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Issue 400 - 6/29/2009
SNIPPETZ CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY by Deborah Stumpf 
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. “
-Erma Bombeck If you live in or near the Tri-Lakes area, you already know that nothing says 4th of July like a Tri-Lakes Festival! We know how to celebrate – from the Monument Parade with over 100 entries every year to the Palmer Lake Fireworks Show – people come from miles around to participate in “The Best Small Town Celebration in America.” John Adams, our second president and an author of the Declaration of Independence, said in a letter to his wife about the 4th of July: “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…” And that we do. Declaring It So The 4th of July, or Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on that date in 1776. However, it took until August to complete the signing of the Declaration. It was two days earlier on July 2, 1776 that Congress declared its independence from England as the British fleet arrived in New York. The first celebration was held on July 8, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly with bands playing and city bells ringing in Philadelphia. Although the holiday had been celebrated in many places once the war ended in 1783, it didn’t become a federal holiday until 1941. Mom and Apple Pie One of the many popular activities surrounding the holiday is eating, and preferably outdoors. Depending on where you live, it may include hot dogs and hamburgers, apple pie, coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, ice cream and even clam bakes. If you’re not celebrating at home, there is always the Monument street fair that takes place after the parade in which one can partake in turkey legs, barbeque pork sandwiches, funnel cakes, fried catfish and more. And don’t forget the ice cream at The Rock House in Palmer Lake – a tradition for many at any time of the day or at night - before, during or after the fireworks. Looking for something from the 1700’s to make? Try one of George Washington’s favorites – Cranberry Pudding. It’s printed in the Mount Vernon Cookbook and looks easy if you have a rice steamer. Just take 2 beaten eggs and combine with 2 tablespoons sugar, a pinch of salt and 1/2 cup of molasses. In a separate bowl, put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1/3 cup of boiling water and then add it to the egg mixture. Stir in 1½ cups sifted flour and 1½ cups halved cranberries. Steam in a buttered rice steamer for approximately 1½ hours. Serve warm with a cooked sauce made of 2 sticks butter, 2 cups sugar and 1 cup half and half. (No wonder George Washington liked it – who wouldn’t?) Fireworks The U.S. imports over $217 million in fireworks, most of which comes from China. We produce over $17 million worth of fireworks of which Japan purchases close to $4 million of it. No need to leave the country to see any fireworks. Palmer Lake boasts one of the best fireworks displays in the state. Ask just about anyone and they’ll tell you that watching the fireworks is their favorite part of the entire holiday. The fireworks display is entirely dependent upon private donations and fundraisers that take place year round to pay the nearly $30,000 annual expense. Flags The presence of the U.S. flag probably stirs more patriotic emotions for U.S. citizens than any other symbol. The red, white and blue flag was carefully designed with 13 stripes (6 white and 7 red), which symbolize the 13 original colonies, and 50 white stars on a navy blue background which represent the 50 states. Betsy Ross is credited with being the first American flag maker. The flag flies over her grave permanently in Philadelphia; however, it was once stolen in 1961. The majority of American flags are made in China. And for American flags made in America, Mexico purchases half of what we produce. Remember The Enemy? Revolutions aside, we trade over $112 billion in business with England every year, making the Brits our sixth leading trading partner behind Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and the Federal Republic of Germany, in that order. Patriotic Cities Many towns and cities across the U.S. have patriotic names:
Patriotic Songs Patriotic songs and hymns are not just limited to “America the Beautiful,” the “Star Spangled Banner,” or Battle Hymn of the Republic, but some have also come from movies, theatre, television and the military. Remember any of these?
Uncle Sam Wants You! It was during the War of 1812 that the term Uncle Sam became a popular national symbol. It began with the initials US which was stamped on an army supply container. The containers of food came from a company run by a man named Sam Wilson who was called Uncle Sam by his family and friends. Any barrel of meat he packed or inspected had the stamp “U. States” on it, which eventually was shortened even more to US. The US eventually became known as Uncle Sam and soldiers began to call themselves Uncle Sam’s Army. In 1861, Congress adopted Uncle Sam as an official symbol. The most memorable portrayal was during the World War I when the Army recruitment poster, designed by artist James Montgomery Flagg, depicted Uncle Sam pointing directly at you with the saying “I Want You.” Notable 4th’s
More Fourth Facts
Issue 401 - 7/6/2009
SNIPPETZ ENGAGES IN RISKY BEHAVIOR: RUNNING OF THE BULLS by Gregory Stumpf 
“Bullfight critics row on row crowd the enormous plaza de toros, but only one is there who knows, and he's the one who fights the bull.”
