Re: Blah Blah Blah Day (17 April)

 Ar an t-ochtú lá déag de mí Aibreán, scríobh Ross Clark:

 > What I learned:
 > - "blah" is barely 100 years old (orig. U.S.) - first attestation (as noun)
 > 1918, first triple-bla 1924.
 >
 > - I thought at first this might be a day in honour of an Iggy Pop song (and
 > album, 1986). But...jeez, there are a lot of songs by that name -
 > one by Gershwin even!
 >
 > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blah_(disambiguation)
 >
 > - I would have spelled it "bla (bla (bla))". The French seem to agree:
 > BLA-BLA  or  BLA-BLA-BLA  'Verbiage'  (Larousse)
 >
 > Oh! The day?
 >
 > "...the aim of this day is to increase meaningful communication, to appreciate
 > the value of everyday conversation, and to foster achievement."  (Huh???)

Seconded!

 > "It was created in 2006 by Ruth and Thomas Roy of Wellcat Holidays and Herbs
 > with a very positive set of intentions."
 >
 > Enough.
 >
 > Oh, it's also International Haiku Poetry Day (Crystal).

That’s a bit more interesting. I learned just there now that the history of the
export of the verse form is easily findable, and it’s impressive that Japan
successfully exported a verse form as interest in poetry waned outside of
Japan.

--
‘As I sat looking up at the Guinness ad, I could never figure out /
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after fourteen pints of stout’
(C. Moore)