Ever wanted to astound and amaze your kids? Well, here is a way to do it using something you probably already have - a radio.

What you need:
An AM/FM radio (your car radio would work fine)
Nighttime, or early morning before sunrise

Your kid should be used to listening to the local radio stations. They should be used to hearing the local station ID - you know, "you're listening to WZYX... Knoxville's POWER Rock station!" (I just made that up)

Anyway...

If you tune to the AM bands at night, you'll hear long-distance stations. (What we call "DX" in amateur radio. Well, not REAL DX, but farther away than the 50 or 60 miles you hear on the FM bands.)

Just tune in to a station and don't tell your kid anything. Just pretend like you're listening normally. Then, wait for the station ID. When that faraway city is mentioned - in the station ID or in a commercial - act surprised.

"Did that radio just say PHILADELPHIA? As in PENNSYLVANIA? Do you know how far away that is? There must be something wrong with the radio!"

Really play it up until your kid starts to notice it, too. Then, tune around the bands to see if you can hear any other far away stations. Make a game out of it.

If you do manage to hear some far away stations - there's nothing wrong with your radio. You're just experiencing the magic of radio wave propagation. At night, with the electromagnetic conditions in the ionosphere, certain radio waves can travel far, especially lower frequency radio waves, such as those in the AM bands.

To keep the "game" going, get a US map and start putting push pins in all the cities you've heard.

In years past, listeners used to send QSL reports (QSL is a radio code that means "verification" or "I confirm") to radio stations that they'd heard and the radio stations would send back QSL cards in acknowledgment.

In the early days of radio, stations were eager to know how well they were being heard. To encourage listeners to write in and report their reception, stations offered to send listeners souvenir cards and letters Soon listeners began to collect these QSLs from stations as avidly as many people collect sports cards today.

You can try to do this today, but many commercial AM stations don't send out QSL cards any more. And those that do may take a long time to send you a card back. If you don't mind waiting, it could be a lot of fun.

Here's a link to DXing.com - a website with lots of fantastic information about QSL cards - past and present.

And, who knows? Maybe this can get your child (and you) interested in more things, like amateur radio? If you have a son or daughter involved in scouting at all - especially Boy Scouts - you may notice that he or she can earn a radio or communications badge. For Boy Scouts, the radio badge is a rare one... but not difficult at all to earn, if you're active (or know someone who is active) in amateur radio.

Also, there is an annual event that coincides with Scout Jamboree... it's Jamboree on the Air. LOTS of fun and a neat way to communicate with scouts all over the world.

73 (that's radio code for "Best Regards") and good DX!

Just an update, so y'all wouldn't think I fell off the face of the planet or went into hiding.

TennZen (the person, not the blog) is in SHTF mode. It is now time critical for me.

My company is shutting down its Tennessee division, though the thoughtful, benevolent powers that be are still feeding the worker bees a boatload of bull and telling them/us that the sun is shining while we ourselves are looking out the windows and witnessing the torrential downpour.

In other words, the death bell is beginning to toll for TZ's workplace.

I am frantically scattering my resumes everywhere and calling in old favors. Thankfully I've done a lot of networking over the past few years and have made some friends in key places. I have some good leads... but no big bites as of yet.

Stress level is through the roof. Morale of co-workers is in the crapper. I'm doing my best to tread water.

It would be nice to do the housewife thing, but I have to work because, well, because I have to work. I am the primary breadwinner for our household. Mr. Zen has a good job, but he doesn't make the money that I make. I pay the majority of the bills. I carry the insurance. I buy the groceries and such.

So now that I'm facing the possibility of losing my own job - no formal announcement of corporate shutdown, but I know it's coming - I can't help but go into a little bit of panic mode. Okay, a LOT of panic mode.

So, that's the status of things 'round here.

BUT, Tater has been active in the kitchen.

Last night, he cooked the entire meal. Here are his porcupine meatballs...

TATER'S PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
1 lb. ground beef
1 1/4 c. white rice
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. onion powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix ground beef, 1/4 c. of rice, seasoned salt, Italian seasoning and onion powder. Mash it all together with your hands to incorporate everything well.

In a large baking pan, pour the remaining rice and spread it out evenly. Pour the beef broth over the rice and then pour in the tomatoes with their liquid. Spread out evenly.

Roll the beef mixture into golf ball sized balls and place in baking pan. Cover tightly with foil.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Really good served over hot buttered egg noodles.

PS-
BIG congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Ranger Squirrel on their newest baby squirrel! She's a precious little thing!

Light blogging this week - I'm in Nashville this week kicking butts, er, training staff about some various legal requirements.

Despite the work, it also gives me a chance to visit Mama 'n 'em.

I have been introduced to Mama's new favorite autumn snack mix. This stuff is ADDICTIVE! It tastes just like a Pay Day candy bar and if I don't watch it, I'm gonna eat it all up!

