Read it: The Wanderer’s Hávamál

Despite having read contemporary translations of Beowulf and Gilgamesh, as well as having the entirety of History Channel's Vikings under my viewing belt, I only recently became aware of the Hávamál. A Norse term that translates into "sayings of the high one" and possibly "sayings of the one-eyed", the Hávamál is a single extensive poem in the Codex Regius, a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking age. Attributed to Odin, the poem lays out practical advice for living.

The Wanderer’s Hávamál is a modern translation of the text prepared by Dr. Jackson Crawford, a Youtube celebrity of sorts, who's online channel "features expert information on all aspects of Old Norse language, myth, culture, and sagas, plus related subjects and some other things just for fun." (Jackson Crawford's Old Norse Channel). My own awareness of his expertise and celebrity was inversely obtained: I came across the title online, ordered and read it, before realizing there even was a YouTube channel. While the Dr. Crawford envisioned while reading the book is slightly different than the "character" presented in the videos, both make Norse mythology incredibly accessible to the common joe like your's truly. Not surprisingly, however, that which is communicated verbally is a little more readily understandable than the text. In this case though, the text is insightful and challenging, in a good way, and rewards the reader who engages it either before (as in my case) or after the benefit of Dr. Crawford's very well produced and orated YouTube content.

Dr. Crawford on YouTube.

Using the familiar introduction-original text-translated text-commentary structure of many contemporary translated works, The Wanderer’s Hávamál, is a highly readable work wherein the coolest stuff (at least for this reader) lies in the commentary and explanation Dr. Crawford offers regarding his translation process and practice. The Hávamál translation, including original text, comprises less than 50% of the book (roughly 85 of 220 pages) and is laid out on the pages as 164 stanzas, some connected by repeated lines and others more randomly placed. Confident Dr. Crawford's placement of stanzas is very intentional rather than "random," to my uneducated perception of the organization, the transitions--if they exist--are less-than-clear.

Some of my favorite translated stanzas from The Wanderer’s Hávamál include the following:

While the majority of stanzas (such as 15 and 31 above) bear truth that resonates in a contemporary context, a few are not surprising a little dated, such as 84 which suggests that “no man should trust the words of a girl… Faithlessness is planted at their core.” These are after all the product of Old Norse culture so some sexist nuances are to be expected. Either as result of Crawford's choice of words in translation or the emphasis on male life in general, the overwhelming majority of The Wanderer’s Hávamál avoids overtly misogynistic advice.

Occasionally we are reminded of our original speaker of the poems as Óđin is addressed within the text. For example, in stanza 98 wherein “Billing’s daughter” suggests that “You should come back/in the evening, Óđin…”. While the deceit is that Óđin is communicating these suggestions for living

A number of stanzas throughout (especially beginning right around 97) are also directly tied to Old Norse mythology and culture through the inclusion of specific names or objects. For example, the giant’s daughter, Gunnlođ, appears in stanza 105 to offer drink to the narrator sitting upon a golden chair. Of course, her(?) name is also dropped much earlier in stanza 14 but without an identified relation to the giant. As a result, Gunnlođ's gender remains unclear to me (assuming they’re the same individual). Challenging inconsistencies of this nature only make the overall text more interesting for this reader as it invites one to actively engage in the text by researching the answers to such questions in both the edition's commentary or online.

Like Beowulf, Gilgamesh, or even the Hagakure (Book of the Samurai), Dr, Crawford's The Wanderer’s Hávamál reminds how valuable, and relatable, ancient wisdom remains in a modern context. In edition to recommending The Wanderer’s Hávamál, I would also recommend stopping by his aforementioned YouTube channel which is chock full of additional insight... both vehicles of education complement one another very well, so where you choose to begin is up to you!

Summer Reading: Your Black Friend

From My Black Friend, page 2, panels 1-2.

After seeing the extended collection of Ben Passmore's online comic strips, Your Black Friend and Other Strangers, recommended in the past few weekends' New York Times Book Review, I took the small step toward reading the entire collection by first ordering the single issue version online, Your Black Friend. The choice of the shorter, 11 page version was two-fold. First, I was looking to read with an eye toward sharing with my junior and senior high school students this coming school year (and as such it might be more affordable for their purchase). Secondly, given the subject matter and that first purpose, a direct succinct delivery of the message might serve more useful and accessible.

