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Issue 440 - 4/5/2010
FROM DOGS TO IGUANA, SNIPPETZ LOVES PETS! by Deborah Stumpf "I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me." -Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907 Americans spent $45.5 billion on their pets in 2009. Sixty-two percent of all U.S. households – 71.4 million homes – live with a pet. The pet industry is just doggone huge. Americans love and pamper their pets and believe their own dog, cat, bird, snake, turtle, etc. is the most adorable, most well-behaved and the most fun. In the past few years, breed organizations and breeders have upped the ante on the varieties of cats and dogs available as pets in the U.S., From the Chinese crested hairless dog to the hairless Sphynx cat, Americans have a plethora of breeds from which to choose. And there are thousands of cats and dogs awaiting homes in shelters across the country. However, many Americans are fascinated with wild animals, and a whole new array of pet options opened up when the bird, the ferret, the rabbit, the iguana, the monkey, the pig, the snake – even the rat – became part of the domesticated animal world. At least, we think we domesticated them. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there for animals that want to be part of a human’s life or make the list of America’s cutest and most entertaining companions. But the competition is as stiff as a bird dog pointing to the target, especially considering those Hollywood types. The Oscar Goes To If there was an Academy Award show for movie and TV pets, which ones would be walking the red carpet? Imagine the furry stars posing for the cameras in their 24-carat diamond-studded collars or their faux mink (of course) coats? Check out some of the potential contenders.
It’s not just a dog’s day afternoon
When it’s time to honor – Academy Award style – famous pets that have passed on, names like Lassie, Rin Tin Tin (the first canine movie star), cats Garfield and Morris and Mr. Ed, the talking horse, will no doubt bring a few tears to those in the audience who remember the first of the four-legged bunch to achieve on-screen fame. Celebrity Pet Trivia
15 Minutes of Fame Thanks to David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks” and YouTube, many pets have reached international notoriety, if only for a few minutes. Letterman has lined up a slew of showy pets that have brought belly laughs to worldwide audiences. Bailey the beagle brought the house down when he played dead at the command of his owner. When his owner said, “Play dead,” Bailey just slumped over in his owner’s arms – legs and head dangling practically to the floor. He had Letterman roaring. Of course, Bailey’s appearance on Letterman reached the Internet and greatly extended his 15 minutes of fame. Then there’s Jesse, the tan and white long-haired terrier type, who doesn’t want his owner to leave home without him. When his owner says, “I’m packing my suitcase,” Jesse jumps in. What about Meesha, the Shetland sheepdog that blows bubbles in her water dish. Nowadays, anyone’s pet can reach stardom through the Internet. All is needed is a video camera and a spot on YouTube. Think of a dancing cockatoo. This bird loves to boogie to Ray Charles. Probably millions of Web users have laughed in awe as the rock ‘n’ roll cockatoo shakes his head up and down and all around and bounces his booty in rhythm to “Shake your Tailfeather,” appropriately. Cats dance, too, via YouTube videos. They also box with parrots, hang from chandeliers and attack dogs. The Exotic Pet If there was a modeling gig featuring all kinds of pets, the exotics would be first to walk the runway. From snakes to turtles, the list of not-so-common pets that reside in U.S. households is long – and sometimes extremely strange. The snake, for example, has become widely popular. Snakes can live up to 20 years, so the commitment is long-term. Although certain snakes threaten the welfare of the humans living in the home, it doesn’t matter to some. More than one child in the U.S. has been killed by the family’s pet python. The corn snake and the king and milk snakes are the most popular and ones frequently recommended as pets. However, buyers beware: Pet snakes eat live prey or frozen prey, which means a space in the freezer for delicacies like frozen mice – or a trip to the pet store to retrieve a live mouse. The frog is another interesting pet. Perhaps it’s the bulging eyes or the sound of “rivet” that endears humans to these little green guys. Frogs can live up to 15 years, so if it’s going to get boring watching a frog jump around in his enclosure, it might be wise to get a cat or a dog or a monkey instead. Note: Frogs are decreasing in numbers in the wild and facing extinction, largely at the hands of humans. It’s best to get the pet frog from a frog breeder. Who knew? The iguana is a wildly popular pet – some call it a “fad” pet. The danger is once the fad fades, what happens to the iguana? About 1 million iguanas are imported into the U.S. each year. Most of them die, and almost none of them live longer than 10 years. Their life span is 20 and many don’t live more than two years. A healthy adult iguana is 5 to 6 ft. long and needs to climb, needs stimulation and pretty much an entire room in which to live. He could, however, be a fun and happy pet once the owner trains him on a leash and takes him out for walks in the fresh air. All that’s needed for the pet cockroach is a 10 to 15 gallon tank with Aspen wood shavings and hiding places like the cardboard roll that comes with toilet paper, cardboard egg cartons or driftwood. The hissing cockroach variety eats fresh fruits and vegetables (no head lettuce) and dry dog food. They love carrots, oranges, apples, celery and pea pods. A cockroach is quiet, which is certainly an advantage to the cockroach owner. It is best to have more than one cockroach to ensure the cockroach’s social well-being. For those screaming “eeeewwwww,” the cockroach is honestly listed as an exotic pet. Rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, hedgehogs, hamsters, rats – even skunks – are now among pets living in the 71.4 million American households. But leading the pack of fun and lovable pets are – arguably to some – cats and dogs. Fun Facts About Cats
Cats and the Law
Fun Fact About Dogs
Dogs and the Law
Issue 441 - 4/12/2010
SNIPPETZ GETS A STROKE OF GENIUS by Deborah Stumpf 
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
-Arnold Palmer Golf’s popularity has surged over the decades. Attendance at the Professional Golfers’ Association tour events is more than 10 million per year. About 500 golf courses are opened each year because of the younger generation’s growing interest. The sport is big! Two questions that non-golfers often ask: What’s so hard about getting those little balls in the holes? And why would anyone want to try? Lugging golf clubs through a maze of green in the hot sun and trying to hit the ball just right so it lands in a small hole appears absurd to some. But to golfers, the game is addictive and challenging. All eyes will be on the first golf major tournament of the year – the Masters, which takes place April 8 through April 11 in Augusta, Ga. This year, the purse (total payout to top players) is $7 million. Golf got its start the same as baseball – take a club and swing at a ball. In both cases, the swings had to be precise, but in baseball, the batter tries to hit the ball out of the field; in golf, the golfer tries to avoid hitting the ball out of the field. Kolf Golf originated in Scotland – sort of. Although the Scots developed the game over decades, golf actually evolved from the stick-and-ball games common in the British Isles during the Middle Ages and later in France and Germany. In the 14th century, the Dutch were playing a form of golf that involved striking a ball with sticks, which were curved at the bottom. Most of those games were played on ice, with a goal to get from point A to point B. But the Scots