No Silence Here

TN blogger: Cash for Clunkers cost $13.56 a gallon

2009-11-07T18:00:43Z

Nashville's Rod Williams, A Disgruntled Republican, does some math: The cost of the program was $1 billion dollars. This equals $13.56 for each gallon of gas saved. -- More.

Memo to MSM: That's a cannon of a pistol

2009-11-06T21:48:09Z

The AP has this from a morning story: The initial investigation shows that Hasan allegedly used only one gun during the attack -- a 5.7-caliber semiautomatic pistol.

ABC News says: a FN pistol that uses 5.7 caliber ammunition.

Those reports prompted Blount County's SayUncle to say this: News says Fort Hood killer used a a 5.7-caliber semiautomatic pistol. I think they mean the FN FiveseveN, which is close to a .22 caliber.

And this: Layers of editorial oversight.

And he linked to this: Unfortunately, I don't have anything in 5.7 caliber to compare with...but, as a remnant of my Navy career and many years I spent on Destroyers and Frigates, I do have an empty shell casing from a 5 caliber gun.

5 caliber is close enough to 5.7 caliber for comparison purposes isn't it?

Here you go.

You can see other 5.7-caliber reports here.

Egotists fine Urban Meyer $30,000

2009-11-06T20:13:38Z

I guess the SEC isn't hung up on little ol' things like the First Amendment. I bet the SEC offices have a bunch of mirrors in them.

BONUS: Is this what we've come to in the SEC? The commissioner fining a coach $30,000 for saying that the SEC should do a better job protecting its quarterbacks?

Baby jaguar cam

2009-11-06T20:01:10Z

Here. (Via a tweet)

And: Two babies at the zoo. The public will name them.

Some Fort Hood victims' names released

2009-11-06T19:21:19Z

UPDATE: More names and info here. One of the victims was pregnant.

The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included a man who quit a furniture company job to join the military about a year ago, a newlywed who had served in Iraq and a woman who had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Here is a look at some of the victims.
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Pfc. Michael Pearson
Pearson, 21, of the Chicago suburb of Bloomington, Ill., quit what he figured was a dead-end furniture company job to join the military about a year ago.
"He felt he was in a rut. He wanted to travel, see the world," his mother, Sheryll Pearson, told the Chicago Tribune. "He also wanted an opportunity to serve the country."
At Pearson's family home Friday, a yellow ribbon was tied to a porch light and a sticker stamped with American flags on the front door read, "United we stand."
Neighbor Jessica Koerber, who was with Pearson's parents when they received word Thursday their son had died, described him as a man who clearly loved his family -- someone who enjoyed horsing around with his nieces and nephews, and other times playing his guitar.
"That family lost their gem," she told the AP. "He was a great kid, a great guy. ... Mikey was one of a kind."
Sheryll Pearson said she hadn't seen her son for a year because he had been training. She told the Tribune that when she last talked to him on the phone two days ago, they had discussed how he would come home for Christmas.
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Spc. Jason Dean Hunt
Hunt, 22, of Federick, Okla., went into the military after graduating from Tipton High School in 2005 and had gotten married just two months ago, his mother, Gale Hunt, said. He had served 3 1/2 years in the Army, including a stint in Iraq.
Gale Hunt said two uniformed soldiers came to her door late Thursday night to notify her of her son's death.
Hunt, known as J.D., was "just kind of a quiet boy and a good kid, very kind," said Kathy Gray, an administrative assistant at Tipton Schools.
His mother said he was family oriented.
"He didn't go in for hunting or sports," Gale Hunt said. "He was a very quiet boy who enjoyed video games."
He had re-enlisted for six years after serving his initial two-year assignment, she said. Jason Hunt was previously stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
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Sgt. Amy Krueger
Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis., joined the Army after the 2001 terrorist attacks and had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden, her mother, Jeri Krueger said.
Amy Krueger arrived at Fort Hood on Tuesday and was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan in December, the mother told the Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc.
Jerri Krueger recalled telling her daughter that she could not take on bin Laden by herself.
"Watch me," her daughter replied.
Kiel High School Principal Dario Talerico told The Associated Press that Krueger graduated from the school in 1998 and had spoken at least once to local elementary school students about her career.
"I just remember that Amy was a very good kid, who like most kids in a small town are just looking for what their next step in life was going to be and she chose the military," Talerico said. "Once she got into the military, she really connected with that kind of lifestyle and was really proud to serve her country."
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Associated Press writers Richard Green in Oklahoma City and Amy Shafer in Chicago contributed to this report. Rousseau contributed from Bloomington, Ill., and Imrie from Wausau, Wis.

