My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2025 the theme is a random assemblage of things that are on my mind--or that just pop into my mind. Whatever! Let's just say I'll be "Tossing It Out" for your entertainment or however it is you perceive these things.
Monday, September 1, 2025
Working on a Labor Day ( #BOTB & IWSG )
"Vacation" is over. Well, my hiatus is done for now as I come back to the blogging scene. Now it's back to work. And I'll kick things off with music...
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bandsisthe blogging event started byFar Away Seriesand now hosted byStMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month. My blog is one of those with a second Battle The premise is simple: Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it. Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.
Work Songs from the Summer of '66
Let's go back to my reflections on the summer of '66 and the hit music I was hearing back then on the Knoxville Tennessee top ten station and through new friends I was meeting as I acclimated to my new environment.
In honor of Labor Day I'm going to honor two songs that I liked pretty well and they always reminded me of specific jobs. Lee Dorsey's song is pretty obviously work inspired. However some of you might find The Capitol's "Cool Jerk" a stretch as far as work goes. But when I first heard it it made me think of a soda jerk (a popular cool job back in the day) so that was the image bopping around in my head. Of course there was the dance crazes back then and the jerk was one. The song makes me want to do the jerk or something and that's cool.
Hey! This ain't work. It's fun. You're supposed to vote on one of these songs. Which one do you prefer? Battles are no fun without you the reader participating. Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites. Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts: StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands 'Curious as a Cathy' Sound of One Hand Typing
September 3 question - What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, storybible, or creating outlines\beats?
Since I haven't had that much experience with using the AI stuff much at all, I'm not much of one to add anything about what I've done. I've played around with those trial song writing generators and it's really creepy how it can come up with some pretty good songs that incorporate all my absurd inputs. It sounds like a lot of the modern music I hear. Not sure I like what's going on, but maybe it's what it is for now. I think a lot of that "writing" will start getting pretty stale. A lot more stale than it is now.
Talk about shirking work on Labor Day. AI offers a lot of potential for shortcuts. But is it worth it in the long run? Time will tell I guess.
Don't you think a lot of fun of writing is in doing the hard stuff like research and such? I know I can end up going down a lot of rabbit hole chases when I do research--what about you?
I hope you had a nice blogging hiatus, Lee! It's good to have you back. I like the idea you used for you battle theme. My vote goes to "Working in a Coal Mine". It has such a fun vibe and it makes me think of my daddy who was a coal miner.
I agree with Alex on AI just being another way for people to not use their brains. We already have enough of that going on as it is, why make it worse? I do read over the brief AI summary offered after a search but I like finding out things for myself reading information from various hits.
I decided to put up a battle today since my eye is doing so well and can see pretty decent. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to participate properly but am making sure to visit everyone who has a BOTB up to cast my vote before my surgery on my other end Wednesday. That being said, whenever you get a chance, I hope you'll stop by to play along.
I like Cool Jerk which is fun and inspiring for Labour Day. I'm very, very wary about AI. I know it can be very helpful in some areas but I feel like it is just another way to make one's use of our brain go bye bye. My friend, who is a teacher, has the kids leave their phones on her desk and they must use pen and paper to write their story or essay. This is the school's decision not my friend but she is happy about it.
Birgit, kids have become too reliant on their phones and the like, but I guess we all have. I like having an easier life, but some challenges are important too.
"Cool Jerk" gets my vote, such great gems thanks very sharing both songs. I have a battle up at my site as well. https://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/2025/09/battle-of-bands-come-monday.html
I didn't need to listen to these songs because I've heard both songs countless times and already knew which one I like better. But I listened to them anyway, just to make it "official".
I'm voting for LEE JACKSO-- er... I mean, LEE DORSEY.
As for A.I., I have already come across *many* egregious errors it has made when I've posed questions about topics that I know a great deal about. I trust A.I. to the exact same degree that I trust the Dumb-O-Crap & Repugnantcan parties.
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT: Here in September of 2025, I believe it's time for you to remove this from your BOTB installments:
>>... "Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands."
That was never really correct to begin with, but its expiration date is now well past, seeing as how I quit BOTB two months ago.
STMC, AI comes up with some fairly wild stuff at times while other times it's presented me with thoughts to ponder.
