Happy Birthday to John at Lake Neuron, who has helped the folks out at MCB on more than one occasion.

Go wish him well.

From reading through this long thread about Expelled, it is clear that there is a lot to disagree about surrounding the issue of Darwinism and intellectual freedom and what constitutes legitimate “science.”

Here’s my perspective on the issue.

More than half (according to a statistic I saw in a National Geographic article a day or two ago–btw, yes, I know the article is three years old) of Americans disbelieve Evolution as an explanation for anything more than what amounts to animal-husbandry-in-nature. They just don’t buy it. I’m in that camp, and in all candor I believe not every person in that camp has done the same amount of reading or investigation as I have to arrive at their conclusion on the matter. Nevertheless, there are legitimate reasons that people are unconvinced. There are honest scientists who are unconvinced. There_are_gaps_in_the_theory that some people are not (yet, at least) willing to fill in with Naturalist (or Anti-Supernaturalist perhaps) speculation. Big questions about how the whole process could have been started, why there is no (or even so little, to be generous) evidence of the crucial phenomenon of evolution between species. So, I think it is indisputable that those who believe acceptance of Darwinism by the populace is really important have a lot of work to do. And I’m pretty sure that trash talking about, much less censorship of, the questions (hypotheses?) within the scientific community is the wisest course of action. I don’t think I’m alone in feeling as if I shouldn’t back down from intimidation–whatever the issue is.

Which leads me to the other big issue that I’ve been thinking about lately. I was not ever sure that it was possible to have a civil, respectful, authentic virtual “community” if religion or politics were a part of the conversation. I can care about and enjoy someone even if I disagree with–think they are dead wrong regarding, their views on religion or politics. There are numerous examples of such people in the greater MCB network.

Unfortunately, I feel that MCB has become more of a Roman Circus than a “community,” at least in my experience (I tried to think of a metaphor that didn’t have “Christian martyr” overtones–feel free to suggest an alternative in the comments, as that isn’t my intention). That’s not my idea of fun nor my idea of a constructive activity, so I think it is probably best for me not to contribute for a while. More time with my family and all that. Thanks to Ivy and Ginger for the opportunity. Feel free to visit me at my own blog, WisdomisVindicated.

E ya.

I know the feeling.

It’s funny how your situation can be exactly the same, but the removal of things from your hands can bring such a welcome exhale.

As I’ve mentioned many times over the past few months, I am actively seeking employment back in the Nashville area (that I miss so much) or possibly east Tennessee (where I’ve always wanted to live). I’ve toyed with the idea of staying here if nothing developed, but it’s always brought a bit of a sinking feeling.

If anyone is looking for a woman that is awesome, funny, educated and can do just about anything, shoot Holly an email.

She’s coming home.

Can anyone help a sistah out? She’s been a huge support system for all of us here at Music City Bloggers.

Sending out an SOS.

Last week, plans for a blogger lunch meet-up broke out from this great comment thread on bacon-infused vodka… (only here at MCB can these kinds of things happen!)

There will be a group meeting up tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/11/08 at Noon, and here are fluffernutter’s directions:

Phat Bites on Allen Road just off Donelson Pike in a site that was, and still looks like, a convenience store. If there’s not a space in front, there are a few behind, and a nearly abandoned car wash next door with extra spaces.

Come one, come all!

Who’s in???

I wanted to let you know that I took Nashville is Talking off of the MCB aggregator this morning because with their shiny new format, their feed had become basically an aggregator into our aggregator.

We love our friends over at NiT, so it’s nothing personal whatsoever…

Go take a gander at their new format!

Then, y’all be sure and come back here now, ya hear?

Update: Christian has fixed the feed to where it now only features his “Noteworthy” posts, so I have added NiT back to the aggregator.

We have been experiencing technical difficulties. Thousands of trained monkeys have been dispatched to fix the error. I think we’re back online now.

Thanks for your patience!

She’s listening. The “recent comments” section is back.

