I Can Walk Like a Penguin!

[gnomi]

This morning's Boston Globe had an article on our recent icy conditions (which, in fact, prompted me to decide to work from home today), and it includes the following advice:

Walk like a penguin!

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I don't think the Bangles are going to record, "Walk Like a Penguin."

Also, walking like a geisha works.
Sorta.

;-)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

The quote in the headline is from a Boston Aquarium ad when we were children. There are certain things which just stick in your head if you grew up in Boston at about the time that gnomi and I did -- "I can walk like a penguin!", "Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh," and so forth.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

I'm a decade older than our gracious hostess, and grew up in Boston, too.

In fact, I still buy only brown eggs, 'cause, you know, brown eggs are local eggs. And local eggs are fresh.

If I remember aright, the walk like a penguin campaign had to do with the penguins at the NE Aquarium. Have you seen the tiny blue fairy penguins? Yes, they're adorable. No, you can't take one home with you.

;-)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I was looking through the boxes of eggs at the supermarket once and noticed that the white eggs were local.

And had a sell-by date later than that of the brown eggs.

I felt strangely betrayed.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

The penguin campaign was, you are correct, for the NE Aquarium. And that was, if I recall correctly, before they had the regular exhibit with the fairy penguins.

I buy white eggs because too many of the brown ones per dozen have to be thrown out for kosher-related reasons (they're harder to candle, and thus are much more prone to blood spots). But "brown eggs are local eggs, and local eggs are fresh" runs through my head regularly. Chalk one up for the New England Egg Board.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I *knew* someone would recognize it. :-)

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw it. And remembered the girl who said it in the ad. But other commenters got here first.

It also got slightly crossed in my head with the Museum of Science "It's Fun To Find Out" ads. "It's fun to find out what makes an ocean wave wave!" Pop quiz: what was the girl's name for the voice-playback machine?

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

You were another one I figured would recognize it. Anyone who grew up in the Boston area in the 70s and 80s and saw any TV would likely recognize it.

The NE Aquarium ad and the "It's Fun to Find Out" ads ran at the same time, and I, too, sometimes confuse them (I think they're both findable these days on YouTube). I, alas, can't remember the name of the girl on the playback machine.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

"My name is Karen!"

I had not thought of the ads in some time, but that popped back into my head when I started trying to remember the rest of the NE Aquarium ad.

[sorek.livejournal.com]

YouTube - vintage commercial - The New England Aquarium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBt5p-Uqew

and

YouTube - Museum of Science Vintage Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA3ndE42iJA

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I knew they had to be there somewhere. I half remember seeing the NE Aquarium there a while ago.

[arib.livejournal.com]

"My name is Karen!" It's fun to find out what your voice *really* sounds like...

:-D

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased by how many folks remember that ad!

[swashbucklr]

I remember it, too!

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

True. But walking like an Egyptian is most likely not the best maneuver on icy sidewalks.

(On Monday, mabfan and I took to walking in the street rather than on the sidewalks, as the likelihood of getting hit by a car was significantly lower than the likelihood of slipping and falling on the black ice on the sidewalks.)

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

Michael's the one who introduced me to YakTrax

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

The YakTrax are only semi-helpful on black ice, because they have close to nothing to grip on to. I found this out last winter much to the detriment of my knee.

[jadecat.livejournal.com]

It's funny, yet useful advice... *grins*

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

It really does work. I was vastly amused by the penguin graphic, however.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

That is awesome! And good advice. I will remember it as I freak out when I have to walk on ice, having suffered a couple of bad falls in the past.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I thought it was excellent advice. I spent one winter on crutches, and ever since then I've been paranoid about falling.

The winter I was on crutches wasn't, itself, all that bad (even though it was January-March 1994, when we got tons of snow), as I had ice gripping spikes on the bottoms of my crutches. But I have great respect for the amount of damage a fall on the ice can do.

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

My friend in Michigan taught me this years ago, and people LAUGH at me every time I pass the advice on. I'm going to print this out and hand it out to all my skeptical friends! LOL

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Hooray for validation of your advice! I'm glad to provide you with documentation!

[d2leddy.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Don't do it!

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Don't walk like a penguin? Or don't even try to navigate ice?

[perpet.livejournal.com]

And it's animated! Best infographic ever, I say. Because it looks like the man is trying to slowly flap away.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Flapping's part of the whole balance thing, apparently. But if he becomes airborne, I take no responsibility.

[violetcheetah.livejournal.com]

I am trying to picture a penguin leaped three feet horizontally over the six-inch-deep lake of at each curb cut. But the image in my head ends less than gracefully.

I took an ice skating class my first year at M.I.T., and found many of the same tricks to work on icy sidewalks. Chiefly, keeping your hands out of your pockets and pointing your toes out. It was also helpful that the first lesson was on how to fall without injuring yourself. I'd never really considered how penguin-like all that was.

[aunt-becca.livejournal.com]

Ben was dressed like a penguin today, does that count?