Disqus - Latest Comments for joelance

Re: 15 Things You Might Not Know About "Schoolhouse Rock"

Joe Lance — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:01:34 -0000

I've been lucky to play a few shows with Bob Dorough in recent years, and he is a true gem. Those songs reach into your heart (and I didn't even grow up with TV, so I didn't know Schoolhouse Rock until much later in life). His jazz stuff is killer, too. I agree with his wife who said that "Figure Eight" is a cut above; and "Three Is A Magic Number" is another great, great song.

Re: http://joelance.tumblr.com/post/2629625559

Joe Lance — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:11:36 -0000

Hi Patrick. It is a cool place. They just opened, so they're ironing out a few kinks, but that's normal. I didn't get a chance to try food, but the beer selection is great, and they treated us (the band) very well. Kind folks.

Re: Democratic Party Chair Takes Sides in Third District Primary

Joe Lance — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:40:56 -0000

Thank you for the clarification, Chip. I understand your point about the filing process.

However, my reading of the most current FEC regulations (http://fec.gov/pdf/candgui.... suggests that a person interested in seeking a federal office only needs to "properly" file if and when that person has raised, or spent, at least $5,000. Until then, if the person possesses the qualifications for holding the office, I don't see any restrictions on their being considered a candidate.

In fact, in the "Testing the Waters" chapter of the aforementioned document, a potential candidate is automatically considered an actual candidate simply by participating in one or more specified activities.

Some might conclude from this that it's all about money. And I concede that, in reality, a candidate for the U.S. House is going to need much more than five grand in order to win the seat. But here's the flip side. Any citizen who is qualified should be able to volunteer his or her services to the applicable district's constituents by declaring a candidacy to represent them; and that declaration should be free of any monetary concerns. It should be free, period.

If one has declared to the public, through the traditional media or otherwise, that he or she is a candidate for office, and is seeking the nomination of a political party, then it behooves officers of that party to acknowledge that candidacy, regardless of an arbitrary contribution/expenditure threshold.

Again, I take your point with regard to my choice of words, i.e. "takes sides" and "endorsement"; but I encourage you to avoid letting money alone dictate your definition of "uncontested."

Re: This Day in German History

Joe Lance — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:54:42 -0000

I am a bit embarrassed that I did not know (or remember?) this, but I learned by reading this column that Angela Merkel grew up in the GDR.

Thanks for sharing the perspective and the information.

Re: Activists Protest Mountaintop Mining at TVA

Joe Lance — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:39:21 -0000

While there is certainly nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned protest, I have come to believe that perhaps a more effective way of moving quickly toward change is to approach energy providers and wholesalers in the board room, instead of on the street corner. Or maybe we need both, but my point is that there has to be some tangible business benefit presented as an outcome of stopping the MTR (or whatever).

Yes, that's harder to do than say. I also think there's nothing wrong with tugging at the heartstrings, like presenting MTR's effects on Appalachian communities in as up-close and personal way as possible to those on the energy production side. But one has to be respectful of what that side represents in order to avoid being completely shut down.

Just my $.02...

Re: Farewell, Summer of Taco (and the Winner is…)

Joe Lance — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:42:43 -0000

Another nuance to consider: a well-known local news outfit was there covering that particular tasting.

I had a really good taco that day, but I had other good ones too. As I look over the rankings, the top three or four are right in line with the places to which I would naturally return, without the "contest."

Re: Where the Smart Girls At

Joe Lance — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:37:48 -0000

Nah, brah: proper English would require ending the phrase prior to the "At," i.e., "Where the Smart Girls Are." Obviously my intent was not to use correct English. Thanks for reading, and I'll take your grammar tips anytime, though I reserve the right to correct them.

Re: EPB Fiber Optics Offered to 17,000 Area Homes

Joe Lance — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:34:26 -0000

Replace Red Bank with East Ridge, and Stuart Heights with Brainerd, and I echo Steve's comments completely.

Re: CQ: Will Chattanooga Survive the Cupcake Crash?

Joe Lance — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:16:29 -0000

I wish the earnest bakers well, but it won't be from my help. Cake of any kind is bad enough, but cupcakes merit their own category of evil.

Re: Names You Might Not Know

Joe Lance — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:37:12 -0000

To date, the only candidate of which I'm aware is Mark DeVol; and his status is murky. He has told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that he is running as an independent, but I believe his initial FEC paperwork was filed as a Republican.

As soon as I am aware of third party or independent candidates, I will update the site with their information.