Our leader whom we affectionately call Ivy (or HBIC as she calls her self) and her business partner Heather have gotten a wonderful write-up in the Charleston Post and Courier this week. The paper not only discusses the blog but how sensible their advice is.

These are days of mixed messages: Our economy is weak because we don’t save enough; the only way to avoid a recession is for everybody to spend more. Whatever. No matter what the experts say, we don’t see anything wrong with smart, frugal, debt-free living. Which is why we read Home-Ec 101 (motto: ‘What You Wish Your Mama Taught You’), a Web site produced by Heather Solos of Moncks Corner and her friend, Ivy Hogan of Nashville, Tenn.

These enterprising (if occasionally snarky) young mothers write about (and talk about) such tips as how to stretch a family food budget, how to store lettuce and how to prevent your socks from disappearing in the wash. So when our thoughts turned to frugality, we turned to Heather and Ivy (www.home-ec101.com) for advice.

And advice they give in a wonderful layout at the paper that focuses on the information they give to people living on a budget.

Congratulations to Heather and Ivy for being recognized for not only offering an entertaining blog, but one that is practical and fun to read. We knew it all the time.

And now some of the media is paying attention as well.

Who said we weren’t a bunch of hotties running this joint?

I am thrilled to announce that Food Editor, Claudia Young, made the cover story of this week’s Nashville Scene!

Claudia Young

When Claudia began chiming in on Bites, the Scene’s food blog, we could tell instantly that she knew her way around a kitchen, a menu and some of the finest restaurants in the country. But when we logged onto Claudia’s own website, we realized that her recipe for lamb shanks with three-hour polenta wasn’t the only thing in her gourmet kitchen that was lean and hot. With a broad smile and wavy mane of dark blond hair, her photograph leaps off the cyber-page, where it is posted among photographs of her daily culinary exploits, from bottarga (sun-dried mullet roe) to tarte tatin. A native New Yorker and veteran of songwriting circles, Claudia, 46, works from home, where she can be close to her kitchen and computer. In between running her “multi-hundred-dollar enterprise,” she spends her time cooking exquisite meals, eating them and then fretting about everything she has eaten, hence the name of her appetizing and amusing blog. Desperately seeking a domestic goddess? Log onto cookeatFRET.com. You may not win Claudia’s heart, but if you enjoy pretty food and pretty people, you’ll definitely find quite the dish.

Congratulations, Claudia, for this much-deserved recognition!!!

Hello there, fellow fans and tv addicts! I’m Jag and I’ll be dropping in to supplement Miz Smiff’s entertainment posts with talk of all things television. Thanks to the miracle of Netflix, I’ve been able to get caught up with many of today’s most popular shows and am eager to get involved with your discussions on them. Just in time, too, as it looks like the writer’s strike may finally be coming to an end. Maybe the powers that be in Scranton’ll have time to write in Angela Kinsey’s pregnancy before the season ends. Perhaps we’ll hear a little Schrute love child’s cries echoing across the beet farm instead of Dwight’s.

My own blog is over here, where lately talk has revolved around Lost and Battlestar Galactica, although I never get too far removed from my beloved CSI. Our home tv is most often tuned to Discovery, especially during crab season, but past that I don’t get in a lot of reality tv save one or two Rock of Love episodes. And a few American Idol auditions. And Hollywood Week. And top 24 eliminations. Sometimes the Surreal Life. I do draw the line at Celebrity Rehab, though. I’ll experience Kenickie detoxing vicariously through you guys.

If I miss one of your posts about your favorite show, shoot us an email here. You know the drill. See you in TVland!

Hey. ‘Sup? I’m Lesley. You may have seen me around. I’ve been, at times, a wee on the obnoxious side but now I’m a kinder, gentler Lesley. The “Lifestyles Editor” for this enterprise. Which means I get to read all the navel-gazing stuff so you don’t have to. Which is good, because that’s what I like to read. I don’t care to read about sports or politics or anything useful. I’d rather read about your cats than your kids (note to mommybloggers: love ya, mean it!). That’s why you can find me on LiveJournal. Where the world goes to whine. Lately, I’ve been whining about my ear and looking for a job, so I can’t recommend bothering to click over. But I’ll continue to use that forum instead of this one for such topics and do you all a great big favor.

