The Summer Is Ending

Here’s the truth: Up here in the north woods, the end of summer is signaled by a few different changes than elsewhere.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Summer is ending. In the north woods, however, we wouldn’t be able to tell by the weather. It’s been warm and very dry, more like August than September. But, the days are getting shorter, birds are beginning to migrate, and some fall traditions are starting to be observed, albeit a little early. Our Booya is coming, as I spoke about in an earlier post, and the Booya is kinda sorta our version of Octoberfest. So Ted’s enthusiasm is appreciated. (This is a bit strange, though, being that his name is Theodore Edward O’Bruin, thus very Irish. But, he says his mother was German, having come from the Black Forest.) I just worry every year, whether The Pub can withstand it when four or five times almost every night he plays “In Heaven There is No Beer” on the Juke Box and does the polka. I hope the New Pub holds up as well as the old one did. After all, he is a 972 pound bear!

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

Racism Is Alive and Well In America

Here’s the truth: There was a day when a generation knew what love really meant.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Okay! I’m officially angry! Barack Obama is President of the United States. Let me repeat that with a little more completeness: Barack Obama, an African American, a black man, and for all you people still living in the 1950’s and 60’s, a Negro,  is PRESIDENT of the United States. He was elected by a CLEAR MAJORITY of the popular votes and Electoral votes. So, to all you racists who are screaming at the top of your lungs the lies about health care reform, his having been born in the U.S.A., calling him a liar on the floor of the House of Representatives, and attacking him at every turn with any possible, even remotely plausible work of fiction, as well as all the implausible works of fiction, will you PLEASE tell the truth! All together now say, “I am a racist and I cannot handle a…er…man of color in the WHITE HOUSE!!!!” Now, doesn’t that feel better?

The majority of the voters in this country elected an AFRICAN AMERICAN to the highest office in the land. Guess what racists, YOU LOSE! It’s over! Pack up your bigotry and go find a born-again Christian church service somewhere. Let them tell you the Bible says it’s okay to hate other human beings because they aren’t like you, as long as you give your 10% (or more) every Sunday. It doesn’t matter that the poor can’t get decent health care simply because they are poor. It doesn’t matter that millions of children are homeless. It doesn’t matter that millions of adults have lost their jobs and aren’t even counted in the unemployment statistics anymore because they have been without work so long they don’t get unemployment checks anymore. After all, Jesus didn’t really mean all that brother’s keeper stuff. After all, Jesus really wanted to make sure you were okay with the fact that you have more of everything than 90-some% of the entire human race. Mostly, Jesus just wants to make sure you understand that “Greed is good.” (Oh, wait, that isn’t from the Bible, is it? That’s from a movie.) What Jesus wants most of all, is that you feel good about yourself as you sit down to your dinner in your dining room, while millions of children go to bed in a shelter, hungry. And, of course, He wants to make sure that you don’t lose a moment of sleep, because the schools that these children attend are about to lose funding because these children were too hungry, too tired, too scared, and too worried about their little siblings to learn what they needed to know for the “No Child Left Behind” standardized tests and therefore lowered the district’s scores. Or, that their schools are losing teachers and programs because of budget cuts that are the results of you doing everything in your power not to have any tax increases, ever, for any reason, ever! Yup, Jesus died on the cross to save you, SAVE you from ever having to feel bad about yourself for any perceived indiscretion your self-righteous racism might have implied that you could possibly have committed. Just look at the color of your skin. It’s obvious why Jesus is so worried about you.

I was born into the “Woodstock” generation. I have seen many of my fellow baby-boomers turn their backs on the calling of our generation, raise their children without teaching them of humanity, and forgotten the social justice values and open arms and hearts that were the song of the youth of that day. Guess what, “…it’s time we stopped children, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down!” Dear God, have mercy on us all.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

Where Are the Men Teachers?

Here’s the truth: The fact that I am a man is not something I feel I need to apologize for.Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Well, my new job begins in earnest tomorrow. As I mentioned, last week was training. This week is prep week, with a little training thrown in. I’ll meet the people I’ll be working with, and my direct supervisor. I think that all of these people are women. Which brings me to my subject for this post: Why is education, especially elementary education, so lean on male teachers?

