The First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, FDR, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband’s death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to serve as a humanitarian and civic leader, working for the welfare of youth, black Americans, the poor, and women, at home and abroad.
A polite immigrant bear (supposedly a spectacled bear) from “deepest, darkest Peru” who wears an old hat and duffle coat, carries a battered suitcase, and loves marmalade sandwiches. He is a classic character in English children’s literature. He first appeared in 1958 and has been featured in numerous books.
The Wheedle is the title character of the 1974 children’s book by Stephen Cosgrove. He is a large, round, furry creature who lives in the Northwest. The character eventually evolved into a popular mascot generally associated with the city of Seattle. From 1978 through 1985, the Wheedle was the official mascot of the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics.
The first Catholic saint of the Americas. Born in Lima, Peru, Rose devoted her life to charity. She created exquisite lace and embroidery and grew beautiful flowers. After 11 years of self-martyrdom with the Third Order of St. Dominic, she died in 1617, at the age of 31, having prophesied the date of her death exactly. She was beatified in 1667 and canonized in 1671.
In the Hawaiian religion, Pele is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind and volcanoes. She is a popular figure in many stories of ancient Hawai’i known as Hawaiian mythology. Legend has it that she is a fickle and dangerous lover who sometimes kills her husbands. She is believed to live in the Halema’uma’u crater of Kīlauea.
One of two little green Moon Men from the first and longest story arc of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. The “Jet Fuel Formula” storyline (broadcast 1959-1960) concerns the pursuit of a formula for rocket fuel. The two aliens are sent to Earth by their people to prevent an influx of Earth tourists. Gidney has a mustache and Cloyd carries a “scrootch gun.”
Note: Jay Ward’s alien cereal mascot Quisp, introduced in 1965, obviously bears a significant resemblance to Cloyd.
Bullwinkle J. Moose is the cartoon moose protagonist of the 1959-1964 animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, produced by Jay Ward. Bullwinkle was known for being well-meaning but dimwitted. He and Rocky have a shared sense of optimism, persistence and traditional ethics and moral standards.
You need to watch the hilariously profane short film/mashup Raging Bullwinkle, supposedly created by the animators of The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000) for the film crew’s enjoyment.
Rocket J. Squirrel is the cartoon flying squirrel protagonist of the 1959-1964 animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, produced by Jay Ward. Rocky is the brains of the “moose and squirrel” duo, though he often appears just as naïve and gullible as Bullwinkle. When he flies, he is accompanied by a jet engine sound effect.
P.S. “And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like!”
The pink cartoon alien mascot of Quisp, a sugar-sweetened breakfast cereal from the Quaker Oats Company. It was introduced in 1965 and continued as a mass-market grocery item until the late 1970s. It is now primarily sold online. Like Cap’n Crunch, Quisp was created by Jay Ward Productions as a trademark character on which to build a cereal brand.
Note: Quisp clearly looks based on the Moon Men (Gidney and Cloyd) from the 1959-1960 “Jet Fuel Formula” story arc of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
A Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States between 1804 and 1806. She either died in 1812 (historical research) or 1884 (oral tradition). Since 2000, there has been a golden dollar coin minted each year with her image (it’s almost like real money).
Note: Today is Native American Heritage Day, a civil holiday observed on the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S.
An English leader of the Pilgrim settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. He served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal (1620-1647) was published as Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford is credited as the first civil authority to designate what popular American culture now views as Thanksgiving in the United States.
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!
The protagonist of the Rainbow Brite character franchise introduced by Hallmark Cards in 1983. The animated television series began in 1984. In the backstory, a little orphan girl named Wisp is taken by an unknown force to the Colorless World. Wisp (AKA Rainbow Brite) befriends a sprite named Twink and a majestic white horse known as Starlite.
As with Strawberry Shortcake, I prefer to pretend that the new hyper-sexualized version of Rainbow Brite doesn’t exist. There is something fundamentally wrong with our culture.
A cartoon character owned by American Greetings (which also owns the Care Bears franchise). Originally created in 1977 for use in greeting cards, Strawberry Shortcake and her friends have been licensed for dolls, toys, posters, an animated TV series and other products. During the 1980s, this franchise was a huge fad for young girls throughout the U.S.
I reject the pubescent, sexualized makeover of Strawberry Shortcake that was introduced in 2008. Also, in celebration of my 271st character: Did you know that 271 is the smallest prime P where P-1 and P+1 are divisible by cubes?
The anthropomorphic cartoon bee mascot of Honey Nut Cheerios. This sweetened variation of Cheerios breakfast cereal was introduced by General Mills in 1979. It has a honey and almond flavor. As of 2006, it no longer includes actual nuts.
The cartoon bird mascot of Cocoa Puffs, a brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1958, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn, oats and rice that have been flavored with cocoa. Sonny the Cuckoo Bird is a desperate addict whose catchphrase is “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
The cartoon bear mascot of Golden Crisp breakfast cereal made by Post. It was introduced in 1949 as Sugar Crisp, then renamed Super Sugar Crisp (before its absurd sugar content was downplayed as “Golden”). The cereal consists of sweetened puffed wheat. Sugar Bear sings the jingle, “Can’t get enough of that Golden Crisp.”
The cartoon frog mascot of Honey Smacks breakfast cereal. This excessively sweetened puffed wheat cereal was introduced in 1953 as Sugar Smacks. Kellogg’s renamed the product Honey Smacks in the 1980s, then Smacks, then back to Honey Smacks. There have been various mascots over the years. Dig ‘Em Frog first appeared in 1972.
The cartoon toucan mascot of Froot Loops breakfast cereal produced by Kellogg’s. It first appeared in stores in 1966. The fruit-flavored cereal consists of brightly colored ring-shaped pieces. Toucan Sam’s catchphrase is “just follow your nose!” With his English accent and penchant for jungle conquest, I suspect him of British imperialism.
The cartoon leprechaun mascot of Lucky Charms breakfast cereal. This General Mills product first appeared in stores in 1964. The cereal consists of sugar-coated, toasted oat-based pieces and multicolored marshmallow bits in various shapes. “They’re magically delicious!” he exclaims in an Irish accent.
Tanooki (PETA) – No. 283
On November 14, 2011, coinciding with Nintendo’s launch of Super Mario 3D Land, PETA released a spoof Flash game called Super Tanooki Skin 2D as part of their “Mario Kills Tanooki” publicity campaign. According to PETA, “Tanooki may be just a ‘suit’ in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur.” In the PETA game, a skinned tanuki chases a blood-soaked Tanooki Mario to reclaim his fur.
PETA’s incendiary politics (and its inhumane 90+ percent kill rate of stray cats and dogs) aside, I enjoyed their 8-bit Tanooki game. Mario’s Tanooki Suit, which resembles a tanuki and gives him shapeshifting powers, first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1990. In ancient Japanese folklore and popular culture (see Pom Poko), raccoon dogs are mischievous masters of disguise. My favorite tanuki is my part-Siamese cat Tanuki.