played a grass stick-and-ball game in park areas. At the time, there was plenty of trading between the Dutch and the Scots, which included balls and clubs. Because of the trade relationship, it is believed the world “golf” evolved from the Dutch word for club – “kolf.” Golf eventually had a grip on sports enthusiasts in Scotland. In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned golf and soccer because those sports had kept his archers from their practice sessions. King James III and James IV reissued the ban in 1471 and 1491. Despite the restriction, the game continued to soar in popularity in Scotland; and, in 1744, the first-known rules of golf were put in writing in Edinburgh. So, golf had its origins not only in Scotland but also much of the rest of Europe. However, to their credit, the Scots made one big change in the sport, and it stuck: They dug holes in the ground and made the object of the game all about getting those balls in the holes. The Lingo In simple terms, golfers play either nine holes or 18; and, as the Scots decided, the goal is to sink the ball in each hole with the least amount of attempts. Those attempts are identified with golfing lingo. A few of the recognizable: Par: Each hole has a set number of attempts before the golfer “bogeys the hole.” Bogey: If a golfer doesn’t get the ball in the hole on par, it’s a bogey – or one over par; another failed attempt is a double bogey. Birdie: Under “par” is a birdie. If the golfer succeeds in knocking the ball in before the last “par” attempt, it’s a birdie – one under par. Eagle: Two strokes under par. Hole-in-one: Every golfers dream. It’s a long shot, too – pun intended. To get a hole-in-one, the golfer has to sink the ball from the first tee – a straight shot from point A to point B. It’s the reason car dealers are quick to donate a car for anyone who gets a hole-in-one at a golf tournament: it’s rare. The U.S. Open The U.S. Open Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship are the oldest golf tournaments in America: each played in 1895 during the same week on the same course in Rhode Island – the Newport Golf and Country Club. During the first U.S. Open, golfers went just four rounds of the nine-hole course, playing in one day. An Englishman, Horace Rawlins, won the first Open – and received $335 in prize money. Pennies compared to today’s game. In 2009, American Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open. His prize money: $1.35 million. The total payout was $7.5 million. The major tournament is a bit more difficult from Rawlins’ day. Today, players are on the course four days – 18 holes each day. Bobby Jones, an amateur from Georgia, popularized the U.S. Open when he won it four times, from 1923 to 1930. Also bringing attention to the game: In 1922, the first spectator tickets were sold. In 1954, the event was televised for the first time; however, it wasn’t until 1977 that live coverage of the last two days was shown. In 1982, all four days of the tournament were televised. From 1895 until 1910, the Scots won 12 of the first 15 events. Scottish golfer Willie Anderson won the Open four times in the 1900s. Jones followed and the only other two to win the U.S. Open four times was Ben Hogan (late 40s to early 50s) and Jack Nicklaus, from 1962 to 1980. Tiger Woods has won it three times; and, as a relatively young player, he could eclipse the records. Americans have dominated the U.S. Open since 1911 – winning it 78 times. South Africans have won it five times. The last Scot to win the U.S. Open was Willie MacFarlane in 1925. The Majors The U.S. Open is one of four majors – all are considered the most prestigious tournaments in men’s golf. The other three include the Masters (April), the British Open (July) and the PGA Championship (August). Winning all four major tournaments is referred to as the “Grand Slam.” Only Bobby Jones has won all four majors in one season. Only five other players have won all four majors: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. The prestige of winning a major defines golfers. Nicklaus holds the current record, with 18 wins. Woods is on his heels, with 14 wins – 10 received before he turned 30. Woods is on ‘par’ to exceed Nicklaus’s record. The Golf Hall of Fame Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Judy Rankin, Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods – all wildly successful golfers. Known as the Golden Bear, Nicklaus has been called the greatest “clutch” putter of all times. Nicklaus won 18 majors and 73 PGA tour events. He finished in the top 10 “money list” 17 consecutive years. He received two “Golfer of the Century” awards and Sports Illustrated Magazine named him “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1970s. Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Nicklaus is an icon in the world of golf. Chasing him is another golf wonder: Tiger Woods. At age 2, Tiger Woods appeared on TV for the first time, putting against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas Show. At age 3, Woods shot a 48 on nine holes; and, at age 5, he was featured in Golf Digest. He turned pro at age 21 and that same year became the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters. His first year on the pro golf scene earned him the title of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Woods has won 95 tournaments, 71 on the PGA tour. He’s also the youngest golfer to win the Grand Slam. Last year, he was named the Associated Press “Athlete of the Year.” The World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, Fla., and 131 people associated with golf have achieved hall of fame status. Men and women are recognized for their positive impact on the game. They include not only professional and amateur golfers but also architects, journalists, innovators and teachers. Golfing exhibits, an IMAX theatre, an 18-hole putting course and a café are all part of the World Golf Hall of Fame complex. The Ladies It’s possible that women’s first involvement with golf began with Mary, Queen of Scots. Although the records are vague, many believe that Mary introduced the word “caddie.” In France, where Mary grew up, military cadets carried golf clubs for royalty. Mary brought the custom to Scotland, where they adopted the word “caddie” for all who carried the bag for the golfers. In 1950, women’s golf gained recognition when a few visionaries established the Ladies Professional Golf Association. It is the longest-running women’s professional sports association in the world. The LPGA sponsors four majors every year (in past years, there were maybe two or three majors a year): the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open and the RICOH British Open. Only two players have won the Grand Slam (winning all of the majors). Babe Zaharias won in 1950 with a total of three majors. Sandra Haynie won the Grand Slam when the LPGA had only two majors. Six women have won the Grand Slam throughout their careers: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb and Mickey Wright. The first of the women’s majors is the Kraft Nabisco Championship, scheduled this year for April 1 through April 4. The purse: $2 million. Possible top five female golfers – in order: Annika Sorenstam, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Babe Didrickson Zaharias and Nancy Lopez. Golf Facts and Trivia There are many organizations, golfers and fans driving the game.
Fun Stuff Comedian/actor Leslie Nielsen scored huge sales when he released his “Bad Golf Made Easy” instructional video for golfers. Club members at the Masters are well known for sipping mint juleps. More mint juleps are served at the Masters than any other tournament. In 1991, when Chi Chi Rodriguez lost to Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Senior Open, he said, “the Bear crushed the Mouse.” Issue 442 - 4/19/2010
SNIPPETZ FLIPS OVER OUR CROWNS OF GLORY by Deborah Stumpf 
"Long, beautiful, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen... I adore hair!"