-Robert Graves Throughout the ages mothers around the world have cautioned their children not to run with basically anything. For some unknown reason ‘running with,’ or, ‘run’ has always had a negative connotation. For example, she (Mom) might say, “running with scissors is dangerous,” or, “you’re running with the wrong crowd,” “you’re running on empty,” “don’t run away,” and let’s not forget the old standby, “don’t come running to me. . .” However, some time around 1591 Spanish mothers may have added to their “don’t run with” list, don’t run with the bulls. How It All Began This long held tradition began in the late 1500’s and started as just another task to prepare for the bullfight held each year during the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. The idea was to transport or herd the bulls from an off-site corral to the bullring. The true beginnings are unclear. It has been reported that when the bulls were released from their enclosure, children began taunting them. The kids would run ahead of the herd as a show of bravery. At a later date, the butchers’ guild, the group responsible for buying the bulls, began to join in with the drovers (animal movers) and chase behind the bulls and heifers up to the bullring from Santo Domingo Street, the starting point of the run. As time passed, the tradition of running with the bulls evolved from running behind them to running in front, which continues today. Up to hundreds of participants test their metal, so to speak, by running through the narrow slippery cobblestone streets of Pamplona ahead of a herd of a half dozen less than happy bulls each with an average weight of 1500 pounds. You Mean There are Rules? Participants have to follow certain requirements to do “The Run.” Running with the bulls is dangerous, and every year there are at least 200 injuries. Although most are bumps and bruises, this is an activity not to be taken lightly. Since 1924, 14 people have died and over 200 seriously injured running with the bulls in Pamplona Spain, which precipitated the official warning from the Pamplona Town Council: “As well as being the best known act of the Sanfermines, the Bull Run is also the most dangerous. In order to ensure that the run goes off successfully and to avoid danger, it is advised that the spectators and runners bear in mind certain minimal rules, which guarantee the normal running of the Bull Run. For this reason it is expressly forbidden:
Dress Code A few more requirements, although not strictly enforced:
The event! The first “Run” starts after daybreak on July 7 each year. The runners gather a short distance from the bull pin, and as the bulls are released a rocket is set off. A second rocket is then shot off to alert the runners that the bulls are on their way down the street. The bulls run along the narrow street 825 meters (half a mile) to a bullring. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to get as close as possible, all while trying to avoid being gored by their sharp horns. A group of cows or oxen with bells around their necks are released behind the bulls to collect any stragglers and keep them with the group. The cobblestone streets are slippery. So slippery that recently a non slip agent has been used to add traction and reduce injury to both animal and human. It’s All In Technique The best time tested technique for the run is to start off slowly while the bulls are still some distance behind. As the herd draws closer, it is advised to run as fast as possible. The idea is to get as close to the sharp horns and hot breath of the beasts and then get out of the way as quickly as possible. Barriers erected along the path are designed with gaps large enough for a human to slip between, yet too small for a bull to get through. These barriers are sometimes the difference between going home and going to the hospital with critical or life threatening injuries. Only a few of the most brave or lucky actually complete the whole circuit and enter the destination, the bullring, ahead of the bulls and unscathed. When the bulls reach their destination, the runners are advised to move to the outer wall of the bullring and let the professional handlers herd them into the holding pen. If You Just Have To Be There Ernest Hemingway first popularized this age-old tradition in his 1926 novel, “The Sun Also Rises." He told the world about the Pamplona bull running festival, which attracted people from all over the world to this annual event. It continues to draw huge crowds. The runs in Pamplona Spain start on July 7 and go until the July 14. So, whether you want to watch or be a daring participant, the annual “Running of the Bulls” is a time-honored, adrenaline pumping experience. And if you can’t get there, there’s always You Tube. 
Issue 402 - 7/13/09
SNIPPETZ TAKES A SHOT AT PHOTOGRAPHY by Deborah Stumpf 
“While I have always worked with fairly conventional means and techniques, I anticipate new departures which, if I cannot examine them in my lifetime, will assure the power of future vision and accomplishment.”
-Ansel Adams, Photographer, 1976 It’s hard to imagine life without photographs. Before the 1820’s we had to rely on the written word as well as other forms of art to relay history from generation to generation. But, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Most of us take for granted the ability to document our vacations, our lives, our growing children and many other day-to-day activities with the camera. We’ve gone from pinpoint cameras to metal plates to film to digital. Even our cell phones take photos! That brings many of us to the level of historian whether we meant to be or not. Starting Somewhere As early as the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., pinpoint cameras or obscura boxes were described which utilized the process of projecting an image onto a surface by using a box with a pinhole in a dark room. The images were then traced. Although this was not real photography by the standards that used chemical processes that eventually came into play, it was still a form of recording an image. Several discoveries had to be made in order for chemical photography to be invented:
Take a few giant leaps forward to 1825 when French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce produced the first known permanent photograph. He used a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea (a petroleum derivative). The bitumen hardens once exposed to light and the material that is unhardened is washed away. The remaining metal plate has a negative image which is polished and then coated with ink and impressed on paper. Early Polaroids Niepce and Louis Daguerre worked together to improve the silver process. After Niepce’s death in 1833, Daguerre discovered a process that involved exposing the silver to iodine vapor before light and then to mercury fumes once the photograph was taken. The plate would then be subjected to a salt bath which then fixes the latent image. He coined the term daguerreotype to describe the process of using silver on a copper plate, a process similar to polaroids of today. Simultaneously, Hercules Florence, a French/Brazilian inventor and painter developed a similar process which he called “Photographie.” In 1926, a Harvard freshman, Edwin Land left Harvard to pursue research in polarization. The synthetic polarizer that he invented could selectively screen light waves, blocking those that caused glare. Land produced his polarizing sheets with the aid of George Wheelright III, a Harvard physics professor. They were granted a patent in 1934 and began work to develop their polarizing sheets for car headlights and windshields. Eastman Kodak ordered their photographic polarizing filters or plates which were two glass discs that formed a seal around the polarizing sheets. These plates decreased the glare and increased the contrast for photos taken in bright light environments. Professor Clarence Kennedy of Smith College, a friend of Land and Wheelright, suggested the name “Polaroid” and it stuck. Some Kodak Moments From the early 1800’s to the digital age, numerous inventions and changes took place at a rapid pace. Here are a few key inventions:
Say It With Color Even though color photography was being explored in the 1800’s during the explosion of black and white discoveries, it wasn’t until 1935 that Kodak introduced color film for public sale. However, this was for use in a slide viewer. It took several more years until 1942 when color images could be printed on paper. What Would They Think Of Next? Why, digital, of course!
