Quip–a witty remark. E-Quips (think e-book or email) is hopefully a witty blog – dedicated to word play such as parodies, puns, and word parallels and stories about libraries that you may not have heard before. It has also expanded to include a few book reviews, nature and observational essays and poems, stories about military and veterans, and tips about writers and writing. It has evolved into an online journal. I also include select re-blogs to admire or inspire.
Hope you enjoy the ride and the fun.
Please let me know if there is word that deserves a riff or a library that has a story to share.
When I first saw BuddtheCat, I though it was a ghost cat. I did not see it clearly.
What I failed to realize was the the ghostly effect was from the reflection
You can scan BuddhatheCat, from his normal front perch.
You can see a blurred picture of him, not in a ghost form.
Blurred kitty but not a ghost kitty,
He lives on the second floor next to Hamiltons, a lunch, brunch, and dinner place in Charlottesvile. He is often upstairs and not at his cat perch on the first floor
That makes senses given the term’s roots in the acronym “AMOG,” or “alpha male of the group,” said Adam Aleksic, a linguist and influencer who posts as @etymologynerd on social media. There’s no precise definition, but the original term was typically deployed to demean another person by way of perceived superior attractiveness.
I had never heard of mogging before. Probably too old. But other places definite as:
Definition according to the Guardian: Tony Thorne, director of the slang and new language archive at King’s College London, says a lot of new slang terms “have come recently from the same kind of male-based internet culture”, referencing the words “simp” (someone who is excessively attentive), “soy boy” (a derogatory term for a man who is not stereotypically masculine) and “sigma” (someone cool and successful). Not to mention “maxxing,” now such an established part of the lexicon that it was tweeted by the US Department of Defense earlier this year.
Thorne thinks it is significant that “mogging” in particular has become fashionable at this time. “What it implies – hyper-competitive, hyper-individualist, aggressive selfishness” has become “mainstream behaviour”, he says
National Donald Duck Day celebrates Disney’s most relatable character.
DonaldDuckDay
Donald Duck made his first screen debut on June 9, 1934, in The Wise Little Hen, immediately becoming an iconic symbol in animation and in homes, alike. Usually wearing a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie, Donald Duck is most famous for his semi-intelligible speech along with his mischievous and irritable personality. Known for his quick temper, Donald Duck seems to quack his way through oodles of bad luck. Yet, despite his hot temper, Donald Duck is a loving character with a good heart.
Did you know Donald Duck’s middle is Fauntleroy? The name means “child king” and derived from Old French.
Since 1934, Donald Duck character has graced screen and print and appeared in over 190 films and countless comic strips and books, more than any other Disney character. In fact, he has appeared in more films than any other Disney character. In 2002, TV Guide declared Donald Duck as one of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time. His ‘acting’ career has earned him Academy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who knew a duck could be so famous?
Walt Disney conjured up the idea for Donald Duck to introduce an edgier character to balance out the goody-goody jolly Mickey Mouse. During the experimental phase of Donald’s character creation, Disney read about Australian cricketer Donald Bradman, who had made headlines after getting dismissed for a duck.
Another defining feature of Donald Duck is his voice. Clarence Nash, the original voice actor for Donald, created a distinct voice achieved by ‘buccal speech,’ a form of vocalization that utilizes the inner cheek to create sound instead of the larynx. Nash first discovered this while trying to mimic his pet goat.
In the 1940s, Donald Duck overtook Mickey Mouse with over 128 independent short animations. This was truly the decade of the Donald, as he soared to popularity faster than any other Disney figure. During World War II, despite having to halt most of its production, Disney represented its stance by using Donald Duck in several American propaganda films. One of these animations earned Disney an Academy Award for ‘Best Short Film.’
Other than his success in films, Donald also got his own comic in the ’40s that branched into an entire series of independent Donald Duck comics, which are circulated and enjoyed by adults and children until today. The Donald in the comics — who lives in the town of Duckburg and is a loving uncle to nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie — is much more mild-mannered, and has better-articulated speech and emotions than the original Donald.
After Walt Disney’s death, Donald Duck did not make another appearance on screen again until 1983. He continues to be a legend today and is still featured in cartoon films, television shows, and comics. What makes Donald so relatable and fun is that he is always getting into situations and difficulties, and has to get himself out using nothing but his wits and slim resources. Due to the politicization of his character during the Second World War, Donald is also good at taking hits at opponents and is featured in campaigns around the world.
