UK's Ditto Music targets Nashville

British promoters of unsigned performers are planting their flag in Nashville: Ditto Music, based in Birmingham, England, is making the move, according to the B'ham Post online. Entrepreneurs Lee and Matt Parsons (left) are behind Ditto. HT: Nashville Bus. Journal. Ditto's site is here (change the USA to UK in the link, for prices in B'Pounds).

UT Engineering mentor James Hung dies

The KNS reports the passing of James Hung (at left), a retired University of Tennessee engineering professor who mentored dozens of graduate students, including Min Kao, CEO of GPS manufacturer Garmin. Guided by Hung, Kao donated $17.5MM to support building a new engineering building on the UT campus, and it is nearing completion.

Census shows 6.34MM Tennesseans

Tennessee legislators' re-districting sausage-making will soon begin, but for the moment we can just absorb the fact that Tennessee's population is up 11.5% over the past decade, to 6.34 million persons. More here.

Top 10 Personal Tech Ideas (NYTx)

Here are David Pogue's Top 10 Tech ideas for the early adopter. The New York Times has it.

Start-up needs a lawyer? Tips to consider

The New York Times reports tips for entrepreneurs considering hiring, and paying for legal services.

Ideas 2010: National Geo, NY Times

National Geographic offers updates on scientists' thinking on 10 major cosmological ideas... and a recent issue of New York Times Magazine celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the annual December "Year in Ideas" compilation.

Industrial Strength Marketing to offer marketing toolset

Brentwood-based Industrial Strength Marketing CEO James Soto says his company will soon offer a toolset that allows overworked marketers to employee easily social media and convergence tools. William Williams of the City Paper reports it.

'Inside' recruiting Amazon.com to Chattanooga

The Times Free Press does yeoman's work in providing a rundown on what it was like behind the scenes during Hamilton and Bradley Counties' successful recruitment of two new facilities for Amazon.com.

Y-12 applauded by Feds, decried by peace activists

[Updated] Federal inspectors gave the B&W Y-12 management team a rating of excellent in the latest assessment. The Uranium Processing Facility being built for the Babcock & Wilcox and Bechtel team is highlighted as a strategically important element in the organization's transformation to its evolving security mission. The KNS has it. Subsequently, KNS reported activists are criticizing Y-12 plans as a costly bomb plant.

UT leverages TVA for energy-efficient home contest

A University of Tennessee team, augmented by expertise from TVAs, is creating an energy-efficient home that will be on display on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The KNS reports.

Another tech competitor, this time in Starkville

Communities worldwide are creating communities for research and technology development, and Starkville, Miss., has the newest entrant, driven by Mississippi State University and already attracting real businesses. The CA has it.

Thoughts on Memphis financial sector, 2010

Andy Meek of Memphis Daily News offers a review of 2010 highlights of the Memphis finance sector.

START treaty benefits to ORNL (more)

Frank Munger of the KNS provides further perspective on U.S. Senators Alexander and Corker's support for a new Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (START) Treaty, recently ratified by Congress, and its benefits for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nation. The photo of Sens. Corker (L) and Alexander was taken during their 2009 tour of tornado-damaged areas of Rutherford County, according to material online.

ATC-Nuclear expands Oak Ridge presence

ATC-Nuclear, a company that tests commercial products for use in the nuclear environment, said it's moving its Chicago logistics operation to Oak Ridge, expanding its long-standing presence in Tennessee. ATC-Nuclear's parent HQs in New Jersey. The KNS reports.

'Sustainability' may be Chatta. Chamber focus

Chattanooga has created a new Sustainability office and the local Chamber is assessing whether or not there's support within Chamber ranks for a formal sustainability initiative. The TFP reports.

Docs flocking to hospitals viewed warily by some

Physicians are seeking a haven from the rising demands on private practice, and hospitals see opportunities to capture or recapture revenue. The insurance industry sees industry consolidation that could cause problems. The TFP reports.

Bartlett STEM academy discussed

Bartlett High in the Memphis area may launch a STEM academy within its borders, part of the statewide STEM emphasis. The CA reports.

Chattanooga allowed to smile on Jobs growth

Signs of the epochal Great Recession remain, but Chattanooga and Cleveland and environs have reason to smile, with The Noog recording more that 7,000 net jobs growth in the past year, thanks in part to newly announced investments. Read the Times Free Press' summary. (Related story on local consumer restaurant spending.) Meanwhile, nationally analysts see signs of traction, bullishness for 2011, says The New York Times (free registration). Of course, if you're unemployed, you see prospects quite differently, says the NYT, reporting results from Rutgers, full report here. NBJ reports on Tennessee joblessness - it remains a mottled picture statewide, but at least "mass layoffs" have abated, a bit.

Ethics: VUMC leads on Bioethics, randomized trials

VUMC Reporter shares a glimpse of a potential ethical dilemma in conducting randomized trials, in which some patients benefit and live, and others are dealt a different card. Elsewhere, VU reports Nita Farahany (left) is a member of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues.

MEDSEEK, Bay Health e-health alliance

Birmingham-based MEDSEEK announced an alliance with Tampa-based EHR provider Bay Health System to push an integrated e-health and EHR solution.