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Issue 480 - 1/10/2011
SNIPPETZ INVESTIGATES YOUR SIGN: DOES THE ZODIAC REALLY TELL ALL? by Deborah Stumpf 
“Who needs astrology? The wise man gets by on fortune cookies.”
-Edward Abbey Many high-ranking officials and leaders worldwide sought guidance from their personal astrologers before they would make any decisions on a variety of matters. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan made a splash in history when she consulted an astrologist after the assassination attempt on her husband and then president, Ronald Reagan, who also turned to the galaxy for guidance. Millions of Americans read their horoscope on a daily basis – some read for fun; others are serious. One Harris poll showed that at least 31 percent of Americans believe in astrology to some degree. Almost half of the believers were in the 25 to 29 age group, as opposed to 14 percent of those 65 years plus. More Than The Daily Horoscope The “art” or “science” or “black magic” (as some believe) of astrology dates way back to 1645 BC in the days of Babylon. In the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, constellations were recognized and named, soon after 3000 B.C. Based on a mixed bag of mathematical systems, astrology is the study of the interactions among the stars and the planets and how those relationships affect human existence. It’s not to be confused with astronomy, which is the study of the sun, moon and stars – without the human factor. Advances in astrology have been credited to the Greeks. When they linked the planets and constellations to Greek gods, the Greeks gave new meaning to the science of astrology. The Greek astronomer and mathematician, Ptolemy, became a legendary guru of astrology after he wrote books on the subject. His writings eventually became the fodder for modern-day astrology. Others like Galileo and Copernicus also were recognized as the “fathers” of the modern movement of astrology. The popularity of astrology soared during the Renaissance Period, as almanacs began publishing astrological information for the public to utilize. However, astrology eventually lost its momentum for a number of years when a first-of-its-kind prediction failed to materialize. The Great Conjunction of 1524 Remember Y2K and all the negative predictions that had people stocking up on supplies and incessantly talking about the “end” of the beginning of 2000? The same sort of “scare” happened in 1524 as well, when astrologers announced the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, and a conjunction of all the ancient planets under the sign of Pisces. Because the conjunction was supposed to happen under a water sign (Pisces), predictions about flooding and an overabundance of rain and snow were widespread. But controversy over using the Conjunction of 1524 as a prognosticator of weather brought on numerous treatises decrying its reliability. Modern astrological software has now revealed that the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn took place Jan. 30, 1524, before all seven planets were together in Pisces. On Feb. 13 the same year, Mercury entered Pisces, which brought all of the traditional planets together under Pisces, except for the Moon in Gemini. On Feb. 20, Venus entered Aries with the Moon in Sagittarius. Clear as mud? In other words, the Conjunction of 1524 was a non-event. When the astrologically based predictions never came to fruition, the science of the constellations in relation to humans declined in popularity. Although many continued to practice astrology, it wasn’t until 1930 when Princess Margaret was born that astrology was once again embraced en masse. To celebrate the birth of the princess, the “London Sunday Express” ran an astrological profile of her; thus, the beginning of the modern newspaper horoscope. The Signs of the Zodiac The Greeks believed the constellations could determine the strengths of a person at the time of birth; they also believed that a person’s life was pre-ordained and all major events could be predicted through knowledge of the Zodiac system. Astrologers (some were called soothsayers) used zodiac animal and human signs, such as the goat, the crab and the archer, to predict the destinies of the wealthy and the aristocrats. The zodiac signs were divided into four main groups in correlation to the elements of Earth. The signs of FIRE are attributed to the sun: Aires, Leo and Sagittarius. AIR signs are connected with the power of wind: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. The rainy season or WATER signs include Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. EARTH signs are Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo. Chinese Horoscope Legends Many Americans have adopted the Chinese zodiac signs as a forecast for the future as well. Chinese astrology is about the position of the major planets when a person is born. The Chinese built a system around a 12-year cycle of animal signs by observing the orbit of Jupiter. Following Jupiter’s orbit around the sun, the Chinese divided the “celestial” circle into 12 sections. There are many myths and legends about the roots of the Chinese zodiac signs. The 12 animals that make up the signs, which appear on the Chinese zodiac calendar, are an odd conglomeration: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, monkey, pig, horse, sheep, rooster and dog. The most famous legend regarding the Chinese zodiac signs begins with Buddha inviting all animals to participate in a race. The prize was a “coveted” position on the Chinese zodiac calendar. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the calendar in the order they finished. The rat came in first, achieving his place by using his brain. The rat hitched a ride on the best swimmer (the buffalo) and jumped off the buffalo’s back just before reaching the finish line. The buffalo came in second. The tiger crossed in third place, followed by the rabbit that jumped his way across the river, with the dragon helping the rabbit on the final stretch. The snake hid in the hoof of the horse and jumped out at the last minute, scaring the horse and getting the No. 6 spot. The sheep, monkey and rooster all helped each other cross the river, earning three of the 12 spots. The dog and pig were the next ones in despite the fact that both had stopped halfway between. The dog stopped to take a bath and the pig, which had feasted prior to the race, stopped to rest – they were the last to achieve a position on the calendar. Hey Baby, What’s Your Sign? The moon orbits one full turn around Earth in 28 days and in doing so it passes through each zodiac sign for about two days. During that time, the moon within the sign is thought to influence the behaviors of people, affecting everything from daily activities to moods to crime to romance. A vast number of Americans have at one time or another consulted astrological charts for information on relationship compatibility. Astrology-based hookups have become part of the online dating networks. Web sites flood the Internet reaching out to people who want to find that special person through what is labeled as “astro-science.” Reality or Voodoo For as many believers in astrology, there are the naysayers. From Christians to atheists, plenty of people think astrology is hogwash. Many believe that astrology is a superstition – a pseudoscience, and that psychology explains the belief in astrology as cognitively based. But some renowned figures in the U.S. believe astrology is a worthy prophet. Inventors, scientists, authors and doctors have believed that astrology is as plausible as any other science. Here’s what some of our past prominent citizens had to say on the subject.
