Monday, August 24, 2009

Amrica* (for America, etc.)

AMRIC can stand for a number of things, but my favorite one is the Avocado Marketing Research and Information Center. Add an H and it reads Am Rich, giving the acronym a certain subliminal appeal. Avocados are rich—in magnesium, potassium, various vitamins, and phytosterols, which are said to help lower cholesterol. Most Americans associate them with tossed salads and guacamole, but in some parts of the world the avocado is considered more of a dessert fruit than a vegetable. ("Technically," says Wikipedia, it's a "large berry.") My sister once made me an avocado drink she had had on a visit to Ethiopia. It was quite delicious and a gorgeous shade of green. And it's very easy to make. Just blend one ripe avocado with about 10-12 ounces of chilled limeade and serve. With 233 hits in OhioLINK for Amrica*, today's typo is ripe for the picking. As the Ethiopians say: Letenachin! ("To your health" in Amharic). Here's to the health of our databases and to helping keep America beautiful.

(Avocado on a tree in Bermuda, from Flickr.)

Carol Reid

1 comment:

Brian H. said...

Also check Amreica* which has 11 hits in OhioLINK and 139 in WorldCat, and Amercia* which has 70 hits in OhioLINK and "too many records" in WorldCat. Watch for false positives with the second one for Amerciament*