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October 22nd: The Anniversary of Young Earth Creationism

2007-10-22 · letter vlog · John · 2:35 · watch on YouTube

Topic: History & curiosities (also: Books & writing) · mode: Curiosity & trivia · tags: timely hook, self promotion

On October 22, which Archbishop James Ussher dated as the creation of the world in 4004 BC, John mocks Ussher's chronology and the young-earth creationism it still inspires, then reports Julie Strauss-Gabel's Paper Towns edits and Let It Snow in a run of anagram jokes.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Extra nerdy edition: October 22 as the universe's '6012th birthday' per Archbishop James Ussher's biblical chronology; 17th-century bad ideas skit (slavery, smallpox)

  • ★★★ John says that in the 17th century Archbishop James Ussher calculated from the Bible that the world was created on October 22, 4004 BC, just after nightfall, making today the universe's 6012th birthday by some accounts. — 00:00:00
    • a number in question (doubtful): "6012th" — check against the recording
  • ★★ John calls Ussher's calculation precise but idiotic, yet says Ussher can't really be blamed, since many 17th-century people had bad ideas. (playful) — 00:00:39

00:01:02 — Ussher's chronology survives among young-earth creationists, which John finds ludicrous; his weekend reading; Julie Strauss-Gabel's colour-coded Paper Towns edits

  • ★★★ John says that, unlike 17th-century ideas about smallpox and colonisation, Ussher's chronology has survived: many people still believe the Earth is about 6,000 years old, and young-earth creationists are inspired by it. — 00:01:02
  • ★★★ John says young-earth creationism, frankly, strikes him as ludicrous. — 00:01:02
  • ★ John spent the weekend reading about James Ussher and his chronology, besides working a lot. — 00:01:02
  • ★★★ John's editor at Dutton, Julie Strauss-Gabel, has sent back her edits for Paper Towns, with colour-coded post-its throughout the manuscript. — 00:01:02 · Julie Strauss-Gabel, Paper Towns

00:01:32 — Anagrams: Paper Towns = Pants Power / Prawn Pesto; Let It Snow with Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle = Stolen Wit; Dom Perignon and champagne; sign-off 'Pants power!'

  • ★★ John points out that 'Paper Towns' anagrams to 'Pants Power', which he thinks is totally awesome, and to 'Prawn Pesto'. (playful) — 00:01:32 · Paper Towns
  • ★ John says he can't always remember what he has already mentioned, since the brothers have made these videos every weekday for ten months. — 00:01:32 · Brotherhood 2.0
  • ★★★ John announces he is also working on another book, Let It Snow, with his friends Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle. — 00:01:32 · Let It Snow, Maureen Johnson
  • ★★ John says that in or around 1670 a monk, Dom Perignon, invented champagne, and is said to have called out 'Come quickly, I am tasting the stars' at his first sip. (playful, hedged) — 00:02:01
    • a number in question (doubtful): "in or around the year 1670" — check against the recording (invention of champagne)

Humor (significant)

  • John acts out 17th-century bad ideas: enslaving non-Europeans, then puzzling over smallpox. — 00:00:39

    “Hey, do you mind if I cough directly into your mouth? No, be my guest, go right ahead.”

  • John says 'Let It Snow' anagrams to 'Stolen Wit'. — 00:02:01

    “Did someone steal my wit?”

  • 'Let It Snow' also anagrams to the motto of the National Association of Poor Spelling Weavers. — 00:02:01

    “We knit lots.”

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: Let It Snow · Paper Towns (“Paper Towns anagrams to Pants Power”) · Ussher chronology · young Earth creationism

Also: People: Dom Pérignon · James Ussher · Julie Strauss-Gabel

Projects: Brotherhood 2.0

Works: 13 Little Blue Envelopes · Bible · ttyl

Organizations: Dutton Books

Concepts: champagne

Only in the description or credits: Lauren Myracle · Maureen Johnson · No textual communication

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