Mugwort (St John's herb) is an ancient magical plant, one of the Nine Midsummer Herbs.
If this 'Mother of Herbs' is hung over doorways, 'no elves nor no evil thing may comne therein.' It can also be used to aid conception, assist childbirth and (boiled with fennel and mint in old ale) to stem hysteria. More prosaically, the crushed leaves of this wayside plant can be sniffed to dispel tiredness, or infused in a bath to soothe sore feet.
PROGNOSTICATERPrognos sez: look for the grand opening of the biggest bestest ever roller coaster in the America theme park: The Stock Market, for the greatest ups and downs and swoops and thrills and terror ever experienced here now everywhere.
Capn,
Is is 8:50 Mon. A.M. and I have been sitting here since 7:30 doing my research and planning strategy for today. I day trade with the few bucks I have to play with, every day now for a year and a half. I got into a winner right away, and as this doggie is rising as we speak. I checked the site during a 10 second lull and there is your Stock Market bit. Talk about the zone.
-- #89
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2004 BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN, 1876 I just love the fact from my friend who lived with
the Souix ten years ago that they still have Custer's
flag and will not give it back. Battle prize.-- I.Z.
THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2004 They got it all wrong, I had on a tin foil helmet fashioned into a propeler with a chin strap made out of a electric razor cord, with black rap around sun glasses on and toilet paper flowing behind me in a cape fasion, the police walked up to my tin foil raygun and kicked it at which point I cried out MY RAY GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I want to get the video from the police car that I had my hands on while I spreaded em and sell it on ebay.
-- Ryan SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2004 St Vitus was a shadowy fourth-century martyr, for whom 'angels danced' while he was in prison. he is thus the patron saint of dancers, actors and late risers; also invoked against 'St Vitus' Dance', epilepsy and other fit-producing ailments. Little understood and much feared these 'falling sicknesses' attracted drastic cures.
In the Scottish Highlands, on the spot where the epileptic first falls, a black cock is buried alive with a lock of the patient's hair and some parings of his nails.
For falling fits, burn a goat's horn, directing the smoke upon the patient, and in consequence of the smell he will arise forthwith. Before he has risen, apply dog's gall to his head, and that disease will not attack him any more.
-- Celtic Book of Days
FOURTH OF JULY GETTING CLOSE
STAY TUNED FOR NEWS
OF THE BBQ AND POETIC HOO HAWI was over at the grocery store with my 80 year old mother. We had to get quite a few things that day. If fact we had nearly a full basket by the looks of it. So we get to the check out stand and I put the groceries on the conveyor belt for the checker. The guy in line behind us asks my Mom if he can have the pleasure of paying for our groceries. My Mom comes over to me and tells me about the situation. I said hell ya let him do it !! She then tells the guy that he doesn't have to and that it's the thought that counts. But this guy was adamant. He wanted to pay for our groceries and that's the way it would be. The grocery bill for us was $40.00. He then writes the store clerk a check for $40.00.
Man, both me and my Mom were shocked. After I bagged our groceries I went over to the guy and shook his hand and thanked him and introduced myself.
We then left with our groceries. Maybe he did it because we look dumpy and poor. Maybe he did it just to be a nice guy. At any rate the odds are several million to 1 that that will ever happen again to us. But if I ever find a job and get a little extra money stashed away maybe I'll do the same thing to somebody else.
-- paulTHURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2004 R.I.P. RAY CHARLES S. F. Chronicle - 6/14/04 :
" ...signs were posted "all over" the San Rafael post office on D Street on Friday: "Post Office will be closed Today in Memory of Ray Charles."
ray charles was dee man
had a chance to see him
a few years back
headlining at the blues festival
with his original 50s horn section
and the Rayette back up singers
from his Atlantic Records daze
(his best stuff IMHO)
a friend hustled us backstage
we wuz in awe as he passed by
in silver sequined jacket
bigger blow to the USof A
then the passing of Reagan
That's Enough, Yeah
-- Sgt O'ReillyI went to the post office this afternoon and there was a sign on the window saying the post office will be closed on June 11th for a day of rememberance. I thought that was decent and told the post master it was a good way to honor Ray Charles. Here's Ray back in the fifties at Washington University in St. Louis.
Ray sang the true American patriotic song and I don't mean that ripoff of God Save The King that we know as God Bless America. I'm talking about America the Beautiful ". . .spacious skies . . . amber waves of grain . . mountains majesties; and the line that defines America: And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."
God Bless RAY CHARLES
Jan and I saw Ray in Eugene, sometime in 72 or 3 at Valley River Inn. A small room about 500 souls. After a few numbers Ray started clapping as he sang, then getting people into clapping. As soon as he had established the
beat, he took off with the song. Less than half way, the clapping had gotten off beat with a few people hitting what should have been the off beat."Whoo! Whoo!" Says Ray as he stops singing, " Boy, This must be an all white audience", and damned if he wasn't right.
He was blind, but not that blind. His "America the Beautiful", and, and, well you take your pick.
Heavens gate is wide open and we know it's going to be rocking tonight.
Thanks Ray.
Phil
Ray Charles has died from liver failure at the age of 73.
I always loved his music. I got to meet him many years ago. He was very nice and polite. So long Ray. You'll be missed down here on Earth.
Paul
FOR A COMPLETE RAY CHARLES OBITUARY
CLICK ON
IN THE WORDS OF THE GIPPER
"Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do."
-- 1981"A tree is a tree. How many more do you have to look at?" -- opposing expansion of Redwood National Park as governor of California, 1966
"Why should we subsidize
intellectual curiosity?
If you've seen one redwood,
you've seen them all."
Four senior boys in my wife's high school English class skipped out one day and she was preparing a suitable punishment for they missed out a class in which they were reading Kesey's novel, Sometimes A Great Notion. Then when she found out where they went she relented and gave them a pass.
To see where they went, click on:
