Saturday, September 13, 2003
BOLO
Men! Are you up to date on proper neck wear?
I thought I was, but I have just discovered that the western style Bolo Tie is relatively new in men's wear. It is not a part of our heritage from the days of the Wild West as many of us seemed to have thought it had to be. A man by the name of Victor Cedarstaff was riding along the Bradshaw Mountain trials with some friends near this home at Wickenburg, Arizona.
There was a gusty wide that day, and several times Victor had to grab his hat to keep form losing it. The hat wasn't of any great concern to him; it wasn't that valuable to him, but the hat band had a silver buckle attached to it, which the rider prized and did not want to lose along the trail. To safeguard it, he slipped the cloth hat band off with the buckle attached and put it around his neck.
Later he fitted the buckle to a rawhide cord, added a beads as groments on each end to keep the buckle from slipping off, and named his creation a “bolo tie”, because he came to realize how much it resembled of the of the rope with weights attached to both ends, thrown so skillfully by Argentine pampas riders as an efficient weapon.
I bring this up because I have found the colorful bolo tie to be the supplement to casual wear which make the wearer feel dressier. That's about the only reason I have ever heard for wearing any kind of a neck tie - a unifying touch after all else is done, possibly, as an expression of wearer' individualism, as well.
I find Bolo ties to be suitable for women's wear, too. A colorful strand with a light-catching stone design can be the perfect cleavage center of interest for that special moment. The Bolo Tie catalogs are brimming with a fine selection decorative emblems for every mood, any personality trait.
And, bolo neck wear is so easy to tie, too. It may well help solve some of your Birthday and Christmas holiday gift giving problems. A tri-colored set of bolo neck ties with birthstone, holiday or special events designs can be extremely personalized gift both men and women will admire and cherish..
A.L.M. September 12, 2003 [c403wds]
Friday, September 12, 2003
FAST FOOD FIXER
Years ago - in 1986 – the Ladies of the Staunton - Augusta County (Va.) Rescue Squad published the following recipe in their fund-raising Cook Book. I like it...
“ E L E P H A N T S O U P
1 elephant 3 rabbits (Optional)
Salt and Pepper
Cut elephant into bite size pieces. This should take about two months. Add enough gravy water to cover. Cook over kerosene fire for about four weeks at 465-degrees. This will serve about 3,800 people. If more guests are expected, two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary, as some people do not like it when they find hare in their soup.”
I like such a dumbed down item now and then. This one serves well during this era when fast food are taking over on the gastronomical scene We need a touch of humor in our daily routines when so much of what is considered to be “funny” is seems to be contrived on the lewd oriented standard. A bit f whimsy and good humor, especially from an unsuspected place - such as a Cook Book - is always most welcome.
We need a touch of foolishness in our lives. That, to me, seems to be a part of being happy. Some of the most miserable people I have known have been those who have taken every moment of ever day seriously and worked intently to keep it that stern way - devoid of any bright color caused by a sharp departure from linguistic or mental restrictions. Being “happy” can often be a matter of seeing how utterly ridiculous we appear as we do some of the things s robotic rituals, without thought and consideration for the feelings of the feelings of other about us.
The only way your can disprove that is for you to refuse to try it. We often have more need than we might realize concerning our narrow attitudes toward other people about us. I do not favor all of us becoming “Chuckling Charlie” personalities. Nothing comes across so leaden as does contrived or insincere attempts at being”funny” but the proper, subtle touch of humor can brighten the most difficult work day.
A. L. M. September 11, 2003 [c381wds]
Thursday, September 11, 2003
OUR RIGHTS
I often find myself questioning the public understanding of exactly what constitutes our “rights” as citizens of this nation.
The general view of the term has changed in recent decades. It, like so many other designations, has been both over-used and and abused, I fear. The idea of listing certain things as “our rights” has been twisted and, far too often, tailored to fit the wishful wants of special groups and individuals. The term has been so mis-identified and mis-applied by groups and individuals to suit personal desires that is has acquired a sub-title in a preface word “civil”.We have, thus, created a new element of confusion and now we feel it necessary to decide what may be “natural” an and others as “legalistic.”
Our feelings are reflected in the actions of much of the media when we see a tendency to guard against being mis-read. Often, when the term ”rights” is prefaced by a limiting term - “0ur”, “Black”, “Afro-American” or “Hispanic” or others of that nature, the entire concept of “right” becomes clouded and limited. Bounds are set and re-set.. “My rights” can come to mean many things and narrow racial, social, economic, religious and downright quirky departures refuse to surrender to any modifications.
At times, sensible men and women urge us to think on grander terms, but this, too, leads to trouble. If one thinks of the Christian religion gives him the right to evangelize the world of people of other groups who claim identical rights or worse. This, in turn, injures other unifying fact as geographic placement or linguistic associations.
