Roughing It - Chapter 69

Submitted by scott on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 14:18
A Passenger

There is a wonderful moment in this chapter when Twain steps out on deck of the schooner at night in the moonlight. The description of his vista is almost transcendent.

Some thoughts on the "Little Ice Age"

Submitted by scott on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 12:36

I've recently been responding to various requests to sign petitions related to Obama's environmental treachery, the latest being the Keystone pipeline project and canceling of EPA standards. One response I got on a Facebook post was what looked to be a rather cynical request to explain why humans were to blame for the "Little Ice Age" (LIA).

Roughing It - Chapter 68

Submitted by scott on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 18:00
A Modern Funeral

This is a rather tedious chapter but may be of interest to those interested in traditional funeral practices of native Hawaiians. This is a good example of Twain padding his chapters (my opinion).

From Lalena to Kurt Weill and back again

Submitted by scott on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 15:49

Earlier today I had the desire to play some old Donovan music. I have an lp of his. I looked up some of the tunes on Wikipedia and found that the tune Lalena was actually named for Lotte Lenya, the singer/actress famous for her role in Kurt Weill's The Three Penny Opera, among other roles. I wonder how many of you out there have heard of it or him. Once upon a time Bobby Darin had a hit with a tune from The Three Penny Opera, Mack the Knife. But then who now remembers Bobby Darin.

Roughing It - Chapter 67

Submitted by scott on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 16:12
An Enemy's Prayer

This chapter explores the local politics of the Hawaiians. We also learn that one can pray their enemy to death. Native Hawaiians adapt New England clothing to their own needs. Mark provides a listing of the political heirarchy.

Sketches New and Old

Submitted by scott on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 10:02

Sketches New and Old is the fifth book in the Oxford Mark Twain collection, published in 1875. It contains material written from between 1863 and 1875 some of which can also be found in a book Twain did not favor, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other Sketches. This includes the title sketch "in English. Then in French. Then clawed back into civilized language once more by patient, unremunerated toil". I, as SLCLemens in Second Life, have recorded readings from this book, produced slide shows of same and published them on YouTube or other service.

SPEECH ON ACCIDENT INSURANCE, from Sketches New and Old

Submitted by scott on Sat, 08/27/2011 - 12:12
On Insurance

GENTLEMEN: I am glad, indeed, to assist in welcoming the distinguished guest of this occasion to a city whose fame as an insurance center has extended to all lands, and given us the name of being a quadruple band of brothers working sweetly hand in hand—the Colt's Arms Company making the destruction of our race easy and convenient, our life insurance citizens paying for the victims when they pass away, Mr. Batterson perpetuating their memory with his stately monuments, and our fire-insurance comrades taking care of their hereafter.

Roughing It - Chapter 66

Submitted by scott on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:49
Sandwich Island Girls

Girls on horseback, the making and eating of poi, and how to classify strangers in Hawaii. Also, perhaps one of Twain's worse puns.

Roughing It - Chapter 65

Submitted by scott on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 12:30
Sat Down to Listen

The tale of King Kamehameha I battle to take Oahu from the Oahuans and how the great field of bones was created. We also learn of the habits of Kanaka horse traders.