|
|
Issue 449
SNIPPETZ THINKS DOUGHNUTS ARE WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR ANY TIME
“Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?”
-Matt Groening
Who doesn’t love a doughnut? Whether a purist who believes that the only real doughnut is made of raised dough and deep fried or one who thinks anything even resembling the original is just as good – cake or jelly style, baked or fried – doughnuts are inarguably pure and simple comfort food. They’ve been around in some form or another for centuries. Archeologists in southwestern parts of the U.S. have actually found petrified fried cakes with holes in the center. Native Americans apparently knew the value of these little gut bombs long before they became a popular delicacy.
Where the Modern Doughnut and Its Hole Began
One of the more common theories is that the doughnut hit the shores of North America with the Dutch settlers and were called olykoek, a word that meant “oil cake.” The Dutch were very generous with their calories as they also introduced cobblers, cream and apple pies and cookies to the North Americans.
A common theory is that the doughnut hole came about when an American sea captain, Hanson Gregory, became disenchanted with the raw center of doughnuts that his mother made for him to take on one of his trips in 1847. Rumor has it that he grabbed a tin pepper box and used it to cut a hole in the middle of the doughnut. Another story is that he needed a place to set his doughnut while steering the ship and popped it onto the spoke of the steering wheel. After that, the cook was ordered to make the doughnuts with a hole in the center. Yet another story purports that Gregory simply did not like the nuts that his mother put in the center of the doughnut (dough…nut) and punched them out.
In 1872, John Blondell invented and patented the doughnut cutter and by the 1930s, huge quantities could be made by new doughnut-making machines. Not long after that, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme and Canada’s hockey player Tim Horton were mass producing doughnuts all over North America.
Regarding That Hole
• Some say that you can judge the condition of the economy by the size of the doughnut hole – the bigger the hole, the tougher it is out there.
• Dunkin’ Donuts named their holes “Munchkins.”
• Tim Hortons’ named his “Timbits.”
Doughnut or Donut?
Both are correct and are interchangeably used. However, doughnut is the original spelling and thought to be first recorded in a short story in 1808 that talked about “fire-cakes and dough-nuts.” In Washington Irving’s 1809 “History of New York,” he describes “balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat, and called doughnuts, or olykoeks.”
The shorter form, donut, started showing up in 1900 when George W. Peck used it in “Bad Boy and His Pa” and in a 1929 “Los Angeles Times” article by Bailey Millard who complained about American’s spelling skills: “can’t swallow the ‘wel-dun donut’ nor the ever so ‘gud bred.’” The “New York Times” also used the donut spelling in 1939 when covering the World’s Fair.
The Mayflower Donut Corporation, no longer in business, was the first known commercial enterprise to use the donut version. Dunkin’ Donuts followed in 1950.
Oh So Simple
Raised doughnuts have few ingredients – flour, sugar, milk, eggs, yeast, butter and salt. After mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough and allowing it to rise, the dough can be rolled out and cut with a doughnut cutter. Or, a doughnut can be formed by hand with a piece of dough, stretched into a rope and formed into a ring. There is also a “doughnut depositor;” similar to the contraption that makes funnel cakes, it will deposit a circle of dough directly into a fryer of hot fat. These traditional yeast doughnuts take just over two minutes to fry.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
There are many shapes of doughnuts to please the doughnut lover – Long Johns (rectangular); old-fashioned’s; twisted and bars (called crullers); rings; and custard and jelly filled.
On a diet? You can have baked doughnuts. They are lighter in calories because they are not fried in oil, and they have a different texture and taste. Doesn’t sound much like a doughnut, though.
Not for the Lite Crowd
Those raised delights have about 25 percent oil while the cake version weighs in at 20 percent fat. Cake doughnuts are surprising lower in calories because they cook in only about 90 seconds, so they absorb less oil than their yeasty cousins.
Just in case you are counting calories, but why would you?
Around the World for a Doughnut
Doughnut Facts
Doughnut Inspiration
Doughnut Trivia
And, from the immortal words of a 17-year-old, “I don’t need to know anything about doughnuts. I just know I love them.” – Emily Stumpf
SNIPPETZ THINKS DOUGHNUTS ARE WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR ANY TIME
“Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?”
-Matt Groening
Who doesn’t love a doughnut? Whether a purist who believes that the only real doughnut is made of raised dough and deep fried or one who thinks anything even resembling the original is just as good – cake or jelly style, baked or fried – doughnuts are inarguably pure and simple comfort food. They’ve been around in some form or another for centuries. Archeologists in southwestern parts of the U.S. have actually found petrified fried cakes with holes in the center. Native Americans apparently knew the value of these little gut bombs long before they became a popular delicacy.
Where the Modern Doughnut and Its Hole Began
One of the more common theories is that the doughnut hit the shores of North America with the Dutch settlers and were called olykoek, a word that meant “oil cake.” The Dutch were very generous with their calories as they also introduced cobblers, cream and apple pies and cookies to the North Americans.
A common theory is that the doughnut hole came about when an American sea captain, Hanson Gregory, became disenchanted with the raw center of doughnuts that his mother made for him to take on one of his trips in 1847. Rumor has it that he grabbed a tin pepper box and used it to cut a hole in the middle of the doughnut. Another story is that he needed a place to set his doughnut while steering the ship and popped it onto the spoke of the steering wheel. After that, the cook was ordered to make the doughnuts with a hole in the center. Yet another story purports that Gregory simply did not like the nuts that his mother put in the center of the doughnut (dough…nut) and punched them out.
In 1872, John Blondell invented and patented the doughnut cutter and by the 1930s, huge quantities could be made by new doughnut-making machines. Not long after that, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme and Canada’s hockey player Tim Horton were mass producing doughnuts all over North America.
Regarding That Hole
• Some say that you can judge the condition of the economy by the size of the doughnut hole – the bigger the hole, the tougher it is out there.
• Dunkin’ Donuts named their holes “Munchkins.”
• Tim Hortons’ named his “Timbits.”
Doughnut or Donut?
Both are correct and are interchangeably used. However, doughnut is the original spelling and thought to be first recorded in a short story in 1808 that talked about “fire-cakes and dough-nuts.” In Washington Irving’s 1809 “History of New York,” he describes “balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat, and called doughnuts, or olykoeks.”
The shorter form, donut, started showing up in 1900 when George W. Peck used it in “Bad Boy and His Pa” and in a 1929 “Los Angeles Times” article by Bailey Millard who complained about American’s spelling skills: “can’t swallow the ‘wel-dun donut’ nor the ever so ‘gud bred.’” The “New York Times” also used the donut spelling in 1939 when covering the World’s Fair.
The Mayflower Donut Corporation, no longer in business, was the first known commercial enterprise to use the donut version. Dunkin’ Donuts followed in 1950.
Oh So Simple
Raised doughnuts have few ingredients – flour, sugar, milk, eggs, yeast, butter and salt. After mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough and allowing it to rise, the dough can be rolled out and cut with a doughnut cutter. Or, a doughnut can be formed by hand with a piece of dough, stretched into a rope and formed into a ring. There is also a “doughnut depositor;” similar to the contraption that makes funnel cakes, it will deposit a circle of dough directly into a fryer of hot fat. These traditional yeast doughnuts take just over two minutes to fry.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
There are many shapes of doughnuts to please the doughnut lover – Long Johns (rectangular); old-fashioned’s; twisted and bars (called crullers); rings; and custard and jelly filled.
On a diet? You can have baked doughnuts. They are lighter in calories because they are not fried in oil, and they have a different texture and taste. Doesn’t sound much like a doughnut, though.
Not for the Lite Crowd
Those raised delights have about 25 percent oil while the cake version weighs in at 20 percent fat. Cake doughnuts are surprising lower in calories because they cook in only about 90 seconds, so they absorb less oil than their yeasty cousins.
Just in case you are counting calories, but why would you?
- Medium raised doughnut with glaze – 242 calories
- Medium cake doughnut with glaze – 175 calories
- Jelly doughnut – 289 calories
- Long twisted – 219 calories
- Large 4-inch doughnut – 299 calories
- Doughnut hole – 59 calories
- Krispy Kreme – 200 calories for the original glazed to 300 calories for the chocolate covered, custard filled, over-the-top enchantment
- Dunkin’ Donuts – 190 calories for the basic sugar raised to 470 for the blueberry crumb variety
Around the World for a Doughnut
- Spain serves the American-style, deep fried doughnut which they call donut. They also make a rosquilla which is made with fermented dough and fried or baked. It is thought that the rosquilla was introduced by the Romans.
- In Israel, the jelly doughnut, called sufganiyah is associated with the Hanukah holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil.
- Indonesia makes a potato doughnut, called donat kentang, most resembling a fritter in a ring shape.
- The Austrians make krapfen during their carnival season. The krapfen are not ring-shaped, but are round and filled with either apricot jam or vanilla cream.
- The German version of the doughnut varies by region. The berliner (same term for both singular and plural) are not ring-shaped, but solid and filled with jam. They are also called bismarcks as they are sometimes referred to in the United States. They are not called berliner in Berlin; however, they are called pfannkuchen. In other parts of Germany, the pfannkuchen is the name of a pancake. In middle and southern Germany, they are called kreppel; middle Germany also calls them pfannkuchen.
- In Australia, the doughnut is served hot and called a jam doughnut. In south Australia, they are called berliners. By either name, they are a very popular Aussie snack.
- The vada in India is a savory version of the doughnut made from lentil, potato or dal.
- In Denmark, you can purchase a berliner at a McDonald’s restaurant as well as gas stations.
- South Africa’s version is called a koeksuster or vetkoek.
- Scotland calls their ring doughnuts doughrings. They also have a rope-shape twisted and glazed variety called yum-yums. The Scots like to make fudge doughnuts as well.
- The Northern Irish call oil “gravy;” hence, they call doughnuts gravy rings. Their more formal name is doughnoughts. They also like to fill theirs with jam or custard.
Doughnut Facts
- According to a 2002 Restaurant.org article, Americans consume 1 billion doughnuts each year.
- Sydney, Australia is the home of Guinness Book of Records largest donut ever made when in 2007 they used 90,000 donuts to make one gigantic donut to celebrate the release of “The Simpsons Movie.” The movie’s Bart Simpson character was a notorious lover of donuts, as well as beer.
- Canadians consume the most doughnuts and have the most doughnut stores per capita.
- And in the United States, Providence, R.I. boasts one doughnut shop for every 4,700 people – nine times the national average.
- Another Guinness Book of World Records notes that John Haight holds the record for the most donuts consumed at 52 oz. or 26 average-sized donuts. They slid down Haight’s throat in just over six minutes in 1981.
- The French served doughnuts to American military during World War I as a sign of appreciation.
- The Chicago Salvation Army founded the first National Donut Day in 1938 in honor of the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. National Donut Day is always celebrated the first Friday in June. In some circles, any day is National Donut Day.
- In the United States in the 1920s, one of the most common snacks at the movies was the doughnut.
Doughnut Inspiration
- Games – Donut Dilemma and The Simpsons Game
- Film – The Doughnuts, Tour de Donut: Gluttons for Punishment and Dora’s Dunking Doughnuts
- Music – Desert Doughnuts and The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse
- Book – Arnie the Doughnut
Doughnut Trivia
- The Tour de Donut features, what else, doughnuts for their race in Staunton, Ill.
- In 1998, Winchell’s House of Donuts celebrated 150 years since Elizabeth Gregory made olykoeks for her son’s sea voyage by making a 5,000-pound, 95 feet diameter apple fritter.
- The term “Doughboy” commonly heard during World War I supposedly originated because the soldiers were known to eat a lot of doughnuts.
- Spudnuts are a doughnut made with potato flour.
- Randy’s Dougnuts in Inglewood, Calif. has a 22-foot statue of a doughnut on top of its building.
- Elvis Presley chose the Southern Maid Donut company’s jingle to record in 1954 as his one and only commercial jingle.
- Stanley Alyoysius Anderson was nicknamed Stan, Stan the Donut Man because he distributed thousands of doughnuts to the soldiers During World War II. His doughnut distributing activity was so significant that he received the Distinguished Service Medal from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
And, from the immortal words of a 17-year-old, “I don’t need to know anything about doughnuts. I just know I love them.” – Emily Stumpf
Issue 448
SNIPPETZ REMEMBERS THE HONORABLE ON MEMORIAL DAY
And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men (and women) who died, who gave that right to me.
- Lee Greenwood
Although officials from more than 25 cities and towns in the United States once believed they owned the birthrights to the first Memorial Day remembrance; in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of the commemoration of those who had died in battle, beginning with the Civil War.
But Memorial Day had numerous origins as people spontaneously gathered throughout the country to honor their fallen neighbors and loved ones.
Officially
Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. On May 30 the same year, Memorial Day was officially observed for the first time. In honoring the war dead, flowers were placed on the graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
But a women’s organization in the South is credited as the first to decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Because of the women’s actions, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day.
In 1873, New York became the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day. By 1890, all of the northern states officially recognized Memorial Day. However the South refused to recognize the day, honoring their dead on separate days. After World War I, southern states finally recognized the day – when the focus of the holiday changed from the Civil War to all wars.
Today, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
Other dates in most southern states are scheduled each year to honor Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. For example, Texas sets Jan. 19 aside as a day for remembering Confederate soldiers.
In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act to allow a three-day weekend for federal holidays – Memorial Day included.
The Poppies
Moina Michael wrote a poem to commemorate those who had died in war. She also started the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of the war dead. Her poem:
We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Michael wore the poppies and sold them to her friends – money from the sales benefited the service men.
The custom spread to Europe when a woman from France, Madam Guerin, heard about the poppies tradition when she visited the U.S. She took the idea to France and sold artificial red poppies to raise money for war-orphaned children and widows.
In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit the war orphans of France and Belgium. When the organization disbanded, the Veterans of Foreign Wars began selling the poppies.
In 1924, the VFW adopted a “Buddy Poppy” program and sold artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.
In 1948, the U.S. Post office issued a red 3-cent postage stamp with a likeness of Michael, in recognition of her poppy “seed.”
Celebrations, Commemorations
There are those who believe that the meaning of Memorial Day has been slighted or ignored in some areas throughout the years. When the day became part of a three-day weekend, in some cities, Memorial Day parades diminished and festivities focused more on concerts, arts and craft shows, sports tournaments – activities that weren’t related to giving homage to those who had died in past or present wars. However, some cities and towns have remained true to the heart of Memorial Day.
In 1951 in St. Louis, Mo., the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts started a tradition of placing flags on the thousands of graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
And in 2010
On May 31, in Wilmington, N.C., there are many activities focused on military service men and women. The city features a military guest speaker, an all-service color guard, a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps Honor Guard, a military band, Taps and a memorial wreath that is thrown into the waters. The celebration is in its 45th year.
About 6,000 to 7,000 people attend the Memorial Day ceremonies in Roswell, Ga. Since 1997, the city has touted a non-political, non-commercial commemoration, which is all about the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have died for the country. Programs include the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation, “Lest We Forget” POW-MIA, a benediction, a 21-gun salute, Taps and a military feature speaker.
Washington, D.C. is home to a three-day tribute to those who have died in service to the country. On May 31, a parade of marching bands and veterans’ units from all 50 states will line the streets, winding past the White House. On May 30, thousands of motorcycles ride through the streets of D.C. to bring attention to the needs of veterans.
In Colorado Springs at Evergreen Cemetery, Memorial Day traditions include a reenactment of soldiers from various wars – from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Territory Days also takes place over the three-day weekend in Old Colorado City. The festival is actually a look back at the Wild West, with all sorts of activities, including gunfights and Native American dances.
Snippetz About Memorial Day
The Fallen
SNIPPETZ REMEMBERS THE HONORABLE ON MEMORIAL DAY
And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men (and women) who died, who gave that right to me.
- Lee Greenwood
Although officials from more than 25 cities and towns in the United States once believed they owned the birthrights to the first Memorial Day remembrance; in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of the commemoration of those who had died in battle, beginning with the Civil War.
But Memorial Day had numerous origins as people spontaneously gathered throughout the country to honor their fallen neighbors and loved ones.
Officially
Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. On May 30 the same year, Memorial Day was officially observed for the first time. In honoring the war dead, flowers were placed on the graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
But a women’s organization in the South is credited as the first to decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Because of the women’s actions, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day.
In 1873, New York became the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day. By 1890, all of the northern states officially recognized Memorial Day. However the South refused to recognize the day, honoring their dead on separate days. After World War I, southern states finally recognized the day – when the focus of the holiday changed from the Civil War to all wars.
Today, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
Other dates in most southern states are scheduled each year to honor Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. For example, Texas sets Jan. 19 aside as a day for remembering Confederate soldiers.
In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act to allow a three-day weekend for federal holidays – Memorial Day included.
The Poppies
Moina Michael wrote a poem to commemorate those who had died in war. She also started the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of the war dead. Her poem:
We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Michael wore the poppies and sold them to her friends – money from the sales benefited the service men.
The custom spread to Europe when a woman from France, Madam Guerin, heard about the poppies tradition when she visited the U.S. She took the idea to France and sold artificial red poppies to raise money for war-orphaned children and widows.
In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit the war orphans of France and Belgium. When the organization disbanded, the Veterans of Foreign Wars began selling the poppies.
In 1924, the VFW adopted a “Buddy Poppy” program and sold artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.
In 1948, the U.S. Post office issued a red 3-cent postage stamp with a likeness of Michael, in recognition of her poppy “seed.”
Celebrations, Commemorations
There are those who believe that the meaning of Memorial Day has been slighted or ignored in some areas throughout the years. When the day became part of a three-day weekend, in some cities, Memorial Day parades diminished and festivities focused more on concerts, arts and craft shows, sports tournaments – activities that weren’t related to giving homage to those who had died in past or present wars. However, some cities and towns have remained true to the heart of Memorial Day.
In 1951 in St. Louis, Mo., the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts started a tradition of placing flags on the thousands of graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
And in 2010
On May 31, in Wilmington, N.C., there are many activities focused on military service men and women. The city features a military guest speaker, an all-service color guard, a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps Honor Guard, a military band, Taps and a memorial wreath that is thrown into the waters. The celebration is in its 45th year.
About 6,000 to 7,000 people attend the Memorial Day ceremonies in Roswell, Ga. Since 1997, the city has touted a non-political, non-commercial commemoration, which is all about the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have died for the country. Programs include the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation, “Lest We Forget” POW-MIA, a benediction, a 21-gun salute, Taps and a military feature speaker.
Washington, D.C. is home to a three-day tribute to those who have died in service to the country. On May 31, a parade of marching bands and veterans’ units from all 50 states will line the streets, winding past the White House. On May 30, thousands of motorcycles ride through the streets of D.C. to bring attention to the needs of veterans.
In Colorado Springs at Evergreen Cemetery, Memorial Day traditions include a reenactment of soldiers from various wars – from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Territory Days also takes place over the three-day weekend in Old Colorado City. The festival is actually a look back at the Wild West, with all sorts of activities, including gunfights and Native American dances.
Snippetz About Memorial Day
- Since the late 1950s, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry have placed miniature American flags on each of the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Since 1911, the Indianapolis 500 has been held on Memorial Day weekend.
- Flags are flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day; after noon, they are raised to the top of the staff.
- Memorial Day weekend usually denotes the beginning of summer. Americans consume more than seven billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- In 2009, about 32 million U.S. residents traveled at least 50 miles during Memorial Day weekend.
- Congress has endorsed a National Moment of Remembrance that takes place at 3 p.m. every Memorial Day. Citizens are asked to stop whatever they’re doing for a moment to reflect and remember those who have died in combat.
The Fallen
- As of September 2008, more than one million service men and women have died in U.S. wars.
- Between March 19, 2003 and May 13, 2010, there have been 4,401 military casualties of the Operation Iraqi Freedom war.
- The Gold Medal of Remembrance recognizes children who have lost a parent in the Iraq War. In the last two years, more than 700 gold medals were awarded to children of fallen service members.
- More than 300,000 people are buried at Arlington Cemetery.
Issue 447
SNIPPETZ THINKS AGE IS ALL IN THE MIND
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
- Mark Twain
Ah, the inevitable: the AARP card. Once hit with that 50th birthday, every American is eligible for membership in the American Association of Retired People. It’s a rite of passage, however dreaded. But, at least those 50-year-olds have 15 more years before they are officially declared “older Americans.”
The Administration on Aging defines the older population as those who are age 65-plus. The oldest baby boomer (born from 1946 to 1964) will be 65 in 2011; and, as the segment of the population that has been setting standards for years, it’s unlikely those boomers will quietly retreat into old age. Nope. Marketing ads touting 40 as the new 30; 50 as the new 40 and 60 as the new 50 give that aging population another 10 years. Helping the process is a slew of products to keep the body young looking and healthy.
May is Older Americans Month. To celebrate, here’s a glimpse at the older population in the United States, using that 65-plus definition.
Older Americans on the Rise
As of 2008, the latest research for the following data, here are some stats on America’s older population.
Colorado’s Oldie Goldies
In 2008, people age 65 and older comprised 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population, compared to 12.8 percent of the national population.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 523,000 older persons living in Colorado. That number is expected to increase to 745,000 by 2015 and more than one million by 2025. That jump has everything to do with the baby boomers.
It is estimated that this year the number of people age 60-plus in Colorado is 770,000.
Move Over Florida
Colorado, with its mild temperatures, plentiful year-round activities and rich natural surroundings, has been called a Mecca for retiring boomers.
Mecca or not, Colorado has the seventh fastest-growing aging population in the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau predicted that in 2010, Colorado will be home to about 700 persons age 100 or older. The United Nations predicts that by the year 2050, more than two million persons worldwide will be age 100 or older.
Colorado and Colorado Springs have many organizations that address senior issues. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments – Area Agency on Aging is a hub of information for senior organizations. Check it out at http://ppacg.org/aaa/info.
Aging Myths
Many people have preconceived ideas about older Americans or getting older themselves. Aging is not about being sentenced to an old rocking chair.
Researchers believe that frailty or disability in older people has little to do with the aging process; it’s about age-related diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers say the majority of people who reach their 100th birthday have lived independently well into their 90s – 15 percent of them don’t have any age-related diseases.
Other Myths:
Celebrating the “Coming of Age”
Aging in America hasn’t always been the hot topic it is today.
President John F. Kennedy initiated “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963, after meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens about the unmet needs of older Americans. Just 17 million Americans reached their 65th birthday in the early 1960s, and a third of those who did were living in poverty. There were few programs for seniors in the post-WW II era.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter officially changed the yearly recognition to “Older Americans Month.”
The month honors the contributions of older persons – past and present, especially those who have actively served to defend the country.
The Administration on Aging creates a theme each year for the month-long celebration of older people. This year, it’s, “Age Strong; Live Long.”
Older Americans Act
Two years after Kennedy organized Senior Citizens Month, Congress passed the Older Americans Act to address the continued lack of social services for older people in communities nationwide. The legislation established the Administration on Aging, which is still today the federal focal point for issues on aging.
The OAA is No. 1 in the U.S. for organizing and delivering social and nutrition services to older people and their caregivers. The OAA authorizes programs through a network of 56 state agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging and more. Programs through the OAA assist low-income older persons with community service employment; provide training and research programs in the field of aging and oversee elder rights protection activities.
To Florida We Go?
Some states have purposefully catered to the older population as a means of economic survival, i.e. Florida.
Ponce de Leon called Florida the “fountain of youth;” and, for decades, Florida has been the premier destination for retirees, whether it’s snowbirds (those escaping northern winters) or permanent residents (those brave enough to get through hot, humid summers). But hold the beaches: Colorado is among many states attracting aging baby boomers who have, since birth, set the trends in the U.S. Boomers aren’t following mom and dad to the sunshine state.
In 2008, Florida dropped 58,000 residents – the first population decrease since the military left the state after World War II.
Baby boomers have also been plagued with the latest economic crisis – dwindling savings. Their choices for retirement could depend on issues like taxes, insurance and the job market for post-retirement income. They’re looking for opportunity and stimulation.
Various counties in states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota join Colorado as attractive hubs for seniors.
The Rich, Famous & Old
Aging gracefully or gracefully aging? Some people defy the myths around aging. From actors to former presidents, they’ve made aging a privileged process.
Also active in their 80s:
Active in their 70s
And the list goes on.
What list would it be without mentioning fitness and health guru Jack Lalane? For those too young to remember, Lalane was an iconic figure in muscle-man feats. Today, he’s 94 and still working out every day.
It’s probably a given that plastic surgery has helped preserve some of those on the above list from the effects of aging, but there’s no plastic surgery to boost energy levels or keep the brain engaged.
Mark Twain said it best: "It’s all in the mind."
SNIPPETZ THINKS AGE IS ALL IN THE MIND
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
- Mark Twain
Ah, the inevitable: the AARP card. Once hit with that 50th birthday, every American is eligible for membership in the American Association of Retired People. It’s a rite of passage, however dreaded. But, at least those 50-year-olds have 15 more years before they are officially declared “older Americans.”
The Administration on Aging defines the older population as those who are age 65-plus. The oldest baby boomer (born from 1946 to 1964) will be 65 in 2011; and, as the segment of the population that has been setting standards for years, it’s unlikely those boomers will quietly retreat into old age. Nope. Marketing ads touting 40 as the new 30; 50 as the new 40 and 60 as the new 50 give that aging population another 10 years. Helping the process is a slew of products to keep the body young looking and healthy.
May is Older Americans Month. To celebrate, here’s a glimpse at the older population in the United States, using that 65-plus definition.
Older Americans on the Rise
As of 2008, the latest research for the following data, here are some stats on America’s older population.
- In 2008, there were 38.9 million older Americans.
- Older Americans represent 12.8 percent of the U.S population – about one in eight Americans.
- The number of older Americans is expected to almost double by 2030 – to just over 72 million or 19 percent of the general population in the U.S.
- In 2008, the 65-75 age group, totaling 20.1 million, was more than nine times larger than the older population in 1900. The population of Americans age 75 to 84 (13 million) that same year was 17 times greater than 1900. The 85-plus category (5.7 million) was 47 times larger.
- Here’s a sure-bet tribute to medicine. In 2008, more than 92,000 Americans were age 100 or 100-plus – an increase of 147 percent from 1990, when the older population stood at 37,306.
- Keeping with the norm, females age 65-plus remain the dominant sex in numbers. In 2008, there were 22.4 million older women in the U.S., compared to 16.5 million older men. That’s a ratio of 136 women to 100 men. The female to male sex ratio increases with age.
Colorado’s Oldie Goldies
In 2008, people age 65 and older comprised 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population, compared to 12.8 percent of the national population.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 523,000 older persons living in Colorado. That number is expected to increase to 745,000 by 2015 and more than one million by 2025. That jump has everything to do with the baby boomers.
It is estimated that this year the number of people age 60-plus in Colorado is 770,000.
Move Over Florida
Colorado, with its mild temperatures, plentiful year-round activities and rich natural surroundings, has been called a Mecca for retiring boomers.
Mecca or not, Colorado has the seventh fastest-growing aging population in the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau predicted that in 2010, Colorado will be home to about 700 persons age 100 or older. The United Nations predicts that by the year 2050, more than two million persons worldwide will be age 100 or older.
Colorado and Colorado Springs have many organizations that address senior issues. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments – Area Agency on Aging is a hub of information for senior organizations. Check it out at http://ppacg.org/aaa/info.
Aging Myths
Many people have preconceived ideas about older Americans or getting older themselves. Aging is not about being sentenced to an old rocking chair.
Researchers believe that frailty or disability in older people has little to do with the aging process; it’s about age-related diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers say the majority of people who reach their 100th birthday have lived independently well into their 90s – 15 percent of them don’t have any age-related diseases.
Other Myths:
- Losing a FEW extra pounds will extend your life. People age 75 or over who carry a little extra fat provide more energy to the immune system. In a study of 3,000 seniors, those with a body mass index of 27 – 154 pounds for a 5 ft. 4 in. woman – live longer than even those who have a healthy BMI of 19 to 25. But obesity – BMI of over 30 – is still a detriment to healthy aging.
- Every older person needs a hearing aid. Only 35 percent of 80-year-olds need hearing aids. Some people in their 90s still have perfect hearing. The No. 1 cause of hearing loss: noise. Tune in to nature instead of AC/DC.
- Older people are withdrawn and crotchety. Here’s the skinny: If you were crotchety in your 40s, you’ll be an old stick in the mud in your 80s. But that cheerful disposition you’ve had in youth remains with aging. Personalities don’t change much after age 30, unless there is a physical or mental reason.
- Senility is inevitable. Maybe you’ll forget your keys or why you went into the bedroom, but actual senility is not a normal part of aging. While there is a bit of decline in cognitive ability, the majority of people don’t have impairments that interfere with their independence. Staying mind-active is one way to boost those cognitive abilities.
- No energy to exercise past 80! Here we go – now this study reported by U.S News and World Report Health calls age 90 the new “70.” That’s a 20-year gain, especially for those who exercise by strength training and participating in at least 30 minutes daily of aerobic exercise like walking.
Celebrating the “Coming of Age”
Aging in America hasn’t always been the hot topic it is today.
President John F. Kennedy initiated “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963, after meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens about the unmet needs of older Americans. Just 17 million Americans reached their 65th birthday in the early 1960s, and a third of those who did were living in poverty. There were few programs for seniors in the post-WW II era.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter officially changed the yearly recognition to “Older Americans Month.”
The month honors the contributions of older persons – past and present, especially those who have actively served to defend the country.
The Administration on Aging creates a theme each year for the month-long celebration of older people. This year, it’s, “Age Strong; Live Long.”
Older Americans Act
Two years after Kennedy organized Senior Citizens Month, Congress passed the Older Americans Act to address the continued lack of social services for older people in communities nationwide. The legislation established the Administration on Aging, which is still today the federal focal point for issues on aging.
The OAA is No. 1 in the U.S. for organizing and delivering social and nutrition services to older people and their caregivers. The OAA authorizes programs through a network of 56 state agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging and more. Programs through the OAA assist low-income older persons with community service employment; provide training and research programs in the field of aging and oversee elder rights protection activities.
To Florida We Go?
Some states have purposefully catered to the older population as a means of economic survival, i.e. Florida.
Ponce de Leon called Florida the “fountain of youth;” and, for decades, Florida has been the premier destination for retirees, whether it’s snowbirds (those escaping northern winters) or permanent residents (those brave enough to get through hot, humid summers). But hold the beaches: Colorado is among many states attracting aging baby boomers who have, since birth, set the trends in the U.S. Boomers aren’t following mom and dad to the sunshine state.
In 2008, Florida dropped 58,000 residents – the first population decrease since the military left the state after World War II.
Baby boomers have also been plagued with the latest economic crisis – dwindling savings. Their choices for retirement could depend on issues like taxes, insurance and the job market for post-retirement income. They’re looking for opportunity and stimulation.
Various counties in states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota join Colorado as attractive hubs for seniors.
The Rich, Famous & Old
Aging gracefully or gracefully aging? Some people defy the myths around aging. From actors to former presidents, they’ve made aging a privileged process.
- Clint Eastwood is 80 and still directing and acting.
- Former President George H.W. Bush jumped out of a plane at age 80.
- Actor Helen Mirren is age 63 and a role model for gracefully and beautifully aging.
- Mystery novelist Mary Higgins Clark is over 80.
- Same with Andy Rooney, “60 Minutes” commentator – he’s 80-plus.
- Joe Paterno, also in his early 80s, is still coaching the football team at Penn State University. Talk about energy.
- Betty White is a sought-after actress at age 80. She recently hosted “Saturday Night Live,” prompted by fans of SNL.
- Cloris Leachman is in her 80s and recently competed in the ABC hit show, “Dancing with the Stars.” She outlasted a few of the younger competitors.
Also active in their 80s:
- Newswoman and talk show host Barbara Walters
- Actor Ed Asner
- Music icon Dick Clark
- Former President Jimmy Carter
- Poet Maya Angelou
Active in their 70s
- Al Pacino, actor
- Harry Reid, senator
- Actor George Hamilton
- Actor Robert Redford
- Journalist Tom Brokaw
- Actress/comedian Lilly Tomlin
- Designer Ralph Lauren
- Singer icons Tina Turner, Willie Nelson and Cher
And the list goes on.
What list would it be without mentioning fitness and health guru Jack Lalane? For those too young to remember, Lalane was an iconic figure in muscle-man feats. Today, he’s 94 and still working out every day.
It’s probably a given that plastic surgery has helped preserve some of those on the above list from the effects of aging, but there’s no plastic surgery to boost energy levels or keep the brain engaged.
Mark Twain said it best: "It’s all in the mind."
Issue 446
SNIPPETZ ASKS WHERE'S THE BEEF?
"It is the Americans who have managed to crown minced beef as hamburger, and to send it round the world so that even the fussy French have taken to le boeuf hache, le hambourgaire."
- Julia Child (1912-2004) American chef
Pick your poison – McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Fatburger, Burger King, Fuddruckers, Red Robin, Wendy’s, Rosie’s Diner, Sonic or your home grill – whatever your choice, the burger is America’s food sweetheart. In fact, statistics show that Americans consume three hamburgers each week and the burger accounts for 40 percent of all sandwiches sold in restaurants. Also, 72 percent of the billion or more burgers consumed each year are eaten in restaurants.
Saddle Burgers and Other Delights
Even though the meat grinder wasn’t invented until the 19th century, hamburgers likely began much earlier in slightly different forms. There are differing opinions on where and when the hamburger was invented, but here is some food for thought on the subject:
There’s Genghis Khan (1167-1227) and his army of Mongol horsemen who rode on small horses for days on end to conquer the world as they knew it. Rarely taking a break from riding, the story goes that townspeople would follow behind the army and provide meat from the scrapings of lamb formed into patty shape. The soldiers would place them beneath their saddles while riding, which would tenderize the meat. When hungry, they could simply reach under the saddles, grab the raw meat and eat on the go. The first fast food?
Khubilai Khan (1215-1294), Genghis Khan’s grandson, carried on the family’s conquering traditions and invaded Moscow in 1238. He brought along those saddle-tenderized patties which were adopted and modified by the Russians. They called it steak tartare, after their pet name for Khan’s Mongol army – the Tartars.
Much later during the 15th century, minced meat made into sausage became popular throughout Europe.
By the 1600s when ships were moving about, Germans from Hamburg visited Russia and brought back the steak tartare for the Germans to partake.
Eventually, by the 18th century, the steak tartare was brought back to New York by American’s visiting Hamburg, Germany as well as German immigrants. Americans began to call it Hamburg steak and made it with low-grade beef mixed with spices, bread crumbs and eggs.
By the late 1800s, Hamburg steak began showing up on restaurant lunch menus right there with stewed veal and mutton chops.
Hamburger Fare at the Fair
As could be expected, there is more than one theory about how the true hamburger as we know it got its start in the United States. One theory is that a restaurant owner by the name of Fletcher Davis introduced the hamburger at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
Another theory is that Frank and Charles Menches from Ohio brought the hamburger to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y. in 1885. Apparently, the brothers ran out of sausage patties to serve and took beef, added ingredients such as brown sugar and coffee and called it the Hamburg Sandwich.
The Seymour Community Historical Society in Wisconsin believes that Charles Nagreen sold the hamburgers at the 1885 Seymour Fair. His version was made out of meatballs, an invention that allowed fair-goers the luxury of eating and walking at the same time.
The Library of Congress gives credit to a New Haven, Conn. man by the name of Louis Lassen for selling the first hamburger from his lunch wagon.
There is some evidence that the very first hamburger that landed on a bun rather than between two slices of bread came from Oscar Bilby of Tulsa, Okla. in 1891.
Regional Specialties
Different regions in North America have made the burger their own.
On Top of Old Hamburg
Some of the more popular burger toppings include mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, cheese, salad dressing, barbeque sauce, bacon, avocado, sautéed mushrooms, cheese sauce, chili and Heinz 57 Sauce.
For the more adventurous, there’s always blue cheese, jalapenos, anchovies, tartar sauce, French fries, potato chips, ham, bologna, pineapple, salsa, French fries and onion rings – but not all at once.
Marketing Genius
Who could forget Wendy’s 1984 marketing campaign featuring three elderly ladies gazing at a large-sized hamburger bun when actress Clara Peller asks the million dollar question: “Where’s the beef?” The ad campaign only ran for about a year, but the phrase lives on.
In 1984, it became a buzz phrase during the presidential primary campaign. When democratic candidate Gary Hart advanced his campaign of new ideas, opposing candidate Walter Mondale asked during one of their debates: “Where’s the beef?”
Several current TV shows have included the phrase such as “The Simpsons,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.”
Going for a Record
According to Guinness World Records, Mallie’s Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate, Mich. is the home of the world’s largest hamburger on the regular menu. Dubbed the “Absolutely Ridiculous Burger,” it weighs in at 185.8 pounds and costs $499. Be sure to bring a few friends to share in the calories (and the cost).
A couple of record breakers:
• In 2001, the Burger Fest in Seymour, Wisc. cooked and served a burger weighing 8,266 pounds.
• In Rutland, N.D., folks made a 3,591-pound burger and shared it with 8,000 neighbors in 1982.
Fancy Schmancy Burgers and Burger Joints
• For $777, you can get a Kobe beef and Maine lobster burger with Brie cheese, caramelized onion and prosciutto at Le Burger Brasserie in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
• The saying “$100 hamburger” does not actually refer to a gourmet delight, but rather a term used by pilots who will take short flights to other airports and eat in their restaurants for the sole purpose of flying somewhere … anywhere.
• The north side of Chicago is home to the Rock N Roll McDonald’s, now a restaurant and museum that houses a rock & roll exhibit, a McDonald’s museum, plasma flat screen TV’s and loads of pop culture artifacts from the 1950s. The restaurant opened in 1983 and can hold 300 diners. Its unusual and somewhat luxurious décor has become a tourist attraction in Chicago.
Not Into Beef?
For vegetarians or vegans, there are many alternatives for enjoying that All American Burger. Some veggie burgers are made from tofu (cultured soybean); others from ground vegetables, legumes, nuts, mushrooms, oatmeal and sometimes eggs as a binder. Those most resembling the beef version utilize marinades and meat flavorings to flavor texturized vegetable protein, a form of soybean paste.
Veggie burgers are becoming more mainstream, being served up in some restaurant chains such as Chili’s, Subway, Hard Rock Café and Red Robin. Even McDonald’s and KFC offer veggie burgers in other countries such as India, Dubai, Egypt, Canada, Bahrain, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece and the U.K.
Hamburger Facts
SNIPPETZ ASKS WHERE'S THE BEEF?
"It is the Americans who have managed to crown minced beef as hamburger, and to send it round the world so that even the fussy French have taken to le boeuf hache, le hambourgaire."
- Julia Child (1912-2004) American chef
Pick your poison – McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Fatburger, Burger King, Fuddruckers, Red Robin, Wendy’s, Rosie’s Diner, Sonic or your home grill – whatever your choice, the burger is America’s food sweetheart. In fact, statistics show that Americans consume three hamburgers each week and the burger accounts for 40 percent of all sandwiches sold in restaurants. Also, 72 percent of the billion or more burgers consumed each year are eaten in restaurants.
Saddle Burgers and Other Delights
Even though the meat grinder wasn’t invented until the 19th century, hamburgers likely began much earlier in slightly different forms. There are differing opinions on where and when the hamburger was invented, but here is some food for thought on the subject:
There’s Genghis Khan (1167-1227) and his army of Mongol horsemen who rode on small horses for days on end to conquer the world as they knew it. Rarely taking a break from riding, the story goes that townspeople would follow behind the army and provide meat from the scrapings of lamb formed into patty shape. The soldiers would place them beneath their saddles while riding, which would tenderize the meat. When hungry, they could simply reach under the saddles, grab the raw meat and eat on the go. The first fast food?
Khubilai Khan (1215-1294), Genghis Khan’s grandson, carried on the family’s conquering traditions and invaded Moscow in 1238. He brought along those saddle-tenderized patties which were adopted and modified by the Russians. They called it steak tartare, after their pet name for Khan’s Mongol army – the Tartars.
Much later during the 15th century, minced meat made into sausage became popular throughout Europe.
By the 1600s when ships were moving about, Germans from Hamburg visited Russia and brought back the steak tartare for the Germans to partake.
Eventually, by the 18th century, the steak tartare was brought back to New York by American’s visiting Hamburg, Germany as well as German immigrants. Americans began to call it Hamburg steak and made it with low-grade beef mixed with spices, bread crumbs and eggs.
By the late 1800s, Hamburg steak began showing up on restaurant lunch menus right there with stewed veal and mutton chops.
Hamburger Fare at the Fair
As could be expected, there is more than one theory about how the true hamburger as we know it got its start in the United States. One theory is that a restaurant owner by the name of Fletcher Davis introduced the hamburger at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
Another theory is that Frank and Charles Menches from Ohio brought the hamburger to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y. in 1885. Apparently, the brothers ran out of sausage patties to serve and took beef, added ingredients such as brown sugar and coffee and called it the Hamburg Sandwich.
The Seymour Community Historical Society in Wisconsin believes that Charles Nagreen sold the hamburgers at the 1885 Seymour Fair. His version was made out of meatballs, an invention that allowed fair-goers the luxury of eating and walking at the same time.
The Library of Congress gives credit to a New Haven, Conn. man by the name of Louis Lassen for selling the first hamburger from his lunch wagon.
There is some evidence that the very first hamburger that landed on a bun rather than between two slices of bread came from Oscar Bilby of Tulsa, Okla. in 1891.
Regional Specialties
Different regions in North America have made the burger their own.
- In the southwest U.S., a hamburger may come smothered in red or green chili and is called a “slopper.”
- In Minnesota, you can order a “Juicy Lucy” – a burger surrounding a mound of melted cheese. When you bite into it, the cheese “juice” is sent flying.
- Albert, Canada is home of the Kubie burger, made from Ukrainian sausage (kubasa).
- Wisconsin uses a buttered bun and calls their burger the butter burger.
- When visiting the Carolinas, a burger ordered with the works might include chili, onions, cheese, mustard and coleslaw.
- In the western U.S., a California burger means one with guacamole, bacon and cheese. However, a California burger ordered in the Midwest might come with lettuce, tomato and onion.
- In Mexico, a burger comes with ham, avocado, cheese and bacon.
- Folks from Salt Lake City, Utah enjoy pastrami on their burgers.
On Top of Old Hamburg
Some of the more popular burger toppings include mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, cheese, salad dressing, barbeque sauce, bacon, avocado, sautéed mushrooms, cheese sauce, chili and Heinz 57 Sauce.
For the more adventurous, there’s always blue cheese, jalapenos, anchovies, tartar sauce, French fries, potato chips, ham, bologna, pineapple, salsa, French fries and onion rings – but not all at once.
Marketing Genius
Who could forget Wendy’s 1984 marketing campaign featuring three elderly ladies gazing at a large-sized hamburger bun when actress Clara Peller asks the million dollar question: “Where’s the beef?” The ad campaign only ran for about a year, but the phrase lives on.
In 1984, it became a buzz phrase during the presidential primary campaign. When democratic candidate Gary Hart advanced his campaign of new ideas, opposing candidate Walter Mondale asked during one of their debates: “Where’s the beef?”
Several current TV shows have included the phrase such as “The Simpsons,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.”
Going for a Record
According to Guinness World Records, Mallie’s Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate, Mich. is the home of the world’s largest hamburger on the regular menu. Dubbed the “Absolutely Ridiculous Burger,” it weighs in at 185.8 pounds and costs $499. Be sure to bring a few friends to share in the calories (and the cost).
A couple of record breakers:
• In 2001, the Burger Fest in Seymour, Wisc. cooked and served a burger weighing 8,266 pounds.
• In Rutland, N.D., folks made a 3,591-pound burger and shared it with 8,000 neighbors in 1982.
Fancy Schmancy Burgers and Burger Joints
• For $777, you can get a Kobe beef and Maine lobster burger with Brie cheese, caramelized onion and prosciutto at Le Burger Brasserie in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
• The saying “$100 hamburger” does not actually refer to a gourmet delight, but rather a term used by pilots who will take short flights to other airports and eat in their restaurants for the sole purpose of flying somewhere … anywhere.
• The north side of Chicago is home to the Rock N Roll McDonald’s, now a restaurant and museum that houses a rock & roll exhibit, a McDonald’s museum, plasma flat screen TV’s and loads of pop culture artifacts from the 1950s. The restaurant opened in 1983 and can hold 300 diners. Its unusual and somewhat luxurious décor has become a tourist attraction in Chicago.
Not Into Beef?
For vegetarians or vegans, there are many alternatives for enjoying that All American Burger. Some veggie burgers are made from tofu (cultured soybean); others from ground vegetables, legumes, nuts, mushrooms, oatmeal and sometimes eggs as a binder. Those most resembling the beef version utilize marinades and meat flavorings to flavor texturized vegetable protein, a form of soybean paste.
Veggie burgers are becoming more mainstream, being served up in some restaurant chains such as Chili’s, Subway, Hard Rock Café and Red Robin. Even McDonald’s and KFC offer veggie burgers in other countries such as India, Dubai, Egypt, Canada, Bahrain, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece and the U.K.
Hamburger Facts
- White Castle is considered the first hamburger chain restaurant, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kan. by Walter Anderson and E.W. Ingram. Their “slyders” were 2.5 inches wide, steam fried on a bed of chopped onions. They sold for a whole nickel. Still a popular Midwest burger, they now sell for about 69 cents each.
- McDonald’s Big Mac made its debut in 1968 and sold for 49 cents.
- There is a Hamburger Hall of Fame located in Seymour, Wisc.
- In the 1930s, ground liver was sometimes added to hamburger meat for patties. Really?
- The name Salisbury, as in Salisbury steak, came from an English physician who would prescribe three hamburgers a day in order to cure whatever ails you.
- During World War I, the Hamburg steak was renamed Liberty Sandwich to disengage itself from Hamburg, Germany, home of the enemy. Same with German measles which became the liberty measles, liberty cabbage rather than sauerkraut, and so on.
- The Wimpy burger came from the character Wimpy in the Popeye comic strip who had an insatiable appetite for the beef patties in the 1930s.
- Ray Kroc founded the first McDonald’s in 1955 in Des Plaines, Ill., now a museum. Kroc named it after the “fast-food” hamburger restaurant he discovered in California that was owned by Dick and Mac McDonald.
Issue 445
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS THE LAW OF RETURN
"And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden...You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden."
- Rudyard Kipling
High grocery store prices and media reports of food-related illnesses and harmful food ingredients have led thousands of people to organic gardening, and many in their own backyards. The small farm is making a comeback. And the larger farms are also cashing in. In 2007, U.S. sales of organic food and beverages grew from $1 billion in 1990 to an estimated $20 billion. From 2007 to 2010, organic food sales were expected to increase 18 to 20 percent each year.
How It All Sprouted
In the early to mid 1900s, British botanist Sir Albert Howard, after observing the farming practices of the people in India, became a staunch opponent of chemical fertilizers. His studies concluded that the remains of dead animals and plants returned to the soil enriched it by producing organic matter (humus). The natural process recycled the minerals to stimulate new growth. Calling the process “the law of return,” Howard became a vocal advocate of returning organic waste materials back to the farmlands.
However, conventional farmers were pessimistic. During World War II, chemical fertilizers and pesticides like DDT were introduced, heightening economic gains for traditional farmers. Pesticides warded off insects and disease.
The two different methods of farming polarized the agricultural industry; notably so when American business man Jerome Rodale published the first magazine on organic farming in 1942.
Fast forward 20 years, when well-known naturalist Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring.” Many have credited the best seller with spawning the environmental movement and contributing to the ban on DDT, which nearly wiped out a number of bird species.
Another 20 years later, the U.S. government began regulating organic production and adopting certification standards.
Organic Defined
The simple explanation of organic farming: the natural production of food, without synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms. At the same time, methods used in organic farming have no impact on the earth’s resources and provide safe, healthy food.
Organic farming also means raising livestock without hormones or other additives.
According to federal government standards, “organic farming prohibits the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge during production. Organic crops must be raised without pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers. Animals raised in an organic operation must be fed organic feed and have access to the outdoors.” No antibiotics; no growth hormones.
Benefits of Organic Gardening
First – Compost
Organic farming and gardening requires composting methods to enrich the soil for successful crops, small or large. Whether it’s Colorado or Florida, composting materials are the same: a mixture of decaying organic (all natural) substances, from orange peels to dead leaves to horse manure.
There are two processes to composting: hot and cold.
Although it’s a simple process, cold composting can take up to two years to “finish.” Cold composting is the collection of grass clippings, leaves and weeds, and it normally takes six months to 24 months for the microorganisms, earthworms and insects to break down the material. Turning the pile and adjusting the moisture level speeds the process.
Hot composting involves combining numerous ingredients to create heat. This process usually takes two months to one year – and is the preferred method among diehard organic gardeners.
Composting How To’s
Compost Teas
Spraying compost teas on garden plants and vegetables can block funguses and stimulate growth. One of the most popular teas today is worm tea. Worms help decompose matter and improve soil structure, leaving behind a rich fertilizer. The proof is in the pudding … or the plants.
Anyone can set up a worm bin, feeding the worms kitchen scraps. The city of Fort Collins, Colo., even has a Compost Worm Exchange – visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worm_exchange/ to find out more about worm farms.
Not interested in raising worms? No problem. Worm farming has obviously taken hold. Worm tea for purchase is plentiful, as well as worm castings for the soil. Check your local nurseries or the Internet for many sources. Note: worm tea is not for human consumption!
Gardening in Colorado
Hard-packed clay soil, dry winds, dry weather and varying temperatures – they are all factors that impede the gardening process in Colorado and frustrate newcomers.
To weed out (pun intended) the negatives, start by changing the soil texture. Adding just three to four inches of organic compost is enough to change the soil, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Although it’s not necessary for composting, adding cow, llama or horse manure can create the perfect storm for gardening in Colorado; however, be careful of the cow manure. Some of it contains E coli bacteria. Also, if the cows are penned in, their urine collects on the manure; the urine is often laden with salt, which is detrimental to soil.
Carol O’Meara from CSU encourages the use of llama or horse manure because the animals graze freely, living off more natural foods.
It’s Time to Plant!
The compost is ready – now what?
There are hundreds of Web sites on organic gardening as well as many local resources. Here are just a few tricks of the organic trade to know before getting started.
Mary, Mary … How Does Your Garden Grow?
The latest stats:
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS THE LAW OF RETURN
"And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden...You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden."
- Rudyard Kipling
High grocery store prices and media reports of food-related illnesses and harmful food ingredients have led thousands of people to organic gardening, and many in their own backyards. The small farm is making a comeback. And the larger farms are also cashing in. In 2007, U.S. sales of organic food and beverages grew from $1 billion in 1990 to an estimated $20 billion. From 2007 to 2010, organic food sales were expected to increase 18 to 20 percent each year.
How It All Sprouted
In the early to mid 1900s, British botanist Sir Albert Howard, after observing the farming practices of the people in India, became a staunch opponent of chemical fertilizers. His studies concluded that the remains of dead animals and plants returned to the soil enriched it by producing organic matter (humus). The natural process recycled the minerals to stimulate new growth. Calling the process “the law of return,” Howard became a vocal advocate of returning organic waste materials back to the farmlands.
However, conventional farmers were pessimistic. During World War II, chemical fertilizers and pesticides like DDT were introduced, heightening economic gains for traditional farmers. Pesticides warded off insects and disease.
The two different methods of farming polarized the agricultural industry; notably so when American business man Jerome Rodale published the first magazine on organic farming in 1942.
Fast forward 20 years, when well-known naturalist Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring.” Many have credited the best seller with spawning the environmental movement and contributing to the ban on DDT, which nearly wiped out a number of bird species.
Another 20 years later, the U.S. government began regulating organic production and adopting certification standards.
Organic Defined
The simple explanation of organic farming: the natural production of food, without synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms. At the same time, methods used in organic farming have no impact on the earth’s resources and provide safe, healthy food.
Organic farming also means raising livestock without hormones or other additives.
According to federal government standards, “organic farming prohibits the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge during production. Organic crops must be raised without pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers. Animals raised in an organic operation must be fed organic feed and have access to the outdoors.” No antibiotics; no growth hormones.
Benefits of Organic Gardening
- There are many more nutrients in organic foods.
- Processing vegetables and food in general decreases the nutrient value.
- The jury is still out on the adverse effects of pesticides and the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock. Organic might be a safe alternative.
- Organic foods stay fresh for longer periods.
- Growing your own food is cost efficient.
- Organic gardening is easy on the environment.
- Gardening in general is good exercise and a great stress reliever.
First – Compost
Organic farming and gardening requires composting methods to enrich the soil for successful crops, small or large. Whether it’s Colorado or Florida, composting materials are the same: a mixture of decaying organic (all natural) substances, from orange peels to dead leaves to horse manure.
There are two processes to composting: hot and cold.
Although it’s a simple process, cold composting can take up to two years to “finish.” Cold composting is the collection of grass clippings, leaves and weeds, and it normally takes six months to 24 months for the microorganisms, earthworms and insects to break down the material. Turning the pile and adjusting the moisture level speeds the process.
Hot composting involves combining numerous ingredients to create heat. This process usually takes two months to one year – and is the preferred method among diehard organic gardeners.
Composting How To’s
- The best recipe for composting is combining two to three parts brown materials (dead leaves, shredded newspaper, wood chips) with one part green matter (fresh grass clippings, green leaves and fruit and vegetable peelings).
- Do not use wood ashes or lime for composting in Colorado. They increase salt and alkalinity, leading to a loss of nitrogen.
- When enough of the materials have accumulated to create at least a volume of 27 cubic feet, layer (burying the food scraps in the center to stave off the animals) the ingredients as the recipe calls for until the pile is 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet – or 5 feet wide at the base and 3 feet high.
- The microorganisms will start composting, releasing heat. The interior of the pile will reach a toasty 120 to 150 degrees.
- It’s important to turn the pile weekly and regulate the moisture levels (damp but not soggy).
- The compost will be ready to use when the heat is gone and the original ingredients are no longer visible – some say the finished product looks like chocolate cake crumbs and smells like freshly turned earth. If adding to the compost continuously, screen out the finished compost.
Compost Teas
Spraying compost teas on garden plants and vegetables can block funguses and stimulate growth. One of the most popular teas today is worm tea. Worms help decompose matter and improve soil structure, leaving behind a rich fertilizer. The proof is in the pudding … or the plants.
- A study done at Ohio State University found that just 10 to 20 percent of worm compost added to commercial potting soil can boost the growth rate of marigolds, bachelor’s buttons, tomatoes and peppers up to 40 percent.
- Researchers at Mississippi State University found that worm compost increased the germination growth of cucumbers.
- Italian scientists confirmed the same results with carrots.
Anyone can set up a worm bin, feeding the worms kitchen scraps. The city of Fort Collins, Colo., even has a Compost Worm Exchange – visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worm_exchange/ to find out more about worm farms.
Not interested in raising worms? No problem. Worm farming has obviously taken hold. Worm tea for purchase is plentiful, as well as worm castings for the soil. Check your local nurseries or the Internet for many sources. Note: worm tea is not for human consumption!
Gardening in Colorado
Hard-packed clay soil, dry winds, dry weather and varying temperatures – they are all factors that impede the gardening process in Colorado and frustrate newcomers.
To weed out (pun intended) the negatives, start by changing the soil texture. Adding just three to four inches of organic compost is enough to change the soil, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Although it’s not necessary for composting, adding cow, llama or horse manure can create the perfect storm for gardening in Colorado; however, be careful of the cow manure. Some of it contains E coli bacteria. Also, if the cows are penned in, their urine collects on the manure; the urine is often laden with salt, which is detrimental to soil.
Carol O’Meara from CSU encourages the use of llama or horse manure because the animals graze freely, living off more natural foods.
It’s Time to Plant!
The compost is ready – now what?
There are hundreds of Web sites on organic gardening as well as many local resources. Here are just a few tricks of the organic trade to know before getting started.
- Know thy vegetables – and flowers: Know what works best in Colorado. Learn about the growing seasons. Connect the dots – the veggies to their season.
- Black plastic barrier cloths provide warmth. Apply before planting. Cover the edges with soil and transplant vegetables through small slits cut in the plastic.
- To block weeds, old newspapers work well, too.
- Try raised beds, layering compost and manure. Use only very dry manure, preferably not cow. Add blood or bone meal to the mix as well.
- Use mulch to cut back the weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also protects the garden from pounding rain and disease organisms. Hay, straw and shredded leaves make great mulch.
- There are dozens of organic commercial products to aid the garden. Seaweed (kelp) is one. The same goes for disease control. Know the ingredients!
- Rotate crops. Vegetable garden waste provides a home for pests during the winter months.
- Never add sand to clay; it makes adobe soil.
- Plant cover crops like rye and buckwheat over the winter months to generate nitrogen in the soil.
- And be sure to check out Colorado’s universities for free information about organic gardening.
Mary, Mary … How Does Your Garden Grow?
The latest stats:
- Total U.S. organic sales – food and nonfood items – added up to $17.7 billion in 2006 and were projected to surpass $25 billion in 2008.
- Mass market grocery stores accounted for 38 percent of organic food sales in 2006. Natural food stores – both large and small – represented 44 percent of organic food sales. Club stores, food service, the Internet and farmers’ markets picked up the rest of the percentages.
- Internationally, sales are increasing by more than $5 billion a year. In 2006, global sales of organic products reached $38.6 billion, double from 2000 stats. Europe, the U.S. and Japan are the most important import markets for organic products.
- Consumers are increasingly using organic products. Across six product lines, households using those organic products increased 2 percent from 2006 to 2007 – from 57 to 59 percent.
- In 2007, the National Restaurant Association forecast showed that chefs ranked organic food third on a list of the top 20 items for 2007.
Issue 444
SNIPPETZ PRESENTS AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."
-Author Unknown
In ancient history, teachers were highly valued members of society – on the same level as royalty or government officials. Today, teachers could argue that their position in society is not as regal. May 2 marks the beginning of teacher appreciation week, and the question is: Are teachers given the same noble status today as they were in the past?
Confucius Says
Early on, “learned” men like priests and prophets handed down their worldly knowledge to younger generations. Those teachers were respected and appreciated for the wisdom they had gained throughout the years.
Confucius became the first-ever private teacher. Although he came from noble roots, his immediate family had fallen on hard times; and, in those days, only the rich were educated. Because Confucius had no other avenue to quench his thirst for knowledge, he went to work for a nobleman so he could accompany him on his travels and become educated to the ways of the world. He did so with vigor – so much so that he eventually became one of the most renowned teachers of all times. As a highly valued member of society, “Confucius says” became the mantra of many.
Middle Ages
The Roman Catholic Church accepted responsibility for teaching the sons of royalty – still the only ones being educated – in the Middle Ages. The Church designated teaching duties to monasteries or learning centers, one of which became Cambridge University.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, education grew beyond royalty and training institutions; teaching theories were established as well. At the same time, however, appreciation of teachers had fallen off.
Massachusetts Takes The Lead
Boston, Mass., was the site of the first public school in America. Leading the way for education in the U.S., Massachusetts passed a law in 1642 stating that any child who was not properly educated had to become an apprentice to a trade. America’s forefathers believed that learning was vital to the future of the country.
In 1647, Massachusetts initiated the Old Deluder Satan Act, which required that towns of more than 50 families hire a reading and writing teacher. For more than 100 families in a town, a grammar school had to be established.
Education in those days focused on Latin and Greek history and language, memorization and discipline. Whipping posts were set up outside the schools for disruptive students, who were tied to the posts and flogged for acting out in the classrooms. The schools were centered on boys, but “dame” schools for females were eventually organized in the kitchens of the homemaker/teacher. Because it was thought that females did not have the same intellect as males, they were only expected to learn reading and writing.
In the early 1700s, college preparatory curriculums became popular. Known as a “terminal” school in 1821, Boston organized the first high school for boys 12 years and older.
Reduced Flogging and Other Changes
Education has obviously changed throughout the decades. Between 1950 and 1970, teachers were allowed in the classroom with just a two-year degree. Only one-fifth of all teachers had an advanced degree. Students with learning disabilities were at a disadvantage because teachers knew little about their problems. Behavior management hadn’t been part of the teaching curriculum, either. And, of course, high technology wasn’t available.
Today, teachers and students have portable laptops, televisions, projectors, etc. in the classroom. Even first grade classes have desktop computers. The chalkboard is outdated. Instead, Power Point presentations are common in middle and high schools.
The Apple Lives On
While classrooms evolved into the high-tech era, apple is still at the core of showing teacher appreciation.
Giving an apple to a teacher originated as a simple way to show appreciation for teachers who were not paid well. It’s believed that the fruit’s health benefits meant that a teacher was valued. The practice had its beginnings in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden.
Apple polishing is a term first used in the 1920s for students using apples to “suck up” to the teacher.
Some Teacher Stats:
Where Have All the Teachers Gone?
Teachers are continuously adding to their skill levels and increasingly using technology to instruct their students. However, some are opting out of teaching for more lucrative opportunities and better working conditions.
Teachers as Mentors
Many high profile Americans have cited teachers who greatly influenced their lives.
Snippetz salutes teachers everywhere – thanks for all you do!
SNIPPETZ PRESENTS AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."
-Author Unknown
In ancient history, teachers were highly valued members of society – on the same level as royalty or government officials. Today, teachers could argue that their position in society is not as regal. May 2 marks the beginning of teacher appreciation week, and the question is: Are teachers given the same noble status today as they were in the past?
Confucius Says
Early on, “learned” men like priests and prophets handed down their worldly knowledge to younger generations. Those teachers were respected and appreciated for the wisdom they had gained throughout the years.
Confucius became the first-ever private teacher. Although he came from noble roots, his immediate family had fallen on hard times; and, in those days, only the rich were educated. Because Confucius had no other avenue to quench his thirst for knowledge, he went to work for a nobleman so he could accompany him on his travels and become educated to the ways of the world. He did so with vigor – so much so that he eventually became one of the most renowned teachers of all times. As a highly valued member of society, “Confucius says” became the mantra of many.
Middle Ages
The Roman Catholic Church accepted responsibility for teaching the sons of royalty – still the only ones being educated – in the Middle Ages. The Church designated teaching duties to monasteries or learning centers, one of which became Cambridge University.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, education grew beyond royalty and training institutions; teaching theories were established as well. At the same time, however, appreciation of teachers had fallen off.
Massachusetts Takes The Lead
Boston, Mass., was the site of the first public school in America. Leading the way for education in the U.S., Massachusetts passed a law in 1642 stating that any child who was not properly educated had to become an apprentice to a trade. America’s forefathers believed that learning was vital to the future of the country.
In 1647, Massachusetts initiated the Old Deluder Satan Act, which required that towns of more than 50 families hire a reading and writing teacher. For more than 100 families in a town, a grammar school had to be established.
Education in those days focused on Latin and Greek history and language, memorization and discipline. Whipping posts were set up outside the schools for disruptive students, who were tied to the posts and flogged for acting out in the classrooms. The schools were centered on boys, but “dame” schools for females were eventually organized in the kitchens of the homemaker/teacher. Because it was thought that females did not have the same intellect as males, they were only expected to learn reading and writing.
In the early 1700s, college preparatory curriculums became popular. Known as a “terminal” school in 1821, Boston organized the first high school for boys 12 years and older.
Reduced Flogging and Other Changes
Education has obviously changed throughout the decades. Between 1950 and 1970, teachers were allowed in the classroom with just a two-year degree. Only one-fifth of all teachers had an advanced degree. Students with learning disabilities were at a disadvantage because teachers knew little about their problems. Behavior management hadn’t been part of the teaching curriculum, either. And, of course, high technology wasn’t available.
Today, teachers and students have portable laptops, televisions, projectors, etc. in the classroom. Even first grade classes have desktop computers. The chalkboard is outdated. Instead, Power Point presentations are common in middle and high schools.
The Apple Lives On
While classrooms evolved into the high-tech era, apple is still at the core of showing teacher appreciation.
Giving an apple to a teacher originated as a simple way to show appreciation for teachers who were not paid well. It’s believed that the fruit’s health benefits meant that a teacher was valued. The practice had its beginnings in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden.
Apple polishing is a term first used in the 1920s for students using apples to “suck up” to the teacher.
Some Teacher Stats:
- The average teacher is white, female, married and in her 40s.
- Eight out of 10 public school teachers are women.
- K-12 teachers are aging. Forty-two percent of K-12 teachers are older than 50. The percentage of teachers under age 30 in K-12 has remained steady. But the proportion of teachers in their 30s has significantly dropped over the years – from 37 percent (1996) to 22 percent (2005). Teachers in their 40s have decreased, too – from 44 percent to 26 percent in the same years. The proportion of teachers with 25 years or more experience has doubled.
- The fastest-growing group of non-white teachers is Hispanic.
- Teachers spend an average of more than $400 per year of their own money for teaching tools and other items.
- Teachers spend an average of 50-plus hours per week on teaching duties, including extracurricular activities.
- The average salary across the country for teachers is $54,319, according to the National Education Association. Beginning teachers start at about $20,000 less, depending on location.
- Seven percent of public school teachers earned less than $30,000 in 2005, while 10 percent earned more than $65,000.
- The No. 1 reason that teachers go into the profession is to help young people learn and develop.
Where Have All the Teachers Gone?
Teachers are continuously adding to their skill levels and increasingly using technology to instruct their students. However, some are opting out of teaching for more lucrative opportunities and better working conditions.
- About half of all teachers entering the profession leave within the first five years (National Commission on Teaching report).
- More than half of new teachers (five years or less) in urban areas leave the profession within three years.
- About one-quarter of math and science teachers leave the profession yearly – for retirement or another field of employment.
- California, Iowa and New York face teacher shortages. In California, 18,000 teachers leave the profession each year, citing low pay and unfavorable conditions. The latter includes unreliable assistance from districts, lack of support and not enough support from students’ parents.
- New York City has had to provide housing to teachers to attract them to the Big Apple because of the high cost of living.
- Although Iowa has recently raised teacher salaries to be in line with the rest of the country, it might not be enough, as other states raise teacher salaries. Iowa is experiencing a decline in population in small, rural areas; teacher shortages in math, science, languages and special education in those areas is a big problem.
- Colorado, on the other hand, is an attractive and reasonable place to live cost wise. A Colorado teacher’s starting salary is about $35,000 and the average teacher salary is $44,439.
Teachers as Mentors
Many high profile Americans have cited teachers who greatly influenced their lives.
- Oprah Winfrey: One of the defining moments of my life came in the fourth grade, the year I was Mrs. Duncan's student. What Mrs. Duncan did for me was to help me to not be afraid of being smart.
- The late Walter Cronkite: He taught me so much in those high school classes … he cemented my desire to be a reporter for the rest of my life. He was my major inspiration. I always credit Fred Birney for my career.
- Tom Brokaw: I never forgot Frances Morrow; she was emblematic of what I think every school teacher should be. She spotted me early on and encouraged me to read above my grade level and to be imaginative in class, but at the same time she paid attention to the others …. But I knew that I had her eye, and it gave me confidence.
- Richard Dreyfuss: Someone asked me why was Rose Jane such a great teacher? And I said because she believed that we were as great as we thought we were.
- Brian Williams: I signed up for an English literature course taught by a teacher named Bob Kitzin, and he turned me around. He employed the technique used by all of our great teachers. He used the germ of an idea. The excitement of learning. Personal betterment, in the right vehicle. He taught it in such a way, with such enthusiasm, excitement. He laid down that foundation in my life, and I think were it not for him, I wouldn't have become a serious thinker in life.
- Martin Sheen: “When the student is ready the teacher will appear" is an old cliché that was certainly fulfilled in my life by three very different mentors who seemed to materialize at the most opportune times when I was young and most receptive.
- Mike Wallace: I remember my first mentor. Her name was Biddy Mitchell, and she was my grammar school teacher. She instilled in me an understanding of grammar and words, and how to speak in a fairly civilized way. And I think back at what a service she did me, because she got me interested in the subject.
Snippetz salutes teachers everywhere – thanks for all you do!
Issue 443
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, SNIPPETZ HAS A FEW POEMS FOR YOU
"To have great poets, there must be great audiences too."
-Walt Whitman
From the colonial days of Anne Bradstreet
and Edward Taylor – a puritan
to modern day multiculturalism
American poets are varied in span.
There’s the 18th century poets
like William Cullen Bryant
who wrote about the forests and prairies
not so defiant.
To the 19th century greats like Poe, Emerson,
Wadsworth, Holmes and Thoreau,
who strove to find the American voice
and found transcendentalism for the spiritual.
Along came Longfellow and
his Song of Hiawatha
exploring the landscape
and traditions of Native America.
It was the likes of T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein,
who believed in free verse and objectivism
as did Ezra Pound and Madeline Gleason
all gave the 20th century life and activism.
WWII brought us a whole new generation
of poets who wrote about the war
such as Wallace Stevens, James Dickey
Elizabeth Bishop and Delmore Schwartz.
The confessional movement
emphasized reflection,
coming right on spot with the
Beat group and open expression.
With a revival of the Beat
here comes the 21st century with its mixing of the waters
and the new spoken-word performers
a mix and mash of American ideas and cultures.
April is National Poetry Month, first introduced in 1996 by the American Academy of Poetry. The AAP was founded in 1934 in New York by Marie Bullock with a mission to "support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry." Bullock returned to the U.S. after studying at the Sorbonne in Paris only to discover a lack of interest in poetry as well as the lack of financial support for the authors.
The AAP promotes poetry through other programs such as free poetry lesson plans for high school teachers, an extensive audio archive that includes 700 poetry recordings and various other online educational resources.
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme – That is the Question
It’s not all about rhyming. Poetry takes many “forms,” or how the writing is organized. Some forms are more technical than others. Here’s a cheat sheet for the poetically challenged:
AWARDS
The Academy of American Poetry grants several awards each year, some if which are listed in the Library of Congress amongst the most distinguished awards granted:
The Influential
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-1886), known as an “eccentric recluse” and “the woman in white,” published a mere dozen or so poems during her lifetime. Upon her death, she insisted that her letters were burned, but her poetry was saved. It is estimated that there were about 1,700 short, untitled poems in her collection. The year 1862 was one of her most prolific when she penned a poem per day. She began putting them together in sewn booklets called fascicles.
Dickinson rarely showed her face and wore only white. Children in her village loved her as she would send them treats from her upstairs bedroom window when they would come around.
To pity those that know her not
Is helped by the regret
That those who know her, know her less
The nearer her they get.
- Dickinson on Nature
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of the most influential American poets who successfully combined transcendentalism and realism in his works. He was also a journalist, a humanitarian and an essayist. He was considered the father of the free verse and the country’s first “poet of democracy.” His most famous collection of poetry, “Leaves of Grass,” was published in 1855 by Whitman himself. He did not indicate his name as the author of this collection. However, he included an engraved portrait of himself facing the title page; and within the book he refers to himself as "Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos, disorderly, fleshly, and sensual, no sentimentalist, no stander above men or women or apart from them, no more modest than immodest." Over the years, Whitman revised “Leaves of Grass” numerous times. He was nearly a teetotaler and spoke frequently in favor of prohibition until his later years when he would enjoy the occasional glass of wine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American poet, essayist, orator and philosopher was a leader in the transcendentalism movement that began in New England in the early 19th century. The movement encompassed religion, culture, literature and philosophy and brought attention to the importance of spiritualism, reason and philosophy over and above that of empiricism. He is best known for his 1836 essay, “Nature,” followed by his famous speech, “The American Scholar” given in 1837, which Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. touted as America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.” Emerson supported abolitionism, which did not always make him popular with the crowds he spoke to. Beginning around 1871, Emerson began losing his memory, eventually giving up the podium. He would tell those who would ask how he was doing: “Quite well; I have lost my mental faculties, but am perfectly well.”
The sense of the world is short,
Long and various the report,
To love and be beloved;
Men and gods have not outlearned it,
And how oft soe'er they've turned it,
'Tis not to be improved.
-Emerson’s “Eros”
The Eccentric
A group of poets, artists and novelists who called themselves the Bouzingo lived and worked in France during the 1830s. They were known to write exaggerated accounts of their lives and practiced a form of romanticism that influenced culture and the arts well into the 20th century, including the hippie movement, punk rock, bohemianism, decadence, surrealism and the lost generation. Other than the stories they told of themselves, no one really knows for sure if they truly participated in bizarre practices such as walking a lobster on a leash, playing instruments on street corners (even though they were not musicians), and throwing parties where no clothing was allowed and human skulls were used as wine vessels.
More . . .
Without Further Adieu…
Snippetz Brings You Local Prose
Past and Present
By Christopher Armstrong
The tick of the clock,
to open our eyes,
that the present is past,
as time goes by.
Each moments a blessing,
till another takes place,
the gift we keep getting,
only to be erased.
But living in memories,
is living a lie,
the past as the present,
like earth as the sky.
the past is forgotten,
recycled over again,
a process only the present,
can truly withstand.
For each seconds that’s passing,
is a gift to be had,
each memory lasting,
never one bad.
So cherish the moments,
make each second last,
for eventually the present,
turns into the past.
The lesson to learn,
is all things will end,
so live in the now,
remember the then.
Free Write
by Andrew Ruzkowski
Stone-blue smoke and rooftops
tiled like scales on a tortoise.
Every once in awhile, almost
tenderly, a door shuts with the
graceful step of a little girl.
And then, without missing a beat,
a car grumbles to life. I feel
the wintertime, because it is the
season of comfort. Above me,
a tree waves it’s January colored
pennants in the morning breeze.
Here I am on the coast of the mountains.
Let the little buildings breathe the molten air.
Let the birds sleep, they’re phantoms,
they can’t hear me.
Symphony
By Susan MacKay Wylie
Laughed, red wine on our lips
Listened to them talk politics
But we didn’t.
Turned our warm wool coats
Over to her
Copious smile, she said,
“Here are your tickets.”
We trusted her.
Held hands, for a moment.
Heedful boy said,
“Good evening.”
Extended folded programs.
Soul-searched the boy
We nodded.
“Watch your step,”
he said.
Squeezed between knees and feet
Sashayed to seats
M 16 and 17.
My red shoes,
A conversation.
Undaunted, we tipped our heads
Confirmed our positions.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said.
That is us.
Low light in medley
Violins and violas erupted.
A vision in the dark
As our eyes met
Notes in a volcano.
Lady Spring
By Gael Stuart Phaneuf
Lady Spring hides quietly behind the barren
branches of winter's sleeping trees
and in a moment of delightful surprise
comes dancing over the hilltops.
Her garment is woven of possibilities.
Her breath is the sweet breeze of hope.
Ever so lightly, her footsteps paint a trail of
fragrant color while her gentle voice whispers
encouragement to the budding world. Like God's
tender kiss she inspires our hearts toward tomorrow.
And Snippetz’s Very Own…
Orange Glow
By Nick Yanez
Over the hill I saw something I did not know.
The landscape and the birds fluttered away.
Then, vanished did the sun, rain, and snow.
There was just an orange glow.
Teetering on the horizon, it began to consume
All that I saw, loved, even things I hated.
My home began to fade, and empty stood my room,
An orange glow in bloom.
Into the mountains I would hide, afraid.
But hollow was the hill, the trees and breeze all gone,
Fading into nothing, the things our God had made.
The orange glow, however, stayed.
The Autumn flame grew darker, and wild was the sky.
Pale of blue and purple, infected, and ill-advised,
It ran away above me, as if bragging it could fly.
And there, the orange glow was by my side.
Then, running scared and blind, I tired and turned around.
I faced the thing and shivered; fearful, frightened.
I accepted only failure, and stood firmly on the ground.
An orange glow, inside it, beauty I had found.
The Shadows
By George W. Wilkins
There's silence all about me,
Yet no peace this lonely eve.
For even dreams are quiet now,
Forever I believe.
The hearth is warm, the fire glows,
As shadows dance about.
They're cast upon the darkened walls,
They live through all my doubt.
I watch them do their eerie dance,
Their movements flicker fast,
They bring to me a time to pause,
To think about the past.
The shapeless forms might never meet,
They dance from wall to wall.
Their silhouettes left incomplete,
Like that which I recall.
I watch the shadows fade this night,
The flames begin to die.
I have no strength to lift the log.
I have no will to try.
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, SNIPPETZ HAS A FEW POEMS FOR YOU
"To have great poets, there must be great audiences too."
-Walt Whitman
From the colonial days of Anne Bradstreet
and Edward Taylor – a puritan
to modern day multiculturalism
American poets are varied in span.
There’s the 18th century poets
like William Cullen Bryant
who wrote about the forests and prairies
not so defiant.
To the 19th century greats like Poe, Emerson,
Wadsworth, Holmes and Thoreau,
who strove to find the American voice
and found transcendentalism for the spiritual.
Along came Longfellow and
his Song of Hiawatha
exploring the landscape
and traditions of Native America.
It was the likes of T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein,
who believed in free verse and objectivism
as did Ezra Pound and Madeline Gleason
all gave the 20th century life and activism.
WWII brought us a whole new generation
of poets who wrote about the war
such as Wallace Stevens, James Dickey
Elizabeth Bishop and Delmore Schwartz.
The confessional movement
emphasized reflection,
coming right on spot with the
Beat group and open expression.
With a revival of the Beat
here comes the 21st century with its mixing of the waters
and the new spoken-word performers
a mix and mash of American ideas and cultures.
April is National Poetry Month, first introduced in 1996 by the American Academy of Poetry. The AAP was founded in 1934 in New York by Marie Bullock with a mission to "support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry." Bullock returned to the U.S. after studying at the Sorbonne in Paris only to discover a lack of interest in poetry as well as the lack of financial support for the authors.
The AAP promotes poetry through other programs such as free poetry lesson plans for high school teachers, an extensive audio archive that includes 700 poetry recordings and various other online educational resources.
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme – That is the Question
It’s not all about rhyming. Poetry takes many “forms,” or how the writing is organized. Some forms are more technical than others. Here’s a cheat sheet for the poetically challenged:
- Ballad – a poem that tells a story, similar to a folk tale and can sometimes contain a repeat refrain.
- Epic – similar to a ballad, it tells a story, usually about a heroic figure. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Hiawatha” is an example of an epic poem.
- Couplet – a poem with two-line stanzas that rhyme. Shakespeare was famous for ending his sonnets with couplets.
- Burlesque is not just for the stage. It’s also a poem that treats a more serious subject in a humorous or ridiculous manner.
- ABC – not as easy as ABC or 123 – this type of poem has five lines with the first word in each of lines 1 through 4 in alphabetical order; and each line is made up of a phrase or words. Line 5 is a full sentence and the first word does not have to be in alphabetical order as in the first four.
- Epitaph – an inscription on a tomb or gravestone written for the deceased person.
- Sonnets are rather complicated, but in a nutshell, they require 14 lines ending in a couplet. Sonnets are found in English or Shakespearean writings.
- A lyric is typically thought of as the words to a song, but a lyric is also a poem that is an expression of the poet’s feelings.
- Haiku – a Japanese poem that has three lines, each with a prescribed number of syllables – five, seven and five.
- An ode is a very long poem or story about a serious topic. The infamous “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats is a good example.
- Free verse is exactly as it sounds – it can rhyme or not rhyme and it has no specified pattern.