More a graphic-essay than novel, what we comic book collectors might call a "one-shot", Your Black friend is best described as "sharp, informed social commentary in the form of an open letter on race and being black in America." (Goodreads) Indie publisher Silver Sprocket, in a formal description picked up by other online sources, tells us that this is Passmore‘s "necessary contribution to the dialogue around race in the United States, Your Black Friend is a letter from your black friend to you about race, racism, friendship and alienation."

Perhaps not surprisingly, despite it's brevity, Your Black Friend is very challenging reading, and experience that is very likely to be shaped by one's own background and openness to facing difficult realities. Both Passmore's contemporary, colorful and engaging art, as well as a natural, organic, writing styles combine to craft a dialogue that resonates for the reader looking to engage. At the risk of sounding like that white friend that Passmore astutely suggests "express their undying enthusiasm for 'Black Lives Matter," Passmore objectively illustrates (in words and pictures) the self-defeating thoughts by many sides of the conversation that result in meaningful communication failing before it begins.

As a 49 year-old, white male reader auditing my own experience, Passmore has me pegged. In doing so he has my attention. The missteps Passmore presents, I think, are not intended to further deepen the white guilt that he astutely notes as problematic, but rather to prompt these moments of genuine reflection. For example, as a high school teacher of a primarily white student body with a (thankfully) growing level of diversity, I do find myself sliding into 'black' presentations thoughtlessly." This is a mistake, as Passmore notes I may have been "totally unaware of." I am now.

So where does this take us? As Passmore shows in the closing pages of his essay, which mirror the events in the open, often it seems to leave us as a community and culture right where we were in the first place. In between the framing device, Passmore opines insightfully, but the commentary appears to ultimately have little impact. At the end of the day, the "nicely dressed white woman" with the "Eat, Pray, Love vibe" and the white friend reading a Yoga Book remain peacefully blind (and mute).

Oddly this reminds me of my past experiences at school district opening days. Annually, teachers start the school year with a tremendous presentation preceded by "professional development" attended by a small group of administrators and select teacher-types. The entire district takes two hours before students arrive for the school year, to set the theme for the year to follows. Smaller building level trainings are sprinkled in for the whole body of teachers to participate in... and by June little is meaningfully changed within that system. Briefly though, maybe we feel better about ourselves...

I strongly recommend this graphic essay for all audiences, but especially white folks, well-intentioned or otherwise. I don't know about you, baby, there must be a better way. As the author notes in the panels above, "What white ppl fear most is making things awkward'" and perhaps the first step is accepting the invitation to be awkward.

Seen It: Lone Ranger: "Message from Abe" (1957)

The Ranger (Clayton Moore) and the-man-who-would-be Abe (James Griffith) in "A Message from Abe."

Few television shows stand up to repeat viewing like classic Lone Ranger episodes. In retrospect, as a child, I was much too dismissive of the earnestness and quality brought to the roles by Clayton Moore (Lone Ranger) and Jay Silverheels (Tonto), but I am glad to say that I've learned from the error of my ways. Fortunately, episodes are readily available in low cost DVD collections and online.

For five bucks you can't go wrong.

The school district for which I teach maintains the time-honored tradition of a mid-Winter break, or President's Week Recess. In addition to looking forward to this week's release of Game of Thrones Season 4, this time also provides the opportunity to re-watch some classic shows . Not only is "A Message from Abe" the only color episode on the $5 collection (the DVD artwork of which is pictured to the left) but it also includes a recitation of Abe's (as in President Abraham Lincoln) more famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address.

Playbills are an effective way of advertising...
in the Old West.

Phil Beach (James Griffith) has a checkered past. He's made mistakes, but has endeavored to follow the straight-and-narrow, even becoming a sort of hobbyist cos-player. When the men who brought him to justice, the Ranger and Tonto, come across an advert for his commemorative speechifyin' (right), they decide to "look him up and see if he is [married and living on the right side of the law]." Of course, things don't always go smoothly for the rehabilitated criminal and a mystery (involving the mistaken identity of Abraham Lincoln re-enactors and missing loot) quickly develops

Without giving too much away, this episode once again illustrates the Ranger's keen observational skills, as well as his uncanny ability to fight crime and solve a mystery without resorting to violence or gun play, despite the preconceived notions that come with a story set in the Old West. In this episode, by simply taking stock of subtle gestures, the Ranger proves capable of both capturing the criminal and redeeming the wrongly accused all while invoking the forgiving spirit of President Lincoln.

