Author Archives: Netmom

Open Government Progress

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The scandals in the Tennessee Legislature generated several knee-jerk reactions that will do nothing to resolve last year’s underlying problem (legislators taking bribes, which was already illegal), but there has been one change that will actually be useful to the people of Tennessee — especially those outside the state’s capitol city.

Beginning last week, information about all the bills filed is available online, indexed by subject, listing the sponsor and a brief summary along with a link to the bill information.

Previously, the General Assembly website listed filed bills only by number, and the search engine is so cumbersome as to be practically useless. I’ve used the TSBA “Legislative Scoop” website to keep up with filed bills in the past, but that only applies to education legislation — my primary area of interest. Because someone, somewhere, had to piece together that information, it wasn’t quite as current as the new legislative site should be.

People tend to be suspicious of the unknown, and it’s really in the best interest of those elected to represent the people to have as much information publicly available as possible. It decreases the suspicion and distrust, but more importantly, provides elected representatives with views from an informed constituency — harnessing the watchful eyes and brainpower of many, rather than just a few.

Check it out. Whether you’re concerned about education, traffic safety, gas taxes, or anything else — there’s something for everyone, and government works best for those who pay attention and provide input.

The Rotten Apple

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Beta got an iPod (Gen. 5 video) for Christmas, but within a month, she dropped it. Even though it was in one of those clear plastic cases that’s supposed to protect it, force has to go somewhere — the old “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” thing.

iPodThe path of least resistance, of course, is the thumb wheel.

After searching in vain for any hardware technical manuals on Apple’s website (why not? Dell has them!), I called Apple tech support. I fully explained what happened — that she dropped it and the thumb wheel came partially out — and they kindly offered to overnight a box so I could send it in. It’s under warranty, they explained.

Well, yes, since she’s only had it a few weeks, it should be. I didn’t expect the warranty to cover accidental damage, but why not? DELL DOES!

One week later, I get the iPod back from Apple, with a terse form letter stating that the damage was due to “external force.”

Well DUH! I just hate sorry customer service. I really hate it when someone unnecessarily wastes my time and effort. And I absolutely, positively have no patience with stupid people who don’t listen when I carefully explain a problem, expecting either a solution, or an honest admission of their inability to resolve it.

Fortunately, there is someone out there who claims to be able to help: iPodMods. The estimate they gave me over the phone is about $30 (plus $20 or so for shipping). Still, that’s a whale of a lot better that being faced with buying a new iPod, or living with Beta with no tunes.

Just remember: Dell offers an idiot-proof warranty. I’ve tested it. They also post their technical manuals, so that when the warranty’s up, you can take the stupid thing apart and fix it yourself. I’ve tested that too.

Stupid rotten Apple.

Competing Interests

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On Monday, Governor Bredesen proposed a 40-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax, with the estimated $200 million in new revenues to be directed to improvements in education funding.

Yesterday, he announced his support for a statewide ban on workplace smoking. This would seem to include restaurants, bars, hotels, and such — the few public places where smoking is sometimes (but not always) permitted, at the discretion of the business owner.

Neither concept would seem objectionable to non-smokers, who are decidedly in the majority.  I haven’t heard any objections to the tax, even from smokers.  But the simultaneous ban creates a problem: banning indoor smoking will unquestionably reduce smoking in general, which would lower the revenues from the cigarette tax.

What happens then for the funding promised to education?

Learning Curve

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AT complained on Sunday that I haven’t written much lately — at least not much besides education stuff. He’s right. Although it’s no excuse really, I’ve been just about as busy as can be.

Last summer, I sort of pushed a dear friend over the edge, persuading her to quit her job working for someone else and go out on her own, with her own company. I knew she was ready, and she was; I’m just not sure that I was.

Ready to deliver the help that I promised, that is. I promised that I want nothing to do with selling anything, but I can file, keep books, build and maintain a website, design ads, take pictures, measure houses, and all sorts of things that don’t involve actually selling stuff (and don’t require a license).

LakeOverlook I’m learning every day.  Being on the periphery of the actual transactions, I’ve learned that the old adage about “location location location” is absolutely true — often, the lot itself (like this one) is far more important than any structure that might be on it.

I’m learning that my role is not only to be organized — a tough enough challenge — but to be able to keep someone else organized.

These two things alone keep me occupied, but throw in the demands of a couple of families (because stress from one spouse or kids affects the other, as we used to be able to balance each other’s work and family demands) and it can be chaos.

I’m still doing some outside consulting, but am not at all certain how long that can continue.  This little company is getting busier, and I very much want to keep it growing.

BTW, the lakefront above has an offer with contingencies, but at the moment, is very much still on the market.  If you want it, call the realtor in the link.  I just wish we had something like this to market in Oak Ridge, but that’s a post for another day.

Whinefest in Knox

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The headline reads “Cigarette-tax plan draws fire,” but there’s nothing in the article criticizing the Governor’s proposed 40-cent increase in cigarette taxes.

Maybe it should have said “Ragsdale wants more.”

Knox County would get about $3.3 million of the new money if the tax increase and Bredesen’s spending plans are enacted, according to data provided by the governor’s office Tuesday. That is less than schools in any other major urban area of the state.

