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Volume 14, pg.1 Printed and Published Weekly by jimgee.com, Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania NUMBER 38. |
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Na’Bodach Bandsman to Auction Artistic Artifacts
(AP-Phila.) Bud Osthaus, member of the outlawed Celtic group, Na’Bodach, will be “letting go” of choice bits of his large and unique collection and has several interesting items up for sale. As listed on
Sotheby’s (page 145, misc.) the grouping consists of several framed wooden water beaters used in motion pictures, a drinking flask once belonging to Cardinal Richelieu’s cousin, Ted, several tufts of red fescue, four left-handed bolts from the dirigible, U.S.S. Spielman,
(circa 1926), a trained chimpanzee named “Mr. Jumpy” and a lemon wedge…yum. Although the following are not to auction, Osthaus also has retained the largest collection of musical instruments yet found on the Isle of Man. Weezeflutes, tin pleghammers, several “fez” drums and a
piece defying description. “I first saw this instrument in West Yadlarym ”, says Mr. O, “It spoke to me… I mean, it really spoke… opened what looked like a mouth and said, ‘play me, Yank’. Odd, yet
George Zienowicz is His Own Grandfather?! (AP – Trenton) George Zienowicz, fiddler, piper and silent fifth voice of the Celtic band, Na’Bodach, has been indicted by a grand jury yesterday on charges of “existing as a multi-generational entity.” The state is charging the hirsute musician with several counts ranging from underage fiddling to being one’s own grandfather. “We find this case intriguing”, says Ted Mandy of the Greater Trenton DA’s office. Mandy, a lawyer specializing in elder youth cases notes, “Georgie”, when young, or “Mr. Z”, when old, is a fascinating subject. Rare as these cases are, they do manifest consistent with traditional musicians. The inherent immaturity associated with musicians in general, mixed with the historical element of a traditional art form can produce an age conflict in the individual.” Mandy observes this condition as a “phenomenon.” If convicted, Zienowicz may serve time at the Northeast PA Correctional Facility for Fiddling and Diddling, pending notification of his parents. A Na’Bodach spokesperson and band member, Andy Redmond, could not be reached due to a prior commitment as judge for a “Consume the Most Bowls of Lucky Charms in Guinness Without Throwing Up and Win a T Shirt” contest at a local frat house. Na’Bodach had quite a year in 2007! How so? The band finished in the “Celtic Top Ten” for digital downloads in Germany & Japan. Wow! While also faring well throughout the world in their genre, Na’Bodach is still one of the “best kept secrets” in Celtic music. So… Click on “Press Kit”, download the information, book the band and assist Na’Bodach in finding the audience it deserves! Thank-You.
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"9 Famous Irishmen" In Ireland in 1848, the following nine men were captured, tried and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and were sentenced to death: John Mitchell, Morris Lyene, Pat Donahue, Thomas McGee, Charles Duffy, Thomas Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, Terrence McManus and Michael Ireland. Before passing sentence, the judge asked if there was anything that anyone wished to say. Meagher, speaking for all said: "My lord, this is our first offence but not our last. If you will be easy with us this once, we promise, on our word as gentlemen, to try to do better next time. And next time --- sure we won't be fools to get caught!" Thereupon the indignant judge sentenced them all to be hanged by the neck until dead and drawn and quartered. Passionate protest from all over the world forced Queen Victoria to commute the sentence to "transportation for life to the far wilds of Australia". In 1874, word reached the astounded Queen Victoria that Sir Charles Duffy, who had been elected Prime Minister of Australia was the same Charles Duffy who had been transported 25 years before! On the Queen's demand, the records of the rest of the transported men were revealed and this is what was uncovered: Thomas Francis Meagher, Governor of Montana Terrence McManus, Brigadier General, United States Army Patrick Donahue, Brigadier General, United States Army Richard O'Gorman, Governor General of Newfoundland, Canada Morris Lyene, Attorney General of Australia in which office Michael Ireland succeeded him. Thomas D'arcy McGee, Member of Parliament Montreal, Minister of Agriculture and President of Council Dominion of Canada. John Mitchell, prominent New York politician, This man was the father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York at the outbreak of World
War 1. "Odd Facts for Amusement and Edification" Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only ... Ladies Forbidden"... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury. Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. (Say what?) Coca-Cola was originally green. It is impossible to lick your elbow. The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
On the (Im)possibility of Time Travel
In their continuing efforts to provide their adoring public with accurate, meaningful traditional music, Na'Bodach has made the claim of "time travel". By going to past venues and periods to listen and collect the
"real thing", Glenn Owens, Andy Redmond, Bud Osthaus, George Zienowicz and Casey Jones have offered some arguments suggesting that possibility by submitting the following photograph.
