If Cordelia Vorkosigan Does It in a Story, It’s Feminist and Cool.

And Mama Grizzly. (And it ends up on the cover of that sf book.)

If a CSI guy has to do it because it’s an emergency, he’s justified as an officer of the court.

If Kipling’s characters do it, it’s just one of those things.

If a Gurkha does it in real life, he’s in trouble?

I mean, obviously heads must roll, but generally Gurkhas are the roll-er, not the roll-ee.

I’m not saying “Let’s all abuse corpses”. But in war, some awfully weird things happen. This certainly seems to be making a federal case out of something the local commander could have dealt with himself.

But let’s be cheerful and look at the nice Vorkosigan graphic novel that will never ever actually come to Amazon Canada instead. And a video of the superpowered Bronte sisters.

Puppets That Traditionalists Will Like… Probably.

Usually, traditionally minded folks don’t like to see puppets or plays in church, but I think potentially they’d make an exception for this. 🙂

A) Formal and respectful.
B) Focused squarely on God and the Gospel.
C) Not during Mass.

I was going to say that it wasn’t up in the sanctuary… but apparently it was, at least some little bit of the time… unless the presentation was over to the side a bit, which it might have been. (I almost think it was in the area of the lectern on the priest’s side, the epistle side. It’s hard to tell with all that darkness.)

I guess the altar must be portable, because it apparently was put away during all this. (Which is obviously better than crawling all over the altar, though it’s a shame to have a big huge church like this with an altar that’s not really permanent.) So there was still something to be improved, back in 2008 or whenever; but the basic concept was sound.

Here’s an article about the man who came up with this, and why Jesus is played in that certain tone of voice at a certain part of the video.

Tunes Bishop Baraga Used for Ojibwa/Chippewa Hymns

Because YouTube makes this sort of thing possible!

1. Noel-Nagamowin, to the tune of “Nouvelle Agréable”.

4. Nagomowin negamong api kitchitwa Marie gijigong ijad, ttto “Autour de nos sacrés autels” (Tune score is #64.).

5. Nagamowin, kakina ketchiwa-wendagosidjig gijigong ebidjig wi-manadjiindwa.
Ttto “Tu vas remplir le voeu de ta tendresse” (tune score).

6. Apitchi kijewadisi, ttto “Jésus est la bonté même”.

7. Kije-Manito. Ttto “Troupe innocente”. (Tune score).

8. Kitchi apitendagwad, ttto “O digne objet de mes chants”. UPDATE! Apparently, this goes to the tune “Ah! vous dirai-je maman”, better known as… “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”!!!!

11. Anwenindisowin. Ttto “O saint autel qu’ environnent les Anges“.

Translation: Ecce Fulget Clarissima (Medieval Hymn to St. Patrick)

I was going to do some more Aurelius stuff, but my Canty CD of a medieval office for St. Patrick came yesterday. So suddenly, it’s March 17th in July! (It’s also been recorded on Schola Gregoriana Maynooth’s album Saints and Scholars.)

“Ecce fulget clarissima” is a fairly widespread hymn in medieval lit books, but I had never heard the melody before. It’s an interesting one. Push it one way and it sounds like a medieval dance tune; push it the other way and it’s an Irish ballad tune or slow air. A lot of medieval chant hymns are like this — a bit catchier than other sorts of chant, and probably composed more for popular use rather than as a strictly monastery product.

Canty’s literal translation seems to be based on the Wright and Stokes one in The Writings of St. Patrick, which is fine. But I had a few different ideas about it, most notably that “baptismate” is not to be translated in this case as Baptism, but as Flood. The water motif in the poem seems strongly tied to St. Patrick’s famous kidnapping and enslavement by Irish raiders; whereas his Baptism is not famous at all. I also saw some Biblical references, so I wasn’t shy about pointing them out. You’ll also notice a couple places where I merged two verses into one, in the translation. There’s no point spinning out a song that’s this long already.

Ecce fulget clarissima
Patricii solemnitas,
in qua carne deposita
felix transcendit sidera.

Behold, the brightest solemnity:
St. Patrick’s Day shines brilliantly.
Happy, he left his flesh today,
And past the stars he slipped away.

Hic felici prosapia
ortus est in Britannia
perceptoque baptismate
studet ad alta tendere.

Born to a happy family,
Risen from Britain by the sea,
Swept off by slavers on the flood,
He strove to reach the heights in snow and mud.

