JAN 30, insects: the (cock)roach

Authors' Note: 

cucaracha: Spanish for cockroach, presumably giving rise in the early 17th century to the English name for the insect

cockroach: adjectival form for the common insect (of thousands of species, only four are characterized as pests; cockroachlike might also be used in appropriate instances)   In the 1830s, Victorians adopted the shortened form roach to avoid the sexual connotations of the insect's name.

      

You can review Giorgio's other verses about pesty and occasionally beneficial insects, as  collected in 'Buzzwords: Verses about Insects' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE.

JAN 29, old world palindromes #9 and #10

JAN 28, etymology: 'horse'

For fans of etymology, we have three blogposts with collections of verses about word-origins such as the one above on our more encyclopedic blog "Edifying Nonsense". You can start to review some of this intriguing material by clicking HERE, and then following the links!

JAN 27, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' contest: other submissions, #2

Continuing from the posts of January 16, January 18, January 20, 

January 22, and January 24.

As we wrap up this topic, we note here a few submissions in the National Contest that were quite clever from a wordplay perspective, but not relevant to the topic at hand. These include ...

FLUORINE CADET; INTRODUCE FLEA; CAROTENE FLUID;

TUNDRA ICE-FLOE; FURNACE TOILED; FINE-CUT ORDEAL;

INCUR FLEET ADO; FERAL DOE TUNIC; FINE CORAL DUET;

ERUDITE FALCON; ADIEU TORN CLEF; FLORA INDUCTEE;

FEED LATINO CUR; COULDN'T FAERIE? FAINTER OLD CUE;

ELFIN EDUCATOR; ARTFUL CODEINE; DECENT FOUL AIR;

UNDO AFTER LICE; CIAO, TENDER FLU; FLORENCE AUDIT;

TRUE FAN, "LIE, DOC." ECO-LAIDEN TURF;

DO INFLATE CURE; TRIFLE ACNE DUO; RED ELF AUCTION;

CAT: DOUR FELINE; URL://DEFECATION; CAN'T FIELD EURO;

FIE, RUNTED COLA! RODENT-FLEA I.C.U.; FAUCI, DO RELENT.

(for entries themed more in keeping with the topic, see the post of January 20.)

JAN 26, wordplay maps: American Scramble-towns 13,14

Who would ever have guessed? It turns out that an unparalleled word in generating anagrams (letter scrambles) is P-A-L-I-N-D-R-O-M-E-S. We have taken advantage of that property to create this unique series of wordplay maps of imaginary American (and Canadian) locales, each one completed by its official two-letter state (or provincial) abbreviation. 

LINKS: 

Forward to U.S.A. map #15

Back to U.S.A. map #11

Let's skip all this stuff and get on to the Canadian version, eh? 

JAN 25, birdlore: (American) robins

To learn more about the life-style issues of Fred the robin, along with his colleague Carl the cardinal, ("curtained verse: robin red-breast"),  check out this Blogpost. 

You can view an encyclopedic collection of illustrated poems on this topic by proceeding to the post 'Poems about BIRDLORE' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE.

JAN 24, American satire: freedom-from-Trump day

Authors' Note:  Here's a reprise from a post published in November, now illustrated with Barry Blitt's cartoon-cover for this week's New Yorker, (A Weight Lifted) ...

We hope that you enjoyed this verse. You can find 30 more on this topic in 5 collections on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE to start!

  

JAN 23, handbook of micro-nutrients: zinc deficiency and anosmiai

Authors' Note:  Patients who have suffered a loss of sense of smell (anosmia) are known as anosmics. Rarely, this sensory disorder along with manifestations in other body functions can be attributed to a marked deficiency of dietary zinc. Whether zinc supplements can help with recovery in well-fed anosmics remains unresolved. The metallic element osmium, which has no known biologic role, is named for the stench emitted by its poisonous tetroxide derivative.

You can find our incipient collection of verse related to micro-nutrients, i.e. trace minerals and vitamins on our topic-based blog "Edifying Nonsense" by clicking HERE. 

JAN 22, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' contest: other submissions, #1

 Continuing from previous posts

Here are a few other imaginative entries for the National Anagram Contest ...

FORNICATE DUEL;     ADORE FIT UNCLE;     RECITAL DONE - FU! 

ONE LURID FACET;    COULD IRAN FÊTE?    TOUCAN FIELDER;

FONDUE ARTICLE;     EDUCATE FOR NIL;     IN 'ACUTE' FOLDER;

A FECUND TOILER;    I.O.U. FACT LENDER;  DOCENT FAILURE;

ULTRA-FINE COED;   DETOUR IF CLEAN;      ENTICE FUR-LOAD; 

DO INFLATE CURE;   RE CUE, "DON'T FAIL!" OFTEN LURED C.I.A. 

JAN 21, classic palindrome: 'drawn onward'

Authors' Note: 

patsy: slang for 'sucker' or 'gullible person'

Dem: American short-form for 'Democrats', referring either generally to adherents of the political party, or to elected officials

Don: short-form for 'Donald'; a respectful term of address for a Spanish or Italian nobleman; a leader of the Italian Cosa Nostra

D.C.: District of Columbia, often used in casual references to the American capital city, Washington

   This poem was written just after the publically broadcast hearings of the Intelligence Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in the first impeachment of Donald Trump in November, 2019.

