Your brainstorming session on storytelling via the Internet.
Nate Baker
I'm a storyteller and a chronic creative. Here I explore creative collaboration, tell story across various media, and highlight the side streets of Nashville.
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Sexiest Commenter of The Month
David Cintron is a native Texan, enjoys audio engineering, getting free movies from Redbox, and SMSing. Learn more about David at loudestnoise.com.
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The Sexiest Commenter of The Month is awarded to the commenter with the most overall comments. It's science.
About Nate Baker
I'm a storyteller and a chronic creative. Here I explore creative collaboration, tell story across various media, and highlight the side streets of Nashville. Belmont pinned a journalism badge on me in 2008. I work at Sitemason and founded Diving Board and Click Homeless.
There's an easter egg hidden somewhere on this site. Can you find it?
It's a throwback to a hidden message I included in my first few websites. In 5th grade my dad handed me a copy of some website editing software. Web design has been a creative outlet since.
One reason why I blog is to collaborate with folks.
There is a lot left to do, but I was encouraged. After taking pictures of these guys for ten minutes and waiting for words to emerge, I finally hollered up, “Want to pose?!”
After major flooding in Nashville, things aren’t back to normal for Nashville’s homeless—whatever that means.
I was hoping to ask folks to share stories about how the flood has impacted them so their viewpoints aren’t lost in the shuffle. We may have to wait on that.
All I have is one: According to someone I spoke with, a resident of Tent City shared that during the storms, the individual woke up inside of their sleeping bag, which was floating in water.
Thankfully there’s a homeless newspaper in Nashville. I’m sure their April issue will fill in some gaps for us and tell the stories that may otherwise be lost.
By the way, when you see one, buy a Contributor. A vendor told me since the flooding, there are less pedestrians and less sales.
During the time I usually spend teaching, I’m going to give an update on the state of homelessness in Nashville, at least from the angle of Room in The Inn, where I stopped by today.
Now about the empty classroom: This will happen from time to time, especially if the weather is extra nice or if something else of interest is going on at the same time.
The great room seemed a little more sparse than your average “It’s sunny and more people are outside” kind of days though.
After talking with some staff members, here may be some the largest contributing factors to my empty classroom.
Folks are volunteering with the relief efforts or are taking advantage of the influx in temporary work. (Someone passed out flyers at or near Room in The Inn. The flyers gave information for immediate temporary work.)
Folks are at different shelters. For instance, some residents from Tent City will stop by Room in The Inn for classes or to collect mail. Since the flooding, less Tent City residents have picked up mail. Staff believe it may be because bus routes have not been consistent. I’m told many Tent City residents are staying at the Lipscomb University temporary shelter.
It’s sunny. Why would you want to be inside?
A few updates on Room in The Inn:
Overall the Campus for Human Development building looks good. There was flooding upstairs and they lost some things. I don’t know the details.
Construction on the expanded building is largely unaffected. Construction crews were at work today. It’s great to see rebuilding continue in the literal sense.
Hopefully the students I teach are safe. I look forward to a full classroom again. Maybe next week. Maybe later.
Nashville is hurting from flooding. It’s time to act, but remember it’s going to take weeks and months of work for things to get back to normal.
Pace yourself.
Remember to Breathe.
We need to act quickly. But don’t forget the calm word. We need to calmly act quickly. We need calming influences to stay sane. Breathe deeply and others will follow; This is our long-term strategy.
We will change the world. We will rebuild Nashville. But we’ll do it by going to bed at a decent hour so we have the strength the next day. We’ll do it by staying hydrated and calm.
Call out your neighbor.
Some of us are not showering to conserve water in this crisis. Good. Some of us are going through car washes. Bad. Call people out, but then don’t let it get to you. If we need to, we’ll organize a steady flow of water into this city by driving our trucks out each weekend.
We have the ability to pull off our backup plan. We have enough people thinking clearly to get us through this. Believe this.
Nashville will rebuild itself even if the national media is slow to cover the situation.
Nashville will rebuild itself even if some people are taking naps in car washes.
Nashville will rebuild itself because people are acting quickly and calmly to do everything they can.
Cry.
Feel like you need to cry? Do it. Cry and soak in what has happened. You’ll need the shock to move you to action. You’ll need to respond and mourn in a way that is healthy to getting you calm. Let any crying you do lead you to a calmer state. Violent crying is ok.
Don’t feel guilty.
Blogging to get the word out is just as important as lifting wet couches out of homes. Working at your normal job to keep our economy afloat is just as important as lifting wet couches out of homes. Join the crew on the weekend.
Pace yourself.
Breathe. That’s the first step.
We will rebuild Nashville—not by acting, but by calmly acting.
UPDATE: Thanks to The Tennessean for asking to republish this. I feel honored! My friend Jenni took a snapshot of the clip, which appeared in the life section on May 10, 2010.
