When site published, the content will be centered in the page
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
Issue 470 - 11/1/2010
SNIPPETZ UNLOCKS THE MYSTERY OF KING TUT'S CURSE by Deborah Stumpf 
"At last have made a wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; re-covered same for your arrival; congratulations."
- Howard Carter, archaeologist, to Lord Carnarvon, Nov. 5, 1922 Ah, the life of a pharaoh in ancient Egypt! Elaborate palaces, surrounded by servants, adorned with gold and precious jewels and a burial fit for a king. Who can beat it? And probably the most fascinating of all the pharaohs was the young King Tutankhamun, better known to us as King Tut who began his rule in 1333 BC at the age of 9. His reign was short-lived, however, as he died in 1324 BC. Scholars have extensively studied his short life of 19 years, but much of his life and especially his death remains a mystery to this day. The 18th Dynasty and Religious Upheaval Tutankhamun was born in 1343 BC. He was named Tutankhaten, the ‘aten’ from the god depicted by a sun disc. Life was good for Tutankhaten as it was thought he was much loved by his parents and heir to the throne his father, Pharaoh Ahkenaten held for 17 years. Dad was a very powerful autocratic ruler who decided to abolish the ancient Egyptian religious practice of polytheism, or the worship of many gods, to monotheism, worship of a single god. Up until this time, the ancient Egyptians had worshipped multiple gods – upwards of around 2,000 – for possibly thousands of years. Change did not come easy. Akhenaten was obsessed with his newfound religious beliefs and life for Egyptians revolved around this change. The government was no longer run by priests, but by Akhenaten backed by a powerful military force. He built a new capital city of Amarna and forced the more than 20,000 people of Thebes to move there. Everyone was required to worship the god Aten and images of the old gods had to be destroyed. The Demise of Akhenaten It should be no surprise that Akhenaten would be a very unpopular king once he established a mandatory change in religious beliefs and practices. When Tut was 7 years old his father was forced to abdicate the throne. He died shortly thereafter. Tut did not immediately take over the throne. Someone by the name of Smenkhkare Ankhetkheperure began a two-year reign starting in 1336 BC. Rumor has it that she was actually Nefertiti, Akhenaten’s chief wife and Tut’s stepmother. More about these relationships later. Enter King Tut At the ripe old age of 9, Tutankhaten became the reigning king. He was not alone and had the advice and counsel of Ay, a family member, as well as General Horemheb, military commander and his deputy. The young king ordered the restoration of many of the old temples in Thebes. He also worked on foreign policy - improving relations with neighboring lands - and may have fought in battles against Egyptian enemies. When Tut was 12 years old, he changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun to align himself more with the god of Amun and the Amun priests rather than the monotheistic god of Aten of his father’s reign. It was during this time that he moved the royal family back to their roots in Thebes. Keeping It In The Family It was thought that the Egyptian gods and goddesses practiced incest to maintain the bloodline. Since pharaohs were considered living gods, incest was a perfectly acceptable practice for royalty in ancient Egypt. Tut’s family was no exception. Upon becoming king, Tut married Ankhesenpaaten, his half sister. Ankhesenpaaten’s mother was Nefertiti, one of Tut’s father’s wives. Some researchers name Kiya as Tut’s mother and some reports say that DNA studies indicate his mother was actually one of his father’s sisters, Queen Tiye. She was seen as quite influential during Tut’s reign as king once her husband, Tut’s father, died. Tiye’s firstborn, Prince Tuthmose, is rumored to have been the Moses who led the Israelites to the Promised Land of bible fame. Tut’s main advisor, Ay was Tut’s stepmother Nefertiti’s father and his wife’s grandfather. Confused? Tut and his wife, Ankhesenpaaten, who also dropped the “aten” in her name and replaced it with “amun,” were thought to have two children who were stillborn. The mummies of these infants were found in Tut’s tomb. The End of Tut’s Life A shroud of mystery has surrounded the death of Tut. He was only 18 or 19 years old at the time of his death. For a long time, it was thought he was killed by a blow to the head. Some historians say there is evidence of an infection from a broken leg; others suggest several bouts of a severe form of malaria that can cause death; and still others purport Kohler disease, a bone disorder. Recently, some German scientists have suggested he died from Sickle Cell disease. Fast Forward to Carter and Carnarvon If the ancient Egyptians were correct in their belief that a pharaoh would live for eternity if only his name was remembered, then Tut is sitting pretty in the afterlife. He was considered a minor king with a short-lived reign, but the discovery of his tomb has provided more than 15 minutes of fame. Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922 by the English archaeologist, Howard Carter who was financed by Lord Carnarvon. It was found in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes where many pharaohs were buried. It was thought that the tomb was quickly put together, likely due to Tut’s early death, but still contained about 3,000 treasures. It was the custom to have a space of 70 days between death and burial; however, preparing a tomb grand enough for a pharaoh took much longer than 70 days. It is possible that Tut’s demise prompted the use of a tomb that was being prepared for another pharaoh. Nonetheless, there was enough in the tomb to tell the story of his riches. Much of the contents are on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; and some tour the world, such as the exhibit currently at the Denver Art Museum. That Cursed Tomb It’s been the belief since shortly after the discovery of Tut’s tomb that anyone entering it was cursed with not only bad luck but an untimely death. It all started with the death of Lord Carnarvon just a few short weeks after he entered the tomb in early 1923. Soon thereafter, he was bit by a mosquito on his cheek and eventually suffered an infection and died from it. Tales of the curse were rampant after that. The “New York Times” reported in December 1922 that a messenger going to Howard Carter’s home found a bird cage with a cobra in it that held Carter’s dead bird in its mouth. The cobra was the symbol of the Egyptian monarchy worn on the head of the pharaoh to ward off the enemy. This tale likened the incident to the cobra breaking into the home of Carter who was breaking into the tomb of Tut. Others have since disputed this by reporting that Carter’s bird had been given to a friend to bird-sit who in turn gave it to another acquaintance. Another common misconception is that there is an inscription on Tut’s tomb that says: “Death shall come on swift wings to him that toucheth the tomb of the Pharaoh." Other reports say the inscription reads: “Death shall come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the King.” Neither is true. Many rumors have suggested the majority of people present at the opening of Tut’s tomb died shortly thereafter, but Egyptologist Herbert E. Winlock states that out of those 26, only six died within 10 years. Howard Carter himself, who had likely spent the most time in the tomb, died from natural causes in 1939 – 16 years after he first found the tomb. Other than good old fashioned rumor and sensationalism, if there were an inordinate number of deaths of those involved with the opening of the tomb, there could be a reasonable explanation. Some scientists say that the tomb likely contained contamination such as bacteria and molds. The bacteria Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas genera, and the molds Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus have been found in unopened tombs and can be especially dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems. Tut and the Curse Live On Movies, games and song:
King Tut By Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons King Tut (King Tut) Now when he was a young man, He never thought he'd see People stand in line to see the boy king. (King Tut) How'd you get so funky? (funky Tut) Did you do the monkey? Born in Arizona, Moved to Babylonia (King Tut). (king Tut) Now, if I'd known they'd line up just to see him, I'd trade in all my money And bought me a museum (King Tut). Buried with a donkey (funky Tut) He's my favorite honkey! Born in Arizona, Moved to Babylonia (King Tut) Dancin' by the Nile, (disco Tut) The ladies love his style, (boss Tut) Rockin' for a mile (rockin' Tut) He ate a crocodile. He gave his life for tourism. Golden idol! He's an Egyptian They're sellin' you. Now, when I die, now don't think I'm a nut, don't want no fancy funeral, Just one like ole King Tut (King Tut). He coulda won a Grammy, Buried in his jammies, Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia, He was born in Arizona, got a condo made of stone-a, King Tut! Issue 471 - 11/8/2010
SNIPPETZ IS NOT STRESSED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS by Deborah Stumpf What size turkey shall I get this year? If I invite Uncle Jim, he’ll probably drink too much and start talking politics, and he and cousin Mary will turn dinner into a war zone. How will I ever get the shopping done and the dinner preparations made when I have to work all week? Christmas is almost here, and I have so much to do before we leave town. What if it snows and the flight is cancelled? I need to get that sitter for the dog. And, oh, yea, that master card bill in January. Welcome to the holidays – and all the stressors that follow. Of course, stress is a year-round malady, but the holidays ignite emotions like a lit match to dead leaves. Dr. Shawn Talbott; a nutrition consultant and educator for athletes of organizations like the U.S. Olympic training centers, the National Basketball Association and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, cited the following statistics on holiday stress from a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association. • Up to 69 percent of those surveyed named lack of time and money as two main stressors during the holidays. • Fifty-one percent said holiday stress is about the pressure to give or get gifts. • Sadness (59 percent), sleep issues (56 percent) and lack of energy (55 percent) were the side effects of the stressors. Add to the holidays the everyday stress that Americans incur year-round. From a 2004 APA survey:
And given that 14.8 million Americans were unemployed in September of this year, Santa’s reappearance is like the return of Frankenstein. Pumpkin Pie & Grandma’s Noodles Experts say nutritional habits affect stress. Now, that makes for another reason why some Americans might want to build an underground shelter for hiding during the holidays. Office parties, holiday dinners, desserts galore and fast-food stops for the hurried shopper: The holidays are synonymous with eating and weight gain (which brings on more stress). Then comes January and all of the resolutions to lighten the holiday heavies. More stress. Stress can cause increased levels of cortisol in the body, which create cravings for salty and sweet foods: a vicious cycle. Family get-togethers are often a source of stress. Although Uncle Jim is a grumpy old wino, it’s expected he’ll be around for the holidays. It’s a time of year when families are supposed to be together after all. Emotionally charged stress incites overeating. Food is a godsend in an uncomfortable setting. Potatoes and pie can thwart confrontation or take one’s focus off the three A’s: apprehension, anger and anxiety. “Honey, Uncle Jim is driving everyone crazy.” Bring on that pecan pie. A great amount of stress affects where people store fat. Abdominal fat is linked to people with high stress, and fat tummies and big bellies can be precursors to heart attacks and strokes. Talk about stress. “I will resolve to start my exercise routine Jan. 1.” Sound familiar? Americans live a more sedentary lifestyle today, which makes a routine exercise program as important as that cup of wakeup java. However, demanding schedules impede the will to exercise, and the holiday season is a whopping good reason to ditch the exercise. The No. 1 excuse to avoid exercise? There’s just no time! In Perspective Stress is real, and for some it can be debilitating and lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Managing the stress of everyday life is vital to maintaining a sound body and mind. Dealing with everyday stress provides an understanding to what causes it; facing the stressors can often mean making changes amid new opportunities. Putting one’s life in perspective is a sure-fire way to battle seasonal stressors like finding time to shop for the holidays. This is what stress looks like in a bigger picture.
The above statistics reach beyond stress. But keep in mind that no one is going to send you to prison if the turkey is charred. They can’t hang you because you chose a night of popcorn and DVDs instead of the party. Johnny will survive if he doesn’t get that new Xbox game. Speaking of Survival Still not convinced that those little stressors can be swept under the rug? If so, here are 10 ideas from the Mayo Clinic to prevent stress throughout the holidays – and other days.
With that, enjoy those holidays. After all, January is around the corner – uh oh, tax time. Save this issue of Snippetz and read again. Issue 472 - 11/15/2010
SNIPPETZ HONORS THE GREATER GOOD - AND THE GIVERS by Deborah Stumpf Is the rich world aware of how four billion of the six billion live? If we were aware, we would want to help out, we'd want to get involved. - Bill Gates November is the traditional month to celebrate National Philanthropy Day in cities and states across America. Different dates are set aside to pay tribute to the philanthropic community, to those who have donated for the betterment of lives, communities and the world. The U.S. gives more philanthropically than any other country in the world, with an annual contribution of about $300 billion. Americans gave more than $307 billion to charitable organizations in 2009, despite a gloomy economy. However, total giving was down 3.6 percent – the biggest decline since the American Association of Fundraising Counsel began reporting statistics on giving in 1956. Still, the following stories provide evidence that the spirit of giving is alive and well. You Don’t Have To Be Rich The Secret Society for Creative Philosophy started in 2006 in New York City when Courtney Martin, after receiving a windfall advance for a book she was writing, gave 10 friends $100 each. She then asked them to give the $100 away in a creative manner. Afterward, they would all meet at a bar and discuss the results of the $100 give-a-way over a few beers. The stories of giving fueled a fire. The following year, Martin’s friends gave $100 to their friends to creatively dish out, and the idea just kept on giving. Once a year, members of the Secret Society convene in cities throughout the country to relay their stories about how they dispersed their $100 each. New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Athens, Ga., all have formal chapters of the society. To be a member of the society, one has to be gifted by a special Creative Philanthropy agent, known as the CP agent. The San Francisco Chronicle published a story about the $100 give-away there.
Speaking of Kids You don’t have to be older to be involved in philanthropy, either. Philanthropy is defined as the desire to benefit humanity; to improve the material, social and spiritual welfare of humanity … through charitable activities. Kids from coast to coast are involved in humanitarian and environmental causes. Each year, Kohl’s Department Store recognizes 200 young people nationwide who have given back to their communities. Thousands are nominated, and the winners are presented with a $1,000 scholarship toward post-secondary education. Here are some examples of young philanthropists – a few of the winners of Kohl’s 2009 scholarships.
