Family Reunion

I'm so excited! Why? Answer: Some awesome relatives I haven't seen in years are visiting from Colorado this week. My favorite uncle, Brian, my Aunt Amanda, and my two little cousins, Samuel (a.k.a. "Sam"),6, and Jack, 2, arrived in town this afternoon. We all hung out at my grandma's house and had a great time. Sam and Jack are the cutest things on the planet. They actually remind me a lot of my baby brother, Austin (who'll be 25 in July but will always be my baby brother), when he was that age. So, sometimes family reunions can be fun and pleasant experiences.

Early Summer Saturday Adventure

The reason I'm posting so dang early this morning is that I'm getting ready to head to Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, twin theme parks in Santa Claus, Indiana, with my BFF, Jennifer. (I received two tickets as "perks" from my job at the radio station.) Therefore, I don't have time to write a whole lot. I will, however, leave y'all with this-- the title of, teaser for, and link to my latest Suite101 article.
Title: "The Sioux Uprising of 1862: Another Major Event That Occurred During the Lincoln Presidency"
Teaser: Abraham Lincoln's presidency is defined largely by the Civil War. However, another event occurred during these years that influenced President Lincoln's policies...
Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08
Enjoy!

About Last Night

Last night marked my return to the stage in Ole Chucktown. It was a highly successful evening. I got to visit with my two BFFs, and I had some of the most fun I've ever had in my entire life. The following is a list of the poems I read and my interpretations of them.
1.) "I Hear America Singing"-- This is author Whitman's shout out to the backbone of America. My reading of this garnered a big round of applause. It's a lively, joyous, and very popular poem.
2.) "For You O Democracy"-- A beautiful, eloquent tribute to American ideals. This is loaded with vivid imagery that symbolizes the expansive geographic and demographic diversity of this great nation.
3.) "The Wound-Dresser"-- This is most definitely an anti-war selection. It's autobiographical, too. Whitman was a nurse in a Union Army field hospital during the Civil War and witnessed all the gore and tragedy war entails first-hand.
4.) "Long, too Long America"-- This is a short little piece that speaks to the resilience of the nation in the face of various crises. Needless to say, I felt it was apropo.
As a bonus, I will regale y'all with Whitman's signature poem. Please note the use of present-progressive-tense -ING verbs, which symbolize current events and forward social movement.

I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day-- at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Source:

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass, Complete & Unabridged Collector's Library Edition, p. 35. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1855 & 2004.

My Return to Open-Mic Night

Yes, folks, I'm returning to open-mic night at the JAC after a six-month absence. In a sense, I never really went away, though. A big part of me permanently resides in Charleston and on the EIU campus. I'm so looking forward to getting back to all that for good. I'm also going to visit a friend whom I haven't seen in awhile. Overall, it'll be a nice evening. I'll tell y'all more about it tomorrow.

Wednesday Workout Diary

Well, I powerwalked this afternoon. It's extremely hot and humid today, and I sweat buckets. It felt really good, though. I can't wait until fall. Walking outside in the fall is the most awesome thing ever! In the meantime, I'll just sweat my way through summer.

Musings on Whitman

Continuing on the all-American theme, I'm currently thumbing through my copy of Walt Whitman's classic poetry anthology Leaves of Grass (1855). I'm going to perform at the JAC (for the first time in sixth months!) Thursday night, and instead of reading original material-- which I admittedly haven't written a whole lot of recently-- I've selected a few Whitman poems to read. The poems are: "I Hear America Singing (p. 35)," "For You O Democracy (p. 162)," "The Wound-Dresser (p. 389-92)," and "Long, too Long America (p. 393)." I think I'll discuss these poems-- and my return to the coffeeshop circuit-- in Friday's post. Whitman is the quintessential American poet, and his subject matter and themes are timeless.

Plans for Memorial Day '09

Today is Memorial Day. I'm not doing anything special. Actually, today is a pretty craptacular day for holiday festivities. It's about 75 degrees, overcast, rainy, and stormy-- definitely not BBQ weather. Anywho, I'm just continuing with my reading and focusing on the meaning of the day. Speaking of which, there's a whole section in Give Me Liberty about "fake patriotism." Naomi Wolf argues that what has passed for patriotism (i.e. blindly supporting the xenophonic, war-mongering policies of a bad president) for the last eight years isn't. I've gotta say that I concur with her.

