FEB 28c, reptiles: five-lined skinks

You can review photos and illustrated herpetologic verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Verses about Reptiles' (don't worry! no snakes)' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

FEB 28b, pathos and poetry (gun control verse): hitman

 

FEB 28, classic palindrome: 'gnu dung'

You can check out another illustrated verse about the gnu or wildebeest by clicking HERE.

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". 

FEB 27, basic medical science: ejection fraction (LVEF)

Authors' Note:  In disease states, including those producing congestive heart failure, the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, a measure indicating the strength of contraction, provides important information concerning prognosis (potential outcome) and the need for treatment. 

   The ejection fraction can be measured by echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, or several different nuclear (radio-isotope) techniques. These techniques measure the volume of the ventricle at the end of diastolic (relaxation) and systolic (contraction) phases of the cardiac cycle. Despite the name, the change during systole is generally given in medical jargon as the percent relative change, rather than as a true fraction; e.g. 60% is good, 30% is bad.

 

Readers can enjoy our whole collection of verses on this topic by clicking HERE.

FEB 26, anagram swarm: 'E-X -- P-R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L'

 

    As often happens in trying to portray a swarm of anagrams, I have left out a few relevant places; in this case, it was simply because I ran out of room on the map (which was progressively updated to a total of 65 entries). Apologies to the villages of Alien Preside, Pilsener Idea and Needier Pails TX in Texas, Exited Spiral NE in Nebraska, Delete Praxis IN in Indiana, and Axis Repented and Ex-Sardine-Pet IL in Illinois!

  If you have enjoyed this post, you can find a series of other 'American anagram swarms' gathered in three posts on our 'parent' blog Edifying Nonsense.  To get started, click here.  

 

FEB 25, dental feelings (sentimental verse): fillings in Billings

 

 You can review the collection of illustrated verses on this topic by proceeding to the post 'Dental Feelings' on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

FEB 24, sleek Greek prefixes: ENDO-

Authors' Note: To view what's inside you, you might want to look through a collection of verses about endoscopy entitled "Inner Enlightenment: The Scopes of Modern Medicine". Click HERE!

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

FEB 23, English literature survey course: pass/fail

Authors' Note:  During the author's stint as a university science major, a modicum of knowledge of the liberal arts was putatively assured by subjecting students to pass/fail survey courses. "Getting by", as in the above described English class, seemed to be the modus operandi of students, and occasionally of teaching staff.

You can review the entire curriculum for our 'English Classics Survey Course' at "Edifying Nonsense" by clicking HERE.

FEB 22, amphibians: American green tree frog

 

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

FEB 21, pandemic poetry: 'two contagiously funny verses'

Authors' Note: Thanks to M.A. of Bloomington IN for the idea for the second verse. 

 You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Pandemic Poetry' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".

FEB 20, singable satire: Mary Poppins sings "FORMULAIC-PLEONASTIC-LEGALISTIC DOUBLETS"

 PARODY SONG-LYRICS

ORIGINAL SONG:  "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",  from the movie "Mary Poppins", Sherman Brothers, 1963, as performed by Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews.

PARODY COMPOSED: Dr.G.H. and Giorgio Coniglio, 2015. This song is the final entry in a group of nine dealing with Word-Pairs. And, development of the song lyrics reulted in our home-grown guide to legalese, found here.

PARODY-SONGLINK: To access ukulele chord-charts to help you accompany "Formulaic-Pleonastic-Legalistic Doublets"on your favorite instrument, click HERE.

  In spite of various campaigns to improve the language style used for communication by lawyers, most of us still can't understand what they say. One particularly vexing element is their apparently mandatory use of redundant pairs of words in a form of cliché, sometimes having an archaic sound.  

  For better or worse, there does not appear to be a covenant and agreement between linguists and lawyers as to what to call these expressions. Such pairings of items with similar or overlapping meaning are known as doublets  in the legal literature. They consist of pairs of nouns, verbs adjectives or even adverbs, joined by a conjunction, most commonly 'and'; hence they would usually be referred to as binomials by linguists. Linguists generally have a specific concept in mind with respect to word derivation in using the term doublet. 

