Michael Taylor

Jan 29, 2025 | nashvillescene.com | Michael Taylor

On Friday, Judge Justin C. Angel ruled that Thunder Air, a development company of John “Thunder” Thornton, must pay the attorneys of Joey Blevins and the late Ronnie Kennedy $211,345.40 in legal fees. In September, the same judge ruled that Thunder had violated the free speech of both men under the Tennessee Public Participation Act, or TPPA.

Jan 10, 2025 | bmcr.brynmawr.edu | Arthur Pomeroy |David H. Rosenbloom |Michael Taylor

This volume serves as a memorial to Matthew Trundle, who passed away tragically of cancer in 2019 at the age of fifty-three, leaving behind a substantial but unfinished scholarly legacy. Most of the contributions by Trundle’s teachers, colleagues, and students were delivered at a memorial conference in 2019. The book also contains a chapter by Trundle himself, recovered from his unfinished book manuscript. Diverse methodological possibilities are on display.

Oct 27, 2024 | chapter16.org | Michael Taylor

Nashville Native Orchids: Astonishing Science and Mysterious Folklore, the first book from orchid specialist Soraya Cates Parr, packs an amazing amount of information within its 168 illustrated pages. The first section provides a readable account of orchid science, history, and myth, as well as the plant’s uses in traditional medicine. This is followed by short chapters about how climate change affects orchids and the close relationship between the plants and certain spiders.

Oct 7, 2024 | chapter16.org | Michael Taylor

On December 22, 2008, in the East Tennessee town of Kingston, an earthen dam that held years of coal waste from a TVA power plant collapsed, sending a wave of coal sludge over 300 acres. Making worldwide headlines, the environmental disaster destroyed homes, poisoned a river, and would soon sicken nearly all the workers assigned the difficult task of cleaning up the mess.

Oct 1, 2024 | nashvillescene.com | Michael Taylor

On Thursday, Judge Justin C. Angel ruled that Thunder Air, a development company of John “Thunder” Thornton, violated the free speech of two Marion County citizens by suing them for libel. The ruling was based on the Tennessee Public Participation Act, or TPPA, which was passed to protect citizen participation in “matters of public concern” by stopping wealthy corporations from suing regular folks to shut them up.