Don’t Tread On Me
Sometimes these stories write themselves. This one began with a tweet. @NotShaunKing “SJWs are now more offended by the Gadsen and Confederate flag, than the ISIS flag. Nice job, people!” The “Gadsen Flag” is the Revolutionary War banner. A coiled rattlesnake rests above the phrase “Don’t Tread on me.” It is a staple of American history.
Supposedly, someone is making a federal case out of wearing DTOM in the workplace. The google search shows stories by Fox News, and The Blaze. The slightly more reputable Washington Post has an article, Wearing ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ insignia could be punishable racial harassment.
“Here’s an excerpt from Shelton D. [pseudonym] v. Brennan, 2016 WL 3361228, decided by the EEOC two months ago: On January 8, 2014, Complainant filed a formal complaint in which he alleged that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the basis of race (African American) and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when, starting in the fall of 2013, a coworker (C1) repeatedly wore a cap to work with an insignia of the Gadsden Flag, which depicts a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me.” Complainant stated that he found the cap to be racially offensive to African Americans because the flag was designed by Christopher Gadsden, a “slave trader & owner of slaves.”
PG read that, and began to think. This is never a good omen. If Christopher Gadsen was a slave owner, then what about Betsy Ross?
Elizabeth Griscom Ross is, according to legend, the seamstress who created the stars and stripes. The story is disputed. For this sake of this blog post, lets assume that the legend is real. Betsy Ross created the American Flag, albeit with thirteen stars. Did she own slaves?
One internet forum raises the question, Did Betsy Ross have a slave? “no, Betsy ross did not have a slave. RE: Her husband had slaves though ” Could women own property in 18th century America? Who knows? Bear in mind, this is an undocumented internet forum. As is the next story.
“Have you ever heard Betsy Ross had children by her African slaves and was shunned by the Quakers because of it? Betsy Ross was widowed three times, and I have heard that since she knew how white men were having children by African women to increase their slave population, she decided to do the same. … Betsy Ross had children by her male slaves to increase her slave popuplation (and in essence, her property value).”
FWIW, Betsy, (January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836,) was indeed married three times. The lucky men were John Ross (m. 1773–1776,) Joseph Ashburn (m. 1777–1782,) and John Claypoole (m. 1783–1817.) In both cases, she was remarried the next year. If she did take a slave baby daddy, she was very efficient. Maybe the husbands were understanding.
Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. The Atlanta Crackers played ball until 1965.
Trump or Jesus?
There is a facebook thingie this morning, Trump or Jesus? When creating the document for this feature, windows decided not to *save* the document with the T 0r J title. That is an omen.
The idea is simple. You get a quote, in contemporary english. You choose whether it was said by Jesus, or Trump. Jesus is in a blue box, while Trump is red. White letters are used for both choices. Those who think Christ is the last name will be confused.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5.
“My IQ is one of the highest… Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure; it’s not your fault.” source
“You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young, and beautiful, piece of ass.” source
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34.
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39
“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, okay?” source
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Matthew 19:20
“The point is that you can’t be too greedy.” source
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” John 13:34
“The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families.” source
This is not a tough test. It is even easier here, with Bible verses for one, and links for another. Jesus did not tweet. The media, IQ, and Terrorist are modern phrases. (There is evidence that the phrase terrorist was coined by the Jewish rebels fighting to create the state of Israel. Ben Hecht wrote a fund raising ad, Letter to the Terrorists of Palestine. It “appeared on page 42 of the May 14, 1947 edition of the New York Post.”)
We do not know what translation was used in this test. Jesus spoke Aramaic, which was recorded in Greek, and endlessly translated. There are stories of editing by the Catholic church. Many scholars question the validity of some Gospels, especially John. While Jesus may have said something like these verses, they are not verbatim quotes.
Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
National Poetry Slam
PG thought he could help out by volunteering for the National Poetry Slam. The 2016 edition is in Decatur GA, just a few dozen red lights down Clairmont Road. Three shifts were involved. They ranged from boring, to enjoyable, to busy/enjoyable, to excruciating.
The first day was registration. There was nothing to do, except sit behind a table, hand t-shirts to people, and point out the “money lady.” Eventually, there were a couple of chats to listen in on, and an urban explorer to compare notes with. Later was volunteer orientation, which was about as interesting as you might expect.
For some reason, PG volunteered to take on another shift. It was for a “Daytime Performing Venue.” PG went to the library, then to the hotel. He saw a schedule. The event was “Rookie Showcase,” held at the dependable Java Monkey.
