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The Delta Queen: An endangered piece of our American history

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 19, 2008 |

A piece of American history is endangered.

The Delta Queen sailed into Clarksville Monday on what may be one its last journeys down the Cumberland, and all the other rivers she’s traveled.

The Delta Queen steams into Clarksville

The Delta Queen is a grand lady and a legacy from our collective history. She is only remaining all-wood paddle-wheeled craft still sailing American waters with a complement of passengers scattered about, some opting to sit on the comfortable white rocking chairs on its decks. The Delta Queen looked and sounded like something in a classic Mark Twain novel.

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Starz network to host network TV premiere of David Earnhardt’s UNCOUNTED

August 19, 2008 |

NASHVILLE, TN: For the last seven months, documentary filmmaker David Earnhardt has taken UNCOUNTED: The New Math of American Elections to more than 30 cities. During that time, he used the film as a grassroots tool to shed some much-needed light on the systemic problems inherent in our elections — including voting machines that render every vote unverifiable and un-auditable and Jim Crow-like intimidation tactics. The screenings have drawn thousands, awakening in viewers an urgent need to help fix our electoral system.

Now with a critical presidential election looming, UNCOUNTED will take the leap from grassroots organizing tool to mainstream wake-up call with a timely convergence of events that will expose its message to wider audience.

First, premium movie service provider Starz will present the world television premiere of UNCOUNTED on Starz Edge, Monday, August 25 at 10:30 p.m. (et/pt), and Starz Cinema on Thursday, August 28 at 10:00 P.M.

“As this is one of the most important elections in our nation’s history, premiering this thought-provoking documentary is not only timely, but necessary viewing.”

– Nancy Silverstone, Vice President of Program Acquisitions at Starz Entertainment.

Next, the distribution company, Disinformation, will release the documentary to retail outlets, including Amazon.com and Netflix, on Tuesday, August 26.

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Local man makes evolutionary discovery

By Scott Beasley | August 19, 2008 |

A Clarksville resident, who for obvious reasons, wishes to remain anonymous, discovered a find of biblical proportions this week. Many of you have heard about the recent claims of Northern Georgia residents, Rick Dyer and Matt Whitton who say they’ve actually discovered the body of a “Big Foot” while hiking in the mountains of Georgia. Many skeptics doubt this find or view it as some kind of hoax. What’s NOT a hoax is the recent discovery of a local man.

Big Foot, on the crispy side

On the morning of August 15, the man was startled when a piece of toast emerged from his toaster bearing the image of the silhouette of the fabled monster affectionately known as “Big Foot”.

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Kiwanis Lone Star Rodeo rides into town

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 17, 2008 |

Downtown Kiwanis Club and Lone Star Rodeo Tour bring two days of excitement to Fairgrounds Park. 

Wild west Chuck wagon Race at Kiwanis Rodeo

This weekend brought two days of rodeo excitement to Clarksville at the Fairgrounds Park. Friday was the opening night and Wendy’s Restaurants sponsored it’s Kids Night at the Rodeo.

Kiwanis Chairman Glenn Childers

Glenn Childers, 2008 Downtown Kiwanis Club Chair, gave a brief rundown of this year’s rodeo, adding that the Kiwanis Club, with its 128 members, are proud that this was their 24th year bringing the rodeo to the Clarksville community. This rodeo was a very family-oriented and family-friendly happening, with the proceeds the Downtown Kiwanis Club raise dedicated to aid children and youth programs.

The pageantry of rodeo is colorful, dramatic, patriotic and exciting. Mark North, rodeo announcer, does an excellent job of informing the crowd of what is going on in the arena and encouraging everyone’s participation and appreciation for the athletes’ performances on display, both human and animal. Livestock takes on an entirely new meaning when 3,000 pounds of bucking steer animal is in your face ! «Read the rest of this article»

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Jazz On The Lawn: Breezy cool at Beachaven Winery

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 17, 2008 |

Local winery is site for relaxation, communal camaraderie, musical inspiration, diverse mini-buffets and flowing fruits of the vine! May Bacchus be praised!

The local phenomenon known as ‘Jazz On The Lawn” rolls on, to great appreciation! Beachaven Winery plays hosts during the summer and early fall to a series of free music concerts on its back lawn, as it were. People of all stripes, shapes and divergent humanity find their way to the soft lilting sounds of music flowing from Dunlop Lane. They come with an immense array of cultural delicacies and favorites to share with friends, along with blankets, lawn chairs and an equally immense appetite to enjoy conversation, friendship and music. Saturday’s concert featured the big brass sounds of Hypertension. «Read the rest of this article»

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Mayoral Golf Classic coming to Swan Lake

August 16, 2008 |

The 29th Annual Clarksville Mayor’s Golf Classic will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 13-14 at Swan Lake Golf Course. This popular golf event annually features one of the largest fields of amateur players in the area and is the last golf event of the year that offers points for the local Tournament of Champions.

The deadline to enter the tournament is noon, Thursday, September 11th. An entry fee of $100 earns the golfer two rounds of golf which includes a practice round at Swan Lake between September 8-12 (cost of cart not included in the practice round); lunch both days, and the opportunity to win cash and prizes. Entry forms are available at all local golf courses and pro shops, or at Clarksville City Hall, One Public Square. «Read the rest of this article»

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Kiwanis Club Rodeo attracts a crowd

August 16, 2008 |

The Downtown Kiwanis Club is currently hosting its 24th annual rodeo at the Clarksville, Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The rodeo opened on Friday, August 15th, and will continue Saturday, August 16th, at 8pm.

Fans shouted and cheered for their favorite riders and favorite events.

If you have never been to the rodeo before, here is a sneak preview…

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An anthropological introduction to YouTube

By Bill Larson | August 13, 2008 |

This is a presentation given by Mike Wesch, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State University, at the Library of Congress on June 23, 2008. He decided to forgo the standard PowerPoint presentation and instead worked with his students to prepare over 40 minutes of video for the 55-minute presentation. This is the result.

It’s interesting and highly entertaining to watch, and might give some people who support draconian copyright regimes reason to rethink their support.

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