Ironically, I did run in to novelist Tom Franklin in the chips and beverages aisle of our local Kroger the other day.  Unfortunately, he was alone and not surrounded by other thinkers and artists of our community, and he didn’t have time to engage in a political discussion.  Alas.  Kroger is probably not the best location for the revival of the Blue Stockings Society.  And so I left thinking that someone should really write a how-to on starting and running a modern-day version of the 18th century salon.  Finding no one in the meat department, I’ve opted to attempt it myself.