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Issue 460
SNIPPETZ LOVES BARGAIN HUNTING by Deborah Stumpf 
One Man’s “Trash” is Another Man’s Treasure.
A ceramic kangaroo from the movie “Pulp Fiction” for $8, a half-carat diamond in a 14K leaf-shaped broach for $1, a sterling silver bowl for nothing – what do these items have in common? They were all found at thrift stores. Not exactly one man’s “trash.” The above-mentioned gems are rare finds, but thrift stores, resale shops and consignment stores offer the savvy shopper a smorgasbord of people’s throwaways, from vintage clothing to antique furniture to bicycles. A Heyday Driven by a downbeat economy, thrift stores are looking good, even to some people once too snooty to be seen shopping for “leftovers.” The economic disaster of the 21st century has affected bottom lines nationwide and humbled many. Members of the National Association of Resellers and Thrift Shops reported increases in sales in 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, 71.4 percent of resellers’ sales increased. Many realized an increase in inventory as well – 62.4 percent. The entire industry is seeing a 5 percent increase in stores each year. All for Charity Although it’s not set in stone, the resale industry divides itself into three categories: the resale shop, the thrift shop and the consignment shop. Thrift shops are usually run by nonprofit organizations to raise money to fund their causes. Many are run independently of the organization and most operate through donations. Thrift stores benefit the shopper and the cause. The Salvation Army has had thrift stores for more than 100 years. Founder Gen. William Booth created the Household Salvage Brigade, a group of people designated to collect unwanted household items. Booth was a visionary for the recycling industry. “We all know what a number of articles there are which are not quite bad enough to be thrown into the dust head, and yet are no good to us,” Booth said. There are more than 2,300 independently owned and operated Goodwill stores in the United States and Canada. Goodwill Industries reported that annual revenue from those stores is more than $2 billion. The majority of Goodwill stores introduce more than 2,000 items every day to their inventory. Some of the Goodwill stores operate high-end boutiques and specialty stores that feature designer clothes, jewelry, etc. And Goodwill Industries operates an online auction-based shopping opportunity, much like E-bay: www.shopgoodwill.com. St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic-run charity, opened its first thrift store in 1958. As of June 2009, the organization operated 421 thrift stores in the U.S. In 2008, store revenues were more than $97 million. Another high-profile organization that focuses on thrift shops is Arc. The National Arc of the U.S. was founded in 1950 to advocate for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. The Arc has a large presence in Colorado, with 11 chapters and 18 thrift stores. Habitat for Humanity; hospice, church and pet rescue organizations are examples of other groups that establish thrift stores to advance their causes. Consignment & Resale Shops People who bring their wares to consignment or buy-sell (resale) trade stores are paid in two ways. Most of the shops will price an item at about one-third of its retail value and give a percentage – anywhere from 25 to 50 percent – to the original owner. Other stores give cash or store credit upfront. Regardless of the method, one thing is required: the items must be in excellent condition. For Profit Resale is big business in the U.S. According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, the industry has grown 7 percent a year in the last two. Including for-profit and nonprofit, more than 30,000 resale, consignment or thrift shops currently exist nationwide. The Buffalo Exchange thrift store chain has been featured in magazines like “Women’s Day.” The owners started with a 450-square-foot shop in 1974, and today they can boast 39 stores in 14 states, generating $60.5 million in 2009. Crossroads Trading Co. operates 25 stores nationwide and earned more than $20 million. Considering there are thousands of single-location shops, hundreds of chain thrift shops, franchises and nonprofit thrift stores, the industry is gaining ground. Many of the consignment and resale stores partner with nonprofit organizations, purchasing part or their entire inventory from their thrift shops. The Shopper About 18 percent of Americans shop at thrift stores each year; 12 to 15 percent purchase at consignment shops. In comparison, 11.4 percent of Americans shop in factory outlet malls, 19.6 percent in apparel stores and 21.3 percent in department stores. Retail stores are going with the flow in today’s world and clumping together in certain areas for the convenience of the shopper – thrift store junkies just can’t resist checking them all out. There is no particular profile of the thrift store shopper; it’s all about saving money and the opportunity to buy quality items for lower prices. Many shoppers talk about the “thrill” of finding a “treasure” for 80 to 95 percent less than regular retail. The resale shopper also sees the environmental value of thrift shops – a great way to support recycling. Tips on resale shopping: Women’s Day
More Tips from the Thrifters Thrift store groupies know how to shop. Here are a few more tips from the diehards. • Bring cash. • Leave kids at home. • Bring friends and make it a day out. • Think creatively about how to use the item. • Test things out – like toys and electronics. • Be patient and take your time looking around. The Fakes When it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Counterfeit goods – reproductions, knockoffs, replicas, fakes – it’s big business. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that losses to U.S. businesses from counterfeit products are estimated at $200 billion a year. Counterfeit goods can be dangerous, too. Replicas of children’s clothing might not be flame retardant. Counterfeit toys can be choking hazards to children. How to spot a fake: • Look for torn or scribbled out labels. • Beware of misspelled or altered product names. • Check out changes in product content, color, smell or packaging. • Look for missing codes, trademarks or 800 numbers. No cheap decor As more thrift and consignment stores open throughout the country, the competition breeds attention to details – about inventory and appearances. Resale stores are not dingy, badly lit, clustered little holes in the wall. Snappy storefronts, bright and inviting interior lighting and colors, and creative and organized displays have brought the resale store up to snuff to any retail store. Happy Shopping! Issue 461
SNIPPETZ IS LOOKING UP TO SEE IF THE SKY IS REALLY FALLING by Deborah Stumpf 
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling!”
