For those who have yet to get a copy of this nice read. Overstock.com has it for $15.48 + $1.30 for shipping.
Cane
Cane
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Casting A Spell
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 Cane Head |
Casting A Spell |
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Posts: 2255 01/12/2007 00:38 |
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pcg |
Re: Casting A Spell | #1 | ||
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Posts: 3716 01/12/2007 10:55 Admin |
A HIGHLY recommended read, BTW. In fact, required reading, no matter how much you think you know about bamboo. And a fascinating story as well.
"If you always do what you've always done,
then you'll always be what you've always been." |
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gofish60 |
Re: Casting A Spell | #2 | ||
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Posts: 2194 01/12/2007 12:15 Registered User |
A very good book about an important segment of this community. It's too bad, and this is just me talking, that he couldn't keep his politics out of it, but, since he's the writer, I guess it's his call.
I don't care for that stuff no matter where the writer falls on the political spectrum. IMO, It just flat detracts from the content. gofish |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: Casting A Spell | #3 | ||
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Posts: 0 01/12/2007 12:48 |
Especially in light of the recent events at RL Winston and the decision of the Boo Boys to form Sweet Grass Rods, I found George Black's book an essential reminder that achieving harmony is not a matter of isolating oneself from the situation of society or the world. Keeping one's integrity professionally, personally, and even spiritually is done within changing limitations and the lack of complete control. Keeping one's integrity is a constant and demanding effort. To not include that struggle in one's view of the rods which our rodmakers offer is to demean their integrity and struggle, no matter where one is on the political or pedagogical spectrum. No one lives and produces in isolation. No one has the opportunity to maintain their honor of a chosen code in isolation.
George Black's book may not give as much fact/information of interest to collectors as desired, or as much detail about technique/development of certain makers and their rods as wished, or as much statistical/chronological information about the members of this craft and their rods as anticipated. But it told an essential truth about these craftsmen, how their craft survives and how it may continue to survice . . . and in so doing, an essential truth about the etiology of their rods. Many thanks to George and everyone who helped his book come to us. So say I, Mark Oldstrom |
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gofish60 |
Re: Casting A Spell | #4 | ||
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Posts: 2194 01/12/2007 13:08 Registered User |
Len
Well, actually, no. We've had this discussion before, and I just totally disagree with a subject like fishin' poles, whether they be bamboo or not, becoming anything but that, whether it be personalities or politics. Hell, I can't see one political action, one way or the other, except for maybe the embargo on cane from China, that has affected the building of bamboo rods. Most of my efforts as a moderator on the old board were trying to keep the Elephants and Donkeys apart and off the board, and I realize now that I just didn't do a very good job of it. Must be the influence from my Norwegian wife. She was raised in a home where no one ever argued, and my temper, born of German/Sicilian heritage, has been somewhat calmed with the years of her tender persuassion. gofish |
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pcg |
Re: Casting A Spell | #5 | ||
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Posts: 3716 01/12/2007 13:19 Admin |
Little surprised to read the rambling (though somewhat gentle) tirades by Gofish. What politics? I've read the book twice & did a double take after reading the Gofish posts. Politics? As Greywolf writes, Black discusses contemporary affairs that have influenced makers since the turn of the century (the next to last, not the recent), but that's not politics. That's economic reality, and I never detected personal bias in any of Black's descriptions. I think to even bring "politics" up as a topic when discussing this classic book detracts unfairly from it's premise.
Come on. The book is a damn good read.  "If you always do what you've always done,
then you'll always be what you've always been." |
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pcg |
Re: Casting A Spell | #6 | ||
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Posts: 3716 01/12/2007 15:45 Admin |
Hmm, no doubt you're correct. Or at least there's a faint possibility. (I hate to give in on this one.) I'd have to go back & re-read the book again on high alert for... what would I be on high alert for? Ed didn't really define what offended him.
Hmm again. Well, no doubt you're right. I didn't see it because, in my world view, he was describing what I know. In Ed's view, he was waving a red flag. Or something like that.  Nevertheless, the book is one of the more important books on bamboo rods in the last decade.... Now, I'll shut up. "If you always do what you've always done,
then you'll always be what you've always been." |
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Adirondack |
Re: Casting A Spell | #7 | ||
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Posts: 1090 01/12/2007 16:12 |
"Passing references"? For anyone sharing Black's political orientation, I don't doubt that's all his comments seemed to be. (Which reminds me of those reports of the anguished cries heard in places like NYC following Bush's first election: "Impossible--EVERYONE I know voted for Gore!" Black, I'd wager, was among them.)
