HUMBLE ORIGINS

Much confusion and not a little bit of controversy surrounds this blog site and my clan. Many who find their way here do so expecting soup recipes. Some have visited when I had a major league author, Ol' Remus, grace the pages with an excellent essay on Appalachia. All are welcome.  

I am reposting this because I don't feel like writing anything new, and I do not have any clever ideas. I will give credit to my Art Director and Public Radio Interpreter, Philistine, for most of the story and for the coat of arms. Now that he has got a real job somewhere he might decide to sue me. For something.

I might as well give credit to Ian Miller, the illustrations are his. He might decide to sue me, too.

I'll even add a tune, and if ZZ decides to sue me, I'll put them in touch with Philistine and Ian, haw haw.

SPILLERS of SOUP

In these troubled times where so many young people seem to lack direction my thoughts turn to the strong oral tradition of my family. It is the best way that morals and virtues are continued from generation to generation. Fathers convey to sons, mouth to ear in low breath, the following history:

In the olden time when Vikings and Rus and other tribes of warrior types were roaming northern Europe, marauding and fighting, so forth, one clan of particularly fierce warriors were a bit late in evolving. For a long time they didn't have command of fire, they slept outdoors year round, ate everything raw. When they started making contact with other tribes other than in battle they were exposed to more civilized ways: like actually entering a lodge or hut rather than burning it down; utilizing fire other than as a weapon of war; eating cooked food with knives or in bowls. These warriors were so unfamiliar with the customs that they didn't do too well with soup. They couldn't handle bowls of hot stuff; they spilled a lot. Other tribes (that were prudent enough not to remark on this clumsiness until  the warriors departed) told the tale, and legend was born concerning this fierce clan that spilled soup. It is from these origins that we descend and proudly carry the family name translated from Old German as “Spillers of Soup”. Recent investigation with the help of the National Geographic Anthropological Institute and a world-renowned genealogical study group, Die Schwartzwaldkuchen Society, has verified certain conclusions: no remains of this clan were ever found with other than weapons at hand. No archaeological digs have uncovered signs of dwellings, cooking and eating implements, agricultural activity. Uncovered remains of more recent clan members show the presence of a spoon in the boot of male members, dating from the time period of the Third Crusade. Conjecture abounds regarding this fact.

 

SPIELEN NICHT … NUR TÖTEN

The crest and motto derive from some of their first contact with “civilization”. It was really all a misunderstanding that began with the invitation to participate in a regional tournament. The local king was understandably nervous about the rogues that still could be found in the wastelands just outside the realm of his kingdom. While never known for useless plunder or for suicidal attacks on larger armed camps or foes, the ways of the Spillers were legend and the prudent King wanted a closer look at these ruffians.

Not being much on subtlety, reading, or leaving messengers alive, the chief of the Spillers failed to note the invitation was to a games tournament, and would have nevertheless misunderstood as the Spillers had no experience in friendly competition. Onward they marched, unto the kingdom, taking livestock (much to the dismay of the local farmers) and wenches and any other refreshments they happened to desire – the land was rich and productive and apparently unprotected! On they trudged through muddy fields, never on roads, thinking that they were to be enlisted as mercenaries for some magical battle.

“Well, they must need some help, there’s no army left!” they opined. They had no concept of treaties, alliances, laws, or any other alternatives to steel and blood. Brazenly marching across another people’s lands emboldened the Spillers and at the same time filled them with dread and concern that they too might encounter the incredible force that had killed all, leaving behind only defenseless peasants not worthy of steel.

Things did not go well. The gates and the castle walls were lightly guarded and easily breached since the Spillers and the king’s guards both had forgotten that the invitation to the tournament included a waiver of the entry offering. The band had all but slaughtered the entire garrison, all tournament knights and foot soldiers, all visiting nobility, and pretty much anyone besides the servant wenches when they at last came upon the king who had invited them, one of the only surviving persons who could speak their dialect. On being informed of their error and feeling a bit embarrassed that they had once again mucked things up, not wanting to be seen as ignorant of the civilized ways, the band adopted Spielen Nicht – Nur Töten (don’t play … just kill) as their motto and vowed never again to mistake play for battle by simply outlawing play within their ranks.