I also have two other blogs, Lesley Eats and AAA Aardvark Marketing Blog. I started the food blog last year because Jag (and many other people) asked me “what do you eat?” It was originally meant to be a food diary (you know, what I eat every day), but when it became clear that even I didn’t care that I ate yet another banana for breakfast, I decided to make it more about where I’ve gone out to eat (and what you can find that’s vegetarian in some surprising places) and what wonderful, new thing I’ve decided to feed myself and the boyfriend. I started the marketing blog a few years ago when I heard Rex comment that LiveJournals didn’t count as blogs.  I needed some cred. Even if it was on a Blogger blog instead of WordPress or TypePad. Don’t hate.

 So yeah, I’m a vegetarian. Politically, I’m a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. I love Bill Maher but I hate Dane Cook. I like to play in the dirt and grow things in the yard. I love to buy shoes, but I hate to wear them. The same goes for make-up. I like to take pictures, but I’m not good at it at all. People most often think I’m funny when I don’t intend to be. And don’t laugh at all when I try to be funny. I can’t tell a joke to save my life. I’m a stereotypical only child. I’m 35, but I act like I’m 25. But when I was 25, I acted 35, so I’m just trying to achieve some balance in the world.

What else to tell you about me…I’m originally from Memphis and now live on the Memphis side of Nashville. I moved back to Memphis from Nashville once back in 2000 and don’t plan to make that mistake again. Because I’m from Memphis, I don’t like football, but I do like basketball. So this morning, you will find me firmly planted in front of the boyfriend’s big TV, partaking of his cable to watch the #1 ranked University of Memphis Tigers play Gonzaga on ESPN. So, to my friends: please do not call between 11am and 1pm unless you are trapped under an alien spacecraft or Bigfoot (or both).

If you’ve got a navel-gazing blog and haven’t ever gotten a comment from me or you otherwise think I should cover you on my beat, leave me a comment.

And, in case you’re wondering about the username, the story of vivalalesley…

Howdeeeeeee! I’m jest so proud to be h’year!

My name is Sharon Smith, I’m also known as your Sista. The kind people here at MCB have seen fit to put me in here as your Entertainment Editor. (Is that for real..Editor?!)

Just who is Sharon/Sista, you’re asking?

It appears I am one of a few bloggers who call Sumner County home. If they’re are more of you out there, it’s high time you showed yourself.

I wear lots of hats. I am a mother of three (2 teenagers and an elementary aged child with a minor disability), I am a wife, I’m a Sandwich generation-er daughter, I’m an aunt, a pet owner (2 dogs, 2 cats), I work full time, I’m a Church Lady (Hit it Pearl!) but I am not a PTA kinda mom. I love to cook, yet, I don’t bake cookies.

I have a photographic memory when it comes to things of an Entertainment and/or musical nature. I love me some Pop Culture and that kinda includes movies, tv, and useless facts. I am the self-crowned Queen of Useless Facts That Nobody Cares About. I kinda like to say I’m a little like this guy that way. For example, right this very minute, I have no idea where my cell phone is, yet, I can name that tune in two notes. I reckon it’s part of my charm.

I am not into politics. I have my opinions and for the most part, keep that to myself cause I like to let others blog intelligently about politics and social issues cause I’m just not good at it.

I’ve been married to one of these guys for 18 years. Before that, I had a unique view of the music biz through my late father who was good enough to let me tag along with him to events, to the Grand Ole Opry and he was really good enough to hang on to his massive collection of classic country albums and 45’s that I fell in love with as a kid.

I’ve lived in Middle Tennessee since I was 8 months old. I love Nashville.

In another life, I used to work in the music industry. The reason I don’t work in the music biz anymore is cause I realized that I actually love the music too much, if that makes sense. I enjoy watching it from the sidelines though the Mother In Law and dabble in songwriting, pickin’ and grinnin’ here and there.

