Relient J

It looks like Publix has bought the BI-LO grocery stores on Memorial and Northfield. The DNJ posted an article yesterday on their Web site mentioning it. You can see it here: http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...NEWS03/61209006 Does this mean that they will be converted into Publix stores?

^ It is indeed!

Today the online edition of the Murfreesboro Post featured renderings of what the new Rover buses will look like. You can see them here: http://murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=881

^ I'm definitely sympathetic to your concerns regarding property value, but for me ensuring liberty and protecting property rights has to come before protecting the citizenry's property values from the government's point-of-view. Otherwise I fear the slippery slope that can result from the government making aesthetic decisions for property owners.

I agree with much of what you said, but if the developer owns the property, I believe he alone should decide how it should be developed, safety laws aside. Aesthetics by government committee is not evidence of a society of liberty-possessing individuals.

^ I'm afraid you're right, Lexy. I fault myself for not taking an active stand publicly against such tyrannical practices. Unfortunately it would seem that all too many businesses are eager to fall in line with such behavior as evidenced by how many local business had signs on their property last year in support of a partially taxpayer-funded convention center.

I think one of the biggest things the city can do is ensure that our liberties are protected, rather than infringed upon. We need to get the city out of the business of making mandatory aesthetic decisions for property owners, and reject efforts to further restrict the ability of businesses owners to advertise their businesses in the way that they see fit.

^ You know, that probably speaks more than anything about the success this program's had this year. It was really cool to see that.

It really was thrilling to see MTSU improve to 6-3 overall (becoming bowl eligible) and 5-0 in the Sun Belt Conference with their 35-14 victory over Florida Atlantic last Saturday. It wasn't the best I've seen MTSU play, but in the end they got the job done. Here are some pictures I took at the game:

Thanks once again for some great photos!

Welcome to the forum, GoMTBlue! You know, I think we may just have a chance at doing that.

^ Yep! And perhaps more importantly, the Blue Raiders are 4-0 in conference play. It's been a very exciting season so far. I hope everyone comes out for homecoming this Saturday!

It sure has been a great season so far. I really think this is a football program that's on the right track. So often when you hear Coach Stock talk he's talking about taking MTSU to the top, and I think that he and the rest of the coaching staff really have that goal in mind. They're not just looking to be Sun Belt Conference champion every year, they're looking to play with the best teams in college football. I don't think we could have asked for a better group of coaches.

^ Yeah, I concede it's an unusual case. However, I don't believe that this type of project is the kind of thing that civil government should take on in the first place.

I don't know a whole lot about Hammons, so I certainly don't subscribe to his words or even necessarily his design. Normally my beef with this situation would simply be that I don't believe governments should dictate aesthetic decisions to property owners. The situation is different here because of the property ownership situation, but I'm also unhappy with the city's role in that, so from my perspective there's much to be dissatisfied with.

Well, not quite all of us are glad of that.

It's been fun seeing the progress on The Avenue as I drive by several times a week. I think it's really going to be a fun place to shop and hang out. Best Buy and Barnes And Nobles are two things that I think will be really appreciated here.

So far our only two true home games were held on Thursday nights. Even the "home game" held at LP field was on a Friday. I'm pretty sure this was done for just the reasons you mentioned. In answer to your question about the student body filling the stadium, I believe the student body would fill the stadium about two-thirds of the way if every student attended. In regards to the conference, I agree, but we had to start the I-A era somewhere. Personally I'd love to see us get to the point where we're regularly winning the Sun Belt Conference and beating BCS conference opponents. At that point I think we should join the Big East. They've got room for us, and they're a BCS conference.

^ Boy are you right about MT's popularity around here. That could change if we start having winning seasons and especially if we move up to a higher level of play where we're regularly beating BCS conference teams. I think some positive steps in that direction have been taken, particularly in hiring an athletic director and coaching staff who seem geared to take us in that direction. I think it's also been huge having 106.7 The Fan sign on to broadcast Blue Raider football. That could serve to boost the awareness of MTSU among Nashvillians.

I just drove by the mall a little while ago. The new Dillards looks like it's going to be huge! The new JC Penney looks great from the outside. Are there plans to remodel the exterior of the rest of the mall? The Sears next door looks dated by comparison.

The Blue Raiders fell to Louisville 44-17 on Friday night at LP field. While that score may not look impressive, it was a very exciting game to be on hand for, especially during the first quarter in which MTSU was actually leading for much of the time. Our 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was incredible to behold, and it was clear that our boys didn't give up all night. The night also recorded an attendance of over 32,000, though I'm disappointed that more Blue Raider fans didn't show up for the game. From where I was sitting there definitely appeared to be more red than blue in the crowd. I'm also disappointed that so many fans left at the end of the third quarter. It was down-right embarrassing that so many of the fans behaved that way.

I don't recall reading or hearing anything about it lately.

^ For me your first question is a tough one to answer. There's still a lot of construction on 24, but I can already see ahead to what it will mean for Interstate traffic through the area. I think the new exits will be a big help long-term. I don't yet know if the new Medical Center Parkway exit is making an impact on Old Fort Parkway traffic, but I've noticed that traffic on Medical Center Parkway has gotten heavier lately, so I feel more people are using it. As to your second question, when last I drove by there was still a lot of work to be done on Middle Tennessee Boulevard on the stretch you mentioned. They've come a long way, but there still seems to be a lot of work to be done.

If MTSU were to win the Sun Belt Conference we would play in the New Orleans Bowl on December 22 at the Superdome. That bowl features the Sun Belt winner versus a team from Conference USA.

Middle Tennessee beat North Texas tonight 35-0! This takes us to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. Go Blue Raiders!