I happen to live along the route of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, according to a stone plaque a stone’s throw from my building. (Also nearby: The apartment Barack Obama occupied while he was a student at Harvard. It’s now a shrine to the former president. Pfft!)
By the way, Revere, twice married, fathered a total of 16 children. Sixteen! I guess the British weren’t the only ones who were coming.
Matt, since you’ve been going down the revolution rabbit hole as of late, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the story of Sybil Ludington.
While Paul Revere gets the fame for a ride others took part in, Ms Ludington (allegedly) did the same, but for a far greater distance. While 16 years old, she rode 40! Miles throughout the night to warn the militia, who were under command of her father, about the Redcoats raid of Danbury, CT. The following day, the miltia and regulars under future traitor douchebag Benedict Arnold, engaged in the battle of Ridgefield, while the British were heading back to the coast. What resulted was a British tactical success. However it strengthened patriot resolve in Connecticut, and the British never tried to raid so far inland again.
I say alleged, because other than family history, there’s not much proof that Sybil’s ride even happened, but I’d like to believe it did. And there is a badass statue of her in Carmel along her supposed route. Perhaps on one of your forays upstate, you could make a quick detour (not far off of 84).
I’ll also mention, since you brought up Turn: Washington’s spies (maybe it was on the roundtable). The show is based on Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose. The show, if I remember correctly, takes some liberties, as all history based shows do, ie love affairs that didn’t happen etc. The book follows the true story, and does a good job of shining light on something that isn’t tought in High School history class. In other words, it’s good for random specific history nerds like myself.
I remember reading about this in a book some years ago, I forget the title, but it was like "things you weren't told about" kinda book. MANY people rode to warn the British and if you take a trip to the Concord/Lexington area and do a tour, they will go into more detail.
Nothing inspires my desire to be an American like Welchian Patriotism. The Regulars made decent work of things up north after losing though, to my benefit.
If you haven't watched Turn, you should fix that, and delight in the sadistic portrayal of John Graves Simcoe, who nonetheless was given a late-breaking redemption arc.
In 9th grade, I got in trouble in history class for laughing when Gandhi was shot. My get out of jail card was memorizing Paul Revere's Ride over the weekend. What Coach Link didn't know was that I already knew a lot of it bcs Revere is my fav of the founding era. Girls remember men who bring the bling.
Haven’t finished reading the firehose yet, but I had to jump right over and say: We love your beard, Matt! It’s wonderful. And I clap my hand over the mouths of The Nuclear Blonde and anyone else who is beard-averse.
wow… matt, best take on the week yet. thanks for all the hyper links. the link to moynihan winging it on his ‘2 talk 2’. ?? or whatever its called show. so interesting watching monihan wing it live. always smart and a bit lazy. he should have been more prepared for those moments when every minute is his to fill. lazy = should have been more prepared! so, thank you again for a great weekly roundup. 👉👉it’s becoming my favorite ‘tfc’ post👈👈
History nerd alert. I need to find that old tv movie April Morning, with Tommy Lee Jones. It's an adaption of the novel of the same name that takes place at the start of the Battle of Lexington on 4/19/1775.
Yeah, those double neck guitars. I've heard they're very heavy and whoever plays them for an extended period of time ends up with back problems. I remember seeing John McLaughlin (the jazz guitarist, not the "Bye bye!" PBS political pundit) and his Mahavishnu Orchestra play in Indianapolis a long time ago*. McLaughlin played a double neck guitar and it was mostly just a gimmick. He would reach up to the twelve string neck occasionally but spent almost all his time on the six string. Does anybody still play those anymore?
* Yes, I'm old. And old enough to remember hearing "Kicks" on the radio. I can still sing along with the chorus.
The Maher report about his dinner with Trump leaves me with two impressions: the theory that Trump’s public persona is kayfabe has now some evidence to back that, and the disconnect between his outward personality and his private one tells us something about what Trump thinks his biggest fans want.
My best friend’s fiancé (who you can briefly almost see in the Ken Burns teaser) is a revolutionary war reenactor with the Jersey Grays and worked closely with Ken Burns on the doc, and is likely at Battle Road this weekend, which he does most years. Doc comes out in November, give your fif’ in laws some love when it does (he has a credit!!). I think he’s more excited about the 250th than he is about his wedding this October, and I’ve been collecting Matt’s recs to slip into conversations with him.
I think you hurt Bill Maher’s feelings, he was visibly agitated. It (the White House visit) was a publicity stunt for them both. Of course he was “nice” to Bill.
I happen to live along the route of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, according to a stone plaque a stone’s throw from my building. (Also nearby: The apartment Barack Obama occupied while he was a student at Harvard. It’s now a shrine to the former president. Pfft!)
By the way, Revere, twice married, fathered a total of 16 children. Sixteen! I guess the British weren’t the only ones who were coming.
I live out by Lexington and Concord and this weekend is going to be such a glorious shitshow—I cannot wait!
Hello, fellow Massochist.
Jockeys and bike riders suffer from poor fertility (male types) due to pressure up through the perinium. Seems it didn’t affect old Paul.
Matt, since you’ve been going down the revolution rabbit hole as of late, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the story of Sybil Ludington.
