mysuburblife.com

Good-Bye Tennessee

2009-05-04T12:38:00.003-06:00

Well, today my parents, sister, niece and nephew are on the road - moving to Colorado. After living in Tennessee for more than 60 years (and longer than that if you count my grandparents) - my family has left the state.

I never thought it would happen.

Thanks, TVA.

Something TVA Victims Might Want to Look Into...

2009-03-09T09:01:00.005-06:00

There's a rumor circulating that the settlement TVA is presenting to folks requires relinquishing the right to come back on TVA regarding health issues that might arise from exposure to the coal ash.

The same coal ash that TVA has been telling folks is "inert."

IF the ash is indeed inert, why have a clause about health issues in the settlement?

A case should be made that the compensation folks receive should be tax exempt, just like the EEOIC program compensating folks (and their families) who worked out at the plants in Oak Ridge.

The mere fact that TVA (allegedly) has a clause in their settlement regarding health issues that deny folks the right to come back and sue over any health issues, should, in effect, make that compensation tax exempt as per IRS law...

26 USC 104 - Sec. 104. Compensation for injuries or sickness

This law was cited with the EEOIC program and states, in part, that gross income shall not include: (2) the amount of any damages (other than punitive damages) received (whether by suit or agreement and whether as lump sums or as periodic payments) on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness;

If TVA is having folks sign the settlement in return for not suing in the future over health issues, then they have, in essence, turned this contract into the compensation for any future illness. Thus, the entire settlement (provided homeowners have owned their home for a minimum of two years) should be tax exempt!

I encourage everyone who reads this blog post to forward it to your state representatives to ensure that the case for your tax exempt status becomes reality.

Why I've Been So Quiet Lately...

2009-03-06T11:31:00.010-07:00

Hello all. If you're a frequent visitor, you'll notice I haven't posted in a while. There's a reason for that. Let's just say, I have stopped posting about TVA because I don't want to jeopardize chances of getting out of there. I've had a few requests to tame it down and even a few more requests to specifically omit inside information for fear that it will incite retaliation from TVA.

Since I am not a resident of the area and have not been directly impacted, I will honor these requests.

However, I cannot let the reality of what is happening go unreported.

I received a copy of a very disturbing letter and a video. I won't comment on it. I will say that this information can be found online. You can form your own opinion. Here's the video...

Here's Matt's commentary on youtube...

March 3rd 2009 UMD volunteers began setting up air monitors around the TVA ash disaster. We found one spot downwind that was perfect--and go permission from the local that lived there. Within minutes TVA and Roane County police came and detained our volunteers, questioned the person that lived on the land, questioned the owner of the land, read the lease agreement, questioned all of our volunteers and took their ID--snatched a camera out of one of our volunteers hands and ordered us to take down the air monitoring station. Why doesn't TVA want independent air monitors around the site?

If you can't view the video, click here

Or, you may search youtube for "air monitor hassle march 3 2009"

To TVA management I say: If your commitment to the community is what you've stated publicly in the press, your private face should match your public face.

For further commentary on TVA's actions/inactions, I encourage ALL readers of this post to forward the following website...
http://lifeonswanpond.livejournal.com

to...

Senator Boxer
http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm

and

Senator Alexander
http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

and

Local government officials, any media outlets, and anyone else you think might be interested in picking this up...

the abuse of power has to stop.

TVA Update: News Sentinel Article on Coal Ash Disaster Raises a Question...

2009-02-09T15:52:00.018-07:00

An Open Blog Post to Senators Boxer and Alexander:

FACT: TVA is a government entity.
FACT: The EPA is a government entity.
FACT: The EPA allowed TVA waivers they would not have allowed publicly-held utilities.
FACT: The Supreme Court ruled the EPA cannot bring suit against TVA because of their government status.
FACT: The EPA has ZERO regulatory authority over TVA.
FACT: The IRS is a government entity.
FACT: Restitution has begun for the people devastated by the Kingston Steam Plant coal ash disaster.

QUESTION: Is it now time for the IRS to step in and add further insult to injury?

I ask that the officials in charge of the TVA oversight committee step up and become the "Protector of the People."

According to an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel, TVA is quietly writing checks to the people impacted by the collapse. What is not being said is that a portion of this restitution appears to be taxable, by approximately a third.

There are two checks being written: one for the appraised value of the home, and one for "inconvenience, relocation costs and other expenses."

(No mention of medical expenses, but then, TVA denies knowledge of people getting sick).

The people of Harriman, Tennessee, who have been damaged by the coal ash disaster (physically, financially, emotionally), need bi-partisan legislation to ease their tax burden.

TVA said they would make the people "whole" and "happy." And then, they, apparently, set them up to be taxed...out the ying-yang.

At this point, no one really knows for sure how much of that restitution is taxable.

I would assume that if you've lived in your home for 2 years, the check for the appraised value of your home would be safe from capital gains.

However, the second check for relocation and "inconvenience" appears to be fair game.

If so, that's entirely inappropriate.

TVA is a tax-exempt government entity (and why they continue to be a government entity, I haven't a clue). How fair is it that a government entity can do the damage and then set folks up for another government entity to come in and tax them on the compensation?

TVA slaps them on one cheek and then the IRS can come in slap them on the other?

How wrong is THAT?!

At the very LEAST, there should be three checks: one for the appraised value of the home, one for relocation expenses, and one for the inconvenience.

It's not that these folks mind paying their fair share of taxes, but you can't tell these people you're going to make them 'whole' and 'happy' and then say, eh, you know what, we want a third of that back.

Grossly inappropriate.

So, for all of you reading this, write your representatives. TODAY. Both local and state. Tell them you want something done for these folks. It just isn't right that the government be able to giveth in one hand and taxeth away in the other.

