June 11, 2009
Vacation
Dear reader(s), Over the next two weeks, this blog will see even lower levels of activity than has unfortunately become normal, as my family and I will enjoy a road trip to points west...Posted by joe lance on 11:30 PM
March 6, 2009
Tragedy on two wheels
This past week, two relatively well-known Chattanoogans were killed by automobiles while traveling by motor scooter and bicycle, respectively. From the Chattanoogan, Tuesday, March 3: Ellen Pitman, 51, was critically injured after she was...Posted by joe lance on 10:38 PM
March 23, 2008
This is one geeked-out deer
Via the Google Earth Blog: [A] deer named "Thor" now has his own blog where he shares his GPS position every five minutes. As Frank Taylor says, I don't know if this is the...Posted by joe lance on 6:23 PM
February 7, 2008
Ode to a deceased cherrypicker
This post by Tennessee Jed is worth a read....Posted by joe lance on 10:14 PM
January 9, 2008
What are the least/most gratifying books you've ever read?
I'll never forget the experience of reading Umberto Eco's finest work of fiction, Foucault's Pendulum, in the early 1990s. The translator, William Weaver, I knew from his work translating Italian opera, so I trusted...Posted by joe lance on 5:54 PM
October 30, 2007
Free, accessible concerti grossi
Got a message that informed me of an upcoming concert 'Noogans may be interested in. The Chamber Orchestra of Tennessee will be performing Antonio Vivaldi's Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons) at Christ Church...Posted by joe lance on 10:57 PM
October 20, 2007
Rites of passage
My son now has a drum set. It's one of those toy kits (the boy will be 3 on Friday, his party was today), but I am somewhat impressed with it so far. The...Posted by joe lance on 10:21 PM
October 8, 2007
Attention, Nashville readers: help a good couple have a nice time in your town
Really, this request goes out not just to Nashvillians, but to anyone who can offer suggestions. I received an e-mail recently that queries, in part: As part of my upcoming trip to Chattanooga, my...Posted by joe lance on 2:45 PM
September 23, 2007
Because comedy and tragedy are siblings
Me: "Marcel Marceau died." Her: "Did he have any final words?" We'll be here all week. Disclaimer: our sincere condolences go out to those touched by the loss of this wonderful person and great...Posted by joe lance on 8:55 AM
September 10, 2007
Rush downtown and grab that iron pile
Bloggers vs. radio jocks vs. paper boys vs. tee vee anchors. In a weightlifting contest? An area fitness company is opening a new downtown location, and they are calling on some of the biggest...Posted by joe lance on 9:23 PM
August 26, 2007
"Now, How About Drums?"
This is one of the coolest video clips I've seen in a long time. I especially love the moment where the speaker informs his audience that "this is rock 'n' roll." Enjoy....Posted by joe lance on 3:05 PM
Networking for the UnSocial
I've gone and joined some of the largest, most popular social networking sites in existence. Why? Those who know me are bound to be puzzled, as I'm not really, you know, social. (Clarification: I'm...Posted by joe lance on 11:30 AM
August 15, 2007
Google Gossip
Here are some of the things that have landed readers here lately: "Places to buy salvia divinorum in Jackson, MS" Oh, it's for research at the university, right? "brownback gingrich ticket" Let us hope...Posted by joe lance on 1:44 PM
August 7, 2007
Hot Lunch
Oh, the lengths to which I will go to bring you, dear reader, some original, first-person reporting. I'm outside in downtown Chattanooga during a heat wave that has us on "orange" alert — and...Posted by joe lance on 12:20 PM
August 5, 2007
I'm on the edge of my seat
20,000 monkey hands are idly searching for something to report on in the blogosphere, and are coming up empty. But wait: in the comments, none other than sensationally anonymous blogger Billy Blades says, "Hang...Posted by joe lance on 6:11 PM
July 8, 2007
Lucy and Sadie
From my non-civics blog: http://dhrt.blogspot.com/2007/05/lucy-and-sadie.html...Posted by joe lance on 2:34 PM
July 6, 2007
Mafia and Chocolate
Gaithersburg, Maryland, Spring of 1994. Lakeforest Mall, second floor, Godiva Chocolatier. Six persons entered the retail gourmet chocolate outlet. Four were male, two were female. Two of the males, in their fifties or early...Posted by joe lance on 8:14 PM
July 1, 2007
Here's a picture NOT worth a thousand words
Crestwood, Illinois, may be a nice place for all I know, but it sure picked a stupid way to advertise itself. Go see it....Posted by joe lance on 10:36 PM
What of Tomorrow?
