Sunday, September 30, 2007

Thoughts of a Bellman

I Just Roll With It.

"The person who brings up the bags and opens the room for you should get $1 or $2, unless you have a whole trolley of luggage, when it should be more." - New York Times


Of course, you can always require three whole trolleys for your numerous and heavy boxes and shrug it off with, "I'd tip you but I'm all out of cash." I just keep it polite and hope that tomorrow is a better day.

Anyone hiring?

Visit his blog at ChezBez

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Bill Monroe and Mother Maybelle Carter


By NAOMI SNYDER

A face-off in U.S. Bankruptcy Court over two of the most-prized string instruments in music history has legions of country fans on edge, while investors duped by a high-profile donor to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hope to get some of their millions back.

Hanging in the balance are Mother Maybelle Carter's famed 1928 Gibson guitar, which helped provide the foundation of country music, and the 1923 mandolin of Bill Monroe, who is considered the father of bluegrass.

The instruments, or at least the money that the late Robert W. McLean of Murfreesboro used to help the hall of fame acquire them, have become the focal points of this case of victim against victim, apparent suicide and long-shot causes.

On one side are dozens of people hoodwinked out of $40 million by a free-spending McLean, and on the other side sits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which acquired Mother Maybelle's famed Gibson L-5 guitar and Monroe's Gibson mandolin with some of McLean's cash.

Bob Waldschmidt, the bankruptcy trustee tracing McLean's history, says the law allows him to recover McLean's gifts to the hall of fame on behalf of investors and other creditors.

To read the entire story, visit the Tennessean newspaper.

Samson and Delilah at the Nashville Opera

Andrew Jackson Hall
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Thursday October 11, 2007, 7:00 PM and Saturday October 13, 2007, 8:00 PM
Adapted from the famed biblical tale, this powerful French Opera tell the story of Samson, a man full of strength and godliness. Until he meets…Delilah. This famous couple has been immortalized in Hollywood and literature. Now see the bible come alive as the passionate music of Camille Saint-SaĆ«ns weaves its way through this gripping story of betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption.

Not My Normal Kind of Post but Here is Britney Spears News



Britney Spears' disastrous appearance in Las Vegas killed a pending multimillion, 30-market tour deal, according to an insider.

"Everyone was waiting on that. The wild card was how she performed," said the source, an executive who was close to the deal with Live Nation, the world's largest producer of concerts.



"Everyone said 'no way.' She blew it bad," said the source.

Spears had hoped to launch her comeback, after a four-year hiatus, at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 9 at the Palms. Instead, she's not only back to square one professionally, but her continuing personal unraveling may have placed her on the music industry's radioactive list for some time.



This comes from Norm Clarke's column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal

4 out of 5 Wont Go Back to Judge Bean's

After Judge Bean's did so poorly, time after time, on the health inspections it is understandable that people aren't sure to rush back through their doors. In my last survey, 4 out of 5 people said they would not go back but with time and with constant proof that they have turned things back around perhaps the public will give them our trust again. I hate to see a restaurant go under but they all must have cleaner and better track records then this. Good luck Aubrey...

Keep getting out in Nashville and being a tourist in your own city and don't forget to enjoy good food.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

I Wanna Find a Long, Flat Stretch of Highway for These Amazing Saleen Cars



With its "angel wing" doors—and 750 hp engine—the Saleen S7 soars to 60 mph in less than three seconds.



Steve Saleen is obsessed with speed. "Roll into the throttle," the former Bob Bondurant racing school instructor commands me as I navigate a makeshift test track, which consists of the public roads that surround the Saleen automotive company’s headquarters in Irvine, Calif. Heedless that his S7—a certified supercar equipped with 750 hp and no traction control other than the driver’s right foot—is already roaring through the industrial park well over the speed limit, he urges me on: "Faster, faster!"

