Quip–a witty remark. E-Quips (think e-book or email) is hopefully a witty blog – dedicated to word play such as parodies, puns, and word parallels and stories about libraries that you may not have heard before. It has also expanded to include a few book reviews, nature and observational essays and poems, stories about military and veterans, and tips about writers and writing. It has evolved into an online journal. I also include select re-blogs to admire or inspire.
Hope you enjoy the ride and the fun.
Please let me know if there is word that deserves a riff or a library that has a story to share.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The State Department began issuing commemorative passports for America’s 250th anniversary on Monday. The passports feature an image of President Trump and are only available in person at the Washington Passport Agency — and only with an appointment.
John Hall drove all the way from his home in Alabama, in what he calls his “MAGA red” Hyundai, to get one of the new passports. “It’s a commemorative thing to have,” he told NPR. “I’m a big Trump supporter.”
This didn’t happen but it did not prevent the thought from occurring. Every year Monticello hosts a huge American citizenship ceremony where dozens of emigrants are sworn in to become new citizens. Because of the site, I thought that ICE would make an appearance and I am glad that I was wrong.
I even asked two people who attended the ceremony if they had noticed anything and they did not.
Today I heard morning Morning Joe say that the US is a “Creedal Nation. AI defines it as “creedal nation” is a country unified not by shared ancestry, religion, or ethnic heritage, but by a foundational set of political and moral ideas. The United States is considered the premier example, defined by adherence to principles like liberty, democracy, and equality. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]”
The founding fathers made a big deal that there would be no founding religion or even a belief in any one religion, we were each free to follow whatever creed we wanted. Jefferson took a lead on this “Thomas Jefferson was a foundational architect of religious liberty in the United States, championing the separation of church and state and the right to freedom of conscience. He codified these ideals in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which disestablished the Church of England and protected all faiths.”
The world is visiting the US because of FIFA and seems to like the US despite our politics, or maybe because it is the last vestige of when we were the supplier of much needed medical, food or other necessities of life.
I can remember hearing how the US Navy could send an aircraft area into a disaster zone with multiple operating rooms and enough electricity and water to power a small city. Non-Navy people were not aware that such a thing is a possibility.
Have you ever thought to put all of your eggs in one spot If you picked the wrong place mistake is what you've got Maybe it's better to diversify and not use a single place You don't want settle for an egg upon your face.
July 8th is SCUD Day, your open invitation to step away from stressful conflicts, toxic gossip, and overwhelming news feeds and replace them with pure, lighthearted silliness. Spend the next 24 hours savoring comedy and unplugging from drama.
#SCUDDay
SCUD is an acronym for a brilliant, stress-busting concept: Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama. It makes sense that SCUD Day is a day all about mental health, mindfulness, and the medical benefits of laughter. After all, life is too important to ever be taken seriously. Today, we turn down the drama and dial up the comedy
Have you visited a toxic site recently? It could be your email, a podcast, a soap opera, almost any social media you can imagine.
Do you need a Detox break from all of the news feeds, lies, alibies, even from a source you where you agree with what they are telling you?
Choosing to be intentionally silly on any given day works wonders for your physical and mental health. In fact, there is psychological data backing up why taking time to laugh is beneficial to your overall health.
The Mayo Clinic notes that a deep, hearty laugh induces immediate, positive physical changes to your body. Laughing enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and triggers a massive release of endorphins, which are your brain’s feel-good chemicals.
Clinical research shows that watching a favorite comedy or laughing with friends for just 20 minutes can lower the cortisol levels (the stress hormone) significantly because it produces a calming effect on your nervous system.
Chronic drama and anxiety trigger a fight-or-flight response that actively suppresses your immune system. Being positive and lighthearted as much as possible can train your brain to fight stress and illness.
IDEAS TO CELEBRATE SCUD DAY
If you’re ready to go drama-free, here are some ways to help you create your own comedy show:
Find a comedy on television that you know will make you laugh. Whether you enjoy The Office, Friends, Seinfeld, or Parks and Rec, we want you to hear your laugh all the way in North Dakota.
If you work in a high-stress office or have a busy household, set joke jar out on the counter. Ask everyone to drop in a funny joke or an awkward memory story. Whenever the mood seems to be tense, pull out a slip and read it. This will help everyone shift their mood quickly.
Make fun of yourself for every mistake you make. This will teach you to shrug your shoulders, find the humor in the situation, and move on.
Share your favorite jokes, funny memes, silly animal videos, or positive affirmations on social media using the hashtag #SCUDDay.
SCUD DAY ORIGINS
SCUD Day was officially created in 2007 by Stephanie West Allen. Drawing on her years as a corporate coach and her background in psychology, Allen recognized that the professionals and families around her were completely red-lining on stress. She decided to launch SCUD Day in her personal email newsletter, Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama Club. Her goal was to give people an annual milestone to actively practice emotional boundaries, preserve their mental well-being, and remember how to play.
Forget the SCUD and for laughs It might just cut your stress in half. Something that tickles your funny bone should not be left to chance alone.
