In connection with the Melvil Dewey discussion in owl-chatter a few days ago, Bob chimed in on his degree in Library Science.
“The MLS program at Queens College was challenging at first, but got easier as the courses became more interesting. The attitudes of some of my fellow students were sometimes puzzling to me. We had an introductory cataloging course and I found it fascinating to learn from a very erudite and entertaining professor about the history of cataloging, the achievements of Melvil Dewey and others who followed in his footsteps. But so many of my classmates didn’t care to hear about any of that history. They wanted to cut to the relevant stuff – how to actually catalog a book or other type of material. Any history or development of concepts were of zero interest. Where was their curiosity? Didn’t they as librarians have a thirst for any kind of knowledge, let alone the development of the very field they were entering? Really very disappointing. I don’t think I’d want to ask those uncurious types a reference question or ask for guidance on a research paper. “
To which I would add – F**king kids! And get off my lawn!
BTW, that’s a line I’ve been enjoying using at every opportunity lately. Whenever you are complaining about a younger generation, you should add “and get off my lawn.” That makes it clear you’re a crotchety old-timer who has no patience for anyone younger than 65.
That commenter the other day who observed about the tuchases that they are “coming at us in droves” knew what he was talking about! Today’s puzzle had another convocation of ASSES, at 15D. They were nicely clued with “Jacks and jennies.” What the hell is going on at the staid NY Times?
It made me look up what a group of asses is called. There’s a bit of a story. You will find (as I did) that a group of asses is often referred to in references as a “pace” of asses. But in Lipton’s book on the terms of venery “An Exaltation of Larks,” which is absolutely wonderful, he clearly explains that “pace” is incorrect, and it should be a “pass” of asses (which he describes as “euphonious”).
But we can do better, no? How about a “rearing” of asses? A “bottom” of asses? A “scratch” of asses? A “pinch” of asses? (That may be my favorite.)
If we have an “unkindness” of ravens (which is the correct term), we can certainly do better than a pass of asses. Please chime in! (Carl? I need you!)
I’m going to move on now, before anyone accuses me of bottom feeding.
Lawyers! Any of you hear about the RED MASS? It’s at 17A: “Annual Roman Catholic service for members of the legal profession. (The red comes from the outfits of the officiants.) A Red Mass is a Mass celebrated annually in the Roman Catholic Church for all members of the legal profession, regardless of religious affiliation: judges, lawyers, law professors, law students, and gov’t officials, marking the opening of the judicial year. The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. In certain localities of France, the Red Mass was celebrated in honor of Saint Ives, the Patron Saint of Lawyers. I had no idea we law folk had a patron saint.
One of the better-known Red Masses is celebrated each fall at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. on the Sunday before the first Monday in October when the Supreme Court convenes.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended the Red Mass early in her tenure on the Court, but stopped due to her objection to the use of images of aborted fetuses during a homily opposing abortion.
Here’s the interior of St. Mathews Cathedral.
Don’t put that BAD JUJU on me! Ever hear that expression? The clue at 1A was: “Fallout from a hex, perhaps,” and it means bad luck, negative energy.
I hope I haven’t told this joke already (too lazy to check). This guy was a real schlemiel — a loser, nothing good ever happened to him — bad juju. But one morning he was having breakfast and he dropped his toast and it landed with the buttered side up! Amazing. He had never had good luck before, so he called the Rabbi and told him what happened and asked: “Does this mean my life is changed now? My bad luck is over?”
The Rabbi said: “I don’t know, but I’m meeting with the Council of Rabbis this week. I’ll ask them.” The Rabbi comes back a few days later, and calls the guy and says: “You’re still a complete loser. Still a hopeless schlemiel.” And the guy says, “But how do you explain that the toast landed with the buttered side up?”
“Yes,” the Rabbi said, “I asked that of the Council. They said you buttered the wrong side of the toast.”
Superman’s mom popped by the puzzle, at 46A: LARA (full name Lara Lor-Van). She was played in “Man of Steel” by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer. So Superman had a Jewish mother! “So maybe you can take ten minutes off from saving the world and call your mother, Mr. Big Shot – would it kill you?”
It was a very good puzzle — hard but doable: a perfect Friday. At 55A “Some hair dressings” was POMADES. How often do you hear that word? Here’s what Wikipedia says: Pomade is a greasy, waxy, or water-based substance that is used to style hair. It lasts longer than most hair-care products, and often requires multiple washes for complete removal. The pomades of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries consisted mainly of bear fat or lard. (Yum!) Lanolin, beeswax, and petroleum jelly have been used in modern pomades.
I’ll let myself out now — don’t get up.
The Wellington Files 