JUN 9, English literature survey course: the diary of Samuel Pepys

 

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

JUN 8, yesterday's excursion: Toronto Brickworks

red-winged blackbird

 
a midland painted turtle scampers by 

water lilies, just coming into bloom

 a bullfrog chimes in at the ponds

time for dinner!

On a gusty afternoon, with the marsh plants 'on board' having grown tall enough to catch the breeze, you can view this type of  boating action. You don't have to go to Bolivia to see 'floating islands'!

JUN 7, life in Palindrome Valley: family relations

Authors' Note: Any grouping known as 'the Palindrome Family' will have more daughters than sons. (In the case cited, older sisters Hannah, Ava and Lil have already been married off.) And, in classic parenting, you have to watch out for their welfare; extreme caution is advised with respect to questionable dates, escorts or suitors like Dennis.

Italics are used to outline palindromic words and phrases in the above verse. More subtly, Dennis sinned, Tennis sin-net, and Golf flog are phrases consisting of two mirror-imaged entities known as semordnilaps, that unite in wordlock to produce a palindromic phrase.

You can review other illustrated verses on this topic by proceeding to the collection 'Life in Palindrome Valley' on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. For further revelations about Dennis and his sins, click HERE. 

JUN 6, boating: Rose's canoeing lesson

 

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Reverse Strokes: 'Verses About Canoeing' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

JUN 5, old world palindromes #23 and #24

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

JUN 4, Canadiana: 'Torontonian/Buffalonian'

 

Authors' Note: 

Buffalonian: a native of Buffalo, New York, in the northern tier of American cities, located 90 miles (150 km) from Toronto, Canada

northern cities vowel shift: linguistic term for the key element in a regional accent whose use peaked in a band across the northeastern portion of the United States. Its use there is apparently now declining, but it has never been used in adjacent parts of Canada; the dialect is known as the Great Lakes dialect, Inland North dialect, or Inland Northern American English.

Buffalo Bisons: a class AAA minor league baseball team (Toronto Blue Jays affiliate). 

 

You can review poems, pictures and diverse nonsense related to Canada on the post "Canadiana" on our full-service blog  "Edifying Nonsense".

JUN 3, to clot, or not: Virchow's triad

Authors' Note:  

stasis: an absence of flow, or markedly reduced flow

deep venous thrombosis (DVT): a condition in which clots form in the deep veins, usually of the calves; the disorder often produces symptoms, but may be silent

The above verse conjures studies of factors in causation of DVT more than a century ago by Rudolf Virchow (FEER-koh), the famed German pathologist, that eventually resulted in the concept 'Virchow's triad'. The modern triad includes the elements of venous stasis, increased coagulability of the blood, and damage to the local endothelium (lining of the blood vessels). 

You can view these verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'To Clot, or Not to Clot' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

 

JUN 2, American satire: Georgia voters

Authors' Note:  The fiefdoms of major American political parties are frequently identified on political posters and maps by color coding, Republicans being depicted as red, and Democrats as blue. The relatively conservative southern state of Georgia had traditionally voted Republican in federal presidential elections for several decades until, in November 2020, Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by a relatively small increment of twelve thousand votes statewide, a difference of less than 1%.

  After the 2020 election, the transcript of a phone call between the President and his lawyers and Georgia's Secretary of State (the state official in charge of elections) was obtained by the media. In the phone call, the federal parties derided the state's procedures, suggesting that a significant number of Democrat votes had been cast by dead persons. They asked that this unfair situation be redressed by "finding" just enough previously unrecorded Red votes to alter the outcome.

  

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

 

JUN 1, numbers: unity (1)

You can review our cumulated nonsense about numbers by clicking HERE.

MAY 30, reptiles: painted turtles

Authors' Note: With four regional subspecies, the painted turtle, Chrysemus picta, has a range covering almost the entire United States and a part of Canada; it is North America's most common turtle.

  The verse's tale, based on a recent experience by the author dealt with an attractive female belonging to the eastern subspecies, although her accent was definitely southern.

a Canadian colleague (midland painted turtle)

 

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'.

MAY 29, oncologic verses: cancerophobia

 

 You can view all such verses in a wider context by proceeding to the collection of "ONCOLOGY VERSES" on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

MAY 28, funny bones: AVN (avascular necrosis) of the hip

Authors' Note: The femoral head is the proximal portion of the femur (thigh bone) within the capsule of the hip joint. The blood supply to this area is fragile, and its blockage, presumably due to a variety of disease processes (often poorly understood or not obvious), can result in death of bone cells and collapse of this weight-bearing structure. Replacement of the hip joint may eventually be needed. 