Issue 481 - 1/17/2011
ON YOUR MARK... GET SET... GO... SNIPPETZ TAKES YOU TO THE RACES by Deborah Stumpf “Racing is a matter of spirit not strength.” - Janet Guthrie Psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and other “ists” have studied competition for decades. Is it an innate or learned behavior? Or is it some of both? Nonetheless, proof of the human need or fascination with competition is everywhere. People compete with others for jobs, in sports and against themselves. And the venues for expressing the competitive spirit are numerous from racing cockroaches and bathtubs on wheels to spelling bees. If you’re an Olympic wannabe without the sponsorship, then there’s a race or contest somewhere at some time just for you. Snippetz takes a look at a few of the more … ahem … interesting contests. Dust Off Your Stair-Climbing Shoes Think running up 86 stories over 1,576 stairs as fast as you can. If you’re up to it, you can enter the Race to the Top, an annual tradition since 1978 whereby runners take to the stairs of New York’s Empire State Building. From 1999 through 2003, Australian Paul Crake won this race. His fastest time of 9 minutes and 33 seconds is still the time to beat. This year’s race will be held on Feb. 1, 2011. Prefer to Sit? Grab a bathtub and slap some wheels on it (see photo above) and you can enter Nome, Alaska’s Great American Bathtub Race on Labor Day. After spending a bundle of money on travel and many hours to get to Nome, you and four friends only need $20 for your race entry fee. Be sure to get there a few days early to grab yourself a competitive tub and wheels from the local landfill. One gets to be up to his or her neck in hot bubbly water in the tub while four teammates do the pulling along Front Street. The grand prize: bragging rights. Calling Creative Cooks If you’re a culinary genius, check out the Austin, Texas SPAMARAMA, otherwise known as the Pandemonious Potted Pork Festival held on April Fool’s Day. There is a SPAM cook-off and other festivities to include a tug-of-war contest pitting teams over a pool of SPAM jelly. Nothing says all American like SPAM. Calling Creative Eaters Eating contests have been popular for decades and one of the most widely known is the hot dog eating contest held on the 4th of July in Coney Island, N.Y. at Nathan’s Famous hotdog stand. Contestants get 10 minutes to eat as many dogs as they can with a drink of their choice to assist in washing them down. The winner of this contest earns bragging rights along with a very large and fashionable Mustard Belt to wear, likely to be the envy of his or her friends. Nathan’s has hosted this American pastime since 1916. Last year, Joey Chestnut won his fourth championship in a row by downing 54 dogs. The grand prize was $10,000 with a total purse of $20,000. Enough cash to purchase antacids. Win Your Wife’s Weight in Beer! Not to be outdone by Finland’s Wife Carrying World Championship, Sunday River, Maine is the home of the North American Wife Carrying Championship. Carry the little lady through a 278-yard obstacle course with the best time and win your wife’s weight in beer and five times her weight in cold hard cash. Legend has it this race came from the old tradition in Finland whereby a man would run into a village, grab a prospective wife, literally, and carry her off into the sunset. Thanks to women’s rights, since 2005 the little lady can now carry the big guy through the obstacle course if she so chooses. Coffin Races, Polar Plunges and Frozen Dead Guys … Oh My If your town housed a frozen dead guy in a storage shed complete with weekly dry ice deliveries and a documentary about him, you’d probably want to host a festival to celebrate too. The town of Nederland, Colo., just west of Boulder, is home to the three-day Frozen Dead Guy Days held the first weekend in March. There’s something for everyone at this festival including pancake breakfasts, parade of hearses, coffin races, scavenger hunts, a polar plunge and the Blue Ball. There’s also the grandpa look-alike and alien ice queen costume contests. Grandpa is Grandpa Bredo Morstoel who died in 1989 and has been kept in a cryogenic state in a TuffShed in hopes that advances in technology will bring grandpa back to life some day. If you’re thinking you’d like to visit grandpa Bredo, think again. His TuffShed is tough to get to, so it’s best to stick with the festival in his honor. Donations are always accepted to help keep grandpa in the manner in which he has become accustomed. This year’s festival motto: Freeze the Day. Catchy. Manitou Springs, Colo. hosts the Emma Crawford Festival featuring a coffin race and parade in her honor. Crawford’s claim to fame? Emma and her family moved to Manitou Springs in 1889 in hopes that the environment would help cure her tuberculosis. One day she hiked to the top of Red Mountain and had a vision while there. She tied a scarf to a tree and stated that her dying wish was to be buried there. When she died in 1891 at the age of 19, her fiancé and his friends did indeed bury her at that site. Spiritual hikers often visited her there and eventually she was relocated to a different side of the slope to make room for a train to go up the mountain. Not only did the railroad fail, but Crawford’s coffin was affected by erosion and slid down the mountain after an especially severe rainstorm. Eventually, her remains were buried in Crystal Valley Cemetery. Legend has it that Crawford will not rest until she is moved back to the top of Red Mountain, so she continues to haunt those slopes. Starting in 1994, Manitou Springs has held a parade in her honor as well as a coffin race each year at the end of October. As in the bathtub races, coffin races have teams of five members with one coffin rider and four pulling it on wheels. Awards are given for the race winners as well as the best decked out coffin and its costumed team members. Gentlemen, Start Your Lawnmowers With only a trophy and bragging rights, hundreds enter lawnmower racing events every year in many towns around the world as well as in the U.S. These lawnmower racing enthusiasts have their own association – United States Lawn Mower Racing Association – with an official website of www.letsmow.com. If lucky enough to win a regional championship, this “grassroots” movement goes on to compete at the national championships every Labor Day weekend. This group loves adding to their 45 chapters across the country – “The Mow, the Merrier.” A Redneck’s Dream If you’re looking for inexpensive entertainment, then the Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin, Geo. might be the ticket. Held in July of each year, entry fees are only $5.00 for contests such as bobbin’ for pig’s feet, redneck horseshoes, hubcap hurling and toilet seat pitching. Such a deal. A Race for Nothing If all this talk of competition and festivals is too much, then head off to Telluride, Colo. for their Nothing Festival. Complete with a city permit, the festival began in 1991 and boasts absolutely no races, contests or activities each year at a designated time in the month of July. The annual theme: Thank you for not participating! Issue 482 - 1/24/2011
SNIPPETZ GOES FOR THE SILENT TREATMENT: WHEN MOVIES DIDN'T TALK by Deborah Stumpf 
“The movie people would have nothing to do with me until they heard me