TVA Update: Toxicology Report Follow-Up

2009-02-06T14:40:00.005-07:00

The pharmacologist who reviewed Dad's toxicology report last night is concerned, particularly with the levels of lead and arsenic in his system. She is sending the report to a colleague of hers at ORNL. My parents will also be forwarding the report to my uncle, a biochemist, for further analysis, understanding and interpretation into layman's terms.

I'm quite certain these professionals will echo what I've been saying, which is: Get OUT!!!!

PLEASE!!!

TVA Update: Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies...

2009-02-06T10:12:00.008-07:00

In meetings with the residents of the Swan Pond area, TVA officials assured folks that the air quality was safe. They said the concern would be IF the dust were to become airborne. They quickly followed that statement with assurances that they had experience with suppressing such dust and they were taking care of it.

The following photos were taken from my parent's porch two days ago.

The ash is clearly present and exposed.

If you look back to the cove, that used to be water. But, it isn't anymore.

The photos were taken on February 4 between 10 and 10:30 AM within seconds of each other. It was a clear day. There was no condensation, nor mist rising from the water. The dust swirled around and over the piles of ash before heading directly into my mother's direction.

She quickly went inside.

WATE has an article dated yesterday, February 5th, which features similiar video and still shots. WATE contacted TVA for comment. TVA officials said their crews didn't see anything and, "it must have been fog."

TVA Update: Dad's Toxicology Report is In

2009-02-05T20:26:00.008-07:00

My Dad called today. His toxicology report came in. He asked that I not form an opinion until he can have the results explained to him and has had the opportunity to consult with his personal doctor and a specialist.

So, I won't form an opinion. I will merely state what he read to me over the phone. Some of you may have questions, but I don't have answers. I don't know what it means and I'm not going to pretend I know what it means. But, I will tell you that when I hear words like:

'indicates high exposure,'
'red zone' and
'95 percent Arsenic,'

I feel: rage.

Remember when TVA said they were going to make people not only 'whole,' but 'happy?'
Remember when TVA said the ash was 'inert'?
Remember when TVA said the ash wasn't 'toxic'?
Remember when Governor Bredesen stood next to TVA CEO Tom Kilgore and said he didn't think people should be afraid of the stuff?
Remember when TVA said air quality was 'safe'?

I do; I remember.

I've told my Dad, not asked, but told my Dad he needs to leave. He has to get out. I've begged him to come stay with me until this whole thing settles.

But he has Doctor appointments.

He wants answers.

And he doesn't want to leave, in case TVA calls.

The TVA disaster was 6 weeks and 3 days ago.

Here are the results of Dad's testing...
Indicates high exposure in the "red zone"
94% Mercury
96% Beryllium
95% Lead

Hair testing...
Indicates high exposure in the "red zone"
94% Aluminum
95+% Antimony
95% Arsenic
97.5% Titanium

There was also urine and blood tests which showed high exposure to several other elements. My dad has someone looking at the results tonight to see if she can interpret what it means.

I invite you to leave your comments below. If this were your father, would you be concerned????

Hello to the folks at Reader's Digest

2009-01-30T10:55:00.002-07:00

Just checked the stats on the blog and saw quite a few visits from Reader's Digest. Let me know if you have any questions or want to be put in contact with anyone regarding the Coal Ash Disaster in Kingston, TN. I have been writing about it to give voice to the people affected: my parents, my sister, my niece and nephew and their neighbors and friends. My husband is getting ready to deploy so I haven't been updating as frequently. As soon as I see him off, I will be updating more information.

TVA has started purchasing property for those who filed a claim. Those who have settled are not to talk about the terms of that agreement.

You may reach me at bymollytillyer@yahoo.com

TVA: Things that make you go hmmmm....

2009-01-22T13:53:00.006-07:00

This article was found on WBIR. Dated July 23, 2008.

Here are some excerpts...
The Tennessee Valley Authority skirted environmental regulations when upgrading its coal plants, causing it to illegally emit a million tons of pollutants over the past two decades, according to a former EPA official.

The Environmental Protection Agency cracked down on other utilities that tried the same maneuvers, but in TVA's case, the EPA stopped short of suing because of a longstanding practice of not taking other federal agencies to court, said Bruce C. Buckheit, EPA air enforcement director from 1996 to 2003.

While some utilities were taken to court, the U.S. Department of Justice wouldn't prosecute (TVA) because of its federal status.

HELLOOOOO! What's wrong with this picture?!!!!!

And how do you like this gem from a 2003 Supreme Court ruling...

"There is no case or controversy between TVA and EPA. This case fits comfortably within the general rule that a dispute between two government agencies whose heads serve at the pleasure of the President does not result in a justiciable "case or controversy." Indeed, the court of appeals accepted that "both EPA's Administrator and TVA's board serve at the pleasure of the President." Pet. App. 85a. EPA is a government agency, whose Administrator serves an indefinite term by appointment of the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. See Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, § 1(b), 5 U.S.C. App. at 184. TVA, a government corporation, is headed by a three-person board whose members serve fixed, nine-year terms by appointment of the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. 16 U.S.C. 831a(a) and (b). As this Court has explained, "[i]n the absence of specific provision to the contrary, the power of removal from office is incident to the power of appointment." Keim v. United States, 177 U.S. 290, 293 (1900). Because there is no such "specific provision to the contrary" in TVA's charter, the members of TVA's Board accordingly may be removed by the President at will. See Morgan v. TVA, 115 F.2d 990 (6th Cir. 1940), cert. denied, 312 U.S. 701 (1941).

Isn't it well PAST time that TVA became a private utility like other utilities in the nation?

The EPA having any say whatsoever over TVA is a JOKE!!!

There is NO regulation. There is NO accountability.

Since the head of TVA serves at the "pleasure of the president" if it please, President Obama, it's time Kilgore and the entire TVA board, left the building!

It's time TVA ceased to be a government corporation.

TVA: Does It Sound Alarmingly Familiar?

2009-01-22T09:00:00.015-07:00

I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, this quote from Roane County Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, is cause for alarm. Read it and take it all in...

