Happy St. Pat’s day! Here in NYC, the streets are coated in yesterday’s cocktail of freezing rain/snow, and I pity everyone who’s going to be marching down 5th Avenue in a kilt!

Fitz! Big Hank! Christy!

Soda Bread! I love soda bread!

Christy!
Jane!
Fitz!
Waxman!

Oh, and - U.S. v. Toensing!

Morning, Christy, and happy St. Paddy’s! One of my favorite sources for Celtic music is podcasts - iTunes has oodles of free podcasts, including lots of music ones: I subscribe to Celtic Folk, Cleveland Celtic, Copperplate, Irish and Celtic Music, and The Angus Sessions (they also have several good jazz ones).

It’s the end of the quarter for me, another reason to celebrate - and now to finish up my grading before the final today. *g* Enjoy your day!

Fiona Ritchie—voice of the faerie!
(as rendered by Marcy)

my god, I love you girls. Get well Jane.

Fiona Ritchie is a treasure, plus I could listen to her talk all day. Eileen Ivers is my fave fiddler. Celtic musicians really bring teh chops.

Christy, I’m still trying to cram whole wheat bread into my measuring cup.

Music: Gaelic Storm

Well-known for their amazing performance in Titanic.

Christy -

Would love to hear your reaction to the article about blogs from today’s LAT to be found at my 3:39 in the last thread when you get a chance. http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....-headlines

Perfect pull up a chair topic; can’t wait to hear additional music suggestions for new h/ts to one of my favorite varieties of joy.

Good Morning Christy,

We’re here in the Hudson Valley with 2 feet of snow for St. Paddy’s, a very good day for soda bread. Try adding a little sugar and some dill to enhance the currants (or raisins.)

I like The Cheftains “Bonaparte’s Retreat” for that special someone in DC.

Cheers to Fiona!

I listen to liveireland.com for traditional Irish songs. My current favorite groups are Cran and Danu.

I’m also taking Irish language classes. There are a lot of these courses offered through Daltai Na Gaeilge. Check out www.daltai.com.

Christy -

WNCW-FM’s Celtic Winds Celtic Music program is on from noon until 3 PM EDT on Sunday afternoons. For more information about one of the public radio stations in my part of the world, and/or to listen online, here’s a link to WNCW’s site: http://www.wncw.org/

Thistle and Shamrock is a wonderful program, broadcast in this area by South Carolina’s educational radio network.

Nice inadvertantly subversive piece on NPR this morning.

Scott Simon interviewing two Republican stratergerists
(Donnatelli and Newhouse) about their side’s political problems, in particular Gonzalez. The Republican political class sees lying under oath to Congress purely as a public relations problem.
Both Donnatelli and Newhouse thought Gonzalez will survive. LOL

Unfortunately followed by an infuriating piece on Waxman’s Plamegate hearing yesterday. Andrea Seabrook treating it as a fashion show. Ugh.

“inadvertently” at 15 …. right!

allan_in_upstate @
15

Nice inadvertantly subversive piece on NPR this morning.

Scott Simon interviewing two Republican stratergerists
(Donnatelli and Newhouse) about their side’s political problems, in particular Gonzalez. The Republican political class sees lying under oath to Congress purely as a public relations problem.
Both Donnatelli and Newhouse thought Gonzalez will survive. LOL

Unfortunately followed by an infuriating piece on Waxman’s Plamegate hearing yesterday. Andrea Seabrook treating it as a fashion show. Ugh.

Why were you listening to National Publican Radio on a Saturday? Were you driving somewhere? That’s the only time I listen to it is when I’m in a car and that’s the only news source available.

OT, but speaking of green - I finally have something to contribute to last week’s thread re beautiful movies - Les Filles du Botaniste - a quiet lesbo love story with two beautiful Chinese leads, but the real stars are the incredible flora and landscapes - possibly the most visually rich, luscious, sumptuous, gorgeous movie I have EVER seen - not released in the US, a Brit friend sent it to me - but if ever available here, I mean it, run do not walk, you’ll thank me…

Don’t forget scottish fiddle music. Try anything by Bonnie Rideout for some spirited fiddling.

