Surprised Eel Historian, PhD

The 1989 movie? What a weirdly specific ask

Meme. Painting of medieval men and women fishing. There are eight women on the left bank, all dressed in white and wearing hats of various types. Only one of the women is actually fishing; she has a line in the water. The others seems to be watching her. One of the women has a falcon on her wrist. On the other bank are the men, all dressed in red and also wearing hats. Two of the men are fishing, and the rest are hanging out. On both banks, the ratio of spectating to fishing feels off. The men and women seem to be staring at each other, and there is a Sharks and Jets feel to the whole setting. . For all that they might connect over fishing and a love of backseat fishing, they won't. It's likely that they're about to break into song, and then rumble. A castle rears up in the background. And in the foreground are three dogs are in the foreground, in a canine nod to the trinity. Meme text reads: "You can catch all the eels you want You still won't be as cool as Turkillus"

You know who had a great name? Turkillus de Culeham

And Big T. had an awesome an eel-debt to go along with that name. He owed 500 eels/yr in c.1180 to the kitchen at Abingdon Abbey.

'Cause even if you've got a kick-ass name, you still gotta pony up the eels.🗃️🧪

The construction valences of his syntax particulations is top knotch

Thank you so much!

It is!

This delights me

Meme. Painting of medieval men and women fishing. There are eight women on the left bank, all dressed in white and wearing hats of various types. Only one of the women is actually fishing; she has a line in the water. The others seems to be watching her. One of the women has a falcon on her wrist. On the other bank are the men, all dressed in red and also wearing hats. Two of the men are fishing, and the rest are hanging out. On both banks, the ratio of spectating to fishing feels off. The men and women seem to be staring at each other, and there is a Sharks and Jets feel to the whole setting. . For all that they might connect over fishing and a love of backseat fishing, they won't. It's likely that they're about to break into song, and then rumble. A castle rears up in the background. And in the foreground are three dogs are in the foreground, in a canine nod to the trinity. Meme text reads: "You can catch all the eels you want You still won't be as cool as Turkillus"

You know who had a great name? Turkillus de Culeham

And Big T. had an awesome an eel-debt to go along with that name. He owed 500 eels/yr in c.1180 to the kitchen at Abingdon Abbey.

'Cause even if you've got a kick-ass name, you still gotta pony up the eels.🗃️🧪

Yes indeed

Thank you! I try to make the alt text both useful and fun

Oooh! I love those

Meme. Colored drawing of medieval-looking people fishing in a stream with nets and wicker traps. It's a busy scene, and the people look somewhat happy and also industrious. All of the figures are muscled and would look quite dangerous if they came upon you in a dark alley with their nets and spears and all. Right now they're only fishing for fish. If they became fishers of men, they'd make for an excellent mob of muggers. * The ladies have leaves in their hats, which adds a festive air to the event. It's clearly a fishing party. They all have colorful shirts, but the men are wearing brown shirts only. Apparently, fishing (like so many other things in life, it seems) is only manly if you wear the right uniform. Likely they are also saying condescending things to each other, and comparing the size of their eels. Boys will be boys, etc. You can't see any fish or eels, but they're there. Judging you for your sins. Meme text reads: "TFW your revenue stream is dammed complicated" * Not muggers like the mugger of Mugger-Ghaut, however. Though that would explain why they're all in the water.

Are you having trouble keeping your eels to yourself? The Prior of Hardham understands.

In 1400 he accused locals of diverting water from the his stream & stealing his fish. The stream had been good for 4,000 eels per year. But now the Prior complained that he could only get 200!
🗃️🧪

Thank you! I try to put some life into the alt-text. I hope you continue to enjoy it (and that you enjoy the eel history!)

Most, honestly. Especially lately

Thank you! I try

Meme. Colored drawing of medieval-looking people fishing in a stream with nets and wicker traps. It's a busy scene, and the people look somewhat happy and also industrious. All of the figures are muscled and would look quite dangerous if they came upon you in a dark alley with their nets and spears and all. Right now they're only fishing for fish. If they became fishers of men, they'd make for an excellent mob of muggers. * The ladies have leaves in their hats, which adds a festive air to the event. It's clearly a fishing party. They all have colorful shirts, but the men are wearing brown shirts only. Apparently, fishing (like so many other things in life, it seems) is only manly if you wear the right uniform. Likely they are also saying condescending things to each other, and comparing the size of their eels. Boys will be boys, etc. You can't see any fish or eels, but they're there. Judging you for your sins. Meme text reads: "TFW your revenue stream is dammed complicated" * Not muggers like the mugger of Mugger-Ghaut, however. Though that would explain why they're all in the water.

