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HUMPTY DUMPTY

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For those who love fractured fairytales and entertaining eggheads!


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A BIG HELLO FROM "HUMPTY DUMPTY"!

 

Humpty Dumpty is the central character (an entertaining enigmatic entity to be more precise) in a well-known English language nursery rhyme and riddle.

It's a rather fine story about a thin-skinned thingammybob who sits precariously on a whatchamacallit but has a great fall that leaves him smashed to smithereens. If that isn't bad enough, seems no one in this land full of household heroes, natty know-it-alls, and powerful potentates has the right gizmo or God-given talent needed to mend this mangled, merry-minded munchkin.

Moral to this story: If wearing egg on your face isn't much fun, then trust me, befriending an egghead isn't all that it's cracked up to be either!

A WORD FROM MOM ON MOTHER'S DAY! 

While practically everyone seems to know the story about "Humpty Dumpty" perhaps few know what his mother often said when he was but an outrageously obstreperous ovum:



"Listen up Humpty - if I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times not to sit on that wall. But would you listen to me? Noooo!"

WHO IS HUMPTY DUMPTY? 

There are now 1,700,000 web pages devoted to the tendentious topic of "Humpty Dumpty". Who or what is "Humpty Dumpty"?

According to an 1810 publication, "Humpty Dumpty" was the name of a large cannon used in the Seige of Colchester in 1648. It is said that a shot from a Parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath "Humpty Dumpty" which caused the cannon to tumble to the ground. The Royalists known as 'Cavaliers', (referred to in the nursery rhyme as "all the King's men" attempted to raise "Humpty Dumpty" on to another part of the wall. However, because the cannon was so incredibly heavy, "All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again!" This had a drastic consequence for the Royalists as the strategically important town of Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks.

Still others suggest that "Humpty Dumpty" was a colloquial if not somewhat derogatory term used in 19th century England. In today's politically-correct environment this person might be referred to as "a marginally able, vertically-challenged, person of size", while in academic circles perhaps he is simply called an "egghead".

While it's unlikely that such a colorful character could actually fall off a wall and end up in little pieces (this might depend of course on how high he was from the ground). Physicists probably have a wonderful explanation as to why the answer to the riddle is an egg as opposed to a person. But poets (like Edgar Allen Poe) and people of prose (C.S. Lewis, author of "Through the Looking Glass") found it infinitely more interesting to have a fallible if not fragmented hero.

Pragmatic professionals prefer to interpret this story as a lesson in health and safety issues. They suggest that had a risk assessment been carried out in the first place to identify the potential hazards and had adequate warning signage and safety measures been enacted to mitigate the dangers found in the workplace, (such as the installation of protective matting and/or some sort of harness to restrain Humpty from falling), the organization could have avoided a fatal brain trauma plus internal injuries too numerous to mention, and a multi-million legal suit claiming "gross negligence" launched by grieving family members.

Not happy with this version, some enterprising folks in North America decided to capitalize on the catastrophe. According to them, the solution to the problem lay in chomping chips (as opposed to useless efforts such as crying over spilt milk or figuring out how to put the pieces back together again without any invisible, extra strong-bonding glue).

HUMPTY DUMPTY IN WORDS & SONG 

Humpty dumpty

Nursery Rhymes for Kids

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PITHY PONDERINGS - PART 1 

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HUMPTY DUMPTY IN PROSE & POETRY 

HUMPTY DUMPTY: WHAT'S ALL THIS HOOPLA ABOUT HUMPTY DUMPTY?
All you ever wanted to know about "Humpty Dumpty" but never dared to ask!
HUMPTY DUMPTY: YOU'RE NO NURSERY RHYME
If you're bored with "H.D.", here's another interpretation with a twist.
HUMPTY DUMPTY - THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
C.S. Lewis devotes Chapter 6 in "Through the Looking Glass" to "Humpty Dumpty".
HUMPTY DUMPTY AND THE SPECKLED HEN
A variation on a Mother Goose story by L. Frank Baum involving a Speckled Hen and an egg named "Prince Humpty Dumpty".
WHAT HAPPENED TO HUMPTY DUMPTY?
This pithy piece of poetry tries to answer the age-old question, "What happened to Humpty Dumpty after his fall"?
A PECULIAR PIECE OF POETRY
For those who love to parody the great personalities of poetry, here's one more!
POETRY THAT WON'T LEAVE EGG ON YOUR FACE
An utterly eg(g)regious yet entertaining bit of poetry for pesky people.
THE MEANING OF EGGS
A rather fine list of English language "egg" idioms.
THE HOME OF HUMPTY DUMPTY
Never let it be said that Humpty Dumpty didn't like hops!
HUMPTY DUMPTY SONG LYRICS
A cracking good song about an egghead.

FOR ERUDITE EGGHEADS ONLY! 

Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Globe: Geotales from Around the World

For those who hate geography, this might be the only way they'll figure out where to find Mali, Madagascar or Mongolia!

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 05/17/2008)

Humpty Dumpty: And Other Nursery Rhymes

A wonderful nursery rhyme book for those need to wake up their inner child.

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)

Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again

Humpty Dumpty is not down until the count of ten!

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 05/17/2008)

Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky: With Annotations by Humpty Dumpty

Word wonks will adore the snooty snippets by Humpty Dumpty.

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)

Hope and Change for Humpty Dumpty: Successful Steps to Healing, Growth and Discipleship

Faith, hope and charity are the only way to heal a hurting Humpty Dumpties.

Amazon Price: $18.50 (as of 05/17/2008)

PITHY PONDERINGS - PART 2 

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LET'S HEAR IT FOR "HUMPTY DUMPTY"! 