No collection would be complete without Patrick Ball’s music of O’Carolan.

oh and there’s also a talking bird with a funny voice whose repertoire consists of the single line “vive le President Mao!”

Happy St. Pat’s Christy. My mom is into Michael Flatly and many years ago we saw him in Miami. We were sitting in the first row and the show was unbelievable. I didn’t want it to end. We saw the show a couple of years ago without Michael and it wasn’t as good, but still worth it. The show came to Florida a couple of weeks ago but was sold out immediately.

When I lived in NYC, I lived on 86th Street, where the St. Pat’s parade ends. I could tell you green beer stories…

ˈɛrɪn gə brɔː!

Top O The Mornin’ To Ya Christy and Firepups !

two of the books I can pick up, turn to any page, and start re-reading

How The Irish Saved Civilization
The Year of the French

Perhaps in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, there are folks suggesting that Fitz become the AG after Alberto is finally thrown under the bus:

http://www.abovethelaw.com/200.....ttorne.php

This begs for expansion: Then there came the day when St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Dee Cee.

There’s a new St. Patrick in town all right, driving out the snakes…

great minds, sofistic

On St. Pat’s day, my friends and I light a votive candle in memory of the St. Patrick’s Battalion
(Los San Patricios). We sing when “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”. This evening, we will participate in a “Circle of Peace” celebration at one of the larger parks in El Paso, purposely scheduled for today.

Love the music by Planxty - Irish group no longer together. The Planxty Collection is great trad Irish - like “Raggle Taggle Gypsy”.

Happy St Pats !

We’re having a big family dinner tonight - thankfully at someone else’s house. With an aunt Pat, a sister Patty, and a son Patt… ignoring St. Paddy’s is not an option.

Although we tend to listen to a lot of the lovely music listed by others above and never miss Fiona Ritchie, one of our favorite bands is the Dropkick Murphys. Their music is more rowdy than haunting, and fun to listen to. They can make a bagpipe sound punk. :)

Well, St Patrick threw the snakes into the sea, except for the big one which he tricked into getting into a box, which he then threw into the sea. All kinds of imagry there, huh?

Christy, thanks for the recipe! I think there’s a typo - should be whole wheat FLOUR, not bread (yes?).

Enter the Haggis is a great band that plays often in my area, and was on Regis & Kelly yesterday. www.enterthehaggis.com/index.php

And we just lost Fiona Ritchie’s program from our local npr station :0(

Not a single word about the Plame hearings in the NYTimes?

Seriuosly, am I wrong here, maybe the dead tree version has something, but their daily newsletter says NADA about it. What gives???

PS; there’s some great Celtic music out here in The Wilderness (Kansas), a group of very progressive folks have formed a Celtic band called “Rowan” and they bring some wonderful Celtic music and culture to these remote regions, you can see them on this web page.

http://www.angelfire.com/hero2/tenstring

One problem they run into in this reddest of red states, when they go to public schools and sing traditional diddies about dethroning “Old King George,” it tends to go over like a lead balloon with the local rednecks. But the kids seem to love it, nonetheless, and sing out loudly right along with the band at every chorus.

Imagine some of these Kansas fundies whose kids come home singing songs about dumping “Old King George!”

More than one poor child got slapped up side of the head for that, you can wager.

Don’t forget the Pogues.

Not a single word about the Plame hearings in the NYTimes?

Seriuosly, am I wrong here, maybe the dead tree version has something, but their daily newsletter says NADA about it. What gives???

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03.....ref=slogin

Diane Duane had a soda bread recipe up on her site a couple of years ago, with many variations, including one (’golden’) that was part cornmeal and one (’heretical’) with diced jalapenos. (Sounds like soda bread for los San Patricios, yes?)

