This Issue

Crazy Days - pg 4 Happy Birthday, RFN - pg 7

The Rich Get Richer - Old Story? - pg 10 The Plot to Kill Google - pg 11 April 23 - may 7 vol 1 # 7

Old-timers have Obama: The First 100 Days their day in

By TNFP staff disturbing tendency toward imprecision in meaning (as Dickson in, the courts cannot “second-guess” the President’s decisions). Grade: C. By Burt Mustin Math – Poor. Many of Barack’s pronouncements chool’s about out, report cards are due, and even S don’t add up. The President said that “we must respect though our prize pupil has put in less than a full term, the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of we’ll grade him on the work he’s done. If we were (Note: The Nashville the American people,” but so inclined, we’d grade him on Free Press is now the new administration the curve, but as his predecessor distributed in has continued, and even was the class clown, the average Dickson. Visit www. accelerated, the old one’s would be skewed severely Report dicksonfreepress.com enthusiastic abuse of power downward. and look for the Dickson by illegally wiretapping Barack Obama entered edition of the Free Press in the coming weeks.) and intercepting the email school on January 21. He was communications of American greeted with high hopes and Card citizens. He said that the much good will. A speech he These days, an old-timer might be described as government must be open and gave in outdoor assembly was someone who remembers when it cost less to fill a above-board at all times in its enthusiastically received. Then car up than to buy a new one. We’re exaggerating, actions, yet the new regime he buckled down to his daily which is what some of the geezers on hand for next Barack has invoked the “state secrets” routine. There, he proved to be week’s Old Timers Day Festival in Dickson will Obama privilege just as regularly as very bright and a quick study. doubtless be doing. the old. When subtracting, He is creative and, for the most The Old Timers Day Festival, celebrating his results have been part, works well with others. He its 51st anniversary, will begin Friday, May 1 unsatisfactory. (Suspected is determined and industrious. He and crank into high gear on Saturday the 2nd, in terrorists the government shows a good deal of promise, beautiful downtown Dickson. Food, fun, fireworks wishes to apprehend and and he has borne up well under a and lots of free activities promise to make this year’s torture are no longer “enemy heavy course load. extravaganza a fair to remember. combatants,” but their But because of that very “Our festival has expanded to two complete abduction and removal to schedule he has undertaken, perhaps he has, so to blocks, offering entertainment for the whole family,” faraway prisons, most notably in Afghanistan, proceeds speak, spread himself too thin—which may account said Chairman David Baggett. “I’d like to thank apace.) His inconsistency in these areas has divided for his highly spotty performance thus far. and honor the members of the Old Timers Day his supporters and greatly multiplied the number of his This is how we assess his progress to date: Committee for their tireless effort all year long.” critics. Grade: D Warren Medley, who was part of the first Old Geography – Has shown curiosity and a Timers Day, is still on the committee. “When he and Civics – Dismal. Having stored up capital by willingness to learn, conspicuously about Cuba and others organized this event 51 years ago, it was to be condemning the paranoid secrecy and subterfuges of the Iran. Grade: B+ one that combined the culture of our community and previous administration, Barack has perpetuated that our state with more activities than ever before seen model. He has given lip service to the democratic ideal Science – Has embraced the subject, giving in Dickson,” Baggett said. And that tradition has that government exists, not to oversee the people, but speeches on such topics as the dire reality of global continued every year. to be overseen by them. He has carried forth the notion warming, the importance of stem cell research, the “This year our festival offers music for that the people do not always have the right to know. He necessity to separate science and ideology, and the everyone—bluegrass, country, blues, rock-and-roll, has upheld the Orwellian—the Kafkaesque—doctrine of legitimacy of teaching evolution over creationism. down-home gospel,” said Baggett. Along with the “sovereign immunity” – the idea that the state cannot be Grade: A+ traditional Civitan Club pancake breakfast, there’ll sued unless it consents to the suit. He has misconstrued be a Ms. Old Timers Pageant, a liars contest, a the principle of full disclosure, maintaining, as did the English – Excellent diction and grammar. parade, a 5K walk/run, crafts, inflatables, quilt previous administration, that it sometimes need not apply Superior pronunciation skills, from common shows, a kids fashion show, antique car and tractor (when security may be at stake, for example). Grade: F but tricky words (nuclear) to difficult ones displays, games, carnival rides, pony rides, a bucking (Ahmadinejad). At the same time, however, a bull, large outside concerts, fireworks, and a variety (Adjustment to grade: As extra credit, last week Barack lamentable affinity for euphemisms (overseas of foods. contingency operation instead of war) and a continued on page 9 continued on page 15 2 Pack the seats to Check out these stories get new ones on our Website at www.thenashvillefreepress.com The Belcourt Theatre presents the Creature OUR VALUES Comforts concert Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m., featuring singer/songwriters Matraca Berg, We believe our first responsibility Don Williams reviews Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss, Maura O’Connell, is to truth. We’ll strive to bring to the Ty Herndon, Hunter Davis and special guests The Millionaires, performing in the round. Proceeds from the concert community the information it needs to a new novel by Johnny Majors’ will go toward the purchase of much-needed new make sound and informed decisions nephew that sends up seats for the theatre in Hillsboro Village. in all matters that affect our lives. We Tennessee millionaires. A Seat for a Song ticket package for $200— won’t shy away from reporting news which equals the cost of one new theatre seat— and information that may be unsettling treats two guests to a pre-concert party, VIP reserved or unwelcome. Truth demands this, concert seats and a Belcourt poster autographed by the performers. Each $200 ticket package sold and it is of utmost importance that we And Chemical Eye on Songs pushes the Belcourt one seat closer to its goal. always act in service to the truth. of Innocence and Experience... (Note: The same ticket package can be purchased in recognition of National for $100 for one guest.) And, for those who want to We’ll be responsible to the community Poetry Month. support the cause and enjoy the music, concert-only in which we live and work and to the tickets are available for $33.20 each—a nod to the world community, as well. We’ll be 332 seats that will be replaced. The prospect of finding a comfortable seat good citizens, support good works and in the theatre has become a game that loyal Belcourt help the community become stronger patrons endearingly refer to as “Belcourt roulette”: and more cohesive. We’ll encourage hopping from seat to seat until finally landing on an civic involvement and civic action. We’ll acceptable perch. The current seating has been in provide competent management and our place since the 1970s. actions will always be just and ethical. “The Belcourt is an historic part of Nashville and a much-valued part of our community, presenting the best of cinema, live music, children’s We’ll be responsible to our readers programming and much more,” says songwriter -- the men and women (and children) and film music supervisor Hunter Davis, Belcourt -- of the community, and treat each as Theatre board member who recruited songwriters an individual. We’ll respect their dignity for the event. “These incredibly talented songwriters and recognize their merit. And we’ll are giving a wonderful gift to us with their support.” The concert will feature two “in the round” look them in the eye and answer for our sets. First, critically acclaimed award-winners work, if necessary, openly and honestly. Suzy Bogguss, Gretchen Peters and 2008 Nashville The Department of Defense recently lifted the ban on Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Matraca Berg photographing America’s fallen when they are returned home to will perform individual hits and ensemble songs. the United States at Dover Airbase in Delaware. Their Belcourt appearance will be one of their last stateside, before the trio embarks on their Wine, Women and Song tour throughout the UK. The evening’s second set features Irish-born folk singer Maura O’Connell, Ty Herndon, Hunter Davis and special guests. O’Connell, a Nashville audience favorite, sings a variety of musical styles from traditional Irish tunes to Nashville country. Herndon has charted a total of 17 singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three number ones. Davis, whose songs have been recorded by Kim Carnes, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and others, wrote “On My Way Here,” the current Clay Aiken single. Many of Davis’ songs have been featured in films and television.

More info: 615.383.9140; www.belcourt.org. 3

CONTENTS MISSION CONTENTS To become an indispensable news Cover Story: Cover Story: resource for Nashville, enriching School’s Not Out Forever Growing threats to organic gardeners the democratic process. Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor pg. 4 pg. 4 Community Voices pg. 4 Community Voices pg. 4 STAFF News & Views pg. 5 New & Views pg. 5 Publisher Ginny Welsch Surveillance self-defense pg. 5

International law flaunted in Gaza pg. 5 Spitzer’s time had come pg. 6 Editor Paul Erland Tale of two parties pg. 6 FBI enlisting business spies pg. 6 Consulting Editors Mike Muldoon Eye on the Media Obama takes wiretapping further pg. 7 Greg Welsch pg. 7 Young Voices pg. 13 Nonprofit Spotlight pg. 7 Layout/Design Greg Welsch Free Floating pg. 14 Free Floating pg. 8 Graphic Design K. Foster Design

Contributors Tracy B Ann Joyce L. Arnold Mike Byrd Douglas Ditche Alan Graf Steve Haggard Mike Harkreader David Harris Martin Holsinger Nell Levin Susan McKay Mark Naccarato Bill Peach John Reynolds G.E. Rollins Jay Solomon Charles Sumner ` Don Williams Katina Williams

Photo Journalists Al Levenson Jeff Bressler Harry Simpson CONTACT Address all written correspondence to The Nashville Free Press, Letters to The Editor EVENTS 4482 Tanglewood Dr., Pegram, TN 37143. The Nashville Free Press welcomes your Submit notices of your events for inclusion Email story ideas, submissions (500 words Letters to the Editor. (250-word limit. We in our Calendar section. maximum), and letters to the editor to reserve the right to edit longer letters). Include [email protected] Please submit notices at least 10 days your name and telephone number. in advance of publication dates, and limit To Advertise: Call 615.516.5678. The best letter we print in each edition will earn your announcements to 150 words. or e-mail: the writer three golden plumes and a hearty Include a phone number for verification. [email protected] handclasp. Email notices to Email to [email protected] [email protected] WWW.Thenashvillefreepress.COM Questions: 615.516.5678. 4

