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Issue 550 - 5/14/12
SNIPPETZ SALUTES MOMS by Deborah Stumpf “If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.” - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Someone once said that it’s a mother who, upon seeing only four slices of pie left to feed five people will promptly announce she doesn’t particularly care for that kind of pie anyway. We all want to have that kind of mother and those of us who are mothers probably want to BE that kind of mother. No matter what kind of mother we have, we set aside one day per year to officially honor the mothers in our lives. Paying homage to mothers was a long time coming with lots of blood, sweat and tears shed by some; but once the holiday took hold, the world embraced it with a vengeance, not to mention a lot of dollars – billions each year! Mothering Sunday Mother’s day as we know it is less than 100 years old. Its roots go back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Greeks held annual festivals in the spring to honor Rhea, the mother of deities of Greek mythology and the wife and sister of Cronus. Cronus was the first leader of the Titans and ruled during the Golden Age only to be overthrown by his son Zeus. Although they were a bit untraditional according to today’s standards and not a particularly nice couple, they had six children. Nonetheless, she was considered the mother of the Greek gods and goddesses. The ancient Romans held festivals in the spring to honor Cybele, also a mother goddess. The festival included offerings at her temple, parades and games. Cybele was a Greek goddess with a cult following in both Greece and Rome. Eventually, Christians held festivals on the fourth Sunday in Lent to honor the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. England picked up this custom in the 16th century. It was tradition to attend church services and then children would honor their mothers with flowers and other small gifts. It became important enough that employers would let their servants go for the day in order to visit their mothers. Along Came War Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), famous for authoring “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” also wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870 as a protest to the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. She was a champion of a Mother’s Day celebration to be held on the second Sunday in June each year in Boston; she tirelessly dedicated herself to the cause. Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) took up the cause in the early 20th century after the death of her mother, Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis. Never married and without children of her own, Jarvis is universally recognized as the mother or founder of Mother’s Day in the U.S. Her mother was a social worker and activist who believed in honoring mothers by paying tribute to their contributions to society. Jarvis and all the friends she could rally by her side began a letter-writing campaign to lobby for a government resolution of a mother’s day holiday. In just over 10 years of work, she finally got her wish when in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed the Joint Resolution authorizing an official Mother’s Day holiday on the second Sunday in May. It Wasn’t Meant to Be This Way Jarvis’ Mother’s Day vision was that the day would be one to honor our mothers, both living and dead in activity involving reflection and prayer. She did not get her wish, as the holiday became commercialized very quickly. It was said that she was arrested at one time for disturbing the peace while protesting this commercialization. She and her sister spent all the money they had on a campaign in protest, dyeing penniless without succeeding in their mission. Jarvis said: “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother – and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.” All I Really Want For Mother’s Day… …are well behaved children! Over 50 percent of moms reported this wish (impossible dream?) in a survey conducted by The Mother Company. Nearly 30 percent wanted time to themselves. Only 3 percent report wanting gifts such as flowers, candy or jewelry. Maybe Jarvis had a point and knew mothers more than we do. The National Retail Federal estimates we spend a whopping $14 billion, yes billion, on Mother’s Day. Mom Snippetz
Mother Sayings or Momisms To all you moms out there who said you would never say these things to your kids, how many of these have you discovered flying out of your mouth at one time or another, seemingly out of your control?
And the all-time favorite: “Just you wait until you have kids of your own – then you'll understand.” Happy Mother’s Day! Issue 551
SNIPPETZ GETS A LITTLE GRUMPY by Deborah Stumpf “I'm a perfect example of the grumpy, old man. I'm really good at it.” -Ned Beatty, Actor One would think that going through life as a grump is not a good thing; however, an Australian behaviorist, Professor Joe Forgas found that grumpy people are more productive on the job because they are better decision-makers and think more clearly than their happy-go-lucky counterparts. "Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world," Forgas said. It seems that the being grumpy may affect the heart negatively, though. Health psychologist Dr. Martha Whiteman at Edinburgh University found in a study of 1,600 people that “bad-tempered” folks have hardening of the arteries leading to heart disease more often than their relaxed counterparts. The Grump in All of Us Inarguably, everyone gets a little grumpy sometimes, but some people are grumpy all the time. There’s something loveable about a grump, a curmudgeon - a surly, cross, irritable, grouchy, snippy, short-tempered person. Maybe they serve as our alter egos because we all can’t walk around being surly and nasty all the time. Or can we? It’s not easy being around a grump or curmudgeon, but we sure enjoy watching them on screen and on stage. Here Are a Few Famous Grumps W. C. Fields (1880-1946) was one of the original curmudgeons. He was an actor, comedian, writer and juggler, making over 40 films in his lifetime. Fields openly disliked women, children, animals, religion and Christmas. He married Harriett Hughes and had two children. His marriage didn’t last, but he remained on good terms with his ex-wife. After his marriage to Hattie, he lived with actress Carlotta Monti, who remained at his side until his death. Reportedly, he voluntarily financially supported his children and loved his grandchildren. So much for his image. He also was not fond of fame. It is said that he would hide behind the bushes at his home and shoot people in the legs with his BB gun when they would stop and gawk. Fields was probably best known for his drinking, although he didn’t drink much in his early days. Eventually, though, it was part of his persona in film, on stage and in his real life. Alcohol-related illness was the cause of his death on a Christmas day. He was 66. It was reported that a friend discovered Fields reading the Bible before his death. When his friend questioned why Fields had taken to the Bible, he responded, “I’m checking for loopholes.” Grumpy from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the Disney film originally released in 1937, was the dwarf who was indeed grumpy about everything, but especially the presence of Snow White. Like W.C. Fields, he wasn’t fond of women and didn’t trust them. He eventually accepts and grows to love Snow White, of course, and cries when she dies and is sad to see her go after her Prince Charming awakens her with a kiss. Grumpy was actually a softy underneath, but he still personifies the stereotypical grump. Oscar the Grouch on the children’s program “Sesame Street” is a green monster who lives in a trash can. You’d be a little cranky if you lived in a trash can, too! Oscar made his debut back in 1969 as an orange Muppet monster, but changed to green after the first year. Somehow, Oscar manages to fit an unimaginable array of treasures (junk) in his trash can. He’s a hoarder who doesn’t have anything nice to say to anyone. His voice is played by Carroll Spinney, who was the original Oscar voice. Walter Matthau (1920-2000) brought grumpiness to an art form. He was in nearly 70 films, 16 stage productions and numerous television shows. He played both nice guys and villains and took home Golden Globes, Tony’s and Oscar Awards. In all his work, he is probably most famous for his portrayal of the character Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple.” Madison was the sloppy, sportswriter curmudgeon opposite the fastidious Felix Unger played by Art Carney in the stage version and Jack Lemmon in film. He and Lemmon played grumpy old men in “Grumpy Old Men” and the sequel “Grumpier Old Men.” Talk about loveable curmudgeons – these guys were the epitome. The Matthau-Lemmon duo made a total of 11 films together. Archie Bunker, the grumpy, opinionated, bigoted character in the 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” was the guy we loved to watch. Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor, was a blue collar worker, a family man and an extreme conservative New Yorker. The bantering between him and his liberal son-in-law stole the show when they played out every imaginable politically incorrect topic in the comfort of your living room for 12 years. Honorable Mentions Famous grumps are too numerous to highlight, but here are a few more worth remembering.