These new “digicams” range in size from large to tiny and can do just about anything including taking still pictures and video. The technology comes in standalone products such as cameras, as well as incorporated into cell phones, PDAs and space telescopes. Makes you wonder who’s taking your picture at any moment of the day. You Press the Button and You Also Do The Rest The options for processing those digital photos are numerous – send it directly to a printer, download into your computer and print, email or bring your disc of your photos to the developer for printing – the options are numerous and easy. And so are the options to enhance and modify photos. Red eye? No problem! Many software packages help repair that and any other perceived “flaw” in the photos. The popular software package, PhotoShop lets the amateur do amazing things with digital photos. Fixing old photos are no longer a problem. They can be easily scanned into the computer to have that old yellow tint removed. Big Picture Names
Big Camera Bill Gates (Microsoft) and former colleague Charles Simonyi contributed $10 million and $20 million respectively toward the development of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) that will sit atop a peak in the Andes above Chile. This is a combination public-private venture anticipated to be in full operation by 2016. Considered likely the largest camera on earth, it can take at least 800 panoramic images each night and cover the entire skyline twice each week, creating a 3D map of the universe and sending valuable information back to scientists around the world. 
Issue 403 - 7/20/2009
SNIPPETZ GETS THE SCOOP ON A TASTY HOLIDAY by Deborah Stumpf and Laurie Efram 
“I don’t cry over spilt milk, but a fallen scoop of ice cream is enough to ruin my whole day.”
-Marquise de Sevine It was President Ronald Reagan who declared July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month to be National Ice Cream Day back in 1984. President Reagan felt that ice cream was fun, nutritious and that the citizens of our country should celebrate “with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Chocolate, vanilla, rocky road or any number of others, there are few who don’t love ice cream. And what’s not to love? Full of smooth, sweet, cold goodness in any variety that occurs, ice cream has become an American staple and a favorite treat around the world. In The Beginning Ice houses and different forms of chilled food may have been in existence since the time of Mesopotamia some 4,000 years ago, possibly along the Euphrates River where they kept their food chilled. Greeks sold snow cone-like products in the fifth century, which were mixed with ice and honey and fruit. Persians were able to have chilled desserts far into the summer months after they figured out how to store their ice in a device called a yakhchal. In 400 BC, Persians invented a pudding-like dish called Fuloodeh that contained ice, fruit, saffron, rose water, lemons and a kind of vermicelli. Served to royalty in summers, this treat still is served in modern-day Iran in much larger circles. During the mid 1500’s in Italy, Emperor Nero would frequently send slaves to collect snow from the mountains, which was then flavored with fruit juice and honey. Marco Polo traveled to the Far East in the 1600’s and returned to Italy with a recipe similar to that of sherbet. The Italians shared their frozen desserts with France in the 1500’s once Catherine de Medici married Henry II of France. Charles I of England was being served a cold dessert they called “cream ice” during the 17th century. For Europeans, ice cream was the dessert for the elite until it was made for public consumption in 1660 when a Sicilian man named Procopio began serving the recipe that included milk, cream, butter and eggs at his café in Paris. Finally, A Recipe The first known recipe for ice cream was printed in “Mrs. Mary Eales’ Receipts” in 1718, and contained very complicated instructions on how to assemble the ingredients in multiple pots, surrounding them with many buckets of ice and salt. Her recipe must have produced very lumpy ice cream, full of ice chunks, as there were no instructions for stirring. The basic idea of producing ice cream would remain the same until the advent of the freezer in the 20th century, which kept ice cream from becoming anything other than a novelty until then. Ice cream’s introduction to the United States started with the elite as well in the 1700’s. Maryland Governor William Bladen was said to have served an ice cream and strawberry dessert at a dinner party he hosted. President George Washington reportedly had a rather outrageous appetite for ice cream and spent nearly $200 on the sweet treat in the summer of 1790 alone. Other presidents followed the tradition including President Thomas Jefferson who enjoyed a rather elaborate recipe for a dessert that included vanilla ice cream made similar to baked Alaska. President Madison enjoyed Dolly Madison’s strawberry ice cream dessert at his inaugural dinner in 1812. No longer for an elite few Once ice houses were invented in the early 1800’s, ice cream could begin its rise in popularity among ordinary citizens. The first ice cream factory was converted from a milk plant by Jacob Fussell in 1851 in Baltimore. Soon, technological advances make the manufacture of ice cream more and more efficient. Homogenization, electrical power, automated packing and freezing equipment have allowed the production of nearly 2 billion gallons of ice cream per year today. By the late 1800’s, the soda fountain shop popped up and led to the budding career of the “soda jerk.” The ice cream soda was invented in 1874 by Robert Green when he combined carbonated water, syrup and ice cream. Soda fountains were a popular gathering place at drug stores throughout the country where the carbonated mineral water became popular and was thought to have medicinal qualities. Once grocery stores and supermarkets began to stock manufactured ice cream starting in the 1940’s, the traditional ice cream parlors lost popularity for a few decades. However, like the coffee shop, ice cream parlors and shops can now be found in most any city in the U.S., both large and small. Apparently, loading the family in the car and heading for the local ice cream parlor is still an American pastime, if only to trade the station wagon for an SUV. A Bit More History
What We Consume The IDFA (International Dairy Foods Association) reports that ice cream accounts for nearly $23 billion in annual sales and that 9% of all milk produced here in the U.S. goes to make ice cream. A full 90% of the population are said to be ice cream consumers today. The average ice cream enthusiast consumes 17 pounds of regular ice cream and 7 pounds of low fat ice cream per year. Begging for world records • According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest ice cream sundae came to a whopping 55,000 pounds and was made in Alberta, Canada in 1988. • The world’s largest ice cream sandwich topped out at 2,500 pounds in Iowa, also in 1988. • Not to be outdone, Baskin-Robbins created a 9,000-pound ice cream cake in 1999. And The Winner Is You say vanilla and chocolate aren’t adventurous enough for you? Well, how about dill pickle, jalapeno, eggnog, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, octopus, spinach, onion, fried pork rind, chunky bacon or bay leaf ice cream? Seems that just about everything has been added to ice cream depending on what part of the world you live in. Unusual flavors aside, the 10 most popular ice cream flavors are: 1. Vanilla 2. Chocolate 3. Butter pecan 4. Strawberry 5. Neapolitan 6. Chocolate chip 7. French vanilla 8. Cookies and cream 9. Vanilla fudge ripple 10. Praline pecan If you're in the Palmer Lake area, on the front range in Colorado, make sure you stop by Rock House Ice Cream and More, for a sweet, delicious treat! So, as the saying goes…”I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” 
Issue 404 - 7/27/2009
SNIPPETZ FLIES YOU TO THE MOON by Deborah Stumpf 
“There’s a foot coming down the step.”