A Saleen S7 will hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds from a standstill—while still in first gear. It is capable of traveling a quarter mile in the 10-second range and will achieve 200 mph in another 10 seconds. But as I take a sweeping right-hand turn and press the accelerator deeper, the clutch pedal moves simultaneously toward the floor and—with a clink, and then a clunk—flops backward, smacking my shoeless left foot with the subtlety of a ball-peen hammer. I shift out of first, but the clutch refuses to engage second gear, so I lift my foot just as Saleen is begging for more throttle.



As we soon discover, the pin that held the clutch pedal in place has become dislodged, rendering the transmission inoperable. We coast to a stop, and the ride is over.

"You broke it," Saleen deadpans. "Way to go.

"Exotic supercars are notoriously temperamental, and the American-born Saleen S7 apparently is no exception. The car, which made its production debut in 2002 at 550 hp, gained twin turbochargers in 2005, giving it the additional 200 hp and a total of 700 ft lbs of torque. "But that is only using 6 to 7 pounds of boost pressure," says Saleen. The factory, he notes, offers an aftermarket package that generates 1,035 hp, and the S7’s twin turbos are capable of handling as much as 23 pounds of boost or—theoretically, at least—as much as 2,000 hp.

Read more about these amazing cars in the Robb Report

Smyrna, Tennesse: A Great Place to Retire

By TAYLOR LOYAL
Gannett Tennessee

Smyrna is one of the "Top 10 Best Places to Retire" in the country, according to the latest issue of U.S. News & World Report.

The bustling little bedroom community in northern Rutherford County was among the tops in the nation in offering amenities that retirees want, such as the cost of living, climate, and access to health care.

It also was singled out for offering extensive parks and greenways and numerous offerings for history buffs.

"Smyrna is just a great place to live, in my opinion," said Doris Jones, 72. "We've met people from everywhere. There aren't many people who live here who were born in Smyrna."

She and her husband, Clyde, 79, got a call recently from friends in Kansas who'd been reading U.S. News — Lawrence, Kan., was also in the top 10 — and flipped the page, unexpectedly finding a photo of Doris and Clyde.

The Joneses moved to Smyrna in 1985 after Clyde retired from Lockheed. They had visited the city several times and lived here briefly when Clyde was sent to Smyrna on business.

Twenty-two years ago, one of their children was living in Louisville, Ky., and two others were living in Atlanta. Smyrna seemed like a logical point in the middle. "We had made a few friends here over the years and bought some real estate so when it came time to retire, it made sense to move here," Doris Jones said.

Recognized by U.S. News along with Smyrna were Hillsboro, Ore.; Bozeman, Mont.; San Francisco; Prescott, Ariz.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Peachtree City, Ga.; Venice, Fla.; and Concord, N.H.

The town has a population of just over 33,000. It also has more than one million square feet of retail space set to open in the next eight months.

This is from the Tennessean newspaper

Read the entire list of great retirement locations in the U. S. News Magazine

Tennessee Honors Fallen Soldiers


Officials on Friday named 15 bridges and overpasses on state Route 840 after National Guardsmen killed in Iraq.

The 78-mile stretch dubbed Tennessee National Guard Parkway runs in a southern half-circle around Nashville, intersecting Interstate 40 in Lebanon in the east and Dickson in the west.

"I'm proud that we're doing this and I do think it gives some tangible recognition," said Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat. "There will be a lot of people who see those names on the bridges long after we're gone, and perhaps it will remind them that there are people who have sacrificed everything."

Bredesen said it's probably unlikely that these will be the last bridges named after fallen guardsmen.

This news comes from WSMV in Nashville.

Maya Hotel Floating Pyramid Island In Caribbean Sea


If you think an extravagant five-star skyscraper, beach side resort or cliff-side villa is the ultimate hotel experience, then think again. Prepare for a new dimension in luxury lodging ... floating pyramids.

Oceanic-Creations, a Swedish based company, has unveiled plans to build floating commercial and residential buildings around the world with the help of a new composite material.

The company's first major project -- the Maya Hotel -- is estimated to cost around $209 million and will be located south of Cancun, Mexico, on the Caribbean Sea.

"We have a lot of hopes about the future. We have more customers than actual production right now," said Ronny Nordell, an engineer and co-founder of the project, which plans to construct hotels, casinos, island cities and even movable vacation villages.

