Special Edition: The LatinLOLCats Widget, Now With HTTPS

Thanks to a great program at my school that gives faculty and students access to web hosting with easy-to-use HTTPS at the fabulous Reclaim Hosting, I've been able to revamp the LatinLOLCats script so that it will run in mixed-content environments, like a learning management system or other web space that is itself using HTTPS instead of just plain HTTP. Many people have written me over the years about the trouble they were having with the HTTP versions of the scripts, but I think this new approach should solve many of those old problems! All the cat images now have HTTPS addresses, and so does the javascript itself. You can see the 200-pixel-wide version in the sidebar of this blog, and I'm inserting the 400-pixel-wide version here (if you're reading this by email, you'll need to look at the post online to see the script at work):

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Canvas, the new learning management system at my school, is so strict that even HTTPS is not enough; no kind of javascript is allowed. To get around that, I've made an iframe version of the widget, so it's even possible for me to display the random LatinLOLCats inside Canvas. If any of you are using Canvas at your schools, you might find this handy! Here's proof that I have real live random Latin LOLCats on display. Pretty sneaky, if I do say so myself!

That page inside Canvas is also where you will find all the information you need to get a copy of the code you can copy-and-paste into your webspace to see the cats at random, along with a source table that shows all the cats in the script: Widget for LatinLOLCats. Right now, there are just over one hundred cats included in the script, but I will be adding a couple hundred more to the script this weekend if all goes well.
Update: There are 410 cats in the widget now! :-)

Over the course of the coming year, I'll be taking my other old widgets (the best of them anyway) and moving them over into this HTTPS space, adding them to an ever-growing Widget Catalog. If you like the LatinLOLCats, perhaps you will like the Growth Mindset Cats for example.

At the end of 2017 I'll be discontinuing the old versions of the scripts, but thanks to the dynamic power of javascript, I should be able to update those scripts to display a link to the new HTTPS versions, alerting people that they need to switch the code they were using to the new version. I'm excited to be able to revive these scripts for the new era of HTTPS content, and I'm very grateful to my school for offering us a great web hosting solution, and also for choosing a learning management system where it is possible to create totally public classes, sharing our work with the world. If people have questions about Canvas, which we just started using this year at my school, I'm blogging about it here: Teaching with Canvas: Confessions of an LMS Minimalist.

So, I hope you will enjoy the new "secure" LatinLOLCats, and I'll be back with a normal edition of the Bestiaria tomorrow. :-)

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 13

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): Idus Decembres, the Ides of December.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Death of Niobe's Children, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Facio iusta (English: I do what is just).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Sua cuique hora (English: To each his own time)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Canes timidi vehementius latrant quam mordent (English: Timid dogs bark more fiercely than they bite). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Stultum facit fortuna, quem vult perdere (English: Whom Fortune wants to ruin, she makes a fool).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris hirudo (English: The leech won't let go of your skin until it's full of blood; from Adagia 2.4.84).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is a riddle, Quid Sum? Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Excelsior!

Higher!

Concordia res crescunt.

Things grow where hearts agree.

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Mus in Cista Natus, the story of a mouse who broadens its horizons (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Monedula Liberata, a fable of unintended consequences.

Gaudium Mundo. Today's holiday song is Quem Pastores Laudavere, also known as Quempas.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 10

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are looking for free copies of my books, you can find links to all of them here: Fables, Proverbs and Distichs — Free PDFs.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem quartum Idus Decembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Athena and Poseidon, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Sapiens non eget (English: The wise man does not lack anything).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Omnes terra sumus (English: . We are all earth).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Consilium verum docet experientia rerum (English: Experience of things teaches true intelligence).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Omnia probate; quod bonum est, tenete (I Thess. 5:21). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Domum cum facis ne relinquas impolitam: When thou makest an house leave it not unfinished. By this we be bidden, that what so ever matter or affayres wee once beginne, wee bryng the same to a perfecte and full ende.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Deum Dilige et Vicinum. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Parietes habent aures.

The walls have ears.

Si rota defuerit, tu pede carpe viam.

If your wheels fail, hit the road on foot.

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Vulpes et Uva, the famous story of the supposedly sour grapes. (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Testudo et Iuppiter, the story of how the turtle got its shell.

Gaudium Mundo. Today's holiday song is Avia renone calcabatur, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," in not one, but two Latin versions:

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 7

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are a Pinterest user, you might enjoy following the Bestiaria Latina at Pinterest, and there is also a LatinLOLCat Board. I've created a Board for the Distich Poems too.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem septimum Idus Decembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Penelope and Eurycleia, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Liberos erudi (English: Teach your children).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Post tempestatem tranquillum (English: After the storm, calm).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Vetulus simius non capitur laqueo (English: The old monkey is not caught in the snare).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Date et dabitur vobis, dimittite et dimittemini (English: Give and it will be given to you; forgive, and you will be forgiven).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Croeso ditior (English: Richer than Croesus; from Adagia 1.6.74).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἀλωπηκίζειν πρὸς ἑτέραν ἀλώπηκα (English: Play the fox with the fox).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Verus Amor Dei. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Leonina societas periculorum plena.

The lion's company is full of dangers.

Nemo sine sapientia beatus est.

No one can be happy without wisdom.

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Medicus et Mortuus, a fable about hindsight.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Formica Transformata, the story of the ant who was once a farmer (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Gaudium Mundo. Today's holiday song is Angelus ad virginem. Even Chaucer knew of this song: Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang; / And Angelus ad virginem he sang...

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 4

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): pridie Nonas Decembres, the day before the Nones of December.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Odysseus and the Sirens, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Amicus amico (English: A friend to a friend).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tussis pro crepitu (English: A cough to cover a fart)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Tempus est vitae magister (English: Time is the teacher of life). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Effugere cupiditatem regnum est vincere (English: To escape desire is to conquer a kingdom).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Vel muscas metuit praetervolitantes (English: He's scared even of flies that flutter by; from Adagia 1.5.66).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Dei Donum Fides. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Post nubila Phoebus.

After the clouds, sunshine.

Arma tuentur pacem.

Arms protect the peace.

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Canes et Corium, the story of some greedy dogs (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Cera Lateri Invidens, the sad story of a wax candle.

Gaudium Mundo. Today's holiday song is O Viri, Este Hilares, Latin versions of "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen."

Special Edition: Gaudium Mundo 2016

I am pleased to announce the tenth annual Gaudium Mundo, a month of holiday songs in Latin. The calendar of songs begins today, the Kalends of December, with Rudolphus, a Latin version of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," along with the Latin hymns Puer Natus in Bethlehem and Beata Viscera, plus Laetissimam famam, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Wesołą nowinę."

Each song has its own page at the blog, and where possible I've included YouTube videos with music. For Rudolph, there is even a plain-chant version:



Isn't that marvelous?

If people have suggestions or additions, please let me know. The collection has grown tremendously over the years thanks to the help of so many people: thanks to you all!

And I have something new this year: an HTTPS version of the javascript widget which you can use to display the day's songs in your own blog or webpage. Now with an HTTPS version, it should also work in a secure LMS environment such as Canvas or D2L. Thanks so much to the OUCreate project at my school and Reclaim Hosting which has given me this access to HTTPS space. You can get a 200-pixel wide script or 400-pixel wide script; see the sidebar of this blog for the 200-pixel version, and the 400-pixel version is at the bottom of this post.

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