Wallowing In Grumpiness If you really love being grumpy, then it’s time to get out there and be proud! There’s a club just for you – the International Society of Curmudgeons. You can be certified as a professional grouch and receive a certificate to prove it. Just go to http://grumpy-people.com. Becoming a Licensed Master Curmudgeon only requires a $4 investment. You can buy your favorite curmudgeon a certificate or get one for yourself. The organization claims that becoming certified will give one “sudden credibility.” Let’s Be More Positive, Shall We? If all this negativity is getting you down, then here’s some advice from Dani (http://positivelypresent.com), a self-proclaimed negativity convert. She says there are five steps to finding a happier life with being positive. Step 1: Believe Happiness is a Choice When things go wrong, don’t blame someone or something else – you are in control of your behavior and how you feel. Step 2: Rid Your Life of Negativity Negativity attracts negativity. If you rid your life of negative people, then you will be free to be positive and happy. This goes for your own negative behavior as well – change it! Step 3: Look for the Positive in Life Dani believes that even bad experiences have a positive aspect. It’s the silver lining in every cloud theory and a lifelong exercise to look for the positive in every negative situation. Step 4: Reinforce Positivity in Yourself Look for the good in yourself, too, rather than dwelling on what you did wrong or how you need to improve yourself. Step 5: Share Happiness With Others This is the “do unto others” advice – be kind to people. Sharing positivity through kind acts and words will reinforce positivity in your own life and that of others. Issue 552
SNIPPETZ LOOKS AT THE ORIGINAL FAMILY FEUD by Deborah Stumpf 
The setting was the mid 19th century along the Tug Fork River, a tributary that ran between Kentucky and West Virginia. Two families – the Hatfields and McCoys – once peaceful and even intermarried went to war, so to speak. Was it over the Civil War, a woman or a pig? Maybe all of the above. Nevertheless, the feud between these two families spawned movies, television shows and provided an historic setting for the tourist industry.
The Families Before trouble started brewing, and even after, these families were intertwined in many ways. They married one another and employed one another. These were the days of low population and cousins marrying cousins. They were rugged folk with little care for the law. They settled disputes their own way, which usually meant rifles. The Hatfields William Anderson Hatfield, also known as “Devil Anse,” was the patriarch of this West Virginia family. Devil Anse was a captain in the Confederate army, a well-known marksman and possessed a great sense of humor. He was a mountain man who over the years built a successful timber merchant business. He employed many McCoy men. Hatfield fathered 13 children – nine sons and four daughters with his wife Levicy. Their eldest son, Johnson, aka Jonse, is a key figure in the feud picture. More about him later. The McCoys The patriarch of the McCoy family from Kentucky was Randolph McCoy, known as “Ole Ran’l.” Ole Ran’l was quite the opposite of Devil Anse in that he was more intense and serious. The McCoy family was less prosperous than the Hatfields, but did own land and livestock. He married his cousin Sarah and they produced 16 children – nine sons and six daughters. One child died at birth. Their daughter Roseanna is also a key figure in this tale. The Civil War Once West Virginia was admitted into the Union in 1863, Devil Anse Hatfield feared for his family and property, so started a militia group called the Logan Wildcats to protect his turf. The Wildcats didn’t stop at defending themselves, but lived up to their name with aggressive and offensive tactics including stealing hogs and horses from the “other side.” Asa Harmon McCoy broke rank from the southern sympathizers and joined the Union Army. Asa broke his leg in the war and was sent home early. He was clearly not welcome and was indeed threatened by the Wildcats for being a traitor. It wasn’t long before he was murdered by the Wildcats. Devil Anse was the main suspect, but was found innocent once it was determined he was ill in bed at the time of the murder. The case was never brought to trial, however, as Asa was seen as a traitor by both the Hatfields and the McCoys. Many historians believe Asa Harmon McCoy’s murder was not necessarily a significant incident in the ensuing feud. In fact, life went back to normal with the families becoming increasingly intertwined in marriage and business. All This For a Pig? Then one day Ole Ran’l McCoy was visiting Floyd Hatfield, his wife’s brother-in-law who lived on the Kentucky side of the river. He noticed Floyd had a pig that looked like one of his own. He accused Floyd of stealing his pig even though pigs roamed free in those days. Pig theft was enough to go to court and that is exactly what they did. A Hatfield and Baptist minister, Ans, was the judge in the case with six Hatfields and six McCoys as jury members. Bill Staton, nephew to Ole Ran’l but married to a Hatfield, testified that the pig rightfully belonged to Floyd Hatfield. Floyd Hatfield was acquitted of the theft charges, which was said to infuriate the McCoys. A couple of Ole Ran’ls nephews, Sam and Paris McCoy, killed Bill Staton two years later in a fight. Sam McCoy went to trial for the murder, but was acquitted for reasons of self defense. Even after the acquittal, the McCoy clan was still unhappy with the fact that Sam was even taken to trial in the first place. Romeo Hatfield and Juliet McCoy Of course, every good story needs a little romance. Election days brought everyone out for socializing. On one such day in 1880, Johnse Hatfield (son of Devil Anse) and Roseanna McCoy (daughter of Ole Ran’l McCoy) fell in love (or lust), disappearing into the woods for a considerable number of hours. Some say she missed her ride home; others say that she was afraid her family would retaliate upon her return. Whatever the reason, Roseanna moved into the Jonse Hatfield residence that night. At this point, there are some conflicting stories, but suffice it to say, Jonse was a bit of a lady’s man, so an instant wife didn’t suit him well. Some say Roseanna received so much family pressure that she had to leave the Hatfield’s home to live with her aunt, Betty McCoy. Since Betty’s home was close to Jonse’s, the two managed to get together once again. On this night, Roseanna’s male relatives took matters into their own hands, surrounding the lovers and kidnapping Johnse under the guise of taking him to jail. Roseanna knew that jail wasn’t going to be the end result, but that murder would be, so she took off with abandon to find Devil Anse so that he could intervene. He and several male family members did just that and saved Johnse from certain demise. Unfortunately for Roseanna, she was left pregnant and heartbroken when Johnse married her cousin, Nancy McCoy, a few short months later. An All Out War On another election day two years later in 1882, the feud turned ugly when violence escalated. According to http://history.com, there was a dispute of sorts between two brothers of Devil Anse Hatfield and three of Ole Ran’l McCoy’s sons. Ellison Hatfield was stabbed and shot in the back by one of the McCoys. An arrest of the McCoys was attempted, but interrupted by the Hatfields. Ellison died and the Hatfields took matters into their own hands by killing the three McCoy brothers execution style – they tied them to paw paw bushes and fired 50 shots at them. The authorities indicted 20 of the Hatfields including Devil Anse for the murders. Once again, arrests did not happen. Then