Kenny Burrell – Jazz Guitar at its best!

Kenny Burrell – Jazz Guitar at its best!

The Chessmen - Peter May

Originally posted at Book-Ed

The Chessmen Book #t3 in the Award-winning Lewis Trilogy from Peter May

  The Chessmen is the third and final book in Peter May's outstanding Lewis Trilogy. The trilogy follows the life of ex-Detective Inspector Fin MacCleod as a returns to his home on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Through the outstanding writing of Peter May the reader is swept away to that rugged landscape and given a glimpse of the life of the people of live there.

In this final installment Fin has left his former life and is temporarily living with his childhood love Marsaili. Fin has taken a job as head of security for Red River Estates. The Estates are experiencing problems with poachers and one of Fin's first assignments reunites him with his childhood friend John Angus Macaskill, known as Whistler, who both poaches and lives on the Red River Estates. One night while pursuing Whistler across the rugged hills of the estate, they are forced to take shelter in a cave, The next morning they awake to find a loch in the valley of the hills has drained and a small aircraft is visible within the loch. The plane is the missing plane of a former friend Roddy MacKenzie, lost seventeen years earlier. When they explore the plane they find a decomposing body of a man who did not die in a plane crash but was murdered! Discovering the who and why of the murder will turn the lives of some of Fin's closest friends upside down!!

 May tells the story of Roddy MacKenzie and his band Amran through a series of flashbacks that weave their way through Fin's life. The flashbacks tell of the tale of friends whose college band hit it big and the times when Fin served as their roadie, while his friend Donald was their manager. A tale that ended with Roddy's disappearance. Who killed Roddy and Why??

 I love books that take me to places I will never visit and May certainly has done that in this trilogy! From the Scotsman

 "Vivid descriptions of the barren landscapes and cruel weather are a poignant backdrop for a melancholy tale"

and The Daily Record

"Steeped in atmosphere and set in a location that permeates the story like a falling mist, The Chessmen takes the reader on an enticing reel, forwards, backwards, side to side, every step leading to a breathtaking climax."

The Lewis Chessmen in the British Museum

The title of the book The Chessmen refers to the Lewis Chessmen. From Wikipedia.....

The Lewis chessmen (or Uig chessmen, named after the bay where they were found) are a group of 12th-century chess pieces, along with other gaming pieces, most of which are carved in walrus ivory. Discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland,[1] they may constitute some of the few complete, surviving medieval chess sets, although it is not clear if a set as originally made can be assembled from the pieces. Read More

Bottom Line: The Chessmen and the trilogy as a whole are five-star books for me. I love Fin MacLeod and all his friends and I will miss this series.May creates "a sense of place" in his writing like few can and his characters are as real as they come! I very rarely read books again but I just may have to make this series an exception and visit Fin and his friends again and again!!

he Lewis series was not my first encounter with the writing of Peter May I read The Firemaker book #1 of his China Thriller series featuring Chinese  detective Li Yan and Margaret Campbell, a Chicago forensic pathologist several years ago. I just may have to go back and read some of the other books in that six book series, or maybe I can read some of the Enzo files series featuring Scottish forensic scientist Enzo MacLeod to get my Peter May fix!! Anyway I look at it I need more Peter May..... in the words of The New York Times.....

"Peter May is a writer I’d follow to the ends of the earth"

Book 14 of 2015 - Book 9 of the Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge

The Schultüte, Nana Karn and Thoughts of Dresden

Schultüte - the traditional German School Cone

  Sometime last week my wife came across some of my old family pictures and gave them to me to put away One  was a picture of my father's mother Charlotte Frieda Meyer. In the picture she is holding a cone that is almost as long as she is tall. So my wife set out to find out, what the cone was. What she discovered is the cone is called a "Schultüte" (or School Cone). The word "Tute" actually translate more literally as "bag". In Eastern Germany it is often called a Zuckertute, a sugar bag! The cone was originally made of paper and more recently plastic,

Read More:  The Schultüte, Nana Karn and Thoughts of Dresden

Morning Explorations: Jainism

One of my favorite all-time songs is Buffy Saint-Marie's "The Universal Soldier". I love both Donovan and Buffy's version and well anyone else who sings this song. The song speaks the truth about religion and war. Here are the opening verses of the song.

