Ok, I'm thinking of a small town just north of Tacoma, Fife. PM me your limericks and I'll post them. I'll give you about 3 weeks to get them to me so I can post them towards the end of July. So get cracking.

sent mine

Got it, Bob. Anyone else? It took Bob only a few hours after I posted the game. What are the rest of you slowpokes waiting for?

quote:

Originally posted by tinman:
Got it, Bob. Anyone else? It took Bob only a few hours after I posted the game. What are the rest of you slowpokes waiting for?

Just been in a poetry mood recently.

https://www.youtube.com/channe...0dHf6UsrxY01TqQ3J64A

Geoff and Hab have submitted their limericks. Anyone else?

It seems that the rest have runnoft! sigh...

Sorry about the delay. Mine is on the way.

I hope I am pronouncing it right.

BTW, sorry for your heat there in the Northwest, Tinman!

quote:

Originally posted by Kalleh:
BTW, sorry for your heat there in the Northwest, Tinman!

So You caused that! It's cooled down considerably now, thank you very much.

There are 10 people on the forums now, in addition to me. Instead of lurking in the background, why don't you post something, perhaps a limerick? It isn't really very difficult.

Nine of them are probably bots.

I've submitted another one. Kalleh can have it if she wants.

Got it, Geoff.
So far Hab, Bob, you, and Kalleh are the only ones to submit any. Anyone else care to try? It's not difficult. I've written several myself, though some aren't very good, others just plain stink, but some I think are pretty good.

So give it a try. Possibilities are rife, so avoid the strife, you and your wife, enjoy the high-life, shun the lowlife, and the old fishwife, put away your knife, and lead the good life.

Have a nice life!

Who else is left besides Shufitz and B35?

I'll nudge Shu.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
Who else is left besides Shufitz and B35?

Well, there are 405 members and 32 of them, including me, are online right now. They're all "left."

I've not seen more than three members here at once lately, and usually it's just me. How do you determine who's on?

I see Richard English is back. Maybe he'll submit a couple.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
I've not seen more than three members here at once lately, and usually it's just me. How do you determine who's on?

Sadly those numbers shown on the screen are meaningless as they include spiders and bots which are just software not people.

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:
Sadly those numbers shown on the screen are meaningless as they include spiders and bots which are just software not people.

I didn't know that. So the screen lists 2 members (Geoff and me) and 27 phantoms. Is the membership number of 405 correct?

Hi tinman! Sent you one.

Got it.

quote:

Originally posted by tinman:

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:
Sadly those numbers shown on the screen are meaningless as they include spiders and bots which are just software not people.

I didn't know that. So the screen lists 2 members (Geoff and me) and 27 phantoms. Is the membership number of 405 correct?

That I don't know. It depends on how the software providers decided to calculate it. I suspect that it includes everybody who ever registered (and wordcraft has been around quite a long time) even the ones who registered and never posted.
I can tell you that if you look at the list available when you post a private message it only show 75 people and many of them haven't been around for decades. And if you click on find new buddies it lists aver 900 members.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,

So, there's somewhere from under 75 to over 900 members. That narrows it down. Thanks, Bob.

Perhaps we need to worry about participants, not obscure numbers of "members."

Have you got enough of them to post, Tinman?

I just got another one from Hab. I was hoping Shu would chime in, but no luck so far. So far you, Hab, Bob, Kalleh, and B3 have submitted limericks. I'd like a few more people to enter. CJ's out there somewhere. He should be able to come up with something. I'll post what I have later this week, probably Wednesday or Thursday.

B3 just sent in another one. I was hoping CJ, Richard, and Shu would deign to respond. Perhaps it's beyond their capabilities. I'll post what I have Thursday.

I've revised mine, so check before posting.

Got it, Geoff. Any others? I'll post them tomorrow, so hurry.

Okay, all you would-be poet laureates here are the entries. Pick the one you think is best. Those of you who couldn't be bothered to submit a limerick can at least vote. I hope I didn't forget anyone. Let the voting begin.

1
There once was a fellow of Fife
Who took a baboon as his wife.
Said he, "It's a pity
That she's not very pretty
But I'm certain we'll have a wild life."

2
There was a Wee Cooper o' Fife
Who had gotten a gentle wife
Then a song by Burl Ives
Did change both of their lives
(Though he used a sheep's skin, not a knife)

3
Miss Elanor Rigby of Fife
Had wanted a man in her life
Until Emmy Lou Glick
Donned a silicone dick
Now Elanor's Emmy Lou's wife

4
A young man who once lived in Fife
Decided to find him a wife
She had to be healthy
And, of course, wealthy
To sustain his extravagant life.

5
The premise, says my girl from Fife,
For one day becoming my wife:
“I sleep-- though you’re dear--
“With my button-in-ear
“Brown Paddington teddy from Steiff.”

6
In the game that they call Second Life
I've a house and three kids and a wife
But the best bit, I'd claim
I can turn off the game
Which I can't in my real life in Fife.

7
Back in the '60s in Fife
When sex and drugs were both rife
I'd toke every day
And roll in the hay
I had the time of my life

8
There once was a laddie of Fife
Who loved playing drums all his life
But Major McDougal
Said, "Laddie, play bugle"
Which led to cacophonous strife

9
There’s report of a shark near Fife:
Some old killer come back to life
With teeth pearly-white
And a blade out of sight--
Could that someone be Mac the Knife?

10
Near Tacoma's a suburb called Fife,
Where I met my cacophonous wife.
We wed in Seattle,
Though since: it's just prattle
And gossip and whine - oh what strife!

