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109 messages

BS: Why I'm better than you are

20 Sep 00 - 03:09 PM (#301549)
Subject: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

I opened this thread as a public service for the smugly self-superior, who find a need to muddy the waters in virtually every thread, and might like one of their own, poor sods.

Use this thread to post why you are better than all the rest of us --

-because you're not an in-crowd member,
-because you are,
-because you know what "real" folk is,
-because you don't
-because you are from a persecuted minority,
-because you persecute minorities,
-because you post under "GUEST",
-because you don't,
-because you're aryan,
-because you're not aryan,
-because you hate gypsies,
-because you love gypsies,
-because you never say "gypsies" ....

WHATEVER!

No holds barred, be as nasty as you want. Not that the smugly self-superior ever bar any holds, or feel any compunction about being as nasty as they want, of course.

Hopefully we can corral all this bulltookey into one thread, and avoid thread-creep on the other threads in this direction.

O..O
=o=


20 Sep 00 - 03:16 PM (#301557)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: McGrath of Harlow

Because I built a better mousetrap


20 Sep 00 - 03:18 PM (#301560)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Jon Freeman

I am just Jon, different to others maybe but not better than anyone.

Jon


20 Sep 00 - 03:24 PM (#301563)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Branwen23

hear, hear, jon


20 Sep 00 - 03:31 PM (#301575)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: M.Ted

"No one is better than I, and I'm just an average guy!!"


20 Sep 00 - 03:41 PM (#301581)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: paddymac

Amen, jon.


20 Sep 00 - 04:06 PM (#301597)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: bbelle

mouse ... I understand why you started this thread, however, the forum is getting slower and slower to download and this type of thread just adds to it. You've also just opened the door for the trolls, whom you are referring. It's an open invitation to flame and there's no argument against it, when you lay out the red carpet. Put your energies into constructive stuff like arguing the points of politically correct. Like I said, I understand, and I'm not chastising. Just give it some thought.


20 Sep 00 - 04:23 PM (#301616)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

Mousethief,... before you post again will you please:

Learn a folksong,

Listen carefully to a folksong,

Write a folksong,

Or pick a folksong from the DT index and play it for a while.

I am not flaming you, or even blaming you
Perhaps taming you, But never shaming you... ;~I


20 Sep 00 - 05:00 PM (#301645)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,The Phantom Lurker

moonjen - stop playing the designated mother.


20 Sep 00 - 05:01 PM (#301648)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Do we have designated mothers in this league?

Alex
O..O
=o=


20 Sep 00 - 05:05 PM (#301650)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Jim Krause

Back to the original thought
I can yodel
And them that don't like me can leave me alone.


20 Sep 00 - 05:06 PM (#301653)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: M.Ted

Well played, Thomas.


20 Sep 00 - 06:33 PM (#301750)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Ha! Ha! I like your point, mousethief...

Let's see now...

I'm better because I have absolutely no tolerance for intolerant people! Those who are intolerant MUST NOT BE TOLERATED!!! NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! As for people who are in favour of capital punishment...they all oughta be SHOT!!! Or maybe drawn and quartered....

By golly, then we'd have some peace and quiet around here for all us tolerant, non-violent types! And there'd be a whole lot more property available in places like Texas, too, come to think of it.

Another thing...people have gotta stop saying insulting things about shit...like that it stinks, for example. This isn't a metaphor here, I'm talking about actual, literal, tactile, excretory, in-your-face shit. It's time shit got some respect in this society. Without shit, how could we fertilize the soil? I'd better not hear any disparaging comments about shit or there will be hell to pay. No shit! (to use an expression...)

*(The above, and numerous other inflammatory and illogical statements may be found in a manuscript I am presently working on, called "The Hypocrite's Handbook" I recommend it as a career guide for young, would-be politicians everywhere who want everyone's vote and simply don't care how they get it. The thing about a marshmallow is that it can fit any aperture...Watch for the publication date announcement...)


20 Sep 00 - 06:46 PM (#301760)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

I somehow posted that twice, before and after some slight editing. Sorry! I guess maybe I am not better, after all...ARRRGHHH! Time to get out the rubber sepukku blade again. I leave my one and only condom (it's been in my wallet for 11 years, in case of an emergency) to Spaw. I doubt he'll get to use it either, but there's always hope...


20 Sep 00 - 07:01 PM (#301776)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Ah, good. Someone fixed it. Thanks!

Now listen, people, mousethief made a very good and useful point at the start of this thread. Do you actually not get it? Or do you just not appreciate it?

Come on, it ain't that hard to figure out what he's talking about here...


20 Sep 00 - 08:03 PM (#301815)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Uncle_DaveO

Okay, Littlehawk, YOU'RE better because you figured it out!