When these kids are in their middle years in 2050, it’s estimated that $41 trillion will have transferred from one generation to the next, with gifts to nonprofit organizations projected at more than $6 trillion. Leaving a Legacy Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates are throwing down the gauntlet to their peers of wealth in the name of philanthropy, setting unprecedented standards for giving back. Gates and Buffet have launched the Giving Pledge, a movement encouraging the wealthiest Americans to give it up for charity. The two ultra-wealthy, mega-successful and well-known philanthropists have been recruiting from the Forbes 400 list of America’s richest of the rich. Media mogul Ted Turner, Domino’s Pizza founder Thomas Monaghan, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Barron Hilton, son of hotel icon Conrad Hilton, are among those who have formally signed the pledge. Significant, to say the least: Those who’ve jumped on board have promised to give away at least 50 percent of their net worth to charity during their lifetime or at death. Some have pledged more than 50 percent. Oracle’s founder Larry Ellison pledged 95 percent of his wealth. The 2009 net worth of the Forbes 400 was about $1.2 trillion. If all of them were to give 50 percent of their net worth to charity, it would amount to $600 billion. The Giving Pledge is not focused on any one issue. Those who’ve pledged choose their charitable organization under a common philosophy, according to Fortune: A life of monetary excess can be an empty life, if the wealth does nothing to advance a greater cause. As of August, 40 families have become part of the Giving Pledge – and many others have met with Buffet and Gates to discuss the possibilities. Star Philanthropists Other big money makers in the U.S. like movie stars, musicians and athletes have doled out millions to advance their causes. Celebrities have a lot of clout in a star-struck country like the U.S. It’s a reason why the likes of George Clooney and Sean Penn were able to present their concerns about world strife before Congress. Some even give from the grave. The deceased king of late-night television, Johnny Carson, is still giving millions of dollars in securities and royalty rights from the John W. Carson Trust. The John W. Carson Foundation received $35.2 million in cash and $121.2 million during the fiscal year ending last June. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt give time and money to help people worldwide. Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations. Together, Pitt and Jolie have established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation in support of human rights and environmental issues. Pitt has an avid interest in architecture, which led him to help families in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. Pitt committed at least $5 million to build environmentally friendly, sustainable structures in New Orleans – and he was active in the process of rebuilding. U2’s Bono has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Bono has been on the Forbes Generous Celebrity list for his work involving AIDS and debt relief in Africa. He has been involved in numerous causes, from racism to poverty to hunger. He was knighted in 2007. Tennis great Andre Agassi founded The Andre Agassi Foundation in 1994 at the age of 24. The foundation’s focus is public education through practice, policy and partnerships. Millions of dollars have been poured into opportunities for underserved youth. Hordes of athletes, including John Elway, Magic Johnson and Tiger Woods have set up charitable foundations to give back to communities that have fervently supported them. From the Others • Individuals gave the largest portion of charitable giving - $227.41 billion – 75 percent of all contributed dollars. • Charitable bequests by individuals totaled $23.8 billion – 8 percent – a decrease of almost 24 percent from 2008. • Foundations also fell behind in 2009 by 8.9 percent. They gave more than $38 billion, or 13 percent, of all donations in the U.S. • Individuals, bequests and family foundations contributed 88 percent - $266.61 billion – of the total giving figures in 2009. • Corporate giving increased 5.5 percent in 2009 to more than $14 billion, accounting for 4 percent of all charitable giving in 2009. In November, the following Colorado individuals and companies will be recognized for their outstanding charitable contributions.