Being a parent is good in many ways, but one way in particular is how the act of closely observing a developing child reveals insights into one's own psyche — and, for that matter,...Posted by joe lance on 9:32 AM
June 27, 2007
FMusical Chairs
So, today when "All Things Considered" was running some story about a teenager that interested me not, and neither Jack-FM nor The Mountain was playing a song for which I cared, I hit one...Posted by joe lance on 9:21 PM
May 27, 2007
The Black Boxer
There is something uniquely exhilarating about realizing that one is dreaming in the midst of a dream. In my case, unfortunately, this sensation rarely lasts long, and I wake up. The adrenaline-type rush also...Posted by joe lance on 10:21 AM
March 13, 2007
Fly like the Wingate
These days, the list of amenities at a travel residence must include internet access. With that in mind, I have found that Wingate Inn offers free wireless and ethernet connections, in every room, for...Posted by joe lance on 7:49 AM
March 11, 2007
The sun is warm on my skin
We finally made it to Tybee Island yesterday, but after the parade was over and after the lighthouse/museum had sold its last tickets for the day. The wind off the ocean was brisk, and...Posted by joe lance on 5:06 PM
March 10, 2007
Red clay gives way to white sand
Our mini-vacation to Savannah is underway, though pretty much all we did on Friday was get here ("here" being an outbreak of common hotels and restaurants beside I-95, as we haven't yet seen the...Posted by joe lance on 7:14 AM
October 22, 2006
He Does All This and Dilbert Too
Scott Adams -- you know him as the goofy cartoonist behind Dilbert -- keeps a blog where humor mixes rather hesitantly with serious social and political commentary. I'm not saying I endorse every word;...Posted by joe lance on 1:52 PM
June 20, 2006
The Runway Bunny
"If you become a little tarmac bunny, I will be an A380 and chase you down the runway," said the mother bunny. And so she did....Posted by joe lance on 8:24 PM
February 26, 2006
Saint Paul of the Walls with Holes In Them for Shooting Out Arrows and Such
February 29, 2004 : Part of the original wall surrounding St-Paul-de-Vence, Côte d'Azur One would never know it now. The inhabitants of tiny St-Paul-de-Vence show no signs of being armed against certain attack....Posted by joe lance on 9:47 PM
February 12, 2006
Snow in Vence
February 28, 2004 : Courtyard of Hôtel Diana, Vence, Côte d'Azur, from heated balcony We dismounted the bus from Nice and headed for the tourism bureau. Its staff had been so pleasant to...Posted by joe lance on 5:12 PM
January 27, 2006
Travelblog: Medium Siena
February 27, 2004 : "Il Campo," Siena, Tuscany Milder weather than on some days. Long bus ride (traffic accident delay). Ate pizza at the very cusp of siesta - the cook took pity....Posted by joe lance on 9:43 PM
December 11, 2005
Be Still My Herat
Shortly after September 11, 2001, when US troops were being sent to Afghanistan to root out our former friends the Taleban and to capture our former friend Osama bin Laden (by the way, did...Posted by joe lance on 9:29 PM
November 27, 2005
What We're "Teeing Up" Today
I think it's over now, but the corporate midshipmen were really into "teeing things up" for you for a while there. Never mind, I have seven minutes to blog, and here's what I'm picking...Posted by joe lance on 9:23 AM
August 22, 2005
Make that Call after You Get Home
Clarksville Police have some current internal problems, but their department gets one thing right: "Cell Phones and Driving Don't Mix." The most interesting parts, to me, are these two statements: "Although actions like dialing...Posted by joe lance on 8:58 AM
August 21, 2005
So Much to Cover..So Little Time
Dangit if I didn't wish I could forego sleep and just blog all night instead. However, my family and my health and, oh, a few other things (one of them spelled J-O-B) come first....Posted by joe lance on 10:58 AM
August 12, 2005
Whatcha Doin Sunday?
