Esoteric and Pedantic
Obviously,there is something to be said for wanting to speak up, but not having anything to say. To prove that, I am going to talk about a word…esoteric. According to Wiktionary , esoteric is :”1. Having to do with concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application. 2. Understood only by a chosen few or an inner circle. 3. Confidential; private.”
The “E word” plays a role in a story from 10th grade English. We were discussing a story, “The Rocking Horse Winner”, by D.H. Lawrence. The story was, well, boring and obscure, just like most of what I have seen by Mr. Lawrence.
The summer after 10th grade I worked in a movie theater. The ushers wore ghastly yellow uniforms, and saw the movies over and over. When I started, the Lenox Square 2 theater was showing “Women in Love”, based on a novel my D.H. Lawrence. Glenda Jackson copped an oscar for her portrayal of Gudrun Brangwen, and young Larry Kramer was one of the screenwriters. It did not improve my opinion of D.H. Lawrence. If the censors had not touched “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” D.H. Lawrence would be forgotten today.
Back to 10th grade english. We were discussing this wretched story, and a girl raised her hand. Why would any author would write something so esoteric? The teacher had never heard of this word before, and was amazed to hear it.
The Lenox Square 2 theater was a long, slender thing with a small screen. This was in 1970, when the concept of the multiplex had not evolved yet. LS2 was under a grocery store, and when the automatic door openers performed their duty, you could hear the motors in the theater below. The movies the rest of the summer were Fellini Satyricon, The Christine Jorgenson Story, and The Landlord.
Back to esoteric…or did I ever go away? Before you can understand esoteric, you must plumb the depths of pedantic. “1. Like a pedant, overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning. 2. Being showy of one’s knowledge, often in a boring manner. 3. Often used to describe a person who emphasizes his/her knowledge through the use of vocabulary; ostentatious in one’s learning. 4. Being finicky or picky with language.” Pedantic is an adjective that describes itself. This repost has pictures from “The Special Collections and Archives Georgia State University Library”.
The Deadliest Interstate In America
Someone has put together an internet feature, The 10 deadliest interstates in America, mapped. To the surprise of nobody, either ITP or OTP, the winner is I-285. “Stretching a little under 75 miles in Georgia, I-285 had 26 fatal accidents in 2013.” Actually, the Perimeter Highway runs 62 miles, so the margin of victory may be even greater.
The study was based on fatal accidents in 2013. 32,719 people met their maker in automobile accidents that year. The majority was on surface roads. For the sake of handy analysis, Interstates were chosen for this study. The rankings were based on the number of accidents per mile. Most of the roads in the top ten were “beltways” and spur roads. I-4 in Florida is the only state wide freeway to make the honor roll. The report is based on information from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS.) Statistic geeks should exercise caution when accessing this site.
Here is the top ten. 1. I-285, Georgia, 2. I-710, California, 3. I-240, Oklahoma, 4. I-495, Delaware, 5. I-240, Tennessee, 6. I-295, Florida, 7. I-410, Texas, 8. I-610, Texas, 9. I-4, Florida, 10. I-215, California. Texas, California, and Florida were the three bloodiest states.
There is a graphic, showing where the I-285 accidents occurred. Some hot spots include the areas around I-20 west, Hwy 400, and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Despite the bad reputation of Cobb County drivers, relatively few fatal Perimeter accidents occurred in the Big Chicken county.
The award winning performance by I-285 comes as little surprise to many in the metro area. It was originally intended to be a low traffic bypass for people going to Florida. As the metro area has grown, the Perimeter highway has become a heavily used thoroughfare. Interstate trucks are required to use the Perimeter when they go through the area. Several of the interchanges have been upgraded, with the infamous Spaghetti Junction taking a prize. You are known to be taking your life in your hands when you travel on I-285. However, it is essentially the only way to navigate many journeys.
Pictures today are from The Library of Congress.
#OP_KKK Part Two
The “official” data dump on the KKK has hit the ether. Anonymous promised the material at 10 am CST Thursday. It was five and one half hours late, which led to speculation that @Operation_KKK’s #OpKKK Exposed: ‘Anonymous’ was Geraldo the Whole Time!.
In any event, it is here, and less sensational than the widely discredited politician breakdown earlier this week. There are some who still believe that the earlier data dump was real. Some people are very gullible when it comes to fighting racism. Anonymous does not help by including a famous grand dragon, Calvin Craig, who died in 1998. Louisiana celebrity David Duke is also on the list.
The information on the list seems to have been collected through common sense browsing. Many of the facebook peeps shown seem to be proud of being idiots. Others outed themselves in chat rooms and forums. As the report says, “You never know who you are talking to on the internet”.
