What a Friggin' Nerd am I...

Yes, I'm very happy that I received an "A" on one midterm, in the class that really scared me (Reference Services), for which we had to find answers to research questions using both online and print sources. I slaved over that project, crawling through the reference section of not only St. Kate's library, but the downtown Minneapolis Public Library (which is a central repository) and the University of Minnesota's Walter and Wilson libraries as well. (Walter is the science, mathematics, and technology library - visit it if you can, for it's been restored, and has beautiful woodwork and high plaster ceilings.)

But here is one of the things that I'm really proud of (gloating to come): For the question that asked for the etymology of the word "doh," in addition to finding a use of the word as an exclamation (on a radio program in 1947), and the first English use of the word to mean a musical tone in the mid-18th century, I scanned the novel Day of the Locust by Nathanael West to see if the term appeared in there. Why? Because I knew that there was a character called Homer Simpson in the novel.

Nerdy, nerdy, nerdy! Well, the word "doh" isn't in the novel, but nevertheless I put down my effort to search the novel in my answer, and the professor placed an exclamation point next to it. When I mentioned it in class, everyone sat there like I was from outer space. I have no idea whether or not the creators of The Simpsons took the name "Homer Simpson" from West's novel. Does anyone out there know?

(I'd research it myself, but now I've got a bunch of questions to work on for the final, plus another midterm. Gaaaa. The Galapagos are calling me...two more months...)