Spamming is the act of sending unsolicited, unwanted digital messages in bulk to a large number of recipients. While largely associated with email, it also heavily occurs via text messages (SMS), phone calls, and social media platforms. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Types of Spam
Commercial Ads: Mass-sent messages promoting products, services, or schemes without the recipient’s consent.
Phishing: Deceptive messages designed to trick you into handing over sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.
Malware Distribution: Messages containing malicious links or attachments designed to infect your device.
“Spam” for junk mail originated from a 1970 Monty Python sketch. In the sketch, Vikings chant the word “Spam” to drown out all conversation in a cafe. Early internet users likened this inescapable, unwanted repetition to flood-like, unsolicited messages online, coining the digital term.
The original food product, Spam, was introduced on July 5, 1937, by the Hormel Foods Corporation in Austin, Minnesota. It was created to help sell surplus pork shoulder. According to Wikipedia’s Spam Food Article, the name is widely believed to be a contraction of “spiced ham”.
international Kissing Day was created in the UK to encourage physical expressions of affection and to celebrate the science of the kiss — one kiss activates up to 34 facial muscles and five cranial nerves.
International Kissing Day pucker-ups every July 6. This global observance champions the simple yet profound act of kissing, celebrating its power to convey love, friendship, and connection across cultures. Share a kiss with a loved one, send a virtual smooch, or explore the rich history of this universal gesture.
Top Brands for International Kissing Day
Burt’s BeesFounded in 1984 by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, Burt’s Bees is a leading natural personal care brand known for its beeswax-based lip balms. Their products are essential for keeping lips soft and kissable.
Hershey’sThe Hershey Company, founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894, is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. Their iconic ‘Hershey’s Kisses’ chocolates are a playful and sweet nod to the holiday’s theme.
Godiva Chocolatier Established in Belgium in 1926 by Pierre Draps, Godiva is renowned for its premium chocolates and confections. Gifting Godiva chocolates is a classic romantic gesture, perfect for International Kissing Day.
L’Occitane en ProvenceFounded in 1976 in Provence, France, L’Occitane offers luxurious body, skincare, and fragrance products. Their nourishing lip care products and romantic scents enhance the experience of closeness and affection.
EOS (Evolution of Smooth)EOS, known for its distinct spherical lip balm, was founded in 2007. The brand focuses on natural and organic ingredients, making their lip products a popular choice for smooth, hydrated lips.
CliniqueClinique, a subsidiary of Estée Lauder, was founded in 1968 with a focus on dermatologist-developed, allergy-tested, and 100% fragrance-free products. They offer a wide range of lipsticks and lip treatments.
SephoraFounded in France in 1970, Sephora is a global leader in prestige beauty retail. They offer a vast selection of lip products, from vibrant lipsticks to hydrating treatments, perfect for celebrating the day.
History of International Kissing Day
If we go back in time, we can thank the Romans for the widespread practice of kissing in Europe. They described kissing in three forms: the osculum (a friendly peck on the cheek), the basium (a loving kiss on the lips), and the savium (the most passionate of kisses on the mouth). In Roman society, when, where, and how you kissed someone was an important indicator of social status.
The term “French kiss” was most likely coined by American and British servicemen in France during World War I who noticed that Gallic women were more open to employing the passionate technique than their American and British counterparts. So even though the French were clearly not the first people to engage in “French kissing”, it seems only right that they were given credit for it due to the amorous enthusiasms of French lovers a century ago.
Interestingly enough, the French actually didn’t have a specific word for the famous mouth on mouth until recently. The verb galocher, defined as “kissing with tongues”, was added to a popular yet unofficial French dictionary, Le Petit Robert, in 2014. Nowadays, French kissing is so popular that a team of Japanese researchers recently invented a French kissing machine, in which couples that are separated are able to connect via straw-like devices that work through a computer.
International Kissing Day itself is not only about French kissing your significant other, but to bring people closer in general. The main idea behind it was that so many people have forgotten the simple pleasures associated with kissing for kissing’s sake, as opposed to kissing as mere social formality. Kissing can be an enjoyable experience in and of itself and is an expression of love and intimacy.
International Kissing Day – Survey Results
*** NATIONALTODAY.COM KISS AND TELL SURVEY *** Data gathered by a top Tampa Marketing Agency HOW DO AMERICANS RATE THEIR KISSING SKILLS? #1: “Good” (32%) #2: “Great” (28%) #3: “Amazing” (23%) #4: “Okay” (16%) #5: “Horrible” (2%)
HOW DO AMERICANS RATE THEIR PARTNERS? #1: “Amazing” (27%) #2: “Great” (27%) #3: “Good” (26%) #4: “Okay” (12%) #5: “Horrible” (2%)
AMERICANS RANK THE WORST ATTRIBUTES OF A BAD KISSER #1: Bad breath (58%) #2: Too much tongue (20%) #3: Teeth (10%) #4: Not enough tongue (6%) #5: Eye contact (6%)
WHEN DID THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HAVE THEIR FIRST KISS? #1: Middle School (36%) #2: High School (26%) #3: Elementary School (22%) #4: 18-21 (8%) #5: 21-25 (2%) #6: 25-30 or after 30 (1%)
2% OF AMERICANS HAVE NEVER BEEN KISSED The majority of them (62%) are men who are between the ages of 18-24 (54%) or 25-34 (31%).