I'll tweak my intro I guess. I'm half-heartedly into this whole BOTB thing as well as blogging period. I'm just letting things linger until I think of someway to make my blogging useful or meaningful. Sorry to see you go. Hope you'll pull Terminator ("I'll be back.") on us or come up with some new angle. But what ever is best for you.
I will always retain my loyalty to BOTB (translation: I'll always keep coming back to vote).
I left for a number of different reasons. One of them was that I didn't feel everyone shared the same sense of loyalty to BOTB that I did (and do). Another was because I became really disgusted by the long-term excessive level of shadow-banning that my blogs have been subjected to by TPTB. And another reason is because I felt that blogging was a fad which had run its course. [I'd probably feel differently about that *if* my blogs had received the attention I believed they deserved.]
Unlike Rock 'N' Roll, which will never die(*), blogging was a fad like the Hula Hoop, the Coonskin Cap, the Pet Rock, Telephone Booths, and Streaking ("Put that away! Nobody wants to see THAT!")
I do genuinely appreciate what you wrote, my friend! And, for the record, I have NOT permanently closed my mind to the idea of returning to BOTB at some point. I suppose it's possible... just like it's possible that benevolent extraterrestrial beings will someday come to help us straighten out this God-forsaken mess we've made of this planet. Damn it, mang, where the helck is Tiny Tim when we need him most?!! ;^)
[(*) : Just play along with me and let's pretend that Rock 'N' Roll didn't actually die.]
I'll vote for Lee. I like the "clink" sound in the song.
I do enjoy research.
“Let’s strive to be better in September!” – Charmaine J. Forde #quote I have a novella coming out on the ninth. And a post about condiments planned on the A to Z site. Hope you're well!
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
Welcome back, Lee! ☺ I prefer the Lee Dorsey song and remember it being played on the radio a lot, back in the day. As for AI, it can be helpful for research, but it isn't always accurate, from my experience. And besides, research is more fun to do yourself!
Welcome back, Lee! I was just reading about a haunted coal mine in West Virginia, so I'm going to vote for "Working in the Coal Mine". Great theme for this time of year ;-) What an excellent point you make about AI for shortcuts and what you might "put in" about yourself. I was quite surprised to read what AI had to say about me. I may go into hiding ;-) Have a wonderful fall season!
This was an enjoyable battle, and I liked both songs. I was 11, and I remember them both. I would guess that my parents liked Coal Mine better, as I think they played it a lot and my mom commented on it. She always liked Motown stuff.
Hi! I've only used the song generator once to see what it can do. It can make the best songs out of the worst lyrics. I just felt honoured to have written a great song at that moment:)
I also don't see the appeal. If you don't like writing, why are you doing it? I mean, there are easier ways to waste your time and money. @samanthabwriter from Balancing Act
Samantha, people write for different reasons so maybe the AI programs are good for those who don't want to write whatever. I guess it might be that way maybe.
I've only used AI a couple times recently and I can see that it can be helpful for some things, but I'm not too eager to see where it all leads. I remember my dad playing "Coal Mine"
I vote for "Working in a Coal Mine" because there are a lot of coal mines in Nova Scotia, and I've gone down in a number of mines (not coal though). I never really liked "Cool Jerk" when it was on the radio. I was never really cool and I was not a good dancer. I'm just finishing up the most hectic summer I've had in a long time, so I'm looking forward to lowing the pace of things down a little. Happy creating, Arlee!
I vote for "Cool Jerk", as I enjoy the mindless fun of poppy 60's songs from time to time.
In re: AI, I don't use it whatsoever, not even on my phone or computer. I try to limit my exposure to it, so the only time I come in actual contact with it is when I Google something, then AI is the default tab for whatever it is that you search for.
Even before AI, it was easy to go down the rabbit hole of research. lol And just like researching on the Internet before AI, I still need to verify my information is correct. It's only a tool, just like a calculator.
Time to wrap this one up. I thought these songs were very evenly matched and voting shows this. I like both songs, but my favorite is "Coal Mine" by Lee Dorsey so he gets my vote.
Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind. I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.
For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.
If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.
One more way for people to not use their brain.
ReplyDeleteI vote for Cool Jerk.
Welcome back!
alex, lots of people don't seem to want to use their brains anyway.
DeleteFirst vote goes to The Capitols.