Smarter and far more educated people than I, have for years discussed the need for more positive male role models in elementary schools. Children, and in my opinion, both boys and girls, need to be with and learn from good men. I think we can all agree that there are some persistent differences between males and females of any age group. In children, these include the developmental differences, physical, emotional, social, and intellectual. (Yes, I know there are differences between individuals in these areas. But I am speaking in the broader sense here, as it applies to education in the schools.) Some public school systems have offered one gender classrooms and schools to allow for these differences and create programs more suited to each gender. I applaud these efforts. Any thoughtful and constructive effort to provide more and better options for kids’ education I am all for. Still, where are the men?

There are two reasons I believe that are the culprits here. The first one, which has been discussed at length, and again by people smarter and more educated than I, is  money. Career minded people with ambition and a thirst for achievement, if they chose education at all, will leave the classroom in favor of academia or administration, both of which offer the possibility for “advancement.”

The second reason is a relatively well-kept secret, or at least that is my belief.  Bluntly put and with all due respect for their professionalism, a large percentage, perhaps a majority, of the women in education, I submit, do not really want men in the elementary schools. This assertion is very unscientific in its foundation, I readily admit. It is the impression that I have gotten, the “vibe” if you will, after being a teacher for four years in the elementary schools. I believe that many women, at least in their heart-of-hearts where maternal instincts reside, think men are too cold, too strict, too…well…male, to work with children. I have even gotten the feeling that some women educators have a prejudice or bias that says all men in education are probably abusive pedophiles, at least until proven otherwise.

Having made this assertion, I would like to immediately say that if true, it is not entirely without foundation that women educators have this belief concerning men. Far more men than women, and way too many men in general, have abused their power when put in positions of influence with children. Some fathers and other relatives, as well as some male coaches, clergy, club leaders, and teachers, have been guilty of horrific predatory offenses against children. The rub, however, is that the fear of these atrocities is over-shadowing the fact that most men are good people. Having an adult world populated, and some would argue controlled, by men, it would seem prudent that children should learn from, and become acquainted with, some of these good people who are men. Yes, they will operate and conduct themselves as teachers differently in many ways than most women. However, that is NOT a bad thing. It’s a good thing! After all, the world has both men and women in it the last time I checked.

I have not met any of the people I will be working with yet, and have no belief, in advance, that any of them will have such biases or prejudices. This discussion is not about them. I am hoping that no such atmosphere will greet me. But, I do sometimes get tired of the feeling that I need to apologize simply for being a man.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

It’s Booya!

Here’s the truth: Booya, one word, two things, all good!

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Yeah, yeah I know, I haven’t posted in a while. Sorry. If you will recall, I mentioned that The Pub has not been doing all that well in this difficult economy, since it reopened. As a result I have taken a permanent position teaching in a unique enrichment program at the elementary school here in Upnorth. The past week I have been in training/orientation for it. So, the blog has been neglected.

The fact that I am starting this new position means, of course, school is starting, and that means fall is coming…soon. I suppose you already knew that. I love the fall, my absolute favorite time of year. Everything seems richer, more intense, and even more exciting this time of year. Mornings are crisper, the sky bluer, the trees are incredible, food tastes better, and especially, the beer tastes better.

At The Pub, this always leads to the annual tradition in our part of the country, the fall booya. A booya is a big all day type party centered around the most delicious meat and vegetable soup you’ve ever tasted, also called booya. The soup, cooked in very large pots, is so hearty it is actually more of a stew, only with broth instead of gravy. So to review: booya is both a soup and a party.

I don’t know the origins of booya for sure, but one story I was told is that it started as a big party at which all the trappers in the north woods got together before they went out into the woods for the winter. The soup was cooked in a huge pot over an open fire, with everyone contributing ingredients  such as vegetables, venison (deer meat), or whatever. This story has some credibility because the north woods was originally settled in large part, by French fur trappers, or so I understand.

