'For every Southern boy fourteen years old,” wrote William Faulkner in Intruder in the Dust, “not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it’s still not yet two o’clock on that July afternoon in 1863, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are laid and ready in the woods, and the furled flags are already loosened to break out.”

Hey, Bill, times have changed! That moment is available not only to teenage boys, but to any paunchy middle-aged man who has a camper and enough disposable income to buy an authentically itchy facsimile uniform. But hurry, because we’re reaching the tail end of Civil War-re-enactment season! Late-summer festivities include the Historic City Point living-history program at Petersburg National Battlefield, in Virginia August 4 and the re-enactment of the Battle of Richmond—as in Richmond, Kentucky, site of the state’s second-largest Civil War battle and the most overwhelming Confederate victory of the entire war! A ladies’ tea is available both days (August 25 26).

If playacting at bitter sectional strife doesn’t get you in touch with the soul of America, why not try minor-league baseball? Such small-time clubs as the Zebulon (North Carolina) Mudcats and the Savannah (Georgia) Sand Gnats are now in the habit of holding the occasional Faith Night. Faith Night proceedings generally involve player testimonials, music from a Christian rock band, and, if the local sponsor will outlay the dough, a biblical bobble-head (Third Coast Sports, the primary producer of Faith Nights, offers a choice of six, including Moses, Esther, and Samson).

If you own a motorcycle, surely you've had this thought: “I’ve always wanted nothing more than to wear a coonskin cap while straddling my hog, but thanks to meddlesome big-government regulators, I must instead wear a helmet.” Well, fret no more! Just in time for this year’s Sturgis (South Dakota) Motorcycle Rally gust 6 i the innovators at Roadkill Helmets of High Point, North Carolina, have invented the coonskin motorcycle helmet ($50, roadkillhelmets.com). It must be noted that the folks at Roadkill specify that their helmets do not meet state safety requirements. But what kind of outlaw would you be if you cared about such pusillanimous disclaimers?