When I live in West Ashley, the southwest-ish part of Charleston, SC, I was locked into using only Comcast as my cable provider.

Needless to say I had multiple runarounds with those cats and eventually got to someone who made something's happen and got my cable fixed.

Now the FCC put down a new rule saying that cable companies can't lock in deals with apartment complexes. Meaning, if you live in an apartment then you can have a choice of hard wired cable.

For example, if Comcast and Verizon both offered TV, Internet and phone in your area then you'll be able to pick just like a person living in a house in the 'burbs.

This may not sound like a big deal but to someone who lived in apartment's for years this couldn't have come fast enough. I would have dumped Comcast in a second and gone with another provider in the Charleston area, Knology, because for me they offered better programming and better Internet.

Looks like I may be a couple of years too late to enjoy this new FCC rule.

Bugger.

Tennessee rebounded from their 41-17 thrashing by Alabama a week ago to beat South Carolina in Knoxville 27-24 in OT.

This may sound like a good thing but when you really looked at it it is not. Tennessee was up 21-0 against South Carolina in the 1st half capitalizing on 2 South Carolina turnovers and turning them into 14 points.

Then the second half happened.

Tennessee could do nothing offensively or defensively. South Carolina scored 24 unanswered points in the second half against a Tennessee defense that looked like they packed it in at halftime.

The offense could do nothing. Erik Ainge over threw or under threw receivers the entire second half in what was a poor second half performance.

The South Carolina kicked missed a FG in OT to give Tennessee the victory.

Tennessee did not win mind you, South Carolina loss.

When I see a Tennessee RB get out run by a South Carolina DE I know that there are bigger problems at Tennessee then most people want to realize.

Tennessee showed some heart in the second half but didn't execute the poor plays that were called. The defense is either undermanned or just isn't very good. Either way, where did all the talent go? If the talent is there then has Fulmer and his asst's lost their touch?

I think it is both. Tennessee is not a very good football team. The 4th year senior QB has lousy mechanics and is unable to lead his team or hit a wide receiver.

I have defended Fulmer for a long time but I do think it is time for him and his asst's to step aside and let someone else, outside of the program come in and get it back to the caliber it was in the late 90's and early 2000.

I kept meaning to post this but I got a little busy. Anyway, it's about Tennessee football and how those endzones end up orange and white.

This past weekend brought more travel but this time it was of my choosing.

Vegas to Nashville to Knoxville back to Nashville and back to Vegas. When all was said and done I got to see Tennessee beat Georgia, see some Live music at the Smokey Mountain Harley Davidson and most importantly relax with some good friends.

In Knoxville I got to hang out with Russell, his little girl and his fiance. Nashville featured Jerry, Liz, Janice and even Uncle Bob driving the Prius!

Everybody was healthy and in pretty good spirits. This is always good especially when you only get to see these people once every year or so.

Some interesting observations of the trip:

The O'Charley's on The Strip in Knoxville is closed. The relatively new McKay's location rocks!

I remember driving with Russ down to campus on Friday morning and said, 'it's good to be home'. Tennessee is one of my homes and a place I will always enjoy going back to.

  This article was on MSNBC.com this morning. It's from the New York Times. Count how many times they say Mr. McCall instead of McCain.

Quote

Fall lands McCain in comfort zone - The New York Times - MSNBC.com

Blackwater USA has been in the news recently for a shooting that killed 11 Iraqis.

They along with others are now having the media spotlight shinned on them more so than ever before.To the media's credit some outlets have covered Blackwater and the roll of private military firms in the past. Most notably FRONTLINE, which did a piece about the roll of private military in Iraq back in 2005.

They first dove into the story after the battle of Fallujah. Remember that? Why did we first go into Fallujah? Becuase 4 American contractors, Blackwater employees, were ambushed, killed and their corpses burned and hung from a bridge back in 2004.

Then the Marines were ordered to take Fallujah. Then they were told to pull back for fear of political unraveling in Baghdad. Then a stronger force went back into Fallujah later this time taking the town.

All that because 4 Blackwater employees were killed.

Where was the press coverage then? Where were the congressional hearings about Blackwater and other private military firms then? Where were the calls for regulation?

(And let's face it, congressional hearings are just for show. Some members of congress may understand the role of private military firms but most don't. Most are out ot look good on a high profile issue.)

And please don't go rushing to judgment on the role of private military firms. They are not all mercenaries and technically neither is Blackwater. They do protection NOT operational missions. The incident were 11 Iraqis were killed, Blackwater was protecting US Embassy employees.

If you want to know more I suggest checking out the FRONTLINE piece and reading P.W. Singer's Corporate Warriors.

Make no mistake, I think that private military firms role should be brought out into the light. I think there should be regulation pushed upon them if they are going to recieve US Government contracts. I do not fell though that there are all reckless, trigger happy mercs out for a quick buck. These companies fill a role and a purpose not only for the US government but for other nations and companies as well.