Things you rarely see in government. Kudos to these folks.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Another red flag for ethanol...will pols listen?
Link
Whether biofuels will ever be competitive with fossil fuels remains to be seen. That will depend on a mixture of economics and politics. But the political rush to back ethanol, just because it is green and people have heard of it, is a mistake. Let a thousand flowers bloom, and see which one wins Dr Venter's Grand Prix.
Income inequality growing...in public housing
Link
Hundreds of families living in housing subsidized by Fairfax County taxpayers exceed income caps designed to ensure that only the neediest receive assistance, a review of county records shows.
In the most extreme cases, Fairfax is underwriting rents for families making well into six figures: One household getting help makes more than $216,000 a year; another, $184,000. Dozens of others -- making $60,000, $70,000, $90,000 -- exceed eligibility caps. And they do so with the tacit approval of county housing administrators, who do little to encourage occupants to move on when their fortunes improve.
Higher Cigarette Taxes = more Cancer?
Link
Jonathan Samet of Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health said similar findings had been documented in the higher rate of cancer among Hispanic women in the southwestern United States who tended to hand roll cigarettes.
"There is, perhaps, an indication that we should be concerned if rising prices for manufactured cigarettes would lead to substitutions," Samet said.
Lobbyist wants more taxpayer money..duh!
At least they are not subtle about it. They don't care how they get more taxpayer money, they just want more taxpayer money.
Link
Link
Q: What is the TRBA's (Tennessee Road Builders Association) stance on transportation funding?
A: We would be supportive of increasing transportation user fees that would be dedicated to transportation programs. What are those? It would be a fuel tax increase; it would be a motor vehicle increase on renewals. You could index the fuel tax to inflation; you could add a sales tax to the fuel. We would be supportive of those types of measures and make sure they are dedicated to transportation. TDOT has clearly identified that the need is out there and has grown. They identified they need $5.5 billion over five years.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Celebrating those unwilling to care for children
A very significant portion of those who allow their fellow taxpayers to pay for their children's school lunches and health insurance, certainly over half, could easily re-arrange their family budget priorities to cover these expenses.
Yet many will celebrate and fight for the "right" of parents to neglect their children by self-righteously condemning those who oppose SCHIP in any form.
More HERE
Yet many will celebrate and fight for the "right" of parents to neglect their children by self-righteously condemning those who oppose SCHIP in any form.
More HERE
UAW is about Job LOSS, not security
Having devastated the private companies they prey on, the last best hope for union bosses is government. Governments are a perfect vehicle for monopoly power so cherished by unions. If allowed, they will run our governments into the ground for their own "benefit" just as surely as they have devastated the domestic auto producers. Link
The problem with unions is not all that dissimilar to that posed by entrenched management: Once they win comfortable contracts, they often become impediments to the kind of innovation and flexibility essential to success in today's economy. So in the name of "job security," they undermine a company's — or a nation's — competitiveness. The result, over time, is less job security for everyone, especially the union workforce. There's no better example of this than GM, where the UAW now represents about 74,000 hourly workers, compared to 246,000 in 1994. Some security.
Good intentions + Political Pandering
equals ethanol disaster and higher food prices. Will politicians learn from this? No.
From Insty
"Soaring food prices, driven in part by demand for ethanol made from corn, have helped slash the amount of food aid the government buys to its lowest level in a decade, possibly resulting in more hungry people around the world this year."
From Insty
"Soaring food prices, driven in part by demand for ethanol made from corn, have helped slash the amount of food aid the government buys to its lowest level in a decade, possibly resulting in more hungry people around the world this year."
No more secret ballot for Mass Gov employees
Dramatically lower unionization rates (now below 8% in the private sector) has caused this sort of desperation among those who depend on union money for political power. Let the bullying of government employees begin.
Link
Union organizing just got easier for government employees in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill yesterday that allows employees to organize through "card check" drives, rather than secret ballots.
Union officials applauded the measure, which had been vetoed by Governor Mitt Romney last year and denounced by some business leaders, who said workers would be intimidated into voting in favor of unionizing. Similar legislation in Congress is backed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and others, but has failed to gain Senate approval.
Link
Union organizing just got easier for government employees in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill yesterday that allows employees to organize through "card check" drives, rather than secret ballots.
Union officials applauded the measure, which had been vetoed by Governor Mitt Romney last year and denounced by some business leaders, who said workers would be intimidated into voting in favor of unionizing. Similar legislation in Congress is backed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and others, but has failed to gain Senate approval.
Japan to Privatize Post Office on Mon
Link
TOKYO - Tiny Shirogane post office in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood, with just three clerks and one ATM, might seem far removed from the world of global finance.But when Japan Post is privatized on Monday, the Shirogane office will become part of the world's biggest commercial bank — with assets of $3.03 trillion — in a move intended to inject competition into Japan's banking sector.
"Our customers will soon experience the merits of privatization," Yoshifumi Nishikawa, president of Japan Post, said Friday. "They will see a better quality of services, or new products — in short, more convenience."
Friday, September 28, 2007
Michigan plans for Govt shutdown over budget
Its like 2002 in Tennessee when Gov. Don Sundquist and Speaker Naifeh and Senator Bob Rochelle REALLY wanted their State Income tax. Now Michigan is going thru the same process only its not over a State income tax (they already have one), its over a hike in the State income tax.
Link
Link
Messages went to about 35,000 state workers, telling them they were being placed on a temporary layoff beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday and not to go to work unless otherwise notified.
About 18,000 state employees will remain on the job, including 12,000 prison employees, said Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"We will have limited state police," Boyd added.
A shutdown would mean most government operations would cease, including food safety and gas pump inspections, liquor deliveries, lottery ticket sales, the issuance of driver's licenses, and construction on state roads, Granholm said Friday.
A Wayne County judge, however, on Friday gave the three Detroit casinos permission to stay open even if the state is unable to oversee them during a shutdown. The casinos contribute $1 million a day to state public schools and Detroit public safety, a casino spokesman said.
John Berthoud, a Warrior for American Taxpayers
John Berthoud, President of the National Taxpayer's Union passed away suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday at the young age of 47. Here is more info on this quiet, dedicated man. He will be missed by every American Taxpayer.
AMT and SCHIP: A Surreal Overlap
With the new higher income limits in the SCHIP bill (if the President doesn't veto it), we now have the surreal situation where 70,000 families who qualify for taxpayer subsidized SCHIP health care will ALSO be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax which was intended as a tax on the RICH!!
Poor Rich Children!! Oh, the humanity!!
Poor Rich Children!! Oh, the humanity!!
Tobacco Czar Reagan Farr
A Flash back to Commissioner Farr, who is intent on trolling the State borders, telling Rep. Bell that "if you don't like that, its neither here nor there" when Rep. Bell was trying to exempt home use of propane from sales tax. Rep. Crider took exception to what he felt was disrespect towards Rep. Bell and things generally went down hill
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sunshine Troublemaker of the week: John Paff
Interesting bit I learned reading this, a federal judge says citizens do have a right to protest on Post Office property as long as they don't interfere with customers.
Link
Link
In the last month alone, John has:
- persuaded the town of Sea Girt to disclose more clearly and usefully the subjects they discuss behind closed doors,
- persuaded Somerset County to stop charging illegally high fees for copies of documents,
- launched an effort to persuade Monmouth County to disclose a settlement agreement in a sexual discrimination lawsuit,
- filed a complaint against the Long Hill school board to obtain copies of documents pertaining to possibly inappropriate online comments made by a member of the school board, and
- initiated a campaign to change New Jersey's open records law so that attorneys for public agencies have an incentive to ensure that the agencies comply with open records requests in good faith.
NYT: Wal-Mart lowering Healthcare costs
Link
As overall health care costs continue to rise sharply, prescription drugs have emerged as a surprising exception.
As overall health care costs continue to rise sharply, prescription drugs have emerged as a surprising exception.
Economists say the slowdown has come about because more people are turning to generics and because generic versions of some of the most common drugs have recently come on the market.
Another factor could be the so-called Wal-Mart effect. Last fall, Wal-Mart began offering many generic prescriptions at $4 a month. Target quickly announced a similar plan, and Kmart expanded its program, which offers a 90-day supply of generic drugs for $15. Other retailers have followed with their variations. Publix, a grocery store chain with 684 pharmacies in five states in the Southeast, announced last month that it would not charge for prescriptions for seven commonly used antibiotics.
Unpaid taxes may take candidate off ballot
Link
The Shelby County Election Commission would need an opinion from the Memphis city attorney on how to handle the situation. The city attorney said he was unsure if the claim would hold up, since the clause in the charter that addresses late taxes is an "editors note," and not a code.
The city attorney's office should issue an opinion later this week.
How BIG is the federal Govt?
Here is a comprehensive list of Federal Agency web sites compiled by an LSU Prof.
Michigan Taxpayer Dollars Wasted
While the Gov threatens to shut down the State Govt trying to get her $1.75 Billion Tax Hike passed, her friend and campaign contributor rip off the taxpayers by leasing a building for three times what it could be built for and they don't even need the new building in the first place. A damning TV investigative report.
Link
Link
"We're not going to be able to raise gas taxes"
I am quite sure they will be exploring "other" options like tolls and going into debt. Politicians always seem to treat taxpayers as just a temporary obstacle to their ultimate ambitions. If taxpayers don't want a gas tax hike maybe someone should look at he spending side of the balance sheet.
NASHVILLE -- Tennessee road construction needs money, but funding will not come from raising taxes on drivers, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee said Tuesday.
"We're not going to be able to raise gas taxes, and we know that," said Rep. Phillip Pinion, D-Union City.
[...]Kent Starwalt, executive president of the Tennessee Road Builders Association, testified he supports any way to raise funds for roads, including using public bonds.
Tennessee has traditionally been a "pay as you go" state for transportation funding.
Rep. Pinion said the state has to look at all options.
"I've been against public bonds for 20 years," Rep. Pinion said. "But I don't know. We're going to have to come up with some solutions."
Pols will continue to target young people
Good article today in WSJ about all those "wonderful" national service plans that never target people my age because we vote and wouldn't stand for such silliness.
The young are no threat to the pols because they don't vote. I will soon have you young people providing me a retirement income, prescription drugs, and full medical care......if these self righteous pols have their way I may also have an army of young servants to drive me to Wal-Mart to pick up my free generic drugs.
Link
Indeed, the moral case for conscripting the elderly for civilian service is arguably stronger than that for drafting the young. Many elderly people are healthy enough to perform nonstrenuous forms of "national service." Unlike the young, the elderly usually won't have to postpone careers, marriage and educational opportunities to fulfill their forced-labor obligations. Moreover, the elderly, to a far greater extent than the young, are beneficiaries of massive government redistributive programs, such as Social Security and Medicare--programs that transfer enormous amounts of wealth from other age groups to themselves. Nonelderly poor people who receive welfare benefits are required to work (or at least be looking for work) under the 1996 welfare reform law; it stands to reason that the elderly (most of whom are far from poor) can be required to work for the vastly larger government benefits that they receive.
The young are no threat to the pols because they don't vote. I will soon have you young people providing me a retirement income, prescription drugs, and full medical care......if these self righteous pols have their way I may also have an army of young servants to drive me to Wal-Mart to pick up my free generic drugs.
Link
Indeed, the moral case for conscripting the elderly for civilian service is arguably stronger than that for drafting the young. Many elderly people are healthy enough to perform nonstrenuous forms of "national service." Unlike the young, the elderly usually won't have to postpone careers, marriage and educational opportunities to fulfill their forced-labor obligations. Moreover, the elderly, to a far greater extent than the young, are beneficiaries of massive government redistributive programs, such as Social Security and Medicare--programs that transfer enormous amounts of wealth from other age groups to themselves. Nonelderly poor people who receive welfare benefits are required to work (or at least be looking for work) under the 1996 welfare reform law; it stands to reason that the elderly (most of whom are far from poor) can be required to work for the vastly larger government benefits that they receive.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
More Corporate Welfare in Memphis
Memphis politicians "creating" jobs by giving away the taxpayer's money to a few select corporate fat cats and keeping tax rates high for everyone else. Memphis has the highest property tax rates in the State.
I can predict with almost complete certainty that long after the politicians get their photo-op many of these jobs will NEVER be "created."
Link
The Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board will hear payment-in-lieu-of-tax requests from two companies with a total of 80 new jobs.
I can predict with almost complete certainty that long after the politicians get their photo-op many of these jobs will NEVER be "created."
Link
The Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board will hear payment-in-lieu-of-tax requests from two companies with a total of 80 new jobs.
Bus leaders and Bredesen deny parents choice
Many of these "business leaders" referred to in this article undoubtedly send their children to private schools as did Bredesen.
What they will smugly and cynically offer are tired "solutions" that have been tried over and over again. The one reform they will NOT offer is giving parents the same power of choice they had to avoid a public school system they decided was not the right choice for their children.
Link
He discussed state efforts to allow people from the professions and other "non-traditional" teachers with expertise in areas such as science and math to quickly move into the classroom.
Other ways to improve the teacher quality, he said, include professional development, bonus pay for outstanding performance, and evaluating teachers more closely before they are granted tenure.
What they will smugly and cynically offer are tired "solutions" that have been tried over and over again. The one reform they will NOT offer is giving parents the same power of choice they had to avoid a public school system they decided was not the right choice for their children.
Link
He discussed state efforts to allow people from the professions and other "non-traditional" teachers with expertise in areas such as science and math to quickly move into the classroom.
Other ways to improve the teacher quality, he said, include professional development, bonus pay for outstanding performance, and evaluating teachers more closely before they are granted tenure.
Free Taxpayer Money! Get yer FREE money!
Link
NASHVILLE — Almost 4,000 applicants are seeking a total of $172 million from a $20 million "community enhancement grant" fund set up by the state Legislature earlier this year, according to a tally Monday by Secretary of State Riley Darnell's office.
"Obviously, most people are going to be left short and they probably are not going to be happy," said Darnell. "But the Legislature, in its infinite wisdom, has spoken."
Lawmakers decided earlier this year to include $20 million in the state budget for distribution to charitable causes, granting Darnell the discretion to decide who gets the money.
The move was a compromise. Some lawmakers wanted to allow each of the 99 House members to earmark $100,000 in grants to his or her district while allowing each of the 33 senators to allocate $300,000. Others criticized such lawmaker-dictated grants as "pork barrel."
Entrepreneurial Prostitutes = More Tax Revenue
Link
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In an effort to bring prostitutes into the legal economy, officials said Monday that Hungary will allow sex workers to apply for an entrepreneur's permit — a move that could generate government revenues from an industry worth an estimated $1 billion annually.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In an effort to bring prostitutes into the legal economy, officials said Monday that Hungary will allow sex workers to apply for an entrepreneur's permit — a move that could generate government revenues from an industry worth an estimated $1 billion annually.
Monday, September 24, 2007
New Federal Contracts/Spending Database
Nice new Database of Federal Government Contracts. There seems to be a bit more drill down detail than www.fedspending.org
HERE is the blog entry describing the new database.
HERE is the database.
HERE is a search for FedEx contracts for example
HERE is the blog entry describing the new database.
HERE is the database.
HERE is a search for FedEx contracts for example
Death by Committee: Open Meetings Study goes nowhere
All those who opposed the law making open records and open meetings laws stronger knew that if they could stall the proposed law and get the effort diverted into a "study committee" it would die. Apparently their strategy has worked. As usual, most of the opposition comes from taxpayer funded associations of government officials.
