A Note from the Garden Journal Volume 1.2

The other night I went over to a friend’s place for a little soiree. Just a small group of people. Those who know me know that I am quite the extrovert and love parties and get-togethers where everyone has a good time. But I’m still not sure they know how to do this in Tennessee. Many such events I have seen here thus far seem at times more of an eccentricity pissing contest than people enjoying people. Fun and frivolity are often replaced by repeated stories of tragedy and soliloquies about the way it was, or the way it should be done by tightrope walkers.

I love these friends of mine but it was like watching TV only I’m not one for TV so I couldn’t help but think of all the things with that time I could do. Like any talk show, it is usually about the host, who does most of the talking. Except when he or she wants to know something about his or her guests, then they get to talk about whatever it was of interest that got them on the show to begin with. This is not I suppose a personal attack, but rather just simply an observation, which is why I'm keeping this vague. The “Talk show party” is enormously passé. The irony came near the end when it was commented by the host on my unusual quietness. As is usually the case, the host shuts others out of the conversation then asks why they have had nothing to say. And unfairly also, I must protest. For I had interjected, responded and done all nearly save having gesticulated during the course of the events of that evening to no avail, at last resigning myself to a quiet sigh of failure. After all, we are only human and I suppose we all have our own ideas of “fun”. I did however have a good friend or two there with whom I did feel I had a fulfilling confabulation or two. We also talked to a couple other souls a bit who had all but disappeared into a corner, the least spoken-to of anyone that evening, which probably means they had the most interesting things to say.

I suppose we live in a culture of hype, where wide-eyed people continually walk around looking for the most marketably-interesting-things-they-can-find-in-ten-seconds-or-less. I’ve been involved in politics for some time, sound bytes are good in places.

This brings me to another topic which will wrap up my Notes from the Garden Journal for this week: I think Nashville might be worse than many with respect to the bigger-better-deal crowd. I have been giving this much thought over the past several months I have been living here. I believe this is in large part due to the entertainment scene that exists here. Not only are a lot of people constantly looking for the glitzy and shiny, but they assume everyone else cares about that as well. I can’t begin to enumerate the nationally well-known artists I have met who thought I was impressed by what they did for a living, as opposed to someone who is a CPA or whatnot. The assumption of course is false. There are two musicians I would give anything to meet. One died two hundred years ago and the other one hails from a town about two hours west of here: the right-honorable B.B. King. But the assumption here is I would presume that since the afore-mentioned well-known artists are starry-eyed for whatever they think is bigger than them at that moment that I must just as well be. I admittedly am a fan of good music. But had I moved anywhere to be around that, I’m afraid I would have to have moved elsewhere; perhaps London, New York or even Los Angeles.

Not too long ago I met a songwriter whose songs would be instantly known if I mentioned them. A Christian songwriter. He was at an artists event for an organization for which I am on volunteer staff. During the meet-and-greet afterwards I shared with him my appreciation of the effect his work had had on so many people. Largely because that is simply what one does in those situations. I was saddened however when I realized I had just met one of the seemingly most smug men I had met in some time. The next time we ran into each other it was a similar story. That is until he found out I was friends with someone he wanted to get to know, then that hand came out and he put on the biggest smile one could hardly imagine. Maybe those songs meant something to him in the past, but the weight of the words of those songs now seems lighter than a feather.

Nashville is a town full of frustrated people. The music industry here in many respects is second best to its counterpart in many other places. The phrase “Christian Music” has almost nearly become profane among youth for its mediocrity and unconvincing recital. One often gets the same feeling in this town he gets when he goes to an AAA baseball game. Sympathetic depression. So I think a lot of the artists here try to compensate by acting as though they were bigger than life. Not all, granted. I have several friends who are up-and-coming singers and musicians who really have their act together in their personal lives, lest you think that there is not any good to be found here. I am speaking more of the pervasive wind within this genre of the local artistic community and of the town. A googly-eyed also-ran-ism that makes a lot of people extremely self-absorbed, crotchety and even at times outright dysfunctional. Worse yet, not very fun. Nashville, lighten up…PLEASE  

-Blogbat a.k.a. Martin

Blogbat's Philosophical note #32: beware of him who laughs too loudly with his tongue out; who with his hand slaps you on the back. Don't trust that man, for his eyes tell you everything; that in his belt he carries a knife

Xangalogical Impact Segment

The daily Poo

“Look stimpy! eet's Poooooo!”  

