Well, I'm finally FINISHED transferring everything over to the NEW and IMPROVED Butter Lamb Reference Library Site. This means, now that the old stuff is restored, I can start posting new stuff ... and I have a lot of new stuff planned!
Looking for the skinny on what's in the next issue of The Butter Lamb News? Want to know what was in issues you might have missed? Looking for PDFs of past issues? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then you've come to the right place! Now stop talking to yourself and read on!
Current Issue:
Issue
#4 - Issue #4 of the BLN is bigger and
better than ever thanks to a new, larger format and color ink cartridges. And
then there's the content! If you thought this shit was nerdy before, well then get a load of this issue! (16 pages, 8.5 X 11, full color)
My Choice for Word of the
Year? "Stop" - References don't need to pander to the
Twitterverse or chase the digital-age currency of clicks, likes, and
shares by latching on the latest, most fire AF slang because, they have
not lost any their relevance. This is how I know.
Dictionaries and References
in the News - Time operas; Removing words from the dictionary; Weed slang;
Oxford to release dictionary of African-American English; dictionary of
Gen Z dating terms; Merriam-Webster adds a bunch of new words; and the
famed Kripke Collection finds a new home; and dictionary lovers waxing
philosophic.
New Words and Phrases (or
words and phrases new to me) - Productivity paranoia, loud laborer,
boyfriend air, wife guy, mufti, snackification movement, appurtenances,
beetle-browed, eigengrau, fin-de-siecle, and grisaille, labile,
lemniscate, and lunule.
Reference- (and reference
like) and Word-Related Publications Received - Anachronisms,
Hypno Video, Just a Jefferson, Ritual View, and Word of the Day
Plus, new Arrivals to the Butter
Lamb Reference Library and a slew of reader letters!
Back Issues:
Issue
#3 - Bigger than issue #2 (but not quite as big as issue #4), the third
installment of the BLN gives you even more bang for your buck (which is a funny
thing to say about a free newsletter). This issue's contents run the gamut
(what the fuck is a gamut?) from tips on how to make the most of your
references (with a little help from John McPhee) and reader letters to
references in the news and new words. Dig it! (32 pages, half-size legal, B+W)
***
You can grab a PDF of this issue right here! ***
Let References Help: In
addition to telling us what words mean, a good dictionary can also help us
choose the best word … or so says John McPhee
Reader Letters … or letter
New Words and Phrases (or
Words and Phrases new to me): Newfangled workplace words, psychological
disorders, and other words and phrases of interest from "book
shy" to "bezoar."
Dictionaries and References
in the News: Dictionaries banned in prison, threats against
Merriam-Webster for tinkering with gender-related definitions, school
districts rejecting dictionary donations, and the number of words invented
by Shakespeare in question
New Additions to the BLRL:
Dictionaries of literary symbols, word origins, proverbs, war,
"rediscovered" words (not), and the future in America.
It Came from the PO Box: Zine
reviews
And a trip down memory lane …
or so I thought … in The Last Word
Issue
#2 - This issue continues the trend launched by the BLN's speculative first
issue! But if you think issue #2 steps out cautiously, forget it! The contents
of Issue #2 deliver some "tough lessons" from dictionaries and then
rage on with diatribes about the (modern) insult "basic" and other
hot button words. Check it out! (24 pages, half-size legal, B+W)
***
You can grab a PDF of this issue right here! ***
More on descriptivism vs.
prescriptivism … through the lens of Star Wars
Reader letters on tax tokens,
reactions to cheugy, problems with my punctuation, and more.
New Words and Phrases (or
Words and Phrases new to me): Basic, dazzle, Gasconade, hurkle-durkle,
Idioglossia, lachrymose, mission statement, and more.
Dictionaries and References
in the News: People with low emotional intelligence use this phrase,
thesaurus history, new words added to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, and
who is and isn't a "victim."
New Additions to the BLRL:
Dictionaries on rhyming, lexicography (why not?), geek slang, classical
mythology, modern thought, obscure words, and dreams. I also speak of Dreyer's
English and the
fictional Liar's Dictionary.
