(L)One Star out of Five ain't good: How does Memphis Hatwrks see itself

By now you have most likely heard about asshats at a store in Nashville, Tennesse, who think it's merchandising a Star of David patch to advertise their callous position that being an anti-vaxer in America is akin to being a Jew in Germany during WWII.  And then the alleged owner, took a photo - pleased as punch mind you - wearing that star which now reads "NOT VACCINATED". 

Evidently, said woman, thought this was a good idea.  Other articles talk about that and how she is defending the creation of the symbol while attacking those who find it offensive.   

That's a bit like a car theif claiming to the court that they are innocent because there are people out there murdering people, "so ignore what I have done and be outraged over something that is worse than I have committed." 

Doesn't work well as a defense, does it? No.  The fact remains that you still stole a car.  At best, its a Red Herring fallacy. 

She didn't name those other more outrageous things, she just uses them as her shield of self-righteousness. 

And you'll have no problem finding an image of said owner proudly wearing what other people know is an outrage. After all, she is entitled to her opinions, and we are entitled to our opinions.

But Cookie was curious - what else do they sell that demonstrates their profound lack of skill about the world around them.  After all, stealing a symbol of torture and slaughter for your own deplorable purpose doesn't happen in a vacuum.  It's usually an accomplishment, according to the Peter Principle.

First, we need to clarify something. Nashville Hatwrks seems to revel in the fact that they have a "Lone Star" attitude.  You know, that school of thought that leads people to say things like "Don't Mess with Texas" and remind others that Texas could, if it wanted to, break up into umpteen different states if it wanted to.  Something akin to me saying that I could put on a Maga hat IF I wanted to, but I don't because 1) I would be supporting someone I don't support, and 2) What would it give me of value?   

To the owner, the Yellow Star of Anti-vax is just another example of that "Lone Star" pride, never mind the six million Jews murdered by Hitler.

So Cookie went to their site, TODAY, and found something that is quite common - a company branding piece of appearing.  After all,  L.L. Bean sells tee shirts with their logo on them, so do other companies.  So why wouldn't these people?

My search criteria were simple, just the word "shirt". 

If you want to verify me and the finding, go ahead and copy the following link to said piece of merchandise is: https://www.hatwrks.com/products/hw-tee-lone-star?_pos=2&_sid=590e18089&_ss=r 

Evidently, even day-to-day irony is lost on the people running this store. They think that this shirt calls attention to the fact that they are the Lone Star Store. 

But isn't a "lone star" an ALONE star? 

Not a star that is different from the others near it. 

There are no other stars near a Lone Star because it's supposed to be alone.  Even Merriam Webster breaks it down for us thus:

1) LONE - "having no company: Solitary."
2) STAR - "A conventional or stylized representation of a star, typically having five or more points."

That one star is not alone.  They are four stars to the left.  Empty Stars.

So the shirt says that Nashville Hatwrks is a store that only ranks one out of five stars.   

That's right folks: they are selling shirts with what looks like a terrible rating on Yelp.  

And the irony? 

They are the ones giving their own store and their brand, one out of five stars rating.

Now imagine the people walking around wearing the said shirt, or said ball cap.  Well, they are a hat store so they have to advertise on a hat.  

The only star that is alone on that shirt is a pure WHITE star. 

And the irony of that? 

That's their mindset and their misplaced point of pride. 

UPDATE:  News sites are telling us that Stetson Hats is dropping  Nashville Hateworks, I mean Nashville Hatwrks as a client. 

Family is stranger than fiction:

 

Cookie has had nights where he is just so overwhelmed that his brain feels full.

As a genealogist, I come across some really odd news items and head-scratching stuff.   You never know where someone's line will take you. 

And as any genealogist, professional or avocational, you really hope that you uncover something meaty, something really interesting.   I have in the past. 

But reader, let me tell you, the line that plopped in my lap three weeks ago is beyond anything I ever imagined.  Methodism. Intrigue. Adultery. Money. The Gershwin Brothers!

This tree has taken me from Ohio to Nebraska, to Los Angeles, around the world in a boat, Spokane Washington, Cleveland, London, New York, Florida, and Mount Kisco!  Multiple marriages!  Multiple Divorces!

