GDP Growth at 5.7%

How long until this "better than expected" GDP report is "unexpectedly" revised downward?

One More Reason to Carry a Gun

A California man shot his way out of a submerged vehicle. People don't realize it, but escaping from a submerged vehicle is very difficult. The force of the water on the doors makes it nearly impossible to open them because of the pressure differential. Electrical windows might not work, so you can't be guaranteed that you can simply roll down the window and escape. Here is a helpful video.

Personally, I own one of these for every vehicle, in addition to having a handgun. I had never really thought of this benefit of carrying a gun until reading the article.

Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidates on Guns

This is a handy guide put together by the Commercial Appeal. I was favorably surprised by Haslam's responses. The responses by Ramsey and Wamp were about what I expected; both of them were very good. Apparently, the Democrats are brain-dead and do not want my vote. I will be happy to oblige them in that regard.

Bristol Herald Courier Comments on Bluff City Speed Cameras

The editorial board of the Bristol Herald Courier has commented that drivers may simply avoid Bluff City due to their speed cameras. They also point out that the speed limit is artifically low there. This is a 4 lane highway with a 45 mph speed zone that is now enforced by cameras that sit at bottom of a trough between two hills.

Last week, City Manager Fredrick Weaver stressed the safety benefits. “If enforcing our speed camera program saves one life or keeps one person from being paralyzed in an accident, it’s more than worth us doing it,” he said. “The No. 1 thing for us is saving lives.”

Yeah, right. This is the same town that has another 45 mph speed zone on the Elizabethton Highway on a 4 lane that has very few businesses or interesections to speak of and is nothing but a speed trap. Realistically, one could safely travel 60-65 mph in that area and most people probably do. That is probably where they will put the next round of speed cameras.

I can tell you happens when I go through the area where the speed camera is located. Whenever I drive down the road, I try to be conscious of vehicles on side roads. I watch to make sure they stop and watch to see if they are going to drive onto the highway, watch to see if I could change lanes if necessary, etc. In the speed camera area, this is no longer the case. I fear that I no longer notice cars that pull up to the highway from the car wash or Poplar Ridge Road. I focus on my speedometer and the cars in front of me who are slamming on their brakes at the speed cameras. I suspect other drivers do the same thing and the end result will likely be that someone will pull out from the car wash or Poplar Ridge Road and the oncoming traffic will not even slow down or swerve to avoid a collision because they are not watching for pullouts from those areas as they are too busy watching their speed and watching for brakers in front of them. Then, someone will get killed or paralized while Bluff City cashes its checks.

King Barry Bans Finger Pointing

"While there will be a tendency for finger pointing, I will not tolerate it." So sayeth King Barry with respect to the recent intelligence failure of the executive branch of our government. Gee, I wonder what he is going to do about it if someone finger points...give them a stern lecture? I thought that type of torture was reserved for terrorist criminal suspects.

Making Sullivan County Proud

Alleged drunk gets busted while wearing a Nazi uniform - makes The Drudge Report and The Smoking Gun. Photo at link.

I wonder if he works for The Mall at Johnson City.