This is Crazy, This is Crazy Greater Nashville UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST Everyone is insane in his own way, Mark Twain different sort, well, let them start their own. wrote in a letter to a friend near the end of his Is this because we know better than “the people” Congregation Sundays 11am life, and at least several times a day we are all what they want, or because we think we know what they temporarily, murderously insane. These moments need? No, it’s because we are motivated by self-interest, generally lead to nothing, he said, because the as is everyone, and so we wish to put in our paper 374 Hicks Road, Bellevue opportunity is seldom at hand at the same what gratifies us, even if it annoys “the people.” moment as the murderous impulse. “This This may be a form of temporary—or 673-7699 saves a million lives a day in the world— Letter permanent—insanity. for sure,” Twain wrote. The pen is mightier than the sword, The poltroons in the state senate it’s been said, but a pen can’t stand up Contractors Carpet and Flooring who voted to allow weapons to be from The to a gun. A senator ought to be able to, offers a uniques combination of: carried into restaurants that serve alcohol though. He ought to be able to imagine may have been temporarily insane, but all those leading lives of quiet desperation, SERVICE their approval of the bill stamped them Editor who sometimes experience that “immense * in-home shopping - we come to you as everlasting idiots—as specimens of what upheaval of feeling” that Twain described, that Twain, writing elsewhere about the character can send them over the sanity-line and cause them * top local installation professionals of the average man, called “an enemy of his race.” to want to make a noise in the world. And when they do, * style / color choice assistance The wise heads who are supposed to represent our “it is the noise the occurrence makes in the world that interests have irresponsibly acted to multiply our breeds subsequent occurrences, by unsettling the rickety SELECTION opportunities to be slaughtered. minds of men.” * all types of flooring products In thirty-three other states gun owners have We could proceed here to a recitation of the * name brands you know the right to go armed in bars, the Honorable Sen. murderous occurrences of just the last few months, Doug Jackson, sponsor of the legislation, pointed but we won’t. “Nothing will check the occurrences * large samples available out, a justification which makes sense if we are only but absolute silence,” Twain wrote. “By abolishing all so many lemmings lining up to jump off a precipice. newspapers; by exterminating all newspaper men; and by SAVINGS This is what the people want, Jackson insists. But extinguishing God’s most elegant invention, the Human * below big box store pricing even if that is so, the question we must ask is: Do Race.” * never a charge for measure / quotes we wish for our representatives to be the voice of the We’re not in favor of the first two propositions, * we work with you and your budget people, or the conscience of the people, too? but with the help of our politicians, before long we’ll be ■ Besides, is this really what “the people” able to accomplish the third. MEMBER BELLEVUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE want? “The people,” even more so than a person, do not know what they want. That is, they want one CALL FOR APPOINTMENT thing today, and another tomorrow. We laugh when a newspaper asks its readers, what sorts of things do (615) 943-9595 you want us to put in our paper? We’ll put what we WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS want in our paper, and if readers want things of a

In terms of energy content, US coal Preparing For Peak Everything production peaked in 1998 and is now in decline. Beyond the supply issue lies the chimera of carbon by Albert Bates winds. Every south-facing roof will have hot water and sequestration. Dangled solutions for burying electricity-producing devices. Farmers will grow crops scrubbed CO2 in deep-sea sediments or mines The advice from the US Department of Energy, to fuel tractors. In this process we will quickly discover assumes a 90-percent annual retention factor, the Pentagon, the Government Accountability Office, that living on daily income from the sun is considerably meaning the other 10 percent leaks out, yearly. In and blue ribbon panels, public and private, is only different from burning through a 500-million-year-old ten years time, 100 percent of what went in the first too clear: we solar savings account in about 150 years. year is in the atmosphere. That’s “clean coal.” are experiencing The rhetoric of election campaigns leads us to Technophiles speak blithely of fusion the peak of an believe that technology can save us if we apply money reactors, ignoring the simple truth that it takes 30 energy boom. and science, right away. Although a move to renewables years under optimal running conditions for a fission Very little of what is essential, no amount of money or science will make up reactor to produce 20 kg of tritium, the fuel for a we see around us—from cheap air travel to missions the expanding gap. fusion reactor. A commercial-scale fusion reactor to Mars—would have been possible without our A linchpin of candidates’ promises is “clean (1 GWe), if one could even be built (50 years in the discovery and exploitation of ancient stores of solar coal,” which is founded on two false assumptions. The future), would “burn” through 20 kg in 19 weeks. energy in the form of fossil fuels. first is that there is plenty of coal. True, if coal were Fission reactors, assuming the 441 now th Our unparalleled success as a technological used at mid-20 -century rates of extraction, and you operating could be secured from terrorist attacks, civilization has brought a six-fold increase in human don’t mind mountaintop removal or underground mining will exhaust the world’s known and projected population and all its impacts — vast material casualties, there would be hundreds of years of coal in uranium reserves in 2040. wealth, climate change, pollution, abundant food, the ground. Unfortunately, that is not real. Coal has been If the present 32 reactors under construction resource depletion, and species extinctions. It is under increasing pressure for the past half-century and are completed, nuclear utilities will begin a mixed picture: carefree dancing on a tipping from 2000 to 2005 extraction expanded at an average of experiencing fuel shortages by 2015. tabletop. But after every peak there is a down-slope, 4.8 per cent per year, or doubling approximately every 15 What we are about to experience is not and that can now be discerned in oil, gas and coal years. a resource crisis so much as a lifestyle crisis. All production numbers, the falling dollar, and rising China now reports 55 years of coal reserves at our lives we have learned how to prosper amidst land and food prices. current consumption rates, but consumption is expanding, increasing abundance. We now face a new paradigm As we shift away from fossil fuels in coming and China has begun importing coal to meet current decades, we will turn back to sun, tides, waves and needs. continued on page 10 5

Media Blackout on Single-Payer Surveillance Healthcare 3/4/09; Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/27/09; Atlanta Journal Self-Defense Constitution, 2/26/09). From Fairness and Accuracy In contrast, the terminology used by detractors in Reporting (FAIR) of single-payer or any greater public-sector role in The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) healthcare-- “socialized medicine” and “government- has launched its Surveillance Self-Defense run” healthcare--turned up seven times on TV. CNN project, an online how-to guide for protecting Major newspaper, broadcast and cable stories senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has your private data against government spying. mentioning healthcare reform in the week leading herself adopted this terminology in discussing healthcare You can find the project at http://ssd.eff.org. up to President Barack Obama’s March 5 healthcare reform, stating (CNN Newsroom, 2/26/09) that “if in EFF created the Surveillance Self- summit rarely mentioned the idea of a single-payer time, Americans start to think what President Obama is Defense site to educate Americans about national health insurance program, according to a proposing is some kind of government-run health system- the law and technology of communications new FAIR study. And advocates of such a system- -a la Canada, a la England--he will get resistance in the surveillance and computer searches and -two of whom participated in the summit--were same way that Hillary Clinton got resistance when she seizures, and to provide the information almost entirely shut out. tried to do tried to do this in the ‘90s.” and tools necessary to keep their private Single-payer- In the absence data out of the government’s hands. The -a model in which of actual coverage of guide includes tips on assessing the security healthcare delivery single-payer, rhetoric risks to your personal computer files and would remain largely like Cohen’s confuses communications, strategies for interacting private, but would be rather than informs. And with law enforcement, and articles on specific paid for by a single it blurs the differences defensive technologies such as encryption that federal health insurance between the Canadian can help protect the privacy of your data. fund (much like system of government- “Despite a long and troubling history Medicare provides for administered national in this country of the government abusing its seniors)--polls well health insurance coupled surveillance powers, most Americans know very little about how the law protects them with the public, who with private healthcare preferred it two-to-one delivery (which single- or about how they can take steps to protect over a privatized system payer proponents themselves against government surveillance,” in a recent survey advocate), and Britain’s said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin (New York Times/CBS, system, in which Bankston. “The Surveillance Self-Defense 1/11-15/09). But a healthcare (and not just project offers citizens a legal and technical media consumer in health insurance) is toolkit with tips on how to defend themselves the week leading up administered by the government. in case the government attempts to search, to the summit was more likely to read about single- Though more than 60 lawmakers have co- seize, subpoena or spy on their most private payer from the hostile perspective of conservative sponsored H.R. 676, the single-payer bill in Congress, data.” columnist Charles Krauthammer than see an op- Obama has not expressed support for single-payer and Surveillance Self-Defense details what ed by a single-payer advocate in a major U.S. both the idea and its advocates were marginalized at the government can legally do to spy on your newspaper. the Obama healthcare forum. But given the high level computer data and communications, and what Over the week, hundreds of stories in major of popular support the policy enjoys, that’s all the more you can legally do to protect yourself against newspapers and on NBC News, ABC News, reason media should include it in the public debate about such spying. It addresses how to protect CBS News, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR and the future of healthcare. ■ not only the data stored on your computer, PBS’s Newshour mentioned healthcare reform. but also the data you communicate over the Yet all but 18 of these stories made no mention of FAIR, the national media watch group, has been offering phone or the Internet and data about your “single-payer”, and only five included the views well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship communications that are stored by third party of advocates of single-payer—not one of which since 1986. service providers. appeared on television. “You can imagine the Internet as a Of the 10 newspaper columns FAIR found giant vacuum cleaner, sucking up all of the that mentioned single-payer, Krauthammer’s private information that you let near it. We syndicated column critical of it accounted for five Want To Learn Spanish? want to show people the tools they can use instances. Only three columns in the study period to encrypt and anonymize data, protecting advocated for a single-payer system (San Diego Take A Class at themselves against government surveillance,” Union-Tribune, 2/26/09; Boston Globe, 3/1/09; St. Woodbine Community said EFF Staff Technologist Peter Eckersley. Petersburg Times, 3/3/09). Organization “Privacy is about mitigating risks and making The FAIR study turned up only three tradeoffs. Every decision you make about mentions of single-payer on the TV outlets surveyed, It’s Inexpensive and It’s Fun whether to save an email, chat online, or and two of those references were by guests who search with or sign into Google has privacy expressed strong disapproval of it: conservative New Beginner and Intermediate implications. It’s important to understand York Times columnist David Brooks (NewsHour, Classes Start August 11. those implications and make informed 2/27/09) and Republican congressman Darrell decisions based on them, and we hope that Issa (MSNBC’s Hardball, 2/26/09). In many For More Information Surveillance Self-Defense will help you do that.” newspapers, the only argument in favor of single- Contact Ginette Cambronero payer was made in letters to the editor (Oregonian, Surveillance Self-Defense was created 2/28/09; USA Today, 2/26/09; Washington Post, (615) 646-3477 or (615) 403-1700 with the support of the Open Society Institute. 6

