No. 282: This Is Something

Good morning, everyone.

We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do it.

Such is the mandate of the US government best expressed by the recent piece of gun legislation that garnered Republican support and made it through the Senate yesterday. The Executive and Legislative branches are both hostage to the "do something, anything" attitude. Fortunately, the courts are not, and the two recent rulings from the Supreme Court make this distinction clear.

You probably know by now, but just before I hit send on this newsletter, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a monumental decision ending the constitutional right to abortion. Just the day before, the court ruled that NYC's onerous concealed carry limitations violated the Second Amendment. Nature is healing, as it were — the Rule of Law shaking off years of collected dust and mold like some ancient ruin found deep in a forgotten forest discovered anew by an adventurous archaeologist.

It seems likely people are going to riot and burn down buildings this weekend amidst the tacit approval of the White House and the media — you know, a "riots and looting for me, but not for thee" kind of thing. You can already scroll through Twitter and see hysterical lamentations from all the predictable parties. I won't link to any because I value your and my sanity, but just know it's happening.

NPR has taken the morning off to down margaritas and get a spin class in to blow off some steam while the station plays recordings of Sherly Sandberg's book Lean In broken up by songs from Beyoncé's new album as the placid sheen of corporate America comes apart at the seams.

Guess the whole January 6th debacle just got wiped off the primetime slot. There's a lesson there about when you run your show trials that maybe we'll trot out someday around here, but for now, we can say with confidence that whatever PR company is running that thing should send in their last invoice today and move on. Maybe they should've had it closer to the midterm elections? I don't know. Something to consider.

Speaking of labor shortages, wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of people called in sick today. You know, emotional distress and everything. Wish I could've used that excuse to get out of geography class in fourth grade after my crush told me she didn't like me anymore.

Jokes.

There are plenty of those to make, but it's worth noting that even the late, great RBG wasn't a fan of Roe. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Onward.

We've got a fairly trim newsletter today, but listen to our weekend playlist below and check our rich and flowering event calendar to find something to do this weekend. Get out and get some sun!

You can follow us on Twitter (@realpamphleteer), LinkedIn (@realpamphleteer), or Instagram (@realpamphleteer) for additional content.

Also, be sure to check out our podcast. New episodes every Monday. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for reading.

Valerie Malfy returns with part two of her hidden cocktails series, exploring some bars and dives that are "hidden in plain sight" in a "you have to know a guy" kind of way.

MORE FROM VALERIE

• Nashville's Best Hidden Cocktail Gems, Pt. I (Read)
• Nashville's Best Beer Gardens (Read)
• Nashville's Best Patio Beverages (Read)

WEEKEND PLAYLIST

HEADLINES

• Metro’s codes has struggled to keep up with the development boom (WPLN) Nashville’s codes department has been understaffed for years, compared to the city’s skyrocketing development, officials say. But this week the city budget added 35 new staff, which inches the department closer to where it should be.
• TDEC announces precautionary fish consumption advisory (Main Street) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced Monday a precautionary fish consumption advisory due to polychlorinated biphenyls on Cheatham Reservoir in Davidson County.

POLITICS

• Gallatin City Council Proposes De-Annexation of a Single Property, Eliminating the Owner as a Candidate for Gallatin City Council (Star) The Gallatin City Council made a proposal at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening to de-annex the property of a resident who pulled a petition as a candidate in the November election for the Gallatin City Council earlier that same day.
• Court rules non-disparagement clause in termination contract was unconstitutional (Main Street) This week the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that the non-disparagement clause in the severance agreement of former Metro Schools Director Shawn Joseph was unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment.
• Curcio Disenfranchises Constituents By Abandoning Legislature Post To Become Lobbyist (TCN) Less than six months prior to elections, Republican Representative Michael Curcio resigned his post in favor of a new position as a lobbyist, donating the majority of the funds left in his campaign finance account to his own PAC and leaving his constituents without an elected representative in the position until after the November elections.
• Lee reappoints Rausch as TBI director (TNJ) “David is a committed public servant who has worked tirelessly to keep Tennessee communities safe,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I appreciate his leadership and am confident he will continue to serve and protect Tennesseans with integrity.”

DEVELOPMENT

• UBS Tower sees start of $2.5M upgrade (Post)
• South Davidson apartment complex sells for $15M (Post)
• Calypso Café owners pay $1.09M for Berry Hill building (Post)
• Forrest statue property offered for $1.85M (Post)
• Historic East Nashville commercial building listed for sale (Post)

☹︎ WOKE-ACRACY

Our semi-frequent run through some of the day's most insane stories and headlines.

• Why LGBTQ homebuyers say mortgage rates are hitting them especially hard (CNBC) If you think it's tough out there for the average stiff, try basing your entire identity around where you choose to stick your pecker.
• Amazon's Alexa could soon speak in a dead relative's voice, making some feel uneasy (NPR) Not sure if anything like this pops up in the Book of Revelation, but if it doesn't, it should.
• Dubai's Burj Khalifa doesn't have a sewage system - so trucks pump out poo every day (Daily Star) Some joke to be made here about polishing a turd here, but the deadline is looming...
• Adults Understand a Need to Do Their Bit for Biodiversity–Even 73% of Allergy Sufferers Planting Flowers to Help (GNN) Those suffering from allergies are fine with it as long as it vaguely "saves nature." Who do they ask these things to?