Thanks to MoviesWebTV, via Youtube, the complete episode is available for free online (and embedded below). There are much less worthy ways to spend 20 minutes of your holiday than returning briefly to "those thrilling days of yesteryear."

Holiday Flick: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

My introduction to the world of Rare Exports came two years ago when I  happened upon a film short entitled Rare Exports Inc. (2003), and its sequel Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions (2005). Produced and directed by Norwegian filmmakers Jalmari and Juuso Helander, both were produced as faux documentaries, and collaboratively contributed to developing a mythos around the exportation "distinguished, extremely rare products" to faraway countries from the wilds of Lapland (Finland).

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) is the full-length fantasy film directed by Jalmari Helander that takes elements from both and develops them into a singular  origin story of sorts for the company's product about whom the earlier two "infomercials" are made. Set near the Korvatunturi mountain, Rare Exports tells of a young boy who inadvertently discovers the secret behind the "real" Santa Claus.

The film focuses on a group of local reindeer herders whose Christmas is disturbed by excavations on the mountain. A scientist has ordered a team of workers to dig open what he calls "the largest burial mound in the world". An explosive used by the team uncovers what is referred to as a "sacred grave". However, the occupant of the grave is still alive. Soon, the reindeer important to the local people are mysteriously killed, and children and supplies begin to disappear from the town. It emerges that the occupant is the source of the original Santa Claus myth; a supernatural being who, rather than rewarding good children, punishes the naughty. One family, however, manages to catch the culprit in a trap, and plans to sell it to the scientist to cover the losses caused by his excavation.

Jorma Tommila and Onni Tommila.

Tonally, the film deftly shifts from being a tale of a hard-working community suffering through financial times in the holiday season to a horror-noir. The soundtrack by Juri Seppä and Miska Seppä provides subtle auditory transitions, while never jerking the viewer out of the film experience. If the marketing of the film weren't so holiday-themed, the surprises and twists (of which there are a few) might carry even greater impact. The beautiful cinematography by Mika Orasmaa, as well as the superb performances by Jorma Tommila and Onni Tommila, as the father and son, respectively, at the center of the story, lend this movie an eerie mid-Eighties Spielberg-Carpenter vibe. Touching, scary, and beautifully rendered, this holiday-horror-fantasy does something extremely unique (at least in my experience) in recent film: it begs to be re-watched.

In a more discerning world, Rare Exports would find its way to becoming a cult-Christmas favorite, so help get that ball rolling by watching it on direct stream via Amazon Prime this holiday season!

Never a good idea to tease "Santa" with a gingerbread man cookie!

Sources:
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Wikipedia Entry

Now Even I Can Tie a Bow Tie!

With a day off from school, and a few hours(!) to burn, I set about late this afternoon  to attempt to learn how to properly tie a bow tie. I had purchased one a few weeks ago when visiting my stepson at college and figured  there might be no better time than the present to give it a go...

After watching four different "how to" videos on Youtube and reading numerous charts on Pinterest, this evening I finally figured out how to tie a bow tie. For whatever reason, it was the video above featuring Mike Gonsalves (aka "brother" of www.sisterbrotherstyle.com) that finally allowed it to all come together for me. After repeated viewings perhaps the best advice he gave was the reminder that "there is no such thing as a perfect bow tie." Like most, the most challenging element of the know was the back knot, which Mike explained using a taco metaphor, and--HUZZAH--it worked!

Mission accomplished! (11/11/13)

Idiom Fun: Hot As A What?!

Plastic bracelets from yesteryear; well, 2006 anyway. (9/15/13)

As a teacher in the upstate New York suburb of Greece, New York, and even furthermore a teacher at Greece Athena High School, most folks outside the region have a sense of where I live either by our presumed proximity to Buffalo (it's not that close) or as the school where the autistic student scored "all those threes" in 2006. While Jason McElwain's ESPY Award winning performance (and the incredible circumstances that made the story noteworthy in the first place) continues to be well documented, this post is about a little known corner of the "J-Mac"-verse that I was recently reminded of.

