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American Esoterica

Musings.

Posts made when I feel like it.

Probably mainly thoughts and comments about the episodes, but management reserves the right to air grievances on issues such as Daylight Savings Time, self-checkouts and cats (the animal AND the musical).

NOTE: SPOILERS ABOUND if you haven't listened to the episode in question yet. You've been warned.

Episode 37 - Lincoln's Last Ride

Oct 25, 20232 min read

Episode 37 - Lincoln's Last Ride

Fine. I give up. It's another Lincoln one. BUT HIS LIFE AND DEATH ARE JUST SO INTERESTING. And they have so many implications that...

Episode 36 - Hatefulness

Oct 12, 20231 min read

Episode 36 - Hatefulness

Think of this one as a palate cleanser. It isn't something mind-blowing or deeply insightful. It doesn't shed a new light on a...

Episode 35 - Rogue Island

Sep 14, 20231 min read

Episode 35 - Rogue Island

I have nothing to add to this one, except to say that it's fitting that the biggest pain in the butt would be the smallest state. It's...

Episode 34 - Atomic Dogs

Aug 31, 20231 min read

Episode 34 - Atomic Dogs

I would've sworn that the courier was actually a soldier and Fort Campbell was one of the actual stops on his route, but I can't find...

Episode 33 - In Spite Of

Aug 17, 20232 min read

Episode 33 - In Spite Of

Hi there. If you're reading this, then you're probably the only one. I'll leave you the secret location to my buried fortune at the end...

Episode 32 - Crumb of Equality

Aug 3, 20231 min read

Episode 32 - Crumb of Equality

So this is an attempt to bring the other side of this anecdote to light, because it is only ever quoted and retold in the way the first...

Episode 31 - A Balance

Jul 20, 20231 min read

Episode 31 - A Balance

This one may be my favorite all-time historical note - that the Booths and Lincolns have more than one connection. It's a small...

Episode 30 - The Great American Road Trip, A Travelogue

Jul 6, 20231 min read

Episode 30 - The Great American Road Trip, A Travelogue

I dragged my teenage daughter around New England for eight days. We saw all the stuff. We ate all the food. We spent all the money. This...

Episode 29 - Founding Father, Deadbeat Dad? Part II

Jun 22, 20231 min read

Episode 29 - Founding Father, Deadbeat Dad? Part II

Just a few notes... Lest we think that I'm holding William up as a hero, he did assist the British in their fight to kill as many...

Episode 28 - Founding Father, Deadbeat Dad?, Part I

Jun 15, 20231 min read

Episode 28 - Founding Father, Deadbeat Dad?, Part I

When you read about William Franklin, it's kind of hard to make him out to be an enemy. He really did do what he believed was right, and...

Episode 27 - Presidential Potpourri

May 25, 20232 min read

Episode 27 - Presidential Potpourri

The Address of the Address I do think it's weird that Washington didn't give an address so much as write one. Even the Gettysburg Address...

Episode 26 - One Woman, One Vote

May 11, 20231 min read

Episode 26 - One Woman, One Vote

Just a few quick notes on this one - Am I shining it on a little bit that it was headed toward failure? Sure. The next few states to take...

Episode 25 - The Sex Cult of Quality Flatware

Apr 27, 20231 min read

Episode 25 - The Sex Cult of Quality Flatware

This one is weird on multiple levels, but I didn't really get into the creepier aspects of it. For instance, familial attachments were...

Episode 24 - The Revolution Will Be Subsidized

Apr 13, 20231 min read

Episode 24 - The Revolution Will Be Subsidized

There's no reason why shouldn't have heard of Haym Salomon. He is as important to the cause of American liberty as other figures such as...

Episode 23 - Wright Left

Mar 30, 20231 min read

Episode 23 - Wright Left

Like so many of these, the details of this were hard to nail down. According to the popular legend, Wright abandoned his car at the track...

Episode 22 - Grandpa Tenth President

Mar 16, 20231 min read

Episode 22 - Grandpa Tenth President

I kinda wish it wasn't John Tyler. Make it Van Buren or even Buchanan. Anybody except a former president turned traitor. We let this guy...

Episode 21 - Technically Free Speech

Mar 2, 20231 min read

Episode 21 - Technically Free Speech

This is maybe my favorite anecdote about Teddy Roosevelt, and it showcases his shrewdness. At the same time, I do think there are...

Episode 20 - By the Hem of Her Dress

Feb 16, 20232 min read

Episode 20 - By the Hem of Her Dress

First, let me acknowledge that I'm on Episode 20. Whew. That's pretty far in. I'm thankful for everyone who has stuck with me so far. In...

Episode 19 - A Teddy for Valentine's

Feb 14, 20231 min read

Episode 19 - A Teddy for Valentine's

Admit it - you probably thought this was a different story, didn't you? This is a little evil, and I apologize...for NOTHING. Happy...

Episode 18 - The Raid

Feb 2, 20231 min read

Episode 18 - The Raid

What I like about this story is that the general idea of who Harriet Tubman was gelled around her work as a famous Conductor on the...

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