Motto runners up were “never to play again” – kinda soft and wishy-washy, and “don’t fuck with us or we’ll kill you” – too harsh, bad for trade.

To this day and for generations to come the proud traditions of this noble clan and the customs perpetuated serve as a moral compass for our family. And yes, all of the male members always carry a spoon in their boot.

 

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THE MOST UNORIGINAL SIN

I like John Hiatt. Musician, singer, songwriter. I identify with the songs he writes. So, I went looking for a song he wrote, title of this post matter of fact, and came up with a version done by Willie Nelson. Take the time read the lyrics, worth it.



The song is great; I included the lyrics since Willie mumbles a bit.

The Most Unoriginal Sin" by John Hiatt

as performed by Willie Nelson on "Across the Borderline" CD.

What there was left of us was all covered in dust and thick skin.

A half-eaten apple, or the whole Sistine Chapel

Painted on the head of a pin.

A life long love's work gone up in a smirk 

And you didn't even see her waltz in.

Now this love is a ghost, having played host

To the most unoriginal sin.

At the wedding we smiled while some devil played wild violin.

Soon after the chapel she offered me that apple,

One bite and I was gone with the wind.

And you needed no proof ‘cause the whole naked truth

Was wearing only an infidel's grin.

And a proud schoolboy's boast of having left his post

For the most unoriginal sin.

Now the jukebox is humming all the venal shortcomings of men.

Lord, I found me this drink that can finally sink

All the skills that I've been wallowing in.

Buddy once you get started, once true love's departed,

You do it over and over again.

So tonight I will toast just whoever comes close 

To the most unoriginal sin.

KING JAMES and UNCLE SAM

Simple and straightforward. The Bill of Rights and a bible are all we need.

Ten Amendments are essential for us to live a life of Freedom.

Ten Commandments are essential for us to live a moral life.


I might add that we should think in terms of "Enemies foreign and domestic".

 King James and Uncle Sam, as Toby Keith puts it.

The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution which limit the power of the U.S. federal government. These limitations protect the natural rights of liberty and property including freedoms of religion, speech, a free press, free assembly, and free association, as well as the right to keep and bear arms.

They were introduced by James Madison to the 1st United States Congress in 1789 as a series of legislative articles and came into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791, through the process of ratification by three-fourths of the States.

The Bill of Rights plays a key role in American law and government, and remains a vital symbol of the freedoms and culture of the nation. One of the first fourteen copies of the Bill of Rights is on public display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

• First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

• Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

• Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

• Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

• Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

• Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.


 

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THINK: BOAT

I don't think most people notice what's going on around them. Maybe catch a whiff of smoke, maybe hear the rumble of hooves just over the horizon, catch a vibe vague and below the sensory thresholds.

"huh? whazzat?"

"uh? wha? ain't nuthin, get me a beer while yer up"




Some notice but they don't want to process it, they hide out in a hash pipe or a beach condo with a leased Beemer. Some see it coming and say, "tha's OK, when it comes I'll be ready". My father told me "no time to get ready, got to be ready." A few are oh so ready they are already living as if the SHTF: hiding out in cabins up in the hills, eating spam and beans, a hole for a toilet, sleeping on the ground and drinking filtered stream water.

Friends, blow wise to this: no matter what we prepare for, or ignore and do nothing about, or half-plan for, we are gonna be surprised. And surprise always favors the attacker. Which doesn't necessarily mean that something is gonna pounce on us, what it means is that when the Powers That Be decide to put a lid on us we will be at a definite, if not fatal, disadvantage. It will be "Oh, no, suddenly it is too late".

 Go read about Kristallnacht. You think them Brownshirts are gonna put an ad in the paper, we're coming next Monday? Leave your window open, you will hear the boots.


