mr rocky top

Here's a nice little video for your Friday viewing pleasure: "Oh, Mama". Just press the play button.

tagged video, humor

As the blog gets older and has reached its third year, I thought a little make-over would due as a self-birthday present (we don't want to show our age, do we now?). This is the third design (the first in 2 years) that I have had at Mr Rocky Top. This is also the first time that I have a design that Blogger did not offer with its pre-made templates. I hope you enjoy the new look. If not, please let me know. Also, if you have any problems viewing the new design, please notify me soon so I can work on it. Please contact me through the comments section or email me to share your opinion. Thanks! (Oh yeah, vote on the poll below and tell me what you think)

tagged mrrockytop

A few things have been going on recently.

Took a random trip to Atlanta to watch the Braves play baseball. Sam & I took the train in and ran around ATL all day (when I say "ran," I mean "ran!"); we then finished with a great game of baseball. Sam's first pro game in America.



I finally got my camera back. I have been suffering withdrawal for quite a while. It feels great to be able to take pictures again.

I bought a nice jacket for $3 a few weeks ago. I also bought a nice dinnerware set from a local thrift store last week. I also got a nice picture (a huge hot dog) for the kitchen that you can see below. Went and bought some stuff in Pigeon Forge (including a fancy vest that had been marked down to $9 from $80). Also got a nice & lucky chair from an "undisclosed location." It really is lucky...helps with everything!







tagged pictures, college, friends, personal

"My name is Bob Corker," and I am a conservative, pro-life candidate that you can trust. Yes, really, you can believe me! I cross my heart!

That's my personalized rendition of Bob Corker's signature at the end of his commercials (I have fun impersonating him). The Tennessean has an interesting article today regarding what many Republicans have been asking since Bob Corker entered the Republican primary race: is Corker truly a conservative that supports pro-life legislation? He continuously begs people to believe him that he is indeed such a candidate, but many have true doubts about that stance. The Tennessee Right to Life organization has even gone on to say that they will not support the Republicans this Fall if Corker wins the primary. Republican leaders point to his campaign donations to Democrats and a major decision he made while serving as a member of the Gov. Sundquist administration.

Corker also has drawn the ire of some Republicans over a flap when he was state finance commissioner in 1995 under former Gov. Don Sundquist.

His critics claim that he blocked an amendment to the state budget that year that would prohibit the use of state tax dollars on abortions.

"I remember he being mad and thinking I was playing politics with it," said the man who brought him the amendment, state Rep. Bill Dunn.

Corker's opposition surprised Dunn because he figured Sundquist would support such a measure just as he had on the federal level when he was in Congress, said Dunn, a Republican from Knoxville.

Corker's recollection is different.

"I told him I agreed very much with what he wanted to do, but I knew no way the amendment would pass at the 11th hour," Corker said. He suggested to Dunn that he try again the next year.

Bryant [Former US-Rep Ed Bryant running against Corker] doesn't buy that explanation: "I'd like to respond that you're pro-life 24 hours a day, and if you're pro-life, very often the 11th hour is when you have to be strongest."

The Tennessean interviewed Corker's friend Edee Orr and asked her what she thought; she is fully convinced that he supports pro-life issues. Well, thank you Tennessean and Edee for clearing that up. Myself, I have some doubts. Corker says that he had a change of heart (some call that a "flip-flop") seven or eight years ago.

"Since that time, certainly, I've served in the public arena. I understand the issue in a totally different light and realize it's about protecting the unborn," Corker said last week. "I personally believe that life begins at conception and believe we should protect the unborn. I am pro-life."
...
In 1994, "I was looking at it more from a perspective of laws governing the adult versus protecting the unborn," he said. Since that time, he has served in public office and raised two daughters.

I sure that it is entirely conceivable that Corker could have changed his mind, but I am not totally convinced myself. It is now politically favorable for Bob to have a pro-life stance; most Tennesseans (the voters) support pro-life legislation. If he wants to get elected, of course he has to say such things. This is what I feel is going on: Bob wants to get elected, and this stance is required to get the votes. This is simply election-year rhetoric. On the other hand, though, it is also entirely possible that this is just the best issue that his opponents can use against Corker. Goodness, election years are confusing! (more here)

tagged 06election, tennessee, politics