Say, Oh Say #14: The Cruelest Month
Hello again! So glad you could join me in my cozy newsletter. Please, pull up a chair next to the fire. Yes, that's it. Would you like some hot chocolate? There, now you can get all warmed up––you're dripping wet! How's the work been going this week? I see, well that's certainly something. And the family? Mm-hm, just like them isn't it? Oh don't mind old Princess there, she loves a good scratch behind the ears. How have I been, you ask? Well…
I Meditated On My Least Favorite Month
Does this seem like a February to remember to anyone else? Normally my least favorite time of year, this February marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses and a—fingers crossed—crest to the Omicron wave. Nadal won what’s probably his last competition before retirement, the winter Olympics are here (Jamaica has a bobsled team!), and generally it just feels like there’s a hint of optimism in the air. At least this winter is keeping us warm.
That’s not to say it’s not pummeling freezing rain outside my window as I type this. At least now I know why it’s not snow.
Speaking of February reflections, this reporter says it better than I ever could.
And if you’re thinking of tackling Ulysses, just remember the immortal words of The Economist: “Ulysses is fun” (though calling it a beach read is a bit optimistic). There’s now a free ebook available from the Joyce Project, which finally integrates the text with its annotations.
I Had A Lot of “The More You Know” Moments 🌈
Peruvian horses have been bred to walk with a special gait, known as “paso llano,” which involves an outward swing of the legs just before each step. It’s meant to make the ride smoother and I can’t believe you can breed horses to walk like this naturally. Seriously, look at this footage.
Echoing is a singing technique apparently invented by this Dutch singing trio. Each singer takes turns singing one or two isolated words, thus creating a unique single voice.
Native peoples on the coast of the Pacific Northwest traditionally bred a special dog to grow a long, wooly coat. They used that coat to weave blankets and clothing. Known as the Salish wool dog, the above is the only known pelt left from this now extinct sheep-like dog. Adorably, its name was Mutton.
Filler words like “um,” “like,” and “uh” seem to actually have a linguistic function.
The tricks behind the special effects in silent movies. Jesus healing the lepers is a good one.
And I Saw A Few Other Things Besides
A sweet animated short in which a dog makes an omelette.
The Washington Post has turned real-life gerrymandered districts into a challenging mini golf game.
Hard candy, made the traditional way
And finally, the bird call of February?
Thanks for asking! Same time next week? I’ll keep the kettle on.