Come out and enjoy a day of free, family fun.  A bird hikes with the Warioto Audubon  Society, wild flower hike led by APSU botanist Rob Shepard and a trail hike led by Suva Batsin from our local chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association.

Reptiliacs at Dunbar Cave‘s Spring Fling

As always, the Spring Fling is the only opportunity the public has to canoe the lake.  Get their early to sign up for this once a year opportunity.

Spring Fling – Dunbar Cave State Park

Saturday, May 4th, 2013

Sponsored by: Friends of Dunbar Cave, Warioto Audubon Chapter, Tennessee Trails Association, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee State Parks

All Activities Begin at the Visitor Center and are Free of Charge.

Event Will be Held Rain or Shine
Children must be supervised by an adult.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit dedicated to preserving and protecting the park while enhancing park visitor’s experience.  If you use the park, we could use you.  A membership booth will be set up so you can join up a fast growing and active community group.

Spring Fling 2013 flyer

For additional information see the following websites

www.dunbarcave.org

http://www.soarsouth.org/Home.html

The post Dunbar Cave’s Spring Fling Schedule Announced appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The current park consists of 110 acres.  This additional 30 acres would greatly expand the size of the park, as well as protect the environment of the area which includes the Red River Watershed (the drainage system for the park.)

Dudley Griffin, Alan Groves, Kenny Hogan of the Jaycees Foundation Board; Jerry Clark, FODC; Amy Wallace, DCSNA Staff; Lionel Senseney, President FODC; Dr. Sally Schiller – FODC; and Ron Hunter, FODC.

“The park has more than 250,000 visits per year and is of great cultural and historical importance to our community, in addition to the bio-diversity and delicate ecosystem it supports,” stated Senseney. ” We have received a wonderful donation of $150,000 from the Jaycees Foundation towards the purchase of the property.  Their generous act of giving back to the community will be coupled with state funding in order to buy the land.”

He added, “We have received enthusiastic support from our State Legislative Delegation in this effort.  We are very hopeful that we can purchase this land for this special part of our community.”

However, help the Friends of Dunbar Cave’s voice be heard, by contacting Clarksville-Montgomery County legislative delegates.  Their contact information is provided below:

• Senator Mark Green, 615.741.2374, *protected email*
• Rep. Joe Pitts, 615.741.2043, *protected email*
• Rep. Curtis Johnson, 615.7471.4341, *protected email*
• Rep. John Tidwell, 615.741.7098, rep. *protected email*

The public can also help expand the park by donating to the Friends of Dunbar Cave Land Acquisition Fund.

Checks can be made out to:

Friends of Dunbar Cave
P.O. Box 254
Clarksville, TN, 37041

Donations can also be made at our website, http://www.dunbarcave.org.

For more information, please contact the Friends at *protected email*.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a 501 c-3, non-profit organization of volunteers who support the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area.

The post Friends of Dunbar Cave seeks Additional Land for Dunbar Cave State Natural Area appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave, a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the park,  will have their annual trail mulching day on March 23rd.

Spreading mulch on the Dam

Using recycled Christmas trees, volunteers will mulch along the lake front on the dam. “If they are sufficient, strong volunteers, we will mulch muddy sections of the trails,” said Meredith Gildrie, the organizer of the event.

After several years of having much of the mulch wash down the trails into the lake after heavy rains, the park staff is evaluating what areas need mulch but are not prone to that washing effect.

This year Mulching Day at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area will be held on March 23rd, 2013 – 9:00am until no later than noon. Dunbar Cave is located at401 Old Dunbar Cave Road in Clarksville, TN.You are strongly recommended to bring gloves, sturdy shoes, a rake (garden variety is best), and a water bottle (Friends of Dunbar Cave will have water available).

Each volunteer (new to volunteering at Dunbar Cave) must fill out a volunteer registration form before beginning to work in the state park.  The form asks for the volunteer’s name, telephone number, and the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

For more information contact Meredith Gildrie at 931.648.4317.

Links

• The Friends of Dunbar Cave
• Dunbar Cave State Natural Area

The post Trail Mulching Day at Dunbar Cave Coming Up Soon appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Please drop off your tree, free of all decorations and tinsel, at the park’s parking lot anytime between now and 11:00am, January 5th.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving Clarksville’s only state park.  To join or learn more, please visit our website at https://sites.google.com/site/friendsdunbar/

The post Dunbar Cave State Park Recycling Your Christmas Trees appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

As your family gets ready to enjoy this beautiful season, be sure to attend what is quickly becoming the must attend event of the Fall – A Sleepy Hollow Bonfire and Night Hike at Clarksville only state park, Dunbar Cave.

