“A history of North America with mixed-descent families at its core creates a different view of the past, one with resourceful people making families through centuries of contact and war.” — Anne F. Hyde Those of you who have been around this campfire for a while know that I am drawn to the stories of the “Men of the Middle Ground,” those who … [Read more...] about Born Of Lakes And Plains
Trouble At Plimoth Plantation
The synchronicities around here... Just been palavering with Patrons and others about taking up King Philip’s War as a major podcast series this fall. Pretty much have determined to do it, and lined up some research materials just a couple of nights ago. Then this morning I see that the old, fraught history of the Plymouth colony and the … [Read more...] about Trouble At Plimoth Plantation
The Treasure Of Indiana Jones
Back in the early 1990s, George Lucas conceived of something breathtakingly ambitious: He’d educate young people on the history of the 20th century by entertaining them with the adventures of a young Indiana Jones. The series followed the intrepid budding archaeologist from childhood through young adulthood, meeting a wide and wild range of major … [Read more...] about The Treasure Of Indiana Jones
A Pegleg Podcast
The new episode of the Frontier Partisans Podcast — Once Upon A Time in Los Angeles — is up. You can access it here or on most podcasting platforms. This one centers around that most piratical of Mountain Men, Thomas ‘Pegleg’ Smith. I don’t call him piratical just because of his Long John Silver appendage — he really would have fit right in … [Read more...] about A Pegleg Podcast
Let Us ‘Prey’
Reader Thanatos asked that I weigh in on Prey, and I try to satisfy the readership around this here campfire. Thanatos had some issues with the sci-fi/horror film that dropped on Hulu on August 5. Thanatos is much more versed in Predator lore than I am, so I can’t really offer much on how it rates in the franchise that started back in 1987 with the … [Read more...] about Let Us ‘Prey’
Stuff That Works — Hunter Rigby
If ever anyone deserved tribute in the engraving of a world-class rifle, it’s J.A. Hunter. I posted about the great African safari hunter here back in 2017. Hunter was a Scotsman who become one of the leading East Africa safari-men of his day, from 1908 through the 1950s. He also wrote several African hunting books that lit the fire of adventure … [Read more...] about Stuff That Works — Hunter Rigby
Working The Trapline — Taking A Tomahawk To The Critics
The Terminal List took a Daniel Winkler tomahawk to the critics. From Variety: Per Nielsen, Amazon Prime Video’s Chris Pratt-led thriller series “The Terminal List” was watched for 1.6 billion minutes during the July 4-10 viewing window, its first full week of availability after premiering on July 1. The series took the No. 2 position on Nielsen’s … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Taking A Tomahawk To The Critics
Running With The Devil
His feet are light and nimble. He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, the judge. He is dancing, dancing. He says that he will never die. — Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian John McAfee fascinates me. I posted on his weird and wild world back in 2017, noting … [Read more...] about Running With The Devil
Working The Trapline — Pirates, Witches & Blood Of My Blood
I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Thomas Tew. The Rhode Island privateer-turned-pirate was one of the most successful pirates in history (according to a Forbes magazine ranking, he was the third-richest pirate in history with a haul worth $103 million, 2010 dollars). I think my interest in Tew was sparked by a great old Howard Pyle … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Pirates, Witches & Blood Of My Blood
‘The Rush’ — A Weird & Wild Yukon
By Matthew Ilseman I picked up the first issue of The Rush largely because of the cover. It featured a man with a bowler riding a giant spider. I did not know quite what to expect when I read it. What I found was a tale of surreal horror set during the 1890s gold rush. Created by British writer Si Spurrier and artist Nathan Gooden for Vault … [Read more...] about ‘The Rush’ — A Weird & Wild Yukon