Dave Oesterreich


20 Sep 00 - 08:16 PM (#301817)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Jim Dixon

I am better than you are because I (usually) choose not to post to threads as stupid as this one.


20 Sep 00 - 08:21 PM (#301822)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

Oh, don't be mean. mousethief's a good guy, and if you're gonna criticise his thread, at least do it like moonjen did, kindly. :)

---Lepus Rex


20 Sep 00 - 08:49 PM (#301831)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Amergin

Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way....


20 Sep 00 - 10:04 PM (#301874)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

... maybe because I REALLY don't know an answer to that question and therefore think that that's one of those REALLY good questions.

I know why I'm good, I know why I'm bad, i.e. I know what I can do better than most people and I also know what most people can do better than me. At least I suppose so(I don't dare to believe).

Telling why I'm better than anybody requires some (3rd capital) REALLY intelligent answer, my poor brains might be too weak for. But I will appreciate any good hint.

Hehe - mousethief, if that was meant to be inflammatory, you tricked yourself, if not - thank you: I do not consider this to be b***s**t (on the other hand I'm hardly interested in politics).

May I therefore support mousethief's question. Take it as "Help: What to answer when asked ..." Let me say that IMHO any answer that rejects the question or blames the one who asks it for doing so is not a good answer.

Cheap trick of course to look clever by asking difficult questions instead of answering them. But I'm a cheap chap, why not use cheap tricks. Still more clever to ask the question than to ignore the problem. If I never get cheaper than that I won't worry.

Love

Joerg


20 Sep 00 - 10:18 PM (#301892)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Oversoul

Because my Dobro has lots of dents and I drive an '88 Escort.


20 Sep 00 - 10:28 PM (#301899)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

I don't care who is better or worse.

Mousethief, do you have even a passing interest in folk music?

I sure would appreciate you more if you could tell me a little about it! This is a folk/trad/blues forum, and I must have missed all your posts pertinent to the mudcat. ttr


20 Sep 00 - 10:50 PM (#301920)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

Thomas, why don't you go to the top of his thread, click on his name, and take a look for yourself? What's with all the hostility towards new people here?

---Lepus Rex


20 Sep 00 - 11:06 PM (#301929)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

Lepus, I just want mousethief to answer my question. I did the see for myself thing... Am I hostile to new people as a general rule? No! It's just when someone comes on so strong... it makes me feel standoffish

Just wondering out loud... ??? ;~)


20 Sep 00 - 11:33 PM (#301949)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Art Thieme


21 Sep 00 - 12:28 AM (#301989)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

Thomas.....relax man. In one of his posts he discusses how much he doesn't know and how surprised he is because he thought he did! Most of us have gotten a serious education here and I know that mousethief probably will too. I know he has bid on e-bay on some books that other members wanted, including Sandt Paton.

Believe me my friend (and I hope you are), we have a lot of folks who know much less and are not nearly as bright as mousethief seems to be. This thread may have been a little ill-advised, but its not that uncommon either. During one particularly stupid period, we were running all of these dumb boilerplate threads (Where/What Does a Mudcatter__________ ) and Art Thieme, with a beautiful piece of irony/sarcasm started a thread called, "What Kind of Condoms Do Mudcatters Wear" and the damn thing took off and became a Mudcat classic of sorts, much to Art's chagrin.

I like ya' T-Man.........Relax.....MT is just getting into it a bit.

Spaw


21 Sep 00 - 12:39 AM (#301996)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

"we have a lot of folks who know much less and are not nearly as bright as mousethief seems to be" ... Spaw, why hasn't anyone bitched at ME yet? It's not fair :(

---Lepus Rex


21 Sep 00 - 12:42 AM (#301997)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)

Would I be better if I only posted "serious" folk music threads? How about if I never told a joke, or engaged in any sort of camaraderie with other people here? How bout if I post 9 lyric requests for 9 songs that are already in the DT and in the process knocked off a bunch of BS: threads that were entertaining those wicked people around here that are perverting this forum into something lively and fun instead of leaving it as an online music encyclopedia?

Lighten up!

Rich


21 Sep 00 - 12:50 AM (#302002)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

Well Okay Lepus.................

I just checked out your picture series and I'm amazed they would let you drop your pants in one of those booths. Next time send a picture of your face. If that is your face, I apologize, as you're not only stupid, but you"re BUTT UGLY too!!!

There ya' go..........Feel better? Happy to oblige.

Spaw


21 Sep 00 - 01:11 AM (#302013)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

Heh. Thanks...I...Guess? >:)

---Lepus Rex


21 Sep 00 - 01:17 AM (#302017)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: rabbitrunning

If people would listen to me!
The world would run much better.
My way of doing things is very much the best
From the money you invest
To the food that you digest
It's wrong of people not to!
'Cause I'm the one that says they've got to!