After a successful event last year, The Friends of Dunbar Cave has teamed up with the Clarksville Children’s Theater to bring your family another memorable night of family fun.  Grab a cup of cider and warm yourself by the bonfire while you await Icahbod Crane to guide your family on a hike to the mouth of Dunbar Cave.  Your family will enjoy the telling the Legend of Stingy Jack and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in this  family event which is not intended to be scary.

The event is Saturday, October 20th, starting at 6:00pm with the last guided hike starting at 8:30pm.  Please bring a flashlight.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  Donations are welcomed for the refreshments.  The cost is $5.00 for each person; children under 6 get in for free.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting of Clarksville’s only state park.  The group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:00pm at the park interpretative center.

In the past, the Friends group  has purchased computers for park staff, spearheaded numerous trail maintainance projects, purchased interpretative signs throughout the park and put on several annual events  such as relaxing Cooling at the Cave and educational Spring Fling .  If you enjoy the park, we would encourage to you to get involved with our group.  We would love to see you!

Click here for Event Flyer

Useful Links

https://sites.google.com/site/friendsdunbar/

http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/DunbarCave/

http://clarksvillechildrenstheatre.org/Current

The post A Sleep Hollow Bonfire and Night Hike at Dunbar Cave State Park appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The Cumberland Winds Band provided the music, while children danced and the adults clapped.  The Friends of Dunbar Cave provided ice-cold lemonade, water, and home-baked cookies.  Many played board games while tapping the toes.  Back in the days before air conditioning, this is how locals cooled off and fellowshipped with neighbors.

Cooling at the Cave on July 28th, 2012

Although no official count was taken, but most of the 100 chairs provided by the Friends groups were full; it was standing room only.   Several in attendance recognized the good work of the Friends group and  became members on the spot.

Local artisan, Jack Bastin, graciously lent his talents to the event.  earlier this spring, park staff had to remove an ash tree from near the cave.  Staff counted the rings and dated the tree to about 1799.  Jack took the 213 year old ash wood, and using his talents on the lathe, turned the wood into bowls and pens.  He graciously offered the pieces to anyone for a $20 donation to the Friends group.  The bowls went quick, and several pens are still available.  Also several patrons donated $30 for signed copies of local author Larry Matthew’s second edition definitive historical guide to Dunbar cave.  If you missed out and would like a book or pen, please contact me.

Smiles were had by all

Judging by all the smiles and laughter, a good time was had by all.  It takes a lot of volunteers to put on such a large and successful event.  We would like to thank all the volunteers that made this event happen, especially Ms. Barbara Wilbur, who coordinates the annual event,, and Suva Bastin, who coordinates the refreshments. Thanks to Friends members Jim Hancock, Beverly Fisher, and Bill Larson for contributing photos; and the City of Clarksville and Golf Pro Jeff Vaughn for donating the use of a Golf Cart from the Swan Lake Golf Course to ferry people from the parking lot to the cave entrance, and Bill Larson for driving it for us.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit group that raises money for the city’s only State Park, as well as being an advocate group for the park’s historical and natural preservation.  In the past the Friends have provided mulch for the hiking trails, educational panels along the trails, computers for park staff, and much more.  If you would like more information about the group, or would like to join or make a donation, please see the link at the bottom of the page.

Photo Gallery

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Links

• The Dunbar Cave State Natural Area Website
• The Friends of Dunbar Cave
• Cumberland Winds 

The post Another Successful Cooling at the Cave appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

With entertainment provided by Cumberland Winds Dixie Band, which will perform Dixieland style music. Tables, chairs and board games will be provided by FODC, however, events goers are encouraged to bring their own to ensure they have a seat at this popular local event. Refreshments will be available for donations, which help offset the cost of the event.

A crowd of people at Cooling at the Cave listening to the Cumberland Winds Jazz Band

For those that may have trouble walking to the cave,  golf cart shuttle will be available from the parking lot to the cave.

The FODC will have a table set up to solicit members, as well as offer t-shirts, postcards, and the newest edition of Larry Matthews book, Dunbar Cave – Showplace of the South, signed copies are available for $30. Cooling at the Cave runs from 3:00pm through 5:00pm but show up early, because this year, the park is hoisting a celebration.