This video shows scenes from the 60s, civil disobedience. You think people will be up against fire hoses and tear gas this next time, when they finally get up off the couch and try to fight back? Hahahaha. It will be boots and steel.





This, it ain't:

This is more like it:

When they kick in your front door,
how you gonna come?
With your hands on your head,
or on the trigger of your gun?




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WORDS OF THE PREACHER

This kinda goes along with the Nothing concept. Like, who are you? Who are you? You something special, uh?

 

Ecclesiastes 1

Preceding Generations Forgotten 1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun? 4One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth stays for ever. 5The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to his place where he arose. 6The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from where the rivers come, thither they return again. 8All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it has been already of old time, which was before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

 

 

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

1Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;

 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

 4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.

 8Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all is vanity.

 

THE GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK part 2

OK, part two. Thanks for being here; read more and, yeah, I gave in and stuck in a tune.

See, we are not ready for a revolution ala 1776. DC is not making rapid overt moves (yet) and we do not have the men and mindset to abandon all security and make the sacrifices our founding fathers made. Perhaps the desperate times requiring desperate measures will come; I hope not, and I do not think it will be. The enemies of our way of life are moving slowly, gradually slipping in unnoticed. There are ways to adapt and make do with any encroachment that do not require bloodshed. I don't advocate a doormat posture, rather a subtle resistance that will effectively deal around any DC oppression. The time might come for open resistance and watering the tree of liberty with blood but in the meantime we all have families and lives.

 
The Good Soldier Svejk  Jaroslav Hasek

It is a truly great satire (perhaps the greatest of them all) on the most central feature of social life in the past century and a half (at least) in most modern industrialized countries—the ubiquitous presence of huge, labyrinthine bureaucratic structures ostensibly set in place to make modern society more efficient, equal, and fair, but, in fact, reducing life for those who have to deal with them to what often amounts to an incomprehensible and out-of-control game whose major players never tire of announcing in noble-sounding prose and stirring poetry the importance of the structure and its alleged purpose but who, in their daily practice, show no signs of any significant humanity in dealing with subordinates or those whom the bureaucracy is supposed to serve. That target is something we all understand (because we have to deal with it, no matter where we live), and thus the impact of this satire extends well beyond the particular social and political realities of the world it depicts. - Ian Johnston




Back in the early 1900s Europe was involved in some strong Empire domination conflicts, to wit the Austro-Hungarians. Of course this all led to WWI, read about it. Some countries caved in or were whipped into submission and a few countries devised other ways to cope with domination. The Spillers of Soup descended from Teutonic roots and some of the clan got involved with Czechos. It is about the Czechs that I will now discourse.


The Czechs and some other Euros have been contending with Communist oppression for decades and they have found ways to maintain lives under the table so to speak. Black markets, social and fraternal organizations, religious groups, the day to day neighborhood and small town living can exist under the official radar. "Passive aggressive" is a term that might be considered pejorative but when you have a corrupt government it works out fine and dandy for us little guys.


The Good Soldier Svejk pronounced "shvike" or "shwike" if I have that right, is a comedy depicting a subject nationality resisting the oppressors. Primarily an anti-war theme but showing overall resistance to bad government. Created by the true bohemian - as well as anarchist - writer Jaroslav Hasek, Svejk is often impenetrable but ultimately irreverent beneath a simple child-like smile most often mistaken for foolishness. He makes a mockery of his "betters" within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ultimately seeing through the hypocrisies of his day. Almost unintentionally he sabotages a regime already coming apart at the seams under the fiasco of the Great War. His greatest accomplishment: to survive in the face of adversity and absurd situations, which continues to be his legacy for many Czechs...

"And so they've killed our Ferdinand," says Svejk's charwoman, in the famous line that opens the novel, describing the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, 1914.

 

Svejk, busy massaging his knees for rheumatism responds: "Which Ferdinand, Mrs Muller? I know two. One is a messenger at Prusa's, the chemist's, who once drank a bottle of hair oil there by mistake. And the other is Ferdinand Kokoska who collects dog manure.
Neither of them is any loss."