People want to know "are you making sure everybody is doing what they are supposed to over there?" And I tell them, I say, "I don't have to make sure." I say, "They're doing it on their own. OK? ...

..."Well, I'm telling you what to believe. You believe what these people down here are telling you to believe because I'm seeing the data just like everybody else is. I don't understand it all, but they explain it to me, and I got faith in these people down here and what they do.

Faith? That's great, Howie. But let's take a look at what faith has done for people in the past....

The Environmental Protection Agency's internal watchdog says White House officials pressured the agency to prematurely assure the public that the air was safe to breathe a week after the World Trade Center collapse. --MSNBC

The agency's initial statements in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks were not supported by proper air quality monitoring data and analysis, EPA's inspector general, Nikki L. Tinsley, says in a 155-page report released late Thursday.

"Competing considerations, such as national security concerns and the desire to reopen Wall Street, also played a role in EPA's air quality statements," the report said. --CBS News

There is no evidence that airborne asbestos in the World Trade Center area posed a long-term health risk, but no study of the effects on the general public has actually been completed. A Mount Sinai study of rescue and recovery workers found that 78 percent had suffered lung ailments. The report notes that the agency's official position was that the levels of asbestos in outdoor air were safe for healthy adults, but that it lacked evidence about the potential health effects of indoor air and the risks of other contaminants or the effects on more vulnerable New Yorkers, including children and the elderly.

Asked about why people are still suffering ill effects, Horinko (of EPA) said she can understand that rescue workers would still be affected but finds residents’ continued complaints to be “mystifying.”

Even though the the building collapses caused the highest particulate count in the city’s history, the tragic event violated no pollution standards. That’s because the air quality regulations were set up to measure particulate matter loadings over 24-hour periods rather than intense, short-term bursts.

That is cold comfort to many New Yorkers, particularly those still suffering health effects from exposure to the dust.

Some fear that “WTC cough,” sinus problems, headaches and other ailments that Todd and others continue to experience, were worsened by government officials more willing to return the city to normalcy and open the Stock Market than protect public health.

Doctors, too, worry the event could spur a rash of asbestosis, cancer and other long-term diseases in the future.

...even Mayor Rudolph Guiliani appeared to believe the EPA’s statement and went so far as to stand next to then-EPA administrator Christie Whitman and announce that the air was safe.

“When you have someone of the caliber of Mayor Guiliani saying it, they took that as gospel,” says Forras. --MSNBC

And then AGAIN regarding the aftermath of Katrina... (Sierra Club report)

A similar phenomenon of private tests finding contamination not disclosed by EPA has occurred in the Katrina disaster. While comparable EPA and private data usually have been consistent, private tests have highlighted shortfalls in the location and parameters of EPA testing. In early October 2005, the Louisiana Environmental Action Network and others released the results of sediment sampling supervised by chemist Dr. Wilma Subra, which found elevated levels of arsenic and a toxic petroleum constituent, benzo(a)pyrene. Dr. Subra warned, "Babies shouldn't go in, pregnant women shouldn't go in, elderly shouldn't go in." A round of tests by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade found benzo(a)pyrene at 33 times higher than EPA residential standard at a school in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmett. EPA's spokesman would not comment on that testing, but an EPA scientist said that the eight soil samples that EPA had taken at another Chalmett school "came back clean." The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) also did sediment testing in the New Orleans area. In late 2005, the Sierra Club released test data from Dr. Subra on high levels of dioxin and chromium in sediment samples near the DuPont plant in DeLisle, Mississippi. Importantly, Dr. Subra's testing also found that the dry sludge contained harmful bacteria that were still viable, raising concerns about the health risks of dust inhalation. EPA had not released any test results for bacteria in dry sludge.

Premature assurances that everything's safe...
Insufficient air quality information...
Government officials publicly giving the a-ok...
People getting sick though officials are "mystified"...
Discrepancies in toxicity results...

Does any of this sound alarmingly familiar?

TVA Disaster: It's Not Toxic; It's Safe

2009-01-21T11:44:00.011-07:00

Below is an excerpt from Penny's blog Life on Swan Pond. When you read her blog entry, ask yourself the following questions:

What does 'home' mean to you and your family?

Why are people in this neighborhood getting sick with the commonality of nose bleeds, massive headaches and breathing difficulties?

Why are people being quietly relocated for an undetermined amount of time if everything is, as you read in the paper, 'safe'?

Why are these folks having to leave items behind?

When I look up the definition of 'safe' in my dictionary, it says "free from danger; free from risk; not dangerous" --what do you suppose is TVA's definition of 'safe'?

Here's Penny's blog entry...

==================

Yesterday was the start of our "transition" or "relocation" for an undetermined amount of time until the area we live in is deemed safe. (I don't know "who" is going to deem it safe... since all of the reports from TVA say it is already safe...)

Getting back to the "relocation".... TVA has leased us a home. It's a nice home, but will never be "my" home.

It is a one level home that will accommodate my Grandson's needs (he has a special custom stroller, therapy equipment & such), and it has lots of room for floor time, play and therapy.

TVA has provided us furniture (we could not take any furniture that was fabric because it could not be appropriately cleaned to prevent the dust from becoming airborne again, ie: beds, couch, chair). ..

I kept thinking that maybe we would be able to go back home.... I pushed moving into the dark recesses of the back of my mind... way down on my "to do" list. Then, the day came.

On the day that my Grandson tuned 18 months old, I met the movers and TVA Rep at "my" home. Just getting there was an ordeal in itself. I was frustrated, upset, sad and tears began to form as I turned onto Swan Pond Circle.

I could not believe what was going to happen. I was going to leave.... had to leave "my" home no, "our" home.

I watched while the movers packed.

I had to "regroup" many times. Just the question "how are you today" would cause me to lose my composure.

It was all over in three pick-up trucks full. Packed and moved... what we could safely move.

