FEB 26, handyman's lesson: restoring your old greenhouse, introduction

You can watch for further lessons in the restoration process on April 20.

A NOTE FOR (potentially) DISAPPOINTED READERS !!!

Athough the Palm Court has been closed for renovations, portions of the Conservatory facility remain open, If you can't manage to come by for a look yourself, you can still take in the joys of a visit by clicking HERE. 

  

FEB 25, reptiles: red-eared sliders

Authors' Note: Most commonly, we think of asymptomatic carriers as humans who can transmit a microbial infection, but have no symptoms themselves; such diseases as typhoid and salmonellosis are well-known to be transmitted by such carriers.

Similarly, pets may harbor organisms that cause human disease, although the animals themselves don't become ill. Salmonella bacteria are commonly found on the skins of certain lizards and most turtles. The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta), a reptile native to the US, has attained notoriety in this regard; as children's pets they are cute, easy to care for, and inexpensive. Combined with their penchant for taking over ponds from native turtles, these traits underlie their status as an invasive species whose sale is now banned in many countries around the globe.

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

FEB 24, creative anachronism: the Hippocratic oath

Authors' Note: The origins of the Hippocratic Oath, as discussed in the above verse, join several others by the authors under the rubric "creative anachronism". Although little is known of classic Greek office routines, there is no confirmation that clerks transcribed dictated medical reports during that epoch. One has to wait to the modern era for the invention of the typo.

Hippocrates of Kos was putatively the author of many texts (the Hippocratic Corpus) deriving from the school of medicine on his native island, one of two that thrived in Greece during its classical period. Among early descriptions of diseases, symptoms and treatments were attributed comments on the humanistic basis of medical practice that were formalized centuries later into the assertion of medical ethics and professionalism that we know today. 

   

Along the same lines, readers are invited to review our small but growing collection of "creative anachronisms" on our blog "Edifying Nonsense" by clicking HERE.

FEB 23, insects: fire ants

a) reprise from February, 2020

FEB 23, insects: fire ants

Authors' Note:  Today's opening of the fire ant season is noted by the authors with regret, and tremendous scratching of the ankles.

Even in the winter, they can be activated.
Watch out!

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.

b) Giorgio's Lexicon of Binomials 

FEB 22, signs of confusion: third collection

 This post is the third in a series of 5. You can attempt to get all of this straight by reviewing the collections in the previous posts ...

signs of confusion#2
signs of confusion #1

We hope that you enjoyed this post, the third in a series of 5. You can attempt to get all of this straight by pushing on to review the collections in these subsequent posts ...

signs of confusion #4

signs of confusion #5

FEB 21, curtained verse: ho- (give it a go)

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

 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'.

FEB 20 (2023), singable satire: The Red Army Chorus sings " DARK SCHEMES" (Russian Hacking)

ORIGINAL SONG (music): "Dark Eyes (Ochi Chornye)", poem written in Russian by Ukrainian poet Hrebinka in 1843, set to music in 1884; recorded by Al Jolson, Django Reinhart, Louis Armstrong, Red Army Chorus, Fyodor Chaliapin, Ivan Rebroff etc.
PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, January 2018, related to the 2016  winter Olympics . 

PARODY SONG-LINK: See the version designed for ukulele and guitar players on "SILLY SONGS and SATIRE" HERE.

 

DARK SCHEMES (RUSSIAN HACKING)

(to the tune of "Dark Eyes" ("Ochi Chornye")

A huge triumph for our Russian hackers,

With support PUT IN by Kremlin backers.

Secret intrusion -- seek Red collusion,

Get the goods on sad Trump detractors.

Rationale why we try subvert the West?

We need silly poems. You guys got the best.

No laugh Soviets. Putin still says, Nyet!"

So steal comedy, we'll be funniest.

Once was oligarch from Nantucket

Hid all cash in pail. Tax? He'd duck it.

But his daughter Nan found a man with plan -- 

Informed KGB, then stole bucket. 

