Category Archives: R vs History

Two Toes x 2

by in R Lite, R vs History, Rhino Nifty | Leave a comment

Today is National Chop Sticks Day. Chop Sticks are those skinny sticks you eat with. Rhinos are not good with these utensils, mostly because they don’t pick up enough on a single swipe. We are not Dainty Diners.

Today also seems a good time for YIR to salute Ms. Euphemia Amelia Nightingale Allen, who wrote the composition for piano popularly known as Chop Sticks. That was in 1877, when she was 16 years old. It was Ms. Allen’s first and last published work.

Few Rhinos excel at the piano, mostly because the keys are too narrow. There may be other limitations, but one is all it takes..

Extreme Transportation

by in Naturally Speaking, R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 2 Comments

Kansas became a state January 30, 1861, nestled in there among other states and territories on the plains.

Many famous people hail from Kansas, but probably the best known, worldwide, is fictional: namely, Dorothy Gale, the heroine of L. Frank Baum’s American classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy gets relocated to Oz by a cyclone.

As you might conclude, Kansas has some serious weather challenges. Ask any Kansan.

Nevermore

by in Plain and simple, R Mindset, R vs History | 4 Comments

January 29, 1845 Mr. Edgar Allan Poe published his poem, “The Raven”. It has been popular ever since, all weird and churning with foreboding. Mr. Poe is a Rhino favorite.

The quote provided is stimulating to Us Rhinos. We are not sure it is possible for Rhinos to lose something We have trouble defining or locating.

We probably have Minds, at least We assume so. But don’t ask Us to point to where they are kept.

Michiganians, Unite!

by in R Outlook, R vs History | Leave a comment

Michigan joined the USA in 1837, and a good thing too. It’s made up of two large peninsulas, and has frontage on three of the Great Lakes. Michigan had the most shoreline of any state, up until 1959, when Alaska signed up.

Michigan is called the Wolverine State, not because of all the resident wolverines, but as a jeer from Ohioans who had some problem with Michiganders. Nobody seems quite sure that wolverines have ever been native to Michigan. They are the largest of the weasel family, and a belligerent bunch. Apparently, Michiganites liked the name, and kept it.

Michigan is very beautiful, and Rhinos prefer the Upper Peninsula, which is not as crowded as the Lower. More room to stroll around.

Whoopsidaisies!

by in Naturally Speaking, R Life Lessons, R vs History | Leave a comment

Rhinos have issues with assuming that fruits, particularly Bananas, are not cunning, capable of sly activities. Few other plants of our experience seem to harbor ulterior motives.

But it is suspicious that Bananas play a role in so many mishaps, both funny and occasionally, fatal. Are We just supposed to believe that all is normal?

Is it safe to conclude that Bananas operate without intentions? It is a Fruity Question, worthy of Consideration.

Striking Oyl!

by in R Lite, R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 2 Comments

One Hundred Years ago today (!), Mr. Elzie C. Segar introduced Castor Oyl to his cartoon strip, Thimble Theatre. Castor was the older brother of Olive Oyl, and son to Cole and Nana Oyl.

It was not until nine years later that Popeye the Sailor made his first appearance in the same strip, sweeping Olive Oyl off her feet.

If you thumb back to December 9, 2019, you will see that YIR has dealt with Mr. Segar before. Rhinos everywhere are still chuckling.

Scrolling Along

by in R Attitude, R Philosophy, R vs History | Leave a comment

We are all aware that Eratosthenes of Cyrene was a brilliant astronomer, mathematician, poet, geographer and music theorist. All very impressive, his accomplishments.

What you may not recall is that he was also the Chief Librarian of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Obviously the sort of place where Rhinos are influential.

In fact, it was Eratosthenes who is famous for inventing the imperative suggestion shown, the Greek equivalent of “Shhhh!”.