I know exactly what's right for everybody
And exactly what everybody should want to be
My advice is always free
And as simple as ABC
I merely insist that you agree
That whatever is right for me
That's the thing that's gotta be right for you!

I'm the captain I'm the critic I'm the King
I'm the judge and the referee
I dont' like to raise my voice
BUT PEOPLE ARE SO STUPID THAT I HAVE NO CHOICE!

People should listen, people should listen,
People should listen to ME!

I'd love to take credit for this, but it came from a record we had in the early sixties (which I think came from a tv special) called "Jack in the Beanstalk." The evil landlord sang it.

And I think I forgot a verse. Gimme a break! My brother broke the record in '72!

CD


21 Sep 00 - 02:06 AM (#302041)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: hesperis

Well, I'm better than any of you, because I am the only person in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD who has permission to say anything I want to say about Bob Dylan to Little Hawk.

BTW, Little Hawk, Bob Dylan has to have been an ingestor of powdered banana peels in order to write some of his songs.

(Thanks for starting this, mousethief, I'm having fun already!)

~*sirepseh*~


21 Sep 00 - 02:45 AM (#302052)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

There once was a poster named Thomas
Who thought he had holier traumas
With his foot in his mouth
His mind headed south
'Cause mousethief had shown him his dramas

I am sorry. I forgot what my point was... You ARE better than me. ttr


21 Sep 00 - 08:24 AM (#302129)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST

Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson


21 Sep 00 - 08:30 AM (#302133)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST

I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability. -- Oscar Wilde


21 Sep 00 - 08:43 AM (#302142)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Midchuck

I am a white, male, heterosexual, British Isles-descended, agnostic, left-handed, wiseass, lazy, folksinging lawyer. I therefore perform a very important public service by providing nearly everyone with a villain to despise. I suppose I ought to take up banjo to make it complete... but oh, the fear...

Peter.


21 Sep 00 - 09:17 AM (#302166)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

LOL! Midchuck, that is a great capsule description. Ooooo...how they must despise you! I'm gonna do one for me...

I am a "white" (actually, kind of pink), male, heterosexual, British Isles/Czech-descended, universalist, right-handed, wiseass, moderately lazy, folksinging, Taoist, Christian, Native American, Bahai, formerly atheistic but now spiritually oriented, export-business-running, songwriting, preachy, Dylanesque, Canadian...also reincarnated from North American Indian/Japanese/British/German/Russian/South American Indian/Egyptian/Roman/and God knows what else backgrounds of both male and female lives...which gives me the right to have a definitive opinion on absolutely ANYTHING, and drives people like Wolfgang and Andres nuts!

How's that?


21 Sep 00 - 09:29 AM (#302176)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

DaveO - LOL also! Very good retort.

GUEST - The Emerson quote is a beauty. We are indeed gods, walking around pretending to be anything but, and most of us have simply forgotten that that's what we are here doing. The illusion is so damn convincing...but we created it out of pure thought in the first place. Or in Spaw's case, impure thought. :-))))

Hesperis - how did you find out about that? Have you been talking to Bob lately?

rabbitrunning - What a great song! Do you know Lepus? You rabbits should stick together.

As for the detractors of this lovely thread, I think they should go and listen to Burl Ives records until the paint peels off the walls (which reminds me, I need a copy of Burl singing "Goober Peas"...a great little song). Folk music is about everything, and this thread could provide some useful input into that.


21 Sep 00 - 09:41 AM (#302181)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: guinnesschik

'Cause all my toys are paid for.

;-)


21 Sep 00 - 10:16 AM (#302207)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Since this has turned into (at least in part) a referendum on my credentials as a folkie, let me weigh in with some evidence.

1. Posted a note on the Can I Play Like Doc Watson thread about how I learned to fingerpick using a metronome.

2. Started a thread (ill-advisedly, I admit, given that one already existed) about favourite collections of folk songs.

3. Started a thread asking advice on old-timey Gospel music.

4. Noted (I forget in which thread) that I own the Harry Smith Anthology and have learned (to play/sing) some songs therefrom.

5. Admitted I own the one-volume edition of the Child Ballads (and now have Mmario all over me to type in the annotations to the various songs! and I probably will!).

6. Discussed (again I forget which thread) that I am often "the guy with the guitar" in certain social gatherings and am called upon to lead singing in various songs (folk and otherwise).