To me, they were a slap in the face; a thing I'm rather slow to forget. Can anyone tell me, from a careful reading of his book, where Keane's political sympathies lie? How about Campbell? Or Schwiebert? Jeff Hatton? Anyone who's written a similar work, except Black? |
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Adirondack |
Re: Casting A Spell | #8 | ||
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Posts: 1090 01/12/2007 16:32 |
pcg: From a professional scientist (whose profession, by the way, is my passion), I'd have expected rather more attention to detail. Especially since it's SO damned unusual to encounter political digressions in a work of this genre.
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Housatonic Quill |
Re: Casting A Spell | #9 | ||
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Posts: 853 01/12/2007 16:59 |
All of the writers you cite, Adi, with the exception of Black, wrote in eras that were much less politically polarized than ours. Even the "red scare" 50s were a model of moderation in comparison. Now EVERYTHING is part of a political (read "ideological") stance - global warming versus economic necessity, evolution versus creationism, biological research versus the right to life, "tree huggers" versus jobs, rationalism versus the primacy of religion, civil liberty versus civil protection ... you name it, it's got a political dimension. And no, I won't go into attributing blame for the change in atmosphere.
In this atmosphere, civil discourse itself is at a premium - and at severe risk. It has become damn near impossible to write a book, or a song (remember the Neil Young "controversy?") without raising somebody's hackles. The only solution I've been able to find is refusing to pay attention to the biases or, if they raise doubt in my mind, to check out whatever facts may be at their base. In this respect, I'm not too far from Gofish's position - I just have a higher level of toleration. Strangely enough, Adi, I think I know what particular ideological niche you occupy, and if I meet you at the ballot box, I'll probably beat you over the head with a hanging chad to cancel out the effect of your vote. If I meet you on the stream, or at Lang's, or on the Board, or read a book of yours, I'll meet you as a companion, as someone with a shared interest, and I'll learn what I can from you and teach you what I can. The rest is irrelevant. |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: Casting A Spell | #10 | ||
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Posts: 0 01/12/2007 17:42 |
Gentlemen,
Your focus of discourse and apparent priorities has helped me decide to turn to other forums for efficatious discourse. |
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pcg |
Re: Casting A Spell | #11 | ||
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Posts: 3716 01/12/2007 17:45 Admin |
Adirondack, as a scientist, I read far too much professional literature, 99% of it is boring, but essential. I didn't read Black's book as anything but one man's description of being swept away in the great romance of bamboo rods. In that story he manages to brings to life almost all of the great early rod makers, as well as introducing his reader to contemporary makers. I found the story to be marvelous.
I didn't and don't care what his political opinions are, and those that were sprinkled through the book were simply personal comments that I read as... personal comments. Given that the book was a personal reflection, I feel he's entitled to make a few remarks that are non-technical. Remember: "Casting" never purports to be a treatise written by an academic on bamboo rods. It's one man's personal discovery of... many things. It's a bit like "Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance." If he'd left the personal out--whatever his opinions--the book would have suffered. Whatever his ideology, he wrote a wonderful, inspirational book. Whether he was black or white, red or blue, or a sniveling Rip van Winkle who woke up swinging a club from the year 1420, he's also a damn good storyteller. And for me, that was the bottom line: a marvelous story on a subject that we all love. I wouldn't turn it into anything more. (Glad you feel as passionately about wetlands as you do about your personal politics.) "If you always do what you've always done,
then you'll always be what you've always been." |
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Adirondack |
Re: Casting A Spell | #12 | ||
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Posts: 1090 01/12/2007 17:48 |
Overlooking your omission, HQ, of a certain gnomish personality, I'd ask you to consider the difference, the profound difference, between opinions expressed in conversation, on internet venues, or even in something like a newspaper editorial, vs. the same printed on the pages of a book. In the latter case, the author has had many months, possibly years, to weigh his remarks, to consider & re-evaluate them, so that when, finally, they are set down in ink, they deserve to be taken seriously. Which I do.