Link
Link
Gibson and Fletcher both said the panel appears to have moved from its original task, which they saw as making government more open to citizens.
"It seems like everyone comes to the table with their own ideas. I guess I shouldn't be surprised," said Fletcher. "My concern is that the focus on citizens will get lost in the shuffle."
Gibson said TCOG is "not insisting on anything except that there needs to be some improvement in the law" and is presenting ideas on how to reach that goal.
"Instead of getting responses to those proposals, we are getting counterproposals about putting more exemptions in the law," Gibson said.
Educational choice opponents have some splainin to do
Martin nails it.
Link
Back in May when I had lunch with Karl Dean I asked him why he sent his children to non-public schools. I had hoped the question would begin a thoughtful discussion with respect to fundamental education reform. His answer, that there was a family tradition on his wife's side, was fundamentally dishonest. A family tradition might explain why one would choose a particular school once the decision is made to opt out of the public school system. But at $20,000 a pop for tuition, one doesn't choose a school in order to maintain some family tradition when an equivalent option is available for free. Karl Dean did not believe there was an equivalent option. He, like most parents who send their kids to private schools, believed that their school was better. The Deans knew that the student body at the private school would be different than the student body at a public school. The family incomes would be higher. The educational backgrounds of the parents would be more impressive. He, like all consumers of private education, was buying a school and the whole network.
Link
Back in May when I had lunch with Karl Dean I asked him why he sent his children to non-public schools. I had hoped the question would begin a thoughtful discussion with respect to fundamental education reform. His answer, that there was a family tradition on his wife's side, was fundamentally dishonest. A family tradition might explain why one would choose a particular school once the decision is made to opt out of the public school system. But at $20,000 a pop for tuition, one doesn't choose a school in order to maintain some family tradition when an equivalent option is available for free. Karl Dean did not believe there was an equivalent option. He, like most parents who send their kids to private schools, believed that their school was better. The Deans knew that the student body at the private school would be different than the student body at a public school. The family incomes would be higher. The educational backgrounds of the parents would be more impressive. He, like all consumers of private education, was buying a school and the whole network.
Streamlined Sales Tax Losing Steam-GOOD!!!
The Streamlined Sales Tax is a textbook example of government institutional self-promotion and self-preservation completely unrelated to wishes of citizens and taxpayers. The ONLY people pushing the SST are government bureaucrats seeking self-preservation and self-promotion. I am too skeptical to accept this report on face value but its cause for some small amount of optimism.
Link
Link
However, several large states are reluctant to join the sales tax project because they feel changing their laws would be a burden on their businesses and cause some local jurisdictions to lose revenue.
Here's why:
The project's rules require all delivered merchandise to be taxed according to where it is delivered, not where the store is located.
Kansas changed its sales tax law in 2003 to comply, resulting in complaints by small businesses that it created an expensive burden on them to calculate the amount of sales tax on each delivery sale.
The same concern has prevented other states, including Missouri, from joining the effort.
Ohio, Texas and many other large states still use a store's location to determine the sales tax on delivered goods. Switching to a delivery rate, they contended, would hurt localities with businesses that do a lot of deliveries.
Michigan Tax Fight Continues
Michigan still does not have a budget and a Government shutdown is possible. The Democratic Governor and House are fighting with the Republican Senate. The Gov has been unable to get 56 votes in the Republican controlled Senate necessary to raise income tax rates. The Republicans have proposed major spending cuts but the House will probably not go along. All the normal players are taking up all the normal positions. The very strong Michigan labor unions are very consistently pushing for higher taxes and bigger govt. All the while the Michigan economy goes in the toilet and State unemployment is at its highest rate in many years. A tax increase will simply accelerate the decline of the Michigan economy.
What is unusual is how strongly each side is holding on to their positions. Should be a very interesting next few days.
What is unusual is how strongly each side is holding on to their positions. Should be a very interesting next few days.
Gen Y doesn't like Govt Jobs
Link
Then there is the perception that the government is not an interesting place to work. In a survey conducted by the Gallup Organization and the nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government last year, the majority of Gen Y respondents said the private sector does a better job of providing innovative and creative workplaces, does a better job of hiring and offers higher salaries.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Teaching NC County Officials to sell a tax increase
Link
The county cannot spend taxpayer money on any advertising designed to influence a vote, but can use advertising only to educate residents.
[...]
Campbell said that partnering is especially important to the success of the project. The school system can use public funds and employees to educate, as well as seek private funding to advocate for the tax, he said.
[...]
The association also recommended that the commissioners and community leaders not get sidetracked by debating the issue.
"If someone gives false information, then correct them and give them factual information," Woods said. "Go out there and sell what you want to use the money for."
Woods said the county will run advertisements - probably in local newspapers - but an advertising schedule and marketing budget haven't been formulated.
"If we communicate the need, and the citizens know the need, we have to be very precise and communicate to the citizens that we need their help to accomplish this," he said.
60 Min Report on Nuclear Power in France
France started 20 years ago developing nuclear power and they now produce 80% of their electricity from nuclear.
Part I
Part II
Part I
Part II
Harris Poll: Fred 32, Rudy 28
Link
Polling Data
There are many different people who are, or who may become, candidates for president in the Republican primaries starting in January 2008. Based all that you know or have heard up to now about the people listed below, for which one person would you be most likely to vote? (Those who would vote in Republican primary or caucus)
| Sept. 2007 | Aug. 2007 | Jul. 2007 | |
| Fred Thompson | 32% | 27% | 29% |
| Rudy Giuliani | 28% | 30% | 28% |
| John McCain | 11% | 14% | 17% |
| Mitt Romney | 9% | 11% | 9% |
| Newt Gingrich | 7% | 8% | 6% |
| Ron Paul | 3% | 3% | 1% |
| Mike Huckabee | 3% | 2% | 1% |
| Duncan Hunter | 2% | -- | 2% |
| Sam Brownback | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Tom Tancredo | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Chuck Hagel | -- | 1% | 1% |
| Tommy Thompson | n.a. | 1% | 1% |
Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,372 American adults, conducted from Sept. 6 to Sept. 14, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
Sen Herron says State can help you
The op/ed is entitled, "State can help those who want to lose weight, become healthy."
Link
Link
Your government can help you and your family - and we will. We can encourage students to exercise, as the new law now requires at least 90 minutes a week. We can teach your children about healthy living, as Tennessee leads the nation with the first fully funded Coordinated School Health program. Schools around the state are now teaching our children about nutrition and exercise as part of their course of study. Teachers are finding ways to incorporate exercise into their lessons, for example by including physical movements in reading lessons. We can build parks, recreational facilities, bike routes, walking trails and greenways.
But ultimately Tennesseans will decide how fat and diseased or how fit and healthy we will be.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Slide show of Blogging Images from Blogger
Very interesting and addictive...see images as they are uploaded to Blogger blogs in a slide show format. They try to filter out inappropriate images and I haven't seen any but beware the possibility.
This should be a fascinating way to watch a news event unfold assuming they are roughly chronological.
http://play.blogger.com/
This should be a fascinating way to watch a news event unfold assuming they are roughly chronological.
http://play.blogger.com/
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Link
If you came to this site looking for information on Federal grants, you have come to the right place. This site deals with all types of assistance, not just financial aid. Therefore, this site uses "Assistance Program" as a generic term rather than speak specifically of a grant, loan, or other sort of program.
If you came to this site looking for information on Federal grants, you have come to the right place. This site deals with all types of assistance, not just financial aid. Therefore, this site uses "Assistance Program" as a generic term rather than speak specifically of a grant, loan, or other sort of program.
Post Hoc Rationalization
Good points...basically Stuart is saying that we all have the tendency toward self-justification but "intellectuals" have more tools in their arsenal to accomplish the task. Add the "moral imperative" that we all feel about our most cherished ideals and advocacy becomes a very sticky wicket. The only real salvation for all of us is complete transparency and openness so we are forced to admit mistakes in the face of overwhelming evidence.
Democracy and Free Market Capitalism work not because they magically transform the human intellect or psyche but because they expose our mistakes and biases quicker than other societal structures.
Link
One of the great intellectual challenges is to be consistent in the way that you approach evidence. What most people do, however, is hold one side of a debate to a much higher standard of proof than the other. That is, if Side A and Side B are fighting about something, then Side A will trumpet to the heavens every study and report and news story and anecdote and sheer speculation that supports Side A, whereas even the most meticulous study supporting Side B will be nitpicked to death and then ignored.
Consistent with what Taber and Lodge found, I think this may be most often true of professors and intellectuals -- they're smart enough to come up with a post hoc rationalization for any prior belief, they love to nitpick any contrary evidence, and they can walk away from any debate more convinced than ever that they are right, regardless of the evidence or arguments brought to bear on the other side.
Democracy and Free Market Capitalism work not because they magically transform the human intellect or psyche but because they expose our mistakes and biases quicker than other societal structures.
Link
One of the great intellectual challenges is to be consistent in the way that you approach evidence. What most people do, however, is hold one side of a debate to a much higher standard of proof than the other. That is, if Side A and Side B are fighting about something, then Side A will trumpet to the heavens every study and report and news story and anecdote and sheer speculation that supports Side A, whereas even the most meticulous study supporting Side B will be nitpicked to death and then ignored.
Consistent with what Taber and Lodge found, I think this may be most often true of professors and intellectuals -- they're smart enough to come up with a post hoc rationalization for any prior belief, they love to nitpick any contrary evidence, and they can walk away from any debate more convinced than ever that they are right, regardless of the evidence or arguments brought to bear on the other side.
Friday, September 21, 2007
TN Dept of Revenue to begin Smoker Surveillance
Michael Silence has the scoop. "Revenue Agents" will assume that anyone who is a smoker and crosses the State line is a potential criminal. We need more details on this.....are the Dept of Revenue agents actually crossing State lines? Will they use long range telescopes? How will they monitor out of State purchases? If they haven't already my guess is that we will soon have a hotline to report offending smokers.
Another thought, this may be the start of a new push to enforce the USE tax on items purchased outside TN A roadblock on I-65 at the Kentucky line would teach the citizens a thing or two. Commissioner Farr could get some of those big mirrored sunglasses and a sheriff's hat and slowly walk up to the cars and say things like, "Howdy Mame, I am afraid I smell me some out of State smoke."
Link
"If Revenue agents believe that an individual is transporting more than two cartons of cigarettes into Tennessee, the vehicle carrying the cigarettes will be stopped and searched," Commissioner Farr said. "If more than two cartons are found, the cigarettes will be seized and agents have the discretion to make arrests and seize the vehicle."
Another thought, this may be the start of a new push to enforce the USE tax on items purchased outside TN A roadblock on I-65 at the Kentucky line would teach the citizens a thing or two. Commissioner Farr could get some of those big mirrored sunglasses and a sheriff's hat and slowly walk up to the cars and say things like, "Howdy Mame, I am afraid I smell me some out of State smoke."
Link
"If Revenue agents believe that an individual is transporting more than two cartons of cigarettes into Tennessee, the vehicle carrying the cigarettes will be stopped and searched," Commissioner Farr said. "If more than two cartons are found, the cigarettes will be seized and agents have the discretion to make arrests and seize the vehicle."
Politicians have so many BAD Good intentions
LInk
Plans to blanket cities across the nation with low-cost or free wireless Internet access are being delayed or abandoned because they are proving to be too costly and complicated.
Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and other cities are putting proposed Wi-Fi networks on hold.
"Wi-Fi woes everywhere you turn," says Russell Hancock of Silicon Valley Network, a troubled Wi-Fi project for 40 towns in California's high-tech corridor.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Democratic and Republican Crooks
Link
A recent report highlighted some interesting information on both earmarks and campaign contributions. Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, directed $114.5 million in earmarks to 26 private entities. All 26 of the entities contributed to Rep. Murtha's campaign totaling $413,250 since the beginning of 2005 with $100,750 of these contributions coming in the 2 weeks before the March 16th deadline to file earmark requests.
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) is also on the Defense subcommittee and also received campaign contributions from every private entity he directed an earmark to and Rep. Bud Cramer (D-AL) received campaign contributions from 15 of the 16 private entities he directed earmarks to.
On the Republican side of the Appropriations committee, Rep. Bill Young (FL) who is the ranking member on the Defense Subcommittee received campaign contributions from 28 of the 30 groups he directed earmarks to and Rep. David Hobson (OH) received campaign contributions from 11 of the 14 private entities he directed earmarks to.