7. Suggested to Lyrical Lady that the Seattle-vancouver area Mudcatters might get together and see Gordon Bok.

8. Admitted (in the Never Do X with Y thread) that I own a Gordon Bok CD.

--------

I hope it is clear from these plain and evident demonstrations that *I* am the folkie *you* should vote for in November! A vote for Mousethief is a vote for FOLK!

Thank you, thank you very much.

Please get that baby out of my face.

Thank you.

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 10:32 AM (#302214)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

That's not a baby....Its Lepus' butt. Ya' need to be careful what you're kissing MT.

Spaw


21 Sep 00 - 10:36 AM (#302221)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

Why you're better than I am:
You can probably play a musical instrument
You can probably sing in key
You can probably remember all the words
You can probably quote facts from memory and get them right
Your jokes are probably new and funny
You probably enjoy lots of music from the last four decades
You probably don't look as if you were dressed by Man at Oxfam despite the efforts of your nearest and dearest (and M&S)
You probably like cats
You probably refrain from jumping in to contribute to threads to which you can add no knowledge, and never use them to make a cheap aside, a boring anecdote or a tired joke
You never mention L***** D*****.
You're on first name terms with Pete, Jack,Swarb,Liza...
You have an online connection at home and don't have to post as a GUEST from work..
Ooops that reminds me, coffee break over..
Tara
RtS


21 Sep 00 - 10:42 AM (#302230)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

But Skiff.....Your continued service as administrator and bedpan cleaner at the NYCFTTS far out weigh your shortcomings.

Spaw


21 Sep 00 - 10:49 AM (#302242)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

(looks bashful, scuffs toe in dust) Aw shucks, boss, you've made me all 'barrased.
RtS


21 Sep 00 - 10:53 AM (#302249)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Thought it was an awfully hairy baby.

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 11:24 AM (#302273)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

Hey, it got Jesse Ventura elected...

---Lepus Rex


21 Sep 00 - 11:51 AM (#302286)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

But hesperis, my classical guitar teacher told me that eating bananas raises endorphin levels, thus making you feel ALLLLLLLRIGHT! I think he was eating bananas when he wrote Rainy Day Women. Love that song!


21 Sep 00 - 12:27 PM (#302309)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

Thanks Mousey! I am sorry, truly. It is not credentials I was wanting, cause there is no such thing. I'm not gifted socially like you are, and so... I am jealous.

I wonder though, am I really so out on a limb wanting to talk about folk/trad music?

I guess I will just have to go back to my music room... Oh darn!!! ttr


21 Sep 00 - 12:48 PM (#302325)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

Of course not T my friend.....And there are several threads running right now to say the least. Feel free to start another i or 200!!! What specifically do you want to talk about?

Spaw


21 Sep 00 - 12:58 PM (#302331)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

How cuddly you can be...

You are one heck of a peacemaker (or was it pacemaker...)

Thanks again 'Spaw!

peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...peace-love-'67...


21 Sep 00 - 01:04 PM (#302337)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: annamill

Well said Art! Love, Annamill


21 Sep 00 - 03:45 PM (#302472)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Eric the Viking

I'm better than all of you because when I read this thread I decided not to post to it-Oh Bollocks!-fell for that one.............

humbly yours, not worth the slime or spit from your harmonica. Eric

the Viking, not even fit to lick the grease from a Bodhran (happy?).

I don't mind admitting that I am inferior amongst such an auspicious bunch of people.


21 Sep 00 - 04:07 PM (#302491)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Hey, Thomas the Rhymer. No hard feelings.

I have a question, and since this is a throwaway thread anyway, a little thread creep (like me) won't hurt anything.

I was at Border's last night, and wanted to get a CD I could listen to that would be real, "traditional" folk stuff. I was completely unable to determine, based on the backs of the CD's, what I should buy and so I ended up not getting anything. Waaah.

Has there already been a thread about good, "traditional" folk CD's -- kind of a "your collection isn't really complete without" or even "this is really the good, old stuff"? I certainly didn't see "The Complete Child Ballads according to Traditional Tunes, Volume I" or anything remotely resembling that.

So if you were at Border's with me last night and I said I had a 20 spot burning a hole in my pocket, and asked you which CD to get for some good old "traditional" folk, whither would you have steered me?

(PS my social skills are so-so, but I can type real good, have something of a sense of humor, and have this bizarre gift of thinking up funny song lyrics in short order, for which thanks be to the God(esse)s of your choice.)

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 06:24 PM (#302603)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

If you seek to play like Mississippi John Hurt, or 'Reverend Gary', 'Mr. Johnson', and the like, I would suggest you follow your metronoming thumb to the blues section, and pull out 'Catfish Keith'. It seems you might like Willy McTell...

