6/30/09

Gone With the Wind: June 30, 1936

June 30 is the 73rd anniversary of the publishing of Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone With The Wind so I must critique myself as a very bad southerner for not noticing sooner!

(It's now 1:45 am edt, July 1 - GWTW's anniversary has ended so quickly...)

Miss Mitchell's novel won a Pulitzer Prize in 1937 with its depiction of the burning of Atlanta by Sherman's troops standing tall amongst the emotional angst and high romance of her well-drawn characters.

One of my fondest memories of my older sister is that she insisted on taking me downtown to see the film in spite of my parent's objections. That a 6-year-old should see Rhett Butler's sassy ways on the big screen is doubtful, but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, its look and feel, the drama, flirtations, the beautiful fashions, and the southern manners and moxie.

Needless to say, I was completely won over by Gone With The Wind...and by those da*ned Yankees, too.

And naturally Brit actress Vivien Leigh became an instant favorite of mine though the controversy about her off-and-on again 'southern accent' still raged around me, but I didn't care and thought she was perfection in the role of Scarlett O'Hara.

In fact, I never got over my love of Scarlett's window-drapery creation of mossy green velvet with tassels and it probably undergirds (pun intended) some of my chiffon-satin-velvet drawing efforts of ladies and tasseled pillows over at Cosmic Persona Designs to this very evening.

Seeing and later reading Gone With The Wind also informed me of what I'd only heard mentioned when cotton fields still dotted my personal landscape - the slavery of human beings who looked exactly like people to me, and I never understood why they were not considered part of humanity by those who seemed more like animals for their cruelties, and were not anyone I'd like to get to know.

One example of this type of person was a landowner in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, by the name of James 'Jim' Smith who ran for governor twice in the state and lost both times. After a lifetime of hearing my father's tales of the man's cruel personality, I can only imagine how the monster's head would have enlarged from the swollen ego of a politician's victory.

Even now, not so far from where I sit and type into the night, there is a 'wide place in the road,' as my Daddy described in in later years, called Smithonia, Georgia. You can still see Smith's house, a two-story white number with a vault built around back, and one of his many barns still stands with a metal 'S' on its side. The vault was where King Midas counted his golden coins aplenty.

My Dad often told of Smith's railroad by which he transported bales of cotton and other products to port and to town, one of them being my hometown of Athens. All this was in the 1800s and into the early 1900s, of course, for that sort of plantation is long gone with the winds of time and change as was the fictional O'Hara family's way of life.

My Dad once heard the train whistles blow across the hills...



Original painting of the Rio Grande Engine 318 by Jan P. Rons

Since my father was born in 1908 on property next door to the Smith plantation which his ancestors had purchased from Jim Smith in 1821, he had memories of hearing Smith beating his slaves in the house. One can only imagine that such a hateful creature was difficult to please and I'm told that he became more cantankerous with age.

You've noticed that people seldom improve with age - if they were difficult in their younger years, they usually will only get worse as their aches increase! (I may resemble that cantankerous remark.)

Yet Smith played the stereotypical role of beneficent boss-dude, too, for each summer when the watermelons ripened he'd throw a huge picnic for everyone.

Some consolation that must have been.

But my Dad did say that it was always a good time for them all. With only birds for 'tweeting' and not much fun stuff going on around the countryside in those days, a big bunch of folks getting together for a pleasant reason would have been a huge deal. And you know how people back then appreciated good orators and expected them to speak for a goodly long time...even the politicians!!!

Where Jim Smith Now Lies Since December 1915...

The Jim Smith Mausoleum is set upon a hill within historic Oconee Hill Cemetery in downtown Athens where some of my family members were buried long ago (from my Mom's side, too) but it's full-up last I heard so you'll be settling for an official tour rather than an eternal nap if you should mosey that way.