AMERICAN’S TOP KISSING QUIRKS: #1: Always checking their breath before they kiss someone (42%) #2: Kissing someone as a dare (31%) #3: Letting my pet kiss me on the mouth (14%) #4: Putting on chapstick to get ready (12%) #5: Being grossed out when parents kiss in front of them (11%)
A festoon (noun) also refers to a curtain in a swag form that can be used in a variety of ways. Thomas Jefferson referred to “festoon curtains” for the interior of a carriage he ordered while in Europe in 1788. In architectural ornamentation, the term can also be used interchangeably with swag, such as is seen in the bedchamber frieze drawn from what Jefferson knew from Palladio as the Temple of Fortuna Virilis (now known as the Temple of Portunus). He also used this motif on the exterior frieze of Pavilion II at UVA, drawn from the same source.
We the People of the United States of America, not We the People for any other subjective reason or excuse for less than all of us;
We, the People Not we, the Sheeple Our leaders should lead us by examples and not with exemptions that only apply to them. Not a rule for the Elites the men, the whites or any other group that does not include everyone.
Your two poems have been scheduled for Friday, 3/07/26 at 0800 hours (GMT+1 Madrid Time Zone) which is 6 hours ahead of US EST (New York Time Zone). Please re-blog on e-quips as I will also do on VALENCIARTIST. I am travelling therefore not too active reading posts. All the best, (Here is your link: https://latinosenglishedition.blog/?p=17051)
Virginia’s Declaration of Rights was drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. It was widely copied by the other colonies and became the basis of the Bill of Rights. Written by George Mason, it was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776.
A Declaration of Rights
Is made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.
From the pages at the National Archives
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Does this sound familiar?
Fun facts about George Mason
Owned a plantation, Gunston Hall, not too far from Mount Vernon
Taught Law at William and Mary. One of Jefferson’s first jobs was as a lawyer.
Black bear pee-ing against a tree. Bunnies and Deer lead the way out. Even the guinea hen made an appearance. Fireflies twinkled along the woodier parts of the road Once back on 250 when crossing the hill up popped the Strawberry Moon shining bright red as advertised, in the gloaming about 9:10 pm.
From the University of Helsinki to Trinity College in Dublin, here are 10 of the most beautiful university libraries around. To bad it did not include the University of Washinton; Suzallo Library where I went to Library School (before it morphed into the I-School)
VBS took over the church so our Healing Service made do in Neve Hall, Named for the Deacon of the Blue Ridge, it served as an impromptu meeting space with more comfortable chairs instead of pews. Father Rick played his virtuoso classical guitar. Father Justin gave the homily. His back was towards us as he prepared communion which the two priests served us. With only 11 parishioners it was a lovely intimate service where the elderly left the more comfortable chairs to the frail.
The June full moon occurs at 7:57 p.m. EDT (2357 GMT) on June 29. That’s when the lunar disk will pass opposite the sun in Earth’s sky, appearing fully lit by the sun’s rays.
This month’s full moon is also known as the “Strawberry Moon,” reflecting the time of year when Native American tribes harvest the ripened fruit. It is also the first full moon of summer, following soon after the June 21 summer solstice, which marks the astronomical start of the season and the longest day of the year.
June’s full moon tracks the lowest path of any full moon throughout the year, and that’s thanks to its proximity to the summer solstice — when the sun is at its highest in the daytime sky.
June’s Full Moon—typically the last Full Moon of spring or the first of summer—has traditionally been called the Strawberry Moon. While strawberries certainly are a reddish-pink color and are roundish in shape, the origin of the name “Strawberry Moon” has nothing to do with the Moon’s hue or appearance, despite the evocative imagery (shown in the artist rendering below). A Moon usually appears reddish when it’s close to the horizon because the light rays must pass through the densest layers of the atmosphere.
Other names for the moon:
Strawberry Moon” name has been used by (Algonquian tribes)
Also used by (Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples)
Berries Ripen Moon (Haida peoples)
Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe)
Birth Moon (Tinglit)\
Egg Laying Moon and Hatching Moon (Cree)
Honey Moon and Mead Moon- (European, named after Juno, Roman goddess of marriage. Following marriage comes the “honeymoon,”)
Honeymoon, getting married in June Which of the couple is getting the boon? Will it be the bride or the groom who is receiving the most from the honeymoon?
Academic libraries face the challenge of what Drs. Melissa Tedone and Rosie Grayburn called “poison books,” or bibliotoxicology. Researchers at large institutions are conducting studies of library holdings, testing books for heavy metals, identifying health and safety guidelines, and sharing new knowledge via published case studies. Small- to mid-sized academic libraries, however, may lack equipment, expertise, funding, or time to investigate their holdings, or the space to safely segregate such items, and must develop their own strategies to address health and safety issues surrounding bibliotoxicology. This case study explores activities at a medium-sized public university
e-Quips 