The poets performed in an open mic format. It was the usual OM assortment, perhaps a touch better than Java Monkey Speaks. One lady talked about the joys (?) of motherhood. A couple of men talked about dealing with G-d. All PG had to do was be there, set up chairs, and pick up chairs when the event was over. It was a pleasant enough way to spend the morning.
The third day was general support at Afternoon events. At one o’clock, the event was “Head 2 Head Haiku.” People were paired off, the green performer and the blue performer. They read a haiku, and the judges held up a green, or blue glow stick, to indicate the winner. Whoever won that round moved into the next round, against another winner. It goes on until one person wins.
The host put PG to work. Working from a list of names, PG copied the names on slips of paper, to be drawn out of a hat. Next, the names were written on postit notes, to be stuck on the wall. After a round, the winner’s postit goes to the next round, and the loser goes on the table.
After a brief intermission, the second event was “Black Poets Speak Out.” A series of poets stood on the stage, and shouted. They were concerned about people being killed, mostly by policemen. After the third performer shouted that “we are in a post racial america, with a black overseer,” PG decided not to endure the toxic rhetoric.
Wednesday morning, four miles south of the Decatur library, 15 year old Keaira Palmer went to the S&N Superette on Glenwood Road. “She was just supposed to be going to the store to get a Sprite, a bag of hot chips and a Slim Jim.” Someone else drove by the store, and started shooting. None of the black poets spoke out about this incident. At least, not before PG left.
Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
The End Of Racism
One of the touted TED talks in the weekly email is Color blind or color brave? It is by Mellody Hobson, a POC in the investment business. It is the standard call to talk more about race. Talk, talk, talk, and talk some more. The word listen is not used.
At the 3:13 mark, Mrs. Hobson makes a remarkable statement. “Now I know there are people out there who will say that the election of Barack Obama meant that it was the end of racial discrimination for all eternity, right?” It is possible that someone has said that. There are also people who say the earth is flat.
PG asked Mr. Google about this. The top two results are about the TED talk. The third result is an article in Forbes magazine, Racism In America Is Over. It is written by John McWhorter, one of the “black guys at Bloggingheads.tv.” Dr. McWhorter does say racism is over, sort of. The problems that remain are a lot worse. Too much food for thought, for a population with intellectual bulimia.
There is a quote in the Forbes article that is pure gold. “When decrying racism opens no door and teaches no skill, it becomes a schoolroom tattletale affair. It is unworthy of all of us: “He’s just a racist” intoned like “nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!””
There are a lot more results. PG is getting tired of looking. If you want to see for yourself, google “the election of Barack Obama meant that it was the end of racial discrimination for all eternity.” Except for a rogue title editor at Forbes, almost nobody has said that. This is a repost. Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Wawa on Walnut Street
OPRAH: other people’s racial attitudes hello ~ @HLMenckenBot God’s worst failure came when He sent His Son to rescue man from sin. It’s hard to imagine any scheme falling further from success. ~ November 9 cannot get here soon enough ~ Monica Lewinski taught him how to inhale ~ I have a problem with the custom of “unfriending” people because of a difference in opinions. ~ @ChArmistead Most authentic Philly moment of the #DNC2016, Apparently Sean Hannity showed up at the Wawa on Walnut Street, and was booed out of the store @ChArmistead Heard this on morning show this AM. Caller sounded legit, but you never know I guess. ~ Someone bought 10 chicken mcnuggets at the McDonalds at 4010 Peachtree Road. It was paid for with amex…1005. The consumer threw the empty mcnugget package, two opened containers of bbq sauce, and a few napkins away on Caldwell Road. ~ the difference between the catholic and protestant version of the lord’s prayer ~ Warren Harding drank, gambled and womanized. Maybe you can be a Warren Harding Republican. ~ If you ever do find it let me know ~ Thank you for this. I am connected to a *radical* community. I have known people who appear to be cis-males, but say they “identify as trans.” I find this to be puzzling. There is a lot of information about this that should be made more available. One problem I have is that some of these IAT (identify as trans) people are assholes.I am only marginally interested in their genitalia. I TOTALLY am not attracted to this person. However, this person says they IAT, without a word of explanation. Asking them what