NATIONAL DONALD DUCK DAY HISTORY
National Donald Duck Day was first proclaimed by L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley in 1984 on Donald’s 50th birthday. The world’s most famous duck gave the city a silver statue of himself as a gift in memory of the big day. He also toured the country leading up to the big Disney birthday party bash.]
5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE DONALD DUCK DAY
Wish Donald Duck a Happy Birthday! While you’re celebrating, check out these other fun ideas, too:
Host a Donald Duck impersonation contest.
Bake Donald Duck-shaped cookies.
Watch episodes of Donald Duck cartoons.
Play Donald Duck trivia games.
Share your love for Donald Duck on social media using the hashtag #DonaldDuckDay
When a Naval officer gets frocked He/she get the rank but not the pay. When a soldier gets a P next to his rank he usually get the responsibility but not the pays that goes with it. There are exceptions.
In retirement, D-Day veteran Bob Slaughter, of Roanoke, Virginia, started attending reunions with fellow veterans and speaking to community groups about the war. Concerned there was little public awareness of what took place on June 6, 1944, and worried that his brothers-in-arms who gave their lives that day would be forgotten, Slaughter and some like-minded veterans and supporters formed a committee in 1989 that would later become the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, with the goal of creating a lasting monument to D-Day somewhere in the United States.
In 1996, Congress warranted the establishment of such a monument in Bedford, Virginia, and President Bill Clinton, who just two years prior walked Omaha Beach with Slaughter, signed legislation officially designating the National D-Day Memorial the nation’s monument to D-Day. Though declared a national monument, the project would receive no federal funding. Peanuts cartoonist and World War II veteran Charles Schulz, whose depictions of America’s favorite beagle Snoopy in scenes from the Normandy invasion appeared in newspapers across the country, signed on as national campaign chair. SavingPrivate Ryan director Steven Spielberg was among the Memorial’s early donors. Their combined star power helped take fundraising efforts nationwide.
Hundreds, including D-Day and World War II veterans, gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day 1997. The Memorial would be built upon consecrated earth, a mixture of sand from the coast of Normandy and Bedford soil. The Foundation unveiled the Memorial’s first sculpture on Memorial Day 1999. The Overlord Arch, the signature monument, was under construction by spring 2000, in time for the dedication of the Memorial’s first phase that Memorial Day. On June 6, 2001, Bob Slaughter stood beside a second American president as George W. Bush dedicated the National D-Day Memorial on the invasion’s 57th anniversary.
Since its dedication, the Memorial has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors each year. On June 6, 2019, the Memorial marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day with more than 10,000 in attendance, including more than 100 World War II veterans, who witnessed a stunning aerial tribute and keynote address by Vice President Mike Pence. The Memorial commemorated its 20th anniversary in 2021, with a renewed resolve to teach the lessons and legacy of D-Day for generations to come.
Among the technological inventions found, there were the following: digital library management device, artificial intelligence-basedkiosk, automated book sorting system, RFID library inventory system, multilingual semantic search device, and digital access platform. The findings indicate that technology design patents have contributed immensely in making smart library systems possible through automation, artificial intelligence, and digital technology.
From ASIS&T Information Brief: TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN PATENTS ENABLING SMART LIBRARIES: A STUDY OF INNOVATIONS FOR LIBRARY MANAGEMENT AND USER SERVICES
We had not visited the Donkeys in several weeks and were not sure if they were confined the back pasture yet. After hee-hawing Chow Call, we finally heard Buddy announcing they were in route. That was followed by the three of them appearing as a group. We had brought two sweet potatoes cut into medallions.
Family approaches together
Buddy avoided Holly. I don’t know if he had worn out welcome, but she didn’t want to be near him. Whitey is just short of a year old and I was pleasantly surprised he was still with the group. Normally, David would sold him, but he still seems to favor his mother, rather than becoming assertive with his father, Buddy.
Buddy spent most of the time off to one side.
Holly and Whitey were still quite comfortable together.
Buddy started complaining about everyone and everything from how long Bob was taking to get dessert, to why no one was listening to him bray about whatever he had in mind.. He calmed down once the Fig Newtons were brought out.
Bob talked to David about why Holly was wearing a halter. Apparently, she had had a hoof problem and it made it easier for the vet to attend her. After a month, it was quite dusty from the dirt.
Buddy was trash talking every one who got in his way.
Beautiful Saturday afternoon The bride wore white with a short veil But the guests wore t-shirts and shorts Not typical wedding attire My guess based upon what they wore was Bridal Shower.
