I still have a lot of questions about our nation's newest mania for duct tape. We'll step aside from the weightier questions for now (Can aerosolized microbes survive when it's below freezing outside? What about my office downtown, where it's ALL windows? Will we be so busy freaking out that we'll forget there's a war coming on?) and move to the one that's really bothered me: duck or duct?

In my previous post I wrote "duck" tape because I remembered reading somewhere that "duck tape" was actually the original name and if I can't be correct, I want to be right. (This is not a license to start up that lowercase-spelling of "Internet" argument again, by the way.)

But everyone else in the world seems to be spelling it "duct tape" and so I went searching for a beter etymology. What I found is not necessarily better, nor is it strictly an etymology, but it's entertaining.

Jim and Tim, who are apparently the Duct Tape Guys, say that:
During World War II, the American armed forces needed a strong, waterproof tape to keep moisture out of ammunition cases. Because it was waterproof, everyone referred to it as "duck" tape.

Later:
Johnson and Johnson's strong military tape made the perfect material for binding and repairing the duct work. By changing the color of the tape's rubberized top coat from Army green to sheet metal gray, "duct" tape was born.

According to Jim and Tim, 2003 is the official year of Duct Tape. I'm not sure how this happened. Maybe the terrorist scare is part of an elaborate PR plan.

In contrast, the dictionary seems to feel the duct came before the duck.

Even before the hysteria this week, it seems people have loved duct tape. They have compiled lists of 211 uses for duct tape:
26. Taping annoying people to walls, floor, ceiling, or bed.
83. Use instead of nail polish.
104. Cook a baked potato in it.

There are song contests about duct tape (sing):
Duct Tape, Duck® brand duct tape
It's the only way I can keep him from being a jerk
Duct Tape, Duck® brand duct tape
Keep up the good work

Foreign policy aside, even the French are getting in on the act.
D'abord, savez-vous ce que c'est que le duct tape?

But nothing beats American creativity. I give you the inevitable art projects....
Gravity-Defying Duct Tape: Off-the-Wall Ways to Hang Around

...And those crazy kids. These enterprising students made Elizabethan-era costumes out of red and yellow duct tape.

Ewald and Mace rolled in their moms and grandma to help make their prom formalwear. In all, it took 35 rolls of yellow, black, white, and red duct tape and 50 hours of work to create the regal duct tape duds.

I leave you with a lovely photo of the duct tape prom outfit. It'll have you rethinking your own wasted youth, that's for sure. See you in the hardware store!