17 posts tagged “bookmark friday”
Growing up I was a huge fan of Smokey Bear. Smokey. He wanted to protect the forest and all the adorable animals. He wanted to educate us about how not to burn things down. And best yet, he was speaking directly to children. He was talking to me. The cutest cartoon bear I ever saw and he was talking to ME.
And then I read the story of the real Smokey. Who could resist the tale of the poor orphaned bear stranded up a burned-out tree? Not I. It's so Bambi. But real, too. And when the forest rangers put bandages on his little bear cub paws? Melted my heart like buttah.
Recently I spoke to someone who did not know that there even was a real Smokey. I tell ya, kids today...
Of course, da Smokes was shilling for the US Forest Service, but I didn't care. The Ad Council and the Forest Service dreamed up the talking bear in 1944 to campaign against arson. The real Smokey wasn't found until 1950 but was promptly co-opted for the conservation campaign.
And for the record, his name if Smokey Bear. There was a song called "Smokey The Bear" in 1952, but that was never his real name. And originally it was spelled "Smoky." So while I cannot account for the "e" we know where the "the" came from.
I was one of "Smokey's Friends" and had a badge and ID. Seemed at the time that I might need those if I was going to bust any arson perps. Smokey's Friends took "the oath." Smokey had rules. Smokey Bear had a posse.
Smokey is bound up in my childhood memories with Gentle Ben, Clint Howard, Bambi, Walt Disney, and Uncle Sam. Probably throw some Dancing Bear and Captain Kangaroo, too. I still love him. The little animals love him. Long live Smokey.
I was planning to do something a little more contemporary and folksy to accompany the bookmark of the week, but Lisa said I should use "Free Bird." After all the bookmark has birds. And it was free. I balked a bit but when I heard some Skynyrd on "Earl" last night, it seemed to be a cosmic message. So here it is:
Todays bookmark comes to us from PBS. They are
shilling for their new show Monarchy which premieres November 12. PBS is a class act. I can tell because their bookmarks are
full-color and two-sided. *I'm* impressed
I don’t have anything profound or humorous to say about my second voxiversary, so I'll treat you to a special photo tribute to my favorite Royals.
Number one: William. Prince William of Wales. Handsome. Studied Art History. ‘Nuff Said.
Number two: Princess Margaret. Countess of Snowden. Fashion forward. A little unpredictable. Racy photos.
Number three: Harry. Prince Henry of Wales. Goofy. party animal. Low self control. Red hair and freckles. Most fun Royal since his great-aunt Margaret.
Number four: Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Still wears hats. Takes a good picture. Gets to ride in Cinderella’s carriage.
Don't take candy from strangers.
Look both ways before you cross the road.
And remember: Flame resistant does not mean flame retardant.
I'd like to finish off Banned Books Week 2008 with some lovely bookmarks from the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom.
And below that, a couple of videos made by some guy I do not know but I like (because he writes songs about banned books and puts his dog in the videos).
I've been so busy lately trying to commit professional hari-kari that I haven't been posting my usual superfluity of sophomoric musings and random music. I won't bore you with the details but my life lately has been teh suck.
Today, however, I cannot complain. I went to the Benefits (read Health) Fair at work yesterday. Got lots of complementary ink pens and highlighters, little sewing kit and first aid kits, a podometer, Weight Watchers snacks, a banana, etc. I lurve me some swag!
The Arkansas Heart Hospital was there doing screenings. I think the lady doing mine was a little disappointed. She took one look at me and and thought, "I'm gonna get to ream this fat lady out!" But other than my blood pressure being a little high (HELLOOOO: I'm AT WORK!) all my numbers were acceptible. The best parting shot she could muster was "You should really add some omega fish oil to your diet." So I said, "Yeah. 2 grams of EPA/DHA daily should be adequate, don't you think? I mean, if I took any more the AHA says I'd be at risk for mercury poisoning." (Because-- just in case you haven't already figured this out-- if you plan to act the smart-ass in the library you'd better be prepared to be one-upped.)