This year, in conjunction with Cooling at the Cave, the park will also be celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Tennessee State Parks.  Michael Fulbright will be giving a presentation on the history of Dunbar Cave at 1:00pm.  This event has limited seating, so please show up early to ensure you get a seat.

Park staff will be offering hot dogs, beans, chips and soft drinks at 1:30pm to the first 150 visitors, followed by a cake cutting ceremony at 2:00pm.  From 1:30pm through 3:00pm, Regional Interpretative Specialist David Haggard and his Bald Eagle will be on site, as well as the Tennessee State Park mascot, Ramble the Raccoon.  This celebration will also include the debut of the Parks Interpretative trailer.  Phi Kappa Alpha will present park staff with two rocking chairs.

The FODC will unveil the Dr. David Synder Memorial “Snakes of Dunbar Cave” interpretative panel.  Before his death in 2004, Dave Snyder presented a program on reptiles at most of the Spring Flings.  His educational and entertaining program brought in large crowds.   Because of his commitment to educating people about snakes and sharing his enthusiasm with others, he held a special place in the Friends member’s hearts.   The community made numerous donations in honor of Dr. Synder, which the FODC invested in the interpretative sign.

External Websites

• The Official Dunbar Cave Web Site
• Friends of Dunbar Cave Web Site
• Cumberland Winds
• Dunbar Cave: Showplace of the South

Photo Gallery

Images from the 2011 Cooling at the Cave

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About the Friends of Dunbar Cave

The Friends of Dunbar Cave, Inc. is an independent, non-profit corporation committed to promoting, protecting and preserving the natural and cultural resources of the State Natural Area for this generation and for generations to come.  Please join Friends of Dunbar Cave in Supporting and protecting Dunbar Cave State Natural Area.  Members receive our newsletter, are invited to our monthly meetings held on the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and are invited to participate in special park projects and activities.  As a member you will be assisting us in our short and long term goals to encourage development that will protect and preserve the wilderness and recreation that Dunbar Cave State Natural Area represents.

The post Annual Cooling at The Cave to help celebrate Tennessee State Parks 75th Anniversery on Saturday, July 28th appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

John Stokes from Save Our American Raptors introduces the audience to one of their owls

Debbie Hamilton led an early morning bird hike, while Nathan Parker led several wildflower hikes throughout the day.  There were learning stations about camping, solar power, bats, and other furry animals.

Students from Austin Peay State University‘s Center of Excellence for Field Biology were on hand to talk about the ongoing studies being conducted at Dunbar Cave.

And lots of folks took advantage of canoeing Swan Lake.  Spring Fling is the only time the park allows canoes on the lake.

Canoes on Swan Lake during the 2012 Spring Fling at the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area

If you missed this fun, free family oriented event, don’t stress.  The Friends of Dunbar Cave sponsors the Spring Fling each May.  The next event is the popular Cooling at the Cave, where a crowd gathers around the mouth of the cave to enjoy mother nature air conditioning while playing games and listening to love music.   Cooling at the Cave will be July 28th, so mark your calendars and keep an eye on Clarksville Online for more information as the date draws near.

Photo Gallery

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The post Spring Fling – Another Successful Year appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Come out and enjoy a day of free, family fun.  A bird hikes with the Warioto Audubon  Society, wild flower hike led by APSU botanists and a trail hike led by Suva Batsin from our local chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association.

Reptiliacs at Dunbar Cave

See a wide variety of raptors up close and overhead with the educational program put on by SOAR (Save Our American Raptors.)  There are two opportunities to see reptile up close with APSU Biologist Micheal Fulbright discussing native fish, salamanders, frogs and snakes.  Crowd favorite, Sherry and Donny Howell, are local reptile experts that always draw a crowd with their exotic and native snakes.

As always, the Spring Fling is the only opportunity the public has to canoe the lake.  Get their early to sign up for this once a year opportunity.

Two canoes on Swan Lake

A new addition to the Spring Fling this year is author and cave enthusiast, Larry Matthews, will be on site from 11-3 to sign his recently updated book, “Dunbar Cave:  Showplace of the South.”  This second edition has six new chapters and nearly 100 new pictures.  Books are available for a $30 donation, while supplies last.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit dedicated to preserving and protecting the park while enhancing park visitor’s experience.  If you use the park, we could use you.  A membership booth will be set up so you can join up a fast growing and active community group.

