8 Nov 2001 Vote in Oxford MS, or you put the lime in the coconut

Just got back from voting and for reason only known to a very few this song came to me.   Amazing turn out by the way, throngs of citizens out.   Something must have the folk stirred up.  Suspect someone might get a political whupping by tomorrow.  I will make sure I will leave the TV off tonight as the thought of the Talking Heads going on and on about nothing while they wait on the results is a torture I am not braced enough to endure.  

Guy Fawkes In Mississippi

 Guy Fawkes is remembered as, 'the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions,' which very probably is true.  No longer hung and burned in effigy, rather now, he is celebrated as a Man of All Time. So lift a class tonight laddies and lassies for the Guy....   A sidebar, that is how the word 'guy' came into English.

Odd that the 'occupy' movement likes to use him as a symbol, as he stood for the precise opposite of what they stand for.  I suspect most of them do not have a clue what Guy Fawkes did, or tried to do. 

The Deed is Done

Have been busy with my book Finding the McCains. It is done for better or worse.   First letter out to a publisher this week. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.  I needs the paycheque.  Nice to have the book finished, now on to the next writing project, a short history of the Laggan Redshanks. 

The book is part memoir and part history.  The memoir chronicles my 40 year odyssey to find our McCain family in Ireland and then a sort history of the family from mid Argyll circa early 1400s right up to the Mississippi McCains, including John McCain's presidential bid, in 2008.  The book is not a genealogy, just an account of why and how I found our cousins in Ireland and then the curious tale of a Highland Scottish family that were involved with important events in the 1500s surrounding Mary Queen of Scots, the Earl of Argyll and the famous Iníon Dubh.   And how we went from that to Mississippi.  Including is the famous Austin Rock's eerie encounters at Loughcrew and more.

Why Are We Pushing Multiculturalism On France, Russia, The World?

Why Are We Pushing Multiculturalism On France, Russia, The World?

McCain on Rick Perry

I am a political Independent and one that has a deep interest in politics.  I have been watching the Republican candidates for the White House with some interest.  On the straight politics of it, I like Ron Paul a lot.  He is from the Libertarian wing of the Republican Party and while I have some libertarian views, I am not a libertarian per se.  Since Governor Perry's entry into the race I have taken some interest in his candidacy.

Ruger 380 with laser sight

Governor Perry's Republican opponents are making much use of the fact that the governor was at one time a Democrat.  That was circa 1989 or so.   I do not see this as an issue.  It is just part of Southern politics, hell's bells, we all used to be Democrat in the South.  It is our history.  Many prominent Republicans used to be Democrats down this way.  Then the Democratic party adopted a very Marxist dogma, including sleeping with the Unions and the migration began away from the Donkey Boys.  Ronald Regan was also in the Democratic Party at one time, so again, I see no foul here.

What I do like about Perry is the coyote shooting episode.  I am sure most know the story; he was jogging with his daughter's dog going with him.  A coyote came out of the brush came toward him and the dog, Perry pulled is laser sighted Ruger 380 and dispatched the coyote with one shot.   For those of you not familiar with coyotes, they are a type of wolf, very common in the South and found all over the USA.

Anyroad, it appears to me he has a pair and has gumption.  So, he will get my fair consideration.   The Establishment media (which includes Fox you all) do not particularly like him, which is a good sign.  The Ugly sisters, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, etc., are all rabidly pro progressive.  Fox News is rabidly pro Neo Con.   Progressives and Neo Cons are two sides of the very same coin.   I tend to discount those media entities.

So, as of now, Ron Paul and Rick Perry have this McCain's interest.

The Aliens Are Coming Says Nasa

 Nasa says I should worship Al Gore for fear of vengeance from 'green' aliens from planet Beta B. I would like to know is there a bottom to the pit of emotional diarrhea that progressives spew. Think we need the Southern lads with crew cuts, cigars, and slide rules in their pockets, put back in charge; we would already have a Moon and Mars colony if they had been left to run things.  Beta Boys run amok throughout the Federal government and now infest Nasa. 

If By Whiskey

'If you mean whiskey, the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean that evil drink that topples Christian men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness, and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fiber of my being.

However, if by whiskey you mean the lubricant of conversation, the philosophic juice, the elixir of life, the liquid that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink that enables man to magnify his joy, and to forget life's great tragedies and heartbreaks and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale of which pours into Texas treasuries untold millions of dollars each year, that provides tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully aged and infirm, to build the finest highways, hospitals, universities, and community colleges in this nation, then my friend, I am absolutely, unequivocally in favor of it.

This is my position, and as always, I refuse to compromise on matters of principle.'


if-by-whiskey, a 1952 speech by Mississippi politician  Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat, Jr.

Summer in the Hill Country

North Mississippi Hill Country Counties (in dark green)

It is insanely hot in the hill country right now.  I tend to hibernate when the heat and humidity reaches this level.  Because of the heat, the traffic at the bird bath in the back yard is heavy and the all the creatures queue up for a drink.  Deer, red wasps, squirrels, all sorts of birds, and others, I have observed out there of late.  I do the all a kindness by putting in clean water each morning.