Lady traveller, named Miss Brightsky,

She exceeded 'c', speed of lightsky.

She set off from Omsk, took train back from Tomsk,

And returned next week, Sunday nightsky.

Trapped in samovar, were a flea and fly

(English word is 'tea'; Russians call it 'chai');

They played sweet guitar, smoked Cuban cigar,

Though when water boiled, they would surely die. 

You should not pay heed, when the joke's on us; 

Shield you from such filth, we should make a fuss.

What could be appeal, what Chris Steele reveal?

Golden shower file we should not discuss.

Though the IOC* dinged us for doping

Russian hacking teams don't sit moping.

Super dupers are scooping covert medals for duping --

It's a banner year, Vladimir's hoping.

*IOC = International Olympic Committee

FEB 19, waterfowl: feral ducks

 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'. 

FEB 18, Canadiana: Canadian moose

Authors' Note: This verse was inspired by a character in a verse by Chris J. Strolin who railed against the use of the incorrect term 'Canadian goose'.

In fact, when Bruce was insightfully contemplating the introduction of moose into suitable environment in Newfoundland (NEW-found-land), the island was a separate British colony. As railway building had recently opened the island's interior, it was hoped that hunters would be attracted in search of a species in decline in the US and parts of Canada. 

In 1904, four eastern moose from New Brunswick (that subspecies is known as Alces alces americana) had been set loose on the island. Ultimately Newfoundland, including its burgeoning population of moose, joined the Canadian confederation in 1949. 

The rest is history, eh? Newfoundland now (2023) has the densest population of moose in North America, accounting for 150,000 of the continent's million remaining large ungulates.  

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

 

FEB 17, defining opinion: hot

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.

 

FEB 16, mythed opportunities: Leda and the swan

Authors' Note: King T. refers to Sparta's King Tyndareus, husband of Leda. These characters in the story of "Leda and the Swan" were presumably mortal. However, relevant accounts, as depicted in literature and representative art, vary as to the mortal status of the couple's famous offspring (the twins Helen and Clytemnestra, and Castor and Pollux were hatched as human babies from the oversized eggs.)

"Leda and the Swan"
a subtle rendition with the swan at her feet;

unspecified British sculptor,

Allan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto.

See more views of Toronto's Allan Gardens Conservatory HERE. 

"Leda and the Swan", bronze sculpture,
Bruno Piccirilli, 1945,
displayed at Brookgreen Gardens, SC

You can take advantage of the whole spectrum of illustrated poems dealing with 'Mythed Opportunities' that we have collected on our full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE!

FEB 15, wordplay maps: new world palindromes (#7,#8)

 

a) reprise from February, 2020

FEB 15, wordplay maps: new world palindromes (#7,#8)

TO ENLARGE any slide or stand-alone photo on this blog, just click on it. To reverse the process, and return to this standard view, find the little 'x' in the upper right corner of the black field and click there.

You can view the entire collection of these 50 wordplay maps, by accessing the collection 'Tourists Palindromic Guides: The Americas'. Start by clicking HERE!

b) Giorgio's Lexicon of Binomials

FEB 14, poetic non-sequitur: decolletage (+ Val's Day)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

"The Kiss"
 Rodin  Museum, Paris 

 Our collection of 'Non-Sequiturs' on our parent blog "Edifying Nonsense", contains an admittedly bizarre assortment of nonsensical odds-and-ends, that don't quite fit into other topic-based offerings. But should you want to review the entire collection, click HERE.

Feb 13, homophonous verse: identity rhymes

Authors' Note: This verse is the lead-in to a collection of limerick-like verses that have an unusual rhyming scheme. Instead of the usual A1,A2,B1,B2,A3 pattern. these verses have lines ending in 'identity rhymes', as in the above verse: A1,A1,B1,B1,A1. Some critics would say that 'identity rhymes', e.g. perVERSEely / conVERSEly, are not rhymes at all. But when bunched up they have a definite musicality, and can be entertainingly sung at open-mike at a bar. 