While Paul Revere gets the fame for a ride others took part in, Ms Ludington (allegedly) did the same, but for a far greater distance. While 16 years old, she rode 40! Miles throughout the night to warn the militia, who were under command of her father, about the Redcoats raid of Danbury, CT. The following day, the miltia and regulars under future traitor douchebag Benedict Arnold, engaged in the battle of Ridgefield, while the British were heading back to the coast. What resulted was a British tactical success. However it strengthened patriot resolve in Connecticut, and the British never tried to raid so far inland again.
I say alleged, because other than family history, there’s not much proof that Sybil’s ride even happened, but I’d like to believe it did. And there is a badass statue of her in Carmel along her supposed route. Perhaps on one of your forays upstate, you could make a quick detour (not far off of 84).
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/60409
I’ll also mention, since you brought up Turn: Washington’s spies (maybe it was on the roundtable). The show is based on Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose. The show, if I remember correctly, takes some liberties, as all history based shows do, ie love affairs that didn’t happen etc. The book follows the true story, and does a good job of shining light on something that isn’t tought in High School history class. In other words, it’s good for random specific history nerds like myself.
I remember reading about this in a book some years ago, I forget the title, but it was like "things you weren't told about" kinda book. MANY people rode to warn the British and if you take a trip to the Concord/Lexington area and do a tour, they will go into more detail.
Nothing inspires my desire to be an American like Welchian Patriotism. The Regulars made decent work of things up north after losing though, to my benefit.
If you haven't watched Turn, you should fix that, and delight in the sadistic portrayal of John Graves Simcoe, who nonetheless was given a late-breaking redemption arc.
Will remedy tout suite (that’s right away in Quebec/France, for lurking Yankees!)
Tossing out much love for Kmele’s amazing rejoinder to the ridiculous Chris rufo!
You cannot succeed couldn't agree more. Don't think I've ever been more proud to be a member of the fifdom
In 9th grade, I got in trouble in history class for laughing when Gandhi was shot. My get out of jail card was memorizing Paul Revere's Ride over the weekend. What Coach Link didn't know was that I already knew a lot of it bcs Revere is my fav of the founding era. Girls remember men who bring the bling.
Haven’t finished reading the firehose yet, but I had to jump right over and say: We love your beard, Matt! It’s wonderful. And I clap my hand over the mouths of The Nuclear Blonde and anyone else who is beard-averse.
Down with the terrible beard!
Nope. Too late. I clapped my hand over your mouth.
Stop #beardphobia
As a beard wearer myself, I second this. No more beard shaming!
I’ll still make fun of my mustached coworkers though
wow… matt, best take on the week yet. thanks for all the hyper links. the link to moynihan winging it on his ‘2 talk 2’. ?? or whatever its called show. so interesting watching monihan wing it live. always smart and a bit lazy. he should have been more prepared for those moments when every minute is his to fill. lazy = should have been more prepared! so, thank you again for a great weekly roundup. 👉👉it’s becoming my favorite ‘tfc’ post👈👈
History nerd alert. I need to find that old tv movie April Morning, with Tommy Lee Jones. It's an adaption of the novel of the same name that takes place at the start of the Battle of Lexington on 4/19/1775.
Yeah, those double neck guitars. I've heard they're very heavy and whoever plays them for an extended period of time ends up with back problems. I remember seeing John McLaughlin (the jazz guitarist, not the "Bye bye!" PBS political pundit) and his Mahavishnu Orchestra play in Indianapolis a long time ago*. McLaughlin played a double neck guitar and it was mostly just a gimmick. He would reach up to the twelve string neck occasionally but spent almost all his time on the six string. Does anybody still play those anymore?
* Yes, I'm old. And old enough to remember hearing "Kicks" on the radio. I can still sing along with the chorus.
I want a fantasy concert of Paul Revere & The Raiders in full revolutionary garb with The Libertines in their full red coat kit.
The Maher report about his dinner with Trump leaves me with two impressions: the theory that Trump’s public persona is kayfabe has now some evidence to back that, and the disconnect between his outward personality and his private one tells us something about what Trump thinks his biggest fans want.
Or he was just being fake around Maher.
I'm getting the sense that we might be enjoying a weekly Semiquincential Moment for the next 63 weeks. What better reason to subscribe!
*Semiquincentennial. Spellchecker gotta learn this word.
Fuckin Revere
My best friend’s fiancé (who you can briefly almost see in the Ken Burns teaser) is a revolutionary war reenactor with the Jersey Grays and worked closely with Ken Burns on the doc, and is likely at Battle Road this weekend, which he does most years. Doc comes out in November, give your fif’ in laws some love when it does (he has a credit!!). I think he’s more excited about the 250th than he is about his wedding this October, and I’ve been collecting Matt’s recs to slip into conversations with him.
I think you hurt Bill Maher’s feelings, he was visibly agitated. It (the White House visit) was a publicity stunt for them both. Of course he was “nice” to Bill.
Honestly, I wasn’t poking him at all; I could just see that he still had a bee in his bonnet about it so I helped him let it out.
That's what you get with private school.
😬