I’m content, here in my old age, to blog and read other blogs. Why do I blog? Because I can.

Hey friend of MCB. Yes, that’s you whether you realized it or not. You’re a “friend” because you’re reading, and that’s what we’re interested in at musiccitybloggers: having readers.

But MCB is also interested in fostering (and entertaining) discussions, and one of the most challenging subjects to discuss constructively in the world of blogs is politics. Though religion is a contentious subject as well, public policy seems to take the cake–probably because it involves establishing laws we all have to live by and probably because it encompasses “worldview” (which is almost always linked to beliefs, so it is doubly controversial). Hopefully MCB can facilitate constructive discussions about politics.

To that end, I will be linking to political posts or articles from around Greater Music City. From my experience with the internet generally and with MusicCityBloggers specifically, I know that my perspective on politics is a minority perspective (though that’s not true of the real world–wink-wink), but that doesn’t concern me, and I hope it won’t concern you.

The “theme” (if you will) of my personal blog is taken from a verse in the New Testament of the Bible . . . a statement attributed to Jesus, no less . . . that is translated thusly, “[W]isdom is vindicated by all her children.” (Luke 7:35) I believe that’s true, and I believe you believe it’s true, too. The “proof is in the pudding,” or “you can tell a tree by its fruits,” or (insert your preferred cliche). In sum, if we’re interested in living truthfully or in ascertaining the truth, we have nothing to fear from “dialogue.” Right?

So, let’s talk politics . . .

I just know you’re going to be totally floored when I tell you which editor position I was chosen for. Hang onto to your hats, put down your beverage of choice, wait for it….Family & Parenting. I know! Whodathunkit? I was seriously expecting a nod toward the political editor position so this really took me by surprise. But hey, I love a challenge and I’m up to trying new things.

When I started blogging way back in 2005, I’d never heard the term “MommyBlogger” but that quickly changed as I started reading more and more blogs. Most of my favorites turned out to be authored by moms. And most of my posts were about my adventures in motherhood as well. So, I guess I know a little bit about this topic. But I want to assure you that all my posts here will not be about poop, breastfeeding, the latest in children’s fashion, preschool woes, & puke. Family has all sorts of definitions and many of you write eloquently and humorously and poignantly about your families. Whether you are a single person, married with no children, adult caregiver for aging parents or even a “MommyBlogger”, your family shapes your life and many times are prime blog fodder!

So, a little about me…I’m Malia, I blog over here with my husband, DB. We have two children and one dog. I hang out at the YMCA, Chick-Fil-A, Target and Kroger. We’ve lived in Nashville for about 10 1/2 years. It’s home now and I hope to stick around. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is my favorite place in Nashville. I like chocolate, coffee and Coca-Cola. (That, my friends is good bribe info, remember it.) Though I’m told you don’t have to bribe me, you’re just supposed to e-mail “us” at that email address at the top right part of the webpage. Oh well, I tried. Did I mention I’m terribly sarcastic?

I leave you with a few quotes about family:

Home is where they have to let you in.

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.
George Burns (1896 - 1996)

If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you’ll be going, ‘you know, we’re alright. We are dang near royalty.’
Jeff Foxworthy

A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.
Ogden Nash (1902 - 1971)

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.
Anthony Brandt

[Title quote from: Giuseppe Mazzini (1805 - 1872)]

I assume you are aware that MCB is moving to an editorial model (if not, read this). As part of that process I (Jackson Miller) have been given the honor / responsibility of acting as the Business & Technology Editor. The key word there is “editor” (well, I guess “business” and “technology” are pretty key too, but…)

You are the writers. If you have a post related to business or technology and live in the area, please let me know. One of the easiest ways to get a message to me is via Twitter (username jaxn).

So who am I? I am a Business Intelligence consultant (it is technology stuff) and small business owner (a partner in Plato’s Closet in Cool Springs and Murfreesboro). In addition I am working to launch a dotcom that provides statistics for bloggers.