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Today is Bob Dylan's 68th birthday. The artist formerly known as Robert Allen Zimmerman was born on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. He took his stage name from Welsh modernist/romanticist poet Dylan Thomas (1914-53)-- of "Do not go gentle into that good night" fame. His self-titled debut album was released by Columbia Records in 1962. In a career that has spanned nearly five decades and countless incarnations, The Bard has defined (and defied) American musical tradition. His music is just as, if not more relevant, than ever in this era of social change. So, happy b'day, Bobby D.!

America's Seven Guiding Principles

In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, author Naomi Wolf outlines this great nation's seven fundamental principles. This list is excerpted from a section of the book called "Part II: Core Values (p. 91-214)."
Principle One: We Are Required to Speak Freely
Principle Two: We Have a Duty to Rebel Continually Against Injustice and Oppression
Principle Three: Ordinary People Are Supposed to Run Things
Principle Four: Americans Cherish the Rule of Law
Principle Five: America Establishes No God
Principle Six: Americans Deliberate With Their Neighbors; We Disagree Without Violence
Principle Seven: Liberty is Universal: America Cannot Maintain an Oppressive Empire
Y'know, I'd be hard-pressed to argue with any of this. There'll be a lot more commentary on these seven principles in the weeks to come. I'm actually thinking about basing my summer newspaper editorial on this list. Y'all just need to stay tuned to see what I do with that.

Second Sarah Polk Piece

Yes, I have a second article about Sarah Polk published on Suite101 for y'all to read and enjoy. The corresponding info is as follows.
Title: "Sarah Polk, Ambitious First Lady: The White House Years (1845-49) and Beyond"
Teaser: James K. Polk won the presidency in 1844. From 1845 to 1849, Mrs. Polk influenced her husband and the nation. She continued to do so until her death in 1891...
Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08
If there's one thing I've learned from writing all these articles, it's to never underestimate the power of a Southern woman.

Revolutionary Summer Read

I found yet another interesting book to read this summer. This one's called Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries (Simon & Schuster, 2008). It was written by Naomi Wolf, author of The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot and The Beauty Myth. I haven't started reading the book yet, but the section and chapter titles look very enticing. For exmaple, Part I is entitled: "What is "America"? Not a Country, a State of Mind." Hmmm... I think I should read Wolf's other books as well.

Another Anti-Reality TV Rant

Okay, I just heard yet another blurb about Jon & Kate & Co. They allegedly have an open-marriage arrangement. That is, there's actually a provision in their marriage contract that allows each to date other people. I'm not one to tell others how they should live their lives, but I really have a problem with a couple who promotes a certain set of values in front of God, America, and everybody and then turns around and does the opposite. It's downright hypocritical! Personally, I think Kate's an opportunistic fame whore. If she can make a fast buck off touting herself to be a Christian mommy of eight children, then that's what she'll do. As for Jon, he's either a moron with major self-esteem issues, seriously whipped, and/or just as bad as his estranged wife. Once again, down with yellow journalism!

My New Regimen

I started a new health 'n' fitness regimen this week. I started powerwalking. It's something I've done for exercise and overall well-being off and on for 15 years and always go back to. Brisk walking is an excellent complement to yoga and Pilates. I started working out back in 1994, when I was 14 years old. I've tried all sorts of workouts, but powerwalking can't be beat. My fave months to exercise outdoors are May and October. So, I'm taking advantage of all the beautiful days and sunshine that one of my two favorite outdoor workout months has to offer. This routine kinda got off to a rocky start-- literally. Today, I got distracted by a loud noise and fell on a really bumpy sidewalk, but I picked myself up and kept on going. That's a perfect metaphor for how I choose to live my life. It doesn't matter if you fall down, as long as you pick yourself up and continue the journey.

Be My Friend on MySpace!

Okay, I've decided to increase my cyber-visibility. Accordingly, I'm asking everyone whose interested to be my friend on MySpace. The URL is: http://www.myspace.com/ashleyakalysistrata. There's not much on my page atm, but I plan on posting some poetry and other stuff. I might even get a Facebook account, so I'll keep y'all posted.

