Tennessee

TPPP Episode 135 : Junk Going Numb

Zach joins me again for another episode of the bestest show by two mediocre White guys. We talk about the Phil Torres article regarding the merging of New Atheists and the far-right. We also talk about how mostly White dudes got their fragile feelings hurt by even suggesting such a thing. Some of them are podcasters y’all might know. Just saying. Oh, and my junk going numb is also a topic. And the recent developments regarding how my lovely state is banning vaccine outreach to kids. We’re in a race to bottom. Mississippi here we come!

TPPP Episode 131 : Pee in a Bottle

Another episode of The Triple Po is upon us, so rejoice oh listeners and watchers! This week Lyman was late again, but not as late as usual, and also we had friend of the show and the beer god himself, Zach from Zachrilege Cast. I tried to put a little structure into the show, and I will try to to do so going forward, because at least it’s a little more bearable when you hear the privileged ramblings of some White dudes.

First we talk about the Boulder shootings, and that insufferable gun nut Lauren Boebert’s ‘thoughts and prayers’ bullshit in response, as well as the ensuing mockery and disbelief among sane folks who are probably not surprised, yet still constantly disgusted by her inane ramblings.

Next we speak about the Amazon employees’ upcoming unionization vote, and the kind of lengths Amazon will go in order that it not happen. We also talk about Amazon’s horrid working conditions and relatively low pay for the area, which of course is the reason they are trying to unionize in the first place!

Last, but certainly not least, is the passage in my glorious state of Tennessee of the anti-trans athlete bill, which would require athletes to compete with the gender that is on their birth certificate. Of course this is only a spate of bills that the state legislatures controlled by the GOP are trying to pass. They say it’s for the children, but we know it’s just yet another hate bill against the LGBT community.

Tough topics to be sure, but we still try to engage the stories with what humor we can. Thanks y’all for tuning in.

Critics Tell GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert What To Do With Her ‘Prayers’ After Boulder Shooting

Amazon workers leading a historic push for unionization in Alabama describe midnight ‘education’ meetings, an unexpected mailbox, and streams of anti-union flyers as they go up against one of the world’s most powerful companies

Tennessee’s transgender athlete ban passes legislature, heads to Gov. Lee’s desk for signature

TPPP Episode 16 : Trailer Park Confessions

Welcome to another episode of The Podunk Polymath Podcast! On the pre-ramble, I speak briefly about the death of Fidel Castro, and why the world is better off without him. Also, I tell of a new promo that I have put out and that you should listen for on other podcasts!

On the palaver, I talk to the host of The Atheist In The Trailer Park Podcast, Tucker Drake. We talk about his show and what topics he covers, including his current reading of The Apocrypha and occasional guest appearances by the lovely and brilliant America Darling Curl. We then turn to a more serious subject, that of poverty. Tucker tells his story of his personal struggle with poverty, and we try to find a light at the end of the tunnel, but we don’t have much success. Despite some of our more sober conclusions, I hope y’all enjoy this episode The Triple Po!

Download the show here.

Fidel Castro, Cuba’s leader of revolution, dies at 90

The Atheist in the Trailer Park on Facebook.

The Atheist in the Trailer Park on Twitter

The Atheist in the Trailer Park on Blogspot

The Atheist in the Trailer Park on Patreon

Williamson County, TN, School Board Trying to Sneak Prayer Into Meetings

About a week ago I came across an article stating that the Williamson County school board right here in Middle Tennessee was considering instituting a Christian prayer at the beginning of each meeting. For those not familiar with Tennessee geography, Williamson County is one of the counties adjacent to Metropolitan Nashville – Davidson County, aka Music City. Naturally, they are many commuters to Nashville who live in Williamson County, and I happen to be one of them. You can therefore imagine my anger when I heard about this clear Constitutional violation. And why, you may ask, am I so certain of this violation? Because soon after this article appeared, the Tennessee chapter of the ACLU issued a statement which says, in part:

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has declared that prayers at school board meetings are unconstitutional.  In Coles ex rel. Coles v. Cleveland Bd. Of Educ., the Court held that the “the practice of opening each school board meeting with a prayer has the primary effect of endorsing religion.”

That’s pretty clear language, no? Even the school board attorney acknowledges it’s illegality:

Citing a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, board attorney Bill Squires said praying at school board meetings has been ruled unconstitutional, though praying before public meetings such as at city council meetings remains legal.

Of course, this doesn’t stop certain board members from still wanting to institute the prayer, regardless of whatever legal costs might be incurred, you know, because Jesus:

Board member Candace Emerson maintains prayer ought to be part of the meetings because of its value.

“A prayer has saved my life more than once,” Emerson said. “I’m just telling you, there’s an incredible power, especially when it’s collective. I know I would not be sitting in this chair today — on two occasions recently.”

Because prayer has been proven to save people lives, says no study ever.

Thankfully, the Superintendent of the school system seems to recognize the idiocy of challenging a court ruling, and what costs would be involved:

WCS Superintendent Mike Looney challenged board members to think about the cost of the fight.

“Are you willing to stand up on a matter of principle and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees to make a point based on your personal belief that may or may not align with those of other people in the community?” Looney said.

So at least there are some sane people at the Williamson County school board.

Naturally, as a newly minted member of the FFRF, I went to their page for reporting potential violations and made a request for them to send a letter gently reminding the board of their obligations under the law. I haven’t heard anything back, possibly because the board hasn’t actually tried to institute the prayer (yet), but I did come across the previously mentioned ACLU statement. Hopefully the school board will rethink its position and drop the whole issue. The next meeting is on October 16th, so I guess we shall soon find out. But if for some odd reason they decide to be ignoramuses and actually try to make this invocation to their Skydaddy a reality, there shall be a protest, and I shall be a part of it.