I am looking forward to covering this beat for MCB. The economy is going to be exciting for the rest of 2008 (maybe a little too exciting). The housing market is just a couple of months from starting the busy season. Major investment brokers are recommending tech as a solid investment for 2008. However the tech companies are going through a trying time of decentralization as more and more control is handed over to the customers.

I guess what I am saying is that this is a really good time for you to share your thoughts about business and technology. The more thoughts you share the more I get to post here.

Oh, and by the way. I think I read something about having leeway to invite some guest commentary from time to time. Who knows, it may be like weekend blogging for Brittney without the $100.

That is all for now, but there should be more coming from me later today.

The world of blogging is a wonderful and diverse place. When I was asked to participate in Music City Bloggers last summer, I was delighted.

My excitement has not diminished.

I was recently asked to serve as Media Editor. The term is one I’m trying on the shoes to see if it fits and I’m glad it’s pretty broad as Rachel said in her post this morning, but I will be concentrating on new media, old media and how it all works together as well as some other stuff. I’ll also be posting those stories that are making the blogger rounds in Nashville and across the state.
I’ll also throw in a Bigfoot/Aliens reference now and then for good measure.

There are a lot of things going on in Tennessee (as well as nation-wide) when it comes to the world of blogging, social networking platforms and how we utilize our computers/cell phones to communicate. And we are not as divided as we once were. We are having conversations in real time from Memphis to Knoxville.

So, we are going to talk about those conversations. We will hit on highlights from some of those platforms and what you guys are saying and we are taking suggestions at the link to your right on what you want to discuss. We are moving into this slowly.

I’m pleased with the introduction of editors here at MCB. I love the slow reveal. I like the fact that different voices, diverse and valuable, will serve as a conduit for those of you who write blogs.

And, you see, that’s what we want to do.

Your voice is very important. Most bloggers (or at least I did and still do to a degree) look at our numbers and wonder if what we are writing is being heard. But you have some responsibility as well. Let your voice BE heard. Send emails to not only us but to everyone. Comment. Link to other bloggers who you want to get to know.

No one is going to promote your voice but you.

Put yourself out there because whether you believe it or not, there are other folks listening.

I hope that you will keep coming to MCB and seek out these new online adventures.

I’m proud to be a part of it all.

Now, I’ve done my thang, let’s get to some linky goodness, coming up in just a few moments. I’ll be free-posting this afternoon, but as soon as we do the big reveal on the other editors, I’ll settle down into the groove.

As Ivy mentioned, in recent discussions of the future of MCB, the idea arose of having topic-based editors who would round up Nashville-area and Tennessee bloggers’ posts on specific subjects. I’m pleased to have been asked to be the Health Editor, and to have accepted the invitation.

The guidelines for this role are pretty broad, so I’ll be compiling everything from your serious discussions of health policy to your jokey posts about your colorectal exam, posting as I can and as you provide material for linkage. We’ll learn together as we go. Now, I just have to figure out how to keep my own posts out of the round-up, given that health is the primary focus of my blogging both at Women’s Health News and Our Bodies Our Blog. Okay, okay, that’s the last bit of my shameless self-promotion, but you can check out those sites if you’re interested in your Health Editor’s background and previous related work.

Don’t forget to send your tips to tips@musiccitybloggers.com. You are a prolific bunch, so it’s easy to miss some of your excellent posts. In “real life,” I’m a medical librarian, so feel free to send questions about good resources for information on health issues as well, and I’ll try to include those in the posts.

-Send your good thoughts to Deb at Sugarfused, who has been in the hospital and is having surgery today for a diseased gall bladder.

-Finnspace is going to bring us another blogger baby, and had her 12-week appointment last Tuesday. Says Finn:

“Sometimes I think I might be narcoleptic. And arthritic. But then I remember, no, I’m just pregnant. I felt like I could have taken a lovely nap in my spinach dip today at Ruby Tuesdays and my hips are so stiff I’m hobbling around like a 90 year old.”