Yestarday we had the ‘Irish Day’ parade in downtown LA: fire trucks and equestrian groups and bands. It’s not a big parade, but it’s fun.

JEP -

One problem they run into in this reddest of red states, when they go to public schools and sing traditional diddies about dethroning “Old King George,” it tends to go over like a lead balloon with the local rednecks. But the kids seem to love it, nonetheless, and sing out loudly right along with the band at every chorus.

Just another excuse for home scoolin’, don’ja know. Gotta control intake of both Christ AND culture. ;-(

Being Italian and all, we celebrated St.Joseph’s Day, which is March 19, 2007. Before we moved out of south Philly, which used to be a strong Italian neighborhood, it was much more pronounced. All the bakeries would make St. Joseph’s cakes, (think big cream puffs) which was a nice treat.

Here’s a link in case anyone is interested in the tradition.

http://www.chiff.com/a/st-josephs-day.htm

And I love Loreena McKennitt. What an amazing voice, it reachs down deep into my soul.

Waccaman @ 11, a snippet from the latimes.com you reference:

“… pecking away at their keyboards and, bit by bit, at the media establishment.”

Sweet music, indeed.

Dance of the Celts is a nice collection by many artists.

mod can you please clean up my link at #35, I was trying to cut/paste and caught the Jep@33 with a quote this comment.
(I promise to go back to lurking now)

[Mod Note; refresh, and all will be well.]

sofistic @
31

Well, St Patrick threw the snakes into the sea, except for the big one which he tricked into getting into a box, which he then threw into the sea. All kinds of imagry there, huh?

He left several on a plane, too.

Christy,
I woke up this morning to winter storm of snow,sleet and rain here in Eastern Massachusetts. What a treat it was to discover your post…and the great Irish music selections. Of course as a native Irishman I am somewhat biased!!!
Holiday greetings to everyone!

Morning, firedogs. I mostly lurk, but I wanted to pop in and wish you all a happy St. Pat’s from Liberal Mountain.

It also happens to be Sean Patrick’s first birthday, which we’re all very excited about. Auntie watertiger is visiting for the occasion.

Searched all yesterday for world’s best corned beef and cabbage recipe (may or may not have found it), only to discover this is a semi-bogus dish in the way of pizza and chow mein, i.e., to please the tourists. (sigh) Undaunted, I move forward. Heading to Ireland this year for first time ever. Just read somewhere this morning that real Irish and Irish wannabes can order bags o’dirt from the auld sod for the keeping. Entrepreneurship is not unique to the USofA. And yes to Loreena McKennitt.

o’barbara @ 45

Searched all yesterday for world’s best corned beef and cabbage recipe (may or may not have found it), only to discover this is a semi-bogus dish in the way of pizza and chow mein, i.e., to please the tourists. (sigh) Undaunted, I move forward. Heading to Ireland this year for first time ever. Just read somewhere this morning that real Irish and Irish wannabes can order bags o’dirt from the auld sod for the keeping. Entrepreneurship is not unique to the USofA. And yes to Loreena McKennitt.

My mother always made ham and cabbage, which I think is more authentic.

Tricia;

Thanks for the link, this story was somehow completely missing from the NYT daily newsletter this morning, seems like it should have been included. Can’t even find the word “Plame” with a search.

Although there IS a story about the Pogues…

Maccamaw, you can bet that home-schooling is a big issue here, especially since the big “condolidation” era took away so many local football programs, er, I mean local school systems…

I’m partial to the Irish band Oysterband. And Runrig.

And for fiddling in the scots-irish Cape Breton style - don’t forget Natalie McMaster and Ashley McIsaac. Also the singer Mary Anne Lamond - she sings traditional songs in Gaelic and has a really lovely voice.

all the best to ye on st paddys day, witch tiz a bign roun our house on a counta thays a weddin cummin up in september in county offaly twixt miz bds daughter n her fiance mush. we will be thar!

slainte!

