In 1865, after the collapse of the Confederacy, Confederate General Joseph O.Shelby, aka “the Undefeated” and his “Iron Brigade,” a band of about 600 soldiers, rode south to Mexico. There, after a grueling three-month slog through the desert, they offered their services as a ‘foreign legion’ to Maximilian 1, an Austro-Hungarian who had been installed as emperor of Mexico in 1864.
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A couple of weeks into the start of the COVID pandemic, I asked Shawn if he’d have done anything differently before we entered lockdown, now that we had a little experience with this way of life. We kicked around a few thoughts, but it all being so new, he couldn’t really think of much he could have done to prepare.
We’re pretty low maintenance. We’re retired, have a very small place stuffed with the goods of a lifetime of (my) conspicuous consumption, and really don’t need much to get by. But need is not want, and want is what drives our capitalistic society, which we are all a part of, whether we want to be or not.
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If you’re reading this it probably means you’re broke and can’t afford a weekend off or you have no idea that this is Victoria Day weekend. It’s a celebration of our formerly longest reigning Monarch of the British Vampire, er, Empire (June 20, 1837 until her death January 22, 1901). Queen Elizabeth recently usurped that record by tiptoeing past Victoria which opens the door for us to one day celebrate Lizzy’s Day instead. Currently the weekend celebrates Vicky’s birth on May 24, 1819.
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”. (Bob Dylan, “Shelter From The Storm.”)
On Wednesday, the world was horrified to see images of a lifeless 3 year old boy, AylanKurdi, drowned and washed up on the sand on a Tunisian beach. It was a day that changed us. We could no longer look away from the suffering of millions caught in a whirlwind of horror brought about by climate change, political unrest, and unrelenting war.
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 