Little Pigeon

Monday, April 27, 2009

Live and Let Die - James Bond 007

Dan Smith or Dan Makgow:

Reference your column, today, The Mountain Press

I was relieved when Obama won the election because neither McCain nor Obama will win this one. And, besides, I enjoy watching Obama's people being pilloried. I predict a republican win in 2012 and it just might be John McCain's daughter.

Remember, I voted for McCain and you voted for Ron Paul. Which of us cast a vote and lost and which of us tried to make a point and failed? Which of us did what he could do to avoid an Obama presidency? But that is history and as Sheriff Milton Crabapple says, a lot of water has been passed since then. (The sheriff is on Pigeon Forge radio 930AM). But spending is not about Obama or any president or congress. Spending is pandemic to government and by the dictionary definition it just might be a disease as it is harmful or destructive condition. The hero of conservatism Ronald Reagan left us with a larger deficit and a larger budget than he found. I believe the largest building in D.C. is the Reagan building. But I digress.

Look at the Sevier county school system. They've spent the money they have been assigned and want more and more and more. There will never be enough. They claim irreparable damage to the children. They failed once and they just keep coming back. They cannot help it. They are government in action or is it inaction?

As for world dictators, The U.S. is not the world's police or nation builder. I want ALL foreign aid to stop. I want our military brought home from those 105 or so countries. I want us to have the attitude we will work with you if you are friendly to us otherwise we will annihilate you, simple but affective. How they treat their citizens is not our business. Just like how we treat our citizens is not their business. Or as James Bond says, live and let die.

Nice column

Friday, April 24, 2009

Mr Rove, go away, Please.

Get Karl Rove off television. He is to blame for Bush and without Bush there would be Obama. Please Mr. Rove, just go away and shutup..

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Nancy Pelosi may want a truth panel into the CIA's possibly criminal interrogations, but President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are resisting. According to The New York Times, "Meeting with the Democratic leadership on Wednesday night, Mr. Obama said a special inquiry would steal time and energy from his policy agenda, and could mushroom into a wider distraction looking back at the Bush years." Reid said yesterday, "I think it would be very unwise, from my perspective, to start having commissions, boards, tribunals, until we find out what the facts are."

When one is forming a lynch party it is alwasy a good idea to know who is going to be lynched. Nancy may be surprised when the rope is put on her neck....

I Bet She Regrets The Day She Said Yes To McCain...

Sarah Palin is setting up a legal defense fund to raise money to pay for her $500,000 worth of legal bills. The fund will "provide a legal and proper way for the governor's supporters to help her respond to these frivolous complaints that have been leveled, keeping her from being able to do her job and ... really harassing her," a member of the Palin team said. And, to seemingly preempt anything that could possibly go wrong, Palin's announced that she will only accept donations of $150 or less, that no money can come from lobbyists, and that the names of all contributors will be made public. The debt comes, in part, from the Trooper Gate scandal. About a dozen ethics complaints have been filed against Palin in the past four months.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Micro Three

When you look at the automobile industry shutting down in the United States and wonder why remember the guideline that you did not want to buy a car built on Monday or Friday because so many workers skipped work.

Waterboarding, Call it what you like but at least TRY to be honest.

Waterboarding has been recognized as a torture technique since the time of Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition. U.S. soldiers who were caught using it on enemy insurgents in the Philippines, in 1901, or the Vietnam War, in 1968, were prosecuted. When suffocation by water was used by foreign governments, such as the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, the State Department didn't hesitate to call it torture.

By the way am I the only one wondering why people who want to be martyrs allow themselves to be captured alive?

Looking for ScapeGoats

The Director of Homeland Security might be profiling.

There is a report entitled from the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) report dated 02/20/09 and titled, "MIAC Strategic Report: The Modern Militia Movement." In this "law enforcement sensitive" secret police report, the Missouri Governor, the Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the Colonel of the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and the Director of MIAC categorize certain citizens as being potential violence-prone "militia members." It might be fair to say 75% of the population of the United States is covered.

According to the MIAC report, if you oppose any of the following, you could qualify for being profiled as a potential dangerous "militia member":

The United Nations

The New World Order

Gun Control

The violation of Posse Comitatus

The Federal Reserve

The Income Tax

The Ammunition and Accountability Act

A possible Constitutional Convention

The North American Union

Universal Service Program

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Abortion

Illegal Immigration

It alleges supporters of Ron Paul might be domestic terrorists.

One of our local columnists was a Ron Paul supporter and he does not think much of that MIAC report.

The MIAC is similar to racial profiling. What the MIAC says is probably true. Criminals like Timothy McVeigh and Eric Rudolph probably fit the MIAC profile. But what it fails to say is others who also fit the profile are not, that is America. Citizens have pictures of Che Guevara and Malcolm X but do not advocate the overthrow of government. I like bumper stickers. There is a song with the title I got the bird from a gray hair old lady with a bumper sticker that said Honk if you Love Jesus. The writer of the song said he saw the sticker, honked and the driver gave him the finger.