But don't let that dissuade you, for Athens is only an hour-and-a-quarter's drive from Atlanta and quite an easy route to follow, if you've a mind and a steering wheel. We have lots of art and music as always, and you might even see a famous personage floating around the streets (not the ghost of Jim Smith, silly! The dead are unconscious and know nothing and have no part in anything under the Sun, you know - that's why it's called Eternal Rest) yet perhaps a musician or two might meet your gaze.

If you visit be sure to drive down Milledge Avenue which has the happy circumstance of being studded still with lovely ante-bellum homes though most now belong to UGA's Greek fraternities and sororities. It's a similar situation to castles of the British Isles that have to do something inventive to keep afloat thanks to size and costs of upkeep.

The University's Greek system has preserved the homes, however, and the avenue is quite a lovely street upon which to be born (not inside a huge ante-bellum relic though! And I was not born wearing a hoop skirt nor do I sport a southern accent. Sorry, Folks.)

Here's a link with a virtual tour of my hometown, and quite surprisingly the site informs me that Kiplinger's has named Athens, Georgia the 5th best place to live for 2009!

Why, I do declare, Miss Scarlett, I believe we're coming up in the world!

6/29/09

Pet notions and paths of least resistance

"The path of least resistance and least trouble is a mental rut already made. It requires troublesome work to undertake the alternation of old beliefs. Self-conceit often regards it as a sign of weakness to admit that a belief to which we have once committed ourselves is wrong. We get so identified with an idea that it is literally a "pet" notion and we rise to its defense and stop our eyes and ears to anything different." John Dewey

I'll say! And now here's an example of my own well-worn paths of least resistance leading to a temple of old beliefs!



Path to an Ancient Temple, drawing by jude cowell 2009++

6/28/09

America's 233rd birthday: Solar Return 2009!

Happy 233rd Independence Day, America!

Yes, it took a few hours but now I can relax - my astrological babblings about America's July 4th birthday (which marks the start of her 'Solar Return' year 2009) are published and await your consideration, if you're game.

Some additions to the post may occur as time permits but I do wish to note here the Sun Cancer-Moon Sagittarius blend's details. From birthday to birthday is the 'Solar Return year' as if we get a new natal chart to work with until the next time the Sun 'returns' to the degree and minute it was in at birth - in this case, when America the Nation was begat.

Our founding is usually considered to be the July 4th, 1776 Declaration of Independence proclamation, yet its signings went on for weeks.

For that and other reasons, there exist several versions of the US natal chart, as you undoubtedly know, so a link is included in my post to a place where a real astrologer (one Ed Kohout, by name; I'm only a reluctant one) divulges a list of all the versions for you. Some versions are not so much in use these days yet have been popular in the past.

My SR 2009 post uses two versions: the 'Franklin' chart (Sun 13Can13) and the 'Sibly' chart (Sun 13Can19) = 2:21 pm vs 5:10 pm lmt respectively, July 4, 1776, Philadelphia, PA - thus giving two differing charts upon which to base America's Solar Return 2009. Images of Solar Return and Natal charts are included, and of course, it is the Sibly chart that corresponds most closely with the attacks of 9/11's planetary placements.

But enemies are capable of being aware of these things, too, you know.

For if you're the sort of person who's obsessed with gaining power and influence over others, why would you not make use of Astrology? Its principles have been used for centuries in a negative way for just such power moves...As Above, So Below can give wily varmints legs-up on their unwitting contemporaries, some of whom may busy themselves poo-pooing Astrology when they could be learning something strategically helpful.


So! America can be a steamy Water-Fire Sun Can-Moon Sag blend for an entire year, and here are the Images for Integration the universe is giving us to work with for 12 months:

'Philosophy and friendship round a large, old kitchen table...A racehorse gives a child a ride...In your home on a yacht you cruise the seven seas.' (Sun Sign-Moon Sign, Chas & Suzi Harvey.)

This changeable 'romantic traveler' is gifted with musical ability and is traditional yet progressive. Intuitive, dramatic, and adventurous, yes, yet restlessness and impatience can undermine goals as can carelessness with detail.

