Dead Presidents (and early Saturday nite Bluegrass) .. div

NOTE: Be away on the Eastern Shore paddling the kayak and camping. Ergo, the Saturday nite post is a day early (and besides, it fits the date).
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On September 6, 1901 Leon Czolgosz fired two rounds from an Iver Johnson .32 caliber revolver into President William McKinley's abdomen. Despite rapid surgery, McKinley died on 14 September 1901 - a Saturday - at 2:15 AM.

Bill Monroe's "White House Blues"   - - - holler and squal if you must.



Sam Bush - Mandolin and vocal; Jerry Douglas - Dobro; Mark O'Connor - Fiddle; Tony Rice - Guitar;
Mark Schatz - Bass; and Bela Fleck - Banjo

Fast Bike & Pretty Girl (and a little Bluegrass) .... div

On this date in 1948, Rollie Free donned his swimming trunks and goggles and proceeded to set the US motorcycle land speed record on a production Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle.

English musician Richard Thompson wrote this in 1991. There's at least a great shortstory, if not an entire novel, in the song. It's been covered by several persons, but this is my favorite  - - and Jason Carter's fiddle licks are outstanding.  Fellow blogger Badtux posted the Thompson version back in July, so link to him if you want to make a comparison.

This was recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and has the best quality (feel free to exit before the gospel number  - -  though the McCory band has excellent harmony).
I read a comment about Del being asked to perform this at Newport a few years back. He told the requester no and said to wait 'til later in the show and hear the best version -  performed by the fellow who wrote it.
  Classy.

Zombies of the Culture Wars .... div

They're Back !!!!!
Tomorrow is September 11; a pretty horrible thing happened on a wonderful fall morning (and tomorrow's weather here near the GWTP promises to be exactly the same).
My in-box is beginning to overflow with the crank missives about the "sign on the store door in a Houston mall."  - -  I'm sure you've gotten at least one - if not two or three. For those without any friends or relatives on the far-right (or the simply excitable) here it is:

The verbiage attached in the e-mail goes on to make other claims.
Here's the SNOPES cite  and my previous post on "Calendrical Dysfunction"
As I've said before, it does no use to argue. They'll be hauling this one out of the crazy-bag every year.
The memory of the folks that died in the Towers and the Pentagon deserves better.

Saturday Nite Bluegrass .... div

Bobby Hicks  - -  and the 5-string fiddle...... go figure.

Labor Day ..... div

Used to be that all the stores were closed today. Working folks (except for those involved in public safety or the swimming pools) had the day off. School hadn't started and the political campaigns didn't begin 'til tomorrow.
Now, it's just another excuse to shop while the politicos pay lip service to those ungrateful slugs that are told they're lucky to have a job (and probably won't be getting a paid day off).
What's next "Capital Day"???  -- stay tuned

"...but I've got the power and I've got the will.
I'm not a charity case."

That there speech thingee .......

The local communist/socialist/bleeding heart PBS station here near the Great White Theme Park is re-broadcasting I, Claudius. one of the best dramatic series ever broadcast. At least Livia lets "those who are about to die" know what she really thinks of them. 
I think that Digby summed it up better than I could have, but couldn't Mitt nave even made passing reference to the troops in harm's way ????? I guess that would have come too closr to calling out the name of the person who started all this, eh ???
It reminds me of the Jonathan Winter's Marine Corps' bit where the LT tells the troops how bloody the landing is going to be and saying, "I'd hoped to go with you, but they need me here."

Saturday Nite Bluegrass ... div

Since Bill didn't make it for yesterday's astronomical event, here's one of my favorites. It's a tribute to the man that taught Bill Monroe to play and influenced his career.

Bill Monroe - Mandolin,  Peter Rowan - Guitar, Gene Lowinger - Fiddle, Don Lineberger - Banjo
 ....... don't know who's playing bass.

Blue Moon .. div

Tonite will be the last 'Blue Moon" until 2015. Hope you have a clear view. Enjoy !!
.... and what other song would you expect ?????? Nope, not Bill Monroe; sorry, it ain't Saturday.

Glass Ceiling ... div

Despite all the talk of "inclusion" they still can't help themselves, eh ??
Maybe they just don't get it.
I'm sure she can "make a dress out of a feed-bag," but these jerkwads ain't never gonna be "men."
 ........... No matter how hard she tries.