Otherwise,

Anything by William Pint and Felicia Dale. If you must go to Borders,... try 'Altan', 'Magical Strings', John McCutcheon, or early 'Dougie MacLean'. If you like drinking songs,... The Clancy Btothers w/Tommy Makem. Otherwise, go to your local 'Folk' outlet, such as 'Lark in the Morning', 'Dusty Strings', etc., where the Traditional music florishes even today.

I wonder what you're... Oh, never mind!


21 Sep 00 - 06:32 PM (#302613)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

We have a Lark in the Morning in Seattle, praises be! It's hard to go in there without spending money in large quantities, however. Sigh. If only time and finances weren't an issue, I'd play every instrument and never do anything else. I think there's a Dusty Strings up in Freemont, but I've never been by when it was open.

Were you wondering what I was doing in a Borders? It happened to be there, and open, when I drived by.

I have "The Dougie McLean Collection" cd. Wonderful stuff, but not exactly "traditional" near as I can tell.

Thanks for the names, though! I shall inscribe them on my "stuff to look for" list and try to keep it at hand more often!

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 06:35 PM (#302616)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

HELLOOOOO! Dougie MacLean is a songer-songwriter, not a folk singer!


21 Sep 00 - 06:39 PM (#302619)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

That explains a lot.

There are people who are both, though, right? I mean, Paxton is definitely a singer-songwriter, but I've also seen a CD of his that is nothing but "traditional" folk standards (Betsy from Pike, Foggy Foggy Dew, etc.).

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 06:48 PM (#302627)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

Yeah, but just about all of his music is self-penned. But he did do a traditional album called "Tribute." Besides, Dougie loves electric guitars, sythesizers, and electronic drum programming. Personally, I love his stuff and is one of my biggest influences & idols, but he's not exactly a ultra-strict traddy's (to avoid that OTHER phrase) idea of folk music.


21 Sep 00 - 06:52 PM (#302634)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

That's okay. I'm a big Al Stewart fan, and I don't think he EVER recorded a traditional standard. Dougie seems to be in much the same category, near as I can tell from the Dougie CD I have.

I also like the traditional stuff, but my taste doesn't END there. Hope that's okay to the -um- ultra-strict. Actually I don't give a rat's patoot if it's okay to the ultra-strict. I also like jazz, classical, rock, etc. etc. etc. So sue me.

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 06:56 PM (#302636)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Branwen23

mousethief-


If you can get your hands on anything by Clandestine, it will be well worth it...

They are a band from Houston, Texas... great scottish music... they do traditional pipe tunes with an attitude, as well as some great original instrumentals and vocal tunes.
I don't know if their music is available in stores, but I know at least a couple of their albums are available through MP3.com.

If you like, i can get you some mp3's.... Their music is a great example of the versatility and spirit of traditional folk and Celtic music.


-Branwen-


21 Sep 00 - 06:57 PM (#302637)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

I'd like that.

Alex
O..O
=o=


21 Sep 00 - 07:03 PM (#302641)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Jim the Bart

Why I am better than everybody else.
by Henry Gibson, a/k/a Black Bart dba Bartholomew

I am always reasonable and consider both sides of the question before weighing in with my carefully thought out, politically correct commentary
I am never boring or pedantic
I always get the joke
I never question the motives of honest folk
I always recognize honest folk instantly
I never stray from the question at hand
I always answer the direct questions with a direct answer
I always suggest new and imaginative directions in which to take the open questions
I am very polite
I proofread
I don't get upset when other people don't follow my example
I always walk at least a mile in the other guys shoes and then pay for the wear and tear to his/her shoe leather
I never use vulgarity because it sounds so focking bad
Doggone it
Never mind


21 Sep 00 - 07:04 PM (#302643)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

You and your cable modem! :-(


21 Sep 00 - 07:11 PM (#302647)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

Mbo, Dougie's 'Craggy Dhu', you know, the one with Caledonia on it... is half traditional songs. Yep, he's a great songsmith all right, and I would say it is because he studied and played Traditional songs first. That's what I'd say alright... If I was half as cool as you! :^)


21 Sep 00 - 07:51 PM (#302676)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: RWilhelm

Caledonia, what makes your big head so hard?


21 Sep 00 - 08:09 PM (#302685)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Today's singer-songwriter is tomorrow's folksinger! Or today's, if you ask me.

I know folk when I hear it, and it didn't have to be written 100 years ago by some presently anonymous geek in order to qualify as folk music.

Al Stewart? Yeah!!! Al Stewart is an incredible songwriter, and one of my all-time favourites. Sometimes he is folky, sometimes not. I consider him to be a folksinger on the whole. Saw him in Toronto a couple of times over the years. "Roads To Moscow" is one of the greatest songs of all time...an absolute epic and a masterpiece.