they mean by this is seen as rude, or trans phobic. This attitude seems more than a little bit arrogant. I suspect that transitioning is a process. Ben seems to be at a certain stage. It would be interesting to do a follow up interview in a few years, and see how Ben is progressing. You did not ask Ben what the preferred pronouns are. This is a basic cis-relating-to-genderqueer step. Fortunately, Ben has a short name, and so the use of pronouns is less appealing. G-d forbid you should use the wrong pronoun. If you ever have a run in with the pronoun police, you will nor forget it. ~ @docrocktex26 Wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Doctor. Christian. Longhorn. Liberal. Democrat. Activist. Scorpio. Recycler. Politics Junkie. Proverbial Firestarter. ~ this may be the best endorsment yet @natsecHeather worked for #HillaryClinton & says she is not an asshole ~ Apparently, the al-gore-rhythms agree. This is the “top story” 34 hours later. ~ #FakeIceCreamKnowledge ~ Sean Archilles ~ Stef’An Strawder ~ Man shot, killed in argument outside gas station ~ Bryce McCallum ~ Journey Jones ~ Gloria Starr-Armour ~ Antonio Gray ~ Robert Troy Phillips, Heather Phillips ~ Girl, 14, shot at party in DeKalb County; ~ Police: Homeowner shoots, kills break-in suspect ~ Man found shot to death behind daycare. ~ The False Promise of a ‘Conversation’ About Race ~ White fragility is real: 4 questions white people should ask themselves during discussions about race ~ Have a Problem With Black-Only Spaces? Get Over It ~ György Ligeti (1923-2006) ~ Hannity Smacks Down ‘Total Lie’ That He Was Booed at a Wawa ~ Someone bought 10 chicken mcnuggets at the McDonalds at 4010 Peachtree Road. It was paid for with amex…1005. The consumer threw the empty mcnugget package, two opened containers of bbq sauce, and a few napkins away on Caldwell Road. ~ Were any termites offended by the remarks? ~ Marilyn Mosby speaks out on Freddie Gray case decision ~ Trial of Van Driver in Freddie Gray Case Reveals Prosecutor Violations ~ 7 Actual Facts That Prove White Privilege Exists in America ~ Black Lives Matter Just Delivered Their 10 Point Manifesto, and This Is What They Want ~ Bryce McCallum ,Journey Jones, Gloria Starr-Armour ,Antonio Gray, These are four POC shot to death in the Atlanta area this week #saythenames Did #blackbrunchatl remember these four lives? ~ pictures from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. ~ selah
Hanky Panky
Pence is another Cheney, designed to be in charge, while Trump is the Bush/trojan horse, designated to win the election ~ Ryan O’Neil was a horrible casting decision. ~ d for dick @okmariIyn why send nudes when u can send me dogs??? ~ @dasvons @EricaJong It’s 2016. Our president is black. we should be better than screaming racist every time we see something we don’t like ~ did you spell Pterodactyl without spell check? ~ Account suspended This account has been suspended. Learn more about why Twitter suspends accounts, or return to your timeline. ~ Home Improvement Project Person In Excess ~ The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Polygon as an organization. ~ is “vermin harborage” rodents in the kitchen or humans in the dining room? ~ Are you talking about Republicans,or BLM? I think you mean Republicans. The trouble is, a lot of those items apply to BLM as well. ~ Nothing says Summer Reading like one of my books ~ I can offer three more. A Health crisis for Hillary Clinton. Alienating white voters by screaming racist too often. Choosing an idiot as Vice President. An economic meltdown ~ @VeryShortStory Standing in front of you, I protected you from the gunman, but as the bullet approached, I saw it had your name on it, and stepped aside. ~ those who like to call out others do not like to be called out ~ I don’t know. Extra marital hanky panky did not hurt Bill Clinton or Jesse Jackson. Granted, they did not *play* as wildly as DJT. On the other hand, two-wrongs-make-a-right rhetoric is out of control for both liberals and conservatives, white and black, police and BLM, and any other competing identity groups that engage in questionable logic to make their point. ~ like thrift store, where you wade through mountains of garbage only to find a few gems ~ “My point here is, first, the Constitution is, according to its reading, an anti-slavery document; and, secondly, to dissolve the Union, as a means to abolish slavery, is about as wise as it would be to burn up this city, in order to get the thieves out of it. But again, we hear the motto, ‘no union with slave-holders;’ and I answer it, as the noble champion of liberty, N. P. Rogers, answered it with a more sensible motto, namely—’No union with slave-holding.’ I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong.” Six years after he said this, the Union was dissolved. ” ~ The staged politi-drama between Hitlery and Orange Jesus compares to the struggle over slavery like …. ~ @The_Saunatarian ~ as anyone ever asked Hillary if she has had an abortion? ~ this post wins the overheated purple prose award for the next Warholian fifteen minutes ~ Do you know what your problem is? You enjoy telling other people what their problem is. ~ more overblown adjective abuse per square inch than anything this side of ~ 6 ways djt could win: 1-HRC health issues 2-economic meltdown 3- war 4- terror attack 5- electoral college misfire 6- hurricane season ~ You gave a monolog a few years ago, “Pink Taffeta.” You said that the people who once told you to stand up, and speak up, now tell you to sit down and be quiet. Maybe you should dig up that dress, and make a video of this post. ~ The man in Gassaway Tennessee said he was breathing, for sure … spell check suggestion for Gassaway is Passageway ~ observing the difference between there and their is not oppression ~ Can I get to touch your butt because of good intentions? ~ 1 @EWErickson at 615pm you said you had a quote that would offend liberals i listened to 15 minutes of news/traffic/commercials 2 @EWErickson 10 minutes of you talking and never did hear the quote i gave up when i arrived at dinner ~ Not only should you not plagiarize, you should show a source for your information. According to my English 102 teacher, this is a form of plagiarism. Saying “google it” does not work. ~ Milo is no angel I suspect this suspension is more for past performances – @gopackjo one tweet said to support lesdogg by seeing ghostbusters – i suspect is what this is really all about … movie promotion ~ How To Protect Your Watermelon Farm ~ @mbsycamore 1 in feb 1992 ga gov zell miller introduced bill clinton at a campaign rally afterwards, “zig zag zell” was talking to someone @mbsycamore 2 said clinton was sure to win ga primary someone said hypothetically what if he doesn’t win zig zag zell said hypothetical @mbsycamore 3 does not exist hypothetically if my uncle was a woman he would be my aunt. ~ Knowing the difference between there and their is not oppression. ~ Not everyone has the luxury.~ This whole escapade seems to be an orchestrated effort to promote a movie. @Lesdogg is probably hanging out with Milo at the hair salon now, laughing at how gullbile everybody is. ~ An 18-Hour Playlist of Readings by the Beats: Kerouac, Ginsberg & Even Bukowski Too ~ Leslie Jones Is Shining A Light On A Major Problem With Twitter ~ Misogynoir: where racism and sexism meet ~ grammar troll ~ Leslie Jones’ Twitter abuse is a deliberate campaign of hate ~ Twitter Just Permanently Suspended Conservative Writer Milo Yiannopoulos ~ @Lesdoggg ~ Milo Suspended Permanently by Twitter Minutes Before ‘Gays For Trump’ Party At RNC ~ Leslie Jones’ Tweets on Monday Night Were a Powerful Response to an Insane Torrent of Hate ~ Leslie Jones Defends Her ‘Ghostbusters’ Character After Racial Controversy Arises Over New Trailer ~ jones ~ 1937.” ~ ‘Ghostbusters’ star Leslie Jones flees social media after racist trolls repeatedly call her an ‘ape’ ~ any large social movement is going to bring out psychopaths ~ Milo Yiannopoulos Has Been Permanently Suspended from Twitter ~ video ~ Police Kill Too Many People—White and Black ~ Reducing police-involved shooting & “The List” ~ Passing for Politics ~ Atlanta mayor rejects demand to end Israel police training ~ Exposed: Years-long effort to blame Israel for U.S. police shootings of blacks ~ Brookhaven Police Department ~ “Deputy Chief Juan Grullon, Jr., ~ terror ~ “In Washington D.C. ~ Father: Son killed shielding teens from gunfire at house party ~ 15 things cops wish the public knew about policing ~ Two white women launch ‘White Nonsense Roundup’ to unburden people of color ~ milo gets down ~ The promotion of that movie ~ Library of Congress. ~ your white cisgender boyfriend can’t save you from the end of the world ~ Why Grammar Snobbery Has No Place in the Movement ~ pictures for this monday morning perversion excursion are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. ~ selah ~
Grammar Oppression
An MF writer (Melissa A. Fabello) at Everyday Feminism chimes in today with Why Grammar Snobbery Has No Place in the Movement. She means a social justice movement, not a bowel movement. The two movements have a similar aroma.
With more and more people using written english, there are more grammar mistakes. Some people enjoy pointing these out. The EF post says that such behavior is elitist, privileged, and yes, racist. The distinction between written, and spoken, is not made.
“So, if a person wrote a Facebook comment that said “That their was an example of cissexism,” a prescriptive grammarian might comment back, “I think you mean ‘there,’” and a descriptive grammarian might respond, “You understood what they meant.” And while both schools are accepted forms of linguistic thought, it’s important to note that any time we create a hierarchy by positioning one thing as “better” than another, we’re being oppressive.” (“That there” sounds clumsy and ignorant, even using the correct “there.”)
