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Issue 620
SNIPPETZ SUGGESTS YOU ARE GETTING SLEEPY... THE WORLD OF HYPNOSIS by Lindsey Harrison 
“Think twice before you speak because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”
– Napoleon Hill, author When you think of hypnosis, words like “trance” or “deep sleep” might come to mind. You might picture a man dangling a pocket watch in front of your face, slowly swinging it back and forth. You might hear his words telling you to keep your eyes on the watch and that you are beginning to feel very tired. So tired, in fact that your eyes can’t stay open and you drift into a semi-conscious state that allows your “hypnotist” to command you to walk around squawking like a chicken. Or perhaps you’ve actually used hypnotism to lose weight, stop smoking or stop biting your nails. Whatever your thoughts about or experiences with hypnotism may be, Snippetz decided we would do some digging to help shed some light on hypnosis! History of hypnosis Hypnotism has been around for a very long time, like thousands of years long. However, the idea of actually studying hypnosis to find out what it really is, what is really going on, didn’t emerge until the late 1700s. Austrian physician Franz Mesmer is the man to thank for bringing to light the original theories behind hypnosis. Initially, Mesmer thought that hypnosis was a mysterious, mystical force that flowed from the hypnotist into the person they are attempting to hypnotize. He termed this “animal magnetism.” Obviously, that’s not quite the same understanding we have of that term today. Anyway, the bottom line behind his animal magnetism theory was that the power of hypnosis belonged to the hypnotist and was a force that was inflicted upon someone. While the original idea that something mystical was behind hypnosis was quickly debunked by his critics, Mesmer’s name is still strongly associated with hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis was originally termed mesmerism, after the man himself. We even continue to use “mesmerize” in modern speech. The terms “hypnotism” and “hypnosis” didn’t appear until about 1841 when a Scottish surgeon named James Braid created them, using the Greek word “hypnos” which means “to sleep” as the root of those words. His reason? He believed this trance-like state to be an altered form of sleep. What is hypnosis? Having put the earlier ideas about hynosis behind them, psychiatrists have come to theorize that the exercises often utilized by a hypnotist to relax and focus their subject actually help to quiet the conscious mind. They believe that with the conscious side of the brain temporarily subdued, the subconscious mind takes over. By doing so, hypnosis allows the hypnotist and the subject, who is still aware of what is going on, to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious directly. With unrestricted access to the subconscious mind, the hypnotist has access to all five senses as well as emotional feelings which are all regulated and controlled there. Subjects have reported tasting food that the hypnotist suggests they taste or feeling happy at the request of their hypnotist. Additionally, this complete access to the subconscious mind may allow subjects to gain access to experiences or events in their lives that they have completely blocked out or forgotten. Sometimes hypnotism has been used to recover some of these more painful memories but because the subject is extremely vulnerable and suggestible in this state, reporting false memories is a strong possibility. While in this relaxed and focused state, hypnotists often report that their subjects are a lot like children. They become more playful and fanciful, whole-heartedly embracing the suggestions made by their hypnotist. Proof of hypnotism Scientific research strongly supports the theory that hypnotism alters the subject’s form of consciousness and the most compelling evidence comes from electroencephalographs or EEGs. EEGs measure electrical activity in the brain and research has shown that the brain produces different waves depending on the subject’s mental state. Subjects have undergone EEGs simultaneously with hypnotism and the results of the studies have shown that the lower frequency waves, those associated with dreaming and sleep, posted a significant increase while the higher frequency waves, those associated with full wakefulness, posted a marked decrease. Hypnotic subjects have also shown a decrease in activity in the left hemisphere of the brain, the side most neurologists believe to be the logical, deductive, reasoning side of the brain. Conversely, the right hemisphere shows an increase in activity. This side is often believed to control imagination and creativity. These results support the claim that subjects become more child-like and open to, shall we say, bizarre suggestions. The “must-haves” of hypnotism While specific methods vary, certain must-haves exist in order for hypnotism to actually work.
Hypnotic techniques Fixed-gaze induction or eye fixation – this is the pocket watch technique mentioned above. The ultimate goal is to get the subject to focus so intently on a particular object that they tune out all other distractions. The hypnotist tries to relax the subject by talking in a low, soothing voice. This technique has largely gone out of use because the majority of the population isn’t susceptible to it. Rapid – this technique is intended to overload the mind with abrupt, firm commands. The idea is that the subject will eventually succumb to the commands and give over control of their conscious mind. That’s assuming the hypnotist is convincing and forceful enough. This is still the most common technique used by stage hypnotists because their subjects are often so anxious about being on stage in front of an audience that they are at an increased susceptibility to these commands. Progressive relaxation and imagery – this technique is intended to ease the subject into full hypnosis through slow, soothing speech and gradual relaxation and focus. Self-hypnosis training most often uses this technique, as do most psychiatrists. Loss of balance – this technique employs slow, rhythmic rocking that creates a loss of equilibrium. Picture a parent rocking their child to sleep. This could technically be termed hypnosis . . . bet you never thought of yourself as a hypnotist! Ultimately, the ideal hypnotist is not someone with some hidden power to unlock the mysteries of your brain but rather someone with enough authority and charisma to convince you to do as they say. Hypnosis for behavioral modification The most common use of behavioral modification hypnosis is habit-control hypnosis. This technique requires the hypnotist to focus in on one particular habit that is considered to be embedded in the subject’s subconscious. Examples include smoking and overeating. The idea is that the hypnotist is able to reverse or reprogram the subject’s subconscious mind to eliminate the unwanted behavior. Reprogramming could include a suggestion that the particular behavior in question will cause an unwanted side effect, like the suggestion that smoking will cause nausea. Or the hypnotist could help increase the subject’s will power by suggesting that the unwanted behavior isn’t needed so the subject won’t succumb to the temptation. Behavior modification hypnosis reports relatively successful results. Here are some of the more impressive statistics:
Issue 621
IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, SNIPPETZ TAKES A LOOK INTO SPEECH by Lindsey Harrison “If we can hit that bull’s-eye then the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards…Checkmate.” – Futurama character Zapp Brannigan Have you ever heard someone say something that made sense at the time but when you looked back and thought about what they had actually said to you, it made no sense whatsoever? People use phrases and terms that others often understand with no trouble. The interesting part is when those phrases or terms have nothing to do with what you were talking about. For example, the phrase “chomping at the bit” means to be impatient. But instead of just saying impatient, we make a reference to a horse that is chewing or biting its bit because it doesn’t want to wait to get moving. These types of coined phrases, colloquialisms, idioms, etc are used all the time and many of us never question how they came to be a regular part of our everyday language. Leave it to your trusty neighborhood Snippetz to find out the origins of these interesting figures of speech! Idioms, colloquialisms and mixed metaphors, oh my! Understanding the difference between these different figures of speech is definitely important. So here’s a little bit about each.
