News - Friday, May 13, 2011

The road map for many attorneys looks like this: go to law school; clerk for one year; spend the next 50 years working days, nights and weekends; and then retire. Step three commonly involves a host of ancillary activities, such as becoming an active member of a local bar association, volunteering additional time in the community, and so on. While there are rewards for taking such an approach, lawyers must count the cost.

The snacks are on the conference room table at The Company Lab. But the miniature peanut butter cups aren’t the only things being chewed over. Two young men are there to practice their investment pitch for an idea they believe could make them millionaires.

Monday, May 15

John H. Reddy, a Chattanooga attorney, Monday was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a four-year term as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Tuesday, May 16

The annual luncheon meeting of the Hamilton County Tuberculosis Assoc-iation at St. Paul’s parish house heard William B. Davis, director of health, education and public relations for Davidson County Health Department, say the immediate goal of this decade is to make it the “significant “sixties” in the control of TB with a goal of 10 cases per 100,000 people on a national level, 27 cases per 100,000 in Tennessee and 37 per 100,000 in Hamilton County.

Today was Mother’s Day at the Levison Towers. I stopped at the car wash on my way to the office and chuckled at the desperation on the faces of the men, four deep in line, looking at Mother’s Day cards. I used to think that selling greeting cards at a car wash was a silly idea. In truth, it was genius.

Just like everyone else on that Sunday evening when the breaking news came across my TV screen, I was proud of our country for staying the course this past decade and removing the world’s most wanted terrorist.

I’m sure those men who removed Osama bin Laden will probably never march in a parade due to the secretive nature of Navy Seal Team 6, but they are true heroes of this country, along with the others who have worked so hard in bringing this closure to our nation.

For many years I have been amazed by the enthusiasm and energy of one boy. His name is Patrick Sharrock.

He is now nine years old, and he has lived his life with those qualities and many others, including a desire to encourage others and a great sense of humor, despite facing the issues of growing up with a rare bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta, or O.I.

James Antony Wilson, Sr. v. East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Inc.

Knox County – James Antony Wilson, Sr. sued East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Inc. (“ETHRA”) individually, and as next friend and Personal Representative of the Estate of Callie Irene Wilson, on behalf of himself and all wrongful death beneficiaries of Callie Irene Wilson, Deceased.

“Do you want a cookie?” – Don Corrado Prizzi (Prizzi’s Honor, 1985)

I was looking for somewhere to take my wife for a week later in the month so I called up Fred who suggested we stay at the Big Cedar Lodge near Branson for a few days. I remembered driving through the grounds many years ago and thinking how I would have to come back and spend a few nights, which is what we’re finally going to do.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about LifeQuest. (Thanks, by the way, for all the nice feedback on that column.)

In that column, I noted that I was teaching a class: ’Tis a Puzzlement. That was the title of the class. “’Tis a puzzlement” is a repeating line in “The King and I.” Each week I started my class with a PowerPoint slide with this phrase, separated into two parts, in a crossword grid.

Would you consider trusting your dinner to a toothily grinning man wearing a jetpack? This was the question I had to consider when deliberating on my weekly pizza carryout choice. The new pizza parlor, Jet’s Pizza, located on Hixson Pike in the Rivermont Shopping Plaza, has a mascot of such description, which was what initially attracted my attention to the location.

In my past life, I had the pleasure in being in a few of my girlfriend’s wedding ceremonies. They always advised you to slightly bend your knees as you stood next to the glowing bride – something about blood flow to your brain. It’s hard to remember this because the shoes and dress are usually uncomfortable, and being in front of a room or church full of strangers isn’t a walk in the park, either. It’s easier to just stand there, stare into the distance and wait for the words, “I now pronounce you…”

Going on a vacation soon? How much do you know about the sights of the United States? Try your hand at this quiz. Beware, there are some tricky ones!

1. The Quabbin Reservoir, in the city of Pittsfield, and the Minute Men National Historic Park are in what state? Massachusetts; Vermont; New Hampshire; Maine.

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

As far as you can see, that old saying – a reminder that being nice works better than being a jerk – holds true for every boss you’ve ever had.

The manager who compliments while criticizing, privately. The supervisor who surprises the staff with cold treats on a hot day. The boss who just lets you do your job. You’ve worked for them all, and you’ve toiled for their opposites. But what kind of boss are you?

The ABC hit show “Dancing with the Stars” has brought a lot of attention to ballroom dancing. Many people may think the furious feet of those on the dance floor is a level they could never reach, but Denny Lennon, the owner of Chattanooga DanceSport, says that anyone can learn to dance.

This year is the 25th anniversary for the Shaking Ray Levi Society, a little known non-profit behind many artistic events and endeavors around the community. Current president of the board of directors, Ernest Paik, says that the Shaking Ray Levi Society stands apart from other arts organizations in the concepts that the organization was built on.

A business is like a house. It begins with a well-designed plan, should be built on a solid foundation, and must include all of the components that enable it to serve its purpose. If the walls and windows are not air tight, or if there’s a crack in the foundation, trouble will ensue.

There was lots of talk about the tornado touchdown during the networking portion of the May meeting of the Chattanooga Women’s Council of Realtors, and some Realtors at the meeting were still without power.

At this joint meeting of the WCR and the Women’s Homebuilder’s Association, Past-President Cheree Dumas noted during her inspirational message that the past week had been interesting to say the least.

As if the language of real estate weren’t confusing enough, the wave of bad lending practices and loan defaults of recent years have added more terms that have subtle but important shades of difference.  When you prepare to speak with an agent about buying or selling, make sure you understand the lingo.

Some of you probably only know figs as something gooey in the middle of a cookie. On the other hand, maybe you only know them by the Christmas song, “Oh bring me some figgy pudding, oh bring me some figgy pudding.” However, from having a Grandmother who had a few fig trees, I know them as a wonderful and flavorful fruit. I also remember that we would be scolded for picking them. That is, if we were caught.

I mentioned in my review of “Fast Five” last week that summer has arrived. While some readers might have thought my declaration was premature, since summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, movie studios go by a different calendar than everyone else. Ever since summer became the time of year for blockbusters, studios have tacked on more and more weeks to the season in an effort to maximize their earnings.

Six benefits a buyer receives from an appointment with you: Them understanding the marketplace better. Them receiving a higher level of service by meeting with you. Gaining them an advantage in negotiating. Them securing a better lender for a smoother transaction. Them saving money in the short and long run. Them receiving the representation that they deserve.