Upon returning from our most recent summer break, I was pleased to find that someone had anonymously gifted me with a unique present. While Jason and I have coached together the past few years (not basketball, but the high school sport that he earned his first athletic recognition as a student-athlete: cross-country running) I had only been part of the Athena school community for a few short months when the "J-Mac" story struck. I had just begun teaching on the building's third floor, which was at that point a separate (other than by name and location) middle school program. I wasn't at the game and I really didn't even get "it." At first.

In the days following the national exposure of his story, all types of t-shirts and memorabilia became common in the school halls, most notably two items with competing J-Macisms: a t-shirt imploring folks to "Stay Focused!" and black and gold (the school's colors) with a secondary phrase which for many outside the Greece community has been lost to the sands of time, "Hot as a Pistol!"

The anonymous gift I received at the start of this school year was an unwrapped black wristband which on one side was impressed in bold gold lettering "Greece Athena Trojans." On the opposing side was the phrase "Hot as a Pistol!" with an illustration of a basketball right of the lettering and a small handgun to the left. You read correctly: a small handgun.

Beyond my appreciation for the many great athletic accomplishments of our school's current and past student-athlete's, I am also a member of the English department, and as such, enjoy the wordplay of interesting (if not necessarily well-turned) idiom. The choice of that particular idiom on a celebratory bracelet such as this to be sold in a school is unusual, especially given its use of a phrase that reflects gun use and includes firearm imagery. The fact that a bracelet with this idiom was distributed at all  recalls "gentler" times(?) when fire arms idioms were not seen in such poor light. Of course, in our current climate, given the horrendous spate of national gun violence tragedies in school settings, a bracelet such as this would never see the light of day.

So just where does the phrase "hot as a pistol" come from? All idioms come from somewhere after all...

Most assuredly, Jason innocently used the phrase to reflect how "on target" he was on the basketball court that evening. He did after all make successive three point shots. Country legend George Jones once famously sang the Gary Lee Gentry lyrics that "Lord, she was 'hotter than a two dollar pistol'" which has a very different connotation. In both cases being "hot as a pistol" is a decidedly positive state to be in. The irony here is that in the past being "hot as a pistol", two dollar or otherwise, was actually not a good thing.

I would imagine that initially the idiom was intended to reflect the poor quality of an inexpensive (two dollar) pistol. Being "cheap" (and small), an inexpensive pistol is likely to yield significantly higher chamber pressures (hotter) than a more costly counterpart. Additionally, a cheap firearm is made of lesser quality materials, and will heat up quickly when fired; cheap metal doesn't conduct heat as well as heavier, more expensive metal. Being hot as pistol may have been a phrase turned to suggest something that, when used, was revealed to be of a lesser quality.

More modern translations, however, are more in line with J-Mac's intent. One online slang dictionary defines a "pistol" as "a person who is bright, quick, or energetic," for example in phrases such as hot as a pistol. Interestingly this new detonation of the noun pistol does dissipate the gun connotation from the phrase making it somewhat less insensitive. Of course, the gun graphic beside the quote on the bracelet reinforces the less desirable connotation, reinforcing the original (less positive) gun motif.  

Also lost to time is the side note, confirmed on Wikipedia, that Jason's Speech/Language Pathologist throughout high school, who was in attendance that night, later assisted him in "coin(ing) alternative language expressions to his now-famous 'hot as a pistol' phrase." One can only guess at what additional phrases were never given credence by making their way onto tee shirts and bracelets, but thankfully, the hot as an idiom has done nothing the diminish the overwhelmingly inspirational message of McElwain's feat.

The fantastic good news is, that either in the past or present, that amazing Youtube footage, and the cultural icon it led to, has not lost its very positive connotation.

Jason McElwain (J-Mac) and I coaching at the 2012 Section V X-C Championship.

Sources:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-152405.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/idioms/pistol
J-Mac's ESPN story

The Last of Us the First of Mine?

Historically, there is a long tradition of comic book tie-ins supporting popular television shows and movies. Sometimes they are "good," such as the current Django Unchained series being published by DC Comics, and sometimes, not so much. In the past fifteen years, there has also been a huge increase in video game tie-ins as well, some of which most mainstream gamers and comic book readers may not even be aware of. (For example, did you realize that Archie Publications has been publishing a Sonic the Hedgehog ongoing comic book since 1993?!)

