Richard Scaramelli

[From Gus] I made up this puzzle after visiting a Temple in Bali where numerous monkeys were stealing objects from the visitors: glasses, hats, flip-flops, cameras - anything they could get their hands on. The question I posed was: What motivates the monkeys to steal the visitors' possessions?



Gus, Methinks the issue is mere transactionalism, or more academically, operant conditioning: the original monkey was "rewarded" for his discovery/thievery by a guide's "bribe" -- a banana, a mango, a shiny bauble, etc.  This handy life lesson was then picked up the community of monkeys, who added further refinements, such as a purloined cell phone being "worth" more bananas than a wide brim straw hat. ("Scratch my back, and I'll scratch your Bali")
To see what this thievery looks like, watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4X7o8yGQ9E

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Contest #2.  Write a clerihew (Edmund Clerihew Bentley, 1875-1956) about a well-known person (e.g., Presidential Candidate or High School teacher/Principal).

WINNER #1 (Presidential Candidate):  Richard Scaramelli

  We went to sea for Poseidon,
 But all we found was Joe Biden,
 When asked, "Where's the God?"
 He replied, "Speak to Garland, Blinken and Nod."  

NEW!!!

Richard enjoys using the seldom-seen clerihew to enrich current events. He shares these notables from the summer of ’26.

Todd Blanche

Caused us to look askance,

When he extended the law’s reach

To seashells on the beach.

Senator Susan Collins

Was seen to be a-fallin’,

She was saved from afar

By the Secretary of War,

Who sent a drone filled with testosterone.

Senator Rand Paul

Was mightily appalled,

Scouring the diary of Dr. Fauci

To find only a course in Tai-chi.

They said that Georgia Meloni

Was oh-so full of baloney,

Until it came to our notice

How much had originated with POTUS.

Natalie Harp

Grew a bit sharp,

When Ossoff suggested

POTUS transgressed her.