The floating buildings will be built with an unique plastic composite material, which is normally used in the defense industry and will feature built-in insulation that makes the constructions suitable for all types of climate, from the freezing cold to extreme heat. The material, which the maker says is up to six times lighter and 10 times stronger than steel depending on the reinforcement material, can also cut maintenance costs by 30 to 40 percent.

"They don't break easily and are much easier to maintain," said Ronny Nordell.

There are already plans underway to build student housing with the technology especially in congested places where there is a lack of space to build. The company is set to focus on emerging markets such as the United Arab Emirates where the interest for the technology has been very strong.

"This material will prove very cost-effective for places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi who work a lot with landscaping and usually use sand and mud to build," said Stefan Holmgren, head of international marketing.

"The good thing for us is that there are many cities that don't have a real solution to what do with their water. We will give them those solutions," he said, adding that the company has received interest for the material from as far as China and the Far East.

Nordell, who previously worked for Kockums, a Swedish marine company that invented the technology, said he tried to get permission to use the special composite technology as early as 1986 but got rejected by the Swedish government because it was considered a defense secret and used for military purposes.

"I tried again in 2002, thinking the Cold War is over now and it worked," he said.

Oceanic-Creations struck a deal with Kockums last autumn, which gives the company the exclusive rights to use Kockums' composite technology to build the floating constructions and similar products for 20 years.

To date, $6.5 million has been invested in the venture and the company is currently planning how to finance its future operations. The fact that the recipe for the composite material is secret gives Oceanic-Creations a significant competitive advantage, said Ronny Nordell.

He added, the production will initially kick-off from facilities in Varna, Bulgaria, which is strategically located on the Black Sea to make it easy to transport everything.

In addition to the Maya Hotel in Mexico, the ventures other projects will also include a floating wind tunnel that will be placed outside New York. The wind tunnel will enable people to recreate skydives without actually jumping out of an airplane.

"We have big aspirations," said Nordell. "There are a lot of people interested in us now compared to when we started. There weren't many who believed in it then," he said.
This is from CNN
~~~~~~~
The Maya Hotel, a vast floating pyramidal resort, is on the drawing board at Oceanic Creations, a Swedish-based company.

Oceanic Creations intends to construct hotels, casinos, island cities and even movable vacation villages. The secret ingredient for all of these projects is a unique plastic composite material which offers built-in insulation that makes the constructions suitable for all types of climate, from the freezing cold to extreme heat. This remarkable material is reportedly up to six times lighter and 10 times stronger than steel (depending on the reinforcement material used). It is also claimed that it can cut maintenance costs by 30 to 40 percent.

"This material will prove very cost-effective for places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi who work a lot with landscaping and usually use sand and mud to build," said Stefan Holmgren, head of international marketing for Oceanic Creations.

"The good thing for us is that there are many cities that don't have a real solution to what do with their water. We will give them those solutions."

The World's Most Expensive Dessert


~~~~~~~
Sure your collectibles are worth a lot of money, but a dessert? Sri Lanka has great antiques to buy, and is certainly known for their Buddhist temples, but “The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence,” which debuted in March, has brought delicacy and wealth to new heights. Its creation was inspired by the success of the restaurant’s other gem-studded treat, the Bombay Sapphire Martini. Wine3, one of the resort's restaurants, offers the Indulgence for $14,500. Yes, I typed that correctly. $14,500. What makes it so special? “The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence was created to give visitors at The Fortress Resort in the coastal city of Galle a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Shalini Perera, public relations manager at The Fortress.

The dessert is a gold leaf Italian cassata flavored with Irish cream. It is served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a champagne sabayon enlighten, and is complimented by a chocolate carving of a fisherman clinging to a stilt, an age old local fishing practice. The crowning jewel, and I mean that quite literally, is the 80 carat aquamarine stone that rests on a sliver of chocolate shaped to resemble the traditional stilt fisherman that is part of The Fortress' logo. Patrons are welcomed to pocket the gem after they polish off the delectable dessert. Although, the hotel has had many inquiries about the item, one as far away as Japan, no one has yet forked over the money to try it.