May 1, 2010 was an emotional day in Nashville. In some moments I cried—not from allergies this time, but from hearing a firsthand account of loss. In other moments I laughed after someone perfectly captured the ridiculousness of it all.
In an attempt to process all this, I put the tragedy and jokes juxtaposed in two columns. Their proximity is cruel, but somehow healing.
Tragedy
“A portable classroom from a nearby high school floats down a flooded Interstate 24 before breaking apart.”
-Zack youtubes WTVF
“Video on WKRN of a man being swept away in the flood waters. Seriously, folks- Stay put if you can.” -Nashvillest
“Mayor Dean just confirmed that one person has drowned at I-24 and Bell Road.” -Nashvillest
“Mom calmed me down and told me I needed to regain my composure to avoid an asthma attack. […] Our house is completely gone. Everything […] None of this feels real. I feel like I’m in a poorly scripted movie. […] We drove the three cars down to Hohenwald where we are staying with my parents, probably indefinitely. […] I’ve spent the better part of the evening crying. So now I’m going to settle in, watch a movie, and eat junk food to settle my soul. Tomorrow is when Mike and I can start talking serious things.”
-Kaelah Beauregarde gives a recap of her day.
Jokes
“my favorite part of abnormal weather in nashville is the hashtags it brings… #thesaturation2010 #splashville #othersituation2010” -Ben Morton
“Your oxen died while fording the Interstate.” -Codey Holland makes an Oregon Trail reference.
The closest I got to danger was when I drove over a median to get around a flooding road (in the afternoon before things got rough). That and I helped mom dab up some wet carpet.
I’m not ready for May 2. I’m still looking back and forth between these columns with a bit of shock. Unfortunately the weather reports indicate there could be more of the same.
Persons with disaster-caused needs are encouraged to call the Red Cross at (615) 250-4300 to find an emergency shelter and talk about assistance that might be available.
I wrote a guest post for Nashville blogger juggernaut, Nashvillest. The post features some inspiring local folks. If you haven’t heard of joggling, fire hooping, table ramp sledding, beerio kart, jowling, or Quidditch… Check it out!
“Bored with Nashville? Question: How often do you go to Broadway? Stop. If you need more side streets in your life, try one of these unique sports for instant adventure. Here are some locals who’ve figured it out.”
The description is accurate enough as we used code names. The house was recently served a codes violation.
We were wildly successful at both creating performance art and helping the Love Circle community hide a spotlight under a bushel, but we still haven’t gotten started on something else: community building.
I’ve come to the belief the aim of any guerilla protest group should be community building, and I lost sight of this in the whirlwind of what Jim Reams dubbed Flash Fest 2010.
As news sources picked up the story, some things were said:
Channel 4 reported I was the one who rallied the troops. Actually other Flashers were the primary planners, but in Channel 4’s defense: I helped promote, I was vocal about my involvement by covering the event from inside a ferris wheel, and I was the most well-lit.
I was fine with my face being on the news though. I liked it. I feared John Rich would shoot me in the face, but I liked it. It certainly wasn’t the worst way to show up in the news. Plus, it gave me some needed credibility with my family. For instance, my great aunt explained how she learned of my involvement in an email entitled “Saw you!”
Nathan,
While watching the 5:00 news on channel 4 last night, we were surprised to hear YOUR name and see your face full screen (in theJohn Rich house lights issue). We were glued to the TV, watching for the piece about Grandpa’s 100th birthday celebration with the seniors at Judson. His bit didn’t air until the 6:00 news. Can you believe that TWO Bakers got their time in the spotlight, on the same day, over two totally different issues?! =)
Love you,
Aunt Ruth
I’m learning as a participant of something, I need to be prepared to have my actions broadcast to the world. If they were, would I have any regrets?
Here’s one. We protested the symptom of a neighborhood issue rather than the heart of the matter. We don’t know each other and we’re not talking to each other to figure things out.
I see the need for community building when I hear John Rich’s gate was recently vandalized, and I’d like to be part of the solution. But, doing so requires I reflect on how I’ve been a neighbor—not just to the neighbors I know, but also the ones I haven’t met, and also the one’s with houses I’ve protested.
Sun Tzu wrote the following in Art of War:
Subjugating the enemy’s army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.
I later learned a protest wasn’t necessary to bring down a spotlight. Among many other things, we could’ve called a Metro codes official.
I didn’t do my recon.
In the excitement leading up to the protest, I knew John Rich wasn’t the enemy, but I didn’t take the time to realize there was a greater enemy than John Rich’s spotlight.
Furthermore, I certainly didn’t take the time to realize part of the greater enemy was in me.
An Open Letter to John Rich
Dear John Rich,
A lot of my friends have voiced their negative opinions of you. I haven’t met you yet so I’ll refrain from fully forming my opinion. I do know when protesting the brightness of your home I learned something about my opinion of myself. In the excitement, I forgot to see you as my neighbor.