- Chicken Little Breaking News: A space shuttle has been destroyed by a meteor shower, killing everyone on board. According to NORAD, Denver and other parts of the world are in the midst of a major meteorite shower. Scientists at NASA have just learned that a large asteroid will collide with Earth in only 18 days. Basically, folks, our planet will be destroyed. No, it’s not 2012, the year some predict will be the end of the world. Nor is it 2029, the year the big asteroid will hit Earth. It’s 1998 and the release of the movie, “Armageddon.” That same year just two months earlier, another movie about a huge comet destroying Earth hit theatres nationwide titled “Deep Impact.” Both movies were popular and financially successful. “Deep Impact” grossed more than $349 million worldwide and Armageddon did even better at the box office. Is it Hollywood hype, or do Americans have a fascination or fear or both that someday a remnant from the solar system the size of a football field will plummet to Earth at lightening speed and destroy us all? To better understand the “sky is falling” spectacle, read on. First, A Few Definitions Meteor: bits of space debris coming from the solar system that fall through the earth’s atmosphere. Meteor is the term used for the actual streaks of light that can be seen in the sky as the debris enters the atmosphere. Meteor is from the Greek word “meteoron,” which means a “phenomenon in the sky.” Meteor Shower: a number of meteors radiating from one point in the sky. They’re caused by a stream of meteoroids. Meteoroid: the small rocky debris that is “flying around” in space or the atmosphere. Meteorite: a piece of rock that is strong and large enough to survive the journey through space and then land on the surface of Earth. Stony meteorites make up about 93 percent of all meteorites found on Earth. They can be divided into chondrites and achondrites. Chondrites are made up of the same dust and debris that formed the earth at the beginning of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Achondrites have been geologically processed. Meteorites are smaller than asteroids or comets. Asteroid: small planetary bodies that revolve around the sun. Scientists state that most asteroids are located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter – the asteroid belt. They vary in size. According to NASA, more than 200 asteroids are larger than 60 miles in diameter in the “belt.” More than 750,000 asteroids in the belt have diameters larger than 3/5 of a mile. There are millions of smaller ones. Comet: an icy body that releases gas or dust. Comets travel around the sun in long, oval orbits. The center of the comet is a ball of ice and rocky dust particles (resembling a dirty snowball). The ice is mainly frozen water but can include other frozen substances like ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane. Meteorites For Sale and Other Phenomena
From the Sky to Fame There are a few meteors, comets and asteroids that are stars in their own right. Perseid meteors are fast, entering Earth’s atmosphere at about 133,200 mph. Most are the size of sand grains; some are as big as peas or marbles. Almost none of these hit the ground. The Perseids come from the debris of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which is the largest object that is known to make repeated passes near Earth. Its nucleus is about 6 miles, which is the size that wiped out the dinosaurs. Rumors of comets hitting Earth were fueled in the early 1990s by astronomer Brian Marsden, who determined that Swift-Tuttle could hit Earth. Further observation concluded it could not happen. However, Marsden predicted that the comet and Earth could experience a near miss in the year 3044. The Swift-Tuttle was first discovered in 1862 and last viewed in 1992, seen only through binoculars. It is due to return in 2126 and hopefully observers will be able to see it via the naked eye. Hoba is the largest meteorite ever found on Earth. It is made of iron and weighs more than 60 tons. It was discovered in 1920 near a farm in Namibia in South Africa. Although it was huge, it didn’t create a crater in the earth’s surface. It entered the earth’s atmosphere at a shallow angle, supposedly slowed by the atmospheric drag. The largest meteorite ever discovered in the United States is the Willamette meteorite, now housed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The meteorite, found in Oregon, weighs about 32,000 lbs. or 15.5 tons and is more than 91 percent iron and 8 percent nickel, with traces of cobalt and phosphorus. It is 10 feet tall by 6.5 wide and 4.25 feet deep. Halley’s Comet has been known since 240 BC, at least. It was seen in 1066 AD before the Battle of Hastings. Edmund Halley calculated its orbit; thus, the name. Halley’s showed up brightly in 1834 and 1910. In 1986, five spacecraft from the USSR, Japan and Europe were launched to meet up with Halley’s Comet. One of NASA’s deep space satellites was redirected to monitor the solar wind upstream from Halley. Halley’s Comet is one of only three that has been monitored by spacecraft. Its nucleus measures about 10 by 5 by 5 miles. Ceres was the first asteroid discovered and is the largest in the main asteroid belt. A monk in Italy, Guiseppe Piazzi, discovered the asteroid. Ceres is named after the Roman goddess of the harvest, of growing plants and motherly love. Astronomers have said that Ceres’ interior is loaded with frozen water. It is 580 miles in diameter – about the size of Texas – and accounts for 25 percent of the asteroid belt’s total mass. Meteor Showers Leonids is the largest meteor shower known. The Leonids shower is debris from the comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle. The comet returns to the vicinity of the earth every 33 years, but its effects vary. In 1966, this meteor shower measured 150,000 (40 per second) over two hours – the heaviest shower ever recorded. In February 1998, the comet Tempel-Tuttle crossed Earth’s orbit again and the Leonids were highly anticipated. Scientists expected a great showing, but it was light – about 1,000 meteors per hour. And More • On March 23, 1989, scientists recorded an asteroid with a kinetic energy of more than 1,000 one-megaton hydrogen bombs – about 50,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The asteroid has passed extremely close to Earth, and it was detected only after the point of its closest approach – which brought near-Earth asteroids into the realm of politics and national safety. • Arizona is home to a meteorite impact site near Winslow. About 50,000 years ago, a meteorite traveling at 26,000 mph collided with Earth. The result of the collision is a meteor crater that is today 1 mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep. Touted as the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site, the area has become an international tourist stop, with a gift and rock shop, wide-screen movie theatre and outdoor observation trails. Ready for 2029? On Friday, April 13, 2029, asteroid 2004 MN4 will pass Earth only 18,600 miles above the ground. The asteroid will be visible to the naked eye in Africa, Europe and Asia – even through city lights. It’s a close encounter, one that occurs on average every 1,000 years. The 2004 MN4 asteroid is about 320 meters wide; and, if it hit land, it would devastate a region the size of Texas. If it hit the ocean, there would be widespread tsunamis. Asteroid 2004 MN4 was discovered in June 2004 and rediscovered again six months later. Astronomers first thought the asteroid might hit Earth – NASA’s Near Earth Object Program office gave it a 1 in 60 chance of an impact with the earth. Approaches this close are thought to occur at 1,000-year intervals. Although it’s Friday the 13th in 2029, further tracking has indicated this asteroid will be an “eye-popping close encounter” but nothing to fear. Issue 462
SNIPPETZ HONORS GRANDMA MOSES: FOLK ART LEGEND by Deborah Stumpf 
“A primitive artist is an amateur whose work sells.”