Carrot Top and His Many Looks


If he keeps it up, Carrot Top will soon look like Eric Stoltz as Rocky Dennis in "Mask."

This is from TMZ.com

Thursday, September 27, 2007

A Visit to Savarino's Cucina Today



Today we visited Savarino's Cucina in Hillsboro Village. We had some coffee, a latte and an espresso as well as some biscotti's, macaroon's and cookies. I also found out that their Italian ice cream machine is currently not working. I bet that was worn out during the terrible heat over the summer. Be sure to stop in and visit them for good, home-made food and desserts.
It is truly a delight to visit and take the time to enjoy and relax.

Giada De Laurentiis...Nice Carrots!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Fisk University and Museum of Wal-Mart Heiress Agree to Share “Radiator Building — Night, New York,”


Fisk University’s board of trustees has agreed in principle to share ownership of its prized Alfred Stieglitz Collection with the new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas in exchange for $30 million, the two sides announced on Tuesday.

The agreement, subject to approval by a chancery court judge, would entitle the university and the museum to display the 101 works in the collection for equal amounts of time, they said. Crystal Bridges is scheduled to open in Bentonville, Ark., in 2009.

The founder of Crystal Bridges, the Wal-Mart heiress Alice L. Walton, also pledged $1 million to renovate and maintain the Fisk gallery that houses the collection and to finance an art internship.

The board’s vote on Monday, which came after more than a year of litigation over the fate of the artworks, could help remedy Fisk’s financial problems, the university’s board said.

“This settlement represents a great opportunity for Fisk to emerge from this lengthy and complicated process on the strongest financial footing that we have been on in decades,” Reynaldo P. Glover, the board chairman, said in a statement.

Still, the fate of the art-sharing agreement is far from certain. The Tennessee attorney general, Robert E. Cooper Jr., who has a say because the collection was a charitable donation, must still weigh in; he has said he would prefer that the collection remain full time in Nashville, where Fisk is based.

Georgia O’Keeffe, widow of the photographer Alfred Stieglitz, gave 97 of the pieces in the Stieglitz Collection to Fisk in 1949, and donated more several years later. Other works from Stieglitz’s enormous collection went to institutions including the National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Fisk sought court permission in late 2005 to sell two works from the collection — “Radiator Building — Night, New York,” a striking Precisionist canvas from 1927, by O’Keeffe, and Marsden Hartley’s “Painting No. 3” — to boost the university’s sagging endowment.

But the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, N.M., which functions as O’Keeffe’s estate, filed suit to block the sale, arguing that Fisk was violating its agreement with O’Keeffe to maintain the collection. In a proposed legal settlement this year the museum agreed to buy “Radiator Building” for $7.5 million, and allow Fisk to sell the Hartley work.

While that settlement was pending, Crystal Bridges made its $30 million offer to share the collection. Citing the value of that bid, a chancery court judge rejected Fisk’s settlement with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum this month, saying it was not advantageous to the people of Tennessee. Then the O’Keeffe Museum dropped its suit, saying it did not want to pose further difficulties for the university.

In her ruling the chancery court judge, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, made clear that she considered the Crystal Bridges offer to be superior to the settlement.

But the latest deal could renew debate in the case over what is best for Fisk and for Tennesseans, who would have diminished access to the collection under the proposal, some experts in art law suggest.

“If you step back, and your test is what’s in the best interest of the people of the State of Tennessee, I don’t see how you do this without putting it up for bid,” said Donn Zaretsky, a lawyer in New York who specializes in art law. “That’s the only way to know for sure.”

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum had previously pledged to oppose the deal. But on Tuesday the president of the museum’s board, Saul Cohen, appeared to soften that stance, saying that Crystal Bridges had sweetened its original overture with the addition of the internship and the $1 million renovation.


Read the entire article in the New York Times.

Wine Talk with Melanie Armstrong


Great Legs

Visit her website.

See more videos of her on YouTube.