As a comic book collector and gamer, sometimes these are worth picking up because of the additional narrative insight provided or simply because of the synergy between the two. The admiration of one does not necessarily lead to the collecting of the other; for example, while I enjoyed the Mortal Kombat-esque Injustice: Gods Among Us X-Box 360 game, (and a healthy appreciation of the updated character), I did not jump on board the comic book prequel which, like Django, is also a DC Comics publication.  (DC/Wildstorm had some success, I felt, with the recently concluded 24 issue run of Gears of War.)



Issue #3 cover by series artist
 and co-writer Faith Erin Hicks. 

I recently begin reading the four issue miniseries (of which issue three came out two weeks ago) The Last of Us: American Dreams, published by Dark Horse.  Co-written by the game developer's (Naughty Dog) creative director Neil Druckmann, this prequel to the highly lauded PlayStation exclusive game, The Last of Us, this four issue miniseries introduces a younger version of one of the game's main characters and establishes the narrative tone that is further developed in the game.

A game, regrettably, I may never play as I am an X-Box 360 gamer. But, if I play my cards right, The Last of Us may be the first of mine. The reviews for the game and the quality suggested by the comic book are so strong that I am considering greasing the skids with my wife to purchase a PlayStation unit, solely for the purpose of playing this game. (I have been fortunate that the better Resident Evil games have been re-worked for X-Box to this point, though there has been a wait.)

I have not previously seen the works of writer and artist Faith Erin Hicks, but she is clearly one of the creators I would now pick up at least the first issue of whatever she works on. While Hicks artistic style is clearly influenced my manga, it is not to the point where there is a "large eye" distraction--a pitfall other artists tend to fall into. The framing and execution of action "set pieces" is exquisite and worthy of multiple "re-reads." I intentionally placed "re-reads" in quotes as the series of panels in which these take place often are without words.

At a cover price $3.99, the color comic book (printed on high quality paper--unlike Marvel comic books), is a bargain, something that is not easy to type or say about much of what is published today.

Can Kipling Sell Video Games?

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back;
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

While watching some video clips on Youtube recently, I came across a commerical for an upcoming video game release, Destiny. My stepson, an avid Halo fan, had mentioned this game to me previously, but as a non-Halo player myself, it held little interest.

This commerical has me curious, but not to play the game as much as to consider the poem being used by the production to promote the game. In this short clip, Giancarlo Esposito (most recently seen as Gus Fring on AMC's Breaking Bad, reciting some select lines from "The Law for the Wolves," commonly referred to as "The Law of the Jungle" due to its source, Rudyard Kipling's novel The Second Jungle Book.

In the original Jungle Book, Kipling sets forth an actual set of legal codes used by wolves and other animals in the jungles of India. It is in the Chapter Two of The Second Jungle Book, that Kipling provides a poem, featuring the Law of the Jungle as known to the Wolves, and as taught to their cubs. As an English teacher, I have on occassion used this poem as an example of a personal code of ethics set forth in literature, eventually inviting students to translate and update the tenants set forth in a more human (and modern) context.


Given the videgame pedigree of Destiny, there is little doubt that it will make money, and even less doubt that the link to Kipling will not be seen as a determining factor in its overall success. It is, however, interesting to see traditional "classic" literature (and British Lit, no less!) seep into the world of advertising. The visual translation of Kipling's "The Law for the Wolves" into such futuristic and accessible (to younger consumers) is a tremendous reminder of classic literature's ongoing relevance when presented in interesting and unique contexts.

"The Law for the Wolves" in its entirety is available for reading (and sharing) at here.

Sources:
"The Law of the Jungle" entry on Wikipedia.

"I Don't Always Watch Youtube..."

But when I do it's rarely Masterpiece Theater clips (except maybe those featuring Diana Rigg as the hostess).

I also sparingly drink alcohol, and have yet to sample Dos Equis beer (a terribly watery and weak beer if my acquaintances are to be believed), I, like many, find myself at least moderately entertained with the faux over-the-top machismo of "The Most Interesting Man In the World." Surprisingly, the roguish adventures depicted by Jewish-American actor Jonathan Goldsmith, as "The Most Interesting Man In the World," are in fact narrated by a different... uh, man: the exclusive narrator of Public Television’s long-running Frontline, Will Lyman. The commanding, exotic voice, along with the devil-may-care visuals, are part of what make the ad's "Man" among the "World's Most Interesting."