Qui mox a pueritia
divina plenus gratia
vitam cepit diligere
dignitatis angelice.

Soon as he passed from boyhood’s days,
He was full of divine grace,
Taking a life up that he came to love —
Worthy of angels up above.

Sed futurorum prescius,
clemens et rectus Dominus
hunc direxit apostolum
Hybernie ad populum.

But the Lord, knowing what would be,
The Ruler who guides mercif’lly,
Brought this apostle by His Hand
Back to the people of Ireland.

Erat namque hec insula
bonis terre fructifera,
sed cultore ydolatra
mergebatur ad infima.

Oh, for that island was full of good ground,
Ready to bear fruit when seed had been found.
But it was drowned deep in idolatry;
That turned it to the worst ground that could be.

Ad hanc doctor egregius
adveniens Patricius
predicabat gentilibus,
quod tenebat operibus.

Confluebat gentilitas
ad ejus sacra monita
et respuens diabolum
colebat regem omnium.

Patrick came out to the peoples to teach
And practice all of the good works he would preach.
To hear holy prophecy, clans came flowing,
To spit out the Devil and take God as King.

Gaudebatque se liberam
remeare ad patriam,
qua serpentis astutia
olim expulsa fuerat.

And he rejoiced to see Ireland free,
As he went home to the Father’s country.
The old serpent’s cunning and subtlety
He’d driven out of Ireland already.

Qua propter, dilectissimi,
huius in laude presulis
psallamus Christo cordibus
alternantes et vocibus.

Ut illius suffragio
liberati a vitio
perfruamur in gloria
uisione angelica.

So, most beloved, in this prelate’s praise,
Let’s sing to Christ — heart and voice in turn raise.
So, when from vice by his prayers we’re set free,
The angelic vision we’ll know in glory.

Laus sit patri in filio
cum spiritu paraclito,
qui suo dono gratie
misertus est hybernie.
Amen.

Praise to the Father and to the Son
And to the Spirit, the Three in One.
His gift of grace from His Own Hand
Has shown His mercy to Ireland.
Amen.

I Hope I’m Not Alienating People Here

I tend to post about weird stuff that’s interesting to me. I realize that this can be a little offputting.

I do respect you folks who read this thing. I’m just not very good at explanations and framing of stories. (If I were, I’d be one of those pay bloggers.) 🙂

But my standard way of absorbing things is just to… well, absorb them. There are a vast number of things about which I have no particular opinion, because I haven’t absorbed enough data yet to have any particular thought on the matter. But there’s always something interesting out there, whether or not I’m ready to have an opinion yet; and I collect some of those things for you to read.

So to be perfectly clear, I don’t expect anybody to exactly imitate any particular Cordoban martyr. I think they are interesting people, and that St. Eulogius is an interesting author, and that it’s interesting to have a look at the Cordoban Caliphate under the notorious Abd-er-Rahman II (who’s also the subject of modern ghost and monster stories in the Pyrenees). If you find something useful or interesting to remember or use, that’s good. If you don’t, there’s always more data in the world for you to absorb, and there will be different posts tomorrow. And if you have a strong opinion about what you read, that’s good too, and I’m glad to hear about it from you.

More Translations for July 27, Ss. Aurelius, Sabigotho, Felix, Liliosa, and George

More stuff from the horse’s mouth — okay, St. Eulogius of Cordoba’s mouth. What turned a happy bunch of people living in “security through obscurity” into notorious public Christians?

———–

5. Therefore, not many years ended before it happened that venerable Aurelius went to the forum, on the day when that John, whom we noted earlier in the book, bleeding to the point of murder from a flogging given him out of hatred for Christ’s name, was conveyed out backwards on a donkey colt and bound with chains of immense weight, so that he was bent back over the beast of burden into the trash on the street, hanging there by his legs. Mocking heralds went before him, while helpful accomplices led him around the whole city as a show for the crowd. And when reproachful voices rang out because of this, saying that he had paid a totally unworthy penalty for the crime, of course they did not respect such reverence, attacking it with violent mocking pantomime. Rather, they agreed to beat him to death most disgustingly.

Immediately he was goaded with warlike love of martyrdom, in such a way that a heavenly wind breathed upon him, so that he might believe the spectacle had been done for him, and as an admonition and revelation for his sake. Of course one should not dread those who butcher the body, with no worry of soul for those who can carry it off; but one should be terrified of those who can destroy body and soul, and send them to Gehenna. [See Luke 12:4.]