-James Rado and Gerome Ragni, Hair One thing that’s prevailed over time when it comes to hair is that humans are never satisfied with their own head of hair. If it’s curly, we want straight. If it’s black, we want red. Thus, there are wigs, perms, oodles of hair colors, curlers, gels and sprays and on and on to allow everyone a chance at their version of the crown of glory! Those Daring Victorian Days The Victorian Period is often thought of as the advent of the “hairstyle movement.” However, in those days, women were damaging their hair – actually scorching it – by overusing hot irons. Their hair also took on an unpleasant odor and a wool-like texture. It was the same for all women in those days – hot irons and one look: smooth and parted in the center. A woman’s hair was never cut unless she was ill. In the 1870s, M. Marcel Grateau, a hairdresser from Paris, created a new look – a natural wave – that he achieved by turning the hot iron upside down. Women flocked to the new style – curlier hair eventually represented a woman’s sweet temperament, and the straight-haired girls were now considered reserved or awkward. Although wavy, women still wore their hair long, and it became a “rite of passage” for adult women to pull their hair into a bun or French twist, even adorning it with ribbons, bows or jewelry. And then came the bob! In 1915, Irene Castle, a ballroom dancer, wanted a wash-and-wear style of hair. She snipped off her long locks to chin length and innocently became a trendsetter in the hairstyle world, as many women followed suit. The new cropped cut became known as the Castle Bob: a simple, blunt cut level with the bottom of the ears, worn with bangs or side bangs. The new style also prompted the beginning of permanents and hair color. Women who had bobbed their hair in those days were considered rebellious and bold. A short cut was less feminine, too – and those daring women paid a price for their over-the-edge style:
Today’s bob, whether it’s chin length or shoulder length, blunt cut or layered, straight or curly, is still in demand at hair salons. The bob has weathered decades of new do’s that come and go. Hairstyles of the Decades The bob led the way for creative stylists to come up with a myriad of hair designs for women and men. Female hair styles ranged from the short pixie to the bouffant. Big hair had its day for more than one decade. The French twist, the updo’s, the beehive and the flip – the styles all had one thing in common – they were puffed up and big. There’s a reason they used to say that a women’s “do” would make a good birds’ nest. Big hair was celebrated from the 50s to the 70s. Retro styles surged in the 60s. Women brought back a bit of the roaring 20s with a sleek look – less pomp. The pageboy – a longer version of the bob made its mark in the 60s as well. The following styles were a cut above in their respective decades.
More Big In the 80s and 90s, the do’s for women and men were a bit wilder but still big. Although the shag had its start in the 60s, feathering hair became a widespread trend in the 80s. In the 90s, hairstyles settled down a bit and gentle replaced big. Long hair was in – as in Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford: shiny hair that flowed off the shoulders, often with a twinge of curl. In the late 90s, the feathered look had been revived and continued into the 21st century. Color, Color, Color Whether it’s hot pink or flaming red or black, white and gold stripes; coloring one’s hair is in vogue. In the 2000s, blonde hair on the crown and dark hair at the nape is not uncommon. From blonde to red to jet black – the color craze is here to stay. Celebrity Influences Do blondes really have more fun? Hollywood has had its share of blondes who’ve persuaded the hair industry. From Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, the color of blonde, from ash to gold, has enticed many women to visit their stylists: going in brown, coming out blonde. Throughout the years, actors, sport figures and TV personalities shaped the hairstyles of people worldwide.
And it’s not for women only Men throughout the ages have had their own “do’s” like the buzz cut or the flattop or the crew cut; along with the mullet and the bowl cut. Long hair has never lost its appeal in some men. Rocker Rod Stewart helped popularize the shag cut for men. ]
A Few Locks of Snippetz
Issue 443 - 4/26/2010
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, SNIPPETZ HAS A FEW POEMS FOR YOU! by Deborah Stumpf "To have great poets, there must be great audiences too." -Walt Whitman From the colonial days of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor – a puritan to modern day multiculturalism American poets are varied in span. There’s the 18th century poets like William Cullen Bryant who wrote about the forests and prairies not so defiant. To the 19th century greats like Poe, Emerson, Wadsworth, Holmes and Thoreau, who strove to find the American voice and found transcendentalism for the spiritual. Along came Longfellow and his Song of Hiawatha exploring the landscape and traditions of Native America. It was the likes of T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, who believed in free verse and objectivism as did Ezra Pound and Madeline Gleason all gave the 20th century life and activism. WWII brought us a whole new generation of poets who wrote about the war such as Wallace Stevens, James Dickey Elizabeth Bishop and Delmore Schwartz. The confessional movement emphasized reflection, coming right on spot with the Beat group and open expression. With a revival of the Beat here comes the 21st century with its mixing of the waters and the new spoken-word performers a mix and mash of American ideas and cultures. April is National Poetry Month, first introduced in 1996 by the American Academy of Poetry. The AAP was founded in 1934 in New York by Marie Bullock with a mission to "support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry." Bullock returned to the U.S. after studying at the Sorbonne in Paris only to discover a lack of interest in poetry as well as the lack of financial support for the authors. The AAP promotes poetry through other programs such as free poetry lesson plans for high school teachers, an extensive audio archive that includes 700 poetry recordings and various other online educational resources. To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme – That is the Question It’s not all about rhyming. Poetry takes many “forms,” or how the writing is organized. Some forms are more technical than others. Here’s a cheat sheet for the poetically challenged:
AWARDS The Academy of American Poetry grants several awards each year, some if which are listed in the Library of Congress amongst the most distinguished awards granted:
The Influential Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-1886), known as an “eccentric recluse” and “the woman in white,” published a mere dozen or so poems during her lifetime. Upon her death, she insisted that her letters were burned, but her poetry was saved. It is estimated that there were about 1,700 short, untitled poems in her collection. The year 1862 was one of her most prolific when she penned a poem per day. She began putting them together in sewn booklets called fascicles. Dickinson rarely showed her face and wore only white. Children in her village loved her as she would send them treats from her upstairs bedroom window when they would come around. To pity those that know her not Is helped by the regret That those who know her, know her less The nearer her they get. - Dickinson on Nature Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was one of the most influential American poets who successfully combined transcendentalism and realism in his works. He was also a journalist, a humanitarian and an essayist. He was considered the father of the free verse and the country’s first “poet of democracy.” His most famous collection of poetry, “Leaves of Grass,” was published in 1855 by Whitman himself. He did not indicate his name as the author of this collection. However, he included an engraved portrait of himself facing the title page; and within the book he refers to himself as "Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos, disorderly, fleshly, and sensual, no sentimentalist, no stander above men or women or apart from them, no more modest than immodest." Over the years, Whitman revised “Leaves of Grass” numerous times. He was nearly a teetotaler and spoke frequently in favor of prohibition until his later years when he would enjoy the occasional glass of wine. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American poet, essayist, orator and philosopher was a leader in the transcendentalism movement that began in New England in the early 19th century. The movement encompassed religion, culture, literature and philosophy and brought attention to the importance of spiritualism, reason and philosophy over and above that of empiricism. He is best known for his 1836 essay, “Nature,” followed by his famous speech, “The American Scholar” given in 1837, which Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. touted as America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.” Emerson supported abolitionism, which did not always make him popular with the crowds he spoke to. Beginning around 1871, Emerson began losing his memory, eventually giving up the podium. He would tell those who would ask how he was doing: “Quite well; I have lost my mental faculties, but am perfectly well.” The sense of the world is short, Long and various the report, To love and be beloved; Men and gods have not outlearned it, And how oft soe'er they've turned it, 'Tis not to be improved. -Emerson’s “Eros” The Eccentric A group of poets, artists and novelists who called themselves the Bouzingo lived and worked in France during the 1830s. They were known to write exaggerated accounts of their lives and practiced a form of romanticism that influenced culture and the arts well into the 20th century, including the hippie movement, punk rock, bohemianism, decadence, surrealism and the lost generation. Other than the stories they told of themselves, no one really knows for sure if they truly participated in bizarre practices such as walking a lobster on a leash, playing instruments on street corners (even though they were not musicians), and throwing parties where no clothing was allowed and human skulls were used as wine vessels. More . . .
