24 May 2017

[TPC] - The Last Two Editions of The Esoteric South



Howdy, gang! Hope all is well. I realized that I hadn't posted my last two Esoteric South pieces that I do for The Covington News here at good ole TPC. So...here ya' go:

[The Esoteric South] - What the old folks used to say vs. that's what they say

*ed note: originally appeared in The Covington News in May of 2017


What the old folks used to say vs. that's what they say

As a young boy I fondly remember my Grandmother talking oftentimes about what the old folks used to say. The old folks used to say this; this old folks used to say that. The old folks had a lot of things they used to say, and I always got a kick out of hearing about it. As a rule, the old folks were good people who believed in doing the right things and doing things right. They believed in hard work, fair dealing & living the Golden Rule (the original one, not the other one). They sounded like good old folks to me.

One thing that really stuck out to me, as a I child, was just how old these old folks must have been. Because if my Grandmother was talking about them, they had to be fairly old, because my Grandmother was old. But then she'd talk about hearing about what the old folks used to say when she was a little girl. "Man," I thought to myself, "these old folks sure were old!" She would also talk about her Grandfather, my 2nd great grandfather, and the man I was named after, talking about what the old folks used to say, and that got me really thinking about how old these old folks were. But once I heard from my Grandmother that he remembered his parents and other older relatives talking about hearing what the old folks said when they were children...well, I knew that we were talking about some really, really old people here.

The old folks used to say you never should plant your garden until after Easter. Now, I didn't have any real scientific data on this or anything, but I can recount at least a few instances in the past few years where people I knew who planted their crops before that holy day ran into trouble because of a late frost. So, don't plant until after Easter. That's what the old folks used to say.

A lot of what the old folks used to say were basically proverbial sayings, or proverbs. "You can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar," or, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and many others of the like. Based on what I've found, at least some of these probably wind their way all the way back to the days of antiquity. Regardless of how old the saying, expression or thought was, it seemed to be carried through generations and generations of existence through oral tradition. Folklore. So, there again, when we're talking about what the old folks used to say, we are indeed talking about some really old folks.

A fair amount of what the old folks used to say seemed to be rooted maybe in superstition, or old wives' tales; however, at least a fair portion of those sayings and beliefs seem to be true. For instance, the old folks always knew that the lunar cycle had a major impact on our lives and many other things as well. Just ask anyone in law enforcement or public health if that is actually the case - they will respond in the affirmative. Chicken soup good for a cold? Scientifically proven. Vinegar for cramps? Works every time. Vinegar for a whole host of other things? Most definitely. There's a lot of stuff kind of below the surface or forgotten about that the old folks knew which would behoove a lot of us to know now, in this writer's estimation.

So, when talking about the "old folks" in the expression - "that's what the old folks used to say" -  just know that we're talking about good, godly & hard working folk going back dozens and perhaps hundreds of generations.

23 May 2017

[TPC] - Tuesday Morning Quick Bite: Update on the DEA sting/Joe Barr Situation; Newton Co., meet Lady Liberty



Considered to be one of the greatest criminal defense attorneys
in GA. 
Advocate for Justice & Liberty Activist, Ms. Catherine Bernard
(Covington * 5/23/17) - Howdy, folks, hope it's good out there.

I was telling one of my pals yesterday, regarding the whole DEA operation and subsequent languishing in jail of multiple Newton citizens, this:

"The wolf is on the mutha! She's gonna be here directly!"

"...that's all you had to say!"

The wolf in this case is Catherine Bernard. I have her listed in my phone as - "Criminal Defense Atty, Justice Advocate & Wonder Woman."

When several of us really started working this story after being told that bail was not being offered to any of the folks who'd been snagged due to the ongoing investigation, I reached out to Catherine because that just seemed like the smart move.

The lovely Ms. Bernard has developed a strong reputation all over the great state of Georgia as a true advocate for Liberty, a protector of the downtrodden, and a brilliant & effective legal mind. Yesterday she spoke with two of the inmates currently at the Newton Co. Detention Center including TPC friend & Piedmont Bluesman, Mr. Joseph C. "Joe" Barr, a guy as good as any God's ever made.


Gotta give props to some of the young brothers & fellas at the Newton Co. jail, too. They've really been looking out for Joe, helping him draft correspondences, even doing some research for him, and keeping an eye on the old fella in the jailhouse. Thank you, gentlemen! Well done.