6. He wondered at John’s steadiness of faith. “Truly it is said, this man’s tent of angelic trust is founded on the rock — that such force of torments did not push him over, nor by disastrous punishments that shook the air. Because if he who carries Christ’s banner reveals Him to their sight, such a great many serious torments he was able to bear by zeal for the Redeemer, when he certainly could have evaded this devastation of suffering by lying. And judging it better to throw away his flesh than ruin his soul, he did not allow them to drag him away from any article of Christ’s religion in an undertone. In what will I believe? Did my education make me worthy to be mocked? Or ought I hand over myself, proving myself through suffering, so that I would gain strength that these reprobates whom I have stared at today would seize me, and I would delight in constancy?”

7. Rumination seized his soul, while already the deep breaths of his calling were spreading through him. He returned home, brought back news to his pious mate about what he had seen, and he adds in a cheerful spirit, “Sweetest spouse, I would live with you forever. And I would be dead to God if you had not sedulously encouraged me. You dragged me to Confession; you came to me daily to wrench me away from the shining pleasures of the present. You preferred the happiness of the eternal kingdom to the gloomy passions of the world. You urged me to leave behind all slipups and all that blocked me from my goal. You preached about monks and praised those who renounced the world, and delighting in religious conversation, you often sighed for the life of the saints.

“But I am not yet cleansed by the sting of supernal grace. I cannot totally acquiesce to saving exhortations. Or rather, perhaps my amendment by God the Father is not yet standing upon a pre-determined warning. Now I will carry out what I have put off — what I had planned in my soul, though feebly. Behold, dearest; already now ‘the acceptable time’ comes, the ‘day of salvation’ is here — on which, recoiling from the exterior and driven back, we should reach out to what before us.

“And first of all, striving for more perfect purity and continence — we should be ‘free for prayer’, so that it will be easier; let us hurry to the rest of holiness. May she be a sister now, who came to me a spouse. May the bed of our coming together in family affection pass away. Our offsprings’ souls should be grown up. Let us raise a spiritual generation, and spurn the soppy joining of body parts. Let us get to know the more excellent mind (withdrawn from the delight of the flesh) that sprouts forth in perpetual safety. For, either way, we may have such labor in meditation as is worthy of the prize of martyrdom.”

The venerable woman supported her husband’s pious plan with a gladdened soul, and rejoicing in multiple ways in the suddenness of unforeseen salvation, she said, “This change is done by the right hand of the Most High. Already this calling of ours is a good omen. This is what I have always wished for, a route together to the heavenly kingdom, so that when our flesh dies, we will live in spirit — which is easier done together, as it is written: ‘God is a spirit; and they that adore him, must adore him in spirit and in truth.’ [John 4:24] Therefore, my lord, since this was not revealed to you in a human way, but the Heavenly Father has directed you to his eternal army already, He wills that you rouse yourself even now to hurry your steps. We should be released from all our chains; we should shake the dust off our feet. We should grow in the desire of everlasting life.”

9. And it happened that the others also agreed to serve God in common. They were in separate beds, but united in vows. Their bedposts outshone clothing in colors of variety, as their conversation was renowned among the common people. But in the inner corners of their tabernacle, they built upon [their bodies] a bloody swelling; they equipped themselves somehow with goatshair blankets, which they separately lay upon. They fasted often; they prayed without ceasing; and as they all had learned from the psalms, they meditated in the night. They conquered the chaos introduced to work by wakeful vigils, and they overcame all such frauds of the demons with eager studies. They served those in want; they managed all the care of the poor.

And because John was still being held in prison at that point, we kept ourselves going to the cavern where he was held to hold up his chains. Also, there were two virgins, Maria and Flora, of course, who then dwelled in a hiding place of women for the sake of the faith. Friendly discourse came frequently among those in fetters; of course, at times the blessed monk Isaac was among them, or other saints who were gifted with tongues that proclaimed the truth. They would confess before princes and judges what they truly were; they had stood up and they had rested on the truth, before them. From that enduring constancy, their strength was augmented to firmness by many virtues. On the other hand, scrutinizing these men, one missed the women held back behind bars.

10. I met them there. I won their friendship there….

This Is Why We Need More Translations of Latin Primary Sources

I’ve been looking all around at the standard online lists of known Gothic names, particularly of females.

