The "Library of Southern Literature" includes a wide range of literary works of the American South published before 1924. This collection was originally based on Dr. Robert Bain's bibliography of the hundred most important southern literary works and continues to expand under the guidance of scholarly advisors Dr. Joseph M. Flora and Dr. William L. Andrews. This collection begins with some of the earliest texts about America written by British discoverers that set the foundation for American letters and traces the development of southern literature through to the beginning of the twentieth century.

• Introduction
• Browse this Collection Alphabetically
• Browse Images by Subject
• Dr. Robert Bain's original bibliography of Southern Literature
• About this Collection

A treasure trove.

Let’s talk population trends.  Many readers are familiar with the arresting Golden State statistics cited by a Wall Street Journal article in March:

From the mid-1980s to 2005, California’s population grew by 10 million, while Medicaid recipients soared by seven million; tax filers paying income taxes rose by just 150,000; and the prison population swelled by 115,000.

The net gain in tax filers includes the author:  I was added as a tax-paying filer to the California income tax rolls in 2004.  Apparently there are another 149,999 of us, and I’m thinking we need a T-shirt.  (And yes, alert readers, I understand that this was a net gain, reflecting both additions to and subtractions from the tax rolls over time.  Just having some fun with these sad little numbers.)

Ponder that, my friends. And you wonder what happened to the middle class in this country?

Naches - Fun der chupe

Nice English Concertina work by Prof. Novotny.

"White neighborhoods/venues can be dangerous to blacks -- just ask Trayvon Martin."

You're just a font of misinformation, aren't you?

The Twin Lakes gated community, in which Trayvon Martin was shot, wasn't a white neighborhood. It was a mixed neighborhood with many black residents, including several who were friends of the Hispanic George Zimmerman.

That shouldn't come as a surprise. Sanford, Florida -- where Trayvon Martin lived and was killed -- was a highly diverse community. Less than half of the population was non-Hispanic white, and more than 30% of the population was African-American. That's a significantly higher percentage than what you find in the rest of the country.

 

 

How to respond to nonsense.

An Introduction to English Country Dance

English Country dancing scene in the Boston area is not expensive and every one is welcome. Check out Springstep in Medford, MA.

Sons of the Pioneers "Tumbling Tumble Weeds

See them tumbling down,
Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely, but free, I'll be found,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds . . .

Cares of the past are behind,
Nowhere to go, but I'll find,
Just where the trail will wind,
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds . . .

I know when night is gone,
That a new world's born at dawn,
I'll keep rolling along,
Deep in my heart as a song,
Here on the range I belong,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds . . .

See them tumbling down,
Pledging their love to the ground! )
Lonely, but free, I'll be found,
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds . . .

I know when night is gone,
That a new world's born at dawn,
I'll keep rolling along,
Deep in my heart as a song,
Here on the range I belong,
(Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds . . .
Drifting along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds . . .

Words and Music
by Bob Nolan, 1934

Rita Hayworth - Zip (Pal Joey)

Rita Hayworth doing "Zip" from "Pal Joey"--watch for the philosophic allusions. Hayworth plays a former stripper, now wealthy, at a charity dinner. Sinatra is there as a hired musician...

The Ink Spots - The Gypsy (1950-1952) B&W

Bill Kenny is awesome here. These guys are amazing. Pre-revolution weren't without its joys.