Michael, Ethan, and special guest Jacob discuss the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker,” by Washington Irving, while drinking Suntory Toki Japanese (gasp!) whisky. In this episode: A not-too-presumptuous new rule The Devil belongs in America American mythology creating arbitrary exclusions and inclusions… who would have thought? Landscape as character Making up theories out of whole cloth Everyone should know that shortcuts will go badly for them It’s a Wonderful Life as Reverse Faust Con men, flim-flam artists, and bunko Public Universal Friend’s wikipedia page is worth reading “Charity begins at home” SOUNDS very pious Lots and lots of playing Telephone, it’s fine There’s nothing unique about the postmodernists God’s Philosophers, by James Hannam Next time Michael, Ethan, and special guest Jacob will discuss the short story "The Devil and Daniel Webster," by Stephen Vincent Benet! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: “Fools that Will Laugh on Earth,” by Benji Inniger, from the Original Soundtrack to The Spiritual Tragedy of Doctor Faustus "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)