CRAIG CONLEY (Prof. Oddfellow) is recognized by Encarta as “America’s most creative and diligent scholar of letters, words and punctuation.” He has been called a “language fanatic” by Page Six gossip columnist Cindy Adams, a “cult hero” by Publisher’s Weekly, a “monk for the modern age” by George Parker, and “a true Renaissance man of the modern era, diving headfirst into comprehensive, open-minded study of realms obscured or merely obscure” by Clint Marsh. An eccentric scholar, Conley’s ideas are often decades ahead of their time. He invented the concept of the “virtual pet” in 1980, fifteen years before the debut of the popular “Tamagotchi” in Japan. His virtual pet, actually a rare flower, still thrives and has reached an incomprehensible size. Conley’s website is OneLetterWords.com.
An illustration from a 1907 issue of The Strand magazine. The caption reads: "It still lingered on the door-mat." This should also be of interest:How to Believe in Your Elf.
An illustration from a 1919 issue of Munsey's magazine. The caption reads: "He saw a veritable cloud of evil creatures, swimming about like fish in dark waters."
An illustration from an 1883 issue of Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly magazine. The caption reads: "The Devil's Looking-Glass. — Beelzebub sees himself in a mirror."
An illustration from an 1884 issue of London Society Illustrated magazine. The caption reads: "What I saw after eating my Christmas pudding." This will also be of interest:The Collected Lost Meanings of Christmas.