Fallout from Hurricane Ike and Gustav has spiraled into massive gas shortages in the Southeast. Drivers in Nashville, TN,
where the problem is the worst, wait in long lines and some follow tankers around in hopes of being the first to fill up before a station goes dry.
In western North Carolina local governments have been
forced to cancel programs, since there's not much gas to travel to activities.

Maybe more so than other crimes, a convicted sex offender's punishment does not end with jail time served; it follows him onto the
National Sex Offender Registry, onto the Internet, and soon, in Tennessee, onto his driver's license.
Starting Sept. 1, all convicted sex offenders in Tennessee must hold a newly designed license.

Tennessee's Republican Party has put out a four minute video loop of infamous comments made by Barack Obama's wife. In February Michelle Obama
said: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country" — controversial comments she later clarified.
Yesterday on Good Morning America, Barack Obama
responded to the new video.

I'm here! 2008
Tribeca Film Festival, New York, New York. And it's like the cloudy, rainy chilliness arrived just in time to make all of us moviegoers feel justified about sitting in darkened theaters all day.

Who's got two thumbs and is headed out to the
Tribeca Film Festival in a few days? This girl! I can't wait to live it up in the Big Apple, stalking celebs and checking out the festival's best new films.
According to Real Estalker, Kelly Clarkson has purchased a 5,470-square-foot, 5-bedroom, 5-bath home in Nashville, TN for nearly $1.5 million. The listing for the property reads:
One of a kind stone home updated with fabulous additions. 5 bedroom/5 full bath.

The separation of church and state is a little less distinct at Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee. Funding from a special grant program means that students can
elect to study Bible History in public schools.
While religion classes aren't uncommon in universities, topics of faith are muted in lower grades of public schools.
According to Real Estalker, several sources are whispering that Jessica Simpson may have purchased a 10,925-square-foot, 7-bedroom, 8-bath home in Nashville, TN, known as "The Queen of Northumberland" for $3.47 million. The manse in question is in a gated community and is listed as having "magnificent stone work on cornices, window trim and entry door, a tennis court, a swimming pool, a home theater, and fabulous landscaping." While these reports have not been verified, the house was indeed purchased through a trust represented by money-manager Mary Ann McCready, who has executed the real estate goings-on of several other music-biz celebs in Nashville in the past.

Along with cage-free day care and grooming services,
Red Rover shines brightest in the dog training arena. With everything from ESL-K9 (aka, a six-week training class, English as a Second Language for Dogs) to a PupPoise class to help reactive dogs maintain poise and self-assured behavior around other dogs, they've got offerings for beginners and those in need of refreshment. There are more advanced options for those doggies who have mastered the basics, and trainer Heidi Dixner includes unlimited email support with her paid classes in addition to offering extra one-on-ones in your home ($60 per hour) or individual sessions in Red Rover's Nashville location ($20 per 20 minutes).