List of Tennessee Based Fed Contractors
FY 2006 Federal Contractors in Tennessee Ranked by Contract Amounts:
| Parent Company Name | Contractor Name(s) | Total Amount (for this search) |
|---|---|---|
| FEDEX CORPORATION | FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION; FEDERAL EXPRESS CHARTER PROGRA; FEDEX KINKOS OFFICE AND PRINT SERVICES INCORPORATED; FEDEX; FEDEX KINKO\S OFFICE AND PRINT; FEDEX GROUND INCORPORATED (1019); FEDEX FREIGHT | $1,288,121,291 |
| UT-BATTELLE LLC | UT BATTELLE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; UT-BATTELLE LLC | $1,054,773,775 |
| MC DERMOTT/BECHTEL GROUP | BWXT Y 12 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; MC DERMOTT/BECHTEL GROUP | $764,195,301 |
| JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC | SVERDRUP TECHNOLOGY, INC; JACOBS FACILITIES INC; JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC; JACOBS CIVIL INC; JACOBS TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; G P R PLANNERS COLLABORATIVE INCORPORATED; SVERDRUP CIVIL, INC | $588,378,912 |
| BECHTEL GROUP, INC. | BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC; BECHTEL JACOBS COMPANY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; BECHTEL BWXT IDAHO LLC; BECHTEL PARSONS BLUE GRASS, A; BECHTEL BETTIS INCORPORATED; BECHTEL JACOBS CO LLC; BECHTEL NEVADA INC; | $502,329,288 |
| AEROSPACE TESTING ALLIANCE, LL | AEROSPACE TESTING ALLIANCE | $282,330,411 |
| CORRECTIONS CORP AMERICA | CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AME; CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA | $229,391,750 |
| OAK RIDGE ASSOC UNIVERSITIES | OAK RIDGE ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES INC; OAK RIDGE ASSOCIATED UNIVERSIT; OAK RIDGE ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES I; OAK RIDGE ASSOC UNIV | $211,454,932 |
| INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE CORPORATION; NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL TRNSP | $175,152,642 |
| EOD TECHNOLOGY, INC. | EOD TECHNOLOGY, INC | $106,332,105 |
| NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES INC | NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES INC | $91,417,300 |
| URANIUM DISPOSITION SVC LLC | URANIUM DISPOSITION SERVICES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $81,477,368 |
| ALLTRISTA ZINC CORP | ALLTRISTA CORPORATION | $78,154,244 |
| ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS, INC. | ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC; MISSION RESEARCH CORPORATION; ATK THIOKOL, INC; ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INCORPORATED (7464); ATK MISSILE SYSTEMS COMPANY; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES INC.; ATK GUN SYSTEMS COMPANY LLC; | $76,143,759 |
| BAE SYSTEMS | BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND EL; DIGITALNET GOVERNMENT SOLUTION; BAE SYSTEMS APPLIED TECHNOLOGI; UNITED DEFENSE, L P; BAE SYSTEMS APPLIED TECHONOLGI; BAE SYSTEMS NORFOLK SHIP REPAI; B A E SYSTEMS LAND | $59,911,181 |
| SECURITY CONSULTANTS GROUP INC | SECURITY CONSULTANTS GROUP INC; SECURITY CONSULTANTS GROUP, IN | $59,822,324 |
| THE HEIL CO | HEIL TRAILER INTERNATIONAL; THE HEIL CO | $54,247,012 |
| VF IMAGEWEAR INC | VF IMAGEWEAR INCORPORATED; VF SOLUTIONS | $50,438,537 |
| CAMEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY | CAMEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, I; CAMEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN; CAMEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY INCORPORATED | $47,402,042 |
| SRS, INC | SRS INCORPORATED (1829); SRS INC | $37,207,164 |
| SHAW GROUP, INC. | SHAW ENVIRONMENTAL, INC; SHAW INFRASTRUCTURE INC; IT CORPORATION; OHM REMEDIATION SERVICES CORP; SHAW ENVIRONMENTAL & INFRASTRU; STONE & WEBSTER, INC; BENECO ENTERPRISES, INC.; THE IT GROUP IN | $36,081,430 |
| U S TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY | TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY | $31,271,490 |
| SWORD & SHIELD COMPUTER SERVIC | SWORD & SHIELD COMPUTER SERVIC; SWORD AND SHIELD ENTERPRISE SECURITY INCORPORATED; SWORD AND SHIELD COMPUTER SERVICES INCORPORATED; SWORD & SHIELD ENTERPRISE SECU; SWORD & SHIELD ENTERPRIS | $30,235,918 |
| TENNESSEE APPAREL CORP | TENNESSEE APPAREL CORP | $28,038,250 |
| METROPOLITAN SECURITY SERVICES | WALDEN SECURITY | $27,091,370 |
| REESE, INC | REESE, INC | $26,086,836 |
| T S M CORPORATION | TSM CORPORATION | $26,082,555 |
| INLAND DREDGING COMPANY, L.L.C | INLAND DREDGING COMPANY, L L C | $23,931,706 |
| ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES CORP | ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES CORPORA; ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES CORPORATION | $22,759,527 |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP. | NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION T; NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPO; NORTHROP GRUMMAN SPACE AND MISSION SYSTEMS CORPORATION; NORTHROP GRUMMAN SPACE & MISSI; NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION; NORTHROP GRUMM | $22,665,626 |
| TULLAHOMA INDUSTRIES, LLC | TULLAHOMA INDUSTRIES, LLC | $18,869,281 |
| CLARKSVILLE (TN), CITY OF | CITY OF CLARKSVILLE GAS & WATE; CITY OF CLARKSVILLE; CLARKSVILLE, CITY OF | $18,592,492 |
| T M S CONTRACTING LLC | TMS CONTRACTING LLC; TMS CONTRACTING LLC/COMPTON CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED JV; SPIGNER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT; TMS CONTRACTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $18,310,248 |
| BARRETT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING | BARRETT FIREARMS MFG INC | $17,820,847 |
| ENERGYSOLUTIONS | DURATEK SERVICES, INC; DURATEK RADWASTE PROCESSING, I; DURATEK FEDERAL SERVICES, INC; DURATEK, INC; GTS DURATEK BEAR CREEK, INC.; DURATEK INCORPORATED (7690); CHEM-NUCLEAR SYSTEMS LLC | $17,404,269 |
| SABRE DEFENSE INDUSTRIES, LLC | SABRE DEFENSE INDUSTRIES, LLC; SABRE DEFENCE INDUSTRIES, LLC | $16,954,311 |
| INFORMATION INTL ASSOC | INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL ASSO; INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES, INC | $16,886,388 |
| FIRSTLINE TRANSPORTATION | FIRSTLINE TRANSPORTATION; FIRSTLINE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY INCORPORATED | $16,495,751 |
| ASHLAND OIL, INC. | APAC-SOUTHEAST, INC; ASHLAND INC; COASTAL CAROLINA DIVISION OF A; ASHLAND INCORPORATED (5835); ASHLAND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY; APAC-TENNESSEE INC; APAC-MISSISSIPPI, INC; APAC ARKANSAS INCORPORATED; APAC | $15,704,395 |
| AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES | AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC (A; AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC | $15,528,376 |
| DEERE & CO. | JOHN DEERE CONSTRUCTION AND FORESTRY COMPANY; CUMMINS INCORPORATED (7090); JOHN DEERE CONSTRUCTION & FORE; DEERE AND COMPANY (2580); DEERE & COMPANY; JOHN DEERE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMEN; JOHN DEERE | $15,397,617 |
| NAVARRO RESEARCH & ENGINEERING | NAVARRO RESEARCH AND ENGINEERI; NAVARRO RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING INCORPORATED; NAVARRO RESEARCH & ENGR INC | $15,328,829 |
| ANTHONY & GORDON CONST. CO. IN | ANTHONY AND GORDON CONSTRUCTIO; ANTHONY & GORDON CONSTRUCTION | $15,221,099 |
| UNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGIES INC | UNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGIES INC | $14,746,489 |
| GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION | GENERAL PHYSICS CORPORATION; ISOTEK SYSTEMS, LLC; ISOTEK SYSTEMS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP | $14,100,050 |
| NUCSAFE INC | NUCSAFE INC; NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AND SECURIT | $14,076,760 |
| DELTA COALS INC | DELTA COALS INC | $13,763,977 |
| THE PICTSWEET COMPANY | THE PICTSWEET COMPANY | $12,706,778 |
| MC KEE FOODS CORPORATION | MCKEE FOODS CORPORATION; Scott's Distributing | $12,275,560 |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY; THE VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (6822); VANDERBILT DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY; VANDERBILT UNIV; THE VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (6822) 201083; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY THE (9111); DIVISION OF PE | $11,905,054 |
| CONTRACTING, CONSULTING & ENGI | CONTRACTING CONSULTING ENGINEERING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; CONTRACTING CONSULTING AND ENGINEERING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; CONTRACTING, CONSULTING, ENGIN; CONTRACTING, CONSULTING & ENGI | $11,812,699 |
| MEDTRONIC, INC. | MEDTRONIC INCORPORATED; MEDTRONIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED; MEDTRONIC SOFAMOR DANEK INCORPORATED (3635); MEDTRONIC SOFAMOR DANEK, INC; MEDTRONIC MINIMED INCORPORATED; MEDTRONIC POWERED | $11,468,932 |
| MC NEELY AND ASSOCIATES | MCNEELY PIGOTT & FOX PUBLIC RE; MCNEELY PIGOTT & FOX PUBLIC RELATIONS, LLC; MC NEELY PIGOTT & FOX LLC; MCNEELY PIGOTT AND FOX PUBLIC RELATIONS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $11,137,341 |
| CHOCTAW TRANSPORTATION CO INC | CHOCTAW TRANSPORTATION COMPANY | $11,034,697 |
| VALLEY APPAREL, LLC | VALLEY APPAREL, LLC; VALLEY APPAREL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $10,256,063 |
| SECURITY SIGNALS INC | SECURITY SIGNALS, INC | $10,237,684 |
| PATTON-TULLY TRNSP CO | PATTON-TULLY TRANSPORTATION LL; PATTON TULLY TRANSPORTATION LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; PATTON-TULLY TRNSP LLC | $10,086,838 |
| CH2M HILL COMPANIES LTD | CH2M HILL, INC; CH2M HILL CONSTRUCTORS, INC; CH2M HILL COMPANIES, LTD; CH2M HILL INTERNATIONAL SERVIC; CH2M HILL/MONTGOMERY WATSON A; CH2M HILL SE INC; CH2M HILL HANFORD GROUP INC; CH2M HILL MOUND INC | $9,997,682 |
| CUMMINS ENGINE CO., INC. | CUMMINS INC.; CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY AFTERMA; CUMMINS INCORPORATED (7090); CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY, INC; DEERE AND COMPANY (7090); CUMMINS DE PUERTO RICO INCORPORATED; CUMMINS SOUTHEASTERN POWER INCORP | $9,983,599 |
| SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRO | SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRO; SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS INCORPORATED; SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTALPROB | $9,514,318 |
| JDC INDUSTRIES, INC. | JDC INDUSTRIES, INC | $9,478,982 |
| CREW TRAINING INTERNATIONAL, I | CREW TRAINING INTERNATIONAL, I; CREW TRAINING INTERNATIONAL IN | $9,410,436 |
| SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION | SCHERING-PLOUGH HEALTHCARE PRO; SCHERING PLOUGH CORPORATION | $9,144,195 |
| UNISTAR-SPARCO COMPUTERS, INC. | UNISTAR-SPARCO COMPUTERS, INC.; SPARCO.COM | $9,137,710 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SYSTEM | UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE; UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE (1636); UNIV TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE; UNIV TENNESSEE SPACE INSTITUT; UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MEM; UNIV TENNESSEE SPACE INST | $9,090,237 |
| TMS CONTRACTING LLC/COMPTON CO | TMS CONTRACTING LLC/COMPTON CO | $8,854,797 |
| EAST TENNESSEE MECH CONTRS | EAST TENNESSEE MECH CONTRACTOR | $8,575,967 |
| LILLY DAVID B COMPANY INC | DELFASCO, INC | $8,314,266 |
| ZELLWEGER USTER INC | USTER TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED | $8,285,177 |
| EXELON CORP | COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY (8600); PECO ENERGY COMPANY; AMERESCO FEDERAL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED; EXELON SERVICES FEDERAL GROUP,; COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY; EXELON ENERGY COMPANY (IL); EXELON ENERGY | $8,053,755 |
| CONTINENTAL CONSTRUCTION CO | CONTINENTAL CONSTRUCTION CO | $7,850,398 |
| CDA INC | CDA, INCORPORATED | $7,547,448 |
| ELK RVER PUB UTILITY DISTRICT | ELK RIVER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTR; ELK RIVER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT | $7,332,905 |
| AMERICAN COMPUTER SERVICE | AMERICAN COMPUTER SERVICES COMPANY | $7,212,706 |
| MEMPHIS (TN), CITY OF | CITY OF MEMPHIS; BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMPHIS CIT; MEMPHIS CITY OF; MEMPHIS CITY OF (0361) | $7,186,852 |
| LEGACY/CRITIQUE | LEGACY/CRITIQUE | $6,832,170 |
| PERKIN-ELMER CORP. | PERKINELMER LAS INCORPORATED; PERKINELMER INC; PERKINELMER OPTOELECTRONICS, A; ADVANCED MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; PERKINELMER LABWORKS INCORPORATED; ADVANCED MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOG; PERKINEL | $6,788,071 |
| GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP. | ANTEON CORPORATION; GENERAL DYNAMICS NETWORK SYSTE; GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS; ANTEON CORPORATION (VA); ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION; GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS IN; NATIONAL STEEL & SHIPBUILDING | $6,785,787 |
| GOVERNMENT SUPPLIERS & ASSOCIA | GOVERNMENT SUPPLIERS & ASSOCIA | $6,643,759 |
| ARROWHEAD REALTY CORP | ARROWHEAD REALTY CORP | $6,338,646 |
| CAC, INC | CAC, INC | $5,718,791 |
| HYDRO POWER SERVICES | HYDRO POWER SERVICES LLC | $5,703,644 |
| A C HUMKO CORPORATION | A C H FOOD COMPANIES, INC | $5,574,428 |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN S RESEARCH HO | ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INCORPORATED; ST. JUDE CHILDREN\S RESEARCH H; ST. JUDE CHILDREN\S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, INC. | $5,271,475 |
| AQUA-CHEM INC | AQUA-CHEM, INC; AQUA CHEM INCORPORATED WATER TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION | $5,189,932 |
| MAHAFFEY TENT & AWNING CO INC | MAHAFFEY TENT AND AWNING COMPANY INCORPORATED | $4,865,825 |
| COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES INC | THE COCA-COLA COMPANY; COCA-COLA CENTRAL JAPAN CO , L; COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES INC; OKINAWA COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO; COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY OF; MICHINOKU COCA-COLA BOTTLING C; COCA-COLA WEST JAPAN COM | $4,796,630 |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES | GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE COA; GOODWILL INDS OF SAN ANTONIO; GOODWILL INDUS COASTL EMPR INC; GOODWILL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES C; GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTH F; GOODWORKS, INC; RAPPAHANNOCK GOODWILL INDU | $4,601,407 |
| AARON-BRADLEY CO, INC | AARON-BRADLEY CO INC | $4,565,128 |
| DIGITAL REASONING SYSTEMS, INC | DIGITAL REASONING SYSTEMS, INC | $4,532,200 |
| MICRO CRAFT INC | MICRO CRAFT INC; ALLIED AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES | $4,523,736 |
| TAYLOR MOTORS INC | TAYLOR MOTORS, INC | $4,223,265 |
| ECHOTA TECHNOLOGIES INC | ECHOTA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIO | $4,179,056 |
| SYSTEMS INTEGRATION/MODELING & | SYSTEMS INTEGRATION/MODELING &; SYSTEMS INTERGRATION MODELING | $4,087,803 |
| P B S & J CORPORATION | POST, BUCKLEY, SCHUH & JERNIGA; PBS&J; POST BUCKLEY SCHUH AND JERNIGAN INCORPORATED (6138); POST, BUCKLEY, SCHUH & JERNIGAN INC; P B S J CORPORATION THE | $4,085,074 |