PG has been clicking on some of the facebook pages. Some of them are amusing. Here are a few highlights. This digest will continue until it gets too long, which probably won’t take too long. (One hour later) This is not that much fun. The names are in alphabetical first name order. After going through the J names, these are the only text items. There are dozens of memes, many of which feature stars and bars, Jesus, Obama, expressions of white pride, and paranoia. It can be discouraging. If you want to look for yourself, there is a link above to the report.
woman Baby I love this picture of you you’re so sexy… man Lmwao woman Not funny!! And before you ask… No baby I have not smoked crack today! Lmmfao *wink emoticon* man Crack head. woman I am not!! man Lmwao
Arianna Wolfe I try to give some ppl the benefit of a doubt when I accept friend requests….. but when I look at what your about I see a lot of men are not true aryan but just womanizing druggies or drunks that act so much like our enemy’s that all that separates you from them is skin color
Chase N Graceland (from report) Buford Forest AKA Don Hall AKA Chase N Graceland East Coast Knights Elvis Impersonator (lulz) Says he does not have enough money to pay his klan dues so he is not a member (In the klan, you pay up or youre not a member) However, he may be a member of Confederate White Knights (out of Maryland) Interesting Fact: 3 or 4 different Elvis impersonators have tried to join the klan. Creepy.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Are My Attitudes About Race Any Of Your Business?
PG was living his life when see saw something on facebook: “And another thing: if you are going to claim NOT to be racist, I feel like you should familiarize yourself with some contemporary writings and definitions of racism, not just what Mirriam Webster says.” The first reaction was to ignore this. If you reply to a comment about racism on facebook, you are asking for trouble. Life is too short to be wasting time on such unpleasantness.
But the thought engine had been kickstarted, and continued to idle in the background. When PG pulled into the Kroger parking lot, the idea hit full force. Maybe whether you are, or are not, a racist, is no one else’s business.
Some people say that a PWOC is not affected by racism. If this is the case, then why should the racial attitudes of a PWOC affect another PWOC? If a person treats you fairly, do you really need to know this person’s attitudes about race?
The fbf ex-fbf does not say what the context of this claim is. Did anyone ask you whether or not you were a racist? If not, are you assuming that they are interested? Maybe someone assumed the listener was interested. Maybe the proper response to look bored, and say TMI.
PG was filling out a profile once, and was using some questioned borrowed from another blog profile. One of the questions was, are you a racist? “It depends on who is doing the judging”.
The comment mentioned “contemporary writings and definitions of racism”. Who are the people who set themselves up as arbiters about what we should think about race? What are the qualifications? Who asked them what they thought? How do we know that these people are dependable?.
Maybe the answer is to show compassion and kindness to your neighbor, and don’t judge them about their racial attitudes. If you are proud of your racial attitudes, please refrain from boasting. Not everyone is interested. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
#OPKKK
PG was minding his business when he stumbled onto a tweet. @neonflag This number on Anonymous’ KKK data dump jumped out at me: 770-499-4633. That’s the Cobb County Sheriff. #gapol. While the Cobb County Sheriff is not beyond suspicion, it seemed odd to think of a government office as being a KKK member.
There had been rumors. Anonymous was going to release the names of KKK members. The people wearing Guy Fawkes masks were going to expose the people wearing bedsheet hoods. Twitter nation was abuzz with excitement…lets expose the racists. PG was concerned about collateral damage, about innocent people being dragged into the mess. And now it was happening.
They’re publishing their data there. In addition to the phone numbers, there were email addresses, many with .ru addresses. There was also a list of politicians. There were lurid articles, like Racists Panic As Anonymous Starts Releasing Details Of KKK Members.
Included on this list was Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson. A conservative Republican that many would not want to defend, Sen. Isakson had been in real estate before he ran for election. This is an image conscious business, that would not lend itself to bedsheet wearing. Nonetheless, facebook was soon crowded with people calling for the resignation of Senator Isakson.
Before long, common sense began to creep in. If You Really Think Four Republican Senators Are in the KKK, You’re a Fool. Relax: #OpKKK Did Not Release Info Linking Elected Officials To The KKK. One division of the hydra headed anonymous tried to back away from another. @Operation_KKK
This account has NOT YET released any information. We believe in due diligence and will NOT recklessly involve innocent individuals #OpKKK .
Several questions remain. How will we know who to believe? Was the preliminary *data dump* a false flag operation, designed to damage anonymous credibility? Why are they worried about the KKK? Is genuine evil flourishing while America chases bedsheets?
Despite it’s fierce reputation as a “racist terrorist” organization, the KKK is in bad shape. It has less credibility than the Westboro Baptist Church. The custom of wearing bedsheets makes them the easy target for jokes. The Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center say the membership of the KKK is dwindling.
A good argument could be made that anonymous publicity is helping the KKK. It makes bedsheets look dangerous. While the three digital stooges of anonymous/facebook/twitter are focused on bedsheets, more dangerous white (and other color) hate groups are operating in darkness. With people fascinated with who is under the bedsheets, people that can do damage are buying ammunition, and buying elections. Pictures today are from The Library of Congress.
