Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Politics Dems Pounce on Haslam's Latest Dumb Idea
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:21 AM
It's a move that would quickly lead to increased class sizes, and it is a major threat to student achievement.Common sense tells you that more students in each classroom means less individualized instruction for each student. For decades, smaller class sizes have helped narrow the achievement gap and increase student learning.
In fact, the best private schools in Tennessee show off their small class sizes and brag about the personalized education they can offer due to their low student-teacher ratios.
Why isn't this philosophy good enough for public school kids?
Sign our petition calling on Governor Bill Haslam to immediately withdraw his plan to increase Tennessee classroom sizes.
Law and Order Ramsey Urges School Kids to Stay Away from Capitol
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 9:57 AM
"Whether from the left or the right, I appreciate people engaging their government," Ramsey wrote. "However, to continue to ignore the reality of Occupy Nashville would be to shirk my duties as a public servant. I have to tell the truth and the truth is this: your War Memorial Plaza - a place dedicated to Tennesseans who paid the ultimate price in service to their nation and fellow citizens - is no longer a place for visitors. It is unsightly, it is unclean and, depending on the time of day, it is downright dangerous." He continued:
Phillips Double Standard for State ABC Director Not Busted for Pot?
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 5:02 AM
Meet Danielle Elks. A Channel 4 I-Team investigation found that, when police found marijuana at her house last October, nothing happened. Yeah, it seems like a non-story. But imagine if a police officer came to your house and found pot and rolling papers on the kitchen table. Do you think they'd shrug and say nothing?
And yet, according to the newscast, Elks was never bothered about it. On one level, it's easy to understand. Her husband, Charlie Daniels sideman Joel "Taz" Digregorio, had just died, and the police were there to notify her of his death. Elks wasn't home, so the police went inside.
But obviously Channel 4 wouldn't be looking into this if Elks were just a gal who'd gotten a break. She's not. She's the director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which has as part of its mission the eradication of marijuana.
I guess attempting to smoke it all so no one else can have it is one method of eradication. It has some obvious flaws, but it's a method.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Politics / Law and Order City Paper: Charges Against Curry Todd Go to Grand Jury
Posted by Jack Silverman on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 1:23 PM
The City Paper's Pierce Greenberg has the latest development in the saga of state Rep. Curry Todd, the chief sponsor of the “guns in bars” legislation who was arrested in October on suspicion of driving under the influence — with a loaded gun between the driver's seat and the center console.
Legislature Jail Time Added to Anti-Occupy Nashville Bill; 'You Need to be Peed On,' Lawmaker Tells Protesters
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 12:34 PM
That change in the bill drew a furious round of downcast wiggly fingers from occupiers in the hearing room. Shouting their outrage, a couple of protesters stalked out just ahead of the House sergeant at arms.
“It strikes me as an extraordinary penalty for people putting up a tent,” said Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, the only lawmaker to speak out for Occupy Nashville during the hearing. “What’s the justification for that level of penalty?”
“It sounds like what we’ve got is a specific law designed to criminalize speech by a particular group of people right here in the United States of America. We’re going down the wrong road here. The tradition of free speech is probably the greatest gift that our country has bestowed upon the world. We can say what we want about this bill but the effect of this bill is to take a peaceful protest and make it a criminal act.”
No debate of this issue seems complete without a hissy fit from the bill’s sponsor—the committee’s chairman, Eric Watson, R-Cleveland. As he did last week when the bill sailed out of a subcommittee, Watson tarred the protesters as a gang of stoners and meth heads. He is especially incensed because someone took a leak on the head of a legislator's secretary as she smoked a cigarette in an alcove below the plaza last year.
“The most sickening part is one of our employees here at the plaza was peed on!” Watson scolded the protesters in the room. “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! If you approve of that and you think that’s peaceable assembly, you need to be peed on. See how you like it.”
Let's go to the video:
Legislature CP: Steine, Garrett, Crafton, Briley Among Those Eyeing Joe Haynes' Senate Seat
Posted by Jim Ridley on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:04 AM
The body's not even cold, and already suitors are lining up at the door with casseroles. In the CP, Joey Garrison says Nashville pols on both sides of the aisle are considering a crack at state Sen. Joe Haynes' seat, now that the veteran lawmaker has announced he won't seek re-election in District 20:
Among Democrats pondering runs are At-large Councilmen Tim Garrett, Ronnie Steine, rookie District 4 Councilman Brady Banks and former At-large Councilman David Briley, a Nashville attorney who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Nashville in 2007.“I’m thinking about it, and talking to my family about it,” Briley said.