speak in a Broadway play, then they all wanted to sign me for the silent movies.” -W.C. Fields Few Americans under the age of 90 can relate to the early beginnings of the movie industry. With surround sound and special sound effects, it’s almost unfathomable to think about moviegoers of the 21st century sitting in theatres watching plots develop with nary a word. It might be hard to sit still, maybe the reason the first 20 years of silent movies were just a few minutes in length. The first silent movies were spinoffs of photography. The work of French and British photographers of the 19th and 20th centuries spawned the development of motion picture cameras, projectors and transparent celluloid film. In 1888, American George Eastman developed a stable type of celluloid film and sensitized roll photographic film, along with the Kodak small box camera. In 1889, he invented a celluloid roll film with photographic emulsion out of synthetic plastic material that was coated with gelatin. Thomas Edison and his British assistant developed early motion picture cameras and projectors. Although two brothers from France – Louis and Auguste Lumiere – have been dubbed the “founding fathers of modern film” worldwide, in the U.S., four companies, including the Edison Manufacturing Co., were vying for dominance in the film industry. Edison had often claimed that it was “his” movie industry. He tried to buy patents from his competitors; some he sued. The Story Film and Nickelodeons In the early 1900s, Edison hired Edwin Porter, who began making short narrative films: Jack and the Beanstalk in 1902; The Life of an American Fireman in 1903. That same year, Porter produced The Great Train Robbery based on a real-life train robbery. Made in New Jersey, it was the first narrative Western film with a story line. The film was also the first motion picture hit featuring a future western film icon, Gilbert Anderson, aka Bronco Billy. Porter also developed the process of editing films, which inarguably furthered the development of the artistry of cinema. The “flickers” as they were called became a widely touted form of entertainment for everyone. Storefronts and parlors were converted into movie houses. Because the admission charge was usually a nickel – the first cinema theatres became known as nickelodeons. The first nickelodeon opened in Pittsburgh in June 1905 with a showing of The Great Train Robbery. Working-class immigrants comprised the majority of the audience and films lasted between 10 minutes and one hour. The demand for this form of entertainment increased the number of films being produced and upped the profits. By 1908, America had about 8,000 neighborhood theatres – now called movie palaces. The Feature Film Producers were guarded about making movies that would last more than an hour. In 1911 in Manhattan, Dante’s Inferno was the first feature-length film released in its entirety. It took two years to make and cost more than $180,000. Francesco Bertolini, Giuseppe de Liguoro and Adolfo Padovan were the directors of the 69-minute film. But the first film shown in its entirety was Oliver Twist in 1912, followed by Queen Elizabeth and Richard III. The Epics In 1915, film as art reached new heights with the silent movie Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith, who was born to a poor family on a small farm in Kentucky. His father was a Confederate soldier and Civil War hero. In his movie, Griffith created and perfected many cinematic methods, such as flashback and crosscutting, along with parallel editing and incredible actions shots. His ingenuity and newly found celebrity was marred when conflicts arose over the theme of Birth of a Nation. Black audiences were outraged by racism depicted in the film, which was viewed as a catalyst to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Still, Birth of a Nation was called the first masterpiece of cinema. As a story of the Civil War, Griffith brought the war to life in an unprecedented way. In his next movie, Griffith brought prejudice under a microscope with the 1916 release of Intolerance. The film begged for “brotherhood” and “understanding” toward social reformers. Griffith went on to direct “Broken Blossoms” and “Way Down East.” But these films would never reach the distinctions accorded to Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. In 1919, Griffith formed a film-making company, United Artists, with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin – all renowned silent film stars. For 10 years, he made films with the company and Paramount, but his films in the Roaring 20s didn’t appeal as much to the younger crowd. Although he was the first to present a true epic, he was unable to find work the last 15 years of his life. In the summer of 1948, Griffith died in a tiny hotel room in Los Angeles. Lillian Gish, another famous silent movie actress, called Griffith the “father of film,” and Charlie Chaplin called him a “teacher of us all.” About Charlie If you're really truthful with yourself, it's a wonderful guidance. Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin was not only a prolific actor of silent movies, but also a film maker, script writer, composer and author – a master of the media of his time. With uncanny and expressive physical movement, Chaplin perfected the character of Tramp, which he first debuted in Kid Auto Races at Venice. As a champion of the little guy and loved by moviegoers, the character of Tramp became Chaplin’s signature role. Tramp still defines Chaplin in pictures today: the Hitler-type mustache, baggy pants, oversized shoes, a bowler hat and the cane. As a film maker, Chaplin produced a plethora of movies for the cinema. Among them were Gold Rush, Women of Paris and the Circus, for which he received his first Academy Award. When sound was added to the cinema in the 1930s, Chaplin at first refused to go along with it. He maintained the silent film in 1931 with City Lights. Despite his snub at the talkies, Chaplin’s composition of the entire score for the movie wowed the industry, and critics loved City Lights. At the London premier, Albert Einstein was Chaplin’s invited guest. Sitting next to him at the Los Angeles premier was Bernard Shaw. Chaplin wasn’t afraid to address volatile issues in his films. “The Great Dictator” in 1939 was patterned after Hitler. When he was 70 years old, he took on the hysteria and political intolerance present in the U.S. during the Cold War years of the 1940s and 1950s in the film A King in New York. British born, Chaplin himself had been branded as a “foreign liberal” in the U.S. and was targeted by many witch-hunting political groups during the Cold War. He left the U.S. in 1952 and died Christmas Day in 1977; he was 78 years old. Silent Snippetz
The End In 1929, the movie Applause was released featuring a soundtrack with overlapping dialogue. The talkies were born. Ernst Lubitsch’s first talkie, The Love Parade (1929/30), received six Academy Award nominations. In 1931, Lewis Milestone used a mobile camera combined with “rapid-fire” dialogue and fast editing in the filming of the play The Front Page, the first of the newspaper genre movies. Sound had arrived. Issue 483 - 1/31/2011
SNIPPETZ IS READY FOR THE SUPERBOWL... COMMERCIALS by Deborah Stumpf Come Monday morning after Super Bowl Sunday, the talk around the water cooler won’t be all about quarterback sneaks, touchdowns and referee blunders. Nope. Instead, they’ll be talking about Budweiser, Pepsi and General Motors – and all the rest of the commercials, everyone arguing over which commercial they loved best. Throughout the years, the people behind those Super Bowl commercials have upped the ante on the ingenuity factor involved in creating ads. It’s a competition among the big corporations that rivals the football game. And the advertisers are paying a hefty price to be part of the dog-eat-dog market. The High Cost of Laughs In 1967, as the Green Bay Packers were playing the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever Super Bowl, the cost of a 60-second ad sold for $75,000 to $85,000. When Super Bowl XLV rolls around Feb. 6, corporate giants like Coca-Cola and Doritos will pay about $3 million for a 30-second spot. According to Reuters, CBS has indicated that 90 percent of the ads have been sold. Sixty million viewers watched that first Super Bowl on television. In 2010, when the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl No. 44, 106 million people watched it on T.V. That number surpassed the 1983 finale of “M-A-S-H” and became the most-watched program in U.S. television history, according to Nielsen. Those stats have attracted all sorts of advertisers. Beer, sodas, snacks and cars dominated the advertising scene in the 1990s. In the beginning of the 21st century, the dot.com and high-tech companies took over the ad spots; however, it was short-lived when the dot.com bubble burst in March 2000. Sacked From the Super Bowl The networks obviously have the option to turn away ads they feel are tasteless or considered risky business. There are ads that sprouted such a fuss they never made it to the screen. Check out the scripts of a few banned ads.
Touchdowns The following ads were listed among ESPN viewers and Women’s Day Magazine favorites. In no particular order:
Should Have Been Benched? Some of these ads fall under the controversial category and maybe should have been taken out of the game altogether.