Where did THAT come from? So now that we know more about these figures of speech, let’s take a look at some of the more common ones to determine where in the world they came from. Idioms: “Break the ice” – this phrase means to relax a tense or formal atmosphere or social situation. But why that particular phrase? Well, the ice refers to the metaphorical ice on a river or lake in early spring. By breaking the ice, boats would be allowed to pass, thus commencing the season’s activity after the cold winter months. The expression has been linked to the start of something (like a conversation) for about 400 years and was used in general speech by at least 1823. “Let the cat out of the bag” – the current meaning of this phrase is to disclose a secret. But why? One theory suggests that merchants selling piglets in bags at the market would substitute cats to trick the buyer. Piglets were obviously more valuable and getting money for one’s piglets without actually selling them was a pretty smart scam. But if the buyer decided to open the bag to make sure they were getting what they thought they had purchased and out came a cat, that particular scheme was disclosed. Therefore, letting the cat out of the bag would uncover the secret that the buyer was being tricked. This form of fraudulent selling practice has been recorded as early as 1530. The first know usage of the phrase in print was in 1760 in an edition of the London Magazine. Neologisms: “Close, but no cigar” – this phrase means whatever expected outcome someone had hoped for was almost achieved but that their efforts were not rewarded. While there is no definitive proof of the specific origin of this phrase, theories indicate that it dates back to when fairground stalls in the U.S. gave out cigars as prizes. The phrase is thought to date from the mid-1900s and the first recorded usage in print is from the script of the 1935 film version of Annie Oakley. “To a T” – this phrase means exactly, properly or precisely. The phrase is said to be a derivative of the phrase “to a tittle.” What’s a tittle? Well, it’s a small stroke or point in writing or printing. Basically, whatever is being done “to a tittle” is being done to the smallest, most precise point. The “to a tittle” phrase was used in by 1607 and possibly earlier. The “to a T” phrase was first used in 1693. “Southpaw” – this slang term refers to a left-handed person, often a baseball pitcher of boxer. One theory of the term’s origin is based on the times when baseball diamonds were traditionally oriented with home place to the west. With the pitcher facing home plate, his right hand would be on the north side of his body and his left hand would be on the south side. So if he pitched with his left hand, he would technically be pitching with his “south paw.” Similies: “As mad as a hatter” – if you’ve seen or read “Alice in Wonderland,” you know all about the Mad Hatter. But why was he mad? He wasn’t angry mad, but insane mad. The reason can be traced back before Alice’s fall down the rabbit hole and to real live hat makers, who used mercury in the manufacturing of felt hats. Such high levels of exposure could lead to mercury poisoning, the side effects of which included insanity. One of the earliest references dates back to 1817. “As happy as a clam” – the meaning of this phrase is simply to be happy. What’s with the clam, though? Are clams happy? The theory is that this phrase is a shortened version of the longer phrase “Happy as a clam at high water.” Predators would be much less likely to notice clams during high tide than when the tide is out, so it’s assumed clams would be happier then. The phrase originated in the United States in the early 1800s. The earliest written account was from a frontier memoir called “The Harpe’s Head – A Legend of Kentucky, 1833.” Colloquialisms: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat” – this phrase does not actually mean you have found several ways to skin a cat. It just means that there is more than one way to achieve a specific outcome. The earliest example of this phrase used in print is from a short story called “The Money Diggers,” written in 1840. “Graveyard shift” – this phrase means a shift worked overnight. While you might assume it has to do with working in a graveyard, it simply means a shift that takes place in the middle of the night. Things are typically quiet, somewhat lonely, as you could imagine a graveyard to be. The earliest known usage of this term in print was from a U.S. newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune from June 1897. Famous mixed metaphors: “Brilliant sunshine rained down on Fort Collins” – Rush Limbaugh “Dirty laundry is coming home to roost” – Ray Romano “Frankly, we don’t know whether to wind the watch or to bark at the moon.” – Dan Rather “I’ve been up and down so many times that I feel as if I’m a revolving door.” – Cher “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice for all.” – Johnny Cochran Issue 622
SNIPPETZ REALLY FALLS FOR COLORFUL COLORADO by Lindsey Harrison “The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the spring-times, summers, autumns and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming and going of the circumstances of our lives like the glassy surface of a pond that shows our faces radiant with joy or contorted with pain.” – Gary Zukav, author The beauty of the changing seasons is undeniable, especially in a place as spectacular as Colorado. Winter is a quiet time with softly drifting snow and jack rabbits hopping through the bleach-white fields. The spring brings a lovely display of budding trees with pink and white and purples flowers on display. Summer gives us bright green grass and trees hanging heavy with various fruits. But fall brings an explosion of color across the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and out onto the plains to the east. Trees burst in bright reds, deep oranges and sunny yellows. While the trees in the city are a great starting place to enjoy the fall colors, there are certain spots across the state that provide exceptional viewing opportunities. Snippetz has ‘em all right here so read on and get moving . . . the leaves won’t stick around for long! WHY DO THE LEAVES CHANGE COLOR? There are three key variables that prompt the change of color in the leaves during the fall: leaf pigments, weather, and length of days and nights. LEAF PIGMENTS Three categories of pigments lend a contributing hand in the changing colors of the leaves. Chlorophyll – this is the pigment responsible for the leaves’ green color. Using chlorophyll, plants can convert sunlight into sugars for their food. Chlorophyll hides the carotenoids and anthocyanins that are responsible for the autumnal colors like yellow, orange and red. Carotenoids – these gives leaves their yellow, orange and brown colors. When the nights get longer and the days get shorter, the production of chlorophyll slows down and eventually stops completely. What are left are the carotenoids and the anthocyanins. Anthocyanins – these give leaves the red, purple and blue colors. As mentioned above, these pigments are hidden by the bright green chlorophyll during the long, sunny summer days. WEATHER How brightly the colors in the leaves appear depends greatly on the weather. Lower temperatures break down chlorophyll and as long as the temperature doesn’t dip below the freezing level, carotenoids and anthocyanins are formed. Bright sunshine will also break down chlorophyll and increases carotenoid and anthocyanin production. The combination of bright, sunny, dry days and cold dry nights produces the most vivid array of fall leaf colors. LENGTH OF DAYS AND NIGHTS As the length of the days shortens and the nights get longer, the timeframe in which a leaf can produce chlorophyll is reduced. When the chlorophyll is broken down during the bright but shorter days, the leaf doesn’t have enough time before the cooler night to replace the chlorophyll that’s been broken down. With no chlorophyll to mask the carotenoids and anthocyanins, they finally get to show off their different hues! WHICH TREES DISPLAY WHICH COLORS? Red oaks, red maples and sumac produce anthocyanins in great quantities and provide the best display of bright reds and purples. If those are the colors you enjoy, those are the trees you need to seek. Conversely, birch, hickory, cottonwood and aspen trees produce an abundance of carotenoids and display the brightest golds and yellows. You’ve probably noticed small groups of trees that have turned yellow long before the others around them. The reason is most likely due to the aspen tree. Aspens typically reproduce by sprouting a new tree from the root of an existing tree, making a genetically identical tree. These small clones will change color at the same time as the original tree but due to subtle differences in the genetic makeup of the different groups of aspen trees, each group will change in its own time. WHERE ARE THE BEST VIEWING PLACES? Get ready to pack a lunch and head to some of the following places to truly enjoy the splendor that fall brings to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Before you head out, make sure to check with the United States Forest Service for up-to-date road closures due to recent flooding. Also, be sure to check the website http://www.fs.usda.gov to find out when these areas will be in peak color since this will vary from year to year. Maroon Bells – located southwest of Aspen, Maroon Bells is a set of 14ers in the Elk Mountains separated by about one third of a mile. The peaks, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, can be seen from the Maroon Bells Scenic Area but the area is only accessible by bus. Several exceptions exist but if you plan to head here to see the changing leaves, make sure to check the website http://stayaspensnowmass.com for information on when you can go and what you may need to pay, just to be on the safe side. Kebler Pass – boasting one of the largest aspen groves in the world, Kebler Pass is located west of Crested Butte on Gunnison County Road 12. The 30-mile gravel road peaks at the 10,007-foot summit of Kebler Pass. Continuing along the road on Ohio Pass to Gunnison rounds out the trip. Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass – driving along Colorado Highway 145 between Telluride and Dolores, you’ll go over the Dallas Divide and summit Lizard Head Pass. If you want a more aerial view of the change leaves, stop off in Telluride and take a free gondola ride from downtown to Mountain Village. Grand Mesa – this flat-topped mountain, which is actually the world’s largest, is located between the towns of Mesa to the north and Cedaredge to the south. Taking Colorado Highway 65 from Cedaredge to Interstate 70 provides the best viewing of this scenic location. La Veta Pass – following U.S. 160 west from Highway 50, you’ll find yourself going through La Veta Pass, which peaks at more than 9,400 feet. This pass is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and provides excellent viewing of the Spanish Peaks and the changing leaves in the San Luis Valley. MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR! If you have children, especially young ones, taking a 3 hour drive with no pit stop to get all the pent up energy out is probably not high on your list of fun things to do this fall. But there are some great ideas for how to take in the autumn colors and include your family, too. Here’s a couple to consider. The Oh My God Road – this road is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Denver, located between Idaho Springs and Central City. It provides a fun trip over winding roads, between abandoned houses and hoist frames, remnants of the Colorado gold rush. Ghost towns and cemeteries make for a good informal history lesson, as well as inspiration for Halloween! Mueller State Park – just a quick 45-minute drive from Colorado Springs, Mueller State Park provides excellent, family-friendly hiking trails, opportunities to see wildlife and prime fall color viewing. It also gives an impressive view of the back side of Pikes Peak, something many of us don’t get to see as often as we might like! Georgetown Loop Railroad – less than an hour from Denver, this historic railroad provides a blast from the past by touring through old mining areas and Victorian villages. The train runs on weekends and holidays through mid-October so get going quick before the railroad closes up for the season. Issue 623
SNIPPETZ CHEWS ON THE CONCEPT OF HYBRID FOODS by Lindsey Harrison “Man seeks to change the foods available in nature to suit his tastes, thereby putting an end to the very essence of life contained in them.” – Sai Baba, Indian leader Apples and oranges are great sources of vitamins and minerals. But they’re boring. Or so it would seem by the amount of new, hybrid foods humans have developed over the years. The motivation behind these hybrid foods can vary but the outcome is basically the same: the creation of a new food that cannot be found in nature. The vast majority of hybrid foods are fruits. So why would the creation of a new fruit, one that is made by intentionally combining two naturally-created fruits, possibly be seen as a negative? Isn’t a fruit . . . a fruit? Research has shown that there are drawbacks to messing with nature and Snippetz has the facts to keep you informed! How is a hybrid food created? A hybrid food is created when two similar species of plant are cross-pollinated. Each plant has the ability to pollinate other plants as well as the ability to be pollinated itself. In cross-pollination, similar plants are used to pollinate each other, sometimes resulting in a completely new plant. This hybridization occurs naturally in the wild and sometimes leads to the creation of a new, superior “parent” plant; one that is stronger, heartier and more able to withstand the elements. However, there’s no guarantee that the newly-created plant will be better than its predecessors. The same goes for any foods created by humans rather than nature. Why mess with a good thing? We all know the importance of fruits and vegetables to maintaining our health. And if they’re so important then wouldn’t it stand to reason that any improvement to these fruits and vegetables that would make them easier to eat would be a good thing, right? For example, seedless grapes. Such a wonderful idea . . . in theory that is. No more spitting out seeds or swallowing them as you attempt to enjoy your grapes. Nope. That’s been taken care of. But the problem with these new and improved fruits and vegetables is that they are missing vital nutrients. Often they are unnaturally high in sugar content, part of the reason why people enjoy them so much. They are also often missing the minerals that fruits found in nature contain. People begin to develop mineral deficiencies. In order to combat the increased sugar content of the hybrid foods, our bodies pull those minerals we are missing from our bones into our bloodstream. That in itself poses a problem because those minerals are essential to proper bone health. But the liver and pancreas can’t properly deal with this new sugar so instead of being processed and used in the correct manner, the excess minerals and hybrid sugar are simply dumped into the urine. Basically, eating too many hybrid fruits and vegetables causes you to lose essential minerals every time you use the restroom. Everything in moderation Now don’t let all this talk about hybrid foods keep you from eating fruits and vegetables. Even hybrid ones are better than none at all. The key is to eat them in moderation, just like everything else. Mixing hybrid foods with different types of fats like avocados, nuts, or olives can lessen the negative effects those hybrid foods have on your system. Eating more leafy greens can also help your body process these foods more easily. One more thing to remember: hybrid grains and legumes are fine to eat as long as they aren’t cooked. When eaten raw these foods are more easily digested and their nutrients can be drawn out for use by the body. Hybrid versus GMO Often hybridization and genetically modified organisms (in this instance, foods) are confused with one another. But they are certainly different and here’s why. Hybrid foods are those that are cross-pollinated as they possibly could be in nature. Take an apple tree and a grape vine. These are both plants and if the conditions were right, they could possibly pollinate each other and create a new type of plant, bearing a new type of fruit. GMOs on the other hand, are foods that contain genetic material from another organism that they could never possibly contain in nature. For example, placing the genetic material from a strain of bacteria inside a kernel of corn. Not too appetizing, is it? And yet, this particular combination is an actual GMO experiment that has been tested. GMOs are being widely protested across the globe because the insertion of genetic material from chemicals has been used to create foods that are bigger than normal. But many companies don’t want to indicate what chemicals they are using. GMO labeling initiatives have begun in several states as a way to hold companies accountable for what they put into our food and increase the transparency of what we are eating. Common hybrid foods
Above was just a sampling of the hybrid fruits out there because there are just too many to list them all and their qualities so here’s a short list of some other common ones you’re likely to find in the grocery store: cantaloupe, watermelon, carrots, corn, cashews, oats and rice. Less common hybrid foods
Issue 624
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS BEAUTY ISN'T JUST SKIN DEEP: BEAUTY PAGEANTS by Lindsey Harrison 
“For me, it went beyond being a beauty queen. For me, it was about being the 20-year-old girl from India on an international platform . . .”
– Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, actress and former beauty pageant contestant It’s a tough world out there. Competition is a fact of life and there really is no way to escape it. So instead of trying to avoid competing or backing down when faced with a challenge of that sort why not hit it head-on and groom yourself to be a great competitor? Parents who introduce their children to the world of beauty pageantry at a young age often use that as their reasoning behind their decision. Maybe they have the right idea. Maybe there’s more to beauty pageants than meets the eye. Could it be possible that beauty pageants can give a person a leg up by teaching them how to compete, both in their appearance and their intelligence? Snippetz decided to take a look to see what’s really behind these pageants . . . and to uncover some events that prove these seemingly perfect people are just like us ordinary folks! History of pageantry The modern tradition of beauty pageants traces its history back to 1921 in Atlantic City,N.J. In an attempt to beef up tourism past the typical Labor Day summer cut-off point, hotel owners in the area decided to hold a pageant. Included in the pageantry was a “National Beauty Tournament” that declared it was going to find “the most beautiful bathing beauty in America.” Eight brave women chose to participate in the competition but only one, Margaret Gorman who was the holder of the Miss Washington D.C. title, would walk away the winner. Herb Test, a local reporter, said that he would pronounce the winner to be “Miss America.” Little did he know that his made-up title would become the major pageant it is today. The Miss America pageant became an annual event in Atlantic City after that first “bathing beauty” search and by 1923, participation had grown to 70 contestants. During 1929, 1930 and 1931, the pageant was put on hold because of the Great Depression but was started up again in 1932, although it was not the grand spectacle it had been previously. By 1935, the pageant, and in fact the whole nation, had fallen for the idea that was Hollywood. Glamour, fame and money were at the forefront of many peoples’ minds, including the women who competed for the Miss America title. Lenora Slaughter took over directorship of the pageant and helped coordinate Hollywood screen tests for the winners of the subsequent pageants. Film producers flocked to the contests in search of the next big movie star. The pageant evolved over the years and in 1938, a talent portion was added, requiring each contestant to show some skill or another. By 1945, the idea that a scholarship should be awarded to the winner, probably in an attempt to appeal to the more intellectual women who might choose to participate, came to fruition and Bess Myerson received the first one. Myerson was Miss New York when she entered the contest and came away as Miss America and with a $5000 scholarship. Three years later, Slaughter made another bold move and proclaimed that winners would no longer be crowned in their bathing suits but rather in evening gowns. Apparently, this didn’t sit well with the media or the American public who bemoaned the idea but Slaughter stuck to her guns and from that year on, all winners wore their formal gowns at their crowning. The Miss World pageant was spawned from the Miss America pageant in 1951 and boasted the slogan “Beauty with a Purpose.” The slogan remains today and to add credence to the phrase, the pageant is linked with many charities worldwide. This aspect helped develop pageants into what they are today, which is a competition not only about beauty but also about brains, finance, business and (obviously) show business. How is a beauty pageant about brains? While no one can guarantee what a judge is actually judging during the pageant, there are many in the industry that support the claim that the more involved a contestant is in philanthropic endeavors, the better her chances of winning are. Many contestants have their hand in several different charities, whether it is for the good feeling they get from helping out a cause or for their own strategic planning on how to snag the crown is really anyone’s guess. Industry experts also claim that the process of learning how to speak in front of large crowds, how to exhibit poise and grace, how to be interviewed and answer questions off the cuff is a valuable experience. No doubt, learning how to interview properly can be a big advantage in the business world but it’s unlikely you’d come across some of the Miss America interview questions at an actual job interview. Do beauty pageants really benefit the children who participate? The first child beauty pageant, “Little Miss America” was held in 1961 in New Jersey. Since then, there has been a marked increase in the amount of beauty pageants held just for these little beauty queens in the making. Perhaps you’ve stumbled across a T.V. show called “Toddlers and Tiaras,” produced by TLC. If so, you might be skeptical about how a beauty pageant geared towards very young girls, sometimes not even able to walk yet, could possibly be for their benefit. Well, many parents of pageant contestants swear that it has helped their child overcome stage fright or shyness. Others boast that it has helped their child develop better communication skills. Still others claim that it has taught their child how to be a gracious winner and a good loser. After seeing the show, those claims might seem less than reliable but parents continue to spend thousands of dollars to have their child participate. There has to be something good coming from it, right? Funny pageant names While some people take pageants extremely seriously, there exists a lighter side to these competitions. Here are a few of the more interesting pageants out there.
