'Your people will wear cardigans and drink highballs…'

I'm way, way too busy for blogging today thanks to those bastards who pay me wanting me to do stuff, which seems pretty rude. Marking. Organising tablecloths, signers and pastries for a public event next week, writing the lecture I'm doing at a different university on the same day as the public event, exhorting colleagues to support next Tuesday's strike and host of other things.

But as it's Thanksgiving, a festive clip for your delight:



I adore the Addams Family films: whipsmart social commentary from the heart of Hollywood.

Happy Thanksgiving

Yes, I know it was yesterday, but I was busy (though maybe I shouldn't worry: the number of visitors increased in my absence. There's a lesson for someone - me - in that).

In honour of the other America, the one which didn't just vote in Congress that pizza is a vegetable, here's a cranky old cynic offering his alternative Thanksgiving message:

Thanksgiving be to God

Last weekend I went to my American friends' house for a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. I still don't know why Canadians celebrate a different date… 

We had the driest martinis known to man (3 drops of vermouth in several inches of gin), leading to an outbreak of unconsciousness later, delayed only by glorious turkey, roast sweet potatoes and homemade pies of pecan and pumpkin, while being regaled by tales of NYPD wit. Photos will be forthcoming. 

On Sunday, we went to Evensong at Worcester Cathedral. An atheist Catholic, a fairly lapsed Anglican and a non-observant Jew. There probably is a God: Evensong was off the menu and instead of glorious, resonant music rolling round that great space, a couple of pompous toffs droned unintelligibly for half an hour, using colons like sledgehammers…

To my American and Canadian chums

Happy Thanksgiving… but why do Yankees and Canucks celebrate on different days?