No Weasels, Please - 11 February 2022 - Plague Journal Day 701

Micah 6:8
Job 32:18-20
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On 11 February 1938, the BBC broadcast the world's first science fiction TV program, Karel Čapek's “R.U.R.” This Czech play's abbreviated title stands for “Rossum's Universal Robots,” introducing the word “robot” to the English language. (Note that Robot comes from the word for Worker in the various Slavic languages.)
This was the beginning of the BBC's long commitment to science fiction on television. Now one can only hope they'll do something to save Doctor Who from the pit into which it's been thrown and continues to dig deeper.

Speaking, though, of good science fiction, today also marks the 96th birthday of Leslie Nielsen, that fabulous Canadian/American actor who starred in Forbidden Planet. Of course, no Nielsen filmography would be complete without a mention of Men With Brooms. Both of those films are highly recommended.

Today's freewrite prompt word is Pop

As a Michigander, that to me is what in many other States would be called soda. When I say soda I either mean soda water or baking soda. On occasion we might say soda pop, just to be inclusive, and I suppose that's a good thing, but just plain pop is the norm.

Of course there's also the effect that all that carbonation has on one's GI system - making one feel ready to pop. (Perhaps that's the source of the term?) Just imagine being chased by that pincushion man when in such a state.

An in closing, there's also the usage of Pop to mean one's father. I never called Dad Pop, but I know there are folks who do. Just a few days ago the New Yorker calendar served up this reminder of how one ought to approach one's demise:

I'm very glad that Dad had his affairs in order. We can only with he had all the stuff his house in such a state. Ah well, it makes for fun discoveries of things long forgotten - like cancelled checks from the 1960s. Fun times, eh?

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.