Presumably, when the band says that time travel is possible, Na Bodach means that a person can go back, for example, to the real, true, genuine 1776. But if the band traveled back to the real 1776, then what are they doing there? They didn't exist in 1776, so to say that they are in the real 1776 is to say that it's not the real 1776, which is yet another contradiction. This argument is unsound, for--given that the band has assumed the actual accomplishment of time travel--it has a false premise. If I've traveled back to 1776, then I did indeed exist in 1776--the real, true, genuine 1776. So the contradiction is not produced. Owen's has asked us to consider what ramifications time travel would have "for morality, heaven and hell, God, angels, Croydon, etc." I'm not sure what ramifications Glenn has in mind--indeed, I can't see a significant problem arising from any of the directions mentioned here. Perhaps in a later article, Owens will provide some of his reasons for making this suggestion. As it is, the band is now working on a process that will create "musical cod-pieces". Stay tuned. Samhain – Celtic Halloween! Na’Bodach performs at the Banshee in Scranton, PA on Halloween for the past few years. We are always asked, “Why such a big deal for a Celtic band?” Well, Halloween has its origins in Celtic lore.... The Samhain (Halloween) celebrations have survived in several guises as a festival dedicated to the harvest and the dead. In Ireland and Scotland, the Féile na Marbh, the 'festival of the dead' took place on Samhain. The night of Samhain, in Irish, Oíche Shamhna and Scots Gaelic, Oidhche Shamhna, is one of the principal festivals of the Celtic calendar, and falls on October 31. It represents the final harvest. In modern Ireland and Scotland, the name by which Halloween is known in the Gaelic language is still Oíche/Oidhche Shamhna. It is still the custom in some areas to set a place for the dead at the Samhain feast, and to tell tales of the ancestors on that night. Traditionally, Samhain was time to take stock of the herds and grain supplies, and decide which animals would need to be slaughtered in order for the people and livestock to survive the winter. This custom is still observed by many who farm and raise livestock because it is when meat will keep since the freeze has come and also since summer grass is gone and free foraging is no longer possible. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities celebrated down through the last several centuries, and up through the present day in some rural areas of the Celtic nations and the Diaspora. Villagers were said to have cast the bones of the slaughtered cattle upon the flames. The word 'bonfire', or 'bone fire' is a direct translation of the Gaelic tine cnámh. With the bonfire ablaze, the villagers extinguished all other fires. Each family then solemnly lit its hearth from the common flame, thus bonding the families of the village together. Often two bonfires would be built side by side, and the people would walk between the fires as a ritual of purification. Sometimes the cattle and other livestock would be driven between the fires, as well. Divination is a common folkloric practice that has also survived in rural areas. The most common uses were to determine the identity of one's future spouse, the location of one's future home, and how many children a person might have. Seasonal Apples were peeled, the peel tossed over the shoulder, and its shape examined to see if it formed the first letter of the future spouse's name. Nuts were roasted on the hearth and their movements interpreted - if the nuts stayed together, so would the couple. Egg whites were dropped in a glass of water, and the shapes foretold the number of future children. (Excerpts from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain)
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