Eldorado, originally, the legendary ruler of an Indian town near Bogotá, who was believed to plaster his naked body with gold dust during festivals, then plunge into Lake Guatavita to wash off the dust after the ceremonies; his subjects threw jewels and golden objects into the lake.  Spanish conquistadores heard the tale before 1530, and one of them reported that he had visited Eldorado himself in a city called Omagua.  In 1538 Spaniards from the Caribbean and from Peru and Germans from Venezuela converged on the Bogotá highlands in search of the “gilded man.” No trace of him was found, but the area remained under Spanish rule.  As the search continued into the Orinoco and Amazon valleys, Eldorado came to mean an entire fabulous country of gold, with legendary cities named Manoa and Omagua. In this quest, Gonzalo Pizarro crossed the Andes from Quito (1539), Francisco de Orellana sailed down the Napo and the Amazon (1541–42), and Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada explored eastward from Bogotá (1569–72).   Sir Walter Raleigh searched for Manoa in the Orinoco lowlands (1595), while Spaniards sought Omagua nearby.  In 1603 the Portuguese Pêro Coelho de Sousa explored northward from Pernambuco, and the golden city of Eldorado was shown on maps of Brazil and the Guianas for years thereafter.  Eldorado was only one of the many mythical regions of great riches—Cíbola, Quivira, the City of the Caesars, and Otro Méjico being among the others.  The search for these led to the rapid exploration and conquest of much of the Americas by Spaniards and others.  Since then, Eldorado has come to mean any place where wealth can be quickly and easily gained.  The name was given to towns in Latin America and the United States and to a California county.  The story is often mentioned in literature, as in Milton’s Paradise Lost and Voltaire’s Candide.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eldorado-legendary-country      

 

Frank Sinatra said of actor Robert Mitchum, "For anyone who's not a professional musician, he knows more about music, from Bach to Brubeck, than any man I've ever known."   Mitchum's voice was often used instead of that of a professional singer when his character sang in his films.  Notable productions featuring Mitchum's own singing voice included Pursued, Rachel and the Stranger, One Minute to Zero, The Night of the Hunter, The Sundowners, and Maria's Lovers.   He sang the title song to Young Billy Young and River of No Return.   Mitchum recorded two albums.  After hearing traditional calypso music and meeting artists such as Mighty Sparrow and Lord Melody while filming Fire Down Below and Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison in the Caribbean islands of Tobago, he recorded Calypso–is like so . . . .   On the album, released through Capitol Records in March 1957, he emulated the calypso sound and style, even adopting the style's unique pronunciations and slang.  A year later, he recorded "The Ballad of Thunder Road", a song he had written for the film Thunder Road.  The country-style song became a modest hit for Mitchum, reaching number 62 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in September 1958.   Although Mitchum continued to use his singing voice in his film work, he waited until 1967 to record his follow-up record, That Man, Robert Mitchum, Sings.  The album, released by Nashville-based Monument Records, took him further into country music and featured songs similar to "The Ballad of Thunder Road".   "Little Old Wine Drinker Me", the first single, was a top-10 hit on country radio, reaching number nine there, and crossed over into mainstream radio, where it peaked at number 96.  Its follow-up, "You Deserve Each Other", also charted on the Billboard Country Singles chart.  Mitchum was nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1968.     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mitchum   

Balderdash  noun 

1590s, of obscure origin despite much 19c. conjecture; in early use "a jumbled mix of liquors" (milk and beer, beer and wine, etc.); by 1670s as "senseless jumble of words."  Perhaps from dash and the first element perhaps cognate with Danish balder "noise, clatter" (see boulder).  "But the word may be merely one of the numerous popular formations of no definite elements, so freely made in the Elizabethan period" [Century Dictionary].   https://www.etymonline.com/word/balderdash     

Historically, the name Royd can be associated with the geographical features of England, particularly in regions where land clearing was common.  It appears in various place names and surnames throughout England, indicating its significance in the context of land ownership and rural life.  Old English: 'red' or 'ruddy'; English: 'royal'.  The name has been documented in historical records since the medieval period, with references found in texts from the 12th century onward. https://parentingpatch.com/baby-names/Royd/  Ravenroyd, a medieval house once lived in by the Muser’s ancestors, is still standing.   