Issue
#1 - The zine that started it all and unleashed Big Dictionary Energy on the
masses! This well-reviewed little guy set the tone for later issues with the
first installments of Front Matter, Dictionaries and References in the News,
New Words and Phrases, Additions to the BLRL, and more. Get a copy and see how
it all began! (24 pages, digest-size, B+W)
***
You can grab a PDF of this issue right here! ***
Front Matter: Yes, Virginia,
Dictionary Forewards can be Fascinating!
Dictionaries and References
in the News: Defining life, the link between COVID-19 and dictionaries,
and bad words and artificial intelligence
New Words and Phrases:
Cheugy, chuffed, pflug, phub, smize (and the cult of the green M&M),
and zaftig
New Additions to the BLRL:
Dictionaries on or for the highly literate, linguistics and phonetics, the
F-word, religions and secular faiths, abbreviations, books,
psychoanalysis, and political thought.
The Butter Lamb
Reference Library (BLRL) exists to proclaim the good news of reference books as
a source of trustworthy information to challenge misconception, confront
willful ignorance, and provide answers to an astonishing array of questions be
they serious, silly, or something in between. I am aware that reference books
have lost some of their allure these days and that most folks prefer the web.
Fortunately, I couldn’t care less. I maintain this attitude for several
reasons. Among them is that, far too often, the information offered online
is inaccurate or incomplete (see screen capture above from actual web
search of the word “anachronist,” which IS a word). Still, I can see the
writing on the wall. The web isn’t going anywhere and reference books are
heavy, large, and generally inconvenient. (Even some contemporary
lexicographers confess they no longer use their physical dictionaries!) Thus,
there’s not much reference enthusiasts like me can do about it except collect
these magical texts and show them off in a museum-like setting, which is
exactly what I do via the BLRL.
Why “Butter Lamb”?
In essence, a butter
lamb is a wad of butter pressed into the form of a lamb. The thing about a
butter lamb, though, is that it’s so much more than that. It’s a cultural
artifact, a sign of material comfort, a Buffalo, New York tradition and, if you
put your faith in Wikipedia, “a
traditional butter sculpture accompanying the Easter meal (and a symbol of the
Easter season) for many Russian, Slovenian and Polish Catholics.” They’ve even
been immortalized on
a t-shirt ( … er… the butter lambs, not the Russians, Slovenians, or
Poles).
In their own way,
butter lambs are also a nice metaphor for the English language. On the surface,
the words we speak are merely assemblages of letters that mean one thing as
opposed to another. But, if you’re willing to dig deeper, you soon
realize that words are so much more than tools to distinguish A from B or black
from white. Words come in many shapes and forms and can be used to draw
pictures that reflect reality, or, as the purveyors of double-speak show, twist
the things we see and hear into forms unrecognizable. Moreover, the histories
of words document their origins and evolution and show how they and, sometimes
their meanings, change over time like lifeforms.
It is the aim of
this blog to showcase the “butter lambish-ness” (butter lambity?) of our
language, be it through personal experiences, random thoughts, excerpts from
whatever I’m reading, news articles, and so on. It’s also to have a little
wordy fun and spread (pun intended) some appreciation for the words we too
often use with too little thought.
That’s why.
Who Is the Butter Lamb?
The BLRL is managed,
and its blog is written and edited (sort of …) by me — Joe (Joe3) Smith. Fair warning: I am neither a lexicographer
nor a librarian. I have, however, worked in several libraries and I am the
founder of the College Park Community Library in College Park, Maryland. I have
a bachelor’s degree in English (which you probably guessed), but, more to the
point, I am a fan of dictionaries (and other references), a worshiper of words, a lover of books, and a publisher of books and magazines.
Our address (should
you need it for some reason) is PO Box 3067, Laurel, MD 20709.
