Les Jones

From Knox Vegas to Las Vegas

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | No Comments |

Bob Benz and Lara Edge are moving. I hate to see you two go. Best of luck in the new venture.

P.S. Now’s my chance to give Bob props for this badass picture from Calderwood Lake.

1970s Kern’s bread commercials playing now at a YouTube near you

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | 2 Comments |

Four Kern’s bread TV commercials. Number 4 name-drops Etowah and features CB radios. Number 2 includes gratuitous use of “beaver.”

History of the commercials here. “Turns out the TV commercial was performed by A.J. Trucker and was a take-off on Old Home Filler-Up An’ Keep On A-Truckin’ Cafe by C.W. McCall of Convoy fame. I did not know that. Also it turns out that C.W. McCall existed because of an ad campaign for a different bread company.”

Kern’s was a local bread maker in east Tennessee. Food City recently revived the brand. I’m still trying to get my hands on one of those Kern’s Bread t-shirts with Mavis.

Thanks to a commenter.

Tags: youtube

555 Ride from Portland to Knoxville

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | 1 Comment |

From an email:

On 20 June, fourteen Oregonians are riding to Knoxville, Tennessee, on “Formula 555″ motorcycles. The three fives:

- pre-1975
- less than $500 in purchase and prep
- 500cc or under

More details at the ride’s website: motonw.com. Or, email us at info@sang-froidridingclub.com

The journey begins on Saturday, 20 June, and ends in Knoxville on the 4th of July. Meet the riders at the sendoff party on Friday, 19 June: Beulahland (128 NE 28th Ave., Portland), 8 p.m., or on the launch date of Saturday, 20 June: Portland Motorcycle Co. (10652 NE Holman, Portland), 8 a.m.

This is the reverse trip from last year’s ride: The 555: Knoxville to Portland on a $500 Motorcycle.

That’s a lot of pigs

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | 2 Comments |

Knoxville News-Sentinel - More than 500 wild hogs removed from Smokies

Wildlife managers at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have removed more than 500 wild hogs this year, the most since 1987. Biologists attribute the increase to several years of bountiful mast. Like black bears, the reproductive rates of wild hogs are highly dependent on good mast crops, especially acorns.

Since the late 1950s, the park has removed almost 12,000 wild hogs. The animals are a target for control because they’re non-native, and they do considerable damage to the ecosystem by eating rare plants and salamander, defecating in streams and churning up the ground.

The park’s hog population traces back to the early 1920s, when a herd of European wild hogs escaped from a game reserve on Hooper’s Bald in Graham County, N.C. By the 1940s, the wild hogs had spread into other counties as well as the Smokies.

My first job after college was working as a field biologist in the Smokies. The first week I was talking to a guy who was stationed over by the physical plant near Sugarlands who hunted hogs up in the higher elevations. He’d go out at night with a nightscope-equpped shotgun. He had just started and had only seen one hog and his shot at that one had missed.

Robert Daniel House by James Fitzgibbon, Knoxville, TN

Friday, June 12th, 2009 | A&E, East Tennessee | Permalink | 5 Comments |

I’ve always liked the architecturally distinctive creekside house on Woodson Drive in Knoxville. According to Swanky it’s known as the Robert Daniel house and was designed by James Fitzgibbon. Swanky recently toured the house and took pictures inside and out. I’m wild about that sunken study with the red couches.

• Wikipedia entry
• Zillow entry with interior photos
• Knox County records and sales history
• National Register listing
• Google Map

The house is clearly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie houses. Instead of the leak-prone flat roof* that eventually came to typify prairie houses the Daniel house has a curved metal roof that accommodates a second story loft, stone patio at one end, and a balcony at the other. The arched, outrigger steel supports were salvaged from Quonset huts in the post-WWII era when the house was built.

* Though architecturally amazing, a number of Wright’s original designs were frought with problems, from leaky roofs to uncomfortable Wright-designed furniture and high maintenance costs. Some designs - including the Ennis-Brown House seen in Bladerunner and other movies - had serious structural issues. Falling Water was under-engineered and later required millions of dollars to stabilize, as did the Guggenheim Museum in New York. None of this knocks Wright from his pedestal as an architectural visionary, but it would be foolish not to learn from his mistakes by acting as if he never made any.

Scott Kelby photo walks July 18th

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Photos | Permalink | No Comments |

These free two hour social photo shoots are going on all over the country. Find one here. Register before they fill up.

Q. What is a Photo Walk?

A. It’s a social photography event where photographers get together, usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town, to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.