- Grandma Moses Anna Mary Robertson Moses was born Sept. 7, 1860, but not until her 70s would she become a legendary American folk artist, known as Grandma Moses. On her 100th birthday in 1960, then New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller proclaimed Sept. 7 "Grandma Moses Day.” Moses began painting late in life after arthritis ended her ability to embroider. The hand movement involved with painting was less painful and manageable. Although she began her artistic career around age 76, she had many years ahead of her to perfect her medium. Moses died in 1961 at age 101. In 1938, art collector Louis J. Caldor discovered Moses’ paintings collecting dust in a drugstore window in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. Caldor bought all of the paintings, priced from $3 to $5, then drove to Moses’ home and purchased 10 others. In 1939, she grabbed the attention of Otto Kallir, an art dealer and gallery owner, and in 1940, Kallir began exhibiting Moses’ work in his Galerie St. Etienne in New York, where she gained international fame. Eventually, Moses’ art was shown in galleries throughout Europe and Japan; she was considered by some the best known American artist in Europe. The Galerie St. Etienne established the Grandma Moses Properties Co. in 1951 to control copyrights and trademarks of Moses’ work. Today, the Moses Co. remains a sister company to Galerie St. Etienne, where the two share the premises and staff. Anna Mary Before she was Grandma Moses, Anna Mary Robertson was the third oldest of 10 children. Because her parents were farmers and poor, at age 12, Robertson took on a job as a hired girl for a family and was allowed to attend school with her employer’s children. Young Anna also worked the family farm. In her 20s, Robertson married Thomas Salmon Moses. They eventually moved to Virginia, where they rented a homestead and farmed the land. A few years later, they returned to upstate New York and bought their own farm, which they called Mt. Nebo. Mrs. Moses became known as Mother Moses, not only because she had 10 children (five died at birth) but also because she was skilled in many areas, especially talented in needlework, sewing and embroidery. Much later, when Mother Moses transitioned to painting and became Grandma Moses, she was on her way to achieving greatness as a folk artist – an art form all to itself. American Folk Art Folk art originates “among the common people of a nation or region and usually reflecting their traditional culture, especially everyday or festive items produced or decorated by unschooled artists,” according to freedictionary.com. Collector Scott Blackwell writes on his Web site (www.immaculatebakery.com/folkart) that the style is “more than just bright colors and crude renderings, more than just gathered materials or an untrained sketch. … What we're really looking at is the rawest form of self-expression, the exposed soul of the artist and their passionate stories of life.” In the 19th century, folk art did not exist as a genre and was often referred to as “primitive.” Folk artists were self-taught and considered incompetent in the art world; there were often ridiculed. At the turn of the century, schooled artists began rebelling against academic traditions, which helped bring “folk art” to the forefront of the art world. But recognition as an art form would be a tough journey. When folk art came to America in the 1920s, trained artists were incensed that they would have to share gallery space and accolades with amateur (folk art) painters. Modern America’s first folk artist painter was John Kane. His work was admitted to the Carnegie International in 1927, amidst loud protests from schooled artists whose work had been rejected. Along came Moses and a couple of her contemporaries – Horace Pippin and Morris Hirschfield – and by the mid-1940s, folk art blossomed. The popularity of Moses’ work still drew indignation from the cultural elite, who perceived folk art as unsophisticated and simple. As folk art’s popularity soared, other artists took up the genre; and, in time, even the avant-garde accepted the art form. The Paintings Moses created many masterpieces in her makeshift studio, which was a utility room. She didn’t have an easel – just an old wooden kitchen table. She painted five or six hours a day and enjoyed watching old westerns on television in the evenings – only because she loved watching the horses. She had a style of her own. Certainly self-taught, she occasionally added other materials like glitter to enhance snow scenes in her paintings (which further angered the avant-garde). Moses’ scenes were simple: families and neighborhood communities depicting colorful stories of rural life in America. Most of the scenes she emulated artistically were set in areas of upstate New York and Vermont. Moses enjoyed painting landscapes and nature scenes, adding a sprinkling of tiny looking humans to the mix. Her paintings were born from memories of her life as a farm girl, a hired girl and a farmer’s wife.
Grandma Moses created more than 3,600 paintings over three decades. Paintings that she first sold for anywhere from $2 to $5 would garner $8,000 to $10,000 after Moses became a celebrated artist. Beyond the Canvas
In her autobiography, Grandma Moses expressed her basic philosophy: "I look back on my life like a good day's work, it was done and I feel satisfied with it. I was happy and contented; I knew nothing better and made the best out of what life offered. And life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." Issue 463
SNIPPETZ WANTS THE WHOLE TRUTH... IN E-MAIL by Deborah Stumpf 
“The history of our race, and each individual's experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal."
- Mark Twain Disclaimer: Since this article had been written in 2010, many of the "fact checkers" have been found to be bias and/or unreliable, while many of the "conspiracy theorists" have been found to be quite accurate. When reading this, a chuckle or two may sneak out of you, and so, with that in mind... enjoy! WHAT!#?!@?#? A global warming activist froze to death in Antarctica (as posted on Fox Nation Web site in March 2010). Lie. July 2009: Journalist Betsy McCaughey reported that the “proposed Health Care bill requires that seniors be given euthanasia counseling every five years.” Lie. There’s an old saying: Don’t believe everything you hear – or, more likely today – don’t believe everything you read in your e-mails. Since 1988, on the third Saturday of September, people in the small town of New Harmony, Ind., gather for a Big Whopping Lie Contest. Contestants line up on stage and get about four minutes each to spin a big, tall tale. To piggyback on the Hoosier fib-fest, Snippetz investigated the world of Internet lies – those questionable e-mails with everything from President Obama’s religious affiliation to Mr. Rogers’ military career. Read on for a good dose of enlightenment. HOAXES TO URBAN LEGENDS It’s best to clarify the type of fictional e-mails that could cause one to ponder, or pass on to unsuspecting recipients. Hoax: an act or document that is intended to deceive the public. April Fool’s pranks and chain letters are in this category. The word “hoax” is thought of as a contraction of “hocus pocus” – a phrase used by magicians to invoke magic spells. Rumor: the definition is not about falsehoods but a lack of proof. A rumor could be a report of statements that haven’t been verified, an opinion represented as fact, a bite of truth misrepresented or misunderstood so much that it creates a falsehood, exaggerations or intentional lies. Urban legend: a second-hand story – a tale believed to be true about a horrific or embarrassing or over-the-top, heart-stopping story that supposedly happened to one or more individuals. Although there is nothing to back up the story, the storyteller relies on “trustworthy” sources. “This really happened to my friend’s sister’s husband,” i.e. the ditzy grandmother who tried to dry her wet poodle in a microwave; of course, the dog exploded. This urban legend is false, but the legends can be true as well. WHOM TO BELIEVE... SOMETIMES Snopes.com is probably the best known Web site for discerning fact from fiction in the vast number of e-mails that bombard one’s inbox. About 300,000 people a day peruse the Snopes Web site to get their take on the authenticity of many an e-mail. David and Barbara Mikkelson run the site from their home in California. In an interview published in the New York Times, David