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Six-year veteran defensive end Bryce Fisher has been acquired in a trade with Seattle.

I’m not too familiar with him and don’t really recall him from the Titans-Seahawks game two years ago. Fisher’s stats are pretty good though. He’s averaged 7 sacks and 47 tackles for the last three years.

He sounds like pretty good quality depth. The Seahawks connection has surfaced again, with Mike Reinfeldt and Lake Dawson being familiar with him in Seattle.

The Titans released DT Jesse Mahelona to make room on the roster for him and they now have five DEs. Fisher will join the rotation of KVB, Odom, LaBoy and Conover. My guess is Conover will be a weekly inactive.

If any of you are familiar with Fisher, please share your thoughts with us.

The 2006 political race is like none seen before in the history of our nation. With the recent growth of blogs, podcasts and now YouTube, the internet continues to play a larger role in politics. In case you missed the Debate between Tennessee Senate hopefuls, Bob Corker and Harold Ford, Jr.; it can now be seen on YouTube. While YouTube is known well for the humorous short videos, the website is also changing the face of politics. Now voters have a wealth of information being dispensed in convenient ways. The video of the debate is broken into sections and the links are below.

Part 1

Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 2
Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 3
Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 4
Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 5
Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 6
Bob Corker vs. Harold Ford Jr. - Part 7

Stolen Body Parts Blamed for Illnesses
Saturday, April 29, 2006 1:19 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By ADAM GOLDMAN

Assistant District Attorney Josh Hanshaft, center, holds a photograph of an X-ray

NEW YORK (AP) — At least a dozen people who had routine operations claim they caught deadly viruses and other germs from body parts stolen from corpses in a ghoulish scandal that has sent hundreds of people for tests.The patients tested positive for germs that cause AIDS, hepatitis or syphilis after receiving tissue transplants, according to their lawyers and court records.

the reat of the article here

From Tennessee Politics Blog
As expected, state Sen. Jim Bryson has formally announced he will be seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. Bryson joins a crowd of political newcomers in the race including Mark Albertini, Raymond Brown, and Carl “Two Feathers” Whitaker. U.S. Senate candidate Van Hilleary issued a press release endorsing Bryson soon after his announcement: “I wish Jim well in his bid to unseat Governor Bredesen and I look forward to winning the primary and running on a conservative Bryson-Hilleary ticket. I am confident Tennesseans will send a conservative committed to change to both Washington and to Nashville in November.” Hilleary’s rival in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Ed Bryant also sent a release praising Bryson’s entry into the race.
Link

Not exactly local, but worth checking out. I read this post from Michael Silence

This is the first photograph ever taken of what scientists are calling New Guinea’s “lost” bird of paradise. The bird—known as Berlepsch’s six-wired bird of paradise—had been collected only once in the wild since its discovery more than a century ago. Its precise home range was unknown until now.

Read More…

From ofthisandthat
According to a report in the Johnson City Press the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol metropolitan area is positioned to benefit from development of the Interstate 85 corridor from Atlanta to Charlotte, N.C., according to a national publication, Business 2.0. “Interstate 26 connects the Tri-Cities region withinterstates 85 and 81, three main interstates which afford the ultimate in regional development,” said Gary Mabrey, president and CEO of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce.
Read More…

Tennesseans might finally see relief at driver’s license (DL) stations. According to the Kingsport Times-News, the state has asked FedEx, the shipping giant from Memphis, to help solve the wait problems at our DL stations. The company provided two employees to study stations at no cost to the state; they visited stations throughout the state and actually conducted quality of service surveys. According to a Comptroller’s audit, the Department of Safety has never conducted any survey to determine the “quality and timeliness” of service at the DL stations (imagine that). The center in Blountville has an average of 185 customers a day with an average wait time ranging between 30 minutes and 3 1/2 hours. I know from experience that changes are definitely needed! When I went to get my license upgraded, I had to wait between 3 to4 hours for a procedure that took less than 10 minutes. I also know that many people have to take off 1/2 of a day’s time at work or school just so that they have enough time to wait at DL stations. I just hope that the recommendations made will finally bring relief to the wait time at our driver’s license stations!

From ofthisandthat
By Don Fenley
Residents opposed to the loss of a softball field for the proposed 300-bed expansion to the Carter County Jail filled the City Council meeting room Thursday Thursday. According to the Johnson City Press Carter County Commissioner Steve Lowrance was one of those who addressed the council in opposition to building the jail on the proposed site. ““I have never received so many phone calls,”” Lowrance, whose district includes the park, said of the public reaction to the task force’s decision.
Link