He's five foot-two, and he's six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He's all of thirty-one, and he's only seventeen,
Been a soldier for a thousand years.
He'a a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain,
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew.
And he knows he shouldn't kill,
And he knows he always will
, Kill you for me my friend and me for you.

Now the reason that the "Universal Soldier"  popped into my head today was that I was surfing around Wikipedia this morning and I went to the religion portal where I found an article about Jainism. As I started to read, I was fascinated by the tenets of this ancient religion. I knew I had to Find out more about Jainism. Mahavira (599 BCE–527 BCE[1]), also known as Vardhamana  is widely regarded as the founder of Jainism, Actually, Mahavira was the twenty-fourth and last tirthankara of Jainism. A tirthankara is a person who has conquered samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth, and can provide a bridge for Jains to follow them from samsara to moksha (liberation). So  Mahavira should be regarded as more of a reformer of Jainism.  The first of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras was ]R̥ṣabha or Ādinātha (Original Lord"), also known as the "Lord of Kesariya"). About Jainism, from Wikipedia......

Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul toward divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called a jina ("conqueror" or "victor"). The ultimate status of these perfect souls is called siddha. Ancient texts also refer to Jainism as shraman dharma (self-reliant) or the "path of the nirganthas" (those without attachments or aversions). The core principle of Jainism is non-violence. Among the five great vows taken by Jain ascetics, non-violence is the first and foremost. Jains believe in reincarnation; the soul is trapped in the cycle of birth and death (samsara) due to the actions of karmic particles. They emphasize that liberation can be achieved through the three jewels of Right View, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Read More

Ahimsa outlines this cardinal virtue of Jainism......From Wikipedia

Ahimsa is one of the cardinal virtues[5] and an important tenet of major Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism). Ahimsa is a multidimensional concept,[6] inspired by the premise that all living beings have the spark of the divine spiritual energy; therefore, to hurt another being is to hurt oneself. Ahimsa has also been related to the notion that any violence has karmic consequences. While ancient scholars of Hinduism pioneered and over time perfected the principles of Ahimsa, the concept reached an extraordinary status in the ethical philosophy of Jainism.[5][7] Most popularly, Mahatma Gandhi strongly believed in the principle of ahimsa. Read More

From BBC Religions.....

Jains believe that the only way to save one's own soul is to protect every other soul, and so the most central Jain teaching, and the heart of Jain ethics, is that of ahimsa (non-violence).

Ahimsa is often translated simply as non-violence, but its implications are far wider; it is more than not doing violence, it is more than an attitude, it is a whole way of life. And for modern Jains the concept also includes the positive elements of working for justice, peace, liberation, and freedom, if doing so does not involve violence. Read More

The Jain Scripture states the following....

Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture or kill any creature or living being. Jain scripture

The following outlines some of the basic lifestyle actions one must make to live according to Ahimsa

Refraining from violence One should refrain from violence to any living creature. Violence includes: physical violence mental violence verbal violence

Ahimsa touches every area of life, so Jains:

• are vegetarian
• don't use cloth whose production hurts animals or humans



Māhavīra employed anekānta extensively to explain the Jain philosophical concepts (painting from Rajasthan, ca. 1900) 

• take care to preserve life in everything they do

 

 Ok so far I agree with the basic tenets of this religion, As I read on, I discovered more interesting things about the doctrines of Jainism.....another doctrine of  Jainism is Anekantavada......

 Anekantavada is one of the most important and fundamental doctrines of Jainism. It refers to the principles of pluralism and multiplicity of viewpoints, the notion that truth and reality are perceived differently from diverse points of view, and that no single point of view is the complete truth.

Ok so I found out a boatload of intriguing information about Jainism this morning. After reading and agreeing with many of the basic tenets of Jainism, I think that I will definitely be exploring Jainism mor fully in the future! 

Links and References 

1. "Rishabha khajuraho". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia - 

2. "Mahavra 1900 art" by Jules Jain - Photograph of Art taken by Jules Jain. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - 

BBC:Religions Ashima 

Wikipedia Portal Jainism

Richard Johnson, the only US VP Elected by the Senate!

Richard Johnson (October 17, 1780 – November 19, 1850)                             Ninth Vice President of the United States

  So this morning as I was checking the events that occurred on February 8th, I saw that date in 1837, Richard Johnson became the 9th Vice President of the United States, What caught my attention was the Richard Johnson is the only Vice-President ever elected by the U.S.Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment, which says in part.....