⤵ GRAPH OF THE DAY: DROUGHTS IN THE US

⚔ MISSIVES ⚔

• 🚼 The Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion, overruling the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and leaving the question of abortion’s legality to the states.
• 🏛 The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that New York’s century-old concealed-carry handgun law violates the Second Amendment, a finding long feared by local officials who viewed the law as a linchpin in efforts to curb the proliferation of pistols on New York City streets.
• ⚢ The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed changes to the federal civil-rights statute banning sex discrimination in federally funded education programs, including expanding protections to sexual orientation and gender identity.
• 🚨 The Senate passed the most significant firearms legislation in decades, with a coalition of more than a dozen Republicans joining Democrats to provide new tools to deter mass shootings following deadly attacks around the nation.
• 🌽 The European Commission proposed on Wednesday legally binding targets to halve the use of chemical pesticides and restore nature across the EU, in an attempt to better protect health and recover plunging wildlife populations.
• 🇺🇦 The United States will provide an additional $450 million in security assistance to Ukraine, including more long-range rocket systems, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

THINGS TO DO

You can view our full calendar here.

🍺 The Pamphleteer hosts Bar Hours on the third Thursday of every month at Lucky's 3 Star Bar from 6-8 PM. The first ten guests get drinks on the company tab.

🎪 Check out our favorite driving distance festivals this summer - Redneck Rumble in Lebanon this weekend, see us there.

👨🏻‍🌾 The Pamphleteer farmer's market guide.

👂 Listen to The Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of the bands featured in this week's calendar.

TONIGHT

📷 Flea Market @ The Fairgrounds, 8a, Free, Info

🏎 Southern Survival @ Music City Raceway, 9a, $15, Info
+ Big drag racing weekend in Goodletsville

🎻 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info

🎺 Music of John Coltrane @ Rudy's Jazz Room, 5:30p, $14, Info

🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelly’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

🏎 Nascar Ally 400 Cup Series @ Nashville Superspeedway, 7p, $11+, Info

🕸 The Goonies @ Full Moon Cineplex, 7p, $8, Info

🤖 Kraftwerk @ The Ryman, 7p, $29+, Info

🎸 12 Against Nature: A Steely Dan Experience @ 3rd & Lindsley, 8p $20, Info

🕯 The Altars & Evil Twin @ The Cobra, 8p, Free, Info
+ Bring earplugs

TOMORROW

📷 Flea Market @ The Fairgrounds, 8a, Free, Info

🏎 Caffeine & Chrome @ Gateway Classic Cars, 9a, Free, Info

🏎 Southern Survival @ Music City Raceway, 9a, $15, Info
+ Big drag racing weekend in Goodletsville

🎙 Musicians Corner @ Centennial Park, 12p, Free, Info
+ Ellisa Sun goes on at 4

🌱 Plant Swap @ Turnip Green Creative Reuse, 12p, Free, Info‌‌‌‌

🏎 Nascar Ally 400 Cup Series @ Nashville Superspeedway, 2:30p, $11+, Info

🎙 Blackberry Jam @ Boyd Mill Farm, 4:30p, $10, Info

🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelly’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

🏆 Monster Jam @ Nissan Stadium, 7p, $20, Info

🎺 Big Band Dance Lessons @ Centennial park 7:30p, Free, Info

🚨 Eprom @ Eastside Bowl, 9p, $25, Info
+ For all you ravers

SUNDAY

📷 Flea Market @ The Fairgrounds, 8a, Free, Info

🏎 Southern Survival @ Music City Raceway, 9a, $15, Info
+ Big drag racing weekend in Goodlettsville

🎻 Bluegrass Brunch @ Von Elrod's, 10a, Info

🏎 Nascar Ally 400 Cup Series @ Nashville Superspeedway, 4p, $11+, Info

🎅🏽  Santa's Ice Cold Pickers @ Santa's Pub, 7p, Free, No Info‌‌

⚡️ Lightning 100 Nashville Sunday Night @ 3rd & Lindsley, 8p, $15, Info

ON THE RADAR

🎹 Steely Dan @ First Bank Amphitheater, (7/13), $34+, Info

🏜 Hiatus Kaiyote @ Marathon Music Works, (8/14), $35+, Info

🐂 Professional Bull Riding @ Bridgestone, (8/19-21), $20+ Info

🐖 Roger Waters @ Bridgestone, (8/27), $39, Info

🎹 Stereolab @ Marathon Music Works, (9/6), $35, Info

🎸 My Morning Jacket @ Ascend Amphitheater, (9/23), $22.88, Info

🎸 Smashing Pumpkins @ Bridgestone Arena, (10/10), $133+, Info

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"Compromises are for relationships, not wine."

Sir Robert Scott Caywood

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