 6 reflected growth in HH ratings, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54…year to year.
Adults 18-49 up 2 share points…+33% May 2006 vs. May 2005
Adults 25-54 up 1 share point…+12.5% May 2006 vs. May 2005

VOLUNTEER TV NEWS @ 7:00pm

WVLT continues dominance as the only LIVE 7pm News cast.

MONDAY – SATURDAY PRIME 8-11pm and SUNDAY 7-11pm

WVLT up 3 share points…+12% book to book in Prime and finishes second in Household Ratings and tied for “First Place” in Key Demos...Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.
WVLT-TV delivered nine (9) of the Top 20 Prime/Special programs, Household ratings, that ran once during the May 2006 Ratings Period, including Four (4) of the Top 10. This is more than any other station in the market.
WVLT-TV delivered seven (7) of the Top 20 Prime programs, Household ratings, running twice or more in the May 2006 Ratings, this is more than any other station in the market. Topping the list is CSI with an 18 rating and 26 share.

Highlights –

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS an 11.6 rating and 60,000 viewers. Women 25-54 a 13 rating and Women 18-49 a 12 rating.

C.S.I. – 18 HH rating/26 share; Women 25-54 a 17 rating and Women 18-49 a 15 rating.

**********************

Also, UPN Knoxville Continues to show steady growth with gains both network and non network programming, positioning it well for the switch to MyNetwork!

Notable Highlights:

WWE SMACKDOWN – 2 HH rating and a 4 share; Demos – Adults 18-49 a 2 rating; Adults 25-54 a 2 rating; Men 25-54 a 3 rating; Men 18-49 an 3 rating.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL – HH 1.3 rating.

ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT – HH 1.1 rating.

COPS – HH 1.0 rating.

Steve Crabtree

Kidd REUNION

2006-06-26T16:21:00.000-05:00

The Kidd family and various off shoots gathered at Kidd Springs ( I am sure this is not the correct title for the spot) to celebrate their annual Kidd reunion on Sunday June 26th 2006.

Walker Johnson, one of the many grandchildren of Gussie or is it Gussy Kidd attened and took these pictures. There is one characteristic running through all of the photographs and it is fun, notice the smiles and the fellowship of these folks. It is both an honor and a privilege to call them kin!

wate release

2006-06-20T21:20:00.000-05:00

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 16, 2006 Contact: Mark Bishop
Creative Services Director
(865) 633-6906 (office)

WATE-TV scores a big win at 5pm during May.

(Knoxville) ABC affiliate WATE 6 had a winning May sweeps performance. WATE 6 showed growth during key day parts and in the key demos. WATE 6 also won the 5pm news time slot again during this very important sweeps period. This proves that more and more East Tennessee viewers are turning to 'The News Station', 6 News.
“We are pleased to have earned growth in some key news areas during this rating period,” says Jan Wade, President and General Manager of WATE-TV. “The staff works very hard each day to bring good quality journalism to our viewers. Our goal is cover the top story news of the day, and to report on stories and issues that are of interest to the area. As evidenced by our growth, more and more East Tennesseans seem to be counting on us for just that.”
Good Morning Tennessee, Knoxville’s only local morning newscast with a daily live reporter shows great growth throughout the mornings. Growing an incredible 26% from 5am to 5:30am, and showing great growth in key demos from 6am to 7am. GMT delivers big breaking news with overnight developments along with traffic and weather together on the 6's.

5:00-5:30am May. 05 May. 06
WATE (News) 1.9 rating / 9 share 2.4 rating / 10.5 share
WBIR (News) 3.9 rating / 19 share 3.5 rating / 15.5 share
WVLT (News) 1.0 rating / 5 share 0.6 rating / 2.5 share

6-7am
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (News) 4.2 2.0 2.7 2.8 3.4 4.2 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.4
WBIR (News) 8.3 3.8 5.4 4.7 6.4 7.7 3.8 5.6 4.8 7.3
WVLT (News) 1.5 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.7 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.3
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

Oprah, once again won her time slot, winning dramatically in all key demos. This proves that Oprah remains the “Queen of Daytime Television”. She is still going strong, and continues to dominate the 4pm hour.
“There are so many positive attributes to be said about Oprah Winfrey,” adds Wade. “But the headline for her is that she does an excellent program, and her viewers continue to love her and watch her.”