The Analysis Perhaps Neal Burns, former advertising executive and now a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said it best. "There's always this quasi-philosophical argument about whether advertising creates the culture or reflects the culture, but either way it tells us something about ourselves.” Issue 484 - 2/7/2011
SNIPPETZ ASKS: WHAT'S IN A NAME? by Deborah Stumpf “The name of a man is a numbing blow from which he never recovers.” -Marshall McLuhan Henry John Deutschendorf (see photo above), Reginald Dwight and Karen Johnson are all famous celebrities who have something in common. They all changed their birth names. Fans know them as John Denver, Elton John and Whoopi Goldberg, respectively. There are numerous reasons people change their names, but having a dislike for one’s name is No. 1. Actors, politicians, athletes, singers – they often adopt new names for publicity reasons. It’s hard to imagine “Rocky Mountain High” by Henry Deutschendorf. Some change first names only. Long ago, this sports icon’s dad came up with a nickname that would surely be more electrifying in the midst of fame than his birth name. Eldrick Woods just isn’t as “cool” as Tiger. People change names when they get married, divorced or perhaps for religious reasons. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was Cassius Clay when he first stepped in the ring. Gone To The Dogs Last August, 44-year-old Gary Guy Mathews went before a judge to change his name to Boomer the Dog. Mathews is an anthropomorphic – someone who attributes human characteristics to animals. “Boomer the Dog” is based on an old NBC show, “Here’s Boomer,” about a stray dog that saved people in trouble. When Mathews appeared in court in Alleghany County, Penn., he presented a letter of support to the judge from Hobnose Bordercollie. Although Mr. Bordercollie appears as such on Facebook, nothing has indicated he legally changed his name to Hobnose B. However, if anyone would like to view a video of Hobnose and Boomer playing in an abandoned train station, just Google their “doggie” names. The judge denied the name change, and, according to his blog, Mathews is appealing. It’s All in the Name Duly noted from above, a name can reveal a lot (or too much) about a person – and the same goes for parents. We are at the mercy of mom and dad when it comes to our birth names. On occasion, it appears as if some parents are borderline sadistic. Of course, if you are the children of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, you can probably get by with names like Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. Same goes for Gwyneth Paltrow’s little girl, Apple. But even the sweetest kid in class couldn’t resist, “Here’s an Apple for the teacher.” Last names often dictate (one would think) what a parent shouldn’t name a child. But that’s not always the case. In 1882, James Steven Hogg, governor of Texas, named his daughter Ima. First-grade roll call wouldn’t be so funny for Ima Hogg. Bill and Moya Lear (Lear Jet) had a daughter named Shanda Lear. Retired airman Stan Still from the United Kingdom once told a reporter that his name had been a “blooming millstone” around his neck for his “entire life.” His commanding officer used to belly laugh as he shouted, “Stan Still, get a move on.” One can’t blame the parents for their child’s career decision, however. How would they have known that Les Plack would become a dentist in San Francisco? Maybe some people choose their professions based on their names, such as Dr. Leslie Doctor of Westport, Conn. Not So Funny Perhaps some parents think they can buy their children’s way out of a life of excessive teasing. Actors David Duchovny and Tea Leoni must have had a good laugh when they named their kid, “Kyd.” “Hey, Kyd.” “Where ya going, Kyd?” Actress Shannyn Sossamon named her daughter Audio Science. Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller must have been looking for Vegas material when he and his wife named their oldest child, Moxie Crimefighter. Apparently, Penn’s wife didn’t have a middle name so they decided it didn’t matter much anyway. Actor Rob Morrow’s child will eventually need psychiatric care after all the “tu-morrows” he will hear in his lifetime. What was Morrow thinking when he named his kid, “Tu?” Etymology and Popularity Many people name their children based on the meaning of one part of a name, or the original literal meaning, which is called the etymology of a name. For example, “bert” is a name element that appears in common German names like Albert and Robert – “bert” means “bright.” And many people simply follow the trends – and some set them. According to the Social Security Administration, the following names were the top-10 most popular for boys in 2009: At No. 1 was Jacob, then Ethan, Michael, Alexander, William, Joshua, Daniel, Jayden, Noah and Anthony. Notably, Michael came in second in popularity from 1999 through 2008. Daniel and Joshua have remained in the top 10 since 1999. Jayden was listed at No. 254 in 1999. Coming in at No. 1 for female names was Isabella, followed by Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Emily, Madison, Abigail, Chloe and Mia. From 1999 through 2007, Emily held the No. 1 spot. Madison has remained in the top 10 since 1999; Mia was No. 120 in 1999; Ava was No. 259. Thoroughbreds and Names People have fun naming their pets, and the process is often as thoughtful as naming a child. But in the horse racing world, a name is a statement, a proclamation, a testimony to the will of the horse, or the owner. In a National Public Radio interview, Jockey Club registrar Rick Bailey said he once received a letter from the White House allowing an owner to register their horse with the name Barbara Bush. In 2005, the Jockey Club denied an owner’s request to name his horse Sally Hemmings, after Thomas Jefferson’s slave (and alleged mistress). The names of horses that win major races must be retired permanently; other names can be used again over time. A few winning horses and the reasons behind their names:
From Amazon to Apple Ever wonder what’s behind the name of some of the most successful businesses? Here are a few answers.