  Orthopedic surgeons (surgical bone specialists), known in medical jargon as orthopods, are involved in monitoring and treating the condition.  

You can view verses on this topic in a wider context by proceeding to the post 'Breaking News: FUNNY BONES' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

 

MAY 27, amphibians: Dominican 'crapaud'

Authors' Note:  crapaud (KRA-poh, Caribbean pronunciation), derived from the

French word for ‘toad’ (kra-POH).

At one time widely distributed in the eastern Caribbean, the large edible frog, Leptodactylus fallax, is now found only on parts of the islands of Montserrat and Dominica. Hunted extensively for its meaty froglegs, once the national delicacy of Dominica, this defenceless animal has been known by many different and colorful names, reflecting the English, Dominican Creole French, and patois spoken by local residents. Although hunting has been banned on Dominica since the 1990s, the crapaud remains on the list of severely endangered species.    

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

MAY 26, exotic destination: Chania, Crete

Authors' Note:

La Canea (lah cah-NAY-ah): Italian name of the city

La Canée (lah cah-NAY): French name of the city

Chaniá, also written Chania (kha-NYAH): modern Greek   pronunciation

Kydonia, Cydonia: Roman names for the city, presumably derived from the designation given by the rather mysterious Minoan early settlers

  The city of Chaniá on the north coast of Crete, although difficult to pronounce, is an excellent tourist hub due to the adjacent rugged but hikable country, with beautiful beaches, mountain gorges and archeological sites. The history of the area is fascinating. When Byzantium fell in 1204, crusaders took control of Crete. Venetians, under their ruling Doges, held the island primarily from 1245 to 1652, implanting their religious symbol, St. Mark. 

Other verses about 'Exotic Travel Destinations' can be found on our blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE.

MAY 25, insects: ladybug dining

 

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.

MAY 24, humorists' scurrilous talk: 'the titty'

EDITORS' WARNING: You must be at least 12 years of age to read this post! 

'

The collection of informative verses dealing with 'HUMORISTS' SCURRILOUS TALK' can be found by proceeding to our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

 

MAY 23, to clot, or not: coagulation cascade (hemophilia)

Authors' Note: The most common complication of internal bleeding in hemophilic patients is hemarthrosis, bleeding into joints, that may be unprovoked, yet result in significant disability.

Earlier versions of replacement therapy to provide for missing blood proteins with human blood-bank products has been discussed previously. Current treatment involves a genetically engineered  material derived from hamster cells, superior in not provoking antibodies that limit its effectiveness.  

 You can view these verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'To Clot, or Not to Clot' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

MAY 22, curtained verse: sago palm's strobilus

EDITORS' WARNING: You must be at least 12 years of age to read this post! 

 

Authors' Note: Up to two feet in length, always upright and rigid, the pollen cone of this ornamental dioecious (bi-gendered) cycad (a plant more primitive than the true palms) appears in spring on male plants at 2-3 year intervals. An earlier verse about this fascinating plant is found on our post (Verse about Trees: Sago Palms), dated March 11, 2020.

Here in the South Carolina lowcountry, a 'severe' cold blast four winters ago damaged many sago palms, which are frequently used as a shrub or tree-shrub in local gardens, but last spring they seem to have bounced back with a show of male resilience. 

You can review other mildly scurrilous illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Curtained verse: Faintly Obscene (Selected) Limericks' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

MAY 21, geysers: 'The Geysers', California

 

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Poetry that Spurts: Verses about Geysers' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".

MAY 20, singable satire: Bob Dylan sings "A FICKLE TWIST of VERSE", part #2

  PARODY-LYRICS, based on traditional poetry (limericks)

ORIGINAL SONG: "Simple Twist of Fate" Bob Dylan 1975; covers by Diana Krall and Sean Costello are recommended.
ORIGINAL POETRY: At Wikipedia (click HERE), you can find a discussion of limericks dealing with the 'man from Nantucket'.
PARODY COMPOSED: Dr. G.H. and Giorgio Coniglio, July 2016, followup to an earlier post.

PARODY-SONGLINK: To access ukulele chord-charts to help you accompany "A Fickle Twist of Verse" on your favorite instrument, click HERE.