Websites

• http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/DunbarCave/
• https://sites.google.com/site/friendsdunbar/

http://www.soarsouth.org/Home.html

The post Dunbar Cave’s Spring Fling Schedule Released appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The group is still finalizing the schedule, but in past years, the Friends group has put on the following activities at Spring Fling.

Crowd watches Save Our American Raptors (SOAR)

Event List

1. Canoeing the lake
2. Save Our American Raptors (SOAR) presentation which allows park goers to see a wide variety of birds up close
3. Reptiliacs presentation which allows park goers an up close look at snakes and other reptiles
4. Tennessee Trails Association hiking/Camping Exhibit
5. Wildflower Hikes
6. Bird Watching Hikes
7. Much much more…..

One confirmed event is author  Larry Matthews will be on site from 11:00am-3:00pm to sign his updated book,  “Dunbar Cave: Showplace of the South.”  This updated Second Edition includes six new chapters and nearly a hundred new photographs have been added.

This is an excellent chance to talk to the author about how this cave, first explored by American Indians 10,000 years ago, grew to become one of America’s major show caves.  Books are available for a $30.00 donation, while supplies last.

Once the group has finalized the fun activities for the day, we will post the flyer at COL…so stay tuned.  But please save the date, rain or shine, bring the family out for a good time!

Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit organization with a sole purpose of supporting Clarksville’s only state park.  In addition to putting on numerous educational events each year, the group supports the park by providing trail maintenance, computers and educational materials for park staff, commissioning interpretative signs, and advocacy for the protection and preservation and the park and the cave.

If you are one of the over 280,000 annual visitors to the park, please join our group and help preserve and protect Clarksville’s only state park!!

https://sites.google.com/site/friendsdunbar/

http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/DunbarCave/

The post Spring Fling at Dunbar Cave May 5th, Save the Date appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Clarksville, TN – We are  told we live in a free market economy driven by the simple laws of supply and demand. However, there are exceptions, bank bail outs being the most obvious. In March 2010, I wrote an article about how theater owners do not follow the laws of supply and demand. The recent discussion about the SOPA law has me thinking about this issue again.

The entertainment industry is tired of having their product stolen via a black market. But instead of asking the government to police access to these black markets, the industry should ask itself why the black market has come to exist.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Law of Supply and Demand states that as the more consumers demand a product, the supply of that product goes down, causing the product to be more valuable, which drives the price up. Think Beanie babies. When they were hot, they cost a lot, because you had a lot of folks demanding them. Now, no one is interested in them and they cost very little.

The black market for entertainment goods stems from the entertainment industry’s refusal to price products  in the spirit of the law of supply and demand.  Let’s take music downloads as an example. The current number one song in America is “We Found Love” by Rihanna and can be downloaded at Amazon for 99 cents. Jefferson Airplane released their famous single “Somebody to Love” in 1966. The b-side to that single was “She Has Funny Cars” and can also be downloaded at Amazon.com for 99 cents. In light of the Supply and Demand law, is it right for both the be priced the same?

Obviously the demand for Rihanna’s song is much greater than the Jefferson Airplane 40 year old, unknown b-side. But does demand even matter in the business of downloading music?  Folks aren’t going to Sound Shops to buy cd’s, they are copying a file from a server to their computer. Amazon does not have to ensure its “shelves” are stocked when cd’s are released on Tuesdays. They merely must have the song available for users to copy. Doesn’t this environment negate the rules of Supply and Demand? No, if demand and supply are a near zero, the price should be very, very low.   The entertainment industry is not adequately pricing their products, which makes the black market more attractive.

Accessing the black market has some risks. A consumer could be caught and punished or unknowingly download a file that infects their computer.  These risks alone are not an adequate deterrent. With the SOPA act, the industry is focusing on policing access to the black market, instead of focusing on what they can do to make illegal download less attractive – dropping the price of their products.

To survive, the industry must make each product’s price point low enough negate the attractiveness of the black market. Would a consumer take the risks with illegal downloads, if the consumer could buy the song for a dime? Lower prices would also increase product sales. There are a lot of songs I would download for a dime apiece, that I would not download for 99 cents. Lowering the cost would mean more money in the artists pocket.