Mikkelson said most of the rumors start out with a “kernel of truth” but somewhere along the way the truth gets increasingly distorted. Some people pass on e-mails, whether rumor or urban legend, because they want to prove their point about something or someone, prove someone wrong; or they want to share their fears and anxieties with others. More times than not, the rumor reinforces prejudices against political parties and cultures. Far too many people don’t care about the truth. If an e-mail reflects a person’s belief system, he or she is likely to pass it on without checking further. RECENT E-MAIL LIES E-mail: All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies, which will allow them to make sales calls. Call the National Do Not Call Registry to add your cell number to the list. Truth: Not necessary – the Federal Trade Commission regulates telemarketers, and they are prohibited from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. E-mail: Do not answer calls from these numbers: 9888308001, 9316048121, 91+, 9876266211, 9888854137, 9876715587 The numbers have extremely high wave length and frequency. If a call is received on a mobile from these numbers, the high frequency can cause brain damage or even death. “It's not a joke rather, it’s TRUE. 27 persons died just on receiving calls from these numbers.” Truth: Engineers say not true. This rumor started out in Pakistan, and was spread throughout India, the Middle East and Africa. It began as a Friday the 13th hoax. E-mail: Pepsi (or Coke) has a new line of patriotic soda cans with a picture of the Empire State Building, a flag and the words from the Pledge of Allegiance, however, the words “under God” have been omitted. The e-mails were calling for all Christians to boycott the bottling companies and send letters to them. Truth: False. The rumor started years ago when Dr. Pepper came up with a new can featuring the Statue of Liberty and these three words from the Pledge of Allegiance: “One Nation … Indivisible.” The cans were circulated right after Sept. 11 through March 2002. The words were chosen, according to Dr. Pepper, as they best represented a patriotic, bipartisan message promoting a united nation. Note: “Under God” was not an original part of the Pledge of Allegiance, written in 1892 by Frances Bellamy; it was added by an Act of Congress in 1954. The rumor has resurfaced lately in response to the anniversary of 9/11. E-mail: Hotel key cards contain all kinds of personal information, including credit card numbers. They can easily be scanned by employees, who in turn go shopping for free! Truth: The origin of this rumor came from an actual police officer in California, who heard another officer in another precinct say that he had run across a hotel key card from a major hotel with all kinds of personal information on it. Without verifying the information or checking with major hotels, the officer sent out an e-mail to other officers warning them of the possibility of identity theft through hotel key cards. From the mouths of hotel managers and front desk clerks to an investigation by Computerworld magazine, there is no such thing as a hotel key embedded with any kind of personal information. YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME Ridiculous e-mails that are or have been in circulation:
Finally … Mr. Rogers was not a trained marine assassin! Issue 464
SNIPPETZ IS ALL ABOUT THE TOUCH by Deborah Stumpf 
“The physician must be experienced in many things, but most assuredly in rubbing.”
- Hippocrates, The "Father of Modern Medicine" The word “massage” is from the French word of the same, meaning “friction of kneading.” Massage therapists press, rub and manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body – most often using their hands and fingers. Some actually use their elbows and feet. Hippocrates wrote about the friction of rubbing, and said that healers must incorporate rubbing as part of their practices. Massage therapy was widely used in ancient Greece and other countries, gaining in popularity during the Renaissance period. In the 1850s, two American physicians brought massage therapy to the United States after studying the techniques in Sweden. At the end of World War I, massage therapy became a beneficial mode of treatment for American soldiers who had suffered from “shell shock.” A Fall from Grace During the 1930s and 1940s, massage therapy took a back seat to scientific and technological advances in medical treatment. And when “massage parlors” (so-called cover-up for illegal sex trade and practices) cropped up, massage therapy became somewhat of a pariah. It would take 30 years before massage therapy would regain its popularity. In the 1970s, athletes were instrumental in bringing massage therapy its due in modern times. Today, millions of Americans receive a variety of massage therapy techniques every year. The Facts Here’s what the American Massage Therapy Association 2009 annual consumer survey reported.
Types of Massage There are more than 80 types of massage; some are more well-known than others for relieving everything from headaches to sore feet. The following techniques are among the most popular, according to About.com, a division of The New York Times Co. (Some might wonder why Reiki is not included; however, Reiki is not considered massage by definition. Although massage is used, Reiki is a specific healing system involving the transfer of the flow of energy.) Swedish The most common of all massage therapy techniques in the U.S.; Swedish massage is basic techniques – long, smooth strokes, kneading and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle. Therapists use massage lotion or oil as well. It’s a good practice for first-time users. Aromatherapy This type of massage adds essential plant oils to the stroke therapy. The oils are selected to address specific needs like lavender oil for relaxation. Hot Stone This technique uses smooth stones that are heated and then placed on certain points of the body to warm and loosen tight muscles. Hot stones also balance energy centers in the body. Some massage therapists apply light pressure with the stones. This therapy is good for people with sore muscles who don’t want a heavier massage. Deep Tissue Speaking of heavier massage techniques, deep tissue focuses on deeper layers of the muscle and the connective tissue. The therapist uses slower strokes, and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on chronically tight or painful muscles. This type of massage is good for recovering from injuries or repetitive strain. Because of the pressure applied, patients can feel sore for a day or two after the technique. Shiatsu With shiatsu massage – a form of Japanese body work – the therapist uses finger pressure in a localized area on acupuncture meridians. Each “point” is held for a few seconds to balance the body and improve energy flow. Thai Thai massage also uses gentle pressure on specific points of the body. The difference is the patient is moved and stretched in a variety of postures. Thai massage is energizing and improves flexibility and range of motion. Prenatal Massage Pregnant women are using massage therapists who are certified in prenatal massage to reduce stress and anxiety, decrease swelling and relieve aches and pains. The trained therapist knows the proper techniques for positioning the woman’s body, and customizes massage techniques for individual women. Reflexoloy Reflexology is often thought of as an alternative medicine of its own. Although one thinks of foot massages, reflexology is much more. Practitioners must understand the system of the body and how it relates to certain points on the foot. Each point corresponds to an organ in the body. Reflexology is relaxing, and it can relieve a number of medically related issues. Sports Massage A variety of athletes, from golfers to swimmers to football players, use sports massage to enhance their performance and prevent injury. And it’s not just professional athletes; all people who are active and regularly work out can benefit from the techniques used in sports massage. The strokes are faster, and stretching is incorporated. Medical Massage Medical massage can be prescribed by a doctor to improve the health of a patient. Therapy involves manual techniques targeted at specific areas. The Business of Massage
Read Out And Touch Someone
Issue 465
SNIPPETZ ASKS OUR READERS TO BEAR WITH US! by Deborah Stumpf 
“Bears sleep by day. At night, they stay awake to chase away bad dreams.”