Perry Cline, attorney and husband of Martha McCoy got involved. Some say he wanted revenge of his own after having lost thousands of acres of land in a shady deal with Devil Anse Hatfield years earlier. Cline pulled some strings and got the murder charges reinstated while putting out a reward for the Hatfields’ arrests. A Fateful New Year On New Year’s Day in 1888, the Hatfield men staged an ambush at the McCoy’s home. Ole Ran’l McCoy got away, but his wife suffered a crushed skull in the attack; his daughter Alifair and son Calvin were killed. Frank Phillips, a bounty hunter, found Cap Hatfield and Jim Vance a few days later. He killed Vance and took nine other Hatfields to jail. Legal battles being what they tend to be, this one went on for some time, finally landing in the U.S. Supreme Court. The highest court in the land decided the Hatfields could be tried and the trial ensued in 1889. Eight of the Hatfields were sentenced to life in prison and one, Ellison Mounts, was sentenced to death by hanging in public. When all was said and done, the feud cost 13 lives. All Quiet in the Woods The Hatfield and McCoys faded into the proverbial sunset after the trial. The family’s patriarchs lived on. Ironic considering his nickname, Devil Anse Hatfield became a born again Christian at the age of 73; he died from a bout of pneumonia. Ole Rand’l became a ferry operator; he died from burns resulting from a fire. Both lived into their 80s. Issue 553
SNIPPETZ BELIEVES OUR NEED FOR WATER IS CLEAR by Deborah Stumpf 
“Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.”
- Dave Barry If someone asked you what you couldn’t possibly live without, what would you say? Would it be your kids, significant other, Facebook, chocolate, exercise, sunshine, hamburgers or your job? Wrong! It’s water. We can live without food for a month or more, but we can’t go more than up to a week without water depending on certain conditions. We need good old H2O for bodily functions like keeping our blood moving, regulating body temperature, digestion, carrying oxygen and other nutrients to our cells, eliminating waste and byproducts, keeping joins lubricated and our mouths and lungs moist, not to mention keeping our cells alive and healthy. Water is everything, yet we probably don’t give it a second thought as we go through our day. A Body of Water
How Much Do We Really Need? The rule of thumb is 8 glasses containing 8 ounces each per day. That amount varies widely depending on a number of variables such as exercise, climate, altitude, illness, pregnancy or breast-feeding. In reality, it is total fluid amount that counts. It can be a combination of water, other liquids such as juices and coffee, or even beer and wine. It can also be foods since many foods contain liquid, such as watermelon and other fruits and vegetables. Nutrition experts advise not using alcohol or caffeinated beverages as our only source of fluids. Although coffee, tea and soda contain mostly water, caffeinated beverages act as a diuretic, making you lose fluids quicker. Sugary drinks will make you want to drink more fluids. Everything in moderation. Oh, I Must Be Retaining Water If you’re one of those people (female) who think that a little excess weight is due to increased water retention as we age, think again. We have different amounts of water in our bodies depending on our age and sex. Babies are born made up of about 78 percent water, which changes to 65 percent by the time they are 1 year old. Since lean tissue holds more water than fat, adult men tend to be made up of about 60 percent water; whereas women who have more body fat than men are only made up of about 55 percent water. One way to get rid of water is to drink it. Water rids our bodies of excess sodium (salt). Sodium contributes to water retention, so getting rid of some excess sodium gets rid of a little temporary water weight gain. Also, our bodies are smart enough to hold onto water if it’s in short supply. Therefore, not drinking enough will keep our cells hording available water needed to function properly. Too Much of a Good Thing? It is possible to cause damage by ingesting too much water. If you drink too much water, the kidneys are unable to excrete all the excess fluid and too much fluid remains in the body to dilute sodium levels below the required level. This causes a condition called hyponatremia. This is a very rare condition and usually only seen in athletes and others who consume profuse amounts of water. Symptoms of hyponatremia are blurred vision, headaches, cramps, coma, swelling of the brain. In extreme conditions, this can lead to death. Dehydration In Colorado, we hear it all the time – drink plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated! Dehydration can occur for many reasons such as dry climate conditions; diarrhea or vomiting; not drinking enough water; an increase in sweating from exercise, fever or hot weather; too much urinating due to diseases such as kidney disease or diabetes as well as taking certain types of medications. The symptoms are easy to spot and typically simply remedied by increasing fluids. Symptoms include dry or cracked lips, lethargy, headaches, mood change, tiredness, weakness, hallucinations, confusion and/or dark-colored urine output. Dehydration not quickly resolved by fluid intake requires prompt medical attention. Kidneys fail once urination stops so the body cannot remove toxic waste. Eventually, this results in death. In babies and children, dehydration is especially dangerous. Other than some of the symptoms noted in the paragraph above, babies can exhibit skin cool to the touch or slightly blue. The fontanelle, or soft spot on the top of a baby’s head can appear sunken. Experts advise babies or children showing signs of dehydration must be taken to a hospital for emergency treatment immediately. Mother Earth and Her Water Earth is like a terrarium – all the substances on earth stay on earth in one form or another. Very little ever escapes and very little ever enters earth’s atmosphere, except for the occasional meteor. Imagine this: The water you used to brew your coffee this morning may be the same water your great great great grandmother used to wash clothes with. Water also cycles throughout earth in different forms. It is the only substance that can be naturally found as a liquid, vapor and a solid. Like our bodies, the earth contains a lot of water. It covers about 71 percent of the earth’s surface. 97 percent of the earth’s water is salt water and undrinkable Almost 69 percent of our fresh water is in the form of glaciers and ice caps 30 percent of all fresh water can be found in the ground Only about 1 percent is drinkable How Much Does It Take? We know how much water it takes to nourish our bodies every day, but water is used to produce other foods and products. It takes:
Not Much Thought About How Much We Use
More Water Snippetz
Issue 554
SNIPPETZ ENJOYS SUMMER FUN WITH OUTDOOR TOYS by Deborah Stumpf 
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