Re: Chloe Wright: Seeing Main Street

Joe Lance — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:58:18 -0000

I submit that old-school photographers who used different filters, lenses, film, and darkroom techniques were doing nothing materially different from today's digital "alterers." Each process creates an image that adheres to some ruling set of goals. If you want a "naked eye" view, there's usually the option of going to the site and viewing the object of your choice in person.

I do think that an image or two of the revitalized area would have increased the set's completeness, but I also understand the photographer's choice to exclude them.

Re: Fresh Flowers

Joe Lance — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:35:07 -0000

Allison, you are correct that Paula Flowers was the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance under Governor Phil Bredesen. However, she left that position some time ago, and Leslie Newman is the current Commissioner. Flowers announced her candidacy in the Third District earlier this year. This post was just about the upgrade to her Web site.

Re: Dan Baird & Homemade Sin at Nightfall Tonight

Joe Lance — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:51:18 -0000

Warner Hodges played with one of the acts at Chattahippie last year (Trent Summar), and is a *monster* guitarist. This should be an exciting show. Hope I can make it.

Re: Andrew Kean: Where I Stand

Joe Lance — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:14:16 -0000

I think "Bob Saget" the correct name to use for such a substitution. No particular reason.

Re: CQ: How do you feel about the inclusion of quotes by President Obama during Pops on the River?

Joe Lance — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:20:15 -0000

I played Horn in that one. Richard loves the John Williams. :-)

Re: CQ: How do you feel about the inclusion of quotes by President Obama during Pops on the River?

Joe Lance — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:17:53 -0000

The symphony that plays for Collegedale's fireworks show and other events at Veterans Park is known as the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, and is based in Collegedale.

http://www.etsomusic.org/

Re: The Chattanooga Politico, July 4

Joe Lance — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:41:39 -0000

I think the open seat may draw a little more of a bona fide campaign. With Rep. Wamp as incumbent, the Democrats did very little (and perhaps even less than nothing, if you get my drift) to help those who chose to run. But now, they can't just hand it to the GOP.

Were this the 1st or 2nd Districts, yeah. But even though I sense that the next Congressperson from here will be a Republican, I think the Democrats may put up something of a fight.

Re: Shots Fired, Man Assaulted on Walking Bridge Prior to 4th Street Shooting

Joe Lance — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:32:28 -0000

To my knowledge, the cameras are still there; but, like those in the park itself, they are not actively monitored. My humble opinion: if we can avoid getting to the point where there is manned video surveillance, let's do so, by all means.

Re: No Free Parking in Chattanooga?

Joe Lance — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:13:59 -0000

I'll double-check, but I believe the lots you're referring to are city lots, different than the Republic ones. Even if Republic has a role in them, my understanding is that the revenues from Ross's Landing and North Shore, as well as parking meters throughout downtown, are earmarked for CARTA.

Re: Memorial Day: Remembering the Fallen

Joe Lance — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:04:43 -0000

Even though Memorial Day is designated to specifically honor the memory of those who didn't make it back, it is good to remember all of our veterans anyway.

In addition to my post mentioning my father's service, I have a couple of others to thank.

My paternal grandfather worked in a munitions factory in Radford, Virginia during World War II. I'm not sure why he didn't go fight the Germans; perhaps it had something to do with his several small children at home. Regardless, he helped supply some of the gunpowder needed to defeat the Axis Powers.

My maternal grandfather was a lifetime U.S. Air Force member who served in at least three conflicts: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. As a "jump medic" in the Pacific Theater during WWII, he and others would parachute behind enemy lines to treat wounded Allied troops. He was captured by Japanese forces in northern Thailand, and was tortured at a POW camp. He managed to escape, and was himself rescued by Hmong villagers and taken to a British field hospital. All the while, my mother was a young child at home with my grandmother, who didn't hear from her husband for many months.

These are the people to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude, along with many others from previous and subsequent wars.

Re: The Summer of Taco | La Altena

Joe Lance — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:07:52 -0000

Agreed. And with all due respect to Veronique and these establishments, I can't see Tremont Tavern being called an institution (yet), and I'm on the fence about Aretha's. How long does a place have to exist before it can be called an "institution"? Or is it more about the regulars, no matter how many years (or not) they've been going there? Good topic.

Re: The Summer of Taco: It’s All Around You

Joe Lance — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:26:42 -0000

Ha: http://carpedurham.wordpres...

Re: VIDEO: Hops and Opera, Tonight at CreateHere

Joe Lance — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:47:32 -0000

That is a killer aria, from one of the best operas.

Re: A Proposal to Organize the Chattanooga Twitterverse with #CHA

Joe Lance — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:44:19 -0000

@WRCB re-tweeted the original suggestion, I noticed.