Cloud Nine Higher

Most of the folks who follow my blog probably don't remember all of the scandals in relevantly recent Tennessee political history. You weren't alive in early 1979 when Lamar Alexander was sworn in as governor three days ahead of schedule to stop the outgoing "Pardon Me" Ray Blanton from setting more prisoners free.  You weren't around ten years later when Operation Rocky Top sent top members of our General Assembly to prison over corruption and bribery associated with charity bingo. The Tennessee Secretary of State committed suicide before scheduled grand jury testimony. And you don't remember Operation Tennessee Waltz, which, per The Tennessean , nabbed seven state lawmakers from both parties in 2005 over bribery. But you certainly could read about state representative Glen Casada of Williamson County and former aide Cade Cothren. Casada and Cothren were arrested August 23, 2022 on a twenty-count federal indictment. The charges in short consist of money laund...

All members of my Cloud Nine Higher  promotional modeling dynasty are awesome in my view. Some pose for one pictorial and pose no more. Others return for a reprise or two. Still others return for a reprise and bring some friends along. So if one analyzes my models from this point of view, Brittany of Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tennessee is one of the best. But I still love all of my models. 😉 Brittany arrived in front of my cameras on June 18, 2022 alongside Khatt of Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee. Both of these models were nothing short of magnificent at Walk of Fame Park and then poolside on the rooftop of The 500 Fifth. Khatt is being invited for a reprise, as well, but Brittany was available for August 13. So I quickly jumped at the chance to photograph her again. You may already realize that she is working on real estate broker training and that she is a true country girl who can hunt, fish, and line dance as well as anyone. But Brittany's calm and cool demeanor...

Saturday, August 27 Northwestern 31, Nebraska 28 Illinois 38, Wyoming 6 Vanderbilt 63, Hawai'i 10 Thursday, September 1 Tennessee 59, Ball State 10 Oklahoma State 58, Central Michigan 44 Pittsburgh 38, West Virginia 31 Missouri 52, Louisiana Tech 24 Penn State 35, Purdue 31 Minnesota 38, New Mexico State 0 Friday, September 2 Michigan State 35, Western Michigan 13 Old Dominion 20, Virginia Tech 17 Duke 30, Temple 0 Indiana 23, Illinois 20 TCU 38, Colorado 13 Saturday, September 3 Rutgers 22, Boston College 21 Maryland 31, Buffalo 10 Michigan 51, Colorado State 7 North Carolina 63, Appalachian State 61 North Carolina State 21, East Carolina 20 UCLA 45, Bowling Green 17 Arkansas 31, Cincinnati 24  Houston 37, UTSA 35 3OT Oklahoma 45, UTEP 13 Georgia 45, Oregon 3 Arizona 38, San Diego State 20 Wyoming 40, Tulsa 37 2OT BYU 50, South Florida 21 Ole Miss 28, Troy 10 USC 66, Rice 14  Tulane 42, Massachusetts 10 Kentucky 37, Miami (OH) 13  James Madison 44, Middle Tennessee 7 Flo...

As a big sports fan and blog publisher, I am a fan of sports in season. Baseball was not meant to be played in the late fall and winter. Football is not a summer sport. The National Hockey League plays its season way too long - well into June. The National Basketball Association is not far behind in the realm of playing too long. I totally get that money plays a role in everything and especially in professional sports. More games means more revenue. Even if the season runs long. The only professional sport I comment on is Major League Baseball. Many sports fans are most passionate about NCAA and NFL football. Once the Super Bowl is played, it is truly "off season" for many people until late August when college football gets underway. Bars in Nashville become watering holes and gathering places for fans of certain college and pro football teams, many of which play many miles away from our city. As a regular at Tin Roof Lower Broadway, I noticed this year that patrons were real...

Well, if you live in the Fifth Congressional District of Tennessee (or even if you don't), you're probably not feeling great about politics these days. Especially if you watch local television regularly. Beth Harwell, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives; Kurt Winstead, who touted his status as "retired brigadier general" but failed to mention that this was in the National Guard; and Andy Ogles, mayor of Maury County (county seat - Columbia) went at it hard with negative campaigning on television and perhaps turned off many voters. From what I could see whenever I was watching, many outside political action organizations had a hand in this Republican primary election. Mayor Andy Ogles won the race. Given the dynamics of the newly-drawn district, Ogles will likely sail to victory in November and head for the House of Representatives in January. No one really likes to see such negative tactics. David Plazas, editorial board member at The Tennessean ,...