There are two in Knoxville - one downtown that starts on Jackson and ends on Market Square and another downtown that starts and ends at Krutch Park. When I signed up for the Krutch Park walk there were about 30 spaces left in each group.

Triune, TN Renaissance Festival 2009 Pictures

Monday, May 25th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Photos | Permalink | No Comments |

We made a last minute decision to visit the Renaissance Festival in Triune, TN. It’s open every weekend in May and on Memorial Day. Look at how happy these people are. It’s infectious.

And our favorite, Ispy. She stood motionless in a group of mannequins until we spoke to her. Then she played I Spy with Katie and added her to her network of spies:

And one for the ladies:

Most carnivals have games of skill where you try to hit target X with object Y. At the Renfest the object Y ranged from throwing knives (hardest to make stick even though the barker made it look easy):

to throwing stars (easiest to make stick, and the barker juggling the throwing stars was a riot):

to axes (most satisfying to make stick):

Sharp, stabby things were a constant theme:

Continue reading the rest of this post right here ›››

Tags: goofy trips

Looking for professional photo printing in Knoxville?

Monday, May 25th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Photos | Permalink | No Comments |

Tom Geisler, the photo instructor I keep raving about and a professional wedding photographer, writes:

Many of you have been asking me about which local print lab to use.  Of course this is your choice, but I have been working on this issue since last December when Memories closed. The attachment offers a choice you may or may not choose to try.  Please give me your feedback if you will about any local lab you may be using.

Attachment saved here.

Even if you’re not in Knox Vegas you might want to read the answer, because there’s probably one near you if you’re in the Eastern U.S. I’ve also read good things about their competitors.

Millinneum Manor open house on Memorial Day

Friday, May 22nd, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | 1 Comment |

Millennium Manor, the quirky stone castle in Alcoa near the duck pond, has its annual open house on Memorial Day. For background, read the News-Sentinel story from last year with photographs by the late, great Clay Owen.

Google Map to Millennium Manor - corner of Wright Rd. and Harding St.

P.S. I’ve gone back and tagged older Millennium Manor posts for easy browsing.

Tags: Millennium Manor

TN Renfest this weekend at Castle Gwynn in Triune, TN

Thursday, May 21st, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | 1 Comment |

The Tennessee Renaissance Festival is this weekend, May 23-25 in Triune, TN. The backdrop is Castle Gwynn, a modern recreation of a European castle. One review seems to indicate you can’t enter the castle. Bummer.

Back from the Knoxville social media meetup

Thursday, May 21st, 2009 | Blogging, East Tennessee | Permalink | 2 Comments |

I went to the Knoxville Social Media Association kick-off tonight at the Goose and Crown in the Old City. Good stuff and I met lots of people, including some familiar faces from the Knoxville blogging scene (Michael Silence, a Knoxley, Jigsha Desai, Bob Benz and Lara Edge) and some I hadn’t yet met in person (Suzy Trotta, Tennessee Values Authority, Rob Howard, Scott McNutt, Bill Lyons) and probably someone I’m forgetting. LATER: Sure enough, I forgot Katie Allison-Granju, who organized the event and to whom I spoke at least four times.

The meetup inspired some thoughts on social media, but I’ll save them until after the long weekend. Only rookies post big stuff on Fridays.

George Dickel Cascade Hollow is good stuff

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Food & Drink | Permalink | 5 Comments |

My new fave cheap sour mash whiskey is George Dickel Cascade Hollow, AKA red label.

Previously Dickel’s (slightly) discount version was the No. 8 black label. I always spent the modest premium to get the much better No. 12 tan label.

The Cascade Hollow red label is significantly cheaper than both and pleasant to drink. My nearest store has it for $10 a fifth, which is about half the price of Jim Beam or Jack. It’s worth a try if you like your whiskey Southern. It isn’t the best sour mash whiskey I’ve ever had, but it’s the best in its price range by a wide margin.

Dickel is a Tennessee whiskey, which is a sour mash whiskey, like bourbon. Bourbon has its own legal definition and is not necessarily made in the Bourbon region of Kentucky, though it must be made in the United States.

Tennessee whiskey can likewise be made outside of Tennessee. Dickel was originally made in Tennessee, then was made in Kentucky during Tennessee’s state Prohibition of 1910, but as of 1958 is now made once again in Cascade Hollow in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

By definition what makes it Tennessee whiskey is charcoal filtering prior to aging. For the aging process it’s stored in new oak barrels that are charred on the inside. After one use they’re discarded. Here in Tennessee you can find Jack Daniels whiskey barrels at garden centers such as Lowe’s cut in half for use as planters. We have one in our garden we’ve fitted with a pre-formed hard plastic pond liner and a pump/filter for use as a decorative pond with goldfish and aquatic plants.