The weather outside is frightful, but this fire caused by lightning is so delightful. In case you can't call 911, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.

Okay, so sticking to my day job: here's some of what went down today

1. Got a Starbuck's Frap

2. Let the dog out. (yes, I did it, "woof, woof woof")

3. Worked on my blogs
4. Worked on work stuff

5. Had Lunch

6. Flirted with girl next door (not really, but it would have been nice)

7. Worked on work stuff some more

8. Did more blogging (yeah -deadpan-)

There is more... but why talk about how some people stick oreos to the walls of their living rooms, calling it "decoration".

Ever have "incompatible" days?

Translation:   Well, great

A Note from the Garden Journal

Poedneey Avgoost, dyeasyat minoot 22.00, my panimayem eta poedneey. And already people are wondering where the summer has gone. In Tennessee we had one of our first days over 90°F (32°c) and most likely it will be one of our last for the season.

It is hard to imagine daily temperatures of 140°F (60°c) or braving them with a hundred pounds of air-tight clothing and gear. As I drive through the scenic mountains of Brentwood it is hard to see children in far away Ethiopia who are fighting to survive an outbreak of malaria.

Sitting with my friends at the coffee shop relaxing, watching Hummers and Range Rovers cruising the lot, it’s hard to imagine there could be any need anywhere, really.

Yet, one need not even board an airplane for the lengthy flight to discover that it indeed exists. Some of us know. We are by far the most generous nation on earth. The most charitable people. That perhaps is why we also happen also to be one of the most wealthy. Yet, we still have to fight that part in us that wants to bury the head in our own matters. Perhaps we feel smothered by all of the pleas we hear for our money. None of us can save the world, but everyone can do some little thing, a kindness to another.

Consider if you will, 250 million people doing just such a kindness. Be that buying a stranger lunch, sending air conditioners to our soldiers, medical supplies to Africa, teachers to the Dominican Republic or counselors to a women’s shelter 4 miles from where you live.

Yet, it also strikes me the effect on a single soul I have for a few lousy worthless Dollars. Many who have seen Schindler’s list may remember the end of the film when Oscar Schindler after having saved so many realizes how many more he could have helped had he sold an unnecessary ring or his car. We don’t even have to do that, but will we really treasure every single CD we buy? What if we gave one new CD up and did something else with the money. What would you do if someone came running up to you 25 years from now and told you they were on the edge when you brought them back? Instead of the CD. Any buyer’s remorse?

I know so many of us are indeed quite giving. This is part of our culture, a part of which I am deeply proud as an American. This is more of just a note to stay aware of your surroundings and the people in the world around you, if you have both arms and both legs, a car, food, a roof and tend to go out for coffee with your friends...or not.

It may be late in August, 10 past 22:00, but it need not be getting late in the more meaningful sense. For those of you who are not letting your neighbor’s foot slip, a Swahili word or two: Asante askari. Good work, soldier.

--Blogbat

Blogbat's Philosophical note #16: Moral matters can often be very complicated...for the ambivalent

The Judicial Dog Bites Because He Has Not Been Muzzled

Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing

What strikes me about the Alabama court issue is the way most of the press ignore the clear double standard: there has been no mention (except by Judge Moore) of the continued unmolested existence of a Greek deity's bust which also resides in the courthouse.

Furthermore, what we do hear (with rare exception) is how a bunch of protestors are singing kumbaya at the state courthouse, roasting weenies with lighters & just waiting about for the next abortion clinic to raid.