“Ghanaian blogger Delalorm Semabia, in a conversation about the eradication of “the Queen’s English” in Ghana, explained, “The idea that intelligence is linked to English pronunciation is a legacy from colonial thinking.” And this is precisely where we need to start this conversation. As educated (and – okay – snarky) activists, we’re quick to respond to “According to the dictionary” arguments with “Who wrote the dictionary, though?” We understand that a reference guide created by a white supremacist, heteropatriarchal system does nothing but uphold that status quo. Similarly, we have to use that line of thinking when talking about the English language: Who created the rules? And who benefits from them? As per usual, what this comes down to is an issue of privilege (of course!). In fact, grammar snobbery comes down to an intersection of multiple privileges.
…You’ve probably never given much thought to this, aside perhaps from believing that you speak “correctly” and that everyone else who speaks a different type of English than you do speaks the language “wrong.” And perhaps you’ve noticed how often “those people” are people of color. And we (as a society) denounce any form of the language that isn’t “white” enough. Umm, that’s racist.”
English is a living, evolving language. Spoken english changes faster than written english. The written form, devoid of vocal inflection and facial expressions, is more dependent on rules of grammar to communicate.
As different people use english, they develop different ways of speaking. Many of the phrases that are common today began as slang in ethnic populations. As time goes on, these phrases become accepted as standard english. (Some see this use of “other culture’s expressions” as cultural appropriation. PG is neutral in that debate.)
The rules for written english are slower to change. At what point do we criticize the grammar of others? It can be a useful rhetorical tactic, along with -splaning what the person really meant. Or do we just accept that some people are not privileged enough to use good grammar? (There is a certain condescension in excusing the bad grammar of others because of their background. “Oh, they can’t help not knowing that, because they is a poor oppressed POC.”)
In the list of grammar nazi privileges, MF quotes Kurt Vonnegut. PG likes to research quotes, and found a reddit page about the passage. The full quote (MF only used one sentence.) “First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college. And I realize some of you may be having trouble deciding whether I am kidding or not. So from now on I will tell you when I’m kidding.” And yes, Kurt Vonnegut does use semicolons in his work.
Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. “Photographs taken at a horse show in Atlanta, Georgia, 1937.” UPDATE: There was an twitter exchange with the person who tweeted about the article: Knowing the difference between there and their is not oppression. ~ Not everyone has the luxury.
Monroe Drive or Boulevard
It is an Atlanta cliche. Boulevard turns into Monroe Drive because one was black, and the other white. The white people did not want to live on a street with the same name as the black neighborhood. You hear this all the time, with very little explanation. It is plausible. At one time, Ponce de Leon Avenue was a dividing line between the white, and black, neighborhoods. There are, however, a few questions about this name change business.
In the space between I-85 and Dekalb County, there are four streets that change names when they cross Ponce De Leon Avenue. These are Juniper/Courtland, Charles Allen/Parkway, Monroe/Boulevard, and Briarcliff/Moreland. Several streets cross Ponce without changing names, including Spring Street, Peachtree Street, Piedmont Avenue, and North Highland Avenue.
Four thoroughfares are affected by the Ponce rebranding. Juniper/Courtland is mostly commercial, at least south of Ponce. Briarcliff/Moreland is mostly white until you get to the railroad tracks south of Little Five Points. When Moreland Avenue goes under the MARTA line, the neighborhood is Reynoldstown….which was not named for Burt Reynolds.
Charles Allen/Parkway does change from white to black at Ponce. The street name then changes to Jackson Street, the original name, at Highland Avenue. Monroe/Boulevard also goes from white to black at Ponce. However, when you cross the railroad tracks, Boulevard goes through Cabbagetown, a white neighborhood. Boulevard residents change color several times before the road dead ends at the Federal Prison. Oakland Cemetery, and Zoo Atlanta, do not play a role in this drama.
If this litany of street names is boring, it is all right to skip over the text. The pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Roads change names all over the metro area, for a variety of reasons. In the area between Ponce De Leon Avenue and I 20, there are roads that change at railroad tracks (North Highland/Highland, Krog/Estoria.) Others change at Highland Avenue (Parkway/Jackson, Glen Iris/Randolph) or Decatur Street (Hilliard/Grant, Bell/Hill.) Some of these changes are racially motivated, while others are not. Some make sense, while most do not.
