Category: Announcements

Public service, alerts, and information that just needs to be known

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Going to Goodwill or you

Update: All has been distributed but the metal recycling.

I don’t do Freecycle anymore. I got to feeling like I had simply become a supplier for professional yardsalers. I guess that isn’t bad in that stuff I don’t use anymore still ends up getting used by somebody but I’d rather it get to someone more directly. Additionally, the last few encounters with Freecyclers were a little creepy. They started shopping my driveway and house, "What about that? Are you using that anymore? Can I have your lawnmower? Do you want to give that motorcycle away? …"

I am planning a large trip to Goodwill. If someone wants to put any of this to use before I make my trip, I would certainly prefer you to have it. The list right now is:

Separate from Goodwill, I’ll be making a donation to a metal recycler unless somone wants these:

  • Multimedia message2 aluminum server racks (they’ve been kept outside but still look good)
  • The metal frames of two all metal desks (minus wooden tops)
  • a dead dryer that has been outside on the driveway

I’m out of time for the moment. Several more items will be added to the list and I’ll get some pictures uploaded. Want any of this, contact me. You can also Twitter @djuggler.

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KSO Blogger Night – Tomorrow!

If you are a blogger and want to experience the wonderful Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, tomorrow night is Blogger Night at the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra! The ability to request tickets ends today at 2pm. (that’s 2 ½ hours from now!) Noah and I participated last year and had a wonderful time. There will be a reception afterward to meet the Maestro and musicians. The KSO simply asks that the bloggers give a review be it good or bad. 50 tickets were available. I do not know how many bloggers responded.

The deadline for emailing Stephanie is January 14 at 2:00 p.m. [Source, Frank Murphy, rock me Amadeus]

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Blogger Night at the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Last year the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (see also blog) invited bloggers to attend a performance and meet Maestro Lucas Richman. I was blown away. The KSO had an outstanding performance. Frank Murphy announced last week that the KSO is again offering 50 tickets to the first 50 bloggers to respond to Stephanie Burdette. I am pleased that Thursday, January 15, 2009, I and one other blogger from our house will be attending. I am not sure if they still have tickets but if you are a blogger who is in Knoxville or can make it to Knoxville on January 15, I hope to see you! (Be sure to email Stephanie Burdette if you are interested).

The deadline for emailing Stephanie is January 14 at 2:00 p.m. [Source, Frank Murphy, rock me Amadeus]

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Blogfest This Saturday, Calhouns, 6pm

Lissa 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 friends

Come 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!

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Costco coming to Knoxville

Costco 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.
Update 1/14/10: I don’t know the status of this project but it may have gone to North Georgia- "Costco identified in secret Catoosa project"
Update 1/21/2011: WATE reports that Costco is still trying to enter the Knoxville market and is considering property at Kingston Pike and Lovell Rd.

…6 News has learned Costco is looking at a potential site at the intersection of Lovell Road and Kingston Pike in West Knox County. … A Costco senior vice president says the discount chain has been interested in the Knoxville market for years, but could never find the right site. He can’t confirm anything until a deal has been signed, but he says they’re getting very close. [Source, WATE, Is Costco coming to Knoxville?]

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Spam on Reality Me out of control

This 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.

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Starbucks is Starbucks unless its in a store

Twitter 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.

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Pleasure Island and Adventurer’s Club closing

If 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.

[Source, Gobo, BoingBoing commenter]

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.

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Be involved with your schools! Act TODAY!

During 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.

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Today’s Cheap Ice Cream

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!).

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I Scream for Ice Cream – Free Ben & Jerry’s!

April 29, 2008 is Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry\'sAll 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.

Amy loves ice cream!Ah! Look at the ice cream love in those eyes! Read more at Domestic Psychology.