Recreational $nark
Opinions are like assholes… everyone has theirs down there. They’re a part of life. The concept of scientific proof for opinions complicates matters. The use of malignant mischaracterizations, snide permission, and preferred pronoun privilege will help, to finance the unicorn ranch Bernie has promised to build. ~ Amy Vanderbilt said not to jump out of a window. ~ A pineapple is a symbol of hospitality. ~ ‘Modern Girl’ Carrie Brownstein Describes Finding (And Hiding) Herself In Music ~ music ~ Don’t Be a Racist for Halloween – Here’s Why Cultures Aren’t Costumes ~ reddit ~ 8 Sneaky Racial Code Words and Why Politicians Love Them ~ Which companies bankroll the candidates? ~ make galileo look just like a boy scout ~ I Don’t Discuss Racism With White People ~ A better title for this piece might be “10 signs that you are an asshole.” Most jerks (the term I prefer) don’t need a reason. ~ Instead of insulting a useful body part, why don’t we call unpleasant people “Trumps” ~ @LibtardLimbaugh Rush Limbaugh’s Libtard Brother From Another Mother & Proud Left Wing Nut Job ~ Politics is the entertainment division of the military industrial complex ~ The primary will be the only time people in Georgia have a vote. The electoral college effectively takes our vote away in November. It is interesting that none of the candidates are calling for reform of the way we choose the POTUS. ~ I realize that campaigning for political office requires money. My comment was a bit of recreational $nark. B$ can take a joke. Which is a good thing, because he is too ugly to fuck ~ “The alternative to grassroots support is a country run by wealthy interests.” I am not sure about that comparison. Hitlery can make more in one corporate blowjob than BS can in a month of grass roots support. BHO did not get a billion dollars for his reelection from five dollar contributions. While the concept of grassroots support is uplifting, the sordid reality is that we live in a bribe-ocracy ~ Johnny Ayahuasca @RealJohnnyAyaOn a Shamanic path. Minimalism, Ayahuasca DMT, machine elves, Consciousness, Synchronicity, Comedy, personal transformation ~ The secret of being a good leader is to have good players with you. ~ I. Ognib is a fine fellow. ~ Is this where the Ramones got their name? ~ No, Your Hardships Don’t Erase Your White Privilege ~ pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. ~ selah
Save the Date
It is a magic moment when you find fresh product from an author you enjoy. One day at the Chamblee library, PG found Save the Date, by Mary Kay Andrews. Those who snicker that this is a woman’s book can skip over the rest of this book report. The pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Cara is a yankee transplant with an unpronounceable name. We never learn if this handle is shared with her ornery father, or a souvenir of marriage to “Leo.” Cara runs a flower shop in Savannah’s historic district. STD … the initials for this book … has lots of “local color,” but few people of color. There is a gay character, who plays (not always wisely) a crucial role in the story.
The flower business has issues. Cara is branching into wedding planning, and has a big budget do that will allow her to pay off debts, and deal with more headaches. One the day of one wedding, Cara’s dog Poppy gets out. By a bizarre coincidence, a man has a similar dog missing, and takes Poppy home. Cara sees this, and an ugly scene ensues. Astute novel readers know that the dognapper is going to be Cara’s boyfriend. They kiss on page 148, and spend the night a hundred pages later.
That night’s wedding is for the brother of the dognapper. The next day, Shaz, the missing dognapper pooch, shows up, and Poppy goes back to Cara. The ac in Cara’s shop, Bloom, is not working, which is a serious problem in Savannah. This leads to a series of events which draw the dognapper, Jack, into Cara’s arms, and then drives them apart. Some of the plot twists, while highly entertaining, are tough to believe. You knew reading this was a dangerous game when you agreed to play.
This suspension of disbelief goes too far at Loblolly. That is a family home on Cumberland Island. Bride With Issues gets mad, and goes AWOL. Cara, seeing a big payday vanishing, sends BWI a text, and finds out where she is. Cara packs a bag, drives to St. Marys, and gets on the morning ferry to Cumberland Island. Cara rents a bike, and finds out where Loblolly was, before they tore it down.
Loblolly used to be on the west side of Dungeness, a bit south of Sea Camp. All that is left is a treehouse. BWI is sitting in this tree house, having sent a text to her boss quitting her job. BWI does not know what she wants to do. Cara convinces BWI to call her family, and let them know what she has done. After all this, Cara gets back to the Sea Camp dock in time to catch the afternoon ferry. PG is a Cumberland Island veteran, and finds that story beyond preposterous.
STD goes on for 433 pages, which is not a problem. While the story is not believable, it is highly entertaining. Cara has more bad days than Bernie Sander’s hairstylist. While STD has a happy ending, we don’t know how she got out of a few of those messes. Maybe there is going to be a part two.
Chamblee54 
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