Catherine will be representing Joe Bar, basically pro-bono. It will be contingent upon the Citizenry of the home county to try to help raise some funds for a proper legal defense, though. The ball is already rolling with planning for some potential fundraisers. The big thing will be getting the word out there about this travesty & injustice. And folks, I got a chance to look at the indictment. Man, it's flimsy. It's like they're not even trying anymore. It's just all about raising some revenue and the cherry on the top for some of these folks seems to be getting the chance to destroy lives. And maybe bonus points if the offenders are black?

But again, it' just so exciting that Ms. Bernard is on it. She's like a living Lady Liberty. 




Newton County, et al, meet Catherine Bernard; Ms. Bernard - Newton Co., Alcovy judicial circuit, DEA, NCSO, et al

Look for future multiple reports, friends.

DEVELOPING...

- MBM 



21 May 2017

[TPC] - Sunday Check-in: 21 May '17 Edition



Howdy, Buckaroos, it's scamp Marshall time again..."yeah we're gonna try to slide one by ya' once more."

Jerry Jeff Walker, an American Treasure, folks!

What a day! What a week, though, I guess it's technically the new week now - we all know how that works.

I don't even know where to start...

Newton County - a primary political subdivision of the great state of GA - is probably about to go down. I'm really thinking we will. I'm truly starting to believe that we will beat Dekalb & Clayton in the race to the bottom - the first county to...dissolve, go bankrupt, both, etc & et al? Who knows? I just know that - per the agreement, per the GA Constitution, we have to maintain 159 counties. How's all that gonna go down?

I think it's probably civil disobedience time. I believe at least a few hundred folks will be appealing their property assessments, as well they should. Most are a slam dunk. Yeah, we get that there's been property valuation increases - we get it - but why should a select few who have never played ball with the powers that be see increases ranging from 20 to 50% while the favored power elites are seeing undervaluations almost completely across the board. Do you think we're as dumb as y'all look and act?

What a joke!

And
Covington...just damn. I love it, I even got the hat that everybody likes so much, but at this point? Dissolution? Go back to unincorporated Newton Co. but still be a "community," "hamlet," "town," or "village?" Whatevs...Can we just do away with all zoning laws & 75% of all traffic laws?

If they had just fixed the light at the Elm & Floyd like some of us have been trying to get done for about a decade, we may have been willing to not be ready to go full-on mode, but...you blew it. You continued to insist, in the words of the band Phish, that we be a "slave to the traffic light."

The next council meeting needs to be taken over & turned into a public forum. Go w/ Robert's Rules and just see what happens.

All benefits need to be done away with at all levels of government. All government employees shall become independent contractors and get paid private-sector wages.

That's non-negotiable.

That's how we fix it & stop things from turning into "The Road Warrior."

"WE WANT YOUR GASOLINE!" 

So, but y'all are all gonna quit, right?

Fine...

There is a myriad of solutions and contingency plans that many of us have been working on for many moons. I think there's a ton of folks who would work at between $15 & $40/per hour on an IC basis to take care of the core services of our local governments.

Go ahead.

Like my ole pal used to talk about - the fundamental transformation is almost here, and that, my friends, is ultimately a good thing. And as another buddy of mine has more recently said - they must have not gotten the memo! It's time to make Covington & Newton Great Again!

Things aren't as they should be & we just have to fix them.

As a wise & weird carpenter I know here in the home county would say:

No Problems - Only Solutions 

Hope this communique finds you & that it finds you well.

Yours Very Truly,

M.B. McCart



Our pick for Governor of the Great State of Georgia

17 May 2017

[TPC] - City of Covington Council Recap


[State of GA] 
[Newton Co] 

(Covington * 17 May '17) - Greetings, readers, and we sure hope everything is lovely out there. 

So, the City of Covington had their regular council meeting Monday night. Here's what you need to know: 

  • By a 5 to 1 (Josh McKelvey, the lone dissenter) vote, the council ensured a lawsuit which we will most likely lose. 
  • By another 5 to 1 (Josh McKelvey) vote, the council wasted at least approx. $10,000 of your tax dollars. 
  • They didn't even bring up the hospitality thing because it has to go to legal counsel and then there has to be a "workshop" about it...gimme a break! 
My word, it's like we get the Newton Co. BOC fixed and then the city's gonna go full-on mo-ron. Well, nobody said it was going to be easy. That's just life.

Best Regards. 'Till next time.

Your pal,

MBMcCart 

14 May 2017

Sunday Check-in, Mother's Day Edition: Civil Right Violations in the Home County?; Time to Disband GDOT?

The Piedmont Chronicles 
- est. 2010 - 





[State of GA]
[Newton Co.] 

