How old is Dilbert? He showed up on April 16, 1989. Today it is online and in 2,000 newspapers worldwide. There are many characters in Dilbert's world: Pointy-haired Boss, Wally, Alice, Dogbert, Catbert, Asok, Ted, Elbonia and Phil.
Let's go to Elbonia Elbonia is a fictional non-specific under-developed country used when Adams wants "to involve a foreign country without hurting overseas sales". He says "People think I have some specific country in mind when I write about Elbonia, but I don't. It represents the view that Americans have of any country that doesn't have cable television — we think they all wear fur hats and wallow around waist-deep in mud". The entire country wears the same clothing and hats, and all men have full beards. They are occasionally bitter towards their wealthier western neighbors, but are quite happy to trade with them. The whole country is covered in mud, and has limited technology. It is an extremely poor, fourth-world country that has abandoned Communism. The national bird of Elbonia is the Frisbee.
Scott's Adventures In 1997, Scott Adams masqueraded as a management consultant to Logitech executives (as Ray Mebert), with the cooperation of the company's vice-chairman. He acted in much the way that he portrays management consultants in the comic strip, with an arrogant manner and bizarre suggestions, such as comparing mission statements to broccoli soup. He convinced the executives to change their existing mission statement for their New Ventures Group from "provide Logitech with profitable growth and related new business areas" to "scout profitable growth opportunities in relationships, both internally and externally, in emerging, mission-inclusive markets, and explore new paradigms and then filter and communicate and evangelize the findings".
Scott has his favourite 10 Dilbert comic strips of all time. They are HERE in a Financial Post article. Here's his #1 pick:
I had a dream last night and in it Queen Elizabeth II appeared in her Royal Robes. In particular, I wondered about ermine and its white coat. Ermines are a type of weasel with white fur and a black-tipped tail - that's their winter coat. The black-tipped tail takes on great meaning in heraldry.
The Queen's coronation robes featured precious materials including: silk, mantua, satin, damask, sarsnet, cloth-of-gold and ermine. Needlework is of the finest detail. An encyclopaedic knowledge of the symbolism and history of previous coronations ensures that the coronation robe embraces modernity whilst paying respectful homage to centuries of tradition.
This comes from the website that supplies these special robes to Sovereigns, Peers, and others since 1689. Ede & Ravenscroft says the tradition has barely changed in 1,000 years.
"Ede & Ravenscroft is proud to hold all three Royal Warrants, an honour shared by only a small number of other companies.
We are currently appointed as robe makers and tailors to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and robe makers for both His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales."
Isn't this the most beautiful photo from their website?
And what transpires from all this pomp and circumstance? It becomes the source of satire with Blackadder and his Ermine coat in the episode "Dish and Dishonesty".
Here's the summary: "Blackadder purchases an expensive robe which he believes to be made of ermine fur. Then, however, he discovers a feline's collar decorating the coat which is inscribed with the words "If found, please return to Emma Hamilton, Marine Parade, Portsmouth". Infuriated, Blackadder announces that he is going to a costume party dressed as "Lady Hamilton's pussy!"
Our flower of the day is Echinacea, with the common name Coneflower. This one was at Cole's Garden Centre.