The Mississippi Hill Country is the end of the Appalachian Mountains in geography.  The original settlers were primarily Scots-Irish.  A few settled very early in the late 1700s, however, when Andrew Jackson removed the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians in the 1830s, Scots-Irish from north Alabama and Tennessee flooded into the area.  That is when the McCains settled in the Hill Country.  The soil here is not rich like it is in the Delta and rather than large plantations, smaller farms were the norm.  One of the legacies of the Scots-Irish was music and Old Time music at a very high level is still played here.  Elvis Presley was of Scots-Irish ancestry and part of that legacy. 

Rabbit Back On The Menu Boys

I think it was Annie Dillard who described Mother Nature as 'the big chomp.'  Her point was Mother Nature is brutal and death is everywhere.  It is not a bunch of tree huggers and Indians playing love flutes, with rainbows over head; it is war, creatures trying to eat other creatures.  It is Man that brings order and protects beauty.  Anyroad, this is not about that, this post is about my cat Piscín, one of my Manx lads.  He bagged Big Game today; Rabbit is back on the menu boys.   He shared it with his brother too; for a cat, he is a gentleman (when it suits him, i.e. he was full).

Piscín and his kill this morning

Daphne Du Maurier, The Birds

I do not often read fiction.  My reading of late is mostly primary sources from the 16th Century written in Lallans and semi-English.  Interesting, but not to everyone's tastes.  But, I read a novella by Daphne du Maurier over the last two days, her The Birds.  

Most people think, of course, of the 1963 film version directed by Alfred Hitchock, which was based on the 1952 novella by Daphne du Maurier.  The book is much different and much better.  Not only did I enjoy it thoroughly I really gained an appreciation for du Maurier's writing style, which is concise and pithy.  Very few write fiction that well these days, one wonders if it is becoming a lost art.  The skill of narrative, of telling the tale. She was a mistress of the craft.

The story in the novella is set in the West Country on the coast after WW II.  Gone are all the sub plots and romance interests that Hitchcock put into his film.  A humble cottager with his wife and two children confront the world of nature on the attack.  The novella is very chilling and the terror is more pure.  The feeling of isolation in the middle of societal collapse more profound. A damn good read, I recommend it very highly.

Mississippi Kites

 

Mississippi Kite

I see a pair Mississippi Kites on my property often this days; amazing birds, very beautiful with incredible flying abilities. I watched one fold his wings and dive for prey yesterday.  It was impressive. The kites here in north Mississippi nest in woodland.  I often see them flying to wood edges and patrolling my large front lawn. 

I am told they eat a lot of large insects, but also take amphibians, reptiles, bats and host of other small mammals. They must take squirrels as I notice the many grey squirrels around my house make themselves very scare when the kites are on the wing.

Last year I had a pair of Peregrine falcons around, have not seen them this year though.

Josie

Hiatus

I have not been posting much of late, been on hiatus, the main reason being I am on a writing tear, trying to finish up my book Finding the McCains.   The writing is done a matter now of putting in some end notes and proof reading. It is a memoir not a history or God forbid a genealogy, but several chapters get very deep into mid Argyll history circa 1500s and I went ahead and added notes on those. 

Summer is already HOT here, not much of a Spring.  It certainly makes me think upon those summers in my life I've spent in Ireland or the UK.  I could use one of them now. 

I should post more as I have several topics that interest me.  The insanity of the US government is one and the current crop of politicians running for president another.  The debt situation, both in the USA and Europe also of interest to me.  I suspect things will be getting more interesting for us.  I also know too many sheep out there for any real reforms to take place.  Only the Black Swan brings about true change.

Jim Roger's Brutally Honest Views

Jim Rogers, a Southerner from Alabama, is rarely off the mark. He moved his family to Singapore a few years ago as he saw the handwriting on the wall. He is an investor and author and is chairman of Rogers Holdings and Beeland Interests, Inc.

Sergio Mendes + Brasil 66 - MAS QUE NADA - In Stereo!

One of my favs from the 60s, Brazil 66 with Mas Que Nada

Bosa Nova, more of....

Is this mic on? Here is some more Brazilian jazz, i.e. Bosa Nova lads and lassies. The very talented Tom Jobim.

The Last Nail, Dr Ron Paul Floor Speech May 25 2011

I know many people have 'normalcy bias'  syndrome going on.  However, listen to Ron Paul's talk on the House floor.  He's telling you the naked truth of it.  Are we sheep or people?

A Certain Sadness

More from Astrud Gilberto. Taking a lunch break here is the now very HOT wooded hills of north Mississippi. What wine goes with peanut butter on whole grain? Chilean red I suppose.

Astrud Gilberto - Manha De Carnabal

More from Astrud Gilberto.  In another time and another place.  Pour the wine and let's listen to the poetry. 

The Real Girl From Ipanema

A follow up to my music post;  here are two photographs of the real girl from Ipanema.  The first how she looks today and the bottom one as she looked in the early 1960s.  She was 15 years old when the song was penned about her by Antonio Jobim (music) and Vinicius de Moraes (lyrics).  She was born 7 July 1945.  So you see, it does pay off to eat well and exercise.