Just for Fun Besides John Denver, there are many other celebs, from movies to politics, who have changed their names. Can you match the names? Answers below
Answers: 1. E; 2. A; 3. F; 4. B; 5. H; 6. I; 7. C; 8. J; 9. G; 10.D
Issue 485 - 2/14/2011
SNIPPETZ IS CLEANING OUT OUR COMPUTERS by Deborah Stumpf “Want to make your computer go really fast? Throw it out a window!” -Author unknown If you think that Feb. 14 is just Valentine’s Day, think again. For computer geeks, it’s a very special occasion – National Clean Out Your Computer Day – and is celebrated, so to speak, on the second Monday in February. The “holiday” was originally sponsored by the Institute for Business Technology. We at Snippetz don’t profess to be gurus of the computer – that’s why we have Bill Gates. There are also vast resources to be found on the Internet, if your computer is running fast enough to get there. And the local computer repair shop is full of folks who care very little about a heart shaped box of chocolates, but whose hearts go all a’twitter over the thought of an impending computer crash. If you are a computer owner, these people are your best friends. We offer you some tips stolen from the likes of Microsoft and others in the know about how to clean up your computer, inside and out. First, Some Interesting Stats Did you know: • The average executive spends six weeks per year looking for computer files and documents. • The average American has about 1,800 digital files. • As a whole, Americans search for misplaced items nine million hours per day. • In 2007, we threw away 40 million computers. • Overheating is the biggest cause of computer failure. Hey, Check Out Those Dust Bunnies! If you turned your keyboard upside down and the makings of a meal fell out or the vents on your computer’s CPU are covered in dust, it might be time to clean the computer and its components. All those dust bunnies can cause overheating and computer malfunction. The logical place to start is with your manufacturer’s instructions because some will void warranty coverage if you open up the back panel of your CPU. Next, gather together a dust free cloth, screwdriver, rubbing alcohol, compressed air (cans available for purchase at office supply stores), cotton swabs and water. Turn the computer off, unplug it and get ready to make it shine. For a desktop system, look at the back panel to find either knobs to turn or buttons to press to release the side panel. In some cases, you may need a screwdriver. For a notebook or laptop, turn the computer upside down on a towel and remove the battery. There is usually a small panel fastened with Phillips screws that can be removed. Don’t touch anything inside the CPU, but follow these steps: Inside 1. Pick out dust bunnies carefully with a cotton swab or use tweezers if you have a steady hand. 2. Keeping it about 4 inches away from the machine parts, blow compressed air around the components and in the corners, making sure you aim the air so that it blows the dust away from components and crevices. This might be the time to put some safety glasses on to protect your eyes. 3. Blow air into the fans, being careful not to apply too much pressure as they are delicate and will crack easily. Use quick bursts of air and possibly hold onto the blades with your fingertips using a lint free towel or cotton swab. 4. Again, gently blow air into the disc drives and ports. 5. Use a slightly moist cloth to wipe the inside of the cover before replacing it. Be sure to let it dry before replacing the cover. Outside Dip a cotton swab into some rubbing alcohol and run it around all the openings on the outside of the computer case. Keyboard Turn the keyboard upside down and give it a gentle shake. Then use the can of compressed air to blow out the remaining crumbs and dust particles. The experts say never to do what I do, and that is take your vacuum cleaner attachment to the keyboard. This can cause a static electrical charge and computers like static about as much as they like moisture – not! Next, take cotton swabs dipped in alcohol to clean on and around the keyboard keys. Be extra careful when using this procedure when cleaning the keyboard of your laptop. Mouse First, disconnect the mouse from the computer and then use a towel moistened with rubbing alcohol to wipe the exterior surface. If you have a mechanical mouse, remove the cover. Remove the track ball and wash with water and air dry before replacing. Use the same cotton swab procedure to wipe down the inside components of the mouse before drying and replacing the cover. Monitor For one of those dinosaur CRT monitors that look like a TV, use regular glass cleaning solution, but nothing that includes alcohol or ammonia which can damage the screen. There is nothing to open here and any attempt at opening up a monitor may cause severe damage. For LCD’s and flat-panel monitors, use a water moistened lint-free cloth to wipe the screen gently. Never spray anything directly onto one of these screens. Check the manufacturer’s suggestions if this doesn’t get it clean enough. Feeling a Little Sluggish? If your computer is dragging, then it’s time for an internal cleanup. This is the easy stuff to do. If you have Windows XP or a newer operating system, there are several utilities available to do the job. Microsoft recommends performing these cleanup utilities about once every month. Search and Destroy First, run a Disc Check to locate and repair hard drive errors. • Click on “My Computer” • Right click on “C drive” • Choose “Properties” • Select the “Tools” Tab • Click the "Check Now" button under "Error Checking" • Check all the boxes • Click “Start” Clean It Up While browsing the Internet, the computer takes on hundreds or even thousands of temporary files. These are great for getting those Web sites to load quickly, but clutters up the hard drive. To clean them up, run Disc Cleanup. • Click on “My Computer” • Right click on your C drive • Choose “Properties” • Select “Disk Cleanup” Defragment Over time, everything you add to your computer is put into files that are added to and changed. The files then tend to break into “chunks” of data; hence, the term fragmentation. The computer runs slower because it has to search harder to find information. Using the Disc Defragmenter can take over an hour or so to run, but may well be worth the increased speed of the machine. Set this up when you know you won’t need to use the computer for awhile. • Click on “My Computer “ • Right click on the C drive • Select “Properties” • Choose the “Tools” tab • Click "Defragment Now" button under "Defragmentation" Take Out the Trash When you put files into the Recycle Bin, they stay there until you empty it out just in case you change your mind. These files take up a lot of space and should be emptied periodically. • From the desktop, right click on “Recycle Bin” and select “Empty Recycle Bin.” Decisions, Decisions Now it’s time to clean up all the old documents and files on the hard drive. If you can’t stand the thought of deleting old files, them move them to CD’s or purchase a portable hard drive. Then it’s a snap to select files to move. This frees up more disc space and eliminates the clutter that you wade through every time you try to find a file. Back Up, Back Up, Back Up If you’ve ever had a computer hard drive crash and lost all of your files, you understand the importance of backing up. There are inexpensive software programs that can do this for you as frequently as you wish – daily, weekly or monthly depending on how many files you generate. If or when the dreaded crash happens, you are up and running once again with a minimal amount of pain and anguish. What’s Left? Now for that dreaded organization part. Think of your computer like a file cabinet. In a file cabinet important documents likely get put into a folder and appropriately labeled. Same thing here, but it’s even quicker. Depending upon how many files you might have waiting for a real home, this might take a couple of 30-minute sessions to complete. First, look at the files: • Right click on the “Start” button • Select “Explorer” • Select “Shared Documents” or “My Documents” or the place where all of the files are kept. Think of possible categories that would help you determine how files could be placed. There could be home folders, work folders, etc. Each folder can then have subfolders. Work files might have names of clients or projects. Home files might have photo files, tax files, personal correspondence. To make folders, while in “My Documents” or “Shared Documents” • Click on “File” • Select “New” • Select “Folder” • Name the folder Once you name that folder, you can then click and drag any document into it easily. Right clicking on any file name also allows you to rename the file. This would be a good time to give a name to all those photos that are now named with an odd assortment of meaningless numbers. If you have hundreds or thousands of photos and the task seems too daunting, try sorting them into folders that identify them, such as Susie’s 10th birthday, 2010 Christmas or Johnnie’s baby pics. Now that you’ve done some basic cleanup work on the computer and it’s running faster and smoother, be sure to do an Internet search to find more helpful computer cleanup and organization tips such as deleting software programs no longer used and facing the e-mail pileup. A periodic purging and filing of those emails will save hours in the long run and free up computer space and energy. There, now doesn’t that feel better? Issue 486 - 2/21/11
SNIPPETZ CARRIES A TUNE... KARAOKE ANYONE? by Deborah Stumpf 
“Singing is such an excellent thing, that I wish all people would sing”