It's an ongoing work-in-progress, but you can review our 5 verses of this type by clicking HERE ! 

You can review verses on this topic in a wider context on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Check the collection 'Homophonous Verse' by clicking HERE. 

 

FEB 12, poets' corner: subtle bullying, editorial

Authors' Note: Used here in a loose sense, with no implications for ownership, cooperative refers to a group effort by like-minded individuals. Collaborative writing sites, such as the on-line dictionary OEDILF (nursery for many of Giorgio's concoctions), have the potential advantage to contributors of learning from peers, and ultimately higher rates of publication. Contributing editors ('eds'), however, may entertain estimations of their personal relevance and productivity that influence their editorial comments on others' work. Rarely, such notions are translated into malevolent actions by these poet-leaders.

Other problems with cooperative groups are discussed HERE.

You can find lots of other verses on this blog under the listing "Poets' Corner".  Click HERE.

FEB 11, garden intruders: common moles

 a) reprise from February, 2020

FEB 11, garden intruders: common (eastern) moles

Readers, you are fortunate to have available all our poetic comments on creatures (animal and vegetable), devoted to subverting your gardening plans. To view this collection on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense", click HERE!

b) Giorgio's Lexicon of Binomials

FEB 10, a brief saga: Newfoundland potato famine of 1846 - 8

Authors' Note: The Irish potato famine of 1845-1852, had important repercussions in British North America. Initially, we had our own version of the disaster, although it didn't last as long. The food-production aspect was confined to the Atlantic island of Newfoundland ("the Rock"), where potato monoculture had provided backup food for a populace (ironically, one-half of Irish descent) who otherwise fed themselves on marine protein (seals and cod). But in 1846, both these usual sources failed, and the network for regional food distribution was disrupted by a large fire, then a storm, that lashed the key port of St John's. At just this point, the potato blight that had spread northwards through the United States was found to involve the fishing villages (outports) on the island's south shore. In the second year, the blight spread to involve the entire island, and the marine resource situation was no better. The number of deaths due to starvation, likely many thousands, remains unknown.

The British governor of the colony, reasoning that the indolence of the island's underclass had offended the Almighty, invoked a period of fasting to appease heavenly powers. Fortunately, the next year, the marine resources returned, resolving the crisis.

Back in Ireland, landlords took advantage, and bought tickets to encourage resourceless tenants to emigrate; their arrival in Canada was anticipated charitably by the public and by local governments, often despite low potential for contribution to the economy. But in fact, many refugees were sick ("ship's fever" often equated to dysentery or typhus) on arrival or shortly afterward; in the summer of 1847, an estimated 20,000 died in typhus epidemics that ravaged Montreal and Quebec, as well as settlements in New Brunswick and Ontario. The longer term effect on health and other services was devastating for these relatively small recipient towns.

In contrast, the U.S. populace may have felt less charitable towards British disaster-victims, and a punitive tax was levied on shipping companies for each passenger. Although large numbers of Irish refugees did eventually reach the U.S., Canada bore far more than its share, especially in the acute phase of the disaster.

The author acknowledges inspiration by speedysnail's OEDILF verse "Great Famine".

Online Sources: 

Great Famine (Ireland) - Wikipedia

Newfoundland Potato Famine  - Wikipedia

History of Irish immigration to Canada - Irish Post

The Canadian typhus epidemic of 1847 - French-Canadian genealogist

 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 are involved 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 there are now over 90 of these multi-verse poems feature in his "Author's Showcase". The  OEDILF number for each accepted multiverse poem is shown here on the slide with its first verse. We have been blog-publishing these poetic adventures here monthly.

FEB 9, exemplification: ablauts and verb past-tenses

 

Authors' Note: Ablaut (AHB-lowt) is a linguistic term, derived from German, for a vowel transition resulting in a change in word meaning. Such changes are the basis of the simple past tense and the past participle in a substantial proportion of irregular English verbs, as exemplified in the second verse. 

 To review our whole collection of "exemplary exemplifications", click HERE.