Without Further Adieu… Snippetz Brings You Local Prose Past and Present By Christopher Armstrong The tick of the clock, to open our eyes, that the present is past, as time goes by. Each moments a blessing, till another takes place, the gift we keep getting, only to be erased. But living in memories, is living a lie, the past as the present, like earth as the sky. the past is forgotten, recycled over again, a process only the present, can truly withstand. For each seconds that’s passing, is a gift to be had, each memory lasting, never one bad. So cherish the moments, make each second last, for eventually the present, turns into the past. The lesson to learn, is all things will end, so live in the now, remember the then. Free Write by Andrew Ruzkowski Stone-blue smoke and rooftops tiled like scales on a tortoise. Every once in awhile, almost tenderly, a door shuts with the graceful step of a little girl. And then, without missing a beat, a car grumbles to life. I feel the wintertime, because it is the season of comfort. Above me, a tree waves it’s January colored pennants in the morning breeze. Here I am on the coast of the mountains. Let the little buildings breathe the molten air. Let the birds sleep, they’re phantoms, they can’t hear me. Symphony By Susan MacKay Wylie Laughed, red wine on our lips Listened to them talk politics But we didn’t. Turned our warm wool coats Over to her Copious smile, she said, “Here are your tickets.” We trusted her. Held hands, for a moment. Heedful boy said, “Good evening.” Extended folded programs. Soul-searched the boy We nodded. “Watch your step,” he said. Squeezed between knees and feet Sashayed to seats M 16 and 17. My red shoes, A conversation. Undaunted, we tipped our heads Confirmed our positions. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said. That is us. Low light in medley Violins and violas erupted. A vision in the dark As our eyes met Notes in a volcano. Lady Spring By Gael Stuart Phaneuf Lady Spring hides quietly behind the barren branches of winter's sleeping trees and in a moment of delightful surprise comes dancing over the hilltops. Her garment is woven of possibilities. Her breath is the sweet breeze of hope. Ever so lightly, her footsteps paint a trail of fragrant color while her gentle voice whispers encouragement to the budding world. Like God's tender kiss she inspires our hearts toward tomorrow. And Snippetz’s Very Own… Orange Glow By Nick Yanez Over the hill I saw something I did not know. The landscape and the birds fluttered away. Then, vanished did the sun, rain, and snow. There was just an orange glow. Teetering on the horizon, it began to consume All that I saw, loved, even things I hated. My home began to fade, and empty stood my room, An orange glow in bloom. Into the mountains I would hide, afraid. But hollow was the hill, the trees and breeze all gone, Fading into nothing, the things our God had made. The orange glow, however, stayed. The Autumn flame grew darker, and wild was the sky. Pale of blue and purple, infected, and ill-advised, It ran away above me, as if bragging it could fly. And there, the orange glow was by my side. Then, running scared and blind, I tired and turned around. I faced the thing and shivered; fearful, frightened. I accepted only failure, and stood firmly on the ground. An orange glow, inside it, beauty I had found. The Shadows By George W. Wilkins There's silence all about me, Yet no peace this lonely eve. For even dreams are quiet now, Forever I believe. The hearth is warm, the fire glows, As shadows dance about. They're cast upon the darkened walls, They live through all my doubt. I watch them do their eerie dance, Their movements flicker fast, They bring to me a time to pause, To think about the past. The shapeless forms might never meet, They dance from wall to wall. Their silhouettes left incomplete, Like that which I recall. I watch the shadows fade this night, The flames begin to die. I have no strength to lift the log. I have no will to try. Issue 444 - 5/3/2010
SNIPPETZ PRESENTS AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER by Deborah Stumpf 
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."