An unambiguous political statement is what our friend Black strove to make; he succeeded! He aimed to give offense to such primitives as I, so would Adirondack not be remiss if he failed to acknowledge the author's wishes? I leave no tree unhugged, as you can verify for yourself if you gain access to the Austin, Tex., police records. |
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andre49 |
Re: Casting A Spell | #13 | ||
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Posts: 1257 01/12/2007 18:06 Deeply Shallow |
Thought it was a great read and barely noticed the political commentary... aslo thought Don Quixote was an excellent read, especially the whole idea of "jousting with windmills"
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 BlackHillsBill |
Re: Casting A Spell | #14 | ||
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Posts: 3269 01/12/2007 19:07 |
Black's Casting a Spell shows the
indebtedness of contemporary rodmakers to Eustis Edwards' innovations and craft, and in the process it provides wonderful closeups of modern makers who are Black's friends, including Bill Abrams (Streamer). For that I'm especially grateful. Black believes that the pursuit of perfection has been the hallmark of the best makers but that even Leonard, Payne, and Edwards faced very difficult constraints from the business, marketing, and political components of their world. He does an excellent job of illustrating this. If a bamboo fly rod turns out to be a sort of wand (as a favorite metaphor of sellers has it) or if it can cast a spell (as the little Black book suggests), its magic is surely that of enrichment, not diminishment. One's political and moral values don't vanish because a wand is waved or a book is written. Apolitical moralists are much rarer nowadays of course than amoral politicians. So not to reckon the latter into the total scheme-- even when one is retreating, escaping, or forgetting with the aid of a bamboo fly rod--may not be as great a virtue as one supposes, may not even be a matter for self-congratulation. Maybe we should be a little more willing to figure in the entire person. What good is a partial one--or, for that matter, one who believes himself to be totally impartial? |
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Housatonic Quill |
Re: Casting A Spell | #15 | ||
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Posts: 853 01/12/2007 19:51 |
...So not to reckon the latter into the total scheme-- even when one is retreating, escaping, or forgetting with the aid of a bamboo fly rod--may not be as great a virtue as one supposes, may not even be a matter for self-congratulation. Maybe we should be a little more willing to figure in the entire person. What good is a partial one--or, for that matter, one who believes himself to be totally impartial?... BHB You're dead right. Sometimes the attempt to depoliticize can be misguided or, as in this case, ineffectual. And most of us, I believe, can read and express ourselves with some degree of tolerance, at least in public, especially when the forum is devoted to a craft. Gofish's expression of mild disappointment at the political content of what he felt should be apolitical is understandable, legitimate and acceptable in any social conversation (which this is - or should be). Adirondack's constant attempts to vent his spleen and ratchet up both the volume and the heat of discourse are not - at least to me. When I form my own judgment of George and George's book, it's for my own consumption, and not to be trotted out and waved like a flag in the public arena, solely for the purpose of moral indignation, self aggrandizement or what my English cousins call "general narkiness". I believe in the individual's freedom to think and believe what they like - I also believe in respect for the thoughts, beliefs and ideals of others, which is generally not shown by references to the naivete, stupidity, ingratitude, or dishonesty of those with whom we disagree. Nor is it shown by references, as we have seen on other threads, to "residents of the Turd World." I do form my judgments on the whole person, but I retain the right to keep those judgments to myself. My 5-year-old once asked "Dad, if I think it, do I have to say it?" The answer is no - and the 5-year-old knew it. |
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Adirondack |
Re: Casting A Spell | #16 | ||
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Posts: 1090 01/12/2007 20:17 |
Such judgments, you mean, as "basic lying scuzz" or "slimeball"? Where was your 5 yr old, HQ, when you needed her good counsel?
You might also ask her to clarify the distinction between "initiative" & "response." Had Gofish's veracity not been challenged, no response would have been neeed, & old Adirondack would have been left choking on his own spleen. |
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Housatonic Quill |
Re: Casting A Spell | #17 | ||
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Posts: 853 01/12/2007 20:44 |
Some points well taken, Adi. I'll have to watch my language with greater care in future.
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pcg |
Re: Casting A Spell | #18 | ||
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Posts: 3716 01/12/2007 21:56 Admin |
I trust that all commenting in this thread have actually read Black's book? If so, you know what a marvelous story it tells. His personal opinions represent 02% of the tale. AND are certainly are not--or certainly shouldn't be-- offensive. Every author who writes a personal reflection is entitled to write personally. As I have said, and as Len and others have said, Black doesn't even pretend to write a technical treatise on bamboo rods.
He's writing about how he was swept away by the amazing, very American story of bamboo rods. What a marvelous, inspirational tale! This thread has really been hijacked and is now off on a dreadful tangent. Adirondack, shame. You've kept this misdirected effort going. The Black book is far better than the level of this debate. The topic of bamboo rods should never be smirched by dragging it into a controversy of contemporary politics. How absurd. "If you always do what you've always done,
then you'll always be what you've always been." |
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BruceHandley |
Re: Casting A Spell | #19 | ||
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Posts: 1299 01/12/2007 22:11 Crusty Old Fart
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Clarence, get the hell off your soap box and tend to your spleen. Blacks book is a very good one and reads as it was intended.
I can't understand why this post hasn't been locked, its way over the line and getting out of hand!!! Bruce |
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andre49 |
Re: Casting A Spell | #20 | ||
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Posts: 1257 01/12/2007 22:14 Deeply Shallow |
Gentlemen, the thread hasen't been locked by me thus far to see if it rights itself. I have full faith that can be accomplished.
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