In any event, the booya of today is commonly a community fund raising event for churches, volunteer fire departments, and so on. Here at The Pub we have a booya every year, usually at the end of September, or as with this year, early in October. It works as sort of our version of a fall festival, or Octoberfest. This year will be our biggest ever. Liters is the Booya Boss and I am the cheap labor. We will be making lots and lots of booya! As a result, here we are at the end of August, and we are already starting the preparations. It’s always great fun, and this year we’re pulling out all the stops, not to mention pulling all my muscles.

And yes, of course, there will be beer!

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

Inga & Nils’ Hot Tub

Here’s the truth: Some people need an instruction manual for everything.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Down the road a little way from The Pub, Inga and Nils Fjordwegian have their home. It used to be their summer cabin, but when they retired, they moved to Upnorth Lake permanently. That was about six years ago, and during that time, especially in the first few years, they added some things and made some changes to the cabin to make it more livable all year ’round. Some of the improvements have worked better than others.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

It’s Health Care, Not A Big Screen TV

Here’s the truth: Greed is NOT good.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Our money carries the motto “In God We Trust”. Unfortunately, this is not really the motto of the United States that should be on our money. The real motto for our money is “I got mine, screw you!” In a country where anyone with a dream, a great idea, some intelligence, a little luck, and a good work ethic can create financial success, if not a fortune, something is missing. Some people don’t have a great idea. Some people aren’t brilliant or uniquely talented. Some people don’t get the break they need. Unfortunately, a good work ethic is not usually enough, all by itself. So the question is, are some people less worthy of life’s necessities? The joke is that we’re all Democrats until we start making a lot of money, then we turn into Republicans. Makes us out to be hypocrites, doesn’t it? Well, I’m here to tell you, we are.

Much has been written over the years about the hypocrisy of the Religious Right, especially all the televangelists, so I will not rant about them here. What bothers me now is that we are being fed outright lies and scare tactics by our “conservative” politicians, religious leaders, and mouth pieces. They aren’t conservative. They are greedy, self-serving, liars who are attempting to perpetuate and grow the separation of the rich from the rest of us. They are using religion, corporate marketing, and even the educational system of this country to dumb down the public, in an attempt to make us all lemmings. (No Child Left Behind: Teach what we tell you to teach, to the level of success we require, or we will take away your funding.) How in the world can any clear thinking individual in a democratic society believe that the health care system in this country is not dysfunctional, that it is okay to get a lesser level of medical care because you are not as well off financially or because you are a child of poor parents? Medical care! We are not discussing what kind of car you own, or how big your house is.

The answer is obvious. No clear thinking individual could think these things. So, the “conservatives” promote anything and everything that diminishes our ability to think clearly. Religion: “It’s not about logic and what makes sense. It’s about Faith !” Marketing: “If we reform health care it will be Socialized medicine, and of course we all know Socialized medicine is born of the devil’s spawn!” Education: “Teach the children all this information by this age. And no, don’t worry about teaching them to think. They won’t need that to get a good job, so it’s not important. Especially, don’t help them to become creative!”

It has always been easier to control lemmings than clear thinking people. Religions have known this since the dawn of man. The rules and deities have changed over time, but it still is about control. “Do and think as I tell you because I speak for God. He spoke directly to me and told me to tell you this. No! Don’t use the brain He gave you to think about this! You must take this on Faith!” The health care debate is about control. The corporations in the health care industry don’t want to give up control of their world. They might not be able to make obscene profits any more and pay executives obscene bonuses any more. It really is a great racket, you know. Develop a business around a necessity of life, and rig it so that you can charge whatever you want for it, and develop many, many layers of additional required elements that you can charge more for, and then (and this is the important part) make sure that the people believe that this is all in their best interest.  To accomplish this, use every tool at your disposal. Television commercials, talk show hosts, the internet, religious leaders, politicians you have bought and paid for, and make sure you are feeding it to a public that has never been taught critical thinking or worse, come up with a creative solution on their own. If that doesn’t work, then have all of the above lie and scare people with things like “Death Panels”.