The President's Commencement Speech

I watched the C-SPAN broadcast of President Obama's commencement speech that he delivered at Notre Dame University. There was a bit of protest over his visit. This protest had to do with the president's stance on stem-cell research. As usual, he addressed this issue in his speech. He made a number of other excellent points, as well. For example, Obama emphasized that we must be "one family" and work together in order to get through these tough times. He also mentioned that today marks the 55th anniversary of Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned the "separate-but-equal" doctrine and fostered the Civil Rights Movement. In terms of my personal views regarding the protests, people need to realize that we are in the middle of two wars and an economic downturn. Those are the things we must be most concerned about.

A Suite 16th, Part Three

Latest Suite101 article title, teaser, and link:
"Sarah Childress Polk: Ambitious First Lady-- The Tennessee Years"-- Most nineteenth-century first ladies were not known for their personal accomplishments. This was not the case with Sarah Polk, who served as her husband's advisor...
http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08

Ripped from the Headlines!

According to an US Weekly cover story, Jon and Kate Gosselin may be headed for Splitsville. (The Gosselins are those people who have the twin girls and the mixed-gender sextuplets and that disgusting TLC show, John and Kate Plus 8). Jon is allegedly having an extramarital affair with a 23-three-year-old teacher. As for Kate, she's supposedly having a tryst with her bodyguard. Honestly, I'm not surprised. I really don't like these people. For one thing, they exploit their children, whom they chose to have via in-vitro fertilization (which almost always results in multiples), for personal gain. For another, reality TV is notorious for destroying its families. Speaking of IVF, Nadya Suleman-- Octomom-- is back in the news (yawn!). This time, she is being accused of abusing her autistic son. The boy had supposedly been seen with bruises. I'm so sick of all this sensationalized, hyper-reality crap! It's time to focus on Real World issues.

The Final Day

I gave my communications final today. I am so glad for this semester to be done and over with! I ended up having a good class this time around. Not going to have to flunk anybody! That's always good. Anywho, I'm looking forward to having a little time off. It's looking like I'll have an action-packed summer. And that's always really good.

Life in a Pressure Cooker

In my discussion from a couple of days ago of the books I'm currently reading, I alluded to the pressure young women living in the Real World are under these days. Well, I often feel that pressure. I have to admit that I sometimes feel overwhelmed by society's standards in regards to how women should look and act. I also feel pressure to be academically and financially successful. When this pressure gets to me, I try to think of ways to create positive energy in my sphere. For example, I write, read good books, watch good movies, practice yoga and meditation, and surround myself with and talk to positive people (and try to avoid negative ones). More importantly, when I feel really down, I take inventory of my intellectual talents, attributes, and spiritual gifts and try to accept my quirks and weaknesses as part of the unique individual I am. I'm not perfect, and I should stop trying to be so. Of course, that's much easier said than done.

The Miss California Verdict, Plus Views on Other News of the Day

It's official: The Donald Trump announced today that Carrie Prejean, a.k.a. Miss California, can keep her title. Personally, I don't think her conservative views on the gay marriage issue have anything to do with why Prejean was almost decrowned. Furthermore, I don't think the "liberal media" is "out to get her." (I think she destroyed her credibility by making this claim during her press conference, which was held after the decision was made.) As has been mentioned numerous times, our left-leaning, Democratic president shares her opinion on gay marriage. Sure, celeb blogger Perez Hilton might be having a field day with Prejean, but he's just one person. I disagree with both Prejean and the president on gay marriage, but this is America-- and everyone has the right to express his or her opinion. No, I think the scandal has more to do with the fact that Prejean lied about some risque photos on her pageant application and got breast implants that were paid for by the Miss California USA organization. Speaking of the prez, coverage of the Miss California debacle was preempted by coverage of his decisions and negotiations with Congress in regards to his healthcare policies. It's good to know that this country's news organizations have their priorities straight!

More Thoughts on Quiverfull and Pledged

Well, folks, I'm continuing my reading of Quiverfull and Pledged. I must say that both books are becoming increasingly disturbing with each turn of the page. For example, in the Quiverfull movement, the women have this weird lingo; they refer to themselves as "helpmeets" and "Prairie Muffins." Now, how demeaning are those labels? Also, young women who cannot reproduce for health reasons are advised by their groups' "spiritual leaders" to not marry, since there's no way they could please a prospective husband. Like those of us who live in the Real World don't have enough pressure exerted upon us! Finally, and most disturbingly, there's a strong natalist (read: white supremacist) aspect within the movement. BTW, America's "favorite" Quiverfullers, the Duggars, are briefly mentioned in the book, and are believed to be "liberal" by many followers' standards. The use of the words "Duggar" and "liberal" used in tandem with one another is scary in and of itself.
As for Pledged, well, I just don't get the whole sorority thing. I think it defeats the whole purpose of going off to college, which is to find oneself. You can't do that very effectively if you have an organization dictating your every move.
To conclude my rant, I know it's not my place to judge the lifestyle choices of others. I don't know exactly why some women want to live such a safe, controlled existence-- but it's their perogative if they choose to do so. I know one thing for sure, though: I couldn't exist within either the Quiverfull or the sorority world. I prefer to live (subtle difference there!) in the Real World-- along with all its problems.