This is the image of individual freedom, of keeping government out of personal lives, of using a rational basis to arrive at common law, of eschewing a state religion: Ooops. I might have pasted...Posted by joe lance on 2:30 PM
July 27, 2005
Mad at Max (Sorta)
The Pulse's "Madder Max" wrote up his top ten driving-related pet peeves and got them published. I typically enjoy his column, but today's caused me to mostly just swear at it. Oh, I, too,...Posted by joe lance on 7:09 PM
July 24, 2005
Accrued Links
Tropical Storm Franklin Graphics (NOAA) Regarding TennCare, can we of different "sides" work together to try and alleviate some of its headaches, instead of causing new ones? I hold the bell-ringers in the same...Posted by joe lance on 9:32 PM
June 26, 2005
Knoxville Bloggers Beat Us 'noogans
There has been talk on smijer and 10,000 Monkeys and elsewhere about getting local bloggers together for just some good clean fun (and maybe those who are interested do carry on toward libations, etc.,...Posted by joe lance on 3:47 PM
June 5, 2005
..And in Mechanized Behemoth News:
This is an older story now, but I wonder how many people paid attention to it. [Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Sunday, May 22, 2005, B9.] Roger Russell, bus driver, won the annual CARTA...Posted by joe lance on 12:29 PM
May 22, 2005
Neighborhood Update
As promised, I am updating the blog with my impressions of last evening's neighborhood association "Covered-Dish Social." I am happy to report a sense of relief....Posted by joe lance on 10:30 AM
May 1, 2005
The Bus Must've Had Foot Warmers..
Without question, I'm relieved that there was no actual kidnapping, but I am also angry at one Jennifer Wilbanks, and I've never met her. I'm angry at her, and I'm angry at whomever made...Posted by joe lance on 9:16 AM
April 23, 2005
Surfer Stories
Well, hello, Halliburton. G'day, mates in New South Wales. Middle Valley, you're most welcome too. I don't know why site-meter stats are so fascinating to me. I think this near-obsession is related to my...Posted by joe lance on 11:22 PM
April 17, 2005
Chattanooga Market Opened
Well, the warm weather drew quite a few people out to the First Tennessee Pavilion for the Chattanooga Market's opening day 2005. The kid rode around in a harness, courtesy of his Mom, and...Posted by joe lance on 9:25 PM
April 11, 2005
Let's Just All Work for Jones Bros., Then
According to a Mason-Dixon poll, published today in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, the Number One Issue that keeps Chattanoogans agitated and interested is Quality Education | Transparent Government | Higher Voter Turnout | Safety...Posted by joe lance on 3:41 PM
March 30, 2005
They've Finally Admitted It
Emphasis mine: North Half of MLK Blvd./Market St. intersection Closed The Public Works Engineering office announced today the following: The City of Chattanooga is improving the Market St./MLK Blvd. intersection. To accommodate this work,...Posted by joe lance on 8:40 AM
March 20, 2005
Interfering with Natural Selection Part II: Child Safety Advances
It is rather amazing that in just a few decades, the acceptable modes of transporting children in vehicles have evolved from "piled into the cargo bay of a station wagon with a blanket" to...Posted by joe lance on 10:43 AM
March 13, 2005
Sunday Drive
Introducing a new feature on the Civic Forum: the Sunday Drive, which will cover one or more aspects of local transportation concerns. These posts will range from far-flung futurism to road-rage rants, so be...Posted by joe lance on 12:00 AM
February 28, 2005
Beware of the Dogs Flying at Your Windshield
I was driving toward a nearby interstate interchange one day, when a pickup doing 90ish went careening by with 2 large dogs in the open bed. The dogs weren't calm about the ride. One...Posted by joe lance on 9:33 PM