- Jesse O’Neil The teddy bear has chased away not only bad dreams but also tears and fears, and has been a faithful and lovable companion to children – and adults – for centuries. Three “holidays” commemorating the teddy bear are proof of the teddy bear craze. Sept. 9 is “Teddy Bear Day,” Oct. 11 is the worldwide “Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day” and Nov. 14 is “National Teddy Bear Day.” Teddy crosses all cultures and classes, and has a place in the hearts of the young and the old – and, of course, the toy industry. The teddy bear is in line with the sock monkey as the most popular of all stuffed animals in the United States. The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. in Vermont’s Champlain Valley is the largest seller of teddy bears by mail order and the Internet and one of the largest producers of teddy bears worldwide. The company handcrafts each bear, producing about 500,000 a year. In 2003, at the end of the first quarter, Vermont Teddy Bear reported net revenues of $14.5 million. In 2005, a private equity firm took the company private. Teddy R. President Theodore Roosevelt is the legendary inspiration for the teddy bear. On Nov. 16, 1902, The Washington Post published a cartoon by Clifford Berryman called “Drawing the Line in Mississippi.” The cartoon featured Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear cub. The story behind the cartoon is about Roosevelt’s trip to Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana. His hosts took Roosevelt, an avid hunter, out to hunt bears, but the bears didn’t show up, and the hunt was a bust. So, someone captured a bear and set him up for Roosevelt to shoot, but the 32nd president of the U.S. refused, drawing the line at shooting a captive target; thus, the cartoon. The title of the cartoon was a play on both activities: the border dispute and the bear situation. The bear depicted in the cartoon had a look of innocence and sweetness. The cartoon drew widespread attention, and was reprinted in many newspapers across the country. The cartoon inspired Morris and Rose Michtom from Brooklyn, NY, to create a bear honoring Roosevelt’s positive hunting ethics. The Michtoms’ bear was a likeness to the cartoon bear, and they named it “Teddy’s Bear.” When they placed the bear in the storefront window of their candy shop, the happy little bear became wildly popular. The high demand for the bears led the Michtoms to seek help from the Butler Brothers wholesale firm, and the two founded the first teddy bear manufacturer in the U.S.: the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co. At the same time in Germany, artist Richard Steiff designed a teddy bear for his aunt’s stuffed toy business. Steiff’s bear resembled a real bear cub. In March 1903, the bear was introduced at a European toy fair. Although Europeans didn’t warm up to the bear, an American toy buyer bought 3,000 of them. A “Beary” Big Craze In the early 1900s, the teddy bear frenzy took hold. President Roosevelt carried a teddy bear as his mascot in his bid for re-election. High-society women carried teddy bears everywhere; children had their pictures taken with teddy bears, and Seymour Eaton, educator and columnist, wrote a series of children’s books about the Roosevelt Bears. Composer J.K. Bracken also composed the song, “The Teddy Bear Two Step,” which later became “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic.” Teddy bear manufacturers came out of the woodwork and produced teddy bears in a variety of colors and even added shoes, clothes and roller skates to some. The teddy bear became a symbol of unity throughout the world. “Bear” Profits Prior to the 1950s, teddy bear manufacturers hand-finished their bears and always used natural fibers to make their bears. After World War II, synthetic fibers were all the rage – companies began using nylon or acrylic plush, plastic eyes and rubber stuffing. The bears were now washable – a plus for buyers. And then came the mass-produced bear, which was cheaper, from eastern Asia. From the 1950s through the 1960s, American companies, even the well-established ones, faltered because of the massive import of inexpensive teddy bears from overseas. Teddy bears also began taking a back seat to their stuffed furry friends. America’s love for teddy bears resurfaced in 1969, when British actor Peter Bull wrote a book about his affection for teddy bears. “The Teddy Bear Book” (earlier called “Bear with Me”) boosted the teddy bear to collectable status – adults revived their own affections for the lovable bear. Five years after Bull’s book was published, American Beverly Port, who made dolls and her own teddy bears, took a teddy bear to a doll show. The teddy, “Theodore B. Bear,” was holding the hand of one of her dolls. The next year, Port put on a slide show she had created about teddy bears for the United Federation of Doll Clubs. The slide show was well-received and prompted other designers and artists to create their own version of the teddy bear. Today, there are thousands of “teddy bear artists” individually producing a variety of teddy bears. And many of their customers are collectors. In 1999, collectors purchased $441 million worth of teddy bears in the United States alone. Teddy Bear Snippetz
Bearly Alone Teddy bears are in a class of their own, but other famous bears include Paddington Bear, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, the Care bears, Smokey the Bear, Fozzie Bear from the Muppet Show, the three little bears – friends of Goldilocks, Gummi bears, Baloo from “Jungle Book” and the Berenstain Bears. One of the most notable is Winnie the Pooh, designed in England by J.K. Farnell & Co. In 1921, when he turned 1-year-old, Christopher Robin Milne received a Winnie the Pooh bear from his mother. His father, A.A. Milne, began publishing Winnie the Pooh books featuring his son’s adventures with Winnie and other stuffed animals – creating more “bear mania.” No matter its followers, bear in mind that the teddy bear reigns. Issue 466
SNIPPETZ IS PIE-STRUCK AS IN PIZZA by Deborah Stumpf 
“When the moon hits your eye like a big – a pizza pie, that’s amore.”