A Brief History of Mother's Day & My Personal Thanks

Mother's Day was actually celebrated for centuries in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Later, it became popular in European nations, such as England and France. When the first English settlers came to America, the Puritans discontinued the celebration because it conflicted with their beliefs. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, author of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," issued a Mother's Day Proclamation as a reaction to the carnage of the Civil War. Groups of "Mothers for Peace" sprang up across the nation and celebrated the occasion as a protest against war. Many of these mothers had lost sons in the Civil War. These groups eventually died out. Then, in 1908, Anna M. Jarvis, whose own mother had recently passed away, petitioned Congress to designate a national holiday to honor mothers. Ironically, Jarvis herself died childless and impoverished and openly railed against the commercialism of the holiday she helped create. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
To learn the more in-depth history of Mother's Day, log onto: http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/about-mothersday/history/.
All that having been said, I'd like to now give a personal shout out to my mom, JoAnne Waggoner-- our family's original ObamaGirl. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Peace, Love, & Happiness!

My Prescription for a Nice Saturday Evening

Since there's absolutely nothing to do in this podunk town, I'm having a nice little Saturday evening in. I rented Bride Wars. I've heard mixed reviews about it, so I'll have to check it out to see if it's any good. Also, I've got some cool tunes. Of course, I've got my "Lucky Seven" CDs and Lynyrd Skynryd's All Time Greatest Hits. Every self-respecting Southern Belle has to have that in her music collection! "Sweet Home Alabama," "Simple Man," and "Freebird," are among my all-time fave "crank-'em-up" songs. They're also three of the greatest party tunes ever. Ya can't go wrong with a lil' romantic comedy and some good ole Southern rock-- excellent combo! I'm kinda laying low this weekend, since I just wrapped up the semester at work, plus I need a little R&R before I start grad school. Once that starts up, I'll be a bit more sociable. Hopefully, I'll meet Mr. Right while pursuing an advanced degree. For now, I'm okay just hangin' out.

Latest Lincoln Article

Latest Lincoln Article w/Teaser:
"Abraham Lincoln and the Know-Nothings: Did Lincoln Share the Views of a Discriminatory Political Group?"-- In the mid-1850s, a political group called the Know-Nothings was very influential in America. It was believed that Abraham Lincoln sympathized with this party...
Link:
http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.

Scary Anniversary

On May 7, 2008-- exactly one year ago today-- I was in a pretty serious car accident. It was pouring down rain, and I was racing to work. I pulled out at a stop sign and was broadsided by a pick-up truck. The truck's driver did not have his headlights on, so I couldn't see him very well. Anyway, I managed to escape with only minor burns from when my airbags deployed and a very minor back injury. (Yes, folks, I said, "airbags-- plural." I think that was the most traumatic part of the whole ordeal.) My car at the time, a silver 2003 Chevy Cavalier, was a different story. On top of all that, I had to go to court to pay off a "failure to yield" ticket. As for the other driver, he was already in a lot of other legal trouble and was charged with "criminal negligence." If hitting me was what it took to get that maniac behind bars, then so be it. Needless to say, I'm in a much better place today. At the time of the wreck, I was going through an existential crisis. Perhaps in a perverse sort of way, the experience was a life lesson: Sometimes you need to slow down in order to get the most out of life. If you don't heed this advice, it could cause problems down the road-- literally and metaphorically.