Are you having trouble keeping your eels to yourself? The Prior of Hardham understands.

In 1400 he accused locals of diverting water from the his stream & stealing his fish. The stream had been good for 4,000 eels per year. But now the Prior complained that he could only get 200!
🗃️🧪

It started with children, at least. 26 of them!

Well done. Carry on.

This is why I’ve been posting it in little pieces on social media for years. I’m serializing it.

It really shows

If you write that a quarter of your time in your PhD program was spent “building writing” then maybe you should have spent some of that time learning how to write.

Thank you!

It is! In that there are children in it

An Edward Gorey drawing showing a morose looking black bird on a branch. He (and this feels very much like a he) is pointing downwards with one scraggly wing, and looking straight ahead with debt-filled eyes. His beak is long and sharp, like winter on the Great Plains. He is pointing with his right wing, but this means he is pointing to your left. Your wicked, sinister side. This is no accident. The Bird makes no such mistakes. But he is talking, and the text tells us that he is saying, "Beware of this and that." Honestly, you feel his message in your bones.

Some days I just feel like this Edward Gorey bird gets it.

An Edward Gorey drawing showing a morose looking black bird on a branch. He (and this feels very much like a he) is pointing downwards with one scraggly wing, and looking straight ahead with debt-filled eyes. His beak is long and sharp, like winter on the Great Plains. He is pointing with his right wing, but this means he is pointing to your left. Your wicked, sinister side. This is no accident. The Bird makes no such mistakes. But he is talking, and the text tells us that he is saying, "Beware of this and that." Honestly, you feel his message in your bones.

Some days I just feel like this Edward Gorey bird gets it.

Meme. Drawing of a medieval merchant with his cart. He has a gray beard, and a wide-brimmed brown hat that is flat on top. Various pouches hang from his belt. We'll call him Vestabeaux. It's what his mother would have done if she'd thought of it. Vestabeaux is standing in front of a handcart or small wagon with enormous wheels. It is loaded down with goods, including what look like large bagels or donuts, and maybe a basket of sticks. Is is on his way to the annual donut festival at St. Albans? We'll say "yes." The cart's wheels are taller than the man. Vestabeaux is leaning on his medieval Big Wheel with one arm, and has the other hand on his hip. He is looking somewhat put out, as if there's a dead walrus in the path in front of him, and he's not sure how to proceed. It's going to be really hard to get those big wheels over a walrus carcass. But if he doesn't, all the children of St. Albans (let alone the monks!) will be donutless, and tearful. Fear not! The resolve in our man's face says he won't let that happen. Meme text reads: "Pay to sell? That's eelogical!"

It's 1400. You've got a cartload of eels to sell in London. Time to get rich!

Hold up there, hoss! London charges import taxes on your eels. You've got to pay The Man:

Murage fees: 10 d./1000 eels
Customs: 2 d./cart

THEN you can start raking in those sweet eel profits!
🗃️🧪

Thank you!

What's that in the road?
Not another dead walrus!
We'll be late for sure!

Meme. Drawing of a medieval merchant with his cart. He has a gray beard, and a wide-brimmed brown hat that is flat on top. Various pouches hang from his belt. We'll call him Vestabeaux. It's what his mother would have done if she'd thought of it. Vestabeaux is standing in front of a handcart or small wagon with enormous wheels. It is loaded down with goods, including what look like large bagels or donuts, and maybe a basket of sticks. Is is on his way to the annual donut festival at St. Albans? We'll say "yes." The cart's wheels are taller than the man. Vestabeaux is leaning on his medieval Big Wheel with one arm, and has the other hand on his hip. He is looking somewhat put out, as if there's a dead walrus in the path in front of him, and he's not sure how to proceed. It's going to be really hard to get those big wheels over a walrus carcass. But if he doesn't, all the children of St. Albans (let alone the monks!) will be donutless, and tearful. Fear not! The resolve in our man's face says he won't let that happen. Meme text reads: "Pay to sell? That's eelogical!"

It's 1400. You've got a cartload of eels to sell in London. Time to get rich!

Hold up there, hoss! London charges import taxes on your eels. You've got to pay The Man:

Murage fees: 10 d./1000 eels
Customs: 2 d./cart

THEN you can start raking in those sweet eel profits!
🗃️🧪

Art. Black and white ink pen drawing made of abstract shapes and lines that looks a bit like an eye with tentacles or legs coming from it. That’s disquieting, but it also has long and luxurious lashes. Maybe it’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.

A drawing from today. An eye-spider, perhaps?

Ha. This is like how every year I get panicked that I forgot mother's day 'cause a large part of my feed is British.