Blogfest This Saturday, Calhouns, 6pm September 25, 2008 6:01 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , 1 comment so farLissa has announced Blogfest for this coming Saturday! Blogfest is an opportunity for us onliners to meet in real life (irl).
When: Sept 27, 2008 6:00pm until ?
Where: Calhoun’s on Kingston Pike near Pellissipi Pkwy
Who: Bloggers, blog readers, Twitterers, and their significant others, family and friendsCome have a great time getting to know the people you read every day, and put a face to the words.
RSVP: In the comments here, or by emailing me, or Rich
The early Blogfests set a great tone for future gatherings. People of different political philosophies, different religious backgrounds, different economic sectors, etc. all came together just to be social and had great times despite differing views. I think some people have avoided recent blogfests because of fears that political views would clash. Set those aside for the evening and just come have some fun! Lissa has reserved a large room. We can put red on one side and blue on the other.
This is not a Barcamp. This is simply a social gathering. Come one, come all!
1 comment so farCostco coming to Knoxville August 1, 2008 4:05 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Economy, Of Interest, Touchy Subjects , 3commentsCostco will be tearing down the old BeltsBelz Outlet Mall across from Cotton Eyed Joe off of Lovell Road and building in its location. That’s a little off the beaten path. I didn’t think Costco’s and Sam’s existed in the same markets. It’ll be interesting to see if Knoxville can support Sam’s, Walmart and two BestBuy’s in close proximity. Yes, if you haven’t heard, Turkey Creek is getting a BestBuy. Personally I cannot see the BestBuy on Town and Country Circle surviving.
Little nostalgia. I remember the BeltsBelz Outlet Mall on its last dying legs. Walking through it was almost spooky. It was like the ghost mall. Then years after it was closed, I returned to it with several scouts to help package gifts for Angel Tree children. The moldy, rotting building accentuated the somberness as an Angel Tree volunteer called out the shortages in gifts and donations. Many empty bags were left "organized" on the floor with hopes that gifts would be scrounged for those children. None-the-less, the scouts running about and feeling good that they had helped someone that day reflected echoes of the energetic activity the mall had once known in its halls and particularly in its food court (as the old food court is where the bulk of the Angel Tree activity happened).
Old haunts go to make room for new haunts. I look forward to seeing what Costco brings to Knoxville.
Update 8/13/2008: Belts corrected to Belz thanks to JMT and hiknapster on city-data.com.
3commentsSpam on Reality Me out of control July 17, 2008 4:05 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest, Security, Technology , 1 comment so farThis weekend I plan to get a little aggressive with controlling spam on Reality Me. Most of it gets blocked but I get so much spam traffic that my Spam Karma logs regularly reach 70MB or more. If you find yourself unable to reach Reality Me, I may have been too aggressive. Just email me at juggler@gmail.com or Twitter @djuggler or Skype djuggler.
How do I plan to fight the spam? Mostly with apache. I’ll post details.
1 comment so farFree CFLs July 16, 2008 9:32 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Blogroll, Environment, Of Interest, Touchy Subjects , add a commentThe million lights project is offering free compact fluorescent bulbs to the first million requests.
add a commentStarbucks is Starbucks unless its in a store July 14, 2008 11:07 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , add a commentTwitter hurts the blog posting from time to time. Six days ago I spoke to an employee of Starbucks that seemed to be in the know regarding store closures. She informed me that no Knoxville Starbucks would be closing and that the closest closure was rumored to be Chattanooga. I Twittered the information instead of posting to Reality Me so the people following me on Twitter gained the knowledge but I did not create any record to be found by the search engines or referenced by papers and bloggers. I enjoy publishing information that others find useful. Carly Harrington tells us of closures much closer to Knoxville than Chattanooga.
I predicted that the Starbucks inside of Target at Turkey Creek would close since there is a Starbucks store in the same parking lot. I learned that none of the Starbucks inside of grocery stores or other stores will be closing. These Starbucks are owned by the store chain and not by Starbucks. The name only is licensed to the store. I wonder if the quality is different or if the store can water down or take shortcuts that an actual Starbucks cannot.
The Seattle Times has does an excellent job by providing a Google Map of rumored closings.
add a commentPleasure Island and Adventurer’s Club closing June 29, 2008 12:21 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , 4commentsIf I had the ability, I’d make multiple trips a year down to Disney World’s Pleasure Island. It is an innovative and unique entertainment experience primarily made up of different themed night clubs. Every night at midnight they celebrate New Year’s. The had comedy clubs, discos, country and so forth. All clubs were within a gated area separated from the parking lot by a moat. Under 18 could be on the island until a certain time then it because an adult only party. I always thought it was very well done.
My favorite part of Pleasure Island was The Adventurer’s Club. Oh what was the word we members used? Bangalosh or something.KUNGALOOSH!!!!(Thanks Missybw!) The Adventure’s Club is one part alcohol, one part animatronics, one part puppeteering, and one part improv comedy. You entered the club from the 2nd story which had a balcony overlooking the activity below. Downstairs the actor’s were dressed in costume as 1930’s adventurers some pompous, some safari attire, etc. They would tell stories of their adventures (despite some clearly having never ventured outside the club much less the wilderness) and statues and other adornments on the walls would chime in to share commentary. You never really knew what would speak next.