- A limerick can be a humorous poem with a specific set of lines and a finite set of syllables. Lines 1, 2 and 5 have seven to 10 syllables and rhyme; lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables, also rhyming with one another.
AWARDS
The Academy of American Poetry grants several awards each year, some if which are listed in the Library of Congress amongst the most distinguished awards granted:
- James Laughlin Award – recognizes a poet’s second published works. This award began as the Lamont Poetry Selection, awarding a poet’s first published work. However, this eventually changed due to the common occurrence of writers having a great deal more difficulty publishing their second book of work.
- Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize – awarded for the best volume of poetry written by a U.S. citizen. Lenore Marshall (died in 1971) was a novelist, poet and editor.
- Walt Whitman Award – given to an American poet who has completed a book-length manuscript (of poetry) not yet published. The award includes publication and distribution of the manuscript along with $5,000 cash and a one-month stay at the Vermont Studio Center.
- Academy Fellowship – awarded for “distinguished poetic achievement” and awards a fellow with a $25,000 stipend.
The Influential
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-1886), known as an “eccentric recluse” and “the woman in white,” published a mere dozen or so poems during her lifetime. Upon her death, she insisted that her letters were burned, but her poetry was saved. It is estimated that there were about 1,700 short, untitled poems in her collection. The year 1862 was one of her most prolific when she penned a poem per day. She began putting them together in sewn booklets called fascicles.
Dickinson rarely showed her face and wore only white. Children in her village loved her as she would send them treats from her upstairs bedroom window when they would come around.
To pity those that know her not
Is helped by the regret
That those who know her, know her less
The nearer her they get.
- Dickinson on Nature
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of the most influential American poets who successfully combined transcendentalism and realism in his works. He was also a journalist, a humanitarian and an essayist. He was considered the father of the free verse and the country’s first “poet of democracy.” His most famous collection of poetry, “Leaves of Grass,” was published in 1855 by Whitman himself. He did not indicate his name as the author of this collection. However, he included an engraved portrait of himself facing the title page; and within the book he refers to himself as "Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos, disorderly, fleshly, and sensual, no sentimentalist, no stander above men or women or apart from them, no more modest than immodest." Over the years, Whitman revised “Leaves of Grass” numerous times. He was nearly a teetotaler and spoke frequently in favor of prohibition until his later years when he would enjoy the occasional glass of wine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American poet, essayist, orator and philosopher was a leader in the transcendentalism movement that began in New England in the early 19th century. The movement encompassed religion, culture, literature and philosophy and brought attention to the importance of spiritualism, reason and philosophy over and above that of empiricism. He is best known for his 1836 essay, “Nature,” followed by his famous speech, “The American Scholar” given in 1837, which Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. touted as America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.” Emerson supported abolitionism, which did not always make him popular with the crowds he spoke to. Beginning around 1871, Emerson began losing his memory, eventually giving up the podium. He would tell those who would ask how he was doing: “Quite well; I have lost my mental faculties, but am perfectly well.”
The sense of the world is short,
Long and various the report,
To love and be beloved;
Men and gods have not outlearned it,
And how oft soe'er they've turned it,
'Tis not to be improved.
-Emerson’s “Eros”
The Eccentric
A group of poets, artists and novelists who called themselves the Bouzingo lived and worked in France during the 1830s. They were known to write exaggerated accounts of their lives and practiced a form of romanticism that influenced culture and the arts well into the 20th century, including the hippie movement, punk rock, bohemianism, decadence, surrealism and the lost generation. Other than the stories they told of themselves, no one really knows for sure if they truly participated in bizarre practices such as walking a lobster on a leash, playing instruments on street corners (even though they were not musicians), and throwing parties where no clothing was allowed and human skulls were used as wine vessels.
More . . .
- For those “trivia” buffs, there is a published poem by English poet John Gay (1685-1732) called “Trivia” or “The Art of Walking the Streets of London.” It is a 1,000-line, three-book satire chronicling a walk through London and advises the reader on such things as how to dress, surviving falling masonry and overflowing gutters, as well as how to handle muggers and wig thieves.
- An Heptameter is one line of poetry that has seven metrical feet. Metrical feet is not measured in inches or even words, but measured in syllables and sounds contained in a line of poetry.
- Enjambment (from the French meaning “to straddle) means a continuation of a sentence in a poem from one line into the next. For example, “I think that I shall never see/A poem as lovely as a tree,” by Joyce Kilmer.
- Poet John Gay’s epitaph reads: “Life is a jest; and all things show it. / I thought so once; But now I know it
Without Further Adieu…
Snippetz Brings You Local Prose
Past and Present
By Christopher Armstrong
The tick of the clock,
to open our eyes,
that the present is past,
as time goes by.
Each moments a blessing,
till another takes place,
the gift we keep getting,
only to be erased.
But living in memories,
is living a lie,
the past as the present,
like earth as the sky.
the past is forgotten,
recycled over again,
a process only the present,
can truly withstand.
For each seconds that’s passing,
is a gift to be had,
each memory lasting,
never one bad.
So cherish the moments,
make each second last,
for eventually the present,
turns into the past.
The lesson to learn,
is all things will end,
so live in the now,
remember the then.
Free Write
by Andrew Ruzkowski
Stone-blue smoke and rooftops
tiled like scales on a tortoise.
Every once in awhile, almost
tenderly, a door shuts with the
graceful step of a little girl.
And then, without missing a beat,
a car grumbles to life. I feel
the wintertime, because it is the
season of comfort. Above me,
a tree waves it’s January colored
pennants in the morning breeze.
Here I am on the coast of the mountains.
Let the little buildings breathe the molten air.
Let the birds sleep, they’re phantoms,
they can’t hear me.
Symphony
By Susan MacKay Wylie
Laughed, red wine on our lips
Listened to them talk politics
But we didn’t.
Turned our warm wool coats
Over to her
Copious smile, she said,
“Here are your tickets.”
We trusted her.
Held hands, for a moment.
Heedful boy said,
“Good evening.”
Extended folded programs.
Soul-searched the boy
We nodded.
“Watch your step,”
he said.
Squeezed between knees and feet
Sashayed to seats
M 16 and 17.
My red shoes,
A conversation.
Undaunted, we tipped our heads
Confirmed our positions.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said.
That is us.
Low light in medley
Violins and violas erupted.
A vision in the dark
As our eyes met
Notes in a volcano.
Lady Spring
By Gael Stuart Phaneuf
Lady Spring hides quietly behind the barren
branches of winter's sleeping trees
and in a moment of delightful surprise
comes dancing over the hilltops.
Her garment is woven of possibilities.
Her breath is the sweet breeze of hope.
Ever so lightly, her footsteps paint a trail of
fragrant color while her gentle voice whispers
encouragement to the budding world. Like God's
tender kiss she inspires our hearts toward tomorrow.
And Snippetz’s Very Own…
Orange Glow
By Nick Yanez
Over the hill I saw something I did not know.
The landscape and the birds fluttered away.
Then, vanished did the sun, rain, and snow.
There was just an orange glow.
Teetering on the horizon, it began to consume
All that I saw, loved, even things I hated.
My home began to fade, and empty stood my room,
An orange glow in bloom.
Into the mountains I would hide, afraid.
But hollow was the hill, the trees and breeze all gone,
Fading into nothing, the things our God had made.
The orange glow, however, stayed.
The Autumn flame grew darker, and wild was the sky.
Pale of blue and purple, infected, and ill-advised,
It ran away above me, as if bragging it could fly.
And there, the orange glow was by my side.
Then, running scared and blind, I tired and turned around.
I faced the thing and shivered; fearful, frightened.
I accepted only failure, and stood firmly on the ground.
An orange glow, inside it, beauty I had found.
The Shadows
By George W. Wilkins
There's silence all about me,
Yet no peace this lonely eve.
For even dreams are quiet now,
Forever I believe.
The hearth is warm, the fire glows,
As shadows dance about.
They're cast upon the darkened walls,
They live through all my doubt.
I watch them do their eerie dance,
Their movements flicker fast,
They bring to me a time to pause,
To think about the past.
The shapeless forms might never meet,
They dance from wall to wall.
Their silhouettes left incomplete,
Like that which I recall.
I watch the shadows fade this night,
The flames begin to die.
I have no strength to lift the log.
I have no will to try.
Issue 442
SNIPPETZ FLIPS OVER OUR CROWNS OF GLORY
"Long, beautiful, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen... I adore hair!"
-James Rado and Gerome Ragni, Hair
One thing that’s prevailed over time when it comes to hair is that humans are never satisfied with their own head of hair. If it’s curly, we want straight. If it’s black, we want red. Thus, there are wigs, perms, oodles of hair colors, curlers, gels and sprays and on and on to allow everyone a chance at their version of the crown of glory!
Those Daring Victorian Days
The Victorian Period is often thought of as the advent of the “hairstyle movement.” However, in those days, women were damaging their hair – actually scorching it – by overusing hot irons. Their hair also took on an unpleasant odor and a wool-like texture. It was the same for all women in those days – hot irons and one look: smooth and parted in the center. A woman’s hair was never cut unless she was ill.
In the 1870s, M. Marcel Grateau, a hairdresser from Paris, created a new look – a natural wave – that he achieved by turning the hot iron upside down.
Women flocked to the new style – curlier hair eventually represented a woman’s sweet temperament, and the straight-haired girls were now considered reserved or awkward. Although wavy, women still wore their hair long, and it became a “rite of passage” for adult women to pull their hair into a bun or French twist, even adorning it with ribbons, bows or jewelry.
And then came the bob!
In 1915, Irene Castle, a ballroom dancer, wanted a wash-and-wear style of hair. She snipped off her long locks to chin length and innocently became a trendsetter in the hairstyle world, as many women followed suit. The new cropped cut became known as the Castle Bob: a simple, blunt cut level with the bottom of the ears, worn with bangs or side bangs. The new style also prompted the beginning of permanents and hair color.
Women who had bobbed their hair in those days were considered rebellious and bold. A short cut was less feminine, too – and those daring women paid a price for their over-the-edge style:
Today’s bob, whether it’s chin length or shoulder length, blunt cut or layered, straight or curly, is still in demand at hair salons. The bob has weathered decades of new do’s that come and go.
Hairstyles of the Decades
The bob led the way for creative stylists to come up with a myriad of hair designs for women and men. Female hair styles ranged from the short pixie to the bouffant.
Big hair had its day for more than one decade. The French twist, the updo’s, the beehive and the flip – the styles all had one thing in common – they were puffed up and big. There’s a reason they used to say that a women’s “do” would make a good birds’ nest.
Big hair was celebrated from the 50s to the 70s.
Retro styles surged in the 60s. Women brought back a bit of the roaring 20s with a sleek look – less pomp. The pageboy – a longer version of the bob made its mark in the 60s as well.
The following styles were a cut above in their respective decades.
More Big
In the 80s and 90s, the do’s for women and men were a bit wilder but still big.
Although the shag had its start in the 60s, feathering hair became a widespread trend in the 80s.
In the 90s, hairstyles settled down a bit and gentle replaced big. Long hair was in – as in Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford: shiny hair that flowed off the shoulders, often with a twinge of curl. In the late 90s, the feathered look had been revived and continued into the 21st century.
Color, Color, Color
Whether it’s hot pink or flaming red or black, white and gold stripes; coloring one’s hair is in vogue. In the 2000s, blonde hair on the crown and dark hair at the nape is not uncommon. From blonde to red to jet black – the color craze is here to stay.
Celebrity Influences
Do blondes really have more fun? Hollywood has had its share of blondes who’ve persuaded the hair industry. From Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, the color of blonde, from ash to gold, has enticed many women to visit their stylists: going in brown, coming out blonde.
Throughout the years, actors, sport figures and TV personalities shaped the hairstyles of people worldwide.
And it’s not for women only
Men throughout the ages have had their own “do’s” like the buzz cut or the flattop or the crew cut; along with the mullet and the bowl cut. Long hair has never lost its appeal in some men. Rocker Rod Stewart helped popularize the shag cut for men.
A Few Locks of Snippetz
SNIPPETZ FLIPS OVER OUR CROWNS OF GLORY
"Long, beautiful, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen... I adore hair!"
-James Rado and Gerome Ragni, Hair
One thing that’s prevailed over time when it comes to hair is that humans are never satisfied with their own head of hair. If it’s curly, we want straight. If it’s black, we want red. Thus, there are wigs, perms, oodles of hair colors, curlers, gels and sprays and on and on to allow everyone a chance at their version of the crown of glory!
Those Daring Victorian Days
The Victorian Period is often thought of as the advent of the “hairstyle movement.” However, in those days, women were damaging their hair – actually scorching it – by overusing hot irons. Their hair also took on an unpleasant odor and a wool-like texture. It was the same for all women in those days – hot irons and one look: smooth and parted in the center. A woman’s hair was never cut unless she was ill.
In the 1870s, M. Marcel Grateau, a hairdresser from Paris, created a new look – a natural wave – that he achieved by turning the hot iron upside down.
Women flocked to the new style – curlier hair eventually represented a woman’s sweet temperament, and the straight-haired girls were now considered reserved or awkward. Although wavy, women still wore their hair long, and it became a “rite of passage” for adult women to pull their hair into a bun or French twist, even adorning it with ribbons, bows or jewelry.
And then came the bob!
In 1915, Irene Castle, a ballroom dancer, wanted a wash-and-wear style of hair. She snipped off her long locks to chin length and innocently became a trendsetter in the hairstyle world, as many women followed suit. The new cropped cut became known as the Castle Bob: a simple, blunt cut level with the bottom of the ears, worn with bangs or side bangs. The new style also prompted the beginning of permanents and hair color.
Women who had bobbed their hair in those days were considered rebellious and bold. A short cut was less feminine, too – and those daring women paid a price for their over-the-edge style:
- In 1925, the Jersey City, N.J., board of education ordered a teacher to let her hair grow.
- One department store fired all women who wore bobs.
- Preachers insisted that women with bobbed hair were a disgrace to society.
- Men even divorced their wives over the new bob haircut.
- And bobs were blamed for instigating social change in the 1920s and influencing risqué dress styles: short skirts, rolled stockings – and the flapper.
Today’s bob, whether it’s chin length or shoulder length, blunt cut or layered, straight or curly, is still in demand at hair salons. The bob has weathered decades of new do’s that come and go.
Hairstyles of the Decades
The bob led the way for creative stylists to come up with a myriad of hair designs for women and men. Female hair styles ranged from the short pixie to the bouffant.
Big hair had its day for more than one decade. The French twist, the updo’s, the beehive and the flip – the styles all had one thing in common – they were puffed up and big. There’s a reason they used to say that a women’s “do” would make a good birds’ nest.
Big hair was celebrated from the 50s to the 70s.
Retro styles surged in the 60s. Women brought back a bit of the roaring 20s with a sleek look – less pomp. The pageboy – a longer version of the bob made its mark in the 60s as well.
The following styles were a cut above in their respective decades.
- The Poodle – 50s
- The Pixie – 50s on
- French Twist – late 50s and 60s
- Petal Curls – 50s
- The Flip – 60s
- Back to Big – 70s
More Big
In the 80s and 90s, the do’s for women and men were a bit wilder but still big.
Although the shag had its start in the 60s, feathering hair became a widespread trend in the 80s.
In the 90s, hairstyles settled down a bit and gentle replaced big. Long hair was in – as in Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford: shiny hair that flowed off the shoulders, often with a twinge of curl. In the late 90s, the feathered look had been revived and continued into the 21st century.
Color, Color, Color
Whether it’s hot pink or flaming red or black, white and gold stripes; coloring one’s hair is in vogue. In the 2000s, blonde hair on the crown and dark hair at the nape is not uncommon. From blonde to red to jet black – the color craze is here to stay.
Celebrity Influences
Do blondes really have more fun? Hollywood has had its share of blondes who’ve persuaded the hair industry. From Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, the color of blonde, from ash to gold, has enticed many women to visit their stylists: going in brown, coming out blonde.
Throughout the years, actors, sport figures and TV personalities shaped the hairstyles of people worldwide.
- Remember Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Dorothy Hamill? Not only did she win gold for the U.S., but she also brought the “wedge” to the podium – a hairstyle rage that lasted far beyond the 1976 Olympics. By the way, versions of that style are still around in 2010.
- Actress Meg Ryan, known especially for her roles in romantic comedies of the 80s and 90s, had locks to die (or dye) for – from the short shaggy look to the long, wildly windy curly look.
- Jennifer Aniston has a girl-next-door look but her hair is her trademark, and that long, sleek style puts her at the top of the crowning glories of Hollywood.
And it’s not for women only
Men throughout the ages have had their own “do’s” like the buzz cut or the flattop or the crew cut; along with the mullet and the bowl cut. Long hair has never lost its appeal in some men. Rocker Rod Stewart helped popularize the shag cut for men.
- Cary Grant, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio – these gents of the past and the present have influenced the sleek and sophisticated look in men.
- For that tussled, mischievous look, one can always count on Hugh Grant.
- Bruce Willis and long-time TV icon Telly Savalas brought bald to beautiful and had many men shaving their heads to reach what used to be a male’s “dread head after 40.”
- And then there’s teen singing sensation Justin Bieber – he was born decades after the Beatles appeared on stage. But he must be fixated on bringing back the 60s mop-top hairstyles of the fab four.
A Few Locks of Snippetz
- The first known school for hair styling was established in Chicago in 1890.
- Methods for bleaching and touch-ups haven’t changed since 1891 – still achieved with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
- In the 19th century, a first-class hair salon only charged 5 cents for cutting someone’s bangs.
- The hot-blast hair dryer changed the way women groomed their hair – it was born out of the 19th century.
- The Bobbie pin came from the bob.
- In 1903, the first electric haircutter was introduced: a comb with a fine platinum wire connected to the electric lighting system. The heated comb burnt off the ends of the hair.
- A permanent waving machine was developed in the early 20th century by Charles Nessler. Spiral curling became popular in the U.S. in 1906.
- In 1908, synthetic hair was invented. It was made out of cotton, corn and other grains.
Issue 441
SNIPPETZ GETS A STROKE OF GENIUS
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
-Arnold Palmer
Golf’s popularity has surged over the decades. Attendance at the Professional Golfers’ Association tour events is more than 10 million per year. About 500 golf courses are opened each year because of the younger generation’s growing interest. The sport is big!
Two questions that non-golfers often ask: What’s so hard about getting those little balls in the holes? And why would anyone want to try? Lugging golf clubs through a maze of green in the hot sun and trying to hit the ball just right so it lands in a small hole appears absurd to some. But to golfers, the game is addictive and challenging.
All eyes will be on the first golf major tournament of the year – the Masters, which takes place April 8 through April 11 in Augusta, Ga. This year, the purse (total payout to top players) is $7 million.
Golf got its start the same as baseball – take a club and swing at a ball. In both cases, the swings had to be precise, but in baseball, the batter tries to hit the ball out of the field; in golf, the golfer tries to avoid hitting the ball out of the field.
Kolf
Golf originated in Scotland – sort of.
Although the Scots developed the game over decades, golf actually evolved from the stick-and-ball games common in the British Isles during the Middle Ages and later in France and Germany.
In the 14th century, the Dutch were playing a form of golf that involved striking a ball with sticks, which were curved at the bottom. Most of those games were played on ice, with a goal to get from point A to point B.
But the Scots played a grass stick-and-ball game in park areas. At the time, there was plenty of trading between the Dutch and the Scots, which included balls and clubs. Because of the trade relationship, it is believed the world “golf” evolved from the Dutch word for club – “kolf.”
Golf eventually had a grip on sports enthusiasts in Scotland. In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned golf and soccer because those sports had kept his archers from their practice sessions. King James III and James IV reissued the ban in 1471 and 1491.
Despite the restriction, the game continued to soar in popularity in Scotland; and, in 1744, the first-known rules of golf were put in writing in Edinburgh.
So, golf had its origins not only in Scotland but also much of the rest of Europe. However, to their credit, the Scots made one big change in the sport, and it stuck: They dug holes in the ground and made the object of the game all about getting those balls in the holes.
The Lingo
In simple terms, golfers play either nine holes or 18; and, as the Scots decided, the goal is to sink the ball in each hole with the least amount of attempts. Those attempts are identified with golfing lingo. A few of the recognizable:
Par: Each hole has a set number of attempts before the golfer “bogeys the hole.”
Bogey: If a golfer doesn’t get the ball in the hole on par, it’s a bogey – or one over par; another failed attempt is a double bogey.
Birdie: Under “par” is a birdie. If the golfer succeeds in knocking the ball in before the last “par” attempt, it’s a birdie – one under par.
Eagle: Two strokes under par.
Hole-in-one: Every golfers dream. It’s a long shot, too – pun intended. To get a hole-in-one, the golfer has to sink the ball from the first tee – a straight shot from point A to point B. It’s the reason car dealers are quick to donate a car for anyone who gets a hole-in-one at a golf tournament: it’s rare.
The U.S. Open
The U.S. Open Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship are the oldest golf tournaments in America: each played in 1895 during the same week on the same course in Rhode Island – the Newport Golf and Country Club.
During the first U.S. Open, golfers went just four rounds of the nine-hole course, playing in one day. An Englishman, Horace Rawlins, won the first Open – and received $335 in prize money.
Pennies compared to today’s game.
In 2009, American Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open. His prize money: $1.35 million. The total payout was $7.5 million. The major tournament is a bit more difficult from Rawlins’ day. Today, players are on the course four days – 18 holes each day.
Bobby Jones, an amateur from Georgia, popularized the U.S. Open when he won it four times, from 1923 to 1930. Also bringing attention to the game: In 1922, the first spectator tickets were sold. In 1954, the event was televised for the first time; however, it wasn’t until 1977 that live coverage of the last two days was shown. In 1982, all four days of the tournament were televised.
From 1895 until 1910, the Scots won 12 of the first 15 events. Scottish golfer Willie Anderson won the Open four times in the 1900s. Jones followed and the only other two to win the U.S. Open four times was Ben Hogan (late 40s to early 50s) and Jack Nicklaus, from 1962 to 1980. Tiger Woods has won it three times; and, as a relatively young player, he could eclipse the records.
Americans have dominated the U.S. Open since 1911 – winning it 78 times. South Africans have won it five times. The last Scot to win the U.S. Open was Willie MacFarlane in 1925.
The Majors
The U.S. Open is one of four majors – all are considered the most prestigious tournaments in men’s golf. The other three include the Masters (April), the British Open (July) and the PGA Championship (August). Winning all four major tournaments is referred to as the “Grand Slam.” Only Bobby Jones has won all four majors in one season.
Only five other players have won all four majors: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
The prestige of winning a major defines golfers. Nicklaus holds the current record, with 18 wins. Woods is on his heels, with 14 wins – 10 received before he turned 30. Woods is on ‘par’ to exceed Nicklaus’s record.
The Golf Hall of Fame
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Judy Rankin, Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods – all wildly successful golfers.
Known as the Golden Bear, Nicklaus has been called the greatest “clutch” putter of all times. Nicklaus won 18 majors and 73 PGA tour events. He finished in the top 10 “money list” 17 consecutive years. He received two “Golfer of the Century” awards and Sports Illustrated Magazine named him “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1970s. Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Nicklaus is an icon in the world of golf. Chasing him is another golf wonder: Tiger Woods.
At age 2, Tiger Woods appeared on TV for the first time, putting against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas Show. At age 3, Woods shot a 48 on nine holes; and, at age 5, he was featured in Golf Digest. He turned pro at age 21 and that same year became the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters. His first year on the pro golf scene earned him the title of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Woods has won 95 tournaments, 71 on the PGA tour. He’s also the youngest golfer to win the Grand Slam. Last year, he was named the Associated Press “Athlete of the Year.”
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, Fla., and 131 people associated with golf have achieved hall of fame status. Men and women are recognized for their positive impact on the game. They include not only professional and amateur golfers but also architects, journalists, innovators and teachers. Golfing exhibits, an IMAX theatre, an 18-hole putting course and a café are all part of the World Golf Hall of Fame complex.
The Ladies
It’s possible that women’s first involvement with golf began with Mary, Queen of Scots. Although the records are vague, many believe that Mary introduced the word “caddie.”
In France, where Mary grew up, military cadets carried golf clubs for royalty. Mary brought the custom to Scotland, where they adopted the word “caddie” for all who carried the bag for the golfers.
In 1950, women’s golf gained recognition when a few visionaries established the Ladies Professional Golf Association. It is the longest-running women’s professional sports association in the world.
The LPGA sponsors four majors every year (in past years, there were maybe two or three majors a year): the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open and the RICOH British Open.
Only two players have won the Grand Slam (winning all of the majors). Babe Zaharias won in 1950 with a total of three majors. Sandra Haynie won the Grand Slam when the LPGA had only two majors.
Six women have won the Grand Slam throughout their careers: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb and Mickey Wright.
The first of the women’s majors is the Kraft Nabisco Championship, scheduled this year for April 1 through April 4. The purse: $2 million.
Possible top five female golfers – in order: Annika Sorenstam, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Babe Didrickson Zaharias and Nancy Lopez.
Golf Facts and Trivia
There are many organizations, golfers and fans driving the game.
Fun Stuff
Comedian/actor Leslie Nielsen scored huge sales when he released his “Bad Golf Made Easy” instructional video for golfers.
Club members at the Masters are well known for sipping mint juleps. More mint juleps are served at the Masters than any other tournament.
In 1991, when Chi Chi Rodriguez lost to Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Senior Open, he said, “the Bear crushed the Mouse.”
SNIPPETZ GETS A STROKE OF GENIUS
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
-Arnold Palmer
Golf’s popularity has surged over the decades. Attendance at the Professional Golfers’ Association tour events is more than 10 million per year. About 500 golf courses are opened each year because of the younger generation’s growing interest. The sport is big!
Two questions that non-golfers often ask: What’s so hard about getting those little balls in the holes? And why would anyone want to try? Lugging golf clubs through a maze of green in the hot sun and trying to hit the ball just right so it lands in a small hole appears absurd to some. But to golfers, the game is addictive and challenging.
All eyes will be on the first golf major tournament of the year – the Masters, which takes place April 8 through April 11 in Augusta, Ga. This year, the purse (total payout to top players) is $7 million.
Golf got its start the same as baseball – take a club and swing at a ball. In both cases, the swings had to be precise, but in baseball, the batter tries to hit the ball out of the field; in golf, the golfer tries to avoid hitting the ball out of the field.
Kolf
Golf originated in Scotland – sort of.
Although the Scots developed the game over decades, golf actually evolved from the stick-and-ball games common in the British Isles during the Middle Ages and later in France and Germany.
In the 14th century, the Dutch were playing a form of golf that involved striking a ball with sticks, which were curved at the bottom. Most of those games were played on ice, with a goal to get from point A to point B.
But the Scots played a grass stick-and-ball game in park areas. At the time, there was plenty of trading between the Dutch and the Scots, which included balls and clubs. Because of the trade relationship, it is believed the world “golf” evolved from the Dutch word for club – “kolf.”
Golf eventually had a grip on sports enthusiasts in Scotland. In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned golf and soccer because those sports had kept his archers from their practice sessions. King James III and James IV reissued the ban in 1471 and 1491.
Despite the restriction, the game continued to soar in popularity in Scotland; and, in 1744, the first-known rules of golf were put in writing in Edinburgh.
So, golf had its origins not only in Scotland but also much of the rest of Europe. However, to their credit, the Scots made one big change in the sport, and it stuck: They dug holes in the ground and made the object of the game all about getting those balls in the holes.
The Lingo
In simple terms, golfers play either nine holes or 18; and, as the Scots decided, the goal is to sink the ball in each hole with the least amount of attempts. Those attempts are identified with golfing lingo. A few of the recognizable:
Par: Each hole has a set number of attempts before the golfer “bogeys the hole.”
Bogey: If a golfer doesn’t get the ball in the hole on par, it’s a bogey – or one over par; another failed attempt is a double bogey.
Birdie: Under “par” is a birdie. If the golfer succeeds in knocking the ball in before the last “par” attempt, it’s a birdie – one under par.
Eagle: Two strokes under par.
Hole-in-one: Every golfers dream. It’s a long shot, too – pun intended. To get a hole-in-one, the golfer has to sink the ball from the first tee – a straight shot from point A to point B. It’s the reason car dealers are quick to donate a car for anyone who gets a hole-in-one at a golf tournament: it’s rare.
The U.S. Open
The U.S. Open Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship are the oldest golf tournaments in America: each played in 1895 during the same week on the same course in Rhode Island – the Newport Golf and Country Club.
During the first U.S. Open, golfers went just four rounds of the nine-hole course, playing in one day. An Englishman, Horace Rawlins, won the first Open – and received $335 in prize money.
Pennies compared to today’s game.
In 2009, American Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open. His prize money: $1.35 million. The total payout was $7.5 million. The major tournament is a bit more difficult from Rawlins’ day. Today, players are on the course four days – 18 holes each day.
Bobby Jones, an amateur from Georgia, popularized the U.S. Open when he won it four times, from 1923 to 1930. Also bringing attention to the game: In 1922, the first spectator tickets were sold. In 1954, the event was televised for the first time; however, it wasn’t until 1977 that live coverage of the last two days was shown. In 1982, all four days of the tournament were televised.
From 1895 until 1910, the Scots won 12 of the first 15 events. Scottish golfer Willie Anderson won the Open four times in the 1900s. Jones followed and the only other two to win the U.S. Open four times was Ben Hogan (late 40s to early 50s) and Jack Nicklaus, from 1962 to 1980. Tiger Woods has won it three times; and, as a relatively young player, he could eclipse the records.
Americans have dominated the U.S. Open since 1911 – winning it 78 times. South Africans have won it five times. The last Scot to win the U.S. Open was Willie MacFarlane in 1925.
The Majors
The U.S. Open is one of four majors – all are considered the most prestigious tournaments in men’s golf. The other three include the Masters (April), the British Open (July) and the PGA Championship (August). Winning all four major tournaments is referred to as the “Grand Slam.” Only Bobby Jones has won all four majors in one season.
Only five other players have won all four majors: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
The prestige of winning a major defines golfers. Nicklaus holds the current record, with 18 wins. Woods is on his heels, with 14 wins – 10 received before he turned 30. Woods is on ‘par’ to exceed Nicklaus’s record.
The Golf Hall of Fame
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Judy Rankin, Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods – all wildly successful golfers.
Known as the Golden Bear, Nicklaus has been called the greatest “clutch” putter of all times. Nicklaus won 18 majors and 73 PGA tour events. He finished in the top 10 “money list” 17 consecutive years. He received two “Golfer of the Century” awards and Sports Illustrated Magazine named him “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1970s. Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Nicklaus is an icon in the world of golf. Chasing him is another golf wonder: Tiger Woods.
At age 2, Tiger Woods appeared on TV for the first time, putting against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas Show. At age 3, Woods shot a 48 on nine holes; and, at age 5, he was featured in Golf Digest. He turned pro at age 21 and that same year became the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters. His first year on the pro golf scene earned him the title of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Woods has won 95 tournaments, 71 on the PGA tour. He’s also the youngest golfer to win the Grand Slam. Last year, he was named the Associated Press “Athlete of the Year.”
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, Fla., and 131 people associated with golf have achieved hall of fame status. Men and women are recognized for their positive impact on the game. They include not only professional and amateur golfers but also architects, journalists, innovators and teachers. Golfing exhibits, an IMAX theatre, an 18-hole putting course and a café are all part of the World Golf Hall of Fame complex.
The Ladies
It’s possible that women’s first involvement with golf began with Mary, Queen of Scots. Although the records are vague, many believe that Mary introduced the word “caddie.”
In France, where Mary grew up, military cadets carried golf clubs for royalty. Mary brought the custom to Scotland, where they adopted the word “caddie” for all who carried the bag for the golfers.
In 1950, women’s golf gained recognition when a few visionaries established the Ladies Professional Golf Association. It is the longest-running women’s professional sports association in the world.
The LPGA sponsors four majors every year (in past years, there were maybe two or three majors a year): the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open and the RICOH British Open.
Only two players have won the Grand Slam (winning all of the majors). Babe Zaharias won in 1950 with a total of three majors. Sandra Haynie won the Grand Slam when the LPGA had only two majors.
Six women have won the Grand Slam throughout their careers: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb and Mickey Wright.
The first of the women’s majors is the Kraft Nabisco Championship, scheduled this year for April 1 through April 4. The purse: $2 million.
Possible top five female golfers – in order: Annika Sorenstam, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Babe Didrickson Zaharias and Nancy Lopez.
Golf Facts and Trivia
There are many organizations, golfers and fans driving the game.
- The PGA is a nonprofit organization promoting golf. It was founded in April 1916, and today boasts the “largest working sports organization in the world.” The PGA sponsors four golf events: the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
- Golfer Gene Sarazen invented the “sand wedge” in 1930. The club is used to hit the ball from a sand trap. Sarazen won 39 PGA tournaments and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Woods are used for long shots from the tees or fairway. Putters are usually used on the green.
- In 1946, Patty Berg won the first U.S. Women’s Open. She was a founding member of the LPGA. Named “Woman Athlete of the Year” in 1938, 1942 and 1955 by the Associated Press, Berg won 57 events on the LPGA and WPGA circuit throughout her career.
- In 1967, Arnold Palmer became the first golfer to reach $1 million in career earnings on the PGA tour. Palmer’s rivalry with Jack Nicklaus in the 1960s brought worldwide attention to golf.
- In September 2004, Vijay Singh replaced Tiger Woods as the top golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings, ending Wood’s reign of more than five years. Singh was named the 2004 PGA Tour Player of the Year.
- The game of golf has long been associated with the rich and famous. Even in 1998, a study by the National Golf Foundation found that the annual income of golfers was $68,209.
- Tom Watson won a record six PGA tournaments in one year.
- Art Wall, Jr., holds the record for most holes-in-one during a career - 46. He died at the age of 77 in 2001.
- The “green jacket” presented to the winner of the Masters each year is a tradition that dates back to 1937. That year, club members wore green jackets during the tournament so fans could easily identify them for answering questions, etc. The green jacket rapidly became a symbol of membership in the exclusive Augusta club – and later a symbol of greatness to the Masters Tournament winner.
Fun Stuff
Comedian/actor Leslie Nielsen scored huge sales when he released his “Bad Golf Made Easy” instructional video for golfers.
Club members at the Masters are well known for sipping mint juleps. More mint juleps are served at the Masters than any other tournament.
In 1991, when Chi Chi Rodriguez lost to Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Senior Open, he said, “the Bear crushed the Mouse.”
Issue 440
SNIPPETZ IS FOUND SHAKING A TAIL FEATHER
"I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me." -Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907
Americans spent $45.5 billion on their pets in 2009. Sixty-two percent of all U.S. households – 71.4 million homes – live with a pet. The pet industry is just doggone huge. Americans love and pamper their pets and believe their own dog, cat, bird, snake, turtle, etc. is the most adorable, most well-behaved and the most fun.
In the past few years, breed organizations and breeders have upped the ante on the varieties of cats and dogs available as pets in the U.S., From the Chinese crested hairless dog to the hairless Sphynx cat, Americans have a plethora of breeds from which to choose.
And there are thousands of cats and dogs awaiting homes in shelters across the country. However, many Americans are fascinated with wild animals, and a whole new array of pet options opened up when the bird, the ferret, the rabbit, the iguana, the monkey, the pig, the snake – even the rat – became part of the domesticated animal world. At least, we think we domesticated them.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there for animals that want to be part of a human’s life or make the list of America’s cutest and most entertaining companions. But the competition is as stiff as a bird dog pointing to the target, especially considering those Hollywood types.
The Oscar Goes To
If there was an Academy Award show for movie and TV pets, which ones would be walking the red carpet? Imagine the furry stars posing for the cameras in their 24-carat diamond-studded collars or their faux mink (of course) coats? Check out some of the potential contenders.
It’s not just a dog’s day afternoon
When it’s time to honor – Academy Award style – famous pets that have passed on, names like Lassie, Rin Tin Tin (the first canine movie star), cats Garfield and Morris and Mr. Ed, the talking horse, will no doubt bring a few tears to those in the audience who remember the first of the four-legged bunch to achieve on-screen fame.
Celebrity Pet Trivia
15 Minutes of Fame
Thanks to David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks” and YouTube, many pets have reached international notoriety, if only for a few minutes.
Letterman has lined up a slew of showy pets that have brought belly laughs to worldwide audiences.
Bailey the beagle brought the house down when he played dead at the command of his owner. When his owner said, “Play dead,” Bailey just slumped over in his owner’s arms – legs and head dangling practically to the floor. He had Letterman roaring. Of course, Bailey’s appearance on Letterman reached the Internet and greatly extended his 15 minutes of fame.
Then there’s Jesse, the tan and white long-haired terrier type, who doesn’t want his owner to leave home without him. When his owner says, “I’m packing my suitcase,” Jesse jumps in.
What about Meesha, the Shetland sheepdog that blows bubbles in her water dish.
Nowadays, anyone’s pet can reach stardom through the Internet. All is needed is a video camera and a spot on YouTube.
Think of a dancing cockatoo. This bird loves to boogie to Ray Charles. Probably millions of Web users have laughed in awe as the rock ‘n’ roll cockatoo shakes his head up and down and all around and bounces his booty in rhythm to “Shake your Tailfeather,” appropriately.
Cats dance, too, via YouTube videos. They also box with parrots, hang from chandeliers and attack dogs.
The Exotic Pet
If there was a modeling gig featuring all kinds of pets, the exotics would be first to walk the runway. From snakes to turtles, the list of not-so-common pets that reside in U.S. households is long – and sometimes extremely strange.
The snake, for example, has become widely popular. Snakes can live up to 20 years, so the commitment is long-term. Although certain snakes threaten the welfare of the humans living in the home, it doesn’t matter to some. More than one child in the U.S. has been killed by the family’s pet python.
The corn snake and the king and milk snakes are the most popular and ones frequently recommended as pets. However, buyers beware: Pet snakes eat live prey or frozen prey, which means a space in the freezer for delicacies like frozen mice – or a trip to the pet store to retrieve a live mouse.
The frog is another interesting pet. Perhaps it’s the bulging eyes or the sound of “rivet” that endears humans to these little green guys. Frogs can live up to 15 years, so if it’s going to get boring watching a frog jump around in his enclosure, it might be wise to get a cat or a dog or a monkey instead. Note: Frogs are decreasing in numbers in the wild and facing extinction, largely at the hands of humans. It’s best to get the pet frog from a frog breeder. Who knew?
The iguana is a wildly popular pet – some call it a “fad” pet. The danger is once the fad fades, what happens to the iguana? About 1 million iguanas are imported into the U.S. each year. Most of them die, and almost none of them live longer than 10 years. Their life span is 20 and many don’t live more than two years. A healthy adult iguana is 5 to 6 ft. long and needs to climb, needs stimulation and pretty much an entire room in which to live. He could, however, be a fun and happy pet once the owner trains him on a leash and takes him out for walks in the fresh air.
All that’s needed for the pet cockroach is a 10 to 15 gallon tank with Aspen wood shavings and hiding places like the cardboard roll that comes with toilet paper, cardboard egg cartons or driftwood. The hissing cockroach variety eats fresh fruits and vegetables (no head lettuce) and dry dog food. They love carrots, oranges, apples, celery and pea pods. A cockroach is quiet, which is certainly an advantage to the cockroach owner. It is best to have more than one cockroach to ensure the cockroach’s social well-being. For those screaming “eeeewwwww,” the cockroach is honestly listed as an exotic pet.
Rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, hedgehogs, hamsters, rats – even skunks – are now among pets living in the 71.4 million American households.
But leading the pack of fun and lovable pets are – arguably to some – cats and dogs.
Fun Facts About Cats
Cats and the Law
Fun Fact About Dogs
Dogs and the Law
SNIPPETZ IS FOUND SHAKING A TAIL FEATHER
"I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me." -Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907
Americans spent $45.5 billion on their pets in 2009. Sixty-two percent of all U.S. households – 71.4 million homes – live with a pet. The pet industry is just doggone huge. Americans love and pamper their pets and believe their own dog, cat, bird, snake, turtle, etc. is the most adorable, most well-behaved and the most fun.
In the past few years, breed organizations and breeders have upped the ante on the varieties of cats and dogs available as pets in the U.S., From the Chinese crested hairless dog to the hairless Sphynx cat, Americans have a plethora of breeds from which to choose.
And there are thousands of cats and dogs awaiting homes in shelters across the country. However, many Americans are fascinated with wild animals, and a whole new array of pet options opened up when the bird, the ferret, the rabbit, the iguana, the monkey, the pig, the snake – even the rat – became part of the domesticated animal world. At least, we think we domesticated them.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there for animals that want to be part of a human’s life or make the list of America’s cutest and most entertaining companions. But the competition is as stiff as a bird dog pointing to the target, especially considering those Hollywood types.
The Oscar Goes To
If there was an Academy Award show for movie and TV pets, which ones would be walking the red carpet? Imagine the furry stars posing for the cameras in their 24-carat diamond-studded collars or their faux mink (of course) coats? Check out some of the potential contenders.
- Although he hasn’t earned enough face time on the screen, it wouldn’t be politically correct to snub Bo, the White House Portuguese water dog. He’s done a lot to bring attention to his breed, so it seems that Bo deserves at least an invite to Oscar night.
- Then, there’s Black Jack Surratt. This yellow Labrador retriever had a lead role in the 2008 movie, “Marley and Me.” The movie was a hit and a tear jerker, and Black Jack played “mischievous” like no other dog before him. He could be the sentimental favorite.
- Moose the Dog played Eddie in the long-running hit TV series “Frazer.” Moose, a Russell terrier, played a highly intelligent character, adept at staring down Frazer and cueing in at just the right time. Moose also brought fame – and fortune – to the breeders of Russell terriers.
It’s not just a dog’s day afternoon
- The 1995 movie, Babe, is about a pig of the same name that is bought at an auction and raised on a farm with a variety of animals. Babe befriends a sheepdog named Fly who teaches his new buddy to herd sheep. Babe does a fine job of proving to the world that pigs can fit in anywhere and be anything they want in life.
- Remember Socks, former President Clinton’s cat. Socks was so well-liked that she had a book written about her. Surely, a movie is in the works.
- The Harry Potter books and movies glamorized another cat: Mrs. Norris. Maybe J.K. Rowlings, the author, will be at the Oscars rooting for the renowned cat.
- What about Paulie in the movie of the same name? Paulie plays a lovable parrot character and captures the hearts of many through his cross country adventures and his relationships with a variety of humans.
When it’s time to honor – Academy Award style – famous pets that have passed on, names like Lassie, Rin Tin Tin (the first canine movie star), cats Garfield and Morris and Mr. Ed, the talking horse, will no doubt bring a few tears to those in the audience who remember the first of the four-legged bunch to achieve on-screen fame.
Celebrity Pet Trivia
- The first cat in the White House was Abraham Lincoln’s cat – Tabby.
- To get Lassie to lick the face of his child co-star, the producers put ice cream on the boy’s cheek.
- The Taco Bell dog’s real name is Gidget.
- Morris, the star of the 9 Lives Cat Food commercials, had three lives – three different cats played Morris.
- Ernest Hemingway kept dozens of cats at his home in Key West, Fla. Many of those cats had six toes. The tourist stop is still home to at least a dozen cats.
15 Minutes of Fame
Thanks to David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks” and YouTube, many pets have reached international notoriety, if only for a few minutes.
Letterman has lined up a slew of showy pets that have brought belly laughs to worldwide audiences.
Bailey the beagle brought the house down when he played dead at the command of his owner. When his owner said, “Play dead,” Bailey just slumped over in his owner’s arms – legs and head dangling practically to the floor. He had Letterman roaring. Of course, Bailey’s appearance on Letterman reached the Internet and greatly extended his 15 minutes of fame.
Then there’s Jesse, the tan and white long-haired terrier type, who doesn’t want his owner to leave home without him. When his owner says, “I’m packing my suitcase,” Jesse jumps in.
What about Meesha, the Shetland sheepdog that blows bubbles in her water dish.
Nowadays, anyone’s pet can reach stardom through the Internet. All is needed is a video camera and a spot on YouTube.
Think of a dancing cockatoo. This bird loves to boogie to Ray Charles. Probably millions of Web users have laughed in awe as the rock ‘n’ roll cockatoo shakes his head up and down and all around and bounces his booty in rhythm to “Shake your Tailfeather,” appropriately.
Cats dance, too, via YouTube videos. They also box with parrots, hang from chandeliers and attack dogs.
The Exotic Pet
If there was a modeling gig featuring all kinds of pets, the exotics would be first to walk the runway. From snakes to turtles, the list of not-so-common pets that reside in U.S. households is long – and sometimes extremely strange.
The snake, for example, has become widely popular. Snakes can live up to 20 years, so the commitment is long-term. Although certain snakes threaten the welfare of the humans living in the home, it doesn’t matter to some. More than one child in the U.S. has been killed by the family’s pet python.
The corn snake and the king and milk snakes are the most popular and ones frequently recommended as pets. However, buyers beware: Pet snakes eat live prey or frozen prey, which means a space in the freezer for delicacies like frozen mice – or a trip to the pet store to retrieve a live mouse.
The frog is another interesting pet. Perhaps it’s the bulging eyes or the sound of “rivet” that endears humans to these little green guys. Frogs can live up to 15 years, so if it’s going to get boring watching a frog jump around in his enclosure, it might be wise to get a cat or a dog or a monkey instead. Note: Frogs are decreasing in numbers in the wild and facing extinction, largely at the hands of humans. It’s best to get the pet frog from a frog breeder. Who knew?
The iguana is a wildly popular pet – some call it a “fad” pet. The danger is once the fad fades, what happens to the iguana? About 1 million iguanas are imported into the U.S. each year. Most of them die, and almost none of them live longer than 10 years. Their life span is 20 and many don’t live more than two years. A healthy adult iguana is 5 to 6 ft. long and needs to climb, needs stimulation and pretty much an entire room in which to live. He could, however, be a fun and happy pet once the owner trains him on a leash and takes him out for walks in the fresh air.
All that’s needed for the pet cockroach is a 10 to 15 gallon tank with Aspen wood shavings and hiding places like the cardboard roll that comes with toilet paper, cardboard egg cartons or driftwood. The hissing cockroach variety eats fresh fruits and vegetables (no head lettuce) and dry dog food. They love carrots, oranges, apples, celery and pea pods. A cockroach is quiet, which is certainly an advantage to the cockroach owner. It is best to have more than one cockroach to ensure the cockroach’s social well-being. For those screaming “eeeewwwww,” the cockroach is honestly listed as an exotic pet.
Rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, hedgehogs, hamsters, rats – even skunks – are now among pets living in the 71.4 million American households.
But leading the pack of fun and lovable pets are – arguably to some – cats and dogs.
Fun Facts About Cats
- Domestic cats purr at 26 cycles per second, with the same frequency as an idling diesel engine.
- A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than that of humans. The cat has a light-reflecting layer that allows the cat to see much better at night than a human.
- In the U.S., there are more cats than dogs. Per year, people spend more on cat food than baby food.
- Cats don’t always land on their feet. It is noted that a cat that falls out of seven-story building has less of a chance of landing on its feet than a cat that falls out of a 20-story building. The cat falling farther has more time to coordinate itself to land on its feet.
- Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run. The only other animals to do this are the giraffe, camel and the maned wolf.
- Cats sleep more than any other animal – averaging 16 hours a day.
- Only the monkey has a higher IQ.
- Petting a cat can lower blood pressure.
- The oldest known cat lived 34 years.
- The name that a cat most readily responds to ends in an “ee” sound.
- Cats age 10 years in the first six months of life.
Cats and the Law
- In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was punishable by death.
- In Sterling, Colo., a cat cannot run loose without a “taillight.”
- At one time in French Lick, In., by law, all black cats had to wear bells on Friday the 13th.
- In Zion, Ill., it’s illegal to give a lit cigar to a dog, cat or other pet.
- In Barbar, NC, it’s against the law for a cat to fight a dog.
Fun Fact About Dogs
- The oldest breed of dog that is native to North America is the Chihuahua.
- In the 1860s, Louis Doberman created the Doberman to protect him while he worked. He was a German tax collector.
- Dogs sweat through the pads of their feet.
- Dogs do see in color, not as vividly as humans; likened to the human sight in twilight.
- The Labrador retriever is the most popular breed in the U.S. Rottweilers and German Shepherds follow.
- All dogs are descendents of wolves.
- Dogs are extremely sensitive to sound. They can locate the source of a sound in 6/100ths of a second, using their ears as radar.
- A dog has a keen sense of smell. Humans smell a pot of stew cooking on the stove; dogs can smell each ingredient.
Dogs and the Law
- It’s illegal to educate a dog in Hartford, Conn.
- In Ohio, it’s illegal, “even for dogs,” to advertise beer when they’re dressed as Santa Claus.
- Dogs are prohibited from flying kites on most public beaches in the U.S.
- It’s against the law to make faces at dogs in Normal, Ill.
Issue 439
SNIPPETZ GIVES A THUMBS UP TO THE RED CROSS
“I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”
- Clara Barton, American Civil War Nurse, Founder of the American National Red Cross
President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the month of March 1943 as “Red Cross Month.” The designation was actually a campaign gimmick to raise funds for the Red Cross. Within six weeks, the Red Cross had reached its goal of $125 million. Roosevelt called the response “the greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.”
The celebration stuck. Although March is famous for St. Patrick’s Day and “March Madness” (college basketball), there’s still room for “Red Cross Month.”
Who Was Clara Barton?
Clara Barton was the founder and first president of the American Red Cross, established May 21, 1881, in Washington, D.C.
Barton’s penchant for service started when she was just 15 years old. Born Dec. 25, 1821, in Oxford, Mass., Barton was the youngest of five children. She was educated at home and began teaching school at age 15. Later, she established a free public school in Bordentown, N.J.
She also cared for her invalid brother for two years, which was her only medical experience before the Civil War.
Despite a lack of medical training, in 1861, following her successful efforts to create a program to provide medical supplies to wounded soldiers during the Civil War; the U.S. surgeon general at the time, Gen. William Hammond, allowed Barton to travel with army ambulances to help nurse the sick and wounded. She then worked at hospitals in Virginia and South Carolina providing nursing services to wounded soldiers and others who had become casualties of the war.
Barton also served as the superintendent of nurses under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s command. And she organized a program for locating men listed as missing in action.
After the Civil War, Barton traveled to Europe and came in contact with the International Red Cross network, initiated by the Swiss. When she returned to the U.S., Barton successfully campaigned for an American Red Cross society. At age 60, Barton became the first president of the Red Cross, heading the organization for 23 years. Barton died at age 90 April 12, 1912.
The Early Red Cross
In 1900, the Red Cross received its first congressional charter. That same year, the Red Cross was faced with the Galveston, Texas, hurricane – which killed 6,000 people and still holds the record for the largest death toll in a U.S. disaster.
Four years later, in 1905, the second charter, which is in effect today, set forth the purpose of the Red Cross: to provide relief to members and families of U.S. armed forces and serve as a means of communication between soldiers and family members; to provide national and international disaster relief and mitigation.
World War I
When WW I began, the Red Cross had already established a first aid, water safety and public health nursing program. The war prompted a surge in growth for the Red Cross.
• The number of local chapters grew from 107 in 1914 to 3,864 in 1918.
• Membership grew from 17,000 to more than 20 million adults and 11 million Junior Red Cross members.
• Americans contributed $400 million to support the Red Cross and its programs for U.S. and allied forces and civilian refugees.
• The Red Cross recruited 20,000 registered nurses to serve the military, and the organization staffed hospitals and ambulance companies.
• In 1918, during an international influenza epidemic, numerous Red Cross nurses were called to duty.
Postwar, the Red Cross focused on programs for veterans and provided relief to victims of major disasters like the 1927 Mississippi River flood and the Great Depression. Then, along came –
World War II
Once again, the Red Cross responded to wartime casualties, with the following:
• Enrolled 104,000-plus nurses for military service
• Prepared 27 million packages for American and allied prisoners of war
• Shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies overseas
• At the request of the military, established a national blood program, which collected 13.3 million pints of blood for armed forces
After World War II, the Red Cross expanded its wartime national blood program to a nationwide civilian blood program. Today, Red Cross blood donations provide 50 percent of the blood and blood products in the U.S. The Red Cross also became active in biomedical research and human tissue banks.
More Wars - Expanded Efforts
The Red Cross also provided services to members and families of the armed forces during the wars following WW II: the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf wars.
The Red Cross took on more: CPR/AED training, HIV/AIDS education, emotional support to disaster victims and survivors. It’s not associated with the U.S. government, but the Red Cross worked closely with government leaders to help establish FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is now the principal provider for mass care in federally declared disasters.
Lead By Volunteers
Leading the organization today is a 50-member volunteer board of governors – the U.S. president appoints eight of the governors and acts as the honorary chairman of the Red Cross. The board elects the president, who manages its policies and programs.
The American Red Cross is a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent societies, which it helped establish in 1919. More than 175 national societies are part of the IFRC. Red Crescent is the term used in many countries to avoid any religious affiliation since the word “cross” is often associated with a religious meaning.
Disaster of the Financial Kind
In 2009, Red Cross revenues from fundraisers, grants and campaigns exceeded $715 million. The total revenue for the Red Cross that year was more than $3.1 billion; expenses – more than $3.4 billion.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, commanded the most money ever from the Red Cross, at a cost of more than $997 million. The 9-11 relief efforts also prompted the largest mobilization of Red Cross volunteers – a total of 54,577 onsite workers.
Then, on Aug. 29, 2005, the American Red Cross was hit with an even costlier relief operation.
As the Red Cross already was responding to hurricanes Rita and Wilma, Hurricane Katrina came along and not only wiped out New Orleans but also the resources of the Red Cross. To meet the immediate needs of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi, the Red Cross had to borrow money for the first time in its history. The organization took out a loan for $340 million.
Although incoming donations following Katrina had mirrored the enormity of the hurricane, the following Red Cross efforts drained its pocketbook.
The financial toll: More than $2 billion.
The Red Cross at Home
Colorado has five chapters that provide services in specific areas. The Pikes Peak Chapter of the Red Cross provided these services in the fiscal year 2009 (July 1 through June 30).
Overall Colorado chapters’ contributions during the same fiscal year:
More Red Cross Facts
The first disaster the American Cross responded to was a forest fire in Michigan in 1881. Thousands of people were left homeless and 125 people died. The newly formed Red Cross chapters collected food and supplies.
Other famous disasters of the past:
The Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters a year – one every eight minutes.
Small Successes
The American Red Cross responds to worldwide disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chili; and, of course, Red Cross volunteers are clearly visible during national disasters like Hurricane Katrina or Sept. 11. But the Red Cross is active every day in American cities. From responding to fires to helping the homeless to CPR training, the Red Cross is a community player – directly or indirectly.
• Patrick Green, a sophomore at the Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds, had just completed his Red Cross CPR and first aid training two months prior to an emergency that would require quick action and his newly found skills. In May 2008, Green was riding home from track practice in a van with coaches and classmates when he saw a motorcyclist thrown off his bike. Green told the driver to stop, and he and a coach pulled the victim to the side of the road. Green performed CPR and saved the man’s life. He also administered first aid to the man’s injured head until the paramedics arrived.
• After Nancy Geer retired as a probation officer, she wanted to get involved in her community. Geer volunteered for the Red Cross and traveled cross country to respond to emergency situations. She spent a month in Texas in August and September of 2008 after Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. During a visit to a shelter in San Antonio, Geer found a 94-year-old woman hovering on a cot, with a look of despair on her face. The woman couldn’t remember her granddaughter’s last name or where she lived. After a bit of research (the granddaughter was looking for her grandmother), Geer was able to reunite the two.
• In Toledo, Ohio, on a cold March night, Dawn Bell and her daughter awoke to a fire in their home. Bell was able to get all five children to safety, and they watched as flames engulfed their home. Not long after the arrival of the firefighters, Red Cross volunteers showed up with hot chocolate and teddy bears. The Red Cross provided temporary shelter at a hotel that night for Bell and her children along with food and clothes. Later, a Red Cross caseworker gave Bell a voucher to replace the beds she had lost in the fire.
• Jonathan Kahrs of Seattle, Wash., wanted to know more about relatives whom his family had lost contact with during World War II. The Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Program helped him find his mother’s cousin and her son. The Red Cross located the death certificate of Verona, the cousin, which led to a flood of information and a meeting with a long, lost family member. Verona’s grandfather had been killed in Auschwitz, and Verona, her sister and mother were sent to a work camp in Auschwitz. The women were moved to a concentration camp in Germany and eventually freed. After marrying another camp survivor, Verona moved to her native Slovakia and they had a son, Robert. Because of the Red Cross, Kahrs was able to learn about the fate of his relatives and visit with Robert.
SNIPPETZ GIVES A THUMBS UP TO THE RED CROSS
“I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”
- Clara Barton, American Civil War Nurse, Founder of the American National Red Cross
President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the month of March 1943 as “Red Cross Month.” The designation was actually a campaign gimmick to raise funds for the Red Cross. Within six weeks, the Red Cross had reached its goal of $125 million. Roosevelt called the response “the greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.”
The celebration stuck. Although March is famous for St. Patrick’s Day and “March Madness” (college basketball), there’s still room for “Red Cross Month.”
Who Was Clara Barton?
Clara Barton was the founder and first president of the American Red Cross, established May 21, 1881, in Washington, D.C.
Barton’s penchant for service started when she was just 15 years old. Born Dec. 25, 1821, in Oxford, Mass., Barton was the youngest of five children. She was educated at home and began teaching school at age 15. Later, she established a free public school in Bordentown, N.J.
She also cared for her invalid brother for two years, which was her only medical experience before the Civil War.
Despite a lack of medical training, in 1861, following her successful efforts to create a program to provide medical supplies to wounded soldiers during the Civil War; the U.S. surgeon general at the time, Gen. William Hammond, allowed Barton to travel with army ambulances to help nurse the sick and wounded. She then worked at hospitals in Virginia and South Carolina providing nursing services to wounded soldiers and others who had become casualties of the war.
Barton also served as the superintendent of nurses under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s command. And she organized a program for locating men listed as missing in action.
After the Civil War, Barton traveled to Europe and came in contact with the International Red Cross network, initiated by the Swiss. When she returned to the U.S., Barton successfully campaigned for an American Red Cross society. At age 60, Barton became the first president of the Red Cross, heading the organization for 23 years. Barton died at age 90 April 12, 1912.
The Early Red Cross
In 1900, the Red Cross received its first congressional charter. That same year, the Red Cross was faced with the Galveston, Texas, hurricane – which killed 6,000 people and still holds the record for the largest death toll in a U.S. disaster.
Four years later, in 1905, the second charter, which is in effect today, set forth the purpose of the Red Cross: to provide relief to members and families of U.S. armed forces and serve as a means of communication between soldiers and family members; to provide national and international disaster relief and mitigation.
World War I
When WW I began, the Red Cross had already established a first aid, water safety and public health nursing program. The war prompted a surge in growth for the Red Cross.
• The number of local chapters grew from 107 in 1914 to 3,864 in 1918.
• Membership grew from 17,000 to more than 20 million adults and 11 million Junior Red Cross members.
• Americans contributed $400 million to support the Red Cross and its programs for U.S. and allied forces and civilian refugees.
• The Red Cross recruited 20,000 registered nurses to serve the military, and the organization staffed hospitals and ambulance companies.
• In 1918, during an international influenza epidemic, numerous Red Cross nurses were called to duty.
Postwar, the Red Cross focused on programs for veterans and provided relief to victims of major disasters like the 1927 Mississippi River flood and the Great Depression. Then, along came –
World War II
Once again, the Red Cross responded to wartime casualties, with the following:
• Enrolled 104,000-plus nurses for military service
• Prepared 27 million packages for American and allied prisoners of war
• Shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies overseas
• At the request of the military, established a national blood program, which collected 13.3 million pints of blood for armed forces
After World War II, the Red Cross expanded its wartime national blood program to a nationwide civilian blood program. Today, Red Cross blood donations provide 50 percent of the blood and blood products in the U.S. The Red Cross also became active in biomedical research and human tissue banks.
More Wars - Expanded Efforts
The Red Cross also provided services to members and families of the armed forces during the wars following WW II: the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf wars.
The Red Cross took on more: CPR/AED training, HIV/AIDS education, emotional support to disaster victims and survivors. It’s not associated with the U.S. government, but the Red Cross worked closely with government leaders to help establish FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is now the principal provider for mass care in federally declared disasters.
Lead By Volunteers
Leading the organization today is a 50-member volunteer board of governors – the U.S. president appoints eight of the governors and acts as the honorary chairman of the Red Cross. The board elects the president, who manages its policies and programs.
The American Red Cross is a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent societies, which it helped establish in 1919. More than 175 national societies are part of the IFRC. Red Crescent is the term used in many countries to avoid any religious affiliation since the word “cross” is often associated with a religious meaning.
Disaster of the Financial Kind
In 2009, Red Cross revenues from fundraisers, grants and campaigns exceeded $715 million. The total revenue for the Red Cross that year was more than $3.1 billion; expenses – more than $3.4 billion.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, commanded the most money ever from the Red Cross, at a cost of more than $997 million. The 9-11 relief efforts also prompted the largest mobilization of Red Cross volunteers – a total of 54,577 onsite workers.
Then, on Aug. 29, 2005, the American Red Cross was hit with an even costlier relief operation.
As the Red Cross already was responding to hurricanes Rita and Wilma, Hurricane Katrina came along and not only wiped out New Orleans but also the resources of the Red Cross. To meet the immediate needs of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi, the Red Cross had to borrow money for the first time in its history. The organization took out a loan for $340 million.
Although incoming donations following Katrina had mirrored the enormity of the hurricane, the following Red Cross efforts drained its pocketbook.
- Utilized more than 244,000 relief workers
- Served more than 4 million people with direct emergency assistance
- Served more than 69 million meals and snacks
- Provided more than 3.8 million overnight accommodations in more than 1,400 shelters
- Distributed more than 540,000 cleanup and comfort kits
- Made more than 597,000 health services contacts and more than 826,000 mental health services contacts
The financial toll: More than $2 billion.
The Red Cross at Home
Colorado has five chapters that provide services in specific areas. The Pikes Peak Chapter of the Red Cross provided these services in the fiscal year 2009 (July 1 through June 30).
- Responded to 89 local disasters, which included 69 fires
- Helped more than 400 people with emergency food, shelter and supplies – 100 plus were children
- Provided outreach services to more than 1,013 military members and their families
- Provided emergency connections for 880 military families
- More than 400 volunteers contributed 14,550 hours plus
Overall Colorado chapters’ contributions during the same fiscal year:
- Responded to more than 400 disasters
- Assisted more than 500 families affected by disaster
- Provided almost 2,400 emergency communications to members of the armed forces
- Trained more than 100,000 individuals in CPR, first aid and other health and safety courses
- Provided casework in 62 international social services cases through tracing services, communications, referrals and information
- Secured more than 2,800 volunteers to meet Red Cross needs and goals
More Red Cross Facts
The first disaster the American Cross responded to was a forest fire in Michigan in 1881. Thousands of people were left homeless and 125 people died. The newly formed Red Cross chapters collected food and supplies.
Other famous disasters of the past:
- The Johnstown Flood of 1889 that killed more than 2,000 people
- The Midwest tornadoes in 1947
The Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters a year – one every eight minutes.
- International efforts first began when the Red Cross sent tons of wheat, corn and medical supplies to Russia during the famine.
- Henri Dunant is the Swiss who originally thought of an organization to help victims of disasters. It all began when Durant organized volunteers to help wounded soldiers after the Battle of Solferino. In 1901, Dunant won the Noble Peace Prize – the first year it was awarded. He also helped found the YMCA.
- In 1991, Elizabeth Dole became the only woman president of the Red Cross since Clara Barton.
Small Successes
The American Red Cross responds to worldwide disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chili; and, of course, Red Cross volunteers are clearly visible during national disasters like Hurricane Katrina or Sept. 11. But the Red Cross is active every day in American cities. From responding to fires to helping the homeless to CPR training, the Red Cross is a community player – directly or indirectly.
• Patrick Green, a sophomore at the Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds, had just completed his Red Cross CPR and first aid training two months prior to an emergency that would require quick action and his newly found skills. In May 2008, Green was riding home from track practice in a van with coaches and classmates when he saw a motorcyclist thrown off his bike. Green told the driver to stop, and he and a coach pulled the victim to the side of the road. Green performed CPR and saved the man’s life. He also administered first aid to the man’s injured head until the paramedics arrived.
• After Nancy Geer retired as a probation officer, she wanted to get involved in her community. Geer volunteered for the Red Cross and traveled cross country to respond to emergency situations. She spent a month in Texas in August and September of 2008 after Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. During a visit to a shelter in San Antonio, Geer found a 94-year-old woman hovering on a cot, with a look of despair on her face. The woman couldn’t remember her granddaughter’s last name or where she lived. After a bit of research (the granddaughter was looking for her grandmother), Geer was able to reunite the two.
• In Toledo, Ohio, on a cold March night, Dawn Bell and her daughter awoke to a fire in their home. Bell was able to get all five children to safety, and they watched as flames engulfed their home. Not long after the arrival of the firefighters, Red Cross volunteers showed up with hot chocolate and teddy bears. The Red Cross provided temporary shelter at a hotel that night for Bell and her children along with food and clothes. Later, a Red Cross caseworker gave Bell a voucher to replace the beds she had lost in the fire.
• Jonathan Kahrs of Seattle, Wash., wanted to know more about relatives whom his family had lost contact with during World War II. The Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Program helped him find his mother’s cousin and her son. The Red Cross located the death certificate of Verona, the cousin, which led to a flood of information and a meeting with a long, lost family member. Verona’s grandfather had been killed in Auschwitz, and Verona, her sister and mother were sent to a work camp in Auschwitz. The women were moved to a concentration camp in Germany and eventually freed. After marrying another camp survivor, Verona moved to her native Slovakia and they had a son, Robert. Because of the Red Cross, Kahrs was able to learn about the fate of his relatives and visit with Robert.
Issue 438
SNIPPETZ INDULGES IN SCRUMPTIOUS AND SUMPTUOUS CHOCOLATE
“A day without chocolate is like a day without sunshine.”
-Author unknown
Without presidential proclamation or an act of congress, somehow the third week of March became American Chocolate Week. Perhaps it was brought about by chocolate manufacturers or a desperate group of chocoholics. Nonetheless, does it really matter? This is the week to indulge in luscious chocolate in all shapes and sizes – for the whole week!
In the United States, we consume 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate or 12 pounds per person annually for a total of $7 million spent on the sweet confection. The majority of
Americans, about 92%, still prefer milk chocolate. However, this number is shrinking as the popularity of dark chocolate grows.
Chocolate comes with a rich heritage beginning with the cacao tree which grew wild in Latin America. It was around 1000 BC that the Olmec in Mexico gave the tree the name kakawa, eventually becoming cacao. It was the Mayans who turned the beans into a beverage, referring to the cacao as “food of the gods.” The Aztecs called the drink “chocolatl,” meaning “warm liquid.” The Aztecs also used the drink for royalty and special occasions. After Cortes and the Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico and brought about the fall of the Aztec empire, the Spaniards discovered the potential of the cacao bean. They added vanilla and cinnamon to the drink and thought it was best drank hot.
Good Things Take Time
Once chocolate spread across Europe, there was no stopping it. Here’s a brief snapshot of chocolate’s illustrious history:
Dispelling a Few Myths
There are many common myths about chocolate and we at Snippetz are pleased to dispel a few:
Acne
It has been long thought that chocolate both caused and aggravated acne. Much research over the past 20 years has proven that neither chocolate nor diet is responsible for acne, but it is thought that hormones deserve the bad rap.
Headaches
Once again, hormones can take some of the blame for migraine headaches. According to a study at the University of Pennsylvania, chocolate was not found to be a factor in migraine headaches in women.
Caffeine
Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is not high in caffeine. There are only 5 milligrams of caffeine in one ounce of milk chocolate. There are 100+ milligrams in a 6 ounce cup of coffee.
Cavities
It is thought that carbohydrates found in starch and sugars that sit on the teeth are the major contributors to tooth decay. In contrast, it is thought that the cocoa butter in chocolate actually helps clear the teeth and may contribute to less decay.
Some Interesting Side ‘Bars’
While you’re sitting around eating truffles today, how about enjoying a good book or movie about chocolate? For movies, there is “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Four and a Half Women,” “Chocolat,” “Like Water for Chocolate,” and for you lovers of documentary, “Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King.” If you prefer to flip the pages of a book while gnawing on a giant milk chocolate bar, consider “Chocolat” by Joanne Harris, “Candy Freak” by Steve Almond, “The Great Book of Chocolate” by David Lebovitz, “The Chocolate Bible” by Christian Teubner, or for the kids, “Chocolate Fever” by Robert Kimmel Smith.
More Notable Chocolate Days
Don’t be too disappointed that there is only one American Chocolate Week. There are many more opportunities to indulge during the year. That is, if you need an excuse:
National Chocolate Chip Day – May 15
National Chocolate Ice Cream Day – June 7
National Chocolate Milkshake Day – September 12
International Chocolate Day – September 13
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day – December 16
National Chocolate Day – December 28
National Chocolate Day – December 29 (we don’t know why there are two of these, but that must be a good thing)
A wise person once said: “Put ‘eat chocolate’ at the top of your list of things to do
today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.”
SNIPPETZ INDULGES IN SCRUMPTIOUS AND SUMPTUOUS CHOCOLATE
“A day without chocolate is like a day without sunshine.”
-Author unknown
Without presidential proclamation or an act of congress, somehow the third week of March became American Chocolate Week. Perhaps it was brought about by chocolate manufacturers or a desperate group of chocoholics. Nonetheless, does it really matter? This is the week to indulge in luscious chocolate in all shapes and sizes – for the whole week!
In the United States, we consume 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate or 12 pounds per person annually for a total of $7 million spent on the sweet confection. The majority of
Americans, about 92%, still prefer milk chocolate. However, this number is shrinking as the popularity of dark chocolate grows.
Chocolate comes with a rich heritage beginning with the cacao tree which grew wild in Latin America. It was around 1000 BC that the Olmec in Mexico gave the tree the name kakawa, eventually becoming cacao. It was the Mayans who turned the beans into a beverage, referring to the cacao as “food of the gods.” The Aztecs called the drink “chocolatl,” meaning “warm liquid.” The Aztecs also used the drink for royalty and special occasions. After Cortes and the Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico and brought about the fall of the Aztec empire, the Spaniards discovered the potential of the cacao bean. They added vanilla and cinnamon to the drink and thought it was best drank hot.
Good Things Take Time
Once chocolate spread across Europe, there was no stopping it. Here’s a brief snapshot of chocolate’s illustrious history:
- 1580 – The first cocoa processing plant was built in Spain.
- 1765 – The first chocolate factory was established in the United States by the Walter Baker Chocolate company.
- 1828 – The cocoa press was invented, which squeezed out more of the fat contained in the bean, leaving the powder-like substance desired for making smoother drinks.
- 1847 – The first solid chocolate that combined melted cocoa butter with cocoa powder and sugar was invented.
- 1849 – Domingo Ghirardelli began making chocolate in San Francisco during the Gold Rush days. The original factory still stands in Ghirardelli Square.
- 1876 - The first milk chocolate was made by adding milk to the cocoa mixture and was invented by Daniel Peter of Switzerland after many years of trial and error. He eventually sold his invention to his good friend and neighbor, Henry Nestle. Daniel Peter called the bar “Gala,” a word from the Greek language meaning “from the milk.”
- 1879 – Rodolphe Lindt of Lindt Chocolates invented “conching,” a process of rolling or kneading the beans to obtain different textures and flavors.
- 1896 – The Fannie Farmer Cookbook introduces the first chocolate brownie recipe.
- 1907 – The Hershey’s Kiss hit the market. They are now produced at a rate of 20 to 25 million per day and come in assorted flavors.
- 1938 – Nestle Crunch bar was introduced, the first of its kind to combine chocolate and other textures.
- 1939 – Chocolate chips were introduced by the Nestle Company.
- 2008 – Consumers can order personalized M&M’s with an individual’s likeness.
Dispelling a Few Myths
There are many common myths about chocolate and we at Snippetz are pleased to dispel a few:
Acne
It has been long thought that chocolate both caused and aggravated acne. Much research over the past 20 years has proven that neither chocolate nor diet is responsible for acne, but it is thought that hormones deserve the bad rap.
Headaches
Once again, hormones can take some of the blame for migraine headaches. According to a study at the University of Pennsylvania, chocolate was not found to be a factor in migraine headaches in women.
Caffeine
Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is not high in caffeine. There are only 5 milligrams of caffeine in one ounce of milk chocolate. There are 100+ milligrams in a 6 ounce cup of coffee.
Cavities
It is thought that carbohydrates found in starch and sugars that sit on the teeth are the major contributors to tooth decay. In contrast, it is thought that the cocoa butter in chocolate actually helps clear the teeth and may contribute to less decay.
Some Interesting Side ‘Bars’
- The cacao bean was so valuable to the Mayans and Aztecs that they were used as currency.
- In the 17th century, Bishop of Chiapas in Mexico declared that parishioners were not allowed to bring food or drink into Mass. The church members were so addicted to chocolate that they refused to obey and instead turned to convents for worship services. The Bishop later died when he drank his daily cup of chocolate that had been tinted with a poisonous substance.
- Chocolate syrup was used for blood in Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller, “Psycho” during the famous shower scene.
- Italians made the largest known chocolate bar in 2000 weighing in at over 5,000 pounds.
- The largest chunk of fudge was made by Canadians and weighed in at 2,000 pounds.
- About 1.5 million pounds of milk is used to produce chocolate in the U.S.
- Each cacao tree only yields about 20 to 30 pods per year, each containing about 30 to 40 beans. Each tree can be harvested twice per year.
- The Midwest and Northeast sectors of the U.S. are the largest consumers of chocolate and candy in this country.
- Chocoholics are made up of 40 percent women and 15 percent men.
- Due to its energy producing qualities, the U.S. government commissioned Milton Hershey to develop a chocolate bar to include in the troop rations during World War II. Once again during the Gulf War, Hershey was asked to develop a bar, but this time one that could withstand the warm temperatures. Chocolate is still considered an important part of military rations.
- Chocolate contains antioxidants – it’s good for you!
While you’re sitting around eating truffles today, how about enjoying a good book or movie about chocolate? For movies, there is “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Four and a Half Women,” “Chocolat,” “Like Water for Chocolate,” and for you lovers of documentary, “Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King.” If you prefer to flip the pages of a book while gnawing on a giant milk chocolate bar, consider “Chocolat” by Joanne Harris, “Candy Freak” by Steve Almond, “The Great Book of Chocolate” by David Lebovitz, “The Chocolate Bible” by Christian Teubner, or for the kids, “Chocolate Fever” by Robert Kimmel Smith.
More Notable Chocolate Days
Don’t be too disappointed that there is only one American Chocolate Week. There are many more opportunities to indulge during the year. That is, if you need an excuse:
National Chocolate Chip Day – May 15
National Chocolate Ice Cream Day – June 7
National Chocolate Milkshake Day – September 12
International Chocolate Day – September 13
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day – December 16
National Chocolate Day – December 28
National Chocolate Day – December 29 (we don’t know why there are two of these, but that must be a good thing)
A wise person once said: “Put ‘eat chocolate’ at the top of your list of things to do
today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.”
Issue 437
SNIPPETZ COOKS UP SOME POTATO SNIPS
“Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without potatoes."
-Louisa May Alcott, American novelist
A burger and fries; steak and baked potato; turkey and mashed potatoes: They go together like a horse and carriage; love and marriage; peanut butter and jelly; bees and honey; cup and saucer. Americans love their potatoes!
Potato products are the second – dairy products are No. 1 - most consumed food in the United States. Potato chips rank first among snacks worldwide. To celebrate, every year March 14 is designated as National Potato Chip Day. But the snack is just a chip off the old block – the potato, that is.
Contrary to popular belief, the potato did not originate in Ireland. The potato had its beginnings in the Andes Mountains of South America.
The Roots Of The Potato
Around 200 B.C., the Inca Indians of Peru began to cultivate potatoes, which were not only used for eating. Raw slices were placed on broken bones to promote healing; a few potatoes slung over the shoulder prevented rheumatism; and potatoes eaten with other foods prevented indigestion.
The first European to discover the potato was a Spaniard, who came across the potato on an expedition to South America in 1536. Although the potato was hardy and nutritious, the Spanish colonies considered the potato food for the under classes.
It took three decades for the potato to filter throughout Europe, but it was still regarded as food for the paupers. The upper class also thought the potato was poisonous. A potato exposed for too long turned green; the green skin harbored solanine, a bitter tasting substance, which caused illness in humans, which caused a belief that potatoes were unhealthy.
In the 1780s, Ireland began to cultivate potatoes because they were abundant and nutritious. According to historians, the potato could have been the reason for a population explosion in Ireland in the early 1800s. One acre of potatoes could feed 10 people.
The potato became a staple in Ireland; and, when a fungus destroyed Ireland’s potato crop in 1845, a severe potato famine devastated the Irish.
The Potato Famine of Ireland
During the summer of 1845, soon after the farmers had dug their potatoes from the ground, the potatoes turned into a black, slimy, decayed mess. Much of Ireland’s potato crop was a failure. When news of the blight reached London, the British prime minister established a commission to research the situation. The commission reported that more than half of Ireland’s potato crop could perish because of the “wet rot.” An airborne fungus believed to have originated in Mexico was the culprit behind the potato crop destruction.
The Irish relied heavily on the potato as food. Without it, they would starve. But during the first year of the potato famine, deaths from starvation were minimized when the British began importing Indian corn from America. Much to their chagrin, the potato blight continued the next year and two more – not a potato to be found in most of Ireland. Even so, the British government put a halt to the Indian corn import because they didn’t want to rely on food from abroad, although they continued to export grain that could have been given to the Irish.
Without the corn, the Irish began to live off wild blackberries, cabbage leaves, seaweed, turnips and even green grass. Ireland’s poor also sold their livestock and possessions, including their clothes, to buy food, but then food costs soared. Although plentiful, fish weren’t an option. The waters off the West Coast of Ireland were too deep for the small fishing boats.
To top off their misery, in 1846 and 1847, the usually mild winters of Ireland turned bitterly cold, and a change in wind direction brought one blizzard after another, burying houses in drifts.
Throughout the famine years, many of the Irish died from hunger; some died from related diseases like typhus, dysentery and a highly contagious fever, named Black Fever because it blackened the skin and was spread by lice. Doctors, priests and others who helped the sick also died from the fever.
Ireland’s potato famine cut the population in half and then some, from 9 million to 4 million. People either died or migrated to places like Great Britain, Canada and the U.S. Finally, in 1883, French botanist Alexandre Millardet developed an effective fungicide.
America and the Potato
The first potato in the U.S. was planted in 1837; but, through the 1850s, Americans considered the potato food for the animals. Even in mid-19th Century, the Farmer’s Manual recommended that farmers grow potatoes near hog pens “as a convenience for feeding the hogs.”
But the potato industry started to bloom when American horticulturist Luther Burbank developed the Russet potato. The Russet was more disease resistant, so Burbank introduced the Russet to Ireland. At the same time, the “Russet Burbank” potato began appearing throughout Idaho. And so it goes – Idaho’s fame as the U.S. capital of potatoes.
Potato Production
• Thirty-six states in the U.S. produce potatoes.
