TV shows make you happy. Science says so.
Study participants felt down when asked to recount real-life moments of social rejection, but they perked right back up again when asked to recount their favorite TV episodes and characters. Who cares if one's real and one's fake? Not your brain.
Might I suggest Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Seasons three, five, and six are the best. Also try Sports Night.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
"National Park" Goes Missing
Okay, I thought this was funny. Here’s the latest headline from Gov. Bredesen’s website:
Governor Bredesen Attends the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains
And those Bible-hating scientists say mountains take millions of years to create. I knew we couldn't trust them.
Governor Bredesen Attends the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains
And those Bible-hating scientists say mountains take millions of years to create. I knew we couldn't trust them.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I've Been to the Mountaintop
The Golden Girl gets answers on the issues:
This morning I received an email from Ward Cammack spokesman Mark Brown, who assures me that Cammack will ban mountaintop removal mining as Governor. It's a high priority for him and he will work to get an outright ban through the General Assembly.
She also has a rant well worth reading on the governor's race and what it means to be a Democrat in Tennessee.
This morning I received an email from Ward Cammack spokesman Mark Brown, who assures me that Cammack will ban mountaintop removal mining as Governor. It's a high priority for him and he will work to get an outright ban through the General Assembly.
She also has a rant well worth reading on the governor's race and what it means to be a Democrat in Tennessee.
"Leans Republican"
Swing State Project rates the 2010 Tennessee Governor’s race as “Leans Republican” with this review:
Democrats have been slowly losing their downballot grip on Tennessee over the past decade; Republicans now have outright control of the state Senate, and are more or less tied with Dems in the House. With Phil Bredesen term-limited out of the governor's office, both the Dem and GOP fields are large, but they also both lack serious star-power. For the Dems, former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, state Sen. Roy Herron, businessman Ward Cammack and beer distributor Mike McWherter (son of former Governor Ned) are in the hunt, while Congressan Zach Wamp, Memphis DA Bill Gibbons, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey round out the GOP field. Based on Tennessee's recent trend, we have to give the early edge to the GOP, but it's not an insurmountable one.
Democrats have been slowly losing their downballot grip on Tennessee over the past decade; Republicans now have outright control of the state Senate, and are more or less tied with Dems in the House. With Phil Bredesen term-limited out of the governor's office, both the Dem and GOP fields are large, but they also both lack serious star-power. For the Dems, former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, state Sen. Roy Herron, businessman Ward Cammack and beer distributor Mike McWherter (son of former Governor Ned) are in the hunt, while Congressan Zach Wamp, Memphis DA Bill Gibbons, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey round out the GOP field. Based on Tennessee's recent trend, we have to give the early edge to the GOP, but it's not an insurmountable one.
We're #1 (for #2)
Nashville hotel's bathroom named best bathroom in the U.S.
Dude, I have totally been in that bathroom, and yes, it totally rocks.
Dude, I have totally been in that bathroom, and yes, it totally rocks.
Of Course I'll Still Go See It Anyway
Okay, I admit I was excited about the new Wolverine movie. But then I saw the commercial where Ryan Reynolds swings his ninja sword and cuts in half a bullet that’s flying at his head so that the two halves of the bullet kill two bad guys standing behind him.
This may be the stupidest movie ever.
This may be the stupidest movie ever.
58 + Specter + Franken = 60!
Looks like Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is going to abandon the Republican Party and caucus with the Democrats. I think Lamar should be next...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Do You Hate Your Co-Workers?
The Hill polled our current 99 Senators about who is the easiest and hardest person to work with on the other side of the aisle.
Strangely, Lamar Alexander ranked high on both lists.
When the votes were counted, five Democratic Senators named Alexander among the most bipartisan, putting him in a tie for #12.
But he scored much higher on the bad side – being ranked the #5 most partisan.
Bob Corker, despite his grandstanding in the auto industry bailout, got six votes for being bipartisan, tying for #8 with Arlen Specter (R-PA), among others.
Strangely, Lamar Alexander ranked high on both lists.
When the votes were counted, five Democratic Senators named Alexander among the most bipartisan, putting him in a tie for #12.
But he scored much higher on the bad side – being ranked the #5 most partisan.
Bob Corker, despite his grandstanding in the auto industry bailout, got six votes for being bipartisan, tying for #8 with Arlen Specter (R-PA), among others.
Stay Civil
Speaking of gay marriage, I recently had the chance to raise the issue with two Democrats running for governor in 2010.
First, Ward Cammack talked about the importance of civil unions to provide gay couples with equivalent rights under the law as heterosexual married couples. He then volunteered his ardent support for adoption rights for gay couples.
In a seperate conversation, former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan came up with a similar answer, espousing* civil unions as something Tennesseans might accept because gay marriage was a bridge too far around here. Then I asked her about adoption rights and got a very personal reply. McMillan herself is adopted and couldn’t care less if an adoptive couple is gay or straight so long as they’ll provide a loving home.
So no distance between the candidates there, but good to know where they stand.
