Something for Braves Fans to Celebrate

Today is the 52nd anniversary of the Braves' (Milwaukee, that is) victory over the Yankees in Game Seven of the 1957 World Series. Lew Burdette notched the victory over Don Larsen, as the Brave won 9-7 after quelling a late Yankee rally. Hank Aaron had an RBI single and Del Crandall homered. Alas, I'm not watching the Braves this October, but it's something to celebrate.

Doc Watson, "What Friend We Have In Jesus"

The great Doc Watson. I still like the acapella version from Doc and Merle's "Down South" album.

"Ain't Nobody Here Can Walk It For You..."

Mississippi John Hurt, "You Got to Walk That Lonesome Valley." For some reason I've been on a John Hurt kick this week.

Afghanistan and the Theories of Counterinsurgency

For various reasons (and many of you know the specifics), I have been interested in the application of what can only be termed the scholarship of counterinsurgency in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The classic works like T.E. Lawrence's The Arab Revolt and more modern books like John Nagl's Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife get close attention from those charged with turning the military tide in tough circumstances. These applications of history and theory to actual combat are sometimes successful and sometimes not, but I find the process very interesting. This week I read about how scholarship is being used to train leaders in counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. This article by Ganesh Sitaraman in the New York Times profiles the Counterinsurgency Training Center - Afghanistan. Take a read.

Happy 300th, John Lawson

Starting today, the North Carolina Museum of History is hosting a two-day symposium celebrating the 300th anniversary of the publication of John Lawson's A New Voyage to Carolina. They are unveiling an exhibit as well, in case you can't make the talks today or tomorrow. It will run through February. They also have a podcast on Lawson and his book by Jeanne Marie Warzeski, the curator of colonial and antebellum history. Lawson was a English naturalist and his book offers one of the best early descriptions of North Carolina's native peoples and landscape. Pretty cool. You can check out the narrative at the "Documenting the American South" site, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Puttin' the Hog on the Log

I have just re-read Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue by John Shelton Reed and Dale Volberg Reed (UNC Press, 2008), and I have to say it is better than I remembered. It might be that I'm craving a big plate from Lexington Barbecue or Stamey's, but this is a book that is entertaining, educational, and fun. If you are looking for a barbecue fix, or for something to read while you eat a big tray of chopped pork and red slaw (why you would be reading, I have no idea), this one's worth your time. Mama Dip's banana pudding recipe is worth the price of admission all by itself.

Everybody makes mistakes...

Somali pirates attacked a warship by mistake near the Gulf of Aden. But it was a French ship...

Whither Memphis...

Check out this essay by Wanda Rushing brought to you by the good folks over at Southern Spaces. It's a piece drawn from her recent book from UNC Press, and examines economic development and persistent inequality. Worth a read...

And, while we're at it...

Somebody tell me why Ole Miss is ranked number 4 in the nation??? We're through the looking glass...

Wooooo!!! Back at it!

Well, I won't make excuses to both of you who are reading this. I have no real excuse for the long hiatus. Laziness is not an excuse. But, if anything would bring me back to the blog, the Nature Boy would! That's right, with a powerful blow to the solar plexus that is the North Carolina State Educational Lottery (with apologies to the late, great Gordon Solie), Ric Flair emerged this week as the pitchman for a new scratch-off ticket. Wooooooo! Makes me want to cash out what retirement I have left and run to the nearest Hot Spot with a quarter in my hand. Next up, Harley Race??? Tommy "Wildfire" Rich?? Inquiring minds want to know.

And, today I ran across an initiative that combines two of my great interests: taking care of soldiers and beer.
In April 2008, the Cropton Brewery and New Inn (that's in the village of Cropton) began selling a beer called "Yorkshire Warrior" to benefit the soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army ("Fortes fortuna adiuvat" or for the math majors, "Fortune Favors the Brave"). Brits are top notch soldiers and I speak from experience. Honoring the Green Howards, the Prince of Wales' Own, and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (get me to to explain amalgamation and the loss of British Army traditions sometime), these publicans in North Yorkshire are doing a great thing. All proceeds from sales go to, in the words of the landlords, "the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Fund to help those who give so much and ask for so little." Good for them! I'm ordering a case and will let you know.

I'm back!! Woooo!