Issue 473 - 11/22/2010
SNIPPETZ IS SLEEP TALKING by Deborah Stumpf 
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
-Benjamin Franklin Thomas Edison said, “Sleep is an acquired habit. Cells don't sleep. Fish swim in the water all night. Even a horse doesn't sleep. A man doesn't need any sleep." Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov agreed: “I never use an alarm clock. I can hardly wait until 5 a.m. In the Army, I always woke before reveille. I hate sleeping. It wastes time.” Humans spend about one-third of their life sleeping, and the experts would challenge Edison and Asimov by touting the benefits of eight hours of sleep a night. Performing at one’s best and maintaining good health are two benefits. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor work habits, chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity, a weakened immune system, depression, cardiovascular disease and premature aging. Despite the warnings, Americans still don’t get enough sleep. Work, family, stress, sleep disorders are a few factors that prevent people from that eight hours of shut eye. And as the holidays approach, Mr. Sandman loses big time to Santa. But some people have said sleep is over-rated; they can live productively on less than eight hours. Studies also have shown that people who sleep between six and a half and seven and a half hours a night live the longest. People who slept less than six hours a night or more than eight didn’t live as long as the first group. The truth is there are all kinds of variables that define human sleep habits. The Age Factor On average, adults age 25 to 55 should get eight hours of sleep every night. Some studies have shown that older adults need less sleep – about six hours. But others argue that seniors need eight hours but their sleep is frequently interrupted. Babies sleep about 16 hours a day. Sleep is especially vital in reference to adolescents and teenagers. There is a reason it takes a bullhorn and a bulldozer to get a teenager out of bed in the morning. Studies have proven that the biological clocks of teenagers keep them awake later at night and sleeping later in the morning. Teenagers need about 10 hours of sleep per night, and the effects of not getting enough sleep are much more dramatic in teens than adults. It’s why many sleep experts believe that school class start times of 7 or 7:30 a.m. are insufficient and even abusive. In the late 1990s, schools in Minneapolis changed start times from 7:15 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. because of recommendations from sleep experts. The University of Minnesota then studied the impact the change had on academic performance and behavior, and the results were significant. Later start times – • Attendance improved, and there was less tardiness. • Students ate breakfast more frequently. • Teachers discovered a calmer atmosphere in the hallways and cafeteria. • There were fewer trips to the principal for disciplinary reasons. • Relationships among teenagers were better. • Parents also noted that their teenagers were easier to live with. And a happy teenager could mean more sleep for the adults in the household. Morning Person or Night Owl Neuroscientists have found major differences in the brains of early risers or night owls. Participants in a study were grouped in either category based on a questionnaire about their habits. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided brain stimulation was used to test muscle torque and the excitability of pathways through the spinal cord and brain. The brains of the morning people were most excitable at 9 a.m., and the excitability factor decreased throughout the day. The brains of the night owls were most excitable at 9 p.m. Evening people also became physically stronger throughout the day, while morning people didn’t change. Sleep Disorders Sleep is compromised at certain times of life: parenting an infant (or a teenage driver), menopause, old age, etc. Sleep disorders on the other hand can be chronic.
New studies have found that sleep apnea can cause defects in the brain’s gray matter, which creates problems with cognitive functions like attention and memory. The brain changes are thought to be caused by intermittent oxygen deprivation. Driving While Drowsy The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that driving while sleepy has resulted in about 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than 100,000 accidents each year. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did analyzed accidents caused by drowsy drivers and found that younger drivers between 16 and 24 years of age were twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving accident as drivers age 40 to 59. Fifty-seven percent of sleepiness-related crashes occurred when the driver drifted into another lane or off the road. The Lion Sleeps Tonight Scientists have found that mammals and humans have a common denominator when they sleep: Both have REM or rapid eye movement sleep, which is associated with dreams. Humans and animals display the same level of brain activity and increased heart rate variability during REM sleep. Dogs often bark or twitch during REM sleep. Rats have similar sleep needs to humans. They require rest to be alert to dodge humans and cats. Giraffes can go without sleep for weeks; brown bats sleep the entire day. The golden dormouse balances itself on the branch of a tree to sleep – and any quiver of the twig awakens the dormouse. Smaller animals require more sleep than larger animals. Animals that sleep less than four hours average are large land mammals like the elephant and the cow. Horses stand 98 percent of the time while they sleep. Some birds sleep with one eye open to sense predators. Mammals, too, factor in danger when they sleep. The African