-Author Unknown In ancient history, teachers were highly valued members of society – on the same level as royalty or government officials. Today, teachers could argue that their position in society is not as regal. May 2 marks the beginning of teacher appreciation week, and the question is: Are teachers given the same noble status today as they were in the past? Confucius Says Early on, “learned” men like priests and prophets handed down their worldly knowledge to younger generations. Those teachers were respected and appreciated for the wisdom they had gained throughout the years. Confucius became the first-ever private teacher. Although he came from noble roots, his immediate family had fallen on hard times; and, in those days, only the rich were educated. Because Confucius had no other avenue to quench his thirst for knowledge, he went to work for a nobleman so he could accompany him on his travels and become educated to the ways of the world. He did so with vigor – so much so that he eventually became one of the most renowned teachers of all times. As a highly valued member of society, “Confucius says” became the mantra of many. Middle Ages The Roman Catholic Church accepted responsibility for teaching the sons of royalty – still the only ones being educated – in the Middle Ages. The Church designated teaching duties to monasteries or learning centers, one of which became Cambridge University. In the 17th and 18th centuries, education grew beyond royalty and training institutions; teaching theories were established as well. At the same time, however, appreciation of teachers had fallen off. Massachusetts Takes The Lead Boston, Mass., was the site of the first public school in America. Leading the way for education in the U.S., Massachusetts passed a law in 1642 stating that any child who was not properly educated had to become an apprentice to a trade. America’s forefathers believed that learning was vital to the future of the country. In 1647, Massachusetts initiated the Old Deluder Satan Act, which required that towns of more than 50 families hire a reading and writing teacher. For more than 100 families in a town, a grammar school had to be established. Education in those days focused on Latin and Greek history and language, memorization and discipline. Whipping posts were set up outside the schools for disruptive students, who were tied to the posts and flogged for acting out in the classrooms. The schools were centered on boys, but “dame” schools for females were eventually organized in the kitchens of the homemaker/teacher. Because it was thought that females did not have the same intellect as males, they were only expected to learn reading and writing. In the early 1700s, college preparatory curriculums became popular. Known as a “terminal” school in 1821, Boston organized the first high school for boys 12 years and older. Reduced Flogging and Other Changes Education has obviously changed throughout the decades. Between 1950 and 1970, teachers were allowed in the classroom with just a two-year degree. Only one-fifth of all teachers had an advanced degree. Students with learning disabilities were at a disadvantage because teachers knew little about their problems. Behavior management hadn’t been part of the teaching curriculum, either. And, of course, high technology wasn’t available. Today, teachers and students have portable laptops, televisions, projectors, etc. in the classroom. Even first grade classes have desktop computers. The chalkboard is outdated. Instead, Power Point presentations are common in middle and high schools. The Apple Lives On While classrooms evolved into the high-tech era, apple is still at the core of showing teacher appreciation. Giving an apple to a teacher originated as a simple way to show appreciation for teachers who were not paid well. It’s believed that the fruit’s health benefits meant that a teacher was valued. The practice had its beginnings in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden. Apple polishing is a term first used in the 1920s for students using apples to “suck up” to the teacher. Some Teacher Stats:
Where Have All the Teachers Gone? Teachers are continuously adding to their skill levels and increasingly using technology to instruct their students. However, some are opting out of teaching for more lucrative opportunities and better working conditions.
Teachers as Mentors Many high profile Americans have cited teachers who greatly influenced their lives.
Snippetz salutes teachers everywhere – thanks for all you do! Issue 445 - 5/10/2010
SNIPPETZ DISCOVERS THE LAW OF RETURN by Deborah Stumpf 
"And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden...You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden."
- Rudyard Kipling High grocery store prices and media reports of food-related illnesses and harmful food ingredients have led thousands of people to organic gardening, and many in their own backyards. The small farm is making a comeback. And the larger farms are also cashing in. In 2007, U.S. sales of organic food and beverages grew from $1 billion in 1990 to an estimated $20 billion. From 2007 to 2010, organic food sales were expected to increase 18 to 20 percent each year. How It All Sprouted In the early to mid 1900s, British botanist Sir Albert Howard, after observing the farming practices of the people in India, became a staunch opponent of chemical fertilizers. His studies concluded that the remains of dead animals and plants returned to the soil enriched it by producing organic matter (humus). The natural process recycled the minerals to stimulate new growth. Calling the process “the law of return,” Howard became a vocal advocate of returning organic waste materials back to the farmlands. However, conventional farmers were pessimistic. During World War II, chemical fertilizers and pesticides like DDT were introduced, heightening economic gains for traditional farmers. Pesticides warded off insects and disease. The two different methods of farming polarized the agricultural industry; notably so when American business man Jerome Rodale published the first magazine on organic farming in 1942. Fast forward 20 years, when well-known naturalist Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring.” Many have credited the best seller with spawning the environmental movement and contributing to the ban on DDT, which nearly wiped out a number of bird species. Another 20 years later, the U.S. government began regulating organic production and adopting certification standards. Organic Defined The simple explanation of organic farming: the natural production of food, without synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms. At the same time, methods used in organic farming have no impact on the earth’s resources and provide safe, healthy food. Organic farming also means raising livestock without hormones or other additives. According to federal government standards, “organic farming prohibits the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge during production. Organic crops must be raised without pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers. Animals raised in an organic operation must be fed organic feed and have access to the outdoors.” No antibiotics; no growth hormones. Benefits of Organic Gardening
First – Compost Organic farming and gardening requires composting methods to enrich the soil for successful crops, small or large. Whether it’s Colorado or Florida, composting materials are the same: a mixture of decaying organic (all natural) substances, from orange peels to dead leaves to horse manure. There are two processes to composting: hot and cold Although it’s a simple process, cold composting can take up to two years to “finish.” Cold composting is the collection of grass clippings, leaves and weeds, and it normally takes six months to 24 months for the microorganisms, earthworms and insects to break down the material. Turning the pile and adjusting the moisture level speeds the process. Hot composting involves combining numerous ingredients to create heat. This process usually takes two months to one year – and is the preferred method among diehard organic gardeners. Composting How To’s The best recipe for composting is combining two to three parts brown materials (dead leaves, shredded newspaper, wood chips) with one part green matter (fresh grass clippings, green leaves and fruit and vegetable peelings). Do not use wood ashes or lime for composting in Colorado. They increase salt and alkalinity, leading to a loss of nitrogen. When enough of the materials have accumulated to create at least a volume of 27 cubic feet, layer (burying the food scraps in the center to stave off the animals) the ingredients as the recipe calls for until the pile is 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet – or 5 feet wide at the base and 3 feet high. The microorganisms will start composting, releasing heat. The interior of the pile will reach a toasty 120 to 150 degrees. It’s important to turn the pile weekly and regulate the moisture levels (damp but not soggy). The compost will be ready to use when the heat is gone and the original ingredients are no longer visible – some say the finished product looks like chocolate cake crumbs and smells like freshly turned earth. If adding to the compost continuously, screen out the finished compost. Compost Teas Spraying compost teas on garden plants and vegetables can block funguses and stimulate growth. One of the most popular teas today is worm tea. Worms help decompose matter and improve soil structure, leaving behind a rich fertilizer. The proof is in the pudding … or the plants. A study done at Ohio State University found that just 10 to 20 percent of worm compost added to commercial potting soil can boost the growth rate of marigolds, bachelor’s buttons, tomatoes and peppers up to 40 percent. Researchers at Mississippi State University found that worm compost increased the germination growth of cucumbers. Italian scientists confirmed the same results with carrots. Not interested in raising worms? No problem. Worm farming has obviously taken hold. Worm tea for purchase is plentiful, as well as worm castings for the soil. Check your local nurseries or the Internet for many sources. Note: worm tea is not for human consumption! Gardening in Colorado Hard-packed clay soil, dry winds, dry weather and varying temperatures – they are all factors that impede the gardening process in Colorado and frustrate newcomers. To weed out (pun intended) the negatives, start by changing the soil texture. Adding just three to four inches of organic compost is enough to change the soil, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Although it’s not necessary for composting, adding cow, llama or horse manure can create the perfect storm for gardening in Colorado; however, be careful of the cow manure. Some of it contains E coli bacteria. Also, if the cows are penned in, their urine collects on the manure; the urine is often laden with salt, which is detrimental to soil. Carol O’Meara from CSU encourages the use of llama or horse manure because the animals graze freely, living off more natural foods. It’s Time to Plant! The compost is ready – now what? There are hundreds of Web sites on organic gardening as well as many local resources. Here are just a few tricks of the organic trade to know before getting started.