Judge Bean's FINALLY Passes Reinspection and other Restaurant Scores

Nashville Restaurant Scores of the Week


HIGH SCORES:

Las Palmas
6688 Nolensville Road
Date Inspected: 9-20-07
Score: 95

Wendy’s
551 Donelson Pike
Date Inspected: 9-17-07
Score: 93

Evergreen Express
5539 Edmondson Pike
Date Inspected: 9-17-07
Score: 93

Las Palmas
15560 Old Hickory Blvd
Date Inspected: 9-18-07
Score: 94

Domino’s Pizza
539 Paragon Mills Road
Date Inspected: 9-21-07
Score: 94

Wendy’s
206 21st Avenue South
Date Inspected: 9-21-07
Score: 94


LOW SCORES:

McFadden’s Restaurant Saloon (These guys just opened!!! I don't want to even think of going there the first time! Yuck and thanks but if this is what this "chain" brings to Nashville...Let's send them running back outta town.
134 2nd Avenue North
Date Inspected: 9-17-07
Score: 56
Major Violations:· Turkey in open top prep cooler is out of temperature· Mashed potatoes in hot-holding are out of temperature· Dish-machine has not chlorine/sanitizer in it· Milk inside walk-in cooler is out of temperature· Raw chicken inside prep cooler is out of temperature

Tazza Restaurant
510 Church Street
Date Inspected: 9-20-07
Score: 45
Major Violations:· Raw chicken in container at room temperature by dish area· Roast beef and ham on cooler top is out of temperature· Rat droppings on floor in front of door leading downstairs

Davinci’s Pizza (I love/loved this place. I hope they get it right for the reinspection)
1812 Hayes Street
Date Inspected: 9-21-07
Score: 55
Major Violations:· Provolone cheese in the bottom of the prep cooler is out of temperature· Mozzarella in container in bottom of pizza prep cooler is out of temperature· Mice droppings on floor in corner beside cooler/freezer

UPDATES:
Madras Bhavan
1805 Church Street
Passed Reinspection

China House
930 Richards Road
Passed Reinspection

Judge Bean’s BBQ (It's about frickin time)
123 12th Avenue North
Passed Reinspection

Blink Of An Eye by Travis Laurendine


This is a visual Documentary Short that was filmed in Nashville in the Fall of 2005. It was an "official selection" for the 2006 Nashville Film Festival.

Dylan and White at the Ryman Singing "One More Cup of Coffee"

One More Cup of Coffee- Bob Dylan and Jack White at the Ryman in Nashville

Jet Plane Backpack


For the family that travels, here’s a new kid friendly product parents can purchase before booking their child’s airline ticket.

Vegeta-Bull has designed the new Jet Plane Back-Pack for kids to cart around their favorite snack foods, small toys, candy or garments. It comes in a blue, pink or grey soft plush material much like a cozy stuffed animal. This convenient new product is more than just your average backpack; it comes with a detachable trolley to roll along wherever you’re traveling. The Jet Plane also has three small pockets with zippers for whatever your child might need to stow away.

Vegeta-Bull has also makes similar polyester items in fun shapes. There’s a colorful flower purse in the shape of a leaf that zippers up with handles and comes in five different color combinations. For children who like music, Vegeta-Bull has a guitar-shaped CD case also available in fun colors.

These products aren’t out on the market yet but we look forward to their arrival.



Melissa Vitti is an intern at Go Nomad, which is where you can find more information on this product and to find more cool gadgets. She was listed under the list of travel gadgets so I'm assuming they are giving her credit for the list and not trying to help her find a date. I doubt she needs the help.

Travelon Toothbrush and Toothpaste in One

A combination invention has made life so much easier on the packing. Travelon has come out with an ingenious idea of combining a toothbrush and toothpaste in one. The hassle of lugging around a tube of paste jeopardizing your belongings will soon be forgotten. With a simple twist of the knob, the paste travels up to the soft Dupont bristles ready for brushing.



A compact size of 9” x ½” which makes it convenient to take to the office, airport, campgrounds, or anywhere for that matter.