James Howell, “Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish” (1659) The lazy days of summer are here already and some of us get downright nostalgic about summers past. Many of today’s kids might be spending their summer on the couch watching reality TV or playing Wii, but here at Snippetz we are reminiscing about outdoor summer fun. Do you remember the Hula Hoop®, roller skates and Double Dutch? Well, they are still around, just technologically enhanced. How about you grab your favorite wheels or colored chalk and meet us out on the sidewalk for the afternoon? HOOP-A-MANIA Introduced by Wham-O Manufacturing in 1958, the Hula Hoop® is the most popular American toy ever made. The original price was a mere $1.98, and it was so popular that stores kept running out. In the first six months, Americans purchased 20 million Hula Hoop® toys. The first year alone, 100 million were sold worldwide. Twenty thousand were manufactured per day at the peak of Hula Hoop® popularity. All over the United States, people held Hula Hoop® contests to see who could spin the longest. The idea for using a hoop as a toy has been around a long time – a very long time. It existed in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, as well as 14th century England. The plastic tubing used for all Hula Hoop® toys ever produced would stretch around the Earth more than five times. Hoops have been made out of wood, grasses, bamboo and metal. At one time the innocent Hula Hoop® was banned in Japan because of the indecency of the hip action while hooping. On May 25, 1999, Ken Kovach of New York State set a Guinness world record for the most revolutions of a hula hoop while on a trampoline in London, England. Kovach passed through the hoop 122 times between jumps. On June 1, 2007, American Ashrita Furman set the world record for the largest Hula Hoop ever spun at 51.5 feet. ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING The first known roller skate was invented in 1760 by a Belgian man, Joseph Merlin. He quickly gave up the sport after he wore them to a party and crashed into a large mirror. Four-wheel roller skates that could turn, called “rocking skates” were invented by James L. Plimpton in 1863. A resident of New York, Plimpton opened a skating rink for gentlemen skaters so they could impress the ladies. By the early 1900s, skating became a popular activity for all ages with both indoor and outdoor venues for racing, roller polo (hockey), figure skating and dance. By the 1970s, skating popularity increased even more with the invention of plastic wheels and better indoor floors. Skating centers introduced music and special lighting for skaters. Inline skates were introduced in the 1990s and brought inline skating and inline hockey to sports enthusiasts. THE NEED FOR SPEED Art Ingels built his very first go cart in 1956 and it quickly became a popular pastime for 1950s airmen. These open-wheeled vehicles have only a motor, chassis, transmission and a seat, but are closely related to Formula One or Indy Car racing vehicles and are known to travel at speeds up to 160 mph. These high-speed carts have a manual transmission with a clutch. More common vehicles are likely to have speed capacity of up to 60 mph. BIGGER WHEELS In the 1790s, a Frenchman crafted a “celerifere,” which had two in-line wheels connected by a beam. The rider straddled the beam and pushed the celerifere with his feet. A German added steering to the “scooter” in 1817. In 1839, the Scottish came up with a treadle and rod for the rear-drive. In 1845, R.W. Thompson patented a pneumatic tube to replace the metal wheels. Later, two French brothers – Ernest and Pierre Michaux – added cranks and pedals, and called their new mode of transportation the velocipede. British engineers added ball bearings, Dunlop tires, wire-spoked wheels, a chain drive, gears and cable controls. Eventually, it came to be the bicycle! Cinderella, dressed in yella went upstairs to see her fella. How many kisses did she get? ...one...two... Although the precise history of jump roping is unclear, many historians believe that it can be dated back to the 1600s with the Egyptians making ropes out of vines. Like the Hula Hoop, the jump rope has stood the test of time and is now a popular sport requiring great skill, endurance and physical strength. Traditionally considered a girls’ game and accompanied by rhymes/chants, history indicates that the game was originally a man’s sport. Jump roping is an organized sport world wide. USA Jump Rope (USAJR) boasts a membership of hundreds of individual jumpers and teams that perform around the world. Regional and national competitions as well as camps are held at various locations around the country. The national jump rope Grand National championship will be in Long Beach, Calif. this year on June 24. Jump roping maintains its popularity around the world. For instance, in 2006, 50,000 children and teachers representing 335 schools in The Netherlands skipped for 30 seconds. And in 85 different locations in the U.K. and Ireland, nearly 8,000 children skipped simultaneously for three minutes. BUDDING PICASSO’S For those who think sidewalk chalk is child’s play, think again. Street painting originated in Italy in the 1500s as mainly artists’ depictions of the Madonna. Artists were called “madonnaro” (Madonna). Italy kept up the tradition, adding to and expanding the subject matter, eventually holding the first International Street Painting Festival in 1972. The festival continues to be held annually in August. Street painting became popular in the United States in the 1980s. Exhibits, competitions and festivals are held throughout the country including every June in Denver’s Larimer Square. LIFE IN A BUBBLE If it weren’t for the Pear Soap Company of England, bubble blowing (and possibly cleanliness in general) would have never become popular as it did in the 19th century. However, Flemish painters depict children blowing bubbles with clay pipes as early as the 17th century. It was the middle 1900s before we saw actual bubble toys being sold. In the early 1940s, Chemtoy, a company selling cleaning supplies began bottling a bubble solution. By the late 1940s, Chemtoy was purchased by Tootsietoy Company which began retail distribution. The 1960s gave bubbles their popularity as they became the symbol of peace and harmony for the hippie generation. WATER PLAY Lonnie Anderson, an aerospace engineer from Los Angeles, Calif., invented the Super Soaker® in 1988. However, squirt guns have been around long before the 80’s in the form of a water pistol and operate under the same manner as a typical spray bottle. Water pistols can only shoot water a short distance and require frequent refills. The Super Soaker®, originally called “Power Drencher” revolutionized water wars with its pump action using compressed air. A kid can drench the neighborhood “enemy” in no time with one of these babies. Controversy erupted over these high powered guns when they were manufactured to look like a real gun. Both the United States and Canada now have laws and import regulations that require the guns be made of clear plastic. Issue 555
SNIPPETZ TRAVELS BACK IN TIME CAPSULES by Deborah Stumpf “We seem to have a compulsion these days to bury time capsules in order to give those people living in the next century or so some idea of what we are like.” -Alfred Hitchcock According to Merriam-Webster, a time capsule is “a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is deposited (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age.” Time capsules have been a fascinating topic since the turn of the 20th century. In an effort to improve historical records, some have used time capsules in the hope that future generations – thousands of years from now – will have a better understanding of life on earth right now. The ITCS With the proliferation in time capsules throughout the world, four time capsule “experts” decided to form the International Time Capsule Society in 1990. The founders were: ⦁ Paul Hudson, author ⦁ William Jarvis, author and former head of acquisitions/serials at Washington State University Library ⦁ Dr. Brian Durrans, anthropologist and consultant; former senior curator at the British Museum ⦁ Knute “Skip” Berger, author and executive director of the Washington Centennial Time Capsule project Besides educating the public about time capsules, the ITCS has established a clearinghouse of information pertaining to time capsules along with a registry of those in existence. They believe