-Richard Byrd Whether it’s rock, blues, country or classical; music star wannabes don’t have to wait for American Idol to come to their town. They just need to find the nearest pub or bar offering karaoke night. Then, with a bit of moxie, they’re on stage, and suddenly the wannabe takes on the persona of the likes of a Springsteen or Madonna. It’s their three and a half minutes of fame. Karaoke in Kobe The word “karaoke” comes from two Japanese words: “kara” means empty and “oke” or “okesutora” means orchestra. Empty orchestra – karaoke – pretty much defines the pastime that remains a favorite of the Japanese people. Karaoke became popular in the U.S. in the early 1990s. Bars and lounges that held a “Karaoke Night” soon discovered a crowd-pleasing money maker. Of course, when karaoke first came on the scene, many willing participants imbibed a few too many, generating a lot of laughs from the audience. But the karaoke wave caught on, and wannabe songsters rode it with great pride (or a missing sense of reality) as they conquered stage fright and stepped up to entertain the crowds. These amateurs grab a microphone and belt out a song as they follow the words displayed on a screen. The invention of the karaoke machine belongs to a Japanese man, who didn’t get recognized for his accomplishment until much later. In 1970, Daisuke Inoue and six colleagues were playing the bars of Kobe, Japan, accompanying businessmen who wanted to sing Japanese country songs. Inoue, the only one who couldn’t read music or rely on memory, had to play drums by following the lips of the singers. An avid devotee – and the president of a small steel company – of Inoue’s laid back, follow-along music style, asked him to accompany him on an overnight trip to a resort. However, Inoue couldn’t leave his job, so he gave the businessman a tape of the musical accompaniment, and the gentleman was able to entertain his colleagues without the band. Inoue realized the potential of this accompaniment style and began making homemade boxes and fitting them with specially made tapes and amplifiers. In 1971, he and his buddies started leasing the machines to the bars in Kobe. And the rest, as they say, is history. Because he never patented his karaoke machine, Inoue didn’t make much money from his invention, and his karaoke business eventually went down the tubes. However, he did make money from a potion he created to keep cockroaches and rats from chewing the karaoke boxes. Although he didn’t get rich, he eventually received the long overdue recognition as the inventor of karaoke. In 1996, Inoue was finally connected to the karaoke machine when a TV channel in Singapore picked up the story. Three years later, “Time” magazine described Inoue as one of the “most influential Asians of the century.” In 2004, Inoue was awarded an Ig Nobel Peace Prize for inventing karaoke. When he accepted the award at Harvard University, he sang a rendition of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” and a standing ovation followed. The audience of Nobel Prize laureates then sang “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” to Inoue. “I think karaoke has helped to transform the Japanese people,” Inoue once said. “They're said to be shy and poor at expressing themselves in public. But give a guy a microphone and the same man who has trouble getting out a wedding speech never wants to stop." The Machine It might be less intimidating to sing from home, and the home karaoke machine brings the rock star out of the shower and into the living room. A basic home karaoke machine has audio input and output. The most popular machines, according to Home Karaoke, are audio mixers with microphone input built in with CD+G, video CD, laser disc or DVD players. CD+G players use a special track called subcode to encode lyrics and display pictures on the screen. Cost starts at about $200 and goes up from there. Commercial karaoke machines are a bit more techno. Some are computers that have been modified with special software for Karaoke purposes, with features like unlimited downloads, professional audio capabilities and plentiful storage and memory. There are jukebox systems as well. And a few disc jockeys have capitalized on the popularity of karaoke by setting up businesses that lease DJ services and karaoke machines. Karaoke has become big business – and big competition. World Championships Since 2003, people from all over the globe have come together in one spot to participate in the Karaoke World Championships. In 2010, they met in Moscow, Russia; in 2011, singers from 20 countries will meet in September in Killarney, Ireland. Unlike karaoke practiced in living rooms and bars, the world championship attracts singers comparable to the talent of Carrie Underwood or Bon Jovi. Winners are decided in both men’s and women’s categories; their prize is a recording deal. The top winners in Moscow last year were both from Finland. All entrants must first go through national trials within their own country. Move over American Idol, the Karaoke World Championships USA, an affiliate of KWC, is coming to television in the summer of 2011. “America’s Karaoke Challenge” will pit singers from all over the country against one another to “crown a new king and queen.” Statewide competitions must be certified through KWCUSA, and this year the contests will take place in May. Regional competitions take place in June and July, and the national championship is in August. Past winners of the U.S. competition have proved worthy challengers internationally. The 2010 U.S. champs – both from New Mexico – placed in the top five in Moscow. Tami Marie, female U.S. champion, placed third, and the No. 1 male, Edward Pimentel, placed in the top five. Pimentel also won the “Audience Favorite Award.” Marie’s favorite song for performing was “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston and Pimental’s was “Here I Stand” by Usher. Top 10 Karaoke Songs For the ordinary home and bar/lounge karaoke gigs, participants seem to gravitate to the same songs. The following list is definitely arguable, and the most popular karaoke tunes are most likely different in Colorado than let’s say Florida (think Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra). But this “seasoned” karaoke follower (who says she’s listened to karaoke in dive bars, piano bars, hotel lobbies, work-related parties and Chinese restaurants) listed these songs as the top 10 on her karaoke route, and they seem to parallel many songs in other top 10 versions. Starting with No. 10: 10. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen Regulars on the karaoke circuit don’t sing this – because it’s nine minutes long, but rookies don’t know that. 9. “Black Velvet” by Canadian singer Alannah Myles It’s seemingly easy and fun to sing. 8. “Hey Jude” Can sometimes put the audience to sleep, especially when it comes to two minutes of “na na na na na na na na” 7. “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John A song by Elton John is a karaoke staple. 6. “Summer Nights” from the movie “Grease” Songs from movie soundtracks, and specifically “Grease” songs, often make their way into the karaoke rotation, but none so often as “Summer Nights.” 5. “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benetar Sing it, girl. This one’s for all those female rocker wannabes. 4. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond A favorite of the older karaoke crowd and the most popular of Diamond’s songs 3. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks Audiences like to sing along as well with this Brooks favorite. 2. “Total Eclipse” of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler Better know how to hit those high notes. 1. “Picture” by Kid Rock and Cheryl Crow (original authors and singers) This song is a big favorite of men and women who want to sing a duet. “My Way” to the Highway In the Philippines, the news media has reported that at least half a dozen victims have died from fights fueled by the karaoke singing of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” People have speculated on the reasons the song incites fights, but nothing concrete has been determined. Many of the country’s karaoke bars have taken the song out of the circuit. Apparently, it’s not just the Philippines. In the past two years a Malaysian man was fatally stabbed for taking too much time on the microphone. And a Thai man killed eight of his neighbors in a rage after singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. Not to be left out, the U.S. has had its own karaoke crimes. In a Seattle bar, a woman punched a man for singing Coldplay’s version of “Yellow.” She didn’t like his version. The lesson here: Don’t be afraid to get on stage, but if you have a voice that just doesn’t measure up, watch your back! Issue 487 - 2/28/2011
SNIPPETZ SAYS, A LITTLE RECOGNITION, PLEASE by Deborah Stumpf “Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company.” -Zig Ziglar Recognizing and rewarding employees for their contributions not only boosts morale but also a company’s bottom line. While employees are primary sources for increasing revenues, losing them can put a company in the red. Depending on the job level, American Management Association studies concluded that it costs employers between 25 and 250 percent of an annual salary per the employee who quits. In the old days, employees worked at just one company for their lifetime. Today, there are few gold watches for employee longevity. The average tenure with a company is five years, so retaining employees is another reason for recognizing them. In 1995, a founding board member of Recognition Professionals International launched Employee Appreciation Day to motivate employers industry wide to recognize employees for their hard work. Since establishing the employee day – always on the first Friday of March – the RPI has been organized as a nonprofit that focuses on recognition innovations and education to improve the workplace. Lessons from the Leaders RPI also rewards company leaders for maintaining employee recognition programs. Employees reward them, too, by rating them among the best companies to work for. In one study, employees across industries were asked if they received recognition for their good work. About 55 percent said yes; and, among the top 10 percent of the best companies, 66 percent said yes. Some companies appreciate their employees with perks like free food, gyms and laundry services. The following companies made Fortune magazine’s 2010 list of the top 100 employers in the U.S. The Top-10
Employers: More for Less Not all companies can afford a state-of-the-art gym, on-site laundry and child care services or big bonuses. But all of the above companies were recognized for appreciating their employees, too. And a little bit can go a long way. RPI came up with some ideas to help employers recognize their employees. Here are a few.