• Idaho is the No. 1 in potatoes in the U.S., producing one-third, followed by Washington, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Colorado.
• Potatoes yield 39,300 pounds per acre.
• The average farm price is $7.33 per 100 pounds; the yearly value of potato production is $3.2 billion.
There are seven types of potatoes. The Russet is the most popular in the U.S.
• Russet
• Long White
• Round White
• Round Red
• New (any potato that comes in from the field, instead of storage)
• Yellow Flesh
• Blue and purple (originated in South America – becoming more popular in the U.S.
Potato Stuff
• The potato is 80 percent water and 20 percent solids.
• England is home to the largest potato ever grown. It was 1795 and the potato weighed 18 lbs. 4 ounces, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
• The restaurant that serves the highest volume of baked potatoes in the world is in San Juan, Puerto Rico – aptly called, The Hot Potato.
• Potato-based alcohol fueled German planes in World War II.
• During the Alaskan gold rush, miners traded gold for potatoes because of the vitamin C value.
• On the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, potatoes were at one time used as the country’s unofficial currency.
• The Scottish refused to eat potatoes because the vegetable was not mentioned in the Bible.
• The average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes a year.
• The potato was the first vegetable grown in outer space. The spud in space experiment took place in 1995 aboard the Columbia.
• French fries were first served in the U.S in the White House in 1802, under President Thomas Jefferson. Today, more than 4 million tons of French fries are consumed in the U.S. each year.
A Spud for Health
Sometimes potatoes get a bad rap nutrition-wise, but they have nutritional value.
• One medium size potato has 45 percent of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C.
• A medium potato is 110 calories, with no fat or cholesterol (hold the butter and sour cream, please).
• Potatoes contain more potassium than bananas – 18 percent of the recommended dose per day.
• A medium potato has 3 grams of fiber, which is great for the digestive system and reducing risks of cancer and heart disease.
• The potato is a complex carbohydrate – an excellent source of energy for the body.
• Antioxidants in potatoes are among the highest of all vegetables – and to set the record straight, the potato is a vegetable. Antioxidants protect cells by neutralizing the effects of free radicals. Potatoes also contain glutathione, an antioxidant that protects against some cancers.
Spud Folk Remedies
Many thought the potato was the end-all for everything from illness to good luck.
• Wash your face daily with cool potato juice to treat blemishes.
• Apply a raw grated potato or potato juice to frostbite or sunburn.
• Relieve a toothache by carrying a potato in your pocket.
• Put a slice of a baked potato in a stocking and tie it around your throat to relieve a sore throat.
• Rub aches and pains with the water leftover from boiling potatoes.
Potato Myths
• Laying a potato peel at the door of a girl on May Day denoted a dislike for her.
• Rub a wart with a cut potato and bury the potato in the ground. As the potato rots, the wart will disappear!
• A pregnant mother should not eat potatoes or her baby will be born with a big head (see Mr. Potato Head).
Mr. Potato Head
The potato was the model for one of the most popular toys in the 1950s and 1960s. A plastic replica of a potato was used as a base for attaching a wide array of plastic parts, from eyebrows to eyeglasses, to create different faces.
In 1949, George Lerner manufactured the first Mr. Potato Head and began distributing it in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on television. In 1953, along came Mrs. Potato Head and a variety of accessories. Over the decades, Mr. Potato Head enjoyed immense popularity and widespread notoriety.
• In 1986, Mr. Potato Head became the "spokespud" for the annual Great American Smokeout. In a display of cooperation, Mr. Potato Head gave up his little plastic pipe (one of those attachments) to then Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
• In 1995, Mr. Potato Head hit Hollywood head on with a lead role in “Toy Story.” Four years later, he starred in “Toy Story 2.”
• In 2000, Mr. Potato Head was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame.
• In 2001, Mr. Potato Head had his own comic strip.
Last But Not Least: The Potato Chip
In 1853, at a fashionable restaurant/resort in Sarasota Springs, New York, railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbuilt sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because they were too thick. Just to spite Vanderbuilt, Chef George Crum sliced the potatoes thin as paper, fried them in oil and salted them and sent them to Vanderbuilt’s table. Surprising everyone, Vanderbuilt loved what would first be referred to as “Saratoga Crunch Chips.” The potato chip was born. About 1.2 billion lbs. of chips – America’s favorite snack food – are consumed each year.
In 1932, Herman Lay founded the Lay potato chip factory in Atlanta, Georgia. Lay promoted the chips throughout the South, creating the first successful national brand.
SNIPPETZ COOKS UP SOME POTATO SNIPS
“Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without potatoes."
-Louisa May Alcott, American novelist
A burger and fries; steak and baked potato; turkey and mashed potatoes: They go together like a horse and carriage; love and marriage; peanut butter and jelly; bees and honey; cup and saucer. Americans love their potatoes!
Potato products are the second – dairy products are No. 1 - most consumed food in the United States. Potato chips rank first among snacks worldwide. To celebrate, every year March 14 is designated as National Potato Chip Day. But the snack is just a chip off the old block – the potato, that is.
Contrary to popular belief, the potato did not originate in Ireland. The potato had its beginnings in the Andes Mountains of South America.
The Roots Of The Potato
Around 200 B.C., the Inca Indians of Peru began to cultivate potatoes, which were not only used for eating. Raw slices were placed on broken bones to promote healing; a few potatoes slung over the shoulder prevented rheumatism; and potatoes eaten with other foods prevented indigestion.
The first European to discover the potato was a Spaniard, who came across the potato on an expedition to South America in 1536. Although the potato was hardy and nutritious, the Spanish colonies considered the potato food for the under classes.
It took three decades for the potato to filter throughout Europe, but it was still regarded as food for the paupers. The upper class also thought the potato was poisonous. A potato exposed for too long turned green; the green skin harbored solanine, a bitter tasting substance, which caused illness in humans, which caused a belief that potatoes were unhealthy.
In the 1780s, Ireland began to cultivate potatoes because they were abundant and nutritious. According to historians, the potato could have been the reason for a population explosion in Ireland in the early 1800s. One acre of potatoes could feed 10 people.
The potato became a staple in Ireland; and, when a fungus destroyed Ireland’s potato crop in 1845, a severe potato famine devastated the Irish.
The Potato Famine of Ireland
During the summer of 1845, soon after the farmers had dug their potatoes from the ground, the potatoes turned into a black, slimy, decayed mess. Much of Ireland’s potato crop was a failure. When news of the blight reached London, the British prime minister established a commission to research the situation. The commission reported that more than half of Ireland’s potato crop could perish because of the “wet rot.” An airborne fungus believed to have originated in Mexico was the culprit behind the potato crop destruction.
The Irish relied heavily on the potato as food. Without it, they would starve. But during the first year of the potato famine, deaths from starvation were minimized when the British began importing Indian corn from America. Much to their chagrin, the potato blight continued the next year and two more – not a potato to be found in most of Ireland. Even so, the British government put a halt to the Indian corn import because they didn’t want to rely on food from abroad, although they continued to export grain that could have been given to the Irish.
Without the corn, the Irish began to live off wild blackberries, cabbage leaves, seaweed, turnips and even green grass. Ireland’s poor also sold their livestock and possessions, including their clothes, to buy food, but then food costs soared. Although plentiful, fish weren’t an option. The waters off the West Coast of Ireland were too deep for the small fishing boats.
To top off their misery, in 1846 and 1847, the usually mild winters of Ireland turned bitterly cold, and a change in wind direction brought one blizzard after another, burying houses in drifts.
Throughout the famine years, many of the Irish died from hunger; some died from related diseases like typhus, dysentery and a highly contagious fever, named Black Fever because it blackened the skin and was spread by lice. Doctors, priests and others who helped the sick also died from the fever.
Ireland’s potato famine cut the population in half and then some, from 9 million to 4 million. People either died or migrated to places like Great Britain, Canada and the U.S. Finally, in 1883, French botanist Alexandre Millardet developed an effective fungicide.
America and the Potato
The first potato in the U.S. was planted in 1837; but, through the 1850s, Americans considered the potato food for the animals. Even in mid-19th Century, the Farmer’s Manual recommended that farmers grow potatoes near hog pens “as a convenience for feeding the hogs.”
But the potato industry started to bloom when American horticulturist Luther Burbank developed the Russet potato. The Russet was more disease resistant, so Burbank introduced the Russet to Ireland. At the same time, the “Russet Burbank” potato began appearing throughout Idaho. And so it goes – Idaho’s fame as the U.S. capital of potatoes.
Potato Production
• Thirty-six states in the U.S. produce potatoes.
• Idaho is the No. 1 in potatoes in the U.S., producing one-third, followed by Washington, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Colorado.
• Potatoes yield 39,300 pounds per acre.
• The average farm price is $7.33 per 100 pounds; the yearly value of potato production is $3.2 billion.
There are seven types of potatoes. The Russet is the most popular in the U.S.
• Russet
• Long White
• Round White
• Round Red
• New (any potato that comes in from the field, instead of storage)
• Yellow Flesh
• Blue and purple (originated in South America – becoming more popular in the U.S.
Potato Stuff
• The potato is 80 percent water and 20 percent solids.
• England is home to the largest potato ever grown. It was 1795 and the potato weighed 18 lbs. 4 ounces, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
• The restaurant that serves the highest volume of baked potatoes in the world is in San Juan, Puerto Rico – aptly called, The Hot Potato.
• Potato-based alcohol fueled German planes in World War II.
• During the Alaskan gold rush, miners traded gold for potatoes because of the vitamin C value.
• On the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, potatoes were at one time used as the country’s unofficial currency.
• The Scottish refused to eat potatoes because the vegetable was not mentioned in the Bible.
• The average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes a year.
• The potato was the first vegetable grown in outer space. The spud in space experiment took place in 1995 aboard the Columbia.
• French fries were first served in the U.S in the White House in 1802, under President Thomas Jefferson. Today, more than 4 million tons of French fries are consumed in the U.S. each year.
A Spud for Health
Sometimes potatoes get a bad rap nutrition-wise, but they have nutritional value.
• One medium size potato has 45 percent of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C.
• A medium potato is 110 calories, with no fat or cholesterol (hold the butter and sour cream, please).
• Potatoes contain more potassium than bananas – 18 percent of the recommended dose per day.
• A medium potato has 3 grams of fiber, which is great for the digestive system and reducing risks of cancer and heart disease.
• The potato is a complex carbohydrate – an excellent source of energy for the body.
• Antioxidants in potatoes are among the highest of all vegetables – and to set the record straight, the potato is a vegetable. Antioxidants protect cells by neutralizing the effects of free radicals. Potatoes also contain glutathione, an antioxidant that protects against some cancers.
Spud Folk Remedies
Many thought the potato was the end-all for everything from illness to good luck.
• Wash your face daily with cool potato juice to treat blemishes.
• Apply a raw grated potato or potato juice to frostbite or sunburn.
• Relieve a toothache by carrying a potato in your pocket.
• Put a slice of a baked potato in a stocking and tie it around your throat to relieve a sore throat.
• Rub aches and pains with the water leftover from boiling potatoes.
Potato Myths
• Laying a potato peel at the door of a girl on May Day denoted a dislike for her.
• Rub a wart with a cut potato and bury the potato in the ground. As the potato rots, the wart will disappear!
• A pregnant mother should not eat potatoes or her baby will be born with a big head (see Mr. Potato Head).
Mr. Potato Head
The potato was the model for one of the most popular toys in the 1950s and 1960s. A plastic replica of a potato was used as a base for attaching a wide array of plastic parts, from eyebrows to eyeglasses, to create different faces.
In 1949, George Lerner manufactured the first Mr. Potato Head and began distributing it in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on television. In 1953, along came Mrs. Potato Head and a variety of accessories. Over the decades, Mr. Potato Head enjoyed immense popularity and widespread notoriety.
• In 1986, Mr. Potato Head became the "spokespud" for the annual Great American Smokeout. In a display of cooperation, Mr. Potato Head gave up his little plastic pipe (one of those attachments) to then Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
• In 1995, Mr. Potato Head hit Hollywood head on with a lead role in “Toy Story.” Four years later, he starred in “Toy Story 2.”
• In 2000, Mr. Potato Head was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame.
• In 2001, Mr. Potato Head had his own comic strip.
Last But Not Least: The Potato Chip
In 1853, at a fashionable restaurant/resort in Sarasota Springs, New York, railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbuilt sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because they were too thick. Just to spite Vanderbuilt, Chef George Crum sliced the potatoes thin as paper, fried them in oil and salted them and sent them to Vanderbuilt’s table. Surprising everyone, Vanderbuilt loved what would first be referred to as “Saratoga Crunch Chips.” The potato chip was born. About 1.2 billion lbs. of chips – America’s favorite snack food – are consumed each year.
In 1932, Herman Lay founded the Lay potato chip factory in Atlanta, Georgia. Lay promoted the chips throughout the South, creating the first successful national brand.
Issue 436
SNIPPETZ HONORS THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
“Girl Scouts offered a wonderful group of girls where common concerns and interests could come together. We could learn, be challenged, and support one another. It was a very positive aspect of my life and played an important role in shaping who I am today."
-Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour & Girl Scout Alumna
Girl Scouts of the USA is 98 years old this month! In 98 years, the organization has grown from 18 starting members to 3.4 million. About 50 million women have been members of Girl Scouts since its inception. The girls’ organization is committed to providing a nurturing environment enabling girls to attain skills for success in childhood and adulthood. Their mission: build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Coming Up Daisies
Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Low was born in 1860 and grew up with parents who encouraged and supported her in all her endeavors. She liked everything but school – animals, outdoors, sports and art. She attended boarding school during her high school years and was privileged enough to travel extensively as an adult. On one of her trips to England, Low became friends with Lord Baden-Powell who founded the boy scouts along with his sister Agnes.
Excited about the scouting organization in England, Low believed girls in the United States needed this kind of opportunity. As soon as she returned home from her transatlantic trip, she went to work starting the scouting organization for girls in Savannah. Although she was an unlikely candidate to begin an endeavor like this – she suffered health problems and did not possess especially good business skills – she believed in the cause and went forward. And what an organization it has become.
The Organization
The national headquarters is in New York City and there are more than 100 Girl Scout councils (offices) around the country that support the local troops. The home office and councils have employees, but by far the largest “staff” is made up of volunteers – parents and others who act as troop leaders.
Speaking of Leadership
Girl Scouts is all about teaching girls leadership skills. Their philosophy is that there are three keys to leadership – discover, connect and take action. Within these keys are leadership outcomes.
Discover – girls develop a strong sense of self; positive values; gain practical life skills; seek challenges in the world; and develop critical thinking skills.
Connect – girls develop healthy relationships; promote cooperation and team building; resolve conflicts; advance diversity; and feel connected to their communities, both locally and globally.
Take action – girls can identify community needs; become resourceful problem solvers; advocate for themselves and others, both locally and globally; educate and inspire others to act; and feel empowered to make a difference in the world.
And Then There Were Cookies
Ever wonder how the Girl Scout cookie got started? Well, it started with scout mothers and their girls baking sugar cookies at home and selling them to raise funds for scouting activities. This started as early as 1917. The Girl Scout Web site reports that the earliest recorded cookie sale took place in Muskogee, Oklahoma where girls baked cookies to sell at their high school as a service project. By 1922, Girl Scouts published a sugar cookie recipe for all scouts to bake for fundraisers if they so desired. The girls packaged them in wax paper bags and sold them, usually door-to-door, for 25 to 35 cents per dozen.
• In 1934, scouts in Philadelphia became the first to sell cookies commercially baked, followed by a large council in New York to do the same in 1935.
• In 1936, the national organization began selling commercially baked cookies. Apparently selling like hot cakes, the cookies were being sold by 125 local councils by the next year.
• In 1942, the cookie was temporarily set aside for calendar sales due to rationing of baking supplies during World War II.
• In 1948, 29 commercial bakers held a license to bake Girl Scout Cookies.
• By the mid 1950s, there were four flavors of cookies – shortbread, chocolate mint (now called Thin Mints), a filled chocolate cookie and a filled vanilla cookie.
• In the mid 1960s, the baby boomers became scouts and introduced additional cookie flavors including peanut butter.
• In the 1970s, packaging became more standardized and colorful. There were also fewer licensed bakers in the country to fulfill orders, ensuring even more standardization of product.
• In the early 1990’s, there were only two licensed bakers providing cookies, and low fat and sugar free options became available. By the end of that decade, it was back to three bakers.
• Now there are two licensed bakers and about eight varieties of cookies.
Levels of Girl Scouts
Girls work through the ranks based on age. With the goal of leadership skills in the forefront, girls have an opportunity to learn valuable life skills and earn badges and other awards. The youngest girls are Daisies (kindergarten age). Then the girls move to Brownies (first through third grades); Juniors (fourth through sixth grades); Cadettes (seventh through ninth grades); and Seniors (ninth through twelfth grades).
Beyond the Badge
Girls in the older levels can also earn the very prestigious bronze, silver and gold awards, which are awarded for completing service projects that have extensive requirements. Girls are honored at an end-of-year ceremony in their communities and can include these impressive awards on their college applications.
The original awards:
• From 1916 to 1919, Girl Scouts could earn The Golden Eagle of Merit by making a difference in their communities.
• The Curved Bar Award was the highest award in scouting from 1940 to 1963.
• From 1963 to 1980, First Class was the award to earn. This designation meant that a girl was an “all around” person with many skills.
Interesting Facts
• The first Girl Scout handbook was named “How Girls Can Help Their Country,” published in 1913.
• The first Girl Scouts were called Girl Guides.
• Learning how to play basketball was the very first group activity done by Juliet Gordon Low’s inaugural troop of 1912.
• The Thin Mints are the hottest seller of all cookies with 25 percent of sales. The Samoas or Caramel deLites come in as a close second at 19 percent.
• The same cookie is named differently in different regions of the country depending on who the cookie supplier is.
• The first uniform was blue.
• First Lady Lou Henry Hoover was elected twice to be president of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
• By 2005, about 67 percent of women in the House of Representatives were Girl Scouts and over 71 percent in the Senate were scouts.
That’s a Lot of Cookies
In 2008, 15-year-old Jennifer Sharpe of Dearborn, Michigan sold 17,328 boxes of cookies by tenaciously selling cookies on a street corner in her neighborhood. Although Girl Scouts does not track individual sales, it is likely Sharpe set a world record.
Famous Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Promise
While holding up your middle three fingers, recite:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
SNIPPETZ HONORS THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
“Girl Scouts offered a wonderful group of girls where common concerns and interests could come together. We could learn, be challenged, and support one another. It was a very positive aspect of my life and played an important role in shaping who I am today."
-Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour & Girl Scout Alumna
Girl Scouts of the USA is 98 years old this month! In 98 years, the organization has grown from 18 starting members to 3.4 million. About 50 million women have been members of Girl Scouts since its inception. The girls’ organization is committed to providing a nurturing environment enabling girls to attain skills for success in childhood and adulthood. Their mission: build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Coming Up Daisies
Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Low was born in 1860 and grew up with parents who encouraged and supported her in all her endeavors. She liked everything but school – animals, outdoors, sports and art. She attended boarding school during her high school years and was privileged enough to travel extensively as an adult. On one of her trips to England, Low became friends with Lord Baden-Powell who founded the boy scouts along with his sister Agnes.
Excited about the scouting organization in England, Low believed girls in the United States needed this kind of opportunity. As soon as she returned home from her transatlantic trip, she went to work starting the scouting organization for girls in Savannah. Although she was an unlikely candidate to begin an endeavor like this – she suffered health problems and did not possess especially good business skills – she believed in the cause and went forward. And what an organization it has become.
The Organization
The national headquarters is in New York City and there are more than 100 Girl Scout councils (offices) around the country that support the local troops. The home office and councils have employees, but by far the largest “staff” is made up of volunteers – parents and others who act as troop leaders.
Speaking of Leadership
Girl Scouts is all about teaching girls leadership skills. Their philosophy is that there are three keys to leadership – discover, connect and take action. Within these keys are leadership outcomes.
Discover – girls develop a strong sense of self; positive values; gain practical life skills; seek challenges in the world; and develop critical thinking skills.
Connect – girls develop healthy relationships; promote cooperation and team building; resolve conflicts; advance diversity; and feel connected to their communities, both locally and globally.
Take action – girls can identify community needs; become resourceful problem solvers; advocate for themselves and others, both locally and globally; educate and inspire others to act; and feel empowered to make a difference in the world.
And Then There Were Cookies
Ever wonder how the Girl Scout cookie got started? Well, it started with scout mothers and their girls baking sugar cookies at home and selling them to raise funds for scouting activities. This started as early as 1917. The Girl Scout Web site reports that the earliest recorded cookie sale took place in Muskogee, Oklahoma where girls baked cookies to sell at their high school as a service project. By 1922, Girl Scouts published a sugar cookie recipe for all scouts to bake for fundraisers if they so desired. The girls packaged them in wax paper bags and sold them, usually door-to-door, for 25 to 35 cents per dozen.
• In 1934, scouts in Philadelphia became the first to sell cookies commercially baked, followed by a large council in New York to do the same in 1935.
• In 1936, the national organization began selling commercially baked cookies. Apparently selling like hot cakes, the cookies were being sold by 125 local councils by the next year.
• In 1942, the cookie was temporarily set aside for calendar sales due to rationing of baking supplies during World War II.
• In 1948, 29 commercial bakers held a license to bake Girl Scout Cookies.
• By the mid 1950s, there were four flavors of cookies – shortbread, chocolate mint (now called Thin Mints), a filled chocolate cookie and a filled vanilla cookie.
• In the mid 1960s, the baby boomers became scouts and introduced additional cookie flavors including peanut butter.
• In the 1970s, packaging became more standardized and colorful. There were also fewer licensed bakers in the country to fulfill orders, ensuring even more standardization of product.
• In the early 1990’s, there were only two licensed bakers providing cookies, and low fat and sugar free options became available. By the end of that decade, it was back to three bakers.
• Now there are two licensed bakers and about eight varieties of cookies.
Levels of Girl Scouts
Girls work through the ranks based on age. With the goal of leadership skills in the forefront, girls have an opportunity to learn valuable life skills and earn badges and other awards. The youngest girls are Daisies (kindergarten age). Then the girls move to Brownies (first through third grades); Juniors (fourth through sixth grades); Cadettes (seventh through ninth grades); and Seniors (ninth through twelfth grades).
Beyond the Badge
Girls in the older levels can also earn the very prestigious bronze, silver and gold awards, which are awarded for completing service projects that have extensive requirements. Girls are honored at an end-of-year ceremony in their communities and can include these impressive awards on their college applications.
The original awards:
• From 1916 to 1919, Girl Scouts could earn The Golden Eagle of Merit by making a difference in their communities.
• The Curved Bar Award was the highest award in scouting from 1940 to 1963.
• From 1963 to 1980, First Class was the award to earn. This designation meant that a girl was an “all around” person with many skills.
Interesting Facts
• The first Girl Scout handbook was named “How Girls Can Help Their Country,” published in 1913.
• The first Girl Scouts were called Girl Guides.
• Learning how to play basketball was the very first group activity done by Juliet Gordon Low’s inaugural troop of 1912.
• The Thin Mints are the hottest seller of all cookies with 25 percent of sales. The Samoas or Caramel deLites come in as a close second at 19 percent.
• The same cookie is named differently in different regions of the country depending on who the cookie supplier is.
• The first uniform was blue.
• First Lady Lou Henry Hoover was elected twice to be president of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
• By 2005, about 67 percent of women in the House of Representatives were Girl Scouts and over 71 percent in the Senate were scouts.
That’s a Lot of Cookies
In 2008, 15-year-old Jennifer Sharpe of Dearborn, Michigan sold 17,328 boxes of cookies by tenaciously selling cookies on a street corner in her neighborhood. Although Girl Scouts does not track individual sales, it is likely Sharpe set a world record.
Famous Girl Scouts
- Elizabeth Dole - former president, American Red Cross
- Lois Juliber – former COO at Colgate-Palmolive; current board chair at DuPont
- Elaine Jones – former head of NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund
- Nancy Reagan - wife of president Ronald Reagan
- Hillary Rodham Clinton, Hillary – secretary of state, former U.S. senator & wife of president Bill Clinton
- Laura Bush - wife of president George Bush, Jr.
- Madeleine Albright - former U.S. secretary of state
- Dr. Joyce Brothers – psychologist and advice columnist
- Lt Col Eileen Collins – first woman space shuttle commander astronaut
- Sandra Day O'Connor – first female U.S. Supreme Court justice
- Katie Couric – TV anchorwoman and journalist
- Walters, Barbara – TV anchorwoman and journalist
- Carol Elliot - brigadier general, USAF
- Bonnie Blair – 1994 gold Olympian speed skater
- Peggy Fleming - 1968 figure skating gold Olympian
- Dorothy Hamill - 1976 figure skating gold Olympian
- Nancy Lopez - pro-golfer
- Gloria Steinem - author
- Judith Viorst - author of poetry collections and children books
Girl Scout Promise
While holding up your middle three fingers, recite:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Issue 435
SNIPPETZ MUSHES AT THE IDITAROD
"If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes."
-Author Unknown
Men, women and dogs will line up in Anchorage, Alaska, March 8 to begin what some have deemed the “last great race on earth:” the Iditarod – the largest dog sled race in the world.
They call them “mushers” and along with their dogs – 12 to 16 on each team – they will cover 1,150 miles of beautiful yet challenging terrain, from mountain ranges to dense forests, to frozen tundra to icy rivers to coastlines stirred by heavy wind gusts. Teams will make the trek in 10 to 17 days amidst below zero temperatures and extended periods of darkness.
From Anchorage through south central Alaska to Nome on the western Bering Sea, the Iditarod is arguably the most “dog-eat-dog” standoff between man and Mother Nature.
Honoring The Forefathers … And Foredogs
In the early 1900s, the Iditarod Trail, now designated a national historic trail, was the only thoroughfare in the winter from Alaska’s coastal towns to interior towns. Mushers and their sled dogs were used to run mail, supplies and gold from village to village. Priests, judges and doctors also jumped on board to visit those who needed their services.
In 1925, the city of Nome was plagued by a diphtheria epidemic. The mushers and their sled dogs became heroes – some legends – as they carried much needed serum to Nome.
As the gold mining industry slowed, there was less activity on the Iditarod Trail. In the late 1920s, the airplane became the mode of transportation for mail and supplies. And the sled dog teams disappeared with the advent of the snowmobile.
By the 1960s, many Alaskans were clueless about the Iditarod and the sled dogs. Dorothy Paige, a Wasilla resident, wanted to change that. Paige thought a race commemorating the history of Alaska’s sled dog teams would bring awareness to the trail and highlight some of the heroic efforts of both dog and man.
The First Race
Dorothy Paige enlisted an active musher – Joe Redington Sr. – to help promote the idea of a sled dog race on the Iditarod Trail.
In 1967, the Aurora Dog Mushers Club and others cleared the overgrowth on the first 9 miles of the trail for the first-ever “short” race. Redington donated a 1-acre parcel of land as a fundraiser to help with a purse of $25,000 for that initial race. The race covered 27 miles, and Alaskans from all over participated, as well as two teams from Massachusetts.
Isaac Okleasik from Teller, Alaska, won with a team of large working dogs.
The Route
In 1973, the race was lengthened to 1,000 miles, starting in Anchorage and ending in Nome. Many said the teams would be greatly hindered by Alaska’s wilderness, making it impossible to go the distance. But 22 mushers proved them wrong and finished that year. To date, more than 400 mushers have completed the race.
What’s a Musher?
Mushing describes a sport or transportation method using dogs and sleds and is thought to come from the French word “marche,” which means “go” or “run.” From French to slang, “mush” was a word used to command the sled dogs at the beginning of the race. “Hike” is more commonly used today.
The mushers are men and women who steer the sled dog teams. Alaska natives introduced the concept of sled dog teams. The native people also bred dogs for the purpose of transport. The Malemiut Inupiat people of the Seward Peninsula in Alaska developed a species favorite: the Malamute.
Modern-day mushers come from all walks of life: fisherman, lawyers, doctors, artists – and many countries – Canada, Switzerland and France among them.
Musher Records
Many records have been broken in the Iditarod.
• In 1986, Susan Butcher broke Rick Swanson’s 1981 record after she completed the race in 11 days, 15 hours and 6 minutes. Butcher broke her own record in 1987, finishing in 11 days, 2 hours and 5 minutes. In 1990, Butcher again broke a record, finishing in 11 days, 1 hour and 53 minutes.
• In 1990, Jeff King broke all records when he finished the race in 10 days, 15 hours and 38 minutes. In 1994, Buser beat that record with 10 days, 13 hours and 2 minutes.
• In 1995, Doug Swindley of Montana became the first winner from a state other than Alaska and also broke the record as he finished in 9 days, 2 hours and 42 minutes.
• Martin Buser rose again in 2002, completing the Iditarod in 8 days, 22 hours and 46 minutes.
Others
• Carl Huntington won the 1974 race with the slowest winning time – 20 days, 15 hours, 2 minutes.
• Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson still hold the title for the closest finish. Mackey was 1 second ahead of Swenson – 14 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds. The nose of the lead dog determined the winner.
• The largest number of mushers to finish a single race: 77 in 2004.
• Rick Swenson is the only musher to win the Iditarod five times in three different decades – 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
• Susan Butcher won the Iditarod four times before retiring to have children. She died of leukemia in August 2006, leaving behind her husband and two children.
• The youngest musher to run the race was Dallas Seavey, age 18. He ran in 2005. The oldest musher to complete the race is Col. Norman Vaughan – at 88 years.
• Lucky number? Rick Mackey became the only son of a winner to place first when he won the 1983 Iditarod. His father, Dick Mackey, had won in 1978. Dick’s other son, Lance, matched his father and brother when he won in 2007. All three Mackeys – father and sons – wore bib No. 13 when they won, and all three placed first in their sixth Iditarod race. Lance Mackey also won the race in 2008 and 2009 and is a favorite this year.
The Dogs
Alaskan Huskies have been the predominant sled dog of the Iditarod. The Alaskan Husky is not AKC registered; thus, a number of mongrels or mutts have been labeled as a husky. Iditarod race officials were concerned that not all of those “Alaskan Huskies” fit the profile of a sled dog. Instead of defining the Alaskan Husky, officials established criteria for all canine Iditarod team members.
Measures for Mutts
• All dogs must “demonstrate a willingness” to be harnessed. They must also demonstrate a desire to participate. How they interview for the job was not addressed!
• All dogs must be vaccinated and dewormed.
• All dogs must be able to withstand environmental extremes as specified by race officials.
• Dogs must be able to pass a pre-race physical by a veterinarian with knowledge of sled dogs. A number of health issues are evaluated through protocols endorsed by Iditarod veterinarians.
The majority of sled dogs are at least 75 lbs. In other words, the Dachshund, the Beagle, the Chinese Crested hairless are examples of dogs not to expect at the Iditarod.
Dog … Gone
New sled dogs cannot be added once the race begins. The musher has to finish with the original dogs; however, any one of the dogs can be dropped from the race if necessary. The dropouts are flown back to Anchorage via small planes – not sleds.
During the race, the dogs are closely guarded for any problems. The mushers must make sure they journal their dogs’ progress. There are checkpoints where veterinarians peruse the doggy diaries and examine the dogs. The dogs also are subject to random drug testing.
Iditarod in the Dog House
The Sled Dog Action Coalition believes the Iditarod violates animal cruelty laws defined in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Alaska’s anti-cruelty stance on “overworking or overdriving” laws is more lax, according to the SDAC. They maintain that no other state could get away with the Iditarod. According to the SDAC, 142 dogs have died in the later years of the Iditarod. In early years, the deaths were not recorded. The SDAC also defies the way sled dogs are raised – some outdoors on short leashes for most of their lives, others forced to carry heavy loads in preparation for the Iditarod.
Injuries to dogs during the race include spinal injuries, bone fractures, sore and wounded paws, ruptured tendon sheaths, torn muscles, sore joints, stress and dehydration – and freezing to death. One dog died of an ulcer. On average, the SDAC states that 50 percent of all dogs that begin the race do not make it across the finish line.
Dogged but still popular
Thousands of people, journalists and former and wannabe mushers will converge on Alaska in March. Seventy-one entrants are scheduled for this year’s Iditarod. Thirty-three are from Alaska, nine from other states and seven from abroad. Besides Mackey, past winners participating this year include Rick Swenson, Jeff King and Martin Buser. From last year’s Iditarod, 19 of the top 20 finishers will return, and 23 rookies are entered in Iditarod XXXVIII.
THE TERMINOLOGY
Mushers and team members have their own language. It’s been said the lead dog and the musher communicate through ESP.
Lead Dog: leads the pack in front of others
Line Out! – command to lead dog to pull the team to a straight line from the sled
Mush! Hike! All Right! Let’s Go! – commands to start the team
Swing Dog: the dog running directly behind the lead dog; also identified as right or left swing dog; this dog helps swing the team in the turns or curves
Whoa: command to stop the team
Pacing: leading a team with a motorized vehicle to set the “pace”
Pedaling: pushing the sled with one foot while the other remains on the runner
Rigging: collection of lines that attach to the dogs, including tow lines, tug lines and neck lines
Trail: request for right-of-way on the trail
Tug Line: line that connects dog’s harness to the tow line
Wheel Dogs/Wheelers: dogs placed directly in front of the sled; their job is to pull the sled out and around corners and trees
SNIPPETZ MUSHES AT THE IDITAROD
"If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes."
-Author Unknown
Men, women and dogs will line up in Anchorage, Alaska, March 8 to begin what some have deemed the “last great race on earth:” the Iditarod – the largest dog sled race in the world.
They call them “mushers” and along with their dogs – 12 to 16 on each team – they will cover 1,150 miles of beautiful yet challenging terrain, from mountain ranges to dense forests, to frozen tundra to icy rivers to coastlines stirred by heavy wind gusts. Teams will make the trek in 10 to 17 days amidst below zero temperatures and extended periods of darkness.
From Anchorage through south central Alaska to Nome on the western Bering Sea, the Iditarod is arguably the most “dog-eat-dog” standoff between man and Mother Nature.
Honoring The Forefathers … And Foredogs
In the early 1900s, the Iditarod Trail, now designated a national historic trail, was the only thoroughfare in the winter from Alaska’s coastal towns to interior towns. Mushers and their sled dogs were used to run mail, supplies and gold from village to village. Priests, judges and doctors also jumped on board to visit those who needed their services.
In 1925, the city of Nome was plagued by a diphtheria epidemic. The mushers and their sled dogs became heroes – some legends – as they carried much needed serum to Nome.
As the gold mining industry slowed, there was less activity on the Iditarod Trail. In the late 1920s, the airplane became the mode of transportation for mail and supplies. And the sled dog teams disappeared with the advent of the snowmobile.
By the 1960s, many Alaskans were clueless about the Iditarod and the sled dogs. Dorothy Paige, a Wasilla resident, wanted to change that. Paige thought a race commemorating the history of Alaska’s sled dog teams would bring awareness to the trail and highlight some of the heroic efforts of both dog and man.
The First Race
Dorothy Paige enlisted an active musher – Joe Redington Sr. – to help promote the idea of a sled dog race on the Iditarod Trail.
In 1967, the Aurora Dog Mushers Club and others cleared the overgrowth on the first 9 miles of the trail for the first-ever “short” race. Redington donated a 1-acre parcel of land as a fundraiser to help with a purse of $25,000 for that initial race. The race covered 27 miles, and Alaskans from all over participated, as well as two teams from Massachusetts.
Isaac Okleasik from Teller, Alaska, won with a team of large working dogs.
The Route
In 1973, the race was lengthened to 1,000 miles, starting in Anchorage and ending in Nome. Many said the teams would be greatly hindered by Alaska’s wilderness, making it impossible to go the distance. But 22 mushers proved them wrong and finished that year. To date, more than 400 mushers have completed the race.
What’s a Musher?
Mushing describes a sport or transportation method using dogs and sleds and is thought to come from the French word “marche,” which means “go” or “run.” From French to slang, “mush” was a word used to command the sled dogs at the beginning of the race. “Hike” is more commonly used today.
The mushers are men and women who steer the sled dog teams. Alaska natives introduced the concept of sled dog teams. The native people also bred dogs for the purpose of transport. The Malemiut Inupiat people of the Seward Peninsula in Alaska developed a species favorite: the Malamute.
Modern-day mushers come from all walks of life: fisherman, lawyers, doctors, artists – and many countries – Canada, Switzerland and France among them.
Musher Records
Many records have been broken in the Iditarod.
• In 1986, Susan Butcher broke Rick Swanson’s 1981 record after she completed the race in 11 days, 15 hours and 6 minutes. Butcher broke her own record in 1987, finishing in 11 days, 2 hours and 5 minutes. In 1990, Butcher again broke a record, finishing in 11 days, 1 hour and 53 minutes.
• In 1990, Jeff King broke all records when he finished the race in 10 days, 15 hours and 38 minutes. In 1994, Buser beat that record with 10 days, 13 hours and 2 minutes.
• In 1995, Doug Swindley of Montana became the first winner from a state other than Alaska and also broke the record as he finished in 9 days, 2 hours and 42 minutes.
• Martin Buser rose again in 2002, completing the Iditarod in 8 days, 22 hours and 46 minutes.
Others
• Carl Huntington won the 1974 race with the slowest winning time – 20 days, 15 hours, 2 minutes.
• Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson still hold the title for the closest finish. Mackey was 1 second ahead of Swenson – 14 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds. The nose of the lead dog determined the winner.
• The largest number of mushers to finish a single race: 77 in 2004.
• Rick Swenson is the only musher to win the Iditarod five times in three different decades – 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
• Susan Butcher won the Iditarod four times before retiring to have children. She died of leukemia in August 2006, leaving behind her husband and two children.
• The youngest musher to run the race was Dallas Seavey, age 18. He ran in 2005. The oldest musher to complete the race is Col. Norman Vaughan – at 88 years.
• Lucky number? Rick Mackey became the only son of a winner to place first when he won the 1983 Iditarod. His father, Dick Mackey, had won in 1978. Dick’s other son, Lance, matched his father and brother when he won in 2007. All three Mackeys – father and sons – wore bib No. 13 when they won, and all three placed first in their sixth Iditarod race. Lance Mackey also won the race in 2008 and 2009 and is a favorite this year.
The Dogs
Alaskan Huskies have been the predominant sled dog of the Iditarod. The Alaskan Husky is not AKC registered; thus, a number of mongrels or mutts have been labeled as a husky. Iditarod race officials were concerned that not all of those “Alaskan Huskies” fit the profile of a sled dog. Instead of defining the Alaskan Husky, officials established criteria for all canine Iditarod team members.
Measures for Mutts
• All dogs must “demonstrate a willingness” to be harnessed. They must also demonstrate a desire to participate. How they interview for the job was not addressed!
• All dogs must be vaccinated and dewormed.
• All dogs must be able to withstand environmental extremes as specified by race officials.
• Dogs must be able to pass a pre-race physical by a veterinarian with knowledge of sled dogs. A number of health issues are evaluated through protocols endorsed by Iditarod veterinarians.
The majority of sled dogs are at least 75 lbs. In other words, the Dachshund, the Beagle, the Chinese Crested hairless are examples of dogs not to expect at the Iditarod.
Dog … Gone
New sled dogs cannot be added once the race begins. The musher has to finish with the original dogs; however, any one of the dogs can be dropped from the race if necessary. The dropouts are flown back to Anchorage via small planes – not sleds.
During the race, the dogs are closely guarded for any problems. The mushers must make sure they journal their dogs’ progress. There are checkpoints where veterinarians peruse the doggy diaries and examine the dogs. The dogs also are subject to random drug testing.
Iditarod in the Dog House
The Sled Dog Action Coalition believes the Iditarod violates animal cruelty laws defined in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Alaska’s anti-cruelty stance on “overworking or overdriving” laws is more lax, according to the SDAC. They maintain that no other state could get away with the Iditarod. According to the SDAC, 142 dogs have died in the later years of the Iditarod. In early years, the deaths were not recorded. The SDAC also defies the way sled dogs are raised – some outdoors on short leashes for most of their lives, others forced to carry heavy loads in preparation for the Iditarod.
Injuries to dogs during the race include spinal injuries, bone fractures, sore and wounded paws, ruptured tendon sheaths, torn muscles, sore joints, stress and dehydration – and freezing to death. One dog died of an ulcer. On average, the SDAC states that 50 percent of all dogs that begin the race do not make it across the finish line.
Dogged but still popular
Thousands of people, journalists and former and wannabe mushers will converge on Alaska in March. Seventy-one entrants are scheduled for this year’s Iditarod. Thirty-three are from Alaska, nine from other states and seven from abroad. Besides Mackey, past winners participating this year include Rick Swenson, Jeff King and Martin Buser. From last year’s Iditarod, 19 of the top 20 finishers will return, and 23 rookies are entered in Iditarod XXXVIII.
THE TERMINOLOGY
Mushers and team members have their own language. It’s been said the lead dog and the musher communicate through ESP.
Lead Dog: leads the pack in front of others
Line Out! – command to lead dog to pull the team to a straight line from the sled
Mush! Hike! All Right! Let’s Go! – commands to start the team
Swing Dog: the dog running directly behind the lead dog; also identified as right or left swing dog; this dog helps swing the team in the turns or curves
Whoa: command to stop the team
Pacing: leading a team with a motorized vehicle to set the “pace”
Pedaling: pushing the sled with one foot while the other remains on the runner
Rigging: collection of lines that attach to the dogs, including tow lines, tug lines and neck lines
Trail: request for right-of-way on the trail
Tug Line: line that connects dog’s harness to the tow line
Wheel Dogs/Wheelers: dogs placed directly in front of the sled; their job is to pull the sled out and around corners and trees
Issue 434
SNIPPETZ RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS MAKE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
"Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love..."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You see them in many places, from schools to hospitals to voting precincts to animal shelters and at natural disaster sites, and sometimes their presence is not so obvious. They run the gamut in age from children to seniors and come from all walks of life and all skills and education levels from clerks to engineers to presidents. They are volunteers. Millions of people are out there working in our communities for NO PAY. Who are they and why do they do it? Well, maybe it’s the fringe benefits.
A Country Built on Volunteerism
Volunteerism isn’t just the latest trend in the United States. Certainly our last several presidents have encouraged citizens to serve others to help make the country stronger. But the volunteering spirit has been around since the colonies were forming. Historians document the helping spirit that came along with settling in the new land from the early colonial days to the pioneers as they moved across the west. There was no such thing as hiring someone in town to build the barn. The neighbors helped. They also helped with farming the land, getting through difficult diseases and anything else that needed to be done in the community.
Other notable volunteer firsts:
It was the 20th century that saw the real boon in altruistic activity beyond churches and neighbors.
Twenty-first century volunteerism has many faces – from good old fashioned helping and working in the community to activism for causes such as the environment, animal rights and equal rights for everyone no matter race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Some Stats
The numbers are astounding. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of September 2009, 63.4 million or a whopping 26.8 percent of the population volunteered at least once for or through an organization during the prior 12-month period.
• Women volunteer more than men across all educational levels and age groups. Just over 29 percent of women volunteer versus 23.3 percent of men.
• The most likely age of volunteers is between 35 and 54. The rates are lowest at 18.8 percent in the early 20s group as well as those age 65 and older.
• Married folks volunteer more than unmarried – 32.3 percent versus 20.6 percent respectively. And parents with children under the age of 18 volunteered at the rate of 34.4 percent versus 23.9 percent for the married without children group.
• Those with higher levels of education volunteered more than those less educated, dispelling a common myth that volunteers are uneducated women or the neighborhood busybodies.
• More employed people volunteered than unemployed – 29.7 percent as compared to 22.9 percent.
What Do They Do?
More from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
• Older volunteers as well as less educated ones tend to volunteer for religious organizations.
• Those with a higher level of education tend to volunteer for sports, hobby, cultural or arts organizations.
• Not surprisingly, parents tend to volunteer for schools or scouting groups whereas those without children tend to volunteer for health organizations such as hospitals or social community organizations.
• Volunteer activities mostly center around fundraising, as well as food-related activities that involve collecting, preparing, distributing or serving. Men most likely volunteer for general labor, coaching or refereeing in sports activities as well as providing management assistance. Women’s activities also involve fundraising, activities involving food, and tutoring or teaching.
Who Seeks Out Whom?
About 44 percent of volunteers were asked to help whereas about 41 percent sought out volunteer opportunities on their own.
Now For The Fringe Benefits
Volunteering provides significant health benefits:
• Longer lifespan
• Less depression
• Better functional abilities
Older persons tend to experience more of the health benefits than younger volunteers, possibly because volunteering is a way to stay more active, which in turn increases life expectancy.
The nontangible benefits:
• Stronger connections with others
• Strengthening communities in which we live
• Improving and changing the lives of others
• Improving and changing the life of the volunteer
• A sense of pride and satisfaction
Benefits From the Mouse
Need a little incentive? In order to entice a million people to volunteer one day of service at any time over this year, Disney is offering a free day at a Disney Park as a reward. Not just a stroke of marketing genius, the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program is a huge success and has already enticed 600,000 to sign up for the program as of Feb. 15.
The caveat is that the service must be performed for a Disney approved organization or activity. Some examples are Habitat for Humanity, animal shelters, Destination ImagiNation and hundreds more. Children are eligible if accompanied by a parent for their volunteer service, so the entire family can earn a free day. To register and find opportunities in a geographic area of your choice, visit their Web site at www.disneyparks.com. But hurry, the offer expires once the numbers hit 1 million or Dec. 15, 2010, whichever is sooner.
Got an Hour?
The benefits are there but where to start. Here are some ideas:
• Schools, schools, schools. Schools have always needed volunteers, but with massive budget cuts, they need even more help. And, stronger, healthier schools increase property values for everyone. Another fringe benefit.
• Libraries and the arts – facilities that always need volunteers and provide much for the community in the way of services and more of those fringe benefits.
• Hospitals and blood banks
• Animal shelters
• Food banks
• Homeless shelters
Still Looking?
There are numerous Web sites that offer information about volunteer opportunities. One developed by President Obama and the First Lady in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service is United We Serve. Individuals and organizations can register their need for volunteers on the Web site at www.serve.gov, as well as find service opportunities in the geographic and interest area of their choice.
The Points of Light Institute is an organization which was formed in 1990 after President George H.W. Bush’s inaugural address in which he expressed his vision for “a thousand points of light” in service to the country and community. The organization is nonpartisan as is Serve.gov and promotes volunteerism as well as acting as a source of volunteer opportunities.
No one could say it better than Margaret Mead:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
SNIPPETZ RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS MAKE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
"Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love..."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You see them in many places, from schools to hospitals to voting precincts to animal shelters and at natural disaster sites, and sometimes their presence is not so obvious. They run the gamut in age from children to seniors and come from all walks of life and all skills and education levels from clerks to engineers to presidents. They are volunteers. Millions of people are out there working in our communities for NO PAY. Who are they and why do they do it? Well, maybe it’s the fringe benefits.
A Country Built on Volunteerism
Volunteerism isn’t just the latest trend in the United States. Certainly our last several presidents have encouraged citizens to serve others to help make the country stronger. But the volunteering spirit has been around since the colonies were forming. Historians document the helping spirit that came along with settling in the new land from the early colonial days to the pioneers as they moved across the west. There was no such thing as hiring someone in town to build the barn. The neighbors helped. They also helped with farming the land, getting through difficult diseases and anything else that needed to be done in the community.
Other notable volunteer firsts:
- The first volunteer firehouse was started by Benjamin Franklin in 1736 and many fire departments continue to operate under this volunteer system today.
- The Revolutionary War brought together citizens to boycott against English products and raise money for the war.
- During the 1830’s churches became more involved in outreach programs to help the poor and hungry, particularly through their youth membership.
- The YMCA began in the mid 1800s on a college campus in Michigan.
- The American Red Cross started in 1881.
- United Way was founded in 1887, originally called Charity Organizations Society. It was founded by – and this is no joke – a rabbi, a priest and two ministers who wanted to work together to address Denver’s health and welfare issues.
It was the 20th century that saw the real boon in altruistic activity beyond churches and neighbors.
- By 1910 the Rotary Club was founded and by 1920 both the Lions and Kiwanis clubs were working within their communities.
- The Great Depression brought soup kitchens to feed the hungry.
- During the 1930s the Conservation Corp planted 3 million trees with the help of President Roosevelt.
- During World War II, volunteerism was pervasive in helping servicemen and women and their families left back home.
- In the 1960s, volunteerism took on a more activist role. The era was about more than peace, love and rock and roll; people were working against poverty, violence and inequality. Volunteerism was more of a movement against the status quo.
Twenty-first century volunteerism has many faces – from good old fashioned helping and working in the community to activism for causes such as the environment, animal rights and equal rights for everyone no matter race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Some Stats
The numbers are astounding. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of September 2009, 63.4 million or a whopping 26.8 percent of the population volunteered at least once for or through an organization during the prior 12-month period.
• Women volunteer more than men across all educational levels and age groups. Just over 29 percent of women volunteer versus 23.3 percent of men.
• The most likely age of volunteers is between 35 and 54. The rates are lowest at 18.8 percent in the early 20s group as well as those age 65 and older.
• Married folks volunteer more than unmarried – 32.3 percent versus 20.6 percent respectively. And parents with children under the age of 18 volunteered at the rate of 34.4 percent versus 23.9 percent for the married without children group.
• Those with higher levels of education volunteered more than those less educated, dispelling a common myth that volunteers are uneducated women or the neighborhood busybodies.
• More employed people volunteered than unemployed – 29.7 percent as compared to 22.9 percent.
What Do They Do?
More from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
• Older volunteers as well as less educated ones tend to volunteer for religious organizations.
• Those with a higher level of education tend to volunteer for sports, hobby, cultural or arts organizations.
• Not surprisingly, parents tend to volunteer for schools or scouting groups whereas those without children tend to volunteer for health organizations such as hospitals or social community organizations.
• Volunteer activities mostly center around fundraising, as well as food-related activities that involve collecting, preparing, distributing or serving. Men most likely volunteer for general labor, coaching or refereeing in sports activities as well as providing management assistance. Women’s activities also involve fundraising, activities involving food, and tutoring or teaching.
Who Seeks Out Whom?
About 44 percent of volunteers were asked to help whereas about 41 percent sought out volunteer opportunities on their own.
Now For The Fringe Benefits
Volunteering provides significant health benefits:
• Longer lifespan
• Less depression
• Better functional abilities
Older persons tend to experience more of the health benefits than younger volunteers, possibly because volunteering is a way to stay more active, which in turn increases life expectancy.
The nontangible benefits:
• Stronger connections with others
• Strengthening communities in which we live
• Improving and changing the lives of others
• Improving and changing the life of the volunteer
• A sense of pride and satisfaction
Benefits From the Mouse
Need a little incentive? In order to entice a million people to volunteer one day of service at any time over this year, Disney is offering a free day at a Disney Park as a reward. Not just a stroke of marketing genius, the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program is a huge success and has already enticed 600,000 to sign up for the program as of Feb. 15.
The caveat is that the service must be performed for a Disney approved organization or activity. Some examples are Habitat for Humanity, animal shelters, Destination ImagiNation and hundreds more. Children are eligible if accompanied by a parent for their volunteer service, so the entire family can earn a free day. To register and find opportunities in a geographic area of your choice, visit their Web site at www.disneyparks.com. But hurry, the offer expires once the numbers hit 1 million or Dec. 15, 2010, whichever is sooner.
Got an Hour?
The benefits are there but where to start. Here are some ideas:
• Schools, schools, schools. Schools have always needed volunteers, but with massive budget cuts, they need even more help. And, stronger, healthier schools increase property values for everyone. Another fringe benefit.
• Libraries and the arts – facilities that always need volunteers and provide much for the community in the way of services and more of those fringe benefits.
• Hospitals and blood banks
• Animal shelters
• Food banks
• Homeless shelters
Still Looking?
There are numerous Web sites that offer information about volunteer opportunities. One developed by President Obama and the First Lady in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service is United We Serve. Individuals and organizations can register their need for volunteers on the Web site at www.serve.gov, as well as find service opportunities in the geographic and interest area of their choice.
The Points of Light Institute is an organization which was formed in 1990 after President George H.W. Bush’s inaugural address in which he expressed his vision for “a thousand points of light” in service to the country and community. The organization is nonpartisan as is Serve.gov and promotes volunteerism as well as acting as a source of volunteer opportunities.
No one could say it better than Margaret Mead:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Issue 433
SNIPPETZ HAS GOT ATTITUDE!
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
-Hugh Downs
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade; don’t worry, be happy; the power of positive thinking…we’ve heard it time and time again. Not only is a positive attitude healthy on many levels, but most of us want to be around the optimistic and cheerful person. As Winston Churchill said, “For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”
Meet the Optimist
The optimist believes that the glass is always half full. They think they can, they think they can, just like the little train chugging up that hill in the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could.” They never give up. Optimists believe they are in control of their destiny. They attribute positive events in their lives as happening because of their own abilities and actions; negative events are attributed to something else. Once positive things happen in an optimist’s life, they naturally believe that more positive events will take place.
Meet the Pessimist
The glass is always half empty for the pessimist. They believe any negative events are their own fault and blame themselves for everything that goes wrong. They tend to be black and white thinkers with no middle ground. More and more negative events will likely happen and they anticipate the worst. Anything positive that happens to the pessimist is seen as happenstance and not likely to come their way again.
Should Be Obvious, But…
Optimists just have it better. They have
• Longer life spans
• Fewer illnesses
• Career success
• Less depression
• Fewer common colds
• Better coping skills
• Less stress
• Less signs of aging
A positive attitude in the workplace is better for everyone. Employees feel less stressed; there is improved teamwork, better decision-making, better leaders, fewer sick days, higher productivity and improved sales.
Laugh and the World Laughs With You
Laughter is contagious and one way to bring about a more positive attitude.
It’s simple biology: laughter increases the body’s production of endorphins (feel good hormones), neurotransmitters and antibody-producing cells. It also increases the effectiveness of disease-fighting T cells which makes for a stronger immune system. Laughter reduces the stress hormone cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine that can wreak havoc on good heath.
Laughter is a mini workout for the shoulders, muscles and heart.
Laugh and Lose Weight?
It’s true and there is an emerging industry to support this. There are laughter clubs, trained laugh leaders, laugher CDs and an entire exercise movement called “laughtersizing.” It’s possible that some day dieters around the world will pop in a laughter CD instead of raiding the refrigerator. It makes sense for emotional eaters. If you experience an emotional high from laughter, you won’t need it from chocolate.
“The Secret” Frenzy
Author Rhonda Byrne claimed to know the secret of wealth, health and happiness and released a film and a self-help book in 2006 that seemed to take the world by positive storm. “The Secret” is simply that one’s positive and focused thinking can bring about life-changing events. The popularity of the book soared to Byrne’s expectations (of course) after Oprah Winfrey featured the book on her show twice.
The Secret is not without its critics. Some say that Bryne’s and other books like hers promote a blame-the-victim mentality: If only I could think more positive, my cancer would go away.
Many physicians will tell stories of patients whose cancer DID go away unexpectedly. Can a positive attitude help? Experts say it can’t hurt.
Put on a Happy Face
Body language says a lot about attitudes. Someone who walks around frowning with slumped shoulders, keeps their head down and avoids eye contact clearly appears unhappy and/or depressed. On the other hand, meet someone who walks with their head up, makes eye contact, has a pleasant facial expression, upright posture and a spring in their step, and we think they are happy and exuding confidence.
If not convinced, try on those two personas and see how you feel after a few minutes. Your attitude will likely begin match your body language. The message is that body language messages sent to others can also be internalized to affect attitude.
Put on a happy face and positive posture and before you know it – positive attitude!
According to Albert Mehrabian, professor emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, body language plays a key role in attitude. He calls it the “7%-38%-55% Rule.” Essentially, he is saying there are three elements in communication – words, tone of voice and body language – elements that impact how we feel about the person communicating. Mehrabian says that 7 percent of communication is in the actual words said, 38 percent is in the tone of the voice and 55 percent comes from body language. The problem is when these elements don’t match up or support one another. When the tone of voice and body language doesn’t match the words being said, people will tend to believe the tone and body language more than the words. Mehrabian cautions that this theory only works when a person is communicating their thoughts or feelings.
For example:
Words: Sure, I’d be very happy to do that for you.
Tone of voice: Monotone or sarcastic
Body language: Crossed arms, rolled eyes
LET'S GET POSITIVE!
A pessimistic attitude does not have to be a cross to bear. Positive change can happen no matter how we are genetically predisposed. The benefits from making the effort toward becoming an optimist are substantial.
Eliminate the negatives…
• Stop watching the evening news
• Don’t read the newspaper
• Avoid negative people
• Be aware of negative self-talk – “I can’t do that,” “That won’t work,” “I’m never going to learn this”
Accentuate the positives…
• Seek out positive people to associate with
• Read books about people you admire
• Change your body language – smile and walk tall
• Laugh, even if you have to force it
• Change negative self-talk into positive self-talk – “I can make it work,” “Maybe I’ll learn something new,” Let’s try this again”
• Exercise and practice healthy eating habits
• Do something creative – cook a gourmet meal, compose poetry, paint
• Play with a child
Positive Reads
There’s a million of them, but here are a few:
• Love, Medicine & Miracles, Bernie Siegel (surgeon, author and motivational speaker)
• Peace, Love & Healing, Bernie Siegel
• The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living, Norman Vincent Peale
• Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection, Scott Adams
• Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession, Elwood Chapman, Wil McKnight
• The Power of a Positive Attitude: Discovering the Key to Success, Roger Fritz
• Positive Words, Powerful Results, Hal Urban
• Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, Napoleon Hill and W. Stone
• A Kick in the Attitude: An Energizing Approach to Recharge Your Team, Work, and Life, Sam Glenn
WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE
Songs with a positive spin…
You’re Only Human, Billy Joel
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
Only the Strong Survive, Jerry Butler
Is That All There Is? Peggy Lee
A Little Help From My Friends, The Beatles
Don’t Worry Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
Feel Good Movies
• Toy Story
• Dead Poets Society
• The Polar Express
• Jerry Maguire
• Mr. Holland’s Opus
• City Slickers
• Field of Dreams
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Pursuit of Happyness
SNIPPETZ HAS GOT ATTITUDE!
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
-Hugh Downs
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade; don’t worry, be happy; the power of positive thinking…we’ve heard it time and time again. Not only is a positive attitude healthy on many levels, but most of us want to be around the optimistic and cheerful person. As Winston Churchill said, “For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”
Meet the Optimist
The optimist believes that the glass is always half full. They think they can, they think they can, just like the little train chugging up that hill in the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could.” They never give up. Optimists believe they are in control of their destiny. They attribute positive events in their lives as happening because of their own abilities and actions; negative events are attributed to something else. Once positive things happen in an optimist’s life, they naturally believe that more positive events will take place.
Meet the Pessimist
The glass is always half empty for the pessimist. They believe any negative events are their own fault and blame themselves for everything that goes wrong. They tend to be black and white thinkers with no middle ground. More and more negative events will likely happen and they anticipate the worst. Anything positive that happens to the pessimist is seen as happenstance and not likely to come their way again.
Should Be Obvious, But…
Optimists just have it better. They have
• Longer life spans
• Fewer illnesses
• Career success
• Less depression
• Fewer common colds
• Better coping skills
• Less stress
• Less signs of aging
A positive attitude in the workplace is better for everyone. Employees feel less stressed; there is improved teamwork, better decision-making, better leaders, fewer sick days, higher productivity and improved sales.
Laugh and the World Laughs With You
Laughter is contagious and one way to bring about a more positive attitude.
It’s simple biology: laughter increases the body’s production of endorphins (feel good hormones), neurotransmitters and antibody-producing cells. It also increases the effectiveness of disease-fighting T cells which makes for a stronger immune system. Laughter reduces the stress hormone cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine that can wreak havoc on good heath.
Laughter is a mini workout for the shoulders, muscles and heart.
Laugh and Lose Weight?
It’s true and there is an emerging industry to support this. There are laughter clubs, trained laugh leaders, laugher CDs and an entire exercise movement called “laughtersizing.” It’s possible that some day dieters around the world will pop in a laughter CD instead of raiding the refrigerator. It makes sense for emotional eaters. If you experience an emotional high from laughter, you won’t need it from chocolate.
“The Secret” Frenzy
Author Rhonda Byrne claimed to know the secret of wealth, health and happiness and released a film and a self-help book in 2006 that seemed to take the world by positive storm. “The Secret” is simply that one’s positive and focused thinking can bring about life-changing events. The popularity of the book soared to Byrne’s expectations (of course) after Oprah Winfrey featured the book on her show twice.
The Secret is not without its critics. Some say that Bryne’s and other books like hers promote a blame-the-victim mentality: If only I could think more positive, my cancer would go away.
Many physicians will tell stories of patients whose cancer DID go away unexpectedly. Can a positive attitude help? Experts say it can’t hurt.
Put on a Happy Face
Body language says a lot about attitudes. Someone who walks around frowning with slumped shoulders, keeps their head down and avoids eye contact clearly appears unhappy and/or depressed. On the other hand, meet someone who walks with their head up, makes eye contact, has a pleasant facial expression, upright posture and a spring in their step, and we think they are happy and exuding confidence.
If not convinced, try on those two personas and see how you feel after a few minutes. Your attitude will likely begin match your body language. The message is that body language messages sent to others can also be internalized to affect attitude.
Put on a happy face and positive posture and before you know it – positive attitude!
According to Albert Mehrabian, professor emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, body language plays a key role in attitude. He calls it the “7%-38%-55% Rule.” Essentially, he is saying there are three elements in communication – words, tone of voice and body language – elements that impact how we feel about the person communicating. Mehrabian says that 7 percent of communication is in the actual words said, 38 percent is in the tone of the voice and 55 percent comes from body language. The problem is when these elements don’t match up or support one another. When the tone of voice and body language doesn’t match the words being said, people will tend to believe the tone and body language more than the words. Mehrabian cautions that this theory only works when a person is communicating their thoughts or feelings.
For example:
Words: Sure, I’d be very happy to do that for you.
Tone of voice: Monotone or sarcastic
Body language: Crossed arms, rolled eyes
LET'S GET POSITIVE!
A pessimistic attitude does not have to be a cross to bear. Positive change can happen no matter how we are genetically predisposed. The benefits from making the effort toward becoming an optimist are substantial.
Eliminate the negatives…
• Stop watching the evening news
• Don’t read the newspaper
• Avoid negative people
• Be aware of negative self-talk – “I can’t do that,” “That won’t work,” “I’m never going to learn this”
Accentuate the positives…
• Seek out positive people to associate with
• Read books about people you admire
• Change your body language – smile and walk tall
• Laugh, even if you have to force it
• Change negative self-talk into positive self-talk – “I can make it work,” “Maybe I’ll learn something new,” Let’s try this again”
• Exercise and practice healthy eating habits
• Do something creative – cook a gourmet meal, compose poetry, paint
• Play with a child
Positive Reads
There’s a million of them, but here are a few:
• Love, Medicine & Miracles, Bernie Siegel (surgeon, author and motivational speaker)
• Peace, Love & Healing, Bernie Siegel
• The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living, Norman Vincent Peale
• Positive Attitude: A Dilbert Collection, Scott Adams
• Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession, Elwood Chapman, Wil McKnight
• The Power of a Positive Attitude: Discovering the Key to Success, Roger Fritz
• Positive Words, Powerful Results, Hal Urban
• Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, Napoleon Hill and W. Stone
• A Kick in the Attitude: An Energizing Approach to Recharge Your Team, Work, and Life, Sam Glenn
WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE
Songs with a positive spin…
You’re Only Human, Billy Joel
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
Only the Strong Survive, Jerry Butler
Is That All There Is? Peggy Lee
A Little Help From My Friends, The Beatles
Don’t Worry Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
Feel Good Movies
• Toy Story
• Dead Poets Society
• The Polar Express
• Jerry Maguire
• Mr. Holland’s Opus
• City Slickers
• Field of Dreams
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Pursuit of Happyness
Issue 432
SNIPPETZ HEARTILY SUPPORTS HEART MONTH
"Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every year on Feb. 14, people worldwide celebrate relationships by giving from the heart and in the form of a heart. From hearts made of chocolate to gold heart-shaped pendants, the heart is the reigning insignia of love.
Where from art thou, dear heart
The origin of the heart as the symbol of love crosses continents and ideologies.
In the Bible, there are references denoting emotions in relation to the heart. Exodus 5 through 12, for example: “hardening Pharaoh’s heart” and Genesis 6:5 “thoughts of evil men in their hearts.” In the Book of Jeremiah 17:9, it is written that the Lord is the judge who “tries” the human heart.
Aristotle is among early philosophers and scientists who considered the heart as the center of thought, reason or emotion, valuing the heart over the brain.
Heart Taking Shape
Many believe the heart icon has been around since man, but they say it wasn’t always shaped as we know it today. Some say the shape looked more like a cow’s heart or a combination of female and male organs and simply evolved over time.
Others argue that the heart design was taken from a seed pod. The silphium seed is a type of fennel that was distinctly heart shaped. The Greeks believed the plant was a gift from Apollo, the god of medicine and healing, light and truth. Because it was used to heal, the plant was harvested to extinction but the “love trademark” lived on. It is believed that the seed became the symbol of love because siliphium was also the most effective natural birth control medicine during that period. Plus, the heart icon was formed by the back and wings of a dove, which was associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
More Than love
Besides directing our emotions and passions, the heart is a badge well worn in medicine.
The heart is the force behind how long we’ll live to enjoy those love-wrapped relationships.
In keeping with the Valentine spirit, in 1963, the American Heart Association succeeded in their efforts to persuade Congress to establish February as American Heart Month. As Americans wore their hearts on their sleeves in honor of Valentine’s Day, they would also be aware of their own heart and how to care for it. After all, if you haven’t got a heart … you’re not much good to those loved ones, said the Tin Man (the Wizard of Oz).
Heart-related diseases remain the country’s No. 1 killer. The latest statistics from the American Heart Association: (for 2006 – last recorded)
The good news is that from 1996 to 2006 the death rate from coronary heart disease declined by 36.4 percent.
Go Red
Perhaps the good news is related to the fact that “heart healthy” information has been more available in the past couple of decades. To corroborate the honing in on heart health, heart disease has traditionally been associated with men, for the most part. In the past few years, however, organizations like Women Heart: The National Association for Women with Heart Disease and Go Red, a program sponsored by the AHA, have raised awareness about heart disease among women, especially with personal stories of women who never thought they would have a heart attack.
Go Red has also jumped on the Valentine month bandwagon by setting aside a day in February to publicly acknowledge heart disease in women. Each year on a designated day in February, women throughout the country are encouraged to wear red – the obvious color of Valentine’s Day. This year, the “celebration” of women who have survived heart disease takes place Feb. 5. In many cities around the country, Go Red and business sponsors host luncheons, where heart healthy food is provided, along with women sharing their heartfelt stories about survival.
Food For Thought
Heart issues have become food for thought in this era of obesity and stressful lifestyles. And “food for heart” has been a solid focus in promoting heart healthy living by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control.
Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day used to be the guideline for maintaining a healthy heart. But now the CDC and other organizations are touting seven to 13 cups of produce per day as the best way to achieve the health benefits associated with fruits and vegetables. If you’re disheartened by the thought of fixing all those veggies and trying to eat all those fruits.
Here are some examples of how to get your heart healthy minimum when time is a factor.
Hearts A’Flutter
Keeping the heart healthy includes not only taking care of the physicality of the heart but also the emotional connection related to heart. Getting to the heart of the matter are songsters, writers, poets and philosophers.
Songs of the heart
Singers and songwriters have used “heart” to inspire romance in music.
A sampling of the hundreds of titles with heart:
Words With Heart
The English language is “heart heavy” with words and phrases related to “heart.”
The online Phrase Finder lists words associated with body parts, from A to Z. The heart tops the organs used in representing expressions of all kinds.
Then there are quotes about the heart.
Movies With heart
Books With Heart
There are plenty of books out there about how to have a healthy heart in the physical sense, but there are equally as many disseminating encouraging words in the realm of heartache.
“Journey of the Heart” by John Welwood is a self-help guide to understanding the “desires and directions of the human heart.” Welwood gives advice in a poetic kind of style to couples on how to grow in relationships and as individuals.
Dr. Phil McGraw’s wife, Robin, wrote a book about how to live with passion and purpose. “Inside my Heart” made the New York Times bestseller list.
So, take heart this Valentine’s Day. As Dolly Parton (and others) sang, “Put a little love in your heart” (and love your heart with a lot of fruits and veggies).
SNIPPETZ HEARTILY SUPPORTS HEART MONTH
"Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every year on Feb. 14, people worldwide celebrate relationships by giving from the heart and in the form of a heart. From hearts made of chocolate to gold heart-shaped pendants, the heart is the reigning insignia of love.
Where from art thou, dear heart
The origin of the heart as the symbol of love crosses continents and ideologies.
In the Bible, there are references denoting emotions in relation to the heart. Exodus 5 through 12, for example: “hardening Pharaoh’s heart” and Genesis 6:5 “thoughts of evil men in their hearts.” In the Book of Jeremiah 17:9, it is written that the Lord is the judge who “tries” the human heart.
Aristotle is among early philosophers and scientists who considered the heart as the center of thought, reason or emotion, valuing the heart over the brain.
Heart Taking Shape
Many believe the heart icon has been around since man, but they say it wasn’t always shaped as we know it today. Some say the shape looked more like a cow’s heart or a combination of female and male organs and simply evolved over time.
Others argue that the heart design was taken from a seed pod. The silphium seed is a type of fennel that was distinctly heart shaped. The Greeks believed the plant was a gift from Apollo, the god of medicine and healing, light and truth. Because it was used to heal, the plant was harvested to extinction but the “love trademark” lived on. It is believed that the seed became the symbol of love because siliphium was also the most effective natural birth control medicine during that period. Plus, the heart icon was formed by the back and wings of a dove, which was associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
More Than love
Besides directing our emotions and passions, the heart is a badge well worn in medicine.
The heart is the force behind how long we’ll live to enjoy those love-wrapped relationships.
In keeping with the Valentine spirit, in 1963, the American Heart Association succeeded in their efforts to persuade Congress to establish February as American Heart Month. As Americans wore their hearts on their sleeves in honor of Valentine’s Day, they would also be aware of their own heart and how to care for it. After all, if you haven’t got a heart … you’re not much good to those loved ones, said the Tin Man (the Wizard of Oz).
Heart-related diseases remain the country’s No. 1 killer. The latest statistics from the American Heart Association: (for 2006 – last recorded)
- More than 81 million people in the U.S. had some form of cardiovascular disease.
- More than 73 million had high blood pressure.
- Heart disease claimed 831,272 lives in 2006 – 34.3 percent of all deaths.
- More than 151,000 Americans killed by heart disease were under age 65.
- Coronary heart disease (the fatty buildup of plaque) caused 425,425 deaths in 2006 and continues to be the leading single cause of death in the U.S. today.
The good news is that from 1996 to 2006 the death rate from coronary heart disease declined by 36.4 percent.
Go Red
Perhaps the good news is related to the fact that “heart healthy” information has been more available in the past couple of decades. To corroborate the honing in on heart health, heart disease has traditionally been associated with men, for the most part. In the past few years, however, organizations like Women Heart: The National Association for Women with Heart Disease and Go Red, a program sponsored by the AHA, have raised awareness about heart disease among women, especially with personal stories of women who never thought they would have a heart attack.
Go Red has also jumped on the Valentine month bandwagon by setting aside a day in February to publicly acknowledge heart disease in women. Each year on a designated day in February, women throughout the country are encouraged to wear red – the obvious color of Valentine’s Day. This year, the “celebration” of women who have survived heart disease takes place Feb. 5. In many cities around the country, Go Red and business sponsors host luncheons, where heart healthy food is provided, along with women sharing their heartfelt stories about survival.
Food For Thought
Heart issues have become food for thought in this era of obesity and stressful lifestyles. And “food for heart” has been a solid focus in promoting heart healthy living by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control.
Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day used to be the guideline for maintaining a healthy heart. But now the CDC and other organizations are touting seven to 13 cups of produce per day as the best way to achieve the health benefits associated with fruits and vegetables. If you’re disheartened by the thought of fixing all those veggies and trying to eat all those fruits.
Here are some examples of how to get your heart healthy minimum when time is a factor.
- Keep frozen fruits and veggies on hand to put in soups, casseroles, smoothies, etc.
- Buy pre-washed veggies – they may be more expensive but good for someone on the go.
- Each vegetarian once a week – stir fry is a great way to get those veggies.
- Choose sweet potatoes over the white ones for more potassium and beta carotene.
- Eat a salad of fruits and/or veggies each night – easy on the high-fat dressings.
- Grill fruits and veggies for a different taste.
- Add chopped veggies to muffins, stews, lasagna, and meatloaf – casseroles in general.
- Keep cutup veggies in the refrigerator for quick snacks.
- Add fruit to yogurt, pancakes or cereal.
- Go for smoothies with lots of fruit.
- Freeze grapes for a treat – almost like candy
Hearts A’Flutter
Keeping the heart healthy includes not only taking care of the physicality of the heart but also the emotional connection related to heart. Getting to the heart of the matter are songsters, writers, poets and philosophers.
Songs of the heart
Singers and songwriters have used “heart” to inspire romance in music.
A sampling of the hundreds of titles with heart:
- “Young at Heart” – Frank Sinatra
- “Achy Breaky Heart” – Billy Ray Cyrus
- “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler
- “Where is your Heart” – Kelly Clarkson
- “How can you Mend a Broken Heart” – Bee Gees
- “Hungry Heart” – Bruce Springsteen
- “Your Cheatin’ Heart” – Patsy Cline
- “Hungry Heart” – Bruce Springsteen
- “Stop Draggin’ my Heart Around” – Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
- “Every Beat of My Heart” – Rod Stewart
Words With Heart
The English language is “heart heavy” with words and phrases related to “heart.”
- Heartsick
- Heartbroken
- Heartless
- Heartwarming
- Hard-hearted
- Soft-hearted
- Light-hearted
- Broken hearted
- Lion hearted
The online Phrase Finder lists words associated with body parts, from A to Z. The heart tops the organs used in representing expressions of all kinds.
- Healthy mind, healthy body
- A man after my own heart
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder
- Be still my heart
- Change of heart
- Cold hands warm heart
- To his heart’s content
- In a heartbeat
Then there are quotes about the heart.
- • A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Mother Teresa
- • One learns about people through the heart, not the eyes or intellect. Mark Twain
- • If your heart is a volcano, how do you expect flowers to bloom? Kahlil Gibran
- • Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts. Albert Einstein
- • A loving heart is the truest wisdom. Charles Dickens
Movies With heart
- Wild at Heart
- Where the Heart is
- A Mighty Heart
- American Heart
- Places in the Heart
- One from the Heart
- The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Books With Heart
There are plenty of books out there about how to have a healthy heart in the physical sense, but there are equally as many disseminating encouraging words in the realm of heartache.
“Journey of the Heart” by John Welwood is a self-help guide to understanding the “desires and directions of the human heart.” Welwood gives advice in a poetic kind of style to couples on how to grow in relationships and as individuals.
Dr. Phil McGraw’s wife, Robin, wrote a book about how to live with passion and purpose. “Inside my Heart” made the New York Times bestseller list.
So, take heart this Valentine’s Day. As Dolly Parton (and others) sang, “Put a little love in your heart” (and love your heart with a lot of fruits and veggies).
Issue 431
SNIPPETZ PONDERS THE INFLUENCE OF PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL
"Spring is nature's way of saying ‘let's party!"
~Robin Williams
By February, winter has worn out its welcome in many parts of the country. Cold weather dwellers are thinking green grass, budding trees, singing birds and flowering plants as they anxiously await a calculated (sort of) sign that spring is on its way – that sign is none other than Punxsutawney Phil – America’s beloved groundhog.
Groundhog Day, strictly akin to North America, is an intriguing tradition of predicting weather through the eyes of a groundhog. Every year on Feb. 2, the seemingly calendar-minded groundhog comes out of its winter burrow to look for its shadow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it’s a sign that winter will linger for another six weeks. If there is no shadow, the groundhog foretells that spring is around the corner. Based on the groundhog’s findings, it either goes back into its burrow to wait out winter’s last stand or stays above ground to enjoy the induction of spring.
The Hedgehog Held The First Crystal Ball
The tradition of Groundhog Day was born in the 18th century out of the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, a commemoration of the Virgin Mary’s purity. Candles used for sacred purposes were blessed on that day, which is Feb. 2, the same day as the groundhog appearance. The Europeans believed that sunshine on the day of Candlemas meant that winter would stick around another six weeks.
The Romans brought the idea of the Candlemas weather forecast to the Germans, who introduced the hedgehog. The Germans decided that if the sun appeared on Candlemas, the hedgehog would see its shadow – another prediction of six more weeks of winter. And so it went.
German settlers brought the tradition to America and adopted the groundhog as the prognosticator of the weather. Thus, the groundhog got its own day.
Just What Is A Groundhog?
The groundhog or woodchuck lives in various parts of North America but is more common in the East, from Alabama and Georgia to Quebec and Ontario. In the West, groundhogs can be found in Northwest Territories and northward to Alaska.
A member of the rodent family, the groundhog is related to squirrels, prairie dogs and chipmunks. Among rodents, the groundhog is a marmot and close cousin of the whistler marmot, which lives in the mountains of western North America.
The groundhog is a stocky mammal with a flat head and bushy tail – 20 inches long and weighs from 12 to 15 lbs. The color of the fur ranges from a yellow shade to dark reddish brown. Because they burrow, their claws and legs are sturdy. They escape from enemies by diving into their burrows.
Groundhog Facts
• Groundhogs have 22 teeth.
• They each have their own burrow for hibernation, and the burrow has two doorways.
• Males emerge before the females each spring.
• Groundhogs lose up to 50 percent of their body weight during hibernation.
• They can swim and climb trees.
• A groundhog can whistle when it is in danger. They also whistle in the spring when they begin courting – maybe they think that’s dangerous, too.
• Insects don’t like groundhogs, and they are resistant to plagues.
• Groundhogs have been known to live 10 years, but the average lifespan is six to eight years.
• The groundhog is mainly vegetarian, with a taste for fresh green vegetation – plants, clover, alfalfa and garden vegetables.
Punxsutawney, Penn.
Punxsutawney, Penn., is home to the largest Groundhog Day celebration in the U.S. Up to 30,000 people have participated in the annual “holiday.”
Originally a Native American campsite, Punxsutawney is located in the hills of western Pennsylvania – about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The Native Americans, which included Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca or Iroquois tribes, named the area after an Indian name for its numerous sand flies. The name “town of ponkies” transitioned over the years to Punxsutawney.
Almost 7,000 people live in the town itself, with more than 10,000 in surrounding townships. Rev. David Barclay, who was among the first white settlers, came to the area in 1816 and is considered the founding father of the town.
The Germans, who brought the Groundhog tradition to America, had settled in the area. In the late 1800s, Clymer Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, a congressman and newspaper publisher, organized and advertised the first festival in Punxsutawney, Penn., to celebrate the groundhog and its penchant for predicting weather. The first Groundhog Day took place Feb. 2, 1887, and became an annual event.