ACLU Welcomes Hearing on Libel Tourism

The ACLU called on Congress to take steps to Why Elliot Spitzer Had To Go prevent foreign countries from restricting the free speech rights of Americans inside the U.S. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and by Matthew Rothschild government’s actions were so egregious Administrative Law heard testimony from a panel of and so unprecedented that all 50 state experts on a phenomenon called “libel tourism.” attorneys general, and all 50 state Libel tourism occurs when a foreign The exposure of former New York Governor Eliot banking superintendents, actively plaintiff sues an American author or publisher in Spitzer’s tryst with a luxury call girl had little to do fought the new rules. a country where free speech protections do not with the Bush administration’s high moral standards But the unanimous opposition of the match those afforded under the First Amendment. for public servants. As author F. William Engdahl 50 states did not deter, or even slow, A party seeking libel damages may bring a claim says, “in evaluating spectacular scandals around the Bush administration in its goal of in any jurisdiction where the allegedly libelous prominent public figures, it is important to ask protecting the banks. In fact, when communication was published and then enforce the what and who might want to eliminate that person.” my office opened an investigation of judgment inside the U.S. With the ease of electronic Timing suggests that Spitzer was likely a target of possible discrimination in mortgage communications, publications by American a White House and Wall Street operation to silence lending by a number of banks, the authors are now routinely seen outside the U.S. A one of its most dangerous and vocal critics of their OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the bill introduced by the subcommittee’s chairman, handling of the current financial market crisis. investigation.” Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen (D), was Spitzer had become increasingly public in The editorial appeared the day after Spitzer’s passed during the last session but was not voted blaming the Bush administration for the subprime rendezvous with the prostitute at the Mayflower Hotel. on by the Senate. Related bills were offered in the crisis. In February, 2008, in testimony before the US With that article, some Washington insiders believe, 110th Congress by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) House Financial Services subcommittee and in an Spitzer signed his own political death warrant. and Congressman Peter King (R-NY), but did not interview on CNBC, he laid blame squarely on the On March 4, 2008, Spitzer proposed legislation advance. administration for creating an environment ripe for that would have imposed penalties for mortgage fraud “Americans should not lose their free predatory lenders. and predatory lending. On March 9, he was linked to a speech rights simply because it’s now easier for On February 14, the Washington Post prostitution ring and New York Assembly Republicans foreign audiences to access materials published published an editorial by Spitzer titled, “Predatory announced plans to impeach him or put him on public in the U.S.,” said Michael Macleod-Ball, ACLU Lenders’ Partner in Crime: How the Bush trial if he refused to resign. Spitzer resigned two days Chief Legislative and Policy Counsel. “Freedom of Administration Stopped the States From Stepping later. expression is a cornerstone of American democracy In to Help Consumers,” which charged, “Not only Curiously, Spitzer has been not charged with and while that right may stop at our shores, the did the Bush administration do nothing to protect any crime. His case went into the hands of authorities restrictions that exist in foreign lands should not be consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and in Washington and not New York, underscoring the allowed to chill the speech rights of Americans at unprecedented campaign to prevent states from clear political nature of his “offense.” And although home.” protecting their residents from the very problems to prostitution is illegal in most US states, clients of Author Rachel Ehrenfeld, a witness at which the federal government was turning a blind prostitutes are almost never charged, nor are their names the hearing, was sued in the U.K. by a Saudi eye.” typically released while a case is in process. businessman who claimed the book she wrote about “The administration accomplished Spitzer’s editorial concluded, “When history tells terrorism financing defamed him. She now faces this feat through an obscure the story of the sub-prime lending crisis and recounts enforcement of a British judgment inside the U.S. federal agency called the Office of its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent despite the fact that his claim would have been the Comptroller of the Currency homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged marginal, if not frivolous, under U.S. law. (OCC). The OCC has been in favorably . . . it will be judged as a willing accomplice “Our free speech rights should not be so existence since the Civil War. to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest easily eroded,” said Macleod-Ball. “If nothing Its mission is to ensure the fiscal for profits. The administration was so willing, in fact, else, the international standards of free speech soundness of national banks. For that it used the power of the federal government in an should be the benchmark in these circumstances. unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as Those standards are both fair and effective and will 140 years, the OCC examined ■ the books of national banks to on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of withstand the claims of opportunistic plaintiffs.” ■ make sure they were balanced, consumers.” an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers. Labor and Management Must Always Be Adversarial

In 2003, during the height of the Because company owners want the most production for the least cost and workers want predatory lending crisis, the OCC the most money for the least labor, the relationship between management and labor is invoked a clause from the 1863 necessarily adversarial. That’s why workers must work together and ultimately unionize National Bank Act to issue formal if they’re to have a fighting chance for fair pay and job security. Lacking a union, a opinions preempting all state company can fire workers at will and change the conditions of employment with absolute predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. impunity. So when you hear about a “harmonious workplace” that has no need for a The OCC also promulgated union, you can be sure everyone there is singing the company’s tune. new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own The Harpeth Institute for Public Policy consumer protection laws against (www.harpethinstitute.blogspot.com) national banks. The federal 7

Americans United Sponsors Free Showing of PBS Documentray • • • • Eye • on the Media

for stations to apply for translators. Translators mericans United invites the public to a free Happy Birthday A translate a broadcast signal from one frequency showing of an important PBS program. On Radio Free to another so a station can extend its reach. This Monday, May 4, Professor G. B. Singh of Meharry was great news for RFN and other broadcast Medical College will show the PBS Nova program, Nashville! stations; in fact, several applications were filed “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial,” (110 by Ginny Welsch on behalf of RFN during this time. But those minutes.) Time is 6:45 pm at Watkins College of translators nearly killed us. Art and Design, Room 501, 2298 Rosa L. Parks The FCC has restrictions on how close two Blvd.(formerly 8th Ave.) in Nashville’s Metro Center. On April 3 of this year, stations can be. But full power FMs and LPFMs “Judgment Day” captures the turmoil that Radio Free Nashville are treated differently in this regard. Where full tore the community of Dover, Pennsylvania, during celebrated 4 years on the air. It was a milestone day, power FM‘s simply must not have overlapping a landmark battle over the teaching of evolution in one that over the years many thought might never broadcast contours, LPFM‘s must retain a specific public schools. In 2004, the Dover school board come. physical distance from other station contours. ordered science teachers to read a statement to The road to sign-on was bumpy, to say the Encroaching on this distance is called short- high school biology students about an alternative least. RFN applied in January 2001 for its station, spacing, and is a violation of FCC rules. to Darwin’s theory of evolution called intelligent and a construction permit (CP) was tentatively In searching for new coordinates, design--the idea that life is too complex to have granted in May of 2002. But during the public RFN consistently ran into short-spacing evolved naturally and so must have been designed by comment period after the permit was granted, problems with translator applications. It an intelligent agent. The teachers refused to comply, another competing station filed what’s called wasn’t until August of 2004 that RFN and both parents and teachers filed a lawsuit in a petition-to-deny the application. It took 16- found a space and coordinates that the federal court accusing the school board of violating months, but the FCC finally denied the denier, FCC would approve. So instead of the constitutional separation of church and state. and on Halloween 2003 RFN got the go-ahead having 18 months to execute its CP, RFN NOVA explores the arguments by lawyers to build. had eight months. and expert witnesses in riveting detail and provides Under FCC rules, a station must act Then the FCC delayed filing an eye-opening crash course on questions such as within 18 months of the date a CP is issued, RFN’s new coordinates, something that “What is evolution?” and “Is intelligent design a or the permit expires. Meaning RFN had until must happen before a station can move ahead. scientifically valid alternative?” Featuring trial re- April 30, 2005 to build and sign on. That seemed RFN’s coordinates weren’t filed until mid- enactments based on court transcripts and interviews doable. February 2005, leaving a scant 10 weeks for the with key participants and expert scientists, this Little did we know... station to build. gripping program presents the celebrated case of Four days after RFN got its CP, the gentleman Over those weeks, competing broadcasters Kitzmiller v. Dover School District. (Americans who owned the tower and broadcast coordinates used tried to thwart the station and keep it from signing United for Separation of Church and State and the in RFN’s application unexpectedly died. Almost on. Yet each time someone did something American Civil Liberties Union brought the case.) immediately his family sold the land, and the new designed to stop RFN in its track the opposite For info: [email protected] or owner decided to take the tower down, making RFN’s happened; their actions actually ending up (615) 646-9946. ■ broadcast coordinates invalid. So the search began for helping RFN resolve problems it didn’t even alternate coordinates. know it had. It didn’t prove easy. Under FCC rules at The three-day barnraising weekend took the time, if an LPFM changed coordinates, the only pace in cold drenching rains that forced the 150 acceptable new coordinates had to be within two people involved to move inside a big house for kilometers of the original ones. RFN’s site was in everything: classes, meals, sleeping, and all work Pasquo, where it’s hilly and forested, so suitable sites that didn’t have to be outside. were almost non-existent. And even if RFN found But on Sunday, April 3, 2005 the day a suitable site the landowner had to be amenable to dawned clear and crisp and blue, and RFN’s JOIN US SUNDAYS letting the station put up a tower. tower was pulled up by hand and the station Then the effect of an FCC move made finding a 9 am & 11 am signed on to tears and cheers. It was a glorious new site damn near impossible. day. Before RFN lost its original coordinates, the And the rest as they say is history. ■ WHERE WE SEE MAN AS WINNER, FCC opened, for the first time in 20 years, a window NOT MAN AS SINNER

www.FirstChurchUnity.org WAR IS THEFT... “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the fi- nal sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms in not spending money alone.It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.”DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Middle Tennessee Veterans for Peace To Advertise 292-5608 or 485-1616 [email protected] Call (615) 516-5678 8