Up to 30 good uses at only $3.25.

~~Visit Go Nomad for more cool, travel-friendly gadgets.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Downtown Nashville Churches and Cathedrals- Christ Church Cathedral


Here is the Christ Church Cathedral. You are able to tour the cathedral and enjoy the beautiful architecture and beauty of this landmark. I have the schedule listed below.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Thursdays: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
(Thursday Tours by special arrangement only).
Saturdays: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sundays: Following the 8:30 and 11:15 a.m. services.

Group Tours for 5 or more people are available by reservation.
Please call (615) 255-7729.

Drop-in visitors welcome!
Please stop by and see our church.

Christ Church Cathedral
900 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 255-7729

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Loveless Cafe and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens on a Saturday






We started the day off in the Loveless Cafe. While we waited we walked around and looked in all the little shops around the restaurant and finally our buzzer buzzed and breakfast was underway. We enjoyed both breakfast and lunch with everyone smiling, talking and having a great time and meal. Our two German guests enjoyed it and loved the overall experience that the Loveless provides


After breakfast/lunch we went for a visit at Cheekwood. We walked through the herb gardens, Japanese garden, enjoyed the art in the old mansion, walked around sculpture trail and visited the gift shop afterwards. We had a wonderful time although it was a little hot to be out and about on trails and through gardens but nevertheless a day at Cheekwood is always just right. They currently have a Faberge egg exhibit inside the mansion so be sure to check that out as well.

Warning!!! Do not attempt to take pictures inside the mansion because it is not allowed. If you do a large, blonde security will huff and puff and fuss at you. I forgot that it wasn't allowed and I took a couple of pictures before she hastily told me that I was on camera and to stop and I dare not try to take anymore pictures. She was foaming at the mouth, I do believe. I'm still traumatized.

Mammoth Cave



We did the "historic tour" of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky last Sunday. It was about 90 minutes to get there from Nashville and the tour took two hours. It was great fun and a covered just a bit over 2 miles in the cave. We went through "Fat Man's Misery" and areas where we had to walk over bridges that spanned large holes or pits. There is also a tower that takes you back up to the main area that overlooks a beautiful and deep area. A great experience overall for folks of all ages that were with us.

There is a variety of tours that cater to most any type of person. Take the time to get off of the interstate and visit Mammoth Cave and see what it is all about. It is a great family destination.

Burj Al Arab- World's Largest Cross?



This comes from Mirage Studio7. Visit them for more architectural news.



This is probably an outdated news and it is all over the internet, anyway, Burj al Arab was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC, during the designing stage, the world was told that it was built to resemble a sail, but critics are claiming that Wright designed the cross after he had a dream to have a Christian influence in a Muslim country.

Some locals claim that this was an intentional move on the part of the British architects. This issue is more ironic when one considers that the Tower of the Arabs is widely considered to be Dubai’s most important landmark. A Conspiracy indeed, but no words yet from the architect himself. The real question is, does it matter if it looks like a cross?

In the year 2001, Dubai introduced the 4th series number plate. It has the Burj al Arab symbol, due to conspiracy theories and controversies surrounding Burj Al Arab’s resemblance to the Christian cross, the Burj Al Arab symbol was removed without any explanation in the year 2004.

An interesting story is told back to back which says that apparently any cars registered in Dubai, that have one of the older license plates which have an image of the Burj Al Arab on them, aren’t allowed to drive into Saudi Arabia.

Coming from a country that the official religion is Islam, I find it hard to digest the fact that Malaysian of other faith such as Buddhist, Christian, Hindus and others are not allowed (unofficially) to built any religious structure or building that exceed the height of any mosque in their respective towns, except for a few temples and churches like the Batu Caves temple and Kek Loh Si temple. It is not a written law, don’t believe me? Ask any senior draftsperson or architects.

Bias it may be but when the British disapproved the Mega-Mosque in London, the British Muslim was pissed, the mega mosque is believed to be so huge that it will dwarf many of Britain’s Christian cathedrals.

