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October 28, 2005
Remember Robinson's Suggestion?
From the Wichita Eagle on Oct. 27:
"A new Clay County, Tenn., resolution that bars demonstrations within 5,000 feet of a funeral service is being criticized by civil rights advocates, who say it could be applied to other forms of constitutionally protected protest."
View Wichita Eagle article
Apparently, the commissioners passed the measure to keep members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas from "attending" the funeral of Army Sgt. Wesley Tucker of Clay County.
Why not let 'em show up? Well, according to the Eagle, "The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist, contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays."
While having to deal with folks who maintain dubious Christian beliefs like 'Gay people cause God to murder American soldiers' seems like an absurd waste of time under normal circumstances, the thought of maneuvering through a gauntlet of ideologically perverted fanatics during the funeral of a loved one feels utterly unbearable.
However, there is the pesky concept of free speech and the right to assemble...
So what to do?
Of course, this issue of where it's ok to exercise your first amendment rights has already come up here in Chattanooga:
From The Pulse on July 27
"City Councilwoman Sally Robinson suggested at the Council meeting last week that Chattanooga should set aside a “free speech zone” in Miller Park for protests and street preaching." Get Behind Me, Protestors
These things deserve watching.
Posted by mkull at 09:30 AM | TrackBack
October 27, 2005
Harriet, We Hardly Knew Thee
So as you're all no doubt aware by now, the Texas Lottery will not get its long-awaited representation on the Supreme Court. I think we can all agree that this is a happy development.
Well, except George. "Harriet Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers," the President said this morning, "and confirms my deep respect and admiration for her."
It's nice that they'll stay close. They were such a lovely couple. But really, Mr. Bush, we all know that Harriet Miers couldn't find an essential aspect of the constitutional separation of powers with two hands and a flashlight.
So, let's try again. Maybe somebody with a judicial record this time.
Posted by mesh at 12:15 PM | TrackBack
October 26, 2005
What's Next?
This from The Tennesseean: "Two in five teachers whose licenses were revoked by the State Board of Education from 2003 through the present were accused of sex-related violations or inappropriate contact with students, according to a Tennessean review of state records."
Here's the whole article: No. 1 Reason Teachers Ousted Is Sex
Posted by mkull at 01:40 PM | TrackBack
October 25, 2005
Terry Heaton's Speech to Communication Students
Terry Heaton (BlogNashville attendee and PoMo Blog moderator) is so dead-on it's not even funny.
Our field is being turned on its head. In a good way. A VERY good way.
Posted by colrus at 10:10 AM | TrackBack
Caption Please: Car In Ditch
(Click for larger view.)
Car in ditch. Shot tonight in Bi-Lo parking lot, Signal Mountain Boulevard.
Share the funny.
Posted by colrus at 12:48 AM | TrackBack
October 23, 2005
Prussian Blue: The Creepiest Duo Ever
(via Drudge)
(Click to enlarge)
Prussian Blue are a pair of 12 year-old singing sisters who have put out an album and DVD full of songs celebrating their white heritage and Aryan beliefs. They are extremely creepy. I'm sure they've got a long, cute, hateful career ahead of them.
(BTW: "Prussian Blue" is slang for the residue left by Zyklon-B in the Nazi concentration camp gas chambers.)
Here is their Website.
Here is their blog. (The pic with Tom Metzger is particularly charming).
Thoughts?
Posted by colrus at 02:35 PM | TrackBack
October 20, 2005
Anatomy of a Backpedal
Speaking before the Home Builders Association of Southeast Tennessee on Tuesday, Hamilton County Commission Chair Larry Henry was hopeful that, by the end of the week, a major company would announce that it was setting up shop at Enterprise South. He said that this unnamed company would initially bring 1,500 jobs before eventually providing 5,000 jobs. This news was first reported on Chattanoogan.com.
Later that day, as the public and the rest of the media got wind of the story, the Chattanoogan.com story was amended, removing the "end of the week" comments, reporting instead that Henry was "hopeful there will be an announcement soon." The story also said that city officials were not aware of any such planned announcement. Henry said that while he was hopeful to land such a company -- and though there are several prospects -- there is "no signed contract."
