Is The End Nigh?

Not To Be Confused -
 - with "Is the end Nighy?" because that would be a sly reference to "Shaun of the Dead" when Shaun's incorrigibly middle-class stepdad ends up zombified, or perhaps to those unending "Underworld" fillums, where the only saving grace is Kate Bekinsale in tight shiny clothes.  Art?

You didn't think you were going to get Kate in leathers, did you?  Perverts!

     I suppose it depends on your perspective, too.  If you asked a mayfly that question, and - we are hypothetically granting it the ability to comprehend both English and philosophy - it paused to think and reply, it would have used up a significant portion of it's lifespan.  So for a mayfly, the default is "Yes".  On the other hand, if you're a Giant Galapagos Tortoise, the default is "No".

A Mayfly.  Note lack of cheap political gags.

     Where was I?  Oh yes, the end.  For your humble hack tomorrow sees the beginning of a new job, after three months of being able to lie in, drink endless pots of tea and watch "The Expanse" in between looking for work - I have to put that in just to appease the Job Centre.  Two bus rides each way to the locale, one of them being with Stagecoach, so we will see if they perform as abominably as First.  It would be hard to perform worse.

First Bus role model

     So, in one sense the end is nigh, and so is the beginning.  Say hello to early bedtimes, a dress code and making tomorrow's lunch the evening before.

"Etiolation"
I've not had a random word pop up in my head for a while, which is probably due to the non-stop party going on in there of late.  This one has been winging around the halls of my head today, perhaps because I remembered to water the flowers recently when it was hot. Art?

Etiolated on the right

     Plants suffer from etiolation if grown in conditions of poor or absent sunlight, becoming pale and elongated.  Like we residents of the Allotment of Eden in the danker days of the year, which is most of them.
     So, then, where does the word derive from?  Latin!  (chorus of boohs and jeers) yes the zombie of languages, dead but it won't lie down.  "Stipula" which is Latin for "Straw" - the crop not the drinking implement - which transmuted via Old French to "Estuble" and then further French to "Etioler" meaning "to make pale".
     So now you know.  No, don't thank me, all part of the service.

Clerihews For Youse
I see the spellcheck doesn't like either "Clerihew" or "Youse". TOUGH LUCK SPELLCHECKER THIS IS ENGLISH ENGLISH I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW!  In fact !!  As any fule kno* a clerihew is a nonsensical rhyme and Youse is North Western dialect for "You".
     Where was I?  Let me just massage the veins throbbing in my temple and I'll get on with it.  Today we have a few Sixties television icons for you.  

Captain Kirk

Is good with a dirk.

He uses it to slay Klingons evil;

Starfleet considers this quite legal

You all know Kirk, so here's a Dirk.  No - hang on -

     I don't recall Ol' Shirtless doing proper fighting with a knife, but I don't doubt he'd be quite adept with one, and the refreshingly PC-free Federation of those years would be quite happy to see Klingons chopped into little bits.  Although they'd probably draw the line at putting them in a pie**.

Doctor Who

Is fond of a brew.

This is because he's practically a Brit,

Which gives other nations the snit.

     The Ruffians especially.  You wait and see, Tsar Putin will announce the discovery of archives going back to the 14th Century that prove "The Doktor" actually hails from Pskov, that he dotes on borshscht and quaffs vodka.  No, Dimya, you can't have him.

English Breakfast - or Russian Caravan?  Only you can tell!

Doctor Smith

Should be trifled with.

HE got the Robinsons lost in space -

For a doctor he's an utter disgrace.

     Conrad has very little time for Doctor Smith.  Not only does he, as Jane alleges, have a woman's bottom, I firmly believe his "Doctorate" comes from a degree mill, because he IS SO UNRELENTINGLY STUPID!!  The Robinsons really have the patience of saints to put up with this idiot.  If Conrad had been in charge of that expedition, a grave for Smith would have been filled within 36 hours***.

Stop hiding that bottom, Smith!

*  "Whizz For Atoms" reference there
**  "Game of Thrones" reference for you there
***  24 hours if he'd messed with my tea.