Nathan Sparks 73 posts 0 comments

I confess. I was not the best student during my school years. But one day, in Mr. Odell’s math class, I was struck by a comment he made. “The best mathematicians are lazy,” he said, adding, “the smartest people always look for…
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Much of my life has been based on split-second decisions. Looking back, I can clearly say that my best and worst decisions often occurred in a split second. While many, or maybe even most people, don’t relish the idea of having to make…
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No matter the season, getting off the beaten path and into the wilderness will heal your soul. We have set up our campsite, and I am helping my son Troupe with the evening’s firewood collection. We are in the Smoky Mountains for a few…
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Skirting Chicago on the east side, private planes often fly just over the water around 1,000-1,500 feet AGL in the VFR flyway to view the Chicago skyline. This was today’s plan. A group of us from Knoxville had joined up at the Lansing…
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As a young boy, I loved everything about baseball. Well, almost everything. I wanted to be part of the team, build friendships, and enjoy the thrill of victory. Being somewhat of a nerd, I never found my rhythm in the sport. Yet despite my…
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The sense of camaraderie found from spending time with friends on a fishing trip is incredible. Make it a river trip in a canoe, and it’s even better. And no matter what your fireside culinary skill level, memories made will not be soon…
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Tyler Jamison’s passion brings out the beauty in wood Tyler Jamison carves and turns wood, emphasizing texture, highlighting grain. But he’s not working with just any old wood he finds. Each piece is carefully selected, each unique to…
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Knoxville chefs raise the bar in culinary excellence There is no question that all of us here at Cityview are thrilled with the outcome of this year’s Top Chefs competition. The times we live in called for some major changes in order…
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Changing the face of cycling with innovative ideas, a resilient spirit, and a deep understanding of the science of carbon fiber As I sit in the research and testing facility for LeMond Bicycles, flashes of Greg LeMond’s story that I’ve…
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There is a greater need for citizen involvement in our political system than ever before. Yet, we see a dramatically decreasing number of qualified candidates willing to serve coupled with poor voter turnout. My theme for the year started…
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