I don’t know what others have done, but I know I’ve personally failed to be your neighbor at least in the following way: I didn’t try to talk to you or try pursuing other means to solve a community issue before engaging in a protest against your home. For this I apologize.
If I haven’t already lost all credibility with you, let me know if you ever want help putting on a community picnic on the Love Circle hill or something similar. I’d be happy to see if some Flasher and Love Circle neighbors want to help knock on some doors. Have someone email me if you want to brainstorm.
I wish I had asked this sooner. Best.
An Open Letter to The Flashers
Dear Flashers,
We took down a spotlight. That was an easy enemy. Now I wonder, can we conquer the greater task of knowing our neighbors?
Daniel Davis was fired from his position Friday morning at the Bellevue Hardee’s in Nashville, according to David Chaniott who captured the video above.
The protester said the Hardee’s favored Hispanic and female workers and did not offer breaks.
“They give the men more responsibilities than the women and the women make more than the men,” Daniel said.
Davis also said tasks were not assigned equally and the restaurant was “Mexicans favored.”
“Somebody needs to stand up and let everybody know that it’s not being done right.”
Amy, Jenny, and Glenn saw the protest according to theirs posts on social networking platform, Twitter. Wesley Rainer said he saw Davis both at noon and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday March 27, 2010.
According to Chaniott, Davis plans to continue his protest on Sunday.
UPDATE:
In this video of higher quality Davis gives his phone number, invites others to join him protest, and said he was fired for protesting.
Davis said he worked at the Hardee’s for over three months since the Hardee’s opened on Dec. 18, 2009.
This video was posted by youtube user jasonstewart83. In the video, the cameraman said he’ll send the video to a TV station.
This is based on the audio of the video, which at times is poor, so there may be errors:
My name is Daniel Davis. I used to be a former employee of Hardee’s.
I used to be a former employee of Hardee’s.
I’m out here today to protest against the way their doing their employees in there. They don’t give their employees a break.
[Illegible]
Ok. I can give you an example. Our biscuit maker’s Mexican. Our GM’s Mexican. It’s his responsibility to make biscuits and wash dishes. He took two days off.
I make the biscuits alright. So they want me to make the biscuits, wash the dishes, work the line, give breaks, take out the trash, do the truck. You know what I’m saying?
They don’t ask that of anyone else in there. What the problem is is it’s all Mexicans in there right. Mexicans favored.
Put all the work on the other people. Divide it among everyone equally, you know what I’m saying?
It’s supposed to be an equal place. Everybody is supposed to be treated equally and it’s not happening. You know?
Somebody needs to stand up and let everybody know that it’s not being done right. You know?
I tried to call my GM. I called my GM this morning 11 times, wouldn’t answer my calls. List all the facts [illegible] about this place and what was going on. I mean they just…
Because all the women, they give the men more responsibilities than the women and the women make more than the men.
Like for example, my old lady’s worked there. Makes a dollar more than I do on the hour.
I mean, I understand a man covering more, doing more than a woman. You know what I’m saying.
I mean, that’s just logical sense. You know what I’m saying?
I mean, not to be sexist against women or anything. I mean you know. That’s fine and dandy.
But if you want to expect me to do all this, you need to give him more money. You know?
Nashvillians use flashlights to protest John Rich’s bright house
Over a dozen Nashvillians rallied behind neighbors upset by the brightness of John Rich’s house Wednesday night Feb. 24, in what was coined Flash Fest 2010.
Neighbors in the Love Circle area raised awareness of spotlights used at Rich’s residence, which they said were unnecessarily bright and displeasing.
Protesters shined flashlights towards the residence, created shadow puppets, and held signs with slogans such as “Fight on Nashville, Flash Back.” One protester dressed as a light-emitting Ferris wheel.
The concept of a flashlight rally was spawned and promoted on twitter beginning the night before. Within a 24-hour period, local twitter users produced around 100 tweets referencing #FlashFest2010.
A metro police officer arrived on the scene and briefly questioned a few of the protesters, who where in the process of dispersing after seeing the police car.
Code names such as Snooki, Al Gore, and Mr. Nate (wink wink) were used to protect the identities of the flashers in the following audio story:
One local example of life: Satire is one of the few growing categories in news and Belmont students are exploring the relevant space between entertainment and information brilliantly.
Of course students need the basics, but they also need an collegiate process that allows for innovation to make a broad liberal arts practical in hard times. Bravo! In fact, if the alumni relations office calls me while I’m watching The Week at Belmont, I’ll be in such a good mood that I may just throw some money into the pot. (Satire?)
Things are changing in this town. Meeting a blogger is no longer rare, like when bloggers converged on Nashville to learn from each other in 2005. What comforts me when I see the death of something great, are the signs of life that overtake the gravestone—er I mean you should check out their videos. They are wicked LULZ!!
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Nashville is hurting from 
Over a dozen Nashvillians rallied behind neighbors upset by the brightness of John Rich’s house Wednesday night Feb. 24, in what was coined Flash Fest 2010.
