The Force Is Strong in This One

Here's a preview of a new Volkswagen ad that you should see some time during tomorrow's Super Bowl broadcast.It's already generated quite a buzz, with over 10 million views on YouTube and over 54,000 positive ratings on Facebook. I heard about it on NPR's news and chat show, All Things Considered."



When I saw it I thought it was charming and decided to share it with you. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Here's a link to a story about six-year-old Max Page, the diminutive Darth Vader in this ad. Seems young Max has already made a name for himself as a child actor, but even more significantly, has already battled to overcome adversity. He was born with a heart defect that led his parents to seek treatment for him at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Under the care of some skilled surgeons and cardiologists, Max has made significant medical progress and is hoping for a normal life. Prayers and best wishes, Max. May the Force be with you! Thanks to Patrick Archbold of Creative Minority Report for the link.

The Eighth of January

Happy New Year! While it's still the 8th of January, I'd like to post this outstanding performance of an old fiddle tune called . . . "The Eighth of of January." On this date in 1815, American forces under the command of Andrew Jackson defeated British forces at the Battle of New Orleans—unfortunately after a peace treaty ending the War of 1812 had been signed, but before either side had gotten the word. This tune was composed to commemorate the victory and later became the basis for the famous ditty, "The Battle of New Orleans," written by Jimmie Driftwood and recorded by Johnny Horton and others. Hat tip to Garrison Keillor and the Prairie Home Companion radio show for bringing this bit of history to my attention. I had heard of The Battle of New Orleans, but I didn't know it took place 196 years ago today. Enjoy the video!



Now here's Johnny Horton's version of "The Battle of New Orleans" accompanied by some clever visuals. I hope you like this too.

Another Favorite Carol

While it's still the Christmas season, here's another of my favorite carols: this one is called by many names, including "The Huron Carol," "Jesous Ahatonia," "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," or "The Indian Christmas Carol." French Jesuit missionaries wrote this carol in the Huron and Wyandot languages, trying to explain the story of the birth of Christ to the people of these tribes in terms that would be familiar to them. The lyrics were later translated into French and much later into English. Unfortunately, I can't find the Burl Ives version that's an indelible memory of my childhood, but here's a very nice interpretation by Terry McDade and the McDades:



Here's a very different interpretation by singer Heather Dale. The English lyrics are very different from the ones I remember, but I really like the way she delivers the song in the Native American languages, French, and English, and really emphasizes the Native American feel.

Two Irish Carols

A Merry Christmas to everybody and a Happy New Year to the whole world! As anyone who reads this blog knows, I love all things Irish, Scottish, and Welsh since many of my ancestors came from that part of the world. Here are two favorite Irish Christmas carols. First up is "The Wexford Carol" performed by Alison Krauss and accompanied by Yo-Yo Ma; one of my favorite carols performed by one of my favorite singers.



Next up is "Don Oíche Úd I mBeithil ("I Sing of a Night in Bethlehem") performed by The Chieftains with Burgess Meredith. Mr. Meredith will read an English translation of the song followed by Kevin Conneff's rendition in Irish Gaelic. This is believed to be the only known example of a Christmas carol in Irish.



Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Cheezburger

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Veni, veni Emmanuel

Here's a little something for the end of Advent and the beginning of the Christmas season proper: a lovely setting of the ancient Advent hymn "Veni veni Emmanuel," (O Come, O Come Emmanuel) performed by the early music ensemble Con Piace. This is another example of something wonderful I just happened to find on YouTube. I gather from the decorative border around the image that this was intended to be a kind of video Christmas card—and as such I send it to you, dear readers, with this prayer: O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

Christmas Under Fire

I find YouTube endlessly fascinating. Here one can find anything and everything on video: music of all sorts, cartoons, TV shows, home movies, and more; the entertaining, the intriguing, the irritating, and the just plain weird.

It's no secret that times are hard these days and many people, including your humble blog host, are facing tough times this Christmas. But they could always be tougher. Here's a little video I found on YouTube entitled "Christmas Under Fire," released by the British Ministry of Information in 1941. The short film depicts Britons doing their best to carry on and enjoy Christmas despite nearly ceaseless Nazi air raids during the previous winter of 1940. May we all have that kind of courage to bear up under hard times!