But instead of the entertainment industry taking a hard, long look at itself and adjusting their business model to the current environment, they are asking the government to police an antiquated product delivery method.  The future of the industry might look like a peer-to-peer file sharing network, with artists selling songs directly to the consumer – I see the big record/distribution companies going the way of the old Sound Shop.

Adapt or die.

The post SOPA and PIPA are bad governmental policy appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

As an educated, southern, long haired, non-theist,liberal, you may be surprised that my rule of thumb is to greet folks with a Merry Christmas.  I decorate my Christmas tree with Christmas ornaments and send out Christmas cards, and struggle with outdoor Christmas lights.

Let’s face it, the greeting ”Merry Christmas” is a pretty sure bet in Clarksville.  However, the annual rhetoric about the war on Christmas is ruining what should be a good time.

The other day, my wife told a cashier ”Happy Holidays.”  A pulsing vein popped from the side of the cashier’s forehead as she vehemently spewed, “and you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!”  She was not hoping my wife would enjoy the rest of her day, she was angrily saying, “I am a Christian, you should have known that by the size of this invisible chip on my shoulder.”  Everyone gets the unprovoked emails and Facebook posts about how the sender celebrates Christmas not just a holiday.  Bill O’Reilly has brought up the “War on Christmas” every year for the past 15 years.

While Christians claim they are standing up against the PC police, they are becoming the Anti-PC Police.  Is there really a difference between PC police and anti-PC police?  Both argue we should use certain words over others because we could upset someone.

I firmly believe in standing up for one’s beliefs, but that doesn’t apply in this situation.  By saying Happy Holidays, my wife wasn’t persecuting the cashier’s beliefs.  She is simply saying, I don’t know what you are celebrating, but I hope you have a good time.  Why is that insulting?  At no other point during the year or in our lives, do we require such accuracy in our pleasantries with total strangers.

By being so easily offended, we create the problem.  All Americans are becoming thin skinned…everyone.  Being thin skinned spawns the PC police and the anti-PC police.  It shows up in other social aspects, such as the non-bullying campaigns.  I believe as we become more ego-centric, we become more thinned skinned.  But I digress….

But folks point to big corporations banning their employees from saying Merry Christmas, instructing them to say Happy Holidays.  They do it because they want your money; they want the Christian’s money, the Jew’s money, the Muslim’s money, etc.  They sell Christmas trees as well as Menorahs. It is contradictory to say businesses are anti-Christmas while they are selling you Christmas items.

Corporations have turned Christmas into a month long celebration of consumer capitalism.  They have replaced Christ with Cash, and although most would not admit it, we are active participants in this evolution.  For centuries, the Catholic church has absconded other culture holidays…now the corporation are doing the same (it makes makes for easy converts.)  Do some research about our current holidays – find out why we celebrate Christmas in December near the shortest day of the year, or the Celts & the origin of All Hallow’s Eve, or why the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection is called Easter.

Christmas has evolved to have different meanings for different people.  Some choose to greet people in an all-inclusive manner with Happy Holidays.  Others choose to greet people in the spirit of the holiday they celebrate with Merry Christmas.

My hope, no matter how I say it….is that you take this time to rediscover what is truly important – love, family, and community.

Merry Christmas!

The post Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

There are a couple phrases that one hears often during the presidential primaries.  Talking heads have said “Republicans don’t fall in love, they fall in line.” The mature Tea Party is trying to prove that statement false.  We also hear “Getting Liberals to stand behind a common issue is like herding cats.” The less mature Occupy Movement is proving that statement correct.

Although I do not agree with the Tea Party platform, I have admired their ability to get folks off the political sidelines and start participating in our government.  However, I do not understand their overly critical attitude toward the Occupy Movement.  Considering the abuse and ridicule the Tea Party has gotten over the years, I thought they would be a little easier on their leftist counterpart.

The two movements, although miles apart on the issues, should be able to benefit from each other.  When the Tea Party movement started, I thought they were headed toward the creation of a third party.  Throughout recent history, third parties tend to take votes from their “parent” party, which hands the election to the opposition.  As the opposing party gains power, the third party is blamed and loses steam.  However, if there were multiple third parties, the idea of splitting the vote is eliminated, creating an environment where the third parties are a valid option for the voter.