The olive has its roots in a traditional Mediterranean diet, but it’s enjoyed worldwide these days. So National Olive Day on June 1 is a great opportunity to find a way to incorporate some olives into your diet! Perhaps your local grocer has an olive bar, allowing you to select from the numerous varieties of olives. Or maybe you’ve received an olive at your local bar, as garnish for a martini. (Even James Bond made the switch to an olive garnished martini in the famous spy’s latest movie, Spectre.) Olives have more nutritional benefits than you might think. They offer a host of healthy types of fats and fatty acids, while also providing a natural source of iron. And there are far more ways to prepare olives than you probably know. Olives are grown on trees, and they can be grown for serving as a table fruit or for producing oil. If you cook with olive oil, you can receive many of the same health benefits that eating olives provide, including the introduction of healthy fats. Grocers carry a wide variety of olive oils, so you have plenty of options for incorporating them into your recipes. National Olive Day is a great day to try eating some new varieties of olives. And it’s also a great day for learning the magic trick for getting pimento inside the green olive! (A high speed machine pits the olive and then stuffs in pimento, which, unfortunately, isn’t all that magical.)
#NationalOliveDay
Olives are a symbol of peace, hope, love and friendship and National Olive Day is an excellent reason to celebrate the day. We are extending an olive branch to invite you in our celebration to recognize the joy this little fruit provides.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalOliveDay
Share your favorite types of olives. While you’re sharing, include recipes you enjoy, too. Take photos of your favorite way to eat olives and post them on social media using #NationalOliveDay.
National Olive Day Activities
Find a new way to eat olivesUse National Olive Day as an excuse to make an olive-based recipe for the family. You also can add black olives to omelets, pizza, or nachos for a change in taste and texture to those foods. Consider traveling to the local grocery store and look through the olive bar. Pick a variety of olives and give them a try. You can even stuff olives with quite a few foods – beyond pimento – for a unique taste.
Visit a local authentic Mediterranean restaurantIf you can afford a quick trip to the Mediterranean to eat at an authentic native restaurant, that’s the best way to celebrate National Olive Day. If that isn’t quite in your budget, consider eating at a local Mediterranean restaurant and save a few bucks on the plane fare. You should have an easy time finding something on the menu that includes olives.
Learn about the phrase, extending an olive branchThe idea of extending an olive branch to promote peace dates back to ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Someone who was losing a war in those times would use an olive branch to show that they were pleading for peace. And in the Bible, the Noah’s Ark story included a dove carrying an olive branch to indicate it had found land, considered a metaphor for peace between God and man. Now we can’t guarantee presenting an olive branch will help quash the feud you’re having with a neighbor. But bringing along two martini glasses, vodka, vermouth, and a jar of olives may work
May’s full moon will come with a rare double designation: It’s both a blue moon and a micromoon. While the moon won’t actually appear blue, the combination highlights an unusual overlap between the lunar cycle and the moon’s orbit around Earth.
The full moon reaches peak illumination at 8:45 a.m. UTC on May 31, offering skywatchers a chance to catch one of the year’s more unusual lunar events. The moon may appear slightly smaller and dimmer than a typical full moon, though binoculars or photography can help reveal the subtle differences.
What is a blue moon?
“A ‘blue moon’ doesn’t refer to color. It’s a calendrical term,” says Seth McGowan, president of the Adirondack Sky Center in Tupper Lake, New York.
There are actually two accepted definitions of a blue moon. The most widely known is a monthly blue moon, which is a second full moon in a calendar month. May’s event falls under this monthly definition.
The secondary definition is a seasonal blue moon, which refers to the third full moon in an astronomical season that contains four full moons instead of the usual three. “This definition is older and comes from traditional almanac usage,” says McGowan.
Why are you blue, Mr Moon? Did you come back again, way too soon? You don't come back within the same month It's just an observation, not a hunch It just an expression, not the way you look So don't get downhearted or forsook.
The USDA Forest Service, National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council partnered with advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) to create the Smokey Bear campaign in 1944. FCB has served as Smokey Bear’s pro-bono agency for more than 80 years, and that historic partnership continues today as a part of BBDO, who will continue to develop new public service announcements (PSAs) for the campaign.
Artist Albert Staehle delivered the first poster featuring Smokey Bear (featured here).
His signature phrase “Remember… Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” was not introduced until 3 years later in 1947.
Smokey’s Message Still Stands
Smokey has educated generations of Americans about their role in preventing unwanted, human-caused wildfires and protecting our nation’s beautiful wildlands. It all started with the first campaign posters in 1944, during the height of World War II.