Mary, Mary … How Does Your Garden Grow? The latest stats:
Issue 446 - 5/17/2010
SNIPPETZ ASKS WHERE'S THE BEEF? by Deborah Stumpf 
"It is the Americans who have managed to crown minced beef as hamburger, and to send it round the world so that even the fussy French have taken to le boeuf hache, le hambourgaire."
- Julia Child (1912-2004) American chef Pick your poison – McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Fatburger, Burger King, Fuddruckers, Red Robin, Wendy’s, Rosie’s Diner, Sonic or your home grill – whatever your choice, the burger is America’s food sweetheart. In fact, statistics show that Americans consume three hamburgers each week and the burger accounts for 40 percent of all sandwiches sold in restaurants. Also, 72 percent of the billion or more burgers consumed each year are eaten in restaurants. Saddle Burgers and Other Delights Even though the meat grinder wasn’t invented until the 19th century, hamburgers likely began much earlier in slightly different forms. There are differing opinions on where and when the hamburger was invented, but here is some food for thought on the subject: There’s Genghis Khan (1167-1227) and his army of Mongol horsemen who rode on small horses for days on end to conquer the world as they knew it. Rarely taking a break from riding, the story goes that townspeople would follow behind the army and provide meat from the scrapings of lamb formed into patty shape. The soldiers would place them beneath their saddles while riding, which would tenderize the meat. When hungry, they could simply reach under the saddles, grab the raw meat and eat on the go. The first fast food? Khubilai Khan (1215-1294), Genghis Khan’s grandson, carried on the family’s conquering traditions and invaded Moscow in 1238. He brought along those saddle-tenderized patties which were adopted and modified by the Russians. They called it steak tartare, after their pet name for Khan’s Mongol army – the Tartars. Much later during the 15th century, minced meat made into sausage became popular throughout Europe. By the 1600s when ships were moving about, Germans from Hamburg visited Russia and brought back the steak tartare for the Germans to partake. Eventually, by the 18th century, the steak tartare was brought back to New York by American’s visiting Hamburg, Germany as well as German immigrants. Americans began to call it Hamburg steak and made it with low-grade beef mixed with spices, bread crumbs and eggs. By the late 1800s, Hamburg steak began showing up on restaurant lunch menus right there with stewed veal and mutton chops. Hamburger Fare at the Fair As could be expected, there is more than one theory about how the true hamburger as we know it got its start in the United States. One theory is that a restaurant owner by the name of Fletcher Davis introduced the hamburger at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. Another theory is that Frank and Charles Menches from Ohio brought the hamburger to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y. in 1885. Apparently, the brothers ran out of sausage patties to serve and took beef, added ingredients such as brown sugar and coffee and called it the Hamburg Sandwich. The Seymour Community Historical Society in Wisconsin believes that Charles Nagreen sold the hamburgers at the 1885 Seymour Fair. His version was made out of meatballs, an invention that allowed fair-goers the luxury of eating and walking at the same time. The Library of Congress gives credit to a New Haven, Conn. man by the name of Louis Lassen for selling the first hamburger from his lunch wagon. There is some evidence that the very first hamburger that landed on a bun rather than between two slices of bread came from Oscar Bilby of Tulsa, Okla. in 1891. Regional Specialties Different regions in North America have made the burger their own.
On Top of Old Hamburg Some of the more popular burger toppings include mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, cheese, salad dressing, barbeque sauce, bacon, avocado, sautéed mushrooms, cheese sauce, chili and Heinz 57 Sauce. For the more adventurous, there’s always blue cheese, jalapenos, anchovies, tartar sauce, French fries, potato chips, ham, bologna, pineapple, salsa, French fries and onion rings – but not all at once. Marketing Genius Who could forget Wendy’s 1984 marketing campaign featuring three elderly ladies gazing at a large-sized hamburger bun when actress Clara Peller asks the million dollar question: “Where’s the beef?” The ad campaign only ran for about a year, but the phrase lives on. In 1984, it became a buzz phrase during the presidential primary campaign. When democratic candidate Gary Hart advanced his campaign of new ideas, opposing candidate Walter Mondale asked during one of their debates: “Where’s the beef?” Several current TV shows have included the phrase such as “The Simpsons,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.” Going for a Record According to Guinness World Records, Mallie’s Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate, Mich. is the home of the world’s largest hamburger on the regular menu. Dubbed the “Absolutely Ridiculous Burger,” it weighs in at 185.8 pounds and costs $499. Be sure to bring a few friends to share in the calories (and the cost). A couple of record breakers: • In 2001, the Burger Fest in Seymour, Wisc. cooked and served a burger weighing 8,266 pounds. • In Rutland, N.D., folks made a 3,591-pound burger and shared it with 8,000 neighbors in 1982. Fancy Schmancy Burgers and Burger Joints • For $777, you can get a Kobe beef and Maine lobster burger with Brie cheese, caramelized onion and prosciutto at Le Burger Brasserie in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. • The saying “$100 hamburger” does not actually refer to a gourmet delight, but rather a term used by pilots who will take short flights to other airports and eat in their restaurants for the sole purpose of flying somewhere … anywhere. • The north side of Chicago is home to the Rock N Roll McDonald’s, now a restaurant and museum that houses a rock & roll exhibit, a McDonald’s museum, plasma flat screen TV’s and loads of pop culture artifacts from the 1950s. The restaurant opened in 1983 and can hold 300 diners. Its unusual and somewhat luxurious décor has become a tourist attraction in Chicago. Not Into Beef? For vegetarians or vegans, there are many alternatives for enjoying that All American Burger. Some veggie burgers are made from tofu (cultured soybean); others from ground vegetables, legumes, nuts, mushrooms, oatmeal and sometimes eggs as a binder. Those most resembling the beef version utilize marinades and meat flavorings to flavor texturized vegetable protein, a form of soybean paste. Veggie burgers are becoming more mainstream, being served up in some restaurant chains such as Chili’s, Subway, Hard Rock Café and Red Robin. Even McDonald’s and KFC offer veggie burgers in other countries such as India, Dubai, Egypt, Canada, Bahrain, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece and the U.K. Hamburger Facts
Issue 447 - 5/24/2010
SNIPPETZ THINKS AGE IS ALL IN THE MIND by Deborah Stumpf 
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
- Mark Twain Ah, the inevitable: the AARP card. Once hit with that 50th birthday, every American is eligible for membership in the American Association of Retired People. It’s a rite of passage, however dreaded. But, at least those 50-year-olds have 15 more years before they are officially declared “older Americans.” The Administration on Aging defines the older population as those who are age 65-plus. The oldest baby boomer (born from 1946 to 1964) will be 65 in 2011; and, as the segment of the population that has been setting standards for years, it’s unlikely those boomers will quietly retreat into old age. Nope. Marketing ads touting 40 as the new 30; 50 as the new 40 and 60 as the new 50 give that aging population another 10 years. Helping the process is a slew of products to keep the body young looking and healthy. May is Older Americans Month. To celebrate, here’s a glimpse at the older population in the United States, using that 65-plus definition. Older Americans on the Rise As of 2008, the latest research for the following data, here are some stats on America’s older population.