Alice in wonderland** div (Clean Coal subsection)

Seems that Willard's event at the coal face was staged.
And here's the best part:
"Our managers communicated to our workforce that the attendance at the Romney event was mandatory, but no one was forced to attend,"  Rob Moore, CFO Murray Energy Company. If you care to listen to the 20 minute interview, it occurs at 6:05. For a quick synopsis see this.

Now, get your Funk & Wagnalls out and look up some of the words :
(Note -- definitions from my mac)

 mandatory |ˈmandəˌtôrē|
adjectiverequired by law or rules; compulsory:wearing helmets was made mandatory for cyclists.• of or conveying a command: he did not want the guidelines to be mandatory.noun ( pl. mandatories )variant spelling of mandatary.DERIVATIVESmandatorily |-ˌtôrəlē|adverbORIGIN late 15th cent.: from late Latinmandatorius, from Latin mandatum‘something commanded.’mandatary |ˈmandəˌterē|noun ( pl. mandataries ) historicala person or country receiving a mandate.ORIGIN late 15th cent. (denoting a person appointed by a papal mandate): from late Latin mandatarius, from mandatum (seemandate) .*******Anyone not conversant with the term "compulsory" ????This appears to directly conflict with the statement, "...no one was forced to attend."Ya got any problem with the word "force" as used in the statement ???  Here's some help; (hint, scroll down to the verb and look at #2)noun1 strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement: he was thrown backward by the force of the explosion.• Physics an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body. The magnitude of such an influence is often calculated by multiplying the mass of the body by its acceleration.• a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence: he might still be a force for peace and unity.• [ in combination ] used with a number as a measure of wind strength on the Beaufort scale: a force-nine gale.2 coercion or compulsion, esp. with the use or threat of violence: they ruled by law and not by force .3 mental or moral strength or power: the force of popular opinion.• the state of being in effect or valid: the law came into force in January.• the powerful effect of something: the force of her writing is undiminished.4 an organized body of military personnel or police: a soldier in a UN peacekeeping force.• (forces) troops and weaponry:concealment from enemy forces | figurative: a battle between the forces of good and evil.• a group of people brought together and organized for a particular activity: a sales force.• (the force) informal a police department.5 Baseball a force-out.• a situation in which a force-out is possible.verb [ with obj. ]1 make a way through or into by physical strength; break open by force: they broke into Fred's house and forced every cupboard door with ax or crowbar.• [ with obj. ] drive or push into a specified position or state using physical strength or against resistance: she forced her feet into flat leather sandals | figurative : Fields was forced out as director.• achieve or bring about (something) by coercion or effort: Sabine forced a smile |she forced her way up the ladder.• push or strain (something) to the utmost:she knew if she forced it she would rip it.• artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).2 (often be forced) make (someone) do something against their will: she wasforced into early retirement | [ with obj. ] :the universities were forced to cut staff.• rape (a woman).• Baseball put out (a runner), or cause (a runner) to be put out, at the base to which they are advancing when they are forced to run on a batted ball: I was forced at second base as the first half of a double play.• (in cards) make a play or bid that compels another player to make (a particular response); make a play or bid that compels (another player) to make such a response:East could force declarer to ruff another spade.PHRASESby force of by means of: exercising authority by force of arms.force the bidding (at an auction) make bids to raise the price rapidly.force someone's hand make someone do something: the exchange markets may force the Fed's hand.force the issue compel the making of an immediate decision.force the pace adopt a fast pace in a race in order to tire out one's opponents quickly.in force 1 in great strength or numbers:birdwatchers were out in force. 2 in effect; valid: the US has over $8 trillion worth of life insurance in force.PHRASAL VERBSforce something down 1 manage to swallow food or drink when one does not want to: I forced down a slice of toast. 2 compel an aircraft to land: the plane might have been forced down by fighters.force oneself on/upon rape (a woman).force something on/upon impose or press something on (a person or organization):economic cutbacks were forced on the government.DERIVATIVESforceable adjective,forcer nounORIGIN Middle English: from Old Frenchforce (noun), forcer (verb), based on Latinfortis ‘strong.’force 2 |fɔːs|nounN. Englisha waterfall.ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old Norse fors .******I'm sure this is the kind of world you really want, eh ?? These people are incapable of telling the truth, let alone even knowing what the words they use mean.

** 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.' Lewis Carroll - "Through the Looking Glass