But the Tea Party still has the two party system attitude –conservative vs. liberal.  This attitude of conservative vs. liberal is the basis for the “not falling in love, but falling in line” phrase.  Tea Party folks ultimately will vote for the GOP candidate, all the GOP establishment has to do to weather the primaries to get the tea party to “fall in line”. The Occupy Movement has learned from Tea Party, and are not backing any candidates or parties, but support ideals.  This is the basis for the “herding cats” phrase.  The Occupy movement needs direction.

A true third party should view the battle as between the third party vs. the two party system, therefore, the more third parties the better.  As political fringe groups, the Occupy Movement and the Tea Party should join forces, not on the issues, but focusing on disabling the two party system that quiets their voice.

The ill results of Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party, and the Occupy Movement pale to the ill results of voter apathy.  Third parties are very good at getting people off the sidelines and participating.  Tea Party and the Occupy Movement should join together to fight the battle of voter apathy and change our political environment to make their voices stronger.

The post The Tea Party, Occupy Movement, Voter Apathy and The Broken Two Party System appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Come join Ichabod Crane, as he guides you on a night hike while regaling your family with the  Legend of Stingy Jack.  Once at the mouth of Dunbar Cave, the Clarkville Children’s Theater will dramatize the Legend of the Headless Horsemman.  Please bring flashlights for your family.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  This is a family event, and not intended to be scary.

After the hike, cozy up to the bonfire with a cup of hot chocolate or cider, as your family enjoys the acoustic band, Red River Breeze.  Red River Breeze is welcomed back to the park after playing the recent Cooling at the Cave.

Although the hike is a donation of $5.00 per person, donations for the band and drinks is much appreciated.

Flier

Helpful Links

• The Friends of Dunbar Cave
• Red River Breeze
• Clarksville Children’s Theatre

The post Save the Date – A Sleepy Hollow Bonfire and Night Hike at Dunbar Cave appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The “slippery slope” is a phrase that means once one action is taken, another action – worse and inevitable action – will follow.  Slippery slopes are used heavily in political and moral issues as justifications against certain ideas.

• if we let same sex couples marry, what will be next?  People marrying dogs?
• if we let them raises taxes a dime this year, what will stop them from raising taxes a dollar next year?

The problem is that the manipulator acknowledges that the listener is empowered to take the first action, but denies the listener the power to stop the second action.  Why can we not pass a law saying same-sex unions are okay and another saying you cannot marry your dog?  Why can’t we say the tax increase of a dime this year is reasonable but a dollar next year is excessive?

The slippery slope argument disempowers the individual from taking an action that otherwise the individual might take.  The next time someone refers to a slippery slope, pay attention, empower yourself and confront the speaker with confidence.  The slippery slope only exists in the realm of lazy debate.

The post There is No “Slippery Slope” appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

A friend, who works in the higher education field, sent me a link to a RSA youtube video, in which Sir Ken Robinson give a speech about how the current educational system is outdated and how that is effecting our economy.  Sir Robinson makes some very enlightened observations about why our educational system is in need of being overhauled.  The animation provided is very well designed and creative.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In January 2010, Tennessee Legislature passed “The Complete College Act” in attempt address some of the short falls of the state’s college and university system.  The main piece of this legislation was to change how the college/university’s are funded.  Instead of receiving state funds based on how many student are enrolled at a institution, the act required funding to be dispersed based on the success of the institution.  Their efforts won them $500 million dollars from the federal government, in the form of “Race to the Top” grant.  Tennessee was one of only two states to receive this grant.

Recently, the Montgomery County Commissioner passed a tax increase to help fund our local school system, mainly by improving infrastructure.  Some opponents of the tax increase argued increased funding won’t fix the educational problems and suggested the administration be creative and find more effective ways to use taxpayers dollars.

In light of the these challenges to education in our state, I thought I would share the RSA video with my readers.  I found it very interesting and thought provoking.  I hope you will as well.

Here are some teasers that are addressed in the videos:

• Why do we group children in classes by age instead of skill?  Is this appropriate?
• Why kids don’t believe a college degree leads to a good job…and why they are right?
• What can a map of the US teach us about the ADHD epidemic

Useful Links

• TED – http://www.ted.com/
• The RSA – http://www.thersa.org/
• Info on the Complete Colege Act – http://state.tn.us/thec/complete_college_tn/complete_college_tn.html

The post The Educational System – “Changing the Paradigm” appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

The quartet, Red River Breeze, provided the entertainment of traditional Celtic music, while children danced and the adults clapped.  The Friends of Dunbar Cave provided ice cold lemonade, water, cookies, granola bars, and freezer pops.  Many played a variety of board games, tapping their toes to an Irish jig.  Back in the days before air conditioning, this is how locals cooled off and fellowshipped with others.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Although no official count was taken, but most of the 75 chairs provided by the Friends group were full while people migrated in and out; I would conservatively guess well more than 125 folks enjoyed the free event.  In fact, several in attendance joined the Friends group.