rate, domestic abuse, child abuse, and violent crime, the “family values” party decided only straight, married working for change people are fit to be parents. deep green perspective mark naccarato In the midst of one of the worst financial crises our brother martin state has seen since the Depression, the new Republican A Tale of majority offers us Big Government on choice, adoption, Money Talks, TVA Two Parties gun laws, “judicial selection” (read: court-stacking) Walks... All Over You! and “election reform” (read: voter suppression). And did I mention that about half the Republican delegation Unemployment is believes Obama is not an American citizen? now 9.1% in Tennessee. In contrast, state Democrats – by no means TVA is a public utility--that Tax collections and state poster children for liberalism – are pushing a relevant means it’s responsible to us, the public, right? revenues are down, just as agenda rooted in real-world solutions to the real-world TVA takes our welfare seriously, will reliably the need for government problems affecting nearly everyone in the state. Their monitor any pollution it creates, and shouldn’t object assistance and public agenda includes “providing quality education for all… to third-party verification of those results, right? services is skyrocketing. increasing jobs and economic opportunities… promoting Our District Attorneys are public servants- The number of people on food stamps, and losing fiscal responsibility… providing affordable healthcare… -that is, they defend the public good when it is their health insurance, increases exponentially while supporting Tennessee’s ‘golden generation’… promoting violated by private interests, right? employers shutter their businesses – wiping out jobs equality and diversity… protecting Tennessee’s most Wrong, Jack, wrong on all three counts. and whole regional economies. vulnerable… improving safety United Mountain Defense volunteer Matt Landon Enter the Tennessee and reducing crime… honoring found that out when he was arrested for trespassing Republicans, who took leadership patriotic service… investing in on newly-purchased TVA land, even though the in the General Assembly for the energy efficiency and protecting former owners had given him permission to be first time since Reconstruction. the environment”. there. He was checking air monitoring equipment They moved quickly to announce The bills that back up the that UMD had set up near the Kingston coal ash an agenda that would show all Democrat agenda are struggling spill. UMD had entered into a contractual agreement Tennesseans the TNGOP was to get out of the Republican- with the landowner to operate the monitors. In ready to handle the economic controlled committee structure: a truly Orwellian turn, TVA forbade the former crisis. the “Pay Equity in the landowner from informing Landon that TVA had Or not. Workplace Act” which seeks purchased the property. In other words, TVA Days after their win, Photo by equal pay for women doing the entrapped Mr. Landon. Harry Simpson Republican leaders announced same work as men; “Helping Any District Attorney who took his “public their agenda would include Huh?...Daddy’s out of a job, but at Heroes” legislation expands servant” designation seriously would tell TVA to “allowing people with gun carry least he can carry a gun at Tootsie’s? education grant programs to get lost for this kind of corporate bullying, but DA permits to take their firearms into include current members of the Russell Johnson threatened Landon with a year in places that serve alcohol“, “limits on… malpractice National Guard and reserves; and “Crooks with Guns” jail...for putting up an air monitor. and other liability lawsuits”, “giving legislative legislation which puts tougher penalties on gun criminals. Landon demanded a pre-trial hearing instead leaders more control in the appointment of members Democrats also proposed environmental bills like of knuckling under, and got a plea bargain offer: of the judicial nominating commission”, “taxpayer HB2318, which requires statewide building construction some of the charges would be dropped if he pled funds for new [charter] schools, rather than [for] safety standards include provisions for energy efficiency. guilty to the rest and paid a fine. “Guilty” of local school boards”, and unflinching support for an And Governor Bredesen wants to close a tax loophole maintaining an air monitor where he believed he had anti-abortion bill that even supporters admit will do that out-of-state businesses have been exploiting for every right to do so? Again, he said “no way,” and nothing to reduce abortions in Tennessee. years. Time will tell whether state Democrats stand got another offer. In his words: In February, a revised agenda for legislative behind their populist agenda - there is a long history of “...for the next six months I cannot goals was announced. Did Republicans decide that Democrat appeasers who would rather just go along to travel on the Clinch or Emory River because of economic crisis that they would focus get along then stand for something. from Interstate 40 to mile marker 4 more on checkbook issues? Or jobs? No. Instead, But when it comes to the issues, there is a on the Emory River. I cannot enter they added even more irrelevant, if not downright stark difference between Democrats and Republicans. the 750-foot elevation (100-year flood dangerous bills to their docket. More NRA bills, Compare: Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory)…“working plain) near these two rivers. I cannot including ones to “reduce public and government families in Tennessee are hurting and desperately interact with any TVA employees access to gun owner information”, “remove a needing legislators to put them first.” Tony Shipley or any other company workers requirement for gun dealers to thumbprint buyers,” (R-Kingsport)…”they can do whatever they want out employed by TVA to work on the Coal and “make handgun permit application information in California, with gays passing babies around, and Ash Disaster. The $3,000 bond will confidential”. violating God’s law, but when God drops California off be held for the next six months until a State election laws are in their sights. The into the sea, they will have to deal with the consequences follow-up trial date of Sept 21, 2009 “Voter Confidence Act” passed last year that of their actions.” at which time I will have to pay court guarantees an auditable paper trail for all voting With those priorities, the TNGOP won’t enjoy costs of nearly $600. If at any time machines is in serious danger of being modified majority status for very long. ■ I break any of these clauses I will be or killed. A bill requiring a photo ID to vote was pulled back into court and all bets are introduced. And despite the fact that Tennessee Contact Mark at: off, probably meaning jail time.” sits near the top of the list among states in divorce [email protected] On advice of his public defender, Matt took this deal. After all, it shouldn’t be that hard to find somebody else to do what he has been doing, and anyway TVA’s hostile attitude about independent BUTLER NETWORKS monitoring indicts itself. Fortunately, UMD is not the only outfit The Last Connection Your Business Will Ever Need. keeping an eye on TVA. Appalachian Voices used GPS to locate TVA’s own monitoring sites, and Full T1 to the Internet just $500 per month - Anywhere in Tennessee found an easy explanation for TVA’s “reassuring” results. In the words of Appalachian Voices In-office fiber installation for any size pipe from 4.5 Mbps to 1 Gbps spokeswoman Donna Lisenby: www.butler.net - 615-369-7070 continued on page 15 9 vital signs Obama: The First 100 Days susan mckay continued from page 1 Son of Man Affirms Stance “As for our common defense, we reject as false the During this season, I’ve been thinking about consider if they agree with my teachings, or not.” choice between our safety Jesus and how he might weigh in on the national “Explain, please.” health care debate. Rather than wonder, I decided to “The impoverished, for instance, I’m still hearing the and our ideals.” interview him. Here’s what I learned: same tired excuses that I heard back in the day: People “Hi, Jesus, thank you for agreeing to speak with me. are poor because they choose to be and the sick and the - Barack Obama, I expected to see you in a white robe and sandals,” I poor are born to their lot in life and must bear it. Such in his inaugural address. said, noting his jeans, Oxford shirt and loafers. callous blame is just an excuse not to feel obligated He laughed. “While I’m not concerned with high to care. If those who claim to love me fashion, I keep in style with the would love the least of these like me released to the press the memos that the Bush times.” they wouldn’t point blame—it wouldn’t administration drew up describing in horrifying “Well, then, I’m sure you’ve cross their minds. Each who was able detail the torture techniques they authorized. Grade been following all the ballyhoo would gladly give a hand up, and adjusted upward to: D-.) about health care reform. What society would embrace policies that did do you think?” so, too.” Ethics – Barack signed an executive order “Well, although I’m not “But what about being responsible for on his first day, prohibiting lobbyists from holding political, I’ve certainly been ourselves?” high-ranking administration jobs, thus fulfilling a inundated with prayers from all “What about our responsibility to each campaign promise to “close the revolving door” sides.” other? If people who claim to love between K-Street and government, via “the most “Not political, eh?” me would love their neighbors like sweeping ethics reform in history.” But two days “No. Many others, most notably themselves, and do onto others as they later he granted a “waiver” from the new rules to politicians, politicize me. But would have done onto themselves, they install Raytheon lobbyists William Lyon as the No. 2 I’m a nonpartisan.” would gladly act in the best interests man at the Pentagon. Grade: C-. “Politics aside, as a healer do you think, as a society, of the community—and not be so wrapped up in selfish we have a moral obligation to cover everybody?” interests. Because, you see, one ultimately benefits from Deportment – Well above average. Barack He wagged his finger at me. “If you knew me better helping another.” bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia and crossed a you would know I don’t take sides on policy issues.” “But what about being responsible for one’s own health?” room to shake hands with Venezuelan leader Hugo “Yet many look to you for guidance in all aspects of “How does that prevent genetic diseases or car accidents? Chavez. He did, in his meeting with Queen Elizabeth, their lives.” I’m hearing a lot of judging. One cannot truly know what mak the small faux pas of “double shaking” her “Exactly. Given that humans have free will, long ago another has been through, or is going through, unless they hand—what might be perceived as a condescending I offered advice on options to consider when deciding have walked in the other’s shoes. Judging that one person gesture. But then the manual of royal etiquette, we how to live their lives and live in community with as deserving of health care and that other one as not can imagine, might well be longer than the U. S. others.” deserving isn’t the advice I have given.” Constitution. (Let’s hope that if one of them gets “Like what?” “But what about the costs of health care?” abridged, it’s the former.) Grade: B+. “Well, I think most are familiar with my belief that “Ah, that brings me to the oft misquoted line: Money what you do to the least of these you do to me.” is the root of all evil. The accurate teaching is: Love of History – Average. Seems to have a firm “Sure.” money is the root of all evil. In America, those who are grasp on at least two oft-quoted truisms: “History “And love they neighbor as thyself.” profiting most embrace the unjust system because of the repeats itself,” and “History indeed is little more “Yep.” love of profits and have lost sight of service to people. than the register of crimes, follies and misfortunes of “And judge not lest you be judged.” The reality is many souls are going broke under this mankind.” Grade: B. “Sure, but—“ health care system, but none would under a system that “I’ve been hearing a lot of debate about whether or embraces my teachings.” ■ not everyone has the right to guaranteed affordable choices in health care. But it seems to me that this Contact Susan at: “We want to maximize the amount question would be moot if people would simply [email protected] of information available to the American people, (so long as it) Customized Golf Accessories does not damage national security at factory-direct special prices interests.” –An Obama administration No setup fees - All prices delivered senior official. Order online No credit card required Promotional Code: 1244 continued on page 11

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Community Voices continued from page 4

— how to survive, and even thrive, amidst energy descent. The good news is, it is all about lifestyle, and lifestyle is easy to change. Recently Colin Campbell and Graham Strouts published a book, Living Through the Energy Crisis, that provided twelve essential steps to create a low-energy, sustainable lifestyle. They are: America’s Income Distribution 1. Raise awareness and develop a community response Quite a Bit Top-Heavy 2. Find some allies by forming re-localization Income — what people take in on an annual basis — tilts toward the top in today’s groups United States. In 2004, the nation’s top 1 percent raked in more income than the bottom 3. Approach community leaders and provide 40 percent, Congressional Budget Office research released in December 2006 indicates. them ideas 4. Develop a power-down charter, integrating an overview of all present and future resource flows 5. Develop energy literacy 6. Perform home energy audits, count your light bulbs and put yourself on an energy diet 7. Get out of debt and move your assets from financial (paper) to physical and community resources 8. Make a personal resource inventory; where do you get your food, energy, medical care, skills, and money? 9. Switch to renewables, and simple, low-tech devices that are easily repaired 10. Support local food producers and start a home garden 11. Live more locally, travel less 12. Join the Transition Towns movement So What’s New? The more prepared we are, and the sooner Haven’t the Rich Always Gotten Richer? we start, the easier this process will be. The time is now. ■ Actually, no. A century ago, income in America skewed steeply toward the top, but in the mid 20th century the United States became significantly more equal, as data from Albert Bates is founder of the Ecovillage Training Center economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty show here, before turning back toward at The Farm in Summertown and author of The Post- greater inequality. Note: Saez and Piketty crunch their data from tax records. The CBO Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for researchers above add in-kind income sources, everything from job-paid health insurance Changing Times (New Society Publishers, 2006)

premiums to food stamps. That’s why calculations of income shares can vary.

AT&T: Then & Now Like the Terminator, Ma Bell, broken up over thirty years ago has reconstituted itself to near monopoly control of the telephone service market. AT&T is currently lobbying the Tennessee State Legislature for repeal of prices controls on basic telephone serice that would allow them to charge whatever they wanted for basic local service thereby denying many access to telephone service. 11

Obama: The First 100 Days Did you know...? continued from page 9 The Plot to Kill Google Conclusion – As is Source: Wired common in the first term, the freshman Obama is Google, the powerful online search service, is coming under attack from enemies including Microsoft struggling with the and AT&T, report Nicholas Thompson and Fred Vogelstein. The company’s enemies include business work load. He competitors; traditional advertisers, who are losing revenues to online advertising; and internet service shows strengths in providers whose interests clash with Google’s support for net neutrality. Last year, Thompson and many subjects and Vogelstein note, the anti-Google coalition got the U.S. Department of Justice to kill a proposed business plays well with deal between Google and the Yahoo! company. “Microsoft hired lobbyists who knew how to drum up others. support among rural and Latino groups, and before long organizations as far-reaching as the American But he Corn Growers Association and the Dominican American Business Network had voiced their opposition,” must demonstrate marked they write. For PR support in that campaign, Microsoft turned to LMG, a secretive Washington DC public improvments in English, Math, Ethics and especially affairs firm that specializes in astroturf campaigns. Thompson and Vogelstein expect the anti-Google Civics, all important prerquisites, if he is to graduate campaign to intensify in 2009, with a focus on painting the company as a threat to personal privacy. his first term with passing grades and be asked to ■ return to the White House. Call Your Congressman and Voice Your Supprt for Net Neutrality and Find Out More About Net-Neutrality and the Fight to Save the Internet at: How Obama took over the peace movement

(Posted by John Stauber in LeisureGuy.wordpress.com)

John Podesta’s liberal think tank the Center for American Progress strongly supports Barack Obama’s escalation of the US wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is best evidenced by Sustainable Security in Afghanistan, a CAP report by Lawrence J. Korb. Podesta served as the head of Obama’s transition team, and CAP’s support for Obama’s wars is the latest step in a successful co-option of the US peace movement by Obama’s political aids and the Democratic Party. 2911 12th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37204 CAP and the five million member liberal (615) 297-3776 (888) 535-2287 lobby group MoveOn were behind Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI), a coalition that spent tens of millions of dollars using Iraq as a political bludgeon against Republican politicians, while refusing to pressure the Democratic Congress to actually cut off funding for the war. AAEI was operated by two of Barack Obama’s top political aids, Steve Hildebrand and Paul Tewes, and by Brad Woodhouse of Americans United for Change and USAction. Today Woodhouse is Obama’s Director of Communications and Research for the Democratic National Committee. He controls the massive email list called Obama for America The True composed of the many millions of people who Cost of Oil gave money and love to the Democratic peace candidate and might be wondering what the heck he is up to in Afghanistan and Pakistan. MoveOn built its list by organizing vigils and ads for peace and by then supporting Obama for president; today it operates as a full-time cheerleader supporting Obama’s policy agenda. Some of us saw this unfolding years ago. Others are probably shocked watching their peace candidate escalating a war and sounding so much like the previous administration in his rationale for doing so. 12

My only challenge to Cass is to “hashtag” future events I’m not trying to defend the idea of an untrained, in order to organize responses to his tweets. According ghostwriting mob leading reporters. But I would local knowledge to Amy Gahran of contentious.com, a hashtag is a short prefer that local reporters open up to various M I K E B Y R D character string or event name preceded by a hash sign stakeholders who may not have the same vested (#) that tags tweets so that people can find and aggregate interests as the ruling class that feeds their own them on the covered event. In this case Cass could have source material. set up and promoted a hashtag like “#musiccityconvctr,” Michael Cass’s live-tweets of recent council Micro-blogging which could have encouraged audience attention and debate are exemplary. Collectively, they constitute a the Metro Beat feedback. significant step toward open, relevant, and insightful Finally, Cass’s micro-blogging supported a more reporting of convention center events as they unfold, democratic and accountable model of mainstream media. when a sizeable audience demands it. ■ Rau’s strictly conventional approach was consistent Mayor Karl Dean’s with the model of reporter as a gatekeeper with a private proposal of a new convention interest in controlling the flow of information from Contact Mike at: center has sparked vigorous budget and planning privileged sources. However, it provided no more insight [email protected] debates. The local mainstream media has dilated and a lot less nuance than Cass’s tweets. on the issue at length. Both the Tennessean and the City Paper have beat reporters keeping tabs on the details of Dean’s tender, but Tennessean reporter Michael Cass clearly set himself apart from the City Paper’s Nate Rau recently in coverage of the Dean the politics of dogs administration’s first convention center pitch to a Metro Council committee. tracy b ann Both reporters wrote the conventional day- after copy in newsprint and online, but this is not My cats are slackers where I draw my comparison. What distinguished Cass’s reporting from Rau’s was the former’s use of the social media website, Twitter.com. Rather than simply taking notes from which to cull copy Oh yes, they are. They are supposed to be nocturnal, They have a very fancy climber, nice window seats later, Cass “live-tweeted” the proceedings as they but I was up all night last night and couldn’t help but and heated pillows to rest on. They have a new unfolded, allowing an online audience to follow notice that all they did was lie about and sleep. At one puppy to play and cuddle with and to boss around events in real time. point one of the boys, Stuff, was lying next to me all - which they do! Twitter, one of the biggest things going, stretched out, poking me with his One of the drew 7 million unique visitors in February (up from little feet as I quietly read on a most important 475,000 in February 2008). Twitter is a “micro- narrow little corner of my queen- things that blogging” or “micro-messaging” website that sized bed. they have is a allows authors to write individual posts of up to 140 And don’t get the wrong clean litter box characters, which are “followed” by audiences who impression – they’re not that active (two, actually). subscribe to the author’s “twitter feed.” during the day, either. Never, never Some benefits of “tweeting” council They appear to be mastering underestimate the meetings are immediately evident: the fine art of slacking. importance of a Kidding aside, it’s quite clean litter box • Micro-blogging gives a reporter’s audience normal for a cat to sleep 18 hours a to a cat. I don’t. I instant, inside access to the event being day. If we all live again, please let share with them reported; me come back as a cat! the belief that the • Micro-blogging is highly mobile; Whether they slack or not, my two boys, Shades way to prevent odors and all kinds of problems is to • Micro-blogging expands a reporter’s and Stuff, are both wonderful. I marvel at this on a keep the litter box clean. audience because social media is itself regular basis. They were outside cats that “found” me and The reason I have such a clean litter box is expanding; moved in. They blended in nicely with my three older because I have ADHD and dial-up Internet. I can’t • Micro-blogging may provide an immediate cats, who have since passed on, all living to the age of 19. ever do less than two things at once, so I download, “crowdsource” of relevant information; Shades was the pet of who didn’t want him anymore. He scoop the litter box, put the clothes from the washer • Micro-blogging is not bounded by limits of calmly moved in with me and proceeded to get very fat. into the dryer, open mail, read now-downloaded conventional media; Stuff was feral, and it took me over a year to “tame” him. info, download some more, and start the process all • Micro-blogging is consistent with the idea I give some of the credit to my neighbor kids, who love over again. I do all of this while one cat is lying on of an open, functional democracy. my cats and are loved by them. Shades talks to them-- the corner of my keyboard. If I ever get fast Internet long stories full of meow-this and meow-that--while he access the cats are in trouble, but for right now I Cass micro-blogged about 40 tweets during the rarely give me a pip or a squeak. have all the time in the world--and two very happy committee meeting, and while he may have poked Stuff watched the kids boy cats to spend it with. fun at his copious output the next day when he (there are four, all loud and We’ve even expanded our family to include referred to them in a Twitter link to his conventional boisterous) warily from the next two little feral girl cats. As always, the boys took story, the points I’ve made about micro-blogging are room when he first met them, but them in with out a blink or a hiss. No one forgets serious. What set Cass’s reportage apart was that it decided within minutes to join for a moment, though (not even the dog) that these addressed the interests of an audience who might not them, and he’s loved them ever seemingly slacker cats rule. But they are benevolent ■ have been able to attend important afternoon council since. So much for being feral. dictators. meetings but still wished to follow unfolding events. Neither Stuff nor Shades Moreover, some of us who follow Cass “re-tweeted” seems to want to go outside. I (For litter box help, see the “Tips” page at www. his posts for our subsets of unique followers. Those leave the door open while I load zenpaws.com) subsets of followers, who tweet themselves, are a and unload things, and they don’t potential source of new or undigested information. make a move for it. Maybe because everything they Followers present a form of social capital, and they Contact Tracy at: need is inside already. They have offer a wider context. Social capital like that could [email protected] lead to greater productivity when reporting. all kinds of toys, including the best cat cigars money can buy. 13

was well on his way to becoming a burgeoning singer-songwriter with quite a bit to say. eschewing obfuscation In the end, though, what ultimately solidified charles sumner his tentative dreams of being a professional musician involved a momentous trip to the Conflicts over local mall, where he observed fellow musical Larkins finds his ideal place with artist Jeremy Camp showcasing his songs with a Religion and “Who You Are” considerable amount of fans surrounding him. Government By Abbey Francis “However,” he recalls, “there were also many [people] that stopped by just to listen. And I remember thinking that no matter your walk of life, a catchy Continuing the historical On-the-rise independent artist Ryan Larkins, melody can lure you in. Simple words to a song can analysis of the development whose music has been strongly make such an impact on your of separation and church and state. The Free Press influenced by the likes of Johnny life—they can change you. And I website contains back issues. Cash, Neil Diamond, Third knew then that I wanted to impact “We must never allow our children to forget Day, Matt Kearney, and John other peoples’ lives through my that this is a Christian nation. We must take back Mayer, specializes in buoyant music.” what is rightfully ours.” Jerry Falwell, sermon, folk rock heavily interposed Since then, he has focused 1993. with searching lyrics and an primarily on creating sincere, [The United States is] “a once-Christian optimistic message. Though eclectic music that conveys the country that has been force-fed the poisons he frequently plays at family- profound inspiration he draws of paganism.” Pat Buchanan, Right from the friendly venues like concert from “nature, poetry, God, my Beginning, 1983. halls, universities, churches, and wife and family, life, and even Roger Williams believed it wrong to festivals, Larkins has recently taken to opening death.” tax everyone to support the Puritan church in for luminary Christian artists Tenth Avenue North, As an artist, Larkins has felt a deep, moral Massachusetts. He did not think that unbelievers Matthew West, and Natalie Grant. After his obligation to pen lyrics that surpass the standard should have to take the oath of loyalty which keen freshman and sophomore efforts, “Where I triteness found in many of today’s mainstream music, ended with the words “so help me God.” So he was Want to Be” and “Learn to Love,” he has shown and he manages to exceed expectations with a fount regarded by Puritans as a rebel against God. He considerable progress as a singer-songwriter, of sanguinity bubbling forth in a myriad of his songs. also advocated that Puritans (who originally wanted while still maintaining that seemingly effortless Such wisdom from the Tennessee-born musician is merely to purify it) break entirely with the Church of element of worldly know-how and a smooth, deep revealed in his third and latest album, “Who You Are,” England. There was therefore the fear that this would voice. which is more spiritually influenced than ever, though incite the wrath of the king and endanger the entire I myself have witnessed on many accounts not lacking in realism. enterprise. Larkins’ uncanny ability to draw a hush over a As far as Ryan Larkins’ musical career is After warning Williams several times that room as he slings his acoustic guitar across his concerned, great things are in the cards for him, his views were unacceptable, the General Court shoulder, smiles shyly, and begins to croon. It particularly a few surprises scheduled this summer. (governing body) decided to expel him. They must be said that he tends to have a quiet, yet You can catch him in person at many of his upcoming intended to put him on a ship back to England. commanding presence onstage—as a result, shows in Asheville, North Carolina and New York, as Before they could act, friends warned Williams, he never needs to raise his voice to be noticed, well as his native Nashville. and he went off into the cruel New England winter, thanks to his unassuming charm. And according For more information on Larkins, including where he wandered for fourteen weeks, living with to those who know Ryan Larkins best, things have his songs and tour dates, visitwww.myspace.com/ friendly Indians. In a poem he wrote: ■ always been this way. ryanlarkinsmusic Lost many a time, I have had no Guide, A self-professed, lifelong lover of music, No House but Hollow Tree! twenty-two-year-old Larkins had his first brush Abbey Francis is a student at Harpeth High School in In stormy Winter night no fire, with his future career when he received a toy Kingston Springs and a member of the school’s award- No Food, no company. guitar and microphone for his fourth birthday. winning Band of Blue. In the spring of 1636 he arrived at a place From there, he happily performed and played he called Providence and founded what became the along with old Southern gospel records in his NOTE: If you’d like to submit your (or your colony of Rhode Island. He was able to obtain a living room; when he reached the tender age of student’s) essay or article for consideration to run Royal Charter which did not recognize the Church twelve, his neighbor showed him some basic on the Young Voices page (600-word limit), email of England as the established religion and which guitar chords. By the time he was sixteen he had it to [email protected]. Include your contact provided for “liberty of conscience” - separation of already begun leading worship at his church and information. church and state. Charles II regarded this as a “lively experiment.” The concept was later incorporated into the charters of some colonies and eventually became the pattern for the new nation - rather than the pattern established by the Puritans. Of all the colonies only Roger Willliams’ Divorce -- DUI -- Criminal law Rhode Island could claim true religious freedom. The only other colonies without an establishment of some type were South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Contact Attorney James L. Widrig Delaware. And in them full religious liberty still was lacking. During the Colonial period church and state (615) 417-7800 were strongly linked. There were sometimes tensions between the two, but in most cases the church primarily served the state. And as you have seen, 501 Union St. Suite 503 Nashville 37219 the history of state religions was frequently one of coercion and violence. (615) 417-7800 FAX 401-2555 From the beginning of recorded human

www.widriglaw.com continued on page 16 14

transgenerational planning the real music city a l a n g r a f steve haggard

From Pirates to Plugs Take Control of Your Website Content. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid that it’s time for another column from yours truly. I’ve been attempting to Continuity, Community and contact the Somali pirates, in order to get their thoughts Creative Anarchism on the music scene in Nashville, but have thus far been unsuccessful. I’ll keep you posted. While the pirates haven’t gotten in touch with “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all me yet, I have heard from several readers, and I thank y’all for your feedback, comments, questions and With Sitemason you can... men are created equal, that they are endowed by their ����������������������������������� Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among compliments. (Especially the latter.) �������������������������������� these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. In particular, a bunch of people have responded ���������������������������������������� — That to secure these rights, Governments are to my March 12 column, in which I asked the question, ���������������������������������������������� instituted among Men, deriving their just powers “Why do musicians perform for free?” (This is a topic ������������������������������������������ that I’ll be discussing at greater length in a future column, �����������������and �������������������������� from the consent of the governed, — That whenever ������������������������������������� any Form of Government becomes destructive of along with the obvious companion question, “SHOULD these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to musicians perform for free?” From what I’ve read/heard Make Your Website as Dyanmic as Your Business abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying so far, this subject generates some very strong opinions, ������������������������������������������������������ its foundation on such principles and organizing its which is great. powers in such form, as to them shall seem most Todd Sterling from Mt. Juliet wrote in calling for likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” a boycott – which qualifies as a strong opinion!–of clubs Those words are inscribed in the Declaration where musicians are not paid. And to demonstrate that of Independence. I re-read them last year in my this isn’t only a Nashville issue these days, Jacquie Young Radical Civics class and realized that–wow!–the (from England) and Rhonda Russell (from Oklahoma) founders of this country laid out the essential both e-mailed their thoughts. right of all peoples to abolish whatever system of “It is the same over here--and becoming more government was in place –IF that government no prevalent,” wrote Jacquie. “There are fewer music longer served the purpose it was set up for. venues, and so we end up having to accept limited fees or Abolish is a big word. It means to take apart nothing! There seems to be less of an audience because completely, tear down, remove and perhaps replace of a cultural change away from experiencing life for real with something else, maybe something completely rather than via cyberville, and seemingly there is just a different. That powerful word came from people who general apathy towards supporting local music.” were dissatisfied with the old way and ready to start Rhonda wrote: “I can hardly wait to read what a new way. But what happens down the road, when you have to say about playing for free. It happens all too the new way becomes old? Do those stated principles often… All I can figure out is that we musicians must still apply? look like we are simply having too much fun for it to be labor”. Local artisan jewelry. Many of the major religions started with Design your own engagement ring. visionary ideas and revolutionary actions. Then, Thanks to everyone for their feedback on this… down the road, those ideas became institutionalized and keep it comin’. Vintage jewelry. and lost their pizzazz. The institutions became self- Well, it’s time for a plug for my favorite radio Princess-cut diamond earrings - $99 invested in their need to sustain, and, voila—the station, Radio Free Nashville. I’ll admit that one of the while supply lasts. religions now bear little resemblance to the original reasons I like the station so much is that they’re crazy visions. enough to have given me a weekly show… but that’s only one of the reasons. There’s some really excellent Very competitive prices. Organizations can follow similar behavioral Small-town service. patterns. Start something with a good idea, and, programming on the station. given a little time, human corruption creeps in like Hmm, I notice that I mentioned my weekly Forever Jewelers mold on a good piece of bread. show. So I might as well go ahead and give that a plug. It’s called The Haggard & King Radio Hour and is 101 W. Kingston Springs Rd. A community is like that, as well. The Kingston Springs community I live in started with great and lofty broadcast every Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 5 (CST). ideals which still resonate but have been corrupted Kimberly King is my superb co-host. We play music in 615.952.3033 through human frailties and needs. Humans many genres, and our playlist each week can vary widely/ Hrs. 10-5 Tues.-Th., 10-6 Fri., crave stability and consistency. Institutions and wildly. There’s always a fair amount of semi-meaningless 9-noon Sat. government fulfill those needs in part, but are also banter and odd information, and we occasionally have Browse & purchase online at musical guests in the studio. So please tune in. www.foreverjewelers.us continued on page 19 continued on page 15 15

no holier than thou More than a Chair-ity Jay Solomon

Does God Like Practical Jokes?

People have to stop taking themselves - and their religions - so seriously. the difference of opinion in order to do more good in the It’s dangerous to take things too seriously. world. When we get too serious, we kill each other over ideas. Caroline Kennedy, whatever her faults, cares I hardly think I need to list examples of the dangerous about women’s issues. So does the Pope. The Pope and ideas with which we can credit religion - but what the Kennedy could help millions of children grow up in hell: the Crusades, the Inquisition, 9/11, matzah for loving homes by emphasizing their shared values rather The 13th annual Chair-ish the Kids eight straight days, et al. than allowing one disagreement to be irreconcilably But if I don’t take religion seriously, I’m going divisive. Sometimes the benefits of cooperation outweigh Art Auction benefit is Thursday, April to Hell, some people think. the benefits of intransigent adherence to principle. ■ 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Gordon Jewish That’s a common concern, but quite frankly, Community Center. The event features I just don’t buy it. If there is a God whose hand can Contact Jay at: a live auction of one-of-a-kind chairs [email protected] be found in everything in this world, then that God and chair-themed artwork, and a silent definitely has a sense of humor. It’s undoubtedly a twisted and macabre sense of humor, but it’s there. auction of additional artwork, gift When two male Bonobo monkeys quarrel, packages and more. Proceeds support the loser manually stimulates the other to show his STARS Nashville program, Kids on subservience. If you don’t think that demonstrates the Block, which, through the use of God’s twisted sense of humor, then consider the fact puppets, educates students in Middle that over 4 billion humans are religiously forbidden Tennessee about health and social from a. masturbating and b. engaging in homosexual behavior. This, despite the fact that monkeys do both Old-timers day... concerns that affect their lives. just to apologize. Now, I’m not saying that the Bonobo solution continued from page 1 is a good one every time you dent somebody’s From Pirates... fender, but I am saying that many religious people Civil War demonstrators will be on hand to take themselves way too seriously if they can’t replay the War Between the States. Countless living continued from page 14 see the disconnect between God creating mutually history demonstrators in period dress will be weaving masturbating monkeys and God wanting horny baskets, doing laundry by hand, making candles, brooms Last but not least, a plug that has nothing to teenagers to avoid masturbation while remaining and walking sticks, and recreating the everyday activities do with me. If you’re looking for something to do on celibate and not using condoms when they succumb to of old, old-timers. June 14, George Jones – the Possum himself -- will their unbearable urges. So if God did make everything be playing at the Ryman. Need I say more? (Hmm, The first Old Timers Day in Dickson was held ■ then He definitely isn’t taking things too seriously, so on a vacant lot on Church Street, across from Ragan & I’ll bet he’s gettin’ paid!) why are we? Hamilton, General Contractors, who sponsored it. The Contact Steve at: Taking ourselves less seriously doesn’t just gala was organized by a group of people that included [email protected] benefit tissue sales. When people chill out about the Medley, Vernon “Red” Hamilton and Henry V. Ragan. strictures of their religions’ rules and regulations we The oldest man attending was Mr. Joe Ferguson, who can work together towards more important goals. was 110 years old. The celebration has continued, TVA Walks... The Pope is currently making a stink about uninterrupted, throughout the years and is always held on the Obama administration’s pro-choice stance. In fact, the first weekend in May. continued from page 8 the Vatican refuses to allow Caroline Kennedy, who’s The day established to honor “old-timers” within Catholic and pro-choice, to be the U.S. ambassador to The Dickson community today remains to be one of the “You can skew the data by putting the Holy See, and the pope is threatening to turn this few such festivals not only in Tennessee, but throughout testing points in odd locations, such as into a much bigger issue. Why would he want to do ■ the Southeast. behind a sandbar or far upriver away that? Does it benefit Catholics - or the world - for the from the spill. The GPS locations Pope and the U.S. President not to get along? show that that is what the TVA has I’m not coming down on either side of the been doing.” abortion debate, but I am saying two things. One, Here we see a government agency run amuck when women are in control of family planning (which The Dickson Old Timers Day Festival (literally!), and a district attorney more than happy happens primarily in non-theocratic societies where will be Friday and Saturday, May 1-2 in to help defend them against public scrutiny. This women have more choice), population is controlled, downtown Dickson. The Ms. Old Timers is why we need a strong, viable Green Party here in and that ultimately leads to a drastic decline in war Day pageant and the Liars Contest will Tennessee. It’s not just about statewide and national and terrorism (for more, see Sex and War by Potts be held Friday at 6 p.m. at the Grand Ole races, or even the state legislature. Local toadies like and Hayden). Two, there are larger issues at stake in a Russell Johnson should be challenged, repeatedly if cooperation between the United States and the Vatican Hatchery. The pancake breakfast from necessary, by witty, well-informed opponents with a than a political stance on abortion. 6 to 9 a.m. Saturday will kick off the broad base in the community. Victory is not going Women who really want abortions will get day’s festivities. Entertainment begins to come overnight, but as long as we’re still coherent them, whether or not they’re legal. Thus, the Pope at 8:45 a.m. and continues throughout enough to be holding elections, it’s not too late to shouldn’t allow his Catholic policies to impede the day. The Parade will begin at 10 a.m. begin. Volunteers? ■ a healthy working relationship with the Obama Sat. at Dickson County High School. administration. He’s entitled to his beliefs - he is the Contact Martin at: Pope, after all - but he should be willing to accept [email protected] 16

many times. (I know, it omits the dictionary, but I said “not bad,” not “perfect.”) Theatre Review the living words There are 208 essays in The Rambler, and the theatregoer david harris another 104 in The Idler, written on deadline 1750- 52 and 1758-60 (the Idler essays were weekly) in Measure Blog his spare time; he was working on the dictionary and for of his annotated edition of Shakespeare in those same Measure Ages years. Boswell describes (with some amazement) Johnson dashing off one of those essays in half an hour the day before it was to appear. This is how many blog posts are written today. Measure for Measure is I don’t suppose that “blog” Of course, not many of us can dash off a one of three comedies by counts as a new word any blog post as elegant and well reasoned as most of William Shakespeare, all more, even if it doesn’t appear Johnson’s, and mine, at least, take considerably written in the same span of three years, which are in Dr. Johnson’s dictionary or the first edition of the more than half an hour. But even though his have often called “problem plays.” They are all dark, Oxford English Dictionary. I am told that the first web been collected and republished often in the last two morally ambiguous, and somewhat cynical about log appeared in 1994, long enough ago that many of my and a half centuries, they had the same ephemeral human nature. For this reason, and for their uneasy students have never been conscious of a world without intention as our blog posts and columns. mix of psychological drama and bawdy comedy, until blogs. The difference now, really, is that anyone the past century or so they have been infrequently The advantage of the blog over the old-fashioned with an e-mail account can have a blog. Anyone performed. So the production of Measure for diary, of course, is that you don’t have to wait until with a web site can “publish” a book. The type of Measure at Belmont University’s Black Box Theatre you’re famous and dead (or at least dead; the diary might material isn’t new (not even hypertext is new), only sets itself up for a daunting task, one it meets with make you famous) before your thoughts are available the medium, and the ability to spew our work out mixed success. to millions of people. And most blogs are, like most into the unfiltered universe. We’ve entered a new era The major plot of the play concerns a diaries, the boring everyday thoughts of people who are in how we think about writing. Are all blogs created brother and sister, Claudio and Isabella. Claudio fundamentally uninteresting. equal? How do we deal with the availability of so has gotten his fiancée pregnant, and by the laws of A few blogs, perhaps several hundred out of much information, other than by choosing to ignore Vienna he is sentenced to die by Angelo, who has the millions on the Internet, cover particular topics whole continents of it? been appointed to lead the government in the absence interestingly, and even fewer are the models of interesting But I’m out of space. I’ll have to revisit this ■ of the Duke, who is actually disguised as a monk minds at work. issue later. in order to see how the city is run in his absence. This mode of journaling is not entirely new. Isabella, who is a postulant nun, begs Angelo to The medium is new, but not the idea of recording for the Contact David at: pardon her brother, but Angelo refuses to do so public what you happen to think about various issues. A [email protected] unless she agrees to sleep with him. newspaper column is a form of blog, even when it is not It is with the scenes surrounding this main (as this is) posted on the Web. Some newspaper bloggers plot that this production has its greatest success. have become famous and influential for their writings, Conflicts... As played by Dan Hackman, Angelo is troubled from Walter Winchell to Grantland Rice to Walter Kerr, by his own hypocrisy but unable to keep himself influencing how Americans thought about politics or continued from page 13 from succumbing to his lust for Isabella, played sports, or what theater they saw. forthrightly by Christine Lamborn. As the Duke, Ultimately, all of us bloggers, in print or newer Zack McCann is appropriately noble, if somewhat media, are the children of Samuel Johnson and The history, leaders of tribes, nations and empires have more stern than the character is usually played, Rambler. It’s true that Johnson himself considered claimed oversight of the religious affairs of their though one wishes there were more of a difference himself the successor to Addison and Steele’s Spectator, followers, often claiming to be divine themselves or in his manner or voice when disguised as Friar and he was correct in that The Rambler came out to be the representatives of the gods. This was true Lodowick: it would be easier to believe that he regularly (twice a week; The Spectator was a daily) of the Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Romans. passes as a monk without detection. and consisted of a single essay in each issue. But The Many European kings as well claimed to be divinely The scenes that deal with the subplot, Spectator was not the work of a single hand, was inspired or to be representatives of God. which concerns a brothel owner, Mistress Overdone, intended to provide material for polite conversation, and At the time of Christ, the Roman her pimp and bartender Pompey, and the dim- took on something of the form of a collection of short philosopher Seneca observed that “Religion is witted constable Elbow, are less successful, despite stories. regarded by the common people as true, by the wise the actors’ best efforts at broad comedy. Barrett The Rambler, on the other hand, ran to more as false, and by the rulers as useful.” There was Anderson, Liz Young, and Nathan Lee are all clearly serious meditations on those issues that seized Johnson’s tension between church and state at various times. able clowns, but the contrast between their antics and imagination from day to day. The first few in the For example, in the 13th Century, Pope Innocent the sober events of the main plot is just too jarring, selection I’m currently reading include the realistic III made a claim that the Holy Roman Emperor and their scenes tend to fall flat. novel, marriage, stoicism, pastoral poetry, sorrow, and was subordinate to the pope. This claim was an The most successful comic character is the biography--not a bad summary of Johnson’s interests and extension of an earlier claim by Pope Gelasius I that one who bridges the two plots. Lucio is a friend life in a few words, and he revisited some of those issues spiritual and temporal authority were equal in status of Claudio and a notorious lady’s man who helps - the so-called “Two Swords” doctrine. However, Isabella seek her brother’s pardon, but he also gets such claims were hardly persuasive to the temporal himself into trouble by telling slanderous stories ��������������������������������������������� authorities. ���������������������������������������������������������� about the Duke to Lodowick, not knowing they are There is no need to go into great detail the same person. As Lucio, Ben Stonick is a delight, ���������������� about the history of violence related to state bouncing about the stage with boundless energy, �������������������� religions. Suffice it to say that in the West there irrepressible and incorrigible. ��������� were various crusades by the Holy Roman Church Overall, the student cast does well with �������������������� against both Muslims and Christian heretics. In Shakespeare’s language, but at times they tend the many inquisitions of the Middle Ages, various to rush the lines, so that the sense of the words is means of torture were used to bring dissenters to the lost. Speed is appreciated in a two-and-a-half hour true religion. After Martin Luther, there were also production, but not at the sacrifice of the audience’s numerous wars between Catholics and Protestants. ■ ability to understand what is happening. ������������������� ���������� ��������������� Contact Charles at: continued on page 17 [email protected] 17 close scrutiny in a sound bite world Bread & roses Mike harkreader N e l l L e v i n

Usury is Alive and Well in Tennessee Music, Dreams, Poverty and “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls original check or pay the loan off with cash. Taxation. into poverty among you, then you shall help him, When borrowers don’t have the funds to pay like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with off the original loan, which is often the case, they face you. several, equally unappetizing options. One option is to Music, dreams, process a “rollover” or “renewal,” extending the loan “Take no usury or interest from him; but fear poverty, divorce, for another two-week period in exchange for a cash your God, that your brother may live with taxation, the costs of college, career choices. All of payment of additional interest and extension fees. you. these come together in the story of Tiffany, a gifted Another option is for the lender to deposit the 18-year-old violinist from the town of Newark, Ohio, “You shall not lend him your money borrower’s original check. In most cases this whose story was featured in the New York Times. for usury, nor lend him your food at a results in a bounced check and, of course, an I read the story and cried. Not just for profit. expensive fee. The last option is for the Tiffany but for all of us. borrower to obtain a new loan from a (Leviticus 25:35-37) Tiffany is the concert mistress of her high different payday lender, and use the new school orchestra – the position that goes to the One would think that in funds to pay off the old debt. This is akin best violinist. She lives in a $345 dollar- a-month a geographic area known as the to taking out a new credit card to pay the apartment with her out-of-work boyfriend and buckle of the Bible Belt the above minimum fee on one that is maxed out. works 35 hours a week at Sonic. On top of this, she Old Testament scripture might have The fees associated with maintains a high grade-point average. She is living influence on politicians who pander the original loan, when expressed on her own because her parents divorced and she to the demands of the religious right, as an annual percentage rate, are wasn’t getting along with her father, an electrician but, alas, it’s not so in Tennessee. astronomical: from 390 percent to who is facing economic challenges. Her mother Since major deregulation of the 7,300 percent (!), with an average of moved to another city. industry after intensive lobbying efforts in 1997, 500 percent. The industry will tell Her high school orchestra just made a trip to Tennessee has become one of the most friendly you that when used appropriately these kinds of loans Lincoln Center in New York City, where they played business climates for the payday lending industry. are not predatory in nature and allow those with limited in a competition and won the first runner-up prize, Payday lending is the business of making means and lack of a solid credit rating to cope with competing against an upper middle-class high school small short-term loans at very high interest rates, short-term crises for emergencies such as medical bills from Carmel, Indiana with much better instruments and there is little doubt that it targets the poor and or auto repairs However, the reality is that many end than the Newark kids could afford. It was a stretch those that live from paycheck to paycheck, which 47 up in a debt-trap cycle involving collection agencies and for most of them to raise the $850 each needed to percent of Americans now claim to do. The effects garnishment of paychecks. make the trip to New York. of deregulation have been drastic. In the early 1990s Such modern-day usury, occurring on every street Her high school music teacher says Tiffany there were fewer than 200 payday lending stores corner of America, reveals the triumph of the “religion” should be going to an elite college on a scholarship, ■ in the country. Today there are over 22,000 retail of free markets and deregulation over Biblical taboos. but that’s unlikely. Instead, she plans to go to a payday lending outlets. community college to pursue a career as a nurse. So how do these loans work? To qualify Contact Mike at: Her reasoning is that people are always going to get for a loan, the borrower typically only needs a bank [email protected] sick. account and a job. The borrower writes a “bad I, too, play the violin. I know how music can check” for a set amount, dated for the next payday, Measure for Measure liberate one’s soul. As a former working musician, and leaves the check at the payday lender with the I also know firsthand how close to the edge a understanding that the check will not be cashed, continued from page 16 musician’s lifestyle can be. and receives cash of some value less than the face I understand Tiffany’s choices. She would amount of the check. (In Tennessee a typical advance Director Dr. Kate Al-Shamma has staged the like to be a school orchestra director but she notices might be $200 for a $230 check.) The difference play fluidly, with the scenes flowing one into the next so that when schools start cutting programs, music is the between the face value of the check and the amount that the action never flags. The choreography that begins first to go. She also knows how much it costs to go of cash received represents the service charge on the the show sets the production’s mood of uncertainty and to college today and how college graduates struggle loan. The payday lender agrees not to deposit the unease. The set is austere, allowing quick changes of to pay back their exorbitant student loans. check for a short period of time (typically two weeks scene and again fitting the mood of the piece, and the The questions this story raises for me are or until payday). On the due date, a borrower with modern-dress costumes, designed by Lindsay Phillpott, many. sufficient funds can allow the lender to deposit the are handsome and frequently amusing. Patrick White’s Does an arts program need to be part of the lighting design is also fluid and helps to move the play stimulus package, like the theater, photography and along while also reflecting its somber tone. music programs that were part of the New Deal? In The Belmont University Department of Theatre the middle of the Depression, art and music lifted up and Dance should be commended for attempting this Americans, inspired them, gave them hope for the difficult play, and although the production is not a total future and documented what life was like during that success, it does fulfill the goals of educational theatre by difficult time. presenting student actors with challenging work. ■ Do we want gifted musicians like Tiffany to give up on their dreams only to regret it later in Measure for Measure will be performed in the Troutt Black Box life? Are we giving young people the help they need Theatre, 2100 Belmont Blvd., Thursday, April 23 through Satur- to reach their fullest potential? Is our educational day, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2:30 p.m. system’s obedience to the corporate needs causing us to cast off ephemeral pursuits like music because they don’t serve the bottom line? Contact The Theatregoer at: [email protected] continued on page 19 18 anything goes queer thoughts john reynolds joyce arnold Queerly Beloved A Songwriter’s Primer Adam and Steve, and Anna Not surprisingly, the progressive steps of the and Eve, have something to last few weeks provided a stimulus package for our celebrate – serious steps toward opponents. James Dobson, who is leaving Focus on the marriage between same- Family, told the staff, “We are awash in evil and the battle They say roughly gender couples. In Iowa, on April 3, the state Supreme is still to be waged.” Along with desperate-sounding ten thousand would-be Court ruled it unconstitutional not to allow same-gender warnings about “Socialism!” and “They’re gonna take songwriters arrive in couples to marry. The court’s decision becomes effective away our guns!” the re-inspired right-winger efforts Nashville every year to 21 days after the ruling unless a petition for rehearing is include a television ad – “A Gathering Storm” – produced make their fortune. Of filed. On April 7, the Vermont state legislature voted to by the National Organization for Marriage, which calls that number, perhaps allow same-gender couples to marry (effective September itself a “rainbow coalition.” The scary-tactic ad has been ten will get staff writing positions. From that ten, 1), overriding a gubernatorial veto. No “judicial condemned by LGBTQI and supportive organizations maybe seven will ever get a song recorded and activism” charge possible on this one. The two states join as factually challenged. Checking out the NOM website, released, and of those seven maybe one or two will Massachusetts (2004) and Connecticut (2008). what I found most interesting were the general “talking be able to financially sustain a career solely from Queerly beloved, we are gathering together and points” against “gay marriage.” songs. The chances of anyone making a living from drawing closer to joining this man and this man, this According to NOM, the “most effective single song writing are virtually nil. So if you are going woman and this woman, toward a more perfect union of sentence” those opposing “gay marriage” can use: “Gays into it for the money, don’t. liberty and justice for all. and Lesbians (I like that they capitalize our identities; Writers write, every day, obsessively, A bit more context: the California Supreme makes me feel all empowered and such) have a right to doggedly. Their mental and emotional stability often Court is expected to rule on the Prop 8 vote challenge by live as they choose, they don’t have the right to redefine hinges upon whether or not they are able to exorcize June. New York recognizes marriages by same-gender marriage for all of us” – classic “us vs. them” framing. their demons through words and music. Writers are couples from other states, and Gov. Paterson is expected Along with that “effective” suggestion they also have often self-absorbed, and this does not bode well for to announce a bill this month that would extend marriage a “language to avoid at all costs” warning: “Ban same- their loved ones. So if you want to maintain worthy rights to gays and lesbians. California, New Hampshire, sex marriage,” which NOM says, “causes us (NOM and personal relationships as a songwriter, shelf your New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia provide company) to lose about ten percentage points in the polls. ego, do the work, practice empathy, and learn to the equivalent of statewide spousal rights. Hawaii, Don’t use it. Say we’re against ‘redefining marriage’ or in listen to others. Maine, and Washington provide some such benefits, and favor or (sic) ‘marriage as the union of husband and wife’ Many writers create huge bodies of work, Maryland a few. Recently, Colorado’s legislators passed NEVER ‘banning same-sex marriage.’” have the respect of their peers, and get great press. and Governor Ritter signed into law a bill (effective Let us take advantage of this movement-toward- Still they struggle. In the business of song writing, July 1) permitting two people – regardless of sexual progress moment, and of the analysis by NOM. Indeed, one is often on the moon Monday and in the toilet by orientation or gender identity – to enter into agreements Queerly Beloved, let us gather in a storm of words and Friday. If you really want to be a songwriter: Learn conferring specific legal rights and responsibilities. actions, under a rainbow banner, chanting those feared to swing a hammer, or garner some other skill to pay Lots of good steps, but of course, we’re not words, “Don’t ban my marriage!” Someday we will the bills while you are honing your craft. there, in terms of equality – the marriages between same- celebrate the marriage-for- all-who-want-to victory, and Songs are pitched: getting the song to then can voice the benediction: “We now pronounce us gender couples now / soon to be legal in four states have ■ the artist, placed: a commitment to record your no federal recognition. We still have the federal Defense legal and equal.” song, cut: having your song actually recorded, and of Marriage Act (1996); constitutional amendments released: offering the song to the public for sale. restricting marriage to one man and one woman exist in Typically songwriters begin sessions by 29 states; laws restricting marriage to one man and one Contact Joyce at: tossing ideas around, so don’t show up without woman are on the books in 13 states. [email protected] something substantial to offer. Once everyone agrees on a concept, it’s time to begin the distillation process. This whittling away is what turns a good idea into the musical and lyrical blueprint you will follow. The next step is to “furnish the rooms,” which means fleshing out the details that give life to the story. Soon, verse, chorus and bridge patterns emerge, and you’re on your way. The trick to writing a good song is moving the story along. Good writers take the listener on a winding journey of discovery. As the song progresses it is very difficult to avoid repeating yourself. For this and other reasons, the best writers are ruthless editors. So, if you want to be a professional songwriter, learn to edit. People relate to songs because they see themselves in them. Great songs must resonate with both the performer and the listener. Forging these deep connections are a songwriter’s stock and trade. Typical professionals have two writing appointments a day, often with people they have never met before. So, if you want to be a professional, learn to focus, be open-minded, and dig deep. Every songwriter has his own take on the business and none of what any of us say should

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soft-bodied and easily squish-able, but if there are too many and you haven’t time, spraying with a Avant-Gardening pyrethrum spray is very effective. Trim off unsightly katina williams leaves--they won’t recover. Include Email me at avantgardener101@hotmail. independents, mine in a bag and gently hammer them with a stone. You com for more info on acceptable spray and bait for and let the can then spread egg chards around plants you want to organic control. ■ screening begin protect. Egg shells also release calcium into the soil, an important component in creating healthy, thriving plants, Contact Katina at: so be generous. In vegetable gardens they help promote [email protected] Thirteen years ago the juicy, flavorful fruit, and you can stop blossom and rot on Environmental Protection tomatoes and peppers by giving them a side dress of egg Agency was ordered shells when plants are young. Photo by Alan Messer to develop a screening If you’re feeling less charitable or are strapped Music, Dreams, Poverty... process for endocrine disrupting chemicals. The EPA for time, there are baits to kill snails and slugs. Don’t use has finally released a list of the chemicals it will start conventional products, as they can be very toxic to other continued from page 17 reviewing this summer. animals. Controlling these first-emerging populations According to the EPA, “The endocrine now will greatly inhibit populations in the coming Have the costs of getting a good college (hormonal) system regulates all biological processes season. education become out of reach for many young in the body from conception through adulthood The roses I tend are just ready to bloom, and the people of modest means? Are we developing a and into old age, including the development of the rose slug is in its larval stage. I’ve noticed small holes in two-tiered educational system, one for the rich and brain and nervous system, growth and function of the leaves and papery-looking, lacey brown spots. The privileged and another for the rest of us? the reproductive system, as well as metabolism and damage these tiny, lime-green worms can do grows as Why are so many of us unwilling to pay blood sugar levels. The female ovaries, male testes, they do, but starts with small holes that appear between more in taxes to adequately fund our schools and and pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are major the leaf veins and progresses into the lacing. They are educate our young people? constituents of the endocrine system.” These young people from Newark, Ohio are “Endocrine disruptors can cause lifelong learning a lot by playing in an orchestra: discipline, health problems, especially for children,” said concentration, cooperation, working together for a EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “Gathering this higher purpose and the joy of music. information will help us work with communities We need Tiffany’s music during our own and industry to protect Americans from harmful difficult times. Let us hope she finds a way to earn a exposure.” decent living and also play her violin. ■ Among those named are Dow’s 2,4-D (lawn care, 50 percent of Agent Orange), Monsanto’s Contact Nell at: Glyphosate (Roundup, Preen), and Bayer’s [email protected] Imidacloprid (spot on flea treatments and lawn grub killer). Jay Vroom, CEO for CropLife (Dow, EDWORKS Creative Anarchism... Monsanto, and Bayer are members), took issue. “In Ed Brannon arriving at this formal response, we worry EPA have continued from page 14 not taken into account the unique aspects of pesticide 615.584.5936 regulatory requirements as they intersect with the breeding grounds for corruption--the mold on the overarching, new endocrine screening process,” he House maintenance ideals that gave birth to those bodies. said. and remodeling When we encounter corruption, stagnation or Because of my many years of watching disease in our ranks, it seems the very last thing we this industry and their “unique aspects” of pesticide “Jack of all trades want to do is throw the whole system out–the baby regulatory requirements, I hope independent with the bathwater. If we can fix it, jolt it, catalyze researchers are included in the process of and master of a few” it or alter it without abolishing it, it’s better for all determining the damage endocrine disrupters have of us--we can still retain some of the stability and caused. Killing you on the spot isn’t the only thing consistency we crave as imperfect beings. these poisons can do. A Songwriter’s Primer Creative Anarchism is a concept I’ve been As a gardener I am usually outdoors. I see considering lately as a temporary mechanism to jolt the chemical lawn companies scurrying from one continued from page 18 stagnant systems back to life. Creative anarchists place to the other, and homeowners laying it on thick. take the following pledge (note the order of priority): The latest figures from the EPA show the quantity of They will 1) Act for the common good; 2) Act pesticides used in the non-agricultural sector to be be taken as gospel. However, I’ll leave you with some in a creative spontaneous way; and 3) Don’t ask around 213 million pounds. Homeowners contribute random suggestions. Always be on the lookout for ideas permission. well over 70 million pounds per year and use far that are both profound and accessible, but never let the Creative Anarchism can become a more per acre than agriculture. lack of a great idea get in the way of starting something new. If you don’t know where to start, experiment. Seed mechanism for change without itself becoming yet another institution subject to corruption. It is an idea Into the Garden your mind with the thoughts and words of great writers that contains within itself the needed seeds for self- Snails and slugs are emerging, leaving a trail and thinkers. Expose yourself to great music and art. destruction when it becomes worthless or disloyal to of eaten leaves in their wake. If you see big, irregular Write as often and as long without stopping as possible. its purpose. Creative Anarchism, I contend, fueled pieces taken out of leaves and flowers at this time of You will spew out a lot of junk, but every writer is the American Revolution, and the teachings of Jesus, year, it’s probably the work of these critters. Copper only playing a game of percentages. Even Cole Porter Buddha and Mohammed. All of these movements wire can be used to deter them. Their slime when spawned some stinkers. and leaders followed the three precepts of Creative combined with copper gives them a slight charge, Finally, every fledgling songwriter should Anarchism. and they will change direction quickly. Create a remember something old Mr. Porter himself said many ■ Can I say: Creative Anarchists, unite? Or collar out of wire and place around plants you want years ago. Anything Goes. would that be counter-productive? ■ to protect. Save your egg shells and crush them when Contact John at: Contact Alan at: dry. Create as many small chards as you can. I put [email protected] [email protected] 20

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