My guinea pig is better than you are, because she has a massive overbite, but doesn't let it get to her, unlike you who are always fretting because you think your nose is too large and your hair is too thin/too thick/too curly/too straight/too dark/not dark enough/whatever...and she doesn't wear a friggin' baseball cap either!


21 Sep 00 - 08:46 PM (#302704)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

Thanks! Good to know there are some folks who feel the same way out there!


22 Sep 00 - 12:30 AM (#302833)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)

I'm better than you because Spaw told me I hold the record for the longest single sentence post in Mudcat history.

Rich


22 Sep 00 - 12:44 AM (#302843)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lena

Because my English is the worst here


22 Sep 00 - 02:33 AM (#302865)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Lepus Rex

Then you haven't been reading mine, Lena... :)

---Lepus Rex


22 Sep 00 - 11:51 AM (#303073)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

I'm better than you because my elitist views are even more elitist than yours, such that I am now so elite that I won't even talk to my reflection in the mirror anymore, which has cut down on the chitchat around here considerably, which is why I'm spending so much time on Mudcat, when I probably ought to be spending more "quality time" (YUCK! What a sick expresssion...) with myself, and then I wouldn't be wearing out my fingers composing run-on sentences that don't say anything worth a tinker's damn anyway...right?


22 Sep 00 - 06:20 PM (#303434)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Get out, Little Hawk! You think you're hot stuff, don't you? Well, mister, your instrument ought to be the dulcimer, because that's how you play...at a dull simmer. As for your ceaseless adulation of Bob Dylan, it is getting utterly tedious. You should get a life.

- Little Hawk's reflection (in the mirror).


22 Sep 00 - 10:47 PM (#303597)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)

I think I like Little Hawk's reflection better than Little Hawk. :-) LOL
Just kidding. It's good to see someone else picking up the run-on sentence bit.
Dull simmer! I'm gonna have to remember that one.


23 Sep 00 - 12:53 PM (#303870)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

That stupid reflection of mine has never had an original thought in its life.

Little Hawk


23 Sep 00 - 12:56 PM (#303871)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Yeah? Well, I could say the same about you...

Little Hawk's reflection (in the mirror)


23 Sep 00 - 01:24 PM (#303885)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Minstrel

WHY? Because you can't break me cos I'm a rubber duck

Slan Anois


23 Sep 00 - 02:12 PM (#303906)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: hesperis

Both of Little Hawk's reflections can be very tedious at times...


23 Sep 00 - 02:33 PM (#303917)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Thomas the Rhymer

Because I know how to realise my shortcommings, and apologize (and mean it), and turn the other cheek, and point out the awesome aspects I can see in each and every person I meet,...in forgiveness there is growth.

And... I find that the truth isn't everyone's cup-o-tea...

So what are you doing to make the world better? Beating up nice people? Behind their backs? Is it effective? No it is not. Little egos think they need to try to look bigger...

They don't... It doesn't have any lasting effect anyway!


23 Sep 00 - 07:14 PM (#304049)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Little Hawk, you have great taste. Roads to Moscow is my favorite Al Stewart song, bar none. I just got the pre-release of his new CD (due out Oct 17) and it's really cool. All the songs are about wine (Al has something like the 3rd largest private collection of European wines in America). It's called "Down in the Cellar." (One Bert Jansch song shows up on it!)

Thomas, you rock. It's harder than hell to apologize when you've done something you wish you hadn't, and I salute you.

Alex
O..O
=o=


23 Sep 00 - 09:53 PM (#304151)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

Charming thread, BUT (= 'but, hey', am I right?) I wanted to know why you are BETTER, not why you are worse. I can not see a reason for being better by being worse.

Little Hawk - THANK YOU (,hey) that was a great thought. LOL! Q: What's positive thinking? A: Looking into the mirror and saying "Well ... ok ... but I'm not as ugly as you!"

:-D

Joerg


23 Sep 00 - 09:58 PM (#304153)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

LH, I was thinking about you today! On the radio I heard "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan and "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. Awesome music!!!


23 Sep 00 - 10:46 PM (#304171)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Right on, Mbo! Check out your PM's.

Hesperis has got me totally confused with that "both reflections" comment. That was probably her intention. She's devious, and too clever by half. Of course, she has other qualities which make up for it. Still, I have to wonder, just what the heck she was thinking of...I am going to stand on my head in the corner and recite the Necronomicon backwards until I get it figured out...or until I get hungry...whichever comes first.

Where'd that mango go?


23 Sep 00 - 11:44 PM (#304187)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: hesperis

Well, Little Hawk's reflection said that his adulation of Dylan gets tedious, and I rather agree. In fact, I much prefer Little Hawk to Bob Dylan. In a musical sense and a personal one.