-Katie Allison Granju has a review of the book “Body Drama:”

For too many girls, the only information they have about what’s normal are the homegenous women-in-bikinis you see in music videos and advertising. But healthy, normal bodies come in all shapes and sizes. I would have loved to have had this book when I was 14 or 15 years old and fretting over the dimensions of my own bod.

-Relatedly, ‘Coma talks about getting naked.

-Sharon Cobb wants to know why the Tennessee pro-choice blogosphere isn’t more up in arms about this [PDF] abortion-related Senate Joint Resolution. If you’re interested (let me know in the comments), I might attempt a round-up of the healthcare-related bills our legislature has introduced thus far - there are some doozies.

-Hispanic Nashville is talking about this Tennessean article in which St. Thomas and Vanderbilt indicate that race and immigration status aren’t their big money concern - insurance status is: “‘I would say the more expensive patients (to VUMC) in the Hispanic community are the same as the ones in the Caucasian community,’ hospital spokesman John Howser said. ‘Those are the ones that are uninsured and critically injured.’” Aunt B is talking about this story as well.

From the HBIC/Owner, Ivy:

We’ve tried a couple of ways to keep the quality of writing up at MCB, and we think we may have hit on a winner. Props to Newscoma for the idea. Instead of having one person be responsible for the bulk of all the writing, we have decided to piece it out to several people. Each person will cover a topic that they either have some expertise or a great interest in.

Ginger and I sat down and talked about who we wanted, who would be our dream writers. We asked the people to join with a commitment of 5 posts per week and we’ve come up with a group of people we think will be excellent editors for each subject area we have defined.

One might think I’d now post a list of these people and what they’re writing about, but one would be wrong. We like surprises here at MCB and so we’re going to have each new editor introduce themselves, two each day until they’re all introduced.

From your Community Manager, Ginger:

First of all, I just want to say that we appreciate all of the support you have given us during this time of transition. As you know, the first six months of MCB’s existence has been a very valuable learning experience, and we have sought to make it the very best community blog that it can be. At this point, we believe that MCB is ripe for a new direction, and so a restructuring is in progress. We really believe we have come up with a plan that will offer a wider variety of topics, and will help steer this site forward.

As Ivy said above, the main purpose of the new Editorial Board is to feature blog posts from Nashville and Tennessee that fall within that Editor’s specific field (i.e., Health, Sports, Politics, etc.). From time to time, they will also post their own editorials and even bring in guest contributors. Each editor is also free to moderate discussions as they see necessary, as long as this fits within our Comment Moderation Policy.

We have added a new e-mail address, tips@musiccitybloggers.com, which is where our regular and new contributors may submit their posts for consideration. We can’t guarantee your tip will be posted, but we will do the best we can!

Also as Ivy stated, to introduce the new structure, we are going to have two editors a day write a post introducing themselves and elaborating a bit about their new role. Rachel has written a wonderful post that will be published shortly.

During this transition week we will keep it status quo of free-posting by me, Ivy, Newscoma, etc., and as each Editor is introduced into the mix, they will begin to post under their topic.

We hope you will enjoy the exciting new direction of Music City Bloggers.

Stay tuned!

Our apologies for the delay in new posts today.  We have been having an issue with Dreamhost which has taken up Ivy’s time and energy this morning…

Posting may be light for the remainder of the day.  Thanks for hanging in there with us!

Today is the big fundraiser that our friends Newscoma, Squirrel Queen, Badger, Holly, and Scout are putting on for the amazing StewMan.

I stand amazed at the generosity, love, support, and action these bloggers are taking to help out a friend…

From ‘Coma:

I saw him on Friday and the chemo, although it is making him sick, has helped. He lifted his left arm in front of Squirrel Queen and I on Friday. I was so proud for him and the smile on his face was infectious. You couldn’t help but just laugh because he has only been able to crawl it up his body to use it since last September.

Do we feel powerless about the cancer that our friend is fighting?

Yes.

Are we trying to do what we CAN to help him, things that we have a bit of control over. That’s also a yes.