I worked in the bar area of Houlihans one St. Patrick’s Day, which fell on a Saturday night.

Now there’s an experience.

I learned a bunch of American-Irish songs from my mother, some I which I can still sing. Maybe my favorite is “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen”, since that is my mother’s name, and she once told me that her father used to sing it to her.

Christy -

How many other West Virginia musicians with Celtic roots come to mind after I start by mentioning Tim and Mollie O’Brien?

favorite irish recipe:

– fill an old fashion-sized glass with crushed ice.

– pour Irish Mist to cover ice.

– sip.

The children of Liberal Mountain are: Molly, Seamus, Roisin (pronounced Ro-SHEEN) aka Rosie, and Sean Patrick.

We’re Italian, obviously.

Sally @ 6:32 & JEP @ 6:40 -

Waccamaw, actually. Name of a large & lovely natural dark lake in southeastern NC & river that eventually flows thru’ the lowlands of SC to greet the Atlantic. Seemed a fitting a.k.a for the amount of time I spend at FDL. *g*

Morning all — Mr. ReddHedd let me sleep in this morning. Am just now getting to coffee. How is everyone today?

I’m wondering why the MSM is ignoring the fact that the White House did nothing about an internal investigation about the Plame leak? Keith Olberman is the only person I watched that highlighted this fact.

Happy St. Pat’s to all.

Here’s some lovely Irish scenery from Dingle peninsula from Gerry Horgan’s flickr site. Includes a few pics of our favorite Irish prosecutor:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinglepeninsula/

Back in the late 70s and early 80s, Celtic music sort of exploded. There were so many good bands emerging, reforming, and swapping members… And a lot of brilliant independent labels, now very much gone. It was hard to keep up.

I had to keep up — I was a DJ at a college radio station. It was a pretty glorious time, when every month’s distribution from the labels would bring something good, and occasionally something great.

Looking back, I have to say that De Danaan/De Dannan (they changed the spelling at some point) were the best. They were seriously devoted to Celtic music as a pure form (as were many others); but they had an ability to get up and roar that was shared by only a few: Silly Wizard and the Tannahill Weavers (both Scottish not Irish) come to mind in that respect.

Other wonderful Celtic artists, great and obscure, traditional and fused with other influences: Patrick Street (a kind of supergroup), Altan, Scartaglen, Samradh, Skara Brae, the Chieftains of course, Boys Of The Lough, Dolores Keane…

Ach. Too many to remember, and do everyone justice. But what a wonderful musical tradition.

Anybody notice Google’s logo this morn?

How are you feeling Christy?

Morning All, Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

I love the old Tommy Makem tunes. He did an album with Mary O’Hara in the 50’s or earlier possibly, when they were both very young. It’s just heartbreakingly beautiful, a spare raw haunting sound. I can’t listen to it without crying. Liam Clancy, Dolores Keane, Mary Black, Altan, Clannad, Sharon Shannon, Eileen Ivers …

Then of course there’s Van Morrison, Elvis Costello aka Declan McManus, the Pogues.

But here’s nothing like sitting in a pub in Ireland though, with the pints lined up, listening to a sesiun with little known musicians - the craic flying. Heaven….

Well, now I wish I hadn’t even read that NYT article, made me sick…

Here’s the best example of how they slanted the story…”She needed only slight coaxing from Representative Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, to criticize President Bush.”

there’s little doubt they (the msm) aren’t going to give this anything close to “fair and balanced” coverage…

Also, I had a heckuva time navigating to this story without the link Triciawrites provided, I’ll look more closely, but I do perceive something’s rotten in New Holland.

Very good article on Josh Marshall and political blogging:

http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....-headlines

From the more traditional vein, here is a site for The Minstrel Boy, another song my mother likes.