Walter Cronkite reporting Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon July 20, 1969. Over The Moon Perhaps it’s befitting that Walter Cronkite, America’s beloved evening news anchor in the 60s, 70s and early 80s, died just days before the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s famous walk on the moon. More than half-million people tuned in July 29, 1969, to listen to Cronkite recount the steps of the men from Apollo 11. Although he never lived to see it, President John F. Kennedy had promised that Americans would be the first to walk on the moon. At that time, the U.S. was competing with Russia in what was called “the space race.” Twelve astronauts have walked on the moon since 1969, but no one has ventured on the moon since 1972. It is said that after Armstrong’s remarkable feat, the excitement waned as earthly problems demanded more attention than ever. The space age was suddenly over! Even Star Trek, the original T.V. series, went off the air six weeks after the first moon landing. But a fascination with the moon has continued on. Take the language, for example. Much of it is moon related. Famous Moon Sayings For readers old enough to remember Ralph Cramden in the T.V. series, “Jackie Gleason,” they’ll recall his constant, comedic threat to his wife, Alice. “To the moon, Alice,” he said. “To the moon” became a household saying for someone who wanted to dismiss a person’s comment or presence. And more … • Tiger Woods is “shooting for the moon” in his attempt to beat Jack Nicklaus’ golfing record. • David Cook was “over the moon” when he won American Idol in 2008. • Betsy doesn’t visit often; I only see her “once in a blue moon.” • Jane saw George Clooney the other day, and she can’t stop “mooning over him.” • I don’t know a thing about it, as much as the “man in the moon.” • Joe got in trouble for “mooning” the girls who stood in the dormitory window. • “It’s “beyond the moon” to me why Bob suddenly left town. • That’s nonsense, ridiculous – just a “bunch of moonshine.” • With the recession hovering over Americans, more people are “moonlighting” to make ends meet. The Moon, The Song The moon has also been the focus of many song titles and lyrics, from past to present. One of the iconic moon-related songs is “Moon River.” “Moon river, wider than a mile; I’m crossing you in style some day; you dream maker, you heartbreaker, wherever you’re going, I’m going your way.” Composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, the song won the Academy Award in 1961 for best original song, after Audrey Hepburn sang it in the movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In 1962, “Moon River” won a Grammy Award for best record of the year. Andy Williams first recorded “Moon River” in 1961. In 1962, he sang it at the Academy Awards, and “Moon River” became Williams’ theme song. Frank Sinatra is remembered for another popular song about the moon: “Fly me to the Moon.” Arguably, some of the other top moon songs include … • “Yellow Moon” by the Neville Brothers • “Blue Moon” by the Marcels • “Moon Dance” by Van Morrison • “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young • “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” by Los Lobos • “There’s a Moon in the Sky” by The B-52s • “Pink Moon,” Nick Drake And what about Michael Jackson’s claim-to-fame (or one of his claims to fame) – “the moonwalk?” The late Jackson created the moonwalk, a dance routine attempted by every kid with a music or Motown inclination. Just as the walk on the moon, the moonwalk will live on forever. The Moon And Hollywood • In 1988, Cher won the Academy Award for best actress in the movie, “Moonstruck.” Her co-star, Olympia Dukakis, won for best supporting actress. “Moonstruck” was nominated for eight Academy awards and is listed in the top-10 movies for the romantic-comedy genre. The film is also noted for Dean Martin’s song, “That’s Amore.” • In 1973, Hollywood released “Paper Moon,” a story set in the Great Depression era. The movie starred real-life father-daughter team Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal. The latter won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the film, becoming the youngest actress ever to win the Oscar. In 1974, “Paper Moon” became a T.V. series starring Jodie Foster and Christopher Connelly. The T.V. version didn’t fare as well – the show was canceled in a few months because of poor ratings. The Full Moon Hollywood also created film versions of werewolves and vampires – both akin to a full moon. Once a month the moon turns in to what Dean Martin sang about: “The moon in the sky is a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” That pizza pie is the full moon, which occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth, from the sun. Full moons have been blamed for odd behavior among both humans and animals. It’s been said that people party hard, dogs bite and criminals wreak havoc in the light of the full moon. However, an article in National Geographic dispelled the idea that human or animal behavior is relative to a full moon. According to the article, Ivan Kelly, a Canadian psychologist at the University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, published 15 papers on the topic and reviewed more, including one that covered about 200 studies on the full moon and behaviors. Kelly concluded there is no strong evidence of a relationship between a full moon and human/animal behavior. But many people believe that a full moon brings out the worst (or the best) in people, and mythology supports it. Luna, the wife of Zeus, and sister of Helios, the sun, has been deemed the first-ever lunatic – crazy person. After all, she had 50 children, which would make anyone crazy. The word “lunatic” is rooted in the idea that a full moon made people “mad” or insane. What’s Your Moon