| MILITARY SYSTEMS GROUP INC | MILITARY SYSTEMS GROUP INC | $3,944,385 |
| CHATTEM INC | CHATTEM, INC | $3,935,993 |
| PROTECTIVE APPAREL OF AMERICA | PROTECTIVE APPAREL CORPORATION; PROTECTIVE APPAREL CORP OF AME | $3,926,447 |
| KNOXVILLE (TN), CITY OF | KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD; KNOXVILLE CITY OF | $3,876,945 |
| WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INC | WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED | $3,779,049 |
| ROGERS GROUP INC | ROGERS GROUP, INC | $3,764,234 |
| CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING IN | CHARLES TOMBRAS ADVERTISING IN | $3,735,679 |
| VEXTEC CORPORATION | VEXTEC CORPORATION | $3,686,437 |
| TRI STATE GOVERNMENT SERVICES | TRI-STATE GOVERMENT SERVICES; TRI STATE GOVERNMENT SERVICES | $3,611,846 |
| GEM TECHNOLOGIES INC | GEM TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED | $3,600,462 |
| NASHVILLE (TN), COUNTY OF | COUNTY OF NASHVILLE (4743); COUNTY OF NASHVILLE (4743) 1361156 | $3,588,763 |
| PREPAK SYSTEMS INC. | PREPAK SYSTEMS INCORPORATED | $3,493,583 |
| FERGUSON HARBOR SERVICES INC | FERGUSON HARBOUR INCORPORATED | $3,411,278 |
| EML/BMAR JOINT VENTURE, LLC | EML/BMAR JOINT VENTURE, LLC | $3,349,164 |
| MACK MECHANICAL, INC. | MACK MECHANICAL INCORPORATED | $3,338,149 |
| HASELWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC | HASELWOOD ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED | $3,231,379 |
| CHANCELLOR & SON, INC. | CHANCELLOR & SON INC | $3,224,635 |
| SERVICEMASTER COMPANY (INC), T | TRUGREEN LANDCARE L.L.C.; TRUGREEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; TRUGREEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (3318); TERMINIX INTERNATIONAL COMPANY; TERMINIX SERVICES INCORPORATED; SERVICE MASTER BY ENTERPRISE; TERMINIX INTE | $3,213,534 |
| ODOMS TENNESSEE PRIDE SAUSAGE, | ODOMS TENNESSEE PRIDE SAUSAGE, | $2,956,348 |
| HANEY FRANKLIN L CO | FRANKLIN L HANEY | $2,916,487 |
| ASURION INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. | ASURION INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. | $2,884,778 |
| OAK RIDGE (TN), CITY OF | OAK RIDGE CITY OF; OAK RIDGE CITY OF (8662) | $2,814,305 |
| SYSCO CORPORATION | SYSCO FOOD SERVICES OF HAMPTON; SYSCO FOOD SERVICES OF SEATTLE; SYSCO FOOD SERVICES OF CENTRAL; LANKFORD-SYSCO FOOD SERVICES,; SYSCO FOOD SERVICES OF SAN FRA; SYSCO/LOUISVILLE FOODS SERVICE; SYSCO COR | $2,802,346 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | THE AMERICAN RED CROSS; THE AMERICAN RED CROSS (6605); THE AMERICAN RED CROSS (3016); AMERICAN RED CROSS PULASKI COUNTY CHAPTER; AMERICAN RED CROSS (6324); AMERICAN RED CROSS GREAT LAKES REGION; AMERI | $2,796,123 |
| GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY | GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY | $2,789,969 |
| HGW AND ASSOCIATES LLC | HGW & ASSOCIATES LLC | $2,781,280 |
| JERRY B YOUNG CONSTRUCTION I | JERRY YOUNG CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED; JERRY B YOUNG CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED; JERRY B YOUNG CONSTRUCTION I | $2,737,200 |
| INTEGRITY PRIVATE SECURITY SVC | INTEGRITY INTERNATIONAL SECURI | $2,680,456 |
| KOMATSU LTD | KOMATSU AMERICA CORPORATION; KOMATSU AMERICA INTERNATIONAL; KOMATSU AMERICA CORPORATION (5128); KOMATSU AMERICA CORPORATION (9595); KOMATSU AMERICA INDUSTRIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; KOMATSU FORKLI | $2,622,174 |
| J E GREEN COMPANY | J E GREEN COMPANY | $2,591,700 |
| PIONEER BUILDERS INCORPORATED | PIONEER BUILDERS INCORPORATED | $2,509,501 |
| TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY | TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY; TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVER; TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY; TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIV | $2,494,799 |
| HOLSTON DEFENSE CORPORATION | HOLSTON DEFENSE CORPORATION | $2,437,065 |
| OVERDRIVE TRANSPORTATION INCOR | OVERDRIVE TRANSPORTATION INCOR | $2,423,687 |
| KINDRED HEALTHCARE INC | KINDRED HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED (5562); KINDRED HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED (0000); KINDRED HEALTHCARE INC; KINDRED HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED (5557); KINDRED HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED (5558); MS CARE CENTER O | $2,379,204 |
| M T D INC | MTD INC | $2,344,443 |
| FRHAM SAFETY PRODUCTS INC | FRHAM SAFETY PRODUCTS, INC | $2,311,576 |
| ABILITYONE CORPORATION | ABILITYONE CORPORATION (5228); PATTERSON MEDICAL SUPPLY INCORPORATED; SMITH AND NEPHEW INCORPORATED; SAMMONS PRESTON; ABILITYONE CORPORATION; ABILITYONE CORPORATION (0834); SMITH & NEPHEW GMBH; SM | $2,307,573 |
| INGERSOLL-RAND CO. | DRESSER-RAND COMPANY; INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY; CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY (INC); PERIMETER BOBCAT INCORPORATED; DRESSER RAND COMPANY (7619); INGERSOLL-RANDCOMPANY; BOBCAT COMPANY; INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY- | $2,301,200 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING AND T | ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING AND T | $2,298,407 |
| SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTL CORP | PROCURENET INC; SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATI; SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT SERVICES; GEO-CENTERS, INC; BD SYSTEMS INC; APPLIED MARINE TECHNOLOGY INC; AQUIDNE | $2,280,393 |
| ECI DEFENSE GROUP | ECI DEFENSE GROUP | $2,276,005 |
| DESIGN ONE BUILDING SYSTEMS INCORPORATED | DESIGN ONE BUILDING SYSTEMS INCORPORATED | $2,222,355 |
| PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF INC | ALLTECH, INC.; PARSONS, BRINCKERHOFF, QUADE &; PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF INC; Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc.; PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF QUADE AND DOUGLAS INCORPORATED (1569); PARSONS BRINCKE | $2,031,939 |
| DHPS INCORPORATED | DHPS INCORPORATED | $2,027,400 |
| THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION | THOMAS AND BETTS CORPORATION | $1,988,351 |
| ALPHA TECHNOLOGY | ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES | $1,945,036 |
| GRAHAM CONSTRUCTION | GRAHAM SERVICES LLC | $1,944,877 |
| TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELEDYNE SOLUTIONS, INC; TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING INCORPORATED; TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING, IN; TELEDYNE INDUSTRIES INC; TELEDYNE ISCO INCORPORATED; TELEDYNE REYNOLDS, I | $1,915,603 |
| FILM HOUSE, INC | FILM HOUSE, INC | $1,889,742 |
| LABORATORY CORP OF AMERICA | LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMER; LABORATORY CORPORATION OFAMERICA HOLDINGS; LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA; LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA (7370); LABORATORY CORPORATION OFAMERI; LABORATORY CORPO | $1,869,135 |
| NEWBEGIN ENTERPRISES, INC. | NEWBEGIN ENTERPRISES INC | $1,860,857 |
| RIVERTRUST SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED | RIVERTRUST SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED | $1,847,094 |
| TERRAIN INC & ENSAFE INC | TERRAIN INC & ENSAFE INC | $1,801,814 |
| MOODY DUNBAR INC | MOODY DUNBAR, INC | $1,799,676 |
| EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIV | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY; EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSIT; EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIV | $1,796,036 |
| ED MEDICAL INCORPORATED | ED MEDICAL INCORPORATED | $1,776,551 |
| TENNESSEE, STATE OF | HEALTH TENNESSEE DEPT OF; STATE OF TENNESSEE; TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TENNESSEE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION; STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION; TENNESSEE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISS | $1,748,642 |
| CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION | CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION; CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION (2916); CENTRAL PARKING CORPORATION (9510); CENTRAL PARKING SYSTEM INCORPORATED (9510); CENTRAL PARKING SYSTEM OF NJ; Universal Parking, Inc.; | $1,687,380 |
| MULTIMEDIA SERVICES INC | OUTFITTERS SATELLITE INCORPORATED; OUTFITTER SATELLITE, INC; MULTIMEDIA SERVICES INC | $1,678,960 |
| AMEC GROUP | AMEC EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL, IN; AMEC EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL INC; AMEC EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL GMB; AMEC EARTH &ENVIRONMENTAL GMBH; AGRA ENVIRONMENTAL INC; AMEC SPIE BELGIUM SA | $1,659,813 |
| PRIMACY RELOCATION LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | PRIMACY RELOCATION LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $1,628,352 |
| CONSOLIDATED POULTRY & EGG CO | CONSOLIDATED POULTRY AND EGG COMPANY INCORPORATED; CONSOLIDATED POULTRY AND EGGCO | $1,602,154 |
| PANTHER CONSTRUCTION CO, INC | PANTHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED | $1,583,641 |
| OMEGA APPAREL INCORPORATED | OMEGA APPAREL INCORPORATED | $1,568,174 |
| MS TECHNOLOGY, INC. | M S TECHNOLOGY INC; MS TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED (9648) | $1,556,940 |
| HME INC | HME INCORPORATED | $1,508,297 |
| VCI DOYON LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | VCI DOYON LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $1,500,000 |
| SECURITY WALLS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | SECURITY WALLS LLC; SECURITY WALLS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $1,475,728 |
| RESEARCH ELECTRONICS INC | RESEARCH ELECTRONICS INTERNATI; RESEARCH ELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $1,465,650 |
| FISK UNIVERSITY | FISK UNIVERSITY; FISK UNIV | $1,447,360 |
| BYLES JANITORIAL SERVICES | BYLES JANITORIAL SERVICES INCORPORATED | $1,437,434 |
| PARAGON STAFFING, INC | PARAGON STAFFING INCORPORATED | $1,433,018 |
| TETRA TECH, INC. | TETRA TECH INC; TETRA TECH EM INC; TETRA TECH NUS INCORPORATED; TETRA TECH FW, INC; FOSTER WHEELER ENVIRONMENTAL C; TETRA TECH EC INCORPORATED; ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT CONCEPT; ADVANCED MANAGEMENT TECH | $1,411,243 |
| SERVICENET | SERVICENET | $1,406,600 |
| KNOX (TN), COUNTY OF | KNOX COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RE; KNOX COUNTY CLERK; KNOX COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS | $1,382,522 |
| INTEGRATED BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOG | INTEGRATED BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $1,377,501 |
| T C C INC | CONRAD COMPANY INC, THE | $1,363,651 |
| LEGACY RESOURCE CONSULTING COR | LEGACY RESOURCE CONSULTING CORPORATION; LEGACY RSOURCE CONSULTING CORP | $1,360,536 |
| TRI STATE DISTRIBUTION INC | TRI STATE DISTRIBUTION INC | $1,308,453 |
| PERMOBIL INCORPORATED | PERMOBIL INCORPORATED | $1,305,170 |
| PAI CORPORATION | P A I CORP | $1,268,205 |
| CONCORD PERSONNEL SERVICES INC | CONCORD PERSONNEL SERVICES INC; CONCORD PERSONNEL SERVICES, IN | $1,263,626 |
| HARPER CONSTRUCTION & CO LLC | HARPER & COMPANY, INC | $1,255,672 |
| ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL OF NORT | ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL OF NORTH AMERICA INCORPORATED; ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL OF NORT | $1,228,027 |
| SOPAKCO, INC | SOPAKCO INC | $1,215,059 |
| ATA DEFENSE INDUSTRIES, INC. | ATA DEFENSE INDUSTRIES INC | $1,212,030 |
| LEHMAN-ROBERTS COMPANY INC | LEHMAN-ROBERTS COMPANY | $1,208,376 |
| MIDDLE TENNESSEE ELECTRIC MEMB | MIDDLE TENNESSEE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION | $1,207,323 |
| THYSSEN KRUPP AG | THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR CO; THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR CORPORATION (1267); THYSSENKRUPP ACCESS; THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR CORPORAT; SWISSLOG TRANSLOGIC; AIN PLASTICS, INC; GIDDINGS & LEWIS MACHINE TOOLS; TRA | $1,204,648 |
| ACCURATE AUTOMATION CORP | ACCURATE AUTOMATION CORPORATIO | $1,186,570 |
| BARGE WAGGONER SUMNER & CANNON | BARGE WAGGONER SUMNER & CANNON | $1,169,356 |
| EAST RIDGE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY | OSBORNE BUILDING CORPORATION; OSBORNE BUILDING CORPORATION (0000) | $1,165,959 |
| NETGAIN CORPORATION | NETGAIN CORPORATION; NET GAIN CORP | $1,153,003 |
| AVPOL INTERNATIONAL, LLC | AVPOL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; AVPOL INTERNATIONAL LC | $1,149,513 |
| SHOAF MARINE | SHOAF MARINE | $1,147,428 |
| PURITY DAIRIES INC | PURITY DAIRIES INC | $1,134,820 |
| POWELL VALLEY ELECTRIC | POWELL VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | $1,127,889 |
| MICHAEL GRAVES AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED / THOMAS MILLER AND PARTNERS LIMITED | MICHAEL GRAVES AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED / THOMAS MILLER AND PARTNERS LIMITED | $1,115,252 |
| POWER MANUFACTURING | POWER MFG CO INC | $1,114,092 |
| VOLUNTEER BLIND INDUSTRIES | LIONS VOLUNTEER BLIND INDUSTRI; LIONS VOLUNTEER BLIND INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED | $1,111,415 |
| MIDWAY REHABILITATION CENTER | ALCOHOLISM SERVICES OF KNOXVIL | $1,104,100 |
| DELTA-21 RESOURCES INC | DELTA 21 RESOURCES INCORPORATED | $1,085,732 |
| CUMMINGS MARINE TRANSPORTATION | CUMMINGS MARINE SERVICE | $1,063,740 |
| DIALYSIS CLINIC INCORPORATED | DIALYSIS CLINIC INCORPORATED | $1,060,840 |
| HEMPHILL BROTHERS COACH COMPANY | HEMPHILL BROTHERS COACH COMPANY; HEMPHILL BROTHERS SALES LLC | $1,060,300 |
| RIVER CITY DISTRIBUTORS, INC | RIVER CITY DISTRIBUTORS, INC | $1,046,265 |
| GAMBRO INC | GAMBRO INCORPORATED; GAMBRO HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED; GAMBRO BCT INCORPORATED; GAMBRO RENAL PRODUCTS INCORPORATED; GAMBRO TECHNICAL SERVICES INCORPORATED; DVA RENAL HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED; GAMBRO HEAL | $1,040,939 |
| SPECTRA TECH INC | SPECTRA TECH INC | $1,033,340 |
| TARTER CONTRACTING INC | TARTER CONTRACTING, INC | $1,006,289 |
| METADATA COMPANY LLC | METADATA COMPANY LLC | $999,999 |
| ROGERS PETROLEUM INC | ROGERS PETROLEUM INCORPORATED | $995,595 |
| COLLIERS TURLEY MARTIN TUCKER | EAKIN & SMITH | $988,958 |
| SEMMES-MURPHEY CLINIC PC | SEMMES MURPHEY CLINIC A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION | $983,333 |
| CHIEF ELECTRIC COMPANY | CHIEF ELECTRIC CO | $978,916 |
| ST PETER VILLA NURSING HOME | ST PETER VILLA INCORPORATED; ST PETER VILLA NURSING HOME | $977,964 |
| TECHNICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT | TECHNICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT | $967,122 |
| ALADDIN SYNERGETICS INC | ALADDIN TEMP-RITE LLC; ALADDIN TEMP RITE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; TEMP-RITE INTERNATIONAL GMBH | $955,080 |
| MISSOURI-PACIFIC LUMBER CO | JONES FIBER PRODUCTS INCORPORATED | $954,896 |
| VISIONARY SOLUTIONS, LLC | VISIONARY SOLUTIONS LLC; VISIONARY SOLUTIONS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $930,871 |