Get Amped Up!

2009-11-06T15:42:58Z

Source.

The hero at Fort Hood

2009-11-06T15:25:53Z

Kimberly Munley, hero and civilian police officer, saved lives when she put an end to the rampage by shooting Major Hasan 4 times, even while Officer Munley herself was wounded. -- More.

And this: It was an amazing and an aggressive performance by this police officer.

And this: It took just three minutes for the slightly built mother-of-one to get to the scene, engaging the killer in a gun battle which ended with him being shot four times.

National Geographic poo-poos Sevier County

2009-11-06T14:52:13Z

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national treasure surrounded by a bathtub ring of ugly, unplanned development.

Geez. How uppity can you get? I happen to think the plastic bears look pretty real. And good grief. How can you have a national park without go-cart tracks and a Hollywood Wax Museum? And what would the babbling brooks be like without the Men in Black and the Titanic?

If you Google "tackiest and pigeon forge" you only get 124 hits. If you Google "tackiest and New York City" you get more than 4,000 hits. I. REST. MY. CASE!

Lawmaker: Ban Leadership PACs

2009-11-06T14:28:57Z

Let's simplify it and just ban lawmakers.

Coverge by newspaper near Fort Campbell

2009-11-06T14:12:24Z

The Clarksville, TN, Leaf Chronicle near Fort Campbell, KY.

Revenue-light cameras print money

2009-11-06T14:08:08Z

In just three months, this TN town raked in nearly $115,000.

TN's online scribes react

2009-11-06T13:29:40Z

An Ol' Broad's Ramblings

Trace Sharp: We will see countless hours spent in the coming days as pundits will try to tie this all together in a box. We are a nation that wants answers, but I don't think there is one for this.

Dramatic photos from the scene.

Dr. Helen: Was it political correctness and concern for his Muslim heritage that kept officials from looking further into his mental health? Was the army so desperate for a psychiatrist (there is always a shortage) they didn't dare do anything?

A.C. Kleinheider: A soldier stationed in Iraq blogs his experience talking to his wife on lockdown at Fort Hood.

Donald Sensing: Pentagon TV on the shootings.

Fort Hood loved ones in TN want to know

2009-11-06T12:28:17Z

Seen in comments at American Red Cross site:

Jeanne Davis, on November 6th, 2009 at 1:39 am Said: Looking for Spc Raymond and Tabitha Warden, and Michell Tibbs.Please call Granddaddy's house in Tennessee 1731-286-1721 Need word.
Love Jeanne

Davis,Jeanne, on November 6th, 2009 at 12:59 am Said:
Please have Mitchell Tibbs, and Raymond and Tabitha Warden call Grandday's house in Tennessee!, so we know you are well.Love Jeanne

UPDATE: A Tabitha and Mitchell Tibbs are found in this high school directory in West TN.

UPDATE II: Here's the Red Cross's Safe and Well List.

Okay, just stop it!

2009-11-05T21:32:10Z

Banana Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream

I mean it. Just stop it, or I'll report you to the food police, the FDA and confiscate the pie and add bacon to it. AND! I might top it off with miniature Reece's cups.

Bears getting bolder

2009-11-05T19:56:02Z

BRISTOL, Tenn. - What does a bear do in the woods?

Well, if it's a black bear in East Tennessee, it's increasingly coming out of those woods. -- More.