I’ve always been fascinated by contradictory clichés and our ability to use them.
We all do it, and we do it without apology.
We are as comfortable saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained” as we are “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Maybe it’s a situational thing. I mean, when it comes to building a barn or raking the yard, “many hands make light work” but if the chore is making soup “too many cooks spoil the broth.”
But consider the notions that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and “you’re never too old to learn.” They can’t both be right, can they?
Maybe those two fall under the same qualifier that helps make “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and “out of sight, out of mind” true. It depends on the person we are talking about. I can think of plenty of people I miss when they aren’t around and plenty more I don’t miss a bit.
Still, don’t you find it interesting that a person can claim one day to operate under the philosophy that the “early bird gets the worm” and “good things come to those who wait”? He’s just as likely to say “he who hesitates is lost” and “look before you leap” and believe them both to be true.
We have no problem telling someone “don’t sweat the small stuff,” but also that “god is in the details.” Again, this one is situational. I do want my mechanic or my surgeon sweating the small stuff.
I don’t know anyone who operates entirely free of some of these contradictions. I know of no one, for example, who never judges a book by its cover, or who believes 100 percent of the time that “clothes make the man.”
* The schedules for the Riverbend outreach programs that put festival performers into the community during the day have been released. The Artist of the Day has artists doing meet-and-greets at downtown locations, and The ‘Bend Unplugged is an educational outreach program.
Artist of the Day
June 11, Hennen’s — Chris Hillman (founder of The Byrds)
June 12, Greenlife — The Waybacks (West Coast jamgrass)
June 13, 212 Market — Joan Osborne (90’s hitmaker and touring member of the Grateful Dead)
June 14, Blue Water — Eric Steckel (young blues phenom)
June 16, Easy Bistro — Maia Sharp (Bonnie Raitt protege)
June 17, Big River — Classic Rock AllStars (’60’s/’70s supergroup)
June 18, Blue Plate — Yonrico Scott (jazz/funk drummer
June 19, Market Street Tavern — Carmine Appice’s Slamm! (legendary rock drummer’s mini-version of Broadway’s Stomp)
The ‘Bend Unplugged Schedule
June 11, Hunter Museum — Taj Weekes & Adowa (world music)
June 12, Creative Discovery Museum — That One Guy
June 13, Bessie Smith Cultural Center — Otis Taylor and the Black Banjo Project (blues legend reclaiming the banjo as an African instrument)
June 16, Imax — Tab Benoit (bayou blues legend and environmental documentarian presenting Imax movie about Katrina, “Hurricane on the Bayou”)
June 17, The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library — Redroot (American Indian music/dance history ensemble)
* The subject of gangs congregating downtown came up the other day while my son was in town. He said the clubs in Knoxville have come up with a solution that seems to work — country music.
His comment was, “Works every time.”
E-mail Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com