   Are we not drawn onward to new era? also represents a classic palindrome.

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Reversing Verse: Limericks About Classic Palindromes' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. 

JAN 20, singable satire: Tom Lehrer sings "REDUPLICATIONS L to Z"

 

PARODY SONG-LYRICS

ORIGINAL SONG: "The Elements", Tom Lehrer, 1959.

PARODY COMPOSED: Dr. G.H. and Giorgio Coniglio, 2015. This song is the eighth of nine in the series on Word Pairs. You can find the links to the lyrics of the previous songs at the bottom of the post. 

EXPLANATION:

 For a discussion of reduplications on an earlier post on this blogsite, click here. The current post also honours our previous venture of Feb 15, 2017 entitled 'Abracadabra' to 'Zoom-zoom': possibly the world's largest compendium of reduplications'.  

UKULELE and GUITAR-FRIENDLY LINK: Our whole series of songs can be found in a friendly format for ukulele (and guitar)-players on our sister blog  "SILLY SONGS and SATIRE". Click HERE to proceed to this site. 

Many of these words and phrases have fascinating stories of their origin and subsequent use; the hotlinks highlight those with instructive or amusing information available on the web.

There’s lazy Daisy, loosey-goosey, Ling Ling, and lickety-split

And lovey-dovey, legal eagle, mellow yellow, and nitwit

And muck-a-muck, and Mau Mau, mumbo-jumbo, Bony Moronie

And Mai Tai, mole hole, nitty-gritty, and phony-balo-oney.

There’s namby-pamby, no-no, ooey-gooey, okey-doke, ping pong

And pom-pom, palsy-walsy, pasty-faced, slap-happy, singalong
And pow-wow, pitter-patter, pooper-scooper, plain Jane, and pell-mell
And poo-poo (scat), pooh-pooh (reject), and pupu (snack);  how can you tell?

There's quick fix, quack-quack, razzle-dazzle, rail trail, ragtag, ring-aling

A mini-lesson found on the Internet

And  razzmattaz, and rumble-tumble, Roger dodger, and Sing Sing.

And ready Freddy, rollick-frolic, “fuddle-duddle” (P. Trudeau)

And roly-poly, rinky-dink and super-duper, or so-so.

There's shock jock, sure cure, snip-snap, sci-fi, smartcart, shipshape, and stun gun,

And silly billy, speed read, shilly-shally, squish-squash, stumblebum

And shady lady, seesaw, space race, Star Wars, snail mail, PigglyWig'

And tutti-frutti,  tittle-tattle, tiki, tip-top, thing'majig.

There's teeter-totter, tootsie-wootsie, teentsie-weentsie, and tee-tee

And tom-toms drumming, tartar, tum-tum, tattle-tale, uh-huh, TV
And tubby-wubby, willy-nilly, wishy-washy, woman’s womb

And walkie-talkie, wingding, yo-yo, yoo-hoo! zig-zag and zoom-zoom.

Ta-Dah !!!

And, for those interested, here's how you find the lyrics-only-version

of the nine songs that make up this cycle. If you would like to  accompany yourself on ukulele or guitar, find relevant chord charts by following the links that will take you to the versions in our blog "Silly Songs and Satire". 

1. PAIRS, to the tune of "Words" in the style of the Beegees

...  the following songs in the style of "The Elements" by Tom Lehrer

2. ALLITERATIVE BINOMIALS, part#1

3. ALLITERATIVE BINOMIALS, part#2

4. RHYMING BINOMIALS, part#1

5. RHYMING BINOMIALS, part#2

6. A LESSON ABOUT REDUPLICATIONS

7. REDUPLICATIONS, part#1

8. REDUPLICATIONS, part#2

9. LEGALISTIC DOUBLETS, in the style of "Supercalifragilistic..." from  the musical "Mary Poppins"

JAN 19, commercial product: web-purchased firearms (Elmer Fudd)

Authors' Note: Shotgun-wielding hunter Elmer Fudd was the cartoon-world nemesis of the beloved character Bugs Bunny. Elmer was notable for his lisping speech, for his hatred of 'wascally wabbits', for his oversized weaponry, and fortunately for Bugs, for his rather poor eyesight and aim.

   Currently (2017), weapons can be legally web-purchased by residents of the US, without  prior background checks of the purchasers.  

Our range of domestic and commercial products is somewhat limited, but you might want to review our unusual prospective gifts on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE.

JAN 18, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' contest: honorable mention

Continuing from the posts of January 16 and January 18 ...

As you know, in the National Contest the Best Anagram was 

                                               FAILED RECOUNT

and the Runner-up was...     OUTLINED FARCE

Here are some other national entries worthy of attention...

                                                LO, INCUR DEFEAT

                                                OR FEED LUNATIC 

                                                NOTICED EARFUL

                                                LIAR OUTFENCED

                                                REINFECT ALOUD

                                                FUEL RIOT-DANCE

                                                UNALTERED FOCI

                                                ELUDE FRACTION

                                                LEFTIE CANDOUR

                                                ULCERATED INFO

                                                ROTUND LIE-FACE

                                                DUE LATIN FORCE

                                                RUINED FACT: Olé !  