Groundhog Day became nationally known as newspapers around the country picked up information about the tradition and fun-filled festival. It didn’t take long for the rest of the country to catch on. Groundhog Day advanced commercial ventures such as the movie, “Groundhog Day,” which put Punxsutawney on the map.
Punxsutawney Phil
Named after King Phillip, Punxsutawney Phil is the famed resident groundhog of the town that bears his name. On Groundhog Day, he is the king.
Every year on Feb. 2, Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, about 2 miles east of Punxsutawney by his handlers, who care for him year round. The elite group of handlers, who call themselves the Inner Circle, plan the ceremony and make sure that Phil is protected from the paparazzi.
Phil is placed in a temporary burrow in Gobbler’s Knob before dawn and then rousted out for his annual forecast, which is often broadcast nationwide.
After being in the media spotlight, Phil is treated to a breakfast of nuts and apples. He invites others to chow down on a human menu of eggs and pancakes.
Phil lives year round in the town library with his wife, Phyllis. Phil has been predicting the seasonal weather situation for 120 years. The Inner Circle claims that Phil is the original Phil – his lifetime has been extended by a magical “elixir of life” drink he consumes every Feb. 2 – the special potion adds seven years to his life each year that he consumes it.
Phil also has his own club – the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. There are 50 chapters throughout the U.S., from California to Florida, with names like Traveling Marmots to Phil’s Dragon Shadows.
Phil’s influence has been widespread.
• During prohibition times, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he didn’t get a drink.
• In 1981, Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of American hostages in Iran.
• In 1986, Phil visited President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C.
• In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie, “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. Phil starred in the movie as well.
• In 1995, Phil was on the Oprah Winfrey show.
• In 2001, Phil toured New York City and appeared on “Regis Philbin Live,” the CBS Early Show and CNN. The annual prediction was broadcast live from Times Square.
• In 2003, Gov. Edward Rendell was the first governor of Pennsylvania to participate in the annual trek to Gobbler’s Knob with the Inner Circle.
• Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and sported one of the Steelers famous “terrible towels” in 2009 to celebrate the Super Bowl victory.
The Punxsutawney Party
Although many other cities celebrate Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney is the original and the largest. However, Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney has turned into Groundhog Days. The festivities are as varied as a groundhog – and seemingly endless.
Jan. 30 marks the first day of celebration. An art show, a wine dinner and a concert kick off this year’s festivities. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, there’s a beer dinner, a chili and wing cook off, more concerts, dances, a magic show, a puppet show, a family picnic, a banquet, a comedy club night, a pancake breakfast, the crowning of Miss Groundhog Day, an Oreo stacking contest and gobs more. The actual weather prediction begins before dawn on Feb. 2.
Besides Pennsylvania, a myriad of celebrations take place each year all over the U.S. and Canada as well. Groundhog Day is popular in Canada, and the resident groundhog weather forecaster there is Wiarton Willy. He also is privy to the same fanfare.
It’s been a rather cold winter across the country, so it might be a blessing if Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow. Then again, the naysayer might remind us that the official start of spring is actually March 21, regardless of Phil’s prediction. But Phil doesn’t care. Only his shadow knows.
SNIPPETZ PONDERS THE INFLUENCE OF PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL
"Spring is nature's way of saying ‘let's party!"
~Robin Williams
By February, winter has worn out its welcome in many parts of the country. Cold weather dwellers are thinking green grass, budding trees, singing birds and flowering plants as they anxiously await a calculated (sort of) sign that spring is on its way – that sign is none other than Punxsutawney Phil – America’s beloved groundhog.
Groundhog Day, strictly akin to North America, is an intriguing tradition of predicting weather through the eyes of a groundhog. Every year on Feb. 2, the seemingly calendar-minded groundhog comes out of its winter burrow to look for its shadow. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it’s a sign that winter will linger for another six weeks. If there is no shadow, the groundhog foretells that spring is around the corner. Based on the groundhog’s findings, it either goes back into its burrow to wait out winter’s last stand or stays above ground to enjoy the induction of spring.
The Hedgehog Held The First Crystal Ball
The tradition of Groundhog Day was born in the 18th century out of the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, a commemoration of the Virgin Mary’s purity. Candles used for sacred purposes were blessed on that day, which is Feb. 2, the same day as the groundhog appearance. The Europeans believed that sunshine on the day of Candlemas meant that winter would stick around another six weeks.
The Romans brought the idea of the Candlemas weather forecast to the Germans, who introduced the hedgehog. The Germans decided that if the sun appeared on Candlemas, the hedgehog would see its shadow – another prediction of six more weeks of winter. And so it went.
German settlers brought the tradition to America and adopted the groundhog as the prognosticator of the weather. Thus, the groundhog got its own day.
Just What Is A Groundhog?
The groundhog or woodchuck lives in various parts of North America but is more common in the East, from Alabama and Georgia to Quebec and Ontario. In the West, groundhogs can be found in Northwest Territories and northward to Alaska.
A member of the rodent family, the groundhog is related to squirrels, prairie dogs and chipmunks. Among rodents, the groundhog is a marmot and close cousin of the whistler marmot, which lives in the mountains of western North America.
The groundhog is a stocky mammal with a flat head and bushy tail – 20 inches long and weighs from 12 to 15 lbs. The color of the fur ranges from a yellow shade to dark reddish brown. Because they burrow, their claws and legs are sturdy. They escape from enemies by diving into their burrows.
Groundhog Facts
• Groundhogs have 22 teeth.
• They each have their own burrow for hibernation, and the burrow has two doorways.
• Males emerge before the females each spring.
• Groundhogs lose up to 50 percent of their body weight during hibernation.
• They can swim and climb trees.
• A groundhog can whistle when it is in danger. They also whistle in the spring when they begin courting – maybe they think that’s dangerous, too.
• Insects don’t like groundhogs, and they are resistant to plagues.
• Groundhogs have been known to live 10 years, but the average lifespan is six to eight years.
• The groundhog is mainly vegetarian, with a taste for fresh green vegetation – plants, clover, alfalfa and garden vegetables.
Punxsutawney, Penn.
Punxsutawney, Penn., is home to the largest Groundhog Day celebration in the U.S. Up to 30,000 people have participated in the annual “holiday.”
Originally a Native American campsite, Punxsutawney is located in the hills of western Pennsylvania – about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The Native Americans, which included Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca or Iroquois tribes, named the area after an Indian name for its numerous sand flies. The name “town of ponkies” transitioned over the years to Punxsutawney.
Almost 7,000 people live in the town itself, with more than 10,000 in surrounding townships. Rev. David Barclay, who was among the first white settlers, came to the area in 1816 and is considered the founding father of the town.
The Germans, who brought the Groundhog tradition to America, had settled in the area. In the late 1800s, Clymer Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, a congressman and newspaper publisher, organized and advertised the first festival in Punxsutawney, Penn., to celebrate the groundhog and its penchant for predicting weather. The first Groundhog Day took place Feb. 2, 1887, and became an annual event.
Groundhog Day became nationally known as newspapers around the country picked up information about the tradition and fun-filled festival. It didn’t take long for the rest of the country to catch on. Groundhog Day advanced commercial ventures such as the movie, “Groundhog Day,” which put Punxsutawney on the map.
Punxsutawney Phil
Named after King Phillip, Punxsutawney Phil is the famed resident groundhog of the town that bears his name. On Groundhog Day, he is the king.
Every year on Feb. 2, Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, about 2 miles east of Punxsutawney by his handlers, who care for him year round. The elite group of handlers, who call themselves the Inner Circle, plan the ceremony and make sure that Phil is protected from the paparazzi.
Phil is placed in a temporary burrow in Gobbler’s Knob before dawn and then rousted out for his annual forecast, which is often broadcast nationwide.
After being in the media spotlight, Phil is treated to a breakfast of nuts and apples. He invites others to chow down on a human menu of eggs and pancakes.
Phil lives year round in the town library with his wife, Phyllis. Phil has been predicting the seasonal weather situation for 120 years. The Inner Circle claims that Phil is the original Phil – his lifetime has been extended by a magical “elixir of life” drink he consumes every Feb. 2 – the special potion adds seven years to his life each year that he consumes it.
Phil also has his own club – the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. There are 50 chapters throughout the U.S., from California to Florida, with names like Traveling Marmots to Phil’s Dragon Shadows.
Phil’s influence has been widespread.
• During prohibition times, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he didn’t get a drink.
• In 1981, Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of American hostages in Iran.
• In 1986, Phil visited President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C.
• In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie, “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. Phil starred in the movie as well.
• In 1995, Phil was on the Oprah Winfrey show.
• In 2001, Phil toured New York City and appeared on “Regis Philbin Live,” the CBS Early Show and CNN. The annual prediction was broadcast live from Times Square.
• In 2003, Gov. Edward Rendell was the first governor of Pennsylvania to participate in the annual trek to Gobbler’s Knob with the Inner Circle.
• Phil is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and sported one of the Steelers famous “terrible towels” in 2009 to celebrate the Super Bowl victory.
The Punxsutawney Party
Although many other cities celebrate Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney is the original and the largest. However, Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney has turned into Groundhog Days. The festivities are as varied as a groundhog – and seemingly endless.
Jan. 30 marks the first day of celebration. An art show, a wine dinner and a concert kick off this year’s festivities. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, there’s a beer dinner, a chili and wing cook off, more concerts, dances, a magic show, a puppet show, a family picnic, a banquet, a comedy club night, a pancake breakfast, the crowning of Miss Groundhog Day, an Oreo stacking contest and gobs more. The actual weather prediction begins before dawn on Feb. 2.
Besides Pennsylvania, a myriad of celebrations take place each year all over the U.S. and Canada as well. Groundhog Day is popular in Canada, and the resident groundhog weather forecaster there is Wiarton Willy. He also is privy to the same fanfare.
It’s been a rather cold winter across the country, so it might be a blessing if Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow. Then again, the naysayer might remind us that the official start of spring is actually March 21, regardless of Phil’s prediction. But Phil doesn’t care. Only his shadow knows.
Issue 430
SNIPPETZ SINGS ABOUT THE GRAMOPHONES
"I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye? ... Just kidding."
- Vince Gill, accepting the award for best country album from Ringo Starr.
The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead: Which band has won the most Grammy Awards? None of the above. It’s U2, with a total of 22 Grammys. The Beatles won 29 Grammy Awards, but some were for individual performances. The Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead have won Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Grammy Awards as well.
The world will soon find out the big winners of this year’s Grammy Awards, which takes place Jan. 31 in Los Angeles when the Grammy Awards will celebrate 52 years.
Grammy History
The first-ever Grammy Awards were held May 4, 1959, in two different cities: Beverly Hills, Calif., and New York City. They were sponsored by both chapters of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, established in 1957.
The concept of the Grammy’s was launched two years prior to the awards show. In 1957, rock ‘n roll music had hit the airwaves, taking the country by storm. Songs like Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock,” the Everly Brothers’ “Wake up Little Suzie" and Buddy Holly’s "That'll be the Day" had changed the face of the music industry and captured the hearts and souls of the baby boomers. The post World War II generation became huge fans of rock ‘n roll, but some of their parents and grandparents – those of the Frank Sinatra music era – were stunned and offended by the new music and the hip-swinging gyrations of Elvis and others. Some called rock ‘n roll “devil music.”
As a result of the rock ‘n roll backlash, the music industry formed the Record Award Society on May 28, 1957, in Hollywood, Calif. To preserve the integrity and culture of the music industry, the society initiated an award system for recording artists. Musicians, writers, producers and engineers would be the voting members of the society and choose their peers for the awards. The award – initially called the Gramophone – would honor artists in 28 categories.
Eventually, the society led to the formation of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; the first chapter chartered in June 1957. Founding members included Rosemary Clooney (George’s aunt), Nat King Cole (Natalie’s dad), Doris Day and Henry Mancini (one of his greatest hits – “Moon River”). In New York City, another chapter was added under the direction of Guy Lombardo.
Today, the Academy has 12 chapters and more than 16,000 members.
Henry Mancini, Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como and the Kingston Trio were among the first “Gramophone recipients” voted on by their peers. Music icon Frank Sinatra was nominated for record of the year and best vocal performance. He didn’t win that year, but took home the Grammy for best album cover design.
The Colorado Grammy
The trophies are created piece by piece, assembled and sent to Colorado for the finishing touches. John Billings, owner of Billings Artworks in Ridgeway, finishes the awards in gold plating. The trophies presented at the awards show are replicas – referred to as “stunt” trophies. Billings holds on to the real trophy until the winners are announced. He then engraves each trophy with the winner’s name and category and delivers them in person to the Academy, making the trek from Colorado to California.
The Big Winners
• Most Grammys in a lifetime: Sir Georg Solti, who conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 22 years. He personally won 31 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for consecutive albums: Pat Metheny and Pat Metheny Group won 17 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for solo artist male: Stevie Wonder has won 28 Grammys. Quincy Jones has won 27 Grammys.
• Notables: Frank Sinatra, “Old Blue Eyes, won 10 Grammy Awards. Elton John has won five.
• Most Grammy Awards for solo artist female: Alison Krauss has won 20 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for best R&B vocal performance female: Have a little respect for Aretha Franklin who won 11 Grammys.
• The youngest Grammy winner is LeAnn Rimes, who won at age 14 in the category of best new artist.
• Michael Jackson and Carlos Santana are tied in the category of most Grammys won in a single award show. In 1984, Jackson was nominated for 11 awards and won eight. In 2000, Santana tied Jackson’s record win.
• Lauryn Hill (1999), Alicia Keys (2002), Norah Jones (2003) and The Dixie Chicks (2007) all tie for the record number of wins by a female in one single Grammy night. They each won five Grammys.
Those who’ve had the most nominations but no wins: Alan Parsons and Joe Satriani have had 13 nominations each but zero trophies.
Some inarguably phenomenal musicians have never won a Grammy:
• Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, ABBA, the Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin, Diana Ross, Backstreet Boys, Queen
• Although Elvis Presley was the “king” of rock ‘n roll he never won a Grammy for the genre that made him a star. He won three Grammys for gospel music; and, in 1971, he attained the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The High Achievers of Music
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented each year to those who have made a significant contribution to the music industry throughout their recording careers.
Bing Crosby was the first winner in 1962. From Ella Fitzgerald to Willie Nelson, the list is comprised of the best songsters spanning five decades.
A sampling of winners from each decade:
Memorable Grammy Moments
We can usually count on something funny, weird, controversial or even lewd to take place at the Grammys. After all, some of the world’s most eclectic, creative, unique and gutsy individuals and groups sustain the music industry.
Jennifer Lopez wore a Versace green dress to the 2000 Grammy Awards that caused more than a few raised eyebrows and near heart attacks. The neckline of the dress was cut to the waist, baring enough to give the Grammys an R rating. The following year, Toni Braxton appeared at the Grammys in what Jon Stewart, the 2001 host, called “a white scarf.”
Grammy Snub and Dub
Sinead O’Connor was the only Grammy winner to refuse an award. In 1990, she won for best alternative music performance. However, she snubbed the Academy, citing the commercialization of the Grammy Awards.
In 1989, Milli Vanilli was stripped of the best new artist of 1989 award when it was discovered that the two-man band had never sang the songs on their album. Rumors had it the Grammy had been seized because they had lip-synched live. They did lip-synch – to the real voices behind their album.
The Grammy Museum
In celebration of the art of music and its legacies, the Grammy Museum opened in December 2008, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards.
The museum has 30,000 square feet and four floors featuring more than two dozen exhibits, highlighting the best of Grammy music – rock ‘n roll, country, jazz, hip hop – all of the genres that have graced the industry throughout its history.
The museum includes a sound stage with 200 seats, a roof top terrace for special events and private parties, and it provides educational and public programs that include films, lectures and performances.
Grammy Nominating
The process of achieving a Grammy begins when record companies and individuals submit nominations to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. More than 150 music experts from the industry review the nominations for eligibility and make certain the entries are placed in appropriate categories for official nomination. The reviewers may vote to nominate artists in the general field, which is Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist and no more than nine nominations in the 30 fields on the ballots. Only five artists are nominated for each category. Those nominees are determined by the most votes from the initial reviewers and then sent to Academy members, who choose the winners.
Since that first Grammy in 1959, many other music-related award shows have popped up. The MTV Music Video Awards, Country Music Association Awards and the American Music Awards rank in the top 10 of award shows for song artists. But the Grammys remain the crème de la crème of the music industry.
SNIPPETZ SINGS ABOUT THE GRAMOPHONES
"I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye? ... Just kidding."
- Vince Gill, accepting the award for best country album from Ringo Starr.
The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead: Which band has won the most Grammy Awards? None of the above. It’s U2, with a total of 22 Grammys. The Beatles won 29 Grammy Awards, but some were for individual performances. The Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead have won Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Grammy Awards as well.
The world will soon find out the big winners of this year’s Grammy Awards, which takes place Jan. 31 in Los Angeles when the Grammy Awards will celebrate 52 years.
Grammy History
The first-ever Grammy Awards were held May 4, 1959, in two different cities: Beverly Hills, Calif., and New York City. They were sponsored by both chapters of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, established in 1957.
The concept of the Grammy’s was launched two years prior to the awards show. In 1957, rock ‘n roll music had hit the airwaves, taking the country by storm. Songs like Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock,” the Everly Brothers’ “Wake up Little Suzie" and Buddy Holly’s "That'll be the Day" had changed the face of the music industry and captured the hearts and souls of the baby boomers. The post World War II generation became huge fans of rock ‘n roll, but some of their parents and grandparents – those of the Frank Sinatra music era – were stunned and offended by the new music and the hip-swinging gyrations of Elvis and others. Some called rock ‘n roll “devil music.”
As a result of the rock ‘n roll backlash, the music industry formed the Record Award Society on May 28, 1957, in Hollywood, Calif. To preserve the integrity and culture of the music industry, the society initiated an award system for recording artists. Musicians, writers, producers and engineers would be the voting members of the society and choose their peers for the awards. The award – initially called the Gramophone – would honor artists in 28 categories.
Eventually, the society led to the formation of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; the first chapter chartered in June 1957. Founding members included Rosemary Clooney (George’s aunt), Nat King Cole (Natalie’s dad), Doris Day and Henry Mancini (one of his greatest hits – “Moon River”). In New York City, another chapter was added under the direction of Guy Lombardo.
Today, the Academy has 12 chapters and more than 16,000 members.
Henry Mancini, Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como and the Kingston Trio were among the first “Gramophone recipients” voted on by their peers. Music icon Frank Sinatra was nominated for record of the year and best vocal performance. He didn’t win that year, but took home the Grammy for best album cover design.
The Colorado Grammy
The trophies are created piece by piece, assembled and sent to Colorado for the finishing touches. John Billings, owner of Billings Artworks in Ridgeway, finishes the awards in gold plating. The trophies presented at the awards show are replicas – referred to as “stunt” trophies. Billings holds on to the real trophy until the winners are announced. He then engraves each trophy with the winner’s name and category and delivers them in person to the Academy, making the trek from Colorado to California.
The Big Winners
• Most Grammys in a lifetime: Sir Georg Solti, who conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 22 years. He personally won 31 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for consecutive albums: Pat Metheny and Pat Metheny Group won 17 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for solo artist male: Stevie Wonder has won 28 Grammys. Quincy Jones has won 27 Grammys.
• Notables: Frank Sinatra, “Old Blue Eyes, won 10 Grammy Awards. Elton John has won five.
• Most Grammy Awards for solo artist female: Alison Krauss has won 20 Grammys.
• Most Grammy Awards for best R&B vocal performance female: Have a little respect for Aretha Franklin who won 11 Grammys.
• The youngest Grammy winner is LeAnn Rimes, who won at age 14 in the category of best new artist.
• Michael Jackson and Carlos Santana are tied in the category of most Grammys won in a single award show. In 1984, Jackson was nominated for 11 awards and won eight. In 2000, Santana tied Jackson’s record win.
• Lauryn Hill (1999), Alicia Keys (2002), Norah Jones (2003) and The Dixie Chicks (2007) all tie for the record number of wins by a female in one single Grammy night. They each won five Grammys.
Those who’ve had the most nominations but no wins: Alan Parsons and Joe Satriani have had 13 nominations each but zero trophies.
Some inarguably phenomenal musicians have never won a Grammy:
• Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, ABBA, the Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin, Diana Ross, Backstreet Boys, Queen
• Although Elvis Presley was the “king” of rock ‘n roll he never won a Grammy for the genre that made him a star. He won three Grammys for gospel music; and, in 1971, he attained the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The High Achievers of Music
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented each year to those who have made a significant contribution to the music industry throughout their recording careers.
Bing Crosby was the first winner in 1962. From Ella Fitzgerald to Willie Nelson, the list is comprised of the best songsters spanning five decades.
A sampling of winners from each decade:
- 1966: Duke Ellington
- 1972: Louis Armstrong, Mahilia Jackson
- 1984: Chuck Berry and Charlie Parker
- 1992: James Brown, John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters.
- 2008: Burt Bacharach, The Band, Cab Calloway, Doris Day, Itzhak Perlman, Max Roach, Earl Scruggs Joan Baez, The Who, Barbara Streisand, Patsy Cline, The Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye are also among the elite group who’ve been honored by this award.
Memorable Grammy Moments
We can usually count on something funny, weird, controversial or even lewd to take place at the Grammys. After all, some of the world’s most eclectic, creative, unique and gutsy individuals and groups sustain the music industry.
- In 1973, Helen Reddy won the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance for “I am Woman.” It was the decade of feminism. When Reddy accepted her award, she thanked God because “she makes everything possible.” Her use of “she” in reference to God caused a flood of complaints to the TV network.
- During the 1976 Grammys, Stevie Wonder was supposed to appear via satellite from Nigeria. As the network was having technical difficulties connecting with Stevie, host Andy Williams seriously and innocently asked Stevie, “Can you see us now?” Nervous laughter abound.
- At the 1998 Grammy Awards, a man from out of nowhere ran on stage as Bob Dylan performed. Dylan didn’t blink an eye – he kept up his performance while the shirtless man (with “soy bomb” painted on his chest) erratically danced on stage until security guards ended his “15 minutes of fame.”
- Before the Grammy Awards ceremony in 2001, the gay community had criticized rap artist Eminem, claiming his songs were filled with anti-gay lyrics. At the Grammys that year, in response to the criticism, Eminem performed on stage with Elton John. After the performance, Eminem and Elton shared a tender moment with a hug, and then Eminem turned to the audience and gave everyone “the finger.”
- In 2004, rapper 50 Cent went sour grapes when he aimlessly walked across the stage as Amy Lee of Evanescence accepted the award for best new artist. 50 Cent had been nominated as well and his uninvited presence on stage was in protest to his belief that rap music was not getting recognition.
Jennifer Lopez wore a Versace green dress to the 2000 Grammy Awards that caused more than a few raised eyebrows and near heart attacks. The neckline of the dress was cut to the waist, baring enough to give the Grammys an R rating. The following year, Toni Braxton appeared at the Grammys in what Jon Stewart, the 2001 host, called “a white scarf.”
Grammy Snub and Dub
Sinead O’Connor was the only Grammy winner to refuse an award. In 1990, she won for best alternative music performance. However, she snubbed the Academy, citing the commercialization of the Grammy Awards.
In 1989, Milli Vanilli was stripped of the best new artist of 1989 award when it was discovered that the two-man band had never sang the songs on their album. Rumors had it the Grammy had been seized because they had lip-synched live. They did lip-synch – to the real voices behind their album.
The Grammy Museum
In celebration of the art of music and its legacies, the Grammy Museum opened in December 2008, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards.
The museum has 30,000 square feet and four floors featuring more than two dozen exhibits, highlighting the best of Grammy music – rock ‘n roll, country, jazz, hip hop – all of the genres that have graced the industry throughout its history.
The museum includes a sound stage with 200 seats, a roof top terrace for special events and private parties, and it provides educational and public programs that include films, lectures and performances.
Grammy Nominating
The process of achieving a Grammy begins when record companies and individuals submit nominations to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. More than 150 music experts from the industry review the nominations for eligibility and make certain the entries are placed in appropriate categories for official nomination. The reviewers may vote to nominate artists in the general field, which is Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist and no more than nine nominations in the 30 fields on the ballots. Only five artists are nominated for each category. Those nominees are determined by the most votes from the initial reviewers and then sent to Academy members, who choose the winners.
Since that first Grammy in 1959, many other music-related award shows have popped up. The MTV Music Video Awards, Country Music Association Awards and the American Music Awards rank in the top 10 of award shows for song artists. But the Grammys remain the crème de la crème of the music industry.
Issue 429
SNIPPETZ MEETS UP WITH A BEAR OF VERY LITTLE BRAIN
"When you are a bear of very little brain, and think of things, you find sometimes that a thing which seemed very thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it."
- Winnie the Pooh
Like any good and simple story, the tales of “Winnie the Pooh,” first published by A. A. Milne in 1926, remain timeless. The adventures of Winnie the Pooh, aka Pooh Bear, Pooh, Edward Bear, Silly Old Bear or Bear of Very Little Brain – never Winnie – and his multitude of forest friends have been delighting young children (and let’s admit it – adults, too!) through books, film, theatre, television and radio for nearly nine decades. The Walt Disney Company admits that Pooh Bear’s popularity is right up there with the Mouse himself.
Most of Pooh and his animal friend’s adventures start with Pooh’s insatiable appetite for honey (“a smackerel of hunny”) brought on by a “rumbly in his tumbly.” From there the story takes off and can often include the only bad guys of the stories – the Heffalumps and Woozles. And when things aren’t going well, “Oh, bother.”
Bearly An Inspiration
Winnie the Pooh is named after an actual bear who became the mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade during World War I. This female black bear cub was purchased for $20 by Lieutenant Harry Colebourn from a hunter who killed the bear’s mother. Colebourn named the bear Winnie after his home town of Winnipeg. Winnie traveled with the Brigade for awhile, eventually taking up residence at the London Zoo where she was a popular attraction until she died in 1934.
Author A. A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin Milne was very fond of Winnie and visited her often at the zoo. Young Milne had a stuffed bear that he named Winnie the Pooh, partly after the real black bear and partly after a swan named Pooh, a character in a poem his father wrote, “When We Were Very Young.”
The Characters
Except for the only human character in the Pooh stories, Christopher Robin (obviously named after A. A. Milne’s son), the remaining characters are all animals named after Christopher’s stuffed animals. There’s Piglet (Pooh’s best friend); Eeyore (a gloomy goat); Tigger (a very happy bouncy tiger); and Kanga and Roo (kangaroo mother and son). The always wise Owl, and Rabbit who loves to grow vegetables, came to the forest a little later.
Location, Location, Location
The story takes place in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood, which, like the character names, was influenced by an actual place where A. A. Milne and his family owned vacation property near Ashdown Forest in Sussex, England, located about 30 miles south of London. The family spent much time there exploring the forest. The books’ illustrator, E. H. Shepard went so far as to match almost exactly many areas of the real forest in his illustrations.
About A. A. Milne
A. A. Milne was born in 1882 in England. Although he had a math scholarship to study at Trinity College in Cambridge, he soon became involved in writing for the student magazine which drew the attention of “Punch,” a British humor magazine. He had a military career in the British Army during World War I and was a Captain of the Home Guard during World War II. In between, he worked as an author. His son, Christopher Robin Milne, was born in 1920 of which he based his Pooh Bear stories on. Though most famous for his Winnie the Pooh books, Milne was a prolific author, penning more than eighteen plays, three novels (not children’s books), numerous short stories, essays and poems. His children’s books were so successful, however, that his other writings were overshadowed by them, an occurrence that displeased Milne immensely. He died in 1956, living to the age of nearly 74.
Big Bear Bucks
It’s no surprise that Winnie the Pooh has brought in megabucks for Disney and prior owners. The character of Edward Bear first appeared in a poem in Milne’s book “When We Were Very Young” in 1924. A Christmas story about the bear and his friends was commissioned by London’s newspaper, “The Evening News” and was printed on Christmas Eve 1925. This printing became the first chapter of the book, “Winnie-the-Pooh,” published by Metheun in England in 1926, and E. P. Dutton in the United States.
It was Stephen Slesinger who purchased the Canadian and United States merchandising rights from Milne in 1930 and in a mere year’s time parlayed his investment into a $50 million annual business. The price he paid: $1,000 advance and 66 percent of income. Slesinger enjoyed more than 30 years of great success while marketing Pooh products that included games and puzzles, a radio show, a film, a doll, record and a board game.
Slesinger died in 1953 and his wife, Shirley Slesinger Lasswell, carried on the business until she sold the licensing rights to Walt Disney Productions in 1961. Daphne Milne sold some of her rights to Disney at the same time. Since then, Disney continues to enjoy financial success in its partnership with the bear with films, a television series and featurettes. Pooh also appears as a regular in Disney theme parks along with Mickey Mouse and all of his other Disney ‘associates.’
Pooh the Philosopher
Surprisingly, the Bear of Little Brain turned out to be quite a wise bear. A collection of Poohisms is provided in “Pooh’s Little Instruction Book,” published in 1995 as well as the original books of “Winnie the Pooh” and “The House at Pooh Corner:”
More Pooh
SNIPPETZ MEETS UP WITH A BEAR OF VERY LITTLE BRAIN
"When you are a bear of very little brain, and think of things, you find sometimes that a thing which seemed very thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it."
- Winnie the Pooh
Like any good and simple story, the tales of “Winnie the Pooh,” first published by A. A. Milne in 1926, remain timeless. The adventures of Winnie the Pooh, aka Pooh Bear, Pooh, Edward Bear, Silly Old Bear or Bear of Very Little Brain – never Winnie – and his multitude of forest friends have been delighting young children (and let’s admit it – adults, too!) through books, film, theatre, television and radio for nearly nine decades. The Walt Disney Company admits that Pooh Bear’s popularity is right up there with the Mouse himself.
Most of Pooh and his animal friend’s adventures start with Pooh’s insatiable appetite for honey (“a smackerel of hunny”) brought on by a “rumbly in his tumbly.” From there the story takes off and can often include the only bad guys of the stories – the Heffalumps and Woozles. And when things aren’t going well, “Oh, bother.”
Bearly An Inspiration
Winnie the Pooh is named after an actual bear who became the mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade during World War I. This female black bear cub was purchased for $20 by Lieutenant Harry Colebourn from a hunter who killed the bear’s mother. Colebourn named the bear Winnie after his home town of Winnipeg. Winnie traveled with the Brigade for awhile, eventually taking up residence at the London Zoo where she was a popular attraction until she died in 1934.
Author A. A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin Milne was very fond of Winnie and visited her often at the zoo. Young Milne had a stuffed bear that he named Winnie the Pooh, partly after the real black bear and partly after a swan named Pooh, a character in a poem his father wrote, “When We Were Very Young.”
The Characters
Except for the only human character in the Pooh stories, Christopher Robin (obviously named after A. A. Milne’s son), the remaining characters are all animals named after Christopher’s stuffed animals. There’s Piglet (Pooh’s best friend); Eeyore (a gloomy goat); Tigger (a very happy bouncy tiger); and Kanga and Roo (kangaroo mother and son). The always wise Owl, and Rabbit who loves to grow vegetables, came to the forest a little later.
Location, Location, Location
The story takes place in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood, which, like the character names, was influenced by an actual place where A. A. Milne and his family owned vacation property near Ashdown Forest in Sussex, England, located about 30 miles south of London. The family spent much time there exploring the forest. The books’ illustrator, E. H. Shepard went so far as to match almost exactly many areas of the real forest in his illustrations.
About A. A. Milne
A. A. Milne was born in 1882 in England. Although he had a math scholarship to study at Trinity College in Cambridge, he soon became involved in writing for the student magazine which drew the attention of “Punch,” a British humor magazine. He had a military career in the British Army during World War I and was a Captain of the Home Guard during World War II. In between, he worked as an author. His son, Christopher Robin Milne, was born in 1920 of which he based his Pooh Bear stories on. Though most famous for his Winnie the Pooh books, Milne was a prolific author, penning more than eighteen plays, three novels (not children’s books), numerous short stories, essays and poems. His children’s books were so successful, however, that his other writings were overshadowed by them, an occurrence that displeased Milne immensely. He died in 1956, living to the age of nearly 74.
Big Bear Bucks
It’s no surprise that Winnie the Pooh has brought in megabucks for Disney and prior owners. The character of Edward Bear first appeared in a poem in Milne’s book “When We Were Very Young” in 1924. A Christmas story about the bear and his friends was commissioned by London’s newspaper, “The Evening News” and was printed on Christmas Eve 1925. This printing became the first chapter of the book, “Winnie-the-Pooh,” published by Metheun in England in 1926, and E. P. Dutton in the United States.
It was Stephen Slesinger who purchased the Canadian and United States merchandising rights from Milne in 1930 and in a mere year’s time parlayed his investment into a $50 million annual business. The price he paid: $1,000 advance and 66 percent of income. Slesinger enjoyed more than 30 years of great success while marketing Pooh products that included games and puzzles, a radio show, a film, a doll, record and a board game.
Slesinger died in 1953 and his wife, Shirley Slesinger Lasswell, carried on the business until she sold the licensing rights to Walt Disney Productions in 1961. Daphne Milne sold some of her rights to Disney at the same time. Since then, Disney continues to enjoy financial success in its partnership with the bear with films, a television series and featurettes. Pooh also appears as a regular in Disney theme parks along with Mickey Mouse and all of his other Disney ‘associates.’
Pooh the Philosopher
Surprisingly, the Bear of Little Brain turned out to be quite a wise bear. A collection of Poohisms is provided in “Pooh’s Little Instruction Book,” published in 1995 as well as the original books of “Winnie the Pooh” and “The House at Pooh Corner:”
- I used to believe in forever…but forever was too good to be true.
- Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
- Before beginning a hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.
- Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
- If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.
- Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.
- It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”
- When late morning rolls around and you’re feeling a bit out of sorts, don’t worry; you’re probably just a little eleven o’clockish.
- You can’t stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes.
More Pooh
- The original stuffed Pooh and his pals are on display at the New York Public Library.
- The original hyphenated Winnie-the-Pooh became Winnie the Pooh (without hyphens) when the Walt Disney Company purchased the rights to the stories.
- The first color appearance of Pooh was in 1932. He was drawn by Stephen Slesinger at that time with a red shirt that he is still seen in.
- The first stuffed Pooh on the market was created by Agnes Brush in the 1940s.
- Hal Smith was the voice of Winnie the Pooh in “Welcome to Pooh Corner” and “Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore.”
- Sterling Holloway’s voice was the original Disney version of Pooh.
- Jim Cummings provides the current Pooh voice.
- The first story, “Winnie-the-Pooh” was broadcast on radio on Christmas Day in 1925 over BBC stations. His first U.S. radio appearance was in 1932 in a broadcast to 40,000 schools by American School of the Air (a division of CBS).
- Thought the acronym T-T-F-N came from the instant messaging world? Not so! TTFN came from Winnie the Pooh – Ta-Ta For Now!
Issue 428
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SKINNY ON FAD DIETS
“The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook”
-Julia Child
Atkins, South Beach, the Zone, Scarsdale, the Grapefruit Diet … promises, promises, promises.
Fad diets – restricting certain foods and/or focusing on certain foods – has been around for centuries. Legend has it that William the Conqueror devised an alcohol-only diet in 1087. He died a year later after falling off his horse. Apparently the diet didn’t work since folks had to painstakingly try to find a casket to fit him.
Some Oldies Without Goodies
In 1829, Sylvester Graham, a minister, came up with the Graham Diet: caffeine-free drinks and vegetarian foods, supplemented with graham crackers.
In 1903, Horace Fletcher, a self-subscribed nutritionist, touted the best weight loss program as chewing one’s food at least 32 times.
The Grapefruit Diet came along in the 1920s.
Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), the first national weight loss program, began in 1948 – and is still strong today. Weight loss programs differ from fad diets in that the catch word here is “sensibly.”
In the 1960s, Dr. Herman Taller insisted that his Calories Don’t Count Diet dropped weight in no time – eat all the foods you want, just chase it with vegetable oil.
In the 1970s, there was the Last Chance Diet. It was all about fasts and liquid protein drinks. Rumor has it there were 58 deaths linked to this diet or spinoffs of the diet.
Every fad diet has a gimmick, whether it promotes a carbohydrate-free regimen or eating biblical foods – the Hallelujah Diet encourages people to only eat foods, such as fruits and nuts, mentioned in Genesis 1.29.
The whole diet industry has been “shrouded in myths and fairy tales since time immemorial as people argue over what is good for you,” said British professor Chris Hawkey.
Taking The Fat To The Bank…Or That’s The Way The Cookie Crumbles
What’s good for you is arguable, but inarguable is the fact that the fad diet industry has made billions off those seeking a supposedly sure-fire, quick way to shed pounds.
Dr. Sanford Siegel, who has specialty weight-loss clinics in Florida and one in Canada, made $12 million last year pushing his “Cookie Diet,” according to the New York Times. We’re not exactly talking Oreos or Mrs. Fields’ chocolate chip cookies. Siegel’s recipe is made up of oats, rice, whole wheat and bran – and only known to him and his wife. Followers purchase the cookies and lose weight by eating just one meal a day, supplemented with the six cookies throughout the day. Famous songsters Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have helped secure those millions by endorsing the Cookie Diet. Siegel expects to rake in $18 million in revenues for 2009.
The popularity of the Cookie Diet has spawned other cookie diets. Smart for Life sells a 35-day diet kit for $297, including six 105-calorie cookies a day. The Hollywood Cookie Diet consists of four 150-calorie cookies spread throughout each day (and a light dinner) – a box of cookies costs up to $20. Soypal Cookies is a popular Japanese cookie diet – only 22 calories each and $49 a box.
Smart for Life anticipates gross revenues of $82 to $95 million this year, up from $30 million in 2008. And the Hollywood Cookie Diet has grown 50 percent since it was cooked up three years ago.
In 2005, it was estimated that out of the 55 million Americans who went on a diet program, only 5 to 10 percent succeeded. But the diet industry has added a lot of weight to its bank account. In 2006, revenues were estimated to top $48 billion. Some say that today the industry is worth someone’s weight in gold – at $60 billion.
According to TNS Media Intelligence, three of the big hitters in the weight loss industry spent almost a half billion on TV and print advertising in 2008.
MOST WHACKY FAD DIETS
There are so many fad diets out there, with new ones popping up all the time, that makes counting calories seem like a no-brainer compared to counting fad diets. Some of them are downright ridiculous and hazardous to one’s health.
Check out some of these crazy but still popular diet fads.
The Cabbage Diet
The promise: Lose 7 lbs. in seven days. Cabbage soup is the key to this diet. The recipe includes cabbage and a variety of vegetables flavored with broth, onion soup mix and tomato juice. The soup can be eaten any time, but other foods are restricted through a seven-day plan. For example, day 1 eat only fruit, except a banana. Day 2 is all you want of fresh, raw or cooked veggies. No fruit. On Day 4 one can eat as many as eight bananas (and lose more weight by swinging from tree to tree). And so on.
The Lemonade Diet
The promise: Lose 8 lbs. in 10 days. This is a simple diet to follow. Just drink lemonade, and eat nothing. But the lemonade is not the tasty, sugary summer thirst quencher we’re used to. The recipe for this lemonade calls for 2 oz. of fresh squeezed lemon, 2 oz. of maple syrup (organic is best), ¼ tsp. of cayenne pepper and 2 cups of water. Drink about 160 oz. per day. Yum.
Along with the weight loss, you lose all of your energy. But the energy is regained when food is reintroduced. Be prepared to gain back all of the weight once food becomes a regular habit again. But, this “lemon” of a diet is supposed to increase one’s desire for healthy foods.
The Russian Air Force Diet
Think of a Russian prison.
The promise: Follow this one for seven days and lose up to 18 lbs. in 13 days. Never eat more than 800 calories a day. Breakfast is a piece of toast and coffee, except the fifth day they allow 5 oz. of ham and carrots. Lunches and dinners are comprised of red meat, boiled eggs and boiled fish and small servings of vegetables or fruits.
Question: How do you follow this one for seven days and lose 18 lbs. in 13 days?
The 3-Day Diet
The promise: Lose 10 lbs. in three days. This ultimate weight loss, fad diet is based on a combination of foods that are supposed to create a metabolic reaction to boost the fat-burning process. Introduced in 1985, this magical mixture has never been proven scientifically. It’s highly regimented – one morsel of food over the recommended amount and all is lost – or gained.
Day 1breakfast consists of black coffee or tea with 1 to 2 packets of Sweet & Low or Equal, ½ grapefruit or juice and 1 piece of toast with 1 tbs. of peanut butter. Lunch is ½ cup tuna with toast and more black coffee with Equal. Dinner is 3 oz lean meat or chicken, 1 cup green beans and 1 cup carrots, 1 apple and 1 cup vanilla ice cream. Day 2 breakfast is the same coffee combo, toast, 1 egg and ½ banana. Lunch is 1 cup cottage cheese or tuna and 8 saltine crackers. Dinner: 2 beef franks (high class hot dogs), 1 cup broccoli or cabbage, ½ cup carrots, ½ banana, ½ cup vanilla ice cream. Day 3 is just as boring with a few variations like cheddar cheese and melon.
Interspersing the 3-day diet with normal eating routines gets results. Even if it’s candy bars and pecan pie on the fourth day?
The Tapeworm Diet
The promise: You CAN get rid of the worm, eventually. Did anyone say “eewww-gross?” Basically, the person swallows a cyst, which is removed with medications 10 days later. Until that time, the parasite eats up a portion of the calories consumed. Besides the fact that it’s disgusting, tapeworm sales are banned in the U.S., and hosting a parasite is dangerous to one’s health.
If It’s Too Good To Be True…
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission sued Texas-based Mark Nutritionals, a company that created Body Solutions Evening Weight Formula. Using this formula, the company guaranteed weight loss while you sleep, without having to change daytime diet or exercise habits. Mark Nutritionals advertised its product on more than 650 radio stations in 110 U.S. cities, with more than 700 endorsements. For many, the idea of losing weight while sleeping was literally a dream come true. The FTC successfully closed the company’s doors, but not before it made $155 million in the three years they operated.
10 Myths That Fad Diets Promote
The “Do’s and Don’ts” of Healthy Eating
Bottom line for a slimmer bottom: Pushing yourself away from the table – equals exercise and control. Promise!
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SKINNY ON FAD DIETS
“The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook”
-Julia Child
Atkins, South Beach, the Zone, Scarsdale, the Grapefruit Diet … promises, promises, promises.
Fad diets – restricting certain foods and/or focusing on certain foods – has been around for centuries. Legend has it that William the Conqueror devised an alcohol-only diet in 1087. He died a year later after falling off his horse. Apparently the diet didn’t work since folks had to painstakingly try to find a casket to fit him.
Some Oldies Without Goodies
In 1829, Sylvester Graham, a minister, came up with the Graham Diet: caffeine-free drinks and vegetarian foods, supplemented with graham crackers.
In 1903, Horace Fletcher, a self-subscribed nutritionist, touted the best weight loss program as chewing one’s food at least 32 times.
The Grapefruit Diet came along in the 1920s.
Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), the first national weight loss program, began in 1948 – and is still strong today. Weight loss programs differ from fad diets in that the catch word here is “sensibly.”
In the 1960s, Dr. Herman Taller insisted that his Calories Don’t Count Diet dropped weight in no time – eat all the foods you want, just chase it with vegetable oil.
In the 1970s, there was the Last Chance Diet. It was all about fasts and liquid protein drinks. Rumor has it there were 58 deaths linked to this diet or spinoffs of the diet.
Every fad diet has a gimmick, whether it promotes a carbohydrate-free regimen or eating biblical foods – the Hallelujah Diet encourages people to only eat foods, such as fruits and nuts, mentioned in Genesis 1.29.
The whole diet industry has been “shrouded in myths and fairy tales since time immemorial as people argue over what is good for you,” said British professor Chris Hawkey.
Taking The Fat To The Bank…Or That’s The Way The Cookie Crumbles
What’s good for you is arguable, but inarguable is the fact that the fad diet industry has made billions off those seeking a supposedly sure-fire, quick way to shed pounds.
Dr. Sanford Siegel, who has specialty weight-loss clinics in Florida and one in Canada, made $12 million last year pushing his “Cookie Diet,” according to the New York Times. We’re not exactly talking Oreos or Mrs. Fields’ chocolate chip cookies. Siegel’s recipe is made up of oats, rice, whole wheat and bran – and only known to him and his wife. Followers purchase the cookies and lose weight by eating just one meal a day, supplemented with the six cookies throughout the day. Famous songsters Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have helped secure those millions by endorsing the Cookie Diet. Siegel expects to rake in $18 million in revenues for 2009.
The popularity of the Cookie Diet has spawned other cookie diets. Smart for Life sells a 35-day diet kit for $297, including six 105-calorie cookies a day. The Hollywood Cookie Diet consists of four 150-calorie cookies spread throughout each day (and a light dinner) – a box of cookies costs up to $20. Soypal Cookies is a popular Japanese cookie diet – only 22 calories each and $49 a box.
Smart for Life anticipates gross revenues of $82 to $95 million this year, up from $30 million in 2008. And the Hollywood Cookie Diet has grown 50 percent since it was cooked up three years ago.
In 2005, it was estimated that out of the 55 million Americans who went on a diet program, only 5 to 10 percent succeeded. But the diet industry has added a lot of weight to its bank account. In 2006, revenues were estimated to top $48 billion. Some say that today the industry is worth someone’s weight in gold – at $60 billion.
According to TNS Media Intelligence, three of the big hitters in the weight loss industry spent almost a half billion on TV and print advertising in 2008.
MOST WHACKY FAD DIETS
There are so many fad diets out there, with new ones popping up all the time, that makes counting calories seem like a no-brainer compared to counting fad diets. Some of them are downright ridiculous and hazardous to one’s health.
Check out some of these crazy but still popular diet fads.
The Cabbage Diet
The promise: Lose 7 lbs. in seven days. Cabbage soup is the key to this diet. The recipe includes cabbage and a variety of vegetables flavored with broth, onion soup mix and tomato juice. The soup can be eaten any time, but other foods are restricted through a seven-day plan. For example, day 1 eat only fruit, except a banana. Day 2 is all you want of fresh, raw or cooked veggies. No fruit. On Day 4 one can eat as many as eight bananas (and lose more weight by swinging from tree to tree). And so on.
The Lemonade Diet
The promise: Lose 8 lbs. in 10 days. This is a simple diet to follow. Just drink lemonade, and eat nothing. But the lemonade is not the tasty, sugary summer thirst quencher we’re used to. The recipe for this lemonade calls for 2 oz. of fresh squeezed lemon, 2 oz. of maple syrup (organic is best), ¼ tsp. of cayenne pepper and 2 cups of water. Drink about 160 oz. per day. Yum.
Along with the weight loss, you lose all of your energy. But the energy is regained when food is reintroduced. Be prepared to gain back all of the weight once food becomes a regular habit again. But, this “lemon” of a diet is supposed to increase one’s desire for healthy foods.
The Russian Air Force Diet
Think of a Russian prison.
The promise: Follow this one for seven days and lose up to 18 lbs. in 13 days. Never eat more than 800 calories a day. Breakfast is a piece of toast and coffee, except the fifth day they allow 5 oz. of ham and carrots. Lunches and dinners are comprised of red meat, boiled eggs and boiled fish and small servings of vegetables or fruits.
Question: How do you follow this one for seven days and lose 18 lbs. in 13 days?
The 3-Day Diet
The promise: Lose 10 lbs. in three days. This ultimate weight loss, fad diet is based on a combination of foods that are supposed to create a metabolic reaction to boost the fat-burning process. Introduced in 1985, this magical mixture has never been proven scientifically. It’s highly regimented – one morsel of food over the recommended amount and all is lost – or gained.
Day 1breakfast consists of black coffee or tea with 1 to 2 packets of Sweet & Low or Equal, ½ grapefruit or juice and 1 piece of toast with 1 tbs. of peanut butter. Lunch is ½ cup tuna with toast and more black coffee with Equal. Dinner is 3 oz lean meat or chicken, 1 cup green beans and 1 cup carrots, 1 apple and 1 cup vanilla ice cream. Day 2 breakfast is the same coffee combo, toast, 1 egg and ½ banana. Lunch is 1 cup cottage cheese or tuna and 8 saltine crackers. Dinner: 2 beef franks (high class hot dogs), 1 cup broccoli or cabbage, ½ cup carrots, ½ banana, ½ cup vanilla ice cream. Day 3 is just as boring with a few variations like cheddar cheese and melon.
Interspersing the 3-day diet with normal eating routines gets results. Even if it’s candy bars and pecan pie on the fourth day?
The Tapeworm Diet
The promise: You CAN get rid of the worm, eventually. Did anyone say “eewww-gross?” Basically, the person swallows a cyst, which is removed with medications 10 days later. Until that time, the parasite eats up a portion of the calories consumed. Besides the fact that it’s disgusting, tapeworm sales are banned in the U.S., and hosting a parasite is dangerous to one’s health.
If It’s Too Good To Be True…
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission sued Texas-based Mark Nutritionals, a company that created Body Solutions Evening Weight Formula. Using this formula, the company guaranteed weight loss while you sleep, without having to change daytime diet or exercise habits. Mark Nutritionals advertised its product on more than 650 radio stations in 110 U.S. cities, with more than 700 endorsements. For many, the idea of losing weight while sleeping was literally a dream come true. The FTC successfully closed the company’s doors, but not before it made $155 million in the three years they operated.
10 Myths That Fad Diets Promote
- Skipping meals helps to lose weight – NOT. Actually, it’s best to eat at least five small meals a day.
- Carbohydrates cause weight gain. High-protein diet advocates love these scare tactics. Carbs are the body’s source of energy/fuel. There are, however, good and bad carbs – fruits, veggies, whole grains and cereals are examples of good carbs. A lack of carbs causes irritability and sluggishness.
- Losing weight is a chore. In truth, fad diets are a chore. They deprive you of foods and are hard to maintain. Losing weight is about balanced eating and moderation.
- Fat-free foods are calorie free. In actuality, many of the low-fat products are loaded with sugar.
- Absolutely no snacks: With five meals a day, there may not be a need to snack. But those who eat three traditional meals need to eat healthy snacks in between. A smart snack can thwart overeating and maintain energy levels.
- Fat is bad. Healthy fats or essential fatty acids are required for good health. Nuts and oily fish are examples of the good fat.
- Cholesterol is bad. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made by the liver. There is good and bad cholesterol. Saturated fats like meat, cheese, cream and butter raise the LDL (low density lipoprotein) – or bad cholesterol, which delivers the bad “stuff” to the arteries. HDL (high density lipoprotein) is the good cholesterol, which drives cholesterol away from the arteries.
- Dairy products are fattening. Dairy foods contain the hormone calcitriol, which conserves calcium for strong bones. It also sends a message to fat cells to convert less sugar to fat and burn more body fat.
- A shortcut to losing weight. The one thing fad diets have in common is the idea that weight can be lost quickly. It’s impossible. The body is not designed for fad diets. This idea only sets the dieter up for failure.
The “Do’s and Don’ts” of Healthy Eating
- Don't skip meals.
- Do keep track of eating habits.
- Do drink plenty of water.
- Do delay eating – distract yourself.
- Do exercise.
- Don't eat while watching TV, working, driving.
- Do eat in certain settings (kitchen table).
- Do watch portion sizes.
- Don't forbid a particular food.
- Do give yourself encouragement.
- Don't beat yourself up when you lapse.
- Do think of eating as a lifestyle change.
- Don't weigh in more than once a week.
- Do make healthy food choices.
Bottom line for a slimmer bottom: Pushing yourself away from the table – equals exercise and control. Promise!
Issue 427
SNIPPETZ ASKS, WHAT IS JEOPARDY?
"I'm curious about everything. Even subjects that don't interest me."
- Alex Trebek
Since 1984, T.V. game show Jeopardy! has brought intellectual stimulation to households throughout the world. 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of America’s favorite trivia game show, and to celebrate the milestone, Jeopardy added a teen tournament, a kids’ week reunion, and Celebrity Jeopardy, bringing stars in throughout the season to compete for their favorite charities.
Jeopardy is no ordinary trivia game – the topics are tough and potential players have to first prove they are scholars in a variety of subjects.
What is Jeopardy?
Game shows of the 1950s were wrought with scandals; producers were accused of providing answers to the contestants beforehand. The public was outraged at the apparent rigging of the shows. Jeopardy was introduced to provide a different format from the original shows. Contestants would have to provide answers in the form of a question.
Three contestants vie for the winnings, and the champ returns until the next person boots him or her off. Contestants provide answers to a number of categories in a question format, i.e. “What is Jeopardy.” Categories range from political to entertainment – and everything in between.
Jeopardy began its television run in 1964 on daytime television, aired on NBC. Art Flemming was the original host; but, by 1975, Jeopardy’s ratings had dropped significantly – enough to cancel the show. Although the network brought it back in 1978, it lasted just one season before being canceled again.
CBS picked up Jeopardy in 1984 and put it in a prime time spot with a new host, Alex Trebek. It went into syndication that same year and has never wavered since. Today, Jeopardy airs five nights a week and has enjoyed high ratings, second only to its sister show, Wheel of Fortune.
Who is Alex Trebek?
Alex Trebek got his start in show biz in his home country of Canada, working as a broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Co. Trebek covered lots of subjects, from news to sports, for the national T.V. and radio network.
In 1966, Trebek began his broadcast game show career as the host of Reach for the Top, a Canadian quiz show for high school students. He went on to host a number of game shows in Canada and the U.S.:
Trebek obviously settled in to his game-show career. He’s become an icon as a T.V. host and has appeared in numerous television and movie favorites – as himself:
He’s also been either the subject of game show sketches or a part of them on Saturday Night Live.
Trebek became an American citizen in 1998. He lives in Studio City, Calif., with his wife, Jean, and two children. Nothing has kept him from his hosting duties with Jeopardy. In 2004, he was in a minor car accident; and, in 2007, he had a minor heart attack and was hospitalized for a week. Neither incident interrupted his hosting gig. He has also bred and trained horses.
The Emmy Awards has nominated Trebek 12 times for outstanding game show host. He’s won five times. Trebek has his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and earned a Bob Hope Entertainment award for his tours with the USO.
Who Holds The Longest Winning Streak?
In June 2004, Ken Jennings made his first appearance on Jeopardy. Just a year earlier, producers of the show decided that undefeated winners of the game could return indefinitely. At the time Jennings learned that he had successfully auditioned for Jeopardy, he was a software engineer in Salt Lake City. To prepare for the big game, Jennings spent a month making flash cards and studying such Jeopardy subjects as U.S. presidents, world capitals and “potent potables” – just studying since he’s an admitted “teetotaler.” His preparation served him well.
Jennings became a household name during his Jeopardy run, coming back 74 times as the champion. On his 75th appearance, Jennings lost in the final round! However, he had already earned more than $3 million.
Hardly a loser, the show brought him instant fame. Jennings had endorsements with Fed Ex and H&R Block and co-invented a couple of trivia games. He went on the talk show circuit and wrote a book, “Brainiac,” which covered the “curious, competitive, compulsive world of trivia buffs.” He took readers behind the scenes of Jeopardy and through a variety of quiz bowls and trivia marathons.
Jennings currently lives in Seattle with his wife and young son and daughter. He’s planning another book on trivia.
What are Memorable Jeopardy Moments?
What are Some More Facts?
What is The Grand Slam of Trivia?
Games about trivia have become an American pastime. The proof is in the pudding with all the game shows on television, from Jeopardy to the Millionaire to Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
In the summer of 2007, the GSN network presented a special series – eight episodes – where winners of shows like Jeopardy, Millionaire, Card Sharks, the Weakest Link and Tic Tack Dough competed for prize money of $100,000 and the title “trivia guru.” There were 16 winners participating in one-hour episodes. Two sets of contestants competed in fast and furious trivia rounds comprised of general trivia, math and logic, words and vocabulary and a final round of a mix of all three.
Each contestant had one full minute to answer the question – the contestant whose clock ran to zero before he or she answered correctly was the loser.
Jennings and Millionaire alumni Ogi Ogas made it to the finals. They were well matched but Jennings took the $100,000 prize.
Who Gets on Jeopardy?
Thousands of people apply each year to be on the show. To be eligible, regular contestants must be 18 years or older, kids week applicants must be between age 10 and 12; teen applicants must be age 13 through 17 and in high school; and college applicants must be full-time undergraduate students, with no prior degree. Once someone has been on Jeopardy, they cannot apply again.
The first step is an online test taken at the Jeopardy Web site during specific testing periods. Adult tests are taken once a year.
Future players can also audition in Culver City, Calif., and in other designated parts of the country, once they’ve passed the online test. The audition begins with a timed, written test made up of 50 Jeopardy-like category questions.
Those who pass the test move to a round of mock Jeopardy games. The applicants are judged not only on their knowledge but also on their speaking ability, decision-making skills and enthusiasm for the show.
Each contestant has a personal interview with the production staff. There is no charge for the auditions, and travel or related expenses are not covered. Another avenue for being on the show is the Brain Bus, a tour bus that travels across the country searching for America’s smartest. The first 1,000 attendees at each Brain Bus event are given a 10-question pre-test. Mock Jeopardy games are then played, and winners even get prizes (no cash). Based on their success with the Brain Bus, the participants could be invited to California to audition for the show.
How Trivia Savvy Are You?
Be sure to answer in Jeopardy style form: What is? Where is?
• The only state to turn down the Olympics
• The “Centennial State”
• A town in the U.S. that celebrates “Mike the Headless Chicken Day”
• The longest continuous street in America
• This view inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful”
• A state with more microbreweries per capita than any other state
• The “Pinto Bean” capital of the world
(Answers: www.50states.com, click on ‘Facts,’ select Colorado)
SNIPPETZ ASKS, WHAT IS JEOPARDY?
"I'm curious about everything. Even subjects that don't interest me."
- Alex Trebek
Since 1984, T.V. game show Jeopardy! has brought intellectual stimulation to households throughout the world. 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of America’s favorite trivia game show, and to celebrate the milestone, Jeopardy added a teen tournament, a kids’ week reunion, and Celebrity Jeopardy, bringing stars in throughout the season to compete for their favorite charities.
Jeopardy is no ordinary trivia game – the topics are tough and potential players have to first prove they are scholars in a variety of subjects.
What is Jeopardy?
Game shows of the 1950s were wrought with scandals; producers were accused of providing answers to the contestants beforehand. The public was outraged at the apparent rigging of the shows. Jeopardy was introduced to provide a different format from the original shows. Contestants would have to provide answers in the form of a question.
Three contestants vie for the winnings, and the champ returns until the next person boots him or her off. Contestants provide answers to a number of categories in a question format, i.e. “What is Jeopardy.” Categories range from political to entertainment – and everything in between.
Jeopardy began its television run in 1964 on daytime television, aired on NBC. Art Flemming was the original host; but, by 1975, Jeopardy’s ratings had dropped significantly – enough to cancel the show. Although the network brought it back in 1978, it lasted just one season before being canceled again.
CBS picked up Jeopardy in 1984 and put it in a prime time spot with a new host, Alex Trebek. It went into syndication that same year and has never wavered since. Today, Jeopardy airs five nights a week and has enjoyed high ratings, second only to its sister show, Wheel of Fortune.
Who is Alex Trebek?
Alex Trebek got his start in show biz in his home country of Canada, working as a broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Co. Trebek covered lots of subjects, from news to sports, for the national T.V. and radio network.
In 1966, Trebek began his broadcast game show career as the host of Reach for the Top, a Canadian quiz show for high school students. He went on to host a number of game shows in Canada and the U.S.:
- Jackpot!
- Strategy
- The Wizard of Odds
- The $128,000 Question
- Double Dare
Trebek obviously settled in to his game-show career. He’s become an icon as a T.V. host and has appeared in numerous television and movie favorites – as himself:
- Cheers
- White Men Can't Jump
- Beverly Hills 90210
- Seinfeld
- The Simpsons
- The X-Files
- Family Guy
- Finding Forrester
- The Bucket List
He’s also been either the subject of game show sketches or a part of them on Saturday Night Live.
Trebek became an American citizen in 1998. He lives in Studio City, Calif., with his wife, Jean, and two children. Nothing has kept him from his hosting duties with Jeopardy. In 2004, he was in a minor car accident; and, in 2007, he had a minor heart attack and was hospitalized for a week. Neither incident interrupted his hosting gig. He has also bred and trained horses.
The Emmy Awards has nominated Trebek 12 times for outstanding game show host. He’s won five times. Trebek has his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and earned a Bob Hope Entertainment award for his tours with the USO.
Who Holds The Longest Winning Streak?
In June 2004, Ken Jennings made his first appearance on Jeopardy. Just a year earlier, producers of the show decided that undefeated winners of the game could return indefinitely. At the time Jennings learned that he had successfully auditioned for Jeopardy, he was a software engineer in Salt Lake City. To prepare for the big game, Jennings spent a month making flash cards and studying such Jeopardy subjects as U.S. presidents, world capitals and “potent potables” – just studying since he’s an admitted “teetotaler.” His preparation served him well.
Jennings became a household name during his Jeopardy run, coming back 74 times as the champion. On his 75th appearance, Jennings lost in the final round! However, he had already earned more than $3 million.
Hardly a loser, the show brought him instant fame. Jennings had endorsements with Fed Ex and H&R Block and co-invented a couple of trivia games. He went on the talk show circuit and wrote a book, “Brainiac,” which covered the “curious, competitive, compulsive world of trivia buffs.” He took readers behind the scenes of Jeopardy and through a variety of quiz bowls and trivia marathons.
Jennings currently lives in Seattle with his wife and young son and daughter. He’s planning another book on trivia.
What are Memorable Jeopardy Moments?
- On March 16, 2007, three contestants tied for the game championship, with $16,000 each. This was a first for Jeopardy, and all three returned for the next show.
- When Ken Jennings ended his 74-show run, he did so with a question that many people were able to answer. The question: “Most of this firm’s 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.” Jennings answered, “What is Fed Ex?” Contestant Nancy Zerg gave the correct answer, “What is H&R Block?” Her wager was enough to send Jennings packing.
- In 2005, Jeopardy producers introduced the ultimate tournament of champions, which included about 150 past champions. The event lasted 15 weeks, and Ken Jennings was automatically in based on his record winning streak. Jennings went up against Jerome Vered and Brad Rutter, winner of five regular Jeopardy games, a tournament of champions and the special million dollar masters’ tournament. Rutter won the ultimate tournament of champions, and ended up raking in more than $3 million as a result of all of his wins.
- In 1997 on April Fool’s Day, Pat Sajak of Wheel of Fortune and Alex Trebek swapped places on each other’s show. Audiences and hosts had a great time with the switch.
- Before the final game of the ultimate tournament of champions, Trebek and all three contestants – Jennings, Rutter and Vered – agreed to come on stage (behind the podium) wearing suits minus the trousers. When the cameras panned behind the podiums to ensure that all had complied, everyone had worn pants but Trebek. The joke was on him. He quickly exited the show. It was never shown on air but included in a special edition of Inside Jeopardy. It’s shown on YouTube.
What are Some More Facts?
- Jeopardy versions air in more than 25 countries
- From 1984 to 1990, contestants’ winnings were capped at $75,000. Any money earned over that amount was donated to the winner’s favorite charity.
- The Jeopardy theme song is “Think,” composed by Merv Griffin as a lullaby for his young son.
- Jeff Probst (Survivor) hosted an identical twin of Jeopardy – Rock & Roll Jeopardy. The spinoff show obviously tested one’s knowledge of music. Rock & Roll Jeopardy was an exact replica of Jeopardy – pretty much – except that contestants were not allowed to return if they won. And the “pot” was a bit less than the money won in Jeopardy. A celebrity edition was included as well, with the likes of the Dixie Chicks, Joe Walsh and Graham Nash as contestants.
What is The Grand Slam of Trivia?
Games about trivia have become an American pastime. The proof is in the pudding with all the game shows on television, from Jeopardy to the Millionaire to Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
In the summer of 2007, the GSN network presented a special series – eight episodes – where winners of shows like Jeopardy, Millionaire, Card Sharks, the Weakest Link and Tic Tack Dough competed for prize money of $100,000 and the title “trivia guru.” There were 16 winners participating in one-hour episodes. Two sets of contestants competed in fast and furious trivia rounds comprised of general trivia, math and logic, words and vocabulary and a final round of a mix of all three.
Each contestant had one full minute to answer the question – the contestant whose clock ran to zero before he or she answered correctly was the loser.
Jennings and Millionaire alumni Ogi Ogas made it to the finals. They were well matched but Jennings took the $100,000 prize.
Who Gets on Jeopardy?
Thousands of people apply each year to be on the show. To be eligible, regular contestants must be 18 years or older, kids week applicants must be between age 10 and 12; teen applicants must be age 13 through 17 and in high school; and college applicants must be full-time undergraduate students, with no prior degree. Once someone has been on Jeopardy, they cannot apply again.
The first step is an online test taken at the Jeopardy Web site during specific testing periods. Adult tests are taken once a year.
Future players can also audition in Culver City, Calif., and in other designated parts of the country, once they’ve passed the online test. The audition begins with a timed, written test made up of 50 Jeopardy-like category questions.
Those who pass the test move to a round of mock Jeopardy games. The applicants are judged not only on their knowledge but also on their speaking ability, decision-making skills and enthusiasm for the show.
Each contestant has a personal interview with the production staff. There is no charge for the auditions, and travel or related expenses are not covered. Another avenue for being on the show is the Brain Bus, a tour bus that travels across the country searching for America’s smartest. The first 1,000 attendees at each Brain Bus event are given a 10-question pre-test. Mock Jeopardy games are then played, and winners even get prizes (no cash). Based on their success with the Brain Bus, the participants could be invited to California to audition for the show.
How Trivia Savvy Are You?
Be sure to answer in Jeopardy style form: What is? Where is?
• The only state to turn down the Olympics
• The “Centennial State”
• A town in the U.S. that celebrates “Mike the Headless Chicken Day”
• The longest continuous street in America
• This view inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful”
• A state with more microbreweries per capita than any other state
• The “Pinto Bean” capital of the world
(Answers: www.50states.com, click on ‘Facts,’ select Colorado)
Issue 426
SNIPPETZ THINKS IT'S ABOUT TIME
What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.
-Saint Augustine
Time is on your side; for the time being; time to go; give me some time; it will take time; I don’t have time; time is of the essence; he’s so behind the times; it’s high time you tail on out of here.
Ever wonder how many times the word time is repeated in the average human dialogue every day?
According to Dictionary.com, the word “time” can be a noun, verb or adjective – and the Web site defines “time” using 64 examples.
A few:
Of course, there’s plenty of idioms (sequence of words that form a meaning) with the word “time.” At times, Sally feels like playing hooky from her work. For the time being, however, she will have to focus on her idea so she can stay ahead of time. In good time, Sally will have made her million, and then she’ll have the time of her life.
And There’s Father Time
The term “Father Time” conjures up an image of an old bearded man carrying a scythe, clothed in a robe. The term is synonymous with New Year’s – out with the old and in with the new.
The Greek god Cronus, god of agriculture, is the original Father Time. The Roman god of agriculture was Saturn, also representative of Father Time. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a weeklong harvest in December, which is said to have influenced the decision to set Dec. 25 as the birthday of Christ; thus, Christmas. This is how, in a roundabout way, that Father Time became a symbol of the passing of the old year.
Modern-day customs have Father Time handing over the personification of time to Baby New Year.
Speaking of New Year’s
New Year’s is, of course, born out of the Gregorian calendar. Julius Ceasar was the first to introduce a calendar, which included too many leap years. By 1582, Ceasar’s calendar was out of sync with the seasons. The new year had been celebrated March 25. Pope Gregory brought time back into step by suggesting that three leap years be dropped every 400 years. The Gregorian calendar came into play and has stood its time!
Because time is the focus of New Year’s Eve, it wouldn’t be too off course of the subject to mention the myriad of celebrations throughout the world.
Besides the whistles and clangs as the midnight hour rolls in, many countries have at least one special dish traditional on New Year’s Day.
The U.S.
Of course, there’s Times Square, Dick Clark and the big ball – and cake and champagne. However, folklore has it that Americans will experience good luck during the coming year if they eat black-eyed peas and rice New Year’s Day.
Austria
Carp (believe it or not) and pork are New Year’s good luck foods in Austria. They also invite the new year with faschingkrapfen, which are Carnival jelly donuts; and glucksbringer – chocolate and marzipan candies shaped like pigs, gold coins, chimney sweeps, four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.
Vietnam
A rice pudding containing mung beans and pork is always part of the celebration. Watermelon is thought to bring good luck because of the red of the flesh. Watermelon seeds are dyed red and served as delicacies.
Greece
Jan. 1 is also St. Basil’s Day in Greece. St. Basil, a forefather of the Greek Orthodox Church, is honored for his generosity to the poor. It is believed he died Jan. 1. The most important dish on New Year’s Day is vassilopitta, or St. Basil’s cake. Inside the cake is a silver or gold coin. The cake is distributed in order: the first piece for St. Basil, the second for the household, the third for the most senior member of the household and on down to the youngest member of the household. A piece of cake is often reserved for cattle and a big piece for the poor. The person who finds the coin in the cake will have good luck the entire year.
Scotland
The first person out of bed on New Year’s Day takes spiced ale to those still sleeping. Later on, the Scottish consume black buns (a must for New Year’s) shortbread, oatmeal cakes, scones, cheese and whiskey and wine (unless the first person out of bed has been knocked silly by those he wakes up).
Enough About New Year’s
It’s time to get back to “time.”
American Scientist Stephen Hawking wrote a book, “Brief History of Time, From the Big Bang to Black Holes,” which became a bestseller in 1988. In the book, Hawking covers cosmology, Big Bang, black holes, light cones and explains complex math. The book sold more than 9 million copies and has been revised a few times.
There are many books with time as a theme, at least in the title. One book alluding to time that is nothing like Hawking’s is “A Time to Kill” by John Grisham. Reading that book will easily kill time.
A Time to Dance
Keeping time with everyday news items are hordes of magazines and newspapers that also incorporated the word “time” in their titles, such as “Time Magazine” and “The New York Times.”
But the music industry takes the cake for song titles and lyrics about time. Baby boomers will remember some.
“Time of the Season” by the Zombies
“There’s a Time for Us” by Johnny Mathis
“No Time” by Guess Who
“As Time Goes By” by a bunch, from Billie Holiday to Rod Stewart
“Time has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers
“Time After Time” by Frank Sinatra
“Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce
“Funny how Time Slips Away” by Willie Nelson
“Cryin’ Time” by Buck Owens
“Love Me Two Times” by the Doors
“Time Won’t Let Me” by the Outsiders
“Time” by Pink Floyd
As time went on, new music artists included “time” in their titles.
“Party all the Time” by Eddie Murphy and Rick James
“Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
“Time Stand Still” by Rush
“Killing Time” by Clint Black
“Time for Me to Fly” by REO Speedwagon
“This Time” by Bryan Adams
“Hearts Done Time” by Aerosmith
“Time” by Hootie and the Blowfish
“Time” by Culture Club
The Byrds win the how-many-times-can-you-use-the-word-time-in-a-song contest.
“To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to sew, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep …
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late”
Time Capsules
Preserving a piece of history and sealing it for discovery in the future is the gist of the time capsule. The idea of time capsules goes way back to vaults of artifacts hidden inside the walls of ancient Mesopotamian cities like Babylon. Tombs, including Egyptian tombs, are also considered time capsules.
Recent origins of the time capsule came from the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. The time bomb, as it was first referenced (later changed to the more sensitive time capsule), was part of the Westinghouse exhibit at the fair. The capsule was 90 inches long, more than 6 inches in diameter and weighed 800 lbs. Everyday items such as seeds for food crops, a spool of thread and a 15-minute newsreel were placed inside the capsule. It was buried 50 ft. below a park near the fair site – to be opened in the year 6939. Yes, that’s 5,000 years!
Time to Get Up
It would be remiss not to mention the association of time with an alarm clock – that pesky machine that jolts people out of their deep sleep.
Some say alarm clocks are hazardous to one’s health and waking up naturally is easier on the body – at least more calming. Mother Nature as an alarm clock allows one time to properly welcome the dawning of a new day and make the transition from sleep to consciousness. What do you suppose the boss thinks of that?
Here’s how to time your awakening – minus the shrill of the alarm or the blasting music.
Before the body wakes up, it releases a hormone to prepare for the wakeup call. To mentally release the hormone, note the time going to bed; calculate the number of hours before the wakeup hour. Sleep in 90-minute intervals, if possible. Envision wakeup time – and repeat it in your head for 20 seconds. And set the alarm as a backup.
Other great ideas for waking up without an alarm clock: get a pet or have a child.
OK, readers: Did you see this coming? Till next time, enjoy your time. Snippetz will be on time again next time. Mark your time till then. Good-bye for the time being! It’s time to go!
SNIPPETZ THINKS IT'S ABOUT TIME
What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.
-Saint Augustine
Time is on your side; for the time being; time to go; give me some time; it will take time; I don’t have time; time is of the essence; he’s so behind the times; it’s high time you tail on out of here.
Ever wonder how many times the word time is repeated in the average human dialogue every day?
According to Dictionary.com, the word “time” can be a noun, verb or adjective – and the Web site defines “time” using 64 examples.
A few:
- Time as a noun: Reading “Snippetz” is the best time of the day for me.
- Time as a verb: She timed her entrance perfectly.
- Time as an adjective: He’s a time bomb waiting to happen.
Of course, there’s plenty of idioms (sequence of words that form a meaning) with the word “time.” At times, Sally feels like playing hooky from her work. For the time being, however, she will have to focus on her idea so she can stay ahead of time. In good time, Sally will have made her million, and then she’ll have the time of her life.
And There’s Father Time
The term “Father Time” conjures up an image of an old bearded man carrying a scythe, clothed in a robe. The term is synonymous with New Year’s – out with the old and in with the new.
The Greek god Cronus, god of agriculture, is the original Father Time. The Roman god of agriculture was Saturn, also representative of Father Time. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a weeklong harvest in December, which is said to have influenced the decision to set Dec. 25 as the birthday of Christ; thus, Christmas. This is how, in a roundabout way, that Father Time became a symbol of the passing of the old year.
Modern-day customs have Father Time handing over the personification of time to Baby New Year.
Speaking of New Year’s
New Year’s is, of course, born out of the Gregorian calendar. Julius Ceasar was the first to introduce a calendar, which included too many leap years. By 1582, Ceasar’s calendar was out of sync with the seasons. The new year had been celebrated March 25. Pope Gregory brought time back into step by suggesting that three leap years be dropped every 400 years. The Gregorian calendar came into play and has stood its time!
Because time is the focus of New Year’s Eve, it wouldn’t be too off course of the subject to mention the myriad of celebrations throughout the world.
Besides the whistles and clangs as the midnight hour rolls in, many countries have at least one special dish traditional on New Year’s Day.
The U.S.
Of course, there’s Times Square, Dick Clark and the big ball – and cake and champagne. However, folklore has it that Americans will experience good luck during the coming year if they eat black-eyed peas and rice New Year’s Day.
Austria
Carp (believe it or not) and pork are New Year’s good luck foods in Austria. They also invite the new year with faschingkrapfen, which are Carnival jelly donuts; and glucksbringer – chocolate and marzipan candies shaped like pigs, gold coins, chimney sweeps, four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.
Vietnam
A rice pudding containing mung beans and pork is always part of the celebration. Watermelon is thought to bring good luck because of the red of the flesh. Watermelon seeds are dyed red and served as delicacies.
Greece
Jan. 1 is also St. Basil’s Day in Greece. St. Basil, a forefather of the Greek Orthodox Church, is honored for his generosity to the poor. It is believed he died Jan. 1. The most important dish on New Year’s Day is vassilopitta, or St. Basil’s cake. Inside the cake is a silver or gold coin. The cake is distributed in order: the first piece for St. Basil, the second for the household, the third for the most senior member of the household and on down to the youngest member of the household. A piece of cake is often reserved for cattle and a big piece for the poor. The person who finds the coin in the cake will have good luck the entire year.
Scotland
The first person out of bed on New Year’s Day takes spiced ale to those still sleeping. Later on, the Scottish consume black buns (a must for New Year’s) shortbread, oatmeal cakes, scones, cheese and whiskey and wine (unless the first person out of bed has been knocked silly by those he wakes up).
Enough About New Year’s
It’s time to get back to “time.”
American Scientist Stephen Hawking wrote a book, “Brief History of Time, From the Big Bang to Black Holes,” which became a bestseller in 1988. In the book, Hawking covers cosmology, Big Bang, black holes, light cones and explains complex math. The book sold more than 9 million copies and has been revised a few times.
There are many books with time as a theme, at least in the title. One book alluding to time that is nothing like Hawking’s is “A Time to Kill” by John Grisham. Reading that book will easily kill time.
A Time to Dance
Keeping time with everyday news items are hordes of magazines and newspapers that also incorporated the word “time” in their titles, such as “Time Magazine” and “The New York Times.”
But the music industry takes the cake for song titles and lyrics about time. Baby boomers will remember some.
“Time of the Season” by the Zombies
“There’s a Time for Us” by Johnny Mathis
“No Time” by Guess Who
“As Time Goes By” by a bunch, from Billie Holiday to Rod Stewart
“Time has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers
“Time After Time” by Frank Sinatra
“Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce
“Funny how Time Slips Away” by Willie Nelson
“Cryin’ Time” by Buck Owens
“Love Me Two Times” by the Doors
“Time Won’t Let Me” by the Outsiders
“Time” by Pink Floyd
As time went on, new music artists included “time” in their titles.
“Party all the Time” by Eddie Murphy and Rick James
“Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
“Time Stand Still” by Rush
“Killing Time” by Clint Black
“Time for Me to Fly” by REO Speedwagon
“This Time” by Bryan Adams
“Hearts Done Time” by Aerosmith
“Time” by Hootie and the Blowfish
“Time” by Culture Club
The Byrds win the how-many-times-can-you-use-the-word-time-in-a-song contest.
“To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to sew, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep …
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late”
Time Capsules
Preserving a piece of history and sealing it for discovery in the future is the gist of the time capsule. The idea of time capsules goes way back to vaults of artifacts hidden inside the walls of ancient Mesopotamian cities like Babylon. Tombs, including Egyptian tombs, are also considered time capsules.
Recent origins of the time capsule came from the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. The time bomb, as it was first referenced (later changed to the more sensitive time capsule), was part of the Westinghouse exhibit at the fair. The capsule was 90 inches long, more than 6 inches in diameter and weighed 800 lbs. Everyday items such as seeds for food crops, a spool of thread and a 15-minute newsreel were placed inside the capsule. It was buried 50 ft. below a park near the fair site – to be opened in the year 6939. Yes, that’s 5,000 years!
Time to Get Up
It would be remiss not to mention the association of time with an alarm clock – that pesky machine that jolts people out of their deep sleep.
Some say alarm clocks are hazardous to one’s health and waking up naturally is easier on the body – at least more calming. Mother Nature as an alarm clock allows one time to properly welcome the dawning of a new day and make the transition from sleep to consciousness. What do you suppose the boss thinks of that?
Here’s how to time your awakening – minus the shrill of the alarm or the blasting music.
- Decide what time to wake up on most days.