We can’t make the cancer go away, but we can help him. Cancer treatment is not cheap. He is not working now because every moment is spent getting better. The cancer, my friends, is that bad.

So we are doing what the chairman of our little committee said quite eloquently last month that we “have” to do because it all we can do. And because he would do it for us.

Throughout the day, we will be putting updates about the benefit here. We want to help just a little. Are we fighting our own demons? Probably.

Are we trying to raise a bit of money for a person who has been our mentor, our friend and has lifted us when we could not do the heavy lifting for ourselves?

Yes.

That being said, please go over to Friends of the Stewman and make a bid on one of the incredible silent auction items, buy a t-shirt (’Coma will hand deliver them to Nashville!!!), or make a donation big or small via Paypal…

I promise, it will make you feel good inside…

After discussing a few options for accommodating the, er, lively discussions that tend to accompany political or religious topics while still providing a welcoming environment for those who prefer to avoid flamewars, I’ve set up a second feed for the site. In the upper right, on the 1st sidebar, you’ll notice that where there used to be a “Subscribe with RSS” link, there are now two links that say:

Subscribe with RSS to all content

Subscribe with RSS (no politics or religion)

If you click the second link, you should be presented with an option to subscribe to the “Rainbows & Unicorns” version of Music City Bloggers.

We’ll give this a try and see if it’s a workable approach for everyone. If you have difficulty with either feed, please comment here and I’ll do my best to resolve it.

First, I would like to thank Kat for all the help she has given me on the site. She has put a lot of time and effort into writing for the site and I truly appreciate it. I hate that things have ended up this way, but I can’t sit around and cry about it, I need to move on.

I am trying to be as transparent here as I possibly can be, so if I get rambly or talk too much about my personal life, I apologize in advance. I just want you guys to see exactly where I’m at so you can understand what’s going on, why I have been absent, all that jazz.

A couple of months ago, I started getting bombarded by my family- everyone from my mom and dad to my husband and my kids, even my uncle talked about how I was online constantly and when I wasn’t, I was talking about online stuff- mainly MCB. It had gotten to the point where I was letting it consume my entire life. In this post right here I talk about how much I was letting it all get to me.

I was feeling pulled in every direction- not just my family and friends, either, I was pulled by my work at Shakadoo and what Heather and I are doing over at Home-Ec 101.  I let this all sit heavily on me and tried to keep up under the sheer amount of pressure. It was killing me- almost, but not quite, literally.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I had to go to the ER because I was having huge pains in my side. It was determined (without a scope, but they gave me a GI cocktail which calmed it right down) that I was developing an ulcer. So I decided that I was going to do the bare minimum I needed to do until the Christmas vacation, and then during Christmas I was going to not even look at the thing which was stressing me out the most- MCB.

During the Christmas vacation I thought a lot about what I want to do with my life, who I want to be, the sort of person I want to be, all that. I thought about how I write about all things home- but I had let my house become a mess, because I was online all the time. I write all the time about crafts, but I had hardly crafted a thing because I was writing about crafts. I decided I needed to distance myself from MCB.

I owe a lot to the Nashville blogging community. I owe all my success as a professional blogger to this community. The Nashville bloggers have been a great support and great friends to me for several years now, and I continue to meet new and fabulous people through the Nashville blogging community.

(I know! I know! Get to the point!) So anyway, I was having a hard time trying to decide what to do, do I let the community I owe so much to go, so I can do more of the stuff I love, or what? I kept my hands off after the Christmas vacation because Kat was back and she seemed to have things under control.

Then last night there were emails flying about a post Jeffraham had made on his own blog about us. I looked at it, thought, OMG, more drama, and wrote an email back that said something like, “Fuck it, ban his ass.”

There was no great forethought put into this on my part, it was more like, I was tired and sad. I had just found out my only grandma that’s left had just been put in the hospital with pneumonia. And Jeffraham’s over there bitching about MCB. Again. Plus, I felt like I needed to support Kat, who had been taking care of things since the holiday break was over and I had been missing for so long.