Beauty Pageant Snippetz
Issue 625
SNIPPETZ OPENS THE BOOK ON SILLY LAWS by Lindsey Harrison “If man asks for many laws it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them; privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist and thinks laws in his own case superfluous.” – Will Durant, historian Laws help us determine right from wrong and while most laws (and the emphasis here is on MOST) are necessary and appropriate, others simply are not. It make sense to have a speed limit in the highway to help drivers continue on their way safely. But it doesn’t quite make as much sense to prohibit bear wrestling matches in Alabama. And that’s not an exaggerated example . . . that is a real and for-true law. Laws like this are not uncommon. The United States is filled with them. What better way to highlight these interesting, often laughable laws than to fill our humble little magazine with them! Colorado It is illegal for someone in Durango to be seen in public wearing clothes that are “unbecoming” of one’s gender. If you’re a man living in Logan County, make sure not to kiss any woman while she is sleeping, since that is illegal. Alabama The law stating that it is illegal to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time is not unique to Alabama alone; this law occurs in several other states as well. Also, when going to church make sure not to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter because that is prohibited. Alaska Shooting bears in Alaska is legal unless you plan to shoot a photo of one and you have to wake it up to do so. If you plan on pushing a moose out of a moving airplane, you might want to think twice; it’s illegal. Arizona Don’t plan on camel-hunting while in Arizona. It’s against the law. If you steal soap in Mohave County, plan to spend a lot of time in the shower. A decree declares that you must wash yourself with that stolen soap until it’s used up. Arkansas School teachers in Arkansas eliminate their chances of getting a raise if they “bob” their hair. If you’re waiting in line at a drive-through restaurant, do not stop your car and then restart it because that’s illegal. California In Blythe, it is illegal to wear cowboy boots unless you already own at least two cows. If you ever find yourself on the witness stand in Los Angeles, don’t cry. That’s against the law. Connecticut Pickles aren’t pickles in Connecticut unless they bounce. Beauticians are banned from humming, whistling or singing while working on a customer in Waterbury. Delaware Flying over any body of water is illegal unless you are carrying “sufficient supplies of food and drink” aboard your aircraft. Florida The state constitution prohibits pregnant pigs from being confined to cages. If you ride your elephant into town and need to tie it up to a parking meter, you have to pay the parking fee just as you would for parking a vehicle there. Georgia Your next picnic in Columbus should not take place in a graveyard. That’s illegal. In Jonesboro, you are prohibited from saying, “Oh, boy.” Hawaii If you think hiding coins in your ear is a good idea, don’t do it in Hawaii because it’s illegal. Idaho Make sure you aren’t wearing your grumpy pants when you go out in public in Pocatello because it’s illegal to be out and about without a smile. Illinois Always keep at least one dollar in your pocket otherwise you could be arrested for vagrancy. Don’t plan on sticking around to finish your food in a building that’s on fire in Chicago because that’s illegal. Indiana If you have a tendency to kiss people, make sure to shave your moustache before heading to Indiana. Don’t let someone drag you into “spiteful gossip” or “talking behind a person’s back” because both of those actions are illegal. Iowa If you’re a one-armed piano player, be prepared to play for free. It’s illegal for you to accept payment for your services. Notice to all men: when in Ottumwa, winking at a woman you don’t know is illegal. Kansas If a vending machine eats your money in Derby, hitting it is prohibited. In Russell, musical car horns are banned. Kentucky Any woman wishing to purchase a hat must first have her husband’s permission in Owensboro. If you wish to sell ducklings that you’ve dyed any color, you can only legally sell it if you have six or more for sale all at once. Louisiana In Sulphur, it is illegal to be an alcoholic. If you must bite someone, consider this: biting someone with your natural teeth is just assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is aggravated assault. Maine Although it may seem like a great place to garner new business, it is illegal to advertise in cemeteries. Stepping out of a plane in flight is also illegal so just remain in your seat. Maryland Make sure you have both sleeves on your shirt before going to a public park because it’s illegal to be without them in Baltimore. If you attempt to remove a building by writing on it, you are breaking the law. Massachusetts If you head to Massachusetts for a vacation, bring plenty of money and leave your bullets at home because they cannot be used as currency. Schedule your duel to the death on Sunday and make sure to invite the Governor otherwise your duel is illegal. Michigan Don’t plan to put your family dog to sleep by the use of a decompression chamber because it’s against the law. Minnesota Driving a truck with dirty tires is considered a public nuisance. Don’t let your cat “run at larger” otherwise it is the duty of any police officer to kill it. Mississippi Be on your best behavior in church in Mississippi otherwise any private citizen can personally arrest you for disturbing a service. Missouri In Mole, frightening a baby is a violation of the law. Unless you have permission from the owner, you may not honk another’s car horn. Montana Don’t annoy passersby on sidewalks with a revolving water sprinkler because that’s illegal. Nebraska Whale fishing in this land-locked state (and many others, actually) is illegal. Nevada In Reno, it is illegal to lie down on the sidewalk. If you must drive your camel, make sure not to take it on the highway. New Hampshire In a tavern, restaurant or café, it is illegal to tap your feet, nod your head or in any way keep time to the music playing. New Jersey It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest while committing a murder. Don’t “frown” at a police officer because it’s against the law. New Mexico If you happen upon the Mountain View Cemetery, don’t go hunting there. New York It’s illegal to greet another person by “putting one’s thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers.” North Carolina Women must cover their bodies by at least 16 yards of clothing at all times in Charlotte. North Dakota Take off your shoes before you lie down and fall asleep otherwise you’re breaking the law. Ohio It is illegal to get a fish drunk. In Toledo, it is illegal to throw a snake at someone else. Oklahoma In Hartshorne, it is considered unlawful to put any hypnotized person in a display window. Making “ugly faces” at dogs could result in a fine or incarceration. Oregon There is no whistling underwater while in Portland. In Hood River, you must get a license to juggle. Pennsylvania A cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug. Maybe men should do the sweeping, then. Don’t sleep outside on top of a refrigerator. Rhode Island Zombies beware: biting off another person’s leg is illegal. South Carolina If a man promises to marry a woman, the marriage must take place, according to law. South Dakota Laying down and falling asleep inside a cheese factory is illegal. Tennessee In Oneida, it is forbidden to sing “It Ain’t Goin’ To Rain No Mo’.” Texas All criminals must give their victims 24 hour notice to explain the nature of the crime they wish to commit. Utah While she is in his presence, a husband is responsible for all criminal activity committed by his wife. Vermont Women must obtain written permission from their husbands before they can wear false teeth. Issue 626
SNIPPETZ SCARES UP SOME REAL HAUNTED HOUSES by Lindsey Harrison 
“The thing I find really scary about ghosts and demons is that you don’t really know what they are or where they are. They’re not very well understood. You don’t know what they want from you. So it’s the kind of thing you don’t even know how to defend yourself against. Anything that’s unknown and mysterious is very scary.”
