Farragut Independent No More...

Well, after having lived in Farragut for almost 5 years, I have decided that I've had enough of the traffic, the rudeness, the seeming unconcern of the Mayor for anything (except development of roads and squeezing in yet another subdivision) and the development that is Turkey Creek! So I have decided to build a new home (and unlike the West Knox McMansions, my new abode is only 1225 sq. ft.) SW of here, in what I know will eventually become a suburb of Knoxville. So, in about 4 months, I will no longer be a resident of the town of Farragut, but as the saying goes, "It's time to move on!"

Note: Eventually everything around here will get swallowed up in the Knoxanooga area (Knoxville-Chattanooga merger of 2079), right? Or will it become Bristville (Knoxville/Bristol/Seveirville merger of 2027)? Or better yet...Knoxbrisanooga (lol, I amuse myself so easily sometimes)

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It's Been a While...

...And I hope you voted yesterday (or in early voting)! If you didn't, then you have no right to complain if the person you chose lost, or if the measure you felt should have won didn't. Neither do you have the right to complain for the next 2 years about the direction of the country because you gave up that voice yesterday.

Anyway, as an independent, I feel that it is not only my right, but my DUTY to vote my consience and not along any party lines, and this election was no different.

I hope the country now gets over all the negativity that surrounded the campaigns and gets back to the business of governing again.
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How did I end up...

...Registered as a member of the Republican Party (GOP)? Everyone that knows me personally knows that I cannot in good conscience register myself with either party! Although I firmly believe in personal responsibility, the right to bear arms and that government be fiscally responsible most of the time, I also believe in pro-choice, and that Government should be a "safety net" (meaning in times of hardships, Government should give a "hand-up" to folks--note this is NOT a "hand out"!). Also, taxes need to be fair (meaning the Middle Class, myself included, shouldn't be bearing most of the costs!) for everyone. The rich should pay a bit more because they can afford it but they shouldn't be punished for being successful. Estate taxes should be on anything over $10 Million (and possibly adjust it every few years for inflation), with no loopholes. Come on, if your estate is that big, then what are you doing??? You can't take it with you, so why not live a great life and help out the rest of your family and close friends while you're doing it?

When the last set of Bush tax cuts came down, someone said that the poor got a "happy meal", the middle class got a "nice dinner for a family-of-4", while the rich "got a lexus, a condo and some servants to go along with it". I can't agree with that. That along with the fact that he then spent us into a major hole of a deficit. Bush should have used some of his own common sense that when you increase spending but cut taxes, you have got to come up with the money from somewhere. I refuse to let my future kids and grandkids pay for his mistakes! Let President Bush and his cronies pay for it.

To those of you who feel a consumption based tax is fairest, I'll say this. I don't mind consumption based taxation so long as you DO NOT tax basic foods bought in a grocery store! You can tax restaurant food (and I include fast food as well as street vending and convenience stores in this) all you want, because you're paying for a service. But when you tax basic staples like milk and bread, you punish the poorest folks who can barely afford to put that food on the table by taxing them. Go ahead and tax liquor, soda, beer, etc., because those in lower income brackets who really want to feed their families shouldn't be buying those things on a regular basis anyway. As someone who has seen poverty, middle class and extravagant wealth (and everything in between), I think that's the closest thing to fair that I can come up with. If you think you can convince me otherwise, go ahead and post a reply! After all, I know I'm not the best mind out there, but at least I have some ideas!

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It's been a while....

Sorry for not posting lately, but I've been swamped! I am currently in the middle of a couple of major projects @ work, a project for school & one for church. In the midst of all this, I got that nasty bug that's been taking people out for a couple of weeks and it wasn't pretty! Anyway, hopefully things will calm down soon and I'll be back to blogging in no time.....

I know the Town Of Farragut has finished it's Campbell Station Road Extension Project and although it looks good, I'm curious to see how much traffic really will be alleviated by this extension.

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Farragut is Tennessee's most "business friendly" City???

OK, read the article above before proceeding. Seriously, read it first BEFORE you make any judgements, o.k.

I personally had to do a double-take when I saw it in the FP last night. But after reading the article, I must admit that based on the factors that were used for selecting the town, that they are probably right in selecting Farragut. That being said, Farragut still has much further to go to be truly business friendly. Why are we still losing businesses to Knoxville & surrounding areas? Why do we still have storefronts and other businesses that are empty? What else has the town done to encourage business to come in? Come on, is the town going to "rest" on the laurels handed to them, or raise the standards even higher?

Personally, the first thing I'd like to see consistent business signage in the ENTIRE TOWN! If that means we give those businesses that are not currently meeting the standards (for whatever reason) incentives to do so (as well as credits for those who have complied), then let's do it! Let's clean up sites like the old gas station on KP and bill the owners for the work. If they refuse to keep their lot up to par, maybe the town should seize it and allow other development to take place. Have any of y'all got great ideas? Post 'em!

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Sound & Cinema In Farragut-Review

If you go into this store (which is in front of the Ingles in Farragut) thinking it's going to be a boutique "Best Buy," you're going to be sadly mistaken! This store is ABSOLUTELY nothing like Best Buy, Circuit City, Tweeter or any of those "chain" stores. The only thing they have in common is that they sell electronics, and unless you read those truly "audiophile" type magazines, you'll never even recognize the brands that Sound & Cinema carries. And that's just the way that Brian & Caleb like it! This store carries speakers that are more than my salary for an entire year! (as well as other, more affordable setups). Displays (it would be an injustice to call them TV's) and projection units that really bring out the quality out of Hi-Def and DVD's. They carry Audio and Home Theatre equipment that is truly worthy of being in those McMansions that are sprouting out here in West Knox/Farragut.

The guys are truly passionate about their work. They will recommend what will be the best for your particular needs (as well as offer alternatives). They may seem expensive, but you need to remember that what you're buying there is not your common run-of-the-mill electronics, but top-of-the world, best-in-class, high-end stuff and the service to go along with it (including customizing and home installation--which btw, they will come out to your home for a free initial consult if you'd like). If you truly want to know what good home audio/home theatre equipment looks/sounds like, head on in and bring some of your favorite CD's and DVD's. Believe me, you'll be convinced. Either that, or you've been spending way too much time listening to mediocrity to know what the best should really sound like...

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Recorders are out on GCR!

To everyone that does on drive Grigsby Chapel Road on a regular basis (and those of you who don't), please drive like you normally would. Just past Campbell Station Road, counters have been there recording the number of cars as well as the speed of those driving over the strips. This is the first step to the town determining what our needs are when it comes to traffic calming measures on GCR. Hopefully we get some determinations that make our roads safer!

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