The boxes were deposited at the "other" residence. Unopened until today.... Maybe if I didn't open them, then it really wasn't happening...

I walked through my "new" residence. The move will be complete by Sunday.

I'll miss my morning coffee on the porch looking out into my little cove....

I'll miss the wildlife.... the Mallards, the Blue Heron, the birds, the squirrels and the occasional deer that I see on the ridge....

Gone are my mornings watching the sunrise that dances off the waters...

Gone are watching the sunsets that can take your breath away...

Gone are the times that I can sit on the porch with my grandson and push him in his swing as we enjoy the peace...

Gone are the times that we stroll down to the dock, and I watch as he gazes at the water...

The trade off.... he can breathe...

My transition & relocation make me feel disjointed... and disconnected from my home, my community...

==================

That's Penny's story, but she is not alone.

So, what does TVA say about this?

Repeat after me:

It's not toxic; it's safe...

It's not toxic; it's safe.

There, feel better now?

====================

VIEWER FAVORITE: Letter from TVA CEO Tom Kilgore

An E-mail Between Friends

2009-01-21T09:49:00.009-07:00

So I get this email from Michelle today, it's a quiz for women where you find out which movie star you're most like. Michelle's results indicated she was most like Grace Kelly. I got a 42 on the quiz therefore, I too, am apparently most like Grace Kelly. This was the email I returned to Michelle...

=======

I'm a high Grace Kelly (42). I don't think I'm that much of a romantic though, you can't be if you're married to Mike. His idea of romance is not pulling the covers over my head after he's had burritos for lunch. Romance is not something I even aspire to anymore. I would be highly suspicious if romance were to enter my life at this point. Highly suspicious.

=======

I definitely don't see myself as a romantic. My sister, now there's a romantic for you. She reads the romance novels, she believes in Prince Charming and chivalry and all that crap.

She's also single. So why crush the dream?

Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and I know he loves me. But there are no hearts and flowers and wine, and there never has been. We're talking about a man who proposed to me at a BP Gas Station by hurling a ring box at my head, shouting, "Heads up!" I'm not one to get caught up in the illusion of romance (or is that 'delusion'?).

Mike and I have been together for nearly 16 years, for us "romance" is filling up the other person's gas tank. A sweet nothing is washing off the dinner plate and not letting the spaghetti sauce turn to concrete. I'd rather have the laundry done than receive a heart-shaped box of chocolates. And, to me, nothing says 'I love you' quite like a sparkling clean bathroom.

But then, maybe I'm just easy.

Anyhoo, here's the quiz. Which celebrity do you most resemble?

1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Roller blading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one
2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative
c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz
3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery
4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender
f) Business person
5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out
c) Watch TV
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read
6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red
7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail
8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b ) Christmas
c ) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f ) Fourth of July
9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia
10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with
Now total up your points on each question:
1. a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6
2. a-2 b-1 c-4 d-5 e-3 f-6
3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6
4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6
5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6
6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6
7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6
8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6
9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6
10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6
NOW, take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:
(10-17 points) You are MADONNA:
You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs.. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.
(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY :
You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times,yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.
(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS :
You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.
(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:
You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.
(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:
You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan.. You are very healthy in mind and body.. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider 'real friends'. You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen..
(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR :
Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank.You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.
Now put your Movie Star in the subject line, then forward and share with your friends, including the person who sent it to you!

Inauguration Day - President Obama

2009-01-20T09:25:00.015-07:00

I was going to observe this day in blogger silence but as I watch the former Presidents and vice-Presidents walk down the long hallway I am overcome with emotion. I will post my thoughts as I watch. They will be disjointed. Random. A stream of conciousness writing. I just want to get my thoughts down for this momentous occasion.

I was just seven when Jimmy Carter was elected but he is the first President I remember. Not much noise from the crowd. How is it Mrs. Carter looks exactly the same?

Noticeably absent is President and Nancy Reagan.

President Bush, senior, walking with a limp. His wife walks ahead. Help him out Barbara. Please don't fall. Please don't fall.

Large applause for the Clintons. Hillary looks great.

It's a balmy 14 degrees. What is (twin) Barbara Bush wearing? Is that a silver lamae skirt?

The Obama girls are precious! Cute outfits.

2 to 3 million people present for this inauguration. Seana are you there?

Laura Bush so sedate dressed all in grey. No pearls.

Michelle Obama looks stunning. Citrus-y green dress with sash, matching jacket and green gloves. Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds.

George w. looks - younger?! Big smile. Glad it's over.

Cheney wheeled out on wheelchair due to back injury.

Hail to the Chief I'm the Chief and I need hailing
Hail to the Chief so everybody hail like crazy

Relative silence for Bush.

Bush laughing with that shoulder laugh of his. Funny.

Obama walking forward. Stoic. I would have a big shit-eating grin on my face.

"Hey, Joe!"

Unbelievable crowd. Packed all the way back to Washington Monument. Incredible.

A sea of American flags ripple.

Here we go...

"Barack H. Obama"? You can say the whole name.

The crowd is chanting. "O-ba-ma!" "O-ba-ma!" "O-ba-ma!"

Again "Barack Obama". No mention of middle name. It's just a name, people. Don't be afraid of it.

Aretha Franklin sings My Country Tis of Thee

Justice John Paul Stevens administers the Oath to Biden.

Biden's in. Nice blue tie.

Air and Simple Gifts composed for this occasion by John Williams, performed by: Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero and Itzhak Perlman. What is that tune? It's familiar.
.
Obama became 44th President 4 minutes ago though he has yet to take the Oath.

Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. administers the Oath to Obama. A roar from the crowd.

"I Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear (A little jump start on the oath)
That I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully (a little stumble)
And will to the best of my ability
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States
So help me God"

Roar from the crowd.

Hail to the Chief I'm the Chief and I need hailing
Hail to the Chief so everybody hail like crazy

"O-ba-ma!" "O-ba-ma!" O-ba-ma!"