Papio baboon sleeps on its heels in the tops of trees to avoid predators – talk about sleep deprivation. In marine mammals, one hemisphere of their brain is always awake, which means that dolphins swim and surface to breath while they’re sleeping. More Sleep Snippetz • The record for the longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours and 40 minutes during a rocking chair marathon. The person holding the record reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses. • Parents typically lose 400 to 750 hours of sleep during a newborn’s first year. • British Ministry of Defense researchers have used optical fibers embedded in spectacles that project a ring of bright, white light around the retinas of the soldiers to reset the soldiers' body clocks so they can go without sleep for up to 36 hours. • Experts have said that one of the biggest reasons for sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the Internet. • If it takes anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night, it means you're sleep deprived. The ideal falling asleep time is between 10 and 15 minutes. Good night and sweet dreams. Issue 474 - 11/29/2010
SNIPPETZ TAKES A TRIP TO THE RED PLANET by Gregory Stumpf 
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have a grave announcement to make. Incredible as it may seem, strange beings who landed in New Jersey tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from Mars.” - Orson Welles, “The War of the Worlds”
When Orson Welles, American filmmaker, director, actor and screenwriter, performed the now famous radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel “War of the Worlds” in October 1938, many Americans believed Martians were attacking planet Earth. The reading was so real that it apparently caused widespread panic. Later reports have refuted the widespread panic rumor. Nonetheless, renewed fascination about the red planet was launched. A COUPLE OF DAYS FOR CELEBRATING Here on the third rock from the sun, we celebrate Red Planet Day on Nov. 28, which also celebrates the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on that day in 1964. July 14 is also a big day for Mars because it’s the anniversary of the day the Mariner 4 was closest to the planet at 6,118 miles from its surface. Although there are no widely accepted celebratory activities for either of those days, that doesn’t mean that Mars is not important. In fact, it’s a lot more than a little red dot in the night sky. WHY THE RED PLANET? Well, it’s really not red; it just looks red. Mars’ surface is comprised mainly of a fine iron oxide dust, the same iron oxide mineral that makes Red Rocks here in Colorado red. Scientists believe the iron in the soil and/or rocks turned rusty some time during Mars’ evolution – likely between the planet’s creation and subsequent floods that carved the famous deep crevices and channels. The moisture from the floods is what stimulated the rusting action that created the red layer and gives Mars the red color. The layer ranges in depth from a few millimeters to as deep as two meters. When the sun reflects off of the surface, it emits a light, mainly in the red/orange range, giving the planet its reddish hue. Hence, it’s famous name, The Red Planet. Mars also has more iron than Earth, a lot more. In fact, below the surface the planet is made up of a rock called basalt left by volcanic activity. Martian basalt has very high concentrations of iron that makes the iron oxide, which also makes the planet look red. IS THERE, OR IS THERE NOT H2O So what happened to all that water the scientists talk about? Scientists believe the water that ran on Mars’ surface perhaps millions of years ago has retreated below the surface and is now in a frozen state. For many years, and until advanced scientific exploration and technological advances in equipment, it was a commonly held belief that the polar ice caps were frozen water. TAKING A POLAR PEEK Other than its red color, Mars has a few other distinctions that have captivated Earthlings for centuries, and one of them is the polar ice caps. Are they really ice or do they just look like ice? Well, they are actually composed of dry ice, the same variety that can be purchased at the grocery store that you might use to make your Halloween brew pot look smoky. Unfortunately, it’s not the same H2O that aids in sustaining life as we know it. On Mars there are seasons much like here on Earth, and this time of year it’s the summer, or warmer season for the Martian southern hemisphere. During this time, the ice cap recedes due to the warmer surface temperatures. In our spring and early summer, the southern half of Mars turns colder and that ice cap will grow. If you have even a low power telescope, the polar ice caps are visible, but when to view our closest celestial neighbor (other than the moon) can be tricky. At this time of year Mars is barely visible and especially later in the month it could be completely faded out by the evening glow, and too small due to its location; experts say that “backyard telescopes” will not be useful for viewing Mars this time of year. But there are other times during the year that Mars is not only visible with binoculars and/or a low power telescope; it is also visible with the naked eye. Mid to late August is coined the prime Mars viewing period, and thankfully so as the warmer weather makes the early evening to midnight window much easier to deal with. WILL THERE BE BODY SEACHES WHEN YOU GO THERE? Man has been fascinated by Mars for centuries as far back as 1570 B.C when the Egyptians wondered about Mars and actually made it a god named “Hours of the Horizon.” But man has two primary desires about Mars: first is to fear any Martians who land and cause havoc and destruction about our planet, and second is to travel