4-5pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Oprah) 7.3 3.0 3.6 5.2 5.9 6.3 2.8 3.1 4.8 5.3
WBIR (Style) 5.4 1.4 1.7 1.6 2.0 5.0 1.3 1.4 2.2 2.4
WVLT (News/Andy) 3.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.2 3.2 1.3 1.8 1.9 2.6
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis
WATE 6 News at 5pm, Won again for the seventh time in last 8 rating periods. WATE 6 News at 5pm grew in all key demos over last year’s performance. 6 News continues to provide the people of East Tennessee with big breaking news, developing stories, and in-depth investigations that make an impact.
“We are East Tennessee’s source for local news,” says Robb Atkinson, News Director of WATE-TV. “6 News at 5 is the only place where viewers can find hard hitting investigations, and in-depth team coverage of the stories they want to watch.”
5-5:30pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Oprah) 8.6 2.6 3.4 3.3 4.2 7.7 3.2 3.6 4.1 4.5
WBIR (Style) 8.5 3.1 3.9 3.8 4.7 7.6 3.4 3.9 4.6 5.1
WVLT (Andy) 4.4 1.8 2.3 2.2 2.4 4.2 2.2 3.1 2.9 3.8
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

The Insider continues to create a buzz in East Tennessee with another great sweeps performance. The Insider was the only show during its time period to make gains in the key demos.
7:30-8pm
May 05 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54 May 06 Ratings
HH A18-49 A25-54 W18-49 W25-54
WATE (Insider) 6.2 2.1 2.6 2.5 3.1 5.0 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.3
WBIR (Jeopardy) 11.4 4.1 5.2 4.7 6.1 10.2 4.0 4.9 4.4 5.4
WVLT (ET) 5.4 2.5 3.2 3.2 4.3 4.7 1.7 2.1 2.6 3.1
source: NSI May 05-May06, VIP Analysis

“Going forward, we will continue to pursue our mission of providing the very best newscasts, and programming in East Tennessee,” adds Wade. “We are grateful to our loyal viewers and will continue to work hard to earn their trust each and every day.”
***
WATE-TV, Channel 6, is owned and operated by Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. The ABC network affiliate serves East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky.

Little media, little animal

2006-06-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

Our state bird raising the devil on my roof trying to let the ladies know he is packing American Express platinum, keys to a Buick Park Ave., and his wife is on a six week cruise to the Bahamas!

CBS is saying that Dan Rather will be packing his box (old radio saying for cleaning out your desk) today! See Ya DAN!

Locally the May numbers are back and the TV sales ferrets have spun them harder than the an industrial Kenmore. Their end results will be posted here after the column hits on Wednesday night, live for it!

Powell News Lives!

2006-06-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

Just got word the Powell News will still be around, but it will be an added supplement to the Halls News and not a separate paper.

Some other good news in the media world, RATHER finally got SACKED at CBS and although NBC ran a personal poll on GW that said his numbers were flat it looks like he is back over 40%! How can you tell if an alphabet network news anchor is not telling the truth? His lips are moving!!!! LOL

WELCOME HALLS NEWS READERS!

2006-06-16T13:25:00.000-05:00

The famed MEDIA MAVIN is now writing in the Halls News, after a few short years with the Powell News. The Post assumed room temperature this week and the Halls News has grown in distribution and content. I mention the blog in my column so if you are a first time visitor to Tennessee Writer, you are just in for such a treat!

I will use the blog to expand on the local media and also as a place to park their news releases concerning ratings. Brother they are flat fun to read and each station can show you where they are growing and beating another station, creative writing at its best!

Anyway the giant news is I just got a new Nikon and have been blasting pictures of the river, the flowers and the dogs and I am positive you would LOVE to see these suckers!

Check out the column at hallsnews.com and if you wanta jump into the mix fire off an e mail!

Denver

2006-06-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

Got a new camera from the TV shopping net work, SHOP AT HOME. They are selling out at the end of the month and everything is at cost! This one is an olympus and has 5 meg/pix so it does take clearer shots that the old 2 meg/pix cannon.

Still working on getting either a nikon or a cannon rebel when the prices get better!