Sign? When it comes to astrology, the moon’s influence is a certainty. The moon, as in the sun, represents the constellation in astrology in which the moon was located at the place and time of one’s birth. Because the moon affects ocean tides, some believe the moon influences people since water comprises 70 percent of the human body. A person’s moon sign is believed to affect his or her emotional being. In the full astrological analysis, the planetary relationships (moon/sun signs) are included – and important. It is also believed that the sun/moon combination that people were born with indicates their method and approach to life. Humans move through cycles, just as the moon. And, as the moon keeps on moving, humans are moving, either expanding or constricting, but rarely static. The Moon And The Outhouse The half-moon or crescent moon was used on outhouses to distinguish the men’s outhouse from the women’s outhouses. The crescent moon symbol goes back to colonial times, when many people couldn’t read. The crescent moon was also cut out of the wooden outhouse to allow light to get in. More About The Moon • The moon, referred to as “Luna” by the Romans, has been known since prehistoric times. • The moon is 2,160 miles in diameter. The earth’s diameter at the equator is 7926.68 miles. • The moon is the second brightest object in the sky – the sun is the first. • The time between new moons is 29.5 days or 709 hours • The moon is often called the terrestrial planet, alongside Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. • The oldest material brought back from the moon by the Apollo crews has been soil-dated to 4.72 billion years. The Moon’s Many Faces The moon orbits around the Earth once per month, the angle between the Earth, the moon and the sun changes, and is referenced as the moon's phases.
Issue 405 - 8/3/2009
SNIPPETZ SALUTES INVENTORS by Deborah Stumpf 
“Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need.”
- Charles F. Kettering, American engineer, inventor of the electric starter, 1876-1958 August became National Inventors month starting in 1998, and was sponsored by the Academy of Applied Science, Inventors’ Digest magazine and United Inventors Association of the USA. What would we do without disposable tissue, glue and Teflon? It all came from some ingenious mind or minds that spent hours, days, months or years dedicated to making our world a better place with modern conveniences. Before National Inventors Month, President Ronald Reagan dedicated February 11, 1983 to inventors as National Inventors’ Day. President Reagan said that the “key to our future success will be the dedication and creativity of inventors.” President George Washington was the first president to sign the Bill that established the American Patent System in 1790. Since then, more than 6 million patents have been issued – some great and some, well, at least interesting. Hot Enough For You? If you’re finding yourself seeking comfort from the summer heat near the air conditioning of your home, office or car, you can thank Willis Haviland Carrier who invented the formula and apparatus that would eventually become air conditioning in the early 1900’s. Carrier was an engineering graduate of Cornell University and his formula continues to be the basis of all fundamental calculations within the air conditioning industry. The first plant to house this new “Apparatus for Treating Air” was a printing plant in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1902. Achoo! Although many still use the fabric handkerchief, most of us modern folk tend to grab for the disposable tissue, or Kleenex® these days. Those soft little throwaways were invented in the 1920s by Kleenex® Brand. They became quite popular in Canada during the 1926 flu season. Kleenex® smartly used some Hollywood greats such as Jean Harlow and Helen Hayes to promote their product, practically stamping out the monogrammed hankie. Eventually the product came in easy to use cartons with more and more varieties and colors to choose from, as well as other brand names. The Best Nose Scratcher A Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral, was inspired by how cockleburs could cling to clothing and quickly began experimentation with the hook and loop process. He received his patent in 1955 and called the product VELCRO®, which is derived from the French words velour (velvet) and crochet (hook). De Mestral first used cotton for his invention, but later turned to other more durable substances. Now VELCRO® is made from various substances such as nylon, plastic, Teflon and glass. Yes, glass. NASA uses an extensive amount of Velcro made of Teflon, polyester and a glass backing for anchoring equipment, such as a meal tray attachment and to temporarily hold things in place within the shuttle’s weightless environment. There is also a small piece of VELCRO® inside the helmets of the astronauts to be used as a nose scratcher. The Glue That Keeps On Binding Harry Coover was a research chemist working for Eastman Kodak during World War II. While trying to produce a substance that would be clear enough to use for gunsights, he discovered a chemical class called cyanoacrylates. Not particularly good for use as a clear plastic, over time Coover discovered the amazing adhesive power of these substances. His “superglue” was used to spray onto wounds to stop the bleeding during the Vietnam War. The substance continues to be used in medical science today. It’s also a pretty handy item around the house for permanently gluing together just about anything including your fingers. Duck or Duct Another product inspired by the needs of the military, duct tape was originally called “duck tape.” The tape was used to seal ammunition boxes during World War II and was named after ducks’ feathers that repel water. Johnson & Johnson Company designed and manufactured the amazing tape in 1942; however, there is no record of any individual or group within the company given credit for the invention. During the post war housing boom, duct tape found its way into homes and used to secure ducting. Hence, the name change to ‘duct tape.’ Now duct tape is used for many practical purposes as well as creative items (think duct tape wallets) and comes in many colors. Nothin’ Sticks Telfon coating was discovered in 1938 by an American chemist at DuPont, Roy J. Plunkett while researching refrigerants. Plunkett came across this strange substance while testing tetrafluoroethylene. A mistake led to a cylinder of the substance that had solidified into a white powdery solid. The gas had become polymerized and thus became polytetrafluoroethylene. It was slippery, had a very high melting point and was essentially impenetrable. The first products that used Teflon were machine parts and the military used it for artillery shell fuses and nuclear bombs. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Marc Gregoire of Paris, France figured out a way to use Teflon on his fishing line so it wouldn’t tangle. We can thank his wife who put it on her pots and pans and Gregoire’s friend, a UPI reporter, Thomas Hardie, who brought it to the United States. No one wanted to purchase the product, but Hardie finally convinced Macy’s to take 200 of the slippery jewels. They sold in two days and quickly became a household necessity. Very Interesting, Watson
And if you think those are silly, how about the “Pet Rock?” Developed by Gary Dahl because he didn’t like live pets, he came up with his own pet for which he even wrote a training manual. Neiman-Marcus purchased 500 of these adorable creatures and sales soared thereafter in 1975 and 1976. Eventually sales quickly dropped like a rock. A Few More Snippetz:
Issue 406 - 8/10/2009
SNIPPETZ ADOPTS HOMELESS ANIMALS by Deborah Stumpf 
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
-Immanual Kant International Homeless Animals’ Day was initiated by ISAR, the International Society for Animal Rights in order to bring awareness to the pet overpopulation problem. It’s celebrated on the third Saturday of August in many different ways across the country including microchip clinics, adopt-a-thons, dog walks and spay/neuter events. The Humane Society of the United States and its chapters around the country also work tirelessly to educate the public about the problems of animal overpopulation, as well as the shelter and adoption placement services they provide for homeless pets. Americans love their pets and it is no surprise that over 60% of American households have at least one pet. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation from a lack of spaying/neutering, there are between 6 and 8 million cats and dogs that enter shelters each year, half of which are euthanized. Staggering Numbers The most common reasons animal owners give their pets over to a shelter are due to moving to a location where pets are not allowed, health problems such as allergies of family members or behavior problems with the animal. According to the Humane Society, most behavior problems can be easily fixed with proper training. But many animals wind up in shelters simply due to overpopulation.
So You Want to Adopt Animal shelters are a great place to look for a pet who has become homeless. Although requirements are set by each individual shelter, some requirements for adoption can include:
Shelters Galore There are animal shelters in many communities across the state and for all types of animals. A Google search turns up hundreds. Some shelters are considered no kill shelters that seek to find a home or foster care for the animal and do not euthanize. Most Humane Societies do euthanize. Shelters that euthanize are generally mandated to accept any animal, even those that are not adoptable, i.e., aggressive or sick animals. Whereas other shelters will only accept those animals who they feel will be adoptable. When looking for a particular breed, there are many breed specific rescues available. Also, as many as one third of the animals at humane society shelters are purebred. Some in the Colorado Springs area, as well as Denver include:
SAINT Animal Rescue A nonprofit animal rescue, SAINT is a no-kill rescue for eastern El Paso County. They were founded to assist with the rescue and shelter of animals outside of the Humane Society’s region covering more than 1,400 square miles. The agency grew out of the need to protect animals that fall victim to abuse and neglect. Dreampower Animal Rescue Another nonprofit no-kill rescue service for adoptable animals, Dreampower was established in 1990 and helps rescue thousands of animals of many species. Their mission is to find suitable homes for animals and they have an extensive volunteer foster home network for animal placement until adoption can take place. Dreampower participates in animal fairs at various locations including PetsMart stores and their home office. Happy Birthday Humane Society of PPR! The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is celebrating 60 years of service to the community this year. A few highlights about this organization and its history:
War Time Leash Law When folks started growing their own vegetables during World War II, dogs loved digging up the goodies. This prompted an ordinance passed by City Council prohibiting loose dogs during gardening season. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, although hesitant, took on the role of taking in the dogs that were impounded during this process. 
Issue 407 - 8/17/2009
SNIPPETZ ISN'T JOKING WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING A JOKE! by Gregory Stumpf 
Nurse: "Doctor, the man you just gave a clean bill of health to dropped dead right as he was leaving the office".