Jack Daniels is the best known Tennessee whiskey, but I’ve never cared for it. Give me George Dickel or bourbon instead.

UPDATE: Here’s a little background on how Cascade Hollow came to be. It was originally aged three years, but is now aged at least four years.

Previously

• Elijah Craig Bourbon (Elijah who? Oh, nobody. He’s just the Baptist preacher who invented bourbon!)
• George Dickel No. 8 Shortage
• Buy That Man a Drink

Tags: bourbon

Bankrate.com 5 star bank ratings

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Economics | Permalink | 2 Comments |

You can check Bankrate.com’s bank ratings here. Five star banks are listed here. Five star Tennessee banks below.

Tags: banks

Not just guns banned: no bear spray allowed in Smokies

Thursday, May 7th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Guns | Permalink | 3 Comments |

There’s been some question as to whether bear spray is allowed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountains Information blog requested clarification from the park and got this answer:

“There is no legal form of bear spray allowed in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and like any other weapon, trap or net, it is illegal to carry, possess or use in the Great Smoky Mountains national park. PERIOD”

Shocking, but not surprising if you follow this sort of thing. Countries and U.S. states with restrictive laws on guns often have restrictive laws on non-lethal weapons, such as pepper spray, batons, or Tasers. The United Kingdom has gone about as far as you can go down this path, making all sorts of edged weapons and even kitchen cutlery illegal or restricted in their weapons-obsessed mania.

Hat tip to Michael Silence.

“Use the Force, Gospel of Luke”

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Photos, Star Wars | Permalink | No Comments |

Louisville Road, Lousiville, TN.

Googling around there’s a book, Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters, and something called the Christian Order of the Jedi. All 100% theologically sound I’m sure.

ImagePoint files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Monday, April 13th, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | No Comments |

Knoxville News-Sentinel - ImagePoint files Chapter 11:

Sign company ImagePoint filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Knoxville Friday seeking to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

ImagePoint met a noon Friday deadline to either file voluntarily for bankruptcy or face having the court place it under involuntary Chapter 7 proceedings as part of an agreement with creditors pursuing an involuntary bankruptcy petition against it. Creditors include CMH Homes Inc., part of Clayton Homes, Inc.; Knoxville Canvas Crafters Inc.; McDonald’s Corp. and McDonald’s USA; Bridgestone Corp.; American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Deere & Co.

ImagePoint ceased operations Jan. 9, laying off 450 workers, including 270 at its Knoxville headquarters on Gay Street after negotiations to get capital to keep the company going fell through.

While ImagePoint is essentially defunct, Robert M. Bailey, an attorney representing the company, said it still has a few business activities ongoing and Chapter 11 protection will allow those to continue.

Tags: imagepoint

Maryville gun show this weekend

Monday, March 23rd, 2009 | East Tennessee, Guns | Permalink | 6 Comments |

MWX Marketing:

The Great American Gun & Knife Show
Formerly known as Smoky Mountain Gun & Knife Show
Maryville National Guard Armory
March 28 & 29, 2009
1721 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy Maryville TN 37801

There’s another one in Sevierville the next weekend. I’d be up for Saturday morning trip if anyone is interested.

Petitioners seeks involuntary bankruptcy for ImagePoint

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 | East Tennessee | Permalink | No Comments |

From Knoxnews.com: “CMH Homes Inc., which is part of Clayton Homes Inc., Knoxville Canvas Crafters Inc., and Asen Advertising and Marketing filed a petition March 10 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Knoxville seeking to force ImagePoint into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would liquidate ImagePoint’s operations, and have a trustee appointed to oversee distribution of assets.”

Tags: imagepoint

Friends of Camp Montvale concerned about Obama’s tax plan

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Politics | Permalink | 1 Comment |

I received this today from a local charity I’ve donated to. - LJ

---

I am extremely concerned over the proposal in Obama’s budget plan to reduce or end the charitable giving benefits to those making over $250,000. This is of concern at the state level because of all of the benefits and work accomplished through nonprofits that relieves burdens off of the state responsibility. We are speaking of a massive change in our local communities up through the state levels.