to Mars someday with the idea of colonizing, or just exploring. Lately, that discussion has taken a serious turn, even to the point that the government has funded a grant ($1.5 million) to explore the possibility of a trip to Mars. There are two scenarios for the first manned Mars mission. One would be the conventional “go there, snoop around, claim it for the United States and come back,” and the second would be a one-way mission, with no return. A manned mission to Mars would not only be a daunting task technologically but financially as well. The first hurtle would be the money. The cargo, including food, water and equipment, has been estimated at $1.5 million per pound. Which is why the second idea for a Mars trip was conceived – the one-way trip, with no return. A one-way trip with no return seems a bit unusual, but it’s not any different than the early Vikings or Columbus setting sail looking for the new world with the idea that there may be no return. Those in favor of a one-way trip cite the cost savings – the equipment and fuel needed to leave Mars for the return trip would not be necessary. The weight that would be eliminated could be used to ship food and water. Even trimming the return costs, the trip is estimated to cost around $10 billion. The one-way trip is currently being explored as a one-person trip, which could be defined as colonization – one small colony. PAST VISITS TO MARS Spacecrafts Mariner 3 and 4 were designed to carry out the first flybys of Mars. Mariner 3 was launched Nov. 5, 1964, but the shroud encasing the spacecraft on top of its rocket failed to open properly and Mariner 3 never got to Mars. On Nov. 28 – just three weeks later – Mariner 4 was launched successfully on an eight-month journey to Mars. There were more Mariners launched through 1971. AND THEN THE VIKING LANDED NASA's Viking Project was the first mission to land a spacecraft safely on the surface of another planet. Two identical spacecraft, each consisting of a lander and an orbiter, were built. Each orbiter-lander pair flew together and entered Mars orbit; the landers then separated and descended to the planet's surface. Viking 1 was launched Aug. 20, 1975 and arrived on Mars June 19, 1976. Viking 2 was launched Sept. 9, 1975 and arrived Aug. 7, 1976. It would be 17 years before there was another launch to Mars. The United States launched Mars Observer Sept. 25, 1992. The spacecraft was complete with science instruments designed to study the geology, geophysics and climate of Mars. However, on Aug. 22, 1993, the spacecraft lost contact before entering Mars’ orbit. Many Mars missions took place in the 90s. One of the most significant, however, was the Mars Global Surveyor, launched Nov. 7, 1996. This spacecraft operated more than four times as long as planned once it reached Mars on Sept. 12, 1997. The spacecraft returned detailed information that brought a new understanding about Mars. During the next decade through 2010, NASA has launched numerous spacecrafts – each one advancing technologically, bringing more valuable information about Mars to scientists worldwide. MARS SNIPPETZ • Mars is about half the size of Earth. • The temperature on Mars varies from cold to extremely cold. • It is impossible for water to exist as a liquid on the surface of Mars. • Statistically, UFO sightings are at their greatest number during those times when Mars is closest to Earth. • Mars takes about 2 years to orbit the sun. • An object weighing 100 pounds on Earth would weigh just 38 pounds on Mars. • According to scientists, gold exists on Mars, Mercury and Venus. • Mars is about 35 million miles from Earth and 141.71 million miles from the Sun. • The atmosphere on Mars is primarily made up of carbon dioxide. • On Mars the seasons are more exaggerated and last much longer than Earth. TOP TEN MOVIES ABOUT MARS 1. Total Recall 2. Red Planet 3. The Martian Chronicles 4. John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars 5. Mission Mars 6. Robinson Crusoe on Mars 7. Doom 8. The Angry Red Planet 9. Rocketman 10. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Issue 475 - 12/6/2010
SNIPPETZ HAS GONE HOLIDAY SHOPPING by Deborah Stumpf “Once again, we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” -Dave Barry What an industry! The holidays and all that pressure to spend lots of money on gifts for people who may in turn regift it to someone else, put it in their next garage sale or sell it on eBay. Depending on which report you read, the average consumer spends between $500 and $700 on holiday gifts and another $200 or so on food, cards and decorations. Fa-la-la-la-la Not only do the holidays eat a hole in your wallet, but they eat a lot of time. According to Consumer Reports, the average American spends 42 hours on holiday activities. • 15 hours for shopping (men 10, women 20) • Waiting in checkout lines - 3.5 hours • Three hours wrapping gifts • One hour returning gifts • 15 hours at holiday parties, gatherings or other events • About 7.5 hours spent traveling to attend holiday events Good Intentions There are surveys and reports galore this and every year about how many Americans are planning to spend less, more or about the same; as well as what they intend to buy. Some say 30 percent intend to spend less and some report as much as 50 percent. There is always a small percentage, maybe 20 percent or less, who intend to spend more. The reality is that usually the projections are wrong. Take 2009 for instance. The average person surveyed intended to spend $699 on Christmas. But the actual average spent that year was $811. Sound like your holiday? Money Is No Object We could bore you with a long list of best gifts to give mom, dad, the kids and Uncle Fred, but you can find that information anywhere. Snippetz wants to know about the outrageous