Doctor: "Turn him around; make it look like he was walking in." -Henny Youngman Sunday, August 16, was National Tell a Joke Day and since it landed smack dab on a Sunday this year, let’s hope you didn’t tell the old joke that starts with, “A Priest, a Minister and a Rabbi walked into a bar …” at your place of worship. No one really knows how long this lesser-known and unfortunately lesser-celebrated holiday has been around, when it started or why it came to be in the first place. The important thing is that it does exist and you don’t have to be a professional comedian to participate. Telling a joke correctly requires a few basic skills like timing, knowing your material, and also knowing if the joke is appropriate for your audience. Here are a few tips from the professionals to help you get through the next National Tell a Joke Day. KNOW YOUR MATERIAL Probably few of us possess the talent to write a truly funny joke, and even professional writers all too often rely on material they hear. For instance, Jim Carlson was a comedy writer in Hollywood and wrote much of the memorable material for “Laugh-In” and other sitcoms. His close friend was Morey Amsterdam who played Buddy Sorrell of the Dick Van Dyke Show. One day Jim called Morey in New York and said, “Morey, you’ve got to hear this one.” Jim started the joke and just as he was about to deliver the punch line, Morey piped in with the punch line. Jim said, “How could you know that? I’ve never heard that joke before. It’s a new joke!” Morey responded with, “Jim, I wrote that joke last week.” So when you hear a good joke, take the time to write it down as soon as possible. If there’s no paper and pen available, call your home or cell phone and recite it to voice mail. You can’t begin to successfully tell a good joke without having the complete joke committed to either paper or other media. Never trust your memory. NOW REHEARSE Okay, you’re getting closer to being the supreme joke teller, you’ve got your material and it’s accurate, now rehearse. How you ask? How about while you’re driving home and stuck in traffic or in front of a mirror. The pros always rehearse in front of a mirror; that way they can see how others, or the audience sees them. You may think that your facial expressions are a plus when delivering your material, but when you watch yourself you may discover that a deadpan face makes it funnier. Perhaps wearing a hat on sideways is the key to getting the big yuks, but you’ll never know until you rehearse. You may also want to tell your joke to a trusted friend or family member and then request honest criticism. Be ready to have your ego bruised a little, but remember it’s better to be a little embarrassed in front of a forgiving friend or family member than to be mortified in front of a small crowd of business associates, or worse yet, customers. IT'S ALL IN THE DELIVERY... Take if from a guy who’s bombed on and off stage telling jokes. Delivery is 90% of the battle. Here are few tips to follow and, most importantly, the usual pitfalls one should try to avoid when telling a joke correctly.
If you didn’t tell a joke Sunday for National Tell a Joke Day, do not despair. A good joke is a welcome respite on most any day. And there’s plenty of time to use the tips listed here to brush up and become the life of the party for next year’s National Tell a Joke Day which falls on Monday, August 16, 2010. To help get you started, here’s one that is appropriate and may get a few laughs from the clergy: A Priest, a Minister, and Rabbi walk into a tavern and sit down at the bar. The bartender looks at the three of them and says, “What is this - some kind of a joke?” -Author unknown Looking for Some ‘New’ Material? Knock, knock Who's there? Woo Woo, who? Don't get so excited, it's just a joke. Knock, knock Who's there? Cow-go Cow-go who? No, Cow go MOO!!! 
Issue 408 - 8/24/2009
SNIPPETZ SOARS THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF FLIGHT by Deborah Stumpf "More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination." -Wilbur Wright From kites to spaceships we‘ve come a long way in air travel. Man has been fascinated with the idea of flying for as long as time has been recorded. Both Greek and Hindu mythological literature indicates early thoughts of wings such as in Daedalus’ wings made out of feathers and wax. Much celebrated are advancements in aviation such that President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed August 19 of each year as National Aviation Day in honor of Orville Wright’s birthday. Although the Wright brothers tend to be credited with the birth of flight, there was much trial and error that came before them as well as after. Early Flying “Machines” It was the Chinese who, inspired by birds, invented the kite, thought to be around 200 B.C. They used the kites mainly in military missions and religious ceremonies. Even earlier, there is documentation to suggest that the Chinese were the first to invent the hot air balloon, which was simply a device that used an oil lamp under a large paper bag that when lit would float in the air. They used these to scare the enemy. The first UFOs? The hot air balloons became more popular in the 13th century during the Yuan dynasty and were used frequently in festivals. They were also recorded in Central Asia, the Middle East and Tibet. Hydrogen balloons were eventually invented after the discovery of hydrogen gas in the 17th and 18th century. Other contributions were work on fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and Newton’s laws of motion. One could say that the first war planes were hot air balloons that were used during the American Civil War. In 852, Islamic Iberia’s inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas made an umbrella-like structure resembling wings. He jumped off a building and fell to the ground with it, although a lot slower than he would have fallen without the wings. His wings are now thought of as the precursor to today’s parachute. Ibn Firnas continued to work on his flying structures for another 25 years when he invented a type of glider. The glider also crashed and was later determined to be due to lack of a tail. Flying da Vinci Artist Leonardo da Vinci was also fascinated with flying as he drew sketches of a hang glider but never flew in one. A late 20th century prototype indicated that it could have flown with current aerodynamic principles, but his 1496 model did not fly given the parts and knowledge available to him at the time. Tenacious Aviators The Wright Brothers Clearly, two of the most famous aviators in American history are brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright brothers worked on kite and glider aircraft designs from 1900 to 1902 before graduating to work on powered aircraft. The most daunting design problems encountered by numerous aviators involved control and power, which the Wright Brothers worked long and hard to solve. They are credited by The Smithsonian Institution and others for their first sustained flight which took place on Dec. 