In Receipt Of Want to be on the receiving end? How to be an employee worthy of the boss’s attention isn’t rocket science. But one successful American who has a rocket-science mind defines the following attributes of a good employee. In a nutshell, 10 traits to get recognized by Microsoft creator Bill Gates:
Happy Employee Appreciation Day! Issue 488 - 3/7/2011
SNIPPETZ IS OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD... by Deborah Stumpf Ding Dong, the witch is dead, Which old witch? The wicked witch. Ding Dong, the wicked witch is dead! - The Munchkins in the “Wizard of Oz” Who isn’t afraid of the Wicked Witch of the West? Most of us were probably afraid of that horrible green woman and her monkeys from the moment we first saw and heard her voice in the 1939 film production of “The Wizard of Oz.” (I admittedly still am every time I see it.) But the 111-year-old story is a timeless illustration of the power of friendship, bravery, love and intellect. Not to mention the warm and fuzzy. After all, “There’s no place like home.” The Book The story was published in May 1900 as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” written by L. Frank Baum. The illustrations by W.W. Denslow were thought to be even better than the story itself. The first year in print, about 21,000 copies were sold. By 1938, over a million copies had been printed; by 1956, about 3 million. Without question, the story has proved to be timeless. The book has been translated into 22 languages and has gone through many adaptations. Even though Baum never intended the story to have sequels, he eventually bowed to the pressure of thousands of children who wrote him asking for the story to continue. His first sequel, “The Marvelous Land of Oz,” was published in 1904. Then in 1907, 1908 and 1909 he wrote an additional three sequels. In 1911, he published “The Emerald City of Oz,” while at the same time announcing he would never write another sequel. But, there’s nothing like a few thousand children to force a person into doing something they don’t want to do. Once again, Baum gave in and wrote a sequel annually starting in 1913 until he died in 1919. He once wrote, “To please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one’s heart and brings its own reward.” Clearly he lived by that. The Film The film production of “The Wizard of Oz” was produced in 1939 with a starring cast that included Judy Garland, Billie Burke, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Berg Lahr, Margaret Hamilton and Frank Morgan. The film cost $2,777,000 to produce and grossed only $3,000,000 at its first release. MGM paid author L. Frank Baum $75,000 for the film rights. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and took home Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Even Dorothy Has Critics Although “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” received some critical acclaim over the decades, it has not been without its critics on the negative side. In 1957, the Detroit libraries banned the book, indicating it had “no value” for children, supported “negativism” and brought children’s minds “to a cowardly level.” Margery Hourihan, feminist author, writes that the story is a “banal and mechanistic story which is written in flat, impoverished prose,” further stating that Dorothy is simply “the girl-woman of Hollywood.” Really? Several Fundamentalist Christian families in Tennessee filed suit against the public schools for including it in their syllabus. Their argument was that the novel depicted “benevolent witches” and the human attributes of the story characters were “individually developed rather than God given.” They further purported that the novel taught children that females were equal to males. They clearly missed Hourihan’s review. The United States Library of Congress has preserved the film in the National Film Registry, calling it “culturally significant.” Some Great Lines Four lines from the movie made it on Premier magazine’s poll of 100 greatest movie lines: No. 11 – “There’s no place like home.” No. 24 – “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.” No. 62 – “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” No. 99 – “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!” Casting Challenges and Switcheroos The original director, Richard Thorpe only lasted through about two weeks of shooting when he was fired and replaced by George Cukor. Cukor changed Dorothy’s look from a blonde wig and heavy baby doll makeup to a more natural look. He also changed the Wicked Witch’s makeup, the Scarecrows clothing and the yellow brick road. Victor Fleming replaced Cukor and was responsible for most of the filming until he left to take over as director of a troubled “Gone with the Wind” film. King Vidor then took over the few remaining pieces of the production. Fanny Brice and Beatrice Lillie were both considered for the part of Glinda, the Good Witch. Ray Bolger was originally cast as the Tin Woodsman and Buddy Epsen as the Scarecrow. Bolger wanted the Scarecrow role and switched with Epsen. When Epsen suffered severe allergic reactions to the aluminum powder used in the Tin Man’s make-up, Jack Haley replaced him with no explanation given as to the reason why. Ebsen’s vocals are still in the song “We’re Off To See The Wizard.” W.C. Fields was slated to be The Wizard and was offered $75,000 to play the part, which was not enough to give up the work he was doing on writing the script for “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man.” During negotiations, the role was beefed up to include playing the Wizard, the Gatekeeper, the cab driver, Professor Marvel and the guard. They became Frank Morgan’s roles. Big Salaries? • Judy Garland earned $500 per week for a minimum of 20 weeks. • Terry, the Cairn terrier who played Toto, made $125 per week • The Munchkins each made $50 per week after their agent took $50 in commission. On Or Almost On The Cutting Room Floor The running time was initially 120 minutes, eventually cut to 102 minutes. The original film was only seen once by a test audience in California. To this day, they were the only members of the public to see the cut scenes, which included a Jitterbug dance number and a dance sequence to “If I Only Had a Brain.” Other scenes were cut after the next preview that included a scene in which the Tin Man turned into a human beehive. Many of the Wicked Witch of the West scenes were cut or shortened because they were thought to be too scary. The American Film Institute ranked the song “Over the Rainbow” No. 1 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. However, the song was almost cut because the production company felt the song was “over the heads of children” and that it was too degrading for Judy Garland to sing a song in a barnyard. The placement of the song was then moved to a scene while Dorothy was imprisoned in the witch’s castle. “Over the Rainbow” soon won an Academy Award for Best Song. More Oz Snippetz
“Well, I... I think that it... that it wasn't enough to just want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em... and it's that if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with.” - Judy Garland as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” Issue 489 - 3/14/2011
SNIPPETZ IS SEEN WEARIN' O' THE GREEN by Deborah Stumpf 