Yup. It’s the American way: “I got mine, I’m gonna get yours, and I’m gonna keep gettin’ more, no matter what it takes!”

I sure like living in the north woods. Up here I can escape from all this, at least some of the time.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

It’s Sunday, So It’s Auto Repair

Here’s the truth: Sunday, a day of rest and reflection…or, at least in my case, auto repair.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. So, it’s Sunday. Guess what I’ll be doing shortly. Well, if you’ve paid attention to the blog, you’ll remember that it’s about the “Northwoods Irish Pub and Auto Repair”. On Sunday, I am often doing the “Auto Repair” part. Barrister’s brakes, this time, are in need of a look-see.

If I am lucky, it will be relatively simple and easy. But, as I’ve discussed on previous occasions, something always goes wrong. Maybe today will be the exception to the rule. Either way, when I’m done the best part will follow: beer!

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

Just the Facts

Here’s the truth: To be true, something must be true.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. I was wondering, will there be an Elementary School for talk show hosts, former state governors, and their followers opening anywhere this fall?

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

Summer Rain

Here’s the truth: Sometimes, rest, after hard work, is a rich reward for the work, by itself.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here. Sorry for the delay in posting. I know both of you, my beloved readers, were wondering where I had gone. Well, a lot of things were happening at once, here at The Pub. So much so that I just haven’t had the time to sit down at the computer. But, today I was able to sit down for the first time in awhile, and relax. I’ll tell you more about some of the things that have been happening in future posts. Right now, I want to talk about the day.

Here in the north woods, we are blessed with a wonderful variety of seasons. Well, actually to some there are only two: winter and road construction. We, of course, really have the regular four. This being summer, we enjoy the warm weather as a pleasant contrast to the often very, very, very, very…very cold winters.  Today was one of those rare summer days of cool, quiet rain, however. No storms with thunder and noise and bluster, but rather, a soft, extended period of small drops by the millions coming straight down in the windless, pine scented air.

Our deck is partly covered, here at The Pub, with the lake in full view. I sat down on the deck today, and watched the rain. Just watched the rain. There is a rainy summer day mood up here in the north woods that has nothing to do with melancholy, or sadness, or depression. On the contrary, the mood is one of tranquility. It is splendidly soothing and restorative, in its quiet sounds and gentle grey mist.

I watched the rain, and let the solitude, the cool peaceful waters, both rain and lake, seep into my blood, bringing me peace and rest.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs

I’m Important, You’re Not

Here’s the truth: Courtesy is the first sign of respect we give to each other.

Halloooooooo! Mulligan “Mugs” O’Brew here and I am upset by the way we treat each other. Common courtesy and good manners have all but become extinct.

When I was looking for jobs as a teacher, as The Pub was being rebuilt, I was invited for an interview at a school in  Notasfarupnorthapolis. I accepted. Several weeks after meeting with a small army of interrogators, I still had heard nothing. I was pretty sure this wasn’t because there were no decisions made yet. So on a number of different days, I called to inquire about the status of my application. Finally, after about six phone calls, I received the expected news that all the positions were filled, and not by me. The person giving me this update seemed annoyed that I had taken her away from her very busy day to ask her this question.  I thanked her for the information and hung up.

I had gotten accustomed to the fact that people do not thank interested parties that apply for a job any more. With the internet, there are many more applicants for jobs now than in the past. The numbers become large, I know. However, in this case, I was brought in for an interview. Common courtesy, to say nothing of business etiquette, would dictate that a note or email should be sent to let me know that I was not selected for the position. Didn’t happen.

Perhaps what bothers me most is that these are the people educating our children. Is this the level of common courtesy that is deemed adequate now days, and being imparted to the students? Is this really what we are teaching our kids? Are good manners really gone from even the schools?

We can communicate in multiple ways. Cell phones, blue tooth, texting, email, blogging, twittering, all these allow us to talk with each other, instantly. Too bad being courteous to each other and respecting each other, have been lost along the way.

Keep on Peddlin’,

Mugs