In a recent moment of blind boredom, I found myself watching Dos Equis commercials on YouTube and was tickled to find a few mentions of the one distinguishing feature I share of Goldsmith's hero: a grey(ing) beard. As one who is occasionally "thrown headlong" into beardedness, it is sometimes neat to come across depictions or interpretations of beardedeness in the media. (Clearly, I have A LOT of time to think on ridiculously insignificant--and wholly uninteresting--matters.)

Some of the favorites I did hear (which are also tailor maid for memes and Facebook/Twitter status updates) include:

• "His organ donation card also lists his beard."
• "His razors never get dull."
• "His beard alone has experienced more than a lesser man's entire body."

It is easy to suggest that his elegant bearded facade alone is the key contributor to his claim of being "The Most Interesting Man In the World"...

Spread the Word: Woodsy Rules!

Today in school, my student teacher "found" my stack of used (and rinsed) Bruegger's Bagel Shop paper coffee cups and asked, during class, "Mr. Scott, why are you saving these cups?" I told the class that becuase I no longer used a re-fillable mug, I was trying not to be wasteful, so I am saving them to bring them home to be recycled. After a brief impromptu soapbox speech about the importance of recycling,I blurted out "Help keep America looking good--give a hoot don't pollute!" My chorus was greeted by... blank stares.

"Does anyone know who Woodys Owl is?" I inquired, sure that someone had either had the characetr and his message shared with them by a parent, or at least had come across his friendly visage online. Again, blank stares.

It was at this moment that I pledged to post something about Woodsy Owl, that anit-pollution (noise pollution, too!) populist of my childhood. Like many children of the early 1980s, legendary U.S. Forest Service mascot, Woodsy Owl, was an important part of my Saturday morning cartoon-watching ritual. Between he, Schoolhouse Rock and Smurfs, I pretty much learned what I needed to in order to navigate the tough hallways of my local public elementary school. Well, maybe the Smurfs didn't help so much.

There are surprisingly few PSAs on Youtube (maybe there just seemed to be more when I was a child) and each seems to have been voiced by a different actor, the above one being clearly voiced by the originator of Disney's Winnie the Pooh voice, Sterling Holloway. As voiced by the late Mr. Holloway, few gigantic woodland creatures can communicate to the youth of America about the necessity for keeping our parks, neighborhoods and streets litter free, like Woodsy!

How unfrontuate that such catchy (and educational) PSAa no longer appear on our airwaves.

The "Mountain Dew" Mystery Exposed!

Last evening while correcting papers I was listening to my Bluegrass Station on Pandora and a tune performed by Roger Sprung, Hal Wylie and The Progressive Bluegrassers came on. Though I had not heard the song previously, upon hearing the chorus, synapses began crackling and dots started connecting and a few random thoughts came into focus. The song entitled "Mountain Dew" made me think immediately of the sugary sweet soda beverage favored by many of my students.

Some key lyrics were later found on the Scoutsongs.com Virtual Songbook:

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll hush up my mug if you'll fill up my jug,
With that good old mountain dew.

Why in the world would the carbonated beverage share the same name as this old bluegrass classic (performed in the clip above by The Stanley Brothers)?

After listening intently to the song a second time, I recalled a recent visit to the local supermarket during which time I had taken note of  a soft drink display of recently released "throwback" cans. I further recollected that on the Mountain Dew throwback packaging was depicted what can best be described as a "hillbilly" holding a "moonshine" jug. As is often the case, Wikipedia filled in the gaps.

Come to find out that the name "mountain dew," first trademarked by Ally and Barney Hartman in the 1940s, was coined from a colloquial term for moonshine whiskey. That is why early bottles and signage carried the reference forward by showing a cartoon-stylized mountaineer or or, as I saw it, hillbilly. In recent years, the marketing has changed significantly to attract a younger, and presumably more spendthrift, demographic.

Now, what was previously deemed unhip (the hillbilly logo), is ironically cool again by virtue of his (its?) being old. In an age of affection for all things nostalgic, images, products and just plain "things" that are dubbed "throwbacks" (the same lingo applied to the reissue of out-of-date sports jerseys), are once again desireable--in a way, everything old really is new again.