My Sick 'n' Twisted Summer "Pleasure-Reading" List

A few days ago, I mentioned that I'll be required to read Frankenstein in that Brit. lit. class this summer. Well, I also plan on doing a little reading for fun. The following is a shortlist of my summer "pleasure-reading" choices. The selections are characteristically bizarre.
1.) Joyce, Kathryn. Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement. Boston: Beacon Press, 2009.-- This book is highly disturbing, to say the least. Author Joyce discusses the in and outs of the "Quiverfull Movement," an ultra-conservative Christian movement that requires wives to be completely subservient to their husbands and to bear "as many children as God will allow." In other words, birth control of any form is an absolute no-no. What's even more frightening is the fact that the number of Quiverfullers is increasing. According to Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed and This Land Is their Land: "While mainstream America faced the possibility of a female president, a grassroots movement has been quietly organizing to restore patriarchy-- and reduce women to the status of slave-like breeders. Kathryn Joyce gives us a first-ever glimpse into the Christian patriarchy movement, and her riveting reporting makes it all the scarier. If you've been feeling complacent about women's status, read this book!" I concur, Barb!
2.) Robbins, Alexandra. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities. New York: Hyperion, 2004.-- I'm finding this book to be almost as disturbing as the previously mentioned one. Young women go off to college to ostensibly prepare themselves for adult lives, only to allow themselves to be controlled by highly paternalistic organizations known as sororities. I knew soriority, or "Greek," girls at Eastern, and trust me, that early 90's SNL skit isn't too much of an exaggeration. The New Republic (online) says,"Every parent of a college-bound daughter should read this book." Yeah, they should.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

Yes, it's May 5. More importantly, it's Cinco De Mayo, a holiday that is cloaked in misconceptions regarding its origin. The common belief is that the occasion is a celebration of Mexico's declaration of independence from Spain. This is actually not the case. According to an article by Sonya Sorich, a journalist from The Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer, Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated in September. Cinco De Mayo is a celebration of Mexico's victory over France in the Battle of Puebla, which occurred on May 5, 1862. This win was a major step toward Mexican independence. Today, the holiday is more widely celebrated in America than in Mexico. Having grown up in Corpus Christi, Texas, Cinco De Mayo has always been a huge part of my life. Like Mardi Gras-- another Gulf Coast custom I became aware of early on-- Cinco De Mayo has become just another capitalistic excuse to party-- not that I'm complaining! So, pass the enchiladas, margaritas, and/or the Cuervo Gold! It's Fiesta Time in the Ashleyverse! (Note: I'm going to delay Ashleyverse Cinco De Mayo festivities until the weekend. I have to work at both jobs all afternoon and evening today and won't feel much like partying when I'm done.)

40 More Years?

Well, James Carville has a new book out. In 40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation (Simon & Schuster, 2009), Carville argues that the Democratic Party will win elections for the next four decades because it has the support of young people. While I don't know if my party will "rule" for the next four decades, I agree with Carville's assertion that the GOP is in big trouble because its platform and leaders are out of touch with the up-and-coming generation, not to mention the majority of the American people.

Realization

It just dawned on me-- I'm starting grad school in a month. How did that happen? It'll be a little nuts juggling school, commuting, and working two jobs; however, I'm (currently) single and don't have kids yet. Thus, it's now or never. Plus, you pretty much need an advanced degree in order to make it in today's hyper-competitive world. I guess the name of the game in the Ashleyverse is: A busy life is a good life. I need to have a lot going on, or else I get weird. Therefore, I'll just be busy!