When I was there once, some pyt came into the club and glanced over the rail at the activity to watch. One of actors saw her and addressed her. "‘Ello Missy! Ave ya ev’r been to The Adventurer’s Club?" The entire room turns their attention to her as she leans on the rail, shakes her head and blushes. "Well, you really should come down here and join us! Since you’ve arrived, things are looking up!" She was a wearing a very, very short skirt.
I seem to recall a bell too. Often an actor would enter one of the rooms (there was a study, a lounge, and a couple of others if I recall correctly, all just off the center room), ring a bell and make an announcement. The Adventurer’s Club was always jovial and unexpected activity. Instead of closing it, they should be copying its model in every major city and college town across America!
According to the Pleasure Island FAQ:
"By September 28, 2008, all of the nightclubs on Pleasure Island will close. It will be last call for the last time at 8 Trax, The Adventurer’s Club, Mannequins™ Dance Palace, BET Sound-Stage™ Club, Motion and The Comedy Warehouse."They’re replacing the nightclubs with outsourced restaurants.
Annual passholders get to play a round of golf instead.
Great. Thanks for shutting down the single most creative attraction at Disney World.
BoingBoing notes an online petition is going around to save The Adventurer’s Club. Somehow I don’t think that will hold much weight with the Disney execs.
Update: The PI FAQ makes it sound like Pleasure Island will become more like Disney Marketplace.
4commentsBe involved with your schools! Act TODAY! June 3, 2008 2:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Education, Health, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy Subjects , add a commentDuring the rezoning we told the school board that the community wanted to be informed and involved in the choices that were being made. The School Matters forum was created as a result to help facilitate communication on educational issues. School Matters can be used by the community to talk amongst themselves on all issues of education throughout life. Education is not limited to K through 12. Fortunately, the school board listens in on School Matters and often provides commentary and responses.
The Knox County Board of Education will host an overview of school finance and the FY 2009 Budget request at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 12 in the West High School auditorium at 3300 Sutherland Ave.
The session is for interested citizens and is designed to provide a primer on school finance and an overview of the FY 2009 budget request and approval process.
[Source, School Matters, Knox County Schools Budget Overview Meeting for General Public]
Your comments to this announcement on School Matters could possibly help keep the budget on track and steer our educational resources in the best possible manner to provide our children with the education they deserve. Take time and comment now! For the children.
add a commentHello May 9, 2008 9:11 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest, Publishing , add a comment add a commentTake off your pants! May 2, 2008 9:34 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , add a commentThe first Friday in May is always "No Pants Day"! And judging by the gallery, guys love it! (and a couple of women)
Today’s Cheap Ice Cream April 30, 2008 7:53 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Bargains, Of Interest , add a comment
If you missed yesterday’s free scoop, you still have the opportunity to get some inexpensive ice cream today. 
Join us for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins® and help us honor America’s firefighters. Participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents.* At some locations, you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to your local fire charities. …A donation of $100,000 will be made by Baskin-Robbins® to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. …learn more about the foundation by visiting www.firehero.org.
* 2.5oz scoops are 31 cents plus tax where applicable. Limit 10 scoops per person, per purchase.
[Source, Baskin-Robbins website]
Please note this event is between 5pm and 10pm. You can also RSVP for this event on Facebook! Enjoy! The only challenge to Knoxvillians may be finding a store (oh I miss the Rocky Hill and West Town Basin-Robbins!).
add a commentI Scream for Ice Cream - Free Ben & Jerry’s! April 29, 2008 8:08 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Bargains, Of Interest , 1 comment so far
All hail the great Ben and the wonderful Jerry! In celebration of their 30th birthday, Ben & Jerry’s is giving way free ice cream today! Remember, they also offer free wifi access. Find a store near you. You can bet our horde will be there late this afternoon ruining our dinner.
Ah! Look at the ice cream love in those eyes! Read more at Domestic Psychology.
1 comment so far
Blogfading April 28, 2008 9:35 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Cool Sites, Of Interest , 1 comment so farYou’ll be back my friend. A blogger blogs, always. The Atomictumor is a great thing even if it never grows another byte.
1 comment so farJuggling Club Meeting Tonight April 15, 2008 3:51 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Health, Juggling, Of Interest , 1 comment so farAs a reminder, the Knoxville Juggler’s Club meets the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month. All skill levels welcome. Come and learn! Everyone can juggle. Juggling is good for the body, mind, and spirit. It also is a great social tool.
Naturally, my attendance is dependent upon my work progress. I do hope to get a short break as I could use the exercise!
1 comment so farBlogfest in 2.5 hours April 12, 2008 3:34 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Blog, Of Interest, Publishing , 4commentsWill you be attending tonight’s Blogfest at Wild Wing’s Cafe in West Knoxville? Starts at 6pm. See you there!
4commentsAmerican Red Cross Tornado Blog February 6, 2008 9:45 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Environment, Health, Of Interest, Touchy Subjects , add a comment
The American Red Cross (ARC) has set up a website in response to the Tennessee tornadoes. I learned this because I follow @Redcross on Twitter as you should.
This site is for public information about the American Red Cross response to the Tennessee tornadoes of February 2008. [Source, Tennessee Tornadoes, American Red Cross] [more info]
They had a similar site for Northwest Flooding 2007. If you are looking for loved ones or have been displaced by a disaster, please use the Safe and Well List to help inform family and friends. Safe and Well is easily accessible through your phone using Twitter.
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