there are about 10,000 capsules located around the world. Unfortunately, most of them have likely been destroyed or lost. It is no coincidence that the ITCS is headquartered at Oglethorpe University. It is the home of the Crypt of Civilization and the committee’s first meeting was on the 50th anniversary of this famous time capsule’s sealing. The Crème de la Capsule Possibly the granddaddy of them all, the Crypt of Civilization has been recorded in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records as “the first successful attempt to bury a record of this culture for any future inhabitants.” The Crypt was the brainchild of Thornwell Jacobs (1877-1956), president of Oglethorpe University at the time and considered the father of the modern time capsule. Jacobs presented his idea in 1936 and work quickly began on the structure and contents. The Crypt is housed in a chamber within the foundation of the Phoebe Hearst Memorial Hall. This is a Gothic granite building believed to be able to stand for another 2,000 to 5,000 years. The chamber was previously a swimming pool and its floor has been raised with an additional 2 feet of concrete and a 7 foot thick stone roof. Its granite walls have been lined with porcelain enamel. Based on advice from the Bureau of Standards in Washington, Jacobs lined the inside of the Crypt with stainless steel receptacles lined with glass and filled it with the inert gas of nitrogen to help protect the contents from oxidation. The outer door is also stainless steel. Much of its contents are in the form of microfilm in hermetically sealed receptacles. Jacobs enlisted the help of Thomas Kimmwood Peters (1879-1973), an inventor and photographer, to take on the task of this documentation. Peters was famous for being the only newsreel photographer to capture the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He was also the inventor of the microfilm camera. For three years, Peters and a group of students produced more than 640,000 pages of microfilm. As a backup, the same data was stored on metal film. Included in the documentation are over 800 works of the arts and sciences along with the classics – the Bible, the Iliad, Dante’s Inferno, the Koran. Both still and motion pictures are part of the collection as well as voice recordings of political leaders and others in the news – Hitler, Mussolini, Roosevelt, Popeye the Sailor and a hog caller. Jacobs saw this crypt not only as a snapshot of life in the 1930s, but also a compilation of knowledge gained about the prior 6,000 years. The crypt includes thousands of items including a specially sealed ampule of Budweiser Beer donated by Anheuser Busch, a set of Lincoln logs, a Donald Duck toy, dress patterns, an electric razor, dress patterns, a golf ball, soap, plastic utensils, fishing rod, fly swatter, clothing, radio, lamp and hair adornments, to name only a few. The planned opening of the Crypt of Civilization is May 28, 8113 A.D. This is 6,177 years from 1936 when the work on the Crypt began. The reason for this odd number is that most historians agree the Egyptian calendar likely first began with 4241 B.C., considered the first fixed date in history. This was 6,177 years prior to 1936. A Lot Can Happen in 6,177 Years This did not escape Jacobs and Peters who have attempted to provide the equipment necessary for future civilizations to read and listen to materials left for their perusal. Microreaders, projectors and electric machines have been included. Just in case there is no electricity as we know it today, a generator designed to be powered by a windmill is included. Records can be read by a magnifier, also included. What about language you ask? Well, they included a machine to teach folks the English language. More Jump on the Bandwagon Jacobs created quite a stir with the Crypt of Civilization. It received much press which spawned a flurry of activity.
Rosetta Project Because 50 to 90 percent of the estimated 7,000 world languages are expected to completely disappear in the next century, the Long Now Foundation began work on the Rosetta Project. It is suggested that the extinction of so many languages is due to government globalization and increasing use of English and other major languages. The Rosetta Project is a collaborative effort, bringing together experts and native speakers from around the world. There are formal research groups located here in the U.S. at Berkeley, the American Library of Congress, Yale, Stanford and the American Summer Institute of Linguistics. The Rosetta Project intends to physically archive 1,500 languages in three forms:
All three forms are intended to provide the future researcher with comparative linguistic information and tools in order to help with recovery of any lost languages. The first version of the “disc” was released Nov. 3, 2008. The online version continues as a dynamic and evolving project. How to Make a Time Capsule If you’re seriously considering a time capsule of your own, the ITCS offers some advice:
Will It Fit The Crypt Bill? Time capsules are not without their critics. William Jarvis, a time capsule historian and one of the founders of the ITCS purports that these capsules usually do not provide useful historical information and are filled with “useless junk.” He suggests that a time capsule should include information describing the more mundane, day-to-day life of people at the time. Pictures, personal notes and letters and other documents would be more informative and valuable. Because these time capsules tend to be a snapshot of one particular time and/or place and are kept sealed for a particular span of time, generations in between these times are prevented from learning from these materials. Some historians feel these capsules or crypts are simply “dormant museums.” There is also the question of the obvious – preservation of items and media housing important documentation. How long can it last? Only time will tell. Issue 556
SNIPPETZ SAYS HERE COMES THE SUN by Deborah Stumpf “Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.” -Author unknown Imagine not knowing much about the planet you live on and its relationship with the solar system in which it inhabits. That’s what it was like for the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans, Aztecs and others. What did they think of the sun, the central star of our solar system? They knew it was important enough to study. They watched and made connections, followed by building stone structures to mark the movement of both the sun and the moon. They noted sunrises and moonrises, seasons and eclipses. And for a long time, Earth’s inhabitants believed that the other planets and stars revolved around the Earth. Well, at least they had the part right about how the sun drives the seasons and the climate, not to mention without the sun we could not survive. Sun Stats The sun demands a lot of respect, which is an obvious point when you understand its power and size – about one million Earths could fit inside the sun. It is made up of almost 74 percent hydrogen, 25 percent helium and just over 1 percent of other elements such as oxygen, carbon, neon, iron, nitrogen, silicon, magnesium and sulfur. The sun is not solid, but stays together by gravitational attraction. Its core temperature is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit, which causes thermonuclear fusion. All this energy radiates out of the core through the sun’s other two zones – radiative and convective – taking about 170,000 years to end up at the convective zone. At this outer zone, it’s a chilly 3.5 million degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond these three zones is the sun’s atmosphere, also made up of three zones – photosphere, chromosphere and the corona at the outermost region.