*Take time to appreciate my clever use of language.
First, Ward Cammack talked about the importance of civil unions to provide gay couples with equivalent rights under the law as heterosexual married couples. He then volunteered his ardent support for adoption rights for gay couples.
In a seperate conversation, former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan came up with a similar answer, espousing* civil unions as something Tennesseans might accept because gay marriage was a bridge too far around here. Then I asked her about adoption rights and got a very personal reply. McMillan herself is adopted and couldn’t care less if an adoptive couple is gay or straight so long as they’ll provide a loving home.
So no distance between the candidates there, but good to know where they stand.
*Take time to appreciate my clever use of language.
Two Horsemen Arrive South of the Border
First swine flu and now earthquakes… what, did they just legalize gay marriage in Mexico City or something?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What, Not All Government Is Evil?
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University has way too long of a name. They also have a list of the top 50 spiffy “government innovations” of 2009.
Two are from Tennessee!
Two are from Tennessee!
Creating Homes Initiative
State of Tennessee
Tennessee’s Creating Homes Initiative combines state leadership, regional housing development/funding experts, and local partnerships to develop affordable, supportive homes for people with mental illness. Since 2000, $250,000,000 has been leveraged, resulting in the development of 7,200 housing units.
Higher Education Initiative
City of Kingsport, TN
The Higher Education Initiative revitalized an ailing economy in the northeastern Tennessee city of Kingsport by improving the overall education level of its labor force.
Very cool.
So what’s this “government innovations” list all about? According to the website:
The Innovations in American Government Awards was created by the Ford Foundation in 1985 in response to widespread pessimism and distrust in government’s effectiveness. The awards program acts as a significant force in restoring public trust in government by promoting public sector creativity and excellence.
Willie or Won't He?
Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton wants to primary a fellow Democrat in the 2010 Congressional race, taking on incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen.
No word yet what issues Herenton has with Cohen's performance in Congress, but statements from both men can be found here. I'm sure the immediate speculation is that Herenton (an African American) thinks he can knock off the white guy in a predominently black district, but I'm not jumping to conclusions.
You can pencil me in on the Cohen side of this one. Even though I consider Cohen a bit of a kook, I don't see any reason to oust him yet.
UPDATE: TNDP Chairman Chip Forester just commented on this issue on a conference call with bloggers. He said there's "not any clarity that Mayor Herenton will be challenging Steve Cohen" and attributed all the speculation to an "offhanded comment" by the Mayor.
I understand why the party chairman wants to skirt this issue for now so I'll cut him some slack, but according to The Memphis News, Herenton issued the statement in writing and "has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 2010 elections."
Still, let's keep our fingers crossed that Chip is right. Hopefully this will all turn out to be nothing.
No word yet what issues Herenton has with Cohen's performance in Congress, but statements from both men can be found here. I'm sure the immediate speculation is that Herenton (an African American) thinks he can knock off the white guy in a predominently black district, but I'm not jumping to conclusions.
You can pencil me in on the Cohen side of this one. Even though I consider Cohen a bit of a kook, I don't see any reason to oust him yet.
UPDATE: TNDP Chairman Chip Forester just commented on this issue on a conference call with bloggers. He said there's "not any clarity that Mayor Herenton will be challenging Steve Cohen" and attributed all the speculation to an "offhanded comment" by the Mayor.
I understand why the party chairman wants to skirt this issue for now so I'll cut him some slack, but according to The Memphis News, Herenton issued the statement in writing and "has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress in the 2010 elections."
Still, let's keep our fingers crossed that Chip is right. Hopefully this will all turn out to be nothing.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
How Do You Pronounce "Gliese"?
Scientists have found a planet only 1.9 times the size of Earth around a star only 20.5 lightyears away! Even a competing group of planet hunters calls this "the most exciting discovery" yet in the search for new worlds.
Dude, Where's My Warrant?
Five-four decisions are nothing new for this Supreme Court, but since when are those five Stevens, Souter, and Ginsburg, plus Scalia and Thomas? Very strange.
The five majority judges agreed that cops don’t have blanket authority to search your car just because you happen to be in your car when they arrest you. In other words, if you’re busted for driving without a license, they can’t search the car randomly looking for any other violations such as possession of marijuana.
However, the cops still can search your car if they think there might be evidence related to the offense at hand--presumably meaning that if you’re getting arrested for DUI then they can still search the car for booze (and bust you for anything else they find in the process).
I’m not sure where I come down on this issue. Obviously it’s a weird and confusing one to split the Justices like that.
The five majority judges agreed that cops don’t have blanket authority to search your car just because you happen to be in your car when they arrest you. In other words, if you’re busted for driving without a license, they can’t search the car randomly looking for any other violations such as possession of marijuana.
However, the cops still can search your car if they think there might be evidence related to the offense at hand--presumably meaning that if you’re getting arrested for DUI then they can still search the car for booze (and bust you for anything else they find in the process).
I’m not sure where I come down on this issue. Obviously it’s a weird and confusing one to split the Justices like that.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