Do they include the euphonious and mysterious woman’s name “Sabigotho”? They do not.

Theudigotho shows up, though.

Another mysterious thing about St. Sabigotho is why the French decided that her baptismal name was Natalia or Nathalia. This happened very soon after her death, while Eulogius was still alive. A couple of monks came over from Carolingian France asking for relics, and were given various body parts (notably, Sabigotho’s head, which for some reason was in Aurelius’ tomb instead of his). In the French accounts of these martyrs’ story (Translatio Georgii Aurelii et Nathaliae) by Aimoin and Usuard, all of a sudden her name is Natalia (of birth, birthday). What gives?

Possibly the “sabi-” part of Sabigotho means “born”, like “wellborn Goth”. But it doesn’t seem to. It’s probably more like “sibling Goth” or “peace Goth” or “healing salve Goth”, or something similar. Germanic sb roots are usually in that neck of the woods.

So… maybe the French guys made it up out of their heads. Or maybe Nathalia was her confirmation name or her other baptismal name or one of her properties’ name. And maybe Nathalia was the French’s best translation of her Arabic name. Hard to say at this distance in time. There are some feminine Arabic names like that, though: Walidah (newborn) and Najibah (of noble birth). But who knows?

UPDATE: Anyway, at that point the abbey church of St. Germain des Pres, in Paris, had St. Sabigotho’s head and some relics of St. Aurelius and St. George also. Possibly these got destroyed in the French Revolution; possibly the current pastor is just shy of putting lists of famous relics on his parish website.

(I’d like to know what happened to St. Vincent of Zaragoza’s stole end, brought back to St Germain des Pres by Childebert as a thank you gift from Zaragoza’s bishop, for lifting the siege of Zaragoza when Childebert heard it was under St. Vincent’s protection. Fabric historians love clothing relics, and they always have interesting stuff to say about them.)

People More Likely to Believe You about Friends than Enemies

According to a study of gaming interactions. Via Slashdot.

Translation for July 27, the feast of Ss. Aurelius, Sabigotho Nathalia, Felix, Liliosa, and George

The 48 known Martyrs of Cordoba are a heck of a story, especially since their martyrdoms were chronicled by a contemporary who was very prolific (and soon to be martyred himself). If you were ever having delusions that Cordoba was a happy lovely fairyland of IDIC and convivencia, St. Eulogius‘ Memorialis Sanctorum would beg to differ.

Anyway, July 27 is when five of them bit the dust in the most non-dhimmi way possible: 2 married couples with kids (Aurelius and Sabigotho, and Felix and Liliosa), and one monk from Jerusalem who picked the wrong town to visit on a fundraising tour (George). This stuff is happening contemporary with Charlemagne.

Here’s the beginning of St. Eulogius’ account of the two couples’ early lives. We can probably trust it, since they were also personal friends of his. But it’s my own translation, so don’t trust that. (And why we don’t have a complete English translation of all this guy’s works, I don’t get. It’s valuable history info.)

—–

From Memorialis Sanctorum, by St. Eulogius of Cordoba.

Book II, Chapter X: Of the holy martyrs Aurelius, Felix, George, Sabigotha, and Liliosa.

1. In addition, there was a certain young man named Aurelius, excellent in birth and in many other things. When in childhood he was bereaved of both his Christian mother and non-Christian* father, he was fostered under his paternal aunt’s most faithful guardianship into the years of adolescence, and he was initially taught to believe truly that Christ is God, and that the Church is the way of salvation, and that the way to the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be discovered elsewhere. The boy drank in the venerable instruction; so when he learned Arabic literature under his relations’ guidance, he was still as guiltless when set before the notice of heavenly souls of the holy faith. No figments of the vanities were able to change him. In fact, his heart always retaining his Christianity, when he would have pursued the fading literature only to be derided for his meditation, he blazed up all the more with love of the Christian faith that, clearly showing the perverse delusions of their dogmas, drew his attention to the subtle fallacies of the demons. And when he could not carry out the observation of the faith publicly, still, commending himself everywhere to God’s priests, he prayed for himself to be better persuaded.

* The terms Eulogius usually uses for “Muslim” are “Gentile” (of the nations) and “pagan” (of the hinterlands). It’s a deliberate choice, not some kind of confusion about Muslim beliefs.