Some ask who would have thought our country would have fallen apart like this. I could have told them. When Caucasian women stopped having children while minorities continue to have tribes the country was doomed; when educated people stopped having children while the uneducated continued to multiply the country was doomed; when the working class stopped having children while welfare recipients grow exponentially the country was doomed; when Christians stopped having children while non-Christians continue to be fruitful and multiply the country was doomed; when NAFTA allowed corporations to move jobs offshore while giving their senior management huge bonuses for cost cutting and their corporations tax breaks the country was doomed; when NAFTA destroyed the middle class the country was doomed; when elected officials and corporate officers continue to play musical chairs the country was doomed.

But one other group is part of the problem. Voters who vote for third party candidates in a lame attempt to make a meaningless point take possibly decisive votes away from a viable candidate. John McCain is closer to Ron Paul than Barack Obama; a vote for Ron Paul was a vote for Barack Obama. As when Ralph Nader took votes from Al Gore. Third party candidates are ruining the system.

Ron Paul bumper stickers identify the people who made Obama president.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The United States is in Trouble

The United States is no longer a Christian nation. Throughout our history there are examples that cause one to believe God was with us but no longer. The country wants nothing to do with God so we can hardly expect his support. And Christians were silent.

Christians produce fewer children than those who are non Christian resulting in Christians becoming a lower percentage of the total population and non Christians becoming the majority.

When you look at all of the groups claiming to be Christian you see a people who for the most part do not accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God. A people refusing to subjugate themselves to the teachings found within. Today as in the past, everyone does what is right in their own eyes. And today as in the past, God will bring down nations that do not obey him to the letter.

The Bible is either exactly what it says it is or it is a lie. Jesus is either who he says he is or he is delusional.

What Joshua told Israel is applicable today, choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

No Answers = a No Vote

On April 17, 2009 The Mountain Press printed a letter-to-the-editor with some questions concerning the sales tax increase "for the schools." The questions included:

How long will this tax go to the schools?

Will it be spent only on the capital improvements or the school system?

Has a law or ordinance been passed that guarantees the above? If so, when?

Has it been presented to the courts to see if this is legal?

The author wrote that several years ago the voters were asked to vote for a sales tax increase in the name of education. A year or so later when the voters of Sevier County asked about the whereabouts of the money they were told the Tennessee Constitution does not allow sales tax money to be earmarked in advance. The money went to the general fund and was distributed to the project the lawmakers felt was most in need. The tax stayed and education did not receive what the voters had been told.

I have contacted Governor Bredesen, State Senator Doug Overbey, and The Mountain Press asking if the author of the letter was correct about the Tennessee constitution prohibiting advance earmarking of Sales tax. State Senator Overbey responded that he did not know what the constitution of Tennessee says on the subject. As one of his constituents I expected him to assign a member of his staff to research the subject but he did nothing other than to express his ignorance of the constitution of Tennessee. Wouldn't you think someone on the senator's staff would be up on the contents of the Constitution of Tennessee? How does he vote without knowing? I then sent an email to The Mountain Press asking if they could research the subject as a service to their readers. I have not seen anything to respond to the question other than this editorial complaining about "a rigid block of opponents who simply will not be persuaded even in the face of statistics and logic. They oppose the tax for sometimes selfish and personal reasons that have little to do with the realities of the situation."

Neither The Mountain Press nor the School Board has responded to the April 17th letter-to-the-editor. Thus without assurance the money collected will go for the purpose intended I will vote No and encourage others to do the same.

The amount is not the issue. The issue missed so badly by The Mountain Press and overlooked by the School Board is the expectation that the voters will blindly take the word of the School Board and The Mountain Press. If they want my vote they will answer my questions.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Ms USA

While I agree with Ms California about Gay Marriage and I cheer her for her courage and character I question a contest where beautiful women wear clothes that show as much breast as is acceptable on non-cable TV and that bare as close to their pubic area as is acceptable on non-cable TV. I have no idea why women watch the contest but men are drooling and most likely becoming aroused, safely. I did not watch the contest other than what was shown on cable TV. Soft-porn...

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

Death on the Hawk, no accident

This was no accident. This was no happening by chance. This was no malfunction. This was the result of a malicious act that was intended to push more customers through the ride, in other words greed. Greed just like what caused the financial debacle we are currently experiencing.

While OJ Simpson was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing the deaths of two people this and judge convicted the manager of the Rockin raceway of reckless homicide but assigned no punishment.

The public knows Pigeon Forge is not the place to come if you want a guaranteed safe experience.

