Have you Seen This?: The Viral Videos of Tennessee
April 30, 2012 by Devin Greaney · Leave a Comment
We get them in our in boxes, from Facebook Friends and Twitter- well not sure what you call people you follow on Twitter- but you have them to thank or blame. They are the flash mobs dancing to The Sound of Music, laughing babies, funny pets and almost all other subjects imaginable.
They are the viral videos and what the hulu hoop was to the 1950′s, disco to the 1970′s, these are the fad of this generation. It is hard to remember a time before You Tube and Vimeo.. you know, like ten years ago. But today they are home to some creativity often done solely for the desire to get one’s creativity out there. It is not without controversy as Edward Greenberg, a New York, New York intellectual property lawyer, called “possessing the fatal flaw many artists have which is the overriding desire to be liked.” Creativity becomes harder and harder to be a career as so many people do it for free. Steven Spielberg and James Cameron may not be nervous, but just ask that communications major who wants to create WITH OUT needing two other jobs.
Controversy or not, video sharing is not going away. So here are a few vistas of Tennessee through the eyes of YouTube and others.
Vine Meets the Wine: Can Kudzu Help the Recovering Alchoholic?
April 16, 2012 by Devin Greaney · Leave a Comment
No, it is not a mastodon. Kudzu covers trees off Airport Road in Rockwood
Harold (not his real name ) was intoxicated and in the Shelby County jail – “the 201” locals call it – at 201 Poplar in Downtown Memphis on January 17, 2002. It was not his first time in lockup, nor was it his first time being intoxicated. He started drinking roughly five times a week in high school and now was in his mid-thirties. “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I tried quitting a ton of times but I didn’t know how.” He knew that it was time for a change and this time was different. It was to be his last drink.
But could one of the area’s most annoying plants become a weapon in the arsenal of people like Harold, fighting that feeling of what he describes as “ you don’t want ever to take another drink but you don’t know how you are not going to?” According to traditional Chinesse medicine, the ubiquitous kudzu plant can be used to fight alcoholism.
Pure Game: Ten Minor League Teams Make their Homes in Tennessee
April 9, 2012 by Devin Greaney · Leave a Comment
Hitting Coach Cory Snyder of the Jackson Generals greets members of Jackson's little leauge team, The Kings
Here in Tennessee if you want college sports, few states have better bragging rights. Looking for major league football and hockey? Go to Nashville. Want NBA pro basketball, there is Memphis. As for baseball, the state is conveniently located between the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and Saint Louis Cardinals. But there is more to the state and our national past time don’t write off Tennessee and the national past time TOO quickly. Ten minor league teams – some in places many Tennesseans, have never heard of – play ball in Tennessee and though Hunter-Wright Stadium ( home of the Kingsport Mets) 2,500 seats will never be confused with Turner Field ( home of the Atlanta Braves with just over 50,000 seats). The feel is still there – ice cream out of a plastic helmet, free fly balls to the lucky fans and John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” over the loudspeaker.
Just for Fun: A Tennessee Trivia Quiz
April 2, 2012 by Devin Greaney · Leave a Comment
EVERYONE knows the tulip poplar is the state tree. Can you answer some tougher questions?
Do not get excited. No prizes will be awarded. Feel free to use Google ( how would anyone know? ) And when in doubt answering “C” will not help you as the answers are in alphabetical order. This, like the title says, is just for fun!