On October 24: 

1590 – John White, the governor of the second Roanoke Colony, returns to England after an unsuccessful search for the "lost" colonists.

1885 – The Russian ship Dmitry ran aground in Whitby, an incident that inspired the arrival of Count Dracula to England in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel (cover pictured).

1929 – On "Black Thursday", the New York Stock Exchange lost 11 percent of its value at the opening bell on very heavy trading, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_24    

October 24, 2025

The capybaraor greater capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent, native to South America.  It is a member of the genus Hydrochoerus.  Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the nutria.  The capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests, and lives near bodies of water.  It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as one hundred individuals, but usually live in groups of 10–20 individuals.  The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin.   Izu Shaboten Zoo and other zoos in Japan have prepared hot spring baths for capybaras.  Video clips of the bathing capybaras have gained millions of views.  The capybaras have influenced an anime character named Kapibara-san, and a series of merchandise such as plush toys.   Capybaras have long been a figure in meme culture, particularly in the 2020s.  In 2022, Peronists in Argentina presented them as figures of class struggle after the disturbances in Nordelta.   Common meme formats pair capybaras with the song "After Party" by Don Toliver.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara   

Sandra Lynn Brown, née Cox (born March 12, 1948) is an American bestselling author of romantic novels and thriller suspense novels.  Brown has also published works under the pen names of Rachel Ryan, Laura Jordan, and Erin St. Claire.  Sandra Brown was born in Waco, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth.  She majored in English at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, but left college in 1968 to marry.  After her marriage, Brown worked for KLTV in Tyler as a weathercaster, then returned to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area where she became a reporter for WFAA-TV's version of PM Magazine.  Brown started her writing career in 1981 after her husband dared her to.   Since then, she has published nearly 70 novels and had more than 50 New York Times bestsellers.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Brown    

The World Heritage List includes 1248 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.  These include 972 cultural, 235 natural and 41 mixed properties in 170 States Parties.  As of October 2024, 196 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.   Find list of World Heritage sites at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/

People use the terms dolphins, porpoises, and whales to describe marine mammals belonging to the order Cetacea (from the Greek work ketos, “large sea creature”), and often use them interchangeably.  The orca, or killer whale, for example, is actually the largest member of the dolphin family.  Dolphins are by far more prevalent than porpoises.  Most scientists agree that there are 32 dolphin species (plus five closely related species of river dolphin) and only six porpoise species.  So what’s the difference?  It essentially comes down to their faces (who can forget Flipper’s famous “grin”?), their fins, and their figures.  Dolphins tend to have prominent, elongated “beaks” and cone-shaped teeth, while porpoises have smaller mouths and spade-shaped teeth.  The dolphin’s hooked or curved dorsal fin (the one in the middle of the animal’s back) also differs from the porpoise’s triangular dorsal fin.  Generally speaking, dolphin bodies are leaner, and porpoises’ are portly.  https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/dolphin_porpoise.htmlK    

October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 71 days remain until the end of the year.

1858 – French composer Jacques Offenbach's operetta Orpheus in the Underworld, featuring the music most associated with the can-can (audio featured), was first performed at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris. 

1959 – The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, opened in New York City.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_21    

For much of Harper Lee’s life, “To Kill a Mockingbird” stood alone as her only major work; her first and, apparently, last novel, narrated by a voice so clear and coherent it seemed impossible that it was her only output.  Then came “Go Set a Watchman,” published shortly before Lee’s death and initially heralded as a sequel, but subsequently seen as more of an early draft of her most famous work than as a new, standalone novel.  So, when eight short stories by Lee were discovered in her New York apartment after she died, it marked an important milestone.  Here, finally, was a chance to discover how Lee’s distinctive voice was honed in the years before she wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird.”  These short stories will be published for the first time on October 21, 2025 in a collection titled “The Land of Sweet Forever,” accompanied by an introduction by Casey Cep, Lee’s biographer.  For much of Harper Lee’s life, “To Kill a Mockingbird” stood alone as her only major work; her first and, apparently, last novel, narrated by a voice so clear and coherent it seemed impossible that it was her only output.  https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/20/style/harper-lee-short-stories-published-intl-scli    