However, both Hawk and his reflection were getting rather childish, so I stepped in. (Just trying to be part of the joke. Guess it didn't work.)

I could go on, actually:
Both of Little Hawk's reflections can be tedious, charming, childish, mature....... and various other extremes.

But I have never heard Little Hawk's reflection play, so I'll reserve judgement on that.


24 Sep 00 - 12:22 PM (#304413)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Eric the Viking

Mousethief, you are definately right about roads to Moscow, the whole albulm "Past present and future" has to be Al's best as far as I'm concerned, but I really like "bedsitter images".

Cheers. Eric


24 Sep 00 - 01:35 PM (#304448)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Amos

Guys, we can't go on sticking out our chests on a nonmusical thread. So here ya go!

Better Than You

(Tune: A Few of My Favorite Things)

I can sing folk songs in roughly right rhythm
I can take insults, and know how to give 'em
I can choose Riesling, from 19-ought-two,
All of this makes me much better than you!

I can pick Dylan tunes even while napping
Remember old folk-songs with no verses flapping
Write lines in pentameter, green grass or blue,
All of which makes me much better than you!
 

When the threads cross,
When the trolls flame,
When the Mudcat's screwed...
I simply remember I'm better than you,
And then I don't feel so blue!
 
I can remember the words to Loch Lomond
I can recite all of "Down in the Gloaming"
Cowboy and roustabout, madrigal, blues
I do them all, so much better than you!

I can come up with quatrains round and pretty
Answer attacks with deflection so witty
Speak out so openly, humble and true;
Surely this must make me better than you!

I have a banjo, a mandolin, zither
My wife has left me, but still I don't mith her
I have a Martin, a D-22!
This surely proves I am better than you!
 

Still I wonder,
From high places,
How it feels to fall,
I notice that 'tho I am better than most,
I don't get much mail
At all!

Dadadeedadadadeedeedadeeda.....

Ching Kaching kachung.....

Regards,

Amos


24 Sep 00 - 01:43 PM (#304456)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)

Nice, Amos

Rich


24 Sep 00 - 02:01 PM (#304462)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: hesperis

Ok, Amos, you are much better than all of the rest of us for having written that!!!!! I LOVE it!!!!!


24 Sep 00 - 04:23 PM (#304532)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Noreen

LOL- Clever stuff, Amos! Singing along :0)

Noreen


24 Sep 00 - 04:37 PM (#304538)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Neophyte

Amos that was very very funny!
Will you come sing it on Hearme tonight?

Bonnie


24 Sep 00 - 05:47 PM (#304572)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

Wish he could, Bonnie, but Amos has a Mac, and HearMe doesn't have Mac-compatible Hearme software. :-(


24 Sep 00 - 06:05 PM (#304585)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Spectacular, Amos! You ARE better. We're not worthy, we're not worthy! My reflection is green with envy, but at least it has shut him up for the time being...


24 Sep 00 - 06:30 PM (#304599)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: bflat

Amos, Amos, You'll be Famous!!

Thank you for the lift *BG*

bflat


24 Sep 00 - 07:02 PM (#304620)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Amos

Awwwww....shucks. Thanks, guys. It shows to go ya that the 'Cat transcends all!

A


24 Sep 00 - 07:21 PM (#304635)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: @risk (inactive)

Amos, my hat is in my hand.
I am waving up at you but my face is lost in the croud.
You don't see me because 22,000 beautiful women are chnting your name very loudly! And their 22,000 partners are starting to feel the envy that tingles the spine, very much like , Like , LIKE JEALOUSY!!!!

Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos! Amos!


24 Sep 00 - 07:24 PM (#304639)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Amos

I'm gettin' spinny with yer blarney! Thanks for the kind remarks. I like the beautiful women part best.

A.


24 Sep 00 - 07:25 PM (#304642)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

I done said it once, and I'll say it again! Amos, you are DA MAN! Love ya!

--Matt


24 Sep 00 - 09:05 PM (#304703)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: mousethief

Nicely done, Amos!

Eric da Viking: Do you mean Bedsitter Images the album, or the song? Because the song is awesome, one of my very favorite of Al's, but the album B.I. has a few real clunkers on it.

Alex
O..O
=o=


24 Sep 00 - 10:02 PM (#304730)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

Yeah. Bedsitter Images (the album) was his first attempt, and it's not as good as the others. Al Stewart is one hell of a songwriter, however, quite in a class by himself.

His early albums had a lot more personal songs, songs about relationships, and so on. Then he got more into the historical, societal and mystical vein...as happened also with Jackson Browne. Interesting.