Molly Ivors @ 54

The children of Liberal Mountain are: Molly, Seamus, Roisin (pronounced Ro-SHEEN) aka Rosie, and Sean Patrick.

We’re Italian, obviously.

LOL! I wanted to name my daughter Roisin, but my now-ex wouldn’t go along. He was okay with Ryan and Patrick, but decided his spelling skills weren’t up to a name that “sounded nothing like it’s pronounced.”

Of course, he used to tell people my middle name was Yvonne.

It’s Siobhan.

Millineryman — am feeling a bit better today. I think all the sleep has been helping (that and the antibiotics). I can at least breathe this morning. :)

Here’s one of my favorite traditional records. Listen to the sample of Track 2: beautiful.

holleahock @ 57

I’m wondering why the MSM is ignoring the fact that the White House did nothing about an internal investigation about the Plame leak? Keith Olberman is the only person I watched that highlighted this fact.

Not to mention some of the clips they showed from the hearings were poorly choosen. I’m shocked, shocked! If Waxman holds another hearing, the WH security (or lack thereof) bit will likely resurface; if not, it will sink below the waves of bright, shiny things. grrrrrrrrrrr

My nomination for favorite: anything by Alison Krause’s muse, fiddler Richard Greene (www.richardgreene.net). His CD called Hands Across the Pond is a fabulous integration of Celtic and bluegrass, and so perfect for Americans celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, and his mastery of the fiddle is unparallelled.

Wonder what MSM coverage of the Washington rally & march today will be like? Anyone know if C-Span plans to cover it?

Marie Roget @58 - those are lovely pics! Must get to Ireland sometime and see it for myself.

My favorite pics in that link are of Fitz. Great to see him in a relaxed setting and having fun.

PA_Lady @ 66

LOL! I wanted to name my daughter Roisin, but my now-ex wouldn’t go along. He was okay with Ryan and Patrick, but decided his spelling skills weren’t up to a name that “sounded nothing like it’s pronounced.”

Of course, he used to tell people my middle name was Yvonne.

It’s Siobhan.

That’s hysterical! I do regret it sometimes, epecially when people pronounce it to rhyme with “poison” or “raisin,” but she’s a Rosie from head to toe, just like Janet Leigh in The Manchurian Candidate.

NPR ran a story today suggesting the law should be changed to permit non-native born politicians [um, Arnold] to become President.

Here is how they framed the argument–Are these people being deprived of their rights, or is America being deprived of their talents?

NPR list of those being deprived of rights–
Madeleine Albright
Henry Kissinger
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Should we change the law?

Here are The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem performing The Minstrel Boy.

Balrog the Fascist Troll @
42

sofistic @
31

Well, St Patrick threw the snakes into the sea, except for the big one which he tricked into getting into a box, which he then threw into the sea. All kinds of imagry there, huh?

He left several on a plane, too.

0

And wouldn’t that be Balrog the Skiing Fascist Troll? Saints presairve us!

Sharkbabe @ 5

Oh, and - U.S. v. Toensing!

Now, now. Just because Henry Waxman repeatedly caught her LYING OUT HER ASS is no reason to wish ill upon her. (Oh, yes it is.)

JEP @ 63 — Oh, of course they’re going to slant this against Valerie Plame. There’s a reason I call them “The GOP/Media Complex”. But even the G/MC realized that Victoria Toensing did NOT do them any favors yesterday — hence her near-complete absence from most news accounts.

Christy: My favorite chune by the Cunningham boys is a sad weepy thing called “The Fishermen’s Song”, but “The Queen of Argyll” is good, too, as is “The Isla Waters” (which will be appropriate for today).

Maccamaw; I was a 22 year old kid from Iowa who had never seen the ocean, when I arrived hitchhiking into Myrtle Beach, just south of you.

Will never forget the first time I smelled the ocean was about 50 miles before I saw it… Thought sometone had died and no one buried the body…

Now I really miss it. Kansas is a long, long way from saltwater.

Marie Roget @ 58: We plan to spend a bit o’time on Dingle Peninsula. Gorgeous photos! Thanks.

mm@circa #74

It would take more than a change to the law. It would require an amendment to the Constitution.

Doubt that will happen.

Glad you’re feeling up to joining us this morning, Christy, was worried you were too illin’ to Pull Up A Chair.

Overeager hubby celebrated St. Patty’s last night, crawled back into the house in the wee hours. I think I have to punish him today by cranking up some Celtic tunes…

I’ll throw another one in the mix; I’m crazy about Afro-Celt Sound System. I could play their Volume 3: Further in Time days on end. It’s just enough Celtic, enough world music to satisfy all nature of musical itches.

mm @ 74

NPR ran a story today suggesting the law should be changed to permit non-native born politicians [um, Arnold] to become President.

Here is how they framed the argument–Are these people being deprived of their rights, or is America being deprived of their talents?

NPR list of those being deprived of rights–
Madeleine Albright
Henry Kissinger
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Should we change the law?

Why, do they want to drive schoolbuses?

am partial to County Clare music myself- one favorite is the Ceili Bandits - check out their cd Hanging at the Crossroads
also Dervish just played a great gig in Corning NY last weekend - a very fun band - their cd Spirit is wonderful- Slan, barbara

Rayne—

Let him sleep. That way he’s not burning the toast.

Phoenix Woman at 77 — My two favorites of theirs are “If I Was A Blackbird” and the “Blackbird of Sweet Avondale” (off their Glint of Silver album). Great stuff. Saw them in concert live when I was in college — they were wonderful, and got to have a beer with them in between sets. :)

I am not Irish, except by marriage and fatherhood. Were I in New York on this grand day, I would be nowhere else but McSorley’s Old Ale House, just off Broadway on 8th St (I think; I can find it by muscle memory but I never know the exact address.)

And speakin’ of music, why not give a listen to the young, Celtic-flavored Crooked Still? They do a killer version of the murder ballad “The Lily of the West”, an old Joan Baez song, which they have renamed “Flora”, on their debut album “Hop High”. CD Baby has their music.

McSorley’s was there before we were born, and I’ve been drinking there for nearly four decades. Slainte! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Top o’ the mornin’, all-

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. My kids informed me that we need to listen to U2 all day.

Not. Gonna. Happen.

;-)

Well, maybe we’ll listen to “Pride” a couple times.

mornin’ y’all. had to shovel 3 driveways (elderly neighbors) and put the corned beef in the crock pot. we’re ready to go for St. Patrick’s Day dinner! the smell of hazelnut coffee is in the air. now dig in!

allan_in_upstate @
15

Nice inadvertantly subversive piece on NPR this morning.

Scott Simon interviewing two Republican stratergerists
(Donnatelli and Newhouse) about their side’s political problems, in particular Gonzalez. The Republican political class sees lying under oath to Congress purely as a public relations problem.
Both Donnatelli and Newhouse thought Gonzalez will survive. LOL

Unfortunately followed by an infuriating piece on Waxman’s Plamegate hearing yesterday. Andrea Seabrook treating it as a fashion show. Ugh.

I could not believe that Andrea Seabrook piece when I heard it this morning. Seemingly so innocent as it skips along, giving the same import to VPW’s compromised career and operative network as to “grandma” Watson’s “bright pink bow”. Ugh.

allan_in_upstate @ 15

Nice inadvertantly subversive piece on NPR this morning.

Scott Simon interviewing two Republican stratergerists
(Donnatelli and Newhouse) about their side’s political problems, in particular Gonzalez. The Republican political class sees lying under oath to Congress purely as a public relations problem.
Both Donnatelli and Newhouse thought Gonzalez will survive. LOL

Unfortunately followed by an infuriating piece on Waxman’s Plamegate hearing yesterday. Andrea Seabrook treating it as a fashion show. Ugh.

