Quick Bites: Abe Lincoln’s Beard… 690 New Words… Gaga!… the Latest from Freddie DeBoer… and WS Merwin’s Garden

Thought to be the last beardless photo of Abraham Lincoln, taken in 1860 

The little girl that changed Abe Lincoln’s mind: On October 15, 1860, Grace Beddel, an 11-year-old girl, having just been shown a photo by her father of presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, sent him a note, saying that if he was willing to grow some whiskers, she would recommend him to her friends. To her amazement and delight, Lincoln replied. She met him in person a few months later, as he traveled victoriously to Washington, DC, by train. And he now had a beard. Years later, she recalled that he “climbed down and sat down with me on the edge of the station platform and said, ‘Look at my whiskers. I have been growing them for you.’ Then he kissed me. I never saw him again.” (Source: Letters of Note). Click here to read the note that Grace sent to Lincoln.

Words you’ll soon be using? Merriam-Webster recently made 690 additions to its dictionary, some of which I’ve heard before (and even used in this blog). Here are some that are (a) new to me and (b) sound like they will be useful in the future: generative AI, smishing, grammable, meme stock, and edgelord (which I’ve already been called by someone in my family). Click here for details.

Gaga for Gaga! In my 73 years, I’ve spent a total of maybe eight minutes looking at cosmetic advertising. But this morning, having a quick breakfast of eggs and bacon, I doubled that time by watching Lady Gaga sell her cosmetic line. Notice how the camera likes her. Notice how smartly she chooses her words and mentions ideas that appeal to her target audience. Like Madonna, there are about a dozen ways Lady Gaga is brilliant. Click here.

Once again, my favorite Communist making rational sense. One of these days, I’m going to get him to the Cigar Club for a chat. Click here.

WS Merwin was a poet I studied in college. It was only last year that I found out about his garden in Hawaii. Click here for a look at The Merwin Conservancy’s monthly newsletter.