=============

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

=============

I was born two years, five months and twelve days following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. I am the daughter of an EEO investigator, the daughter of a member of the NAACP. I grew up knowing that you don't judge people on the color of their skin, but the content of their character. That knowledge was just a given. I grew up believing in equality; that it is an absolute right and that no one, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, should be denied that right.

I grew up knowing this. Believing this. Taking this for granted.

But today, I am overcome.

Finally, the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. is beginning to come true.

Here's to today, tomorrow, and all future tomorrows to come.

Finally.

O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma!

Martin Luther King, Jr: I Have a Dream

2009-01-19T06:40:00.003-07:00

I will return to writing on Wednesday.

TVA UPDATE: This Just In

2009-01-16T05:59:00.006-07:00

01.16.09 The EPA released data yesterday that has been compiled over the last couple of weeks. The data is from the sampling of surface waters, drinking water, soil and sediment, as well as some archived information about the historical sampling of fly ash. The data has been released through links on the following sites:

http://www.epaosc.org/

http://www.tva.gov/

www.state.tn.us/environment/kingston/results_reporting.shtml

Dr. Cheremisinoff, a consultant with the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, and author of:

The Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology,

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management: A Guide for the Professional Hazards Manager and,

The Environmental Technologies Handbook,

explains the following about the newly released data:

1. Surface and drinking water from the Kingston Water Treatment Plant appear to have been impacted by chromium, arsenic, lead and strontium based on sampling obtained close to the time of the incident. More recent reported samples indicate that the drinking water levels at sampled locations are safe but further monitoring is required.

2. Sediment samples show wide variations with typical levels for arsenic and chromium at least 10 times above the reporting limits; lead 2 to 10 times above reporting limits; and cobalt typically 3 times above reporting limit. These remain a concern because the pathways to exposure have not yet been defined but experience tells us that these chemicals can migrate to groundwater and be dispersed through the air.

3. Mercury has been detected in multiple samples, but generally is at or below reporting limits for sediment and in surface water.

4. Only one reported sample has been reported to date containing the hydrocarbon xylene.

Lab results are pending on surface sludge samples. It is anticipated that the sludge samples will show similar levels of contamination for the toxic heavy metals. As an additional precaution, the lab is analyzing the samples for radionuclides because neither TVA nor the government has reported such data and the literature generally reports the presence of these contaminants in fly ash.

Will keep you posted as soon as the information is provided.

FAMILY STUFF: Dinner Conversation

2009-01-16T03:56:00.016-07:00

Anyone who knows my family knows you don't visit with Bill and Gail and talk politics. My parents were super-involved in civic organizations when I was growing up. Mom was a political science major. When we sat down at the dinner table we talked about current events. But the standing joke about my parents is that you never bring up politics when company is present.

You see, Dad is a Republican Conservative. Mom is a Liberal Democrat. And as a result, their children are Confused Dysfunctionals.

When my sister and I would invite friends over, before they could meet the parentals, we had to first ensure that our friends went through the necessary briefing:

"Don't say anything about Vietnam--"

"Why would I say anything about Vietnam?"

"Because it always comes back to Vietnam. Trust me. Say nothing. You have no opinion on the subject. If they ask, the correct response is, 'I'm really not educated enough on the subject to make an informed opinion'."

"O-kaaay."

"And don't bring up Iran-Contra."

"What's Iran-Contra?"

-- Silence --

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that."

"Say what?"

"Just--change the subject if it should come up. Tell them you have irritable bowel."

"I'm not going to tell your parents that!"

"It's a conversation stopper."

"I bet it is! But I'm not saying it."

"They always do."

"Who's they?"

"The others."

"What oth-"

"And for Gods sake, don't mention George W."

"Well, gee, Molly, is there anything I can talk about with your parents."

"Of course! Here, I've taken the liberty of making you a list of 'safe' topics. I want you to know, however, if things should get out of hand, you should get under the dining room table until I've given you the all clear."

"There's only two things on this list! How am I supposed to spend the whole night talking about horticulture and the weather?"

"Did I put the weather on there? Geezus! Take that off!"

======

So, that's what it was like growing up in the Sewell household. Which is why I am soooo glad my parents were not at my dinner table last night because here's how that conversation went.

I want to preface this by saying, my eldest son has a terrific dry wit and he's a genius when it comes to computers but when it comes to general academics, there's not a whole lot going on there (bless his heart)...

Matt (14): We're learning about government in school.

Me: Oh, yeah? What are you learning?

Matt: The three parts of government.

Mike: You mean branches.

Matt: Yeah, branches. There's the legislative...the uh...the uh...

Me: Executive--

Matt: Yeah, Executive. And the uh...the uh...

Me: The ju--

Matt: The ju...the judy-cull!

Me: The what?

Matt: The judy-cull. You know, the judy-cull.

Nolan(9): You mean judicial.

Matt: Judy-cull, judicial, same diff.

Mike: Nooo, no it isn't.

Me: So what can you tell me about the branches of government? Who makes up the Executive?

Nolan: The President!

Me: I'm talking to your brother.

Matt: The President.

Me: Who makes up the Judicial?

Nolan: The Supreme Court and the federal courts!

Mike: Nolan! She's talking to your brother.

Matt: The Supreme Court and the...federal courts?

Me: Who makes up the Legislative? And I'm asking Matthew only...

Matt: Not a clue.

Nolan: I know! I know!

Mike: Nolan--

Me: C'mon. Think about it. Legislative. Legislation...laws...anything?

...

...

Matt: Still nothin'.

Mike: Were you there for the entire class?

Matt: Ye-aah.

Me: Then what can you tell us?

Matt: Well, we learned about that building.

(Mike is now rolling his eyes and having a private conversation with God)

Me: What building?

Matt: You know the one...the building...there...in Washington. The one that looks like a boob.