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit group that raises money for the city’s only State Park, as well as being an advocate group for the park’s historical and natural preservation.  In the past the Friends have provided mulch for for the hiking trails, educational panels along the trails, computers for park staff, and much more.  If you would like more information about the group, or would like to join or make a donation, please see the link at the bottom of the page.

Judging by all the smiles and laughter, a good time was had by all.  It takes a lot of volunteers to put on such a large and successful event.  We would like to thank all the volunteers that made this event happen, especially Ms. Barbara Wilbur, who coordinates the annual event.

Links

• https://sites.google.com/site/friendsdunbar/
• http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/DunbarCave/index.shtml
• http://redriverbreeze.com/

Photo Gallery

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The post Another Successful Cooling at the Cave appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Instead of using spray paint, artists using a high pressure washer and templates.  Artist wash away pollution, dirt and grime – leaving a company logo or art piece.  The method is marketed as environmentally friendly because it uses only water and the process cleans the targeted surface.  Some artists have utilized dusty car or dirty storefront windows.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Where as adding paint to a sidewalk is illegal, selectively cleaning the sidewalk is a gray area (no pun intended.)   As the artist says in the episode, if local authorities or property owners want to remove the Reverse Graffiti, all they have to do is clean the rest of the surface.  Some European communities are even regulating the form of art/advertising.

Wikipedia credits English artist, Paul Curtis, as one of the first artist to use a such technique – a technique he discovered as a dishwasher. 

Here are some of the more interesting examples:

Editor’s Note:  If you decide to try your hand at this new, green art, Please check with local authorities/property owners before cleaning public/privately owned spaces.

The post Reverse Graffiti being used for art, “Clean Advertising” appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Clarksville, TN – The weather is getting hotter, and the Friends of Dunbar Cave are gearing up to cool down!

Locals have always come to the mouth of Dunbar Cave in the dog days of summer to beat the heat.  With a year round breeze of 56 degree blowing from the cave, the Friends of Dunbar Cave invite your family to enjoy Mother Nature’s air conditioning on July 30th from 3:00pm-5:00pm.

Cooling at the Cave

Come out and show your support, enjoy the natural air conditioning, and tap your toes to celtic music by Red River Breeze.

About the Friends of Dunbar Cave

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit group that meets every third Thursday of the month at the Dunbar Cave administration building. We actively support Clarksville’s only state park. Among other activities, we have bought and spread tons of mulch on the trails, purchase interpretative signs for the park, purchase computers for park staff, as well as sponsor several educational events at the park through out the year.

Family memberships start at only $25.00, which includes a T Shirt so you can show the community you support the park. A membership table will be set up at Cooling at the Cave – stop by and see how you can help support OUR state park.

The post Come out to “Cooling at the Cave” this Saturday, July 30th appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.

Locals have always come to the mouth of Dunbar Cave in the dog days of summer to beat the heat.  With a year round breeze of 56 degree blowing from the cave, the Friends of Dunbar Cave invite your family to enjoy Mother Nature’s air conditioning on July 30th 3:00pm-5:00pm. For those who need assistance, or just want a ride, a golf cart donated by the City of Clarksville Golf Pro Jeff Vaughn will be running from the parking lot to the cave entrance, and back.

A crowd of people at Cooling at the Cave listening to the Cumberland Winds Jazz Band

About the Friends of Dunbar Cave

The Friends of Dunbar Cave is a non-profit group that meets every third Thursday of the month at the Dunbar Cave administration building.  We actively support Clarksville’s only state park.  Among other activities, we have bought and spread tons of mulch on the trails, purchase interpretative signs for the park, purchase computers for park staff, as well as sponsor several educational events at the park through out the year.  Family memberships start at only $25.00,  which includes a T Shirt so you can show the community you support the park.  A membership table will be set up at Cooling at the Cave – stop by and see how you can help support OUR state park.

The post Save the Date – Cooling at the Cave appeared first on Clarksville, TN Online.