When Dean Martin sang “That’s Amore” – the popular musical theme in the hit movie, “Moonstruck” – he was referring to a full moon. But reverse the lyrics, and it sums up Americans’ love of pizza. When the pie hits your eye like a big – a full moon, that’s amore. Americans eat 90 acres of pizza per day; 350 slices each second. Everyone in the U.S. eats about 46 slices per year. Each year in the U.S., more than 3 billion pizzas are sold. There are about 62,000 pizza parlors in the United States. Pizza is a $30 billion industry annually. It all began in? Italy or Greece or … Although there are different versions as to the origins of pizza, Italy and Greece are considered the capitols of the pizza nation. However, Babylonians, Israelites, Egyptians and other ancient Middle Eastern cultures were eating flat, unleavened bread they had cooked in mud ovens, and, as far back as 1000 A.D., peasants were baking leftover dough. Italy is credited for creating the first version of the “modern” pizza, although different from the 21st century American pizza. People from Naples, Italy, began using dough as a base for oils, herbs and cheese – the Greeks had already coined the process. The Romans added honey and bay leaves, along with the cheese, to a sheet of fine flour. But the people of Naples added the tomato, which had been feared as a poisonous fruit by many Europeans. In 1889, Raffaele Esposito of Naples, owner of a restaurant called Pizzeria di Pietro, baked his version of a pizza for Italy’s King Umberto I and Queen Margherita. Esposito wanted to impress the royal couple so he topped the flat bread with food the colors of Italy’s flag: the red tomato, white mozzarella cheese and green basil. He did make an impression, not only with the king and queen but also with the masses. The dish was well-received, and others began copying it. The Margherita pizza was born. Coming to America In the late 19th century, pizza was sold on the streets of Naples, Italy, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pie, which included a simple topping of mushrooms and anchovies, was carried on a large tray and cut in slices. As Italians migrated to America, so did the pizza. Initially, New York and Chicago became a hub for pizza in the U.S. Sold in the traditional Italian way, peddlers introduced pizza to Chicago by walking up and down the streets with a washtub of pizzas on their head: 2 cents for a piece of the pie. Among the Italian-American population, pizzas were first known as tomato pie, a term that remains in areas of the Northeast and central New York. The tomato pie is distinguished from the regular pizza by its layering: first, the cheese; then, the toppings; and last, the sauce. The Commercial Timeline
Pepperoni Please…Or Squid? The pizza craze has been fueled in the 21st century because it’s easy and fast – whether ordering in or popping it into the oven. Pizza is an easy fix for a quick dinner, a late-night snack or a spur-of-the-moment get together. Whether it’s homemade, store bought or Domino’s, Americans in general agree on their favorite topping: Pepperoni is the No. 1 choice for pizza toppings in the U.S. Mushrooms and sausage follow. The pizza is as diverse as various cultures around the world. Preferred toppings in India include pickled ginger, minced mutton and paneer cheese. In Japan, the favorite is eel and squid and a combination of mayonnaise, potato and bacon. Green peas are among the choice toppings in Brazil, and Russians favor red herring. Slices of Trivia
That’s Amore! Issue 467
SNIPPETZ IS SINGING ANCHORS AWEIGH by Deborah Stumpf 
"Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay. Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home." - Second verse from the revised lyrics of “Anchors Aweigh” by George D. Lottman As the Navy celebrates its birthday Oct. 13, they’ve gone from two sailing vessels to a slew of ships that include submarines, cruisers and destroyers. The Navy today has 329,629 active duty officers, enlisted men and midshipmen. Total reserves mobilized as of Sept. 21 are 6,936 (Sept. 21). There are 46,193 personnel in deployment. The Navy has 144 ships (50 percent of all ships) under way – away from the homeport. IT ALL STARTED IN THE 1700s On Friday, Oct. 13, 1775, the United States Continental Congress voted to outfit two sailing vessels with crews of 80 men and plenty of ammunition and send them to sea for three months in search of ships supplying ammunition to the British Army in America. After the War of Independence, the ships of the “Continental Navy” were sold. In 1789, the Constitution was amended to give Congress the power to maintain a Navy. In 1797, Congress launched the USS United States, USS Constellation and USS Constitution. On April 30, 1798, Congress established the Department of the Navy. Benjamin Stoddert of Maryland was the first Secretary of the Navy. SMOOTH SAILING Looking at the impact water has on the world the Navy is a vital asset to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Maintaining a presence on the world’s waterways, the Navy ensures safe travel for people and commodities – “smooth sailing” for Americans and others. HISTORIC BATTLES
BY SEA, BY AIR, BY LAND In 1962, President Kennedy established a small but elite maritime military force. They would carry out clandestine, small-unit and high-impact missions – unconventional warfare under the U.S. Special Operations Command. All military operations would originate from and return to a river, ocean, swamp, delta or coastline. The team of hardy men would operate by sea, by air and by land – they would be called the SEALS. The SEALS have become the military’s upper crust – disciplined men who are powered by mental and physical capabilities that extend way beyond the norm. The teams partake in, among other operations, direct action initiatives, terrorism combat, special reconnaissance, information warfare, drug warfare and personnel recovery. The SEALS are trained to operate in all environments and extreme climates, from desert to humid jungles to freezing temperatures. Today, the SEALS are involved in pursuits of high-profile terrorists, operating in remote regions of Afghanistan and in cities like Baghdad, Iraq. NAVY SNIPPETZ
NAMING THE SHIPS
THEY'RE IN THE NAVY NOW
THE NAVY'S FAMOUS NAMES Presidents: John F. Kennedy Gerald Ford Richard Nixon Jimmy Carter Lyndon B. Johnson George H.W. Bush Actors: Jack Benny Humphrey Bogart Ernest Borgnine Tom Bosley Raymond Burr Bill Cosby Henry Fonda Johnny Carson Issue 468
SNIPPETZ CAN TALK, TALK, TALK - DAY AND NIGHT by Deborah Stumpf 
“I’m sort of the comic relief after a hard day at work. My message is that it`s OK to relax.”