Lee
I hope you had a nice blogging hiatus, Lee! It's good to have you back. I like the idea you used for you battle theme. My vote goes to "Working in a Coal Mine". It has such a fun vibe and it makes me think of my daddy who was a coal miner.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex on AI just being another way for people to not use their brains. We already have enough of that going on as it is, why make it worse? I do read over the brief AI summary offered after a search but I like finding out things for myself reading information from various hits.
I decided to put up a battle today since my eye is doing so well and can see pretty decent. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to participate properly but am making sure to visit everyone who has a BOTB up to cast my vote before my surgery on my other end Wednesday. That being said, whenever you get a chance, I hope you'll stop by to play along.
Have a good week and welcome back to Blogosphere!
Cathy, I had coal miners in my family as well since both my parents were from West Virginia.
DeleteGood luck on the medical stuff.
Second vote goes to Lee Dorsey.
Lee
I like Cool Jerk which is fun and inspiring for Labour Day. I'm very, very wary about AI. I know it can be very helpful in some areas but I feel like it is just another way to make one's use of our brain go bye bye. My friend, who is a teacher, has the kids leave their phones on her desk and they must use pen and paper to write their story or essay. This is the school's decision not my friend but she is happy about it.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, kids have become too reliant on their phones and the like, but I guess we all have. I like having an easier life, but some challenges are important too.
DeleteAnother vote for The Capitols.
Lee
Cool Jerk for me!
ReplyDeleteCW, you got it!
DeleteThe Capitols.
Lee
"Cool Jerk" gets my vote, such great gems thanks very sharing both songs. I have a battle up at my site as well. https://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com/2025/09/battle-of-bands-come-monday.html
ReplyDeleteMike, glad to see you back.
DeleteA vote for The Capitols.
Lee
ARLEE BOID ~
ReplyDeleteI didn't need to listen to these songs because I've heard both songs countless times and already knew which one I like better. But I listened to them anyway, just to make it "official".
I'm voting for LEE JACKSO-- er... I mean, LEE DORSEY.
As for A.I., I have already come across *many* egregious errors it has made when I've posed questions about topics that I know a great deal about. I trust A.I. to the exact same degree that I trust the Dumb-O-Crap & Repugnantcan parties.
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT: Here in September of 2025, I believe it's time for you to remove this from your BOTB installments:
>>... "Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands."
That was never really correct to begin with, but its expiration date is now well past, seeing as how I quit BOTB two months ago.
STMC, AI comes up with some fairly wild stuff at times while other times it's presented me with thoughts to ponder.
DeleteI'll tweak my intro I guess. I'm half-heartedly into this whole BOTB thing as well as blogging period. I'm just letting things linger until I think of someway to make my blogging useful or meaningful. Sorry to see you go. Hope you'll pull Terminator ("I'll be back.") on us or come up with some new angle. But what ever is best for you.
Hope you'll keep coming back to vote.
Thanks for your vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
R. LEE BOIDMAN ~
DeleteI will always retain my loyalty to BOTB (translation: I'll always keep coming back to vote).
I left for a number of different reasons. One of them was that I didn't feel everyone shared the same sense of loyalty to BOTB that I did (and do). Another was because I became really disgusted by the long-term excessive level of shadow-banning that my blogs have been subjected to by TPTB. And another reason is because I felt that blogging was a fad which had run its course. [I'd probably feel differently about that *if* my blogs had received the attention I believed they deserved.]
Unlike Rock 'N' Roll, which will never die(*), blogging was a fad like the Hula Hoop, the Coonskin Cap, the Pet Rock, Telephone Booths, and Streaking ("Put that away! Nobody wants to see THAT!")
I do genuinely appreciate what you wrote, my friend! And, for the record, I have NOT permanently closed my mind to the idea of returning to BOTB at some point. I suppose it's possible... just like it's possible that benevolent extraterrestrial beings will someday come to help us straighten out this God-forsaken mess we've made of this planet. Damn it, mang, where the helck is Tiny Tim when we need him most?!! ;^)
[(*) : Just play along with me and let's pretend that Rock 'N' Roll didn't actually die.]
~ D-FensDogG
I'll vote for Lee. I like the "clink" sound in the song.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy research.
“Let’s strive to be better in September!” – Charmaine J. Forde #quote
I have a novella coming out on the ninth. And a post about condiments planned on the A to Z site. Hope you're well!
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge
J, I am well, but distracted as always.