24 Sep 00 - 10:08 PM (#304731)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

Great lyrics, Amos. Reminds me of that verse from the 'Barnyards of Delgaty'

I can drink and not be drunk
I can fight and not be slain
I can lie wi' another man's lass
And aye be welcome to me ain
(or something like this)

*GRIN*

But still - kind of seriously:

LH's hint ("Because I can tell my reflection in the mirror that I'm better") gives a wonderful joke about the so-called 'positive thinking', i.e. telling as much lies to yourself as ever possible. But I've suffered too much from people thinking that way, so I wouldn't use this in some humourous sense - only with bitter sarcasm.

And those lyrics - they are telling me something like "Let's all be happy of having at least one eye among the blind - BTW where are they?" - VERY good, very beautiful thought, but still ... but still ...

Don't know if you can see what I mean: It would be e.g. possible to change LH's approach to "Because I don't tell my reflection in the mirror that I'm more beautiful" but this would only work with those 'positive thinkers' and it would be meant offensive (maybe they won't understand the meaning). Isn't there any answer you can tell to everybody without hurting them (which is also understood that way)?

Difficult, huh? But interesting: Do we automatically offend people by telling them that we are better? Are we all automatically offended by someone who tells us that he/she is better? And so on ...

?

Joerg


24 Sep 00 - 10:23 PM (#304736)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

I thought it was you that said that about the reflection being uglier, not me...??? It's too late for figuring this one out now, so I'm not even gonna try.

I did think it would be funny to have an argument with my own reflection, and then accuse it of never having had an orginal thought! (obviously)

Like when I write songs, this just came to me spontaneously and I went with it.

I agree that certain types of "positive thinkers" can become very annoying to be around, but it all depends on how they are doing it...there's a phony way and a real way to be a positive thinker.

The one thing that we are all absolutely the BEST at<\b> is simply being ourselves. And that is exactly what we are here to do! (Rather than being someone else's idea of whom we should be...which happens far too much, specially to children and young people.) You can't please everyone, so please yourself...they may not like it, but they'll respect you for it in the end.

As the Wiccans say: "Do as ye will and harm no one."


24 Sep 00 - 10:47 PM (#304752)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: @play

As the Theosophist researchers of the Kabalah say,

"If you love, you may do what you will"


24 Sep 00 - 10:58 PM (#304768)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

I didn't mean to be THAT serious, LH. Of course you're right. But isn't is funny how difficult it seems to tell that we are better without the fear of being considered worse JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, so we tell them that we are worse in order TO NOT MAKE THEM THINK so?

*BG*

Joerg


24 Sep 00 - 11:35 PM (#304793)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Amos

My impression is that on eway to solve the pain and confusison to which we are often heirs is to assert self-rightness and other-wrongness based on some really idiosyncratic personal view which noone else could ever have anyway, let alone be better than you at.

This of course leads to smugness, self-superiority, and the wearying assertions of my-group vs your-group which are such a disservice to the specias in toto.

These secret calculations about secret reasons for being better -- which mousethief has really started to expose with his "cat among the pigeons" opener -- are the core of our committment to stupidity and domination, and perhaps ultimately the core cause of human violence in many case -- if we weren't so busy being right and righter we could probably sit and communicate, learn what it is to be human in other shoes than our own, and even transcend our physical limitations to some degree.

Sigh.

A.


24 Sep 00 - 11:52 PM (#304804)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: catspaw49

Amos, you gotta' get out more...............unlike Hawk who needs to be locked in a closet with a mirror and his thoughts. There ought to be plenty of room, depending on the size of the mirror.

Spaw


24 Sep 00 - 11:53 PM (#304806)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Mbo

Excellent, Amos! I agree. One of my favorite songs can further illustrate your point....To Be A Man.

--Matt


25 Sep 00 - 09:35 PM (#305433)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

@play - it's not what I hope to learn from this thread, but this is not that important (i.e. the fact that it isn't what I want to learn as well as what I want to learn).

But that was good. That's wisdom to me.

And I agree. By experience.

Joerg


27 Sep 00 - 07:42 PM (#306935)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

I have a little brown dog here who is quite certain he's better than you, and if you come over, he'll tell you all about it...and tell you...and tell you...and tell you...


27 Sep 00 - 08:39 PM (#306979)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: GUEST,Joerg

Hmmmmmmmmmm ....

LH, I remember another little brown dog who told me that I was the best of everything.

Should I have believed that .... ?

Uh ....

Joerg


18 Oct 00 - 10:58 PM (#322384)
Subject: RE: BS: Why I'm better than you are
From: Little Hawk

I'm better than you are because I have revived this thread after all the rest of you ignored the poor thing and let it die.

And besides that, I have a reflection.