But then I woke up this morning and was thinking about how things had gotten so out of hand, so quickly. I thought about what I really would like the site to be instead of what it has become. I thought about how we’d been trying to enforce civility and had only made things worse.

So I was thinking about all this stuff and I had talked to Glen Dean both a long time ago and recently about having a site where there was no comment moderation, and we could call a person a jackass if we thought they were being a jackass. See, I like that kind of drama although I rarely participate in it because, hell, I dunno, I like to watch.

And I genuinely like the people who are the most bitched about on this site. I like William, I like ROR, I like JP, I like Kevin, I like #9, I like Glen Dean, etc, etc, etc.

So here we are, and we’re going to pick up the pieces and fix the site. No more high school drama- I don’t fight with people as a general rule- no more comment moderation- you can hate on the site all you want. You can hate on ME all you want. I can take it. Well, I might cry. I dunno.

We will, as Ginger said, moderate things that can get me sued, and if anyone’s personal information is put up on the site, and spam.  Otherwise, if you feel like calling someone something, go right ahead.

There will be changes in how the site is run and who can post, etc. For now, the 3 people who should have administrative rights for this site is me, Ginger, and Rachel. ‘Coma had a good idea about having different “editors” for different subjects. I’m going to try to contact people over the next couple of weeks to get their input on how they’d like the site to be and whether or not they will cover certain areas for us.

Please use the comment section of this post to tell me what you’d like to see out of the site. I will listen with an open mind, but this is still a benevolent dictatorship, I still pay the bills for the site, so I’ll be the ultimate decider.

One last thing- with the whole, my grandma in the hospital thing and some other little personal things hovering in the horizon- this is a rotten weekend for all this drama to go down. So I won’t still be fully around until Monday at the earliest. I’m going to try to give this as much attention as possible, but just in case something happens with my grandma, yeah. Ginger can always call me if something needs to be brought to my attention immediately so if you email me about something and don’t get a response quickly enough for your liking, email Ginger and she can call me.

That was the tealest teal deer ever.

I have spoken with Ivy this evening, and because she currently does not have access to a computer, she asked that I post just to let you know a couple of things…

First of all, Katherine Coble has resigned her affiliation with Music City Bloggers effective immediately.

Secondly, effective immediately, all persons who were banned from commenting on MCB have had their “privileges” reinstated.

We will no longer be moderating comments except for those which contain personal information about another blogger, threats, or any type of libelous comment that could lead to legal problems for the Owner (Ivy). If you would like to run a topic into the ground, feel free to do so…knock yourself out…hopefully, the rest of us won’t die of boredom.;)

There are going to be some role changes, for which Ivy will be posting about later tonight.

Music City Bloggers is a work in progress. Obviously, the way we were doing things before was not working. Let’s see if this way is better. It is up to YOU to make this community a place that everyone can enjoy and perhaps even learn something in the process, so please try to keep that in mind as we move forward.

Thanks for your patience, everybody…and for hanging in there with us.

Peace.

This is a community blog, which means that it exists to serve a group of people.

If you have been repeatedly warned about your behaviour and yet persist, you will eventually find yourself banned. This evening I made the personal decision to ban someone who has repeatedly flouted our guidelines in order to test the limits. We’ve spent 6 months turning the other cheek. I’ve spent 6 months on emails and phone calls from people who are tired of Jeffraham Prestonian’s activities on this blog.

That is why he is banned.

It has nothing to do with his politics, religion or sexuality. It has everything to do with his being unable to act like a member of a community.

Update:

The following have also been banned:

Reason over Religion!

Serr8d!

Kevin Barbieux

—-

They’ve all been banned for repeated name-calling, lack of respect for the forum and lack of respect for other members of the forum.

Reason Over Religion was specifically banned for sending an email “withdrawing his support” and then posting hateful comments to a number of threads after that.

We’ve had a lot of complaints about these 4 people, and I was waiting for “one more instance” in order to ban each of them.   This is not a rash decision.