Gotham

Those great folks over at Art of Manliness have done it again. A nice listing of smells that evoke a sense of manliness. Some great suggestions in the comments section too. I especially add a vote for bacon!

What would you add? I don’t care for Scotch, but a nice hoppy-beer certainly puts me in the mood to weld something.

Smells can conjure up some powerful memories. The smell of pine needles can take you back to childhood Christmases or the smell of a laundry detergent can remind you of home. For me, there are certain smells that I’ve come to associate with manliness. Whenever I smell them I think of my dad or grandpa or some aspect of my boyhood and my initiation into the rites of manhood.

For reasons not immediately clear to me, I’ve been inundated today with spam. Fear not, my one loyal reader (Hi, Mum!), I’ve set some things in place to catch these a little better. I hope to avoid needing registration or moderation – but these things are always an option.

1000+ spam deleted today and counting. Now if only each one counted as a hit!

The version I heard was by Bing. According to Wikipedia which, several students have assured me, can never be wrong:

“Love Is Just around the Corner” is a popular song with music by Lewis E. Gensler and lyrics by Leo Robin, published in 1934. It was first introduced in the 1934 movie, Here Is My Heart, and also included in the 1935 movie, Millions in the Air.

Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
But strictly between us, you’re cuter than Venus,
And what’s more – you got arms!

I found myself wanting to side with my snobby music friends who would deride such corny lyrics – until I remembered that I actually enjoyed the melody, the musicianship was top-notch, Bing sounded as smooth as fine, warm port on a wintry night and , ultimately, a dieselman can like whatever he likes and have the confidence that being separate from others in matters of taste makes a man  and does not diminish a man.

“Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a bushel.” In other words, if we do or endorse a certain thing, and are then ashamed of it, only two options exist; it is something to be ashamed of, and should therefore be put aside as something that is not becoming to manliness, or it is not shameful and should not skulk about the cupboards of our lives afraid of public opinion.

The older I get, the more I realize that most counter-culture is NOT, precisely because even in any counter-cultural clique there are boundaries to what is acceptable and what is not. The only authentic means by which one can be counter-cultural is to be a person of integrity; affirming the values and ideals that are important to you. This is not to say that you can trust no authority other than your own whimsey, but rather that you ignore the tides of fashion and sentiment that wash others in and out with their ebb and flow – and you anchor yourself on the things that really matter. That is being diesel. That is ‘punk’ stripped of pretension. That is a lot to get from ‘What’s more – you got arms’! It still stands, however, that truth is truth and all creation adorns and illustrates it!

Colbert Goes Diesel

Our first Dieselman of the Week award goes out to … Stephen Colbert!

How does an admittedly funny guy, but uber-geek really, like Stephen Colbert demonstrate the  values that should matter?

 Simple.

In a time when we have stopped talking about the war;  in a time when we no longer hear or see headlines lamenting the dead in Iraq but Michelle Obama’s decision to plant flowers at the Whitehouse gets press;  in a time when few even take a minute to think of our men and women putting themselves in harm’s way, Stephen Colbert has taken the fine tradition of the USO and put himself firmly in Iraq for no cause other than bringing cheer and comfort to our soldiers.

And, furthermore, he demonstrated solidarity with out troops by trimming it ‘high ‘n’ tight’ as the picture at left clearly shows. Sure, it’s hard to say no the President (not to mention a 6′4″ bald General built like a M1A1…) but kudos has to go to a guy who for no real gain puts himself in Baghdad to crack a joke and get a haircut.

And his wit is unaffected by the heat and sand. Using the power vested in him “by basic cable”, Colbert declared the war over – offering as proof the fact that nobody is talking about it any more. General Ray Odierno disagreed, saying that victory had not yet been secured and that long-term stability was the goal for the region. Colbert quipped that he hoped that Odierno could bring long-term stability to the United States when he was finished in Iraq.

 
So I don’t really care about your politics, your thoughts on the war, if you think if George Bush is the worst devil to ever take the Oath of Office or Obama is working for Moscow. What makes a man a Dieselman is that he gives a damn about the troops who are doing their duty thousands of miles from home, seperated from loved ones, and facing the real threat of coming home wounded or, ultimately, dead.

So, for bringing honor, duty, sacrifice and courage back into the limelight when we’re casting about everywhere looking for these things in the economic ‘crisis’ largely manufactured by the clowns now trying to fix it, Stephen Colbert is named this writers first Dieselman of the Week!

Mfd by McGraw Electric Co. Waters-Genter Div. Mpls Minn USA Model 1B5

Times have changed,
And we’ve often rewound the clock,
Since the Puritans got the shock,
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.

If today,
Any shock they should try to stem,
‘Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Plymouth Rock would land on them.

In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows – Anything goes!

Good authors, too, who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose – Anything goes!

1930 Buick 60 Dual Cowl Phaeton

If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose!

When every night, the set that’s smart
Is intruding at nudist parties
In studios – Anything goes!

When Mrs. Ned Mclean, God bless her
Can get Russian reds to ‘yes’ her
Then I suppose – Anything goes!

When Rockefeller still can hoard
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows – Anything goes!

The world has gone mad today,
And good’s bad today,
And black’s white today,
And day’s night today,
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once had several Chateauxs.

When folks who still can ride in Jitneys
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clothes – Anything goes!

Anna Sten

When Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Then Anna shows – Anything goes!

When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
Now does a handspring landing up
On her toes – Anything goes!

Just think of those shocks you’ve got,
And those knocks you’ve got,
And those blues you’ve got,
From those news you’ve got,
And those pains you’ve got
(If any brains you’ve got)
From those little radios.

So Mrs. R. with all her trimmin’s
Can broadcast a-bed from Simmon’s
Cause Franklin knows – Anything goes!

30 Days to Being A Better Man

One of the sites I follow closely is “The Art of Manliness” written by Brett McKay. Make no mistake Diesel men are MEN – not rarified sissypantses. So, anything that helps a guy get a bead on being a better … well, guy, is about as punk as you can get these days.

Brett has a challenge for guys starting June 1st (Monday) and running 30 days through all of June. As I read it, there are a series of 30 posts lined up – all geared towards helping men to improve themselves. I suspect that by July 1st, those that stick with it will be 10th degree black belts in manlificating. Or, at the least, have 4 weeks of good habits on which to build.

Think back to January 1st. How many resolutions did you make? How many have you kept? Here will be a chance to get back in the saddle and start a jolly push on the second half of the year.

Go read the post and then sign up for the group. Mind you, this is not for wusses – you’ll be making a commitment to actually accomplish (i.e. DO) something every day. Whee!

Simply beautiful!