In 1982, Johnson and Johnson experienced a major crisis when it was discovered that numerous bottles of its Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules had been laced with cyanide. By the end of the crisis, seven people had died. How Johnson and Johnson dealt with this situation set a new precedent for crisis management. The company was lauded for its quick decisions and sincere concern for its consumers. Despite initial losses, Johnson and Johnson regained and exceeded its previous market share within months of the incident.

Actions of the CEO and other senior management were a major part of the corporate reaction and eventually to the recovery of reputation and market share. Actions of Pigeon Forge leadership trying to forget and The Mountain Press calling it an accident do nothing to regain the confidence of people, aware of the death. I wonder how many visitors, aware of the death, visit Sevier County.

If it was your mother, daughter or sister that died, would it still be an accident?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Roxanna Saberi

Ms Saberi put herself in a position where she can be used as a pawn. She should have known the risk of being in Iran. Now she will be in prison until Iran decides to use her to get something from America. America should not give up anything for her. Very unwise. But she lost. Time to move on.

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

No Longer The World SuperPower We Have to Learn to Compromise

Some want to rewrite history of the United States. What was done to the natives found here was nothing less than genocide and it continues today. Doubt me? Look at the Reservations and peoples that are extinct.

At one time we were strong enough both in will and weapons to subjugate South America and to tell others to stay out of "our" hemisphere, no longer.

The "conservatives" have shown they are complainers. While in power they did not have a clue. But now they have all the answers. As we proceed through President Obama's four years, John McCain's daughter may be the big winner

Jackie Chan's Comments

As are most "celebrities" "Chan is a moron. He has become wealthy doing what he wants and now he says unless the Chinese people are controlled they will do what they want to do. Talk about uppity...

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

Back to the Bible

Christians produce fewer children than those who are non Christian resulting in Christians becoming a lower percentage of the total population and non Christians becoming the majority.

When you look at all of the groups claiming to be Christian you see a people who for the most part do not accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God. A people refusing to subjugate themselves to the teachings found within. Today as in the past, everyone does what is right in their own eyes. And today as in the past, God will bring down nations that do not obey him to the letter.

The Bible is either exactly what it says it is or it is a lie. Jesus is either who he says he is or he is delusional.

What Joshua told Israel is applicable today, choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Driver Decals

Forget the teenagers decal DUIs and Sex Offenders...

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

US and Venezuela

Those complaining about President Obama being courteous to Mr. Chavez should explain how being discourteous makes the United States safer? We are well passed the time when the United States was superior to every other country. The sooner we understand that the sooner we can build relationships and be indeed safer.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Baseball Player Killed by Drunk Driver

How about getting away from the tabloid programming and help society? Why do we tolerate people who kill us? We need to get serious about DUIs.

Federal , State and Local laws should require:

Upon an arrest for for DUI the automobile is confiscated, guilty person loses their driving license for 6 months and they spend 200 hours in community service, 80 contiguous hours in jail and complete a rehab program, All of those would be within the same six months during the license suspension.

Driving on a suspended license would result in 5 years of license suspension, 1 year in jail. A second violation would required 10 years of license suspension and 5 years in jail. The next violation would be 20 years of license suspension and 10 years in jail. and on and on, These would be consecutive penalties Allowances could be made for documented proof of no contact with alcohol or drugs or bars or drug dealers for 5 years. The individual would be responsible for documentation.

A DUI with an accident would mean a lifetime license suspension. If someone is hurt 10 years in jail. If someone is killed, life in prison,

All jail sentences would be without the possibility of parole.

Federal laws would prohibit insurance companies from using DUI related expenses in the numbers they use to determine their rates to be charged to the consumer. In other words insurance companies and their stock holders would have to eat those expenses.

When the Federal and State governments and insurance companies get serious we will be able to greatly reduce such situations and YOU can help.

--
Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

An apple a day, still leaves you 2-4 servings short of your daily fruit recommendations.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Fw: Dogs - Zoning - Ordinances

City Commissioners:

City Manager:

This note is a bit sooner than I had expected but a few minutes ago a third neighbor called to ask if those dogs (mentioned in the note attached) were the ones barking. The answer was "Yes."

Again I am:

John Jenkins

425 Patterson Lane

Gatlinburg, TN 37738

How long will Gatlinburg permit people to move into a neighborhood and ruin it for everyone? I realize this is east Tennessee but is there any thing people cannot do within the city limits of Gatlinburg? If we were in the county I realize anything goes but does Gatlinburg offer no protection for its property owners? You might want to have local Realtors warn prospective buyers that for property owners Gatlinburg is no different than Dodge City.

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others."