Sun Spots We can’t see them with the naked eye, but the sun has spots or areas of darkness that appear regularly on either side of its equator. These spots have been the object of much scientific study as well as speculation by many. Some think they are the cause of Earth’s climate change; others say they cause static on the radio stations or dropped cell calls; and some think they are the source of paranormal activity or UFO’s. Super simplified: Because the sun is a big mass of hot gas, the outer surface and inner core zones move at different rates and directions. This distorts the magnetic field, causing cool spots that seem to push the hotspots deeper into the core. And because they are cooler, they appear darker. Sun spots tend to appear in groups or pairs and vary widely in size with the average being the size of Earth. One sun spot in 2004 was 20 times the size of Earth. They also vary in how long they last - some less than an hour and some lasting for several months. But they definitely have a pattern, which scientists refer to as the sunspot cycle. Scientists at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in London have been watching and recording sunspots since 1874. Records indicate that in cycles of about 11 years, the number of sunspots go from about zero to a peak of more than 100 and then back down to zero. They are concentrated in two latitude bands that flank both sides of the equator. Astronomer Mausumi Dikpati recently theorized that the sun acts somewhat like a conveyor belt continuously circulating plasma, or electrified gas, between the equator and the poles and back again. The magnetic fields become distorted and the plasma shoots out near the equator in repeated cycles. Sunspot activity at its peak is referred to as “solar maximum.” During times of minimal or no sunspot activity, this is called “solar minimum.” Usually these dormant times are quite short, but astronomer Edward W. Maunder recorded a 60-year solar minimum between 1650 and 1710. Astronomers refer to this period as the Maunder Minimum and is still a source of mystery. A Flare-Up Like No Other Out of the mouths of sunspots can erupt solar flares. These flares are likely caused by magnetic field changes. They release gas, ultraviolet and visible light, x-rays and electrons into the atmosphere, sending them to Earth. This interaction produces the aurora borealis and aurora australis. The ionized particles also wreak a whole lot of havoc with communications, power grids, satellites and power lines, not to mention what they do to our cell phone reception. A more recent example of a flare was during a solar maximum in 1989 which caused a power surge leaving about 6 million Canadians and northeastern Americans with no electricity for several hours. Eclipsing a Sight to Behold A full solar eclipse is rare and a likely source of delight for an astronomer. An eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the Earth and sun in a direct line, causing a blockage of sunlight. That saying “the moon and the stars have to align just right” applies here. The moon will only pass the Earth’s orbital plane twice per year, called eclipse seasons. In order to have a solar eclipse, this must be a new moon. There are three types of solar eclipses: total, partial and annular. Total and partial are obvious and annular means we can only see a ring-like slice of light around the sun. One more variable: The moon has two parts in its shadow – the central (umbra) and outer (penumbra). If the umbra is passing over the Earth, we see a total eclipse and darkness as if nighttime. If the penumbra passes over us, we experience a partial eclipse. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is farther away. In this case, we only see that sliver of light around the sun. Even in a total eclipse, we will still see the sun’s corona, its farthest outer layer. The next total eclipse will be Nov. 13 of this year, but Americans will have to travel to northern Australia to get a good look. The partial eclipse during this event can be viewed from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Ocean. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly The Good The sun is the primary source of energy on Earth. It fuels photosynthesis where plants convert solar energy to oxygen. Talk about life sustaining. The UV light has antiseptic properties and is used to sanitize water and other things. It aids in the production of vitamin D. It can generate electricity and provide direct heat. The Bad As necessary as the sun is to our survival, it also has its drawbacks. UV radiation causes sunburns, skin cancer and damage to the eye. It is also theorized that the solar weather effects change in our climate. The Ugly Many a mom has issued the warning about the sun and the effects of UV radiation - burning, peeling and premature aging of the skin (wrinkles!!). According to the Center for Disease Control, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in this country. The most common types are basal cell and squamous cell, both of which are very curable. Melanoma, however, is much more dangerous and life threatening. Although routine screening for skin cancer is not specifically recommended by the CDC, the organization does suggest that physicians/clinicians be specifically watchful of the fair-skinned over the age of 65 with atypical moles. The responsibility lies with each individual to be aware of changes in skin or moles that might indicate cancer cells brewing. A trip to the doctor or dermatologist is essential. Prevention First The CDC reminds us that sun damage can happen during any season or weather condition. It doesn’t have to be a bright sunny day to experience UV exposure. UV rays cut through clouds and will also reflect off water, snow, sand and cement surfaces. Indoor tanners are not immune from UV damage as these devices use UV rays. The CDC recommends the following options for protection from UV radiation:
Issue 557
SNIPPETZ EXPLORES THE LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON by Deborah Stumpf “…my hopes however are kept in check by the ordinary character of our state legislatures, the members of which do not generally possess information enough to percieve the important truths, that knolege is power, that knolege is safety, and that knolege is happiness." - Thomas Jefferson to George Ticknor, Nov. 25, 1817 A lot can be said about Thomas Jefferson. He was the third President of the United States, a vice president, author of the Declaration of Independence, plantation owner/grower, inventor, lawyer and university founder. He was a prolific writer and had many other interests. He was born April 13, 1743 and lived a very full and active 83 years. He may be most known for authoring the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson studied at the College of William and Mary and then studied law under George Wythe (1726-1806) for five years from 1762 to 1767. Wythe was a member of the House of Burgesses and office of attorney general, as well as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Family Life Jefferson lost his father, Peter Jefferson when he was only 14; his mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, died in 1776. He married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, in 1772 and began to raise a family on his plantation, Monticello, which he built on 5,000 acres inherited from his father. Monticello sits on a mountaintop near Charlottesville, Virginia, and is on the United Nations’ World Heritage List, the only historic house on this list that is located in the U.S. Jefferson and his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, had six children, only two of whom lived to adulthood. Martha died after only 10 years of marriage to Jefferson; he never remarried. Their children were Martha Jefferson Randolph, Jane Randolph, Mary Wayles, Lucy Elizabeth, a second Lucy Elizabeth and a stillborn son. After his life as a public servant, Jefferson spent the remainder of his time at Monticello as a very involved grandfather and plantation owner. Declaration of Independence Jefferson and the majority of the colony’s citizens were happy with mother England and the protection she afforded for many years. But once the Brits worked through their differences with France in the Seven Years’ War, they came out the other side with significant debt. That’s when heavy taxation of the colonies came into play, culminating in the Tea Act of 1773 and the exchange of gunfire in 1775. We all know the story. There was much debate and some continued to prefer the British apron strings. However, the dissenters won out and a committee of five was selected by the Continental Congress to draft an appropriate document. Jefferson, a gifted writer penned what is now the most important document of the land – the Declaration of Independence – adopted by Congress and signed on July 4, 1776. Jefferson believed adamantly in religious freedom and also authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1777, of which he was proud enough to insist it be noted on his grave marker. Years of Public Service Reams have been written about the life of Thomas Jefferson, both in public and private. His public service cannot be understated, the extent of which may be best seen in a timeline.
