Happy Birthday Hillel!
There are so many stories …
This one starts after a trip to Boston. We were in the gift shop at Logan Airport and you were .. at a guess … 3 yo. We were feeling bad that we had not gotten you a gift while in Boston so were desperately trying to find something to please you.
You chose a stuffed toy, a mallard duck!
Mom and I were very happy, even then you were the weird kid who never seemed to want things.
On the plane to Seattle we tried to get you to name your new toy. No luck. Finally, back in Seattle, you announced the name “JPD … just plain duck!”
So, in that spirit … read on …
From PZ Myers' Pharyngula