- Use the alarm clock to wake up at that time each morning. The body is governed by circadian rhythms, a human cycle that adapts to the 24-hour day. The circadian rhythm is set by waking up at the same time every day,
- How much sleep do you need? Getting enough sleep is vital to helping you wake up without an alarm clock.
- Go to bed at the same time every night. The more consistent, the better.
- Wean off the alarm clock. After one week of a regular bed time and wakeup time, one should awake without the alarm clock.
- Respond by sense
- Light – leave the curtains or blinds open to wake up with the sunrise. Close them if sleeping later. Move the bed to certain angles to catch the light. Avoid obstructing the sunlight to the bedroom. The sun rises in the east and the south exposes more sunlight. If there is a need to wake up before the sun rises, use timers on the lights in the bedroom.
- Identify sounds that wake you up, from cars to birds – and don’t forget barking dogs (now they serve a purpose). Leave windows open to clearly hear the sounds.
- A coffee maker is a perfect trigger for waking up. Although it’s not completely reliable, it can be used in combination with the birds singing or the neighbors yelling.
- Sleep experts say drink a tall glass of water before going to bed – for waking up promptly. (For those with bathrooms close by.)
Before the body wakes up, it releases a hormone to prepare for the wakeup call. To mentally release the hormone, note the time going to bed; calculate the number of hours before the wakeup hour. Sleep in 90-minute intervals, if possible. Envision wakeup time – and repeat it in your head for 20 seconds. And set the alarm as a backup.
Other great ideas for waking up without an alarm clock: get a pet or have a child.
OK, readers: Did you see this coming? Till next time, enjoy your time. Snippetz will be on time again next time. Mark your time till then. Good-bye for the time being! It’s time to go!
Issue 425
SNIPPETZ FINDS ANOTHER HOLIDAY: WINTER SOLSTICE
"Yule, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider."
- Yule Lore
On December 21, the earth’s axis will tilt the farthest away from the sun – 23.5 degrees – in the northern hemisphere, creating the shortest day of the year. The event happens within seconds, but it has fostered an everlasting holiday: winter solstice. The day signifies the beginning of winter and a day with the least amount of sunshine. Some argue that it’s the beginning of spring, because the days become longer starting Dec. 22. Reason enough to celebrate!
“Solstice” comes from the Latin word “solstitium,” which translates to sol (sun) and stitium (stoppage).
Less light became a challenge in ancient times for people who lived off the land. They scrambled to horde food for the shorter days and feared that the sun would completely disappear, and they would slowly die of starvation or cold. They began to hold rituals in honor of Mother Nature, asking her for the sun to return. Those rituals became ensconced over time and eventually known as winter solstice.
The Rituals
In her book, “The Winter Solstice,” Ellen Jackson said people long ago tried to placate the gods by bringing evergreen trees into their homes, tying apples to oak and fir tree branches “as a promise that good times will come again.”
Other traditions – often associated with Paganism – that relate to modern-day Christmas celebrations include mistletoe, gifts, reindeer, holly and ivy and winter plays.
In old Europe, winter solstice was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul or wheel – the namesake of the Yule log.
From Christians to Jews to vampires, many celebrate winter solstice in a variety of ways for a myriad of reasons.
Christianity: Many of the symbols and customs associated with Christmas are rooted in winter solstice celebrations of ancient pagan religions. Christians have interwoven many of the original rituals with their celebration of the birth of Christ. In fact, the date, Dec. 25, was born out of paganism. In the third century BC, as part of the Roman winter solstice celebration, Emperor Aurelian established Dec. 25 as the birthday of the “invincible sun.” In the year 273, the Christian Church chose Dec. 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ; and, by 336, the Roman feast had become Christian as well. It took centuries before the birthday (Dec. 25) of Jesus Christ was accepted among Christians. Because of its link with paganism, there was controversy in the early days.
In the 17th century in Massachusetts, the Puritans tried to ban Christmas because of its link to Paganism. In 1647, the English Parliament abolished Christmas.
Obviously, the Dec. 25 birthday of Jesus was “born again” and has become a widely celebrated event – beyond Christianity to commerciality. Controversy still surrounds Christmas in the modern world. Many people believe that Christmas should be more inclusive of all faiths. Christians, however, believe in keeping the true meaning in their religion alive and in the forefront of December celebrations. Many Christians dismiss winter solstice celebrations because of its origin to paganism.
Native American Spirituality: Native American celebrations focus on the sun, the new year and the rebirth of spring vegetation. Winter solstice rites among the Pueblo tribe include making prayer sticks and retreats. The Hopi tribe honors the winter solstice through a ceremony called Soyal, which lasts for 20 days. Purification rituals, a rabbit hunt and a feast and blessings are part of Soyal celebrations.
Atheism: More recently, atheists throughout the country have organized winter solstice celebrations as a way to celebrate the season, without having to adhere to the Christian meaning of Christmas. Some of the celebrations include the Great North Texas Infidel Bash in Weatherford, Texas; the Winter Solstice Bash in Roselle, N.J.; and winter solstice parties in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Maryland, Iowa, Arizona, California and Colorado. Winter solstice celebrations for atheists have spread to many states in the last few years.
Neopaganism: Paganism is coined neopaganism today because of its root to many pre-Christian religions. Neopagans are polytheistic or duotheistic, meaning they believe in two or many gods. Wicca is the most common religion derived from ancient Paganism, and Wiccans worship the Goddess and the God. Neopagan beliefs are centered on nature, the earth and the seasons – the same as the ancient Pagan cultures that created winter solstice celebrations. In keeping with tradition, Wiccans (and other neopagans) celebrate winter solstice, often referring to it as Yule. In Wiccan religion, the winter solstice is a time of self-exploration and planning for the future.
Druidism is seeded in paganism, too. In the ancient Celtic society, Druids were priests, teachers, philosophers, scientists and judges. They led all public rituals, including the winter solstice, which, among Druids, represents the death of the old sun and the birth of the dark half of the year.
Vampyres: Not to be confused with Hollywood versions, commonly spelled “vampires.” There are real people – vampyres – who believe they need to ingest small quantities of blood to maintain strength and energy. The “Long Night” is the winter solstice festival for vampyres. At the celebration, vampyres recognize new members of the coven and some perform rites of passage into the vampyre world.
Vampyres do not believe they are immortal. Not all vampyres drink blood, and those who do get their blood from willing sources. (From www.realvampyres.net)
A Few Celebration Ideas
Last, for the perfect holiday music that features traditional Christmas songs and tunes akin to the winter solstice, check out “Midwinter Graces” by Tori Amos. The singer had called the album a celebration of the winter solstice and has been dubbed as the “perfect blend of spirituality and nature.”
Merry Winter Solstice?
SNIPPETZ FINDS ANOTHER HOLIDAY: WINTER SOLSTICE
"Yule, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider."
- Yule Lore
On December 21, the earth’s axis will tilt the farthest away from the sun – 23.5 degrees – in the northern hemisphere, creating the shortest day of the year. The event happens within seconds, but it has fostered an everlasting holiday: winter solstice. The day signifies the beginning of winter and a day with the least amount of sunshine. Some argue that it’s the beginning of spring, because the days become longer starting Dec. 22. Reason enough to celebrate!
“Solstice” comes from the Latin word “solstitium,” which translates to sol (sun) and stitium (stoppage).
Less light became a challenge in ancient times for people who lived off the land. They scrambled to horde food for the shorter days and feared that the sun would completely disappear, and they would slowly die of starvation or cold. They began to hold rituals in honor of Mother Nature, asking her for the sun to return. Those rituals became ensconced over time and eventually known as winter solstice.
The Rituals
In her book, “The Winter Solstice,” Ellen Jackson said people long ago tried to placate the gods by bringing evergreen trees into their homes, tying apples to oak and fir tree branches “as a promise that good times will come again.”
Other traditions – often associated with Paganism – that relate to modern-day Christmas celebrations include mistletoe, gifts, reindeer, holly and ivy and winter plays.
In old Europe, winter solstice was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul or wheel – the namesake of the Yule log.
From Christians to Jews to vampires, many celebrate winter solstice in a variety of ways for a myriad of reasons.
Christianity: Many of the symbols and customs associated with Christmas are rooted in winter solstice celebrations of ancient pagan religions. Christians have interwoven many of the original rituals with their celebration of the birth of Christ. In fact, the date, Dec. 25, was born out of paganism. In the third century BC, as part of the Roman winter solstice celebration, Emperor Aurelian established Dec. 25 as the birthday of the “invincible sun.” In the year 273, the Christian Church chose Dec. 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ; and, by 336, the Roman feast had become Christian as well. It took centuries before the birthday (Dec. 25) of Jesus Christ was accepted among Christians. Because of its link with paganism, there was controversy in the early days.
In the 17th century in Massachusetts, the Puritans tried to ban Christmas because of its link to Paganism. In 1647, the English Parliament abolished Christmas.
Obviously, the Dec. 25 birthday of Jesus was “born again” and has become a widely celebrated event – beyond Christianity to commerciality. Controversy still surrounds Christmas in the modern world. Many people believe that Christmas should be more inclusive of all faiths. Christians, however, believe in keeping the true meaning in their religion alive and in the forefront of December celebrations. Many Christians dismiss winter solstice celebrations because of its origin to paganism.
Native American Spirituality: Native American celebrations focus on the sun, the new year and the rebirth of spring vegetation. Winter solstice rites among the Pueblo tribe include making prayer sticks and retreats. The Hopi tribe honors the winter solstice through a ceremony called Soyal, which lasts for 20 days. Purification rituals, a rabbit hunt and a feast and blessings are part of Soyal celebrations.
Atheism: More recently, atheists throughout the country have organized winter solstice celebrations as a way to celebrate the season, without having to adhere to the Christian meaning of Christmas. Some of the celebrations include the Great North Texas Infidel Bash in Weatherford, Texas; the Winter Solstice Bash in Roselle, N.J.; and winter solstice parties in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Maryland, Iowa, Arizona, California and Colorado. Winter solstice celebrations for atheists have spread to many states in the last few years.
Neopaganism: Paganism is coined neopaganism today because of its root to many pre-Christian religions. Neopagans are polytheistic or duotheistic, meaning they believe in two or many gods. Wicca is the most common religion derived from ancient Paganism, and Wiccans worship the Goddess and the God. Neopagan beliefs are centered on nature, the earth and the seasons – the same as the ancient Pagan cultures that created winter solstice celebrations. In keeping with tradition, Wiccans (and other neopagans) celebrate winter solstice, often referring to it as Yule. In Wiccan religion, the winter solstice is a time of self-exploration and planning for the future.
Druidism is seeded in paganism, too. In the ancient Celtic society, Druids were priests, teachers, philosophers, scientists and judges. They led all public rituals, including the winter solstice, which, among Druids, represents the death of the old sun and the birth of the dark half of the year.
Vampyres: Not to be confused with Hollywood versions, commonly spelled “vampires.” There are real people – vampyres – who believe they need to ingest small quantities of blood to maintain strength and energy. The “Long Night” is the winter solstice festival for vampyres. At the celebration, vampyres recognize new members of the coven and some perform rites of passage into the vampyre world.
Vampyres do not believe they are immortal. Not all vampyres drink blood, and those who do get their blood from willing sources. (From www.realvampyres.net)
A Few Celebration Ideas
- Exchange gifts and enjoy special dinners with friends and families of all faiths over the course of several days and nights (done in the olden days). The ancient Roman Saturnalia festival lasted for a week.
- Decorate the house with herbs and Druid holiday colors of red, green and white. Use ancient symbols of winter solstice as part of the décor: holly, ivy, evergreen boughs, pine cones and mistletoe.
- Have a winter solstice eve ritual: meditate in darkness and welcome the birth of the sun by lighting candles and singing non-religious carols. Burn a Yule log and save a bit for next year’s fire.
- Contribute to wellness on earth by donating food and clothing to the poor; volunteering time; donating to environmental groups and meditating for world peace. And don’t forget to put up a bird feeder for the birds that stay around for the winter solstice.
Last, for the perfect holiday music that features traditional Christmas songs and tunes akin to the winter solstice, check out “Midwinter Graces” by Tori Amos. The singer had called the album a celebration of the winter solstice and has been dubbed as the “perfect blend of spirituality and nature.”
Merry Winter Solstice?
Issue 424
SNIPPETZ YELLS BINGO!
How do you get three little old ladies to say "damn?”
Get a fourth one to say "Bingo.”
Surprisingly, thirty percent of bingo players are under age 35; and, with the onset of online bingo, the game is no longer associated with little old ladies. The average age of online players is 41. However, more than 1 billion people still play bingo in bingo halls across the nation. It’s been a favorite pastime worldwide for centuries.
A Historical Perspective
The game of Bingo goes back to 1530 to an Italian lottery called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia.” Italians still play the game every Sunday. France took up the game in the late 1770s. Called “Le Lotto,” it was a game for wealthy Frenchmen. In the 1800s, Germany caught on to bingo and used it to teach children how to spell and learn math and history.
In 1929, bingo was introduced in North America – only it was originally called “beano.” The original version had a dealer who would select numbered discs from a cigar box; players would then mark their cards with beans and yell “beano” if they won. The first game was played at a traveling carnival near Atlanta, Ga.
A New York toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, took the game to the Big Apple and renamed it “bingo” after he overheard someone accidentally yell “bingo” instead of “beano.” The Lowe Bingo Game had two versions: a 12-card set for $1; a $2 set with 24 cards.
When churches began to offer bingo as a fundraiser, the game’s popularity spread like wildfire throughout the country.
Cashing in on the Craze
A Catholic priest from Wilkes-Barre, Penn., approached Edwin Lowe about using bingo to raise funds to remodel his church building. After Lowe agreed, the priest held regular bingo nights and eventually raised enough money to not only remodel but also construct a new building.
By 1934, an estimated 10,000 bingo games were held each week as charity events throughout North America.
Colorado has about 63 bingo halls – some are independent; others are connected to a few Moose lodges, VFWs, Elks and churches.
Bingo has become big business for nonprofit organizations and Native Americans.
In the U.S., 48 states and more than 100 Native American reservations offer legal bingo games.
Rules, Rules, Rules
Because bingo involves money wagering activity, it falls under gambling and is highly regulated.
Each state has a different set of policies governing bingo and bingo operators. Some general rules nationwide:
Online Bingo
It’s a Web-based world, so why wouldn’t bingo find an online niche? More than 3 million people regularly play online bingo, and there are more than 250,000 cash winners at online bingo sites every week.
Online bingo sites offer a variety of options, from playing bingo for entertainment only to non-cash prizes like electronics, subscriptions and gift cards. Most prefer to play for money. Cash prizes range from $1 to thousands for one single game. Online bingo has created the same kind of venue for developing friendships as the bingo hall. Online chatting is common during bingo games.
Online bingo sites offer free-to-play bingo games, along with a few pay-to-play games. Other sites allow players to simply purchase online bingo cards. The only difference between land bingo and online bingo is the latter is faster.
More than 80 percent of online players are women, and people age 65 or older comprise only 2 percent of online players.
Bingo and Hamburgers?
Los Angeles is home to one of the most well known bingo games in the U.S. called “Legendary Bingo,” and it began in 1998 at a coffee house in L.A. When the coffee joint went out of business, Legendary Bingo headed over to Hamburger Mary’s, a popular bar and restaurant in L.A. Legendary Bingo has raised almost $1 million for charities ranging from AIDS research to Habitat for Humanity to the arts.
Hollywood shows up for the games as well in the form of celebrity bingo callers. Included in the list is Ed Asner, Linda Blair, Ruth Buzzi, Courteney Cox, Daryl Hannah, Lisa Kudrow, Rod McKuen and Tori Spelling, to name a few.
The games are also held regularly in West Hollywood, Palm Springs and Newport Beach. As with other theme-based bingo games, Legendary Bingo is not geared for little old ladies, unless you’re a little old lady in drag. Acting as cheerleaders, drag queens rally the players and keep the game lively.
Los Angeles Magazine called Legendary Bingo “one of the hottest, most dangerous things to do at night.” Well, what more can we say about that?
Not Just One Kind of Bingo
75 Ball Bingo: most commonly played in the United States. This form of bingo is played on a 5x5 board with 75 being the highest number on the card.
90 Ball Bingo: the preferred type of bingo game used in the United Kingdom. Players can win multiple prizes from the same board. The bingo card has 9 columns and 3 rows.
Regular Bingo: The participants play for just one prize. The first person to cover a card in the pre-determined pattern wins.
Combo: more than one way to win and the same player can win twice or multiple players can win. For example, someone could win with a one-shape and another person may follow up that win with a four-corner pattern.
Pre-call: all cards are sealed. No one can see their cards until the game begins. These games are special events with big payouts.
Odd-Even: another sealed bingo card game where called numbers are either even or odd.
Progressive: big money bingo. The winner must get bingo in a pre-determined number of calls. If no one wins, the pot is carried over to the next round. The winnings grow until there is a winner.
Bingo Facts
For The Enthusiast
• There’s Bingo America on the GSN television station, which also has an online version.
• And there’s Bingo Caller Magazine, Bingo Scene Magazine and Bingo and Gaming Magazine – online or in print.
• And a song (maybe not related but who knows): “There was a farmer who had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o – B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, Bingo was his name-o” – a simple song at that.
BINGO!
SNIPPETZ YELLS BINGO!
How do you get three little old ladies to say "damn?”
Get a fourth one to say "Bingo.”
Surprisingly, thirty percent of bingo players are under age 35; and, with the onset of online bingo, the game is no longer associated with little old ladies. The average age of online players is 41. However, more than 1 billion people still play bingo in bingo halls across the nation. It’s been a favorite pastime worldwide for centuries.
A Historical Perspective
The game of Bingo goes back to 1530 to an Italian lottery called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia.” Italians still play the game every Sunday. France took up the game in the late 1770s. Called “Le Lotto,” it was a game for wealthy Frenchmen. In the 1800s, Germany caught on to bingo and used it to teach children how to spell and learn math and history.
In 1929, bingo was introduced in North America – only it was originally called “beano.” The original version had a dealer who would select numbered discs from a cigar box; players would then mark their cards with beans and yell “beano” if they won. The first game was played at a traveling carnival near Atlanta, Ga.
A New York toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, took the game to the Big Apple and renamed it “bingo” after he overheard someone accidentally yell “bingo” instead of “beano.” The Lowe Bingo Game had two versions: a 12-card set for $1; a $2 set with 24 cards.
When churches began to offer bingo as a fundraiser, the game’s popularity spread like wildfire throughout the country.
Cashing in on the Craze
A Catholic priest from Wilkes-Barre, Penn., approached Edwin Lowe about using bingo to raise funds to remodel his church building. After Lowe agreed, the priest held regular bingo nights and eventually raised enough money to not only remodel but also construct a new building.
By 1934, an estimated 10,000 bingo games were held each week as charity events throughout North America.
Colorado has about 63 bingo halls – some are independent; others are connected to a few Moose lodges, VFWs, Elks and churches.
Bingo has become big business for nonprofit organizations and Native Americans.
In the U.S., 48 states and more than 100 Native American reservations offer legal bingo games.
Rules, Rules, Rules
Because bingo involves money wagering activity, it falls under gambling and is highly regulated.
Each state has a different set of policies governing bingo and bingo operators. Some general rules nationwide:
- Bingo players must be at least 18 years old.
- Anyone closely affiliated with a bingo operator and employees are not eligible to play bingo.
- All bingo players must present valid identification.
- Regulating agencies must ensure that a bingo operation is fair and transactions are secure.
- Offshore bingo operators must be licensed within the state where they operate their business.
Online Bingo
It’s a Web-based world, so why wouldn’t bingo find an online niche? More than 3 million people regularly play online bingo, and there are more than 250,000 cash winners at online bingo sites every week.
Online bingo sites offer a variety of options, from playing bingo for entertainment only to non-cash prizes like electronics, subscriptions and gift cards. Most prefer to play for money. Cash prizes range from $1 to thousands for one single game. Online bingo has created the same kind of venue for developing friendships as the bingo hall. Online chatting is common during bingo games.
Online bingo sites offer free-to-play bingo games, along with a few pay-to-play games. Other sites allow players to simply purchase online bingo cards. The only difference between land bingo and online bingo is the latter is faster.
More than 80 percent of online players are women, and people age 65 or older comprise only 2 percent of online players.
Bingo and Hamburgers?
Los Angeles is home to one of the most well known bingo games in the U.S. called “Legendary Bingo,” and it began in 1998 at a coffee house in L.A. When the coffee joint went out of business, Legendary Bingo headed over to Hamburger Mary’s, a popular bar and restaurant in L.A. Legendary Bingo has raised almost $1 million for charities ranging from AIDS research to Habitat for Humanity to the arts.
Hollywood shows up for the games as well in the form of celebrity bingo callers. Included in the list is Ed Asner, Linda Blair, Ruth Buzzi, Courteney Cox, Daryl Hannah, Lisa Kudrow, Rod McKuen and Tori Spelling, to name a few.
The games are also held regularly in West Hollywood, Palm Springs and Newport Beach. As with other theme-based bingo games, Legendary Bingo is not geared for little old ladies, unless you’re a little old lady in drag. Acting as cheerleaders, drag queens rally the players and keep the game lively.
Los Angeles Magazine called Legendary Bingo “one of the hottest, most dangerous things to do at night.” Well, what more can we say about that?
Not Just One Kind of Bingo
75 Ball Bingo: most commonly played in the United States. This form of bingo is played on a 5x5 board with 75 being the highest number on the card.
90 Ball Bingo: the preferred type of bingo game used in the United Kingdom. Players can win multiple prizes from the same board. The bingo card has 9 columns and 3 rows.
Regular Bingo: The participants play for just one prize. The first person to cover a card in the pre-determined pattern wins.
Combo: more than one way to win and the same player can win twice or multiple players can win. For example, someone could win with a one-shape and another person may follow up that win with a four-corner pattern.
Pre-call: all cards are sealed. No one can see their cards until the game begins. These games are special events with big payouts.
Odd-Even: another sealed bingo card game where called numbers are either even or odd.
Progressive: big money bingo. The winner must get bingo in a pre-determined number of calls. If no one wins, the pot is carried over to the next round. The winnings grow until there is a winner.
Bingo Facts
- Other celebrity bingo players: Russell Crowe, Catherine-Zeta Jones, Queen Elizabeth II.
- Bingo is the No.1 community fundraising source in all of North America.
- The average Bingo game lasts between three and six minutes, with an average of 30 seconds to verify a winning claim.
- A professional bingo caller averages 23 bingo numbers called per minute.
- There are exactly 1,474,200 possible unique Bingo Card combinations in the traditional game of 75-Ball Bingo.
- Male Bingo players by the name of “Joe” win more often than male players with any other name.
- Female Bingo players by the name of “Margaret” win more often than female players with any other name.
- Bingo is the most popular pastime in the United Kingdom. More money is spent on bingo tickets in UK bingo clubs each year than on football and baseball games combined.
- More than 60,000 players participated in the biggest bingo game in history. The big game took place in 1934 in New York City’s Teaneck Armory; 10 cars were given away as prizes.
For The Enthusiast
• There’s Bingo America on the GSN television station, which also has an online version.
• And there’s Bingo Caller Magazine, Bingo Scene Magazine and Bingo and Gaming Magazine – online or in print.
• And a song (maybe not related but who knows): “There was a farmer who had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o – B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, Bingo was his name-o” – a simple song at that.
BINGO!
Issue 423
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS NO SHORTAGE OF HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER
What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.
- Phyllis Diller
There is indeed a holiday in December for everyone – be it religious, cultural, scrooge-like or just a plain day off work. And December means big business for merchants. According to a survey conducted by American Research Group, Inc., Americans spent on average $431 in 2008 for gift-giving, a number that represents a steady decrease since the high of $1,052 in 2001. This year promises even less spending. Nonetheless, the holiday season is upon us, so pick a holiday to your liking and let the celebrating begin!
St. Nicholas Day – December 6
St. Nick is not just a nickname for Santa Claus. He was an actual person, the Bishop of Myra, living in what is now Turkey from 270 to 346 A.D. St. Nicholas reputedly would secretly bestowed gifts on others, particularly the poor and children. He became the patron saint of children, students, merchants, sailors and pawnbrokers.
Saint Nicholas festivals are held in many countries around the world, but in cities in the United States with a significant German population such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis and Milwaukee, the holiday is a bit more low key. On the eve of Dec. 6, children put a shoe or sock outside and in the morning will find a small gift such as candy (in the case of having been “good” throughout the year) or coal (not so good). Sound familiar? It is thought by many that the tradition of Saint Nicholas Day is where Santa Claus and gift-gifting associated with Christmas originated.
Hanukkah – December 11
This year, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 11. This Jewish holiday is celebrated for eight consecutive days and nights and commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem which had been desecrated by King Antiochus during the 2nd century B.C. When Judah Maccabee, the son of the Jewish Head Priest Mattathias stormed the temple to reclaim it, he found it in very poor condition as it had been used for the worship of Greek gods with rituals that included sacrificing pigs on the altar. He also found that there was one remaining container of olive oil that had been sealed by the High Priest to fuel the menorah in the temple. There was only enough to light the temple for one day, but miraculously the oil lasted for eight days, which coincidentally happened to be the amount of time it took to press a batch of new oil.
The holiday is celebrated with rituals that include the lighting of one candle each night, representing the miracle of the oil. Jewish prayers and blessings are recited along with singing of songs. And what’s a holiday without food? Foods for Hanukkah include specifically those fried in olive oil (a symbol of the miracle of the eight days of oil), especially latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts filled with jam.
Tradition also includes the giving of gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. It was once the giving of coins to children, but it is thought that the influence of the gift-giving tradition honored at Christmas has now taken a stronghold on the Jewish holiday.
Humbug Day – December 21
If you like to think of yourself as a Grinch or scrooge, this is your day! It’s difficult to find where Humbug Day originated, but the name seems to speak for itself. Like any other holiday, it should be open for establishing its own traditions and consuming special foods. There’s always the possible tradition of grumbling and complaining about the holiday season in general. Maybe pizza could be the food of choice. Well, we have to start somewhere.
Christmas – December 25
Christmas is the Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The holiday is rich in custom and tradition with preparation for the 25th starting as early as the day after Thanksgiving (and for some stores – October!). The holiday is so widespread that it is celebrated by many non-Christians as well. Gift-giving is a signature custom as well as sending greeting cards, singing Christmas carols and decorating with Christmas trees, nativity scenes and lights. And let’s not forget the all important Santa Claus, the mythical figure who brings gifts to the delight of children everywhere.
A few ‘snippetz’ about Christmas:
Kwanzaa - December 26
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday developed in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a Pan-African studies professor. The name Kwanzaa comes from Swahili (an East African language) and means first fruits. The holiday spans seven days, ending on Jan. 1. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African heritage. Initially, Karenga meant for the celebration to be an alternative to the Christian celebration of Christmas. However, over the years, it was recognized that both can and are celebrated simultaneously.
First and foremost, the Kwanzaa holiday centers around seven principles of black culture, also developed by Karenga. They are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Each of these principles has its own day, so to speak, within the seven days of the Kwanzaa celebration. Each evening, a family member lights a candle in honor of the principle for that day. In some families gifts are exchanged and the evening may culminate in a feast of traditional foods such as fruit salad, fried okra and greens, yams, jollof rice (a rice dish with tomatoes and mainly fish or chicken) and cornbread.
Boxing Day – December 26
Contrary to what the name might imply, this holiday is not about the sport of boxing. It’s a national bank or public holiday observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. It is also celebrated in South Africa, but is known as the Day of Goodwill. The name actually comes from an English tradition of giving gifts called the “Christmas box” to those less fortunate. In the countries that celebrate Boxing Day, there are two main celebratory traditions – shopping and sports. For the shoppers, merchants drastically reduce products for sale and folks will line up in the wee hours of the morning for those 5:00 a.m. “door busters” (think Black Friday in the U.S.). For couch potatoes, the day offers a plethora of sports to enjoy – football, rugby, cricket and ice hockey.
National Whiner’s Day – December 26
See Humbug Day above, but add whining to grumbling and complaining; replace pizza with hamburgers.
Two Takes on the Holiday Season
Dr. Seuss: And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
Dave Barry: In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'
Happy Holidays!
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS NO SHORTAGE OF HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER
What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.
- Phyllis Diller
There is indeed a holiday in December for everyone – be it religious, cultural, scrooge-like or just a plain day off work. And December means big business for merchants. According to a survey conducted by American Research Group, Inc., Americans spent on average $431 in 2008 for gift-giving, a number that represents a steady decrease since the high of $1,052 in 2001. This year promises even less spending. Nonetheless, the holiday season is upon us, so pick a holiday to your liking and let the celebrating begin!
St. Nicholas Day – December 6
St. Nick is not just a nickname for Santa Claus. He was an actual person, the Bishop of Myra, living in what is now Turkey from 270 to 346 A.D. St. Nicholas reputedly would secretly bestowed gifts on others, particularly the poor and children. He became the patron saint of children, students, merchants, sailors and pawnbrokers.
Saint Nicholas festivals are held in many countries around the world, but in cities in the United States with a significant German population such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis and Milwaukee, the holiday is a bit more low key. On the eve of Dec. 6, children put a shoe or sock outside and in the morning will find a small gift such as candy (in the case of having been “good” throughout the year) or coal (not so good). Sound familiar? It is thought by many that the tradition of Saint Nicholas Day is where Santa Claus and gift-gifting associated with Christmas originated.
Hanukkah – December 11
This year, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 11. This Jewish holiday is celebrated for eight consecutive days and nights and commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem which had been desecrated by King Antiochus during the 2nd century B.C. When Judah Maccabee, the son of the Jewish Head Priest Mattathias stormed the temple to reclaim it, he found it in very poor condition as it had been used for the worship of Greek gods with rituals that included sacrificing pigs on the altar. He also found that there was one remaining container of olive oil that had been sealed by the High Priest to fuel the menorah in the temple. There was only enough to light the temple for one day, but miraculously the oil lasted for eight days, which coincidentally happened to be the amount of time it took to press a batch of new oil.
The holiday is celebrated with rituals that include the lighting of one candle each night, representing the miracle of the oil. Jewish prayers and blessings are recited along with singing of songs. And what’s a holiday without food? Foods for Hanukkah include specifically those fried in olive oil (a symbol of the miracle of the eight days of oil), especially latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts filled with jam.
Tradition also includes the giving of gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. It was once the giving of coins to children, but it is thought that the influence of the gift-giving tradition honored at Christmas has now taken a stronghold on the Jewish holiday.
Humbug Day – December 21
If you like to think of yourself as a Grinch or scrooge, this is your day! It’s difficult to find where Humbug Day originated, but the name seems to speak for itself. Like any other holiday, it should be open for establishing its own traditions and consuming special foods. There’s always the possible tradition of grumbling and complaining about the holiday season in general. Maybe pizza could be the food of choice. Well, we have to start somewhere.
Christmas – December 25
Christmas is the Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The holiday is rich in custom and tradition with preparation for the 25th starting as early as the day after Thanksgiving (and for some stores – October!). The holiday is so widespread that it is celebrated by many non-Christians as well. Gift-giving is a signature custom as well as sending greeting cards, singing Christmas carols and decorating with Christmas trees, nativity scenes and lights. And let’s not forget the all important Santa Claus, the mythical figure who brings gifts to the delight of children everywhere.
A few ‘snippetz’ about Christmas:
- The name Christmas originated from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes Maesse, meaning Christ’s Mass. In Greek, the letter X is the first letter of Christ; therefore, ‘Xmas’ is oftentimes used as the abbreviation for Christmas.
- Although Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world, it is not a public holiday for Japan, China (except in Hong Kong and Macao), Iran, Turkey, North Korean, Nepal, Thailand and Algeria.
- In the early fifteenth century, it was traditional for homes and churches in London to “deck their halls” with ivy and other such greenery. Holly was said to protect against pagans and witches with its berries and thorns representing the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at his crucifixion. Ivy’s heart-shaped leaves was said to symbolize the coming of Jesus.
- The Christmas tree is thought of as originally a pagan tradition that took place around the winter solstice and involved tree worshiping.
- The first commercial Christmas card was produced in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole of London.
- Santa Claus was first seen in America in 1810 and was depicted as wearing bishops robes (see Saint Nicholas Day). His image evolved over the years and by the 1880s, Santa was sporting a two-piece red suit with fur trim.
Kwanzaa - December 26
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday developed in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a Pan-African studies professor. The name Kwanzaa comes from Swahili (an East African language) and means first fruits. The holiday spans seven days, ending on Jan. 1. Kwanzaa is a celebration of African heritage. Initially, Karenga meant for the celebration to be an alternative to the Christian celebration of Christmas. However, over the years, it was recognized that both can and are celebrated simultaneously.
First and foremost, the Kwanzaa holiday centers around seven principles of black culture, also developed by Karenga. They are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Each of these principles has its own day, so to speak, within the seven days of the Kwanzaa celebration. Each evening, a family member lights a candle in honor of the principle for that day. In some families gifts are exchanged and the evening may culminate in a feast of traditional foods such as fruit salad, fried okra and greens, yams, jollof rice (a rice dish with tomatoes and mainly fish or chicken) and cornbread.
Boxing Day – December 26
Contrary to what the name might imply, this holiday is not about the sport of boxing. It’s a national bank or public holiday observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. It is also celebrated in South Africa, but is known as the Day of Goodwill. The name actually comes from an English tradition of giving gifts called the “Christmas box” to those less fortunate. In the countries that celebrate Boxing Day, there are two main celebratory traditions – shopping and sports. For the shoppers, merchants drastically reduce products for sale and folks will line up in the wee hours of the morning for those 5:00 a.m. “door busters” (think Black Friday in the U.S.). For couch potatoes, the day offers a plethora of sports to enjoy – football, rugby, cricket and ice hockey.
National Whiner’s Day – December 26
See Humbug Day above, but add whining to grumbling and complaining; replace pizza with hamburgers.
Two Takes on the Holiday Season
Dr. Seuss: And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
Dave Barry: In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'
Happy Holidays!
Issue 422
SNIPPETZ WONDERS: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO D.B. COOPER?
Of the nearly dozen in-flight hijackings that have taken place in the United States since the late 1950s, there has been only one that the FBI has yet to solve – Northwest Airlines Flight 305 – perpetrator: D.B Cooper. Hijackings have not typically been the source of adventure tales or lighthearted jokes, but D.B. Cooper’s story has spawned such, as well as what might be considered a cult following, for over 30 years.
The Hijacking
On Nov. 24, 1971, in Portland, Ore., a middle age man by the name of Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Airlines Boeing 727 commercial jet. Flight 305, with a total of 36 passengers, was scheduled to leave for Seattle, Wash., at 4:35 p.m. but took off a bit late at 4:45 p.m.
When the plane reached cruising altitude, Dan Cooper handed the stewardess a note. The note was never found, so there is no real account of its contents. But the gist of the note indicated that Cooper was hijacking the plane for ransom money and had a bomb in his briefcase, which he would use if they didn’t oblige his demands.
After the captain of the plane was told of the note, he came out to talk to Cooper with the hope that the note was a hoax. When Cooper opened his briefcase to reveal the makings of a bomb, the captain went back to the cockpit and radioed Seattle.
The Ransom
Cooper demanded four parachutes and $200,000. He ordered the pilots to circle the Seattle airport until the money and the parachutes were available for delivery to him. The president of Northwest Airlines decided to give in to Cooper’s demands.
Airline officials and FBI agents scurried to attain the parachutes and the $200,000. The types and number of parachutes that Cooper had requested led authorities to speculate that Cooper had experience in freefall parachuting – and that he might have had an accomplice.
The FBI gathered $200,000 – all in $20 bills, which were photographed with a high-speed machine that created a microfilm for identifying serial numbers.
At 5:24 p.m., the ransom had been collected. The flight crew was told to head in and the plane landed at 5:45 p.m.
The Escape
After Cooper received the money and the parachutes, all of the passengers and two stewardesses were allowed to leave the plane. The pilots and one stewardess remained.
At Cooper’s demands, the plane was refueled for a flight to Reno, Nev. En route to Reno, Cooper told the pilots to fly low – not to exceed 10,000 feet altitude, with landing gear down and to maintain speeds below 172.5 mph. Cooper also told the stewardess and pilots to remain in the crew compartment, which left Cooper alone in the passenger area.
In flight to Reno, a flight engineer noticed a red “door open” warning light on the flight instrument, indicating the back stairwell was opening. When the plane landed in Reno a little after 8 p.m., Cooper was gone, along with the money and two parachutes.
Cooper had jumped into a storm, with air temperatures of 7 degrees below zero and strong winds and freezing rain. The weather even deterred the hunt for Cooper by a few days.
He had left a few items on board. FBI agents found a tie, tie tack, eight of Cooper’s cigarette butts and two parachutes on the plane.
Not only did Cooper gain notoriety as the FBI’s only unsolved hijacking case, he also prompted Boeing 727 to redesign the jetliner so the rear door would remain closed in flight.
The Chase
For three weeks after the weather cleared, soldiers from Fort Lewis Washington trekked across an area where it had been calculated that Cooper bailed from the plane. Because of the red warning light and the “bumps in the road” the pilots described when the stairway was opened, authorities estimated that Cooper had landed near Ariel, Wash.
The search took the soldiers through a rugged forested area and farm land. The FBI used a computer to try and nail the exact site where Cooper landed. Conclusions led to Lake Merwin, located on the edge of Ariel.
All efforts to find Cooper were fruitless. Not even a stitch of clothing had been found during the search. The FBI believed (and still does) that Cooper could not have survived the jump.
Although Cooper’s first name had been listed as Dan, FBI agents had checked out a man in Portland, Ore., with the name of D.B. Cooper. He had been cleared, but for whatever reason D.B. Cooper became the hijacker’s moniker.
Cooper Gets His Day
D.B. Cooper became the subject of a song, a movie (in which he got away with the money), T-shirts and events.
In 1976, five years after the hijacking, residents of Ariel, Wash., held a D.B. Cooper party. Despite the FBI’s contention that Cooper didn’t make it, others wanted to believe differently. Cooper became a celebrity – the only hijacker to elude the FBI.
Years later, in 1984, members of the U.S. Air Force squadron that had sent planes in pursuit of Cooper in 1971 staged their own celebration: the D.B. Cooper Debacle Dining In, a formal dinner held at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Wash.
D. B. Cooper Day became a tradition – set on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s been reported that people from all over the world visit Ariel each year to take part in Cooper Day festivities.
Speaking of the Party
The annual Ariel, Wash., D.B. Cooper party is the town’s claim to fame. About 250 people show up every year to join the hoopla surrounding the mystery of one of the country’s most infamous hijackers. With each five-year celebration, the number of attendees doubles.
The party begins at 1 p.m. and lasts all day – usually ending about midnight – probably a late night for a town of 700 people. There’s a D. B. Cooper look-alike contest – fans show up dressed in a suit, minus their shoes and carrying a backpack, parachute and goggles. Prizes are given to the person who comes up with the best story about what could have happened to D.B. Of course, there’s food and drink and plenty of music.
Fraud and Copycats
Cooper himself was a copycat. Just two weeks prior to the Seattle hijacking, a man in Montana had tried to hijack a plane with a gun but was overcome by the flight crew.
More than a year after the Cooper hijacking, two men conned a national magazine editor into paying them $30,000 for an exclusive interview with the elusive Cooper. One of the men would pose as Cooper. After authorities were alerted to the scam, the two men were arrested on federal fraud charges.
On July 12, 1980, a young man between age 17 and 20, took charge of a Northwest Airlines flight in Seattle as it taxied on the runway before taking off to Portland, Ore. Stating that he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanding two parachutes and $100,000, he held off authorities for 10 hours. After he released seven crew members and the women and children among the 52 passengers, a crafty stewardess slipped him a couple of valiums in his drink. Eventually, in a more laid-back state of mind, the perpetrator let two more crew members and all of the passengers leave the plane. His demands went from $100,000 and the parachutes to a rental car and three cheeseburgers. An FBI agent persuaded the lad to surrender.
Remnants of the Hijacking
Northwest of Vancouver, Wash., in February 1980, an 8-year-old boy on a family picnic along the Columbia River found three bundles of $20 bills totaling $5,800. The FBI identified the weathered money from the serial numbers and concluded it was part of the ransom money given to Cooper.
An instruction card on how to lower the stairs of a 727 was found north of Cooper’s projected parachute landing zone. Authorities confirmed that the card came from the hijacking.
In October 2007, the FBI reported they had obtained a partial DNA profile of Cooper from the tie he left on the airplane. The FBI resumed the case and posted sketches and fact sheets on the Internet under the assumption that it could lead to Cooper’s identity.
Dead or Alive?
During a National Public Radio interview in 2007, FBI agent Larry Carr, the lead agent in the Cooper case today, said Cooper’s case was never closed – an agent had always been assigned to it.
Ralph Himmelsbach was the original FBI agent on the case, and he also discussed the case with NPR’s Martin Kaste. Himmelsbach wrote a book on the case, “NORJAK: The Investigation of D.B. Cooper.”
Himmelsback said he believed that Cooper died in the jump because of a few mistakes he had made:
While Himmelsbach and Carr believe Cooper died when he landed, others think he had a 50/50 chance of survival. In 1996, Frank Heyl told a reporter from the Seattle Times that he believed Cooper could have survived with luck and training.
Dead or alive, Himmelsback describes Cooper as a “sleazy, rotten criminal” whose life had gone “nowhere;” thus, the reason for the attempted hijacking.
Himmelsback said Cooper could have been ex-military but was more than likely an ex-con, loner type without much consideration for anyone, including friends and family members.
Witnesses to the hijacking described Cooper as about 6 feet tall, with an athletic build and a dark complexion and in his late 40s. They said he used fowl language and drank whiskey and smoked Raleigh filter tips on the plane.
Because Cooper became a sort of folk hero, Himmelsbach said he would like to find out the truth. He told Kaste in the NPR interview that he had received numerous e-mails from people who didn’t want the FBI to solve the D.B. Cooper case. Why would they want to diminish Cooper Day and dilute the party atmosphere?
Just in case D.B. Cooper is alive and well and living on some island basking in the sun with one of those tropical fruity drinks (how far does $200,000 go anyway), air-piracy charges await him in U.S. District Court.
SNIPPETZ WONDERS: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO D.B. COOPER?
Of the nearly dozen in-flight hijackings that have taken place in the United States since the late 1950s, there has been only one that the FBI has yet to solve – Northwest Airlines Flight 305 – perpetrator: D.B Cooper. Hijackings have not typically been the source of adventure tales or lighthearted jokes, but D.B. Cooper’s story has spawned such, as well as what might be considered a cult following, for over 30 years.
The Hijacking
On Nov. 24, 1971, in Portland, Ore., a middle age man by the name of Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Airlines Boeing 727 commercial jet. Flight 305, with a total of 36 passengers, was scheduled to leave for Seattle, Wash., at 4:35 p.m. but took off a bit late at 4:45 p.m.
When the plane reached cruising altitude, Dan Cooper handed the stewardess a note. The note was never found, so there is no real account of its contents. But the gist of the note indicated that Cooper was hijacking the plane for ransom money and had a bomb in his briefcase, which he would use if they didn’t oblige his demands.
After the captain of the plane was told of the note, he came out to talk to Cooper with the hope that the note was a hoax. When Cooper opened his briefcase to reveal the makings of a bomb, the captain went back to the cockpit and radioed Seattle.
The Ransom
Cooper demanded four parachutes and $200,000. He ordered the pilots to circle the Seattle airport until the money and the parachutes were available for delivery to him. The president of Northwest Airlines decided to give in to Cooper’s demands.
Airline officials and FBI agents scurried to attain the parachutes and the $200,000. The types and number of parachutes that Cooper had requested led authorities to speculate that Cooper had experience in freefall parachuting – and that he might have had an accomplice.
The FBI gathered $200,000 – all in $20 bills, which were photographed with a high-speed machine that created a microfilm for identifying serial numbers.
At 5:24 p.m., the ransom had been collected. The flight crew was told to head in and the plane landed at 5:45 p.m.
The Escape
After Cooper received the money and the parachutes, all of the passengers and two stewardesses were allowed to leave the plane. The pilots and one stewardess remained.
At Cooper’s demands, the plane was refueled for a flight to Reno, Nev. En route to Reno, Cooper told the pilots to fly low – not to exceed 10,000 feet altitude, with landing gear down and to maintain speeds below 172.5 mph. Cooper also told the stewardess and pilots to remain in the crew compartment, which left Cooper alone in the passenger area.
In flight to Reno, a flight engineer noticed a red “door open” warning light on the flight instrument, indicating the back stairwell was opening. When the plane landed in Reno a little after 8 p.m., Cooper was gone, along with the money and two parachutes.
Cooper had jumped into a storm, with air temperatures of 7 degrees below zero and strong winds and freezing rain. The weather even deterred the hunt for Cooper by a few days.
He had left a few items on board. FBI agents found a tie, tie tack, eight of Cooper’s cigarette butts and two parachutes on the plane.
Not only did Cooper gain notoriety as the FBI’s only unsolved hijacking case, he also prompted Boeing 727 to redesign the jetliner so the rear door would remain closed in flight.
The Chase
For three weeks after the weather cleared, soldiers from Fort Lewis Washington trekked across an area where it had been calculated that Cooper bailed from the plane. Because of the red warning light and the “bumps in the road” the pilots described when the stairway was opened, authorities estimated that Cooper had landed near Ariel, Wash.
The search took the soldiers through a rugged forested area and farm land. The FBI used a computer to try and nail the exact site where Cooper landed. Conclusions led to Lake Merwin, located on the edge of Ariel.
All efforts to find Cooper were fruitless. Not even a stitch of clothing had been found during the search. The FBI believed (and still does) that Cooper could not have survived the jump.
Although Cooper’s first name had been listed as Dan, FBI agents had checked out a man in Portland, Ore., with the name of D.B. Cooper. He had been cleared, but for whatever reason D.B. Cooper became the hijacker’s moniker.
Cooper Gets His Day
D.B. Cooper became the subject of a song, a movie (in which he got away with the money), T-shirts and events.
In 1976, five years after the hijacking, residents of Ariel, Wash., held a D.B. Cooper party. Despite the FBI’s contention that Cooper didn’t make it, others wanted to believe differently. Cooper became a celebrity – the only hijacker to elude the FBI.
Years later, in 1984, members of the U.S. Air Force squadron that had sent planes in pursuit of Cooper in 1971 staged their own celebration: the D.B. Cooper Debacle Dining In, a formal dinner held at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Wash.
D. B. Cooper Day became a tradition – set on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s been reported that people from all over the world visit Ariel each year to take part in Cooper Day festivities.
Speaking of the Party
The annual Ariel, Wash., D.B. Cooper party is the town’s claim to fame. About 250 people show up every year to join the hoopla surrounding the mystery of one of the country’s most infamous hijackers. With each five-year celebration, the number of attendees doubles.
The party begins at 1 p.m. and lasts all day – usually ending about midnight – probably a late night for a town of 700 people. There’s a D. B. Cooper look-alike contest – fans show up dressed in a suit, minus their shoes and carrying a backpack, parachute and goggles. Prizes are given to the person who comes up with the best story about what could have happened to D.B. Of course, there’s food and drink and plenty of music.
Fraud and Copycats
Cooper himself was a copycat. Just two weeks prior to the Seattle hijacking, a man in Montana had tried to hijack a plane with a gun but was overcome by the flight crew.
More than a year after the Cooper hijacking, two men conned a national magazine editor into paying them $30,000 for an exclusive interview with the elusive Cooper. One of the men would pose as Cooper. After authorities were alerted to the scam, the two men were arrested on federal fraud charges.
On July 12, 1980, a young man between age 17 and 20, took charge of a Northwest Airlines flight in Seattle as it taxied on the runway before taking off to Portland, Ore. Stating that he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanding two parachutes and $100,000, he held off authorities for 10 hours. After he released seven crew members and the women and children among the 52 passengers, a crafty stewardess slipped him a couple of valiums in his drink. Eventually, in a more laid-back state of mind, the perpetrator let two more crew members and all of the passengers leave the plane. His demands went from $100,000 and the parachutes to a rental car and three cheeseburgers. An FBI agent persuaded the lad to surrender.
Remnants of the Hijacking
Northwest of Vancouver, Wash., in February 1980, an 8-year-old boy on a family picnic along the Columbia River found three bundles of $20 bills totaling $5,800. The FBI identified the weathered money from the serial numbers and concluded it was part of the ransom money given to Cooper.
An instruction card on how to lower the stairs of a 727 was found north of Cooper’s projected parachute landing zone. Authorities confirmed that the card came from the hijacking.
In October 2007, the FBI reported they had obtained a partial DNA profile of Cooper from the tie he left on the airplane. The FBI resumed the case and posted sketches and fact sheets on the Internet under the assumption that it could lead to Cooper’s identity.
Dead or Alive?
During a National Public Radio interview in 2007, FBI agent Larry Carr, the lead agent in the Cooper case today, said Cooper’s case was never closed – an agent had always been assigned to it.
Ralph Himmelsbach was the original FBI agent on the case, and he also discussed the case with NPR’s Martin Kaste. Himmelsbach wrote a book on the case, “NORJAK: The Investigation of D.B. Cooper.”
Himmelsback said he believed that Cooper died in the jump because of a few mistakes he had made:
- Cooper left the plane with the two worst parachutes, including one marked with an “X” meaning it wouldn’t open properly. It had been mistakenly provided to Cooper in the rush to meet his demands.
- Cooper didn’t require that the pilots follow a precise route, which indicated that Cooper did not have a rendezvous planned.
- Cooper didn’t ask for warm clothing, a helmet or goggles.
- He was wearing loafers on his feet, which would have blown off the second he jumped out of the plane.
While Himmelsbach and Carr believe Cooper died when he landed, others think he had a 50/50 chance of survival. In 1996, Frank Heyl told a reporter from the Seattle Times that he believed Cooper could have survived with luck and training.
Dead or alive, Himmelsback describes Cooper as a “sleazy, rotten criminal” whose life had gone “nowhere;” thus, the reason for the attempted hijacking.
Himmelsback said Cooper could have been ex-military but was more than likely an ex-con, loner type without much consideration for anyone, including friends and family members.
Witnesses to the hijacking described Cooper as about 6 feet tall, with an athletic build and a dark complexion and in his late 40s. They said he used fowl language and drank whiskey and smoked Raleigh filter tips on the plane.
Because Cooper became a sort of folk hero, Himmelsbach said he would like to find out the truth. He told Kaste in the NPR interview that he had received numerous e-mails from people who didn’t want the FBI to solve the D.B. Cooper case. Why would they want to diminish Cooper Day and dilute the party atmosphere?
Just in case D.B. Cooper is alive and well and living on some island basking in the sun with one of those tropical fruity drinks (how far does $200,000 go anyway), air-piracy charges await him in U.S. District Court.
Issue 421
SNIPPETZ TALKS TURKEY
"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
-Erma Bombeck
The turkey is symbolic with Thanksgiving, but would it be if it had replaced the eagle as America’s national bird? Benjamin Franklin really wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. However, Thomas Jefferson emphatically opposed the idea and campaigned vigorously against it.
Rumor has it that Franklin came up with “Tom Turkey” to spite Jefferson.
And that’s just a snippetz from Thanksgiving history books.
Thanksgiving history plus
On Dec. 11, 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, Mass., bringing the first pilgrims to America’s shores. Within about a year, only half of the pilgrims had survived. Those who did were grateful to be alive and decided to give thanks with a community wide feast. Because they taught the pilgrims how to cultivate the land, Gov. William Bradford invited Wampanoag Chief Massasoit to the feast. The chief brought 90 tribesmen, who, along with the pilgrims, celebrated for three days.
In 1789, George Washington became the first president to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving. In 1817, New York was the first state to make Thanksgiving Day an annual tradition. (The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Big Apple began in the 1920s.)
A magazine editor by the name of Sarah Hale worked feverishly toward naming Thanksgiving a national holiday, and Abraham Lincoln announced it as such in his proclamation Oct. 3, 1863. Lincoln also set Thanksgiving Day as the last Thursday of November.
To ensure enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas for holiday shopping, President Franklin Roosevelt also proclaimed the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving.
In 1941, Congress declared that from then on Thanksgiving would be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of each November.
And so it goes – the feast
No one is certain about the kind of food the pilgrims brought to their original Thanksgiving celebration, but the “drink” has much in common with modern-day Thanksgiving revelry. Beer! The pilgrims carried it over on the Mayflower and beer was the celebratory drink during their feast – as it is today. Americans spend about 3.7 hours watching TV on Thanksgiving Day; whether it’s watching it or playing it, football is a big part of the celebration. Beer and football go together like wine and art.
Although turkey is the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving menu, it may not have been with the pilgrims – at the least, it wasn’t the big draw. Many have tried to determine the food at the first Thanksgiving dinner. Boiled lobster, cod, roasted goose or duck, roasted venison and boiled turkey have been suggested as the main entrées. Some surmised the side dishes as cornmeal pudding, stewed pumpkin, hominy pudding and fruits and cheeses.
Goose and duck continue as some mainstays of Thanksgiving dinner in American homes. Ham is another favorite. The turkey takes first place; but, regardless of the meat, the side dishes have become the common bond that unites American dinner tables on Thanksgiving Day.
What’s Thanksgiving without sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, green bean casserole, cranberries – and pumpkin pie?
Originally called the crane berry, the pilgrims named the cranberry because of its pink blossoms and droopy head, which reminded them of a crane. The pilgrims sweetened cranberries with maple sugar, and cranberry sauce became a dish akin to Thanksgiving.
In 1955, Dorcas Reilly, a supervisor at the Campbell Soup Co. kitchen, created the green bean casserole – green beans, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions to top it off. The casserole is the most popular recipe to come out of Campbell’s corporate kitchen.
Even with bellies full of turkey, casseroles and cranberries, there’s always room for Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving are synonymous. In 2007, 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced in the U.S.
Ole Tom
WORLDWIDE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS
Canada
Canada’s Thanksgiving tradition goes way back. In 1578, Martin Frobisher, an explorer who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient, held a ceremony to give thanks for surviving his long journey. The celebration took place in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and is considered the first Thanksgiving in North America. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday in October, with a three-day weekend.
Korea
Known as the Korean Thanksgiving, Chusok is a three-day holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar Korean calendar. Koreans believe their ancestors bless the harvest crops each year so Chusok is a time to give them thanks. In South Korea, Koreans return to ancestral hometowns and pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors. After visiting the tombs, they offer food and drink to their ancestors and have a feast of their own. Songpyeon is a favorite – a crescent-shaped rice cake steamed atop pine needles.
Israel
The harvest festival of Succoth in Israel lasts seven days and occurs on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (late September to October). It’s also known as the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles.
This festival is rooted in the Hebrews who wandered the wilderness on their way to Israel. During the pilgrimage, the Hebrews lived in temporary booths or structures – called a succah. Farmers also lived in what they called Sukkoths during harvest time. Succoth is a celebration to thank God for crops and blessings.
India
Pongal or the Rice Harvest Festival is a celebration of thanks in South India to all who contributed to a successful harvest and to the gods, sun and cattle. Pongal, named for a sweet rice dish, begins Jan. 14 each year and lasts three days.
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is the harvest festival of Northern India. It corresponds to April 13 in the Gregorian calendar.
Africa
The Yam Festival is named after the yam crops, which are the first to be harvested in African countries. People offer yams to gods and ancestors first before distributing them to the villagers – a way to give back to the spirits above. The Yam Festival is held in August at the end of the rainy season. It’s especially popular in Ghana and Nigeria.
Far East
The Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is around mid or late September in the Gregorian calendar. The actual date varies but parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. When the moon is at its fullest, the Chinese believe it’s the best time to celebrate the abundance of the summer harvest.
The moon cake is the traditional food of the festival. Inside the golden brown crust of the moon cake is a sweet bean-paste filling. Chinese family members and friends gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes (a Chinese grapefruit).
Real Corny Thanksgiving Jokes
What did the turkeys sing on Thanksgiving Day?
God save the kin.
What key has legs and can't open doors?
A Turkey
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.
If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?
Their age
Why can't you take a turkey to church?
Because they use such FOWL language
Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all
Why did they let the turkey join the band?
Because he had the drumsticks
Why did the police arrest the turkey?
They suspected it of fowl play
Thanksgiving disasters
Although everyone wants Uncle Joe to forego the Jack Daniels and the turkey to come out perfect, Thanksgiving Day is also known for its mishaps – when anything that can go wrong, will. Check out of few Thanksgiving nightmares.
Dog thiefs
“Growing up in Maryland and the daughter of a veterinarian, we never knew what animals were in our household. At this particular Thanksgiving, we had three dogs, two cats, a bird and a rabbit. My Mom was an excellent cook and we always had company in droves for Thanksgiving. This one year mom thawed the turkey 38 lbs. or bigger in the basement fridge.
When she went to the fridge to get the turkey on Thanksgiving morning, she was horrified to find it gone … vanished. She screamed for my dad, who promptly followed a hunch and a trail out to our backyard, where two of the three dogs were dining on raw turkey. The fridge had the old style pull handle and one helped the other and they dragged this bird to the backyard.
We had a houseful of guests enjoying tons of side dishes and slabs of bacon that year.”
Supposed to cook the turkey
“My daughter decided to host Thanksgiving at her house with all the relatives. We were just about to start our day preparing the turkey. Well, when she put it in the oven, she accidentally pushed the self -clean button, where the oven locks itself and cleans for about five hours.
No one noticed until we checked it a few hours later … we suddenly found ourselves trying to pry the oven door open but nothing seemed to work. The men began to bring out their screwdrivers and drills in an attempt to salvage the bird. But in the end when we finally did get it out, the oven was destroyed but we had a very clean turkey.”
Never leave the turkey alone
“We were at my grandmother's home for Thanksgiving; the entire family of 24 had gathered for the feast. The dining room table was set with the finest china, silver and crystal. The wonderful array of food was placed on the table, along with the delectable turkey, to cool; while the gravy was being made and all last minute preparations were being done. The women were cooking in the kitchen; the men were watching TV (of course!); the children were playing. The dog, a normally placid, well behaved Irish setter, Betsy, was eyeing the turkey.
She saw her opening – no one was looking, there was a turkey on the table, ‘What were these stupid people doing? Hmmm, well, if no one else wants that turkey, I think that I will jump up on the table and help myself.’ My mother saw her grab the turkey by the wing and drag it off the table, along with half of the china and crystal, and prance around the room with the prize.
Before my very proper grandmother knew, we retrieved the turkey from the dog …. and had a family conspiracy (in the making) to explain the mess, without my grandmother having a fit. My male cousins took the fall by claiming to play football in the dining room. We all ate the turkey, and it continues to be a favorite holiday story. My Grandmother now knows the story, and laughs with the family. Betsy is gone now; we have a new dog, Prince, and he goes outside before we set the table. “
Know thy flour
“Two years ago, my mom was making the gravy (turkey drippings, flour and milk) and she couldn't figure out why it wasn't thickening. She tried a small spoonful and thought it tasted quite sweet, so assumed it was a really good turkey. After adding even more flour and milk to the gravy (and still not thickening), she looked a little closer at the container of flour and discovered that she had pulled out the powdered sugar instead.
We ended up having packaged gravy instead of the real stuff and a story to tell for years to come.”
Happy Thanksgiving – and good luck!
SNIPPETZ TALKS TURKEY
"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
-Erma Bombeck
The turkey is symbolic with Thanksgiving, but would it be if it had replaced the eagle as America’s national bird? Benjamin Franklin really wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. However, Thomas Jefferson emphatically opposed the idea and campaigned vigorously against it.
Rumor has it that Franklin came up with “Tom Turkey” to spite Jefferson.
And that’s just a snippetz from Thanksgiving history books.
Thanksgiving history plus
On Dec. 11, 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, Mass., bringing the first pilgrims to America’s shores. Within about a year, only half of the pilgrims had survived. Those who did were grateful to be alive and decided to give thanks with a community wide feast. Because they taught the pilgrims how to cultivate the land, Gov. William Bradford invited Wampanoag Chief Massasoit to the feast. The chief brought 90 tribesmen, who, along with the pilgrims, celebrated for three days.
In 1789, George Washington became the first president to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving. In 1817, New York was the first state to make Thanksgiving Day an annual tradition. (The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Big Apple began in the 1920s.)
A magazine editor by the name of Sarah Hale worked feverishly toward naming Thanksgiving a national holiday, and Abraham Lincoln announced it as such in his proclamation Oct. 3, 1863. Lincoln also set Thanksgiving Day as the last Thursday of November.
To ensure enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas for holiday shopping, President Franklin Roosevelt also proclaimed the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving.
In 1941, Congress declared that from then on Thanksgiving would be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of each November.
And so it goes – the feast
No one is certain about the kind of food the pilgrims brought to their original Thanksgiving celebration, but the “drink” has much in common with modern-day Thanksgiving revelry. Beer! The pilgrims carried it over on the Mayflower and beer was the celebratory drink during their feast – as it is today. Americans spend about 3.7 hours watching TV on Thanksgiving Day; whether it’s watching it or playing it, football is a big part of the celebration. Beer and football go together like wine and art.
Although turkey is the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving menu, it may not have been with the pilgrims – at the least, it wasn’t the big draw. Many have tried to determine the food at the first Thanksgiving dinner. Boiled lobster, cod, roasted goose or duck, roasted venison and boiled turkey have been suggested as the main entrées. Some surmised the side dishes as cornmeal pudding, stewed pumpkin, hominy pudding and fruits and cheeses.
Goose and duck continue as some mainstays of Thanksgiving dinner in American homes. Ham is another favorite. The turkey takes first place; but, regardless of the meat, the side dishes have become the common bond that unites American dinner tables on Thanksgiving Day.
What’s Thanksgiving without sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, green bean casserole, cranberries – and pumpkin pie?
Originally called the crane berry, the pilgrims named the cranberry because of its pink blossoms and droopy head, which reminded them of a crane. The pilgrims sweetened cranberries with maple sugar, and cranberry sauce became a dish akin to Thanksgiving.
In 1955, Dorcas Reilly, a supervisor at the Campbell Soup Co. kitchen, created the green bean casserole – green beans, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions to top it off. The casserole is the most popular recipe to come out of Campbell’s corporate kitchen.
Even with bellies full of turkey, casseroles and cranberries, there’s always room for Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving are synonymous. In 2007, 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins were produced in the U.S.
Ole Tom
- Minnesota is the No. 1 state for turkey production – about 49 million turkeys were raised there in 2008. Minnesota and five other states – North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri and Indiana – accounted for about two-thirds of turkeys produced in 2008.
- The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2008 was $9.2 million – 99.3 percent from Canada. However, the U.S. ran a $4.9 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the same period.
- Americans consume about 13 pounds of turkey each year – much of it at Thanksgiving.
- It was estimated that receipts to farmers from turkey sales in the U.S. added up to $4.3 billion, which exceeds total receipts from rice and peanuts.
- There are three cities in the U.S. named after the Thanksgiving bird: Turkey, Texas (465 residents in 2007); Turkey Creek, La. (363 residents); and Turkey, N.C. (270 residents). Nine townships in the U.S. are named Turkey – three are in Kansas.
- The wishbone of the turkey is the good luck ritual on Thanksgiving Day.
- Frozen, fully stuffed turkeys, ready to cook, were introduced in 1955.
- Long before the Europeans came to America, the Aztecs domesticated turkeys to use as food. They also used turkeys for religious sacrifices and their feathers for decoration.
- The turkey was considered a sacrificial bird in Mexico.
- Turkey is the state game bird of Alabama.
- The Wild Turkey is the official state bird of Oklahoma.
- The Wild Turkey was designated the state game bird of Massachusetts in 1991.
- Turkey eggs are tan with brown specks.
- A 15-pound turkey is 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. White meat contains less calories and less fat than dark meat.
- When Neil Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin went on the moon, they took roasted turkey and all the trimmings with them.
- Turkeys have heart attacks. When the U.S. Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.
WORLDWIDE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS
Canada
Canada’s Thanksgiving tradition goes way back. In 1578, Martin Frobisher, an explorer who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient, held a ceremony to give thanks for surviving his long journey. The celebration took place in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and is considered the first Thanksgiving in North America. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday in October, with a three-day weekend.
Korea
Known as the Korean Thanksgiving, Chusok is a three-day holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar Korean calendar. Koreans believe their ancestors bless the harvest crops each year so Chusok is a time to give them thanks. In South Korea, Koreans return to ancestral hometowns and pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors. After visiting the tombs, they offer food and drink to their ancestors and have a feast of their own. Songpyeon is a favorite – a crescent-shaped rice cake steamed atop pine needles.
Israel
The harvest festival of Succoth in Israel lasts seven days and occurs on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (late September to October). It’s also known as the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles.
This festival is rooted in the Hebrews who wandered the wilderness on their way to Israel. During the pilgrimage, the Hebrews lived in temporary booths or structures – called a succah. Farmers also lived in what they called Sukkoths during harvest time. Succoth is a celebration to thank God for crops and blessings.
India
Pongal or the Rice Harvest Festival is a celebration of thanks in South India to all who contributed to a successful harvest and to the gods, sun and cattle. Pongal, named for a sweet rice dish, begins Jan. 14 each year and lasts three days.
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is the harvest festival of Northern India. It corresponds to April 13 in the Gregorian calendar.
Africa
The Yam Festival is named after the yam crops, which are the first to be harvested in African countries. People offer yams to gods and ancestors first before distributing them to the villagers – a way to give back to the spirits above. The Yam Festival is held in August at the end of the rainy season. It’s especially popular in Ghana and Nigeria.
Far East
The Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is around mid or late September in the Gregorian calendar. The actual date varies but parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. When the moon is at its fullest, the Chinese believe it’s the best time to celebrate the abundance of the summer harvest.
The moon cake is the traditional food of the festival. Inside the golden brown crust of the moon cake is a sweet bean-paste filling. Chinese family members and friends gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes (a Chinese grapefruit).
Real Corny Thanksgiving Jokes
What did the turkeys sing on Thanksgiving Day?
God save the kin.
What key has legs and can't open doors?
A Turkey
Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.
If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?
Their age
Why can't you take a turkey to church?
Because they use such FOWL language
Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
Yes - a building can't jump at all
Why did they let the turkey join the band?
Because he had the drumsticks
Why did the police arrest the turkey?
They suspected it of fowl play
Thanksgiving disasters
Although everyone wants Uncle Joe to forego the Jack Daniels and the turkey to come out perfect, Thanksgiving Day is also known for its mishaps – when anything that can go wrong, will. Check out of few Thanksgiving nightmares.
Dog thiefs
“Growing up in Maryland and the daughter of a veterinarian, we never knew what animals were in our household. At this particular Thanksgiving, we had three dogs, two cats, a bird and a rabbit. My Mom was an excellent cook and we always had company in droves for Thanksgiving. This one year mom thawed the turkey 38 lbs. or bigger in the basement fridge.
When she went to the fridge to get the turkey on Thanksgiving morning, she was horrified to find it gone … vanished. She screamed for my dad, who promptly followed a hunch and a trail out to our backyard, where two of the three dogs were dining on raw turkey. The fridge had the old style pull handle and one helped the other and they dragged this bird to the backyard.
We had a houseful of guests enjoying tons of side dishes and slabs of bacon that year.”
Supposed to cook the turkey
“My daughter decided to host Thanksgiving at her house with all the relatives. We were just about to start our day preparing the turkey. Well, when she put it in the oven, she accidentally pushed the self -clean button, where the oven locks itself and cleans for about five hours.
No one noticed until we checked it a few hours later … we suddenly found ourselves trying to pry the oven door open but nothing seemed to work. The men began to bring out their screwdrivers and drills in an attempt to salvage the bird. But in the end when we finally did get it out, the oven was destroyed but we had a very clean turkey.”
Never leave the turkey alone
“We were at my grandmother's home for Thanksgiving; the entire family of 24 had gathered for the feast. The dining room table was set with the finest china, silver and crystal. The wonderful array of food was placed on the table, along with the delectable turkey, to cool; while the gravy was being made and all last minute preparations were being done. The women were cooking in the kitchen; the men were watching TV (of course!); the children were playing. The dog, a normally placid, well behaved Irish setter, Betsy, was eyeing the turkey.
She saw her opening – no one was looking, there was a turkey on the table, ‘What were these stupid people doing? Hmmm, well, if no one else wants that turkey, I think that I will jump up on the table and help myself.’ My mother saw her grab the turkey by the wing and drag it off the table, along with half of the china and crystal, and prance around the room with the prize.
Before my very proper grandmother knew, we retrieved the turkey from the dog …. and had a family conspiracy (in the making) to explain the mess, without my grandmother having a fit. My male cousins took the fall by claiming to play football in the dining room. We all ate the turkey, and it continues to be a favorite holiday story. My Grandmother now knows the story, and laughs with the family. Betsy is gone now; we have a new dog, Prince, and he goes outside before we set the table. “
Know thy flour
“Two years ago, my mom was making the gravy (turkey drippings, flour and milk) and she couldn't figure out why it wasn't thickening. She tried a small spoonful and thought it tasted quite sweet, so assumed it was a really good turkey. After adding even more flour and milk to the gravy (and still not thickening), she looked a little closer at the container of flour and discovered that she had pulled out the powdered sugar instead.
We ended up having packaged gravy instead of the real stuff and a story to tell for years to come.”
Happy Thanksgiving – and good luck!
Issue 420
SNIPPETZ AND SALLY SELL SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE
I thought a thought.
But the thought I thought wasn't the thought
I thought I thought.
Admit it. How many times have you tried to say “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” as fast as you can three times…even as an adult? Tongue twisters are not just for kids. There’s nothing like a good twister to get everyone laughing. Kids love the silliness and adults love the challenge.
These thousand tricky tongue twisters trip thrillingly off the tongue.
Tongue-twisters of Long Ago
It is difficult to find exactly when the tongue twister began, but long ago they were associated with magical powers. Those of the mystical persuasion would recite tongue twisters while casting spells or placing hexes on others. Some think that under certain conditions reciting tongue twisters can produce alternate states of awareness. It’s a stretch, but okay.
Tongue twisters have also been and are still used in speech therapy.
Tricks of the Trade
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a tongue twister is “a sequence of words, often alliterative, difficult to articulate quickly.” And a battologism, a close relative of the tongue twister, is “a phrase or sentence built by (tiresome) repetition of the same words or sounds.”
A tongue twister can be as short as three or four words or contain several lines as in a poem. Most tongue twisters utilize both rhyme and repetition in their structure. For example, She sells sea shells on the sea shore. The shells that she sells are sea shells I’m sure, uses sequences of sounds followed by the same sequences that have some of the sounds exchanged.
Betty Botter is another example of a hard to read twister:
Betty Botter bought a bit of butter
The butter Betty Botter bought was a bit bitter
And made her batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter makes better batter.
So Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter
Making Betty Botter's bitter batter better.
Leave it to Dr. Seuss to give us “Fox in Sox,” an entire book of tongue twisters.
A spoonerism is another type of twister that uses phrases and sounds that purposely cause the reader to mispronounce certain words as swear words. Since this is a family publication, you’ll have to look those up on your own.
Not Just For The English
Tongue twisters exist in every language, including sign language. In sign language, it is called a finger fumbler and one of the more well known is good blood, bad blood, considered both a tongue twister and a finger fumbler.
A shibboleth, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a word or phrase used as a test for detecting foreigners, or persons from another district, by their pronunciation.” A more twisted trick indeed.
Tongue or Brain Twister?
Just as no one knows exactly how the tongue twister got started, scientists do not know exactly what is involved in the phenomenon of tongue twisting. It is true that the tongue is the all important organ in speech. We can’t say a coherent word without it, nor make sounds appropriately. Just try talking with your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth with the tip against the back of your teeth. Cat got your tongue?
The brain, however, may just be the real mastermind behind correct speech. In 1982, researchers Ralph Haber and Lyn Haber conducted an experiment involving subjects silently reading known tongue twisters. Their control group read normal sentences silently. The silent tongue twister readers took longer to read their prose than the non-twister readers, indicating that the brain indeed may be the prominent stumbling block.
The Toughest Twister
The Guinness World Records claims that the following is the most difficult tongue twister in the English language. Who can even say this once?
The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.
The Seemingly Simple
If you want to try your hand at these rhythmic wonders, try some easy ones first, such as:
Next Steps
If you’ve mastered the simple, how about something a little more challenging? Here are a couple oldies but goodies:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,
And chuck as much as a woodchuck would
If a woodchuck could chuck wood
Now For the Pros
These are not for novices:
If you must cross a course cross cow across a crowded cow crossing, cross the cross coarse cow across the crowded cow crossing carefully.
Red leather yellow leather
Can you can a canned can into an uncanned can like a canner can can a canned can into an uncanned can?
Three sweet switched Swiss witches
Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches.
Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches
Which washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switch?
Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- Balancing them badly.
A bloke's bike back brake block broke
Give me the gift of a grip top sock: a drip-drape, ship-shape tip-top sock.
Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
but Moses supposes erroneously;
for nobody's toeses are poses of roses,
as Moses supposes his toeses to be.
Three’s a Charm
These must be said three times, as fast as possible, to get the full effect:
SNIPPETZ AND SALLY SELL SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE
I thought a thought.
But the thought I thought wasn't the thought
I thought I thought.
Admit it. How many times have you tried to say “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” as fast as you can three times…even as an adult? Tongue twisters are not just for kids. There’s nothing like a good twister to get everyone laughing. Kids love the silliness and adults love the challenge.
These thousand tricky tongue twisters trip thrillingly off the tongue.
Tongue-twisters of Long Ago
It is difficult to find exactly when the tongue twister began, but long ago they were associated with magical powers. Those of the mystical persuasion would recite tongue twisters while casting spells or placing hexes on others. Some think that under certain conditions reciting tongue twisters can produce alternate states of awareness. It’s a stretch, but okay.
Tongue twisters have also been and are still used in speech therapy.
Tricks of the Trade
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a tongue twister is “a sequence of words, often alliterative, difficult to articulate quickly.” And a battologism, a close relative of the tongue twister, is “a phrase or sentence built by (tiresome) repetition of the same words or sounds.”
A tongue twister can be as short as three or four words or contain several lines as in a poem. Most tongue twisters utilize both rhyme and repetition in their structure. For example, She sells sea shells on the sea shore. The shells that she sells are sea shells I’m sure, uses sequences of sounds followed by the same sequences that have some of the sounds exchanged.
Betty Botter is another example of a hard to read twister:
Betty Botter bought a bit of butter
The butter Betty Botter bought was a bit bitter
And made her batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter makes better batter.
So Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter
Making Betty Botter's bitter batter better.
Leave it to Dr. Seuss to give us “Fox in Sox,” an entire book of tongue twisters.
A spoonerism is another type of twister that uses phrases and sounds that purposely cause the reader to mispronounce certain words as swear words. Since this is a family publication, you’ll have to look those up on your own.
Not Just For The English
Tongue twisters exist in every language, including sign language. In sign language, it is called a finger fumbler and one of the more well known is good blood, bad blood, considered both a tongue twister and a finger fumbler.
A shibboleth, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a word or phrase used as a test for detecting foreigners, or persons from another district, by their pronunciation.” A more twisted trick indeed.
Tongue or Brain Twister?
Just as no one knows exactly how the tongue twister got started, scientists do not know exactly what is involved in the phenomenon of tongue twisting. It is true that the tongue is the all important organ in speech. We can’t say a coherent word without it, nor make sounds appropriately. Just try talking with your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth with the tip against the back of your teeth. Cat got your tongue?
The brain, however, may just be the real mastermind behind correct speech. In 1982, researchers Ralph Haber and Lyn Haber conducted an experiment involving subjects silently reading known tongue twisters. Their control group read normal sentences silently. The silent tongue twister readers took longer to read their prose than the non-twister readers, indicating that the brain indeed may be the prominent stumbling block.
The Toughest Twister
The Guinness World Records claims that the following is the most difficult tongue twister in the English language. Who can even say this once?
The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.
The Seemingly Simple
If you want to try your hand at these rhythmic wonders, try some easy ones first, such as:
- Friendly fleas and fire flies
- Pooped purple pelicans
- Rubber baby-buggy bumpers
- Black bug's blood
- An ape hates grape cakes
- Freshly-fried flying fish
Next Steps
If you’ve mastered the simple, how about something a little more challenging? Here are a couple oldies but goodies:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,
And chuck as much as a woodchuck would
If a woodchuck could chuck wood
Now For the Pros
These are not for novices:
If you must cross a course cross cow across a crowded cow crossing, cross the cross coarse cow across the crowded cow crossing carefully.
Red leather yellow leather
Can you can a canned can into an uncanned can like a canner can can a canned can into an uncanned can?
Three sweet switched Swiss witches
Watch three washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switches.
Which sweet switched Swiss witch watches
Which washed Swiss witch Swatch watch switch?
Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- Balancing them badly.
A bloke's bike back brake block broke
Give me the gift of a grip top sock: a drip-drape, ship-shape tip-top sock.
Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
but Moses supposes erroneously;
for nobody's toeses are poses of roses,
as Moses supposes his toeses to be.
Three’s a Charm
These must be said three times, as fast as possible, to get the full effect:
- A box of mixed biscuits
- Irish wristwatch
- Knapsack straps
- Three free throws
- Tim, the thin twin tinsmith
- Our oars or your oars?
- Shredded Swiss cheese
Issue 419
SNIPPETZ COMES A COURTIN' ON SADIE HAWKINS DAY
“The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants; there’s nothin better – oh, oh, oh. The girls ask the guys; it’s always a surprise. There's nothin better, baby do you like my sweater?” - Relient-K (rock band’s Sadie Hawkins song)
Imagine being the “homeliest gal in the hills” with nary a bachelor to come “a courtin.’” Imagine your dad, the town mayor, ever so woeful that his 35-year-old daughter may never leave the nest. But dad’s anguish leads him to declare a day where all of the town’s single women run through the streets - literally – to pursue the town bachelors. The lucky – or not – who are caught must marry their trackers.
Caught On Like Wildfire
Well, it happened every year in Dogpatch, U.S.A. Hekzebiah Hawkins was the doting father and his so-called ugly daughter was Sadie; thus, the story of how Sadie Hawkins Day became an American folklore. Of course, Hekzebiah and Sadie are not real – they made their debut Nov. 15, 1937, as characters in Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” comic strip. Only in America would a comic strip spawn a long-lasting tradition among singles.
It took just two years for Sadie Hawkins Day to spread like wildfire throughout U.S. colleges and high schools. Al Capp had no intentions to keep Sadie Hawkins Day alive on the same day every year, but his fans did. So, for four decades on Nov. 15, “Li’l Abner” featured Sadie Hawkins Day in his cartoon strip, alongside real-life celebrations nationwide.
The true-life version of Sadie Hawkins Day didn’t include a marriage proposal; it became a day where high school girls and female college students could reverse roles and invite a favorite boy/man to a Sadie Hawkins Day dance.
In 1939, “Life” magazine reported that more than 200 colleges had held Sadie Hawkins Day events in conjunction with the comic strip event. By 1952, 40,000 different venues hosted Sadie Hawkins Day events. Sadie Hawkins Day has been referred to as the first of the female-empowering rites – years before the feminist movement took hold in the U.S.