Personal prejudices are justified with detached argument; sarcasm may be a mask for dependency and vulnerability.

Yet there's an eye for patterns and a love of harmony (so the Rosslyn Chapel 'cubes' that were ~supposedly~ deciphered into a musical score would be perfect for this customer!); a colorful, poetic imagination may sparkle, and warm enthusiasms bring out the best in others. But beware emotional volatility and quick mood swings!

The Sun Can-Moon Sag blend is shared natally by theologian and preacher John Wesley and by Mervyn Peake who authored Titus Groan (I don't know why exactly, but he did) so I'll close with quotes from each of them...

Wesley: "I look upon the whole world as my parish." And, "Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge."

(You, dear reader, may wish to substitute 'blogs' for 'books' if applicable!)

And finally now we have a rather non-quixotic quote from Mr. Peake which may apply any old year to this nation born with Sun in Cancer - no matter the Moon's sign:

"He had no longer any need for home, for he carried his Gormenghast within him. All that he sought was jostling within himself. He had grown up."

(Titus Groan.)

But can The Fool from the Tarot deck ever completely grow up? Perhaps not, but since we're about to enter our 234th year, it's beyond time that America the Nation did.

6/27/09

2010 elections near: is it ousting time again?

An article by Ed Ciaccio is so nice, I'm shouting out to it twice concerning the much-needed ousting of congressional incumbents in 2010 who have just voted to continue (air) funding an ill-advised, illegally entered, and over-priced war in the Middle East.

"Air funded" because who knows which mint will print the near-worthless dollars to fund more war while millions of Americans go jobless, unsheltered, and hungry.

You'll find more of my (Child of the Revolution) opinions on the situation at Stars Over Washington...but perhaps the easily ruffled should avoid SO'W at all costs.

So okay, the above-linked article's advice is not 'nice,' just abundantly necessary to follow if we-the-people are ever to have back our tattered, shredded America. Yet even in her current condition as Washington's play thing, cat's paw, and piggy bank, she's better than anywhere else...so far, dear reader. So far.

Yes, the 2010 elections will arrive before we know it with chances to oust! Are you in?
~:~

6/25/09

'A Cat from Bernanke' as Bernanke testifies 6.25.09

~:~

Uh oh! Guess it had to happen sometime.

Mr. A. Cat has sent in a new limerick for me to type and post for you called A Cat from Bernanke, and if you click you may read it and re-view a photo of my Libby Kitty spying on you from the grassery!

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified on Capitol Hill today, y'know, about the Bank of America/Merrill-Lynch fluff-up, so spycat extraordinaire Mr. A. got busy with the pithy rhymery. His contact in town is Lim, one of my feline roommates, and through Lim, I am assigned typing duties for Mr. A.'s literary efforts.

That's how it rolls around Lim's Limericks, and frankly I grow weary of my enslavement to a cat. Rrraorww-rr-r-r!

But please remember: though I may occasionally rhyme a word or two (when the muse lands too heavily upon my shoulder to be brushed off with a mere flick), I'm officially only the typist under contractual agreement to Lim's Limericks - and I don't do windows or quality control!

~:~

6/24/09

Smart Cat video: watch and learn!



Now I love cats but I really really love smart cats, don't you?

Check out "U tink iz eazy? Try it wifout THUMBZ!!!"

~:~

Is there a 'right ear advantage'?

New Scientist reports on a study that says that if you want something, ask in the person's right ear not the left!

Is that where I went wrong? ;p

~~:~~

6/23/09

Wandering Educators pick of travelers everywhere!

One of the more interesting and informative sites around is Wandering Educators, a worldwide community of educators sharing travel articles, photographs, advice, and recipes, along with arts and artisan features and interviews.

The amazing photographer Dr. Jessie Voigts is your facilitator, so drop by when you can, and join and share your expertise and experiences, if you please!