Quintessentially Dixie...

Two photos from Franklin, Co. TN...

First is from Cowan, and the second... which I found amusing, from the Franklin Co. Courthouse.

A pleasure to register my vehicles in Franklin Co.  Cheaper, no waiting in line.

Please do not spit in this water fountain!!  No tabacca juice please...

A different motorcycle culture: high on adventure, low on chrome and noise

The mint condition 2001 Kawasaki Super Sherpa.

I have to remind myself to drive this bike every month or so. It is nearly eight yrs old and has just 1170 miles on it. It just sits in the shed covered and shiny. Today I put a few miles on it, polished it up, and put it away.

I have an identical twin to this bike that I use a lot for commuting and off road adventure. So, why do I have two?



Well, this bike is ideal for me and they stopped selling it in the US in 2003. They replaced it with the KLR 250 which is nearly 30lbs heavier and 3 inches taller. A WORLD of difference on the trail. So, I thought that I'd kill one with my rugged off road riding and and keep one in reserve after I ruined the first. Guess what. This bike has proved to be extremely tough. It fell off the back of my truck last month and even that didn't hurt it much (slightly bent handlebars but I was able to correct it). Yea, it has a dented gas tank, ripped seat, and scratched up fenders ... but it spins like a top. Extremely reliable bike.

Well, guess what (again)? Kawasaki is reissuing the Sherpa for 2009. I guess they realized what a great bike this was.

I'm not impressed by the big custom Harleys and road bikes I see. I guess I'm more utilitarian in my perception of mechanical beauty. Unlike those bikes that sound like highly amplified farting going down the road, I'll stay with my quiet and nimble Sherpa, thank you. No chrome, noise, tattoos, minimally protective helmets and gray pony tails for me. Not my culture.

In fact, I feel sorry for those guys... confined to the pavement, trying to be cool like everyone else. They'll never be able to go where I do.

This is my motorcycle culture:

Academic and artistic achievement in America

What do you notice about this list of 8 of the nation's top 12 finalists in the annual National Scripps Spelling Bee?

Sameer Mishr, 1st place
Sidharth Chand, 2nd place
Samia Nawaz
Kavya Shivashanar
Jahnavi Iyer
Kyle Mou
Justin Song
Austin Pineda

8 of 12 are foreign born or have parents that are, many are Indian, Pakistani, or of Asian descent. Almost all of them are bilingual and most of them play a musical instrument. What is it about other cultures, particularly Asian and Indian ethnicities that tend to excel disproportionately and out perform Caucasian Americans academically in so many areas ... from engineering to medicine to music? From personal experience, I can tell you that the major college music conservatories like Julliard, and San Francisco Conservatory are dominated by Asian students. I wonder if this is a commentary more on the education in America or the level of discipline in other cultures?

Speaking of music, check this out. How old do you think she is?

MTSU guitar student wins another major competition prize

Silviu Ciulei, a junior guitar performance major at MTSU has won the $500 Second Prize at the 12th Annual Appalachian State University Guitar Competition on Sunday, April 15. This year's competition was exceptionally competitive and included guitarists from across the US representing universities and music conservatories in Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Hartford, and Dallas. Also competing were international students representing Slovakia, Bosnia, Israel and Ecuador. (The First Prize was won by Cameron O'Conner, a graduate student from Cal State Northridge). This is the fourth consecutive year that an MTSU guitar student has won a prize in this nationally recognized competition.

From Constanza, Romania, Silviu was awarded a full international scholarship to attend MTSU three years ago. In just three years, he has established himself as one of the Nashville area's finest classical and flamenco guitarists. Last month, Silviu won the $2000 Second Prize in the Dallas International Guitar Competition. Since coming to MTSU, he has won First Prize in the Memphis Beethoven Club Competition and Second Prize in the Mississippi Concerto Competition.

Silviu's program for the competition finals:

Three Caprices - L. Legnani
Un tiempo fue itálica famosa - J. Rodrigo
Jongo - P. Bellinati