PRIOR OFFERINGS: (as per the initial post of April 10, 2021)
1. "There once was a man from Nantucket" (clean version) - 3 verses, unattributed.
2. "There once was a man from Nantucket" (dirty version) - cleaned up by G.C.
3. "A dozen, a gross and a score" - Leigh Mercer

4. "There was an old miser named Clarence" - Ogden Nash

5. "There was a brave girl of Connecticut" - Ogden Nash 
6. "There was a young belle of Old Natchez" - Ogden Nash

 Chorus. "People say it makes them sick" - Giorgio Coniglio

CURRENT CONTENTS: (more limericks from the classic repertoire, as interpreted by Bob Dylan.)

7. "A flea and a fly in a flue" - author unknown, often attributed to O.N.

8. "There was a young lady of station" - Lewis Carroll 
9. "A wonderful bird is the pelican" - Dixon Merritt 
10. "There was a young lady named Bright" - Reginald Buller
11. "There was an old man of Peru" - Edward Lear 
12. "There was a young fellow of Wheeling" - traditional 
13. "Hickory dickory dock" - traditional
 Chorus. "People say it makes them sick" - Giorgio Coniglio

A FICKLE TWIST OF VERSE, part #2

(to the tune of "Simple Twist of Fate")

7. A flea and fly within a flue

Felt flustered, they were in a stew; 

Didn’t know just what to do 

And finally they saw -  

The flue had a flagrant flaw 

To flee or fly – no worse, than 

To fuss with a fickle twist of verse. 

8. “I love Man” – sole exclamation

Of a young lass high in station 

(“Isle of Man” her explanation); 
“You flatter”, men believed,  
And yes, they were deceived. 
“No matter” if she flirts,
As she asserts in this Lewis Carroll

 verse.  

9. A wondrous bird – the pelican    
His bill holds more than his belican 

I’m damned if I see how the helican 

Take all that in his beak -  

Food enough for a week;  

I guess the bird rehearses   

Weekly, for this simple twist of verse. 

10. A lady traveller named Miss Bright

Exceeded ‘c’, the speed of light, 

Returned from trips the prior night  

That she’d started the next day, 

In a relative way.  

That’s Einstein’s universe  

Reflected in a fickle twist of verse.

11. There was an old man of Peru;

One day his young wife made a stew. 

Folks thought she knew just what to

   do,

Cause from their house she ran.  

He was found in their stewing pan;  

Which triggered some alerts 

For older guys in this simple twist

  of verse. 

12. A sensitive young guy from

  Wheeling 
Found the coach-door sign revealing. 

So he jumped, spat on the ceiling; 

Rather than the floor,  

As instructions did implore:  

Train signage known for terseness   

Spoofed in this twisted lim’rick verse.

13. Hick’ry dick’ry dick’ry dock

A timid mouse ran up the clock. 

The time had come for taking stock; 

So when the clock struck ten,  

He ran down the clock again,  

For better or for worse;   

As Dylan sang in this twisted nursery verse.

 

CHORUS: People say it makes them sick

To hear too many limericks;
I fear it had become my shtick,
But now I've lost the knack,
With no good jokes to crack --
A tendency perverse;
Blame it on a fickle twist of verse.

If you want to resume daily titillations on our blog 'Daily Illustrated Nonsense', click HERE.

MAY 19, wordplay maps: American Scramble-towns 17,18

 LINKS: 

Forward to USA map #19

Back to USA map #15

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

MAY 18, defining opinion: hormone

Authors' Note: The biologic term hormone includes blood-borne "messenger molecules" such as adrenaline, insulin, cortisol, prolactin, melatonin, androgens and estrogens, as well as those with more easily discerned names such as thyroid hormone, growth hormone and anti-diuretic hormone.

The reader might be surprised to learn that a sober scientific journal "Hormones and Behavior" has been editing and publishing scientific papers in this field for over 50 years.

Our blogpost "Defining Opinion" on the topic-based blog "Edifying Nonsense" shows a selection of similar verses submitted to OEDILF (the online Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form). You can see all of these on one visit by clicking HERE.

MAY 17, palinku (poetic novelty): hats

   In this post, we will continue with a novel form of poetic wordplay. Inspired by the rather arbitrary European conventions for versions of  Japanese-style haiku poetry, this new form 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). Also, the authors concede that the typical themes of Japanes poetry cannot be incorporated easily in this new format.   

  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. 

You can view all our "palinku" verses 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.)