(Mike's head slumps forward)

Mike: (muttering) Oh, my dear Lord.

Me: What are you talking about Matt?

Matt: You know, from the sky, if you look down, the building, it looks like a giant boob.

Mike: The Capitol building, Matthew?

Matt: Yeah, I guess.

Me: (hopeful) And what takes place at the Capitol building? What branch of government is there?

Matt: I d'know.

-- Silence --

Mike: I want you boys to clear your place. And, Matthew, I want you to bring me your homework.

Matt: Okay. Why?

Mike: Just do it.

The boys leave the room. And Mike's eyes widen. "Oh...my...GOD, Molly! There's something wrong with that boy."

"Well, look on the bright side, we're going to save a bunch of money on college."

Inspirational Song of the Week

2009-01-16T03:46:00.004-07:00

This is one of my favorites. Wait for Luther Vandross--he's great!

Headline News: US Airways Pilot "Crash-Lands" in Hudson

2009-01-15T17:24:00.010-07:00

A US Airways flight experienced a bird strike after take-off today causing the pilot to crash-land the plane into the Hudson River. The captain reportedly announced, "Look, we're going down. Brace for impact."

The Understatement-of-the-Day Award goes to passenger Fred Berretta who said,

"It was a great landing."

Incredible! Get me that pilot for every flight!

We love you Captain Sullenberger! Fantastic job!

TVA: ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

2009-01-15T14:19:00.007-07:00

This just in...

Notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Immediately!

The temperature today in Harriman, TN is 24 degrees,
falling to 5 degrees tonight.

Forecast for tomorrow is 23 degrees,
falling again to 5 degrees tomorrow night.

The fish are in danger of freezing to death.....

Conversation With My Mother

2009-01-15T13:46:00.009-07:00

Just got off the phone with mom, here's a snippet:

ME: "I just got back from doing 3 miles."
MOM: "That's great....I remember when I used to be able to go outside."

Keep up that sense of humor, Mom. I love you! :-)

TVA: Letter from Tom Kilgore, TVA CEO

2009-01-15T06:11:00.035-07:00

Before we begin the review of this letter, I'll start by saying that this, more than likely, went through legal and public relations before it was released. To an outsider, this may look like a respectful, very genuine letter. But now we're going to look at it from a "victim's" perspective.

1. This letter is dated 18 days after the disaster occurred. WRONG! Some kind of official statement should have been sent out within 24 hours.

2. The letter was addressed to: "Our Neighbor At" such and such address. WRONG! 18 days following the disaster, you should know whose name goes on that envelope.

3. 1st paragraph: "keep you posted on TVA's commitment to clean up the ash spill." PERSPECTIVE! The ash "spill"? Is that what we're calling it, a spill? As in, 'no use crying over spilled milk? Here's another perspective, how about DISASTER, COLLAPSE, FAILURE. Don't patronize the residents, don't minimize the event. It's insulting.

Molly's Side Note: I like how they use the word 'commitment.' TVA's commited! Yes! Alright! Good! Commited! Yes! Cleanup! Yes! How long is it going to take? Don't know. Damn!

Well, Mr. Kilgore. I know a little something about commitment. I've been commited to losing the baby weight. Did I mention my baby is 9 years old?

4. 2nd paragraph: "We are working as safely and diligently as possible." PERSPECTIVE! That sentence should read, "We are diligently working to ensure your safety."

Molly's Side Note: I recall reading in the paper that a TVA spokesman said the workers were not using all the prescribed protective gear because the ash was inert. So, since reading that, I question the credibility of the above statement.

5. 3rd paragraph: "I've enclosed a copy of my written testimony for your review." FULL DISCLOSURE! Nothing addresses the verbal testimony which is available online, probably because that was too embarrassing for you. You should have provided a web link for those people who wanted to go in and hear it or watch the actual testimony. Note to TVA Executives: You are more readily believable if you present the whole picture and not that which reflects most favorably on you or your position.

6. 3rd paragraph: "It includes updates on water quality and air quality." CREDIBILITY PROBLEM! Your updates are not as thorough as they should be (I'll go more into that later). And at this point in time, your credibility is already shot due to your spokes peoples previous misleading statements and half-truths on timelines, leaks, dead fish and toxicity, not to mention their pontificating on the cause of this completely avoidable disaster.

7. 4th paragraph: "If you think you have a claim..." OH NO YOU DIDN'T! This wording implies that you don't think victims have a claim! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! For cryin' out loud, you don't say that! (Unless, of course, that's what you meant) Instead, you say: "For those of you needing to file a claim..." You see the difference? Geez louise, man!

8. 5th paragraph: "This is an opportunity for us to visit with you informally and take your questions." I'm going to file that one under (lol) LAUGH OUT LOUD! All TVA has done so far is take questions. When do you plan on answering the questions?

9. "We are going to be able to look our neighbors in the eye and say that TVA is doing the right thing." THAT SHIP HAS SAILED, MY FRIEND! You didn't do the right thing when you had the appropriate resolution pointed out to you years prior. Your negligence has forever impacted the residents of this community. Your words are meaningless. People don't want to be your neighbor. People don't want to look at you. Looking at you is what's breaking their heart right now (not to mention hearing your helicopter sorties fly over their roof every 5 minutes for the past week, starting at daybreak). I think I might also file the above statement under CLUELESS.

10. OBVIOUS OMISSION: As indicated above, there is no mention here of a timeline for cleanup. TVA spokesman Gil Francis was quick to say estimates were 4-6 weeks. Since we know the credibility of that statement exists only in the world of make believe, let's get down to the brass tacks. The cleanup is going to take years. People need to make decisions, Mr. Kilgore. They want to hear you say it. Years. Your negligence has destroyed the financial future of these residents, it has destroyed their emotional well-being and it has endangered their health. It's going to take years before the river and coves are restored. And it may take decades before the reputation of this neighborhood is revitalized.