2. Meanwhile, he was carried into the years of youth, maturing vigorously, his cheeks sprouting, and his face adorned with manly beauty. Therefore he was compelled to seek a noble marriage by the persuasive appeals of his worthy relations. So each one of his relations, as he had known they would, claimed this or that one of their daughters to be the best. But he, chewing it over inside in a different way, entrusted to Christ the business of his marriage, pleading to the heavenly divine will with constant interventions of prayers, so that he gave powerful vows about his spouse, that he might make an effort to become better in his private life, and that he might support her in mind and body as a worshipper living a retired life.

Aided by His favor, eventually he learned of a respected virgin flowerbud who was being pressured. She was renowned for her property, elegant in her ways, and most lovely in appearance. She was adorned with a particular attractiveness of outward dress, while inwardly she shone forth with even more outstanding spiritual beauty. Because “all the glory of the king’s daughter” was “within” her – that is, it had traveled into her inmost self. Indeed, “clothed” by sanctity “in golden borders” of “variety” — that is, in virtue — she presented herself as a handmaid to Christ, pleased to be ruled by Him. [Psalm 44:14-15, or in today’s reckoning, Psalm 45:13-14.]

3. This girl, for her part, was born to non-Christian parents who had kept a jealous watch on her from the cradle until the present, when she was bereaved of her father. Her mother took another husband who secretly retained faith in Christ. Rooting up the impieties of error in his new spouse, he desired to bestow Christ upon his stepdaughter, and named her Sabigotho by the sacrament of Baptism. Granted that he allowed himself in public to be thought one of the pagans, he truly bore a staunch soul in both piety and religion.

Hence this girl, herself venerable in youth, taking on the conjugal law, satisfied with the title of “espoused”, by brideprice pledge and in turn by the display of a lawful delivering over of herself, was made sacred by the High Priest’s ministry; and so in an equal exchange, bearing the faith of Christ in another manner in her enclosure, she did not reveal to everyone the mystery of her faith, depressed by the weakness of flesh, in order that there be no diminution of her promises.

4. But the next door neighbor to blessed Aurelius was a man of noble birth named Felix, linked to him even more by holy love, who, vacillating in the faith by the pretexts of the devil, afterwards would sigh deeply over his lapse into collusion. Beyond that, he could not come openly to exercise the religion of Christ. He took as spouse the daughter of hidden Christians, a woman named Liliosa, developed in Christ in a more disguised secluded place.

Therefore, mutually attached immovably to each other, always able to consider themselves one in close friendship, they carried on agreeably, separated neither by prosperity nor adversity; in either case, their affection appeared the same. And this obligation of such kindness pitted them against each other for perfection of brotherly love, so that they would not be divided in life or death, who had glommed equally in religion onto the occasion. Of the merit of which it is said, The saints, “lovable and comely”, in the same way that they love each other “in their life”, so also, even “in death they were not divided”. [2 Kings 1:23, or in today’s reckoning, 2 Samuel 1:23.]

—-

There’s tons more of this stuff. St. Eulogius didn’t know much he could report on some of these martyrs, beyond the necessary names and death dates; but he had pages and pages on these folks’ doings during their trials.

And yes, I think “glommed” is a literal translation of “glomaverunt”. 🙂

Jane. Austen’s. Fight Club.

Via BoingBoing, a movie trailer produced by a bunch of Mormon young ladies from Los Angeles for a magnificent Austen super-crossover. Made for their local church film festival.

I bet it was a hoot to make.

Normally, I would make noises about costuming inauthenticity. But in this case, it works really well. Given the general departure from Austen reality, the costuming actually makes it more fun — a sort of acknowledgement of makebelieve. (If somebody made a Malory movie, it would almost demand a similar mix of costuming.)

Die, Canadian Geese, Die!

In retaliation for ruining every piece of greenspace near water, spreading disease, frightening small children, and forcing an airliner to ditch in the Hudson, the great state of New York is going to go all Jaeger on Canadian geese.

To which I say, “Hurray!”

The sad thing is that they plan to euthanize the geese, instead of using the meat. Bah. There’s a lot of good eating on those geese, and the economy isn’t that great. They should be making ’em into goose jerky and passing it out to the poor.