| REESE BROKERAGE CO INC | REESEINC | $922,684 |
| RHODES COLLEGE | RHODES COLLEGE (TENNESSEE) INCORPORATED | $919,692 |
| SALVATION ARMY | SALVATION ARMY THE (INC); HARBOR LIGHT CENTER; SOUTHERN TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE SALVATION ARMY THE; THE SOUTHERN TERRITORIAL HEADQ; EASTERN TERRITORIAL OF THE SALVATION ARMY (0163); THE SALVAT | $906,878 |
| COOPER REALTY CO INC | ONE MEMPHIS PLACE VENTURE | $904,636 |
| TURNER DAIRIES INC | TURNER HOLDINGS, LLC; TURNER HOLDINGS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $894,261 |
| DEROYAL INDUSTRIES INC | DEROYAL INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED | $884,241 |
| MID-SOUTH REGIONAL BLOOD CTR | MID SOUTH REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER | $884,181 |
| ALEX S PALMER AND COMPANY | ALEX S. PALMER & COMPANY | $870,784 |
| SPARKS COMPANIES INC | INFORMA ECONOMICS INCORPORATED; SPARKS CORP, LLC; SPARKS COMPANIES, INC | $867,538 |
| TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY | TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY; TENNESSEE STATE UNIV; TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERISTY; TENNESSE STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC | $847,534 |
| DATTEL REALTY COMPANY | DATTEL REALTY COMPANY | $847,494 |
| TENNESSEE ASPHALT COMPANY | TENNESSEE ASPHALT COMPANY | $841,962 |
| PRECISE CONCRETE WORKS, L L C | PRECISE CONCRETE WORKS LLC | $836,267 |
| PHILLIPS & JORDAN INC | PHILLIPS AND JORDAN INCORPORATED; PHILLIPS & JORDAN, INCORPORATE | $826,515 |
| SEKHON & SONS LODGING, LLC | SEKHON & SONS LODGING, LLC; FRIEDMAN GC TRUST | $793,940 |
| HYVEE EQUIPMENT LLC | HYVEE EQUIPMENT LLC; HYVEE EQUIPMENT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $790,128 |
| VOLUNTEER FLOOR COMPANY, INC | VOLUNTEER RESTORATION INCORPORATED | $789,546 |
| CAMPBELL CLINIC INCORPORATED | CAMPBELL CLINIC INCORPORATED | $764,683 |
| FUEL TANK MAINTENANCE COMPANY, | FUEL TANK MAINTENANCE COMPANY,; FUEL TANK MAINTENANCE COMPANY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $756,465 |
| MIDDLE TN STATE UNIV | MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY; MIDDLE TN STATE UNIV; MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERS | $741,425 |
| CIRCLE U RENTAL AND LEASING INCORPORATED | CIRCLE U RENTAL AND LEASING INCORPORATED; CIRCLE U RENTAL AND LEASING INCORPORATED (0000) | $718,769 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY DESIGNS | ENSAFE INC | $713,307 |
| ALTAMA DELTA CORPORATION | ALTAMA DELTA CORPORATION; DELTA ALTAMA CORPORATION; PHOENIX FOOTWEAR GROUP INCORPORATED | $705,599 |
| TRINITY EXCAVATORS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | TRINITY EXCAVATORS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $689,411 |
| WYATT, DONALD | DWA INCORPORATED; DWA INCORPORATED SECURITY SERV | $683,816 |
| SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES CORPORATION | SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES CORPORATION | $681,814 |
| WINN MATERIALS, INC. | WINN MATERIALS INC | $678,609 |
| ABC FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT | ABC FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT CO | $676,898 |
| THOMPSON POWER CORP INC | THOMPSON MACHINERY COMMERCE CORPORATION | $663,314 |
| GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SERVICE | GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SERVICES INCORPORATED | $661,911 |
| PREMIERE BLDG MAINTENANCE CORP | PREMIERE BLDG MAINTENANCE CORP; PREMIERE BUILDING MAINTENANCE CORPORATION | $660,272 |
| GASTROENTEROLOGY CENTER OF THE | GASTROENTEROLOGY CENTER OF THE MIDSOUTH P C | $659,755 |
| HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC | HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED; HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED (3393); HIGHWOODS/FLORIDA HOLDINGS, L.P.; HIGHWOODS REALTY LP; HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED; W. BRIAN REAMES; HIGHWOODS/FORSYTH, L.P.; | $651,599 |
| PARKWAY PROPERTIES, L.P. | PARKWAY PROPERTIES, LP; PARKWAY PROPERTIES; PARKWAY PROPERTIES (3597); KIRKPATRICK PLAZA, LLC; PARKWAY PROPERTIES INCORPORATED (0000) | $649,922 |
| CRYOMAGNETICS INC | CRYOMAGNETICS INC | $646,123 |
| SSC NASHVILLE OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED LIABILITY | SSC NASHVILLE OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $644,929 |
| TERRAINE, INC. (ENVIRONMENTAL | TERRAINE, INC | $637,240 |
| PETNET PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES | PETNET PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED; P E T NET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC | $637,100 |
| DYNAMIC STRUCTURES AND MATERIA | DYNAMIC STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; DYNAMIC STRUCTURES AND MATERIA | $636,841 |
| AMERICARE HEALTH CENTER OF MEMPHIS LIMITED LIABILI | AMERICARE HEALTH CENTER OF MEMPHIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $610,681 |
| BENTCO OFFICE SOLUTIONS | BENTCO OFFICE SOLUTIONS | $607,187 |
| GRASSMERE INVESTORS LLC | GRASSMERE INVESTORS LLC | $593,268 |
| COLEMAN CONTRACTING, INC | COLEMAN CONTRACTING, INC | $591,935 |
| MAYFIELD LUMBER COMPANY | MAYFIELD LUMBER COMPANY | $589,501 |
| XCEL ENGINEERING INC | XCEL ENGINEERING INCORPORATED | $581,477 |
| NATIONAL HEALTHCORP LP | NHC HEALTHCARE; NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATIO; MATTIE C HALL HEALTH CARE CENTER; HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED (4993); NHC HEALTHCARE/SCOTT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; NHC HEALTHCARE/OAKWOOD | $581,096 |
| HART-FREELAND-ROBERTS, INC | HART FREELAND ROBERTS INCORPORATED | $571,215 |
| GROUPE LACASSE INC | GROUPE LACASSE LLC; GROUPE LACASSE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $561,017 |
| LITTLE PLANET LEARNING, INC | LITTLE PLANET LEARNING INCORPORATED | $560,000 |
| AVIONICS SPECIALIST INC | AVIONICS SPECIALIST INC | $556,079 |
| BELZ INVESTMENT COMPANY | BICO ASSOCIATES; BELZ INVESTMENT COMPANY; BELZ INVESTCO, GP | $555,360 |
| ADVOCAT INC. | BOYD NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER; AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT INCORPORATED (8835); ADVOCAT INCORPORATED; AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT INCORPORATED (3944); AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT INCORPORATED (3947) | $552,142 |
| OVERTON PARK HEALTH CARE | VANGUARD OF MEMPHIS; OVERTON PARK HEALTH CARE | $551,568 |
| UPPER MISSOURI RIVER CORP | UPPER MISSOURI RIVER CORPORATI | $541,987 |
| KINGSPORT NH OPERATIONS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | KINGSPORT NH OPERATIONS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $536,438 |
| DIALOGIC COMMUNICATIONS CORP | DIALOGIC COMMUNICATIONS CORPOR; DIALOGIC COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION | $531,201 |
| MURFREESBORO (TN), CITY OF | MURFREESBORO CITY OF | $530,779 |
| MULTI-MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC | MULTI MEDIA SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED | $528,552 |
| POWER AND GENERATION TESTING INCORPORATED | POWER AND GENERATION TESTING INCORPORATED | $527,060 |
| CUMBERLAND BEND INVESTMORS, LP | THE STANTON GROUP INC | $525,554 |
| MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE | MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE | $521,232 |
| GYRUS ENT LLC | GYRUS ENTERPRISES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; GYRUS ENT LLC | $517,407 |
| HARDIN COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH | HARDIN COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER | $516,579 |
| CS ENGINEERING INC | CS ENGINEERING INC | $512,670 |
| 5325 SUJMER AVE. PROPERTIES, LLC | 5325 SUJMER AVE. PROPERTIES, LLC; 5325 SUMMER AVE PROPERTIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $509,610 |
| JONES MAH GASKILL RHODES | RITCHIE ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED THE (8727) | $503,484 |
| STEBBING & ASSOCIATES, INC | STEBBING AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED | $501,000 |
| CHOICE HOTELS INTL, INC. | STELLAR INVESTMENTS; COMFORT INN BRUNSWICK; PARKINS INC; PARAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; SOJOURN LODGING, INC; SLEEP INN NORTH; QUALITY INN & SUITES; C C C ENTERPRISES INC OF VIRGI; AMERICAN RETI | $500,326 |
| CIGNA | CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE CO.; CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSUR; 1800 M STREET LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; CONNECTICUT GEN LF INSUR COMPANY; CIGNA GOVERNMENT SERVICES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $500,000 |
| VANDERBILT IMAGING SERVICES, L | VANDERBILT IMAGING SERVICES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $500,000 |
| RAJIC, SLOBODAN | TESLA TECHNOLOGIES, INC | $499,853 |
| EVERTON OGLESBY ARCHITECTS, PL | EVERTON OGLESBY ARCHITECTS PLLC; EVERTON OGLESBY ASKEW ARCHITEC | $495,708 |
| SARA LEE CORPORATION | PYA/MONARCH, LLC; EARTHGRAINS BAKING COMPANIES,; EARTHGRAINS BAKING COMPANIES INCORPORATED (1040); THE EARTHGRAINS BAKING COMPANY; SARA LEE BAKERY GROUP, INC; SARA LEE CORPORATION; EARTHGRAINS BAKING | $493,693 |
| HASELWOOD SERVICES AND MANUFACTURING INCORPORATED | HASELWOOD SERVICES AND MANUFACTURING INCORPORATED | $492,293 |
| SHERRICK/WOOLPERT, INC (JOINT | SHERRICK/WOOLPERT, INC (JOINT | $491,636 |
| INVENTORY LOCATOR SERVICE INC | INVENTORY LOCATOR SERVICE LLC; INVENTORY LOCATOR SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $486,289 |
| LEWIS BROTHERS BAKERIES INC TN | LEWIS BROTHERS BAKERIES INC; LEWIS BROTHERS BAKERIES INCORPORATED (2336) | $479,745 |
| UT MEDICAL GROUP INCORPORATED | UT MEDICAL GROUP INCORPORATED | $474,442 |
| WATER TECH ACQUISITION INC | WATER TECH ACQUISITION INC; AQUA-CHEM INC | $472,933 |
| LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA | LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA INCORPORATED (3862); LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA,; LIFE CARE CENTER OF HILTON HEAD; LIFE CART CTR; PUNTA GORDA ASSOCIATES; LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA INCORPORATED (1263 | $472,684 |
| THETA ENGINEERING INC | THETA TECHNOLOGIES, INC | $470,054 |
| OSBORNE ENTERPRISES INC | EAST GATE CENTER,INC. | $462,524 |
| WASHINGTON (TN), COUNTY OF | WASHINGTON COUNTY JOHNSON CITY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE | $460,757 |
| URS CORP. | EG&G TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC; URS GROUP, INC; LEAR SIEGLER SERVICES, INC.; URS GROUP INCORPORATED (7384) 17474; URS GROUP INCORPORATED (7384) 1393322; EG&G WASHINGTON ANALYTICAL SER; URS CORPO | $457,991 |
| SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH INCORPOR | SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH INCORPORATED | $452,813 |
| PUTNAM CONTRACTING SERVICES | PUTNAM CONTRACTING SERVICES | $451,052 |
| FEARNLEY & CALIFF, LLC | FEARNLEY & CALIFF, LLC; FEARNLEY AND CALIFF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; FEARNLEY & CALIFF, P.L.L.C. | $445,834 |
| INVENSYS PLC | FULTON BELLOWS & COMPONENTS, I; INVENSYS SYSTEMS, INC; ROBERTSHAW CONTROLS COMPANY; INVENSYS BUILDING SYSTEMS INC; NORCROSS SAFETY PRODUCTS; NORTH SAFETY PRODUCTS INCORPORATED; INVENSYS BUILDING S | $444,772 |
| RIVERVIEW HOTEL INC | RIVERVIEW HOTEL INCORPORATED | $444,564 |
| SON SHINE PRODUCE, INC | SON SHINE PRODUCE, INC | $437,838 |
| CUSTOM HOUSE REALTY PARTNERS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | CUSTOM HOUSE REALTY PARTNERS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $426,213 |
| ML TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC. | M L TRAINING SYSTEMS INC | $420,870 |
| C J HLTH RECORD CONSULTANT SVC | C J HEALTH RECORD CONSULTANT S | $417,983 |
| FLEXIAL CORPORATION | FLEXIAL CORPORATION | $417,300 |
| MORGAN & TURNER INC | MORGAN AND TURNER INCORPORATED | $413,573 |
| LINEBERRY PROPERTIES INC | LINEBERRY PROPERTIES, INC.; MARKET PLACE PARTNERS | $411,729 |
| SPINALGRAFT TECHNOLOGIES LLC | SPINALGRAFT TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; SPINALGRAFT TECHNOLOGIES LLC | $410,566 |
| MERITEX DICKSON, LLC | MERITEX DICKSON, LLC | $409,954 |
| MID SOUTH SPECIALTIES INCORPORATED | MID-SOUTH SPECIALTIES INC | $408,603 |
| BRISTOL NURSING HOME | BRISTOL NURSING HOME INCORPORATED | $406,498 |
| ELR CONSULTANTS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | ELR CONSULTANTS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; ELR CONSULTANTS LLC | $405,738 |
| JUDY SEALE INTERNATIONAL, INC | JUDY SEALE INTERNATIONAL, INC | $399,655 |
| CARLYLE GROUP | WESCO AIRCRAFT HARDWARE CORP; COMPUSEARCH SOFTWARE SYSTEMS,; ENDIUS, INC; COMARK BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC; STANDARD AERO LIMITED; COMBINED SYSTEMS INC; THE MARINE GROUP LLC; SUPERCIRCUITS INCORPORATED; S | $398,949 |
| M T A DISTRIBUTORS OF TN & KY | M T A DISTRIBUTORS OF TN & KY; MTA DISTRIBUTORS OF TENNESSEE; MTA DISTRIBUTORS OF TENNESSEE & KENTUCKY, INC. | $394,262 |
| TBC SOLUTIONS, INC. | TBC SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED | $393,533 |
| ANGELO M FORMOSA FOODS INC | ANGELO M FORMOSA FOODS INC | $386,557 |
| RVI TEXAS PROPERTY CORPORATION | RVI TEXAS PROPERTY CORPORATION | $386,513 |
| R & D METALS & CHEMICALS INC | R & D METALS & CHEMICALS INC | $386,155 |
| COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT CORP INC | COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT CORP.(IN | $386,147 |
| G F OFFICE FURNITURE LTD L P | G F OFFICE FURNITURE, LTD L.P.; GF OFFICE FURNITURE LIMITED; GF OFFICE FURNITURE LTD; GF OFFICE FURNITURE LIMITED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; G F OFFICE FURNITURE LIMITED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (0942) | $383,702 |
| RICE SERVICES, INC | RICE SERVICES, INC | $380,161 |
| DURR MONUMENT AND VAULT COMPAN | DURR MONUMENT AND VAULT COMPANY | $378,000 |
| WELLHOFER NORTH AMERICA | WELLHOFER NORTH AMERICA; SCANDITRONIX WELLHOFER | $376,078 |
| SENES OAK RIDGE, INC. | SENES OAK RIDGE INCORPORATED | $370,184 |
| STEPHEN K RUSH | STEPHEN K RUSH | $365,202 |
| PATENT PLASTICS INC | PATENT PLASTICS, INC | $364,124 |
| BLACK BOX CORPORATION OF PENNS | BLACK BOX CORPORATION; BLACK BOX CORPORATION OF PENNS; NEXTIRAONE FEDERAL, LLC; NEXTIRAONE FEDERAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; BLACK BOX NETWORK SERVICES INCORPORATED GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS; NEXTIRA FEDE | $357,456 |
| TENNSCO CORP | TENNSCO CORPORATION | $356,294 |
| ETRANSPLUS INCORPORATED | ETRANSPLUS INCORPORATED | $355,521 |
| MADISON HEALTH & REHAB CENTER | MADISON HEALTH & REHAB CENTER | $353,300 |
| ECHO INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED | ECHO INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED | $352,561 |
| ORION SYSTEMS INC | ORION SYSTEMS INC; ORION SYSTEMS INCORPORATED (5258) | $350,623 |
| HARMONY INDUSTRIES | HARMONY INDUSTRIES | $348,490 |
| L M I-TENNESSEE, INC. | L M I-TENNESSEE, INC. | $342,210 |
| BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC | BEVERLY ENTERPRISES - ARKANSAS; BEVERY ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED (1514); BEVERLY ENTERPRISES WISCONSIN INCORPORATED; BEVERLY ENTERPRISES PENNSYLV (0000); BEVERLY ENTERPRISES NORTH CA (0000); COUNTRYSID | $341,987 |
| SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH FACILITIES | SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH FACILITIES INCORPORATED | $340,712 |
| G2 ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT INC. | G2 ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT INC. | $340,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS | THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS; UNIV MEMPHIS; UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS (8618) | $339,989 |
| PROGRESSIVE DIRECTIONS INC | PROGRESSIVE DIRECTIONS INC | $336,937 |
| SPECTRUM INC | SPECTRUM INC.; SPECTRUM INCORPORATED (6237) | $334,430 |
| GOODWILL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, | GOODWILL GOVERNMENT SERVICES I | $333,546 |
| SOUTHERN SPECIALTY BRANDS | SOUTHERN SPECIALTY BRANDS | $332,747 |
| WEAVER & ASSOCIATES, LLC | WEAVER AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; WEAVER & ASSOCIATES, LLC | $331,536 |
| REMEDPAR INCORPORATED | REMEDPAR INCORPORATED | $328,138 |
| MICRON CORPORATION | MICRON CORPORATION | $327,083 |
| PALM COMMODITIES INTL INC | PALM COMMODITIES INTERNATIONAL | $325,886 |
| WILD BUILDING CONTRACTORS INC | WILD BUILDING CONTRACTORS INC | $325,601 |
| TENNESSEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION | ROGER D MORGAN; TENNESSEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION | $325,149 |
| BRILLIANT TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED | BRILLIANT TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED | $325,000 |
| BROWNSVILLE MEDICAL CENTER | TENET HEALTH SYSTEMS S F S N F; TENET HEALTHSYSTEM MEDICAL INCORPORATED; TENET HEALTHSYSTEM MEDICAL, IN | $323,750 |
| EAST TENNESSEE MATERIALS AND E | MATERIALS AND ENERGY CORPORATION; EAST TENNESSEE MATERIALS AND E | $320,757 |
| ATTENTUS OF SCOTT COUNTY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | ATTENTUS OF SCOTT COUNTY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $320,697 |
| TIPTON CONSTRUCTION CO INC | KELLIE W TIPTON CONSTRUCTION; TIPTON KELLIE W CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED | $319,206 |
| TAI-YANG RESEARCH COMPANY | TAI YANG RESEARCH CO | $317,990 |
| EAST TENNESSEE BAKING CO , LLC | EAST TENNESSEE BAKING CO , LLC | $307,950 |
| RICHLAND , LLC | RICHLAND , LLC | $307,894 |
| LAND-O-SUN DAIRIES, L.L.C. | LAND-O-SUN DAIRIES L L C; FLAV O RICH DAIRIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; LAND O SUN DAIRIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (8694); FLAV-O-RICH DAIRIES, LLC; LAND O SUN DAIRIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (74 | $307,745 |
| METROPLTAN NSHVLLE ARPRT AUTH | METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE AIRPORT; METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE; METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE AIRPORT AUTH; METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE AIRPORT AUTHORITY | $305,790 |
| WDS TN L.P. | WDS TN L.P.; HIGHWOODS, TENNESSEE HOLDINGS, LP | $304,868 |
| TRUE POINT INC | TRUE POINT INCORPORATED | $301,159 |
| M & D COATINGS INC | M & D COATINGS, INC | $300,610 |
| COMPUTATIONAL SYSTEMS INC | COMPUTATIONAL SYSTEMS INC | $296,004 |
| RONALD A KENNEDY JR (S) | KENNEDY SEPTICTANK SERVICE | $294,104 |
| OPRYLAND HOTEL | OPRYLAND HOSTIPALITY; GAYLORD OPRYLAND USA INCORPORATED | $291,980 |
| GENCORP, INC. | AEROJET-GENERAL CORPORATION; AEROJET ELECTRO SYSTEMS; AEROJET PROPULSION DIV; AEROJET ORDNANCE TENNESSEE INCORPORATED; AEROJET ORDNANCE TENNESSEE, IN | $291,348 |
| INTERSKY PRECISION INSTRUMENTS | INTERSKY INCORPORATED; INTERSKY PRECISIONS INSTRUMENT; INTERSKY PRECISION INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED | $289,709 |
| CARR S WILD HORSE CENTER | CARRS WILD HORSE CENTER /RANDALL AND PAULA CARR; CARRS WILD HORSE CENTER | $287,265 |
| PLASMA SCIENCES CORPORATION | PLASMA SCIENCES CORPORATION | $284,237 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HEALTH, INC. | ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND HEALTH INCORPORATED | $282,875 |
| TIPTON COUNTY GRAVEL | TIPTON COUNTY GRAVEL | $281,733 |
| POWER & TELEPHONE SUPPLY CO | POWER AND TELEPHONE SUPPLY COMPANY INCORPORATED; POWER & TELEPHONE SUPPLY CO, I; POWER & TELEPHONE SUPPLY COMPA | $281,116 |
| BELL, RAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | RAY BELL CONSTRUCTION CO INC | $280,253 |
| APPALACHIAN ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES PC | APPALACHIAN ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES PC | $276,015 |
| PYRAMEX SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC | PYRAMEX SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC | $275,080 |
| CARE SAFETY LLC | CARE SAFETY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; CARE SAFETY LLC | $274,854 |
| C 2 R L INC | C 2 R L INC | $269,724 |
| HOME CARE TRANSPORTATION | HOME CARE TRANSPORTATION | $269,713 |
| MAPLEWOOD HEALTH CARE CENTER O | MAPLEWOOD HEALTH CARE CENTER; MAPLEWOOD HEALTH CARE CENTER OF JACKSON TN INCORPORATED (2310) | $263,262 |
| BIONOMICS INC | BIONOMICS INCORPORATED | $256,446 |
| RAVEN RESEARCH CORPORATION | RAVEN RESEARCH CORPORATION | $255,480 |
| CUSTOM HOUSE ASSOCIATES, LTD | CUSTOM HOUSE ASSOCIATES, LTD; CUSTOM HOUSE ASSOCIATES LIMITED | $255,314 |
| JIM S TANK SERVICE LLC | JIMS TANK SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $255,306 |
| PARK MFG INC | PARK MFG INC | $254,673 |
| PORTABLE COOLING SYSTEMS INC | PORTABLE COOLING SYSTEMS INC; PORTABLE COOLING SYSTEMS INCORPORATED (2333) | $252,242 |
| TENNESSEE MAT COMPANY INC | TENNESSEE MAT COMPANY INC | $249,107 |
| EXECUTIVE PARK CO | EXECUTIVE PARK CO | $247,548 |
| LOCHINVAR CORPORATION | LOCHINVAR CORPORATION | $247,509 |
| MECO CORPORATION | MECO CORPORATION | $246,582 |
| JS BOND INCORPORATED | JS BOND INCORPORATED | $245,606 |
| BBA GROUP PLC | DALLAS AIRMOTIVE, INC.; DALLAS AIRMOTIVE INCORPORATED (0158); SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT; SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT CORPORATION (0932); SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT CORPO; SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT WASHING NA | $244,934 |
| PREVO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED (5948) | PREVO TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED (5948) | $244,150 |
| UNITED SURGICAL ASSOCIATES | UNITED SURGICAL ASSOCIATES | $243,000 |
| TRICE & MOORE DISTRIBUTING CO | TRICE & MOORE DISTRIBUTING CO | $241,521 |
| CLAUNCH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED | CLAUNCH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED | $240,713 |
| RON S BACKHOE EXCAVATING | RONS BACKHOE EXCAVATING | $240,527 |
| DON BUNCH INVESTMENTS | DON BUNCH INVESTMENTS | $240,484 |
| CRT USA LLC | CRT USA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; CRT USA LLC | $239,777 |
| GRACE WELDING & FABRICATING | GRACE WELDING & FABRICATING | $239,323 |
| HCA INC | HCA HEALTH SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA INCORPORATED; MEDICAL OFFICE BLDGS OF TEXAS,; HCA INCORPORATED; HCA INCORPORATED (7837); DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF AUGUSTA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $235,936 |
| ALPHA OMEGA VETERANS SERVICES INCORPORATED | ALPHA OMEGA VETERANS SERVICES INCORPORATED | $233,345 |
| PETROLEUM PARTNERS, A JOINT VE | PETROLEUM PARTNERS, A JOINT VE | $232,241 |
| DPRA INCORPORATED | DPRA INCORPORATED | $229,151 |
| WILDSIDE LLC | WILDSIDE LLC | $226,601 |
| TOLES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | TOLES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | $225,729 |
| JOE M. WILSON | JOE M. WILSON; WILSON JOE M | $225,330 |
| MONTGOMERY ELECTRIC COMPANY | MONTGOMERY ELECTRIC COMPANY | $225,118 |
| CARTER CONSTRUCTION CO. | CARTER CONSTRUCTION; CARTER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, I | $225,025 |
| NATIONAL RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES | NATIONAL RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED | $224,995 |
| CHINN, RICHARD & SHIRLEY | R & R ENTERPRISES; R & R DEVELOPEMENT & RENTAL PR | $223,418 |
| INTERGRATED COMMUNICATIONS | INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED; INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED (7814) | $223,329 |
| INNOVATIVE CONTROLS, INC | INNOVATIVE CONTROLS INCORPORATED | $223,249 |
| EAST TENNESSEE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED | EAST TENNESSEE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED | $221,418 |
| MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC | MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC | $219,755 |
| MILLS PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING INCORPORATED | MILLS PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING INCORPORATED | $219,039 |
| BOB STOUT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | BOB STOUT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED | $218,404 |
| FULMARQUE, INC | FULMARQUE, INC | $217,694 |
| COMPTON CONSTRUCTION | COMPTON CONSTRUCTION | $217,096 |
| NATURAL SORB CORP | NATURAL SORB CORP | $215,362 |
| SAFETY & SECURITY INTERNATIONA | SAFETY AND SECURITY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; SAFETY & SECURITY INTERNATIONA; SAFETY & SECURITY INTL | $214,608 |
| ECOTONE SERVICES INCORPORATED | ECOTONE SERVICES INCORPORATED | $214,577 |
| KONE HOLDINGS INC | KONE INC; KONE INCORPORATED (7423); MONTGOMERY KONE INC.; KONE GMBH; MAACO ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED; KONE INCORPORATED (0000) | $213,052 |
| INVEST-X CORPORATION | INVEST-X CORPORATION | $212,582 |
| VIDEOGUARD INTEGRATED TECHNOLO | VIDEOGUARD INTEGRATED TECHNOLO | $211,848 |
| KENAD SG MEDICAL INCORPORATED | KENAD SG MEDICAL INCORPORATED | $210,872 |
| WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC | WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC; WASTE MANAGEMENT OF COLORADO,; WASTE MANAGEMENT OF NEW MEXICO INCORPORATED; U S WASTE INDUSTRIES, INC; WASTE MANAGEMENT OF NEW JERSEY; WASTE MANAGEMENT OF NEW YORK,; WASTE MANAG | $209,161 |
| DIGITEC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | DIGITEC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; DIGITEC LLC | $207,629 |
| CUMBERLAND BEND INVESTORS | CUMBERLAND BEND INVESTORS | $203,488 |
| JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC. | YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; JOHNSON CONTROLS INCORPORATED (0010); JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC; JOHNSON CONTROLS GOVERNMENT SY; JOHNSON CONTROLS INCORPORATED (9579); YORK INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (3472) | $203,303 |
| EVERGREEN METAL SALES INC | EVERGREEN METAL SALES INC | $200,559 |
| AMERICAN SENIOR CARE CENTERS I | AMERICAN SENIOR CARE CENTERS I; AMERICAN SENIOR CARE CENTERS INCORPORATED | $199,607 |
| FLETCHER BOOKS INC | FLETCHER BOOKS INC | $199,230 |
| WHITCO INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS | WHITCO INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS | $196,489 |
| STRAGISTICS TECHNOLOGY INC | STRAGISTICS TECHNOLOGY INC | $195,832 |
| STINGER MEDICAL | STINGER INDUSTRIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $193,714 |
| ODELL HUBERT E | ODELL HUBERT E | $193,395 |
| J-LINE PUMP CO | J-LINE PUMP CO | $190,483 |
| ROGERS, SARA | ROGERS, SARA | $190,420 |
| BREN INC | BREN INC; BREN INSTRUMENTS, INC. | $188,432 |
| COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVICES, LP | COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVICES OF SOUTH CAROLINA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVICES OF; COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVICES, L; COMMODORE MEDICAL SERVIC | $188,094 |
| U.S. CHEMICAL STORAGE INC | U.S. CHEMICAL STORAGE INC | $187,197 |
| AERO ELECTRONIC INC | TMG AIREPAIRS; AERO ELECTRONICS INC | $186,715 |
| ROYAL CARE INC | HQM OF RIDGELY INCORPORATED; RIDGLEY CARE & REHAB CENTER | $185,461 |
| LOWERY'S HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLE | LOWERY\S HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLE | $185,260 |
| V3 TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | V3 TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $184,310 |
| ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER | ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER | $183,938 |
| MARION ENVIRONMENTAL INCORPORATED | MARION ENVIRONMENTAL INCORPORATED | $182,804 |
| VOLUNTEER TRACKWORKS LLC | VOLUNTEER TRACKWORKS, LLC | $180,979 |
| SUN HEALTHCARE GROUP INC | SUNBRIDGE HEALTHCARE CORPORATION; SUNBRIDGE HEALTHCARE CORPORATI (0000); SUNPLUS HOME HEALTH SERVICES INCORPORATED; REGENCY TENNESSEE INCORPORATED; HILLCREST NURSING AND REHABILITATION LIMITED PARTNER | $180,453 |
| MURFREESBORO PURE MILK COMPANY | MURFREESBORO PURE MILK COMPANY INCORPORATED | $180,264 |
| S AND L PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCORPORATED | S AND L PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCORPORATED | $176,783 |
| SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL | SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL; ATTENTUS HEALTHCARE COMPANY; SCOTT COUNTY HOSPTIAL | $176,715 |
| GEORGE F MCQUEEN DDS PC | GEORGE F MCQUEEN DDS PC | $174,000 |
| DREDGEMASTERS INTERNATIONAL | DREDGEMASTERS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; DREDGEMASTERS INTERNATIONAL, I | $173,388 |
| MEMPHIS/SHELBY CTY AIRPORT AUTH | MEMPHIS/SHELBY CTY AIRPORT AUTH; MEMPHIS SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY | $173,320 |
| PRESNELL HARRY | PRESNELL HARRY | $172,920 |
| INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL INC | INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL INC | $171,496 |
| DEBITEK INCORPORATED | DEBITEK INCORPORATED | $170,373 |
| JIVI CORPORATION | JIVI CORPORATION | $170,082 |
| NUCLEAR LEAD CO INC | NUCLEAR LEAD CO INC | $169,152 |
| SUNDANCE DEVELOPMENT LLP | SUNDANCE DEVELOPMENT LLP | $168,332 |
| FIRST AVIATION SERVICES, INC | AIRCRAFT PARTS INTERNATIONAL C; AIRCRAFT PARTS INTERNATIONAL COMBS INCORPORATED | $167,031 |
| FAMILY BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, L | FAMILY BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, L | $166,770 |
| MSDG MEMPHIS NORTH LLC | MSDG MEMPHIS NORTH LLC; MSDG MEMPHIS NORTH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $165,830 |
| HEALTHSTREAM INC | HEALTHSTREAM INC | $165,025 |
| HAND STEN-TEL LLC | HAND STEN TEL | $165,000 |
| TOP NOTCH TRAVEL | TOP NOTCH TRAVEL | $164,786 |
| GLOBAL CHEMICAL DATA INCORPORA | GLOBAL CHEMICAL DATA INCORPORATED | $162,648 |
| ELR CONSULTANTS/ DIAZ CONSTRUCTION JV | ELR CONSULTANTS/ DIAZ CONSTRUCTION JV | $160,971 |
| INDEPENDENCE SERVICES, INC | INDEPENDENCE SERVICES, INC | $160,000 |
| TRI STATE MTN NEUROLOGY ASSOCI | TRI STATE MOUNTAIN NEUROLOGY ASSCOCIATES PC | $159,852 |
| CONTRACT CABLING SERVICES | CONTRACT CABLING SERVICES | $158,499 |
| INTER ORD/KNGS/DGHTRS/SONS | KINGS DAUGHTERS AND SONS HOME THE | $157,571 |
| SESSIONS PAVING CO | SESSIONS PAVING COMPANY | $157,067 |
| SYCAMORE TERRACE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | SYCAMORE TERRACE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $156,803 |