Sadie’s Creator
Al Capp was born Alfred Gerald Caplin in 1909 in New Haven, Conn.; at age 9 he lost his left leg in a trolley accident. His father, an artist, encouraged Capp to develop cartooning skills, and his first comic strip was "Colonel Gilfeather” for the Associated Press. At age 19, Capp became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in America.
Eventually, Capp quit AP to ghost write the popular strip “Joe Palooka” for Ham Fisher.
In 1934, Capp decided to go out on his own, hatching a lifelong feud with Fisher. He took his idea for “Li’l Abner” to United Features Syndicate, and in three years, 253 newspapers with more than 15 million readers carried the strip. Before long, circulation of newspapers featuring “Li’l Abner” reached 60 million.
Some say that “Li’l Abner” was the most popular comic strip of all time. Author John Steinbeck referred to Capp as the “best writer in the world.”
Besides Li’l Abner, Daisy Mae and Sadie Hawkins, a few others in the comic strip:
“Li’l Abner’s” tremendous popularity inspired a Broadway musical, two film adaptations and an amusement park in Arkansas called Dogpatch, U.S.A.
Capp also became a high-profile guest on the “Tonight” show – spanning three hosts: Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He had a radio show, his own newspaper column and lectured at colleges all over the country. In 1946, Capp created a pamphlet for the Red Cross about his life with one leg. The Red Cross distributed it to amputee veterans of World War II.
In 1977, Capp retired “Li’l Abner,” and two years later he died.
The Song
Although it may not be Grammy-award material, there is an actual Sadie Hawkins song, written by the rock band, “Relient-K.”
All the girls in the bathroom talkin, who they gonna take to the Sadie Hawkins.
My ears are burning but I kept on walkin, smile on my face and an air guitar rockin.’
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants; there’s nothin better – oh, oh, oh. The girls ask the guys; it’s always a surprise. There's nothin better, baby do you like my sweater?
Sittin in the back of my next class nappin, gotta give a speech then bow to the clappin
Told a funny joke got the whole class laughin, think I got a tan from the light which I was baskin
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants … there’s nothing better, baby do you like my sweater.
Scan the cafeteria for some good seating, I found a good spot by the cheerleaders eating
The quarterback asked me if I'd like a beating; I said that's one thing I won't be needing
And since I'm rather smart and cunning, I took off down the next hall running.
Only to get stopped by a girl so stunnin.
She said, "You're smooth, and good with talkin.
You go with me to the Sadie Hawkins"
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants …
The Dress Code
Sadie Hawkins Day dress has changed throughout the years, reflecting mostly country-girl fashions from the decades. The garb is a mixture of Elly May Clampett-style (Donna Douglas on the 1960s TV show “Beverly Hillbillies”) – tight mid-calf length jeans and plaid blouse tied at the waist – and Daisy Duke-style (aka Jessica Simpson in the “Dukes of Hazzard” movie version) – short-shorts and the same Elly May-type blouse. Both Elly May and Daisy wore their clothes well – showing bare, fit-as-a-fiddle midriffs.
In years past, many of the couples dressed alike for Sadie Hawkins – guys would be dressed in overalls and straw hats. The like attire was part of the girl-got-guy thing and he’s-all-mine-tonight attitude.
Sadie Hawkins Day and Leap Year
Sadie Hawkins Day is sometimes mistakenly synonymous with Feb. 29 – leap year; however, Sadie Hawkins Day purists are the first to note that the latter is in November. But both Sadie Hawkins Day and leap year have common themes.
When Feb. 29 is added to the calendar every four years, it marks a leap year – and a day when women can propose to men, much like the original idea of Sadie Hawkins Day.
As the story goes, the leap year tradition that a woman can ask a man to marry her began in fifth century Ireland. St. Bridget had complained to St. Patrick that it wasn’t fair to make women wait for a man to propose. After a fair amount of persuasion, St. Patrick gave in and set Feb. 29 aside as a day to allow women the right to ask for a man’s hand in marriage.
Then, in 1288, Queen Margaret of Scotland declared the same for women in her country. Feb. 29 became a day when Scottish women could propose to a man. The man who refused the lady paid a fine, in the form of a kiss, a silk dress or a pair of gloves – apparently, enough to make up for the rejection.
Sadie Today
Sadie Hawkins Day is usually celebrated the Saturday following Nov. 9 or Nov. 11. The celebrations are also referred to as WPAs (Women Pay All) or Turnabout, because it was expected at many Sadie Hawkins’ parties that women would treat their date to dinner and foot the bill for the dance tickets. Today, Sadie Hawkins Day is casual and whatever goes.
Modern-day women don’t need Sadie Hawkins Day to ask a man out on a date. According to a 2004 Match.com survey of 800 single adults, 87 percent of the women said they would make the first move if attracted to someone. That was five years ago – women are even more confident today about approaching the guy first. And men are overjoyed about it, according to a few men’s magazines.
Ladies, Want to Get Into the Sadie Spirit?
First glance: Maybe you see your potential Prince Charming at a party or a bar. Don’t miss an opportunity to strike up a conversation. Perhaps later into the conversation you say something like, “I’m going to grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee down the street – would you like to join me?”
Whether it’s first glance or someone you know, try to gauge a romantic interest: If you can, ask a friend how he or she perceives his interest in you. Flirt a little with the man in question and see how he responds. Don’t be too cute. And go with your gut.
Make it a low-pressure date: Ask him out to lunch; get a couple of sports-related tickets (if he likes sports) and invite him along; ask him to go hiking, bicycling; ask him to go to a party with you – make it simple.
If nothing else, ask him how he feels about Sadie Hawkins. If he says, “I don’t know her, is she a friend of yours?” – run the other way.
SNIPPETZ COMES A COURTIN' ON SADIE HAWKINS DAY
“The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants; there’s nothin better – oh, oh, oh. The girls ask the guys; it’s always a surprise. There's nothin better, baby do you like my sweater?” - Relient-K (rock band’s Sadie Hawkins song)
Imagine being the “homeliest gal in the hills” with nary a bachelor to come “a courtin.’” Imagine your dad, the town mayor, ever so woeful that his 35-year-old daughter may never leave the nest. But dad’s anguish leads him to declare a day where all of the town’s single women run through the streets - literally – to pursue the town bachelors. The lucky – or not – who are caught must marry their trackers.
Caught On Like Wildfire
Well, it happened every year in Dogpatch, U.S.A. Hekzebiah Hawkins was the doting father and his so-called ugly daughter was Sadie; thus, the story of how Sadie Hawkins Day became an American folklore. Of course, Hekzebiah and Sadie are not real – they made their debut Nov. 15, 1937, as characters in Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” comic strip. Only in America would a comic strip spawn a long-lasting tradition among singles.
It took just two years for Sadie Hawkins Day to spread like wildfire throughout U.S. colleges and high schools. Al Capp had no intentions to keep Sadie Hawkins Day alive on the same day every year, but his fans did. So, for four decades on Nov. 15, “Li’l Abner” featured Sadie Hawkins Day in his cartoon strip, alongside real-life celebrations nationwide.
The true-life version of Sadie Hawkins Day didn’t include a marriage proposal; it became a day where high school girls and female college students could reverse roles and invite a favorite boy/man to a Sadie Hawkins Day dance.
In 1939, “Life” magazine reported that more than 200 colleges had held Sadie Hawkins Day events in conjunction with the comic strip event. By 1952, 40,000 different venues hosted Sadie Hawkins Day events. Sadie Hawkins Day has been referred to as the first of the female-empowering rites – years before the feminist movement took hold in the U.S.
Sadie’s Creator
Al Capp was born Alfred Gerald Caplin in 1909 in New Haven, Conn.; at age 9 he lost his left leg in a trolley accident. His father, an artist, encouraged Capp to develop cartooning skills, and his first comic strip was "Colonel Gilfeather” for the Associated Press. At age 19, Capp became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in America.
Eventually, Capp quit AP to ghost write the popular strip “Joe Palooka” for Ham Fisher.
In 1934, Capp decided to go out on his own, hatching a lifelong feud with Fisher. He took his idea for “Li’l Abner” to United Features Syndicate, and in three years, 253 newspapers with more than 15 million readers carried the strip. Before long, circulation of newspapers featuring “Li’l Abner” reached 60 million.
Some say that “Li’l Abner” was the most popular comic strip of all time. Author John Steinbeck referred to Capp as the “best writer in the world.”
Besides Li’l Abner, Daisy Mae and Sadie Hawkins, a few others in the comic strip:
- Gen. Bullmoose: a narcissistic capitalist
- Cave buddies Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe – the latter concocted Kickapoo Joy Juice.
- Mammy Yokum – a nice old lady who won boxing matches against men twice her size.
- Fearless Fosdick – a fumbling detective
- Moonbeam McSwine – a beautiful woman who preferred pigs to men
- The Shmoos like Schlemeel and Schlemozzel – those characters created the largest mass merchandising phenomenon of the era.
“Li’l Abner’s” tremendous popularity inspired a Broadway musical, two film adaptations and an amusement park in Arkansas called Dogpatch, U.S.A.
Capp also became a high-profile guest on the “Tonight” show – spanning three hosts: Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He had a radio show, his own newspaper column and lectured at colleges all over the country. In 1946, Capp created a pamphlet for the Red Cross about his life with one leg. The Red Cross distributed it to amputee veterans of World War II.
In 1977, Capp retired “Li’l Abner,” and two years later he died.
The Song
Although it may not be Grammy-award material, there is an actual Sadie Hawkins song, written by the rock band, “Relient-K.”
All the girls in the bathroom talkin, who they gonna take to the Sadie Hawkins.
My ears are burning but I kept on walkin, smile on my face and an air guitar rockin.’
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants; there’s nothin better – oh, oh, oh. The girls ask the guys; it’s always a surprise. There's nothin better, baby do you like my sweater?
Sittin in the back of my next class nappin, gotta give a speech then bow to the clappin
Told a funny joke got the whole class laughin, think I got a tan from the light which I was baskin
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants … there’s nothing better, baby do you like my sweater.
Scan the cafeteria for some good seating, I found a good spot by the cheerleaders eating
The quarterback asked me if I'd like a beating; I said that's one thing I won't be needing
And since I'm rather smart and cunning, I took off down the next hall running.
Only to get stopped by a girl so stunnin.
She said, "You're smooth, and good with talkin.
You go with me to the Sadie Hawkins"
The Sadie Hawkins Dance in my khaki pants …
The Dress Code
Sadie Hawkins Day dress has changed throughout the years, reflecting mostly country-girl fashions from the decades. The garb is a mixture of Elly May Clampett-style (Donna Douglas on the 1960s TV show “Beverly Hillbillies”) – tight mid-calf length jeans and plaid blouse tied at the waist – and Daisy Duke-style (aka Jessica Simpson in the “Dukes of Hazzard” movie version) – short-shorts and the same Elly May-type blouse. Both Elly May and Daisy wore their clothes well – showing bare, fit-as-a-fiddle midriffs.
In years past, many of the couples dressed alike for Sadie Hawkins – guys would be dressed in overalls and straw hats. The like attire was part of the girl-got-guy thing and he’s-all-mine-tonight attitude.
Sadie Hawkins Day and Leap Year
Sadie Hawkins Day is sometimes mistakenly synonymous with Feb. 29 – leap year; however, Sadie Hawkins Day purists are the first to note that the latter is in November. But both Sadie Hawkins Day and leap year have common themes.
When Feb. 29 is added to the calendar every four years, it marks a leap year – and a day when women can propose to men, much like the original idea of Sadie Hawkins Day.
As the story goes, the leap year tradition that a woman can ask a man to marry her began in fifth century Ireland. St. Bridget had complained to St. Patrick that it wasn’t fair to make women wait for a man to propose. After a fair amount of persuasion, St. Patrick gave in and set Feb. 29 aside as a day to allow women the right to ask for a man’s hand in marriage.
Then, in 1288, Queen Margaret of Scotland declared the same for women in her country. Feb. 29 became a day when Scottish women could propose to a man. The man who refused the lady paid a fine, in the form of a kiss, a silk dress or a pair of gloves – apparently, enough to make up for the rejection.
Sadie Today
Sadie Hawkins Day is usually celebrated the Saturday following Nov. 9 or Nov. 11. The celebrations are also referred to as WPAs (Women Pay All) or Turnabout, because it was expected at many Sadie Hawkins’ parties that women would treat their date to dinner and foot the bill for the dance tickets. Today, Sadie Hawkins Day is casual and whatever goes.
Modern-day women don’t need Sadie Hawkins Day to ask a man out on a date. According to a 2004 Match.com survey of 800 single adults, 87 percent of the women said they would make the first move if attracted to someone. That was five years ago – women are even more confident today about approaching the guy first. And men are overjoyed about it, according to a few men’s magazines.
Ladies, Want to Get Into the Sadie Spirit?
First glance: Maybe you see your potential Prince Charming at a party or a bar. Don’t miss an opportunity to strike up a conversation. Perhaps later into the conversation you say something like, “I’m going to grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee down the street – would you like to join me?”
Whether it’s first glance or someone you know, try to gauge a romantic interest: If you can, ask a friend how he or she perceives his interest in you. Flirt a little with the man in question and see how he responds. Don’t be too cute. And go with your gut.
Make it a low-pressure date: Ask him out to lunch; get a couple of sports-related tickets (if he likes sports) and invite him along; ask him to go hiking, bicycling; ask him to go to a party with you – make it simple.
If nothing else, ask him how he feels about Sadie Hawkins. If he says, “I don’t know her, is she a friend of yours?” – run the other way.
Issue 418
SNIPPETZ HONORS THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE MARINES
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."
- 1985, President Ronald Reagan
The Continental Congress established the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775 as land forces to assist naval fleets. That resolution signified the official birth date of the U.S. Marine Corps, a proud branch of the military that began to set themselves apart during the Revolutionary War. The head-and-shoulders-above tradition of the Marine Corps has been built upon for centuries.
Marine Beginnings
Although the Marine Corps celebrates its inception as the Nov. 10 date in 1775, the Corps, along with the Continental Navy, was actually shut down when the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War in 1783.
On July 11, 1798, the Marine Corps was re-established, and the Marines were again forces to contend with amid hostile aggressions toward the U.S. The Marines fought the Barbary pirates along the shores of Tripoli; they battled alongside naval fleets during the War of 1812 and stood strong with Andrew Jackson in the defeat of the British at New Orleans, to name of few. In the next decades, the Marines were instrumental in protecting U.S. interests around the world.
During the peak of World War II, the Marine Corps had six divisions, five air wings and more than 485,000 troops. During the latter war, 87,000 Marines were killed and wounded; 82 Marines had earned the Medal of Honor.
Today, the Marine Corps operates under the U.S. Department of the Navy and is the smallest of the armed forces, with 190,000 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines, in the Department of Defense (2008 figures).
The Marine Corps is headquartered in Arlington, Va.
Semper Fidelis
Fortitudine (with fortitude) was the first motto of the Marine Corps initiated in conjunction with the War of 1812. By Sea and by Land – from the Royal Marine’s “Per Mere, Per Terram” – was the second motto. The third motto, “To the Shores of Tripoli,” eventually became a familiar line in the Marine hymn – “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli.”
In 1883, the Marine Corps adopted Semper Fidelis, Latin for “always faithful” as its official motto. The service men and women of the Marine Corps wear their uniform with pride. Semper Fidelis, or sometimes shortened to Semper Fi, exemplifies their loyalty and dedication.
OOH-RAH!
There are a few theories about the origination of the Marine greeting, “OOH-RAH.” One asserts that Marines on U.S. submarines during the Korean War responded to a call to action when they heard the vessel’s klaxon alarm – which sounded like “A-OO-GAH.” The sound became a Marine cheer on the submarine as a sign of battle readiness.
Legend has it that a sergeant serving on the first Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion took the “A-OO-GAH” cheer with him when he became a drill instructor in San Diego. He handed it down to drill instructor students and they passed it on to their recruits. It eventually became part of the Recon cadence. Throughout the years, the Marines shortened “A-OO-GAH” to OOH-RAH.
Another theory is that “OOH-RAH” is derived from the Turkish phrase “kill them all,” which was adopted as the Russian battle cry as “urrah.”
Once a Marine, Always a Marine
Although Semper Fi is the actual motto of the U.S. Marine Corps, “once a marine, always a marine” is the motto of the Marine Corps League – signifying its lifelong meaning to those who have “earned the title of Marine.” Semper Fi is a reminder to a Marine that he or she will live by the core values of honor, courage and commitment for a lifetime. No Marine can ever be undone.
First to Fight
The Marine Corps mantra and one of its missions is to be the first on the scene when the country’s interests are being threatened – first to help and first to fight.
“For this, we have earned the reputation as “America’s 911 Force” — our nation’s first line of defense.” The Marine Corps states that its ability to respond from the ground, the air and the sea distinguishes it as the “premier expeditionary force.”
Marine Quips
The Marine Corps has been referenced by many terms that depict their unique identity among U.S. military branches.
Famous Marines
Other notable Marines: George Jones, country singer; Brian Keith, Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen – actors; Leon Uris, novelist; Ken Norton, boxer; Lee Trevino, PGA golfer
Marine Corps Trivia
Schooled to be a Marine
Young men can get an early start on their Marine career by attending the Marine Military Academy, a college preparatory school for males in grades eight through 12. The Academy offers an optional year for post graduate study.
The Academy is located in Harlingen, Texas, on 142 acres. Students follow strict regiments not unlike the U.S. Marine Corps. The structure is designed to emulate the same goals of the Corps – to develop courage, character and leadership. The school accepts high-school age males nationwide as well as internationally – the yearly cost is more than $26,000.
An Air Wing program is offered to cadets interested in becoming professional pilots and certified flight instructors.
Whether high school graduates are from the Military Academy or from public or private schools, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., is the Marine equivalent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Naval Academy offers undergraduate study for men and women seeking to become commissioned officers.
At-Home Assignments
The Marines operate 11 bases in the U.S. and Okinawa. California, Arizona, Hawaii, South and North Carolina, Virginia and Washington D.C. are home bases for Marine enlistees and officers.
Recruits train at Parris Island in South Carolina or in San Diego, Calif. Officers train at Quantico, Va.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps
In November 2006, the Marine Corps launched a tribute to all U.S Marines with the opening of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Denver, Colo., architects Fentress-Bradburn designed the 118,000-square-foot structure, located on more than 135 acres in Triangle, Va., near the Quantico Marine Corps base. The structure is embedded with the iconic image of the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima – the architectural inspiration for the building.
Highlights include the era exhibit galleries, where multimedia technology brings the Marines’ war time experiences to life to museum visitors. The World War II Gallery, the Vietnam Gallery and the Korean War Gallery are part of the depiction of Marines in operation. Also on deck are galleries educating visitors about Global terrorism, Marine training and the Marine band. About 1,000 artifacts are on display like the Grumman Panther, one of the first of the Marine Corps jet aircraft.
Overlooking the museum is the 3-acre Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, where Marine Corps organizations and those who served are honored with monuments and commemorative bricks.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps has been recognized for excellence by the Themed Entertainment Association, the equivalent of an Academy Award. The THEA chose the museum out of 120 nominees, which included theme parks, events and museums.
Striking a Pose
To further attest to the stalwart character of the Marines, 10 Marines based in Quantico posed for hours covered in “goo” and plaster so exhibit fabricators could accurately mold their bodies for a lifelike display.
Two of the Marines were cast in similar positions close to their experiences when they were stationed together in Iraq. As part of a World War I scene, Sgt. Mark Wangler is posing as a Marine helping a wounded Marine in the back of a truck. Sgt. Richard Tack posed as the wounded Marine – and, in reality, he was shot in the leg in Iraq, and Wangler helped pull Tack to safety and administered first aid until the medic arrived.
OOH-RAH!
SNIPPETZ HONORS THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE MARINES
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."
- 1985, President Ronald Reagan
The Continental Congress established the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775 as land forces to assist naval fleets. That resolution signified the official birth date of the U.S. Marine Corps, a proud branch of the military that began to set themselves apart during the Revolutionary War. The head-and-shoulders-above tradition of the Marine Corps has been built upon for centuries.
Marine Beginnings
Although the Marine Corps celebrates its inception as the Nov. 10 date in 1775, the Corps, along with the Continental Navy, was actually shut down when the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War in 1783.
On July 11, 1798, the Marine Corps was re-established, and the Marines were again forces to contend with amid hostile aggressions toward the U.S. The Marines fought the Barbary pirates along the shores of Tripoli; they battled alongside naval fleets during the War of 1812 and stood strong with Andrew Jackson in the defeat of the British at New Orleans, to name of few. In the next decades, the Marines were instrumental in protecting U.S. interests around the world.
During the peak of World War II, the Marine Corps had six divisions, five air wings and more than 485,000 troops. During the latter war, 87,000 Marines were killed and wounded; 82 Marines had earned the Medal of Honor.
Today, the Marine Corps operates under the U.S. Department of the Navy and is the smallest of the armed forces, with 190,000 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines, in the Department of Defense (2008 figures).
The Marine Corps is headquartered in Arlington, Va.
Semper Fidelis
Fortitudine (with fortitude) was the first motto of the Marine Corps initiated in conjunction with the War of 1812. By Sea and by Land – from the Royal Marine’s “Per Mere, Per Terram” – was the second motto. The third motto, “To the Shores of Tripoli,” eventually became a familiar line in the Marine hymn – “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli.”
In 1883, the Marine Corps adopted Semper Fidelis, Latin for “always faithful” as its official motto. The service men and women of the Marine Corps wear their uniform with pride. Semper Fidelis, or sometimes shortened to Semper Fi, exemplifies their loyalty and dedication.
OOH-RAH!
There are a few theories about the origination of the Marine greeting, “OOH-RAH.” One asserts that Marines on U.S. submarines during the Korean War responded to a call to action when they heard the vessel’s klaxon alarm – which sounded like “A-OO-GAH.” The sound became a Marine cheer on the submarine as a sign of battle readiness.
Legend has it that a sergeant serving on the first Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion took the “A-OO-GAH” cheer with him when he became a drill instructor in San Diego. He handed it down to drill instructor students and they passed it on to their recruits. It eventually became part of the Recon cadence. Throughout the years, the Marines shortened “A-OO-GAH” to OOH-RAH.
Another theory is that “OOH-RAH” is derived from the Turkish phrase “kill them all,” which was adopted as the Russian battle cry as “urrah.”
Once a Marine, Always a Marine
Although Semper Fi is the actual motto of the U.S. Marine Corps, “once a marine, always a marine” is the motto of the Marine Corps League – signifying its lifelong meaning to those who have “earned the title of Marine.” Semper Fi is a reminder to a Marine that he or she will live by the core values of honor, courage and commitment for a lifetime. No Marine can ever be undone.
First to Fight
The Marine Corps mantra and one of its missions is to be the first on the scene when the country’s interests are being threatened – first to help and first to fight.
“For this, we have earned the reputation as “America’s 911 Force” — our nation’s first line of defense.” The Marine Corps states that its ability to respond from the ground, the air and the sea distinguishes it as the “premier expeditionary force.”
Marine Quips
The Marine Corps has been referenced by many terms that depict their unique identity among U.S. military branches.
- Leathernecks: The leather neckpiece was part of the Marine uniform from 1775 to 1875 – worn around their throats to keep their heads held erect.
- Devil Dogs: Germans coined this term in referring to the tenacity and fighting ability of the Marines – a reference to fighting dogs of the old days.
- Esprit de Corps: The spirit of a Marine unit – devotion, loyalty and honor.
- Uncommon Valor – a Common Virtue: referring to World War II victories, especially Iwo Jima, the largest all-Marine battle in history.
- Jarhead: The sailors called Marines “jarheads” because of the high collars of their uniforms – to the sailors, the collars looked like mason jars.
Famous Marines
- Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keenan) – an iconic children’s television entertainer who started in the 1950s and continued for 30 years.
- Bea Arthur – actress best known for her role in the TV series “Maude” in the 1970s and “The Golden Girls” in the 1980s. She was one of the Marine’s first female recruits.
- John Glenn – the first man to orbit the earth in the Friendship 7 aircraft and a U.S. senator from Ohio.
- Drew Carey – star of the comedy show “The Drew Carey Show” and currently the host of “The Price is Right” – replacing Bob Barker; Carey’s signature crew cut came out of his stint as a Marine reservist.
- Gene Hackman – another actor and Academy Award winner for his role in “The French Connection;” Hackman joined the Marines at age 16, having lied about his age.
- Ed McMahon – best known as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on “The Tonight Show” from 1962 to 1992; McMahon joined the Marines and later trained fighter pilots.
Other notable Marines: George Jones, country singer; Brian Keith, Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen – actors; Leon Uris, novelist; Ken Norton, boxer; Lee Trevino, PGA golfer
Marine Corps Trivia
- Maj. Samuel Nichola is considered to be the first Marine commandant. He led the Marines throughout the American Revolution.
- Scarlet, gold and green are the official colors of the Marine Corps.
- The Marine Corps hymn is the oldest official anthem of any U.S. military service.
- The Marine Corps band is the oldest musical organization in the U.S. and has played at every presidential inauguration since 1801. Because of the latter, the band is also known as “The President’s Own.”
- The emblem – an eagle, globe and anchor – was adopted in 1868. The globe and the anchor signify worldwide service and the sea. The eagle, with its wings spread, represents the country, and the Marine motto is clenched in the beak of the bird.
- The red stripe on the uniforms (the blood stripe) is thought to represent the blood that was shed by Marines at the Battle of Chapaultepec during the 1846 war with Mexico.
- On Aug. 13, 1918, Opha Mae Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves. During World War I, 304 other females joined Johnson in the Marine Reserves. After the war ended, so did the female division of the corps. It took another 25 years before women would again be part of the Marine Corps. In February 1943, Gen. Thomas Holcomb, then commandant of the Marine Corps, announced that the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve had been formed. Women can be assigned to all Marine occupational fields except combat arms, air defense and antiterrorism units.
Schooled to be a Marine
Young men can get an early start on their Marine career by attending the Marine Military Academy, a college preparatory school for males in grades eight through 12. The Academy offers an optional year for post graduate study.
The Academy is located in Harlingen, Texas, on 142 acres. Students follow strict regiments not unlike the U.S. Marine Corps. The structure is designed to emulate the same goals of the Corps – to develop courage, character and leadership. The school accepts high-school age males nationwide as well as internationally – the yearly cost is more than $26,000.
An Air Wing program is offered to cadets interested in becoming professional pilots and certified flight instructors.
Whether high school graduates are from the Military Academy or from public or private schools, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., is the Marine equivalent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Naval Academy offers undergraduate study for men and women seeking to become commissioned officers.
At-Home Assignments
The Marines operate 11 bases in the U.S. and Okinawa. California, Arizona, Hawaii, South and North Carolina, Virginia and Washington D.C. are home bases for Marine enlistees and officers.
Recruits train at Parris Island in South Carolina or in San Diego, Calif. Officers train at Quantico, Va.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps
In November 2006, the Marine Corps launched a tribute to all U.S Marines with the opening of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Denver, Colo., architects Fentress-Bradburn designed the 118,000-square-foot structure, located on more than 135 acres in Triangle, Va., near the Quantico Marine Corps base. The structure is embedded with the iconic image of the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima – the architectural inspiration for the building.
Highlights include the era exhibit galleries, where multimedia technology brings the Marines’ war time experiences to life to museum visitors. The World War II Gallery, the Vietnam Gallery and the Korean War Gallery are part of the depiction of Marines in operation. Also on deck are galleries educating visitors about Global terrorism, Marine training and the Marine band. About 1,000 artifacts are on display like the Grumman Panther, one of the first of the Marine Corps jet aircraft.
Overlooking the museum is the 3-acre Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, where Marine Corps organizations and those who served are honored with monuments and commemorative bricks.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps has been recognized for excellence by the Themed Entertainment Association, the equivalent of an Academy Award. The THEA chose the museum out of 120 nominees, which included theme parks, events and museums.
Striking a Pose
To further attest to the stalwart character of the Marines, 10 Marines based in Quantico posed for hours covered in “goo” and plaster so exhibit fabricators could accurately mold their bodies for a lifelike display.
Two of the Marines were cast in similar positions close to their experiences when they were stationed together in Iraq. As part of a World War I scene, Sgt. Mark Wangler is posing as a Marine helping a wounded Marine in the back of a truck. Sgt. Richard Tack posed as the wounded Marine – and, in reality, he was shot in the leg in Iraq, and Wangler helped pull Tack to safety and administered first aid until the medic arrived.
OOH-RAH!
Issue 417
SNIPPETZ IS GETTING SPOOKED BY CLASSIC SPOOKY MOVIES
"Once the door is locked, there is no way out. The windows have bars a jail would be proud of, and the only door to the outside locks like a vault."
-The House on Haunted Hill
With the upcoming holiday that will be sure to bring lots of ghosts and goblins knocking at your door, Snippetz takes a look at some classic spooky movies that made film making history. But before we explore the voluminous list of spooky movies, we need to find out, what makes a movie a “classic?”
Let’s Ask An Expert
In an April 2004 article, Elizabeth (no last name listed), who writes for Reelclassics.com wrote, “They are films that can be watched on many different levels, and as a result, enjoyed again and again over the years in new ways. Because they adhere to certain standards of discretion and use established cinematic devices to imply what they cannot say explicitly, they also can't rely on sex or violence to hold the audience's attention. Rather than resorting to the use of blatant sensorial stimulations like explosions, nudity and flashy editing, classic movies use compelling stories and characters, or snappy dialogue, or high production values (cinematography, editing, shot composition, scoring, sets and costuming, etc.), or good acting, or some combination of the above qualities to attract and entertain the audience.”
And, lucky for us, classics are still being made and enjoyed today based on this definition.
Famous Spine Tingling Actors
What role, other than the obvious, do the actors play in making a movie a classic? There are some actors who either by design or happenstance became classic spooky movie actors, and probably make those movies better because of their memorable performances.
Lon Chaney, Sr. nicknamed “the man of a thousand faces,” is synonymous with classic spooky movies and he’s a ‘local.’ Chaney was born on April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is likely best known for his performances in the classic Hunch Back of Norte Dame and Phantom of the Opera. Chaney had a particular skill for using makeup to create grotesque and deformed images of himself for the sake of his character. He was slated to star in the first Dracula movie, but unfortunately he passed away before production started. Chaney’s memory has been honored by the naming of The Lon Chaney Theater in the old City Auditorium Building in downtown Colorado Springs.
Chaney’s son, Lon Chaney, Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps with great movies like Man Made Monster, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, and Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Lon Chaney, Jr. went on to make a variety of other spooky movies during his career.
Boris Karloff starred in and is best known for the classic spooky movie, Frankenstein. He also had starring roles in The Old Dark House, the Mummy and The Bride of Frankenstein.
Bela Lugosi was best known for his stellar performance in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Vincent Price thrilled us with The Raven, Tales of Terror, The Pit and The Pendulum, Theater of Blood, and House on Haunted Hill, just to name a few.
And then there’s Jack Nicholson. Who could forget “Here’s Johnny,” the famous quote from Stephen King’s The Shining.
Spooky Movies for the Family
The Wizard of Oz - Possibly the standard spooky movie for the whole family. Lots of great song and dance, along with good and bad witches, and let’s not forget about those flying monkeys. It’s all fun and games until the flying monkeys attack.
High Spirits - Grandmas love Steve Guttenberg and the rest of the family will love this hauntingly amusing tale about an Irish castle converted to hotel whose owner pretends the castle is haunted to attract more visitors. The American visitors bring some real ghosts with them to make things more interesting.
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein - Starring Lon Chaney, Jr. and the riotous slap stick comedy of Abbot and Costello
Beetle Juice - A classic that parents will enjoy watching for the third or fourth time and is still funny enough for children to enjoy nearly 20 years after its release. Imagine a ghost couple who hire a ghost, Beetlejuice, to scare away the new mortal inhabitants of their home.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken - Starring Don Kotts, this is a classic for the whole family. Who cannot laugh when Knotts begins to shake and quiver from fear?
Tremors - Giant man-eating worms hold an entire small town at bay. Kevin Bacon gives a great performance in this one.
Lake Placid - Want more entertainment than man-eating worms? How about a giant man-eating crocodile that's eating all the townspeople? This thriller is lots of fun for the night before Halloween or any time for the whole family.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - For those of you who want to watch a movie with no absolutely no realism that can’t be taken too seriously, this is for you. It’s also great for the youngsters.
Sleepy Hollow - Johnny Depp fans love this one, and it’s a great movie to watch on a dark and stormy night. This one may not be suitable for the 10 and under crowd as it involves the investigation of some ghoulish murders.
Serial Mom - There is some violence and language in this one, but for a family with children in the teens or older, it could be a great choice for your Halloween movie night.
For Grownup Ghouls Only
Then there are the scary flicks for the older set. If under 16, it’s advised that the parents prescreen these tales of terror.
The Exorcist - This horror classic stars Linda Blair as a young girl possessed by Satanic forces, Ellen Burstyn as her terrified mother, and Max von Sydow and Jason Miller as the priests who must confront the powers of Hell – and their own inner demons – to save Blair.
Silence of the Lambs - stars Jodie Foster as a young FBI trainee and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. This is the ultimate in realistic spooky. If you’ve never seen it, treat yourself to some mountain-sized goose bumps.
Hannibal - The sequel to Silence of the Lambs starring Anthony Hopkins again as Hannibal Lecter, AKA The Cannibal, who escaped to Italy in the prequel. Now a vengeance-seeking millionaire, the hideously deformed survivor of a Lecter attack is ready to lure him back to America and plans to use FBI agent Clarice Starling as his bait. Make sure you don’t watch this one alone.
Halloween - Halloween and all of the sequels are modern day classic spooky movies that lean heavily on blood and gore.
Nightmare on Elm Street – Again, it’s another franchise much like the Halloween series with the same bad guy who for some reason just won’t go away from movie to movie.
The Sixth Sense - A unique storyline with a brilliant surprise conclusion about a young boy played by Haley Joel Osment who sees dead people. He seeks treatment from psychologist Bruce Willis who some say gives one of the best performances of his career.
The Blair Witch Project - The ultra-scary, low-budget horror hit that will send you screaming, traces the disappearance of three college students in rural Maryland in 1994 while filming a documentary about the region's fabled Blair Witch.
Thirteen Ghosts - Make sure you leave the lights on when watching this one. Maybe you’ll leave them on even after you’re in bed.
The Shining – This one stars Jack Nicholson moonlighting as a winter caretaker for a haunted hotel. Jack goes a bit insane after spending so much time in isolation working on his book that he decides to attempt to start killing off his family just as the former hotel caretaker had done. Also starring Shelly Duvall. Stephen King was inspired to write this novel while staying at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Some scenes were shot here in Colorado.
The Changeling - This classic thriller stars George C. Scott as a music teacher who lost his family suddenly in a car accident and moves into an old house that’s haunted by the spirit of a child killed decades earlier. The movie is supposed to be based in Denver’s Cheeseman Park area.
SNIPPETZ IS GETTING SPOOKED BY CLASSIC SPOOKY MOVIES
"Once the door is locked, there is no way out. The windows have bars a jail would be proud of, and the only door to the outside locks like a vault."
-The House on Haunted Hill
With the upcoming holiday that will be sure to bring lots of ghosts and goblins knocking at your door, Snippetz takes a look at some classic spooky movies that made film making history. But before we explore the voluminous list of spooky movies, we need to find out, what makes a movie a “classic?”
Let’s Ask An Expert
In an April 2004 article, Elizabeth (no last name listed), who writes for Reelclassics.com wrote, “They are films that can be watched on many different levels, and as a result, enjoyed again and again over the years in new ways. Because they adhere to certain standards of discretion and use established cinematic devices to imply what they cannot say explicitly, they also can't rely on sex or violence to hold the audience's attention. Rather than resorting to the use of blatant sensorial stimulations like explosions, nudity and flashy editing, classic movies use compelling stories and characters, or snappy dialogue, or high production values (cinematography, editing, shot composition, scoring, sets and costuming, etc.), or good acting, or some combination of the above qualities to attract and entertain the audience.”
And, lucky for us, classics are still being made and enjoyed today based on this definition.
Famous Spine Tingling Actors
What role, other than the obvious, do the actors play in making a movie a classic? There are some actors who either by design or happenstance became classic spooky movie actors, and probably make those movies better because of their memorable performances.
Lon Chaney, Sr. nicknamed “the man of a thousand faces,” is synonymous with classic spooky movies and he’s a ‘local.’ Chaney was born on April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is likely best known for his performances in the classic Hunch Back of Norte Dame and Phantom of the Opera. Chaney had a particular skill for using makeup to create grotesque and deformed images of himself for the sake of his character. He was slated to star in the first Dracula movie, but unfortunately he passed away before production started. Chaney’s memory has been honored by the naming of The Lon Chaney Theater in the old City Auditorium Building in downtown Colorado Springs.
Chaney’s son, Lon Chaney, Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps with great movies like Man Made Monster, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, and Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Lon Chaney, Jr. went on to make a variety of other spooky movies during his career.
Boris Karloff starred in and is best known for the classic spooky movie, Frankenstein. He also had starring roles in The Old Dark House, the Mummy and The Bride of Frankenstein.
Bela Lugosi was best known for his stellar performance in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Vincent Price thrilled us with The Raven, Tales of Terror, The Pit and The Pendulum, Theater of Blood, and House on Haunted Hill, just to name a few.
And then there’s Jack Nicholson. Who could forget “Here’s Johnny,” the famous quote from Stephen King’s The Shining.
Spooky Movies for the Family
The Wizard of Oz - Possibly the standard spooky movie for the whole family. Lots of great song and dance, along with good and bad witches, and let’s not forget about those flying monkeys. It’s all fun and games until the flying monkeys attack.
High Spirits - Grandmas love Steve Guttenberg and the rest of the family will love this hauntingly amusing tale about an Irish castle converted to hotel whose owner pretends the castle is haunted to attract more visitors. The American visitors bring some real ghosts with them to make things more interesting.
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein - Starring Lon Chaney, Jr. and the riotous slap stick comedy of Abbot and Costello
Beetle Juice - A classic that parents will enjoy watching for the third or fourth time and is still funny enough for children to enjoy nearly 20 years after its release. Imagine a ghost couple who hire a ghost, Beetlejuice, to scare away the new mortal inhabitants of their home.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken - Starring Don Kotts, this is a classic for the whole family. Who cannot laugh when Knotts begins to shake and quiver from fear?
Tremors - Giant man-eating worms hold an entire small town at bay. Kevin Bacon gives a great performance in this one.
Lake Placid - Want more entertainment than man-eating worms? How about a giant man-eating crocodile that's eating all the townspeople? This thriller is lots of fun for the night before Halloween or any time for the whole family.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - For those of you who want to watch a movie with no absolutely no realism that can’t be taken too seriously, this is for you. It’s also great for the youngsters.
Sleepy Hollow - Johnny Depp fans love this one, and it’s a great movie to watch on a dark and stormy night. This one may not be suitable for the 10 and under crowd as it involves the investigation of some ghoulish murders.
Serial Mom - There is some violence and language in this one, but for a family with children in the teens or older, it could be a great choice for your Halloween movie night.
For Grownup Ghouls Only
Then there are the scary flicks for the older set. If under 16, it’s advised that the parents prescreen these tales of terror.
The Exorcist - This horror classic stars Linda Blair as a young girl possessed by Satanic forces, Ellen Burstyn as her terrified mother, and Max von Sydow and Jason Miller as the priests who must confront the powers of Hell – and their own inner demons – to save Blair.
Silence of the Lambs - stars Jodie Foster as a young FBI trainee and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. This is the ultimate in realistic spooky. If you’ve never seen it, treat yourself to some mountain-sized goose bumps.
Hannibal - The sequel to Silence of the Lambs starring Anthony Hopkins again as Hannibal Lecter, AKA The Cannibal, who escaped to Italy in the prequel. Now a vengeance-seeking millionaire, the hideously deformed survivor of a Lecter attack is ready to lure him back to America and plans to use FBI agent Clarice Starling as his bait. Make sure you don’t watch this one alone.
Halloween - Halloween and all of the sequels are modern day classic spooky movies that lean heavily on blood and gore.
Nightmare on Elm Street – Again, it’s another franchise much like the Halloween series with the same bad guy who for some reason just won’t go away from movie to movie.
The Sixth Sense - A unique storyline with a brilliant surprise conclusion about a young boy played by Haley Joel Osment who sees dead people. He seeks treatment from psychologist Bruce Willis who some say gives one of the best performances of his career.
The Blair Witch Project - The ultra-scary, low-budget horror hit that will send you screaming, traces the disappearance of three college students in rural Maryland in 1994 while filming a documentary about the region's fabled Blair Witch.
Thirteen Ghosts - Make sure you leave the lights on when watching this one. Maybe you’ll leave them on even after you’re in bed.
The Shining – This one stars Jack Nicholson moonlighting as a winter caretaker for a haunted hotel. Jack goes a bit insane after spending so much time in isolation working on his book that he decides to attempt to start killing off his family just as the former hotel caretaker had done. Also starring Shelly Duvall. Stephen King was inspired to write this novel while staying at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Some scenes were shot here in Colorado.
The Changeling - This classic thriller stars George C. Scott as a music teacher who lost his family suddenly in a car accident and moves into an old house that’s haunted by the spirit of a child killed decades earlier. The movie is supposed to be based in Denver’s Cheeseman Park area.
Issue 416
SNIPPETZ IS FLYING THE FLAG
Cheers for the sailors that fought on the wave for it,
Cheers for the soldiers that always were brave for it,
Tears for the men that went down to the grave for it,
Here comes the flag!
-Arthur Macy
For centuries, flags have been used as a way to inform, establish a presence or even threaten people. The earliest flag was a metal or wooden pole with a carving placed on top of the pole. The first recorded metal flag, dating back to 3,000 BC, came from Iran. Eventually, fabric replaced the carvings, and the oldest preserved textile flag was found in Egypt, dating back to third century AD.
The national flag of Denmark, called Dannebrog, is red with a white Scandinavian cross and is the oldest state flag in the world still in use. However, some say that the red dragon of the Welsh flag represents the oldest national flag. It is thought in some circles that the red dragon began with the Romans.
Every country in the world has a unique flag and every state in the U.S. has its own flag.
The American Flag
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the American flag “a symbol of the government.”
On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted the U.S. flag, which originally featured 13 red and white stripes and 13 stars. The flag now bears 50 stars, representing each state.
Although there is no written proof, historians credit Betsy Ross of Philadelphia for sewing the first American flag. Historians have agreed that circumstantial evidence and oral accounts recorded from interviews with Ross’s daughter and other family members support the story.
The flag not only represents the face of the U.S. as a whole, it also is a symbol of respect, freedom, pride and loyalty, and the flag became the inspiration for a song and a “prayer.”
The idea of the Star Spangled Banner came to Francis Scott Key when, on Sept. 14, 1814, in Baltimore, Md., U.S. soldiers raised the flag in celebration of victory over the British during the War of 1812.
Inspired by the “broad stripes and bright stars,” Key wrote the words on the back of an envelope; the music is from an old English pub song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” It took another century before the flag would become the official national anthem. President Herbert Hoover signed the congressional resolution March 3, 1931.
The Pledge
The words for what would eventually be known as the Pledge of Allegiance first appeared in a Sept. 8, 1892 issue of a children’s magazine, The Youth’s Companion. A month later, more than 12 million children were reciting those words in schools across the country.
The first written words:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands,
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
~Francis Bellamy, The Youth's Companion, Sept. 8, 1892
Adults officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 1923, in Washington, D.C., where many Americans had gathered for the first National Flag Conference.
“Under God” was not originally in the pledge. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill in 1954 to add it to the pledge.
The Flag – not without controversy
State flags
The C for Colorado
Andrew Carlisle Johnson designed the state flag, which the Colorado General Assembly adopted June 5, 1911.
The colors of the Colorado flag represent statewide environmental features. The gold in the middle of the C is symbolic of Colorado’s numerous days of sunshine. The red in the C itself represents the color of most of the state’s soil. Blue is for the clear, blue skies of Colorado, and white symbolizes snow-capped mountains.
The Best State Flag
In 2001, the North American Vexillogical Association – vexillology is the study of flags – conducted a poll on its Web site to identify the best and worst flags in North America.
More than 100 NAVA members and more than 300 people from 20 countries participated, rating flag designs on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 as the best. New Mexico came in at first place, with Texas at the No. 2 spot. Quebec, Canada, finished third. The worst flags: No. 1 – Georgia; No. 2 – Nebraska; No. 3 – Montana. Voters used words like “hideous” “desolating” and “simply awful” to describe Georgia’s flag.
Colorado scored a 6.83, taking 16th place overall. (Check out all of the flags at www.nava.org.)
The Peace Flag
The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corp. all have flags distinguishing each branch of the military.
But the white flag is an international symbol of truce, peace or surrender. To “wave a white flag” means staying neutral and agreeing not to engage in any battle or resistance, from foreign wars to police battles on the home front.
Flag Trivia
Flag, Flag, Everywhere a Flag
The sport of auto racing has its own unique set of flags that guide the drivers and let the spectators know what’s happening.
A few official flags from Formula 1:
The Olympic flag, designed in 1913, bears five interlocking rings representing five world continents. Antarctica is excluded as a continent and North and South America are deemed as one, as in “America.”
The Red Cross flag is traditionally known as a red cross on a white background; however, the organization is identified through two other flags – a red crescent on a white background and a white diamond with a cutout center on a white background.
World Flag “Stuff”
SNIPPETZ IS FLYING THE FLAG
Cheers for the sailors that fought on the wave for it,
Cheers for the soldiers that always were brave for it,
Tears for the men that went down to the grave for it,
Here comes the flag!
-Arthur Macy
For centuries, flags have been used as a way to inform, establish a presence or even threaten people. The earliest flag was a metal or wooden pole with a carving placed on top of the pole. The first recorded metal flag, dating back to 3,000 BC, came from Iran. Eventually, fabric replaced the carvings, and the oldest preserved textile flag was found in Egypt, dating back to third century AD.
The national flag of Denmark, called Dannebrog, is red with a white Scandinavian cross and is the oldest state flag in the world still in use. However, some say that the red dragon of the Welsh flag represents the oldest national flag. It is thought in some circles that the red dragon began with the Romans.
Every country in the world has a unique flag and every state in the U.S. has its own flag.
The American Flag
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the American flag “a symbol of the government.”
On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted the U.S. flag, which originally featured 13 red and white stripes and 13 stars. The flag now bears 50 stars, representing each state.
Although there is no written proof, historians credit Betsy Ross of Philadelphia for sewing the first American flag. Historians have agreed that circumstantial evidence and oral accounts recorded from interviews with Ross’s daughter and other family members support the story.
The flag not only represents the face of the U.S. as a whole, it also is a symbol of respect, freedom, pride and loyalty, and the flag became the inspiration for a song and a “prayer.”
The idea of the Star Spangled Banner came to Francis Scott Key when, on Sept. 14, 1814, in Baltimore, Md., U.S. soldiers raised the flag in celebration of victory over the British during the War of 1812.
Inspired by the “broad stripes and bright stars,” Key wrote the words on the back of an envelope; the music is from an old English pub song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” It took another century before the flag would become the official national anthem. President Herbert Hoover signed the congressional resolution March 3, 1931.
The Pledge
The words for what would eventually be known as the Pledge of Allegiance first appeared in a Sept. 8, 1892 issue of a children’s magazine, The Youth’s Companion. A month later, more than 12 million children were reciting those words in schools across the country.
The first written words:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands,
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
~Francis Bellamy, The Youth's Companion, Sept. 8, 1892
Adults officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 1923, in Washington, D.C., where many Americans had gathered for the first National Flag Conference.
“Under God” was not originally in the pledge. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill in 1954 to add it to the pledge.
The Flag – not without controversy
- In 1968, a protestor of the Vietnam War burned the flag in New York City’s Central Park. In light of the incident, Congress passed the first federal flag desecration law, which made it illegal to publicly mutilate, deface, defile, burn or trample the flag.
- A year later, the Supreme Court held that New York could not convict Sydney Street based on his verbal attacks on the flag, but the Court avoided ruling on First Amendment rights after Street burned the flag. Street’s actions were precipitated by the shooting of civil rights activist James Meredith. Street felt the government was at fault for “allowing” Meredith to be killed.
- In 1972, the Supreme Court held that Massachusetts could not prosecute anyone for wearing a cloth replica of the flag on the seat of his pants. The “contempt” issue in the federal flag law was too vague.
- In 1990, in protest of the Flag Protection Act of 1989, a number of people citing the First Amendment burned the American flag to protest the new law. The Supreme Court overturned several convictions, stating the federal flag law was aimed at limiting symbolic speech.
State flags
The C for Colorado
Andrew Carlisle Johnson designed the state flag, which the Colorado General Assembly adopted June 5, 1911.
The colors of the Colorado flag represent statewide environmental features. The gold in the middle of the C is symbolic of Colorado’s numerous days of sunshine. The red in the C itself represents the color of most of the state’s soil. Blue is for the clear, blue skies of Colorado, and white symbolizes snow-capped mountains.
The Best State Flag
In 2001, the North American Vexillogical Association – vexillology is the study of flags – conducted a poll on its Web site to identify the best and worst flags in North America.
More than 100 NAVA members and more than 300 people from 20 countries participated, rating flag designs on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 as the best. New Mexico came in at first place, with Texas at the No. 2 spot. Quebec, Canada, finished third. The worst flags: No. 1 – Georgia; No. 2 – Nebraska; No. 3 – Montana. Voters used words like “hideous” “desolating” and “simply awful” to describe Georgia’s flag.
Colorado scored a 6.83, taking 16th place overall. (Check out all of the flags at www.nava.org.)
The Peace Flag
The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corp. all have flags distinguishing each branch of the military.
But the white flag is an international symbol of truce, peace or surrender. To “wave a white flag” means staying neutral and agreeing not to engage in any battle or resistance, from foreign wars to police battles on the home front.
Flag Trivia
- Every day, a brand new American flag is flown over the White House.
- France was the first European country to officially recognize the new American flag. France supported and encouraged America’s independence from England.
- In an emergency only, the flag can be flown upside down, which means “help me, I’m in trouble.”
- When used on a casket, the American flag’s stars are draped over the body’s left shoulder.
- In 2004, Cornell University researchers etched the world’s smallest, full-color American flag on a silicon chip.
- The largest American flag, owned by Ski Demski, is 505 feet by 225 feet, weighs 3,000 pounds and takes 500 people to unfurl. Each star is 17 feet high.
- On the first U.S. flag, the stars were placed in a circle so no state would be above another.
- The first foreign fort to fly an American flag was Libya, over Fort Derne on the shores of Tripoli.
- “Shipwreck” Kelly was most famous for setting flagpole-sitting records. He once sat for 49 days on a flagpole and estimated that he had spent more than 20,000 hours sitting on flagpoles. The craze of flagpole sitting started in Baltimore, Md., in 1929. Kelly lived from 1885 to 1952.
Flag, Flag, Everywhere a Flag
The sport of auto racing has its own unique set of flags that guide the drivers and let the spectators know what’s happening.
A few official flags from Formula 1:
- Red – stops the practice session or race
- Checkered (black and white) – signals the end of the practice session or race
- Black – informs the driver he or she needs to go directly to the pit stop
- Yellow – informs the driver to reduce speed, be prepared to change direction, there’s a hazard on the course
- White – a slower vehicle is on a section of the track
- Green – the all-clear signal
The Olympic flag, designed in 1913, bears five interlocking rings representing five world continents. Antarctica is excluded as a continent and North and South America are deemed as one, as in “America.”
The Red Cross flag is traditionally known as a red cross on a white background; however, the organization is identified through two other flags – a red crescent on a white background and a white diamond with a cutout center on a white background.
World Flag “Stuff”
- Red is the most popular color for national flags worldwide. The color is found on about 75 percent of all flags. White is a color on 70 percent of flags and blue is on about 50 percent of all flags.
- The largest flag flown consistently is the flag of Brazil – the flag measures 230 ft. by 328 ft.
- Some flags look the same by coincidence and others are similar because of the nation’s geographical location or religious beliefs. Many colonial flags, such as British Commonwealth countries, are similar to each other. Many flags of Islamic nations will use the color green to signify their religious beliefs, while many British Commonwealth countries may have the British Union Jack incorporated into their national flag.
Issue 415
SNIPPETZ HEATS THINGS UP WITH CHILI
"Next to jazz music, there is nothing that lifts the spirit and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili."
-Harry James, musician and band leader (1916-1983)
Halloween: step aside. October is also National Chili Month. As the aspens turn to gold and snow drifts in and out of Colorado, October is a perfect time to recognize one of America’s hottest (no pun intended) dishes.
Texas Heat
Texans have for centuries claimed fame as the originators of chili con carne. Others argue that chili originated in Mexico, but Charles Ramsdell, a writer from San Antonio, Texas, wrote the following in his article, San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide. “Chili, as we know it in the U.S. cannot be found in Mexico today, except in a few spots which cater to tourists. If chili had come from Mexico, it would still be there. For Mexicans … do not change their culinary customs from one generation, or even from one century, to another.”
In 1926, another writer from San Antonio, J.C. Clopper, wrote that Mexicans defined chili in the Diccionario de Mejicanismos, published in 1959, as “detestable food passing itself off as Mexican, sold in the U.S. from Texas to New York.”
No matter, most agree that San Antonio, Texas, is responsible for spreading Texas-style chili throughout the South and West and then some. In 1893, the San Antonio Chili Stand at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago introduced people worldwide to chili con carne.
If there is still doubt about Texans and chili, here’s what some famous and infamous chili lovers said about the lone state in relation to chili.
• "Chili concocted outside of Texas is usually a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing. One of the first things I do when I get home to Texas is to have a bowl of red. There is simply nothing better." - Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th president of the United States
• Will Rogers (1879-1935), cattleman, banker and journalist, called chili a" bowl of blessedness." It is said that Will Rogers judged a town by the quality of its chili and sampled it in hundreds of towns. He concluded that the best chili was from a small cafe in Coleman, Texas.
• Jesse James (1847-1882), outlaw of the old American West, refused to rob a bank in McKinney, Texas, because it was home to his favorite chili parlor.
The Early Recipe
Chili con carne (Spanish for meat) is all about meat – and – leave out the beans please.
Beef or venison and chili peppers were the main ingredients in original Texas-style chili. Suet (beef fat) was used to add flavor, and the type of peppers (from the mild bell to the hot habanera) used depended on the desired degree of spice and “heat.” Besides beans, Texas chili did not include vegetables of any kind or tomatoes. Chili powder, a blend of ground peppers and spices, was often used in place of the chili peppers.
When chili gained popularity in the eastern parts of the U.S., beans were added as filler because meat was more expensive and not quite as plentiful in those areas.
Many chili purists still insist on banning the beans and tomatoes at various chili cook-offs around the country.
Others banish the meat. Vegetarian or not, many health-conscious chili fans are now opting for the beans-only version. Chili contests often include vegetarian chili as a category.
Can It
Of course, canned chili is an alternative for the don’t-feel-like-cooking crowd.
Some say that canned chili was first produced in 1908 by Willie Gebhardt of San Antonio. However, William Gerald Tobin, a Texas Ranger and hotel owner, first coined the idea of canned chili in 1881. Tobin contracted with the federal government and sold canned chili con carne to the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The carne that Tobin used in his recipes was goat. Eventually, he opened a chili con carne processing plant and canning operation. He died before his venture took off.
Red or Green?
While Texas boasts the original chili recipes, New Mexico is the capital of chili growing. The largest agricultural crop in New Mexico is the chili, and the state grows more chili peppers than any other in the U.S.
Chili is a New Mexico household staple. It is often said that the mantra of the people of New Mexico is “red or green?”
In 1888, Fabian Garcia worked as a horticulturist at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He experimented with developing varieties of the chili. In the early 1900s, he released the “New Mexico 9” – nine different pod sizes and heat levels.
Today, New Mexico State’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics helps New Mexico’s farmers develop new and improved varieties of the chili. New Mexico State University also is the headquarters of the Chili Pepper Institute. And every year, more than 300 chili growers from all over the U.S. attend the New Mexico Chile Conference in Las Cruces.
The chili cash crop is worth about $60 million at harvest to New Mexico; after it’s processed, the value increases to more than $240 million. About 95 percent of the crop is harvested from seven southern and eastern New Mexico counties.
Chili Facts
Contrary to popular belief, the Spanish did not introduce the chili pepper to the U.S. The Inca, Maya and Aztec Indians used chili peppers to spice up their dishes, temper their medical ailments, trade goods and bring them closer to the gods.
Chili peppers are related to tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants and have nothing to do with black pepper. Christopher Columbus, believing he had arrived in the Spice Islands of the East Indies, called the chili “pepper,” thinking it was black pepper
The red chili is a ripened, dried green chili and has a sweeter flavor. Red chili “bouquets” are often used as a hanging plant décor in homes and restaurants.
The Hottest
The Dorset Naga is the world’s hottest chili pepper. Joy and Michael Michaud grew the pepper out of their market in Great Britain and spent four years developing it. They had to wear gloves to remove the seeds outdoors as they prepared them for drying.
The hottest chili pepper in the Guiness Book of Records is a Red Savina habanera, measured at 570,000 Scolville heat units. (Wilburn Scoville developed the scale in 1912.)
In 2005, the Michauds sent the Dorset Naga to two New York laboratories, and they measured the pepper at 900,000 Scolville units. In 2008, the BBC’s “Gardeners World” recorded that the Dorset Naga measured 1.6 million SHUs at the University of Warwick in the UK.
In comparison, the Jalapeno chili is measured at 10,000 SHUs. The Habanera chili ranges in levels between 100,000 and 400,000.
Some say just dust the chili ingredients with the Dorset Naga and the heat is on.
Chili Cook-offs Abound
The International Chili Society sanctions more than 300 cook-offs each year throughout the world. And that’s just the number of chili championships that are members of the ICS.
The 2009 World’s Championship Chili Cook-off is scheduled Oct. 9-11 in Charleston, West Virginia. Hundreds of cooks throughout the world will gather for the three-day event.
Georgia Weller from Michigan won $25,000 with the 2008 world champion chili recipe.
Every state in the union, including Hawaii and Alaska, has some sort of chili cook-off (or two or 20) a year – and almost every country.
The Chili Appreciation Society International promotes chili cook-offs throughout the world to raise money for charity. They participate in more than 500 chili cook-offs each year and raise over $1 million for local charities.
The Denver District Chili Cook-off is Oct. 4; the winner advances to the 2010 world championship cook-off.
National Chili Month
Here are a few ideas to celebrate National Chili Month.
• Attend a chili cook-off or participate in one.
• Host your own chili cook-off party, where everyone brings a pot of chili.
• Or host a party and have each guest bring an ingredient appropriate for a big batch of chili, and cook it up during the Broncos game.
• Have a chili cook-off at the office.
• Create a new family recipe – have each member of the family think of an ingredient to add to the chili. The list could be endless and interesting.
• Host a chili pepper eating contest (make sure to have guests sign a waiver).
• Dress up like a chili pepper for Halloween.
Southern Chili Georgia Style
Georgia Weller, winner of the 2008 World’s Chili Cookoff Championship
Ingredients:
3 tsp Wesson Oil
4 1/2 TBS CA Chile Powder
4 TBS Gebhardt Chili Powder
1/2 TBS NM Hot Chile Powder
1/2 TBS Chimayo
1/2 TBS Pasilla
3 1/2 TBS Cumin
1 TBS Granulated Garlic
4 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 TBS Brown Sugar
1 tsp Tabasco
3lbs Chuck - cut in chunks
1 can Beef Broth
1 can Chicken Broth
1 8oz can Hunts Tomato Sauce
1 can Green Chiles – chopped
Instructions:
Brown meat and add to chili pot along with chicken and beef broth, tomato sauce and green chilies. Add 2/3 of the spices. Cook for 2 hours. Add remaining spices. Cook additional hour or until meat is tender. Add salt to taste. Serve with Nabisco original Premium Saltine crackers.
Excerpted from International Chili Society Web site, www.chilicookoff.com
SNIPPETZ HEATS THINGS UP WITH CHILI
"Next to jazz music, there is nothing that lifts the spirit and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili."
-Harry James, musician and band leader (1916-1983)
Halloween: step aside. October is also National Chili Month. As the aspens turn to gold and snow drifts in and out of Colorado, October is a perfect time to recognize one of America’s hottest (no pun intended) dishes.
Texas Heat
Texans have for centuries claimed fame as the originators of chili con carne. Others argue that chili originated in Mexico, but Charles Ramsdell, a writer from San Antonio, Texas, wrote the following in his article, San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide. “Chili, as we know it in the U.S. cannot be found in Mexico today, except in a few spots which cater to tourists. If chili had come from Mexico, it would still be there. For Mexicans … do not change their culinary customs from one generation, or even from one century, to another.”
In 1926, another writer from San Antonio, J.C. Clopper, wrote that Mexicans defined chili in the Diccionario de Mejicanismos, published in 1959, as “detestable food passing itself off as Mexican, sold in the U.S. from Texas to New York.”
No matter, most agree that San Antonio, Texas, is responsible for spreading Texas-style chili throughout the South and West and then some. In 1893, the San Antonio Chili Stand at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago introduced people worldwide to chili con carne.
If there is still doubt about Texans and chili, here’s what some famous and infamous chili lovers said about the lone state in relation to chili.
• "Chili concocted outside of Texas is usually a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing. One of the first things I do when I get home to Texas is to have a bowl of red. There is simply nothing better." - Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th president of the United States
• Will Rogers (1879-1935), cattleman, banker and journalist, called chili a" bowl of blessedness." It is said that Will Rogers judged a town by the quality of its chili and sampled it in hundreds of towns. He concluded that the best chili was from a small cafe in Coleman, Texas.
• Jesse James (1847-1882), outlaw of the old American West, refused to rob a bank in McKinney, Texas, because it was home to his favorite chili parlor.
The Early Recipe
Chili con carne (Spanish for meat) is all about meat – and – leave out the beans please.
Beef or venison and chili peppers were the main ingredients in original Texas-style chili. Suet (beef fat) was used to add flavor, and the type of peppers (from the mild bell to the hot habanera) used depended on the desired degree of spice and “heat.” Besides beans, Texas chili did not include vegetables of any kind or tomatoes. Chili powder, a blend of ground peppers and spices, was often used in place of the chili peppers.
When chili gained popularity in the eastern parts of the U.S., beans were added as filler because meat was more expensive and not quite as plentiful in those areas.
Many chili purists still insist on banning the beans and tomatoes at various chili cook-offs around the country.
Others banish the meat. Vegetarian or not, many health-conscious chili fans are now opting for the beans-only version. Chili contests often include vegetarian chili as a category.
Can It
Of course, canned chili is an alternative for the don’t-feel-like-cooking crowd.
Some say that canned chili was first produced in 1908 by Willie Gebhardt of San Antonio. However, William Gerald Tobin, a Texas Ranger and hotel owner, first coined the idea of canned chili in 1881. Tobin contracted with the federal government and sold canned chili con carne to the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The carne that Tobin used in his recipes was goat. Eventually, he opened a chili con carne processing plant and canning operation. He died before his venture took off.
Red or Green?
While Texas boasts the original chili recipes, New Mexico is the capital of chili growing. The largest agricultural crop in New Mexico is the chili, and the state grows more chili peppers than any other in the U.S.
Chili is a New Mexico household staple. It is often said that the mantra of the people of New Mexico is “red or green?”
In 1888, Fabian Garcia worked as a horticulturist at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He experimented with developing varieties of the chili. In the early 1900s, he released the “New Mexico 9” – nine different pod sizes and heat levels.
Today, New Mexico State’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics helps New Mexico’s farmers develop new and improved varieties of the chili. New Mexico State University also is the headquarters of the Chili Pepper Institute. And every year, more than 300 chili growers from all over the U.S. attend the New Mexico Chile Conference in Las Cruces.
The chili cash crop is worth about $60 million at harvest to New Mexico; after it’s processed, the value increases to more than $240 million. About 95 percent of the crop is harvested from seven southern and eastern New Mexico counties.
Chili Facts
Contrary to popular belief, the Spanish did not introduce the chili pepper to the U.S. The Inca, Maya and Aztec Indians used chili peppers to spice up their dishes, temper their medical ailments, trade goods and bring them closer to the gods.
Chili peppers are related to tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants and have nothing to do with black pepper. Christopher Columbus, believing he had arrived in the Spice Islands of the East Indies, called the chili “pepper,” thinking it was black pepper
The red chili is a ripened, dried green chili and has a sweeter flavor. Red chili “bouquets” are often used as a hanging plant décor in homes and restaurants.
- Green chili is not the same as chili verde – the latter includes pork.
- The heat of a chili pepper comes from a substance called capsaicin, found in the membranes surrounding the seeds of the pepper and extending down the pod. The heat can be reduced somewhat by removing the membranes, along with the seeds.
- Chili is a fruit and is rich in nutritional value. One medium green chili has as much vitamin C as six oranges.
- Teas and lozenges are made from chili peppers to soothe sore throats.
- Birds were responsible for spreading chili seeds throughout South and Central America. Birds do not taste the “heat.”
- Eating chili peppers burns calories. The chili pepper speeds the body’s metabolic rate, which enhances the burning of calories. Reason enough to belly up to a bowl.
The Hottest
The Dorset Naga is the world’s hottest chili pepper. Joy and Michael Michaud grew the pepper out of their market in Great Britain and spent four years developing it. They had to wear gloves to remove the seeds outdoors as they prepared them for drying.
The hottest chili pepper in the Guiness Book of Records is a Red Savina habanera, measured at 570,000 Scolville heat units. (Wilburn Scoville developed the scale in 1912.)
In 2005, the Michauds sent the Dorset Naga to two New York laboratories, and they measured the pepper at 900,000 Scolville units. In 2008, the BBC’s “Gardeners World” recorded that the Dorset Naga measured 1.6 million SHUs at the University of Warwick in the UK.
In comparison, the Jalapeno chili is measured at 10,000 SHUs. The Habanera chili ranges in levels between 100,000 and 400,000.
Some say just dust the chili ingredients with the Dorset Naga and the heat is on.
Chili Cook-offs Abound
The International Chili Society sanctions more than 300 cook-offs each year throughout the world. And that’s just the number of chili championships that are members of the ICS.
The 2009 World’s Championship Chili Cook-off is scheduled Oct. 9-11 in Charleston, West Virginia. Hundreds of cooks throughout the world will gather for the three-day event.
Georgia Weller from Michigan won $25,000 with the 2008 world champion chili recipe.
Every state in the union, including Hawaii and Alaska, has some sort of chili cook-off (or two or 20) a year – and almost every country.
The Chili Appreciation Society International promotes chili cook-offs throughout the world to raise money for charity. They participate in more than 500 chili cook-offs each year and raise over $1 million for local charities.
The Denver District Chili Cook-off is Oct. 4; the winner advances to the 2010 world championship cook-off.
National Chili Month
Here are a few ideas to celebrate National Chili Month.
• Attend a chili cook-off or participate in one.
• Host your own chili cook-off party, where everyone brings a pot of chili.
• Or host a party and have each guest bring an ingredient appropriate for a big batch of chili, and cook it up during the Broncos game.
• Have a chili cook-off at the office.
• Create a new family recipe – have each member of the family think of an ingredient to add to the chili. The list could be endless and interesting.
• Host a chili pepper eating contest (make sure to have guests sign a waiver).
• Dress up like a chili pepper for Halloween.
Southern Chili Georgia Style
Georgia Weller, winner of the 2008 World’s Chili Cookoff Championship
Ingredients:
3 tsp Wesson Oil
4 1/2 TBS CA Chile Powder
4 TBS Gebhardt Chili Powder
1/2 TBS NM Hot Chile Powder
1/2 TBS Chimayo
1/2 TBS Pasilla
3 1/2 TBS Cumin
1 TBS Granulated Garlic
4 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 TBS Brown Sugar
1 tsp Tabasco
3lbs Chuck - cut in chunks
1 can Beef Broth
1 can Chicken Broth
1 8oz can Hunts Tomato Sauce
1 can Green Chiles – chopped
Instructions:
Brown meat and add to chili pot along with chicken and beef broth, tomato sauce and green chilies. Add 2/3 of the spices. Cook for 2 hours. Add remaining spices. Cook additional hour or until meat is tender. Add salt to taste. Serve with Nabisco original Premium Saltine crackers.
Excerpted from International Chili Society Web site, www.chilicookoff.com
Issue 414
SNIPPETZ AND THE FRUGAL FAD
"Less is more."
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Architect (1886-1969)
Fru•gal:
1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful
2. entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty
-Random House Unabridged Dictionary
Frugal-related words also include sparse, thrifty, careful and economical. Nowhere does the word “cheap” show up in the dictionary. Thus, before getting into the meaning of being frugal in today’s sluggish economy, it’s most important to clarify the differences between frugal and cheap. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “cheap” with the following adjectives: inexpensive, low quality and stingy. In purist terms, in no way do the last two relate to “frugal.”
Frugal vs. Cheap
Some frugal people occasionally refer to themselves as cheapskates, but there are notable differences. For example:
• Saving an extra $100 from your paycheck, above and beyond your 401K, is frugal. Stealing copy paper from the office to avoid paying for it is cheap.
• Going out to dinner and ordering chicken instead of steak – although you really want the steak – is frugal. Under tipping the waitress to save money is cheap.
• Asking someone out for a first-time dinner date to a nice pizza joint to save money is frugal. Asking someone out for a first-time dinner date and then asking her – or him – to split the bill is cheap.
• Growing your own food to cut back on groceries is frugal. Dumpster diving for food is definitely cheap.
The Gray Area
Frugal versus cheap is often a matter of opinion.
In August, Kimberly Palmer wrote an article for U.S. News and World Report on frugality and early retirement. She interviewed a 32-year-old IT engineer from Omaha, Neb., who is planning to retire as soon as possible – before age 50. He makes his own Windex by mixing rubbing alcohol, water and a little bit of soap and reuses old shirts for dishtowels. He sells old household items on Craig’s List and eBay. He usually takes his lunch to work but occasionally gets a free burger by filling out free surveys at the fast-food joints. Most of his saving techniques are frugal, but using old shirts for dish towels – some might say “cheap.”
Palmer also cited a 33-year-old living in California on a budget of a little more than $500 a month (California?) with the rest (75 percent) going to savings. Jacob is a blogger, according to the article, and has already retired from his job as an astrophysicist. He lives in a small house and doesn’t drive because he lives close to all the amenities. He, too, sells on eBay and other sites.
Frugal? Cheap? Deprived?
Enough About Cheap And On To Frugal
Lifestyles in America have changed – some drastically – as the economic disaster of the past few years caught the country ill-prepared. People have lost their savings, their jobs and their homes. As gas prices soared, Americans cut vacations, even cross-town trips, to weather the storm. Many tossed their big vans and SUVs to the wind in favor of smaller, more economical cars.
And customers at consignment clothing stores are the same people who used to drop off their clothes. Goodwill has become the new Gucci.
Additionally, a number of people are farming their backyards to beat the high costs of groceries.
Frugality has become the new face of America. It’s the rage.
The Internet is inundated with online, self-subscribed frugal financial advisors. Bloggers galore have cut a piece of the Web pie for themselves, sharing their ideas and attempts at living frugally.
There’s www.frugaldad.com. Frugal Dad’s writings have appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Daily News and he’s written an e-book, “The 7-Day Turnaround: One Week to Change Your Family’s Financial Future.”
Frugal Dad touts his approach to debt reduction hoping that others can benefit.
In January 2008, Frugal Dad wrote that his family had agreed to trim their cable service from expanded to basic for one year. They eliminated 60 channels and saved $35 a month (every little bit counts). They survived without psychiatric care or family discord but decided to resume expanded cable after the one-year trial. That decision caused a few raised eyebrows among Frugal Dad’s readers. One suggested the decision to re-up the cable service could be compared to diet fads. Give it up, give in.
However, Frugal Dad said the comparison had merit but even the successful dieter, who turns good eating habits into a lifestyle, can eventually add a bowl of ice cream or a couple of cookies to the menu. It’s called maintenance, Frugal Dad said, and it’s the same concept regarding finances. Those who succeed at reducing debt or building savings can “relax the spending diet” and without guilt resume something like expanded cable service.
It’s about “balancing things out and avoiding waste … spending money to get a good value,” Frugal Dad said.
Fad Or A New Frugal America?
In August, the American Psychological Association addressed the frugal fad in “Monitor on Psychology,” an online APA news brief. According to the article by Amy Novotney, social researchers found that even people who haven’t been threatened by the economic debacle have pulled back on spending. Novotney reported that 7 million more households (up 19 percent) planned to grow their own food in 2009, according to the National Gardening Association. In April 2009, the national savings rate jumped to 5.7 percent of disposable income, up from a “historically low average rate of 0.5 percent the previous year.” Americans appear to be less wasteful. Landfills nationwide report that incoming trash is down by 30 percent.
And a Gallup survey showed that seven in 10 Americans are cutting weekly expenses.
Some psychologists say the frugal fad could be the silver lining among the black clouds of the economic downturn. Will Americans become less credit happy and more conscientious about their spending habits? Will new spending habits mean that Americans will place less value on material things?
Other psychologists say that a thrifty-manic America will not last. Once credit starts flowing again, the frugal fad will fade.
Or not.
In an Associated Press article on MSNBC.com, a survey by a research firm – AlixPartners – predicted that when the “Great Recession” subsides, Americans will “spend at about 86 percent of their pre-downturn level.”
It might be “in” to be prudent about spending but in many ways it’s a catch 22 for the economy. In 2008, consumer spending adjusted for inflation was down 0.2 percent, the first annual drop since 1980. The frugal fad has meant significant losses for the car, household goods, clothing and shoe industries.
To add fuel to the fire, the big-spender baby boomers have seen tremendous losses in their retirement savings, and their time is running out. Baby boomers have driven trends in America for years – their new thrift-conscious attitude could keep frugality alive for quite some time.
Get on board
If anyone is interested in frugal living, it’s obvious that advice is flowing like the Colorado rivers during the spring runoff. And many of those Web sites back their advice with online coupons, like www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com. Print out a coupon for all kinds of items, from breakfast cereal to eye exams at Sears. Just Google “coupons,” and the options are vast.
Leo Babauta has one of the top blog sites on the Internet – www.zenhabits.net. He also wrote a book, “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essentials.” Babauta lives on Guam and has a wife and six kids. This frugality guru provides 50 ideas for saving money.
Many of those ideas have been around for generations. Turning off lights, hanging the clothes out to dry and minimizing shower time have been continuously drilled into Americans as worthwhile energy-saving techniques. His more standard steps for saving money also include downsizing the family car; buying used clothing and furniture; brown bagging it; creating unique gifts.
Here are five of Babauta’s do-I-really-have-to frugal methods – and some side benefits.
1. Stop online impulse buys (no more hiding the package before he or she gets home).
2. Eat less meat (more tofu equals fewer cows, and talk about energy savings!).
3. Pay your credit card off each month or tear it up (pretend the plastic is a Dear John letter from your bank account – grieve and get over it).
4. Do it yourself (mow your own lawn and get fit, saves on the gym membership).
5. Drink water, not beer (saves money and creates family time – no more Sunday afternoon football parties).
As they say, the proof of America’s frugal fad as a permanent direction is in the pudding (or the JELLO, whichever is the least costly). Meanwhile, remember to pick up your FREE Snippetz Magazine; and, save on paper towels and keep the newspaper to wash your windows with vinegar and water. Or, recycle to save the earth. It’s the craze: save something.
SNIPPETZ AND THE FRUGAL FAD
"Less is more."
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Architect (1886-1969)
Fru•gal:
1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful
2. entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty
-Random House Unabridged Dictionary
Frugal-related words also include sparse, thrifty, careful and economical. Nowhere does the word “cheap” show up in the dictionary. Thus, before getting into the meaning of being frugal in today’s sluggish economy, it’s most important to clarify the differences between frugal and cheap. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “cheap” with the following adjectives: inexpensive, low quality and stingy. In purist terms, in no way do the last two relate to “frugal.”
Frugal vs. Cheap
Some frugal people occasionally refer to themselves as cheapskates, but there are notable differences. For example:
• Saving an extra $100 from your paycheck, above and beyond your 401K, is frugal. Stealing copy paper from the office to avoid paying for it is cheap.
• Going out to dinner and ordering chicken instead of steak – although you really want the steak – is frugal. Under tipping the waitress to save money is cheap.
• Asking someone out for a first-time dinner date to a nice pizza joint to save money is frugal. Asking someone out for a first-time dinner date and then asking her – or him – to split the bill is cheap.
• Growing your own food to cut back on groceries is frugal. Dumpster diving for food is definitely cheap.
The Gray Area
Frugal versus cheap is often a matter of opinion.
In August, Kimberly Palmer wrote an article for U.S. News and World Report on frugality and early retirement. She interviewed a 32-year-old IT engineer from Omaha, Neb., who is planning to retire as soon as possible – before age 50. He makes his own Windex by mixing rubbing alcohol, water and a little bit of soap and reuses old shirts for dishtowels. He sells old household items on Craig’s List and eBay. He usually takes his lunch to work but occasionally gets a free burger by filling out free surveys at the fast-food joints. Most of his saving techniques are frugal, but using old shirts for dish towels – some might say “cheap.”
Palmer also cited a 33-year-old living in California on a budget of a little more than $500 a month (California?) with the rest (75 percent) going to savings. Jacob is a blogger, according to the article, and has already retired from his job as an astrophysicist. He lives in a small house and doesn’t drive because he lives close to all the amenities. He, too, sells on eBay and other sites.
Frugal? Cheap? Deprived?
Enough About Cheap And On To Frugal
Lifestyles in America have changed – some drastically – as the economic disaster of the past few years caught the country ill-prepared. People have lost their savings, their jobs and their homes. As gas prices soared, Americans cut vacations, even cross-town trips, to weather the storm. Many tossed their big vans and SUVs to the wind in favor of smaller, more economical cars.
And customers at consignment clothing stores are the same people who used to drop off their clothes. Goodwill has become the new Gucci.
Additionally, a number of people are farming their backyards to beat the high costs of groceries.
Frugality has become the new face of America. It’s the rage.
The Internet is inundated with online, self-subscribed frugal financial advisors. Bloggers galore have cut a piece of the Web pie for themselves, sharing their ideas and attempts at living frugally.
There’s www.frugaldad.com. Frugal Dad’s writings have appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Daily News and he’s written an e-book, “The 7-Day Turnaround: One Week to Change Your Family’s Financial Future.”
Frugal Dad touts his approach to debt reduction hoping that others can benefit.
In January 2008, Frugal Dad wrote that his family had agreed to trim their cable service from expanded to basic for one year. They eliminated 60 channels and saved $35 a month (every little bit counts). They survived without psychiatric care or family discord but decided to resume expanded cable after the one-year trial. That decision caused a few raised eyebrows among Frugal Dad’s readers. One suggested the decision to re-up the cable service could be compared to diet fads. Give it up, give in.
However, Frugal Dad said the comparison had merit but even the successful dieter, who turns good eating habits into a lifestyle, can eventually add a bowl of ice cream or a couple of cookies to the menu. It’s called maintenance, Frugal Dad said, and it’s the same concept regarding finances. Those who succeed at reducing debt or building savings can “relax the spending diet” and without guilt resume something like expanded cable service.