Because whatever they do, they can’t mention that WAXMAN CAUGHT TOENSING LYING UNDER OATH. So they choose to leave that bit out.

I love this site! Irish soda bread recipe, Celtic music, failure of the MSM, Constitutional amendment. Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Minnesota (that Houlihan’s?). Eclectic mix. Put it together and what have you got? Bibbity bobbity boo. (Too. Much. Coffee. Already.) Pay attention, Republics. We’ve got your scent. Phewwwww!!!

mm @ 74

NPR ran a story today suggesting the law should be changed to permit non-native born politicians [um, Arnold] to become President.

Here is how they framed the argument–Are these people being deprived of their rights, or is America being deprived of their talents?

NPR list of those being deprived of rights–
Madeleine Albright
Henry Kissinger
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Should we change the law?

They forgot to add Joe Smith. Who’s he? He’s the unknown person from the future who has no loyalty to this country and is willing to harm it.

“Nice inadvertantly subversive piece on NPR this morning.”

Would that it were “inadvertant.”

mm @
74

NPR ran a story today suggesting the law should be changed to permit non-native born politicians [um, Arnold] to become President.

Here is how they framed the argument–Are these people being deprived of their rights, or is America being deprived of their talents?

NPR list of those being deprived of rights–
Madeleine Albright
Henry Kissinger
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Should we change the law?

Please refer to Section 1 of Article 2 of the Constitution, which states:

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President…

OT, but:

Now I’m wondering how much the Vic billed for her committee appearance?

With preparation time, etc, the RNC probably owes her thousands and thousands.

heh, heh, heh

Molly Ivors @ 73

That’s hysterical! I do regret it sometimes, epecially when people pronounce it to rhyme with “poison” or “raisin,” but she’s a Rosie from head to toe, just like Janet Leigh in The Manchurian Candidate.

People live to mangle names. When people see my middle name on forms and whatnot, they always try to sound it out and then argue with my pronunciation. “Sha-vonne? Are you sure?”

My daughter ended up being Melanie, but her dad and I corrupted it, so she’s been Mollie from day one.

Good morning. I slept like a rock after a pretty tough week, so I’m late to the table this morning. You couldn’t have picked better music to awaken to. I am familiar with Stargate Atlantis, owning (so far) three seasons on DVD, but I missed the tune above. They used another tune in season three that sounds a lot like Loreena McKennitt. I need to track that one down. I have lots of Chieftains on tape, and I suppose I should update those to CD, since they’re pretty worn out. Also Clannad, Enya, and a mixture with the Chieftains, Sting, Mick Jagger, and others with some American musicians called “The Long Black Veil”, all on CD.

There’s also a CD of women musicians called “Women of the World: Celtic” that is excellent. One of my favorites on that one is a tune called “Against the Wind.”

Spent last summer in Bretagne France. Lots of Celtic Art including music, dance and parades.

What’s the instrument the seated musician is playing? The vaguely bagpipe-ish one, I mean. Excuse my ignorance.

First up is Shooglenifty, an electric group from Edinburgh. They play a mix of super danceable tunes and trancy club tracks. I first heard them live on the big stage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. They got the crowd pogoing in the mud.

Next, the Tartan Amoebas. Imagine, if you will, a band with a bagpipe player and an R&B horn line. They play mix and match with musical styles. They always make me smile.

Enter the Haggis, a young group based in Toronto. They play a mix of originals and Canadian-flavored Scottish tunes. They are also utterly without shame. They play a thrashy version of “Scotland the Brave” that segues into “Hava Nagila.” Really. Also prone to inspire pogoing.

Glengarry Bhoys. I just heard these folks recently. They’ve got a more traditional folk flavor with strong French-Canadian influence. Their lead singer channels Jean Redpath in a good way.