Attorney Kevin Doherty is also exploring a Democratic run, according to multiple sources. The City Paper was unable to reach Doherty for comment.
On the Republican-side confirmations are fewer, but interest is expected to pick up. Steve Dickerson, a physician who lost to Democratic state Sen. Douglas Henry in 2010, has already announced his Republican candidacy for the District 20 Senate seat.
Meanwhile, former Councilman Eric Crafton, who lost a bid for an at-large council seat in the fall, confirmed Monday he’s considering running as a Republican for Haynes’ seat. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Crafton said. “It is interesting.”
Phillips Lisa Howe Lands on Her Feet
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 5:17 AM
In Monday's City Paper, it was reported that Lisa Howe was named executive director for the Nashville Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Chamber of Commerce. You may recall that Howe and her job as the Belmont soccer coach were mysteriously parted after her partner became pregnant and word got out that she is a lesbian.
Howe seems like an excellent fit for the Nashville Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Chamber of Commerce. She's now a well-known public figure and she's had a crash course in media relations the likes of which we rarely see. It's nice to see that Howe's found a place where she can put her unique experiences to good use.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Phillips Jourdon Anderson, a Tennessean for All Times
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 7:33 AM
After Jourdon Anderson's letter to his ex-master P.H. Anderson appeared on Letters of Note, it's been making the Internet rounds. And for good reason. Southerners are experts at the cutting insult that doesn't seems like a cutting insult until you notice that you are lying in two pieces on the floor. As everyone here jokes, "Bless your heart" is Southern for, "Fuck you, you dumbass motherfucker." Means the same thing, but doesn't lead to fisticuffs usually.
Jourdon Anderson is a genius practitioner of the cutting insult couched in sweetness: "Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future." Or better still: "Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me." Indeed, the letter is full of indications that Jourdon Anderson sees P.H. Anderson's sins in full — and is intent on making P.H. aware of them too.
Phillips Two Rivers Park: A Review
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 5:01 AM
Size of Park: Very large
Crowds: Medium
Approximate Age of Patrons: My age and older
Topics of Conversation: Dog stuff
Stray Dogs Seen: None
Types of Vehicles in Parking Lots: All kinds
Perceived Safety: High
Number of Gunshots Heard: None
Dog Friendliness: Very good
Number of pitbulls sighted: Just mine
Accessibility: Okay, could use more seating
Incorporation of Local History: Metro Parks and I might have a different definition of "local."
Recommended Patrons: One of the best examples of an Italianate farmhouse you'll ever see up close.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Red State Update Tennessee: Where Evolution Is Optional
Posted by Jonathan Meador on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 1:01 PM
While it might be something of a misnomer to say that Tennesseans have opted out of the evolutionary process altogether (maybe), it's far more accurate to say that, as far as school learnin' goes, Tennesseans don't take kindly to the idea that human beings are descended from our extinct simian cousins.
In fact, we don't really take to it at all because it's not mandatory to learn in the first place in the state's school system.
Indeed, that evolution is only taught in high school biology classes as an elective is just one factor contributing to Tennessee's recent "D" grade from the obviously liberal and elitist Thomas B. Fordham Institute, whose "State of State Science Standards 2012" report found all manner of flaws with the dissemination of scientific methodology and information in the Volunteer State's classrooms.
American science performance is lagging as the economy becomes increasingly high tech, but our current science standards are doing little to solve the problem. Reviewers evaluated science standards for every state for this report and their findings were deeply troubling: The majority of states earned Ds or Fs for their standards in this crucial subject, with only six jurisdictions receiving As....
The Tennessee science standards are clearly written—but their linguistic clarity too often is undermined by statements that are so broad they starve the passages of meaning. To make matters more confusing, Tennessee offers a bewildering array of high school courses. Taken together, these drawbacks make it impossible to infer what a student in the Volunteer State will know (or at least be expected to know) upon graduation.