Well, that and apparently there is not much of a market for non-alcoholic moonshine among most older mountain folk.

New Shoes, Same as the Old Shoes!

My wife and I went to one of our favorite local running stores about a week and a half ago and I purchased my third successive pair of Brooks Beast running shoes. The pair I bought earlier this year ran me about $100, and I was floored to see the price tag this time inflate to $129.99! So, why did I pay such a seemingly outrageous price?

Well, having been running for a few years, and being the owner of a couple of rickety limbs, I have had the greatest "success" wit these bad boys and have been hard pressed to find a pair of running shoes which do the job as well.

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

On the Road Again!

Anne, Gracie and I are leaving shortly for parts known (Bath, New York) and tomorrow I'll be attempting my second compete ultra-marathon, the 50k (32 miles) Finger Lakes Fifties.

My mantra while I run this time "be here now." I also wish I hadn't eaten all of the delicious fritata (with green peppers, red peppers, onions and potatoes)... I always feel sick after eating eggs (even those made without steroids and free-range).

I look forward to reporting back on my progress tomorrow!

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Music O'Monday: Three Babies

"Though I tried,
I blasphemed and denied,
I know they will be returned to me."

This past weekend in our lovely upstate New York state city, most folks celebrated St. Patrick's Day by either running the annual five mile race (1,450 people this year!), drinking heavily, wearing green or some combination of the three (like yours truly).

Prior to sitting down this morning to prepare a Music Monday submission, I definitely had it in my head to select a song by an Irish artist NOT named U2 (though I do dig them). A number of artists/bands popped into my skull during my morning run (to be checked up on Youtube later: Afro Celt Sound System, The Hothouse Flowers, Simple Minds...), any number of bands I enjoyed primarily during high school and college.

Eventually, I settled on sharing the tune "Three Babies," by Sinéad O'Connor. Though I have not thought of her music for quite a while, for a period of time she was so explosively in the limelight (The Lion and The Cobra, anyone?)... a powerful force that would not be repressed. It seems a loss that Sinead is no longer accessible as an artist, especially as her message of love is in such short supply now.

Re hearing this song now, for the first time in years, its hard not to remember the birth of my son... an experiential touchstone for most of those things (images and songs) which most touch my heart...

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Music Monday: Louisiana Man

"He’s got fishing lines strung across the Louisiana rivers,
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat.
He’s setting traps in the swamp catching anything he can,
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Louisiana Man,
He’s gotta make a living, he’s a Louisiana Man!"
(NOTE: Turn your speakers UP when listening to the song...
sorry about the low level audio on this clip!)


For those of you us who think Youtube must have everything... think again! I searched long and hard for the version of the song "Papa Thibodeaux" that appeared on The Best of Cajun Country (1988), but all I could come up with was this version by some anonymous lad.

Uniwlling to alter my focus for this week, and unable to find the version of that particular song for my Music Monday contribution, I did find another Cajun country-flavored tune which better captured the spirit of "Papa Thibodeaux," at least the version I grewed up on,"Louisiana Man" by Doug Kershaw. Not surprisingly enough, Kershaw's tune also appeared on the Best of Cajun Country CD.

Why was I hoping to post the song "Papa Thibodeaux" in the first place? Quick recap: When I was a child my mom and (step) father had my middle name removed from my birth certificate, so I grew up with no middle name. About twelve years ago, I began using the middle name "Thibodeaux" (appearing in most cases imply as "T"), based primarily on that song (from the CD above) and the fact that in sounded good with my first name, which is a hyphenated French name. There's more of a story to this, but why bum ya'll out on Music Monday?

So, as they say in Cajun country..."Let the good times roll," or

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Music Monday: Once In a Lifetime

"Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down,
Letting the days go by/water flowing underground,
Into the blue again/in the silent water,
Under the rocks and stones/there is water underground."


I remember loving this song as a middle school student as much for the video from the Talking Heads concert movie Stop Making Sense wherein lead singer David Byrne was running around stage in "the big suit," as for the music.

Like books read and not understood in youth, when I heard this song on the radio last week I realized how much meaning is in the lyrics that the thirteen-year-old Scotty never heard or felt...

Embrassez votre été invincible!