Internationally, we see some fine examples of how nationalistic tendencies can undermine efforts toward unity. They have done so repeatedly and caused severe divisive friction. The old League of Nation – while it was a noble effort – has been replaced with and even more cumbersome amalgam pf nations. It is ironic that simply by exchanging just two letters the title is made to read: “Un-tied Nations.” As many nation, some not as large as many cities around the world, insist on certain “rights” which , they feel have accrued to them simply by membership in the co-operative effort.
It is time we re-think what we really;mean when we speak of our “rights.” That is especially true of those we have come to classify as being “civil.” We need to be more aware of our standards here at home, so we can better judge the claims of others to the same or equal rights.
A.L.M. September 9, 2003 [c443wds]
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
YE PILGRIM FOREBEARS
Those Pilgrims, fresh to the woods of New England from the Old World, were real style setters. Artists of the time were followed by others who copied that which Pilgrims and/or Puritans are said to have looked like and how they dressed in their first years in this cold continent in drab sameness.
To avoid seeming to be pretentious, they dressed “plainly” - all black with no colors permitted. Their shirts were of black material, pantaloons and trousers, as well – all black as could be. Frock-like tunics and coats were added when the first Fall season fell, and one could spot earmuffs being added beneath the rim of the low style stove pipe hats Mr Lincoln came to favor later on.
If the newcomers went around dressed in such flimsy apparel as the artists show them, there must have been some frigid souls among them. There was one mitigating circumstance, however, which is seldom hinted at by those in the plain clothing mode. Nothing is said about the superb quality of heavier types of the plain cloth. That which appear to be approved non-pretentious clothing could be of any thickness desired as long as the the purchaser possessed pecuniary power. To stave off shivering a proper Pilgrim had best have some spare shillings squirreled away. The plain cloth items would be of various kinds of materials - probably not silk because the silk was of the Orient and doubtless pagan from birth, so it would be avoided, if known at all. The black coats could be as thick as the pence supply available allowed them to be. Knitted scarves and shawls were said to have been common as at-home wear and they were used by men as well as by women and children.
The buckle business what a part of the Pilgrim style scene, too. Remember those big pewter, silver or brass buckles on top of the usually pouch- like shoes often made of rough leather and held together around the foot by the addition of “pewter, silver or brass buckles. Or, so often the artists like to show a big buckles on the front of said Pilgrim's high hat. This whole matter of buckles could be seen as a frivolous addition may well have used were skillfully cared from wood for holding shoes together.
Now, this this matter of the strange conical-shaped barrel gun Pilgrims always seem to have had at hand. A hapless hare may dart across the path, or a bird might sww-o-o-ish overhead in a threatening manner overhead. More stories of multiple kills with one shot have probably originated with such blunderbuss guns which must have sprayed shot widely throughout the atmosphere
The picture so many of us have of the early American Pilgrim-Puritan is about as accurate as is our knowledge of natives of that time and place.
Who says we don't have an art heritage in this country?
A.L.M. September 9, 2003 [c551wds].
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
HILLTOPPERS
Locally, the Mike Shirkey family seems always to live on a
high hill.
Regardless of where they have moved in recent years, they are always living above the surrounding terrain where one can see for miles in just about all directions. Each place they have lived has also become the site of our family Fourth of July Fireworks Watching outing. Each year we can see the 4th being celebrated at four or five locations off to the East or the South primarily.
The first place they called home as a family of four was built a hill above a larger, older brick dwelling known as “Storm Hill” just north of Verona, Va. Evelyn Shirkey was grew up in that old house which was so-named because when it was being built after the Civil War severe storms delayed the construction so often the site became known as”Storm Hill”. The Shirkeys lived in a smaller house built atop the hill called “ Storm Hill”. Theirs was smaller house build for her Mother and father by her Grandfather Marcus Arndt and Evelyn''ls father Frank McCue. They enlarged that house considerably and added a sizable workshop building nearby, added a swimming pool and a two-car garage unit to the house itself. Adept in such tasks on a do-it-themselves basis. It sold promptly when they decided to go into the poultry business on a farm near Fulks Run, Va. in the west edge of Rockingham County, just a short distance from Mathias, West Virginia.
The farm had two dwellings and they could have lived in the lower one, but, true to form, they chose the smaller house on top of the steep hill overlooking their two, large, double-decked poultry houses. Our Fourth of July observations suffered somewhat by that move, because across the steep valley one could see nothing seemingly endless expanses of National Forest covering massive ranges of mountains to east and west The Shirkeys did very well at then broiler raising operation, but it became evident that sufficient help was not to be available in the rather remote area and they decided to shift to a more readily manageable farm operation raising eggs for hatchery needs.
