Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Comments on Knox County Budget Proposal - 2012

Yesterday, Knox County government released a new budget proposal.

My brother-in-law works for Tim Burchett and although I don't share his conservative political philosophy, I do give Burchett credit for some basic governance that makes sense to me.

Some of that common sense involves the political topic de jour: "fiscal responsibility."

I don't make a lot of money, so living within my means is important personally as well as philosophically. So, I support the move to find efficiencies in government.

However, I see increased funding in areas that I see siphoning off funds from important public ventures, like investment in public parks and recreation opportunities, public health services, and library services.

I went through the entire budget proposal, which is available online, and picked out some things I found interesting:
  • Increase to "Public Safety" department (Knox County Sheriff's Office) which does not seem motivated to be thrifty
  • "U.S. Soccer Complex" seems to have been zeroed out last year - I don't really care about soccer in West Knox County, but I do believe we need more public parks / sports fields to enhance public health
  • cuts to park maintenance (speaks to public parks again)
  • cuts to veterans office (Cuts to Veterans? Really?)
  • cuts to office of neighborhoods (Is this the same entity as City of Knoxville's Office of Neighborhoods? - what is a community without neighborhood representation?
  • Why did "Vector Control" go from 62,898 in 2010 to 7,000 in 2011 and 2012? For non-biologists out there - that's "disease vectors" like mosquitos. I already have enough mosquitos in my neighborhood. This seems like a major public health concern.
  • What is the "Car Seat Program" - surely there are enough car seats for Knox County's toddlers.
  • Why is there an "inoperable car lot" is that "impound lot?" If it's just a lot for inoperable cars, why do we have a lot full of inoperable cars?
  • What is the difference between "Digitized Mapping" and "Geographic Information Systems?"
  • FY12 9,905,053 for "Sheriff's Administration" Seriously? 9 million dollars for administration?
  • Why was there a cut to "Detectives"
  • Why was there a cut to "Narcotics"
  • Why was there a cut to the recycling program? Recycling can save money - our neighbors in Sevier County the East even have a world-renowned composting facility that saves landfill space
  • Why is there a 459,000 increase in the "Hotel/Motel Tax Fund" What is that?
  • Why was "stormwater management - violation" phased out?
  • Why is "Highway and Bridge Maintenance" over 7 million dollars, and increased over 200,000 for FY2012







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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Great Balls of Fire!



Great Balls of Fire!
ScienceDirect - Pathophysiology : High scrotal temperatures and chairs in the pathophysiology of poo
March 14, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Source: www.sciencedirect.com
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the temperature and humidity of the scrotal skin during sitting on commonly used chairs in relation to body mass index.
Statistically highly significant increase up to 3 °C was recorded
when subjects were sitting on commonly used chairs already in 20 min.
When the subjects were sitting on the saddle chair no increase of
scrotal skin temperature or humidity was observed indicating good
ventilation due to open hip and knee angles. Body mass index correlated
with the scrotal skin temperature, when the subjects were sitting on the
c

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Friday, March 11, 2011

I haven't laughed so hard for a while...


Damn You Auto Correct! » 15 Most Popular Autocorrects From February 2011
March 10, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Source: damnyouautocorrect.com
These were the 10 most viewed, most shared, and most popular images sent in to DYAC in February, 2011. Congratulations to the submitters!

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Tempest In A Foam Cup: Lawmakers Spar Over Plastic

What a pity. Our government is supposed to provide leadership. Why don't they use reusable trays and cutlery.... "You wonder what's next," he says. "Lead paint? Asbestos? I mean, there's lots of things that are less expensive as long as you don't care about health and other considerations."

Restaurants in the Capitol used eco-friendly plates, cups and utensils for the last four years under former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "Green the Capitol" campaign. Republicans have switched to plastic, citing concerns about cost and quality.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

For Turtles, Earth's Magnetism Is A Built-In GPS

For Turtles, Earth's Magnetism Is A Built-In GPS : NPR
March 7, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Source: www.npr.org
Loggerhead turtles are born with an ability to know where they are on Earth, and which way to swim to get to favorable feeding grounds, a new study finds. It turns out an extreme sensitivity to the planet's magnetic field lets them determine both longitude and latitude as they migrate.
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Monday, March 7, 2011

New Tennessee environmental chief represented polluters in court

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is not simply an environmental protection agency. It is a natural resources management agency responsible for Tennessee State Parks. The fact that a person who does not have a background in Natural Resources management was hired to fill this spot reveals Governor Haslam's intentions for the post.