I am a volunteer who works with a nonprofit agency to provide residential camping, character building, and community services and programming, and environmental awareness. Our facility protects over 300 acres right beside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By losing this benefit, our agency and many like us will most likely cease to exist. Such donations as Obama intends to end, is the lifeblood of not only large institutions like hospitals and higher education facilities, but of local nonprofit agencies like the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Soup Kitchens, Homeless Services, etc. We provide services that the federal government cannot fully subsidize or run as efficiently as these nonprofits have done. However, our local communities support these works that benefit the public. The fallout from such a change in the policy is almost unimaginable. I can only see this as a bid to create a public that is dependent upon the government rather than the people around them com! ing together to build a better community.

Please help in any way you can to help let everyone know just how this will effect our local communities and voice these concerns to the Obama administration. Do not allow for any measure that removes the charitable giving deductions for anyone no matter what income level they fall under to pass quietly. Our local communities benefit from nonprofit agencies which provide services without trying to work for profits. We need your support today.

In service to children and the community,

Bryan Roberson
Maryville, TN

Tags: obama, taxes

Patent for Volunteer Enterprises Commando firing mechanism by Lee Frix

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Guns | Permalink | No Comments |

From comments here comes a link to the patent on the firing mechanism of the Volunteer Enterprise Commando rifle.

Tags: commando rifle

Gov. Bredesen may reject portion of stimulus

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Politics | Permalink | No Comments |

The Tennesseean - Tennessee may reject stimulus aid for jobless:

At the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Gov. Phil Bredesen said this week that he might turn down relief for unemployed workers worth an estimated $143 million because of conditions placed on the money by Congress.

The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.

“We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it,” Bredesen said in an interview Monday with the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “We’re in the position of going back to our legislature this year for changes in our tax structure just to keep our fund whole, and taking it to a new level may be too much of a lift for the legislature this spring.”

Tags: bailout, bredesen

Snow!

Monday, February 23rd, 2009 | East Tennessee, Home Life, Photos | Permalink | 2 Comments |

Saturday was sunny and warm. The kids spent the day playing outside. I noticed the first crocuses blooming. Then snow moved in Sunday morning and covered everything in a white blanket. That’s East Tennessee winter for you. It’s enough cold to remind you it’s winter and enough warm to remind you that spring is on the way.

We wanted to see more snow so we took a daytrip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There seemed to be more snow in Walland than at home, but a few miles later in Townsend the snow level had dropped. Once we got in the park it was no better, but we drove to Sugarlands anyway.

Nope. The snow wasn’t any deeper there. We turned up 441 and made our way up the mountains past the Chimneys and Mt. LeCeonte to Newfound Gap, up in the spruce-fir zone. There was a little more snow there along with some impressive icicles from water seeping out of the rocks. It was definitely cold as all get out up on top. We only kept the girls outside for a few minutes before diving back inside the vehicle.

On the way back we stopped in Gatlinburg at Howard’s Steakhouse, where we had a good dinner served by a very nice Romanian waitress with a pretty accent. Howard’s is one of our favorite restaurants in Gatlinburg. It’s on the main drag near the park entrance and we can always find parking. The prices are reasonable and in warm weather we like eating on the back patio which overlooks LeConte Creek. Their pickles are delicious and their onion rings are colossal.

Photography notes: gray snow
Continue reading the rest of this post right here ›››

Tags: d40, gatlinburg, smokies, snow, weather

John Torelli’s Mark 45 page has moved

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 | East Tennessee, Guns | Permalink | No Comments |

Following AOL’s shutdown of their Hometown pages, John moved his content to his own domain at JTJersey.com. His Volunteer Enterprise Mark 45 page is a great resource for anyone interested in those guns.

Tags: commando rifle

Line item look at TN’s share of the stimulus

Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Economics | Permalink | 3 Comments |

Ken Marrero emails:

A local TV station’s media blog posted TN’s portion of the Stimulus package swag.  I offer a quick line item by line item analysis.  Short version?  Of the $3.8 billion, $2.4 billion is spent on Medicare and Education - hardly immediate economic Stimulus.  Of the remaining $1.4 billion, less than half would reasonably be considered stimulating spending, given the money stands a good chance of being spent in the Public Sector.

His full take here. (Link was bad before. Fixed!)

Tags: porkulus

Clay Owen, RIP

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 | East Tennessee, Photos | Permalink | No Comments |

A Knoxville News Sentinel photographer has died suddenly. “Clay Owen, a veteran News Sentinel photojournalist and beloved member of the newsroom staff, died unexpectedly Tuesday evening at his home of a heart attack. He was 47.”

I never met him, but I recognized his name immediately. I enjoyed his photography and praised his Millennium Manor photos for being so much better than my own. Condolences for his family and friends.

Tags: Millennium Manor