An Historian in His Own Right Jefferson not only wrote the Declaration of Independence and other official government documents, but he was also an avid record-keeper. He rose before the sun every day and immediately would measure and record the temperature. He would do the same at other times throughout the day, noting things like when the day was hottest or coldest, precipitation and wind. He would also make note of bird migration activity and the appearance of plant life. After a morning routine that also included soaking his feet in a cool foot bath, he would begin the task of letter-writing. He wrote to family members, friends and citizens and would spend the entire morning doing so. It is estimated he wrote about 20,000 letters during his lifetime. Although he may have complained somewhat about all this correspondence, referring to it as “drudging at the writing table,” he seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. He corresponded with his grandchildren as soon as they were able to read and expected correspondence from them in return. In fact, he would jokingly send a grandchild a “bill” for letters they would owe him. Journaling followed him throughout the day as he would record everything about the plantation – planting experiences, financial records, meal descriptions and recipes. Tinkering Around When not writing or reading, Jefferson might be seen employing his hands at the workbench repairing tools, furniture and instruments of all kinds. He was also quite the inventor. He designed a copy machine/polygraph on which he copied all of his records and correspondence; a closet that was fashioned with a long vertical pole with 48 “arms” extending out in a spiral design to hang his clothing; a pedometer; a walking stick that would unfold into a chair; a revolving chair; and a revolving music stand, to name a few. He never bothered to obtain a patent for any of these handy items, preferring they stay in the public domain, so to speak. More Jefferson Snippetz
A Fitting Exit Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As if planning his own death, he took to his bed ill on June 24, slipping in and out of consciousness between July 2 and 4, occasionally asking his family if it was July 4 yet. Within hours of his death, John Adams, his close friend and co-signer of the Declaration, also died. Of all his accomplishments, it appears Jefferson wanted to be known for three things and left behind instructions that his epitaph note only these “and not a word more.” HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BORN APRIL 2, 1743 O.S. DIED JULY 4. 1826 (The letters O.S. stand for “Old Style,” or the Julian calendar used in England and the colonies before 1752. Beginning in 1752, the Gregorian calendar was adopted, adding 11 days to the calendar year to align the days with the astronomical year. Jefferson’s Old Style birth date of April 2 is now April 13 on the Gregorian calendar.) Issue 558 - 7/9/2012
SNIPPETZ IS COWBOYIN' UP! by Gregory Stumpf 
“Few cowboys ever owned much. The primary reward of being a cowboy was the pleasure of living a cowboy's life.”
- Unknown author These days it’s not unusual to see a bumper sticker on the back of a pickup truck that says, “Cowboy Up,” “I love Cowboys,” or “Real Men are Cowboys.” Snippetz wants to know what exactly is a cowboy. Maybe it’s not just a job but a lifestyle, a state of mind or someone who follows the Cowboy Code. The Cowboy of Old The word “cowboy” started being thrown around the English language in the early 1700’s. It is a literal translation of the Spanish word,” vaquero,” which means a person who manages cattle while riding a horse. Although cowboy may imply a young man, the moniker has usually been hung on adult men; however, many of the early cowboys started as young as 12 or 13 years old. As soon as they mastered the necessary skills such as horseback riding or equestrian skills along with roping, branding and even medical treatment of the cattle herd, a young boy could be hired as a cowboy. Many of these early day cowboys spent their entire lives working the herds. Not all cowboys back in the day were hard-working honest men. During the Revolutionary War, American fighters who opposed the independence movement were referred to as cowboys. The most famous of them, Claudius Smith, was an outlaw who was called “the cow-boy of Ramapos” because he stole oxen, cattle, horses and any other livestock from the colonists and gave them to the British forces. The first cowboys who tended and herded cattle were Spanish, and they changed and evolved into the traditional cowboy in Mexico. The Mexican cowboys migrated north into New Mexico and Texas and along with them the archetype of the American cowboy, which prevails today. Geography is Key
Then Verses Now There are many similarities between the cowboys of the Wild West days and the modern day cowboy. They both still ride horses, and true cowboys from both eras work their cattle herds and engage in cattle drives. The difference is the cattle drive of the olden days took a dozen horses to transport cattle 300 or so miles to the stockyards in Kansas City, St. Louis and Denver. These days it takes a 350 horsepower diesel truck to do the same thing. Whereas the horse was the cowboy’s primary mode of transportation, today it might be an ATV to tend the cattle herds and a trusty four-wheel drive pickup truck. Cowboys still use the lasso, and although they are used less for day-to-day duties, they still are an important tool in the cowboy tool chest, especially for rodeo cowboys who compete in cattle roping competitions. The Rodeo At the end of a long cattle drive of the 19th century, cowboys began having informal competitions to show off their roping and other herding skills. With the availability of train transport towards the end of the century, the job of the cowboy was beginning to diminish somewhat. About that time, William Frederick Cody (Buffalo Bill) started his Wild Wild West Show, employing many underemployed cowboys. Others followed suit. Before long, cowboys began opening their informal competitions to the public and charging admission. Eventually, the competitions took on some of the glitz and glamour of the Wild Wild West Show, becoming the modern day rodeo. The rodeo continues to be a popular sport with regulating bodies such as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in Colorado Springs. The rodeos now have events such as team roping, bull riding, bareback riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. Image and Code In the late 1920’s, Hollywood began to romanticize the cowboy in movies. The classic cowboy movies included the bad cowboy in the black hat but in the 1950’s many television shows promoted a more positive image of the American cowboy. There were Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans with their equally famous mounts, Trigger and Butter Milk; as well as Gene Autry - the “Singing Cowboy.” They all contributed to what is known today as the Cowboy Code. The modern day cowboy embraces many morals and values. They are characterized in County and Western music as a hard-hitting rough breed who would bust a man’s jaw for saying something bad about his mother, yet they’ll pick up a shivering puppy found abandoned in the rain and nurse it back to health. In the 1940s, Autry was well known for his use of the Cowboy Code in his life and in managing his radio show productions. One could say that Autry’s 10 cowboy commandments are timeless.