....The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States

  Richard Johnson first served as a representative in the US Congress from Kentucky. He was elected in 1806; and became an ally of Henry Clay (also from Kentucky) As such, Johnson became a member of the War Hawks faction, that favored war with Britain in1812. From Wikipedia...

... Johnson was commissioned a colonel in the Kentucky Militia and commanded a regiment of mounted volunteers from 1812 to 1813. He and his brother James served under William Henry Harrison in Upper Canada. Johnson participated in the Battle of the Thames. Some reported that he personally killed the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, which he later used to his political advantage.

In 1836, Johnson ran for vice-president on a Democratic ticket with Martin Van Buren. His campaign slogan may be the worst slogan I have ever heard ...."Rumpsey Dumpsey, Rumpsey Dumpsey, Colonel Johnson killed Tecumseh" Johnson fell jus short of the number of electoral votes needed to win.Virginia's delegation to the Electoral College went against the state's popular vote and refused to endorse Johnson. Saying we are not voting for anyone with a campaign slogan like that one. (Not really). So the Senate was forced to decide the election and since the Democrats controlled the Senate, Johnson was elected.However, Johnson was such a liability for the Democrats in the 1836 election they decided to leave him off the ticket. Van Buren ran without a running mate campaigning using the slogan ."Rumpsey Dumpsey, Rumpsey Dumpsey, I dumped the man who killed Tecumseh" (just kidding!). Van Buren lost the election to William Henry Harrison "Old Tippecanoe" who was a member of the Whig Party (which is the worst name for a political party ever) and Richard Johnson's former commander in the War of 1812.

 Johnson tried to return to public office but was defeated. He finally was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1850, but he died on November 19, 1850, just two weeks into his term. While his commanding officer lasted a whole four weeks in office after being elected president in 1840. Hum, Tecumseh's revenge???

Sanctus Book 1 of the Sancti Trilogy – Simon Toyne

Inside the Citadel in the ancient city of Ruin resides a select group of monks charged with protecting the Sacrament, along with thousands of ancient texts discovered over the millennium.  The nature of the Sacrament is known only to a select few of those monks – the Sancti. But when Brother Samuel is initiated into the Sancti, and discovers what the Sacrament is, he decides can not live with that knowledge or continue to belong to the Sancti. He makes a harrowing and torturous climb to the top of the Citadel, where he stands for hours in a pose symbolic of the Tau, the symbol of the Sancti, before plunging to his death. So begins Sanctus, first book of the Ruin trilogy from British author Simon Toyne. The questions left unanswered are: Why did he do it? What did he see that lead him to take his own life?

Sanctus Book 1 of the Sancti Trilogy – Simon Toyne

Horses of the American Civil War

From: Finding Out!

Robert E Lee's horse "Traveller" is probably the best known of the horses of the American Civil War, but what were the names of some of the other horses ridden by  the generals of the war. My inquiring mind wants to know, so let's find out!!

Horses of the American Civil War

Phil Sheridan - Aldebaron, Rienzi- Winchester

The first horse on the list alphabetically is "Aldebaron" ridden by Union General Phil Sheridan. "Aldebaron" was the first horse ridden by Sheridan. The second horse that Sheridan was named "Rienzi", at least for a while. After the battle of Cedar Creek, Sheridan renamed "Rienzi" - "Winchester" From Wikipedia here's why....

....In October, however, Jubal Early caught Sheridan off guard.  Early launched a surprise attack at Cedar Creek on the 19th.  Sheridan, however, was ten miles away in Winchester, Virginia.  Upon hearing the sound of artillery fire, Sheridan raced to rejoin his forces.  He arrived just in time to rally his troops.  Early’s men, however, were suffering from hunger and began to loot the abandoned Union camps.  The actions of Sheridan (and Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright) stopped the Union retreat and dealt a severe blow to Early’s army. For his actions at Cedar Creek, Sheridan was promoted to Major General in the regular army.  He also received a letter of gratitude from President Abraham Lincoln.  The general took great pleasure in Thomas Buchanan Read’s poem, “Sheridan’s Ride” – so much so that he renamed his horse “Winchester”.  The Union victories in the Shenandoah Valley came just in time for Abraham Lincoln and helped the Republicans defeat Democratic candidate George B. McClellan in the election of 1864.