October 21, 2025

Tropaeolum (commonly known as nasturtium ( literally "nose-twister" or "nose-tweaker"), is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants.  It was named by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum and is the only genus in the family Tropaeolaceae.  The nasturtiums received their common name because they produce an oil similar to that of watercress (Nasturtium officinale).  Tropaeolum, native to South and Central America, includes several very popular garden plants, the most common being T. majus, T. peregrinum and T. speciosum. One of the hardiest species is T. polyphyllum from Chile, the perennial roots of which can survive the winter underground at elevations of 3,300 metres (11,000 ft).  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum    

Barry Knapp Bostwick (born February 24, 1945) is an American actor.  He is best known for portraying Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City (1996–2002).  Bostwick has also had considerable success in musical theatre, winning a Tony Award for his role in The Robber Bridegroom and performing the role of Danny Zuko in the original Broadway production of Grease.  Bostwick attended San Diego's United States International University in 1967, majoring in acting, got his start on the Hillbarn Theatre stage now located in Foster City, and worked for a time as a circus performer.  He also attended NYU's Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1968.  Bostwick was a member of First National Nothing, who released one album, 1970's If You Sit Real Still and Hold My Hand, You Will Hear Absolutely Nothing. The album describes them as "A rock-theater commune made up of musicians, actors, dancers, singers, designers, writers, composers, and friends that started a long, long time ago as a lost tribe in California and has ended up as a theatrical performing company in New York City."  In 1970, Bostwick was a member of a pop band called The Klowns, assembled and promoted by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose members performed wearing stylized clown makeup and costumes.  Their sole album, released in 1970, was produced by Jeff Barry, and generated a minor Billboard hit single, "Lady Love."   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bostwick  Thank you, reader.    

Peanut butter is a food paste or spread made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts.  It commonly contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners, or emulsifiers.  Consumed in many countries, it is the most commonly used of the nut butters, a group that also includes cashew butter and almond butter.  Peanut butter is a nutrient-rich food containing high levels of protein, several vitamins, and dietary minerals.  It is typically served as a spread on bread, toast, or crackers and used to make sandwiches (notably the peanut butter and jelly sandwich).  It is also used in a number of breakfast dishes and desserts, such as granola, smoothies, crepes, cookies, brownies, or croissants.  The earliest references to peanut butter can be traced to Aztec and Inca civilizations, who ground roasted peanuts into a paste. The Bainbridge Post-Searchlight reports that 16th-century Aztecs used peanut paste for aching gums.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_butter   Thank you, reader.    

Sept. 25, 2025  Quiz Barry Bostwick about his character motivations and movements as the straitlaced Brad Majors in the 1975 midnight cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and he’ll playfully inform you there wasn’t a whole lot of psychology going on in his performance while filming during a chilly fall in England.  For example, was it a conscious narrative choice in his opening number of the musical, “Dammit Janet!” that Bostwick’s Brad doesn’t actually touch new fiancée Janet Weiss until grabbing her in the first verse and earnestly stating, “Damn it, Janet, I love you”?  “We weren't even thinking about it.  We were probably just trying to stay warm,” Bostwick says, laughing.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/09/25/rocky-horror-picture-show-movie-barry-bostwick/86229022007/     

The Window; or, The Songs of the Wrens is a song cycle by Arthur Sullivan with words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  Written in 1867, it was eventually published in 1871.  There are multiple versions of the title:  On the cover of the 1871 edition, the subtitle is given as "The Loves of the Wrens", however, "Songs of the Wrens" is used on the frontispiece and is the one generally used.  The songs in the cycle tell the story of the hopes and fears of a lover over many months until his wedding day in the spring.  George Grove, the secretary of The Crystal Palace, originally suggested a collaboration between Tennyson and Sullivan on a German-style song cycle, in English, but similar to Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin. Grove was a friend of Sullivan's and an early promoter of his music.  An English-language narrative song cycle, like Schubert's, was a novelty.  John Everett Millais agreed to illustrate the poems for a hardbound volume.  On October 17, 1866, Grove and Sullivan dined with Tennyson at his home on the Isle of Wight, where they began to discuss the piece.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Window_(song_cycle) 

Hoover hog (plural Hoover hogs)  noun  (US, especially Southern US)  An animal which is eaten by poor people during hard times, especially an armadillo or jackrabbit, but also a possum or squirrel.  United States President Herbert Hoover died on October 20, 1964.   

October 20, 2025