My Thoughts on Announcements from Comic-Con

1. How did I get into the alternate universe where TV Guide puts out a Comic-Con issue every year?

2. The Avengers look good, but where are all the female Avengers? Sheeeeeesh.

3. If Greg Weisman is running Cartoon Network’s new Justice League cartoon, I am there. With anybody else, i’d be a lot more skeptical about the stupid title (Young Justice) and the prequel concept (about the younger generation heroes just starting out — sort of a slightly older Teen Titans). But Greg Weisman, like Paul Dini, is a name you can trust. And for your dark brooding teenager’s pleasure, Weisman reveals that “not everyone is going to survive”. (Though of course, there are no final deaths in comics. Heck, even Bucky came back in the end.)

4. The new Loony Toons series for WB… it doesn’t look like it’s going to be one more misuse of a classic franchise. It might even be pretty darned funny and fun for the kids. I look forward to seeing it on Saturday mornings this fall — and I didn’t think I would.

4. Apparently Chuck is now supposed to be the story of Philip and Jamie from Scarecrow and Mrs. King. (Okay, not really, but close enough.) Linda Hamilton will play Amanda… er, Chuck’s mommy.

Fatima Al-Mutairi’s Last Poem

Some of you may remember the story of the Saudi man who killed his daughter for posting while Christian. Apparently, there’s an Arabic poem going around which “Rania” (whose real name is now said to be Fatima Al-Mutairi) posted on an Arabic-language Christian Internet forum shortly before she died. Here it is on Facebook, with an English translation (if you hit “read more” on the first post).

Anyway, here’s my attempt at a translation of the translation.

O Muslims, may the Lord Jesus guide you
And enlighten your hearts to love others.
This Forum does not insult the prophets’ Master;*
It displays truth revealed for you, my brothers.

*(Meaning Jesus, not Mohammed.)

This is the truth which you don’t know.
The words of the prophets’ Master* we profess,
Not worshipping the cross and not possessed.
We worship Lord Jesus, the Light of the Worlds.
We left Mohammed; his way we don’t follow.

We follow Jesus the Christ, the Clear Truth.
We are not traitors; we love our land truly.
We take pride that we are citizens, Saudi.
How could we betray our dear homeland and people?
For Saudi Arabia, for death, we stand ready.
For my grandfathers’ homeland, for their odes and glories,
I write. We say, “We’re proud, proud, proud to be Saudis.”

We chose our way, that of ones guided rightly,
And every man is free to choose any faith.
Be satisfied to leave us believers in Jesus;
Before our time comes, let us live in grace.

Oh, the heart’s sad! There are tears on my cheek!
To those who turn Christian, how cruel you are!
The Messiah says, “Blessed are the persecuted.” Meek
All for the sake of Christ, all things we bear.

If we are infidels, what’s it to you?
You are not dragged with us into our graves.
Enough. I don’t mind swords, evil, disgrace.
Your threats don’t trouble me. We’re not afraid.

By God, I’m a Christian unto death! Truly
I cry for what has passed by — a life so sad.
For many years I was far from Lord Jesus.
O History, record this! And O Witnesses, bear witness!
We are Christians — we walk in Christ’s path.

Take this word from me and note it well,
For Jesus is my Lord, the best of guards, you see.
I counsel, “Clap your hands to mourn for yourself. Pity
Your look of ugly hate, and see.
Man is brother to man, o learned scholars. True?
Then where is the humanity, the love? And where are you?

As for my last words: I pray to the Lord of Worlds,
Jesus the Messiah, the Clear Guidance’s Light,
That He change ideas, set justice’s scales aright,
And spread Love among you, O Muslims.

It’s Going to Be Over 100 Fahrenheit Today, and Muggy Too

1. Drink lots of water, stay indoors or in the shade, and make sure all your dependents and pets do, too.

2. Drink lots of water. If you’re not having to go to the bathroom, that’s not a good thing.

3. Do not tar and feather that guy who says we should give up A/C. It’s too hot for that.

In related news, it turns out that people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder in the winter because there’s not enough sunlight, and then turn around and get it in the summer too, aren’t crazy. Apparently, sustained hot temperatures are also a trigger for your body to stop producing various things, like serotonin. However, if you cool your entire body at least once a day for 30 minutes (like in a cool pool, or a bathtub, or a shower if you’re tough enough), the serotonin will keep being produced. So… floating around in the pool really does cheer you up and help you sleep better at night. 🙂

In other related news, it turns out that a lot of women have low iron levels during the summer. So you’re just going to have to force yourself to eat burgers, shrimp, bean salad, grapes, spinach, nuts, and other iron stuff. Woe and alas. 🙂