Now more than 80 years later, wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical issues affecting our country, and Smokey’s powerful message “Only you can prevent wildfires” remains as relevant and urgent as ever. Now they say Wild Fires rather than Forest Fires.
Wildfire Prevention Before Smokey
On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. The following spring, Japanese submarines surfaced near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and fired shells that exploded on an oil field very close to the Los Padres National Forest.
That brought a fear that incendiary shells exploding in the forests along the Pacific Coast would ignite raging wildfires since experienced firefighters were deployed overseas. Forest protection became a matter of national importance, and a new idea on how to fight this problem was born: if people were urged to be more careful, some of the fires could be prevented.
To rally Americans around this cause and convince them it would help win the war because wood was an important military resource during World War II, the Forest Service organized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) program with the help of the War Advertising Council (now the Ad Council), and the Association of State Foresters. Together, they created posters and slogans, including “Forest Fires Aid the Enemy” and “Grass is Life, Protect It.”
Then, a stroke of luck happened in 1942. With the release of Walt Disney’s wildly popular movie Bambi, forests and their animal inhabitants were celebrated. Disney allowed the CFFP program to use the film’s characters on a 1944 poster.
The Bambi poster was a success and proved the effectiveness of using an animal as a fire prevention symbol. The CFFP would need to find a new animal symbol that belonged to them, and nothing seemed more fitting than the strong and confident bear.
Smokey the Bear Forest Fires Advertisement Readers Digest, August 1960
Smokey costume with kids, National Mall, Washington, D.C. 1959
Changing with the Times
A few years after the campaign started, Smokey could be seen and heard nationwide on TV and radio. Smokeyʼs “ABCˮ campaign, which ran through the 1950s and 1960s, was the first to be broadcast on TV. Celebrities of the time, like Bing Crosby and Roy Rogers, lent their voices to the campaign on the radio. Smokey has remained on TV, radio, newspaper, and magazine ads through the decades.
Today, you can even find him on online videos, social media, and digital advertisements.
Smokey’s “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” message is almost identical to when he was created in the 1940s, while his PSAs have continued to evolve through the years.
The PSAs make sure the wildfire prevention tips are focused on the most relevant “fire starters” of the day. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, when cigarettes were more popular, much of the messaging focused on making sure folks knew to be careful extinguishing them. Today, the PSAs focus on fire safety tips for campfires, outdoor grilling, and vehicles and equipment.
Likewise, Smokey’s tone adapts to the time period – there have been times when Smokey has been more stern and other times when he’s a little more playful. It all depends on what Americans will be receptive to in that moment, and Smokey’s biggest priority is making sure he reaches people where they are so they can get the important information.
While Smokey’s PSAs were most popular on radio and print media from the 1950s through the 1980s, he now appears on TV, online video, social media, and digital advertisements.
“Only you…”
In 2001, in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas outside of forests, Smokey’s catchphrase was updated to the one still used today — “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.”
The new saying helped clarify that Smokey is promoting the prevention of unwanted and unplanned outdoor fires rather than natural and safe prescribed fires.
Though he has already accomplished so much, Smokey’s work is far from over. Wildfire prevention remains crucial, and he still needs your help.
His catchphrase reflects your responsibility: Only YOU can prevent wildfires. Remember that this phrase is so much more than just a slogan — it’s an important way to care for the world around us.
International Burger Day is celebrated on May 28 annually. Burgers are one of the most popular foods in the world and for good reason. They are fast, inexpensive, and tasty. Formerly considered inferior to prime slices, ground beef was considered a cheap byproduct but is now popularly used for hamburgers. Burgers have grown to international fame with different toppings, condiments, and variations. Whether pan-fried, flame-broiled or barbecued, one thing is certain, burgers are going to be served in a bun and International Hamburger Day is a celebration of that.
History of International Burger Day
It may surprise you to learn that the hamburger is an emblem of American fast food, yet its roots are obscure. Throughout history, from the military barracks of Genghis Khan to German steamships docking in New York Harbor, the humble hamburger has had a rather interesting existence.
Aside from the fact that it is called after the German city of Hamburg, no one knows where the hamburger came from or how it got its name. The link with Hamburg appears to have stemmed from a recipe for a meal known as the “Hamburg Sausage” that was published in 1758. The Hamburg America Line, according to some historians, was a cruise line that provided identical sandwiches to its passengers in the mid-1800s and gave the sandwich its name. According to some, the hamburger was created in New Haven in 1900 by Danish immigrant Louis Lassen, who used European principles.