Clear, Correct, Concise and Complete is a motto in the campaign to improve written English. Unfortunately, "legalese" and legal professionals may be inseparable.

FORMULAIC-PLEONASTIC-LEGALISTIC-DOUBLETS 

(to the tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" - Mary Poppins)

Now, "formula"  applies 
Whereas word-order's always set;
And if the first one shows up
So'll the other, you can bet!
And "pleonasm" indicates
A frank redundancy, 
If clients check out Wiki'
"Legal doublets" they shall see.

They're formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic-doublets
Now and henceforth use them to stay free and clear of trouble, it's
Fit and also proper, to pursue them and enjoy, it's
A formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic ploy.  

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay! 
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise

When I was still a minor,
As you've heretofore inferred,
I'd swear, even subscribe
With a sole and exclusive word.
But then I felt an urge to cover
Each and every base
Proclaiming with force and effect,
Thereby I'll rest my case. 

They're formulaic pleonasms, they aid and abet, it's
Not so new or novel, yet you get full faith and credit
You can't annul or cancel, now that you've deposed and said it
Formulaic pleonasms - don't revise or edit.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay! 
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise 

While touring all and sundry ports 
To furnish and supply,
Surprising lets and hindrances  
Provoked a hue and cry.
He sought to be indemnified
And also held harmless 
He had and held a trick that 
He'll acknowledge and confess.....

Spout formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic diction! 
In a court of law where there's dispute and even friction - 
Helps attesting and asserting facts or only fiction
Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic diction.

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay! 
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise

When liens and encumbrances
You can't shun and avoid,
Your power and authority
Is rendered null and void
Just cite and quote these phrases
And you'll double what you say,
And over and above
You still can transfer or convey.

Use formulaic pleonasms in your legal documents,
To give and grant, or bequeath and devise such lands and tenements.
With signed and sealed, full-and-complete testimony 'n' evidence
Heirs and assigns keep and maintain their chattels, with due diligence. 

Um diddle diddle diddle, um diddle ay! 
Clear and Correct and Complete and Concise.

They're legalistic pleonasms - not sure what those terms meant?
That should be a focus of attention and concernment;
Unless and until there's a postponement or adjournment
Formulaic-pleonastic-legalese discernment.

CODICIL

Oh! Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic thinking  
Though such words seem laudable, implies a brain that's shrinking,
With cause good and sufficient, you might find your case dismissed 
If judge-and-jury order-and-direct cease-and-desist. 

Notwithstanding legal valid rules and regulations
Please deem and consider all due terms and stipulations. 
Legal doublets - part and parcel, final formulation 
Is your last will and testament, and end and termination. 

Formulaic-pleonastic-legalistic thinking!



Other Examples of Legal Doublets

Other expressions with legal implications were included in my previous posts dealing with alliterative binomials. These include..... 

drunken and disorderly 

lend or lease

lewd and lascivious

mind and matter

search and seizure   

wrack and ruin

A compendium of other commonly used "legal doublets" that you might encounter is found here. 

Note that a number of the particularly-redundant expressions e.g. "terms and conditions", have been criticized in official and academic circles as contributing to lack of clarity in communication, and have been purged from specific usage in certain jurisdictions.

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"

FEB 19, etymology: 'mentor'

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!

FEB 18, neologism (personal): electile dysfunction

Author's Note: Rudy Giuliani, former federal prosecutor and mayor of New York City, served as a legal advisor to the forty-fifth US leader, coordinating court challenges designed to help overturn the results of the American presidential election of 2020.     Dysfunction as a general medical or social state is discussed by SheilaB, a prolific contributor to OEDILF. Among many verses on the topical specific entity, Giorgio’s take on erectile dysfunction can also be reviewed at that website.  

 Electile dysfunction has not been as popular a topic.

(Ed. Note:) To make this effort easier, we have now collected these neologistic verses in a collection on our parent blog "Edifying Nonsense";  click HERE.

 

(If, for some reason, you would like to obtain confidential information about 'eRectile dysfunction', click HERE.)  