DeleteAnother vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
Welcome back, Lee! ☺ I prefer the Lee Dorsey song and remember it being played on the radio a lot, back in the day. As for AI, it can be helpful for research, but it isn't always accurate, from my experience. And besides, research is more fun to do yourself!
ReplyDeleteDebbie D., I don't trust most of what I read on the internet. Sad.
DeleteA vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
I like Cook Jerks better although I would actually vote for Devo's version of Working in a Coal Mine from the Heavy Metal soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, strictly original 1966 versions in this series. I'd forgotten about that Devo version.
DeleteThe Capitols
Lee
VOTE = THE CAPITOLS
ReplyDeleteTough call. I have always liked both of these songs. Cool Jerk gets my vote for the piano, the handclaps, and the Hey-Hey-Heys and Wooos. ~Ed.
Ed, they're both classics.
DeleteThe Capitols.
Lee
Welcome back, Lee!
ReplyDeleteI was just reading about a haunted coal mine in West Virginia, so I'm going to vote for "Working in the Coal Mine". Great theme for this time of year ;-)
What an excellent point you make about AI for shortcuts and what you might "put in" about yourself. I was quite surprised to read what AI had to say about me. I may go into hiding ;-)
Have a wonderful fall season!
Diedre, I'm sure I'm an open book on AI if someone knows which volumes to pull from the shelf.
DeleteA vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
Hi Lee -
ReplyDeleteThis was an enjoyable battle, and I liked both songs. I was 11, and I remember them both. I would guess that my parents liked Coal Mine better, as I think they played it a lot and my mom commented on it. She always liked Motown stuff.
But I prefer Cool Jerk. It gets my vote!
Sixgun McItchyfinger
6-Gun, both songs are pretty evenly matched I think.
DeleteCool Jerk.
Lee
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI've only used the song generator once to see what it can do. It can make the best songs out of the worst lyrics. I just felt honoured to have written a great song at that moment:)
And yesss! Research is the best part of writing.
Have a great September!
Senorida, I bet all the songs would start sounding very similar if you did a lot.
DeleteLee
I also don't see the appeal. If you don't like writing, why are you doing it? I mean, there are easier ways to waste your time and money. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Samantha, people write for different reasons so maybe the AI programs are good for those who don't want to write whatever. I guess it might be that way maybe.
DeleteLee
I've never uses the sound generator. I see Al as a tool, but not for creative writing.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I've found it helpful in searches.
DeleteLee
I've only used AI a couple times recently and I can see that it can be helpful for some things, but I'm not too eager to see where it all leads. I remember my dad playing "Coal Mine"
ReplyDeleteKathy, time will tell us as usual.
DeleteI count that as a vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
I vote for "Working in a Coal Mine" because there are a lot of coal mines in Nova Scotia, and I've gone down in a number of mines (not coal though). I never really liked "Cool Jerk" when it was on the radio. I was never really cool and I was not a good dancer. I'm just finishing up the most hectic summer I've had in a long time, so I'm looking forward to lowing the pace of things down a little. Happy creating, Arlee!
ReplyDeleteBlue, I wasn't all that cool either though that's from my perspective mostly.
DeleteA vote for Lee Dorsey.
Lee
Good Post! I totally agree.
ReplyDeleteCathrina, thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLee
I vote for "Cool Jerk", as I enjoy the mindless fun of poppy 60's songs from time to time.
ReplyDeleteIn re: AI, I don't use it whatsoever, not even on my phone or computer. I try to limit my exposure to it, so the only time I come in actual contact with it is when I Google something, then AI is the default tab for whatever it is that you search for.
GB, I don't pay much attention, but I do notice AI creeping in all around me. Oh well.
DeleteA vote for The Capitols.
Lee
Even before AI, it was easy to go down the rabbit hole of research. lol And just like researching on the Internet before AI, I still need to verify my information is correct. It's only a tool, just like a calculator.
ReplyDeleteDonna, I think it's a good tool. I still have encyclopedia sets.
DeleteLee
Time to wrap this one up. I thought these songs were very evenly matched and voting shows this. I like both songs, but my favorite is "Coal Mine" by Lee Dorsey so he gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteFinal vote Tally:
Lee Dorsey 8 votes
The Capitols 8 votes
That's pretty even I'd say.
Lee
Terrific battle, Lee. Well done!
DeleteGreat battle, Lee!
ReplyDelete