Colorado’s Oldie Goldies In 2008, people age 65 and older comprised 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population, compared to 12.8 percent of the national population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 523,000 older persons living in Colorado. That number is expected to increase to 745,000 by 2015 and more than one million by 2025. That jump has everything to do with the baby boomers. It is estimated that this year the number of people age 60-plus in Colorado is 770,000. Move Over Florida Colorado, with its mild temperatures, plentiful year-round activities and rich natural surroundings, has been called a Mecca for retiring boomers. Mecca or not, Colorado has the seventh fastest-growing aging population in the U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau predicted that in 2010, Colorado will be home to about 700 persons age 100 or older. The United Nations predicts that by the year 2050, more than two million persons worldwide will be age 100 or older. Colorado and Colorado Springs have many organizations that address senior issues. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments – Area Agency on Aging is a hub of information for senior organizations. Check it out at http://ppacg.org/aaa/info. Aging Myths Many people have preconceived ideas about older Americans or getting older themselves. Aging is not about being sentenced to an old rocking chair. Researchers believe that frailty or disability in older people has little to do with the aging process; it’s about age-related diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers say the majority of people who reach their 100th birthday have lived independently well into their 90s – 15 percent of them don’t have any age-related diseases. Other Myths:
Celebrating the “Coming of Age” Aging in America hasn’t always been the hot topic it is today. President John F. Kennedy initiated “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963, after meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens about the unmet needs of older Americans. Just 17 million Americans reached their 65th birthday in the early 1960s, and a third of those who did were living in poverty. There were few programs for seniors in the post-WW II era. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter officially changed the yearly recognition to “Older Americans Month.” The month honors the contributions of older persons – past and present, especially those who have actively served to defend the country. The Administration on Aging creates a theme each year for the month-long celebration of older people. This year, it’s, “Age Strong; Live Long.” Older Americans Act Two years after Kennedy organized Senior Citizens Month, Congress passed the Older Americans Act to address the continued lack of social services for older people in communities nationwide. The legislation established the Administration on Aging, which is still today the federal focal point for issues on aging. The OAA is No. 1 in the U.S. for organizing and delivering social and nutrition services to older people and their caregivers. The OAA authorizes programs through a network of 56 state agencies on aging, 629 area agencies on aging and more. Programs through the OAA assist low-income older persons with community service employment; provide training and research programs in the field of aging and oversee elder rights protection activities. To Florida We Go? Some states have purposefully catered to the older population as a means of economic survival, i.e. Florida. Ponce de Leon called Florida the “fountain of youth;” and, for decades, Florida has been the premier destination for retirees, whether it’s snowbirds (those escaping northern winters) or permanent residents (those brave enough to get through hot, humid summers). But hold the beaches: Colorado is among many states attracting aging baby boomers who have, since birth, set the trends in the U.S. Boomers aren’t following mom and dad to the sunshine state. In 2008, Florida dropped 58,000 residents – the first population decrease since the military left the state after World War II. Baby boomers have also been plagued with the latest economic crisis – dwindling savings. Their choices for retirement could depend on issues like taxes, insurance and the job market for post-retirement income. They’re looking for opportunity and stimulation. Various counties in states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota join Colorado as attractive hubs for seniors. The Rich, Famous & Old Aging gracefully or gracefully aging? Some people defy the myths around aging. From actors to former presidents, they’ve made aging a privileged process.