| ADVANCED LIFECARE ASSOCIATES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | ADVANCED LIFECARE ASSOCIATES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $156,800 |
| SERENITY RECOVERY CENTER INCORPORATED | SERENITY RECOVERY CENTER INCORPORATED | $155,550 |
| CLIFTON EXCAVATING CO INC | CLIFCO, INC | $155,205 |
| TONY HARRIS | TONY HARRIS | $154,403 |
| NEXAIR, LLC | NEXAIR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; NEXAIR, LLC | $154,388 |
| WEGO PRECISION MACHINE INC | WEGO PRECISION MACHINE, INC | $153,816 |
| CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY CLINIC LIMITED LIABILITY CO | CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY CLINIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $152,950 |
| IONETRICS INC | IONETRICS INC | $152,420 |
| HENNESSY INDUSTRIES INC DEL | HENNESSY INDUSTRIES, INC; HENNESSY INDUSTRIES INC DEL | $151,388 |
| WATEC INC | WATEC INC; WATEC LOGISTICS SUPPORT SYSTEM | $151,268 |
| PEOPLE 2 PLACES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | PEOPLE 2 PLACES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | $150,836 |
| BARNHART CRANE & RIGGING CO | BARNHART CRANE AND RIGGING COMPANY | $149,900 |
| HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, | HMA FENTRESS COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL INCORPORATED; HERNANDO HMA INC; HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED (3645); JAMESTOWN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | $149,808 |
| VALUEPAGE INC | VALUEPAGE INC | $149,731 |
| ROBERT MURPHY | CBC HOUSING/BLDG MAINT & REPAI; CBC HOUSING/BLDG MAINT AND REPAIR | $149,719 |
| PALM TECHNOLOGY INC | PALM TECHNOLOGY INC | $149,586 |
| PEROT SYSTEMS CORP | QSS GROUP INCORPORATED; PEROT SYSTEMS GOVERNMENT SERVI; ADI TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION; SOZA AND COMPANY LIMITED; SOZA & COMPANY, LTD.; PEROT SYSTEMS GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED; PEROT SYSTEMS G | $148,327 |
| SMG | SMG; SMG INCORPORATED (5285); SMG OF ALASKA INCORPORATED (7503); STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT GROUP INCORPORATED (7503) | $148,320 |
| MATTHEWS PAINTING SERVICE | MATTHEWS PAINTING SERVICE | $147,872 |
| ASTEC INDUSTRIES INC | ROADTEC INC; ASTEC INDUSTRIES INC | $145,875 |
| ADPRO ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONA | ADPRO ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONA; ADPRO ADVERTISING PROMOTIONAL | $145,112 |
USA less satisfied with Govt than ever before
Link
5. Americans' satisfaction with the way the nation is being governed today is at 31%. That's down from 57% in Sept. 7-10, 2001 poll – just before the 9/11 attacks. The current reading is as low as Gallup has ever recorded on this particular measure.
6. Almost six out of ten Americans say a third major political party is needed.
5. Americans' satisfaction with the way the nation is being governed today is at 31%. That's down from 57% in Sept. 7-10, 2001 poll – just before the 9/11 attacks. The current reading is as low as Gallup has ever recorded on this particular measure.
6. Almost six out of ten Americans say a third major political party is needed.
Town to remove all traffic lights and signs
Very interesting experiment: Informing citizens that they will have to judge risks on their own and cooperate voluntarily with other drivers?
Link
Link
Monderman's ideas have already been implemented in the town of Drachten in the north of the Netherlands, where all stop lights, traffic signs, pavements, and street markings have gone.
"It's been very successful there," Goedejohann said, adding that accidents in Drachten had been reduced significantly.Officials in Fuerstenberg/Havel, a small town north of Berlin, are also considering adopting the "Shared Space" scheme.
But not everyone is confident it will work.
Taxpayers drive while UT bigwigs FLY
This article says "demand is high for the plane".....what the heck do you expect!! Of course it is high....who wants to drive when they can be flown around Tennessee in a prop-jet. Would be interesting to know how many planes the taxpayers have bought for State Government? The number is quite likely to increase because " UT has only one aircraft." Oh NO, everybody get out their crying towels!! waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!! This is absolutely ridiculous.
Link
Link
He said UT uses the plane across the state in its operations and for university business. Demand is high for the plane, and UT has only one aircraft.
UT officials said most travel occurs within the state.
The plane being replaced has almost 13,000 flight hours. It logged 415 flight hours last fiscal year.
Should Fed Govt bailout borrowers? 59% NO
Link
Polling Data
As you may know, some homeowners across the country who took out adjustable rate mortgages are having difficulty making their monthly mortgage payments and are facing foreclosure on their homes now that their interest rates have increased. Foreclosure is when a bank sells or repossesses someone's home because they have failed to keep up with mortgage payments. Is it the role of the federal government to take steps to ensure that these people's homes are not foreclosed upon, or is this not the role of the federal government?
| Is | 35% |
| Is not | 59% |
| Unsure | 6% |
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
TN Dept of Environment Secret Recordings
Channel 4's Demetria Kalodimos discovered pure arrogance by State Govt officials. OF COURSE they should disclose to their bosses, the Citizens, that they are recording phone conversations. The TDEC attorney needs an attitude adjustment or a new job.
Link
TDEC said it's not a policy, but the department does supply the recorders to staff for accuracy and convenience in keeping notes.
"Is it good government to record the public without their knowledge?" Kalodimos said.
"Well, our department is a regulatory agency and part of our charge is to enforce the law. So, I would say that, you know, in the exercise of carrying out our duties, that it is good government to do that. I see it as much ado about nothing," said TDEC attorney Joe Sanders.
After Channel 4 started asking questions TDEC made a change.
Link
TDEC said it's not a policy, but the department does supply the recorders to staff for accuracy and convenience in keeping notes.
"Is it good government to record the public without their knowledge?" Kalodimos said.
"Well, our department is a regulatory agency and part of our charge is to enforce the law. So, I would say that, you know, in the exercise of carrying out our duties, that it is good government to do that. I see it as much ado about nothing," said TDEC attorney Joe Sanders.
After Channel 4 started asking questions TDEC made a change.
Earmarks and Lobbying: 28 to 1 Payoff
This BusinessWeek investigation uncovers a 28 to 1 payoff for lobbying on earmarks. This is legalized bribery. There is simply no other name for it. The US Congress is organized and its criminal and they wonder why Americans have such a low opinion of them?
Link
To do that, BusinessWeek teamed up with Columbia Books, a Washington publisher of lobbying and trade association directories and operator of a lobbying data Web site. Together we examined the nearly 2,000 earmarks that went to companies in fiscal 2005, the only year for which the government has released complete data. We then compared the earmark funding each company received with the amount it spent on lobbying the prior year.
The results suggest a startling conclusion: On average, companies generated roughly $28 in earmark revenue for every dollar they spent lobbying. And those at the very top did far better than the average: More than 20 companies pulled in $100 or more for every dollar spent. By any standard, that's a hefty ratio: The companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index brought in just $17.52 in revenues for every dollar of capital expenditure in 2006. Or look at the results in direct marketing, where an extremely successful campaign might bring in $5 in revenue for every dollar spent. "If mainstream American businesses got a 28-to-1 ratio in sales, they'd be ecstatic," says Steve Zammarchi, president and CEO of Wunderman New York, a sales and marketing firm.
Link
To do that, BusinessWeek teamed up with Columbia Books, a Washington publisher of lobbying and trade association directories and operator of a lobbying data Web site. Together we examined the nearly 2,000 earmarks that went to companies in fiscal 2005, the only year for which the government has released complete data. We then compared the earmark funding each company received with the amount it spent on lobbying the prior year.
The results suggest a startling conclusion: On average, companies generated roughly $28 in earmark revenue for every dollar they spent lobbying. And those at the very top did far better than the average: More than 20 companies pulled in $100 or more for every dollar spent. By any standard, that's a hefty ratio: The companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index brought in just $17.52 in revenues for every dollar of capital expenditure in 2006. Or look at the results in direct marketing, where an extremely successful campaign might bring in $5 in revenue for every dollar spent. "If mainstream American businesses got a 28-to-1 ratio in sales, they'd be ecstatic," says Steve Zammarchi, president and CEO of Wunderman New York, a sales and marketing firm.
Predators may not seek more taxpayer money
According to the Predators 45% of their season tickets are sold OUTSIDE Davidson County. I haven't got any solid figures on overall ticket sales but they are probably AT LEAST 45-50% sold outside Davidson County also. My guess is the Predator's potential new owners probably thought that asking Davidson County Taxpayers to subsidize so many out of county sports fans would be a hard sell.
Pith in the Wind has the scoop.
David Freeman, head of the local investors group, told the Sports Authority that he and his partners realize that the Preds organization and its fan base—not Metro—should be responsible for the success of the team. Freeman wouldn't wade into specifics about exactly how the investors group expects to accomplish a plan that, as he put it, would "eliminate risk for the city."
(Ben's comment: what a "novel" concept: private business depending on satisfying the customer rather than extorting money from the taxpayer!!)
Pith in the Wind has the scoop.
David Freeman, head of the local investors group, told the Sports Authority that he and his partners realize that the Preds organization and its fan base—not Metro—should be responsible for the success of the team. Freeman wouldn't wade into specifics about exactly how the investors group expects to accomplish a plan that, as he put it, would "eliminate risk for the city."
(Ben's comment: what a "novel" concept: private business depending on satisfying the customer rather than extorting money from the taxpayer!!)
NYT Editorial: Ethanol is BAD
Link
There is nothing wrong with developing alternative fuels, and there is high hope among environmentalists and even venture capitalists that more advanced biofuels — like cellulosic ethanol — can eventually play a constructive role in reducing oil dependency and greenhouse gases. What's wrong is letting politics — the kind that leads to unnecessary subsidies, the invasion of natural landscapes best left alone and soaring food prices that hurt the poor — rather than sound science and sound economics drive America's energy policy.
There is nothing wrong with developing alternative fuels, and there is high hope among environmentalists and even venture capitalists that more advanced biofuels — like cellulosic ethanol — can eventually play a constructive role in reducing oil dependency and greenhouse gases. What's wrong is letting politics — the kind that leads to unnecessary subsidies, the invasion of natural landscapes best left alone and soaring food prices that hurt the poor — rather than sound science and sound economics drive America's energy policy.
Canadian MP travels to US for Cancer Treatment
Link
OTTAWA–Belinda Stronach, the MP for Newmarket-Aurora and former cabinet minister, travelled outside Canada's health-care system to California for some of her breast cancer treatment earlier this year.
OTTAWA–Belinda Stronach, the MP for Newmarket-Aurora and former cabinet minister, travelled outside Canada's health-care system to California for some of her breast cancer treatment earlier this year.
Stronach, diagnosed in the spring with a type of breast cancer that required a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, went to California in June at her Toronto doctor's suggestion, a spokesperson confirmed.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Be back soon - on vacation
Here are some blogs for your reading pleasure in the interim:
Carpe Diem
Greg Mankiw's Blog
Joanne Jacobs
Marginal Revolution
News Alert
Club for Growth
Carpe Diem
Greg Mankiw's Blog
Joanne Jacobs
Marginal Revolution
News Alert
Club for Growth
New Technology + Entrepreneurs + Profit motive
Two interesting developments which will dramatically increase income inequality:
Cheaper Solar Panels will make solar power dramatically cheaper
New Capacitor Batteries may make internal combuston engines obselete
If these two developments prove to be profitable innovations, the investors in these companies will be fabulously rich. Possibly the first Trillionaire will be a result.
The rest of us? Will be rich by many multiples of Trillions. NO ONE will be poorer and EVERYONE will be richer and many future generations of entrepreneurs will be inspired to seek even more profit etc etc etc.
Cheaper Solar Panels will make solar power dramatically cheaper
New Capacitor Batteries may make internal combuston engines obselete
If these two developments prove to be profitable innovations, the investors in these companies will be fabulously rich. Possibly the first Trillionaire will be a result.
The rest of us? Will be rich by many multiples of Trillions. NO ONE will be poorer and EVERYONE will be richer and many future generations of entrepreneurs will be inspired to seek even more profit etc etc etc.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Magic Johnson says NO to Capital Gains Tax Hike
Link
Minority and women business leaders today plan to announce a new group, the Access to Capital Coalition, to oppose a move in Congress to raise taxes on carried interest, a cut of profits that hedge-fund and private-equity managers receive. Among the high-profile business people enlisted in the fight: Former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who now is chairman and chief executive of Johnson Development Corp., which invests in bringing businesses into urban areas.
Minority and women business leaders today plan to announce a new group, the Access to Capital Coalition, to oppose a move in Congress to raise taxes on carried interest, a cut of profits that hedge-fund and private-equity managers receive. Among the high-profile business people enlisted in the fight: Former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who now is chairman and chief executive of Johnson Development Corp., which invests in bringing businesses into urban areas.