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall by jnoriko

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall ...

Easter has gotten the better of poor Humpty... by Ti H²O

Splat and that's the end of that!

Humpty Dumpty by justtjack

Humpty in happier days!

DSC00530 by teedollie

Humpty Dumpty also hangs out in gardens!

Humpty Dumpty by abbyjane

A dashing dim-witted dude!

Humpty Dumpty by Fantastic Toys

Take that smirk off your face!

Humpty Dumpty by **Camilla**

The deer-in-the-headlights Humpty Dumpty look.

Humpty Dumpty before the fall... by Redwork in Germany

Humpty before he took a nose-dive!

Humpty-Dumpty by imwithsully

Bald is beautiful!

Humpty_MiniG by Zzzzt!Zzzzt!

No it's not a Leprechaun!

Vintage Humpty Dumpty by *jenny b allsorts

A handmade Humpty Dumpty!

Humpty Dumpty by Comtesse DeSpair

A pensive, pot-bellied personality!

the TRUE story of Humpty Dumpty by johnny nikon

Frankly, Humpty has seen better days.

HUMPTY DUMPTY by travelinfool55

No, it's not a beach bum, it's HD!

Humpty Dumpty by agilitynut

Humpty isn't a happy camper!

Humpty Dumpty before the fall... by javadoug

Is it the Great Pumpkin or Humpty himself?

Humpty Dumpty by milmo

Oh Humpty, where are you?

Humpty Dumpty Sat On A Wall.... by Kat Davis ©

Humpty's never had it so good!

Handsculpted Humpty Dumpty by MiniatureMadness

Look who's King of the Castle!

The Volume Library, Read Description for Copyright by takeabreak

Luckly he took an aspirin for fast relief!

Humpty Dumpty Sat On a Wall by kurki15

Hapless Humpty Dumpty

PITHY PONDERINGS - PART 3 

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TEN THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HUMPTY DUMPTY 

Here are ten things you probably didn't know about "Humpty Dumpty".

As we learn from C.S. Lewis in Chapter 6 of "Through the Looking Glass" "Humpty Dumpty" explains to Alice one important and illuminating piece of logic - that "unbirthdays" outnumbered "birthdays" by 364 to 1. And, that is why it is infinitely more enjoyable to organize a "Happy Unbirthday" party (as many times as one wishes), versus having a "birthday" party (which is celebrated but once a year).

Well now, getting back on track, the following bits of fluff and stuff have one thing in common; they all share the same name. Clearly the moniker "Humpty Dumpty" represents different things do different people.

Besides being the central character in a maudlin munchkin fairytale, "Humpty Dumpty" is the name of:

1. An American salty snack food manufacturer.

2. An Enchanted Learning Software product.

3. An American association that advocates brain injury prevention through the World Safety Clown Guild, and an American institute whose innovative and successful business entrepreneur membership tackles tough international problems -- to "put the pieces together" by creating unique public-private partnerships.

4. A pinball database and machine.

5. The title of a song.

6. The name of a beetle found in dry, warm climates.

7. A New-York based nursery school.

8. An Italian web design company.

9. An Australian foundation that raises funds for children's hospitals.

10. The title of a magazine published by the Children's Better Health Institute.

LIGHT-HEARTED LESSONS LEARNED FROM HUMPTY DUMPTY 

There are five valuable lessons to be learned from the cautionary tale of "Humpty Dumpty".

1. It's not advisable to sit on wall unless you are wearing a hard hat and a safety harness, not to mention installed a fall-mat to reduce the risk of head trauma and internal injuries from a fall.

2. Choose your career path carefully; eggheads break easily when under the pressure of any kind.

3. Buy a comprehensive liability and medical insurance policy, that way the insurance companies, lawyers, and litigants get rich off your misery or untimely demise.

4. Don't rely on healers or hapless helpers like "all the kings horses and all the kings men" to put you back together again. Learn to meditate, find inner peace, and buy a prepaid ticket to heaven, (where "the man" will make you whole again)!

5. Forget the "golden handshake", just negotiate a a "golden parachute" in your employment contract, that way you'll have a very safe, secure, and soft landing; (besides it's a great opportunity to take early retirement)!

__________

Photo Insert: From crimfants photostream on flickr.com.

HANKERING FOR A BIT OF HUMPTY DUMPTY? 

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AND NOW A PESSIMISTIC PIECE OF PROSE FROM A MAN CALLED POE 

Humpty Dumpty by Edgar Allan Poe

This short video is my lastest bit of madness. It features two of our original art pieces. My wife, Jo James, and I sell our art on eBay under the name cartbeforethehorse. Be sure to watch until the very end to get a quick behind the scenes look at how I gave Edgar Allan Poe a pair of legs for the video. I hope you enjoy it! -Dylan Curry

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MIRTH MERCHANDISE FROM THE HUMPTY DUMPTY SHOPPE 

Humpty Dumpty Wall Clock

A timeless addition to any Humpty Dumpty collection.

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Humpty Dumpty Keepsake Box

Where you can put all the little pieces!

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Messenger Tote Bag

A great tote bag to put all your missing pieces of prose.

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Throw Pillow

Throw it around all you want...it won't break!

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GIGGLING GUESTBOOK FOR HUMPTY-DUMPTY LOVERS 

Now's your chance to say something nice about "Humpty Dumpty" for pity's sake! Frankly, he deserves a better epitaph than, "Here lies one who was destined to become more than scrambled eggs."

Evelyn_Saenz

A Fairy Tale Wolf sniffed out your lens and liked it so well that he is sending you a virtual Literacy Bag.

Posted April 25, 2008

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