No one seems to know when this Monroe/Boulevard thing happened. An 1892 “Bird’s eye view” shows Boulevard sailing off into the horizon, past a racetrack in today’s Piedmont Park. A 1911 map shows Boulevard starting near “L.P. Grant Park,” and sailing past Ponce up to Piedmont Park. A 1940 map shows Boulevard going past Park Drive, only to turn into Monroe Drive at Montgomery Ferry Road. Finally, a 1969 map of “Negro Residential Areas” shows Monroe Drive changing into Boulevard at Ponce De Leon Avenue, like it is today. Boulevard is a stand alone street name at all times.
If anyone knows about this name change business, please leave a comment. It would be interesting to know when these changes were made, and what government agency made them. Google has not been helpful, except for pointing the way to several map collections.
How To Live In Atlanta
Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina. All directions start with, ‘Go down Peachtree’ and include the phrase, ‘When you see the Waffle House’. ’Except in Mayretta , where all directions begin with, “Go to the Big Chicken”
Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with: Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Road, Peachtree Terrace, Peachtree Avenue, Peachtree Battle Road, Peachtree Corners, New Peachtree, Old Peachtree, West Peachtree, or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions, they will always send you down Peachtree.
Only a native of Atlanta can pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue, so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation is ‘pawntz duh LEE-awn.’ There is a street named simply, ‘Boulevard.’It becomes Monroe Drive when you cross Ponce de Leon.
The 8 am rush hour is from 6:30 to 10:30 AM. The 5 pm rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday afternoon and lasts through 2 am Saturday. The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days. It’s on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.
I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta, has a posted speed limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from getting run over.) It is known as The Perimeter, and the Watermelon 500. In Atlanta you are either ITP (Inside the Perimeter) or OTP (Outside the Perimeter). ITP and OTP people are wary of each other. Don’t believe the directional markers on highways: I-285 is marked East and West but you may be going North or South. The locals identify the direction by referring to the ‘Inner Loop’ and the ‘Outer Loop. Some call the whole dern thing “The Fruit Loop.”
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia, plus a couple no one has seen before. If it grows, it sticks. If it crawls, it bites. If you notice a vine trying to wrap itself around your leg, you have about 20 seconds to escape, before you are completely captured and covered with Kudzu. It’s not a shopping cart, it’s a buggy. ‘Fixinto’ is one word (I’m fixinto go to the store.) Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you’re 2 years old. ’Jeet?’ is actually a phrase meaning ‘Did you eat?’ ’Momma-nem’ means: How’s Mother and all of the other children and other members of the family doing.
This was written by someone else. Pictures for this entertainment are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. A typical caption: “Member of the Georgia Press Association, during their 51st annual convention, in Adel, Georgia, September 15-18, 1937.”
#PiedmontParkHanging Part Two
Last week, an apparent suicide was found in Piedmont Park. Soon, the twitter people were in an uproar. Rumors were spreading at the speed of light. People said that it was a lynching, and that the KKK held a rally in the park the day before. Others said the klan was handing out flyers.
At first, the corporate media was quiet. WSB TV tweeted we do not report suicides. There are sound reasons for this. Copycat suicides… a depressed person deciding to take their life, after hearing about another person taking this step … is a problem. There is also the decent consideration of privacy. If a person is in such a bad way that they want to take their life, the corporate media should allow them a measure of peace. There are other stories to report.
The name of the young man has been released. Apparently, there were health issues, and a family that did not accept him. The medical examiner reports evidence indicating a suicide, with no sign of foul play. The FBI agrees with the APD… this was not a lynching.
One of the more striking rumors was that the park was a known meet-up spot for the infamous hate group. This referred to the KKK. Most Atlanta residents find the idea of KKK rallies in the park to be absurd. And yet, people swallowed these rumors without a shred of supporting evidence. If someone says so on twitter, then it must be true.