AUTUMN SNACK MIX
1 bag candy corn
1 can mixed nuts

Put it all in a big bowl or a big ziploc bag. Shake it up to mix.

Try not to eat it all in one setting.

Have a great week, everyone!

This morning, I got to witness a breathtaking sunrise just as I was dropping Tater and Bud off at school. For 10 minutes, the sky was awash in fiery peach, pink, and orange. It was a marvelous sight to see.

It took my breath away.

Had I not taken my sons to school this morning... had I not kept to my routine, everyday schedule... I would have missed it.

It was a reminder to me to continue to strive toward being mindful and fully present at all times. There is joy to be found even in the seemingly mundane.

Once upon a time, I believed that I needed excitement and could only be truly happy living in a life full of changes and surprises.

I served in the Navy (not just a job, it's an adventure).
I held a multitude of jobs, from skydiving school to world-class hotel to golf resort.
I moved all over the country, never setting down roots for long. California to Florida and all points in between.
I made friends all over the world.
I climbed mountains, rappelled off cliffs, crossed the highest bridges and stood in the tallest city towers.
There was never a dull moment.

My days were full... but my life was empty.

I missed a lot during those years because I wasn't fully present. I was never satisfied, always seeking the next adventure.

This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. What he was doing. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. - Yoda, "The Empire Strikes Back"

The sunrise this morning reminded me of all that. But it reminded me of other things, too.

I compared my life then to my life now.

It's true that I'm not going "a mile a minute" anymore. I no longer dance in the skies. I took the exit ramp off the fast lane.

But the more I have simplified things, the more I have begun to understand.

It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. - Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

Those whose lives are most rewarding are those who have lived each moment as though it were priceless.

Each sunset -
Each sunrise -
Each bite of food -
Each step -
Each breath -

... priceless

(Note: These Tennessee traffic camera tickets are nearly watertight. If you enjoy these Big Brother revenue generators, be sure to thank your state senators and representatives who enacted them into law.)

Thursday, September 24th, was the first day for drivers to challenge citations issued since the red-light and speed cameras went on line in Oak Ridge.

Of the five people who challenged RedFlex Traffic -Systems camera violations in Oak Ridge City Court, four were found guilty of the traffic offense. The fifth person was given 10 days to file an affidavit naming the other person who was driving her car at the time of the alleged violation.

In each of the speeding cases, the defendants all had the same argument: "I don't know who was driving." The "it wasn't me" defense.

In the case that was continued 10 days for an affidavit, the judge gave the defendant 10 days to find out who was driving her car the day the ticket was issued. She had testified that several people had been driving her car because she had a vision issue. She said she had been going to doctors' visits two or three times a week during that period. He even asked her to go back and check her appointments on those days.

City Attorney Ken Krushenski stated that the law is clear when it comes to the registered owner's culpability. He said the registered owner has the opportunity to tell the court who was actually driving when the ticket was issued. He also said the traffic offense doesn't go on the driver's record.

It would behoove all Tennessee drivers, especially those who expect to travel through revenue camera towns - to familiarize themselves with a section of Tennessee Code Annotated.

Let me break it down for you.

Specifically:

TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED 55-8-198. Citations based on surveillance cameras. —
[with my comments]

(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (d), the registered owner of the motor vehicle shall be responsible for payment of any notice of violation or citation issued as the result of a traffic light monitoring system.
[If the vehicle is registered to you, then you're ultimately responsible for the ticket. This makes it legal for those RedFlex cameras to take pictures only of the vehicle's license plate and not the driver of the vehicle. Again, if the registration has your name on it, you're responsible for the ticket.]

(2) An owner of a vehicle shall not be responsible for the violation if, on or before the designated court date, the owner furnishes the court an affidavit stating the name and address of the person or entity that leased, rented or otherwise had care, custody or control of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.
[You can't just say, "it wasn't me, Judge." You have to submit a sworn (under oath) affidavit to the court and tattle on who was driving... so that the court can ticket THAT person.

Don't take a sworn affidavit lightly. Lying under oath is a crime - called perjury - and it can carry penalties. Also, if you've committed perjury, that can be construed as an insult to the court and you could find yourself facing a contempt charge, too.

And claiming "I don't know who was driving" won't cut it, either. If you can't (or won't) tell, then YOU'RE responsible.]

(3) If a motor vehicle or its plates were stolen at the time of the alleged violation, the registered owner must provide an affidavit denying the owner was an operator and provide a certified copy of the police report reflecting such theft.
[Another situation of "put up or shut up." If you claim that your vehicle was stolen at the time, you have to not only submit a sworn (under oath) affidavit, you also have to present a certified copy of the police report showing that you had reported the car stolen at that time.]

(4) An affidavit alleging theft of a motor vehicle or its plates must be provided by the registered owner of a vehicle receiving a notice of violation within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of the notice of violation.
[And as an addendum to provision 3 above, you only have 30 days FROM THE DATE THE CITY MAILED THE ORIGINAL TICKET TO YOU to show the court that you had reported your car stolen.]