                                                LUCIFER ATONED

                                                UNDO RELIEF ACT

                                                I.O.U. FACT-LENDER

                                                FIE ON A RED CULT!

                                                URAL DEFECTION                                                                                            UNCLAD RIOT-FEE 

                                                U.F.O. CREDENTIAL

                                                CURT FOE DENIAL

                                                ONCE-FED RITUAL

                                                FEAR NOT IL DUCE

                                                TO CRUDE FINALE

At the state level, there are quite a few additional  submissions worthy of honorable mention, attributed to the participating state, as shown on the accompanying map.

JAN 17, palinku (poetic novelty): partying, part #3

 

  In this post, we will continue with our novel form of poetic wordplay, inspired by Japanese haiku poetry. This new form, in its English-language version, is used for a terse verse with a total of 17 syllables displayed on three lines. Unlike its classic Japanese analogue, this concoction does not mandate the precise distribution of the syllables among the three lines, but does stipulate that each word in the poem be included in a palindromic phrase or sentence in English (i.e. one that can be read either forwards or backwards). 

  To help the reader discern the origin of the lyrics, each palindrome (generally occupying one of the three lines of the poem) has been color-coded. And, as you likely surmised, the first verse in this collection has already been published here. Parts #1 and #2 of this foursome were exhibited in November and December, 2020. And astute readers might well have noticed that, as a memory-jog, we have used the 17th of the month for the publication of this material. 

  And, just in case you have forgotten what palindromes in English are about, your blogsite hosts have arranged a serial set of brief lessons on the topic ('Political Palindromes') which you can review by clicking HERE. 

 You can view all our "palinku" verses of this type if you proceed with a single click to our more encyclopedic blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE. (Or if you prefer, you can stay on this particular blogsite and look for the offerings for the 17th day of each month -- there are now more than 60 of these.)

JAN 16, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' anagram contest: runners-up

Continuing from the post of January 16  ...

The national runner-up for best anagram is...

OUTLINED FARCE

Now to the runners-up for each participating state...

Read carefully. These concoctions are all different from the state 'Winners', which were posted 2 days ago!

And, have a safe week -- two-day countdown to Freedom-from-Trump Day.

JAN 15, culinary verse: Cretan salad

 

Find the collection of illustrated poems dealing with these issues on the post 'Culinary Verse' on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE!

JAN 14, doctors and their practices: the endocrinologist

You can view these informative verses in a wider context by proceeding to the collection 'DOCTORS and their PRACTICES' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

JAN 13, sleek Greek prefixes: ECTO-

Clicking HERE will introduce you to our entire collection of verses about the Greek prefixes!

JAN 12, portraits of couples: Introduction (domestic turkeys)

Giorgio and I have decided, despite the limitations of the new COVID-19 lockdown regulations, to undertake a novel business venture -- family photographic portraiture.

Please call or email to make an appointment with our staff for a photo-shoot, which can be conducted in your front yard, sidewalk or parking area. Owing to the inclement weather, clothing (other than pyjamas or gym-shorts) is recommended.

With the approval of our earliest clients, I will post some samples here over the next few days for your perusal.

Best wishes,

Giorgio / Dr.G.H.

Enjoy an illustrated poem about domestic turkeys by clicking HERE.

You can view this photo from our portfolio of 'Couples' portraits in a wider context on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense" HERE.

 

JAN 11: review of 'brief sagas' from 2020

A NOTE from the EDITORS: 

 As readers may have gathered, this blogsite highlights several types of light, wistful and humorous reflections on current life, chief among them being short verses using the limerick format, more or less (see the blogpost "Limerick Variations"). But on occasion, we feel the urge to continue important themes through several stanzas worth of poetic ideas. So in this post, we highlight the previous years' offerings of 'lengthier' poems of at least 15 lines or 3 stanzas. We have been publishing these at the rate of once a month on this blog ("Daily Illustrated Nonsense"), but as they are found mixed with shorter verses of five lines, i.e. standard limericks, or even three lines, (palinku --palindromic haiku), you might have failed to notice and review them in their entirety. 

  This summary gives you a second chance to explore these lengthier creations that contain as many as 6 stanzas -- hardly lengthy enough to be considered a genuine saga, but we hope reflecting the authors' sagacity.  

  The compressed mode in which our 'sagas' are displayed may enhance your appreciation of the range of topics covered; if you prefer to enjoy the details in a larger and more readable font, you can quickly access the posts on this blog devoted uniquely to their stanza-by-stanza display (as well as notes, related photos and videos), by entering their title into the search lines provided. And from there, you can, of course, explore further to enjoy the multitude of shorter verses.  

 

For the curious reader's convenience, we have sorted our treasury of 'brief sagas' by the year of publication on this blog. Altogether, you will find more than 40 whimsical poems that cover about 800 lines of verse. 

Click below, and enjoy!
2020
2021
2022
2023.