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Wherefore Were You, Errol?

13 Nov

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tadpoles-swamp-canada_62585_990x742worldmap_platypus

trip1-21

— Tim

 
22 Comments

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  1. Gentleman Tim

    November 14, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Monotremes are involved.

     

    • Tina

      November 15, 2014 at 8:58 pm

      My solution to the puzzle is in spam and I wonder why?
      Submitted it 3 hours ago.

       

    • Tina

      November 15, 2014 at 9:02 pm

      I try it again maybe this time it will go through?

      In late 1920 Prof. Flynn took a journey with family to England. They traveled from Hobart to Sydney (3rd picture) then to England with a stop over in South Africa in Durban (see crest).
      Prof. Flynn had to deliver to England – London Zoo – some rare species of duck-billed platypuses – native to Tasmania – and Errol collected a bucket of tadpoles (second picture) and fed them to the platypuses – naturally there were consequences for good old Errol.
      The last picture is maybe in Sydney but what?

       

  2. zacal

    November 14, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Are those Monotremes in the underwater picture? I see Tasmania. Is it the Great Dividing Range?

     

    • Gentleman Tim

      November 14, 2014 at 11:45 pm

      It’s a tale of two continents, zacal. beginning in Australia and ending up in _____ . Those are not monotremes (nor metronomes!) above, but they’re equally key to the story, one of Errol’s earliest.

       

      • Gentleman Tim

        November 15, 2014 at 7:02 pm

        Here’s more on the monotreme, zacal:

        1) They’ve been said to be the strangest creature on earth – aside from humans, of course.

        2) They’re venomous.

        3) When first seen in Europe, it was thought to be a hoax.

        4) They’re one of only two mammals to use electroreception.

        5) They have no stomachs.

        6) Through his Dad, Errol knew them well. Had some as “pets” and once took a big trip with some of them.

        [img]http://australiananimaladaptations.wikispaces.com/file/view/platypus_logo.jpg/71617713/374×217/platypus_logo.jpg[/img]

         

  3. Gentleman Tim

    November 15, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    [img]http://www.fad.co.za/Resources/symbols/dbn_coat_of_arms_small.jpg[/img]

     

  4. Gentleman Tim

    November 15, 2014 at 10:19 pm

    Terrific, Tina! Welcome back!! You got it!!!

    Errol was indeed in Durban, South Africa, Tina – Feeding Durbanian tadpoles to Prof. Flynn’s Down Underian platypi!

    The first and last photos above includes the official coat-of-arms of Durban, with the wonderful Latin expression “Debile Principium Melior Fortuna Sequitur” – which I understand translates to “Better Fortune Follows a Humble Beginning”.

    Yes, the second is a sensational National Geographic photo is of tadpoles. The third, however, is not intended to be Sydney, but, rather, a graphic of where platypuses are found – only in Eastern Australia, I believe.

    Finally, the fourth. Well, it turns out Durban was legendary for the Zulu-rickshaws. From what I’ve read, it’s pretty certain Errol would have seen these multi-horned Zulu men carting around the colonists. That had to leave some impression on Errol!

    [img]http://www.ezakwantu.com/Zulu%20Ricksha%2021.jpg[/img]

    Still got them today, but these new ones appear to be more Disney in nature perhaps and/or parodies of the ones in Errol’s childhood:

    [img]http://blog.ulwazi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ricksha.jpg[/img]

     

  5. David DeWitt

    November 15, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    The spam filters work automatically, but sometimes flag comments that don’t belong in the spam category. Usually, it has to do with links. :-)

     

  6. Texas Gal

    February 20, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    The title of this topic makes no sense. “Why were you, Errol Flynn?”?? Wherefore doesn’t mean where!

     

    • David DeWitt

      February 20, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      Maria, please take a look at the Comment Guidelines.

       

      • Maria

        February 21, 2015 at 6:54 pm

        Moi?

         

        • Gentleman Tim

          February 21, 2015 at 9:22 pm

          As Mr. Shakespeare (or whatever his real name may have been) once also very famously wrote – in the very scene we’ve been discussing – “What’s in a name?”

          … Well, Will – or should I say Earl De Vere – sometimes quite a lot!

          [img]http://corvallistoday.com/corvalliscommunitypages/images_sounds/shaklogo.gif[/img]

           

        • David DeWitt

          February 21, 2015 at 9:26 pm

          Ha, ha! I meant Texas Gal! Sorry, Maria!

           

    • Gentleman Tim

      February 20, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      O, Texas Girl, wherefore art thou? It’s just a playful play on words from a play by Billy Shakespeare. “Wherefore” does indeed mean much more than just “where” young Errol was; it includes for what purpose and doing what deeds, as well.

      Quoting the great playwright B. S. further:

      Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

      O be some other word!

      … Much ado about nothing, T.G. – as they used to sing on the Pinafore:

      [img]http://www.scoreexchange.com/png/scores/9/3/7/154739/0/1.png[/img]

       

      • Texas Gal

        February 20, 2015 at 11:25 pm

        Hi, Tim. Wherefore only means why and never where. But that’s ok. People make that mistake all the time!

         

        • Gentleman Tim

          February 21, 2015 at 1:01 am

          I never said it meant “when”, Texas Gal. Where did you get that from?

          Wherefore can and does in my post refer to more than “why” or “where”, Texas Gal. Wherefore are you coming from regarding this? – and your bamboo raft question/challenge a couple of days ago?? No one else expressed any difficulty understanding the quiz, or the bamboo raft articles.

          Wherefore And Why: youtu.be/vf-mk_8uh-8…

           

          • Texas Gal

            February 21, 2015 at 1:58 am

            So sorry, Tim. I meant to write that wherefore never means “where.” It’s a common mistake about the word wherefore, but your topic is still fun!

             

            • Gentleman Tim

              February 21, 2015 at 4:26 am

              All’s swell that ends swell, Texas Gal.

              Good to remember that Shakespeare often deliberately employed a lot of latitude and multiple intents in his use of language, and that, more than any man in literary history, made up words and usages of words. Though I can’t know exactly or for certain what was in Shakey’s head, I believe what Juliet is asking (herself, as she knows not where Romeo physically is at the time) is “Where is your head and where are you headed with this romance, Romeo?”. Thus, in this context, “why” is an insufficient translation for “wherefore”. IMO, “where” – in the emotional sense – is much more accurate. … Needless to say, Billy was extraordinarily good with words and word play – very frequently allowing his words to have multiple possible meanings. As the old saying goes: Every why has a wherefore – or should we say here: Every wherefore has a why.

              (btw, by design, the definition of “For What Purpose” for “Wherefore” in the post title above, works well for the quiz.)

              www.thefreedictionary.com…

              I link wherefore I am.

               

              • shangheinz

                February 22, 2015 at 9:00 pm

                I’d suggest “Wherefore weret yhou there for, Erroleo?” for a title.

                 

                • Gentleman Tim

                  February 22, 2015 at 9:23 pm

                  Excellentheth suggestioneth. I must brush up my De Vere, bardofviennaheinz! Perhaps I’ll start by learning this little Elizabethan ditty here, with someth very apropoeth verseth for this particular Errolean posteth:

                   

                • Gentleman Tim

                  February 22, 2015 at 10:48 pm

                  [img]http://media0.giphy.com/media/hnNQmfZyf9yhO/200w.gif[/img]

                  [img]http://media3.giphy.com/media/ZwkwxQTbcNtJe/200w.gif[/img]

                  [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CbQUPJ99KU/To2YL-WFqjI/AAAAAAAAEZU/AZOn4iI4HxY/s1600/beepend.jpg[/img]