Cheezburger of teh Day

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Brother, Can You Spare A Click?

Ah, Christmastime! Snowflakes. Mistletoe. Sleigh bells. Twinkly lights. And the real reason for the season: SHOPPING!

Just kidding. But I do have a serious reason for talking about shopping. I'll be blunt: I'm desperately short of cash at the moment. I'll be even more blunt: I'm broke. But you, dear readers, can help with that. As you can see, there are ads for Amazon.com and other retailers all over the site. If you are considering a Christmas purchase from Amazon or one of these other retailers, please click on the banner ads on this site before you make your purchase. Please ask all your friends, neighbors, relatives, pets, and complete strangers to do likewise. That way, I'll receive a small percentage of the purchase price, you'll get a bargain on Christmas gifts, and help generate some Christmas cheer for your humble blog host. I thank you for your support.

And now for a musical selection. Take it away, Al!

Cheezburger of teh Day

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Halloween Cheezburger

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How 'bout Them Gamecocks . . . AGAIN!!!!

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)--Steve Spurrier finally delivered South Carolina's biggest win ever.

Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes, two to Alshon Jeffrey, and Marcus Lattimore scored three times as the 19th-ranked Gamecocks stunned No. 1 Alabama 35-21 on Saturday.

The defending national champion Crimson Tide had won 19 straight game, including last week's 31-6 rout against Florida, since losing the Sugar Bowl after the 2008 season to Utah. The Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) had never beaten a No. 1 team in four previous tries.

But the Head Ball Coach, in his sixth season at South Carolina, had the players to beat Alabama using the Tide's own formula.

Garcia and Gamecocks cashed in chances when they got close to the goal line and shut down the best tailback duo in the country, making themselves a factor in the SEC title chase.

South Carolina shredded the country's top-rated scoring defense, putting up the most points on Alabama (5-1, 2-1) since a 41-34 loss to LSU in 2007. The Gamecocks scored four touchdowns when they got inside the `Bama 20--double what the Crimson Tide had allowed coming in.

Alabama's Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson were held to 64 yards on the ground as the Crimson Tide tried to rally back, as it had in beating Arkansas 24-20 two games ago, through the air.

The Crimson Tide made a charge, getting an odd safety by Garcia, a field goal and a 51-yard touchdown catch by Darius Hanks that turned a South Carolina's 21-9 lead into a 28-21 ballgame.

Alabama's last chance to tighten things came at the start of the fourth quarter when Jeffery, the SEC's leading receiver, bobbled a catch into the hands of defensive back Will Lowery for an interception.

But Greg McElroy was sacked for a 7-yard loss by Stephon Gilmore and Alabama coach Nick Saban called a fake field goal that didn't come close to working as offensive lineman Ed Stinson dropped the throw from holder A.J. McCarron.

South Carolina answered back with a 75-yard drive, ended by Lattimore's 2-yard score with 7:01 left that put the game away.

Alabama could not respond and South Carolina fans, as they had after the basketball team beat Kentucky in January and the baseball team beat Arizona State at the College World Series in June, celebrated beating the country's No. 1 team.

Lattimore finished with 93 yards. He also caught Garcia's first scoring pass, a 9-yard touchdown in the opening quarter to take the lead for good.

Garcia was a tidy 17 of 20 for 201 yards and the one interception. He also picked up a critical fourth-and-1 on the Gamecocks final scoring drive. Jeffery had seven receptions for 127 yards, including TD catches of 26 and 15 yards.

McElroy threw for a career-high 315 yards, but was sacked seven times.

Do That Funky Hand Jive!

I saw this on Mark Shea's blog today and could not stop watching it. Really amazing stuff



Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding are world-class Irish stepdancers who became bored with the strict requirements of the form and decided to turn the genre on its ear by blending it with other styles of music and dance. Videos like this are the result. They perform under the name Up and Over It and bill themselves as "Irish Dance for the Post-Pop Generation." From the duo's website:

Acclaimed Irish Dancers Suzanne Cleary & Peter Harding blow the brains out of the Irish Dance show genre in a multi-media extravaganza. This brand new show liberates Irish Dance from its velvet-clad, tin-whistle-blowing, diddly-idleness and drags it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Inspired by hip-hop theatre, contemporary dance and electro-pop, Cleary and Harding present their alternative take on the Irish dance show format, asking what’s next for the 90s phenomenon we all loved or loathed?