Also later that day, a visibly uncomfortable Henry told WDSI/WTVC reporter Tanya Mendis that "hopefully we're gonna be hearing something very soon on that. I don't think it's gonna be in the next few days, but it could be. It could be any time."
Henry wouldn't release the name of the megasite's posible tenant, but said it was a "major manufacturing concern." The mayor's office said that while some companies are interested in the site, any rumor of an actual announcement is just that, a rumor.
Henry further elaborated, "I think the last piece of the puzzle is just about ready to be put together."
On Wednesday, Henry told reporters that his previous remarks had been misconstrued and that he didn't mean that an immediate announcement was forthcoming; that such an announcement could take "up to a year or so, maybe less."
...He also said that a European auto manufacturer was interested in the site, but wouldn't divluge which one.
Posted by colrus at 10:35 AM | TrackBack
October 19, 2005
Air America: Up in Chattanooga, Down in NYC
While there has been quite a buzz surrounding Air America's recent arrival to Chattanooga's WDOD (1310 AM), the network's New York flagship station (WLIB 1190 AM), has currently fallen to 24th in that market with its ratings taking a sizeable tumble during the last Arbitron period.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that I can't EVER seem to get WDOD's signal to come in clearly when I'm driving in remote areas of town such as, say, Hixson and East Brainerd...
What's the dealy, yo?
Posted by colrus at 03:08 PM | TrackBack
The Treacherously Deep Non-Deep Flood Waters of Wayne, New Jersey
Click here for moronic reporting at its finest.
Posted by colrus at 02:50 PM | TrackBack
In Print: October 19, 2005
In this week's print edition...
So, what's a bribe really worth in Tennessee? We explore "The Cost of Doing e-Business."
We catch up with former local TV reporter Gina Brown, now Production Coordinator for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Mason Neely drops some CD reviews on your lonely ears and previews Pacific Rim rockers, the 5678's.
And speaking of dishes, Kelli Baker dishes up the goods on some food podcasts.
...Plus, our usual heaping of events listings and dining guide and so much more!
Click here to sign up for our weekly e-mail update.
Don't miss your chance to win two tickets for 3 Doors Down, Tuesday
November 8th at UTC Arena! Register online. Deadline to enter is Thursday, November 3rd at Midnight.
Posted by colrus at 12:14 PM | TrackBack
October 18, 2005
Coming soon to The Pulse Blog: Blogging
Yes. After a semi-hiatus, it occurred to us here at The Pulse Blog that, yes, we do still have a blog and that, yes, we should use it.
Soooooo...
After many closed-door meetings with important and expensive blogsultants and strateblogists (one was named Kenny, I think), we are now feverishly working behind the scenes to give you new, regular content guaranteed to mildly grab your attention while you are supposed to be doing actual work, or before you shut your computer off for the day because your boss just walked away and you really have nothing left to do so you're gonna try to sneak out early without him seeing.
After another brief hiatus, the hot, fast blog action will be releashed (re + unleashed = releashed) upon your desperate eyes. You will never be the same.
Now, watch as the other blogs scramble in preparation for our blogttack...
Posted by colrus at 02:18 PM | TrackBack
October 06, 2005
Peril Gridlock
Michael Kinsley argues, convincingly, that hindsight is not in fact 20/20 after catastrophes:
Of course, my job isn't to predict and prepare for disasters. My job is to recriminate when they occur. It's not easy. These days the recrimination business is overrun like Baton Rouge with amateurs, who are squatting on all the high ground. The fetid aroma of hindsight is everywhere.
But just Google up a phrase like "commission warns," or "urgent steps," or "our children's future" -- or simply "crisis" -- and you may develop a bit of sympathy for the people who stand accused today of ignoring the warnings about anything in particular. Far from being complacent about potential perils, we suffer from peril gridlock.
Posted by mesh at 02:49 PM | TrackBack