Uroblast

Caught night one of 2 of Billy Strings at the Tivoli grand reopening in Chattanooga - part of the IBMA week. Acoustic only set but was incredible. The whole IBMA week was phenomenal. Lots of pop up shows and showcase bands in small venues. Caught guitar player and lead singer/mandolin player of Mountain Grass Unit at Cherry St Tavern packed in with about a hundred people. Music lovers need to get to Chattanooga next year for this event.

I'll second Brasstown Valley Resort for your purposes. Wife from the NC side of Lake Chatuge. Quick ride from BVR to Hayesville. Great square that is up and coming. The Copper Door is one of my favorite nice restaurants. Get reservations. Nocturnal brewing is downtown with great food and beer. Hayesville Brewing is a little farther down but great dive bar vibe. Can rent boats at Marina heading towards Hiawassee. There is also a cool meat market/deli in Blairsville - Bitter Creek. Find Bell Mountain Park in Hiawassee. One of the best views around. Also can to up to Brasstown Bald for views. The wives would have fun going to the town of Brasstown. Lots of artsy places. And the John C. Campbell Folk School is really impressive. Can take classes there is you have time. For free activity, go walk the Lake Chatuge dam (on the NC side). There is a park there with really nice views. Have fun.

Getting close to retirement and used ChatGPT and simply uploaded all my position - assets. Included my goals, preferences, estimated income and expenses in retirement just like an advisor. I was very impressed with the results. Spit out a Monte Carlo and transitional plan summary with modifiable spreadsheet.

Shameless plug here: I have a high school son trying to break into the AI financial world. If any of the MT financial/daytrading geniuses want to provide feedback, please check it out. I’m not really a savvy financial guy so can’t help him.

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I’m in. Organizers - I salute you!

It is not ethical. Providing 2nd opinions by default establishes a physician/ patient relationship and should be subject to normal professional standards including liability for harmful advice. Providing medical advice without direct evaluation has long been a “no go” and our licensing boards should put a full stop to it. If reported to state licensing, these “physicians” would be subject to disciplinary action. But someone has to report it and follow through on it. That being said, insurance carriers do it every day in denial of care. Something has to change.

Was just cruising the music board and saw your post about bands you found late. After you’ve fallen in love with SW VA, come back to the NC side next spring for Merlefest (not far from parkway). I’ve seen all the bands you listed there over the years. It’s the east coasts best Americana / Bluegrass festival. Same topography and awesome people as SW VA.

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I've used both Holafly and Airalo. I have an iPhone with Verizon plan. Was vastly cheaper than the Verizon plan (I think Verizon was $10/day). Airalo was easier to manage with larger data blocks at the time, but service was fine on both.

Don’t know but you probably could play some mean pinball.

Here’s some local color commentary:
1. The land for this was a prime downtown parcel. One of the last unused and being held by a private business with operations next door. This was taken by eminent domain against the wishes of the city and the business.
2. TVA (quasi-public/private) just moved out of its huge downtown office. Had plenty of room for court operations. Feds didn’t want it. It’s still vacant.
3. There is already a Federal Courthouse - although old and too small.
Anyway, I certainly felt there were much more economical options. But who gives a rip. It’s just someone else’s money for an awesome new building on someone else’s land that would have been better used for other downtown projects. And now there are 2 vacant buildings with Fed involvement downtown. Keep paying those federal taxes baws!

Suggestions based on recent driving trip there:

1. Agree with Fussen/Neuschwanstein - go to Linderhof Palace as well (another Ludwig castle and my favorite of the 3). Reutte, Austria (just across the border from Fussen) has some great sights and outdoor activities. Highline 179 was really incredible. You can access Zugspitz from either the German side or Austrian side (the Austrian side is not as crowded). Near Reutte Austria is Biberwier. It is a ski area but has awesome summer activities. My family always hunts out "sommerrodelbahn" (down hill toboggan) and they have one there. They also have "MountainKart" - down hill adult tricycles. That may be the top travel fun experience we have ever had. Ignore the reviews on Trip Advisor about it being unsafe. Heck yeah it is unsafe but that is why it is so much fun. Don't be an idiot and embrace the culture of personal responsibility for activities with risk that make Germany and Austria really fun.

2. Regensburg and Kelheim just north of Munich. Regensburg is a mini- Prague. Lots of Holy Roman Empire history and young vibrant populace since it is a university town. Next door Kelheim is a great base to hike through the Danube gorge (The Narrows) and wind up at the Weltenberg Abbey and their famous beer garden. There are ferries that can take you from Kelheim to the Abbey if you don't want to hike. We hiked it (moderately strenuous) and my non-hiking family nearly killed me when they saw the boats pull up to the Abbey. Their Abbey beer is worth the walk.

Hallstatt was a beautiful place for instagram photos, but overrun with people unless you are there really early or really late. Parking was abysmal. I could have skipped it and just enjoyed the other Austrian lake towns and mountain villages even more.

Driving was really easy to these places. If you pass road side fruit or farm stands, always stop. Have a great trip!

In!