The biggest bump in education funding would come from the State’s fully funding the needs of at-risk (economically disadvantaged, poor, whatever label appeals) students.  Just two weeks ago, I met with the Knox County Finance Director, John Werner, to see if we could find any common ground on changes in education funding.  Funding for at-risk and ELL (students who are learning English as a second language), as well as State funding for growth in the student population, were three of the four items of agreement, and all three were included in the Governor’s proposal.

The fourth was to return to having the State pay 75% of their version of teacher salaries, reduced to 65% about five years ago.  That’s going to cost more, and would likely have to be phased in.

I’ll accept Bredesen’s proposal for increasing funding in these three areas with gratitude, even though Oak Ridge won’t benefit nearly as much as Knox County.  The important point is, no one is harmed by this proposal — every school system will receive these funding improvements commensurate with the burdens borne in each of the three areas.

It’s not enough to bring Tennessee from the depths of our standing nationally, but it’s moving in the right direction.  Simply tinkering with the distribution formula isn’t going to improve education statewide — only rearrange the problems.

In Tennessee, education funding is a responsibility shared by State and local governments.  The amount contributed by the State depends on the ability of the local government to generate revenue for schools, according to the fiscal capacity formula (taking into account the sales and property tax base, average income, etc.).  Local governments are required to contribute a specified amount, but nearly all contribute more than the required minimum.

Local governments set priorities, then raise the necessary revenue (through taxes) to fund them.  Oak Ridge has historically established education as one of it’s highest priorities; Knox County unquestionably has the tax base to do so, but to date, has not.

To insist on stepping upon someone else to raise your own standing is a bully tactic.  Let’s not go there, Mayor Ragsdale.

State of the State

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I listened to Gov. Bredesen’s State of the State address tonight, then downloaded the print version so that I can better absorb the details.

Education consumed the majority of the content, and I have to say that I’m fairly pleased with what I heard. He does plan to ask for a 40-cents per pack increase in the cigarette tax, and that’s where most of the new education money will come from.

The quandary: to continue my habit and support adequate education funding (thereby preserving my sanity and that of everyone around me), or to quit (thus avoiding a $146/year tax increase)? NOTE: my question is purely rhetorical. Leave me alone.

Another of the Governor’s ambitious goals is for every 8th grader and every 10th grader to take the ACT. He wants to add a fourth year of math to the high school graduation requirement, but did not specify a particular course.

I’ll undoubtedly write more about his plans once I’ve slept, and again when his budget is introduced in a couple of weeks.

Thelma & Louise

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Every once in a while, it does a body (and mind) good to just take off and realign one’s inner compass. Everyone has their own place to find solace; mine is out in the wild.

BeechFeb5 When we arrived at Beech Mountain this morning, it was seven degrees. Fahrenheit. At two p.m. — even with the sun shining brilliantly — it was still just seven degrees.

The snow was so perfect that it squeaked with each footstep. It was uncrowded (being Monday, and really cold). And, being Ladies’ Day, it was FREE. (Woot!)

Southern Star, one of my two favorite slopes there, was vacant and untracked for most of the day… open for me to unleash the inner hooligan and tear screaming down the steeps with speed-crazed fury, skidding to a hockey stop at the bottom just to see how far I could throw snow.

My treacherous right knee, undoubtedly a victim of age, genetics, and years of abuse, performed like a champion. Actually, it feels better tonight than it did when I awakened this morning.

ABFeb5 We weren’t completely irresponsible; during the three-hour drive each way, the lappy was cranking on our to-do lists for the week: ads to design and submit, updates to her website, forms and filing and accounts to balance, how to market the various properties she has listed. On the way home, we brainstormed better ways of doing the backoffice things to make the front office work better.

I’ve never been to a better staff meeting in my life.

Now, just how many of you who celebrated the Super Bowl with us last night really believed that we’d be up, ready, and on the road by 6 a.m.?

O ye of little faith.

Yeah, we were there.

New Standard of Guilt

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Bill Hobbs seems to have been the first to pick up on HB0136, which would introduce a whole new (non) standard of guilt for bloggers and website owners in the area of libel.

Tennessee State Rep. Rob Briley has filed legislation that could, if it becomes law, require bloggers and other website publishers and writers to remove within two days from their website any statement that someone alleges is defamatory – and if they fail to remove the statement within two days that failure will “create a presumption of malice intent.” The contested statement does not actually have to be defamatory for the web writer to be required to remove it or face that legal presumption of guilt.

Briley filed it by mistake, but it was actually Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville) who thought this up, asking Briley to carry it in the House.

The City Paper has a good summary this morning; Kleinheider has a wrap up as well.

– – –

Briley and Woodson are both lawyers; in my view, they should know better than to think up something with such a flimsy standard of proof as the mere fact that someone doesn’t like what is said about them.

Briley says that he’ll withdraw as sponsor today. I’m still waiting for Woodson’s explanation.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

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2 C nonfat dry milk

1 C sugar (I use Splenda instead)

1/2 C cocoa, unsweetened

1/2 C non-dairy creamer

1 dash of salt

Mix together, then sift. Store in a tightly-sealed container — a 1-qt canning jar fits just right. Three level tablespoons with hot water makes a perfect mug. For myself, a dash of peppermint schnapps tops it off perfectly.