-Larry King From the early 1920s, talk shows have been a staple of American lifestyle, providing entertainment and enlightenment for millions of radio and television fans. Radio First Barry Gray was the first host of the call-in radio talk shows. He is sometimes referred to as the “father of radio talk show.” Larry King, CNN television talk show host, called Gray “one of the biggest influences” in his life. Gray’s shows were broadcast from a restaurant in New York City, from midnight to 3 a.m. Almost 40 years later, Gray had become radio’s longest running, highest paid and most controversial interviewer, “loathed and loved by his listeners,” according to an article from the New York Times, published in 1996 – the year Gray died. He was 80 years old. The founders of television talk shows were also radio talk show icons: Arthur Godfrey, Dave Garroway, Edward R. Murrow, Arlene Francis, Steve Allen and Jack Paar were among the pioneers of radio and television talk shows. But television didn’t take away from radio talk. The 20th and 21st century radio talk shows are varied, from National Public Radio to Glenn Beck. The editors of Talkers Magazine, a trade publication for radio and TV talk shows, presented its list of the most important radio talk shows in America today. Rush Limbaugh was No. 1. Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Lou Dobbs were among the top 10. Legendary talk show hosts Howard Stern and Don Imus got a nod as well. TV Talk Daytime Talk Shows From 1949 to 1973, talk shows became almost one-half of TV daytime programming on all three major channels: ABC, CBS and NBC. Considered a morning news and talk show, the Today Show is the second longest-running show in television history. Meet the Press is No. 1. When the Today Show began in 1952, its first host was Dave Garroway. Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric are among those whose careers soared as hosts of the Today Show. In the 1950s and 1960s, daytime talk shows were replicas of late-night talk show The Tonight Show. Rarely did hosts like Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, Merv Griffin, Doris Day and Dick Cavett discuss controversial issues. Talk shows were light and amusing. The daytime talk show concept changed over the years, and the Phil Donahue Show launched what some call “tabloid talk shows.” Donahue took huge risks with a myriad of topics when his show became part of daytime programming in 1970. He enjoyed challenging discussions about taboo subjects like atheism and homosexuality. Donahue was also the first talk show host to take his microphone and mingle with the audience. For more than a decade, Donahue commanded the tabloid talk show genre. Then, along came Oprah. Endearing audiences with her own personal revelations, 32-year-old Oprah Winfrey, broadcasting from Chicago, quickly surpassed Donahue’s viewership. The rest, they say, is history. And the Oprah Winfrey Show will be history, as she leaves the throne in 2011. Winfrey will have 25 years under her belt as the queen of daytime talk shows. Winfrey continued Donahue’s penchant for exploring out-of-bounds topics. Winfrey went even further. She took on the topics as if they were hers. She influenced the audience through her own emotions, prompted by shows that featured America’s fears of the “other side.” Winfrey is arguably credited for raising the bar for gays, bringing prejudices to the forefront and championing the openly gay. Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz are spinoffs from The Oprah Winfrey Show. In her 25 years in front of television audiences every day, Winfrey created a colossal empire. As the richest African American in the world, Winfrey has taken on international issues and American politics – and is one of the most powerful women in the world. The success of the Oprah Winfrey Show spawned a slew of copycats: Regis and Kathie Lee and The Tyra Banks Show were two. Some of those that rode on the coattails of Winfrey entered new territory: trash talk. The Jerry Springer Show is probably best known for on-camera brawls and topics like wife swapping. Sally Jesse Raphael and Jenny Jones had their share of contentious guest moments as well. The Ellen DeGeneres Show has given Winfrey a run for her money. DeGeneres reflects more of the entertainment talk show: serious but light. The advent of cable television has brought more talk shows to the tube. Larry King Live, which debuted in 1985, is CNN’s most watched and longest running program. King attracts more than 1 million viewers every night. Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report are wildly popular as “fake news” talk shows. HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher is another cable talk show hit. Late Night It’s impossible to discuss talk shows without singling out the longest running entertainment series in television history: The Tonight Show. Steve Allen was the creator and host of the first-ever late-night TV talk show. On Sept. 27, 1954, The Tonight Show was broadcast for the first time live over the NBC network. Allen built the viewership without writers, adlibbing with props and guests. He hosted The Tonight Show from 1954 to 1957, when Jack Paar took over so Allen could pursue his primetime comedy show, The Steve Allen Show. Paar hosted the Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962. Paar was not interested in participating in comedy sketches; instead, he had a flair for a nightly monologue and was keen at interviewing guests. Opinionated and emotionally charged, he was the first to mix politics with entertainment on late-night talk shows. He tackled subjects like the investigation of organized crime. When Paar invited Robert Kennedy, the then chief counsel of the senate-labor-management relations committee, on the show; Jimmy Hoffa, head of the Teamsters Union, filed a million-dollar lawsuit against Kennedy and Paar. It was eventually thrown out. Heeeeere’s Johnny “If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners,” said Johnny Carson. For 30 years, Johnny Carson reigned as the “King of Late-Night Television.” Carson replaced Paar in October 1962 as host of The Tonight Show, and from the get-go the audience loved his low-key, laid back style as well as his straight-man-persona and dry wit. Carson had an uncanny ability to combine his verbal prowess with a mix of facial expressions and gestures. He became known as the “master of lampooning the pretentious, salvaging the boring or sharpening a nervous guest’s performance for maximum effect” (the Museum of Broadcast Communications). Married four times, Carson’s love life was often the butt of his own jokes – and his guests. Carson was more than a late-night T.V. host. He was brilliant at keeping his pulse on American politics, trends and lifestyles. There were a lot of changes between 1962 and 1992 in the country, but for 30 years Americans knew they could come home and, as David Letterman said, be “tucked in by Johnny Carson.” On Jan. 25, 2005, Carson died at age 79 of respiratory arrest due to emphysema. Jay Leno, Carson’s successor; and late-night TV hosts David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson and Conan O’Brien have all given credit to Carson for his influence on the format and tone of their shows. Top Five Talk Show Myths and Legends • Did Tommy Hilfiger make a racist comment on Oprah? No. The rumor was so ramped that Hilfiger hired an investigator to determine the source of the rumor. They traced it to a college campus – but nothing else came of it. Hilfiger and Oprah refuted the rumor for years. • Was Jimmy Kimmel bitten by a snake on his late-night talk show? No. It was supposed to be a ratings stunt, where Kimmel was bitten by a snake and rushed to the hospital depicted in the T.V. show Grey’s Anatomy. • Did Jay Leno author an essay on how good we have it in America, and why we shouldn’t complain? No. Author Craig Smith wrote “Made in the USA: Spoiled Brats.” Leno’s name was attached to the piece after someone cut and pasted one of Leno’s one-liners to the piece and e-mailed it. The line: “As you know, Hurricane Rita is headed toward Florida, Texas and Louisiana. It’s like the ninth hurricane this season. Maybe this is not a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance.” • Does Merv Griffin’s tombstone state “I will not be right back after this message!” Yes. Griffin died of prostate cancer in August 2007 and made it known to friends and family that he wanted the inscription on his tomb stone. • Is it true that one of Dick Cavett’s guests died on the show? Yes, but the show didn’t air. A self-proclaimed longevity expert, 72-year-old Jeremy Rodale, was sitting and listening as Cavett chatted with another guest. When Rodale dropped his head and groaned, Cavett supposedly said, “Are we boring you?” Rodale was dead from a heart attack. Issue 469
SNIPPETZ BELIEVES IN MAGIC by Deborah Stumpf 
One man's magic is another man's engineering.