Maybe the young man can find peace now. It is a shame that his tragic death has become the center of a circus. The gossip mongers can find another tragedy to exploit. Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Olive Garden Banned Me
There are four kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, statistics, and history. ~ reality leaves a lot to the imagination ~ strong evidence for de-evolution is the popularity of @MattWalshBlog ~ @LizHackett You’re an adult. Stop hashtagging full sentences on Facebook. ~ @bitchywaiter Oh, no. It looks as if Olive Garden has banned me from their page… ~ Our legal system is not designed to bring out the truth. This is a misconception. It is people playing their roles in persueing what their best interests are ~ A gimmick to get your attention. Actually, GSV is a spinoff of the faeries. After the gatherings at Running Water ran their course, some people decided to have a “conference” at a facility with indoor plumbing. 26 years later, GSV is going strong. The “fall conference” is a bit pricier than faerie gatherings, and is more structured. Hence, the whimsical nickname, “Republican Faeries.” The local potlucks, by a legally separate group, are drug, alcohol, and admission charge free. (Faeries is now accepted as a real word by spell check.) ~ Note to the Russian hacker sending spam friend requests: Rebacca Ane Wthite is not a plausible name. ~ I think many artists are not nice people ~ Give poppers to the top and it is an anti rape agent. ~ If you are going to say something, please think first. Loud, ill informed rhetoric is part of the problem. ~ When are are manipulated into saying foolish things, you choose the side of the oppressor. ~ Stay connected and learn new ways to fight for social justice. ~ The body was found at 4:57 am. The park closes at 1 am. ~ The police said it was “consistent” with a suicide, and that it was under investigation. The body was found at 4:57 am. The park is closed at 1am, which would account for nobody seeing it. ~ You retweeted this:”Body of Black man found in Piedmont Park where the KKK were handing out flyers declared “suicide” When was the KKK passing out flyers? Were they wearing white sheets? What did the flyers say? Where did they stand? How many were there? I strongly suspect this is a lie.This is another twittter comment:”A MAN HAS BEEN LYNCHED IN A POPULAR KKK MEETUP AREA & THEY WANNA SAY IT WAS A SUICIDE?” I don’t believe any of this. With two police related killings in the last two days, passions are inflamed right now. Spreading nonsense like this post is going to make things worse. ~ Do you have any evidence that the KKK was handing out flyers in the park on wednesday? Bear in mind, this was a weekday, and there were severe thunderstorms in the area. Why are you spreading inflammatory rumors without any evidence? ~ does being an asshole include spreading outlandish rumors about KKK activity in Piedmont Park? ~ 11Alive does not typically report on suicides but given the public location and interest in the story, we made the decision to share what information we could find. ~ If you are manipulated into saying, or doing, foolish things, then you choose the side of the oppressor. ~ @AryehCW Extrajudicial ideological violence never redounds to the benefit of the perpetrators, yet stupid, violent men keeping trying. ~ I wrote a blog post yesterday. A man was found, hanging from a rope. Rumors started to spread about KKK activity in the area. Those who are familiar with Piedmont Park, in Atlanta GA, find rumors like this to be ridiculous. The fact that these rumors are readily believed by many is troubling. If you are going to say something, it should be the truth. It should make the situation better. The ego boost that many people get from inflaming passions is to be avoided. ~ “Maybe that famous person did not say it, but it sounds like something he would have said” ~ @EsotericCD I can’t emphasize enough how dumb it is for both sides to cherrypick each other’s fringe nutjobs for Bad Tweets. ~ Jesus is a source of misery in my life. I want nothing to do with him. ~ @WernerTwertzog Coffee should not include whipped cream or sweet syrups. It should be a black, bitter foretaste of what we must face before the day is over. ~ fascism comes from Latin fascis bundle/fashion comes from Anglo-French façun, ~ Extrajudicial ideological violence never redounds to the benefit of the perpetrators, yet stupid, violent men keeping trying. ~ No, it is STILL not OK to spend money at Chick-fil-A. Support of this hateful organization is whoring yourself out to the enemy for a piece of fucking chicken. If you do, you should be ashamed of yourself.It’s Boycott Time: Chick-fil-A Just Dropped A BOMBSHELL On ‘Black Lives Matter’ That Is Just…It’s not too often a large company like Chick-fil-A gets involved in a controversial topic, but they have thrown themselves right smack in the middle of the #Black Lives… ~ If you are going to try to influence people, first take the time to build trust and mutual respect. ~ #goddesssofat ~ @lyz_estrada EXCLUSIVE!!! Deray’s Mug Shot just released to the public #freederay ~ Class On Creative Reading – William S. Burroughs ~ Black Lives Matter Parade Protest Brings Sweeping Changes To Toronto Pride ~ More than 60 shot in Chicago over July 4th weekend @TraceyRemix These white cops are just brazen about it now. What a racist bloodbath that was. ~ Think Fully ~ If You’re Not Black, You’ll Never Be ‘Woke’ ~ Advice for White Folks in the Wake of the Police Murder of a Black Person ~ From white guilt to white responsibility ~ It’s My Job to Raise Children Who Are Not Only Not Racist But Actively Anti-Racist ~ 5 Reasons I Refuse to Call Myself An ‘Ally’ – And Why I Use ‘Turncoat’ Instead ~ Curriculum for White Americans to Educate Themselves on Race and Racism–from Ferguson to Charleston ~ 5 Facts That Will Absolutely Infuriate You About Police and Racist Violence ~ Witness says father of 3 was trying to stop fight when he was shot, killed ~ Decatur shooting victim was recently married, ordained, friends say ~ Witnesses say the Ku Klux Klan was spotted passing out flyers before the Piedmont Park hanging. ~ This is what white people can do to support #BlackLivesMatter ~ The Uncomfortable Reason Why it Came to This in Dallas Yesterday ~ After Dallas Shooting, There Will Be No Shucking and Jiving From Me ~ 4 Self-Care Resources for Days When the World is Terrible ~ four part rules ~ The linguistics of #BLM: Scalar Implicature and Social Controversy ~ Concrete Ways to Be an Actual Ally to Black People ~ Confirmed – Philando Castile Was an Armed Robbery Suspect – False Media Narrative Now Driving Cop Killings… ~ Police scanner audio ~ Police release report on man found hanging in Piedmont Park ~ Neil Gaiman’s 8 Rules of Writing ~ pictures today from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. ~ selah
#PiedmontParkHanging
The police report said that a body was found in Piedmont Park at 4:57 am, June 7, 2016. A black man, age 25-35, was hanging in a tree near the Charles Allen Drive entrance.”There were no discernible signs of a struggle or foul play. The scene was consistent with a suicide.” There would be an autopsy, and further investigation. A twitterstorm soon erupted.