It’s about “balancing things out and avoiding waste … spending money to get a good value,” Frugal Dad said.
Fad Or A New Frugal America?
In August, the American Psychological Association addressed the frugal fad in “Monitor on Psychology,” an online APA news brief. According to the article by Amy Novotney, social researchers found that even people who haven’t been threatened by the economic debacle have pulled back on spending. Novotney reported that 7 million more households (up 19 percent) planned to grow their own food in 2009, according to the National Gardening Association. In April 2009, the national savings rate jumped to 5.7 percent of disposable income, up from a “historically low average rate of 0.5 percent the previous year.” Americans appear to be less wasteful. Landfills nationwide report that incoming trash is down by 30 percent.
And a Gallup survey showed that seven in 10 Americans are cutting weekly expenses.
Some psychologists say the frugal fad could be the silver lining among the black clouds of the economic downturn. Will Americans become less credit happy and more conscientious about their spending habits? Will new spending habits mean that Americans will place less value on material things?
Other psychologists say that a thrifty-manic America will not last. Once credit starts flowing again, the frugal fad will fade.
Or not.
In an Associated Press article on MSNBC.com, a survey by a research firm – AlixPartners – predicted that when the “Great Recession” subsides, Americans will “spend at about 86 percent of their pre-downturn level.”
It might be “in” to be prudent about spending but in many ways it’s a catch 22 for the economy. In 2008, consumer spending adjusted for inflation was down 0.2 percent, the first annual drop since 1980. The frugal fad has meant significant losses for the car, household goods, clothing and shoe industries.
To add fuel to the fire, the big-spender baby boomers have seen tremendous losses in their retirement savings, and their time is running out. Baby boomers have driven trends in America for years – their new thrift-conscious attitude could keep frugality alive for quite some time.
Get on board
If anyone is interested in frugal living, it’s obvious that advice is flowing like the Colorado rivers during the spring runoff. And many of those Web sites back their advice with online coupons, like www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com. Print out a coupon for all kinds of items, from breakfast cereal to eye exams at Sears. Just Google “coupons,” and the options are vast.
Leo Babauta has one of the top blog sites on the Internet – www.zenhabits.net. He also wrote a book, “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essentials.” Babauta lives on Guam and has a wife and six kids. This frugality guru provides 50 ideas for saving money.
Many of those ideas have been around for generations. Turning off lights, hanging the clothes out to dry and minimizing shower time have been continuously drilled into Americans as worthwhile energy-saving techniques. His more standard steps for saving money also include downsizing the family car; buying used clothing and furniture; brown bagging it; creating unique gifts.
Here are five of Babauta’s do-I-really-have-to frugal methods – and some side benefits.
1. Stop online impulse buys (no more hiding the package before he or she gets home).
2. Eat less meat (more tofu equals fewer cows, and talk about energy savings!).
3. Pay your credit card off each month or tear it up (pretend the plastic is a Dear John letter from your bank account – grieve and get over it).
4. Do it yourself (mow your own lawn and get fit, saves on the gym membership).
5. Drink water, not beer (saves money and creates family time – no more Sunday afternoon football parties).
As they say, the proof of America’s frugal fad as a permanent direction is in the pudding (or the JELLO, whichever is the least costly). Meanwhile, remember to pick up your FREE Snippetz Magazine; and, save on paper towels and keep the newspaper to wash your windows with vinegar and water. Or, recycle to save the earth. It’s the craze: save something.
Issue 413
SNIPPETZ... FOLK HEROES
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
-William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
A folk hero, or for that matter folk heroes in general are an interesting bunch. They are always bigger than life, and in some cases they do not even exist, as with Paul Bunyan who purportedly created all of the lakes in Minnesota by leaving huge indentions on the landscape with every footfall. Then there are real people who evolved to folk hero status due to a single event, like John Henry who beat a steam powered machine in a race and became a hero to the railroad workers. Or Casey Jones, a railroad engineer who died in a collision because he remained in his locomotive while braking and sounding the whistle in order to save his passengers and warn the crew of the other train.
There are folk heroes like Annie Oakley, who consistently dazzled crowds with her sharp shooting abilities. Or those who gave of themselves over a period of time or even spent their entire lifetime helping others, like Johnny Appleseed.
Let us not forget the dark side of folk heroes, although they are technically classified as ‘folk legends.’ Those are the ones who by some dastardly deed or string of crimes became legends in their own time. Bonnie and Clyde, Billie the Kid, Alfred Packer and Jessie James are just a few. During their lifetime they were either viewed as good, bad or sometimes both.
Robin Hood, a criminal in the eyes of the law, gave his ill gotten booty to the poor. Depending on what side of the fence you view him, he is either a hero or a thief.
The bottom line with all folk heroes or legends is, be they real or imagined, they all had a single salient characteristic that makes one a folk hero, thus imprinting the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness.
The Good…
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman. His illustrious career as a frontiersman, nursery owner and part time preacher began when he moved to central Ohio in 1790 from Pittsburgh, Penn. By 1800 he had established a number of apple tree nurseries from seeds he obtained from cider mills that gladly gave him all the seeds he wanted because they saw it as a way to increase their business. The more apples available, the more cider they could produce. Johnny Appleseed began creating not apple orchards, but nurseries, and left them in the care of neighbors with strict instructions to sell the trees for cash, barter and/or credit. If anyone was unable to pay his or her bill for the trees they received, he was quick to forgive the debt. John Chapman was always on the move and returned every year or two to his many nurseries to collect any profit and bartered goods to give to the needy.
Chapman, whose business endeavors were actually financially sound, never flaunted his success and usually wore the least desirable of clothing he received in barter from his nurseries. It was reported that he seldom wore shoes in order to save the leather, and only in the coldest of winters did he finally don footwear from his cache of clothing received as barter, usually whatever no one else wanted. He traveled extensively, stopping to help anyone in need and trading apple seeds, clothing and food for a warm dinner and the opportunity to spend the night on the floor of someone’s warm cabin.
The Fort Wayne Sentinel reported that John Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed, died on March 18, 1845 at the age of 80.
Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox
Although Paul Bunyan is a mythological character, his origin is reported to be based on real life loggers Big Joe Mufferaw and Jos Montferrand. The legends originated at the mouth of the river in the Two Mountains area near Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada. He was described as a defender of the people, and stories of his feats moved up-river from shanty to shanty. Stories about the exploits of this mythical character were enhanced by each storyteller who told the tale until eventually Paul Bunyan was born.
His life was claimed to have been spent in the northern logging region of the United States around Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Paul Bunyan myth was legitimized by newspaper articles traced back to James MacGillivray, a reporter who wrote the first Paul Bunyan article in 1906. Bunyan’s ever constant companion, Babe the Blue Ox, became a regular part of the Bunyan stories because oxen were used for logging at that time.
Tales of his giant feet creating huge craters that made the many lakes when filled with water in the northwest area of Minnesota and Wisconsin further perpetuated Paul Bunyan lore. To this day there are numerous tourist attractions across the northern United States featuring large Paul Bunyan and Babe wooden statues, which continue to fan the flames of this popular American folk hero.
…And The Not So Good
Folk heroes, who gained their reputation not for good, but for evil, are as numerous as their counterparts. A couple of them have Colorado connections.
Alfred Packer
Alfred Packer was a member of a group of 21 men who left Provo, Utah in November of 1873 bound for the gold country of Breckenridge, Colo. During their travels, they met briefly with Chief Ouray near Montrose who urged the party to hold off on their travels until the winter passed. Ignoring Ouray’s warning, the party continued east towards the Blue River in what is now Summit County when they became stranded in a brutal snow storm somewhere close to the Gunnison area. When supplies ran out, Packer left the group to scout a way out and when he returned, found a member of the party, Shannon Wilson Bell, roasting human flesh. Packer’s story was that when Bell attempted to attack him with a hatchet, he shot him dead in self defense.
Packer was arrested and thrown in the Saguache County, Colo. jail. He escaped and lived for a number of years in Cheyenne, Wyo. under an assumed name of John Schwartze. A tipster revealed his true identity, and he was extradited back to Colorado where he stood trial, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. A number of years later, Packer’s conviction was reversed by the Colorado Supreme Court based on an ex post facto law (a retroactive or after the fact change in law). However, on June 8, 1886, Packer was sentenced to 40 years during another trial in Gunnison. At the time, this was the longest prison sentence handed down in U.S. history.
Alfred Packer was paroled 16 years later and oddly ended up as a guard at the Denver Post building in downtown Denver. His historic life was made into a movie that was produced by Mark Webb Productions in the late 1970’s. At the time, Mark Webb Productions was based in Castle Rock, Colo. Many local residents were used as actors and crew in the movie.
Soapy Smith
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II (Nov. 2, 1860 – July 8, 1898) was known as one of Colorado’s most notorious gangsters and con men. He had his hands in organized crime and gained the “Soapy” nickname by swindling many in Denver into buying common soap for a dollar a cake when at the time they could be purchased elsewhere for less than a nickel. He would set up his stand on a busy Denver street corner and in plain view of onlookers would wrap one or sometimes more of the cakes of soap with bills up to $100 in denomination. Then he would carefully wrap the soap with plain paper and mix them up. A shill would then be the first to buy one of bars of soap and always would be the one to pick the bar with the money inside. The innocent bystanders would snatch up the remaining cakes of soap. Needless to say there were never any winners.
Smith expanded his criminal empire, and newspapers in Denver reported that he controlled the city's criminals and underworld gambling, and accused corrupt politicians and the police chief of receiving his graft.
Modern Day Local
Folk heroes are not necessarily born a hundred years ago. There could be an eccentric character living amongst us right now doing good or bad who could be the next American folk hero.
There is one modern day folk hero, Chuck Pyle, AKA The Zen Cowboy, as proclaimed by The Rocky Mountain News columnist John Lehndorff on Jan. 23, 2009. Pyle is a Western style singer-songwriter who travels the country entertaining for numerous venues, carrying with him his “high-plains saddle philosophy.” He is quoted as saying, “Always ride the horse in the direction it’s going.” He has lived in Colorado since 1965 and spent a period of his life in the Palmer Lake area. Pyle’s music has been recorded by such recording stars as Jerry Jeff Walker, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Suzy Bogguss.
SNIPPETZ... FOLK HEROES
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
-William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
A folk hero, or for that matter folk heroes in general are an interesting bunch. They are always bigger than life, and in some cases they do not even exist, as with Paul Bunyan who purportedly created all of the lakes in Minnesota by leaving huge indentions on the landscape with every footfall. Then there are real people who evolved to folk hero status due to a single event, like John Henry who beat a steam powered machine in a race and became a hero to the railroad workers. Or Casey Jones, a railroad engineer who died in a collision because he remained in his locomotive while braking and sounding the whistle in order to save his passengers and warn the crew of the other train.
There are folk heroes like Annie Oakley, who consistently dazzled crowds with her sharp shooting abilities. Or those who gave of themselves over a period of time or even spent their entire lifetime helping others, like Johnny Appleseed.
Let us not forget the dark side of folk heroes, although they are technically classified as ‘folk legends.’ Those are the ones who by some dastardly deed or string of crimes became legends in their own time. Bonnie and Clyde, Billie the Kid, Alfred Packer and Jessie James are just a few. During their lifetime they were either viewed as good, bad or sometimes both.
Robin Hood, a criminal in the eyes of the law, gave his ill gotten booty to the poor. Depending on what side of the fence you view him, he is either a hero or a thief.
The bottom line with all folk heroes or legends is, be they real or imagined, they all had a single salient characteristic that makes one a folk hero, thus imprinting the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness.
The Good…
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman. His illustrious career as a frontiersman, nursery owner and part time preacher began when he moved to central Ohio in 1790 from Pittsburgh, Penn. By 1800 he had established a number of apple tree nurseries from seeds he obtained from cider mills that gladly gave him all the seeds he wanted because they saw it as a way to increase their business. The more apples available, the more cider they could produce. Johnny Appleseed began creating not apple orchards, but nurseries, and left them in the care of neighbors with strict instructions to sell the trees for cash, barter and/or credit. If anyone was unable to pay his or her bill for the trees they received, he was quick to forgive the debt. John Chapman was always on the move and returned every year or two to his many nurseries to collect any profit and bartered goods to give to the needy.
Chapman, whose business endeavors were actually financially sound, never flaunted his success and usually wore the least desirable of clothing he received in barter from his nurseries. It was reported that he seldom wore shoes in order to save the leather, and only in the coldest of winters did he finally don footwear from his cache of clothing received as barter, usually whatever no one else wanted. He traveled extensively, stopping to help anyone in need and trading apple seeds, clothing and food for a warm dinner and the opportunity to spend the night on the floor of someone’s warm cabin.
The Fort Wayne Sentinel reported that John Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed, died on March 18, 1845 at the age of 80.
Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox
Although Paul Bunyan is a mythological character, his origin is reported to be based on real life loggers Big Joe Mufferaw and Jos Montferrand. The legends originated at the mouth of the river in the Two Mountains area near Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada. He was described as a defender of the people, and stories of his feats moved up-river from shanty to shanty. Stories about the exploits of this mythical character were enhanced by each storyteller who told the tale until eventually Paul Bunyan was born.
His life was claimed to have been spent in the northern logging region of the United States around Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Paul Bunyan myth was legitimized by newspaper articles traced back to James MacGillivray, a reporter who wrote the first Paul Bunyan article in 1906. Bunyan’s ever constant companion, Babe the Blue Ox, became a regular part of the Bunyan stories because oxen were used for logging at that time.
Tales of his giant feet creating huge craters that made the many lakes when filled with water in the northwest area of Minnesota and Wisconsin further perpetuated Paul Bunyan lore. To this day there are numerous tourist attractions across the northern United States featuring large Paul Bunyan and Babe wooden statues, which continue to fan the flames of this popular American folk hero.
…And The Not So Good
Folk heroes, who gained their reputation not for good, but for evil, are as numerous as their counterparts. A couple of them have Colorado connections.
Alfred Packer
Alfred Packer was a member of a group of 21 men who left Provo, Utah in November of 1873 bound for the gold country of Breckenridge, Colo. During their travels, they met briefly with Chief Ouray near Montrose who urged the party to hold off on their travels until the winter passed. Ignoring Ouray’s warning, the party continued east towards the Blue River in what is now Summit County when they became stranded in a brutal snow storm somewhere close to the Gunnison area. When supplies ran out, Packer left the group to scout a way out and when he returned, found a member of the party, Shannon Wilson Bell, roasting human flesh. Packer’s story was that when Bell attempted to attack him with a hatchet, he shot him dead in self defense.
Packer was arrested and thrown in the Saguache County, Colo. jail. He escaped and lived for a number of years in Cheyenne, Wyo. under an assumed name of John Schwartze. A tipster revealed his true identity, and he was extradited back to Colorado where he stood trial, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. A number of years later, Packer’s conviction was reversed by the Colorado Supreme Court based on an ex post facto law (a retroactive or after the fact change in law). However, on June 8, 1886, Packer was sentenced to 40 years during another trial in Gunnison. At the time, this was the longest prison sentence handed down in U.S. history.
Alfred Packer was paroled 16 years later and oddly ended up as a guard at the Denver Post building in downtown Denver. His historic life was made into a movie that was produced by Mark Webb Productions in the late 1970’s. At the time, Mark Webb Productions was based in Castle Rock, Colo. Many local residents were used as actors and crew in the movie.
Soapy Smith
Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II (Nov. 2, 1860 – July 8, 1898) was known as one of Colorado’s most notorious gangsters and con men. He had his hands in organized crime and gained the “Soapy” nickname by swindling many in Denver into buying common soap for a dollar a cake when at the time they could be purchased elsewhere for less than a nickel. He would set up his stand on a busy Denver street corner and in plain view of onlookers would wrap one or sometimes more of the cakes of soap with bills up to $100 in denomination. Then he would carefully wrap the soap with plain paper and mix them up. A shill would then be the first to buy one of bars of soap and always would be the one to pick the bar with the money inside. The innocent bystanders would snatch up the remaining cakes of soap. Needless to say there were never any winners.
Smith expanded his criminal empire, and newspapers in Denver reported that he controlled the city's criminals and underworld gambling, and accused corrupt politicians and the police chief of receiving his graft.
Modern Day Local
Folk heroes are not necessarily born a hundred years ago. There could be an eccentric character living amongst us right now doing good or bad who could be the next American folk hero.
There is one modern day folk hero, Chuck Pyle, AKA The Zen Cowboy, as proclaimed by The Rocky Mountain News columnist John Lehndorff on Jan. 23, 2009. Pyle is a Western style singer-songwriter who travels the country entertaining for numerous venues, carrying with him his “high-plains saddle philosophy.” He is quoted as saying, “Always ride the horse in the direction it’s going.” He has lived in Colorado since 1965 and spent a period of his life in the Palmer Lake area. Pyle’s music has been recorded by such recording stars as Jerry Jeff Walker, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Suzy Bogguss.
Issue 412
SNIPPETZ THINKS THERE'S ALWAYS TIME TO IMPROVE ONESELF
"It is never too late to become what you might have been."
-George Eliot, English novelist
Self-improvement books, tapes, videos, Web sites, talk shows and motivational speakers have inundated the lives of every American – some may say to ad nauseam. But in a world where body image and first impressions are seemingly vital to one’s success, the self-help gurus have a strong, long-term presence in this country, nothing short of Jay Leno or the pope.
AMERICA'S OBSESSIONS
Body Image
In 2008, Darryl Roberts produced “America the Beautiful,” a film about America’s obsession with beautiful people. Roberts talked candidly with a National Public Radio show host about his relationships with gorgeous women. Dating three beautiful (“inside and out,” he said) women at once, he couldn’t settle with any one of them, because he was constantly looking for someone who was more beautiful.
In his film, Roberts chronicles the life of Gerren Taylor, who began modeling at age 12. She skyrocketed to fame as a young model, but at age 15 she went to London and Paris to seek a job as an international model and was told that she was seven centimeters too big – too “obese” to model. Roberts described Gerren as 6 ft. tall and a size two. Her self-esteem had been developed purely through body image – through a walk on the runway, she told Roberts, and without that role she was lost.
Many women and men get their idea of body image from the magazines that often feature the “beautiful” people on their front cover, from People Magazine to Sports Illustrated to Teen Magazine and AARP Magazine. Rarely do we see a 60-year-old with wrinkles and thinning hair on the front page of the latter magazine.
Photoshop is a magazine’s answer to cosmetic surgery!
Nip And Tuck
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 12.1 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. in 2008. Of those, 1.7 million procedures were surgical; 10.4 million were minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.
Americans spent $10.3 million on those procedures. Nothing says self-improvement like a facelift.
Although the recipients of the procedures were highest in the 55-plus age group, 750,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on people in the 20 to 29 age bracket.
And books on cosmetic procedures are catching up with the massive weight-loss, exercise and diet book industry.
Dropping The Pounds
Amazon.com lists 23,876 choices for books on diet and weight loss. Amazon.com showed 708,552 results for books on exercise.
Inarguably, weight defines body image.
Books like the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet and the Flat Belly Diet have drawn thousands – millions – to seek help with losing weight. Those who wish to lose weight through the misery-loves-company method have thousands of choices, from weight-loss clinics to spas to boot camps.
The irony of it all is that despite the number of self-help programs for issues like weight control, obesity continues to rise in this country. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Association Trust for America’s Health concluded that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese; one-third of all children in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
A vast majority of health care professionals, personal trainers and others in the business believe that the body and the mind are one. Perhaps obesity and any other body issues or lack of acceptance of one’s mirror image could be better controlled by seeking mind-improvement advice. And there is plenty out there.
Self-improvement Of The Mind Kind
There are a number of talk shows devoted to improving the lives of Americans. Oprah Winfrey is probably the most well-known modern-day queen of how-to-get-a-better-life television. And then there’s her magazine. And then there are her spin-offs: Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz (about to launch). And the book recommendations: Two of the most popular books on self-improvement touted by Oprah are Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.
Other well-known authors – and motivational speakers – on self-improvement techniques:
The life coach has become another means for self-improvement for those who can afford to hire one.
It doesn’t take a doctorate to become an authority in areas like relationships, careers or personal growth. Life coaches can be trained in weeks, months or years. Admittedly not mental health counselors, life coaches provide motivation and offer support, confidence building and guidance, when appropriate, to their clients.
How to be a better (fill in the blank)
Just Google “how to be a better (whatever),” and the amount of information out there is mind boggling, whether in the form of an article, a Web site, a book or a video:
But for those who haven’t got the time to peruse all the options for self-improvement methods, here are some tips from two of the purportedly wisest amongst us (with extra information about other books covering similar messages):
Dr. Phil (from the book Self Matters):
• Understand life’s defining moments, your life history. (The Self Matters Companion: Helping You Create Your Life From the Inside Out by … Dr. Phil)
• Focus on your gifts, skills, abilities, traits – what is unique about you. Be your authentic self. (Finding My Way: to Authentic Living by Hubert Dreyfus)
Deepak Chopra – his 10 keys to happiness:
In the end, it seems it can be said that one’s self-image is loosely defined – for proof, just turn on a TV reality show!
SNIPPETZ THINKS THERE'S ALWAYS TIME TO IMPROVE ONESELF
"It is never too late to become what you might have been."
-George Eliot, English novelist
Self-improvement books, tapes, videos, Web sites, talk shows and motivational speakers have inundated the lives of every American – some may say to ad nauseam. But in a world where body image and first impressions are seemingly vital to one’s success, the self-help gurus have a strong, long-term presence in this country, nothing short of Jay Leno or the pope.
AMERICA'S OBSESSIONS
Body Image
In 2008, Darryl Roberts produced “America the Beautiful,” a film about America’s obsession with beautiful people. Roberts talked candidly with a National Public Radio show host about his relationships with gorgeous women. Dating three beautiful (“inside and out,” he said) women at once, he couldn’t settle with any one of them, because he was constantly looking for someone who was more beautiful.
In his film, Roberts chronicles the life of Gerren Taylor, who began modeling at age 12. She skyrocketed to fame as a young model, but at age 15 she went to London and Paris to seek a job as an international model and was told that she was seven centimeters too big – too “obese” to model. Roberts described Gerren as 6 ft. tall and a size two. Her self-esteem had been developed purely through body image – through a walk on the runway, she told Roberts, and without that role she was lost.
Many women and men get their idea of body image from the magazines that often feature the “beautiful” people on their front cover, from People Magazine to Sports Illustrated to Teen Magazine and AARP Magazine. Rarely do we see a 60-year-old with wrinkles and thinning hair on the front page of the latter magazine.
Photoshop is a magazine’s answer to cosmetic surgery!
Nip And Tuck
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were 12.1 million cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. in 2008. Of those, 1.7 million procedures were surgical; 10.4 million were minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.
Americans spent $10.3 million on those procedures. Nothing says self-improvement like a facelift.
Although the recipients of the procedures were highest in the 55-plus age group, 750,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on people in the 20 to 29 age bracket.
And books on cosmetic procedures are catching up with the massive weight-loss, exercise and diet book industry.
Dropping The Pounds
Amazon.com lists 23,876 choices for books on diet and weight loss. Amazon.com showed 708,552 results for books on exercise.
Inarguably, weight defines body image.
Books like the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet and the Flat Belly Diet have drawn thousands – millions – to seek help with losing weight. Those who wish to lose weight through the misery-loves-company method have thousands of choices, from weight-loss clinics to spas to boot camps.
- In June 2008, there were 18,100 spas in the U.S., up 24 percent from the previous year.
- Day spas comprise the highest percentage of the type of spas.
- More than 32 million people go to spas on a regular basis.
- The spa goers are opting for services that include about everything available to “enhance” the body: facial peels, waxing, massage, alternative therapies, wellness and cosmetic prevention (under a health care professional), healthy cuisine, exercise programs, and more.
The irony of it all is that despite the number of self-help programs for issues like weight control, obesity continues to rise in this country. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Association Trust for America’s Health concluded that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese; one-third of all children in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
A vast majority of health care professionals, personal trainers and others in the business believe that the body and the mind are one. Perhaps obesity and any other body issues or lack of acceptance of one’s mirror image could be better controlled by seeking mind-improvement advice. And there is plenty out there.
Self-improvement Of The Mind Kind
There are a number of talk shows devoted to improving the lives of Americans. Oprah Winfrey is probably the most well-known modern-day queen of how-to-get-a-better-life television. And then there’s her magazine. And then there are her spin-offs: Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz (about to launch). And the book recommendations: Two of the most popular books on self-improvement touted by Oprah are Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.
Other well-known authors – and motivational speakers – on self-improvement techniques:
- Stephen Covey – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
- Deepak Chopra – Ageless Body, Timeless Mind … and a slew of others
- Jack Canfield – Chicken Soup for the Soul
- Dale Carnegie – one of the original self-development gurus
- Norman Vincent Peale – The Power of Positive Thinking
- Anthony Robbins – Awaken the Giant Within; popular motivational speaker
- Kenneth Blanchard – Who Moved my Cheese
The life coach has become another means for self-improvement for those who can afford to hire one.
It doesn’t take a doctorate to become an authority in areas like relationships, careers or personal growth. Life coaches can be trained in weeks, months or years. Admittedly not mental health counselors, life coaches provide motivation and offer support, confidence building and guidance, when appropriate, to their clients.
How to be a better (fill in the blank)
Just Google “how to be a better (whatever),” and the amount of information out there is mind boggling, whether in the form of an article, a Web site, a book or a video:
- How to be a Better Parent
- How to be a Better Spouse
- How to be a Better Person
- How to be a Better Employee
- How to be a Better Boss
But for those who haven’t got the time to peruse all the options for self-improvement methods, here are some tips from two of the purportedly wisest amongst us (with extra information about other books covering similar messages):
Dr. Phil (from the book Self Matters):
• Understand life’s defining moments, your life history. (The Self Matters Companion: Helping You Create Your Life From the Inside Out by … Dr. Phil)
• Focus on your gifts, skills, abilities, traits – what is unique about you. Be your authentic self. (Finding My Way: to Authentic Living by Hubert Dreyfus)
Deepak Chopra – his 10 keys to happiness:
- Listen to your body signals. (The Definitive Book of Body Signals by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease)
- Live in the moment. (The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle)
- Take time to be silent – quiet the internal dialogue. (The Quiet Mind by White Eagle – Amazon $4.75)
- Relinquish your need for constant approval. (Why is it Always About You: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss and James Masterson)
- Do not judge. (The Bible)
- Eat healthy (Eating Healthy – for Dummies – www.dummies.com)
- Engage in love-motivated behavior. (Help Me, I’m Married by Joyce Meyer)
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. (Chocolate Lovers Cookbook for Dummies by Carole Bloom)
- Reactions – bad or good – are reflections of yourself. Know your spiritual side. (The Bible)
- Be kind to the environment. (Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability by Greg Horn)
In the end, it seems it can be said that one’s self-image is loosely defined – for proof, just turn on a TV reality show!
Issue 411
SNIPPETZ GETS THE BUZZ ON HONEY
“Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar”
-Ben Franklin (1706-1790)
September is National Honey Month! Honey, and the creatures that create it, are a complex and ancient source of much debate. Not only has honey been utilized in many different ways by mankind over many thousands of years, it continues to be a very important part of our society, used for much more than just a source of sweetener for our palettes. Indeed, even the word itself, “honey” has become an integral part of American vernacular. “Honey, can you pass the green beans?” can be heard across the country daily, or some similar approximation.
Honey Around The World
Honey has been used by mankind for over 40 centuries. The earliest illustration we have of honey being gathered is around 15,000 years old, and appears in a painting on the walls of a rock shelter in Eastern Spain. It is referred to in the Bible as “the heavenly food.” Ancient Egyptians paid their taxes with honey; and in early Greece and Rome, honey symbolized fertility, love and beauty. The ancient Greeks minted coins with bees on them. One could surmise that the endearment “honey” still used today may have been “coined” in those ancient times.
Honey In America
In the 16th century, conquering Spaniards discovered that the natives of Mexico and Central America had already developed beekeeping. A distinct family of stingless bees (not true honeybees) was native to these regions.
European settlers introduced European honey bees to New England in about 1638. The Native Americans referred to them as the “white man’s flies.” Honey wasn’t just used to sweeten food back then; it was also used to make cement, to preserve fruits, to concoct furniture paste/polish, to make varnish, and also to make many different kinds of medicines.
In 2007, United States honey bees nearly became a complete casualty. Fully one third of the population died after several deadly viruses ripped through the colonies across the country. Very little is known about this natural disaster, referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder, or what caused it.
Nature’s Perfect Food
Not For The Small
Because honey can contain clostridium botulinum spores, to which infants have very little resistance, honey is not to be given to children under one year of age. After that, kids have generally developed enough immunity to the spores and it is then usually safe to eat. But it is best to consult a pediatrician for the most up-to-date information.
The Life Of A Bee
Bees are insects that live in colonies with around 50,000 of their closest friends. Their hives are self-constructed and are made out of beeswax, which is excreted from many of the worker bees’ glands. Each honeycomb has six sides. Honey bees don’t sleep, but they sometimes rest in empty honeycomb cells.
Each hive has one queen bee that typically lives for three to five years. The hive will not survive without a queen, as she is the only bee who procreates. In fact, she does little else, producing 1,000-1,500 eggs per day. She is impregnated by drone bees that die shortly after their one and only encounter with the queen. The queen remains fertile for all of her life.
When the queen bee sickens, ages or dies, the worker bees choose several larvae to be potential new queens and begin feeding them royal jelly exclusively. The best candidate continues to be fed this powerful, milky substance made from digested pollen, honey and a chemical excreted from a gland on the nursing bees head. It takes 16 days for a new queen to emerge from her egg.
The hive also contains worker bees that can live only six weeks in the summer months, literally working themselves to death. However, they can live longer through the much less productive months in fall and winter. All of the bees have very specific duties throughout their lives, including nursing, guarding, “shopping,” housekeeping, constructing, royal attending and even undertaking. Very civilized insects.
The ‘State’ Of Honey
A few states have adopted the honey bee, or the apis mellifera, as their state insect:
More Buzz
It’s a Honey Of A Word
“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey…and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”
Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milnes “The House at Pooh Corner”
SNIPPETZ GETS THE BUZZ ON HONEY
“Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar”
-Ben Franklin (1706-1790)
September is National Honey Month! Honey, and the creatures that create it, are a complex and ancient source of much debate. Not only has honey been utilized in many different ways by mankind over many thousands of years, it continues to be a very important part of our society, used for much more than just a source of sweetener for our palettes. Indeed, even the word itself, “honey” has become an integral part of American vernacular. “Honey, can you pass the green beans?” can be heard across the country daily, or some similar approximation.
Honey Around The World
Honey has been used by mankind for over 40 centuries. The earliest illustration we have of honey being gathered is around 15,000 years old, and appears in a painting on the walls of a rock shelter in Eastern Spain. It is referred to in the Bible as “the heavenly food.” Ancient Egyptians paid their taxes with honey; and in early Greece and Rome, honey symbolized fertility, love and beauty. The ancient Greeks minted coins with bees on them. One could surmise that the endearment “honey” still used today may have been “coined” in those ancient times.
- To the ancients, honey was a source of health, a sign of purity and a symbol of strength and virility.
- Early man considered bees mysterious and magical creatures because their amazing organized labor resulted in a seemingly miraculous product - “nectar for the Gods.”
- In Greek mythology, it is said that Cupid dipped his arrows in honey to fill his targets’ hearts with sweetness.
- In 50 B.C., the Romans painted pictures with melted dyed beeswax. The first known crayons!
- The Egyptians kept their honey in tall cylindrical hives. In certain remote parts of Egypt, they are still using similar hives.
Honey In America
In the 16th century, conquering Spaniards discovered that the natives of Mexico and Central America had already developed beekeeping. A distinct family of stingless bees (not true honeybees) was native to these regions.
European settlers introduced European honey bees to New England in about 1638. The Native Americans referred to them as the “white man’s flies.” Honey wasn’t just used to sweeten food back then; it was also used to make cement, to preserve fruits, to concoct furniture paste/polish, to make varnish, and also to make many different kinds of medicines.
In 2007, United States honey bees nearly became a complete casualty. Fully one third of the population died after several deadly viruses ripped through the colonies across the country. Very little is known about this natural disaster, referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder, or what caused it.
Nature’s Perfect Food
- Honey is used for much more than a substitute for sugar. It contains all the substances necessary to sustain life. Made up of fructose, glucose and water, honey contains complex carbohydrates, enzymes, antioxidants and amino acids. There are records of hundreds of Ancient Egyptian medicinal remedies and honey was used in over half of them.
- Raw honey is sought by many allergy sufferers, as certain studies have shown that the pollen impurities in the honey lessen their sensitivity to hay fever.
- Honey has been used for centuries to treat skin burns and infection.
- It is thought that the relative acidity in honey prevents bacterial growth.
Not For The Small
Because honey can contain clostridium botulinum spores, to which infants have very little resistance, honey is not to be given to children under one year of age. After that, kids have generally developed enough immunity to the spores and it is then usually safe to eat. But it is best to consult a pediatrician for the most up-to-date information.
The Life Of A Bee
Bees are insects that live in colonies with around 50,000 of their closest friends. Their hives are self-constructed and are made out of beeswax, which is excreted from many of the worker bees’ glands. Each honeycomb has six sides. Honey bees don’t sleep, but they sometimes rest in empty honeycomb cells.
Each hive has one queen bee that typically lives for three to five years. The hive will not survive without a queen, as she is the only bee who procreates. In fact, she does little else, producing 1,000-1,500 eggs per day. She is impregnated by drone bees that die shortly after their one and only encounter with the queen. The queen remains fertile for all of her life.
When the queen bee sickens, ages or dies, the worker bees choose several larvae to be potential new queens and begin feeding them royal jelly exclusively. The best candidate continues to be fed this powerful, milky substance made from digested pollen, honey and a chemical excreted from a gland on the nursing bees head. It takes 16 days for a new queen to emerge from her egg.
The hive also contains worker bees that can live only six weeks in the summer months, literally working themselves to death. However, they can live longer through the much less productive months in fall and winter. All of the bees have very specific duties throughout their lives, including nursing, guarding, “shopping,” housekeeping, constructing, royal attending and even undertaking. Very civilized insects.
The ‘State’ Of Honey
A few states have adopted the honey bee, or the apis mellifera, as their state insect:
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- South Dakota
- Maine
More Buzz
- Honeybees are pacifists at heart. They are quite reluctant to sting, as it kills them in the process. They only sting when provoked and desperate.
- Since 1980, U.S honey production has averaged about 200 million pounds per year. The average yield per colony is 69.9 pounds of honey. The average producer price of honey is $1.40.
- The U.S. per capita consumption of honey is around 1.31 pounds per year.
- In 1984, honeybees travelled to outer space and constructed a honeycomb in zero gravity on a space shuttle.
It’s a Honey Of A Word
- “She’s a honey” – she’s a beautiful or otherwise special thing, a statement frequently used by men to describe cars.
- “Making a beeline for it” describes the shortest and quickest route to one’s destination, just like the routes honeybees use for nectar-gathering and hive-return.
- “Stop buzzing like a bee!” – slow down, mellow out!
- That’s the bees knees.” Some think this originated from “that’s the be all and end all” statement, but most concur that it stems from the yummy goodness located at a bee’s “knees,” and means “that’s just the very best.”
“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey…and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”
Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milnes “The House at Pooh Corner”
Issue 410
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SCOOP ON NEWSPAPERS
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." -Thomas Jefferson, 1787
Certainly, some would agree with Thomas Jefferson that they prefer newspapers over government, and some might banish both. Arguably for some, government is still “strong,” while the newspaper business has lost ground, mainly because of the Internet and cable news outlets.
But the newspaper industry has certainly had its heyday. The industry has been an iconic force for people in search of information about everything from Hollywood scandals to government cover ups to baseball scores.
Around the World in Print
Print media has been the source of mass communication for centuries. Julius Caesar established the Roman Acta Diurna in 59 B.C., which served to inform people about political and social happenings. The information was written on large white boards and displayed in popular areas like the Roman Baths.
Centuries later in 1447, Johann Gutenberg of Germany invented the first printing press, which redefined the practice of using news sheets, newsletters and pamphlets to distribute information to the public. The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany, is home to the first printing press.
Newspapers began appearing more frequently in the 17th century. The first newspaper on record and the first preserved – Relation – was launched in Germany in 1605. Western European countries were at the forefront of the industry during those early years: France started the Gazette in 1631; England – the London Gazette in 1665. Domestic issues, for the most part, didn’t make the news. Instead, the English reported on the problems associated with the French military and the French papers covered the latest British royalty scandal.
Debut of Newspapers in America
In 1690, the first newspaper in the U.S. appeared in Boston, Mass. However, Publick Occurrences was soon taken off the market because it went public without any authority. The publisher was arrested and all copies were destroyed, except for one – discovered in the British Library in 1845.
The Boston News-Letter surfaced in 1704. Postmaster John Campbell started the newspaper, which was subsidized by the colonial government. Despite government support, the newspaper had limited circulation.
In the 1720s, Philadelphia and New York City launched newspapers. By the Revolutionary War, about two dozen newspapers were established in various colonies. Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania were the centers of printing in America for many years. It is said that the early newspapers in America heavily influenced public opinion regarding full political independence from England.
By the end of the war in 1783, 43 newspapers were in print throughout the nation. The Bill of Rights, established in 1791, guaranteed freedom of the press and the newspaper industry gained momentum.
The Evolving U.S. Papers
In 1814, 346 newspapers were in print and by the 1830s advances in printing and paper production technology spawned a newspaper that could be sold for 1 cent per copy, making it available to people other than the wealthy.
The Industrial Revolution brought rapid change to the burgeoning newspaper industry. Huge printing presses arrived in the 1850s, producing 10,000 newspapers per hour. As the photograph came into play, so did pictures in the newspapers.
The 1880 U.S. census reported 11,314 newspapers in print that year.
By 1910, newspapers began to look like the modern-day version: bold headlines, illustrations, funny pages and sporting events.
Yellow Journalism
A few publishers and writers in the beginning of the newspaper industry interpreted freedom of speech with abandonment. Lawyers would have their own heyday if today’s newspapers mirrored the libelous content of the past. Fact checking and accuracy were not the modern-day mantras of newspapers. Political rivals battled it out in newspapers, with an “anything goes” attitude.
Eventually, newspapers began reporting real news and discarded the lies and half-truths. But the growth of newspapers led to fierce competition, and publishers again began taking liberties with the facts to entice readers.
Historians believe that “yellow journalism” began in 1895 with a rivalry between Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of The New York World, and William Randolph Hearst, The New York Journal publisher.
A 19th century cartoonist, Robert Outcault, worked for The New York World until Hearst persuaded him to work for his New York Journal; thus, began their rivalry and “yellow journalism.” Outcault was nicknamed the “Yellow Kid” and comic strips used a yellow ink to prevent smears; thus, the name.
Yellow journalism is basically skewed facts and stories and sensationalism. Publishers used eye-catching headlines to grab readers’ attention, and often exaggerated events and relied on unnamed sources. The practice included over dramatizing the news and scandal-mongering. Biased news articles prevailed as well.
Although circulation eventually declined in the 1900s at newspapers known for yellow journalism, some say the practice never faded. Instead, newspapers absorbed yellow journalism with a continuation of catchy headlines, editorial sections, political cartoons, special interest sections and intrusive reporting.
Newspaper Consolidation
Ironically, many independent newspapers have realized greater success in the past few years. Independent community newspapers have come full circle. Once swallowed up by consolidation, they came back on the scene in the 20th century and have realized greater successes as larger newspapers crash because of high costs and a declining subscription base.
Readers today often get their national and world news from the T.V. or the Internet but turn to community newspapers for what’s happening locally.
In the early 1950s, family owned newspapers dominated the industry in the U.S. By 1980, newspaper families had given way to newspaper conglomerates.
Media scholar Elizabeth Neiva wrote an essay in 1995 citing three factors that had a domino effect on newspaper consolidation.
First, advances in electronic typesetting – photocomposition – reduced the need for skilled printer. Publishers could hire clerical help at much less than the cost of an experienced printer. Second, unions came in to protect their skilled printers but eventually lost their foothold through court battles and waning employee support. With new technology lowering production costs, newspapers began making the big bucks. The third and perhaps the most significant factor to the demise of the family owned newspaper was the IRS. As newspaper profits soared, the IRS created a dilemma for family owned newspapers. The IRS began appraising newspapers on market value instead of book value (assets), and heirs to the newspaper business struggled to meet their estate tax obligations.
Between 1960 and 1980, 57 different family owned newspapers sold out to one person: Paul Miller of Gannett. When Paul Miller succeeded Frank Gannett as president of Gannett, Miller vigorously pursued other newspapers. Miller was one of the first executives to take his paper public, and by 1971, he was buying a newspaper company every three weeks. In 1979, Gannett had acquired 79 newspapers.
The larger newspaper companies like The New York World went public, too, and newspaper acquisitions cranked up. By 1971, 170 newspaper groups owned two-thirds of the nation’s 1,700 daily newspapers. By the end of the 1970s, independent newspapers were just about history.
Today’s top 10 U.S. newspapers by circulation
1. USA Today – owned by the Gannett Co.
2. The Wall Street Journal – owner, News Corp.
3. The New York Times – owned by the New York Times Co.
4. Los Angeles Times – owner, the Tribune Co.
5. The Washington Post – owner, the Washington Post Co.
6. Daily News (New York) – Daily News – owner
7. Houston Chronicle – owner, Hearst Corp.
8. Chicago Tribune – owned by the Tribune Co.
9. New York Post – News Corp., owner
10. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) – Gannett Co., owner
The Denver Post came in at No. 11 – it is owned by the Media News Group
Plagiarism in Journalism…Or…Where Did That Come From?
Maybe one could get away with fabricating stories in the early days of the industry, but there’s a label for that today – plagiarism – and reporters get fired for it.
Jayson Blair of The New York Times was a master at plagiarizing and using fiction as fact. He resigned in May 2003, after he couldn’t prove that he plagiarized a story previously written by reporter Macarena Hernandez for the Antonio Express-News.
The New York Times had plenty of warnings about Blair’s shoddy practices and questionable stories. He had been criticized extensively for numerous articles.
After Blair resigned, a full investigation of his four years at The New York Times revealed a slew of suspect articles such as the following two:
• In a piece on military wards and the wounded, Blair gave a full account of his personal interview with four soldiers in a naval hospital. Turns out he had never been in the hospital and had interviewed just one soldier by phone. He even made up stories about their injuries.
• Blair wrote an article on a church pastor from Cleveland and had never been inside the church and had only interviewed the pastor on the phone. He stole quotes from a Cleveland newspaper and the New York Daily News and copied almost verbatim from a previous article in the Washington Post.
Today, Blair is a life coach in Virginia!
Jack Kelley had been the “golden boy” at USA Today for many years until his colleagues began investigating his practices. The story that leveled him involved an article about Yugoslavia and documents he said he had seen about killings and ethnic cleansings in Kosovar. The story was completely fabricated and led to an all-out investigation of Kelley. According to the “NewsHour,” Website of Jim Lehrer; USA Today determined that Kelley “made up all or part of 20 stories that appeared in the paper, lifted more than 100 passages and quotes from other, uncredited sources and billed the newspaper for thousands of dollars for translators and assistants that they say they never received.”
While at USA Today, Kelley was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
The Crystal Ball
In his book “The Vanishing Newspaper,” Philip Meyer calculated that 2043 will mark the end of the newspaper, as future generations get their news electronically.
Whether Meyer is right on remains to be seen, but the industry has taken many hits over the past few years. Advertising revenues have thwarted the newspaper business, causing massive layoffs. Between 2000 and 2008, advertising volume went from $7,653,000 to $5,996,000, according to the Newspaper Association of America. An article in the “Economist” referred to the Web site www.craigslist.com, which offers free classifieds, as one factor that has “done more than anything to destroy newspapers' income.”
The industry has lost 18 percent of its employees between 1990 and 2004, and the numbers continue to rise.
Bloggers, nonprofit news organizations and an uncanny number of media outlets have all contributed to the demise of newspapers.
In 1998, 59.8 percent of adults read newspapers; the percentage dropped to 48.4 in 2007.
If it continues at that pace, the newspaper industry could be long gone before 2043. All except for Snippetz, of course.
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SCOOP ON NEWSPAPERS
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." -Thomas Jefferson, 1787
Certainly, some would agree with Thomas Jefferson that they prefer newspapers over government, and some might banish both. Arguably for some, government is still “strong,” while the newspaper business has lost ground, mainly because of the Internet and cable news outlets.
But the newspaper industry has certainly had its heyday. The industry has been an iconic force for people in search of information about everything from Hollywood scandals to government cover ups to baseball scores.
Around the World in Print
Print media has been the source of mass communication for centuries. Julius Caesar established the Roman Acta Diurna in 59 B.C., which served to inform people about political and social happenings. The information was written on large white boards and displayed in popular areas like the Roman Baths.
Centuries later in 1447, Johann Gutenberg of Germany invented the first printing press, which redefined the practice of using news sheets, newsletters and pamphlets to distribute information to the public. The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany, is home to the first printing press.
Newspapers began appearing more frequently in the 17th century. The first newspaper on record and the first preserved – Relation – was launched in Germany in 1605. Western European countries were at the forefront of the industry during those early years: France started the Gazette in 1631; England – the London Gazette in 1665. Domestic issues, for the most part, didn’t make the news. Instead, the English reported on the problems associated with the French military and the French papers covered the latest British royalty scandal.
Debut of Newspapers in America
In 1690, the first newspaper in the U.S. appeared in Boston, Mass. However, Publick Occurrences was soon taken off the market because it went public without any authority. The publisher was arrested and all copies were destroyed, except for one – discovered in the British Library in 1845.
The Boston News-Letter surfaced in 1704. Postmaster John Campbell started the newspaper, which was subsidized by the colonial government. Despite government support, the newspaper had limited circulation.
In the 1720s, Philadelphia and New York City launched newspapers. By the Revolutionary War, about two dozen newspapers were established in various colonies. Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania were the centers of printing in America for many years. It is said that the early newspapers in America heavily influenced public opinion regarding full political independence from England.
By the end of the war in 1783, 43 newspapers were in print throughout the nation. The Bill of Rights, established in 1791, guaranteed freedom of the press and the newspaper industry gained momentum.
The Evolving U.S. Papers
In 1814, 346 newspapers were in print and by the 1830s advances in printing and paper production technology spawned a newspaper that could be sold for 1 cent per copy, making it available to people other than the wealthy.
The Industrial Revolution brought rapid change to the burgeoning newspaper industry. Huge printing presses arrived in the 1850s, producing 10,000 newspapers per hour. As the photograph came into play, so did pictures in the newspapers.
The 1880 U.S. census reported 11,314 newspapers in print that year.
By 1910, newspapers began to look like the modern-day version: bold headlines, illustrations, funny pages and sporting events.
Yellow Journalism
A few publishers and writers in the beginning of the newspaper industry interpreted freedom of speech with abandonment. Lawyers would have their own heyday if today’s newspapers mirrored the libelous content of the past. Fact checking and accuracy were not the modern-day mantras of newspapers. Political rivals battled it out in newspapers, with an “anything goes” attitude.
Eventually, newspapers began reporting real news and discarded the lies and half-truths. But the growth of newspapers led to fierce competition, and publishers again began taking liberties with the facts to entice readers.
Historians believe that “yellow journalism” began in 1895 with a rivalry between Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of The New York World, and William Randolph Hearst, The New York Journal publisher.
A 19th century cartoonist, Robert Outcault, worked for The New York World until Hearst persuaded him to work for his New York Journal; thus, began their rivalry and “yellow journalism.” Outcault was nicknamed the “Yellow Kid” and comic strips used a yellow ink to prevent smears; thus, the name.
Yellow journalism is basically skewed facts and stories and sensationalism. Publishers used eye-catching headlines to grab readers’ attention, and often exaggerated events and relied on unnamed sources. The practice included over dramatizing the news and scandal-mongering. Biased news articles prevailed as well.
Although circulation eventually declined in the 1900s at newspapers known for yellow journalism, some say the practice never faded. Instead, newspapers absorbed yellow journalism with a continuation of catchy headlines, editorial sections, political cartoons, special interest sections and intrusive reporting.
Newspaper Consolidation
Ironically, many independent newspapers have realized greater success in the past few years. Independent community newspapers have come full circle. Once swallowed up by consolidation, they came back on the scene in the 20th century and have realized greater successes as larger newspapers crash because of high costs and a declining subscription base.
Readers today often get their national and world news from the T.V. or the Internet but turn to community newspapers for what’s happening locally.
In the early 1950s, family owned newspapers dominated the industry in the U.S. By 1980, newspaper families had given way to newspaper conglomerates.
Media scholar Elizabeth Neiva wrote an essay in 1995 citing three factors that had a domino effect on newspaper consolidation.
First, advances in electronic typesetting – photocomposition – reduced the need for skilled printer. Publishers could hire clerical help at much less than the cost of an experienced printer. Second, unions came in to protect their skilled printers but eventually lost their foothold through court battles and waning employee support. With new technology lowering production costs, newspapers began making the big bucks. The third and perhaps the most significant factor to the demise of the family owned newspaper was the IRS. As newspaper profits soared, the IRS created a dilemma for family owned newspapers. The IRS began appraising newspapers on market value instead of book value (assets), and heirs to the newspaper business struggled to meet their estate tax obligations.
Between 1960 and 1980, 57 different family owned newspapers sold out to one person: Paul Miller of Gannett. When Paul Miller succeeded Frank Gannett as president of Gannett, Miller vigorously pursued other newspapers. Miller was one of the first executives to take his paper public, and by 1971, he was buying a newspaper company every three weeks. In 1979, Gannett had acquired 79 newspapers.
The larger newspaper companies like The New York World went public, too, and newspaper acquisitions cranked up. By 1971, 170 newspaper groups owned two-thirds of the nation’s 1,700 daily newspapers. By the end of the 1970s, independent newspapers were just about history.
Today’s top 10 U.S. newspapers by circulation
1. USA Today – owned by the Gannett Co.
2. The Wall Street Journal – owner, News Corp.
3. The New York Times – owned by the New York Times Co.
4. Los Angeles Times – owner, the Tribune Co.
5. The Washington Post – owner, the Washington Post Co.
6. Daily News (New York) – Daily News – owner
7. Houston Chronicle – owner, Hearst Corp.
8. Chicago Tribune – owned by the Tribune Co.
9. New York Post – News Corp., owner
10. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) – Gannett Co., owner
The Denver Post came in at No. 11 – it is owned by the Media News Group
Plagiarism in Journalism…Or…Where Did That Come From?
Maybe one could get away with fabricating stories in the early days of the industry, but there’s a label for that today – plagiarism – and reporters get fired for it.
Jayson Blair of The New York Times was a master at plagiarizing and using fiction as fact. He resigned in May 2003, after he couldn’t prove that he plagiarized a story previously written by reporter Macarena Hernandez for the Antonio Express-News.
The New York Times had plenty of warnings about Blair’s shoddy practices and questionable stories. He had been criticized extensively for numerous articles.
After Blair resigned, a full investigation of his four years at The New York Times revealed a slew of suspect articles such as the following two:
• In a piece on military wards and the wounded, Blair gave a full account of his personal interview with four soldiers in a naval hospital. Turns out he had never been in the hospital and had interviewed just one soldier by phone. He even made up stories about their injuries.
• Blair wrote an article on a church pastor from Cleveland and had never been inside the church and had only interviewed the pastor on the phone. He stole quotes from a Cleveland newspaper and the New York Daily News and copied almost verbatim from a previous article in the Washington Post.
Today, Blair is a life coach in Virginia!
Jack Kelley had been the “golden boy” at USA Today for many years until his colleagues began investigating his practices. The story that leveled him involved an article about Yugoslavia and documents he said he had seen about killings and ethnic cleansings in Kosovar. The story was completely fabricated and led to an all-out investigation of Kelley. According to the “NewsHour,” Website of Jim Lehrer; USA Today determined that Kelley “made up all or part of 20 stories that appeared in the paper, lifted more than 100 passages and quotes from other, uncredited sources and billed the newspaper for thousands of dollars for translators and assistants that they say they never received.”
While at USA Today, Kelley was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
The Crystal Ball
In his book “The Vanishing Newspaper,” Philip Meyer calculated that 2043 will mark the end of the newspaper, as future generations get their news electronically.
Whether Meyer is right on remains to be seen, but the industry has taken many hits over the past few years. Advertising revenues have thwarted the newspaper business, causing massive layoffs. Between 2000 and 2008, advertising volume went from $7,653,000 to $5,996,000, according to the Newspaper Association of America. An article in the “Economist” referred to the Web site www.craigslist.com, which offers free classifieds, as one factor that has “done more than anything to destroy newspapers' income.”
The industry has lost 18 percent of its employees between 1990 and 2004, and the numbers continue to rise.
Bloggers, nonprofit news organizations and an uncanny number of media outlets have all contributed to the demise of newspapers.
In 1998, 59.8 percent of adults read newspapers; the percentage dropped to 48.4 in 2007.
If it continues at that pace, the newspaper industry could be long gone before 2043. All except for Snippetz, of course.
Issue 409
SNIPPETZ LOOKS AT BIRTH ORDER AND PERSONALITY
"Our siblings push buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago - the baby, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the avoider.... It doesn't seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we've traveled."
- Jane Mersky Leder, Educator and Author
Psychologists and other scientists have been studying birth order and its effect on personality traits for some time. It’s a matter of fascination to many of us just as horoscopes are. Studies suggest distinct differences between first born, second born and third born children. So much so are the alleged differences that they even affect IQ and income in adult life. It’s enough to stand up and take notice.
However, a bit of a caution – birth order is not a definite recipe for certain personality traits. Length of time between birth of siblings, number of children in the family, environment and other factors play a significant role. Fortunately, we’re not just cookie-cutter kids. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting to see where we and our siblings might fall on the personality curve.
Hmmmm….
Always First
Firstborn children are thought to be high-achieving perfectionists. As noted earlier, they have been found to have higher IQ’s than their younger siblings, as well as are more likely to go to college or university and earn more money. They tend to fall into two camps – movers and shakers or caregivers. Some firstborn traits include:
Famous Firsts
Second Best?
Middle children tend to get the short end of the stick. They don’t get the attention that the firstborns enjoy, nor do they receive the attention sometimes bestowed on the “baby” of the family. But are they second best? No way! Middle children are thought to be the peacekeepers in the family and in life. They make great mediators. They tend to work a little harder to compete with their older sibling, but they can also be the one in the family to rebel and become the ‘black sheep’ in search of their individuality.
Their notable traits include:
Famous Seconds
The Young and the Entertaining
The ‘babies’ of the family are in a unique position. Always the bottom of the family food chain, they have to develop a keener sense of creativity to gain attention. They tend to be more adventurous and wind up being the class clown or life of the party. They can also be easygoing as well as competitive just like the middle sibling. The youngest is usually less interested in academic pursuits.
Their more prominent traits include:
Famous Youngest
Only the Lonely
Only children have similar personality traits as do firstborns. They tend to be perfectionists, task-oriented and well organized. They’ve enjoyed the undivided attention of their parents throughout their childhood and spent a great deal of time with adults. Although they are mature and well-spoken, they also tend to feel lots of pressure to be successful.
Some common traits:
Famous Onlies
The Infamous, The Embarrassing or A Lot to Live Up To
SNIPPETZ LOOKS AT BIRTH ORDER AND PERSONALITY
"Our siblings push buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago - the baby, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the avoider.... It doesn't seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we've traveled."
- Jane Mersky Leder, Educator and Author
Psychologists and other scientists have been studying birth order and its effect on personality traits for some time. It’s a matter of fascination to many of us just as horoscopes are. Studies suggest distinct differences between first born, second born and third born children. So much so are the alleged differences that they even affect IQ and income in adult life. It’s enough to stand up and take notice.
However, a bit of a caution – birth order is not a definite recipe for certain personality traits. Length of time between birth of siblings, number of children in the family, environment and other factors play a significant role. Fortunately, we’re not just cookie-cutter kids. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting to see where we and our siblings might fall on the personality curve.
Hmmmm….
- Firstborns have a slightly higher IQ than their younger siblings; middle children have the next higher and youngest have the lowest.
- Firstborns tend to be taller and larger than younger siblings.
- Younger siblings are less likely to be vaccinated than firstborns and middle children.
- In personality tests, firstborns score higher in having a sense of responsibility and follow-through; younger siblings score higher in agreeableness or the ability to get along better with others.
- In chairman of the board positions, Vistage (an organization of CEO’s) found in a survey that 43% of chairmen are firstborns, 33% are middle-born and 23% are born last.
- A Norwegian study found that when the firstborn in the family dies, the IQ of the second born child increases.
- Greater than half of U.S. presidents have been firstborns and the majority of Nobel Prize winners are firstborns.
Always First
Firstborn children are thought to be high-achieving perfectionists. As noted earlier, they have been found to have higher IQ’s than their younger siblings, as well as are more likely to go to college or university and earn more money. They tend to fall into two camps – movers and shakers or caregivers. Some firstborn traits include:
- Well organized
- Reliable and punctual
- Problem solvers and detail oriented
- Good listeners
- Strong-willed
- Worriers
- Self-confident
- Eager to please
- Can also be controlling and jealous
Famous Firsts
- Winston Churchill
- J.K. Rowling
- John Wayne
- Sylvester Stallone
- William Clinton
- Hillary Clinton
- George W. Bush
- Oprah Winfrey
- Jimmy Carter
- Joseph Stalin
- Ted Turner
Second Best?
Middle children tend to get the short end of the stick. They don’t get the attention that the firstborns enjoy, nor do they receive the attention sometimes bestowed on the “baby” of the family. But are they second best? No way! Middle children are thought to be the peacekeepers in the family and in life. They make great mediators. They tend to work a little harder to compete with their older sibling, but they can also be the one in the family to rebel and become the ‘black sheep’ in search of their individuality.
Their notable traits include:
- Mysterious and unpredictable
- People-pleaser
- Calm and can roll with the punches
- Good listener and generous
- Can see both sides of a problem
- Easily makes friends
- Flexible
- • Indecisive and has difficulty setting boundaries
Famous Seconds
- Bill Gates
- Princess Diana
- John F. Kennedy
- David Letterman
- Donald Trump
- George Washington
- Richard Nixon
- Barbara Walters
- Susan B. Anthony
- Madonna
The Young and the Entertaining
The ‘babies’ of the family are in a unique position. Always the bottom of the family food chain, they have to develop a keener sense of creativity to gain attention. They tend to be more adventurous and wind up being the class clown or life of the party. They can also be easygoing as well as competitive just like the middle sibling. The youngest is usually less interested in academic pursuits.
Their more prominent traits include:
- Good sense of humor
- Agreeable and easy to get along with
- Participate in riskier sports; outgoing
- Flexible
- Rebellious (e.g., Copernicus thinking that the earth revolved around the sun – preposterous!)
- Persistent
- Charming and affectionate
- Become easily bored, have a short attention span; can have unrealistic expectations of a life full of fun, fun, fun
Famous Youngest
- Billy Crystal
- Eddie Murphy
- Cameron Diaz
- Ghandi
- Joan of Arc
- Katie Couric
- Goldie Hawn
- Harriet Tubman
Only the Lonely
Only children have similar personality traits as do firstborns. They tend to be perfectionists, task-oriented and well organized. They’ve enjoyed the undivided attention of their parents throughout their childhood and spent a great deal of time with adults. Although they are mature and well-spoken, they also tend to feel lots of pressure to be successful.
Some common traits:
- Good leaders
- Demanding
- Dependable and conscientious
- Attention to details and facts
- Confident
- Sensitive
- Cautious
- • Critical, objective and intolerant of mistakes
Famous Onlies
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Tiger Woods
- Leonardo Da Vinci
- Rudy Guiliani
- Robert DeNiro
- Kareem-Abdul Jabbar
- Frank Sinatra
- Walter Cronkite
- Ansel Adams
- Nancy Reagan
- John Lennon
- Carol Burnett
The Infamous, The Embarrassing or A Lot to Live Up To
- In the 1800’s there was Elliott Roosevelt, brother of Teddy Roosevelt, author and U.S. president. Younger brother Elliott was not so lucky and battled depression and alcohol addiction, which eventually killed him at the age of 34.
- President Jimmy Carter’s younger brother, Billy, enjoyed the fame of being the president’s brother a bit too much some would say. He had his own beer, called Billy Beer, of course, as well as a problem with alcohol to go along with it. He traveled the talk show circuit with a country bumpkin and life of the party image. He eventually caused some serious political concern when he allied with the Libyan government, accepting money, a “loan,” for facilitating oil sales deals in the U.S.
- Neil Bush, brother of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor was embroiled in the collapse of the Silverado Savings & Loan in the 1980’s. He was never officially indicted for illegal activity, but settled out of court.
- President Bill Clinton’s brother, Roger, had some difficulty staying out of trouble with the law. He served time in jail for cocaine distribution and was arrested for drunk driving and disturbing the peace.
- Young sibling of Payton Manning, quarterback and Super Bowl winner casts a shadow on Eli Manning, although also a talented quarterback.
Issue 408
SNIPPETZ SOARS THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF FLIGHT
"More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination."
-Wilbur Wright
From kites to spaceships we‘ve come a long way in air travel. Man has been fascinated with the idea of flying for as long as time has been recorded. Both Greek and Hindu mythological literature indicates early thoughts of wings such as in Daedalus’ wings made out of feathers and wax. Much celebrated are advancements in aviation such that President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed August 19 of each year as National Aviation Day in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. Although the Wright brothers tend to be credited with the birth of flight, there was much trial and error that came before them as well as after.
Early Flying “Machines”
It was the Chinese who, inspired by birds, invented the kite, thought to be around 200 B.C. They used the kites mainly in military missions and religious ceremonies. Even earlier, there is documentation to suggest that the Chinese were the first to invent the hot air balloon, which was simply a device that used an oil lamp under a large paper bag that when lit would float in the air. They used these to scare the enemy. The first UFOs? The hot air balloons became more popular in the 13th century during the Yuan dynasty and were used frequently in festivals. They were also recorded in Central Asia, the Middle East and Tibet.
Hydrogen balloons were eventually invented after the discovery of hydrogen gas in the 17th and 18th century. Other contributions were work on fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and Newton’s laws of motion. One could say that the first war planes were hot air balloons that were used during the American Civil War.
In 852, Islamic Iberia’s inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas made an umbrella-like structure resembling wings. He jumped off a building and fell to the ground with it, although a lot slower than he would have fallen without the wings. His wings are now thought of as the precursor to today’s parachute.
Ibn Firnas continued to work on his flying structures for another 25 years when he invented a type of glider. The glider also crashed and was later determined to be due to lack of a tail.
Flying da Vinci
Artist Leonardo da Vinci was also fascinated with flying as he drew sketches of a hang glider but never flew in one. A late 20th century prototype indicated that it could have flown with current aerodynamic principles, but his 1496 model did not fly given the parts and knowledge available to him at the time.
Tenacious Aviators
The Wright Brothers
Clearly, two of the most famous aviators in American history are brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright brothers worked on kite and glider aircraft designs from 1900 to 1902 before graduating to work on powered aircraft. The most daunting design problems encountered by numerous aviators involved control and power, which the Wright Brothers worked long and hard to solve. They are credited by The Smithsonian Institution and others for their first sustained flight which took place on Dec. 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, N.C. A photograph recorded Orville’s 12-second flight. Both brothers flew that day with several witnesses. They named their plane the Flyer, which crashed in 1905. They then made improvements on subsequent aircraft called Flyer II and Flyer III. Flyer III experienced the longest flight of 24 miles in just over 39 minutes in 1905. The original Flyer I is now housed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Amelia Earhart
A Midwestern girl, Amelia Earhart had a strong sense of adventure. After tending to soldiers as a nurse’s aide during World War I, she attended medical school at Columbia in New York and then went to live with her parents in California where she learned to fly. Her sister and mother helped her purchase her first airplane, a Kinner Airster. She eventually moved to Boston and worked as a social worker. Her future husband, George P. Putnam, publisher, selected her to be the first female passenger on a transatlantic flight in 1928. In 1932 she piloted the first transatlantic solo flight and in 1935, she was the first to fly from Hawaii to the mainland, which made her the first person to fly solo over both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Earhart was quite the fashion diva as well and developed a line of clothing for flying. She was always seen about town at various events in clothing appropriate for the affair whether as a pilot or a formal event.
Her final flight was the most famous, the one that proved fatal in 1937 when she began a historic around-the-world flight at the point of the equator. She never made it around the world and was thought to go down around Howland Island in the Pacific. What happened to that flight is still a mystery. A group called The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (Tighar) plans to employ modern technology of DNA testing to the remains found on a deserted island where they believe Earhart may have spent her final days.
This October, actress Hilary Swank will portray Amelia Earhart in a movie about her that also stars Richard Gere.
Howard Hughes
The wealthy eccentric aviator, engineer, director and film producer, as well as philanthropist, Howard Hughes made huge contributions to the aviation industry. One of his greatest was the development of the Hughes H-1 Racer which broke a transcontinental airspeed record in 1937 by flying from Los Angeles, Calif. to New York City in close to 7.5 hours. He beat his own record of about 9.5 hours. He also flew a Lockheed Super Electra (not his own design) in 1938 to set another record, this time around the world in 91 hours.
Hughes nearly died in a crash caused by an oil leak in 1946 while he was piloting an experimental reconnaissance aircraft over Los Angeles. He attempted to save the plane by landing in the Los Angeles Country Club, instead hitting three houses in a nearby neighborhood. The fuel tanks exploded and Hughes got himself out of the wreckage. He suffered extensive injuries from the crash.
Hughes owned Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Tool Company, Hughes Helicopters, Hughes Aerospace, Hughes Research Laboratories and at one time held majority shares in TWA.
Although Hughes was granted the Congressional Gold Medal in 1939 for his contributions to the advancement of American aviation, he was likely best known for his wealth and eccentric behavior possibly due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder and reported dependence on pain medications subsequent to his plane crash. President Harry S. Truman had to mail his medal to him as he never went to Washington personally to receive it.
Duck, Duck, Goose
The first powered seaplane was invented by French engineer Henri Fabre in 1910. He called it Le Canard (the duck) and it flew 800 meters on its maiden flight off the water. Gabriel and Charles Voisin purchased Fabre’s floats and took them one step further by fitting them to their planes, making the first seaplane called Canard Voisin. In 1912, the seaplane named La Foudre (the lightning) was the first to be used from a military carrier.
During World War II, America lost many supply ships to the German U-boats which prompted shipbuilder Henry Kaiser to propose building flying ships to move supplies and troops across the Atlantic. Together with famed Howard Hughes, they started the Hughes Kaiser Corporation and received $18 million on a government contract to begin design and building of a flying boat. The Hughes design featured eight 3,000 horsepower engines, 20-foot wings and a hull able to transport 750 troops. The government mandated that the flying ship could not use steel or aluminum due to wartime shortages, so the engineering team built the boat out of wood.
The flying boat project suffered serious delays and never did get off the ground, so to speak, until after the war. Henry Kaiser withdrew from the effort in 1944 leaving Hughes to handle the project alone. Even though Hughes invested $7 million of his own funds, the government investigated possible misuse of funds. Hughes then was determined to prove them wrong and he himself glided the boat through the Long Beach harbor followed by a short flying expedition of about a mile. The eccentric Hughes insisted that the flying boat, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was kept in ready condition and it was. The Spruce Goose remained in a hangar for 33 years, costing $1 million per year to maintain its cushy lifestyle.
More Flying Firsts
SNIPPETZ SOARS THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF FLIGHT
"More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination."
-Wilbur Wright
From kites to spaceships we‘ve come a long way in air travel. Man has been fascinated with the idea of flying for as long as time has been recorded. Both Greek and Hindu mythological literature indicates early thoughts of wings such as in Daedalus’ wings made out of feathers and wax. Much celebrated are advancements in aviation such that President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed August 19 of each year as National Aviation Day in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. Although the Wright brothers tend to be credited with the birth of flight, there was much trial and error that came before them as well as after.
Early Flying “Machines”
It was the Chinese who, inspired by birds, invented the kite, thought to be around 200 B.C. They used the kites mainly in military missions and religious ceremonies. Even earlier, there is documentation to suggest that the Chinese were the first to invent the hot air balloon, which was simply a device that used an oil lamp under a large paper bag that when lit would float in the air. They used these to scare the enemy. The first UFOs? The hot air balloons became more popular in the 13th century during the Yuan dynasty and were used frequently in festivals. They were also recorded in Central Asia, the Middle East and Tibet.
Hydrogen balloons were eventually invented after the discovery of hydrogen gas in the 17th and 18th century. Other contributions were work on fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and Newton’s laws of motion. One could say that the first war planes were hot air balloons that were used during the American Civil War.
In 852, Islamic Iberia’s inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas made an umbrella-like structure resembling wings. He jumped off a building and fell to the ground with it, although a lot slower than he would have fallen without the wings. His wings are now thought of as the precursor to today’s parachute.
Ibn Firnas continued to work on his flying structures for another 25 years when he invented a type of glider. The glider also crashed and was later determined to be due to lack of a tail.
Flying da Vinci
Artist Leonardo da Vinci was also fascinated with flying as he drew sketches of a hang glider but never flew in one. A late 20th century prototype indicated that it could have flown with current aerodynamic principles, but his 1496 model did not fly given the parts and knowledge available to him at the time.
Tenacious Aviators
The Wright Brothers
Clearly, two of the most famous aviators in American history are brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright brothers worked on kite and glider aircraft designs from 1900 to 1902 before graduating to work on powered aircraft. The most daunting design problems encountered by numerous aviators involved control and power, which the Wright Brothers worked long and hard to solve. They are credited by The Smithsonian Institution and others for their first sustained flight which took place on Dec. 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, N.C. A photograph recorded Orville’s 12-second flight. Both brothers flew that day with several witnesses. They named their plane the Flyer, which crashed in 1905. They then made improvements on subsequent aircraft called Flyer II and Flyer III. Flyer III experienced the longest flight of 24 miles in just over 39 minutes in 1905. The original Flyer I is now housed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Amelia Earhart
A Midwestern girl, Amelia Earhart had a strong sense of adventure. After tending to soldiers as a nurse’s aide during World War I, she attended medical school at Columbia in New York and then went to live with her parents in California where she learned to fly. Her sister and mother helped her purchase her first airplane, a Kinner Airster. She eventually moved to Boston and worked as a social worker. Her future husband, George P. Putnam, publisher, selected her to be the first female passenger on a transatlantic flight in 1928. In 1932 she piloted the first transatlantic solo flight and in 1935, she was the first to fly from Hawaii to the mainland, which made her the first person to fly solo over both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Earhart was quite the fashion diva as well and developed a line of clothing for flying. She was always seen about town at various events in clothing appropriate for the affair whether as a pilot or a formal event.
Her final flight was the most famous, the one that proved fatal in 1937 when she began a historic around-the-world flight at the point of the equator. She never made it around the world and was thought to go down around Howland Island in the Pacific. What happened to that flight is still a mystery. A group called The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (Tighar) plans to employ modern technology of DNA testing to the remains found on a deserted island where they believe Earhart may have spent her final days.
This October, actress Hilary Swank will portray Amelia Earhart in a movie about her that also stars Richard Gere.
Howard Hughes
The wealthy eccentric aviator, engineer, director and film producer, as well as philanthropist, Howard Hughes made huge contributions to the aviation industry. One of his greatest was the development of the Hughes H-1 Racer which broke a transcontinental airspeed record in 1937 by flying from Los Angeles, Calif. to New York City in close to 7.5 hours. He beat his own record of about 9.5 hours. He also flew a Lockheed Super Electra (not his own design) in 1938 to set another record, this time around the world in 91 hours.
Hughes nearly died in a crash caused by an oil leak in 1946 while he was piloting an experimental reconnaissance aircraft over Los Angeles. He attempted to save the plane by landing in the Los Angeles Country Club, instead hitting three houses in a nearby neighborhood. The fuel tanks exploded and Hughes got himself out of the wreckage. He suffered extensive injuries from the crash.
Hughes owned Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Tool Company, Hughes Helicopters, Hughes Aerospace, Hughes Research Laboratories and at one time held majority shares in TWA.
Although Hughes was granted the Congressional Gold Medal in 1939 for his contributions to the advancement of American aviation, he was likely best known for his wealth and eccentric behavior possibly due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder and reported dependence on pain medications subsequent to his plane crash. President Harry S. Truman had to mail his medal to him as he never went to Washington personally to receive it.
Duck, Duck, Goose
The first powered seaplane was invented by French engineer Henri Fabre in 1910. He called it Le Canard (the duck) and it flew 800 meters on its maiden flight off the water. Gabriel and Charles Voisin purchased Fabre’s floats and took them one step further by fitting them to their planes, making the first seaplane called Canard Voisin. In 1912, the seaplane named La Foudre (the lightning) was the first to be used from a military carrier.
During World War II, America lost many supply ships to the German U-boats which prompted shipbuilder Henry Kaiser to propose building flying ships to move supplies and troops across the Atlantic. Together with famed Howard Hughes, they started the Hughes Kaiser Corporation and received $18 million on a government contract to begin design and building of a flying boat. The Hughes design featured eight 3,000 horsepower engines, 20-foot wings and a hull able to transport 750 troops. The government mandated that the flying ship could not use steel or aluminum due to wartime shortages, so the engineering team built the boat out of wood.
The flying boat project suffered serious delays and never did get off the ground, so to speak, until after the war. Henry Kaiser withdrew from the effort in 1944 leaving Hughes to handle the project alone. Even though Hughes invested $7 million of his own funds, the government investigated possible misuse of funds. Hughes then was determined to prove them wrong and he himself glided the boat through the Long Beach harbor followed by a short flying expedition of about a mile. The eccentric Hughes insisted that the flying boat, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was kept in ready condition and it was. The Spruce Goose remained in a hangar for 33 years, costing $1 million per year to maintain its cushy lifestyle.
More Flying Firsts
- In May of 1908, Wilbur Wright flew the first two-person fixed-wing flight with Charlie Furnas.
- The first female passenger was Therese Peltier in July of 1908 on a flight with Leon Delagrange in Milan, Italy. The first American female passenger was Edith Berg who flew with Wilbur Wright in France in September of 1908.
- The first person to be killed during flight was Thomas Selfridge in September of 1908. He was flying with Orville Wright in a two-passenger plane. The crash took place in Virginia at Fort Myer during military tests.
- The first woman to fly solo in a powered aircraft (heavier than air) was Raymonde de Laroche in October of 1909. She was also the first woman to obtain a pilot’s license.
- The first country to use planes for military purposes was Italy during the Italian-Turkish war from 1911-1912.
- World War I was the first war in which planes were used for reconnaissance, defensive and offensive missions.
- The first transpacific flight was made by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith who flew from Oakland, Calif. to Brisbane, Australia in 1928.
- German aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel is credited with inventing the first jet engine in 1937. The Heinkel factory boasts many firsts: first to use catapults for aircraft taking off from ships; the inventor of the ejection seat; and the first ever jet aircraft to successfully fly, which was the Heinkel He 178 flown in 1939. The Heinkel planes were flown by the Germans during World War II. After the war, the Allies captured Ernst Heinkel but released him after they discovered his anti-Hitler activities.
- Australian David Warren invented the black box flight recorder in 1958.
- Quantas Airlines was the first to offer around-the-world passenger service.
- Charles Lindbergh flew the first transatlantic solo flight on “The Spirit of St. Louis.”
Issue 407
SNIPPETZ ISN'T JOKING WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING A JOKE
Nurse: "Doctor, the man you just gave a clean bill of health to dropped dead right as he was leaving the office".
Doctor: "Turn him around; make it look like he was walking in."
-Henny Youngman
Sunday, August 16, was National Tell a Joke Day and since it landed smack dab on a Sunday this year, let’s hope you didn’t tell the old joke that starts with, “A Priest, a Minister and a Rabbi walked into a bar …” at your place of worship. No one really knows how long this lesser-known and unfortunately lesser-celebrated holiday has been around, when it started or why it came to be in the first place. The important thing is that it does exist and you don’t have to be a professional comedian to participate.
Telling a joke correctly requires a few basic skills like timing, knowing your material, and also knowing if the joke is appropriate for your audience. Here are a few tips from the professionals to help you get through the next National Tell a Joke Day.
Know Your Material
Probably few of us possess the talent to write a truly funny joke, and even professional writers all too often rely on material they hear. For instance, Jim Carlson was a comedy writer in Hollywood and wrote much of the memorable material for “Laugh-In” and other sitcoms. His close friend was Morey Amsterdam who played Buddy Sorrell of the Dick Van Dyke Show. One day Jim called Morey in New York and said, “Morey, you’ve got to hear this one.” Jim started the joke and just as he was about to deliver the punch line, Morey piped in with the punch line. Jim said, “How could you know that? I’ve never heard that joke before. It’s a new joke!” Morey responded with, “Jim, I wrote that joke last week.”
So when you hear a good joke, take the time to write it down as soon as possible. If there’s no paper and pen available, call your home or cell phone and recite it to voice mail. You can’t begin to successfully tell a good joke without having the complete joke committed to either paper or other media. Never trust your memory.
Now Rehearse
Okay, you’re getting closer to being the supreme joke teller, you’ve got your material and it’s accurate, now rehearse. How you ask? How about while you’re driving home and stuck in traffic or in front of a mirror. The pros always rehearse in front of a mirror; that way they can see how others, or the audience sees them. You may think that your facial expressions are a plus when delivering your material, but when you watch yourself you may discover that a deadpan face makes it funnier. Perhaps wearing a hat on sideways is the key to getting the big yuks, but you’ll never know until you rehearse. You may also want to tell your joke to a trusted friend or family member and then request honest criticism. Be ready to have your ego bruised a little, but remember it’s better to be a little embarrassed in front of a forgiving friend or family member than to be mortified in front of a small crowd of business associates, or worse yet, customers.
It’s All In The Delivery
Take if from a guy who’s bombed on and off stage telling jokes. Delivery is 90% of the battle. Here are few tips to follow and, most importantly, the usual pitfalls one should try to avoid when telling a joke correctly.
If you didn’t tell a joke Sunday for National Tell a Joke Day, do not despair. A good joke is a welcome respite on most any day. And there’s plenty of time to use the tips listed here to brush up and become the life of the party for next year’s National Tell a Joke Day which falls on Monday, August 16, 2010.
To help get you started, here’s one that is appropriate and may get a few laughs from the clergy:
A Priest, a Minister, and Rabbi walk into a tavern and sit down at the bar. The bartender looks at the three of them and says, “What is this - some kind of a joke?”
-Author unknown
Looking for Some ‘New’ Material?
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Woo
Woo, who?
Don't get so excited, it's just a joke.
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Cow-go
Cow-go who?
No, Cow go MOO!!!
SNIPPETZ ISN'T JOKING WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING A JOKE
Nurse: "Doctor, the man you just gave a clean bill of health to dropped dead right as he was leaving the office".
Doctor: "Turn him around; make it look like he was walking in."
-Henny Youngman
Sunday, August 16, was National Tell a Joke Day and since it landed smack dab on a Sunday this year, let’s hope you didn’t tell the old joke that starts with, “A Priest, a Minister and a Rabbi walked into a bar …” at your place of worship. No one really knows how long this lesser-known and unfortunately lesser-celebrated holiday has been around, when it started or why it came to be in the first place. The important thing is that it does exist and you don’t have to be a professional comedian to participate.