45% of Senators, 37% of Reps-Private School
In 2007, The Heritage Foundation updated this survey and found that 37 percent of Representatives and 45 percent of Senators in the 110th Congress sent their children to private schools—almost four times the rate of the general population.
Based on the survey results, if all of the Members who exercised school choice for their own children had supported school choice in policy, every major legislative effort in recent years to give parents school choice would have passed. Congress should support policies that give all families the opportunity to choose the best school options for their children.
Chattanooga Mayor says criminal activity may decrease
New Chattanooga Mayor Littlefield started auditing departments when he took office. The result was a boatload of indictments. The Mayor optimistically predicts the criminal activity will diminish.
In the 2 1/2 years since, a dozen current or former city employees and contractors have been charged with stealing from the city after audits uncovered reports of theft and official misconduct. In response to questions raised by other audits, the city also revamped policies in its own departments and cut city support for Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a nonprofit agency that promotes home ownership for low-income families.
In the 2 1/2 years since, a dozen current or former city employees and contractors have been charged with stealing from the city after audits uncovered reports of theft and official misconduct. In response to questions raised by other audits, the city also revamped policies in its own departments and cut city support for Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a nonprofit agency that promotes home ownership for low-income families.
[...]
"People shouldn't expect this (level of criminal charges against employees) to continue," Mr. Littlefield said.
The indictments have been concentrated in the city's Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Neighborhood Services. In both city offices, supervisors, employees and outside contractors are accused of illegally taking money or supplies from the city. Most of those charged are awaiting trial, according to Hamilton County Criminal Court records.
The problems first were uncovered by the city's internal auditors, who turned their findings over to the fraud division of the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County District Attorney's office for investigation and prosecution.
Is There Anything Good About Men?
Lots of interesting observations on Gender.
Link
The mistake in that way of thinking is to look only at the top. If one were to look downward to the bottom of society instead, one finds mostly men there too. Who's in prison, all over the world, as criminals or political prisoners? The population on Death Row has never approached 51% female. Who's homeless? Again, mostly men. Whom does society use for bad or dangerous jobs? US Department of Labor statistics report that 93% of the people killed on the job are men. Likewise, who gets killed in battle? Even in today's American army, which has made much of integrating the sexes and putting women into combat, the risks aren't equal. This year we passed the milestone of 3,000 deaths in Iraq, and of those, 2,938 were men, 62 were women.
[...]
The conclusion is that men and women are both social but in different ways. Women specialize in the narrow sphere of intimate relationships. Men specialize in the larger group. If you make a list of activities that are done in large groups, you are likely to have a list of things that men do and enjoy more than women: team sports, politics, large corporations, economic networks, and so forth.
[...]
Women would divide the money equally, with an equal share for everybody. Men, in contrast, would divide it unequally, giving the biggest share of reward to whoever had done the most work.
Link
The mistake in that way of thinking is to look only at the top. If one were to look downward to the bottom of society instead, one finds mostly men there too. Who's in prison, all over the world, as criminals or political prisoners? The population on Death Row has never approached 51% female. Who's homeless? Again, mostly men. Whom does society use for bad or dangerous jobs? US Department of Labor statistics report that 93% of the people killed on the job are men. Likewise, who gets killed in battle? Even in today's American army, which has made much of integrating the sexes and putting women into combat, the risks aren't equal. This year we passed the milestone of 3,000 deaths in Iraq, and of those, 2,938 were men, 62 were women.
[...]
The conclusion is that men and women are both social but in different ways. Women specialize in the narrow sphere of intimate relationships. Men specialize in the larger group. If you make a list of activities that are done in large groups, you are likely to have a list of things that men do and enjoy more than women: team sports, politics, large corporations, economic networks, and so forth.
[...]
Women would divide the money equally, with an equal share for everybody. Men, in contrast, would divide it unequally, giving the biggest share of reward to whoever had done the most work.
Remaking Music Business-No more Record Cos
Link
It is therefore necessary to develop a new, Internet–based infrastructure for connecting consumers to musicians. ... In the process, we can well envision that the cost of a bundled set of songs — a legacy of the "CD" as a physical artifact — dropping to about US$3, while the compensation paid to musicians could rise threefold.
It is therefore necessary to develop a new, Internet–based infrastructure for connecting consumers to musicians. ... In the process, we can well envision that the cost of a bundled set of songs — a legacy of the "CD" as a physical artifact — dropping to about US$3, while the compensation paid to musicians could rise threefold.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Bad Budget Deficit Math
Link
Let me show you how this works, using numbers from the recent update issued by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. (I'm giving you the simplified version to keep your eyes from glazing over. You can find a detailed version in the accompanying box.) We'll start with Social Security, which will take in about $78 billion more in payroll and income taxes than it shells out. The Treasury takes that cash, gives the trust fund IOUs for it, and spends it. That $78 billion isn't in the stated deficit.
Let me show you how this works, using numbers from the recent update issued by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. (I'm giving you the simplified version to keep your eyes from glazing over. You can find a detailed version in the accompanying box.) We'll start with Social Security, which will take in about $78 billion more in payroll and income taxes than it shells out. The Treasury takes that cash, gives the trust fund IOUs for it, and spends it. That $78 billion isn't in the stated deficit.
Wait, there's more. The Treasury will fork over $108 billion of interest on the trust fund's $2.2 trillion of Treasury securities, but will give the trust fund IOUs, not cash. They won't count in the deficit either. Add that $186 billion to the stated budget deficit, and it more than doubles, to $344 billion. The stated deficit, you see, measures how much less cash Uncle Sam takes in than he spends. That's fine for gauging the deficit's impact on the economy, which is what budget experts generally do. But if you're trying to assess Uncle Sam's overall fiscal condition, as I am, you should count those IOUs in the deficit because they have to be paid someday.
Fall Budget Battle Should Be Intense
Link
WASHINGTON - With lawmakers returning today from their summer recess, the Democratic-controlled Congress and the White House are headed for what could be the biggest budget fight in more than a decade - and both sides are relishing it.
"There is going to be a big showdown," said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a budget watchdog group, "because both sides believe they have something to gain politically. I don't get the sense that either side is interested in compromise."
President Bush, under pressure from fiscal conservatives in the Republican Party to take a firm hand in erasing the red ink in the budget, is threatening to veto nine of the 12 appropriations bills approved by the House. The White House complained that a number of the bills call for "irresponsible and excessive" spending.
When Labor Unions Become Employers
Link
The United Staff Organization, which represents unionized employees of the Michigan Education Association and two other associations, is in negotiations with the MEA to avoid a strike. Contracts expire Friday. The MEA is Michigan's largest teachers union, representing 160,000 school employees.
The United Staff Organization, which represents unionized employees of the Michigan Education Association and two other associations, is in negotiations with the MEA to avoid a strike. Contracts expire Friday. The MEA is Michigan's largest teachers union, representing 160,000 school employees.
The USO says the MEA is proposing "devastating rollbacks" to retirement plans.
What an extraordinary inspiration for us all
LinkShe may have been forced to use a basketball as a prosthetic but that has not stopped her ambition to compete on the sporting world's biggest stage.
Qian Hongyan, whose plight touched millions of people around the globe, has joined a swimming club and begun training to fulfil her dream of competing in the 2012 Paralympics in London.
Too many kids diagnosed Bi-Polar?
LinkResearchers looked at the number of times children under 19 went to the doctor and were diagnosed with or treated for bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. They found a 40-fold increase, from an estimated 20,000 visits in 1994 to 800,000 in 2003. The jump coincided with children's rising use of antipsychotic medicine.
The numbers echo other estimates suggesting as many as 1 million U.S. children are bipolar, but it remains a controversial diagnosis in children. That's partly because their symptoms often differ from adults', and because most powerful antipsychotic drugs used to treat bipolar disorder were approved for adults and have not been well-studied in children.
Put Parents in Charge
Sweden puts ALL the power in the hands of parents. Parents WANT the power and they are the ONLY group that should have the power. Politicians and education bureaucrats should SERVE the parents, not dictate to them.
[...]
To Fix Britiain's Broken Schools:
Should we accept this? Absolutely not. Take Sweden. There, standards have been raised by allowing innovative organisations to set up new schools in the state sector, championing excellence and giving parents more control and choice. Compare this to Labour's methods: obsessive micro-management and rigid attachment to old-fashioned ideas has entrenched deprivation, shut doors and closed minds.[...]
I know what parents want for their children because it is what I want for mine: schools with a disciplined learning environment, focus on getting the basics right, tailored teaching according to each child's ability, and emphasis on rigorous standards. I wouldn't, and we shouldn't, expect anything less.
Monday, September 03, 2007
UK Poll: Green = Excuse for Higher Taxes
via Insty (interesting that they refer to TaxPayers' Alliance as a "pressure group"...wonder how they would refer to Greenpeace?)
Link
Link
Nearly two-thirds of the public believe ministers are using environmental fears as an excuse to raise tax revenue, according to a poll.
And research suggests their cynicism is justified - with green taxes raking in £10 billion more for the Treasury than it would cost to offset the entire UK's carbon footprint.
The figures are contained in a dossier compiled by pressure group the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA).
The document is likely to provide grim reading for politicians of all colours - including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron - who are committed to making individuals pay for habits which damage the environment.
GAO: EITC-Good intentions defrauded
The EITC Earned income tax Credit is subject to more fraud and waste than any other taxpayer funded Govt program for the poor and that is saying a LOT.
Link
As many as 80% of AEITC recipients did not comply with at least one of the program requirements GAO reviewed, and some were noncompliant with more than one during the 3 years we reviewed. In tax years 2002 through 2004, about 20%, or more than 100,000 AEITC recipients, may not have been eligible for the AEITC because they had an invalid Social Security number. These individuals received a total of $37 million to $39 million each year. Almost 40% (about 200,000 recipients) did not file the required tax return; these individuals received $42 million to $50 million each year. Of the about 60% (more than 300,000) AEITC recipients who did file a return, about two-thirds misreported the amount received.
Link
As many as 80% of AEITC recipients did not comply with at least one of the program requirements GAO reviewed, and some were noncompliant with more than one during the 3 years we reviewed. In tax years 2002 through 2004, about 20%, or more than 100,000 AEITC recipients, may not have been eligible for the AEITC because they had an invalid Social Security number. These individuals received a total of $37 million to $39 million each year. Almost 40% (about 200,000 recipients) did not file the required tax return; these individuals received $42 million to $50 million each year. Of the about 60% (more than 300,000) AEITC recipients who did file a return, about two-thirds misreported the amount received.
John Edwards Taxpayer funded Medical Tyranny
Link
TIPTON, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.
[...]
TIPTON, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.
[...]
Edwards said his mandatory health care plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans.
"The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death," he said.
Taxpayer funded behavior modification
1-There are LOTS of taxpayer funded ads all over the media this weekend very sternly warning people not to drive and drink. "If you drink and drive you WILL go to jail."
2-The Governor's Office of Highway Safety says to click it or ticket. (why is it the "Governors" office when the taxpayers pay for it?) "If you don't wear your seat belt you WILL get a ticket."
Drinking while you drive is behavior that is clearly dangerous to everyone.
Not wearing a seatbelt clearly increases your risk of injury in an accident.
.....there are many other types of taxpayer funded behavior modification: We motivate parents NOT to provide breakfast and lunch for their children by encouraging parents to take advantage of "free" taxpayer funded school breakfasts and lunches. We motivate parents not to provide health insurance for their children by providing "free" taxpayer funded health insurance.
We use fear of jail to encourage parents not to drink while they are driving their children. We use fear of a fine to encourage parents to buckle up themselves and their children....and yet we encourage parents to shirk their duty to THEIR OWN children.
2-The Governor's Office of Highway Safety says to click it or ticket. (why is it the "Governors" office when the taxpayers pay for it?) "If you don't wear your seat belt you WILL get a ticket."
Drinking while you drive is behavior that is clearly dangerous to everyone.
Not wearing a seatbelt clearly increases your risk of injury in an accident.
.....there are many other types of taxpayer funded behavior modification: We motivate parents NOT to provide breakfast and lunch for their children by encouraging parents to take advantage of "free" taxpayer funded school breakfasts and lunches. We motivate parents not to provide health insurance for their children by providing "free" taxpayer funded health insurance.
We use fear of jail to encourage parents not to drink while they are driving their children. We use fear of a fine to encourage parents to buckle up themselves and their children....and yet we encourage parents to shirk their duty to THEIR OWN children.
American workers most productive on Earth
Link
America's increased productivity "has to do with the ICT (information and communication technologies) revolution, with the way the U.S. organizes companies, with the high level of competition in the country, with the extension of trade and investment abroad," said Jose Manuel Salazar, the ILO's head of employment.
GENEVA (AP) -- American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year.
They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, according to a U.N. report released Monday, which said the United States "leads the world in labor productivity."
The average U.S. worker produces $63,885 of wealth per year, more than their counterparts in all other countries, the International Labor Organization said in its report. Ireland comes in second at $55,986, followed by Luxembourg at $55,641, Belgium at $55,235 and France at $54,609.
[...]America's increased productivity "has to do with the ICT (information and communication technologies) revolution, with the way the U.S. organizes companies, with the high level of competition in the country, with the extension of trade and investment abroad," said Jose Manuel Salazar, the ILO's head of employment.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
The Waltzing Senator - John Ford In Comics
Link
MEMPHIS,TN-Tom Foster has been a courtroom artist for almost 30 years. He covered the John Ford trial for media outlets and has now turned his work of art into a book, The "Waltzing Senator".
Foster said, "The days I wasn't free lancing I just kept drawing. I filled up two sketch books. I took notes and I just get really involved in what was going on and it was almost like a movie."
More need for cash = more traffic tickets
LInk
They examined every warning and citation written by police officers in all of Massachusetts, excluding Boston, during a two-month period in 2001 — over 60,000 in all. Their conclusion wasn't shocking to an economist: money matters, even in traffic violations. They found a statistical link between a town's finances and the likelihood that its police officers would issue a speeding ticket. The details are a little sticky, but they show that tickets were issued more often in places that were short on cash, and that out-of-towners received tickets more often than drivers with local addresses.
They examined every warning and citation written by police officers in all of Massachusetts, excluding Boston, during a two-month period in 2001 — over 60,000 in all. Their conclusion wasn't shocking to an economist: money matters, even in traffic violations. They found a statistical link between a town's finances and the likelihood that its police officers would issue a speeding ticket. The details are a little sticky, but they show that tickets were issued more often in places that were short on cash, and that out-of-towners received tickets more often than drivers with local addresses.
Billions for Babysitting
As Jerry Seinfeld said, "people don't turn down money" and families don't turn down free babbysitting. Let's be honest about pre-school, it is taxpayer funded daycare. If that is what we taxpayers want to pay for, fine, but lets not pretend it is anything else.
Link
Link
A six-year study of Britain's Sure Start learning centers for children four and under finds no improvement in "children's development and skills as they enter primary school," reports The Telegraph.
Middle-class mothers use Sure Start centers for free babysitting, writes Alice Miles in The Times. Low-income mothers often stay away.
"Protective" Tariffs will HURT US Manufacturers
Professor Perry points out that most imports don't end up at Wal-Mart as consumer goods. They are inputs for American Manufacturers. The manufacturers we want to preserve. In Tennessee, of course, we are well aware of this as Japanese car manufacturers "outsource" thousands of Japanese jobs to Tennesseans.Link
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Longfellow: The Arrow and the Song
The Arrow and the Song
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
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