Music Monday: Sweetest Girl

"Cause, I'mma tell you, like Wu told me,
Cash rules everything around me..."


Two weeks (or so) ago, Scott Pelley interveiwed musician Wyclef Jean for television news magazine 60 Minutes. As part of the interview, Pelley joined Wyclef on one of his many visits to Haiti, the country from which Wyclef emigrated while a very young child.

Though he grew up in New York City, Wyclef never forgot his Haitian roots. Since achieving a level of success, fame and affluence as a hip-hop artist nearly twenty years ago, Wyclef has spent much of his time and money on efforts to draw international attention to the many health and financial problmes in Hait, a nation where the average Haitian lives on $300 a year.

The song above, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," is from Wyclef's most recent recording, The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. In an odd way this song strikes me as being a thematic throwback to the politically-charged, musically subversive hip-hop of my youth--the type of songs (Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions) while defending the art form to those who haven't really listened to it before... and in sharp contrast to the more exploitative, hard core, "music" which has been so popular in the suburbs over the past fifteen years or so.

Embrassez votre été invincible!

Music Monday: Badly Drawn Boy

"Everyday we've got to hold on,
Cuz if we hold on,
we could find some new energy."

Yesterday at about two in the morning, I was lying half asleep in bed, when my wife put her arm around me. Moments later, our dog jumped onto the bed and sprawled across my legs, laid her muzzle on my waist. All forty-plus pounds of her just laying on me looking at me.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be reminded of how good it feels to be pressed against, or hugged, not in a weird-way, but with a sense of physical closeness that shows you are cared about. My wife's touch alone reminds me of how fortunate I am...

The song I've selected for today's Music Monday is "The Year of the Rat" by Badly Drawn Boy, the video of which is featured above. In the video, the main character uses the power of hugging to connect with those around him in way that transfers his goodwill onto those who need it... like many of us, I suspect.

With a brand new year ready to dawn in a few days, it is easy to see why, now as much as ever we could all use "some new energy."

Embrace your invincible summer!

Music Monday: Hard Sun

"There's a big,
a big hard sun,
beating on the big people,
in the big hard world."~Eddie Vedder

Shoveling in my drive way yesterday morning, afternoon, and evening, it was not too difficult to sense the allure of the quiet, wind blown expanse that Chris McCandless sought, that as documented (sort of) in , John Kraukauer's Into the Wild. There is a definite solace to be found in the repetitive physical labor of shoveling snow, of working quietly and independently with one's own thoughts.

On my street live doctors, mail carriers, teachers and homemakers, most of whom have their driveways plowed in the wake of the whirring, grinding mechanical hum of Bobcats and trucks. Barring physical ailment, this act seems to me cheating. Though many begin complaining at the first late-Fall snowflake about the terrors of future snowfall, I would suggest rather that they embrace the reality of it all and use the moments as they present themselves.

The song posted above, "Hard Sun" by Eddie Vedder, is from last year's Into the Wild movie soundtrack. Combined with the images and instrumentation the song seems to suggest the spirit of hard, true, and honest "work"--defined as "discipline" rather than "career"... as well as the satisfaction that can come with having accomplished something without benefit of unnecessary assistance... be it shoveling or living.

Embrace your invincible summer!

Looking into The Selfish Giant

"You're building a wall to protect yourself,
you're just building a wall to defend yourself,
you're just building a wall that will break your heart."
~The Selfish Giant


As a child, my mother did her best to promote reading as a pleasurable past time. I remember as a very young child in the early Seventies being given a copy of Reader's Digest with the short story "The Selfish Giant" by Oscar Wilde. The magazine was somehow also a promotion for a Christmas television special which would be airing on television. My brother and I both read the story and eagerly awaited the television show, which did not disappoint. I'm sure we didn't "get" the message, though we loved the visuals, music and story.

I've found myself thinking of "The Selfish Giant" quite a bit recently--how he began very cold and separate from the rest of his community, how the love of the children made him realize his error and how despite changing his ways, the little boy who had first stirred the emotions in him remained elusive, that is, until the end.

How many of us go through a hardening of the heart when things seem too hard to bare... or share.

Though the movie may be too difficult, or too expensive, to purchase, there is always the Youtube'd segments like the one above, or the original Oscar Wilde story available here, enjoy either, or both..

Embrace your invincible summer!