Telling a joke correctly requires a few basic skills like timing, knowing your material, and also knowing if the joke is appropriate for your audience. Here are a few tips from the professionals to help you get through the next National Tell a Joke Day.
Know Your Material
Probably few of us possess the talent to write a truly funny joke, and even professional writers all too often rely on material they hear. For instance, Jim Carlson was a comedy writer in Hollywood and wrote much of the memorable material for “Laugh-In” and other sitcoms. His close friend was Morey Amsterdam who played Buddy Sorrell of the Dick Van Dyke Show. One day Jim called Morey in New York and said, “Morey, you’ve got to hear this one.” Jim started the joke and just as he was about to deliver the punch line, Morey piped in with the punch line. Jim said, “How could you know that? I’ve never heard that joke before. It’s a new joke!” Morey responded with, “Jim, I wrote that joke last week.”
So when you hear a good joke, take the time to write it down as soon as possible. If there’s no paper and pen available, call your home or cell phone and recite it to voice mail. You can’t begin to successfully tell a good joke without having the complete joke committed to either paper or other media. Never trust your memory.
Now Rehearse
Okay, you’re getting closer to being the supreme joke teller, you’ve got your material and it’s accurate, now rehearse. How you ask? How about while you’re driving home and stuck in traffic or in front of a mirror. The pros always rehearse in front of a mirror; that way they can see how others, or the audience sees them. You may think that your facial expressions are a plus when delivering your material, but when you watch yourself you may discover that a deadpan face makes it funnier. Perhaps wearing a hat on sideways is the key to getting the big yuks, but you’ll never know until you rehearse. You may also want to tell your joke to a trusted friend or family member and then request honest criticism. Be ready to have your ego bruised a little, but remember it’s better to be a little embarrassed in front of a forgiving friend or family member than to be mortified in front of a small crowd of business associates, or worse yet, customers.
It’s All In The Delivery
Take if from a guy who’s bombed on and off stage telling jokes. Delivery is 90% of the battle. Here are few tips to follow and, most importantly, the usual pitfalls one should try to avoid when telling a joke correctly.
- The first Golden Rule of comedy is worth repeating – know your material. Only the true professionals like Robin Williams or the late Henny Youngman can “wing it” through forgotten material and still get laughs.
- Commit to the joke. You know the material so make sure you follow through to the end. Stopping in the middle of a joke is like serving half-baked pizza. Everyone knows what it is and what it’s supposed to taste like but is disappointed in the end.
- Is the joke appropriate for your audience? Your audience could be one person such as your mother, but a joke that yielded big laughs with the guys from work during happy hour may not be right for Mom. Carefully survey your audience, and especially if there are children present, ask yourself, would I want someone telling that joke to my children? If the answer is no, then go for something more appropriate or nix the joke telling altogether.
- Be inventive and try personalizing it without dragging it out too much or taking detours. For example, if there is a dog in your joke, you can make it a scraggily Chihuahua with eyes that bug out. The more specific you are, the more your audience becomes involved by inviting them into the story. Remember, your words are painting a picture in the audience’s mind, so use as many descriptive words or phrases as possible to make the picture more enjoyable.
- Original jokes are the funniest, so by being inventive you’ve made a joke new and not someone else’s warmed over bit.
- The “unexpected conclusion” is what helps makes your joke funny. If your audience can see where the punch line will end up, you’re likely to garner only a groan or gratuitous chuckle. If you’re not able to change or rewrite the joke to avoid this, then drop it from your catalog of gags.
- Keep your joke short and sweet. Most five minute jokes tend to lose their zing as the audience has started thinking of something else like, “when is this going to be over.” Long jokes need to be captivating and the audience will hang in there with you if you make the story interesting, or if there can be a few chuckles in the middle.
- This is the second most important Golden Rule. If you don’t fully understand the joke, then don’t tell it. Period!
- Never ask permission to tell a joke. Remember the time and place have to be appropriate so just jump in and strut your stuff.
- Never, never, never tell anyone or announce to your audience how funny the joke is. It only makes people defensive or standoffish, and you’ll get little or no laughs no matter how good the material.
- If you’ve ever heard someone tell a joke trying to use a French accent, and by the time he got to the punch line he sounded like a street vendor in Mexico City, you know that Golden Rule number three is don’t try to tell your joke using a foreign accent unless you can do it flawlessly.
- Never rush a joke. If time is limited, then wait until you and your audience have more time to enjoy the joke.
- Make eye contact with your audience. That’s the most fun of telling a good joke.
- And the last Golden Rule (number four if you’ve been counting) is never laugh at your own joke.
If you didn’t tell a joke Sunday for National Tell a Joke Day, do not despair. A good joke is a welcome respite on most any day. And there’s plenty of time to use the tips listed here to brush up and become the life of the party for next year’s National Tell a Joke Day which falls on Monday, August 16, 2010.
To help get you started, here’s one that is appropriate and may get a few laughs from the clergy:
A Priest, a Minister, and Rabbi walk into a tavern and sit down at the bar. The bartender looks at the three of them and says, “What is this - some kind of a joke?”
-Author unknown
Looking for Some ‘New’ Material?
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Woo
Woo, who?
Don't get so excited, it's just a joke.
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Cow-go
Cow-go who?
No, Cow go MOO!!!
Issue 406
SNIPPETZ ADOPTS HOMELESS ANIMALS
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
-Immanual Kant
International Homeless Animals’ Day was initiated by ISAR, the International Society for Animal Rights in order to bring awareness to the pet overpopulation problem. It’s celebrated on the third Saturday of August in many different ways across the country including microchip clinics, adopt-a-thons, dog walks and spay/neuter events. The Humane Society of the United States and its chapters around the country also work tirelessly to educate the public about the problems of animal overpopulation, as well as the shelter and adoption placement services they provide for homeless pets.
Americans love their pets and it is no surprise that over 60% of American households have at least one pet. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation from a lack of spaying/neutering, there are between 6 and 8 million cats and dogs that enter shelters each year, half of which are euthanized.
Staggering Numbers
The most common reasons animal owners give their pets over to a shelter are due to moving to a location where pets are not allowed, health problems such as allergies of family members or behavior problems with the animal. According to the Humane Society, most behavior problems can be easily fixed with proper training.
But many animals wind up in shelters simply due to overpopulation.
So You Want to Adopt
Animal shelters are a great place to look for a pet who has become homeless. Although requirements are set by each individual shelter, some requirements for adoption can include:
Shelters Galore
There are animal shelters in many communities across the state and for all types of animals. A Google search turns up hundreds. Some shelters are considered no kill shelters that seek to find a home or foster care for the animal and do not euthanize. Most Humane Societies do euthanize. Shelters that euthanize are generally mandated to accept any animal, even those that are not adoptable, i.e., aggressive or sick animals. Whereas other shelters will only accept those animals who they feel will be adoptable.
When looking for a particular breed, there are many breed specific rescues available. Also, as many as one third of the animals at humane society shelters are purebred.
Some in the Colorado Springs area, as well as Denver include:
SAINT Animal Rescue
A nonprofit animal rescue, SAINT is a no-kill rescue for eastern El Paso County. They were founded to assist with the rescue and shelter of animals outside of the Humane Society’s region covering more than 1,400 square miles. The agency grew out of the need to protect animals that fall victim to abuse and neglect.
Dreampower Animal Rescue
Another nonprofit no-kill rescue service for adoptable animals, Dreampower was established in 1990 and helps rescue thousands of animals of many species. Their mission is to find suitable homes for animals and they have an extensive volunteer foster home network for animal placement until adoption can take place. Dreampower participates in animal fairs at various locations including PetsMart stores and their home office.
Happy Birthday Humane Society of PPR!
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is celebrating 60 years of service to the community this year. A few highlights about this organization and its history:
War Time Leash Law
When folks started growing their own vegetables during World War II, dogs loved digging up the goodies. This prompted an ordinance passed by City Council prohibiting loose dogs during gardening season. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, although hesitant, took on the role of taking in the dogs that were impounded during this process.
SNIPPETZ ADOPTS HOMELESS ANIMALS
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
-Immanual Kant
International Homeless Animals’ Day was initiated by ISAR, the International Society for Animal Rights in order to bring awareness to the pet overpopulation problem. It’s celebrated on the third Saturday of August in many different ways across the country including microchip clinics, adopt-a-thons, dog walks and spay/neuter events. The Humane Society of the United States and its chapters around the country also work tirelessly to educate the public about the problems of animal overpopulation, as well as the shelter and adoption placement services they provide for homeless pets.
Americans love their pets and it is no surprise that over 60% of American households have at least one pet. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation from a lack of spaying/neutering, there are between 6 and 8 million cats and dogs that enter shelters each year, half of which are euthanized.
Staggering Numbers
The most common reasons animal owners give their pets over to a shelter are due to moving to a location where pets are not allowed, health problems such as allergies of family members or behavior problems with the animal. According to the Humane Society, most behavior problems can be easily fixed with proper training.
But many animals wind up in shelters simply due to overpopulation.
- The typical number of puppies in a litter is 6-10 and a fertile dog can produce two litters in one year.
- For cats, the typical number of kittens in a litter is 4-6 and a non-spayed cat can produce three litters in a year.
- There are 3-4 million cats and dogs adopted from shelters annually.
- Between 600,000 and 750,000 of dogs and cats entering shelters are reclaimed by their owners each year.
- There are between 4,000 and 6,000 animal shelters in the U.S.
- During the 1970’s 12-20 million dogs and cats were euthanized in shelters as compared to 3-4 million today.
So You Want to Adopt
Animal shelters are a great place to look for a pet who has become homeless. Although requirements are set by each individual shelter, some requirements for adoption can include:
- An application process to determine an appropriate match between the animal and the adopting household.
- Spay/neutering of the pet
- Modest fees for services to help defray the costs of feeding, vaccinations, grooming and medications.
Shelters Galore
There are animal shelters in many communities across the state and for all types of animals. A Google search turns up hundreds. Some shelters are considered no kill shelters that seek to find a home or foster care for the animal and do not euthanize. Most Humane Societies do euthanize. Shelters that euthanize are generally mandated to accept any animal, even those that are not adoptable, i.e., aggressive or sick animals. Whereas other shelters will only accept those animals who they feel will be adoptable.
When looking for a particular breed, there are many breed specific rescues available. Also, as many as one third of the animals at humane society shelters are purebred.
Some in the Colorado Springs area, as well as Denver include:
- Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region-COS
- SAINT Animal Rescue-Calhan
- Dreampower Animal Rescue Foundation-COS
- Maxfund Animal Adoption Center-Denver
- Feathered Family (birds only)-Erie
- Dumb Friends League-Denver
- Colorado Reptile Humane Society-Longmont
- Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue-Ramah
- Black Forest Animal Sanctuary-Black Forest
SAINT Animal Rescue
A nonprofit animal rescue, SAINT is a no-kill rescue for eastern El Paso County. They were founded to assist with the rescue and shelter of animals outside of the Humane Society’s region covering more than 1,400 square miles. The agency grew out of the need to protect animals that fall victim to abuse and neglect.
Dreampower Animal Rescue
Another nonprofit no-kill rescue service for adoptable animals, Dreampower was established in 1990 and helps rescue thousands of animals of many species. Their mission is to find suitable homes for animals and they have an extensive volunteer foster home network for animal placement until adoption can take place. Dreampower participates in animal fairs at various locations including PetsMart stores and their home office.
Happy Birthday Humane Society of PPR!
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is celebrating 60 years of service to the community this year. A few highlights about this organization and its history:
- The development of an animal shelter in Colorado Springs began in 1949 when some community members including a veterinarian, a chiropractor, pawnbroker and a child welfare worker met at the Antlers Hotel to discuss the possibility. In October, a Board was selected and a state approved Certificate of Incorporation was granted to the nonprofit organization.
- The first ambulance was a used Ford station wagon, purchased with a $400 donation in 1951.
- The first shelter was rented from Mrs. Thomas who had a Cragmor shed that had been used to house racing greyhounds. This temporary site saw 1,500 animals in 1951 alone.
- First dispatcher – Ms. Julia Hamp.
- In 1952, the Humane Society moved into its permanent location on south Eighth Street. The following year they had four paid employees.
- Marketing is everything – In 1955, a television show was produced to showcase some of the animals available for adoption. This set the groundwork for more such shows, radio shows, newspaper listings and those animal visits on local news programs that tear at our heartstrings.
- “Bud,” a terrier adopted in 1991 from the Humane Society was cast in a local stage production of “Annie.”
- The 1962 annual report indicates that 248 miscellaneous animals were adopted including chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, pigs, goats, porcupine and “even a monkey or two.”
- The Humane Society’s PetMobile started in 1973 and is a model for other programs across the country.
- Our local Humane Society sent two of their staff to Hattiesburg, Miss. after Hurricane Katrina to help set up temporary shelters and a tracking system for animal hurricane victims.
War Time Leash Law
When folks started growing their own vegetables during World War II, dogs loved digging up the goodies. This prompted an ordinance passed by City Council prohibiting loose dogs during gardening season. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, although hesitant, took on the role of taking in the dogs that were impounded during this process.
Issue 405
SNIPPETZ SALUTES INVENTORS
“Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need.”
- Charles F. Kettering, American engineer, inventor of the electric starter, 1876-1958
August became National Inventors month starting in 1998, and was sponsored by the Academy of Applied Science, Inventors’ Digest magazine and United Inventors Association of the USA. What would we do without disposable tissue, glue and Teflon? It all came from some ingenious mind or minds that spent hours, days, months or years dedicated to making our world a better place with modern conveniences.
Before National Inventors Month, President Ronald Reagan dedicated February 11, 1983 to inventors as National Inventors’ Day. President Reagan said that the “key to our future success will be the dedication and creativity of inventors.”
President George Washington was the first president to sign the Bill that established the American Patent System in 1790. Since then, more than 6 million patents have been issued – some great and some, well, at least interesting.
Hot Enough For You?
If you’re finding yourself seeking comfort from the summer heat near the air conditioning of your home, office or car, you can thank Willis Haviland Carrier who invented the formula and apparatus that would eventually become air conditioning in the early 1900’s. Carrier was an engineering graduate of Cornell University and his formula continues to be the basis of all fundamental calculations within the air conditioning industry. The first plant to house this new “Apparatus for Treating Air” was a printing plant in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1902.
Achoo!
Although many still use the fabric handkerchief, most of us modern folk tend to grab for the disposable tissue, or Kleenex® these days. Those soft little throwaways were invented in the 1920s by Kleenex® Brand. They became quite popular in Canada during the 1926 flu season. Kleenex® smartly used some Hollywood greats such as Jean Harlow and Helen Hayes to promote their product, practically stamping out the monogrammed hankie. Eventually the product came in easy to use cartons with more and more varieties and colors to choose from, as well as other brand names.
The Best Nose Scratcher
A Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral, was inspired by how cockleburs could cling to clothing and quickly began experimentation with the hook and loop process. He received his patent in 1955 and called the product VELCRO®, which is derived from the French words velour (velvet) and crochet (hook). De Mestral first used cotton for his invention, but later turned to other more durable substances. Now VELCRO® is made from various substances such as nylon, plastic, Teflon and glass. Yes, glass. NASA uses an extensive amount of Velcro made of Teflon, polyester and a glass backing for anchoring equipment, such as a meal tray attachment and to temporarily hold things in place within the shuttle’s weightless environment. There is also a small piece of VELCRO® inside the helmets of the astronauts to be used as a nose scratcher.
The Glue That Keeps On Binding
Harry Coover was a research chemist working for Eastman Kodak during World War II. While trying to produce a substance that would be clear enough to use for gunsights, he discovered a chemical class called cyanoacrylates. Not particularly good for use as a clear plastic, over time Coover discovered the amazing adhesive power of these substances. His “superglue” was used to spray onto wounds to stop the bleeding during the Vietnam War. The substance continues to be used in medical science today. It’s also a pretty handy item around the house for permanently gluing together just about anything including your fingers.
Duck or Duct
Another product inspired by the needs of the military, duct tape was originally called “duck tape.” The tape was used to seal ammunition boxes during World War II and was named after ducks’ feathers that repel water. Johnson & Johnson Company designed and manufactured the amazing tape in 1942; however, there is no record of any individual or group within the company given credit for the invention. During the post war housing boom, duct tape found its way into homes and used to secure ducting. Hence, the name change to ‘duct tape.’ Now duct tape is used for many practical purposes as well as creative items (think duct tape wallets) and comes in many colors.
Nothin’ Sticks
Telfon coating was discovered in 1938 by an American chemist at DuPont, Roy J. Plunkett while researching refrigerants. Plunkett came across this strange substance while testing tetrafluoroethylene. A mistake led to a cylinder of the substance that had solidified into a white powdery solid. The gas had become polymerized and thus became polytetrafluoroethylene. It was slippery, had a very high melting point and was essentially impenetrable. The first products that used Teflon were machine parts and the military used it for artillery shell fuses and nuclear bombs. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Marc Gregoire of Paris, France figured out a way to use Teflon on his fishing line so it wouldn’t tangle. We can thank his wife who put it on her pots and pans and Gregoire’s friend, a UPI reporter, Thomas Hardie, who brought it to the United States. No one wanted to purchase the product, but Hardie finally convinced Macy’s to take 200 of the slippery jewels. They sold in two days and quickly became a household necessity.
Very Interesting, Watson
And if you think those are silly, how about the “Pet Rock?” Developed by Gary Dahl because he didn’t like live pets, he came up with his own pet for which he even wrote a training manual. Neiman-Marcus purchased 500 of these adorable creatures and sales soared thereafter in 1975 and 1976. Eventually sales quickly dropped like a rock.
A Few More Snippetz:
SNIPPETZ SALUTES INVENTORS
“Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need.”
- Charles F. Kettering, American engineer, inventor of the electric starter, 1876-1958
August became National Inventors month starting in 1998, and was sponsored by the Academy of Applied Science, Inventors’ Digest magazine and United Inventors Association of the USA. What would we do without disposable tissue, glue and Teflon? It all came from some ingenious mind or minds that spent hours, days, months or years dedicated to making our world a better place with modern conveniences.
Before National Inventors Month, President Ronald Reagan dedicated February 11, 1983 to inventors as National Inventors’ Day. President Reagan said that the “key to our future success will be the dedication and creativity of inventors.”
President George Washington was the first president to sign the Bill that established the American Patent System in 1790. Since then, more than 6 million patents have been issued – some great and some, well, at least interesting.
Hot Enough For You?
If you’re finding yourself seeking comfort from the summer heat near the air conditioning of your home, office or car, you can thank Willis Haviland Carrier who invented the formula and apparatus that would eventually become air conditioning in the early 1900’s. Carrier was an engineering graduate of Cornell University and his formula continues to be the basis of all fundamental calculations within the air conditioning industry. The first plant to house this new “Apparatus for Treating Air” was a printing plant in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1902.
Achoo!
Although many still use the fabric handkerchief, most of us modern folk tend to grab for the disposable tissue, or Kleenex® these days. Those soft little throwaways were invented in the 1920s by Kleenex® Brand. They became quite popular in Canada during the 1926 flu season. Kleenex® smartly used some Hollywood greats such as Jean Harlow and Helen Hayes to promote their product, practically stamping out the monogrammed hankie. Eventually the product came in easy to use cartons with more and more varieties and colors to choose from, as well as other brand names.
The Best Nose Scratcher
A Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral, was inspired by how cockleburs could cling to clothing and quickly began experimentation with the hook and loop process. He received his patent in 1955 and called the product VELCRO®, which is derived from the French words velour (velvet) and crochet (hook). De Mestral first used cotton for his invention, but later turned to other more durable substances. Now VELCRO® is made from various substances such as nylon, plastic, Teflon and glass. Yes, glass. NASA uses an extensive amount of Velcro made of Teflon, polyester and a glass backing for anchoring equipment, such as a meal tray attachment and to temporarily hold things in place within the shuttle’s weightless environment. There is also a small piece of VELCRO® inside the helmets of the astronauts to be used as a nose scratcher.
The Glue That Keeps On Binding
Harry Coover was a research chemist working for Eastman Kodak during World War II. While trying to produce a substance that would be clear enough to use for gunsights, he discovered a chemical class called cyanoacrylates. Not particularly good for use as a clear plastic, over time Coover discovered the amazing adhesive power of these substances. His “superglue” was used to spray onto wounds to stop the bleeding during the Vietnam War. The substance continues to be used in medical science today. It’s also a pretty handy item around the house for permanently gluing together just about anything including your fingers.
Duck or Duct
Another product inspired by the needs of the military, duct tape was originally called “duck tape.” The tape was used to seal ammunition boxes during World War II and was named after ducks’ feathers that repel water. Johnson & Johnson Company designed and manufactured the amazing tape in 1942; however, there is no record of any individual or group within the company given credit for the invention. During the post war housing boom, duct tape found its way into homes and used to secure ducting. Hence, the name change to ‘duct tape.’ Now duct tape is used for many practical purposes as well as creative items (think duct tape wallets) and comes in many colors.
Nothin’ Sticks
Telfon coating was discovered in 1938 by an American chemist at DuPont, Roy J. Plunkett while researching refrigerants. Plunkett came across this strange substance while testing tetrafluoroethylene. A mistake led to a cylinder of the substance that had solidified into a white powdery solid. The gas had become polymerized and thus became polytetrafluoroethylene. It was slippery, had a very high melting point and was essentially impenetrable. The first products that used Teflon were machine parts and the military used it for artillery shell fuses and nuclear bombs. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Marc Gregoire of Paris, France figured out a way to use Teflon on his fishing line so it wouldn’t tangle. We can thank his wife who put it on her pots and pans and Gregoire’s friend, a UPI reporter, Thomas Hardie, who brought it to the United States. No one wanted to purchase the product, but Hardie finally convinced Macy’s to take 200 of the slippery jewels. They sold in two days and quickly became a household necessity.
Very Interesting, Watson
- Foot Elevator (patented 1986) – Tired of white bottomed feet? Then think about a contraption with a spike that sticks into the beach sand with a cradle attached to the top of the spike to slip the heel of your foot into; thus raising your foot above the sand level and exposing it to the sun on all sides.
- Saggy Bottoms (patented 1997) – If you can’t stand looking at teenage boys’ underwear because they are walking around with their pants hanging down, here’s the solution. Saggy Bottoms sport 2, count ‘em 2, bottoms. One part of the pants fit snugly around the traditional waist line and an attached droopy bottom piece appears to fall below the derrière as to fool everyone into thinking you are a stylish guy!
- Equidae Excrement Receptacle (patented 1998) – A horse diaper! No explanation necessary. But why?
- Human Car Wash (patented 1969) – Think group bathing sounds fun? How about being strapped into a harness and pulled on a conveyor through soaping and rinsing just like your car? Originally designed during the Cold War in case large quantities of folks would need to be bathed of nuclear dust.
And if you think those are silly, how about the “Pet Rock?” Developed by Gary Dahl because he didn’t like live pets, he came up with his own pet for which he even wrote a training manual. Neiman-Marcus purchased 500 of these adorable creatures and sales soared thereafter in 1975 and 1976. Eventually sales quickly dropped like a rock.
A Few More Snippetz:
- Lest we think that inventions always take years and years of blood, sweat and tears, the game Trivial Pursuit was invented in approximately 45 minutes by Canadians Chris Haney, John Haney and Scott Abbott. However, it took four years to market the invention. Since then, over 88 million games have been sold in 26 countries and 17 languages.
- Samuel Hopkins of Maryland was awarded the very first U.S. patent in 1790 for his invention of a method for producing potash, a form of potassium carbonate, which is used in soap and gun powder.
- Mary Dixon Kies was the first woman to obtain a patent for her invention of a process for weaving straw with thread or silk in 1809.
- In 1885, Sarah Goode became the first African-American woman to obtain a patent for her invention of a folding cabinet-type bed. She combined a bed with compartments similar to ones found in a desk to store stationary, books, etc.
- It took 45 years between the time the first can was invented by Peter Durand in 1813 and the can opener was invented by Ezra Warner. Prior to Warner’s handy dandy household gadget, the directions read, “Cut round the top near the edge with a chisel and hammer.”
- Silly Putty started as a rubber compound used for caulking and molding invented by James Write, an employee of General Electric during World War II. It was Peter Hodgson of Connecticut who purchased a large quantity of the substance and packaged it for children as “Silly Putty.”
- The National Inventor’s Hall of Fame was established in 1973 and is located in Akron, Ohio.
Issue 404
SNIPPETZ FLIES YOU TO THE MOON
“There’s a foot coming down the step.”
Walter Cronkite reporting Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon July 20, 1969.
Over The Moon
Perhaps it’s befitting that Walter Cronkite, America’s beloved evening news anchor in the 60s, 70s and early 80s, died just days before the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s famous walk on the moon. More than half-million people tuned in July 29, 1969, to listen to Cronkite recount the steps of the men from Apollo 11.
Although he never lived to see it, President John F. Kennedy had promised that Americans would be the first to walk on the moon. At that time, the U.S. was competing with Russia in what was called “the space race.”
Twelve astronauts have walked on the moon since 1969, but no one has ventured on the moon since 1972. It is said that after Armstrong’s remarkable feat, the excitement waned as earthly problems demanded more attention than ever. The space age was suddenly over! Even Star Trek, the original T.V. series, went off the air six weeks after the first moon landing.
But a fascination with the moon has continued on. Take the language, for example. Much of it is moon related.
Famous Moon Sayings
For readers old enough to remember Ralph Cramden in the T.V. series, “Jackie Gleason,” they’ll recall his constant, comedic threat to his wife, Alice. “To the moon, Alice,” he said. “To the moon” became a household saying for someone who wanted to dismiss a person’s comment or presence.
And more …
• Tiger Woods is “shooting for the moon” in his attempt to beat Jack Nicklaus’ golfing record.
• David Cook was “over the moon” when he won American Idol in 2008.
• Betsy doesn’t visit often; I only see her “once in a blue moon.”
• Jane saw George Clooney the other day, and she can’t stop “mooning over him.”
• I don’t know a thing about it, as much as the “man in the moon.”
• Joe got in trouble for “mooning” the girls who stood in the dormitory window.
• “It’s “beyond the moon” to me why Bob suddenly left town.
• That’s nonsense, ridiculous – just a “bunch of moonshine.”
• With the recession hovering over Americans, more people are “moonlighting” to make ends meet.
The Moon, The Song
The moon has also been the focus of many song titles and lyrics, from past to present. One of the iconic moon-related songs is “Moon River.”
“Moon river, wider than a mile; I’m crossing you in style some day; you dream maker, you heartbreaker, wherever you’re going, I’m going your way.”
Composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, the song won the Academy Award in 1961 for best original song, after Audrey Hepburn sang it in the movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In 1962, “Moon River” won a Grammy Award for best record of the year.
Andy Williams first recorded “Moon River” in 1961. In 1962, he sang it at the Academy Awards, and “Moon River” became Williams’ theme song.
Frank Sinatra is remembered for another popular song about the moon: “Fly me to the Moon.”
Arguably, some of the other top moon songs include …
• “Yellow Moon” by the Neville Brothers
• “Blue Moon” by the Marcels
• “Moon Dance” by Van Morrison
• “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young
• “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” by Los Lobos
• “There’s a Moon in the Sky” by The B-52s
• “Pink Moon,” Nick Drake
And what about Michael Jackson’s claim-to-fame (or one of his claims to fame) – “the moonwalk?” The late Jackson created the moonwalk, a dance routine attempted by every kid with a music or Motown inclination. Just as the walk on the moon, the moonwalk will live on forever.
The Moon And Hollywood
• In 1988, Cher won the Academy Award for best actress in the movie, “Moonstruck.” Her co-star, Olympia Dukakis, won for best supporting actress. “Moonstruck” was nominated for eight Academy awards and is listed in the top-10 movies for the romantic-comedy genre. The film is also noted for Dean Martin’s song, “That’s Amore.”
• In 1973, Hollywood released “Paper Moon,” a story set in the Great Depression era. The movie starred real-life father-daughter team Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal. The latter won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the film, becoming the youngest actress ever to win the Oscar. In 1974, “Paper Moon” became a T.V. series starring Jodie Foster and Christopher Connelly. The T.V. version didn’t fare as well – the show was canceled in a few months because of poor ratings.
The Full Moon
Hollywood also created film versions of werewolves and vampires – both akin to a full moon.
Once a month the moon turns in to what Dean Martin sang about: “The moon in the sky is a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” That pizza pie is the full moon, which occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth, from the sun. Full moons have been blamed for odd behavior among both humans and animals.
It’s been said that people party hard, dogs bite and criminals wreak havoc in the light of the full moon. However, an article in National Geographic dispelled the idea that human or animal behavior is relative to a full moon. According to the article, Ivan Kelly, a Canadian psychologist at the University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, published 15 papers on the topic and reviewed more, including one that covered about 200 studies on the full moon and behaviors. Kelly concluded there is no strong evidence of a relationship between a full moon and human/animal behavior.
But many people believe that a full moon brings out the worst (or the best) in people, and mythology supports it. Luna, the wife of Zeus, and sister of Helios, the sun, has been deemed the first-ever lunatic – crazy person. After all, she had 50 children, which would make anyone crazy. The word “lunatic” is rooted in the idea that a full moon made people “mad” or insane.
What’s Your Moon Sign?
When it comes to astrology, the moon’s influence is a certainty.
The moon, as in the sun, represents the constellation in astrology in which the moon was located at the place and time of one’s birth.
Because the moon affects ocean tides, some believe the moon influences people since water comprises 70 percent of the human body.
A person’s moon sign is believed to affect his or her emotional being. In the full astrological analysis, the planetary relationships (moon/sun signs) are included – and important. It is also believed that the sun/moon combination that people were born with indicates their method and approach to life. Humans move through cycles, just as the moon. And, as the moon keeps on moving, humans are moving, either expanding or constricting, but rarely static.
The Moon And The Outhouse
The half-moon or crescent moon was used on outhouses to distinguish the men’s outhouse from the women’s outhouses. The crescent moon symbol goes back to colonial times, when many people couldn’t read. The crescent moon was also cut out of the wooden outhouse to allow light to get in.
More About The Moon
• The moon, referred to as “Luna” by the Romans, has been known since prehistoric times.
• The moon is 2,160 miles in diameter. The earth’s diameter at the equator is 7926.68 miles.
• The moon is the second brightest object in the sky – the sun is the first.
• The time between new moons is 29.5 days or 709 hours
• The moon is often called the terrestrial planet, alongside Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
• The oldest material brought back from the moon by the Apollo crews has been soil-dated to 4.72 billion years.
The Moon’s Many Faces
The moon orbits around the Earth once per month, the angle between the Earth, the moon and the sun changes, and is referenced as the moon's phases.
SNIPPETZ FLIES YOU TO THE MOON
“There’s a foot coming down the step.”
Walter Cronkite reporting Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon July 20, 1969.
Over The Moon
Perhaps it’s befitting that Walter Cronkite, America’s beloved evening news anchor in the 60s, 70s and early 80s, died just days before the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s famous walk on the moon. More than half-million people tuned in July 29, 1969, to listen to Cronkite recount the steps of the men from Apollo 11.
Although he never lived to see it, President John F. Kennedy had promised that Americans would be the first to walk on the moon. At that time, the U.S. was competing with Russia in what was called “the space race.”
Twelve astronauts have walked on the moon since 1969, but no one has ventured on the moon since 1972. It is said that after Armstrong’s remarkable feat, the excitement waned as earthly problems demanded more attention than ever. The space age was suddenly over! Even Star Trek, the original T.V. series, went off the air six weeks after the first moon landing.
But a fascination with the moon has continued on. Take the language, for example. Much of it is moon related.
Famous Moon Sayings
For readers old enough to remember Ralph Cramden in the T.V. series, “Jackie Gleason,” they’ll recall his constant, comedic threat to his wife, Alice. “To the moon, Alice,” he said. “To the moon” became a household saying for someone who wanted to dismiss a person’s comment or presence.
And more …
• Tiger Woods is “shooting for the moon” in his attempt to beat Jack Nicklaus’ golfing record.
• David Cook was “over the moon” when he won American Idol in 2008.
• Betsy doesn’t visit often; I only see her “once in a blue moon.”
• Jane saw George Clooney the other day, and she can’t stop “mooning over him.”
• I don’t know a thing about it, as much as the “man in the moon.”
• Joe got in trouble for “mooning” the girls who stood in the dormitory window.
• “It’s “beyond the moon” to me why Bob suddenly left town.
• That’s nonsense, ridiculous – just a “bunch of moonshine.”
• With the recession hovering over Americans, more people are “moonlighting” to make ends meet.
The Moon, The Song
The moon has also been the focus of many song titles and lyrics, from past to present. One of the iconic moon-related songs is “Moon River.”
“Moon river, wider than a mile; I’m crossing you in style some day; you dream maker, you heartbreaker, wherever you’re going, I’m going your way.”
Composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, the song won the Academy Award in 1961 for best original song, after Audrey Hepburn sang it in the movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In 1962, “Moon River” won a Grammy Award for best record of the year.
Andy Williams first recorded “Moon River” in 1961. In 1962, he sang it at the Academy Awards, and “Moon River” became Williams’ theme song.
Frank Sinatra is remembered for another popular song about the moon: “Fly me to the Moon.”
Arguably, some of the other top moon songs include …
• “Yellow Moon” by the Neville Brothers
• “Blue Moon” by the Marcels
• “Moon Dance” by Van Morrison
• “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young
• “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” by Los Lobos
• “There’s a Moon in the Sky” by The B-52s
• “Pink Moon,” Nick Drake
And what about Michael Jackson’s claim-to-fame (or one of his claims to fame) – “the moonwalk?” The late Jackson created the moonwalk, a dance routine attempted by every kid with a music or Motown inclination. Just as the walk on the moon, the moonwalk will live on forever.
The Moon And Hollywood
• In 1988, Cher won the Academy Award for best actress in the movie, “Moonstruck.” Her co-star, Olympia Dukakis, won for best supporting actress. “Moonstruck” was nominated for eight Academy awards and is listed in the top-10 movies for the romantic-comedy genre. The film is also noted for Dean Martin’s song, “That’s Amore.”
• In 1973, Hollywood released “Paper Moon,” a story set in the Great Depression era. The movie starred real-life father-daughter team Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal. The latter won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the film, becoming the youngest actress ever to win the Oscar. In 1974, “Paper Moon” became a T.V. series starring Jodie Foster and Christopher Connelly. The T.V. version didn’t fare as well – the show was canceled in a few months because of poor ratings.
The Full Moon
Hollywood also created film versions of werewolves and vampires – both akin to a full moon.
Once a month the moon turns in to what Dean Martin sang about: “The moon in the sky is a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” That pizza pie is the full moon, which occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth, from the sun. Full moons have been blamed for odd behavior among both humans and animals.
It’s been said that people party hard, dogs bite and criminals wreak havoc in the light of the full moon. However, an article in National Geographic dispelled the idea that human or animal behavior is relative to a full moon. According to the article, Ivan Kelly, a Canadian psychologist at the University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, published 15 papers on the topic and reviewed more, including one that covered about 200 studies on the full moon and behaviors. Kelly concluded there is no strong evidence of a relationship between a full moon and human/animal behavior.
But many people believe that a full moon brings out the worst (or the best) in people, and mythology supports it. Luna, the wife of Zeus, and sister of Helios, the sun, has been deemed the first-ever lunatic – crazy person. After all, she had 50 children, which would make anyone crazy. The word “lunatic” is rooted in the idea that a full moon made people “mad” or insane.
What’s Your Moon Sign?
When it comes to astrology, the moon’s influence is a certainty.
The moon, as in the sun, represents the constellation in astrology in which the moon was located at the place and time of one’s birth.
Because the moon affects ocean tides, some believe the moon influences people since water comprises 70 percent of the human body.
A person’s moon sign is believed to affect his or her emotional being. In the full astrological analysis, the planetary relationships (moon/sun signs) are included – and important. It is also believed that the sun/moon combination that people were born with indicates their method and approach to life. Humans move through cycles, just as the moon. And, as the moon keeps on moving, humans are moving, either expanding or constricting, but rarely static.
The Moon And The Outhouse
The half-moon or crescent moon was used on outhouses to distinguish the men’s outhouse from the women’s outhouses. The crescent moon symbol goes back to colonial times, when many people couldn’t read. The crescent moon was also cut out of the wooden outhouse to allow light to get in.
More About The Moon
• The moon, referred to as “Luna” by the Romans, has been known since prehistoric times.
• The moon is 2,160 miles in diameter. The earth’s diameter at the equator is 7926.68 miles.
• The moon is the second brightest object in the sky – the sun is the first.
• The time between new moons is 29.5 days or 709 hours
• The moon is often called the terrestrial planet, alongside Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
• The oldest material brought back from the moon by the Apollo crews has been soil-dated to 4.72 billion years.
The Moon’s Many Faces
The moon orbits around the Earth once per month, the angle between the Earth, the moon and the sun changes, and is referenced as the moon's phases.
- New Moon (0-45 degrees in front of the sun): its energy is birth/renewal. It’s a time to start new projects, friendships, romance and to plant gardens.
- Crescent Moon (45-90 degrees ahead of the sun): In a life cycle, the crescent moon symbolizes independence from a mother – an understanding that one is his/her own entity. This moon is about becoming an individual, each with unique ideas.
- First Quarter Moon (90-135 degrees ahead of the sun): There is friction in the air – this could be a time of crisis. It’s a time to understand a problem and implement a plan for a solution.
- Gibbous Moon (135-180 degrees ahead of the sun): This phase is about analysis and evaluation, an intellectual period – perhaps analyzing the solution to that problem.
- Full Moon (180-225 degrees ahead of the sun): It’s a climactic or energetic period – a time to howl at the moon! It’s also known as a time of fertilization and reproduction.
- Disseminating Moon (135-90 degrees behind the sun): Sharing one’s knowledge with others about what has been learned under the previous phases of the moon is important during this period.
- Last Quarter Moon (90-45 degrees behind the sun): Somewhat like the first quarter, this period is a time for action – creating choices, outcomes, taking action … or not.
- Balsamic Moon (45-1 degree behind the sun): A phase also referred to as “Karma.” If one hasn’t learned the lessons of the first seven phases, he or she cannot move on. People born during this phase often have a mission – something bigger than themselves – to carry out. This is not about outcome – it’s about conclusion, and it’s a time to release the past.
Issue 403
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SCOOP ON A TASTY HOLIDAY
“I don’t cry over spilt milk, but a fallen scoop of ice cream is enough to ruin my whole day.”
-Marquise de Sevine
It was President Ronald Reagan who declared July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month to be National Ice Cream Day back in 1984. President Reagan felt that ice cream was fun, nutritious and that the citizens of our country should celebrate “with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Chocolate, vanilla, rocky road or any number of others, there are few who don’t love ice cream. And what’s not to love? Full of smooth, sweet, cold goodness in any variety that occurs, ice cream has become an American staple and a favorite treat around the world.
In The Beginning
Ice houses and different forms of chilled food may have been in existence since the time of Mesopotamia some 4,000 years ago, possibly along the Euphrates River where they kept their food chilled. Greeks sold snow cone-like products in the fifth century, which were mixed with ice and honey and fruit. Persians were able to have chilled desserts far into the summer months after they figured out how to store their ice in a device called a yakhchal. In 400 BC, Persians invented a pudding-like dish called Fuloodeh that contained ice, fruit, saffron, rose water, lemons and a kind of vermicelli. Served to royalty in summers, this treat still is served in modern-day Iran in much larger circles.
During the mid 1500’s in Italy, Emperor Nero would frequently send slaves to collect snow from the mountains, which was then flavored with fruit juice and honey. Marco Polo traveled to the Far East in the 1600’s and returned to Italy with a recipe similar to that of sherbet. The Italians shared their frozen desserts with France in the 1500’s once Catherine de Medici married Henry II of France. Charles I of England was being served a cold dessert they called “cream ice” during the 17th century. For Europeans, ice cream was the dessert for the elite until it was made for public consumption in 1660 when a Sicilian man named Procopio began serving the recipe that included milk, cream, butter and eggs at his café in Paris.
Finally, A Recipe
The first known recipe for ice cream was printed in “Mrs. Mary Eales’ Receipts” in 1718, and contained very complicated instructions on how to assemble the ingredients in multiple pots, surrounding them with many buckets of ice and salt. Her recipe must have produced very lumpy ice cream, full of ice chunks, as there were no instructions for stirring. The basic idea of producing ice cream would remain the same until the advent of the freezer in the 20th century, which kept ice cream from becoming anything other than a novelty until then.
Ice cream’s introduction to the United States started with the elite as well in the 1700’s. Maryland Governor William Bladen was said to have served an ice cream and strawberry dessert at a dinner party he hosted. President George Washington reportedly had a rather outrageous appetite for ice cream and spent nearly $200 on the sweet treat in the summer of 1790 alone. Other presidents followed the tradition including President Thomas Jefferson who enjoyed a rather elaborate recipe for a dessert that included vanilla ice cream made similar to baked Alaska. President Madison enjoyed Dolly Madison’s strawberry ice cream dessert at his inaugural dinner in 1812.
No longer for an elite few
Once ice houses were invented in the early 1800’s, ice cream could begin its rise in popularity among ordinary citizens. The first ice cream factory was converted from a milk plant by Jacob Fussell in 1851 in Baltimore.
Soon, technological advances make the manufacture of ice cream more and more efficient. Homogenization, electrical power, automated packing and freezing equipment have allowed the production of nearly 2 billion gallons of ice cream per year today.
By the late 1800’s, the soda fountain shop popped up and led to the budding career of the “soda jerk.” The ice cream soda was invented in 1874 by Robert Green when he combined carbonated water, syrup and ice cream. Soda fountains were a popular gathering place at drug stores throughout the country where the carbonated mineral water became popular and was thought to have medicinal qualities.
Once grocery stores and supermarkets began to stock manufactured ice cream starting in the 1940’s, the traditional ice cream parlors lost popularity for a few decades. However, like the coffee shop, ice cream parlors and shops can now be found in most any city in the U.S., both large and small. Apparently, loading the family in the car and heading for the local ice cream parlor is still an American pastime, if only to trade the station wagon for an SUV.
A Bit More History
What We Consume
The IDFA (International Dairy Foods Association) reports that ice cream accounts for nearly $23 billion in annual sales and that 9% of all milk produced here in the U.S. goes to make ice cream.
A full 90% of the population are said to be ice cream consumers today. The average ice cream enthusiast consumes 17 pounds of regular ice cream and 7 pounds of low fat ice cream per year.
Begging for world records
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest ice cream sundae came to a whopping 55,000 pounds and was made in Alberta, Canada in 1988.
• The world’s largest ice cream sandwich topped out at 2,500 pounds in Iowa, also in 1988.
• Not to be outdone, Baskin-Robbins created a 9,000-pound ice cream cake in 1999.
And The Winner Is
You say vanilla and chocolate aren’t adventurous enough for you? Well, how about dill pickle, jalapeno, eggnog, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, octopus, spinach, onion, fried pork rind, chunky bacon or bay leaf ice cream? Seems that just about everything has been added to ice cream depending on what part of the world you live in.
Unusual flavors aside, the 10 most popular ice cream flavors are:
1. Vanilla
2. Chocolate
3. Butter pecan
4. Strawberry
5. Neapolitan
6. Chocolate chip
7. French vanilla
8. Cookies and cream
9. Vanilla fudge ripple
10. Praline pecan
So, as the saying goes…”I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!”
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SCOOP ON A TASTY HOLIDAY
“I don’t cry over spilt milk, but a fallen scoop of ice cream is enough to ruin my whole day.”
-Marquise de Sevine
It was President Ronald Reagan who declared July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month to be National Ice Cream Day back in 1984. President Reagan felt that ice cream was fun, nutritious and that the citizens of our country should celebrate “with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Chocolate, vanilla, rocky road or any number of others, there are few who don’t love ice cream. And what’s not to love? Full of smooth, sweet, cold goodness in any variety that occurs, ice cream has become an American staple and a favorite treat around the world.
In The Beginning
Ice houses and different forms of chilled food may have been in existence since the time of Mesopotamia some 4,000 years ago, possibly along the Euphrates River where they kept their food chilled. Greeks sold snow cone-like products in the fifth century, which were mixed with ice and honey and fruit. Persians were able to have chilled desserts far into the summer months after they figured out how to store their ice in a device called a yakhchal. In 400 BC, Persians invented a pudding-like dish called Fuloodeh that contained ice, fruit, saffron, rose water, lemons and a kind of vermicelli. Served to royalty in summers, this treat still is served in modern-day Iran in much larger circles.
During the mid 1500’s in Italy, Emperor Nero would frequently send slaves to collect snow from the mountains, which was then flavored with fruit juice and honey. Marco Polo traveled to the Far East in the 1600’s and returned to Italy with a recipe similar to that of sherbet. The Italians shared their frozen desserts with France in the 1500’s once Catherine de Medici married Henry II of France. Charles I of England was being served a cold dessert they called “cream ice” during the 17th century. For Europeans, ice cream was the dessert for the elite until it was made for public consumption in 1660 when a Sicilian man named Procopio began serving the recipe that included milk, cream, butter and eggs at his café in Paris.
Finally, A Recipe
The first known recipe for ice cream was printed in “Mrs. Mary Eales’ Receipts” in 1718, and contained very complicated instructions on how to assemble the ingredients in multiple pots, surrounding them with many buckets of ice and salt. Her recipe must have produced very lumpy ice cream, full of ice chunks, as there were no instructions for stirring. The basic idea of producing ice cream would remain the same until the advent of the freezer in the 20th century, which kept ice cream from becoming anything other than a novelty until then.
Ice cream’s introduction to the United States started with the elite as well in the 1700’s. Maryland Governor William Bladen was said to have served an ice cream and strawberry dessert at a dinner party he hosted. President George Washington reportedly had a rather outrageous appetite for ice cream and spent nearly $200 on the sweet treat in the summer of 1790 alone. Other presidents followed the tradition including President Thomas Jefferson who enjoyed a rather elaborate recipe for a dessert that included vanilla ice cream made similar to baked Alaska. President Madison enjoyed Dolly Madison’s strawberry ice cream dessert at his inaugural dinner in 1812.
No longer for an elite few
Once ice houses were invented in the early 1800’s, ice cream could begin its rise in popularity among ordinary citizens. The first ice cream factory was converted from a milk plant by Jacob Fussell in 1851 in Baltimore.
Soon, technological advances make the manufacture of ice cream more and more efficient. Homogenization, electrical power, automated packing and freezing equipment have allowed the production of nearly 2 billion gallons of ice cream per year today.
By the late 1800’s, the soda fountain shop popped up and led to the budding career of the “soda jerk.” The ice cream soda was invented in 1874 by Robert Green when he combined carbonated water, syrup and ice cream. Soda fountains were a popular gathering place at drug stores throughout the country where the carbonated mineral water became popular and was thought to have medicinal qualities.
Once grocery stores and supermarkets began to stock manufactured ice cream starting in the 1940’s, the traditional ice cream parlors lost popularity for a few decades. However, like the coffee shop, ice cream parlors and shops can now be found in most any city in the U.S., both large and small. Apparently, loading the family in the car and heading for the local ice cream parlor is still an American pastime, if only to trade the station wagon for an SUV.
A Bit More History
- The first ice cream parlor opened in New York City in 1776.
- In the U.S., the ice cream cone first became popular at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. A New York City ice cream vendor reportedly invented the cone a few years prior to the fair in order to keep customers from stealing his ice cream serving dishes.
- Tom Carvel was credited with inventing the machine that produces soft-serve ice cream. The Home Made Ice Cream Company, known today as Dairy Queen was the first in line for that invention.
- Nancy Johnson invented the hand cranked ice cream maker in 1843, allowing home production of ice cream.
- Ice cream bars were created in the 1920’s.
- In the 1920’s, immigrants were given ice cream at Ellis Island as a “typical” American treat. Many thought it was frozen butter and tried to spread it on bread!
- Due to criticism from religious zealots for eating these “sinful” desserts on Sundays, the ice cream sundae was invented by simply leaving out the carbonated soda from the traditional ice cream soda. Eventually, the spelling was changed from Sunday to sundae in order to sever all ties with the religious connotation of Sunday.
What We Consume
The IDFA (International Dairy Foods Association) reports that ice cream accounts for nearly $23 billion in annual sales and that 9% of all milk produced here in the U.S. goes to make ice cream.
A full 90% of the population are said to be ice cream consumers today. The average ice cream enthusiast consumes 17 pounds of regular ice cream and 7 pounds of low fat ice cream per year.
Begging for world records
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest ice cream sundae came to a whopping 55,000 pounds and was made in Alberta, Canada in 1988.
• The world’s largest ice cream sandwich topped out at 2,500 pounds in Iowa, also in 1988.
• Not to be outdone, Baskin-Robbins created a 9,000-pound ice cream cake in 1999.
And The Winner Is
You say vanilla and chocolate aren’t adventurous enough for you? Well, how about dill pickle, jalapeno, eggnog, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, octopus, spinach, onion, fried pork rind, chunky bacon or bay leaf ice cream? Seems that just about everything has been added to ice cream depending on what part of the world you live in.
Unusual flavors aside, the 10 most popular ice cream flavors are:
1. Vanilla
2. Chocolate
3. Butter pecan
4. Strawberry
5. Neapolitan
6. Chocolate chip
7. French vanilla
8. Cookies and cream
9. Vanilla fudge ripple
10. Praline pecan
So, as the saying goes…”I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!”
Issue 402
SNIPPETZ TAKES A SHOT AT PHOTOGRAPHY
“While I have always worked with fairly conventional means and techniques, I anticipate new departures which, if I cannot examine them in my lifetime, will assure the power of future vision and accomplishment.”
-Ansel Adams, Photographer, 1976
It’s hard to imagine life without photographs. Before the 1820’s we had to rely on the written word as well as other forms of art to relay history from generation to generation. But, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Most of us take for granted the ability to document our vacations, our lives, our growing children and many other day-to-day activities with the camera. We’ve gone from pinpoint cameras to metal plates to film to digital. Even our cell phones take photos! That brings many of us to the level of historian whether we meant to be or not.
Starting Somewhere
As early as the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., pinpoint cameras or obscura boxes were described which utilized the process of projecting an image onto a surface by using a box with a pinhole in a dark room. The images were then traced. Although this was not real photography by the standards that used chemical processes that eventually came into play, it was still a form of recording an image.
Several discoveries had to be made in order for chemical photography to be invented:
Take a few giant leaps forward to 1825 when French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce produced the first known permanent photograph. He used a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea (a petroleum derivative). The bitumen hardens once exposed to light and the material that is unhardened is washed away. The remaining metal plate has a negative image which is polished and then coated with ink and impressed on paper.
Early Polaroids
Niepce and Louis Daguerre worked together to improve the silver process. After Niepce’s death in 1833, Daguerre discovered a process that involved exposing the silver to iodine vapor before light and then to mercury fumes once the photograph was taken. The plate would then be subjected to a salt bath which then fixes the latent image. He coined the term daguerreotype to describe the process of using silver on a copper plate, a process similar to polaroids of today.
Simultaneously, Hercules Florence, a French/Brazilian inventor and painter developed a similar process which he called “Photographie.”
In 1926, a Harvard freshman, Edwin Land left Harvard to pursue research in polarization. The synthetic polarizer that he invented could selectively screen light waves, blocking those that caused glare. Land produced his polarizing sheets with the aid of George Wheelright III, a Harvard physics professor. They were granted a patent in 1934 and began work to develop their polarizing sheets for car headlights and windshields. Eastman Kodak ordered their photographic polarizing filters or plates which were two glass discs that formed a seal around the polarizing sheets. These plates decreased the glare and increased the contrast for photos taken in bright light environments. Professor Clarence Kennedy of Smith College, a friend of Land and Wheelright, suggested the name “Polaroid” and it stuck.
Some Kodak Moments
From the early 1800’s to the digital age, numerous inventions and changes took place at a rapid pace. Here are a few key inventions:
Say It With Color
Even though color photography was being explored in the 1800’s during the explosion of black and white discoveries, it wasn’t until 1935 that Kodak introduced color film for public sale. However, this was for use in a slide viewer. It took several more years until 1942 when color images could be printed on paper.
What Would They Think Of Next?
Why, digital, of course!
These new “digicams” range in size from large to tiny and can do just about anything including taking still pictures and video. The technology comes in standalone products such as cameras, as well as incorporated into cell phones, PDAs and space telescopes. Makes you wonder who’s taking your picture at any moment of the day.
You Press the Button and You Also Do The Rest
The options for processing those digital photos are numerous – send it directly to a printer, download into your computer and print, email or bring your disc of your photos to the developer for printing – the options are numerous and easy.
And so are the options to enhance and modify photos. Red eye? No problem! Many software packages help repair that and any other perceived “flaw” in the photos. The popular software package, PhotoShop lets the amateur do amazing things with digital photos. Fixing old photos are no longer a problem. They can be easily scanned into the computer to have that old yellow tint removed.
Big Picture Names
Big Camera
Bill Gates (Microsoft) and former colleague Charles Simonyi contributed $10 million and $20 million respectively toward the development of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) that will sit atop a peak in the Andes above Chile. This is a combination public-private venture anticipated to be in full operation by 2016. Considered likely the largest camera on earth, it can take at least 800 panoramic images each night and cover the entire skyline twice each week, creating a 3D map of the universe and sending valuable information back to scientists around the world.
SNIPPETZ TAKES A SHOT AT PHOTOGRAPHY
“While I have always worked with fairly conventional means and techniques, I anticipate new departures which, if I cannot examine them in my lifetime, will assure the power of future vision and accomplishment.”
-Ansel Adams, Photographer, 1976
It’s hard to imagine life without photographs. Before the 1820’s we had to rely on the written word as well as other forms of art to relay history from generation to generation. But, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Most of us take for granted the ability to document our vacations, our lives, our growing children and many other day-to-day activities with the camera. We’ve gone from pinpoint cameras to metal plates to film to digital. Even our cell phones take photos! That brings many of us to the level of historian whether we meant to be or not.
Starting Somewhere
As early as the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., pinpoint cameras or obscura boxes were described which utilized the process of projecting an image onto a surface by using a box with a pinhole in a dark room. The images were then traced. Although this was not real photography by the standards that used chemical processes that eventually came into play, it was still a form of recording an image.
Several discoveries had to be made in order for chemical photography to be invented:
- Albertus Magnus (1139-1238) discovered silver nitrate
- Georges Fabricius (1516-1571) discovered silver chloride
- In 1694 Wilhelm Homberg describes the photochemical effect (light darkening some chemicals)
Take a few giant leaps forward to 1825 when French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce produced the first known permanent photograph. He used a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea (a petroleum derivative). The bitumen hardens once exposed to light and the material that is unhardened is washed away. The remaining metal plate has a negative image which is polished and then coated with ink and impressed on paper.
Early Polaroids
Niepce and Louis Daguerre worked together to improve the silver process. After Niepce’s death in 1833, Daguerre discovered a process that involved exposing the silver to iodine vapor before light and then to mercury fumes once the photograph was taken. The plate would then be subjected to a salt bath which then fixes the latent image. He coined the term daguerreotype to describe the process of using silver on a copper plate, a process similar to polaroids of today.
Simultaneously, Hercules Florence, a French/Brazilian inventor and painter developed a similar process which he called “Photographie.”
In 1926, a Harvard freshman, Edwin Land left Harvard to pursue research in polarization. The synthetic polarizer that he invented could selectively screen light waves, blocking those that caused glare. Land produced his polarizing sheets with the aid of George Wheelright III, a Harvard physics professor. They were granted a patent in 1934 and began work to develop their polarizing sheets for car headlights and windshields. Eastman Kodak ordered their photographic polarizing filters or plates which were two glass discs that formed a seal around the polarizing sheets. These plates decreased the glare and increased the contrast for photos taken in bright light environments. Professor Clarence Kennedy of Smith College, a friend of Land and Wheelright, suggested the name “Polaroid” and it stuck.
Some Kodak Moments
From the early 1800’s to the digital age, numerous inventions and changes took place at a rapid pace. Here are a few key inventions:
- Fox Talbot invented the calotype process around 1835, which used a negative allowing for multiple copies of photos, albeit not the same quality as the daguerreotypes.
- Eventually, George Eastman takes Talbot’s negative process and develops dry gel on paper or film in 1884, eliminating the need to carry around plates and chemicals. This is the basis for photographic reproduction still done today.
- Eastman’s “Kodak” camera hit the streets in 1888 for the general public. Their slogan: “You press the button, we do the rest.” It wasn’t mass marketed until 1901 when they introduced the Kodak Brownie. Many probably still have these tucked away in a hall closet and it likely still works, but finding film for it could be nearly impossible.
Say It With Color
Even though color photography was being explored in the 1800’s during the explosion of black and white discoveries, it wasn’t until 1935 that Kodak introduced color film for public sale. However, this was for use in a slide viewer. It took several more years until 1942 when color images could be printed on paper.
What Would They Think Of Next?
Why, digital, of course!
- In 1969 George E. Smith and Willard Boyle of AT&T’s Bell Labs invented the charge-coupled device (CCD) while developing the “Picturephone.” They were also working on the semiconductor bubble memory concept. They put these two inventions together to come up with “Charge Bubble Devices” which transfer a charge along the surface of the semiconductor chip.
- In 1973, Fairchild Semiconductor introduced the first large image forming CCD chip, followed by Kodak’s Bruce Bayer who invented the Bayer filter, a mosaic pattern used for CCD color image sensors.
- In 1986, Kodak again was in the forefront of photographic discoveries with its development of the first megapixel sensor.
These new “digicams” range in size from large to tiny and can do just about anything including taking still pictures and video. The technology comes in standalone products such as cameras, as well as incorporated into cell phones, PDAs and space telescopes. Makes you wonder who’s taking your picture at any moment of the day.
You Press the Button and You Also Do The Rest
The options for processing those digital photos are numerous – send it directly to a printer, download into your computer and print, email or bring your disc of your photos to the developer for printing – the options are numerous and easy.
And so are the options to enhance and modify photos. Red eye? No problem! Many software packages help repair that and any other perceived “flaw” in the photos. The popular software package, PhotoShop lets the amateur do amazing things with digital photos. Fixing old photos are no longer a problem. They can be easily scanned into the computer to have that old yellow tint removed.
Big Picture Names
- Minolta started off as Molta in 1928 and changed in 1962 to its current name which stands for Mechanical INstruments and OpticaL by TAshima, a collaboration of the Japanese-German Camera Company.
- Canon was originally “Kwanon,” from the Buddhist god of mercy. This name only lasted for one year from 1934 to 1935 when it was changed to its current name in order to avoid offending any religious factions.
- Fuji cameras were named after Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan.
- Konica began making cameras in the 1940’s. Prior to this, the company was called Konishiroku Kogaku and was a manufacturer of lithographic and photographic materials for nearly two centuries.
Big Camera
Bill Gates (Microsoft) and former colleague Charles Simonyi contributed $10 million and $20 million respectively toward the development of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) that will sit atop a peak in the Andes above Chile. This is a combination public-private venture anticipated to be in full operation by 2016. Considered likely the largest camera on earth, it can take at least 800 panoramic images each night and cover the entire skyline twice each week, creating a 3D map of the universe and sending valuable information back to scientists around the world.
Issue 401
SNIPPETZ ENGAGES IN RISKY BEHAVIOR: RUNNING OF THE BULLS
“Bullfight critics row on row crowd the enormous plaza de toros, but only one is there who knows, and he's the one who fights the bull.”
-Robert Graves
Throughout the ages mothers around the world have cautioned their children not to run with basically anything. For some unknown reason ‘running with,’ or, ‘run’ has always had a negative connotation. For example, she (Mom) might say, “running with scissors is dangerous,” or, “you’re running with the wrong crowd,” “you’re running on empty,” “don’t run away,” and let’s not forget the old standby, “don’t come running to me. . .” However, some time around 1591 Spanish mothers may have added to their “don’t run with” list, don’t run with the bulls.
How It All Began
This long held tradition began in the late 1500’s and started as just another task to prepare for the bullfight held each year during the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. The idea was to transport or herd the bulls from an off-site corral to the bullring. The true beginnings are unclear. It has been reported that when the bulls were released from their enclosure, children began taunting them. The kids would run ahead of the herd as a show of bravery. At a later date, the butchers’ guild, the group responsible for buying the bulls, began to join in with the drovers (animal movers) and chase behind the bulls and heifers up to the bullring from Santo Domingo Street, the starting point of the run.
As time passed, the tradition of running with the bulls evolved from running behind them to running in front, which continues today. Up to hundreds of participants test their metal, so to speak, by running through the narrow slippery cobblestone streets of Pamplona ahead of a herd of a half dozen less than happy bulls each with an average weight of 1500 pounds.
You Mean There are Rules?
Participants have to follow certain requirements to do “The Run.” Running with the bulls is dangerous, and every year there are at least 200 injuries. Although most are bumps and bruises, this is an activity not to be taken lightly. Since 1924, 14 people have died and over 200 seriously injured running with the bulls in Pamplona Spain, which precipitated the official warning from the Pamplona Town Council:
“As well as being the best known act of the Sanfermines, the Bull Run is also the most dangerous. In order to ensure that the run goes off successfully and to avoid danger, it is advised that the spectators and runners bear in mind certain minimal rules, which guarantee the normal running of the Bull Run.
For this reason it is expressly forbidden:
Dress Code
A few more requirements, although not strictly enforced:
The event!
The first “Run” starts after daybreak on July 7 each year. The runners gather a short distance from the bull pin, and as the bulls are released a rocket is set off. A second rocket is then shot off to alert the runners that the bulls are on their way down the street. The bulls run along the narrow street 825 meters (half a mile) to a bullring. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to get as close as possible, all while trying to avoid being gored by their sharp horns.
A group of cows or oxen with bells around their necks are released behind the bulls to collect any stragglers and keep them with the group.
The cobblestone streets are slippery. So slippery that recently a non slip agent has been used to add traction and reduce injury to both animal and human.
It’s All In Technique
The best time tested technique for the run is to start off slowly while the bulls are still some distance behind. As the herd draws closer, it is advised to run as fast as possible. The idea is to get as close to the sharp horns and hot breath of the beasts and then get out of the way as quickly as possible. Barriers erected along the path are designed with gaps large enough for a human to slip between, yet too small for a bull to get through. These barriers are sometimes the difference between going home and going to the hospital with critical or life threatening injuries.
Only a few of the most brave or lucky actually complete the whole circuit and enter the destination, the bullring, ahead of the bulls and unscathed. When the bulls reach their destination, the runners are advised to move to the outer wall of the bullring and let the professional handlers herd them into the holding pen.
If You Just Have To Be There
Ernest Hemingway first popularized this age-old tradition in his 1926 novel, “The Sun Also Rises." He told the world about the Pamplona bull running festival, which attracted people from all over the world to this annual event. It continues to draw huge crowds. The runs in Pamplona Spain start on July 7 and go until the July 14. So, whether you want to watch or be a daring participant, the annual “Running of the Bulls” is a time-honored, adrenaline pumping experience. And if you can’t get there, there’s always You Tube.
SNIPPETZ ENGAGES IN RISKY BEHAVIOR: RUNNING OF THE BULLS
“Bullfight critics row on row crowd the enormous plaza de toros, but only one is there who knows, and he's the one who fights the bull.”
-Robert Graves
Throughout the ages mothers around the world have cautioned their children not to run with basically anything. For some unknown reason ‘running with,’ or, ‘run’ has always had a negative connotation. For example, she (Mom) might say, “running with scissors is dangerous,” or, “you’re running with the wrong crowd,” “you’re running on empty,” “don’t run away,” and let’s not forget the old standby, “don’t come running to me. . .” However, some time around 1591 Spanish mothers may have added to their “don’t run with” list, don’t run with the bulls.
How It All Began
This long held tradition began in the late 1500’s and started as just another task to prepare for the bullfight held each year during the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. The idea was to transport or herd the bulls from an off-site corral to the bullring. The true beginnings are unclear. It has been reported that when the bulls were released from their enclosure, children began taunting them. The kids would run ahead of the herd as a show of bravery. At a later date, the butchers’ guild, the group responsible for buying the bulls, began to join in with the drovers (animal movers) and chase behind the bulls and heifers up to the bullring from Santo Domingo Street, the starting point of the run.
As time passed, the tradition of running with the bulls evolved from running behind them to running in front, which continues today. Up to hundreds of participants test their metal, so to speak, by running through the narrow slippery cobblestone streets of Pamplona ahead of a herd of a half dozen less than happy bulls each with an average weight of 1500 pounds.
You Mean There are Rules?
Participants have to follow certain requirements to do “The Run.” Running with the bulls is dangerous, and every year there are at least 200 injuries. Although most are bumps and bruises, this is an activity not to be taken lightly. Since 1924, 14 people have died and over 200 seriously injured running with the bulls in Pamplona Spain, which precipitated the official warning from the Pamplona Town Council:
“As well as being the best known act of the Sanfermines, the Bull Run is also the most dangerous. In order to ensure that the run goes off successfully and to avoid danger, it is advised that the spectators and runners bear in mind certain minimal rules, which guarantee the normal running of the Bull Run.
For this reason it is expressly forbidden:
- To admit anyone under the age of 18 into the course as minors are totally prohibited from running or participating.
- To go over the police barriers which the authorities see fit to erect.
- To place oneself in the zones and areas of the itinerary which are expressly indicated by the agents of the authorities.
- To hide oneself before the release of the bulls in corners, dead angles or doorways of houses or establishments located throughout the length of the course.
- To leave open the doors of the houses along the course, the owners or tenants of the said property being responsible for this.
- To enter into the route in a state of drunkenness, under the effects of drugs or in any inappropriate state.
- To carry objects which may impede the correct running of the Bull Run.
- To wear clothes or shoes which are not appropriate for the run.
- Call the animals or distract them in any way and for whatever reason in the course or during the rounding up in the bullring.
- To stop in the Bull Run or station oneself on the walls or barriers or in the doorways in such a way as to impede the run or the defense of the runners.
- To grab onto, harass or mistreat the animals or obstruct their exit enclosure by any action during the amateur bullfight.
- To take photographs from the streets, walls or barriers without due authorization.
- Any other action which may impede the normal running of the Bull Run.”
Dress Code
A few more requirements, although not strictly enforced:
- Runners should dress in white clothing with a black or red sash or belt.
- A red bandana should be worn or a red cloth should be carried to wave at the bulls.
- It is also suggested that runners carry a copy of the current edition of the local newspaper.
The event!
The first “Run” starts after daybreak on July 7 each year. The runners gather a short distance from the bull pin, and as the bulls are released a rocket is set off. A second rocket is then shot off to alert the runners that the bulls are on their way down the street. The bulls run along the narrow street 825 meters (half a mile) to a bullring. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to get as close as possible, all while trying to avoid being gored by their sharp horns.
A group of cows or oxen with bells around their necks are released behind the bulls to collect any stragglers and keep them with the group.
The cobblestone streets are slippery. So slippery that recently a non slip agent has been used to add traction and reduce injury to both animal and human.
It’s All In Technique
The best time tested technique for the run is to start off slowly while the bulls are still some distance behind. As the herd draws closer, it is advised to run as fast as possible. The idea is to get as close to the sharp horns and hot breath of the beasts and then get out of the way as quickly as possible. Barriers erected along the path are designed with gaps large enough for a human to slip between, yet too small for a bull to get through. These barriers are sometimes the difference between going home and going to the hospital with critical or life threatening injuries.
Only a few of the most brave or lucky actually complete the whole circuit and enter the destination, the bullring, ahead of the bulls and unscathed. When the bulls reach their destination, the runners are advised to move to the outer wall of the bullring and let the professional handlers herd them into the holding pen.
If You Just Have To Be There
Ernest Hemingway first popularized this age-old tradition in his 1926 novel, “The Sun Also Rises." He told the world about the Pamplona bull running festival, which attracted people from all over the world to this annual event. It continues to draw huge crowds. The runs in Pamplona Spain start on July 7 and go until the July 14. So, whether you want to watch or be a daring participant, the annual “Running of the Bulls” is a time-honored, adrenaline pumping experience. And if you can’t get there, there’s always You Tube.
Issue 400
SNIPPETZ CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. “
-Erma Bombeck
If you live in or near the Tri-Lakes area, you already know that nothing says 4th of July like a Tri-Lakes Festival! We know how to celebrate – from the Monument Parade with over 100 entries every year to the Palmer Lake Fireworks Show – people come from miles around to participate in “The Best Small Town Celebration in America.”
John Adams, our second president and an author of the Declaration of Independence, said in a letter to his wife about the 4th of July: “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
And that we do.
Declaring It So
The 4th of July, or Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on that date in 1776. However, it took until August to complete the signing of the Declaration. It was two days earlier on July 2, 1776 that Congress declared its independence from England as the British fleet arrived in New York.
The first celebration was held on July 8, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly with bands playing and city bells ringing in Philadelphia.
Although the holiday had been celebrated in many places once the war ended in 1783, it didn’t become a federal holiday until 1941.
Mom and Apple Pie
One of the many popular activities surrounding the holiday is eating, and preferably outdoors. Depending on where you live, it may include hot dogs and hamburgers, apple pie, coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, ice cream and even clam bakes.
If you’re not celebrating at home, there is always the Monument street fair that takes place after the parade in which one can partake in turkey legs, barbeque pork sandwiches, funnel cakes, fried catfish and more. And don’t forget the ice cream at The Rock House in Palmer Lake – a tradition for many at any time of the day or at night - before, during or after the fireworks.
Looking for something from the 1700’s to make? Try one of George Washington’s favorites – Cranberry Pudding. It’s printed in the Mount Vernon Cookbook and looks easy if you have a rice steamer. Just take 2 beaten eggs and combine with 2 tablespoons sugar, a pinch of salt and 1/2 cup of molasses. In a separate bowl, put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1/3 cup of boiling water and then add it to the egg mixture. Stir in 1½ cups sifted flour and 1½ cups halved cranberries. Steam in a buttered rice steamer for approximately 1½ hours. Serve warm with a cooked sauce made of 2 sticks butter, 2 cups sugar and 1 cup half and half. (No wonder George Washington liked it – who wouldn’t?)
Fireworks
The U.S. imports over $217 million in fireworks, most of which comes from China. We produce over $17 million worth of fireworks of which Japan purchases close to $4 million of it.
No need to leave the country to see any fireworks. Palmer Lake boasts one of the best fireworks displays in the state. Ask just about anyone and they’ll tell you that watching the fireworks is their favorite part of the entire holiday. The fireworks display is entirely dependent upon private donations and fundraisers that take place year round to pay the nearly $30,000 annual expense.
Flags
The presence of the U.S. flag probably stirs more patriotic emotions for U.S. citizens than any other symbol. The red, white and blue flag was carefully designed with 13 stripes (6 white and 7 red), which symbolize the 13 original colonies, and 50 white stars on a navy blue background which represent the 50 states.
Betsy Ross is credited with being the first American flag maker. The flag flies over her grave permanently in Philadelphia; however, it was once stolen in 1961.
The majority of American flags are made in China. And for American flags made in America, Mexico purchases half of what we produce.
Remember The Enemy?
Revolutions aside, we trade over $112 billion in business with England every year, making the Brits our sixth leading trading partner behind Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany, in that order.
Patriotic Cities
Many towns and cities across the U.S. have patriotic names:
Patriotic Songs
Patriotic songs and hymns are not just limited to “America the Beautiful,” the “Star Spangled Banner,” or Battle Hymn of the Republic, but some have also come from movies, theatre, television and the military. Remember any of these?
Uncle Sam Wants You!
It was during the War of 1812 that the term Uncle Sam became a popular national symbol. It began with the initials US which was stamped on an army supply container. The containers of food came from a company run by a man named Sam Wilson who was called Uncle Sam by his family and friends. Any barrel of meat he packed or inspected had the stamp “U. States” on it, which eventually was shortened even more to US. The US eventually became known as Uncle Sam and soldiers began to call themselves Uncle Sam’s Army. In 1861, Congress adopted Uncle Sam as an official symbol. The most memorable portrayal was during the World War I when the Army recruitment poster, designed by artist James Montgomery Flagg, depicted Uncle Sam pointing directly at you with the saying “I Want You.”
Notable 4th’s
More Fourth Facts
SNIPPETZ CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. “
-Erma Bombeck
If you live in or near the Tri-Lakes area, you already know that nothing says 4th of July like a Tri-Lakes Festival! We know how to celebrate – from the Monument Parade with over 100 entries every year to the Palmer Lake Fireworks Show – people come from miles around to participate in “The Best Small Town Celebration in America.”
John Adams, our second president and an author of the Declaration of Independence, said in a letter to his wife about the 4th of July: “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
And that we do.
Declaring It So
The 4th of July, or Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on that date in 1776. However, it took until August to complete the signing of the Declaration. It was two days earlier on July 2, 1776 that Congress declared its independence from England as the British fleet arrived in New York.
The first celebration was held on July 8, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly with bands playing and city bells ringing in Philadelphia.
Although the holiday had been celebrated in many places once the war ended in 1783, it didn’t become a federal holiday until 1941.
Mom and Apple Pie
One of the many popular activities surrounding the holiday is eating, and preferably outdoors. Depending on where you live, it may include hot dogs and hamburgers, apple pie, coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, ice cream and even clam bakes.
If you’re not celebrating at home, there is always the Monument street fair that takes place after the parade in which one can partake in turkey legs, barbeque pork sandwiches, funnel cakes, fried catfish and more. And don’t forget the ice cream at The Rock House in Palmer Lake – a tradition for many at any time of the day or at night - before, during or after the fireworks.
Looking for something from the 1700’s to make? Try one of George Washington’s favorites – Cranberry Pudding. It’s printed in the Mount Vernon Cookbook and looks easy if you have a rice steamer. Just take 2 beaten eggs and combine with 2 tablespoons sugar, a pinch of salt and 1/2 cup of molasses. In a separate bowl, put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1/3 cup of boiling water and then add it to the egg mixture. Stir in 1½ cups sifted flour and 1½ cups halved cranberries. Steam in a buttered rice steamer for approximately 1½ hours. Serve warm with a cooked sauce made of 2 sticks butter, 2 cups sugar and 1 cup half and half. (No wonder George Washington liked it – who wouldn’t?)
Fireworks
The U.S. imports over $217 million in fireworks, most of which comes from China. We produce over $17 million worth of fireworks of which Japan purchases close to $4 million of it.
No need to leave the country to see any fireworks. Palmer Lake boasts one of the best fireworks displays in the state. Ask just about anyone and they’ll tell you that watching the fireworks is their favorite part of the entire holiday. The fireworks display is entirely dependent upon private donations and fundraisers that take place year round to pay the nearly $30,000 annual expense.
Flags
The presence of the U.S. flag probably stirs more patriotic emotions for U.S. citizens than any other symbol. The red, white and blue flag was carefully designed with 13 stripes (6 white and 7 red), which symbolize the 13 original colonies, and 50 white stars on a navy blue background which represent the 50 states.
Betsy Ross is credited with being the first American flag maker. The flag flies over her grave permanently in Philadelphia; however, it was once stolen in 1961.
The majority of American flags are made in China. And for American flags made in America, Mexico purchases half of what we produce.
Remember The Enemy?
Revolutions aside, we trade over $112 billion in business with England every year, making the Brits our sixth leading trading partner behind Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany, in that order.
Patriotic Cities
Many towns and cities across the U.S. have patriotic names:
- There are 31 called Eagle, including Eagle, Colo., named after our national symbol.
- Twelve are called or have Independence in their names – we have Independence Pass in Colorado.
- Nine are named Freedom, the largest of which is in Calif. with a population of about 6,000.
- Five are called America.
- Thirty-one have Liberty in their name.
- Only one city in Indiana sports the name Patriot with a population of just over 190.
Patriotic Songs
Patriotic songs and hymns are not just limited to “America the Beautiful,” the “Star Spangled Banner,” or Battle Hymn of the Republic, but some have also come from movies, theatre, television and the military. Remember any of these?
- My Country 'Tis of Thee
- Yankee Doodle
- Anchors Aweigh
- The Army Goes Rolling Along
- Columbia the Gem of the Ocean
- God Bless America
- Hail Columbia
- Hail to the Chief
- I'll Be Home for Christmas
- Library of Congress March
- Marine Corps Hymn
- Over There
- Stars and Stripes Forever
- This Land is Your Land
- This is My Country
- U.S. Air Force Song
- Victory at Sea
- When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
- You're a Grand Old Flag
Uncle Sam Wants You!
It was during the War of 1812 that the term Uncle Sam became a popular national symbol. It began with the initials US which was stamped on an army supply container. The containers of food came from a company run by a man named Sam Wilson who was called Uncle Sam by his family and friends. Any barrel of meat he packed or inspected had the stamp “U. States” on it, which eventually was shortened even more to US. The US eventually became known as Uncle Sam and soldiers began to call themselves Uncle Sam’s Army. In 1861, Congress adopted Uncle Sam as an official symbol. The most memorable portrayal was during the World War I when the Army recruitment poster, designed by artist James Montgomery Flagg, depicted Uncle Sam pointing directly at you with the saying “I Want You.”
Notable 4th’s
- 1778 - George Washington issues his army a double allowance of rum, orders them to put green boughs in their hats and salutes the 4th of July with artillery fire.
- 1800 – The first advertisements for fireworks show up in New York City.
- 1801 – First public 4th of July reception at the White House.
- 1804 – The explorers Lewis and Clark started the first 4th of July celebration west of the Mississippi at Independence Creek, Idaho.
- 1825 – President John Q. Adams marches in a parade from the Capitol to the White house.
- 1832 – New York suffers from a cholera epidemic and celebrates the 4th quietly.
- 1835 – The last survivor of the Boston Tea Party, George Robert Twelves Hewes, is honored.
- 1880 – The first ever daytime fireworks display in the country takes place at Wodward’s Gardens in San Francisco.
- 1881 – Prayers are held in lieu of celebration due to the shooting of President Garfield. Fireworks were also banned in Washington, D.C. for the same reason.
- 1884 – The formal presentation of the Statue of Liberty takes place in Paris. The statue was a gift to the U.S. from Paris.
- 1912 – The newest flag with 48 states is unveiled.
- 1942 – Fireworks are canceled in major cities due to war blackouts.
- 1959 – The American flag now has 49 stars once Alaska achieves statehood; one year later it has 50 stars when Hawaii is granted statehood.
- 1981 – President Ronald Reagan watches the fireworks on the Mall in Washington, D.C. after being released from George Washington Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.
- 1992 – The Navy unveils its new aircraft carrier, USS George Washington. Seven Columbia space shuttle astronauts chant “Happy Birthday America” from space. In 2001, astronauts send similar wishes from the space station.
- 2002 – After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, the 4th of July is celebrated across the country with renewed vigor and pride, albeit with much increased security for citizens.
More Fourth Facts
- Calvin Coolidge was the only U.S. president born on the 4th of July. Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died coincidentally on July 4, 1826; James Monroe in 1831.
- The population of the original 13 colonies in 1776 was about 2.5 million. Today, the U.S. population is over 300 million.
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
- Congress first conducted business within the guidelines of the Constitution on April 6, 1789. It was this day that George Washington was unanimously elected as the nation’s first president.