Although the BLRL
does not allow visits at this time, we do provide a word (or phrase or symbol,
etc.) research service. So, if there’s something you’d like me to investigate
for you, drop me a line. I am at your service.
Butter Lamb Press is the publications arm of the Butter Lamb Reference Library. Anything we publish (i.e., The Ravens Way Review, Alternative Incite back issues) can be ordered online by clicking this "buy now" button.
VERY IMPORTANT: When ordering, please be sure to:
1) specify which title and issue you want,
and 2) include an email where we can reach you.
Sometimes there
are problems with the post office or delays on my end that I try to keep you aware of.
______________________________
NEW!!! THE RAVENS WAY REVIEW:
Issue #1 of The Ravens Way Review is now available!
Part
review zine, part first-person account of life in a place I call Ravens
Way, with a little commentary thrown in for good measure, The Ravens Way Review is sure to delight the most discerning zine readers!
The contents of issue no. 1 include:
- What's Going On? (An Introduction) - Unsolicited Rants about hanging out in parking lots to avoid people, the concept of evolutionary mismatch and how it might mess with our heads, and a lawsuit about pasta - Longer pieces on the "derelict vessels" of Ravens Way and why my first concert was infinitely better than Becky's - Tons of reviews - Notes on the issue - And a bunch more!
All
in all, it'll be 40 pages (half-size legal) of entertaining and thought
provoking content, all for the measly price of $4. Order yours now!
______________________________
ALTERNATIVE INCITE:
Alternative Incite magazine encourages readers to follow their creative
impulses and celebrates those who do. Each issue features interviews,
insightful commentary, loads of reviews, wonderful photography, and a “parting
shot” that highlights people who’ve made a dent on the world by following their
creativity. Although this title has ceased publication, it will never go out of print, so back issues are still available. Each one sells for $4. Get all 6 issues for $20.
SUMMER 2022 - Alternative Incite #6 features: my
usual opening rants, which I package under the banner of From the Desk of Joe3; another installment of Thoughts Provoked, where I talk about "resisting the smush" and confusing status and purpose; a special episode of Notes from the Field, which includes, "Interview with a Panhandler," an except from my hopefully forthcoming book; another Producers and Consumers interview featuring self-publishing veteran Catherine Groves of Christian*New Age Quarterly;more
awesome photos by my talented brother, reader letters, and a run-down of the publications I've received since publishing issue #5, and finally, a Parting Shot about a Chinese man who left it all behind to read books in a cave. Specs: 40-pages, half-sized legal.
ISSUE
#5 – WINTER 2022 (current issue): Alternative Incite #5 features thoughts on
being unruly in the interest of creativity; an interview with DIY veteran and
humor writer Fred Wright; commentary on time management, jobs that aren’t dead
yet, robot umpires, and much more; reader letters; another HUGE reviews column;
killer photos (not be me); and a “Parting Shot” about a New Zealand wizard who
created his own “existential universe” ! Check it out! Specs: 40 pages, size: 7
x 8.5 (half-size legal)
ISSUE
#4 – SUMMER 2021: Alternative
Incite #4 features thoughts on the "Memento Mori" craze, an interview
with zine veteran Davida Gypsy Breier, all the usual departments and commentary
you’ve come to expect, letters from readers, another HUGE reviews column
featuring zinedom’s latest and greatest, intriguing photos, and a bonus
“Parting Shot” interview with a young man who built a roller coaster in his
backyard! Specs: 40 pages, size: 7 x 8.5 (half-size legal)
Issue
#3 Spring 2021: Offers more introductory ranting and
raving about following the creative impulse, letters from (actual) readers,
Thoughts Provoked by misuse of the word acedia and people who treat walking
like it’s a job, more Notes from the Field — including a yarn about walking
around town with a large grandfather clock, an interview with graphic designer
and font maker Travis Miller, a huge review section, Dear Butter Lamb (letters
from fake readers), and a Parting Shot about a man who rowed a Victorian
