Word

I wondered about the noise. Also, I'm kinda impressed by the absolute tone deafness here. Are most people worried about the economy and the cost of food/gas/spaniels? Yes? Well...that's the best time to brag about a super-expensive plane that will appeal to only the very rich.

That's what I was asking myself, too

I know. But I am happy to mock regardless

The term "land-based flight" is something a drunk ostrich would fight you for.

Front of the card, showing two ships in calm water with sails slack. A label in the water below them reads: "Dutch eel boat." They are somewhat orange in color, suggesting a setting sun -- another indication that they are not British. The shadow from the boats looks an unhealthy green on the water, which is perhaps appropriate for the Thames. Overall, the whole image is done in washed out citrus-y colors, which makes it warm and inviting, and also a good source of Vitamin C. These ships and their predecessors supplied live eels to London for something like 500 years. You've never done anything for that long in your whole life. And you never will. Eel ships were there during the War of the Roses, and during Shakespeare's life, and during WWI. They are gone and forgotten now, but they were once a part of the living city.

The back of the card, with text describing the ships. The text is surrounded by a framing of ropes, with some blocks and tackles and hooks and such. It looks very nautical. The text which these lines frame reads thus: "Ships of All Ages, a series of 50. No. 25. Dutch Eel Boat The Thames barge is considered to be of Dutch origin, and it sometiems meets in the estuary its relative, the Dutch eel schuyt, which, like the barge, is designated for work on both salt and fresh water. The schuyt is typically Dutch, stoutly built and comfortable looking, and is considered to be the most representative of the seagoing craft of Holland; it is also easily navigated on the crowded canals of the country. Issued by Nicolas Sarony & Co. 84 Picadilly London, W.I." FTR -- if someone describes you as stoutly built and comfortable looking, you should object. Unless you're an eel ship. Are you an eel ship?

I got into eel history by studying the Dutch eel ships on the Thames. We don't generally remember them much now, but they were there from the c.1470 - 1938.

They used to be low-key famous, even appearing in Nicolas Sarony's 1929 cigarette card collection, "Ships of All Ages."
🗃️🧪

Fair point!

Front of the card, showing two ships in calm water with sails slack. A label in the water below them reads: "Dutch eel boat." They are somewhat orange in color, suggesting a setting sun -- another indication that they are not British. The shadow from the boats looks an unhealthy green on the water, which is perhaps appropriate for the Thames. Overall, the whole image is done in washed out citrus-y colors, which makes it warm and inviting, and also a good source of Vitamin C. These ships and their predecessors supplied live eels to London for something like 500 years. You've never done anything for that long in your whole life. And you never will. Eel ships were there during the War of the Roses, and during Shakespeare's life, and during WWI. They are gone and forgotten now, but they were once a part of the living city.

The back of the card, with text describing the ships. The text is surrounded by a framing of ropes, with some blocks and tackles and hooks and such. It looks very nautical. The text which these lines frame reads thus: "Ships of All Ages, a series of 50. No. 25. Dutch Eel Boat The Thames barge is considered to be of Dutch origin, and it sometiems meets in the estuary its relative, the Dutch eel schuyt, which, like the barge, is designated for work on both salt and fresh water. The schuyt is typically Dutch, stoutly built and comfortable looking, and is considered to be the most representative of the seagoing craft of Holland; it is also easily navigated on the crowded canals of the country. Issued by Nicolas Sarony & Co. 84 Picadilly London, W.I." FTR -- if someone describes you as stoutly built and comfortable looking, you should object. Unless you're an eel ship. Are you an eel ship?

I got into eel history by studying the Dutch eel ships on the Thames. We don't generally remember them much now, but they were there from the c.1470 - 1938.

They used to be low-key famous, even appearing in Nicolas Sarony's 1929 cigarette card collection, "Ships of All Ages."
🗃️🧪

Meme. Painting of King Henry I, wearing his crown and looking like a man who will stop at nothing to get eels. His faces is lined, and he the skin under his eyes is drooping. He looks worn and tired, like it's 6 AM and he's been binge-watching Sex in the City all night. His hair doesn't look old and haggard, though. It is a dark, rich brown, and he has a full beard and mustache combo that would be the envy of many a hipster. You know he's the king by his attire. He's wearing a large golden crown with spikes and fleur de lis, and a fur cloak with a fancy gold collar. There's no missing him, though it's fun to imagine him trying to blend in at a CVS while dressed like this. Despite his tired aspect, he looks intent and determined. His eyes are hard. As well he should. He is facing death, but fuck that. Bring that man some eels. Meme text reads: "Eels are for kings Regret is for other people"

Are the eels plotting to kill you?

Maybe. They did in Henry I in 1135. And you might be next.

Henry died after eating a meal of eels (carnes murenarum). Eels disagreed with him, & his doctors warned him not to do it. But kings want what they want. And Henry wanted his eels. 1/3
🗃️🧪

I am sure I don't know what you're talking about.

Meme. Painting of Eustace, leaning on a halberd and wearing fruit and leaves in his hair. He's wearing a white shirt with gold crosses on it, and a glove of some sort. He has wispy facial hair like a high school junior trying to look old enough to buy beer. His skin is slightly green looking, and he really doesn't look well. His hat headwear, which is surely meant as a nod to vegan friends, seems excessive. If you wore that, you'd hope a co-worker would pull you aside and ask if you were ok. Eustace is looking down at the hand holding the halberd, and his eyes are narrowed. He seems like he's thinking of something cutting to say, and I think it's likely that he's suffering from a bout of esprit de escalier. Meme text reads: "I only choke on metaphorical eels"

There's a story that King Stephen's son Eustace choked to death on an eel. If true it would mean that Henry II owed his throne to two different eel-related deaths! Sadly, this is likely a 20th c. invention.