In the mood for a little cowboy spirit? The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is coming to town starting July 10 with the annual parade kickoff event through downtown Colorado Springs. Get yourself there, pardner! Issue 559 - 7/16/2012
SNIPPETZ SALUTES FIREFIGHTERS! by Deborah Stumpf 
“Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved.”
- Susan Diane Murphree As of the time of this writing, about 160,000 acres of Colorado land were actively burning. This doesn’t take into account the businesses, homes and structures affected by fire on a day-to-day basis. At times like these, we look to the firefighters to come to our rescue, working continuously for hours and days to put out the fires, protecting lives and property. They are our heroes. Indeed, firefighters are one dedicated, passionate group of men and women, more than 70 percent of who work as unpaid volunteers. The Early Volunteer Back in colonial times, firefighters were men from town who would rally in the middle of the night, which is when fires usually took place, grab their buckets and start an assembly line of filling and passing buckets of water. If in the middle of their workday, they would stop what they were doing and head out to fight the fire as if it were mandatory community service. Boston was the site of the first professional firefighting organization in 1678. The city was in possession of two fire engines and a dozen hired men. New York saw two pumpers with a nozzle come to the Big Apple in 1731, but it took them until 1865 to establish a paid firefighting brigade. Other cities on the east coast such as Philadelphia jumped on the truck to establish volunteer corps. Benjamin Franklin started the first volunteer department in Philadelphia. “Payment” for these volunteers was in the form of fringe benefits such as jury service and militia duty exemptions. Joining the ranks of Franklin were the likes of Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, all willing volunteers. A Time of Unsavory Reputation For the 50 years or so following the American Revolution, firefighters came less from the ranks of businessmen and leaders and more from a blue collar segment of men such as laborers and blacksmiths. Gangs began recruiting firefighters as the firehouses were like community centers with plenty of strong young men to pick from – firefighters themselves along with teenage boys who emulated and idolized them. Rivalries between firehouses or companies fueled some riots and plenty of fistfights. Firefighters seemed to run amuck and were even known to fight fires while drinking alcohol. All company rivalries aside, firefighters were still a collective unit due to the job they shared that was unique in the level of danger involved. They became a political force to be reckoned with in the larger cities. They could nominate and elect whoever they chose, and even staged job walkouts in the 1850s and 1860s. A ‘Glamorous’ Job Around the time of the Civil War, the volunteer departments were being replaced more and more by paid professional firefighters. By the late 19th century, the firefighter was truly on duty and lived at the firehouse, sometimes with their families, nearly 24/7. They enjoyed only a day or two per month off duty. Even with the stress and demands of the job, firefighting was still a coveted profession. It offered job security, which attracted a large immigrant population who were also not deterred by hard work. Famous Early Fires
The silver linings in the dark clouds of these major fires were that significant regulations were put into place, e.g., automated sprinklers in schools, mandatory fire drills, fire codes and other workplace safety laws. First Responders After the devastating fires like the Triangle Shirtwaist, training for firefighters intensified and the role of firefighters evolved into rescue/emergency workers along with fighting fires. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the intended attack on the Capital building and subsequent plane crash of United Airlines Flight 93, firefighters added hazardous materials training to their toolkits. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of FEMA, about 100 firefighters are killed each year in the line of duty. As a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 341 Fire Department of New York firefighters lost their lives at the World Trade Center, as well as three safety directors, two paramedics and one volunteer from the Jericho fire department. So You Want to Be A Fireman? Becoming a firefighter starts early and takes more than enrolling in a firefighter training course. Some of the requirements include:
Tests are required as part of the application process in
What It Really Takes Once selected by a fire department, several weeks of training begins at a fire academy. Some are provided by the hiring fire department, some by the state. Training involves classroom and field training. A firefighter must learn building codes, emergency medical procedures, fire prevention and how to use the tools of the trade. Some programs involve apprenticeships lasting for a few years. Training offered at the federal level is sponsored by the National Fire Academy and provides training in more specialized areas such as hazardous materials handling, public safety, anti-arson techniques and disaster preparedness. Firefighters are also certified in as emergency medical technicians; some are required to be paramedics. It’s not just tests and courses. There are a plethora of traits a firefighter must possess to be successful.
Women Firefighters According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2010 data, there were just over 300,000 female career firefighters in the U.S. at census time. The first female firefighter in the U.S., Molly Williams, took to the fires in the early 1800s. Williams was a slave from New York. Later in the 1800s, Lillie Hitchcock and Marina Betts became members of San Francisco’s Knickerbocker Engine Company. Although more and more women have joined the ranks, the field continues to be male dominated. Fresh in Our Minds Waldo Canyon, located 3 miles west of Colorado Springs, was on fire on June 23, 2012. Before it was considered 100 percent contained 17 days later on July 10, it destroyed 346 homes and killed two people on the west side of Colorado Springs when it erupted and raced down the foothills three days after it began. As of June 27, 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes and over 1,500 firefighters were working the fire. By the time the fire was contained, it had consumed 18,247 acres. The Waldo Canyon fire is considered the most destructive in Colorado history. If it weren’t for the firefighters on the scene, the destruction would have undoubtedly been unimaginable. Thank you, firefighters, for all you do! Fireman’s Prayer Give me the strength to save some life, Whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child, Before it is too late; Or save an older person from, The horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert, And hear the weakest shout, And quickly and efficiently, To put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and, To give the best in me; To guard my every neighbor and, Protect his property. And if, according to your will I have to give my life; Please bless with your protecting hand, My children and my wife. - Author Unknown |
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