bathtub across the English Channel. Specs: 44 pages, size: 7 x 8.5 (half-size
legal)
ISSUE
#2–
FALL 2020: This issue features introductory remarks about how
following your creative impulses can help you cope with the bullshit, more hot
takes on thought-provoking articles you (probably) haven’t read, more
adventures in anachronism, interview with stand-up comic Rob Gavin and
Barbershop singer Dan Hawrylczak, a HUGE review column, and a “Parting Shot”
about what can happen when a man starts a ball of twine. Specs: 40 pages, size:
7 x 8.5 (half-size legal)
ISSUE
#1– SPRING 2020: This issue features an introductory rant
about getting off your ass and doing the thing, hot takes on important articles
you (probably) haven’t read, an op-ed about “getting off the hamster wheel,” an
examination of the “new normal,” adventures in anachronism, an interview with
musician Suvo Sur (who produces scores for award-winning films and podcasts),
and shout out to the “Doyenne of Dictionaries.” Specs: 40 pages, size: 7 x 8.5
(half-size legal)
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT ALTERNATIVE INCITE:
The object of this zine has always been to encourage readers
to follow their creative impulses. There's traditionally a lot of well-written
and fascinating material; plenty of stuff to keep your mind busy, as well as original
photography and some cool graphics. However, Joe tells us that this will be the
last issue of ALTERNATIVE INCITE. Not to worry. though -he's got a new zine
title in the works! This time around Joe explains his thoughts about how people
perceive his zine, some feel it's quirky, others think it's anti-technology. He
also opens up about his own changing attitudes about what he wants to
accomplish with his writing - hence, the new direction he intends to follow
with a new project. Joe also reviews some books, articles on blogs or websites
and zines Two interviews are also featured: one, with a panhandler near his home
(whom the area residents would like to see evicted): and another, with
Catherine Groves, who publishes the CHRISTIAN NEW AGE QUARTERLY zine. Each of
the latter provide interesting insights into the minds of two diverse people in
disparate lifestyles. – Ken Bausert review of Alternative Incite #6 in Xerography
Debt #53.
"ALTERNATIVE INCITE encourages readers to follow their creative impulses
and exercise their right to be bizarre, different, and/or peculiar in the
interest of personal satisfaction and the greater good. Mostly sly (but occasionally
blatant) nods to the original Star Wars trilogy, The Matrix, Jurassic Park, and
the band Rush may appear throughout this publication. If you don't appreciate
these cultural touchstones, then you'll just have to deal with it Alas, this is
the final issue of ALTERNATIVE INCITE. t you've been enjoying this zine as much
as I have over the past couple of years, this is sad news. But don't Sweat it.
Joe's as busy as ever with new projects. A new magazine, ENDNOTE, İs on the way,
as well as a book of essays entitled Stuck. And that's just what Joe's doing in
print: he has various blogs on the go too. My favorite feature of each issue is
Joe's commentary, inspired by his recent reading. about technology, happiness,
fear of failure, the importance of being lazy or idle (as this helps creative
people develop ideas). etc. Joe also includes a couple of thought-provoking interviews
he conducted: one with a panhandler in College Park, Maryland, and another with
the publisher of CHRISTIAN NEW AGE QUARTERLY. There is so much good stuff in
here: a piece about a bookish hermit who was recently discovered living in a
cave in China, a ton of zine reviews, letters from readers, some nice
photography. I’m barely scratching the surface Back issues are still available
if you missed them! – Kris Mininger review of Alternative Incite #6 in Xerography
Debt #53.
ALTERNATIVE INCITE (tag line/ slogan): "Follow the creative impulse]
exists to encourage readers to follow their creative impulse and exercise their
right to be bizarre. different, and/or peculiar in the interest of personal
satisfaction and the greater good. Unfortunately, this is the last issue of ALTERNATIVE
INCITE II certainly miss correcting my husband's pronunciation of this zine
when he brings in the mail, but not as much as l’ll miss the zine itself.