With regard to the facts of the case, the Constitutional questions surrounding the Decalogue monument, we must painfully regurgitate the facts: There is no such thing as the so-called constitutional "separation of church & state". This is a misnomer propagated in the often leftward-leaning press and the infamously inaccurate text books of our high schools and universities. That wording can however be found in two different contexts in two very different places: the constitution of the former Soviet Union and the Jeffersonian Letters. Thomas Jefferson makes mention in a letter to a local church of keeping the Federal government out of the business of State Religious affairs as well as that of its churches. At the time, most states had an “official religion.” Some were Baptist, others Methodist, and so on. The Framers had no problem with this, in fact they rather encouraged this by among other things, forbidding Congress (federal legislative branch) from making any law “respecting the establishment of religion; nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Our Founders made it clear in the Declaration of Independence and our Federal Constitution in the first, ninth and tenth amendments that our liberties are granted by a sovereign God who is acknowledged by us as such and that the federal government is not to restrict the rights enumerated in the Constitution nor abridge those not enumerated and thus delegated to the states. Failure to follow this is essentially a breech of the Constitution and by this fact, a breech of the much bandied about Rule of Law by those sworn to uphold it. Such a breech (as has been seen commited by the federal court presiding over the Alabama case—not to mention other federal courts, such as the infamous 9^th circuit court of appeals in California--the "Pledge" case, and indeed the U.S. Supreme Court) requires that the legislative branch take the appropriate action to redress the offense of the other branch, as outlined in Article 1, section 3. Failure to do this on the part of the legislative branch, it would follow, would become likewise a breech, whereon the good people of any such district to which the legislative branch in authority is beholden, in good conscience are duty-bound to rise up and impeach their legislators for failure to uphold the aforementioned Rule of Law: The Constitution of the United States. If we do not campaign for and vote for the candidates we choose to be our congressmen and senators, we are breeching our obligation to that Rule of Law.

Those are the remedies as supplied by the Constitution and our Founding Fathers. Remedies we should all be attentive enough to take. “People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security (in this case, the bliss of apathy and inaction) deserve neither and will lose both” – Benjamin Franklin.

-Blogbat a.k.a. Martin

The daily Poo

“Look stimpy! eet's Poooooo!”  

Well, well, well, folks. The past 24 hours have certainly been a lovely ride on the good-ship stomach flu. No, actually, it wasn't the flu (but thanks for asking). From the forensics and lab analysis (hyperbole) it seems to step back to a time early yesterday afternoon shortly after I had decided to go "postal" on several arachnid illegal aliens (spiders) living off the dole on my front porch.

After living in angst over being assailed by one of the webbed illegals, I decided on a RAID: I picked the one for roaches and spiders...

All went well, at first. I sent 7 or 8 home to live in the clouds shaped like happy little egg sacks. But then, just as I was going in the door to escape the fumes, I sucked some in. I coughed a bit and felt kinda weird, but returned to my daily work. A few hours later however, I began to sing a different song from the diaphram. It became a regular "earworm" until some time this morning.

It was truly weird. I can't say I have been sick like this --ever-- and at the same time been hungry--STARVING-- for a weird assortment of fried foods. For now, chicken broth will do just fine though.

Okay, here's some of what went down today

1. Slept.
2. Let the dog out. (yes, I did it, "woof, woof woof")

3. Slept.
4. *ahem*

5. Slept.

6. Slept.

7. Typed this to protect my sanity.

There is more... but why further humiliate the Star Wars Kid?

Let’s Play a Game!

Go to www.samsclub.com, yes, that is the Sam’s Club Website. In the search box to the left, type in “nuts” (sans the quotation marks). Now, once the search is concluded, scroll down the long page which lists all of the illustrious varieties of nuts Sam’s sells and see if something sticks out. Odds are, you probably think she fits right in. And that’s today’s Blogame. Hurry up before they get wise to this! – Blogbat