An Open Letter to State Senator Bunch

Senator Bunch,
I have reluctantly come to believe that you are evil.  I don’t say that lightly, but I don’t know how else to explain your behavior.  Hardaway?  Clearly, he’s crazy and working out his deep anger and hatred of the women in his life on the women of Tennessee.  And Campfield, clearly, he believes that [...]

Playin’ Politics

I wanted to say just a hair more about what Representative Karen Camper is up to with HJR 132, because I love it.  Because, to me, this is brilliantly playing politics.
See, here’s the thing.  Right now, the Republicans are putting forth a joint resolution saying that nothing in the State Constitution protects a woman’s right [...]

Good Ole Tennessee Cat Pants

I had to sheild the Tiny Cat from Southern Beale’s website this morning, not for the Tiny Cat, mind you, but for Southern Beale’s protection.  We’re fairly sure that the Tiny Cat has retired from her life as a spy, but those are not skills one just forgets.
And the Tiny Cat can never know that [...]

House Joint Resolution 132

Representative Camper has submitted House Joint Resolution 132.  This legislation is so awesome that I almost don’t want to tell you what it is.  Okay, I’m not going to.  I cannot risk stealing any of the credit for Camper’s genius.  Just go look and then come back here and tell me how cool it is [...]

Our Fair City

This morning, when I took the dog out, it was damp from the thunder storms that kept me up all night, and I was standing in the back yard, looking over the AT&T building to the hills to my north.  The mist was coming up off the hills in that way it does, like it’s [...]

I’m Not Alone

First, Coble points out that having a political protest against having to pay other people’s mortgages by seeming to brag about other people having to pay your mortgage just makes no sense.  It’s funny as hell, but it makes no sense.
Second, one of y’all sent me a link to cats in pants, which tickled me [...]

How Lucky Am I?

The Butcher went to Walmart without me!  And he bought me cookies.
All this even though I stole his pork chop.

Okay, The Last Thing I Have to Say about the Civil War and the LOC site

I downloaded a map for you from the LOC site of Middle Tennessee at about the time of the Civil War.  I am putting it up here.  Please be aware that it is gigantic.  But so cool.  I am a little sad I don’t live near Dog Town, just off Chicken Road (Kathy!  You didn’t [...]

While We’re on the Topic of the Civil War

So, it turns out that my great-great-great grandfather (my mom’s grandpa’s grandpa) and his brother and their sister’s fiance (who died thus inadvertently leaving my great aunt with untold freedom, which she took great advantage of, by having an excuse to never marry which she didn’t.) fought Beth’s however-many-great grandfather at Chickamaugua and Chattanooga in [...]

Legal Doesn’t Make It Right

I graduated from high school with 46 other people in a town of 2100.  That wasn’t the largest town I’ve ever lived in as a kid.  I also lived in towns with populations approaching 3600.  I guess those aren’t even really towns.  They’re more like villages.  But my point is that it’s a number I [...]

Feral ‘Dils

The feral daffodils along the fence behind the AT&T building have opened!  Can mine be far behind?
It’s so funny to me that the daffodils the College Professor bought me sprouted so early and have just slowly made their way up and none of them even have buds yet.  But the daffodils already here were like, [...]

Rachel Made Salon.com!

As a person who broke a story!  This is even better than when Mrs. Wigglebottom made her brief appearance.

More Nerdy Civil War Stuff!!!!

Okay, historians, let’s go back to the photo.

I learn by way of the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society that that’s Fort Morton up there and Franklin Pike running diagonally.  And I’m still trying to situate myself.
If you go to the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society’s map, you see that Fort Morton, Fort Negley, and Fort [...]

Nashville

I know, you’re wondering “Just what evidence do I have for B. being a giant nerd?”  Well, let me even begin to tell you about the hours I have spent on the LOC site.  Just flipping through you can learn shit, like we apparently had a huge child labor problem a hundred years ago, kids [...]

The Recalcitrant Brother Has an Announcement

So, my recalcitrant brother called to announce that he’s giving up two things for Lent–food during the day and smoking.
This is surprising for any number of reasons.  One, we’re Methodists of the strain that doesn’t just not celebrate Lent but views Lent as like a second Christmas, where you get to run around mocking your [...]

For Chris Wage

I don’t think I have to spell it out.  Look here and here.
Don’t make my untalented ass have to figure out how to do that.

Daffodil Conspiracy

Y’all, I’m convinced my daffodils will never bloom and that my yard will forever taunt me with the promise of flowers and no delivery.
I don’t know.  I’m feeling very overwhelmed by things today and I tried to think of something nice and light to write about in this here spot, but I’ve got nothing.  I [...]

I Heard from Marrero’s Assistant! Hurray! And Thank the Gods, Marrero Has Not Lost Her Mind.

The letter:

Thank you for writing with your concerns; I only wish you had done so before posting your blog.
Your initial reaction of confusion is certainly justified. However, I think Senator Marrero’s stance on reproductive rights speaks for itself; she is the most outspoken advocate for these issues in the State Senate. She certainly appreciates your [...]

Lots of Stuff

You know, I never did hear back from Senator Marrero about her wanting to drug-test non-compliant pregnant women.  Not even a form ‘thanks for writing.’
Anyway, today is the day they’re going to vote to strip our right to an abortion away.  It’s just a matter of whether it will include the three exceptions (proposed by [...]

Lowering Tennessee’s Infant Mortality Rate

Via Kleinheider, we learn that The Tennessean had a big report about Tennessee’s infant mortality rate back in December.  I am of many minds about the report.  I think you should read and watch and listen to it, though.  (And note that no one seems to be singling out drug or alcohol use as a [...]

Disturbing Things I’ve Learned Between Lunch and Now

1.  There really is/was a supersecret feminist email list!  Let me just state publicly that, if you were on that list, and I come to know it, you’re going to have to assume it will be very hard for me to take anything you have to say about feminism seriously ever again.  Your credibility is [...]

Now I Want to Curl Against Pinky’s Butt!

Newscoma’s got more puppy pictures.

An Open Note to My Dad

Dear Dad,
I love, love, love that you’ve been now driving around imagining what words we’d have to get rid of if we took this English-only stuff to its natural conclusion.  That tickles me so much.  So, I have not forgotten your wondering about the word “rent” and, yes, it appears it would have to go.  [...]

The “Sex” Card

If Campfield is in possession of a “sex” card, can we see some evidence that he has paid a 25% sin tax on it?
(psst. Rep, you mean “gender” card.  We’ve supposedly played the gender card.  Playing the “sex” card is something entirely different and more fun, when done right.  For a failed attempt at playing [...]

I Think The Truth is that They Don’t Get It

I’d like to be all Rachel Maddow and demand that someone talk me down, but I’m not sure that what I want to hear can be said by the Tennessee Democrats at this point.  I want to hear that they really get it–that they really get that we, as a state, are in dire circumstances [...]