Besides the usual provocative essays and zine reviews, this issue features
interviews with Catherine Groves of CHRISTIAN NEW AGE QUARTERLY and one with a
panhandler. And what are the odds that an article called "What are the Odds?"
would not be interesting? Joe will be producing a new magazine in the near
future, so be on the lookout. And, although this will be the last issue, Joe
assures us that it will never go out of print, so go ahead and treat yourself! –
Markell Raphaelson West review of Alternative Incite #6 in Xerography
Debt #53.
I do love a half-legal, text-heavy zine it reminds me of the
mid-to-late 1990s zine era. Since half- legal zines usually weigh more, need a
larger envelope, and postage rates have gone up, this size zine is becoming a
rare find. ALTERNATIVE INCITE'S mission is to encourage people to follow their
creative impulses and celebrate those who do. So of course the issue begins with
a cheery essay about how we're all going to eventually die. But that's not a
bleak lament, it's a call to action to light a fire under your sorry ass and
get to work on your creative projects! You can't walt for inspiration to work
on the projects you want to do. you need the discipline to work on it regularly
(daily if you can), It's encouraged me to stop carrying around my next zine
project notes from place to place, and actually open the notebook and put
scheduled dally time toward it. There are observations on working from home the
idea of "laziness", quitting, and writers (note: one day I will produce a zine on one of
the four typewriters I have, most likely the beautiful red, heavy, all steel BM
Selectric) There are interviews with our
estimable XD editor Davida, and a kid
who bult a small roller coaster in his backyard.
The issue rounds out with a healthy letter section and zine reviews. Al #4
provides the inspiration I desperately have been missing for the past year.
A.J. Michael review of Alternative Incite #5 in Xerography Debt #52.
There is something so fulfilling about this zine. Lengthy,
thoughtful columns and a message of hope genuine encouragement, with a
mellowing touch of pragmatic snark. Essays, reviews responses to articles, and
interviews with creators. Highly recommended. – Davida Gypsy Breier review of Alternative
Incite #5 in Xerography Debt #52.
I raved about ALTERNATIVE INCITE #3 in the last issue. This really
is one of the best new zines out there. It is substantial and well-written.
This issue tackles the phrase Memento mori, getting in trouble, impatience,
typewriters, and more. Recommended. (Disclosure: I am part of the more. I did
an interview with Joe about why l make things) Davida Gypsy Breier review of Alternative
Incite #4 in Xerography Debt #51.
This zine is lovely. It’s 44 pages of the author and contributors
encouraging people to be creative. It isn’t simply about producing, it is about
enjoying the act of creating and that includes daydreaming/doing
nothing/thinking/walking. There is also an element of perzine and learn about
the editor’s woodworking and strange experiences attempting to get furniture
from Craigslist. We also learn about his art project involving a cheap
grandfather clock. Solid [letters] section. Thoughtful response to an article in
The Conversation, taking the writer to task for not doing better research.
Well-written, well-designed, well-worth your time.” – Davida Gypsy Breier
review of Alternative Incite #3 in Xerography Debt #50.
This is an engaging publication, with eye-pleasing fonts and intriguing
photographs. It is insightful enough that I keep thinking of it as Alternative
Insight, but I am mistaken! Alternative Incite is well worth the requested
$[4]! – Markell Raphaelson West, review of Alternative Incite #1 in Xerography
Debt #49
Expertly assembled with high quality printing standards and reproduction
of photos. It’s uniqueness comes mainly from the content and subject matter of
the articles within; I found the writing and presentation to be excellent. –
Ken Bausert, review of Alternative Incite #1 in Xerography Debt
#49
Hopefully, lots of people will find $[4] to send Joe, get the zine, and
then find themselves creatively inspired. – Fred Argoff, review of Alternative
Incite #1 in Xerography Debt #49
This is the most well-organized and clean-looking zine I’ve read. –
review of Alternative Incite #2 in Razorcake, Issue #121
Well written through out … great photography and image production… –
review of Alternative Incite #1 in Node Pajomo (Issue 2.6, March
2021)