(North Covington * 14 May '17) - Greetings, fantabulous readers, and a special shout-out to all of you wonderful, glorious & marvelous Mothers. We love you ladies; you're simply the best - the top shelf. True Blue!

POSSIBLE CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERNS IN THE HOME COUNTY
 


This publication, along with at least a couple of others, has been researching and investigating what may end becoming a huge story. In March, the Newton Co. Sheriff's office, working in conjunction with at least one federal agency - the DEA, as we're told, but there's a U.S. Marshal involved somehow as well?...), conducted a drug operation here in town.

For starters, this thing was different because of this:

They snagged a mid-level type drug guy, but then they used the contact list on his phone to go after folks UNDERNEATH him - not his dealer.  Yes, you read that right - the opposite of the usual M.O., they decided to spend your taxpayer dollars going after folks wanting to pop a pill or two to , in at least one case that we have firsthand knowledge of, snare a guy trying to soothe his back pain because he couldn't afford to see a doctor or pay for a full month's prescription, which, by the way, the doctor probably wasn't going to give the prescription for anyway. Ain't that America?

Between two snares, approx. 15 folks, most Newton Co. citizens, were arrested and thrown in the slammer. No indictment, no possibility of bail, because, as I've been told by law enforcement sources, the Feds wanted to continue their investigation without these guys being able to get back out on the street. Some of "these guys?" A young father who manages one of the best known bar/restaurants in town. Another? Joe Barr, a 65 yr old Piedmont Bluesman who's as good as gold & wouldn't hurt a flea.

At least the U.S. Government is paying the customary fee to Newton Co. to house these inmates as it is their operation. That should help our Sheriff's budget woes, at least. So...there's that.

But here's the kicker folks - no drugs or cash ever changed hands. No, now, these days, by a real, chincey stretch, they can just use electronic communications of setting the deal up to arrest folks. I'm told from an anonymous source that this is actually a "test case" for the Feds to really try to ramp back up the miserable failure that is the War on Drugs (which, Trump, Sessions, et al are really wanting to ramp up again because it's been such a resounding success.)

Per two other sources, they're trying to go RICO (racketeering), on this case. If so, why is this going through the Alcovy circuit? Why is Madam DA Zon involved? According to another two sources, at least one, if not two, Alcovy Circuit judges said they were not impressed and felt like it was time to drop charges and let these folks go home. But, and this has been confirmed w/ the Clerk of Court's office, these cases will now be on the docket of Judge Benton, the fella out of Walton Co.

And by the way, finally last Friday after multiple reporters had been calling and emailing all kinds of different elected officials and other folks, Madam DA did present a few indictments to her rubber stamp club Grand Jury.

Interesting...

TIME TO DISBAND GDOT?
We've seen what can happen if we get the GOV out of the way w/ the I-85 situation. 45 days. Nothing short of incredible, but that's just how the private sector do, you feel us?

And the new bridge on 36 is gonna take a year and a half. The 278 project is going to be 2 to 3 years.

What a f*cking joke!

Okay for now, 'til next time.

Your pal,

MBM  

06 May 2017

[tPc] - Show Review: Chris, Jon & Scott at Amici Covington

The Piedmont Chronicles 
6 May 2017


Greetings, dear readers, and what a glorious day we seem to have on our hands here in the home county.

Last night magic struck, once again, at the little groovy pizza joint on College Ave as the great ones - Chris, Jon & Scott - brought that good groove, soul & cosmic feel-good back to the vortex, like they've done so many times before.



I'm not sure if Christon is human; I think he may be an angel or something. Little kids are captivated by him, women love him & the men folk want to be like him. He sings like almost no other and he can play that drum box thing & it sounds like a full kit somehow. And Jon Lansburg is easily one of the best guitar players in C-town & he probably sang lead on upwards of a third of last night's tunes. Scott, who is THE best bass player in our neck of the woods, was even throwing in some third parts on the harmonies. It was just incredible.

There was great fellowship & palaver amongst the assembled body, and much dancing, and much rejoicing. The spirits were flowing and the lovely ladies behind & in front of the bar were top notch, per usual, and they've got a fella now helping with things. He's gonna be a great barkeep, we think.

Basically, there was just no other place on the planet that could have afforded the feels & sounds  found last night at Amici Italian Cafe - Covington. 

Show highlight: "Could You Be Love," by Bob Marley

Lots of new covers were thrown in the mix last night as well.

CJ&S! They just keep getting better & better and they've been so good for so long already. It's something special, for sure.

Til next time

- MBM -