@tattedpoc The KKK was in this spot yesterday & they want us to believe a black man hung himself on a tree #PiedmontParkHanging
@chamblee54 how do you know the KKK was on Charles Allen Drive yesterday?
@tattedpoc they had their lil racist rally or gathering there JUST yesterday
@chamblee54 do you have any evidence to support this claim? How many people were there? Were any counter protesters there? What park was it?
@tattedpoc @chamblee54 nigga how tf am I to know? Do you see my black ass attending KKK rallies to count the attendance?
The KKK story shifted to having klansmen in the park handing out flyers. This happened on Wednesday, a day with severe thunderstorms in the Atlanta area. No one seems to have a solid source for these reports. One person tweeted a flyer from Virginia, and claimed to have found it in their neighborhood. One twitter exchange got ridiculous. This is a heavily edited version, with most of the tweets left out. When you find yourself in a hole, you should stop digging.
@chamblee54 Where is the evidence of the KKK handing out flyers in Piedmont Park Wednesday?
@FCsportz eyewitness accounts. No pics or video have been released.
@FCsportz @DoritoDinker @chamblee54 @Flyswatter I’ve read multiple articles on the matter, Folks said they saw them. That’s called an “eyewitness”.
@chamblee54 Do you have a link to any of those articles?
@FCsportz they are all over the Internet, it’s a simple google search.
@chamblee54 In other words you do not have a link
@_Hey_Arthur_ lololol OMG! Dude is using Twitter as his source. This is too much
@FCsportz “Account: a report or description of an event or experience.”These can be real or fake
@FCsportz whether they are lying or not is not my problem.
Piedmont Park has an interesting niche in Atlanta life. Many simply call it “the park,” and assume you know what they mean. The park is synonymous with queer life. Piedmont Park is said to be air conditioned… there is a blower behind every bush. To hear that the Klan is *recruiting* in the park is poignant. The jokes will write themselves.
@hiraethwndrlst a man was LYNCHED in a popular KKK meeting ground and its ruled suicide with little investigation.
@DarrinPenn How are you going to rule a suicide when the man was found hanging from a tree in a popular KKK meeting place
@BlvckConscious The man whose death was ruled a “suicide” was found hanging from a tree in an area with a high influence of KKK members #PiedmontParkHanging
@alisonklemp Maybe the #piedmontparkhanging was a suicide. And maybe before he climbed the tree he lit a cross on fire, you know, to help him see better.
@GimmeeTitties If he wanted to commit suicide he wouldn’t have hung himself from a tree , he would’ve just reached for his ID #PiedmontParkHanging
@WiFiWisdom #PiedmontParkHanging I live on the same street as the park and its Klan Central.
Maybe the death of the young man was foul play. Maybe the klan was handing out flyers in the park, on a rainy Wednesday night. Stranger things have happened. What is interesting is how quickly, and easily, the rumors are believed. It is also problematic. Americans are having serious problems getting along with each other. When outlandish rumors are automatically believed, and those who doubt these rumors labelled racist, it just makes it that much tougher to work on the serious racial problems that do exist in our society.
Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”. The spell check suggestion for piedmontparkhanging is paperhanging. UPDATE: More information about the young man has been released. It is almost certainly a suicide.
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