No Silence Here

A programming note

2011-12-07T16:51:30Z

Update: Michael Silence is now blogging at http://nosilencehere.com.

Michael Silence asked the online staff to post this message on No Silence Here on his behalf.

As you may know, I got laid off yesterday along with 32 others. That sucks, but it is the reality of our business. I will miss my colleagues, a great bunch of people who I got to hang around with for 29 years and 11 months.

This blog, started in August 2004, has been a blast, and thanks for constantly opening my eyes to new perspectives. I'm told it will cease to exist. It has been the most rewarding aspect of my time here. I've been honored to sit on the front porch of the 21st Century.

As I've said for many years of those who have left the online world, "They'll be back. They always come back."

Stay well my friends, and no worries

Michael

Report: Phillip Fulmer interested in Kansas job

2011-12-06T16:14:24Z

That's what a columnist is reporting.

GoosGoos galore

2011-12-06T15:50:20Z

Someone has gone gaga over GooGoos.

New Coke campaign fizzles

2011-12-06T13:17:21Z

TN blog DiatribesAndOvations: Good for Coca Cola! Polar bears are awesome. Conservation ROCKS! But there was a problem. The white cans are so similar to the silver Diet Coke cans that customers were confused and angry. -- More.

Coca-Cola is canning its winter white holiday packaging and relaunching cans in its iconic red motif amid a slew of consumer complaints and confusion.

ALSO: Neither Tish nor Wes Powell of Chattanooga like the white cans that Coca-Cola Co. turned to this fall as part of a campaign to protect polar bears and their habitat.

TN moves out of bottom 10 in health ratings

2011-12-06T12:51:41Z

Tennessee is a healthier state than it was a year ago because people are losing weight and smoking less, fewer babies are dying and violent crime is down.

Those are some of the measures that moved Tennessee out of the bottom 10 states, according to America's Health Rankings. The 2011 report, released today, ranks Tennessee 39th compared to 42nd last year. -- More.

TN town's residents alarmed at KKK flyers

2011-12-06T12:43:35Z

CHURCH HILL, Tenn. -- Some Church Hill residents were shocked to discover flyers promoting the Ku Klux Klan littering their neighborhood streets this weekend. -- More.

Long-lost widening of a main route to Gatlinburg getting geared up, again

2011-12-06T12:34:28Z

It's been a long and winding road, but it looks like the project to continue widening U.S. 321 in Sevier County is finally moving forward again.

The effort is now on track to receive federal funds for making four lanes out of the two-lane stretch from about Buckhorn Road to just east of the intersection with Pittman Center Road. -- More.

VolBall: Dooley the meme; no pain, no gain, landing a big one

2011-12-06T11:48:07Z

Is Derek Dooley's Hot Seat the new Tennessee meme?

Whoever doesn't gt their way is gonna trash Dooley and call him an idiot for hiring/ not hiring Tee. Unfortunately that's just theway our fanase is right now. Been his way ever since the Johnny/ Phil split.

Tennessee Vols face painful offseason

John Adams: Another milestone for Pat Summitt

Cuonzo Martin, Billy Donovan, Mike Anderson, Josh Pastner, John Calipari or Jim Calhoun might have a big present under the tree this year. How big of a boost would it be to get the services of 6-foot-8 ESPNU 100 power forward Jarnell Stokes (Memphis, Tenn./Southwind) in January? It could happen.

If UT can sweep their slate between now and the early January rematch with Memphis, Cuonzo Martin's team will be positioned to make postseason play. With that in mind, the game at Charleston may well be the biggest of the season. A win there would put the Big Orange on track to go into league play with a respectable record and solid momentum.

Cuonzo Martin's team wont be as easy to defeat as many believed in the preseason. Tennessee was picked to finish 11th out of 12 SEC teams, but the Vols are much better than that.

UT did that recently with a one-page letter it sent to all of the area's automobile dealerships. Outlined in the document, which the News Sentinel obtained from Garrett Motors, 8218 Chapman Hwy., are five things the dealers should completely avoid when the customer is a student-athlete.

Newspaper agrees to ID anonymous website commenters

2011-12-05T17:17:53Z

An Illinois company wants to know who posted comments to The Pantagraph's website alleging that the company knew of unsafe working conditions before a nearby building collapsed. "Court documents show the Pantagraph has agreed to reveal the true identities of 'toldyouso' and 'The One.' ... -- More.

I think someone just slid down the slope

East TN man wearing kilt for a year to mark 50th birthday

2011-12-05T16:40:13Z

My friend Rick Baldwin is going to mark turning 50 by wearing a kilt for a year. And he's apparently decided to blog the experience and though he doesn't hit 50 until April next year, he's getting prepped for it. He writes: -- More.

Gas dips below $2.95

2011-12-05T16:20:32Z

Chris2Point -- $2.93/gal (@ Kroger Fuel Center) 4sq.com/tAUtjI

Here are numerous reports of $2.91 in the area.

Knoxville airport to face 'turbulent times'

2011-12-05T14:59:54Z

Driven by rising fuel costs, a declining number of regional jets and a trend of airlines consolidating operations, turbulent times are ahead for the nation's airports, including Knoxville's McGhee Tyson. Local and national aviation observers say McGhee Tyson is well-situated to weather the tempest, although one casualty could be additional low-fare service at East Tennessee's largest airport. -- More.

So that's what happened to my Ferrari

2011-12-05T14:26:24Z

An outing of luxury sportscar enthusiasts in Japan ended in an expensive freeway pileup -- smashing a stunning eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini and two Mercedes likely worth more than $1 million together. -- Folks, you just can't make this stuff up.

The real Newt Gingrich

2011-12-05T14:16:11Z

Via Howard Mortman (Piece is at the 50-second mark)

West Va. band a hit on Twitter, elsewhere

2011-12-05T13:09:37Z

2011 West Virginia University Marching Band Armed Forces Salute
(Via An Enlightened Redneck)