I am pulling out the windows to prepare for you

[sovay]

The crowdedness of this week continues apace, although in significantly better directions than the last few days. Today I work and see other doctors. Tomorrow I read at Porter Square Books and on Saturday I read as part of Noir at the Bar PVD. I hope to see at least some people I know at both events, and ideally a lot of people I don't know who still want to buy my books afterward. Until then, have some links.

1. a_reasonable_man was the first person to tell me about Fast Day, the long-lost Puritan counterpart to Thanksgiving: a day of contemplation in the planting season to balance the gratitude of the harvest, as opposed to the holiday we have now which exalts abundance without giving a thought—or a false thought only—to where it came from. He writes about it, with a link to a longer, more historically detailed piece on the subject. Without in any way suggesting that what this country needs is a Puritan revival, it is a holiday I can see the use of.

2. Both mainstream Hollywood and independent filmmakers are now rallying around FilmStruck. I have no idea if their outcry will make any difference to WarnerMedia and its collective portfolios, but I am glad to see it happening rather than just a resigned shrug, the corporation giveth and the corporation taketh away.

3. David Schraub writes about the antisemitism that keeps him up at night.

4. Please enjoy the proto-anime adventures of the Founding Fathers according to Japan in 1861: "And here is George Washington straight-up punching a tiger."

5. I hope that Stephan Elliott who thought up The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) has heard of Pattie Gonia.

Comments

[moon_custafer]

Without in any way suggesting that what this country needs is a Puritan revival, it is a holiday I can see the use of.

Reminds me of Pratchett’s mention in Reaper Man of the Other Morris Dance.

Please enjoy the proto-anime adventures of the Founding Fathers

I’ve always rather regretted the isolation of Japan under the Shogunate, because more cultural exchange during that period might have led to John Dryden or somebody (well, I guess it would have had to be Somebody, Dryden died slightly too soon) writing an adaptation of Chushingura for the English stage.

[sovay]

Reminds me of Pratchett’s mention in Reaper Man of the Other Morris Dance.

Now I'd love to know if Pratchett had ever heard of Fast Day, or if it's just a natural piece of seasonal symmetry. I had never once noticed its conspicuous absence from the American calendar, but it made sense as soon as a_reasonable_man mentioned it: how can you have a harvest festival without the sowing? You don't get All Hallows without May Day.

more cultural exchange during that period might have led to John Dryden or somebody (well, I guess it would have had to be Somebody, Dryden died slightly too soon) writing an adaptation of Chushingura for the English stage.

Oh, man, the heroic couplets!

[lauradi7dw]

Are you familiar with the anti-Morris in Somerville?
http://rtfm.arberth.com/

Oxfam used to promote a "fast for a world harvest" the Thursday before Thanksgiving. One was supposed to donate the money that would have been spent on food that day. Fasting, thinking, secular.

[sovay]

Are you familiar with the anti-Morris in Somerville?

Yes; I attend intermittently.

One was supposed to donate the money that would have been spent on food that day. Fasting, thinking, secular.

That sounds useful.

[cmcmck]

Is she a relative of Laura Norder? :o)

[sovay]

Is she a relative of Laura Norder?

Very traditional names.

[gwynnega]

Enjoy your readings!

[sovay]

Enjoy your readings!

Thank you!

[dhampyresa]

Please enjoy the proto-anime adventures of the Founding Fathers according to Japan in 1861: "And here is George Washington straight-up punching a tiger."
WHAT

This is amazing. But also WHAT

[sovay]

This is amazing. But also WHAT

I really couldn't explain the giant snake.

[alexxkay]

Possibly a telephone-game reaction to the "Don't Tread On Me" flag?

[dhampyresa]

Eagle vs Snake seems more like Mexico's thing.

[sovay]

Eagle vs Snake seems more like Mexico's thing.

Good call!

[muccamukk]

David Schraub essay is really well reasoned (and rather chilling). Thanks for linking to it.

[sovay]

David Schraub essay is really well reasoned (and rather chilling). Thanks for linking to it.

You're welcome. It is definitely a thing I worry about.

(That is a well-chosen icon.)

Fast Day

[dramaticirony]

Growing up in New Hampshire, the best thing about Fast Day was learning that the first one was held because the president of the Council of the Province of New Hampshire was sick. Also, there had been a comet. God must be angry.

They hold the Fast Day, but the president still dies. So they decide to make it an annual holiday anyway. Puritan AF.

Re: Fast Day

[sovay]

They hold the Fast Day, but the president still dies. So they decide to make it an annual holiday anyway. Puritan AF.

Seriously.

I didn't know you were from New Hampshire! That means you were the last holdout of the holiday.

Re: Fast Day

[dramaticirony]

Yes, although the progressive thing was to want to get rid of Fast Day so we could replace it with Civil Rights Day and eventually MLK day.

(Because frugal yankees don't pay for extra government holidays. NH: a rich and odd history in addition to socialist liquor stores.)

[a_reasonable_man]

There really was a falling out between John Adams and Ben Franklin. Franklin is generally considered to have had the last word; he famously said of Adams, that "he means well for his Country, is always an honest Man, often a Wise one, but sometimes and in somethings absolutely out of his Senses.”

I'll bet Adams would have been very annoyed that this is one of the few historical facts these Japanese authors got right.

[sovay]

I'll bet Adams would have been very annoyed that this is one of the few historical facts these Japanese authors got right.

That is such a characteristic thing to happen to him, too.

So do you have any idea what's with the snake?

[a_reasonable_man]

Hmmm ... I wonder if the seed for this book was half-understood tales about America told by Yankee sailors? The national narrative, as presented here, does seem to have a Yankee bias. Adams and Franklin are featured prominently (plus Washington, who was generally seen as honorary Yankee), but Jefferson is nowhere mentioned.

Unless, of course, he's the snake.

[sovay]

Unless, of course, he's the snake.

spatch, reading over my shoulder: "And the three of them—Franklin, Washington, and the snake—conducted the entire revolution by themselves."

[selkie]

I covet the Goddess of America's sensible cable-knit skirt (presumably leaves, I know, I know) and passed out in a Sudafed haze before I could commend the late artist who had depicted ol' George lo, straight-up, as promised, punching a tiger.

Which of course had been abundant on the Eastern Seaboard until word got round of the punching.

[sovay]

Which of course had been abundant on the Eastern Seaboard until word got round of the punching.

Like the giant clams.

[thisbluespirit]

4. is amazing!

[sovay]

4. is amazing!

It makes me very happy.

[ashlyme]

Good luck with the readings (and I hope they're fun, too)!

I'd give good money to see Franklin firing a cannon at 45. As it is, that history is pretty damn awesome.

[sovay]

Good luck with the readings (and I hope they're fun, too)!

Thank you!

I'd give good money to see Franklin firing a cannon at 45. As it is, that history is pretty damn awesome.

Cannon-toting Benjamin Franklin definitely feels right up there with American folk heroes.