Also active in their 80s:
Active in their 70s
And the list goes on. What list would it be without mentioning fitness and health guru Jack Lalane? For those too young to remember, Lalane was an iconic figure in muscle-man feats. Today, he’s 94 and still working out every day. It’s probably a given that plastic surgery has helped preserve some of those on the above list from the effects of aging, but there’s no plastic surgery to boost energy levels or keep the brain engaged. Mark Twain said it best: "It’s all in the mind." Issue 448 - 5/31/2010
SNIPPETZ REMEMBERS THE HONORABLE ON MEMORIAL DAY by Deborah Stumpf And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men (and women) who died, who gave that right to me. - Lee Greenwood Although officials from more than 25 cities and towns in the United States once believed they owned the birthrights to the first Memorial Day remembrance; in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of the commemoration of those who had died in battle, beginning with the Civil War. But Memorial Day had numerous origins as people spontaneously gathered throughout the country to honor their fallen neighbors and loved ones. Officially Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. On May 30 the same year, Memorial Day was officially observed for the first time. In honoring the war dead, flowers were placed on the graves of the Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. But a women’s organization in the South is credited as the first to decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Because of the women’s actions, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. In 1873, New York became the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day. By 1890, all of the northern states officially recognized Memorial Day. However the South refused to recognize the day, honoring their dead on separate days. After World War I, southern states finally recognized the day – when the focus of the holiday changed from the Civil War to all wars. Today, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Other dates in most southern states are scheduled each year to honor Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. For example, Texas sets Jan. 19 aside as a day for remembering Confederate soldiers. In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act to allow a three-day weekend for federal holidays – Memorial Day included. The Poppies Moina Michael wrote a poem to commemorate those who had died in war. She also started the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of the war dead. Her poem: We cherish, too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. Michael wore the poppies and sold them to her friends – money from the sales benefited the service men. The custom spread to Europe when a woman from France, Madam Guerin, heard about the poppies tradition when she visited the U.S. She took the idea to France and sold artificial red poppies to raise money for war-orphaned children and widows. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit the war orphans of France and Belgium. When the organization disbanded, the Veterans of Foreign Wars began selling the poppies. In 1924, the VFW adopted a “Buddy Poppy” program and sold artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948, the U.S. Post office issued a red 3-cent postage stamp with a likeness of Michael, in recognition of her poppy “seed.” Celebrations, Commemorations There are those who believe that the meaning of Memorial Day has been slighted or ignored in some areas throughout the years. When the day became part of a three-day weekend, in some cities, Memorial Day parades diminished and festivities focused more on concerts, arts and craft shows, sports tournaments – activities that weren’t related to giving homage to those who had died in past or present wars. However, some cities and towns have remained true to the heart of Memorial Day. In 1951 in St. Louis, Mo., the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts started a tradition of placing flags on the thousands of graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. And in 2010 On May 31, in Wilmington, N.C., there are many activities focused on military service men and women. The city features a military guest speaker, an all-service color guard, a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps Honor Guard, a military band, Taps and a memorial wreath that is thrown into the waters. The celebration is in its 45th year. About 6,000 to 7,000 people attend the Memorial Day ceremonies in Roswell, Ga. Since 1997, the city has touted a non-political, non-commercial commemoration, which is all about the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have died for the country. Programs include the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation, “Lest We Forget” POW-MIA, a benediction, a 21-gun salute, Taps and a military feature speaker. Washington, D.C. is home to a three-day tribute to those who have died in service to the country. On May 31, a parade of marching bands and veterans’ units from all 50 states will line the streets, winding past the White House. On May 30, thousands of motorcycles ride through the streets of D.C. to bring attention to the needs of veterans. In Colorado Springs at Evergreen Cemetery, Memorial Day traditions include a reenactment of soldiers from various wars – from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Territory Days also takes place over the three-day weekend in Old Colorado City. The festival is actually a look back at the Wild West, with all sorts of activities, including gunfights and Native American dances. Snippetz About Memorial Day
The Fallen
Issue 449 - 6/7/2010
DOUGHNUTS ARE WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR ANY TIME by Deborah Stumpf 
“Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?”
-Matt Groening Who doesn’t love a doughnut? Whether a purist who believes that the only real doughnut is made of raised dough and deep fried or one who thinks anything even resembling the original is just as good – cake or jelly style, baked or fried – doughnuts are inarguably pure and simple comfort food. They’ve been around in some form or another for centuries. Archeologists in southwestern parts of the U.S. have actually found petrified fried cakes with holes in the center. Native Americans apparently knew the value of these little gut bombs long before they became a popular delicacy. Where the Modern Doughnut and Its Hole Began One of the more common theories is that the doughnut hit the shores of North America with the Dutch settlers and were called olykoek, a word that meant “oil cake.” The Dutch were very generous with their calories as they also introduced cobblers, cream and apple pies and cookies to the North Americans. A common theory is that the doughnut hole came about when an American sea captain, Hanson Gregory, became disenchanted with the raw center of doughnuts that his mother made for him to take on one of his trips in 1847. Rumor has it that he grabbed a tin pepper box and used it to cut a hole in the middle of the doughnut. Another story is that he needed a place to set his doughnut while steering the ship and popped it onto the spoke of the steering wheel. After that, the cook was ordered to make the doughnuts with a hole in the center. Yet another story purports that Gregory simply did not like the nuts that his mother put in the center of the doughnut (dough…nut) and punched them out. In 1872, John Blondell invented and patented the doughnut cutter and by the 1930s, huge quantities could be made by new doughnut-making machines. Not long after that, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme and Canada’s hockey player Tim Horton were mass producing doughnuts all over North America. Regarding That Hole • Some say that you can judge the condition of the economy by the size of the doughnut hole – the bigger the hole, the tougher it is out there. • Dunkin’ Donuts named their holes “Munchkins.” • Tim Hortons’ named his “Timbits.” Doughnut or Donut? Both are correct and are interchangeably used. However, doughnut is the original spelling and thought to be first recorded in a short story in 1808 that talked about “fire-cakes and dough-nuts.” In Washington Irving’s 1809 “History of New York,” he describes “balls of sweetened dough, fried in hog’s fat, and called doughnuts, or olykoeks.” The shorter form, donut, started showing up in 1900 when George W. Peck used it in “Bad Boy and His Pa” and in a 1929 “Los Angeles Times” article by Bailey Millard who complained about American’s spelling skills: “can’t swallow the ‘wel-dun donut’ nor the ever so ‘gud bred.’” The “New York Times” also used the donut spelling in 1939 when covering the World’s Fair. The Mayflower Donut Corporation, no longer in business, was the first known commercial enterprise to use the donut version. Dunkin’ Donuts followed in 1950. Oh So Simple Raised doughnuts have few ingredients – flour, sugar, milk, eggs, yeast, butter and salt. After mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough and allowing it to rise, the dough can be rolled out and cut with a doughnut cutter. Or, a doughnut can be formed by hand with a piece of dough, stretched into a rope and formed into a ring. There is also a “doughnut depositor;” similar to the contraption that makes funnel cakes, it will deposit a circle of dough directly into a fryer of hot fat. These traditional yeast doughnuts take just over two minutes to fry. Different Strokes for Different Folks There are many shapes of doughnuts to please the doughnut lover – Long Johns (rectangular); old-fashioned’s; twisted and bars (called crullers); rings; and custard and jelly filled. On a diet? You can have baked doughnuts. They are lighter in calories because they are not fried in oil, and they have a different texture and taste. Doesn’t sound much like a doughnut, though. Not for the Lite Crowd Those raised delights have about 25 percent oil while the cake version weighs in at 20 percent fat. Cake doughnuts are surprising lower in calories because they cook in only about 90 seconds, so they absorb less oil than their yeasty cousins. Just in case you are counting calories, but why would you?
Around the World for a Doughnut
Doughnut Trivia
And, from the immortal words of a 17-year-old, “I don’t need to know anything about doughnuts. I just know I love them.” – Emily Stumpf |
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