FEB 17, palinku: partying #4

  

 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 stanza) has been color-coded. And, as you likely noticed, the first three verses in this collection have already been published here, in November 2021 through January 2021, using the 17th of each month. Here we present the final element, part #4, in what happens to be a relatively long study in verse. Other topics for palinku have usually resulted in shorter creations, most commonly one or two verses. Although the format for these poems is highly constraining, readers can look forward to a spectrum of poems involving such divergent topics as human emotions, family interactions, gender relations, workplace dynamics, politics, culinary matters and the natural world.  

  And, just in case you have forgotten what palindromes 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.)

FEB 16, classic palindrome: 'O Stone, be not so'

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".

FEB 15, anagram swarm: 'I-N-C-I-T-E-D A R-I-O-T'

Authors' Note:

Sens: slang for American senators.

Representative Jamie Raskin was the chief House Manager (prosecuting the charge of impeachment) during the recent trial of ex-president D.J. Trump in the U.S. Senate.  

Editors' follow-up note: We mistakenly left out a few locales in Iowa (IA), including 'Contrite I.D.', 'Erotic Dint', 'Tired Tonic', and 'Rote Indict'; also 'Tide Action RI' in Rhode Island. Sorry, Impeachment Team! Sadly, there are still not quite enough anagrams for the needed  majority in the U.S. Senate!

If you have enjoyed this post, you can find a series of other 'American anagram swarms' gathered in two posts on our 'parent' blog Edifying Nonsense.  To get started, click HERE.  

FEB 14, holidays and celebrations: Valentine's Day

"The Kiss" by Auguste Rodin, marble, 1882
(photo by G.C. at Rodin Museum, Paris, 2019)

Ed Note:  This work was still 'in-progress' at the time it went to press. It eventually evolved into a three-verse 'brief saga' that you can find HERE. 

FEB 13, old world palindromes #15 and #16

Quote of the day from 'Buzzfeed':

“Fellow Americans beat and bloodied our fellow police. They stormed the Senate floor. They tried to hunt down the Speaker of the House. They built a gallows and chanted about murdering the vice president. They did this because they’d been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth because he was angry he’d lost an election,” said (American Senate leader Mitch) McConnell.

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

FEB 12, portraits of couples: Aurora and Cephalus

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

FEB 11, classic palindrome: 'Dennis sinned' ... PLUS, A PALINDROMIC DAY CELEBRATION, 12/02/2021

CELEBRATING A PALINDROMIC DATE -- 12/02/2021

Here's a reprise honoring last year's palindromic day...

IN CELEBRATION OF A PALINDROMIC DAY -- 02/02/2020

(With many thanks to my good friend, Eric K., for his reminder about this important occasion.)

This brief poetic musing was originally published here on February 2, 2020. By the way,  if you are overwhelmed by an urge to sing about Dennis's sinful relationships, you can satisfy those urgings by clicking HERE. 

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'. 

FEB 10, a brief saga (bottom line of medical humor): the word on GERD

Authors' Note: The role of the esophagus under normal conditions is the one-way transit of food from mouth to stomach, keeping tissue-irritating acid in the stomach; the gastroesophageal junction plays the key role in this function. Most of the medical and dietary treatments for GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) only block some symptoms due to acidity of the regurgitated gastric contents. Surgery is generally reserved for severe, chronic and recalcitrant cases.

 You can view these informative verses in a wider context by proceeding to the collection "The BOTTOM LINE of MEDICAL HUMOR" on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

 

   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 accession number for each of his 100 or so submitted multi-verse poems ('brief sagas numbering over 40) is shown here on the slide with its first verse. 

To access the next 'brief saga' on this blog (March 2021), proceed to 'Workplace Pollution' (compensable).

To access the most recent previous 'brief saga' (January 2020), back up to 'Italian Treats'. 

To access all of our 'brief sagas' by the year of their creation, click on your selection below.

2020
2021
2022
2023.

FEB 9, old world palindromes #13 and #14

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

FEB 8, American satire: New year's greeting to Sen. Hawley

Authors' Note: U.S. Senator J. Hawley of Missouri played a major role in the constitutional events at the Washington Capitol on January 6, 2021, the day of the insurrection directed at the accession of joe Biden to the presidency. 

Read more here:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/great-damage-republicans-recoil-from-missouri-sen-hawley-1.5258425

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!