 
 

Sent to you by Mountainsol via Google Reader:

 
 

via Tanner Jessel's Facebook Links by Tanner Jessel on 2/23/11

Source: shar.es
Bob Martineau's past as a top environmental lawyer is making some activists skittish; others say his knowledge will be an asset.
    TOOL ALERT!    

 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Odd Homophobic Rhetoric

I found this odd rhetoric on a news article about the recent repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

My background is in ecology and evolutionary biology so I tend to think that homosexuality is a product of genetics, not a choice. The alternative viewpoint, that homosexuality is a choice, is not viable, from my perspective. Homosexuals have no more choice about who they are attracted to than do heterosexuals. Lines of evidence resulting from scientific inquiry supports this and I'm certain I can find papers and links to substantiate my assertion.

Below is the string of comments I found simply confounding"
Dalphonso writes:

Public sexual perversion isn't something I will ever tolerate. Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior.

This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it.

Now more of our tax dollars are going to be wasted on treating hepatitis within the military while decreasing the overall fighting ability. The U.S. is rotting from within because fewer people have the courage to stand up against our domestic enemies.

justaguyintennesseetoo writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

Public sexual perversion isn't something I will ever tolerate. Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior.

This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it.

Now more of our tax dollars are going to be wasted on treating hepatitis within the military while decreasing the overall fighting ability. The U.S. is rotting from within because fewer people have the courage to stand up against our domestic enemies.

So, in your thought process there is no difference between a gay person and a child molester? Is that what you are trying to say?

Dalphonso writes:

in response to justaguyintennesseetoo:

So, in your thought process there is no difference between a gay person and a child molester? Is that what you are trying to say?

If that were what I was trying to say I would have said it. As it is, I didn't. Brush up on your reading skills.

DavidGarrettJunior writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

Public sexual perversion isn't something I will ever tolerate. Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior.

This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it.

Now more of our tax dollars are going to be wasted on treating hepatitis within the military while decreasing the overall fighting ability. The U.S. is rotting from within because fewer people have the courage to stand up against our domestic enemies.

Are gay people your enemy? The way I was always taught by my parents was to mind my own business, but if you see someone being treated unfairly then try to help them.

LeadGuts writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

Public sexual perversion isn't something I will ever tolerate. Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior.

This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it.

Now more of our tax dollars are going to be wasted on treating hepatitis within the military while decreasing the overall fighting ability. The U.S. is rotting from within because fewer people have the courage to stand up against our domestic enemies.

Hush up you ignoramus

LeadGuts writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

If that were what I was trying to say I would have said it. As it is, I didn't. Brush up on your reading skills.

Rhetoric like yours was what escalated into the hatred that fueled Nazi Germany.

Dalphonso writes:

in response to DavidGarrettJunior:

Are gay people your enemy? The way I was always taught by my parents was to mind my own business, but if you see someone being treated unfairly then try to help them.

Forcing someone to accept and fund your own deviant behavior is hardly "minding your own business" wouldn't you say? Does it sound fair to you?

Those who seek to destroy this country and its ability to defend itself are my enemy. Sexual behavior isn't the defining characteristic. Such comments as you made are an attempt to silence me rather than engage me in debate.

I do wish those of you who disagree with me could come up with something more than the canned (and inaccurate) arguments that could have been copied and pasted from other sites. I'm putting original thoughts into my posts and you guys are are just reacting with regurgitated accusations that do not address my actual comments.

Please try harder. I enjoy a good debate with anyone intelligent enough to provide one.

justaguyintennesseetoo writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

If that were what I was trying to say I would have said it. As it is, I didn't. Brush up on your reading skills.

"Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior."

That is exactly what you said! Can you tell me what the difference is between a child molester and someone who prefers animals or their sibling?

MisterJayJune writes:

in response to Dalphonso:

Public sexual perversion isn't something I will ever tolerate. Homosexuality isn't a condition any more than beastiality or incest is a condition. It's a behavior.

This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it.

Now more of our tax dollars are going to be wasted on treating hepatitis within the military while decreasing the overall fighting ability. The U.S. is rotting from within because fewer people have the courage to stand up against our domestic enemies.

You say, "This law is one step further towards the ultimate goal of forcing acceptance of deviant sexual behavior on those of us who are repulsed by it."

I'm probably not the person to have the debate you ask for later, but some things you say make me curious. By the statement I just put in quotes, do you mean there is an ultimate goal of forcing the population of the United States to engage in homosexual behavior, or just a goal of forcing us to accept it?


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