JAN 31, waterfowl: John Audubon, birder

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Immersible Verse: Limericks about Waterfowl' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. You can learn a bit more about the anhinga, the bird featured in the cover illustration of "The Birds of America" by checking the post of January 25.

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, a brief saga: Italian treat(s)

  For the purpose of this blog, a 'brief saga' is defined as a poem, usually narrative, but occasionally expository, that tell its story in at least 15 lines. Most commonly, the format involves three stanzas in limerick form, constituting a single submission to the online humor site 'Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form'. On the OEDILF site, rigorous standards for content and format proceed in a collaborative editing process that may take several weeks to over a year. 

   Generally, OEDILF has not been enormously welcoming of multi-verse submissions, but Giorgio Coniglio has persisted, and the OEDILF number for each accepted multi-verse poem is shown here on the slide with its first verse. 

To access the next 'brief saga' on this blog, proceed to 'the gastro-esophageal junction'.

To access the most recent previous 'brief saga', back up to 'The Dacha (Mar-a-lago)'. 

JAN 27, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' contest: other submissions, #3

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 #15,16

Back to U.S.A. map #11,12

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 BLOG for the post of April 20, 2021.

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

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

January 22.

JAN 23, patients and their maladies: Mick's anosmia

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.

Be sure to check out the whole collection of verses on 'Patients and their Maladies" by proceeding to our full-service blog ,"Edifying Nonsense." CLICK HERE !

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

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

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, American satire(4): freedom-from-Trump day

Authors' Note:  In the United States, the Inauguration, a ceremony to mark the commencement of the four-year term of a new president takes place on the January 20th following the November election. 

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 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.

BONUS FEATURE!

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) ...

JAN 17, 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 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, classic palindrome: no 'D'; no 'L -- London

                                                                                                              #120749 approved May 2023

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 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, 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 11, classic palindromes: critique of palindromes

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 10, anagram swarm: 'ELECTION FRAUD' contest winners

Over the last week we have had an anagram contest at the national (U.S.) level. We are sorry if you missed the opportunity to participate.

The challenge was to come up with the best anagram (letter-scramble) of

E-L-E-C-T-I-O-N F-R-A-U-D

Out of an abundance of caution, we avoided announcing the contest initially, and have not required contest participants to agree to publishing their phone numbers, email addresses or charge-card PINs.

But we are now pleased to announce that the winning entry nationally was ...

FAILED RECOUNT

Consideration was also given by the judges to the best entry for each participating state; the winning entries are shown on the accompanying map.

Sincere thanks to all who participated.

JAN 9, American satire(3): "It Is what it is"

Authors' Note:  In August, 2020, “It is what it is” became a key U.S. presidential comment on deaths due to the coronavirus that were downplayed in the rush to 'reopen' the country. Subsequently, various explanations for the excess were squirmingly offered by the Executive branch of the U.S. government. It was purported, for example, that some doctors were rewarded by their hospitals for inflating the number of death certificates indicating COVID-19 as the apparent cause of death.

 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 8, old world palindromes #7 and #8

 

  You can view the entire collection of 'Old World Palindromes' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense";  start by clicking HERE. 

JAN 7, anagram swarm: 'impeachment' (again)

Sixteen states have two-letter postal abbreviations that fit in with this scheme. Other locales may have decided on their stance on this issue, but their preferences are hidden on the 'dark web'.

JAN 6, classic palindrome: 'UFO tofu'

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 5, amphibians: anurans - 'frog' vs 'toad'

Be sure to check out the whole collection of 'Amphibians' by proceeding to "Edifying Nonsense." CLICK HERE ! 

JAN 4, portraits of couples, Harris' hawks, brown pelicans

 

Enjoy illustrated verses about the brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, by clicking HERE and HERE.

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

JAN 3, diagnostic imaging: DEXA (BMD)

 You can review all our verses on this intriguing topic by proceeding to a post on 'Edifying Nonsense' entitled 'Selected Topics in Diagnostic Imaging'. Click HERE!

JAN 2, waterfowl: great egrets, more pics

Great Egret: Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Fabric art contributed by RCH

POEMS: Poetry appearing on this site was written (unless otherwise indicated) by Giorgio Coniglio, and for the most part contributed to the  on-line humour dictionary site OEDILF Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form). OEDILF has worked its way alphabetically from Aa- to Gr-, with the goal of accumulating a verse defining every meaning of every word in the English language. This co-operative project has in its 15 years of existence accumulated over 107,000 carefully edited limericks, with completion date estimated to be around the year 2065. In the past three years, Giorgio has contributed over 300 poems to the project; the site's accession number for the verses is indicated at the bottom of the relevant slides in our presentations.

PHOTOGRAPHY: The majority of photographic illustrations were obtained by Giorgio Coniglio, using an i-phone 7 camera. These illustrations were collected independently of the verses, and formulated using Powerpoint software. Subjects for the wildlife photographs were not reimbursed for appearing in these illustrations, and the editor admits that their consent was not always obtained; an effort was made not to disturb their environment. Other artwork by the author was performed using Powerpoint.  Where indicated, friends provided some bird photographs. When required for purposes of illustration, photos, primarily open-use, were drawn from the internet, and are designated by pale blue title plaques.

LOCALES: Unless otherwise displayed, photographs relating to flora and fauna, and to artwork in the southern United States, were shot in and around Charleston, South Carolina. We will endeavor to note other sites, which may include Toronto, San Francisco, Florida, Washington, DC, and Paris.