Three things from DAH. Free every Friday!
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DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. Here we go again.

First up this week, Holey …  
Some may hold these holeys sacred, but they aren't associated with any deity (so far as I know). I'm thinking about bagels and doughnuts, in particular. And their relatives around the world (jalebi, sort of, bialy, sort of, calamari ... but it comes that way from the sea, sort of). But bagels and doughnuts: they both have holes in the middle to assure complete cooking of the dough. Bagels also have near-religious fervor among zealots supporting perceived authentic or correct styles. Is it the water? The size? The flour? The boiling and baking details? Or is it, as I believe, all about pleasing customers (and selling product) and controlling costs? My belief isn't holy, unless one worships capitalism. But I enjoy all sorts of things that aren't judged as authentic or correct. With the holey, deliciousness seems most essential to me.

Second up this week, Holiday …  
Not days with holes in them, although some employers undoubtedly feel a hole in their work week. Some work-addicted employees, too, I'm sure. "Holiday" is clearly rooted in "Holy Day," from the Old English (I like both old and English) hāligdæg. Obviously, nowadays we celebrate lots of days that aren't particularly holy, yet we label them holidays. In the USA a holiday is generally a day of celebration. In good old England a holiday is a get-away, like a USA vacation. In either case, celebrating a holiday with a holey food seems like a reasonable plan. To really celebrate the holey holiday, choose something bigger than a Cheerio or Spaghettio. Spring for an onion ring, at least.

Third up this week, Halloween …  
My goodness but there are a lot of costumes being planned for October 31. And not just children. I've already seen several costumed events. The impatient couldn't wait. All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) is just around the corner! Allhallowtide is about to begin! For those less versed in Old English: hallow means holy, and tide means season or time. Holy time for what, you ask? A time to remember the dead: saints and martyrs and hoi polloi. And why the costuming? Because the veil is thin now. "All Hallow's Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities" (Traditionalists, Muslims, and Christians in Africa, by Prince Sorie Conteh). So, if you fear vengeance from any dearly departed, prepare to disguise yourself on Monday.

A breezy read, and if you're interested in food: 
Food Americana, by David Page
Pizza, Tacos, Fried Chicken, Sushi, Bagels, Chow Mein, and more ... This book is about how foreign cuisines were Americanized to become national favorites. I found it both interesting and entertaining. Recommended!

And a bit more:

Witches Song (from Macbeth), by William Shakespeare

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.


And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver’s poem Sometimes …  

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.