The State of Tennessee definitely had its ducks in a row when it codified these laws. I wouldn't call them completely watertight, but they're pretty dang close. So, don't put all the blame on the City of Oak Ridge or Knoxville or Chattanooga or wherever. The State of Tennessee did plenty to help out ol' RedFlex, too. Give a great big "thank you" to your state representatives who voted for this jewel, next time you've a mind to do so.

TN State Representatives - how they voted for this law **ALL Tennessee State Representatives of the 105th General Assembly voted in favor of this law - no Nay votes recorded**
TN State Senators - how they voted for this law **ALL Tennessee State Senators of the 105th General Assembly voted in favor of this law - no Nay votes recorded**

The law even survived a good constitutional challenge: Knoxville v. Brown

Mr. Brown argued that because he had no choice but to pay the red-light camera ticket and thereby admit guilt, or, if he was not driving, to inform on someone else who was, the system itself violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the Tennessee and U.S. constitutions.

In its opinion, the state Appellate Court at Knoxville noted that Tennessee lawmakers authorized cities to issue photo tickets as civil penalties (not criminal citations) that sidestep the most important protection provided by the state constitution under the criminal code - namely that the driver must be proved to have been the one who actually committed the crime.

The Court further noted that as long as the fine remained no more than $50, no jury trial would be available to the defendant. Next, because the city had a right to declare the owner of a vehicle automatically liable because of the 2008 Tennessee law regarding citations based on surveillance cameras, no due process protections applied.

"The city code merely permits the responsible vehicle owner to shift the responsibility for the violation to the actual driver of the vehicle in certain circumstances," the Court stated. "This does not mean that the owner of the vehicle was not in violation of the city code."

According to the Court, this was not a violation of due process because the city had to prove "every element of the case." In other words, the city had to prove that Brown owned the vehicle, and that the vehicle was photographed committing a violation on September 18, 2006. It did not have to prove Mr. Brown did anything wrong - his mere ownership of the vehicle constituted the civil crime. Moreover, the court found this arrangement did not violate the constitutional protections against self-incrimination because Brown did not need to admit guilt - he was automatically guilty.

The Court went even further than that, asserting that Knoxville's camera ticket ordinance does not make the driver of a vehicle liable. Instead, according to the Court, the owner of the vehicle is responsible for a red light violation, regardless of who was actually driving the vehicle at the time. The fact that state law allows the registered owner to submit an affidavit as to who was driving is merely a measure of courtesy - it's still within the city's right to go after the registered owner.

In short, I don't know of any easy way to get out of a Tennessee revenue camera ticket, unless somebody is able to successfully challenge the constitutionality of such a thing. That will be a tough fight because these tickets are civil matters, not criminal, and they involve a small fee. As far as the constitution is concerned, they're pretty much "under the radar." (Pardon the pun)

If you get slapped with one of these, good luck. From where I stand, it looks like a losing battle.

1

A blog that I admire and enjoy is The Humble Libertarian (or THL, as we followers fondly call it).

Over the past year, it has been a great pleasure reading and learning from THL. The blog's author is a bright and passionate young man on a mission not only to educate, but to learn from others. He and I have had some interesting and refreshing debates, and I look forward to more!

In honor of THL's first birthday, the blog is having a GIVEWAY! And what could say "Libertarian" more than something free. I love it!

Go there, now. And not just for the giveaway. Go there to learn something. Go there to think. Go there to engage in respectful debate, not blind mudslinging. Go there and really open your eyes.

Wes, on your birthday announcement post, you said "thank you" to us. Well, it's we who should be thanking you. You've turned The Humble Libertarian into more than just another political blog. You've created a true resource for people who are searching for real solutions instead of just having to choose between the lesser of two evils. You challenge us, but with intelligent, rational, RESPECTFUL discussion - not with inflammatory words and a fist raised in anger.

I am proud to have gotten to know you over the past year, to have seen your work blossom from its infancy. And I anticipate more greatness from you in the future.

Happy First Birthday, Humble Libertarian!

No, not real fires. Just virtual office fires.

The proverbial ca-ca hit the proverbial fan at my workplace. Thus, my absence from the blogosphere as of late.

The managing partner quit and took about half of the clerks with him.

We have a boatload of upcoming court dates and nobody knows where key files are located.

None of the remaining office clerks have been cross-trained and every one of them refuses to do certain tasks (post-judgment execution, appeals processing, docket preparation, etc.).

I'm juggling cases in Sessions, Circuit, and Chancery, plus dealing with client issues.

In other words, we're all having a grand ol' time here at Shangri-La.

Yeah. Shangri-LOL is more like it.

If there was ever a legal Hell, this has got to be pretty dang close to it.

Calgon, take me awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay (before the men in the Great White Coats beat you to it)!