11
Worms have a wonderful life
I happened to see some in Fife
They mate willy-nilly
Until they are silly
And both are both husband and wife

12
Brought my girl friend to Paris from Fife
To climb up the Tower of Eif-
Fel right up to the top
And there I did pop
The big question: "Would you be my wife?

13
An old man whose home was in Fife
When he found the elixir of life
Said, "I'd give it a try
But I'm worried that I
Might have to share with my wife."

14
A Puyallup fellow of Fife
Took a widow Chinook as his wife
She kept as a totem
Her late husband's scrotum
Ensuring no domestic strife

15
There once was a man from Fife
Whose girl would spice up his life
They would just screw
For an hour or two
Then he'd go home to his wife

16
Miss Elanor Rigby of Fife
Had longed for a man in her life
'Til a lady named Nell
Cast a magical spell
Now she's another dame's wife

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tinman,

11

Some very good ones here. I'll go ape and choose #1. It gave me the best chuckle, though I think #11 is the cleverest.

Something interesting to me: Two of us referenced dead singers (Burl Ives and Bobby Darin) and two used "cacophony" in one way or another. Who woulda thunk?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Geoff,

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
Two of us referenced dead singers (Burl Ives and The Beatles)

Hey wait a minute, Bobby Darin would be the other dead singer. Paul McCartney's still kicking.

Great show all, & thank you tinman! Even ranked-choice voting would be difficult for me – I’d prefer a run-off. My faves are #1, #11, and #14. #11 is not only clever, it scans perfectly, and the clever part is highlighted with repetition and a nice little meter bump. #14 is close to perfect, and funny, and ribald-- but you have to say “DO-mestic strife.” Though #1 has some very teeny meter issues, I’m going with it: you’re laughing out loud by line 2 – and there’s something simple and classic about it. NUMBER ONE FOR ME.

OK, Bethree, half of The Beatles. And you could say, "doMEStic" strife as well. Anyway, it doesn't scan as well as the others.

Who woulda thought Fife was sooooo interesting??? I thought one would just go faffing in Fife. Oooh, why didn't I use that?

I never heard of the word faffing before. M-W defines it as "to make a fuss over nothing," and the OED Online as "To fuss, to dither." World Wide Words also has an article on it.
So, I guess I'll quit faffing around and go home.

13 for me.

And shouldn't it be Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill, rather than Bobby Darin?

It has been awhile - and I almost picked my own.

There are some good ones here, but given that I am a meter freak, some of them just don't work.

I love #1 except for that last line.
Same with #7.
I liked #11 too.

And there were other good ones too - but I'll go for #12 because of that great Eiffel Tower rhyme.

quote:

Originally posted by tinman:

I guess I'll quit faffing around and go home.

You're still using the library computer?

The 1950s TV show, "Time for Beanie" briefly had some characters called "faffs," but I can find no reference to them on line. Since the show was on the old kinescope system there appears to be no copy kept of the original shows. Too bad. The show was loaded with puns, parodies and satires that even my eight-year-old mind often understood. Example: The parody of the cop show, "Dragnet" was called "Dragmutt" and Joe Friday was Joe Fido. Headquarters was hindquarters, etc.

What is the kinescope system?

Does anyone remember Winkie Dink?

quote:

Originally posted by Kalleh:
What is the kinescope system?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinescope
And more:https://www.provideocoalition.com/kinescope-recording-televisions-antique-recording-medium/

I've heard the term, "rinky dink," but am not familiar with Winie Dink. Probably, like Time for Beany, mostly local.

I remember Cecil the SeaSick Sea Serpent but that's all...

As someone who isn't American, I have no idea what any of these programs are so I will redress the balance (even if I am the only one here who will know what I am talking about.)

Noggin The Nog
Captain Pugwash
Pinky and Perky
Hector's House
Tales of the Riverbank
The Woodentops
Rag, Tag and Bobtail

And now none of you have any idea what I am talking about!

I was tempted to throw in a made up on that never existed but I haven't - all real UK kids shows from the late 50s and early 60s.

I just found the answer to my question: Kukla is the Greek word for "doll"; Greek people often address young girls as Kuklaki mou meaning "my little doll". It also exists as a loanword with the same meaning in Bulgarian, Russian and Albanian, as well as in Turkish with the meaning of "puppet". Kukla's name came from the Russian-American ballerina Tamara Toumanova, who referred to the puppet Per Wikipedia. as a kukla.

Speaking of kiddie shows, was Fran of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie Russian? "Kukla" is Russki for "puppet," IIRC.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Geoff,

So far only 5 people have voted. Doesn't anyone else have an opinion?

Go ahead and post the results, Tinman.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
Speaking of kiddie shows, was Fran of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie Russian? "Kukla" is Russki for "puppet," IIRC.

I don't think either Burr Tlllstrom, the puppeteer, or Fran Allison, his wife and the Fran of KF&O, was Russian. Wouldn't stop either of them for knowing a little Russian, though, or even studying with a Russian puppeteer. It could even be that Kukla is a classical name in Russian Puppetry, as Punch (or Judy) is in English, or Guignol is in French.

Wikipedia

quote:

Kukla remained nameless until the Russian ballerina Tamara Toumanova referred to him as kukla, the Russian word for "doll".

That’s what I get for reading too fast !

quote:

Originally posted by BobHale:


Pinky and Perky

!

We had Pinky Lee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinky_Lee