What I'm Listening to on My Road of Life

As y'all already know, I love music. The following is a list of my "Lucky Seven" CDs. When I listen to these while cruisin' up (or down) Rt. 130 in my Volkswagen Passat, there's absolutely no way-- especially when the weather's great-- that I can have a bad day. The list of CDs I'm currently listening to, along with characteristic commentary, in my car is as follows:
1.) Bob Marley and the Wailers-- Legend (Island Records, Inc., 1984): I listen to this truly legendary reggae compilation when I'm in a lame mood in order to pick myself up. Songs like "Is This Love" and "Three Little Birds," as well as "One Love/People Get Ready," always do the trick. The CD also features the awesome live-from-the-London-Lyceum version of "No Woman No Cry." I prefer to play this CD in the wintertime as a reminder that better days are ahead. I was first turned on to Marley by two college friends, cute male foreign exchange students from the Caribbean and the Netherlands, and was immediately hooked.
2.) The Black Crowes-- Greatest Hits 1990-1999: A Tribute to a Work in Progress... (SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, 2000): Y'all probably guessed I'd throw some good ole Southern rock in there! You can't go wrong with the Crowes' cover of Chris and Rich's fellow Georgia Boy Otis Redding's (Mr. "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" himself) "Hard to Handle," "Twice As Hard," "Jealous Again," & every Dixie Gal's theme song-- "She Talks to Angels."
3.) Cat Stevens-- The Very Best of Cat Stevens (Universal-Island Records Ltd.-- a division of A&M Records, 2000): This one has a lot of sentimental value for me. My dad, who owned a record store in the early 70s, used to play Stevens' tunes "Moonshadow" and "Morning Has Broken" around the house when I was little. (This was done to mellow me out! LOL!) In addition to those beautiful songs, I love "The First Cut Is the Deepest," "I've Got a Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old," "Wild World," "Where Do the Children Play?," "The Wind," "Peace Train," "Oh Very Young," and "Another Saturday Night."
4.) Various Artists-- Elizabethtown: Music from the Motion Picture (SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, 2005): I've oft rhapsodized about this soundtrack and the film it accompanies. My fave tunes have got to be Ryan Adams' "Come Pick Me Up," Elton John's "My Father's Gun," eastmountainsouth's "Hard Times," Patty Griffin's "Long Ride Home," Jeff Finlin's "Sugar Blue," Tom Petty's "Square One," and I Nine's "Same in Any Language." The perfect roadtrip-across-America CD!
5.) Bob Dylan-- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Columbia Records, 1963; 2003): This is the Bard's socially conscious sophomore effort. It includes classics, such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," "Oxford Town," and "Talkin' World War III Blues." The sound and subject matter might be a bit dated for some listeners, but the themes and message are timeless and as relevant as ever.
6.) George Harrison-- Brainwashed (Capitol Records, Inc., 2002): This collection was released posthumously. The "Quiet One" collaborated with his look-alike/sound-alike son, Dhani, prior to his 2001 death from cancer. In addition to the title track, "Any Road," "P2 Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night)," "Pisces Fish," "Looking for My Life," and "Stuck Inside a Cloud" are particularly awesome. With its heavily spiritual lyrics, Brainwashed is an ideal yoga CD.
7.) George Harrison-- All Things Must Pass (Capitol Records, Inc., 1970; 2001): The first hit album from an ex-Beatle, ATMP was re-released following Gorgeous George's passing. This two-disc set contains so many great songs that I may have to have a separate post to discuss it. If I had to narrow it down, though, I'd have to say that my faves are the title track, "My Sweet Lord," "What Is Life," "Beware of Darkness," "Awaiting on You All," "Art of Dying," "Hear Me Lord," and "If Not For You," which was written by Bobby D and is the greatest love song ever. There is also a five-song set of guitar jams that showcase Harrison's enormous talent. Like Fab Four bandmate John Lennon's solo masterpiece Imagine, ATMP is a brilliant, Phil Spector-produced effort, complete with the signature "Wall of Sound."

May Day! May Day!

Today is May 1, commonly referred to as May Day. This ancient Celtic celebration was the second most important holiday for the Druids. May Day has a Pagan (pre-Christian) connection. When the Romans occupied the British Isles, May Day was a fertility ritual in which a Maypole or Maytree symbolized, of course, fertility.
Later, the Puritans in 17th-century England discouraged the practice of May Day customs (shocker!). Meanwhile, the holiday was very popular in France during the French Revolution. Here, Maypoles and Maytrees were called "liberty trees."
In the U.S., the Puritans continued to ban May Day rites. Nonetheless, the holiday and its customs-- especially the crowning of a May Queen-- survived in the New Republic.
In modern times, there have been a number of references to May Day in pop culture. For example, 1970s British rock gods Led Zeppelin sang the hit song "Stairway to Heaven," which contained the lyrics: '...It's just a sprinkling for the May Queen.' Lead singer Robert Plant has a lifelong obsession with all things pertaining to ancient Celtic culture. (I got that off Zeppelin's Behind the Music!)
To learn more about the history of May Day and/or other holidays, go to: http://www.theholidayspot.com/mayday/history.htm.
Aside: "May Day! May Day!" is apparently the new official battle cry of the GOP. The party would have to clone Lincoln in order to become relevant again. Even if that were possible, the Republican base wouldn't like its genetically engineered "leader."
Speaking of Lincoln, I've written yet another article about him on Suite101. This one's called "President Lincoln's Generals: The Union Army Went Through Eight Generals Before Civil War Victory." Teaser: During the Civil War, the Union Army suffered crushing defeats under the command of seven different generals. The eighth and final general led the Union to victory...
(See yesterday's post for link.)