The Reign of Oobleck and the Prosecution of Glurch

Who could have known?


For the past eight years the United States has had a secret dictator. The memorandums from the Office of Legal Council show that was the case without reservation. At first I was appalled when I heard this, and we should be. But as I was reading one of Okie Book Woman's blogs I ran across a much better metaphor for the Bush/Cheney/Rove administration. It is the Oobleck.

"Oobleck is a fictional green precipitation invented by children's author Dr. Seuss in the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. The word has since been used to describe a mixture of corn starch and water used to demonstrate the dilatant property of non-Newtonian fluids. Oobleck is also known in the United Kingdom as "goop" or "gloop" in many primary and nursery schools."

"The word has since been used to describe a substance that is used as a science aid to teach children about liquids and solids. This oobleck is created from cornstarch and water in a ratio between 2:1 and 3:2. Though initially it acts like a viscous liquid, applying pressure quickly will make it appear to be a solid for a short time. The oobleck also behaves unlike conventional solids or liquid when thrown in the air, molded, heated, or vibrated.
Oobleck readily demonstrates the dilatant effect, which means it becomes more viscous when agitated or compressed. Oobleck contains polymers (a form of pseudoplastic)."

"But just as intriguing is a parallel material called : Glurch. Glurch is the nickname given to a polymer substance created in many middle school science courses. It consists of starch, glue and food coloring. It is used to show the process of polymerization. "

source : Wikipedia

After thinking about this for a bit, I think Ooblick describes the Bush usurping of the Constitution best, but I prefer Glurch as the most accurate descriptor of Karl Rove. Glurch has an added component, the glue. Because Karl has been dumb to "stick" around after the apostasy is over, he should be the Glurch. Now if I could just get Rachel Maddow to use the term for Rove we would be doing the world a favor.

Indeed as the criminal prosecution of the Ooblick (Bush era) criminals takes place the Seuss book will help parents explain what is happening to their children. Indeed it may even help explain it to themselves.

We tend to gorget that before he went off to war and came back to write children's books Seuss was a political cartoonist. I think he would appreciate my reference to the Ooblick/Glurch.

Dr. Seuss was a genius on many levels, we morn his passing and praise his permanent contribution to our vocabulary, literature, and political concepts.

Check these out:

http://okiebookwoman.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-birthday-party.html

http://www.sarameade.blogspot.com/

http://www.susanameyers.blogspot.com/