Phil Kearny - Bayard, Decatur, Moscow

"Decatur" one of Phil Kearny's horses was shot through the neck at Fair Oaks. His primary horse "Moscow" was not ridden into battle because he was a white horse! Kearny was killed at Chantilly on his third horse "Bayard"

J.E.B. Stuart - Skylark, Virgina

Stuart's warhouse "Skylark" was a gift from Alexander Ware, given to Stuart when he was at Harper's Ferry in 1862.  Stuart may have been riding "Skylark" when he  escaped capture at Verdiersville. Stuart was surprised by Union soldiers at Verdiersville and made a bareback escape. Some authors claim that he was riding "Highfly" or "Highflyer", others say it was "Skylark". Stuart never named the horse in a letter to his wife, Flora after the escape. However, research has shown that Stuart did not ride "Highfly" until after the escape, so unless it was an unknown horse he probably escaped on "Skylark" "Skylark" also is featured prominently in Richard Adams novel Traveller about Robert E Lee and his favorite and most famous horse.

Ulysess S Grant -  Cincinnati, Fox, Jack, Jeff Davis, Kangaroo, Methuselah and Rondy

"Methulsaleh" was the first horse that Grant had when he re-entered the Army in 1861 and "Rondy" was the first horse that he rode into battle. "Kangaroo", "Jeff Davis" and "Jack" were  Grant's secondary horses. "Fox" and "Cincinnati" were favorites . From: Grant the Equestrian Frederick Grant, son of General Grant writes....

The next horse that my father purchased for field service was a roan called "Fox," a very powerful and spirited animal and of great endurance. This horse he rode during the siege and battles around Fort Donelson and also at Shiloh.

At the battle of Shiloh the Confederates left on the field a rawboned horse, very ugly and apparently good for nothing. As a joke, the officer who found this animal on the field, sent it with his compliments, to Colonel Lagow, one of my father's aides-de-camp, who always kept a very excellent mount and was a man of means. The other officers of the staff "jollied" the colonel about this gift. When my father saw him, he told the colonel that the animal was a thoroughbred and a valuable mount and that if he, Lagow, did not wish to keep the horse he would be glad to have him. Because of his appearance he was named "Kangaroo," and after a short period of rest and feeding and care he turned out to be a magnificent animal and was used by. my father during the Vicksburg campaign.

In this campaign, General Grant had 'two other horses, both of them very handsome, one of which he gave away and the other he used until. late in the war. During the campaign and siege of Vicksburg, a cavalry raid or scouting party arrived at Joe Davis' plantation (the brother of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy) and there captured a black pony which was brought to the rear of the city and presented to me. The animal was worn out when it reached headquarters but was a very easy riding horse and I used him once or twice. With care he began to pick up and soon carried himself in fine shape.

At that time my father was suffering with a carbuncle and his horse being restless caused him a great deal of pain. It was necessary for General Grant to visit the lines frequently and one day he took this pony for that purpose. The gait of the pony was so delightful that he directed that he be turned over to the quartermaster as a captured horse and a board of officers be convened to appraise the animal. This was done and my father purchased the animal and kept him until he died, which was long after the Civil War. This pony was known as "Jeff Davis."....

...."Cincinnati" was the son of "Lexington," the fastest four-mile thoroughbred in the United States, time 7:19 3/4 minutes. "Cincinnati" nearly 'equaled the speed of his half-brother, "Kentucky," and Grant was offered $10,000 in gold or its equivalent for him, but refused. He was seventeen hands high, and in the estimation of Grant was the finest horse that he had ever seen. Grant rarely permitted anyone to mount the horse --two exceptions were Admiral Daniel Ammen and Lincoln. Ammen saved Grant's life from drowning while a school-boy. Grant says: "Lincoln spent the latter days of his life with me. He came to City Point in the last month of the war and was with me all the time. He was a fine horseman and rode my horse 'Cincinnati' every day."

Other horses of the  American Civil War include: "Blackjack" - Jefferson Davis "Hero" James Longstreet "Kentuck" - George MacCellan "Lancer" - George Armstong Custer "Lexington" - William T. Sherman A complete list of the horses of the American Civil War came be found here at Wikipedia.