Time to Support the Troops

By Tom Paine | May 26, 2007 |

It is past time for us to support the troops. We have allowed our “leaders” to sacrifice them for far too long in this endless occupation of Iraq. There remain a few that still claim that we can “win” in Iraq, but I think that they, too, deep in their hearts know that that will never happen. We have allowed that nation to devolve into a civil war that we are powerless to prevent.

We told them to overthrow Sadaam Hussein, which they did. They won the war that Bush decided to wage. But then we left them there. As the years dragged on, we sent them back again and again — into a situation that got worse with each passing year. And they went back, again, and again, tempting fate each time. Some did not return to us and those who did were wounded in body or soul or both. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

Perchance a Pirates IV?

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 25, 2007 |

In the beginning there was Errol Flynn. Then Tyrone Power in The Black Swan. And always, a fiesty, pretty woman. A generation ago. Our next swashbucklers were intergalatic — the light saber play between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Father and son. With pretty woman Princess Lea in between.

Today Johnny Deep swooshes and swaggers (more swoosh than swagger) across the big screen in Pirates of the Caribbean III: At World’s End, another theme-park-ride swashbuckler that is better than Pirates II, but a long way from the charm and manic humor and first run surprises of the original film.

(Photo: Barbossa (Rush), Will Turner (Orlano Bloom), Jack Sparrow (Depp), (Elizabeth (Knightly) and Sao feng (Chow-Yung-Fat)

In the audience on opening night (5/24), fans decked out in Sparrow regalia were at least as amusing and swaggering as the on-screen original, and seemed to be having as much fun as Depp & Co did making this movie in the Bahamas. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 2 Comments

“B” movies for Drive-In Saturday Night

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 25, 2007 |

It’s summer (or close enough) and for those of us who are old enough to remember, Saturday night in summer meant one thing: drive-in movies. Stuff the car with friends, food and even a few folding chairs, and settle in for a triple feature under the stars. With the onslaught of Imax theaters, air-conditioned stadium seating, and surround sound, most of the drive-in theaters have been relegated to the realm of fond memories and the reality of strip malls. No more sultry summer nights before a big outdoor screen; forgotten is the scratchy sound from the little black boxes that hung on the car windows, or the camaraderie of sharing the contents of an ice-filled cooler, oversized grinders and semi-stale popcorn with the friends parked next to you on “$5.00 a carload” nights.

The movies that we watched live on, though, some offered for rental, some order-able on online, and others now living in “public domain” and available for free downloads. Over the course of the summer, I’ll be taking a look at some of them. Might not be a bad idea to have your friends “drive” to your home on a Saturday night, pop up some fresh popcorn, order a pizza, and kick back for the best of the “B” (and a few “C’ and “D”) movies. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 1 Comment »

June 2 Green Power Festival - Hohenwald, TN

By Beth Robinson | May 24, 2007 |

Saturday, June 2, in Hohenwald TN, the second annual Sonnenschein Festival will have music, nature, alternative energy and art! This years festival will be the biggest Green Power Festival in Middle Tennessee. This notice was sent out by Jennifer Dauksha-English.

It will include 25 green power speakers, an alternative vehicle and fuel exposition, two music stages powered by solar energy, a tour of alternative homes, an energy play shop for kids, an eco-film fest, the debut of Middle Tennessee’s Green Living Journal and much more!! The festival opens June 1 with an Ecovillage Experience Weekend at the Ecovillage Training Center on the Farm Community in Summertown, TN and a Cumberland Greens Bioregional Council Gathering. «Read the rest of this article»

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Um, Can I have my Freedom of Speech Back?

By Christopher Lee | May 24, 2007 |

Well lately it seems that what I post on the internet is not taken seriously or worst as the inane ramblings of a 20 year old male who has no college degree who therefore by logic knows nothing of the world around him regardless of how open his eyes are.

Truly astonishing.

Since when does a piece of paper say I know more than someone else? Congratulations. You have a piece of paper that says you paid money to learn something that could be learned for free. You may even be able to recall that information at any given time granted you went to class, paid attention, and passed with something more than a “C’ average. I applaud your efforts and yet I understand that it is all needed to find the cheese.

You know what else is truly astonishing?

Freedom of Speech is fast becoming a joke amongst people, primarily those in authoritative positions, i.e. managers, politicians, religious leaders, etc.

We have been so caught up in the P.C. phenomenon that has swept through our television and other means of communication that we are now unable to express ourselves as we see fit in fear that we may offend someone or it may be deemed “socially unacceptable” or worse, “unprofessional.”

I say psssh to P.C. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

Not so long ago in a theater near you …

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 24, 2007 |

Once upon a time there was a handsome young man from a broken family, living on a planetary wasteland with an aunt and uncle…he races around his lunar-like landscape on a landspeeder, running errands for his uncle — things like buying androids and robots from very short creatures wearing inter-galactic versions of monks robes — but in one violent afternoon, he finds himself en route to becoming an inter-gallactic hero …

Welcome to world of Luke Skywalker, Director George Lucas’s ground-breaking fantasy that would rev up the imaginations of millions of moviegoers. That was 30 years ago (May 25, 1977). Where were you when Star Wars changed the face of movies? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure | 1 Comment »

Peace rally planned

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 23, 2007 |

The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties will sponsor a Peace Vigil on Sunday, May 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at Patriot’s Park on Fort Campbell Bvld. in Clarksville.

This peaceful event will include a prayer service, spiritual readings, music, guest speakers, and a reading of the names of Kentucky and Tennessee soldiers killed in the Iraq conflict. The public is welcome to attend.

While many of us oppose the War in Iraq, we join with Americans on both sides of the debate in sharing the same concerns for the men and women on the front lines, our soldiers serving overseas and those about to be deployed. We support our troops (that message seems universal) but not the flawed policies and politicians that have immersed them in this escalating conflict.

As this Memorial Day approaches, fatalities in Iraq are escalating rapidly and another landmark number, 3500, is quickly approaching. That number does not include fatalities in Afghanistan, or the civilian death toll in either country. At home, many returning troops and their families face both physical and psychological difficulties from extended (and multiple) deployments. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues | No Comments

An Open Letter to Senator Bob Corker regarding the Matthew Shepard bill

By David W. Shelton | May 21, 2007 |

Dear Mr. Corker (And staff):

I’m extremely disappointed to know that your office is more concerned about protecting your image than in protecting those that have been abused, beaten, and even killed. Your refusal to support Senate Bill 1105 is as heartbreaking as it is wrong.

You already know of the events surrounding the death of Matthew Shepard, after which this bill has been named. You might also know of the murder of Alabama teenager Scotty Joe Weaver, who was killed by his own friends because he was “a faggot.” Mr. Corker, this isn’t a rare thing at all. In fact, there have been people in your own state that have been killed just for being gay. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »