The sole casualty of the tornadoes that ripped through Middle TN last week was a man living in a shed outside his house. A tree fell on his domicile, ending his cozy existence inside with “a bed, a couch, and a little entertainment center,” as noted by the Tennessean. (They didn’t say if he was watching “Gone With the Wind” at the time.) “He was a good dude, he had a good heart, he done his own thing to survive,” said the victim’s nephew-in-law. “He didn’t want to be a burden or you or me or nobody.” Well, it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, as they say.
You might think Republican State Senator Stacey Campfield is concerned about keeping kids out of the line of gunfire with his recently filed bill he calls the “Classroom Protection Act.” But Campfield is targeting a much more insidious threat: homosexuality. His measure would bar teachers from discussing the subject in class, and require them to rat to a student’s parents if the child shows signs of fledgling gayness which present “urgent safety issues.” In other words, gays, even though they may not be armed, are dangerous. “The act of homosexuality is very dangerous to someone’s health and safety,” Campfield confirmed, though he didn’t specify which someone. So while some might chafe at conflicted kids having to go back into the cloakroom until high school at least, Campfield is simply trying to restore some good old-fashioned decency to our classrooms, by harking back to the Victorian-era mores that served us so well. Remember “the sin that dare not speak its name?” Next, Campfield plans to introduce a bill to get female teachers to cover up those ankles.
Campfield also wants to implement a measure that would tie welfare payments to how the recipients’ offspring do in school. Good idea. Say $100 a month for each A grade, and payments reduced as performance flags. Those on the dole would then be encouraged to have more kids and to send them to school, thus helping to reverse the increasing dropout rate.
In some actual book-related news, East Side Story bookstore will sponsor an evening of book readings and performances at Rumours East (1112 Woodland St.) on Tuesday, Feb. 19 beginning at 7 p.m. Chuck Beard, owner of East Side Story, hosts the event, which is recorded by WAMB to air on the radio station the next day at 2 p.m. Recordings of the show may also be found on East Side Story’s website, www.eastsidestorytn.com. This event is FREE but space is limited. Reservations (required) may be made by calling Rumours East at 615.262.5346.
Author Kevin Wilson will read from his book, The Family Fang, and be followed by a musical performance by Amanda Shires.
And from Bill Peach in Franklin:
“Our Authors Circle Facebook page now has 60 "official" members. We have tried to invite all of you but I can't remember who is in and who isn't. Please search our page, Authors Circle-Mid TN, and let me know if you would like to be a member. Our membership is open to all--published and aspiring writers, publishers, agents, marketing, or the broader category, readers. Our page has become effective for networking and promoting our writing, our books, and book related events."
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