You f 'd up, Kilgore. You f 'd up big time.

FYI: CRISIS MANAGEMENT 101

STEP 1. Avoid a crisis

STEP 2. Refer back to Step 1

Family News: Sarah is Awesome! :-)

2009-01-15T05:23:00.008-07:00

Okay, that's not news to family but here's the story from Pegasus News:

01.13.09 Say you're the artistic director of a big-time film festival like AFI Dallas. (Go ahead, say it - it feels GOOD!) What do you do during the off-season, when you're not lining up a slate of fantastic films for your hometown audience or schmoozing with stars and big shot producers?

Easy: you go to other film festivals and check out the competition.

That's the way AFI Dallas CEO and artistic director Michael Cain - along with his dynamic duo of programmers, Sarah Harris and James Faust - spent some of their time in 2008, in the process traveling to such exotic locales as Toronto, L.A., Park City, Cannes and even Marfa (way to go, Sarah!) in order to ferret out the finest in freshly-filmed entertainment. (Nice work if you can get it.)

With Sundance 2009 almost upon us, Michael, Sarah and James recently took the time to mull over all the great films they'd seen last year at other festivals and narrowed them down to their favorite five. Then, they reminisced about the top audience pleasers from their own lineup at AFI Dallas 2008.

Ace programmer Sarah Harris said this about her fave five films from other fests:

Slumdog Millionaire – "I saw this at a Press & Industry screening at Toronto and was blown away. One of the very rare times I’ve ever heard that much applause and seen an ovation from an often jaded industry audience."

U2 3D – "We saw the completed public world premiere at Sundance last year with the entire band in attendance. The energy in the audience was incredible. It felt like a huge rock concert held in a 'little' theater in Park City. And did Bono reach out to touch my hand?!"

There Will Be Blood - "I never saw this in 2007, but finally saw a new 35mm print of it at an outdoor screening on the original set of downtown “Little Boston” used in the film at the opening night of the Marfa Film Festival. And this was in the middle of the desert under a giant Texas sky of stars... (However, the story from the rest of the night can only be told in person.)"

The Wrestler – "This was an AFI FEST Centerpiece Screening. It was great to see an AFI alum (Darren Aronofsky) have a homecoming of sorts from AFI in the legendary and beautiful Mann Chinese Theater."

More Than A Game – "This film was one of my favorites out of Toronto that I’m trying to bring to Dallas in the spring. (Hopefully, it will make for an even better memory for 2009.)"

Sarah's top five audience pleasers from AFI Dallas 2008:

The Visitor – "This film had a lot of buzz during (and now after) the festival. People were asking for a second screening that we unfortunately couldn’t do. Director Tom McCarthy and Richard Jenkins were great guests."

Frag - "We are still finding the little green plush grenades the filmmakers threw around to promote the film (including to everyone who watched their red carpet entrances at North Park) in random places all around the programming office."

More Shoes – "That film had 3 amazing sold out screenings. Director Lee Kazimir let us in on his beautiful journey, inspired by the iconic director Werner Herzog and the audience just couldn’t get enough."

Summerhood - "I will never forget the Q&As with director Jacob Medjuck. So much fun…"

Shorts Blocks - "Especially the MIDNIGHT SHORTS BLOCK. Crazy films, a crazy crowd - you just had to be there to understand."

========================================

Family Note: Was (cousin) Sarah's career in film predestined? We think so. At the tender age of three our little drama queen, when being reprimanded by her mother, leaned against the fridge, dramatically draped her arm over her eyes, sighed and said, "I'm just a little shit."

Reprimand over.

Bravo, Sarah! Bravo! :-)

TVA: News Coverage by Amy Cowman MyFox Memphis

2009-01-14T14:57:00.025-07:00

I want to thank Amy Cowman at FOX13 Memphis for her continued interest in the lives of the people affected by the Kingston coal ash disaster.

TVA spokesman, Gil Francis, as seen in this piece, had previously told news reporters that the cleanup would take weeks. That one statement revealed to me that TVA had neither the data nor the contingency plan for this scenario.

The older gentleman (with the white hair) in this piece is Paul Schmierbach with the TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation). The TDEC is one of several agencies on-hand to oversee the cleanup from the coal ash slide. Listen to what he has to say.

Perhaps Schmierbach didn't get the memo from TVA management about the 4-6 week timeline.

Here's the piece Amy did on mom. (Note: this is not my sister Amy) Now, when they talk about how the water is safe, they're talking about Kingston's drinking water supply. They're not talking about the river water that was once our swimming hole. Because that's showing elevated levels of arsenic and heavy metals. You have to go searching for that information on TVA's website, you won't find that information on the front page.

Our section of the river has been closed off. You can no longer get in or out of the area by boat. You can't swim here anymore. You can't boat here anymore. You can't even go in your back yard because even though TVA is saying the air quality is safe (again, that's from spokesman Gil Francis) people are getting sick.

I think it's important to note that while people are getting sick and TVA continues to say the air quality is fine, it's the folks from the Sierra Club and the United Mountain Defense Organization that stepped up, went door to door with information and said, if you're having these symptoms you may need to get tested.

To be tested for any toxins in your system, it's $700 per person. The terrific people from the Sierra Club and the United Mountain Defense Organization not only got the price of the Toxins test reduced from $700 per person to $500 per person, they went out and raised funds so that people who didn't have adequate insurance could be freely tested.

The environmental groups are doing this for the neighborhood.

TVA management continues to assert that everything is fine and at "acceptable standards." I guess the real question is, acceptable to whom?

Monica! Monica! Monica!

2009-01-14T04:35:00.025-07:00

I was telling Penny of Life on Swan Pond about my sister-friend, Monica and how when she lived across the river from my parents she and my sister, Amy, would flash their porch lights at each other to say, 'hi,' or 'good night,' or 'I made it home okay.'