– Oren Peli, Israeli producer It’s that time of year again, when the young and old alike yearn to be scared out of their wits. Okay, maybe not. But many people are looking for a good fright and we at Snippetz felt it was our duty to research some local scare-worthy places. We’re not talking your mom-and-pop haunted house set up in your neighbor’s garage. No, we’re talking about REAL haunted houses; ones that don’t require any staging or actors or fake monsters and zombies to frighten those in attendance. We’re talking about places that have prompted legends to be told about them and for ghost-hunters from across the country to visit in the hopes of securing undeniable evidence of paranormal activity . . . of a haunted house! Fact or Fiction? Not everyone believes in ghosts; that’s obvious. But one study showed that about one third of all adult Americans do. Another study found that about 23 percent of those adults polled believed they had had a personal experience with a ghost, either having seen or felt one. With such a high number of people being “believers,” it’s no wonder that the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena was formed. And according to the association, there are a few things to look for when trying to determine if a house truly is haunted. The ASSAP would likely dub your house haunted if you have seen apparitions, feel cold spots in a room, smell any unusual odor, notice any objects have been moved or damaged, or have seen your pet acting agitated or scared. Lee Family Home Nestled in the trees of the Black Forest, the Lee family house is located just off Swan Road. Outside appearances of this particular house are most definitely deceiving because while it may look to be just an ordinary house, what lurks inside is far from ordinary. The origin of the paranormal activity is unknown and there are plenty who say that the previous owner of the house knew all about the strange happenings and kept his mouth shut. Maybe he didn’t want the sale to fall through; maybe he didn’t want to be labeled a wacko. Either way, Steve and Beth Lee signed a lease on the home in May of 1991 and moved with their two boys to the house without knowledge of what they were getting into. The following year, the family purchased the home and according to Beth Lee, all the problems started shortly thereafter. Lights in the house turned on by themselves or would flash on and off; they could hear what sounded like people stomping across the roof and chains rattling. The family has reported strange shadows and weird lights, and the stench of an unidentifiable chemical that was so strong it burned their throats. The family set up surveillance cameras to catch the action on tape, especially after their alarm system and motion detectors were triggered with no explanation. The El Paso County Sheriff’s office investigated those alarms over 60 times and came up with no evidence of what set them off. At least two paranormal investigators have made their way to the house to help determine what exactly is going on at the Lee house. One came to the conclusion that at least 20 different spirits resided in the house, specifically in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Another conclusion came from a Hopi shaman that visited and decided that the house resided on an area known as a “Rainbow Vortex,” a place where our mortal world connects to the next world, whatever that may be. Hundreds of faces have revealed themselves in the master bedroom mirror which has been labeled as the pathway through which these spirits have been able to move. Hearthstone Inn The Hearthstone Inn, located on Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs is actually two separate houses, the Bemis house and the Sumner House that were connected in the early 1900s. The inn is no longer open as the property was foreclosed on several years ago. The structure remains, however and it stands to reason that the paranormal activity reported there when the inn was open continues. So what was this paranormal activity? Some guests had reported seeing pictures and mirrors lift themselves off the wall and either fly across the room or drop to the floor. Others claimed that drinking glasses had suddenly shattered in their hands. Cold spots had been reported and some believers had even gone as far as to set up cameras to record the orbs and mists that mysteriously appeared throughout the inn. Perhaps the most interesting occurrences at this haunted house were the repeated reports of the ghost of a little girl running throughout the inn. People claimed to hear her giggling and laughing. Some had even said that she was jumping on the bed they were sleeping in as though it was a trampoline. The Pioneer Museum The Pioneer Museum, situated in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, seems an unlikely place for a haunting. But people swear that the ghost of a former manager who was shot by an employee in the 1950s still roams the halls of the museum. According to the stories about the museum, the manager was accused of cheating that employee out of a paycheck and the employee lost his mind and killed the manager. His former office and surrounding areas are said to be haunted by an upset presence. This presence is reported to make people feel really uncomfortable, like they are not welcome to be there. One man claimed he saw an apparition of a man wearing an old black coat walking to the stairwell of the museum. He didn’t report any feelings of unease, though and even said the ghost appear to be peacefully going about his routine. The Broadmoor Hotel Luxury often comes to mind when you think of this particular hotel in Colorado Springs. Haunted usually doesn’t . . . but maybe it should. People who have worked at the hotel have come forward with claims that they’ve seen the apparition of a woman wearing a long gown. Others have indicated that ghosts were behind suspicious behavior that occurred during a remodel of the hotel in which each wing was closed off, one at a time in order to complete the renovations. One guest chronicled her time staying at the hotel and throughout her writings, she tells about her experiences with the paranormal entities that reside within the Broadmoor. She wrote about a ghost appearing in the steam from her shower, T.V.s turning themselves on and off, the chandelier in her room swaying back and forth all on its own, and many other experiences that she attributed to the ghosts of the Broadmoor. Other Real Haunted Houses
Issue 627
SNIPPETZ WANTS YOU TO ENJOY YOUR GOLDEN YEARS! by Lindsey Harrison 
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
– Henry Ford Getting older can be a scary thing. You can’t do the same things you used to be able to do. Your clothes don’t quite fit the right way anymore. Maybe you’ve looked in the mirror and wondered who in the world that old person looking back at you was. We’ve all been there. But we don’t have to STAY there. It is possible to see all the great things that getting older has brought. You don’t have to worry about disappointing your friends when you decline a late night out on the town. You can spoil your nieces, nephews and grandchildren and send them right back to their parents. There’s a whole host of opportunities out there for people getting into those upper digits. And naturally, Snippetz felt it necessary to make it as easy as possible to gather that information so you don’t have to waste your time looking for it . . . instead, you can get out there and start enjoying everything your golden years have to offer! There’s help out there! Remember all those times when you wished you could call your mom or dad and ask them how to handle a particularly sticky situation? How they always seemed to know how to handle everything and you couldn’t wait to get older so you knew how to do all those things by yourself? Well, chances are, you’ve found out that no matter how old you get, you still don’t have all the answers and will occasionally find yourself in need of some help or advice. There are plenty of businesses out there that can help with certain tasks that you’ve found are more difficult than you anticipated. Find a local healthcare management business that can provide a wide array of assistance opportunities ranging from assisted living and independent living, in-home services like meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation services, and light housekeeping among others. Maybe your needs are a little different. Perhaps you need some financial help due to decreased income from retirement. The great thing is that there are federal public benefits available for people of a certain age and income to help with the cost of food, housing, health care and supplemental income. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: This program pays heating and cooling bills, plus some energy-related home repairs for those who qualify. The specific annual income qualifications vary state by state so check with your utility company to find out what the requirements are. Telephone Assistance: This program helps pay for the cost of basic local telephone services for those who qualify. Low-income older adults are urged to apply but acceptance into certain other programs automatically qualifies you for this one. Call your local phone company for details about the Link Up or Lifeline program. Colorado Food Assistance Program: This program provides a card similar to a debit card that can be used like cash to pay for food items at most grocery stores for those who qualify. Applicants must be have limited income and resources, especially if you are 60 or older. Contact the Department of Human Services to apply: 303-866-5700 or go to http://aarp.org/quicklink to get the application. Medicare: This program offers health insurance to help pay for preventive care, doctor visits, hospital stays and prescription drugs for those who qualify. Applicants must be 65 or older or have disabilities or kidney failure. Call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 for assistance or visit http://socialsecurity.gov. Medicare Savings Programs: Programs of this type help pay for some of the costs of Medicare, including the Part B premium, deductibles and co-payments for those who qualify. How much the program provides for you depends on your income and assets. The program requirements vary state by state; to see if you qualify, call 800-633-4227 for help. To request an application if you do qualify, call 800-362-1504. Medicare Rx Extra Help: This program pays for the monthly fee and deductible for Medicare prescription drug coverage and can lower those particular co-payments for those who qualify. People who get Medicare and have a total combined savings, investments and real estate (excluding your home) that isn’t worth more than $13,070 for single people or $26,120 for married couples currently living together. The Social Security Administration can help get you the application. Medicaid: This program provides medical coverage for hospital care, clinical and health center services, doctor care, nurse care, X-ray and lab services, and nursing homes. You must be 65 or older to qualify or have disabilities, few resources or sometimes high medical bills. Income limits exist and vary depending on the size of your family and where you live. Contact the Medicaid office to see if you qualify. Social Security: This program (while it still exists) provides monthly checks depending on how long you worked, how much money you earned, where you worked and your age when you began getting your benefits. People who are 62 or older, have disabilities, or are the spouse and children of a deceased or disabled worker who paid into the program may qualify. Call the Social Security Administration to see if you qualify. Supplement Security Income: This program also provides monthly checks for people who qualify. You must be 65 or older or have disabilities and very low income and assets. Call the Social Security Administration for help to apply. Other ways to get your benefit on! All this talk about Medicare and Social Security has made us at Snippetz a little hungry . . . and bored. Many businesses will offer a discount to seniors but not all of them will advertise that they do so don’t be afraid to ask! That said, here are just some of the really cool benefits you can get as a senior citizen at local restaurants, stores and the like! Restaurants
Retail and Clothing stores
Grocery stores Kroger (King Soopers): 10 percent off on the first Wednesday of the month for 60+ (at participating stores only). Travel
Entertainment
There are plenty more where those came from so if you’re computer-savvy, just search online for “senior citizen discounts” and you’ll be on your way! Issue 628
SNIPPETZ INVITES YOU TO SAVOR SOME TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY DRINKS by Lindsey Harrison “Holidays are about experiences and people and tuning into what you feel like doing at the moment. Enjoy not having to look at a watch.” – Evelyn Glennie, Scottish musician Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, people often gather together to spend time enjoying traditional food and drink. What comes to mind when you think of holiday food? Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are probably some of the first examples that you think of. What about holiday drinks, ones you can share with the whole family? Eggnog, wassail, apple cider and hot chocolate are a few drinks that typically go hand in hand with the holidays. But what is it about these drinks that connects them to the holidays? Leave it to Snippetz to find out for you! Eggnog The origins of this wonderfully creamy holiday beverage are debatable. People have theorized that the “nog” part of eggnog comes from the word “noggin” which is a Middle English term for a small carved wooden mug often used to serve drinks at tables in taverns. The “noggin” is not to be confused with the “tankard” which was used to serve drinks beside the fire. Others claim that eggnog refers to a drink called “egg and grog.” After some time, the term was eventually shortened to “egg’n’grog” and yet again to eggnog. This drink was a Colonial drink that was often mixed with rum although some think it started out as an English drink mixture of Spanish “Sherry” and milk. That mixture was called “dry sack posset.” Perhaps the most plausible explanation is that drinking “egg and grog in a noggin” could easily have just been shortened to eggnog. With the ingredients relatively easily to come by and its combination of rich consistency, spicy flavor and alcohol, it stands to reason that this drink would become a favored wintertime drink throughout Colonial America. One Englishman from 1866 wrote, “Christmas is not properly observed unless you brew egg nogg for all comers; everybody calls on everybody else; and each call is celebrated by a solemn egg-nogging . . . it is made cold and is drunk cold and is to be commended.” Clearly by this time, it had become a social drink one came to expect when visiting friends or relatives during the holidays. The original drink consisted of new milk, eggs, some form of alcohol and sugar mixed together. Modern eggnog typically consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs and spices, no alcohol included. For a thicker, richer consistency cream is often used as well as vanilla for flavoring. Eggnog is often served with grated nutmeg on top. Wassail The word “wassail” is derived from Old English and literally translates to “be you healthy.” It refers both to drinking wassail, which is served hot and is similar to mulled cider, but also to the act of wassailing. Wassailing is an ancient traditional ceremony from Southern England and involves singing and wassail-drinking to hope for the health of the apple trees and ensure a good apple harvest in the fall. The ceremony also served to scare away any evil spirits lurking around the apple orchards. In certain places, a shotgun is fired into the air to accomplish this task. While the specifics of each wassailing ceremony vary from one village to the next, the basics of each celebration are generally the same. They typically include a wassail king and queen who lead the procession, often including processional music or singing, from orchard to orchard. The wassail queen then gets the privilege of being lifted into the canopy of the tree in order to place a wassail-soaked piece of toast from an earthen-ware cup called a clayen cup among the boughs. The toast is a gift to the tree spirits and is meant to demonstrate the prosperity of the previous year’s harvest. The historical recipe for wassail was less like what you’ll find today. It was often made with mulled beer or mead. Today, you’ll probably find wassail is made from mulled cider, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and then topped off with slices of toast. Apple cider There is often much confusion about the difference between apple juice and apple cider. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources states, “Apple juice and apple cider are both fruit beverages made from apples but there is a difference between the two. Fresh cider is raw apple juice that has not undergone a filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment. Apple juice is juice that has been filtered to remove solids and pasteurized so that it will stay fresh longer.” Because apple cider is not filtered or pasteurized, it is often opaque in appearance due to the particulates still in the juice. Fresh cider is also usually only available during the holidays because of its short shelf life. Why would apple cider be a popular drink during the holidays? It’s simple. The apple harvest typically occurs in the fall, making the availability of the fruit at its peak just as we are starting to get into holiday mode. Think back to the days before pasteurization. Without it, the cider made after the fall harvest would have to be consumed within a certain period of time or it would go bad. That time just happens to coincide with the holidays. Apple cider often contains a variety of apple types to give it a balanced taste. Sparkling cider is often made from apple cider by adding carbonation and is a great non-alcoholic alternative to champagne at holiday celebrations. Apple cider also happens to be the official state beverage of New Hampshire. Mulled cider This is sometimes called mulled wine although it can be served with or without alcohol. The term “mulled” refers to a drink that is prepared by combining certain spices with cider (usually apple), wine or other types of juice and heating the mixture before straining out the spices and serving it. The spices are usually cinnamon, cloves, allspice, some part of an orange like the peel and nutmeg. Other recipes sometimes add star anise, peppercorn or cardamom. Hot Chocolate or Cocoa As far back as about 2,000 years ago, it is believed that the Mayan culture created the first chocolate drink. This drink was served cold and was created by grinding cocoa seeds into a paste and mixing it with water, cornmeal, chili peppers and other ingredients. The mixture was repeatedly poured from a cup to a pot and back again until a thick froth developed. Throughout the years, the drink has been changed and tweaked many times. Now it is consumed worldwide and comes in many different variations, including the hot chocolate drink most Americans are accustomed to. The terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa can be used interchangeably since they refer to the same thing. Modern hot chocolate tastes nothing like the ancient version which was said to be spicy and bitter. By the 1600s, the drink trended towards the sweet variety rather than the previous versions. In 1828, Coenraad Johannes van Houten created cocoa powder using a machine he developed in the Netherlands. The machine separated the greasy cocoa butter from the cacao seeds, leaving behind the more intensely-flavored chocolate powder. Similar to the modern-day instant hot cocoa powder, van Houten’s powder was more easily stirred into milk and water. While hot cocoa or hot chocolate can be enjoyed any time of the year, most people find themselves seeking it out during the colder fall and winter months, coinciding once again with our traditional holiday season. Issue 629
SNIPPETZ WANTS TO HELP YOU AND YOURS SHOP SAFELY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON by Lindsey Harrison “Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmastime with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words.” – Harlan Miller, writer ‘Tis the season to shop, celebrate, eat and enjoy family and friends. But it’s also the season where many people make rash decisions about how to spend their money and some even become victims of credit card fraud or identity theft. There are ways to avoid unwise spending and safeguarding yourself against thieves when you’re out finding that perfect present. But wouldn’t it ruin the season if you had to go searching for all those safe shopping tips yourself? That’s where Snippetz comes in, of course! We’ve compiled some great ways to shop smart, save money and protect yourself this holiday season. Make a list Making a list isn’t just for Santa Claus. It’s a great way to stay focused when you’re out shopping, especially if you plan to hit up any big sale days. Some of the deals are very enticing but if you don’t have a plan of who you’re buying for and how much you can afford to spend, you might end up walking away having spent more for gifts that you can’t necessarily use. Find good deals before leaving home Use the internet to find the deals you can truly take advantage of before you go shopping. Not only can you save yourself a sizeable chunk of change by getting a great deal, but you can save yourself a lot of time, energy and gas if you only have to make one stop to get that perfect gift. When in doubt, buy a gift card There’s always that one person that you just can’t figure out what to get. Either they have everything they could possibly want or they are so particular, you know you’ll never get the right present . . . ever. Sometimes it’s better just to get them a gift card. That way, they can go get what they want and you don’t have to stress about whether or not they’ve already got what you planned to buy. This works especially well if you have a teenager or two in your life. Why run the risk of disappointing them when you can offer them the chance to buy exactly what they wanted? And it gives you the perfect excuse to enjoy an afternoon of quality time with them. It’s really a win-win. Save time, buy online This option is becoming more and more viable as people learn how frustrating it can be to fight through those holiday crowds at the mall or your favorite retail store. Instead, stay warm and cozy in your pajamas and buy things online when feasible. Many retailers offer free shipping if you purchase a certain amount from them and they can often ship directly to the person you’re buying it for. Online shopping can be especially tricky, though. This is the most common place for identity theft to occur. To ensure your online shopping safety, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Sign up for emails Large and small retailers alike will often provide great discounts through coupons. If possible, sign up for their emailing list so they can send you deals and discounts you can use to save big at the register. Don’t be afraid to ask Sometimes retailers will program their registers to discount an item the night before the advertised discount day. If you shop after 6:00 p.m. the night before, you might just get lucky on this one. Don’t be too shy to ask about upcoming discounts either. Some stores will let you know ahead of time what their deals will be so you can plan ahead to get there in time. Shopping local retail stores rather than larger retail chains is a great way to take advantage of discounts that aren’t too widely known. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Maybe the store offers a discount to senior citizens but doesn’t advertise that they do. Sometimes you can even get a small discount off a great item by asking the sales associate if there’s “anything they can do to work with you on the price.” Haggling is popular in many countries around the world and while most Americans don’t engage in that practice, plenty of retailers are willing to offer you a little something back for shopping locally. Pay with cash As arcane as this practice may seem, it’s a great way to protect your personal information and stick to a budget. It’s pretty hard to break your budget if you only have a certain amount of money in your wallet. Some retailers, especially local ones, offer discounts for people who pay with cash because they don’t have to pay the merchant fees required on a credit or debit card transaction. Stress-shopping is a big no-no It’s been shown that stress affects our rational approach to spending and makes us more likely to spend our money recklessly. It can trick us into thinking that saving a little money on one item means we can spend more money on another unnecessary item. That money didn’t magically appear in your bank account so if you didn’t budget for it and don’t truly need it, don’t buy it. Some great ways to avoid this type of stressed-out shopping is to shop online, shop early in the year and during extended shopping hours when fewer people are around. Research has shown that the hours of 10 a.m. and noon, Monday through Thursday are the best, least crowded times to shop. Ask around It may be tempting to guess what your friends and family may want this year, but it’s much easier to do some subtle recognizance to find out at what stores they personally like to shop. If you know they like a certain local home goods store, go there with them in mind and you’ll probably have more success than digging through a huge superstore’s selection of home goods items. Follow locally-run discount sites There are plenty of online sites that offer discounts for local shops at ridiculous prices. LivingSocial.com is one and Groupon.com is another. Sites like these allow you to indicate your specific area and will allow you to purchase great deals for local businesses. |
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