---Flight Attendants around the world

--- On Tue, 3/17/09, John Jenkins <jrjenki@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: John Jenkins <jrjenki@yahoo.com>
Subject: Dogs - Zoning - Ordinances
To: "Cindy Cameron Ogle" <cogle@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>, "Don Smith" <dsmith@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>, "Harry Montgomery" <hmontgomery@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>, "Jerry Hays" <jhays@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>, "Little Pigeon Blog" <greenbri.jrjenki@blogger.com>, "Mike Werner" <mwerner@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>, "Mike Helton" <mhelton@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us>
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 12:19 PM

City Commissioners:
City Manager:

The purpose of this email is to let you know of a situation building in our neighborhood and to make a record of that situation.

I am

John Jenkins
425 Patterson Lane
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

A family has recently returned to our neighborhood. They lived here for several years and then moved. They rented their property but the renters moved out and the owners have returned.

They are very nice people BUT…

They have dogs and they keep them outside so the entire neighborhood can enjoy them. When they lived here before, the family was on vacation and they left their dogs 5 or 6 by number in their fenced in back yard. Three Mastiffs a Labrador, a blue tick hound, a red hound and some other smaller dog. One day in June the dogs began barking around 7:30 in the morning and continued most of the day. The length of the barking was unusual but not the actual barking. When I went into my yard the dogs barked, for a while. Anyone walks by the dogs bark. When the meter readers come by the dogs barked. Any strange vehicle in the neighborhood the dogs barked. I called the Zoning department to ask if our area is zoned for a kennel. They suggested I call the police, which I did and they did not know. One of the dogs would begin barking and the others would join in feed off each other. They would turn a quiet neighborhood into one where the people could not sit outside on their deck. Other neighbors called and an officer came out. Through neighborhood rumors I understood the police said the dogs were violation due to barking and smell but who knows. Nothing changed. I live across from the dogs and I can tell you they stink. I talked to the man of the house and he said he was going to clean it up. Instead he moved. But now they are back and have brought 5 dogs with them Two Mastiffs, what looks like a lab puppy, the red tick hound and some smaller dog. So far so good but things will change. The dogs are not aggressive just noisy and smelly and the larger dogs quite intimidating during those rare times they are running the neighborhood. If a tourist walks their dog these dogs bark until they go away.

The dogs are seldom out of their fenced area but when they do get out some of them like to come to my yard and leave their crap. They walk in our flowers, come up on the deck and leave their muddy paw prints. Before they moved, one week while I was mowing my yard I found 7 treasures. I called the police just to let them know.

This morning I was in my house and a neighbor up the hill from us called to ask me if those dogs were the ones barking. I checked and they were.

Before the family moved you could smell the dog urine and feces from their property. Once the smell was so acidy I stopped mowing and sniffed the drains to see if the neighbor was draining the urine into the storm sewer but the smell was not coming from the storm drains. Just in the air. A veterinarian could tell you how many gallons of urine and pounds of feces get dumped every day in their yard. Once in the dirt it will take a long time for the smell to dissipate.

It is fascinating we are zoned long term rental and cannot rent overnight but we apparently are zoned for urine and feces aroma and a house with a backyard filled with fenced in areas containing at times barking dogs. Much like a kennel. The smell has not arisen at this time but it will later this summer.

That is enough for now. This is not a request for you to do anything. I will forward this note as a reminder later this summer when the smell has returned and the barking begins.

Dog owners are so thoughtful when they leave home they leave their pets outside so everyone can enjoy them.

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others."

---Flight Attendants around the world

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

What is the Public to Do?

Recently their was a letter to the Editor of The Mountain Press concerning a dog dying from ingesting anti-freeze and thinking maybe someone intentionally killed the dog, a Rottweiler.

Let's look at this logically. First, I do not recommend killing pets or otherwise mistreating our home companions. You do realize they are not pets but our companions? PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) thinks a pet is something you purchase and own as property which equates it to an object. A companion is an animal you adopt and view no differently than a member of your family (maybe if you descended from an Orangutan). If your pup is from a breeder, he'd fall into the former category. People don't purchase companions. What a bunch of crappola.

Let's say an individual is afraid of dogs. Maybe they were bit when they were young maybe they are just timid no matter they are afraid of dogs, especially big dogs like Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Boxers, Dalmatians, etc. Now let's say the owners of such dogs let their dogs run loose. The reason does not matter. The owners think their companion has a right to run the streets or the companions get out of the fenced area, they break the lease, while out for a walk the owner cannot restrain them, the reason is irrelevant, the dogs are on the loose. Now let's say the police will do nothing, city government will do nothing, the owners either will not control their companion or cannot control their companion. What is the public to do? How will they stop the dogs from running loose, crapping in their flower gardens and being generally intimidating? What options does the public have? Some people do not care for animals and do not want them destroying their property. What options do the rest of us have against naïve companions of dogs?