[No, I’m not Canadian. I like to go north in the summer. The bands, being no fools, like to come south to Florida in the winter. :-)]

I actually like the earlier Chieftains stuff the best — pretty much anything up to and including Boil the Breakfast Early. And the Barry Lyndon soundtrack, which is better than the movie.

Now I’m thinking of Joe Cooley’s sadly wonderful rendition of “Last Night’s Fun” — sad, because he was dying at the time.

JEP @ 78

Maccamaw; I was a 22 year old kid from Iowa who had never seen the ocean, when I arrived hitchhiking into Myrtle Beach, just south of you.

Will never forget the first time I smelled the ocean was about 50 miles before I saw it… Thought sometone had died and no one buried the body…

Waccamaw, darlin’. *g*

Hope you saw Myrtle Beach many, many years ago b/c it’s turned into a horrible morass of bumper-to-bumper vehicles & wall-to-wall Mcbeach mansions.

It’s probably an *acquired* smell unless you grow up close to it, but odour de beach is wonderful if you have.

Note to all…..
CNN has Ava Lowery on right now (anti-war teen).

History 101.

Ollie North lying to congress was his patriotic duty, besides all Americans hold congress in contempt.

Bill Clinton lying was the most egregious act ever committed by a US politician worthy of his dismissal.

Irve Libby lying under oath was a perjury trap brought by an out of control special prosecutor.

Alberto Gonzales lying under oath is a mere public relations problem.

Got it.

-GSD

First generation Irish and my son Stefan, is 23 years old today!
The only thing I had wished that night is that my father had lived to see a grandson born on St. Patrick’s Day!!! The rest of the family was very pleased.

O K Guys, it was in the high 40’s this week, we had flood warnings and major flooding on Thurs. and Fri. and today we are having 10- 16 inches of snow!!!!!!!!!!
I was just beginning to see bare ground and had dreams of planting peas. And I’m having to use my snow blower instead of my roto tiller.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY & Thanks for the music

Capital J @ 99

What’s the instrument the seated musician is playing? The vaguely bagpipe-ish one, I mean. Excuse my ignorance.

Those are uilleann pipes, which as you can see from the video are like Scotch bagpipes, but the air’s supplied by a bellows (operated with one’s knee) instead of one’s lungs.

Haven’t seen a mention of the Saw Doctors. They’re from Tuam, which just happens to be the birthplace of my favorite brother-in-law. There are several clips on You Tube, but, unfortunately, I don’t know how to import the links!

Happy St. Patrick’s to all!

Capital J @ 99

What’s the instrument the seated musician is playing? The vaguely bagpipe-ish one, I mean. Excuse my ignorance.

I think they’re uilleann pipes the irish bagpipes

history buff alert -

Home Away From Home - The Yanks in Ireland

narrated by Walter Cronkite

documents WWII American military in Ireland -

worth it just for the 15 of it’s 58 minutes devoted to the story of the USS Mason - a destroyer escort with an African American crew and their refreshingly different treatment at the hands of the Irish - at a time when they were attacked by stateside dockworkers, the people of Derry simply referred to them as ‘Yanks’ - you’ll laugh, you’ll cry

oh and did I tell ya my daughter’s name is Deirdre ?

Potato(e) eating Irish here too. Good drinks, good stories, good fights and fiery women are my weakness.

Morning.

diane @ 104

First generation Irish and my son Stefan, is 23 years old today!

O K Guys, it was in the high 40’s this week, we had flood warnings and major flooding on Thurs. and Fri. and today we are having 10- 16 inches of snow!!!!!!!!!!
I was just beginning to see bare ground and had dreams of planting peas. And I’m having to use my snow blower instead of my roto tiller.

Happy Birthday Stefan!

This weather stinks. My bulbs had just started sending up those first little green stubs and now….they’re somewhere under all that snow. Thank heavens for the neighbor with the snow blower - he did all the sidewalks on our block and even dug my car out, at no charge. (He did however, accept a pan of brownies.)