Also won a $10.00 gift certificate from Chili's-- so there goes that 50 points I shaved off of LDL! Maybe I can spend it on booze.
And the news just keeps getting better! A box arrived which I assumed was more of my eBay bounty. So I'm chatting and drinking a coke and looking at my email when I start to think... "too big for cds, too small for shoes, hmmm... Whaaaa???" One look at the return address I'm squeeling, "CRANKY!!! CRANKY!!! CRANKY!!! CRAAAAANKY PAAAAANTS!!!!" Then I made my people look at that picture of Elvis pooping beneath the lunar eclipse. And Fidelvis. And the one where he's eating a cornchip with his eyes bugged out (No offense intended, little man. You got some buggy eyes!) And that one where he looks like Marty Feldman.
And what a box it was! With a hand-written note!! You can see the note in one of the pictures, but I have smudged out all the sensitive information to protect the innocent. Heh, heh... "innocent" is used here loosely.
Box contained:
The awesome bookmark of the day.
An insanely happy looking creature that holds cds in his mouth.
A good dog/bad dog zipper pouch which I will either use to transport dog training treats OR those sawed-off little portable tampons.
A pair of white monkey dog toys that I promise I will not throw at my dogs (see warning). I've been calling them the Monkey Brothers. They remind me of a batch of white kittens with mis-matched eyes that used to live under the mobile home I lived in. (Yes, I did time in a trailer, but not a trailer park. Also went through a tornado in said trailer. Good times...) We called all those kittehs David Bowie, or collectively "the Davids."
Hand made monkey head charm (Cranky, I have your fingerprints!!!!) that now adorns my work badge.
THANK YOU CRANKY & ELVY! To say that you made my day would be a gross understatement.
Which reminds me:
To all of you who posted and did silly things for my birthday earlier this month-- YOU ROCK!
People at work are suspicious about how I get things from people my "imaginary friends," which is what I call all of you of whom I am quite fond but who I have not met in person. I like that. I think it gives me an aura of mystery.
Best. Imaginary friends. EVAR.
More pix:
So, kick back in your rocking chair, open a bottle of white liquor, and prop your feet up on your hound dog.WHAT DO WILLIAM FAULKNER AND THE HACKENSAW BOYS HAVE IN COMMON?
Aside from a tendency to say stupid things while drunk and an inability to effectively employ punctuation and a deep appreciation for the tragic history of the American South—they've both been ... 2007 Southern Music Issue...
Yeah. I don't want to hear anything about it. And, since I've taken some kind of blood oath to blahg every damn day this month, I'm not letting this week's bookmark slide.
I don't remember where I got this awesome little bookmark, but it is... um... pretty... grim.
That ole Washington Irving surely wrote one of my all time favorite scary stories when he squeezed out The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I've been thinking about the QOTD regarding a book that scared me as a child. As I recall it practically EVERY book scared me. Especially that one children's compilation that had the story about the people that moved into a new house and there was a demon in the room at the end of the hall. Sheesh, I was already afraid of the dark and heard voices. Add to that fear of architecture. Anyway...
While we're on the topic, I always get out my McFarlane Sleepy Hollow action figures and play with them at Halloween. Lotta fun. Love the Johnny. LOVE the Walken.
I'm usually not a big Joe Satriana fan, but HELL this instrumental is called "The Headless Horseman." What's not to like about that???
This Bookmark Friday we shall have a special supplementary salute VeryScaryCarnival.
She really puts the "EEEEEE" in Halloweeeen!
Alex sez "OOGUM BOOGUM!"
Don't take candy from strangers.
Don't eat anything that is not wrapped and sealed.
Take a flashlight.
Don't dawdle in the street.
Use the "buddy system."
No, you may NOT have that roll of toilet paper.
Be home by midnight.
Now gimme my candy, dammit!
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