But YOU should still watch out. The eels are still out there plotting. /fin

Meme. A photograph of two older white men, wearing suits and ties, standing in front of a microphone and singing. The background is pure white, and the two men look like they could be LDS mission presidents, singing a terrible rap to welcome their latest arrivals to Topeka. They call themselves MTC-The-Light, and they desperately want you to believe that they are cool. Big "Hello, fellow kids!" energy. In fact, this is a picture of the musical group Los Del Rio, standing in front of a microphone, singing their ridiculously popular hit song "Macerena." They look mildly surprised to be two old white guys recording a massive pop sensation. Meme text reads: "In Scotland, it's the MacMurena"

Often "murena" is translated as lamprey. But it's a complicated word, & can mean lamprey or eel. This was so confusing that medieval latin developed the word "lampreda" to differentiate.

So it could have been eels. Or lampreys. But being who I am...I'll always go with eels. 2/3

Meme. Painting of King Henry I, wearing his crown and looking like a man who will stop at nothing to get eels. His faces is lined, and he the skin under his eyes is drooping. He looks worn and tired, like it's 6 AM and he's been binge-watching Sex in the City all night. His hair doesn't look old and haggard, though. It is a dark, rich brown, and he has a full beard and mustache combo that would be the envy of many a hipster. You know he's the king by his attire. He's wearing a large golden crown with spikes and fleur de lis, and a fur cloak with a fancy gold collar. There's no missing him, though it's fun to imagine him trying to blend in at a CVS while dressed like this. Despite his tired aspect, he looks intent and determined. His eyes are hard. As well he should. He is facing death, but fuck that. Bring that man some eels. Meme text reads: "Eels are for kings Regret is for other people"

Are the eels plotting to kill you?

Maybe. They did in Henry I in 1135. And you might be next.

Henry died after eating a meal of eels (carnes murenarum). Eels disagreed with him, & his doctors warned him not to do it. But kings want what they want. And Henry wanted his eels. 1/3
🗃️🧪

Yeah…it’s electric wells, which are not true eels, but are a kinds of knife fish. They’re still cool, tho

4 out of 5 Roman emperors agree

Maybe both

I, too, have a complicated relationship with books I haven’t read, and whose core tenants I live in opposition to.

Fair

Quoth the Raven: “I Used to be a Cuttlefish” | Surprised Eel Maps Get more from Surprised Eel Maps on Patreon

I start drawing random shapes, and then kinda let the pen go where it wants. Sometimes I'll step back to see if I can identify a shape in what I've drawn. If I can, I try to draw towards it. Sometimes I can, sometimes not.

I wrote about the process here (it's free):

www.patreon.com/posts/quoth-...

Art. Black and white drawing made of abstract shapes and lines, that might look like a figure with a horse or cow skull and weird horns, seen from behind, looking to its right. One arm disappears out of frame, and the other is curled up to its chest, with the hands making a small gesture of blessing or dismissal.

A drawing from the last several evenings. Perhaps a mari lwyd having a bit of a dance

I’m very fond of that one

That is a squirmy home!

When I was a kid
I thought haikus were very
Unserious poems

but as an adult
I’ve come to appreciate
the form’s challenges

much as I once loved
writing within twitter’s old
character limits
#haiku #internationalhaikuday

A page labeled, "Haikus, Part I." There are 9 haikus on the page, alternating sides of the pages. The first one is left justified, the second one is right justified, the third is left justified, and so on. Each haiku has a title, which is in bold. The text of the page reads: "Haikus, Part I Bitemarks want has many teeth and when they are sunk bone-deep there is nothing else Riverstone I hardly noticed as the endless flow of you wore my edges smooth Night Song the crunch of new snow is weaker than the singing of the northbound geese. Brink you bring me right to the edge of thought, and leave me gasping to speak it Uncoffee someone else has made the coffee, and it’s as weak as a newborn sponge Smoke you are in my thoughts like the lingering scent of woodsmoke in soft wool Liquify the caterpillar must liquify its whole self to be born anew Brownie I wish that people would keep their god-damned nuts out of my desserts Vision I feel like old glass but you hold me to the light and see right through me -- John Wyatt Greenlee

Friends...it's International Haiku Day! And so, to celebrate, here is a page of haikus. For youz. This is from a book of poetry I'm working on, which has 6 or 7 such pages scattered among the longer poems.

Meme. Cartoon image of Dennis the Menace. He is standing with his hand up, one finger raised, as if he's making a point of an objection. As if he has more of a comment than a question.* As is traditional, his eyebrows are showing through his hair in a way that makes is seem like they're on top, and his trademark cowlick has been well-licked. Somewhere there's a cow trying to get hair off of its tongue. Dennis is wearing a blue and black striped shirt under his red overalls, with the stripes going horizontally. It looks like he bought a knock-off Inter Milan kit that got the direction of the stripes wrong, and now he's trying to cover it up with his overalls. His ears are round little cookies of flesh with no apparent ear holes; he does not seem like a child who would listen, anyway. His nose is well-pugged, and his face is well-freckled. Meme text reads: "St. Denis Does not menace eels" * His question/comment is going to be pointed, annoying hard to answer, and completely unhinged.

Not all the medieval English eel-rents were due to English landlords. In 1086, for example, the Abbey of St. Denis in Paris was owed eels by 2 mills in Taynton.

Rather than demanding a shipment of eels, though, the abbot demanded his rent in coin. 'Cause landlords are the worst.🗃️🧪

Oh, yes. There absolutely are. Also, the Charter of the Forest is something of a companion piece to the Magna Carta, and it has a lot to say about common forests, private forests, and personal property use

Thank you!

Deal, ya weirdo

Thanks! I like nuts. I like brownies. They belong about as close to each other as 7th graders at their first dance