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, N.C. A photograph recorded Orville’s 12-second flight. Both brothers flew that day with several witnesses. They named their plane the Flyer, which crashed in 1905. They then made improvements on subsequent aircraft called Flyer II and Flyer III. Flyer III experienced the longest flight of 24 miles in just over 39 minutes in 1905. The original Flyer I is now housed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Amelia Earhart A Midwestern girl, Amelia Earhart had a strong sense of adventure. After tending to soldiers as a nurse’s aide during World War I, she attended medical school at Columbia in New York and then went to live with her parents in California where she learned to fly. Her sister and mother helped her purchase her first airplane, a Kinner Airster. She eventually moved to Boston and worked as a social worker. Her future husband, George P. Putnam, publisher, selected her to be the first female passenger on a transatlantic flight in 1928. In 1932 she piloted the first transatlantic solo flight and in 1935, she was the first to fly from Hawaii to the mainland, which made her the first person to fly solo over both the Atlantic and Pacific. Earhart was quite the fashion diva as well and developed a line of clothing for flying. She was always seen about town at various events in clothing appropriate for the affair whether as a pilot or a formal event. Her final flight was the most famous, the one that proved fatal in 1937 when she began a historic around-the-world flight at the point of the equator. She never made it around the world and was thought to go down around Howland Island in the Pacific. What happened to that flight is still a mystery. A group called The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (Tighar) plans to employ modern technology of DNA testing to the remains found on a deserted island where they believe Earhart may have spent her final days. This October, actress Hilary Swank will portray Amelia Earhart in a movie about her that also stars Richard Gere. Howard Hughes The wealthy eccentric aviator, engineer, director and film producer, as well as philanthropist, Howard Hughes made huge contributions to the aviation industry. One of his greatest was the development of the Hughes H-1 Racer which broke a transcontinental airspeed record in 1937 by flying from Los Angeles, Calif. to New York City in close to 7.5 hours. He beat his own record of about 9.5 hours. He also flew a Lockheed Super Electra (not his own design) in 1938 to set another record, this time around the world in 91 hours. Hughes nearly died in a crash caused by an oil leak in 1946 while he was piloting an experimental reconnaissance aircraft over Los Angeles. He attempted to save the plane by landing in the Los Angeles Country Club, instead hitting three houses in a nearby neighborhood. The fuel tanks exploded and Hughes got himself out of the wreckage. He suffered extensive injuries from the crash. Hughes owned Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Tool Company, Hughes Helicopters, Hughes Aerospace, Hughes Research Laboratories and at one time held majority shares in TWA. Although Hughes was granted the Congressional Gold Medal in 1939 for his contributions to the advancement of American aviation, he was likely best known for his wealth and eccentric behavior possibly due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder and reported dependence on pain medications subsequent to his plane crash. President Harry S. Truman had to mail his medal to him as he never went to Washington personally to receive it. Duck, Duck, Goose The first powered seaplane was invented by French engineer Henri Fabre in 1910. He called it Le Canard (the duck) and it flew 800 meters on its maiden flight off the water. Gabriel and Charles Voisin purchased Fabre’s floats and took them one step further by fitting them to their planes, making the first seaplane called Canard Voisin. In 1912, the seaplane named La Foudre (the lightning) was the first to be used from a military carrier. During World War II, America lost many supply ships to the German U-boats which prompted shipbuilder Henry Kaiser to propose building flying ships to move supplies and troops across the Atlantic. Together with famed Howard Hughes, they started the Hughes Kaiser Corporation and received $18 million on a government contract to begin design and building of a flying boat. The Hughes design featured eight 3,000 horsepower engines, 20-foot wings and a hull able to transport 750 troops. The government mandated that the flying ship could not use steel or aluminum due to wartime shortages, so the engineering team built the boat out of wood. The flying boat project suffered serious delays and never did get off the ground, so to speak, until after the war. Henry Kaiser withdrew from the effort in 1944 leaving Hughes to handle the project alone. Even though Hughes invested $7 million of his own funds, the government investigated possible misuse of funds. Hughes then was determined to prove them wrong and he himself glided the boat through the Long Beach harbor followed by a short flying expedition of about a mile. The eccentric Hughes insisted that the flying boat, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was kept in ready condition and it was. The Spruce Goose remained in a hangar for 33 years, costing $1 million per year to maintain its cushy lifestyle. More Flying Firsts
Issue 409 - 8/31/09
SNIPPETZ LOOKS AT BIRTH ORDER AND PERSONALITY by Deborah Stumpf 
"Our siblings push buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago - the baby, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the avoider.... It doesn't seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we've traveled."
- Jane Mersky Leder, Educator and Author Psychologists and other scientists have been studying birth order and its effect on personality traits for some time. It’s a matter of fascination to many of us just as horoscopes are. Studies suggest distinct differences between first born, second born and third born children. So much so are the alleged differences that they even affect IQ and income in adult life. It’s enough to stand up and take notice. However, a bit of a caution – birth order is not a definite recipe for certain personality traits. Length of time between birth of siblings, number of children in the family, environment and other factors play a significant role. Fortunately, we’re not just cookie-cutter kids. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting to see where we and our siblings might fall on the personality curve. Hmmmm….
Always First Firstborn children are thought to be high-achieving perfectionists. As noted earlier, they have been found to have higher IQ’s than their younger siblings, as well as are more likely to go to college or university and earn more money. They tend to fall into two camps – movers and shakers or caregivers. Some firstborn traits include:
Famous Firsts
Second Best? Middle children tend to get the short end of the stick. They don’t get the attention that the firstborns enjoy, nor do they receive the attention sometimes bestowed on the “baby” of the family. But are they second best? No way! Middle children are thought to be the peacekeepers in the family and in life. They make great mediators. They tend to work a little harder to compete with their older sibling, but they can also be the one in the family to rebel and become the ‘black sheep’ in search of their individuality. Their notable traits include:
Famous Seconds
The Young and the Entertaining The ‘babies’ of the family are in a unique position. Always the bottom of the family food chain, they have to develop a keener sense of creativity to gain attention. They tend to be more adventurous and wind up being the class clown or life of the party. They can also be easygoing as well as competitive just like the middle sibling. The youngest is usually less interested in academic pursuits. Their more prominent traits include:
Famous Youngest
Only the Lonely Only children have similar personality traits as do firstborns. They tend to be perfectionists, task-oriented and well organized. They’ve enjoyed the undivided attention of their parents throughout their childhood and spent a great deal of time with adults. Although they are mature and well-spoken, they also tend to feel lots of pressure to be successful. Some common traits:
Famous Onlies
The Infamous, The Embarrassing or A Lot to Live Up To
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