Councilor Craig, who lives in a city with 300 mosques and 500 madrassahs, suggests that Britain not allow any more mosques until Muslims allow churches in Saudi Arabia. Craig said, “Why should the Saudis pay for a mosque in the UK when there is not one single church, temple, goodwara, synagogue in Saudi at all?” - CBN

What goes around comes around, and if you need to look for a guilty then you only need to look into a mirror. After all, Burj al Arab is on Muslim soil, some minor renovation can be done to rectify this whole Christian cross issue, now, the real question is why don’t they do it? What say you?

Honoring Those Who Fought in World War 2





Kudos to Ken Burns for his new documentary about veterans in the Second World War and I look forward to watching it and I hope to hear about more people doing this. I want to hear so much of the experiences and madness of their time around the world in the "Good War."



Enjoy it and maybe we can all talk about it afterwards...ya know, compare notes and all.

IPod Pillow for the Traveler



Our soft, plush iPod pillow doubles as a WORKING radio. Use its built-in FM scan radio with audio speaker, or connect it to your iPod or CD player, computer, or other audio device and enjoy great sound.Our iPod pillow has real working buttons. Press POWER to turn on the radio, press SCAN to change the radio station, press RADIO/MP3 to change between the radio or portable music source plugged into the jack cord, and press RESET to restore the factory settings. The volume can be adjusted by pressing the red up and down triangles on either side of VOLUME.

Shaped like an iPod, this soft pillow is white with a shiny blue screen and grey click wheel and the back is silver. Uses 2 AA batteries (not included). Our unique iPod pillow is 16" high by 9" wide.



If you are interested in the IPod pillow and would like to know where to find it. Visit Klear Gear and enjoy it on your next flight or drive.

Can Judge Bean's Clean Up Their Act?

Will you ever eat there again after seeing this kind of track record? It will be a very hard sell to get me back in their doors.
~C.S. Webbspun



The following info comes from the website of the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/Davidson County.

~~Scores from the Week of September 10, 2007~~

Judge Bean’s BBQ
123 12th Avenue North
DID NOT PASS REINSPECTION

~~Scores from the Week of September 3, 2007~~

Judge Bean’s BBQ
123 12th Avenue North
DID NOT PASS REINSPECTION

~~Scores from the week of August 20, 2007~~

Judge Bean’s BBQ
123 12th Avenue North
Date Inspected: 8-17-07
Score: 49

DID NOT PASS REINSPECTION

Judge Bean’s BBQ
123 12th Avenue North
Date Inspected: 8-17-07
Score: 49
Major Violations:
· Beef ribs and beef brisket in cardboard box under the prep table at 120.3 – embargoed – 2lbs.
· Ribs in oven out of temperature
· Chicken wings out of temperature
· Employee took dirty cutting board from dirty side of dishmachine, rinsed and proceeded to begin slicing Monterey jack cheese. Never washed, rinsed, or sanitized cutting board.
· Rat droppings on floor, in mop sink and hot water heater.

Edible Chocolate Boxes





To celebrate their third birthday Charles Chocolates...you get a presen. Their edible chocolate boxes, all 25% off, if shipped by October 15. As a special bonus, everyone who takes advantage of this deal will also receive an e-mail coupon for 10% off on all holiday orders (orders placed during November and December 2007).



Elvis Costello and Jack White with Bob Dylan in Nashville



Elvis Costello and the White Stripes' Jack White made surprise appearances during Bob Dylan's Wednesday night, September 19, concert at the Ryman Auditorium. Although he and Dylan are officially scheduled to begin a tour together on Saturday, September 22, in Duluth, Ga., Costello told the crowd he asked to open the show after learning Dylan was playing at the Ryman.



Opening with "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," Costello walked onstage unannounced and performed a nine-song acoustic set that included "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" and "Veronica." During Dylan's set, White showed up with an electric guitar and sang "Meet Me in the Morning," a song from Dylan's Blood on the Tracks album. After White provided the lead vocals for most of the song, Dylan joined him at the microphone for the final verse.