That called for a move to a new location in Augusta County ,Virginia with a few miles of “Storm Hill”. The transition was effected smoothly, and where did the Shirkeys decide to self-build their new home - on the hilltop, of course, a bit west of the laying house operation. In so doing they have restored our Fourth of July fireworks watching privileges to the best situation yet. We can now view the displays at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton, those in Waynesboro, a the Wintergreen Resort in Nelson Count, and the massive display set off by Massanutten Village Resort just east of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County and other smaller attempts in between each of those.
Thanks to the Michael Shirkey family - Mike, Evelyn, Chris and Jon - our family Fourth of July celebrations have been restored, enlarged and and invigorated.
A.L.M. September 8, 2003 [c595wds]
Monday, September 08, 2003
WOULD BE'ERS
How can men and women who have set themselves up as being of such stature that they might expect themselves to become President of the United States, be so unthinking, vindictive, childish-biased, and impolite in voicing their opposition to the current holder of that office?
We are now witnessing a curious exhibit by a group of eight or ten such persons aspiring to that office, who seem to feel they deserve our support and dedicated service so the can be our leader. Yet, day-by-day, seeking that place, they openly vilify and openly insult our elected President.
This, to me, is totally wrong!
It is, not only an highly suspect way of going about seeking support, but is is the wrong road road to take in an ethical way, as well. I think the office seeker should have a measure of respect and honor for the office he seeks in this particular case. That is not established if he or she repeatedly scorns the present holder of that office - chosen and elected by a majority of the people.
I do not appreciate it at all when anyone - in public forums - accuses the President of the United States - our nation unfairly- be he Republican, Democrat or of another party. I felt the same with others in the past of either party. My view is that, once elected, that individual is “our” national President - not merely that of the party which placed him there. It is the party we must judge for any shortcomings, not the individual.
One by one the current cadre of would Presidents seem to be vying with each other to see who dare voice the most unscrupulous accusations they can evolve of President George W. Bush. One such candidate, just this last week, accused Bush of total unworthiness at least four time in one sentence in a recent speech. Certainly that candidates handlers must know that is no way to win friends and influence voters. Those tricks of the politicking trade which seem to have worked well in lesser levels of election procedures, are forbidden in the more exalted stratum naming the nation's President.
The potential candidates who make use of this disturbing technique of slander, false accusations, and gossip-engendered skullduggery, are doing a dis-service to their own party and to the nation at large. Their selfish, inconsiderate appeals to the lowest elements of political life; maneuvering innuendo are an insult to those who are earnestly engaged in seeking the highest office in the land.
Listen intently to the campaign oratory; evaluate what you hear on the basis of common elements of fair play, honesty and politeness, and be aware of snide personal references to the personal traits of the incumbent. Now is the time for us to weed out the wrong doers. Pick and choose your candidate with care.
I do not buy products from an advertiser who knocks a competitor's product by name. I do not vote for a politician who openly knocks his oppositions attainments. His task, to me, is to show me how he can do better; not to list the things he thinks the incumbent may be doing wrong.
A..L.M. September 7, 2003 [c534wds]
Sunday, September 07, 2003
POP CHANGE
The rate at which the population of Earth is increasing is everyone's concern.
We may sit by and insist that it is the over-populated areas of the world which need to start doing something to control the number - not us.
There are more or less six billion people now occupying this rather small planet. We have become somewhat used to that term “billions” here in our section; you don't need to worry until you start talking in “trillions” and we have reached that state in our debt retirement arrangements. But, six billion is quite a sizable group of people, especially when we realize it is not static but multiplying all the time as a we sit here talking about - even for a few minutes.
The implications of such growth on our future is becoming more evident by the moment. Any child born at any place on this Earth occupies an expanded portion of the space available. We are unwilling victims, even now, as ever-increasing throngs of excess people from the Latin American nations, in particular, migrate to our borders in ever-increasing numbers to become either legal or illegal citizens.
We are very much concerned - like it or not.
Can Earth feed more than six billion people? That physical aspect comes quickly to mind with church groups, and other charity organizations we have expected to deal with such problems in the past. The rations, of some sort, will be there in an abstract form, of course. That is a minor portion of the real problem which will face our children. Each of us will have less, of course.
There is a host of other concerns than food to sustain the increased numbers of people. Every aspect of our various levels of culture will be mutated by the mere pressure of such numbers, and, if you feel the nations of the world have trouble getting along today you may have a hint of what it could become when restraint is not present among us. Competing among themselves for bare necessities can turn civilized men into barbarians of the worst order. In managing an over-populated world, the worst is yet to be..
We can wait no longer! It is, quite likely, past time for the United Nations and individual states around the world to pay strict attention plans to control the growth of world populations. We need detailed studies compiled in mutually close, honest and upright co-operation with the China, India and others.
We cannot continue to set and re-set vague dates for undertaking such survival studies. Even now may be too late.
A. L. M. September 6, 2003 [c424wds]
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