Here, there and everywhere:
• A candidate for governor you may never have heard of asked a candidate for governor you probably never have heard of to drop out of the race.
The first candidate is Jerri Green, who also happens to be the Democratic nominee in the race. She, or her campaign, called on Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate, to abandon her bid. Pinkston, unsurprisingly, has declined.
“There is no question that Tennessee voters are exhausted by the two-party system,” Pinkston said in response, according to Nashville’s WSMV-TV. “Our state ranked last in voter turnout in the most recent midterm election and follows a national trend where more than 70% of voters say they want a viable independent option when they cast ballots.”
“Viable” is just what the Green campaign says Pinkston is not. I agree, just as none of the other 12 independents for governor are viable. But is Green? I doubt she’ll come within single digits of MarshaMarshaMarsha. Prove me wrong, Tennessee voters. Please.
• Today’s lesson in effective vs. ineffective rhetoric: There’s an inscription painted on a wall at the YMCA I frequent that states:
“I can. I will. End of story.”
It’s supposed to be inspiring, but it ticks me off. It fails in its intended mission. “I will” is not the end of any story. “I did” is.
• It’s unavoidable, this time of year, that days will grow shorter – bit by incremental bit – north of the equator. Nature’s not-so-subtle annual reminder, perhaps, that our lives dwindle away as well, as we all inexorably trudge toward our own personal exits from the stage.
How’s that for a spot of cheer?
Notwithstanding the seasonal attractions – cooler temperatures, playoff baseball and college/pro football – I tend to wax a bit melancholic as daylight wanes.
And it’s always made worse by the end of daylight saving time, when we “fall back” and that gradual darkening of the afternoon skies suddenly jumps ahead a full hour in intensity.
Might this be the last year for such? The U.S. House has passed a bill that would allow daylight time year-round. It now awaits Senate action, and the Senate has previously voted – unanimously – to do the same thing. If it passes Congress, Tennessee already has the law in place to do the same.
I remain convinced that a better approach would be a permanent return to standard time, which I have suggested we could call “God time.” Any takers?
• A recent guys’ trip to St. Louis for baseball viewing has provided me with a bowling-style shirt honoring the 2006 World Series champion Cardinals team, handed out as a freebie. It’s covered with photos of various members, including Scott Rolen, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. Oddly, though, no Albert Pujols, far and away the biggest star on that team.
I am not a Cardinals fan, so it’s looking for a new home. Size medium, but it looks kind of big …
• The most predictable – and exasperating – headline that continually appears in Nashville police press releases: Most stolen firearms are taken from unlocked vehicles.
Doesn’t speak too well of us, does it?
• An uninvited, anonymous text advises “Joseph” (which exactly no one calls me) that “my builder and I have been scouting [my street] and wanted to reach out about your house. Got a number in mind?”
Yeah, I do. And you aren’t likely to come close to it.
• I hope that I don’t have to remind you that Nashville’s greatest annual event is approaching. But if I do: the Southern Festival of Books will be Oct. 17-18 at the Bicentennial Mall and environs.
Some of the famous – or at least familiar – authors are to include Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Arnold Myint of International Market and Lamar!, as he styled himself in campaign stickers. But I’ve always found some entertaining surprises flying under my usual radar, which is one of the best things about the festival.
• It’s unfortunate, but perhaps not surprising, that a bit of weirdness has emerged in the wake of Dolly’s death last month.
Dolly’s estate fired Bryan Seaver, her nephew and longtime security provider, after claiming he’d made threats and tried to extort money. And, The Guardian reports, making this claim:
“I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary. All I do is warfare. Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.”
Just goes to show, I guess, that every family’s got one.
Joe Rogers is a former writer for The Tennessean and editor for The New York Times. He is retired and living in Nashville.