The White Stripes last week canceled all of their tour dates through the end of the year after announcing that drummer Meg White is unable to travel because of acute anxiety. Jack White produced Loretta Lynn's critically-acclaimed album, Van Lear Rose, released in 2004.


This comes from Country Music Television.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Cool Way to Say "Do Not Disturb"




Here’s a different way of displaying the ‘Do not disturb sign’! Just like the basic traffic rules….Red says Stop and Green says Go, this Brighthandle also controls the traffic to your room with the same principle. This illuminated door handle, Alfa online, lets you know if the room is occupied with it’s red light. If the room is unoccupied it shows green. The inside of the handle is just a nice stainless steel. Ideal for bedrooms, toilets or even offices, these illuminated handles dramatically enhance the esthetics of the door environment.

Visit the GizmoDiva for more cool things.

New Nashville Mayor Has A Help From His Predecessor

Former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell showed us all what a class act he is. I know plenty of people didn't like all the things he did but he proved that he wants the best for the city of Nashville. He gave new mayor Karl Dean a guidebook of what to expect and how to keep Nashville moving forward. If only all politicians would help each other out like this instead of fighting all of the time.


New Nashville mayor Karl Dean

Thank you Bill Purcell for giving your all the last few years and thank you for showing the world what a class act you are.


Former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell

Here is an excerpt from the Tennessean newspaper:

When Bill Purcell took office as Nashville's mayor in 1999, his office was missing something — furniture.

There was no desk for Purcell in Metro's courthouse and City Hall. The previous mayor, Phil Bredesen, bought a desk and other furniture for the mayor's office eight years earlier, and he took his property with him when his term was up.

"There was no furniture, just not a whole lot left over," former Purcell adviser Patrick Willard recalled.

The unceremonious handoff left Purcell determined to leave behind a raft of furniture — and copious guidance and direction — for his successor. As Karl Dean took office Friday, that determination started to pay off.

Several months ago, Purcell hired a 29-year-old political operative, veteran of transitions and former Purcell staff member, Ellery Gould, to put together a guidebook.

"He just wanted to make sure that we closed everything out without dropping any balls," Gould said Thursday. "And he knew I was a fairly good juggler."

Choice tidbits offered

The manual covers the mundane and the crucial. Among other tidbits, it tells Dean and his aides:

• Which department heads the mayor can appoint and which ones are chosen by boards and commissions. How to appoint the ones he can, especially the finance and law directors.

• How to work the voice mail on the phones.

• Whom to contact in the news media.

• Where to park and how to get keycards, cell phones and Blackberry handheld communication devices.

• The format for congratulatory letters, certificates and proclamations.

• Whom to call to fix the photocopiers or — and this is either mundane or crucial, depending on your perspective — replenish the coffee supplies.

"It gives tools to ask informed questions from day one," Gould said.


Read the full story of this gracious act in the Tennessean.

Vietnam Memorial Desecrated

The city that I lived in for a couple of years, Washington D.C. had horrible thing happen recently. Someone tried to and did damage the Vietnam Memorial. I hope they catch whoever did it and I hope they can restore the beauty of this sad yet beautiful memorial.

This is a popular attraction for tourists and locals. It is a shame to see a place made to honor the loss of so many brave individuals disrespected like this.



Friday, September 21, 2007

Rumor about the Jugg Sisters

C.S. Webbspun reporter
Webbspun Press



There have been rumors swirling around the city since this past spring about the Jugg sisters, Sherri Lynn and Brenda Kay. They are the creators and tour guides of NashTrash Tours. It was believed that Sheri Lynn had been in rehab for addiction to hairspray but their publicist continued to deny that it was true. I spoke with them yesterday during a brief break at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and got to the bottom of the story.

The truth is that they spent time in jail during that now infamous sabbatical. They were in the men's jail...Sherri Lynn doing hair and Brenda Kay providing "entertainment." Personally I think I prefer to think of them addicted to hairspray but I'm not the one with the "Trashy" lifestyle.

They do provide a fun lil tour of Nashville. Get out and get "trashy" in Nashville during your next visit. You can thank me later.