I'm not sure I like their rather dismissive, "Oh, we're so beyond all that," attitude toward traditional Irish dance; for me, as an American who discovered Celtic culture as an adult, much of the traditional music and dance is still new and interesting. However, there's no denying their talent or the fun of this video.

This Just In . . .

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The Story of My Life . . . Now In Graph Form!

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A Pirate's Life For Me

Arr! Avast there, ye swabs! Once again, me mates aboard the good ship S. S. Blogosphere have reminded me that today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day, it be. So break out an extra ration of grog (or the refreshing beverage of your choice) for all hands and hoist a pint on yer own poop deck! (Mind now, you'll have to clean up any resulting poop!) Now go on and enjoy yerselves before I have ye clapped in irons and keelhauled, ye scurvy dogs!

While looking for something appropriate to post for this here auspicious occasion, I came across this interesting (and slightly disturbing) video on YouTube created by some swab calling himself thirteenthman. It's the skull on the Jolly Roger singing "A Pirate's Life for Me" from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. I hopes every man-jack of ye enjoys it!



After seeing that, there's only one thing I can think of to say, and that's: Arr!

The Amazing Celtic Dancing Baby

I was looking for clips of Celtic music today on YouTube and I found the following item. This little guy is only five months old, and he already looks like a natural born stepdancer! He's gettin' jiggy with "Jig Party," a set of tunes by Natalie MacMaster, fiddle phenomenon from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Enjoy!

Pope In Scotland!

Happy Feast of St. Ninian, "the first apostle of Christianity in Scotland." By now, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has arrived in Scotland, only the second pope in history to visit Great Britain and the UK. Pope John Paul II visited England and Scotland in 1982. Below is a picture of the special papal tartan created for Benedict's visit by American tartan maker and Catholic Matthew Newsome:

From Mr. Newsome's blog:

The design incorporates white and yellow (the colors of the Vatican), white and blue (the colors of Scotland), white and red (the colors of John Henry Newman's arms, who will be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI during the visit), and green for the lichens growing on the stones at Whithorn, site of St. Ninian's church.

There are also 8 threads in the wide white line, one for each of the Catholic dioceses of Scotland, and exactly 452 threads pivot to pivot in the thread count, one for each Catholic parish in Scotland.

Judging from the comments on his blog, Mr. Newsome is already being besieged by requests for information about how to purchase neckties, scarves, kilts, and other articles of clothing in this tartan. I wouldn't mind having a tie like this myself. Och, it does m' auld Scots hairt guid tae see sic a thing!

Many people may not know this, but Scotland has a long and proud Catholic history. The document that is considered Scotland's declaration of independence, the Arbroath Declaration, is in fact a letter from a delegation of Scottish noblemen to Pope John XXII protesting English violation of Scottish sovereignty. The nobles insist that the Scots have historically been faithful sons of the Church, and that if the pope does not intercede for them and against the English, God will judge him unfavorably. Andrew Leslie, one of the signers of the Arbroath Declaration, may have been a distant ancestor of mine. Another Leslie ancestor, William, became rector of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome and wrote a family history.

Welcome to Scotland, Holy Father! Viva il papa! Lang may your lum reek! (Scottish expression meaning "Long may your chimney smoke," i.e., long life to you!)

Pup, the Accordion Playing Dog

Yes, you read that right. Pup plays the accordion in this rendition of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." This will make your day.

Ads On The Site

Well, hey there! Remember me? The guy who runs this blog? I've been away for awhile for one reason or another. Just haven't had the heart for blogging much, to be honest. I'm experiencing a bit of a cash flow problem at the moment, so after some deliberation I've decided to sign up with Google AdSense and the Amazon Affiliates program as a way of earning a buck or two, perhaps. From now on until further notice (i.e., I see if this works or not), there will be ads on the site. If you see a product or service that strikes your fancy, click on through and visit the advertiser, thereby dropping a few coins in the tin cup of your humble blog host.

Thanks for your support.