And now, with TVA's gift that keeps on giving, Monica and her kids are all sick and having to relocate.

But talking about that memory brought up others I thought I'd share.

I call Monica my sister-friend because over the past two decades she has become family. She's at all the family get-togethers. She calls my parents on a regular basis. We all want to know what's going on in each other's lives. She's basically a sister. BUT, she is also my arch nemesis.

How did we meet? It was about twenty years ago. Monica is the older sister of my sister's high school prom date. She was the ex-girlfriend of my then-current boyfriend.

My sister pointed Monica out in the gym one day and Monica caught me looking over at her in the mirror. Her first words to me were, "What are you looking at?!" To which I responded, "Nuthin'! Gawl!" (I was quite the little conversationalist back then).

Monica was my parents' tenant.

She is my sister's best friend.

She is the Marcia Brady to my Jan.

I've had to learn to embrace that.

I've also had to overcome the fact that she's stunning. I'm talking gorgeous! Case in point: The men in the neighborhood actually established a phone tree for when she went jogging! It went a little something like this--

"She's coming your way."

"I'm heading to the window now. I'll call Wendell."

"Alright. I'll call Frank."

She has great bone structure, flawless skin, it's the kind of pretty that you can't help but stare at. Until it becomes awkward. And then you have to shake yourself out of it.

"I've been staring an uncomfortable amount of time again, haven't I?"

"A little bit."

"So, you say you just wake up looking like that?"

"Yeah. I'm up and out the door in about 5 minutes."

"Huh... God must really hate me."

She has her good points, though. My favorite thing about Monica is that she's so entertaining. And, truly, a great representation of a southern woman. She has her own way of talking that outsiders (Yankee folk) don't understand.

The first time my husband met her we were going to a club in Knoxville. My sister was driving, Monica was in the front passenger seat. Mike and I were in the back. And Monica's talking away, hands are flying everywhere as she talks, because, like most southern women I know (myself included), if you were to tie Monica's hands down, you would render her speechless.

Anyway, she's chatting away saying things like "Law!" and "I swan" and other colloquialisms that often require interpretation, when my husband leans over and says, "I don't understand the words that are coming out of her mouth."

Yup, I married a Yankee. Or, as one family member put it, "a damn Yankee." (We true southerners are nothing if not steadfast in our grudges)

I've been out of the south for quite some time now and have lost almost all of my southern accent. Sad, but true. But when I go home to visit, particularly if I'm around Monica. It all comes rushing back.

"Why are you talking like that?" Mike asks.

"Law, I don't know."

"You're scaring me."

And I think it does scare Mike a little. Because he doesn't understand southern women. He's confused by them. After all, that's how I got him to marry me.

He asked me one time why Monica was so nice (remember, he's a Yankee, he's not familiar with southern "nice"). I said, "What're you talkin' about?"

"Well, I just think maybe you could learn a few things from your friend, there."

Me? Learn from my arch-nemesis? NE-VAH! "Meaning?"

"Well, the other day when you and your sister were cackling about my little incident on the slip n' slide, your friend Monica didn't seem to feel the need to make fun of me."

Now, since I was there, I knew this wasn't true. So, now it was my turn to be confused.

"What are you talking about, Mike?"

"Well, while you're over there calling me names like 'Genius' and 'Rocket-Scientist' all Monica had to say was 'Bless his heart.' And I just think you could take a lesson--"

"Hon, where is that southern to Yankee dictionary I got you a few years back?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Because, 'bless his heart' has many meanings. And in this case it means 'what a dumbass.'

"It does not!"

"It does."

"Nooo."

"Yes.

"Try it. If I were to say, "Mike, I went shopping today after you told me to wait until the 15th and I think I might have bounced a check, you would say..."

(after some thinking) "Bless your heart?"

"Right! And if I were to say, "My girlfriend Rachelle is pregnant again, you would say..."

(a little quicker now) "Bless her heart?"

"Correct! And if I were to tell you I found your cell phone. You left it in your pants pocket again and it went through the wash. The appropriate response would be..."

(on the beat now) "Bless my heart."

"You got it!"

"Well, wait a minute... she's been blessing my heart all week!"

"Well, then that's because she thinks you're a dumbass."

Sigh. Good times. Good times.

Such fun memories of my sister-friend Monica. And now, she and her kids are sick and having to relocate.

To the management of TVA I say, "Bless y'alls heart."

Feeling Much Better Today

2009-01-13T19:35:00.007-07:00

Yeah, so I'm feeling much better today. Got some sleep last night, thankfully. Ever since I got the call from mom, and she cried over the phone, I've been getting about 2 or 3 hours of sleep. If you know the woman, you know she never cries. So this is a big deal.

Heard from some folks again today. More people sick. TVA still saying everything is hunkey-dorey and the dust is no more harmful than the dust in your home.

Riiiight.

I'm going to post some of the things I've been responding to out on the web because there is a great number of people who are WOEFULLY misinformed. Unfortunately, I was not born with the ability to suffer fools; I tend to slice and dice with my comments. And, as of late, I've been called on it. But you know what? I don't give a horse's patoot. If it didn't happen to you or someone you care about, then shut your pie hole. Nobody cares what you have to say. Or what you think. Or what you read on TVA's website. Doesn't matter. Next!

Got a call from Nellie at Weitz & Luxenberg today telling me that Erin's been showing the video. Super nice of her to call. I hope I can continue to shed light on the Kingston coal ash disaster. The more I learn, the angrier I get.

By the way, if you're just joining in, let me warn you now: I swear. Alot. As it turns out, that's just who I am. It's what I do, it's what I'm about. So, if you find strong language "immature" or "offensive" then this is not the site for you. My site. My rules.

Here's the latest video I put together on the TVA disaster. This one is entitled "TVA-Honesty."

Hey! Here's a little joke for all you Kingston and Roane County Tennesseans - What's the definition of an oxymoron? TVA's management doing the right thing.