Plenty of Nothing

Bécassine

This postage stamp, issued in France in 2005, commemorates the hundredth anniversary of the Breton cartoon character Bécassine, who first appeared in a girls' magazine in 1905, a generation before Tintin.  It's also an illustration of how the modern world is not as globalised as we believe.  There are plenty of cultural icons out there who are happy to go on representing national or local identity without the benefit of a Disney contract.

Bruins' Captains

Do you have to be a defenseman to be captain of the Boston Bruins?  No, but it doesn't hurt.  Lionel Hitchman (1927-31), George Owen (1931-32) and Johnny Crawford (1946-50) were all defensemen.  Dit Clapper (captain 1932-38 and 1939-47) was a sometimes defenseman.  Fern Flaman (1955-61) and Leo Boivin (1963-66) were both defensemen.  All-Star defenseman Ray Bourque was captain from 1985 to 2000.  And the present captain Zdeno Chara plays defense.  Which Bruins defenseman was never captain?  Bobby Orr.

Scottish Word of the Day: Oxter

Oxter, n. the armpit; the armhole of a coat, &c.; the breast, bosom. --- v. to go arm in arm; to lead by the arm; to embrace; to take by the arms; to carry under the arm; to elbow.

Oxter-deep, adv. up to the armpits.

Oxterfu', n. an armful.

Oxterfu'-ket, n. a worthless fellow.

Chambers' Scots Dialect Dictionary

Evangeline Brandt "Vexillologist"

Mark Marsters, "Egg-O Baking Powder"

Mark Marsters, "The Best Smoke Made"

Mark Marsters, "Electric Paste"

The Holy Roman Empire Strikes Back

Mark Marsters, "Patterson's Satin Finish"

Evangeline Brandt "Circles of Identity"