And a stolen child. 

Yes, you heard me - a stolen child. 

But the most amazing part of all of this is that two sisters in the middle of all of this, both marry well, and one becomes the husband of one of the most powerful men behind the American Songbook era.  So now they are involved with both Gershwins, Lerner & Lowe, Rogers and Hart, Rogers and Hammerstein, etc., and so on.  

Things finally normalize, after 1940, but a wow. 

Unfortunately, I can't tell much more than that.   And my brain is so full that I cannot see to organize any of this.  I have taken to writing everything in snippets trying to put my professional hat on.  But the hat is way too small at the moment and my head is so full of facts. 

AND I don't have a release from my client. 

So now I start looking for the stuff that wants to really remain hidden.  I can't get my hands on the hearings regarding the stolen child.  Even though it happened in the 1920s, it's still a sealed juvenile record.  But the other stuff is out there - I just have to figure out where to look.

But wow.  Wow indeed.

A day of celebration!

 Dear Ones:

Today the anniversary that the husband I observe.  24 years ago today, we became a couple.  And 22 years ago today, we celebrated that couplehood with a big party, all our friends and immediate family. 

In August we have two more observations: Our 13th wedding anniversary.  We were one of the first couples from a state that forbade same-sex marriages to get married in Massachusetts after they ditched that horrible law that was based on mixed-race marriages.  And then in the third week, we will have known one and other for - and get this - FORTY YEARS!

In all those years what I have learned is that your forever happiness is whatever you make it, and whomever you choose.  But as a couple, I needed my compliment to find my equal and realize how damn lucky I was. 

Big doings? 

Fillet's for dinner, and British mysteries for entertainment tonight. 

___________________

A dishwasher update: 

They came, they saw, they fiddled, and then admitted it's beyond their skills.  The washer arm is is "on" but not securely.  So we'll see.

The dishwasher that isn't getting repaired

 

For a second, lets think back - way, way back to the days when Kitchen Aid Dishwashers were made by the Hobart Company of Ohio.  Built like a tank - they worked for years and years and year. 

Then they were bought out by Whirlpool and they are now total crap.   Our Kitchen Aid, a high line stainless steel number, is five years old, has stopped working.  And the Warrantech extended warranty is useless. 

So far, Warrantech has displaced the appliance repair equivalent of the keystone cops to our home, twice.  Make that once.

They were here last Tuesday, ostensibly to fix our super deluxe impeller which stopped rotating at Easter.   Tweedle dee and tweedle dee'er came in - they were nice guys - and they fiddled with it for the better part of an hour, they got it back on, but it wobbled.  Off they went. 

Well, it turned alright until it flew off again, and again. 

So I called Warrantech for a second appointment.  Do I have to have these guys back?  Oh yes. Fine.  When? Tuesday.  All right, Tuesday. 

Tuesday they didn't show, and they didn't return the call.  After multiple attempts, I got an answer: "I didn't go into the office to check emails today.  But it at your house today.  I'll call tonight."  

When he didn't call back, I called the warranty company.  The operator in Texas said that they couldn't transfer the service because that company had started the procedure.  "Call us back tomorrow if he doesn't show up."

Cookie is a team player, because Cookie wants this remedied. 

Well, when they didn't show up today by noon, I called the repair company.  Their answer?  "We'll get you on Friday."  So back to the warranty company.

"They what?" the next operator said.   "No, they have to be at your house today."

Well, they aren't coming today. 

And so it goes.  Now we wait until Friday. 

But I did tell them that they had a problem. Look, I pointed out, these guys don't know what they are doing.  And if you keep sending them here and they aren't fixing the damned thing, they could be breaking it - and that replacement is on you.  You don't want to have to replace it, but under the terms of the contract, you will have to.  And they aren't doing you any favors, because they are taking your money and not doing the job according to the contract.  They make you look bad."

Cookie has options. And they know it. And they won't win.  But it could take some time. 

Still, if you have the money to spend and you are replacing your dishwasher, do what we didn't do - talk to a rock-solid repairman and find out from them which dishwashers never need service calls.  And for God's sake stay away from Warrantech. 

In the meantime, we have a lovely dishwasher and it isn't working.