Another version is that it was created at the World Fair. In 1904 at the St. Louis Food Festival, Louis Lassen’s story was popular in 1900 in the U.S., referring to the hamburger as “the innovation of a food vendor on the pike,” as reported by the “New York Tribune.” It is said a businessman was hungry and needed meals fast. Louis is rumored to have created the burger by sandwiching grilled beef between two pieces of bread. Another person credited with making the hamburger is largely ignored is Otto Krause since his name has three distinct spellings, which is typical with German names. Today, there is still debate regarding who was the original creator of the popular dish. One thing is sure however that the day is worth celebrating despite its conflicting origins. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today” – Whimpy
J. Wellington Wimpy, generally referred to as Wimpy, is a character in the comic stripPopeye, created by E. C. Segar, and in the Popeye cartoons based upon the strip. Wimpy debuted in the strip in 1931 and was one of the dominant characters in the newspaper strip, but when Popeye was adapted as an animated cartoon series by Fleischer Studios, Wimpy became a minor character; Dave Fleischer said that the character in the original Segar strip was “too smart” to be used in the film cartoon adaptations. Wimpy appears in Robert Altman‘s 1980 live-action musical filmPopeye, played by Paul Dooley.
I learned about the Lamgorhini Chickens in this book. I heard they are hyper-pigmentation which means they are all black. My limited search revealed that is both the hens and the rooters have dark skins, so that unlike Hennie, the Hens do not have multi-colored feathes. I am guessing that her poetry eggs are also works of fiction.
I loved the multiple ways of looking at how each animal or vegetable has a value, not because we are alike but because we are unique, with our own God given talents. From the rainbow colored vegetables on Farmer Elijah’s farm to the three rainbows in the sky, the entire farm experience was pure joy. Even including the different boys and girls from the orphanage provided a teaching moment
I loved that the Farmer wanted to work the land like his grandfather and he was a successful. He had brother who were professionals, but he was a success in his field of choice. The mean old Hens (dare I call them Biddies), were a caricature of somebody who is mean and begrudging by nature. Does the old cliche of whistling girls and cackling hens both come to unhappy ends mean anything?
From the book review: :Hennie and Her Poetry Eggs: A Story Tale of Courage and Purpose catalyzes conversation. It helps young people embrace their differences and learn how to be compassionate toward others from diverse cultures who may experience bullying and social rejection. While this story serves as a purpose-driven teaching tool to help identify and eliminate the intimidation of bullying, the lessons in this book are strong enough for adults but are intended for young people.”
I first heard of the Arlington Ladies, from Alma Powell, wife of former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Bush (George H.W. Bush) and Clinton administrations (back before the first Black Chairman was considered more than a token). She mentioned attending a funeral there. It seemed that the wives of the Joint Chiefs were members of a group of Ladies that ensured no one was buried at Arlington Cemetery without someone to mourn them.
Background: The Arlington Ladies are a group of volunteers who attend funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery to ensure that no Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman is buried alone.
The Arlington Ladies began in 1948 within the Air Force. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Hoyt Vandenberg, and his wife, Gladys, routinely attended funeral services at the cemetery and noticed that some services had only a military chaplain present. The Vandenbergs believed that a member of the Air Force family should also attend, and Mrs. Vandenberg asked her friends to start attending services. She ultimately formed a group from the Officer’s Wives Club. In 1973, General Creighton Abrams’ wife, Julia, founded the Army’s version of the group. In 1985, the Navy created a group, and in 2006 the Coast Guard followed suit. The Marines do not officially have a group, as they send a representative of the Marine Commandant to every funeral.
Many Gold Star Mothers are also part of that group. America’s Gold Star Families honors our fallen heroes who served in the United States Armed Forces and care for their survivors through programs and services at no cost to the survivors.
Today, the Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard all have Arlington Ladies who perform similar volunteer duties, attending funeral services for active duty service members and veterans. The criteria to become an Arlington Lady is different for each military service, but each Lady has some connection to the respective service, generally as a current or former military member or as a spouse of a military member. The Ladies are an official part of the funeral service, representing the military service’s chief of staff or equivalent. They present cards of condolence to the next of kin from the military service chief and spouse on behalf of the service family, and from the Arlington Lady herself.
When my father in law was buried at Arlington Cemetery, the Marines found someone who was one of his Marine Corp classmates who lived in the area. I don’t think they had had been in touch with my Father in law since they were both junior officers going through course together, but he left us with memories of the kind of person he was even back then.
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