"May your blessings outnumber The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you Wherever you go." ~Irish Blessing More than a thousand years ago, the people of Ireland began observing March 17 as a religious holiday in memory of the day St. Patrick died. Roman Catholics in Ireland still celebrate March 17 as a holy day, amid parties, too. And the secular celebration has become a worldwide festivity rivaling the New Orleans Mardi Gras. All because of one man who changed the history of Ireland. St. Patrick Magonus Sucatus was born in the fourth century to wealthy parents in Roman Britain. His father and grandfather were deacons in the church. Magonus would later become Patricius or Patrick. At age 16, Patrick was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland, where for six years he worked as a shepherd. Eventually, Patrick escaped his captivity on a rescue ship and fled to France. When he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary, he often used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to potential converts. The three leaves of the shamrock represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because snakes or serpents were symbolic to the pagan religion, St. Patrick has often been depicted driving the snakes out of Ireland – most likely a metaphor for banishing paganism from Ireland. Historians and biologists have said there were no snakes in Ireland at the time. After 30 years of bringing Christianity to Ireland, St. Patrick died – revered as a champion for Christianity, and eventually known as the patron saint of Ireland. Erin Go Bragh Because of Irish immigration to America during the potato famine years, Irish communities became widespread, especially in bigger cities like Boston and New York City. But the Irish never forgot their homeland, and on St. Patrick’s Day the Irish eyes were smiling. They brought to America a celebration that would forever be in the hearts of all people. For on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. The Revelers and Parades The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in New York City March 17, 1762, when a small band of Irish New Yorkers marched to an inn to celebrate the day. The St. Patrick’s Day parade tradition even pre-dated the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That first parade was held on lower Broadway; as the Irish danced their way down the street with great pride, they were free to speak their language, sing their songs and play the traditional bagpipes. For the first few years, military units organized the parades. After the War of 1812, Irish fraternal societies began sponsoring St. Patrick’s Day events. The parade grew, eventually proceeding toward Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Lower Manhattan, where the Archbishop of New York addressed the crowd before revelers scattered to the bars. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City is today reminiscent of its roots. Only the marching revelers are allowed – no floats, autos or other commercial entities are allowed to participate. Not that they could with a quarter of a million people marching down Fifth Avenue in front of more than 2 million spectators. On St. Patrick’s Day following Sept. 11, the parade was dedicated to police, firefighters, workers and all those who had lost their lives to the terrorist attacks. Around midday, all of the marchers and spectators paused for two minutes and they turned to face south toward the twin towers, as a prayer was said for the victims. It was said one could hear a pin drop during the tribute. That 2002 parade was the largest to-date, with about 300,000 marchers and three million spectators. Traditions: Green At one point in history in Ireland, the Irish were not allowed to show their patriotism by wearing green. So, Irish Americans free to wear whatever they wanted made sure that St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S. was as emerald green as the countryside of Ireland. The wearing of the green was actually a tradition that originated in America. Green poodles, green hair, green beer, green rivers: Green, green, everywhere there’s green. Give an Irishman lager for a month, and he’s a dead man. An Irishman is lined with copper, and the beer corrodes it. But whiskey polishes the copper and is the saving of him. - Mark Twain in “Life on the Mississippi” The day after St. Patrick’s Day, the Irishman might need to down a few whiskeys to polish his copper because on St. Patrick’s Day the green beer is flowing as fast as the Arkansas River. It’s not set in stone, but green beer probably originated in Boston or New York City because of large populations of people with Irish heritage. One theory for green beer centers on the “drowning the shamrock” custom. After the parades on St. Patrick’s Day, the men would head over to the pubs, drop a shamrock into their whisky and drink it down – all for good luck. But more likely, some bartender bloke decided one St. Patrick’s Day to throw a bit of green food coloring in the beer, in keeping with the color of the day. Whatever its beginnings, green beer on St. Patrick’s Day is as popular as, well, a green river. While New York City and Boston had their parades, Chicago came up with a green river, and we’re not talking mossy green. The Chicago River becomes a bright green – the kind of green Colorado landscapers and garden lovers would die for. And dying is what it’s all about. It all started in 1962 when city workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges. They decided the green dye could provide an unparalleled way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Chicago mayor at the time, Richard Daley, wanted to dye the lake. Yes, Lake Michigan. However, many thought his idea was a bit over the top, so they settled for the river. They released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river that year, which kept it green for a week. Since 1962, male members (no women allowed) of the Butler family have had the distinction of throwing green dye into the Chicago River. Today, it’s about 40 pounds of biodegradable vegetable dye that lasts for a day only. The late Stephen Bailey, one of the green river instigators, has said the “road from Chicago to Ireland is marked in green. From the Chicago River to the Illinois River, then to the Mississippi, up the Gulf Stream and across the Atlantic you can see the beautiful green enter the Irish Sea, clearly marking the way from Chicago to Ireland.” Leprechauns and More Corn beef and cabbage is the traditional meal of St. Patrick’s Day, but cabbage is the only thing Americans have in common with the traditional Irish grub of March 17. In Ireland, cabbage was served with Irish bacon, but when Irish immigrants moved to America, they substituted corned beef because bacon was too expensive. It is believed that Jewish neighbors introduced them to corned beef. The shamrock, as previously noted, was a teaching tool for St. Patrick. But it has also become a symbol of good luck. Of note though, the shamrock is not a four-leaf clover, which was the “good luck charm” of Ireland pre-Christianity. Leprechauns, according to legend, were tiny fairies who made shoes. The 2-feet tall little people were also guarding a treasure that had been buried by the Danes, who at one time had conquered Ireland. Since the fairies held the secret to hidden treasures, the humans tried to catch them and force them to lead the way to the pot of gold. But the fairies were hard to catch because they could “vanish” right before the human eye. When they weren’t making shoes or guarding the treasure, they were making merry by drinking, singing and dancing. St. Patrick’s Day also is a window to spring. Many times, celebrations are framed in sunshine and warmth or dogged with snow and cold. However, as Adrienne Cook once said, “St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.” Happy St. Patrick’s Day! |
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