That, in a nutshell, is Svejk: good-humouredly going about his business, oblivious to the gravity of matters at hand.

 

 

To War!

 

 

Josef Švejk  The novel's hero: in civilian life a dealer in stolen dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The novel is set during World War I in Austria-Hungary, a multi-ethnic empire full of long-standing tensions. Fifteen million people died in the War, one million of them Austro-Hungarian soldiers of whom around 140,000 were Czechs. Jaroslav Hašek participated in this conflict and examined it in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Many of the situations and characters seem to have been inspired, at least in part, by Hašek's service in the 91st Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army. However, the novel also deals with broader anti-war themes: essentially a series of absurdly comic episodes, it explores both the pointlessness and futility of conflict in general and of military discipline, specifically Austrian military discipline, in particular. Many of its characters, especially the Czechs, are participating in a conflict they do not understand on behalf of a country to which they have no loyalty.

The character of Josef Švejk is a development of this theme. Through possibly-feigned idiocy or incompetence he repeatedly manages to frustrate military authority and expose its stupidity in a form of passive resistance: the reader is left unclear, however, as to whether Švejk is genuinely incompetent, or acting quite deliberately with dumb insolence. These absurd events reach a climax when Švejk, wearing a Russian uniform, is mistakenly taken prisoner by his own troops.

In addition to satirizing Habsburg authority, Hašek repeatedly sets out corruption and hypocrisy attributed to priests of the Catholic Church.
Thanks to Wikipedia

There is something about the illustrations I really like.

The novel was originally illustrated by Josef Lada and more recently also by Czech illustrator Petr Urban.

 

So that's it for a while. Avoid crowds.

THE GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK part 1

Here is a pair of reposts, one today and the other when I feel like it. I have other priorities requiring my time so I offer two most excellent essays. These have the approval of my Public Radio director.

Only one piece of music accompanying; you'll have to hum something or listen to your own mind. It is OK; you are familiar with yourself, are you not?





 Read. Maybe check out the novel which I will introduce in Part 2. If you want tunes or T&A go someplace else, get yer fix and don't bother coming back.

 Anyone these days who wishes to survive and get through the tsuris should maintain a low profile. It does no good to get up on your hind legs and squawk about the government and its failings. Bragging about arms caches and mountain hideaways and how when the feds come 'round you're gonna ... The government can turn very bad very quickly, as in Martial Law, Executive Orders, DC gone dictator. Look at what happened during Katrina. Gun roundup by police and NGs, it's for your own good y'see. Review that. Look at Ferguson, at Waco, at the Boston lockdown, the Bundy standoff, the Waco Biker dog & pony show, open the windows and look at Jade Helm.


Look no further than Hitler, Stalin, Amin, Pol Pot, a dozen more that used the power and might and government and laws and structures to subvert and dominate the populace. When rebels wish to pull a coup or when dictators wish to consolidate control the first ones they go after are the leaders, the strong ones, the money guys, the media (well that one is already a slam-dunk) the potential sources of resistance. Lock 'em up, put 'em in box cars, just dissapear them, get them gone. The sheep will be no problem with no herd leaders. You think Sarah Palin or a basement full of beans and spam will be any good? Run away to the woods and sleep on the ground, toilet is a hole, gather together around a campfire and talk revolution until the IR heat-seeker drones find you and drop an RPG on your heads? Vote them out at the poles? hahahahahaha.


There are strategies we can employ, modifications to our lifestyles that will ensure our survival and they all involve low profile, stand in the shadows, avoid crowds, keep your head down, walk soft big stick so forth. Sun Tzu says that it is good for your enemy to underestimate you.


Part 2 is about a novel written back in early 1900s wherein the Czech nation endured subugation by the Austro-Hungarians. Funny and depicting a mindset from which we could benefit.

Josef Švejk  The novel's hero: in civilian life a dealer in stolen dogs.

Family lore has it that my uncle Louis Lóżko was the model for him. He was known in certain underworld circles as "Lets go" Lóżko.


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