- Robert A. Heinlein (author, 1907-1988) Magic has had a place in history since human culture was first documented. Almost 5,000 years ago, a magician named Dedi entertained the court of an Egyptian king by cutting off and restoring the heads of a goose, pelican and an ox. To animal lovers, it sounds like abuse, but the act represented one of the four main illusions of magic: mind reading, levitation, transformation and the disembodied head. Magicians were popular in Europe. Although some performed in royal courts, most of them mystified crowds at marketplaces, fairs and on street corners. Too often, magicians were accused of witchcraft. To dispute the accusations, Reginald Scot wrote a book in 1584 revealing some of the natural methods magicians used, as opposed to supernatural powers. Magic has evolved over the years, but one thing remains: Magic has never lost its … well, magic. The Great Magicians of the Past Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin performed throughout Europe in the 1840s and 50s. As one of the first magicians to perform in theaters, he became known as “The Father of Modern Magic.” Science and technology influenced Houdin. He often consulted scientists to determine how to perform a trick. After discovering a use for electromagnetism, he designed a trick called “The Light and Heavy Chest.” Houdin invited a spectator on stage and asked him to lift a small, wooden box where he stored his money. The person was always able to lift the box; however, Houdin then commanded the box to stay put, so it could not be stolen. Each volunteer tried hard to remove the box, but no one could. Inside the wooden chest was a metal plate, and an electromagnet was under the stage. When Houdin’s assistant turned on the magnet, the connection made it impossible to move the chest. When Adelaide Scarcez, a dancer, married magician Alexander Herrmann in 1875, she assisted with his shows, often dancing as part of the performance. After Alexander died in 1896, Adelaide kept the show on the road with her nephew, Leon Herrmann. Differing opinions separated them in 1899, but Adelaide Herrmann continued touring on and off until she died in 1928 at age 75. She was known as the “Queen of Magic.” In the early 1900s, Black Herman (aka Benjamin Rucker) was the first African-American magician in the U.S.; he gained fame being buried alive for days in an actual coffin. People paid to see his “dead” body, feel his non-existent pulse and watch as the coffin was buried. At the end of his shtick, Black Herman would rise from the dug-up coffin. In 1934, Herman collapsed on stage – and died, really – but the audience didn’t believe it. Outside his funeral home, crowds gathered to witness the end of his latest trick. When they refused to go away, Herman’s assistant charged them an admission fee to the funeral home. They said that Black Herman would have done the same thing. A Mexican magician, A.J. Cantu, famous for working with doves, inspired Channing Pollock, whose magic produced doves out of thin air. Pollock also became known for his stage presence, described as graceful and serious. His handsome face and formal dress added to his mesmerizing aura. Magicians everywhere began copying him. Nothing says magic like The Great Houdini. Born in Hungary in 1874, Houdini came to the U.S. as an infant named Erich Weiss. He established his trade name – Harry Houdini – after the famous magician Robert-Houdin. Houdini became well-known as a daring escape artist – handcuffs were his trademarks. One of his most famous escapes involved a milk can. Assistants filled the can with water, and a handcuffed Houdini squirmed his way into the can. A steel cover was placed over the top, along with padlocks to secure the cover. A screen was then pulled forward and around the can. After about two minutes, Houdini came out from behind the screen, soaking wet and out of breath. Eventually, Houdini replaced the milk can with the Chinese Water Torture Cell. With his feet locked in stocks (wooden boards), Houdini was enclosed in a cage and lowered upside down into the tank full of water. The torture cell featured glass on the front, which allowed the audience to view Houdini inside. Houdini became more visible to the audience with his straitjacket escape. He drew thousands of onlookers when he donned a straitjacket and dangled upside down from a tall building or crane. In full view of the crowd, he would make his escape. Houdini died on Halloween in 1926. Today’s Top Magicians At age 6, a young Canadian boy by the name of Doug Henning became enthralled with magic. After years of study and performing as a youth, Henning and his friend, Ivan Reitman, produced a rock/opera/magic show called “Spellbound.” Its success in Toronto led to Broadway and then to television. On Dec. 26, 1975, “Doug Henning’s World of Magic” aired live on national T.V. The special included guest stars Gene Kelly and Bill Cosby. After seven more television specials – three of them live – Henning was banned from doing live specials when one of his tigers escaped and ran through the halls of NBC. Henning excited crowds with his “double sawing” illusion. Two women arrived on stage wearing different colored dresses – one in pink and one in blue. Each woman got into a box, and Henning sawed each in half. When they emerged from their boxes, one had a pink top half and a blue bottom half and the other vice versa. In 1987, Henning set aside magic to promote transcendental meditation, which he had practiced for years. In 1999, he returned to magic but it was short-lived. Henning died of liver cancer in 2000. Henning is among the top-10 magicians of all times. Others include David Copperfield, the rock star of magic with his uncanny skills at manipulation and illusion. In 2006, Forbes magazine listed Copperfield as the most commercially successful magician in history. At that time, he had grossed more than $1 billion. That same year, Copperfield purchased 11 islands in the Bahamas – known as Musha Cay – and renamed them the Islands of Copperfield Bay. He once levitated a Ferrari three feet in the air and made the Statue of Liberty disappear. Big cats assisted illusionists Siegfried and Roy in their Vegas performances. Disaster struck in 2003, when one of his tigers bit Roy as he stumbled on stage. His recovery was long and thwarted by a few strokes and surgery on his windpipe, but he did recover and was able to make a final stage appearance in 2009 at The Bellagio in Vegas. Derren Brown is known for mind control. He once played Russian roulette on live T.V. A volunteer loaded a revolver with a single bullet into one of the numbered chambers. The revolver had a shield over the chambers so no one, including Brown and the cameras, could see the bullet. He fired chambers three and four at his head, and fired chamber five away from his head, thinking the bullet was in No. 5. With obvious trepidation, he pulled the trigger to his head with No. 6. Lucky for him, chamber No. 1 contained the bullet. Another Vegas duo, Penn & Teller, bring a style all their own to the world of magic. Using humor and shock appeal, the two are often referred to as eccentric magicians. They’ve sometimes angered their magician colleagues by revealing a few tricks of the trade onstage. Imagine being buried alive inside a glass coffin for a week, or encased in a cube of ice for 62 hours or holding your breath under water for 17 minutes. Some find his magic bizarre, but David Blaine has awed many with his outrageous stunts. Singing the Magic Magic is everywhere and the proof is in the songwriting.
Finally, J.K. Rowling has revolutionized magic under the name Harry Potter. The wizard boy has certainly made magic for Rowling. Magic, as in these words from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:” “You sort of start thinking anything's possible, if you've got enough nerve.” |
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