and extravagant. In case your were wondering about Oprah’s favorite things, this year she gave away $525 earrings, a $700 Nikon camera, a diamond watch with a mere 58 diamonds in it, a Caribbean cruise, a cashmere throw and sweater, five years of Netflix, flat screen TV and Blue-Ray player worth $3,600 and then some. The lucky audience members in attendance on give-away day also received the book, “A Course in Weight Loss,” something that should NEVER be given for a gift. Shame on you, Oprah! Not sure where to find the best of the best? There’s always the Neiman Marcus holiday catalog. Some of their favorite items this year are a $3,400 crocodile handbag for mom, $2,500 cufflinks for dad, a $9,900 pink leopard art guitar for your teen, a $15,000 edible gingerbread playhouse for the kids or a $1,500,000 glass sculpture for the bottom of your indoor swimming pool. Oh, they are also selling a Tequila Avion private party for 75 of your closest buddies for $125,000. Colin Cowie, celebrity event planner will put this together for you and your friends to enjoy sips of the most extravagant tequila on the planet. Not too shabby when you consider snacks are involved. And More Ridiculous On the market this year, there’s a $20,000 diamond-studded Blackberry case, an automatic twirling spaghetti fork for a very affordable $17.95, and a $32 personalized propane steak branding iron (why?). For the man in your life, Portland General Store sells aftershave scents for $25. This is not your typical cologne; these are manly scents: tobacco, whiskey, wood, cognac or professor (anybody know what a professor smells like?). Bloomingdales sells colorful rubber tote bags for the little lady to carry while shopping for $195. If your velvet bow is looking a bit raggedy, you can get a replacement from tomford.com for a scant $220. The Dirty Little Secret of Regifting Once regifting became a topic of a “Seinfeld” episode in 1995, the cat was out of the bag. Regifting is not a new concept – think about visiting grandma or great aunt Betsy over the holidays and receiving a package, sans gift tag, of handkerchiefs that look like they came from the Woolworths sale bin … about 30 years ago. “Oh Grandma, you shouldn’t have!” (You really shouldn’t have.) Or fruitcake. Remember the old joke about there only being two fruitcakes in existence that get passed from one person to another for the holidays? Before you regift, consider using these delightful gifts at white elephant gift exchanges that have become so popular. It is the perfect place to get rid of that oversized pink polka dotted coffee mug that makes a joke about menopause. Think of the laughs! On-line second-hand sales sites like eBay are great avenues for dumping those cufflinks and making a little lunch money from the sale. Goodwill and thrift stores are always happy for donations. If you must regift, here are a few tips from MSN Money on how to do it correctly: • Keep track of who the gift came from so you don’t make the mistake of gifting back to the person who gave it to you. • Clean your regifts. If you actually were gutsy enough to use the gift first, clean it up if it can look new and repackage in the original box. • Do not give partially used gift cards. Yes, it happens. • Do not regift soaps, CDs that are not the recipient’s taste, candles, obscure software, ugly jewelry, scarves, cologne or socks. It’s always obvious to the recipient that it wasn’t chosen for them. • Don’t give gifts from companies that are no longer in operation. It’s a dead giveaway. Worst Gifts Ever Most of us have received a really bad gift in the past and will do so again. Here are some reported worst gifts people have received and that one should never ever give: • Nose hair clippers • One-month gym membership • Vacuum cleaner • Wreath • Shoes • Snow globe • Christmas ornaments • Quesadilla maker • Chia pet • Underwear and/or socks • Musical boxer shorts • Diet pills • Sausage making machine • Facial hair lightening cream • Meat cookbook for a vegetarian • Sweatpants • Thighmaster • Charitable donation given in the recipient’s honor Prepare for the Worst How you react to a very bad gift is a matter of class and good manners. And teaching our children this skill is particularly difficult, especially after we’ve told them over and over again that lying is wrong, wrong, wrong. First, approach every gift as though it’s the most anticipated item of the day. Open excitedly and get ready to smile brightly and exclaim “I love it; it’s PERFECT!” even if it is 3 pairs of Christmas socks or a partridge in a pear tree. Don’t forget an exuberant “thank you” while still smiling. Second, if you really like the person who gave you the offending item and don’t want to hurt their feelings, be sure to pick up the item periodically and hug it or exclaim once again how much you love their gift. Those 12 Days of Christmas If you are planning on indulging your true love this year, the dollars you will need to purchase a complete set of items from “The 12 Days of Christmas” will cost you about $100,000, a 10.8 percent over what it would have cost had you been madly in love last year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management. What you’re up against: • One partridge - $12; pear tree - $149 • Two turtle doves - $100 • Three French hens - $150 • Four calling birds - $599.96 • Five golden rings - $649.95 • Six geese-a-laying - $150 • Seven swans-a-swimming - $5,600 • Eight maids-a-milking - $58 • Nine ladies dancing - $6,294.03 • Ten lords-a-leaping - $4,766 • Eleven pipers piping - $2,356 • Twelve drummers drumming - $2,552 If this is more than you can afford, purchasing one of everything might be more affordable at $23,439. Ah, the price of love. Issue 476 - 12/13/2010
SNIPPETZ SAILS TO THE THRESHOLD OF IMMIGRATION by Deborah Stumpf "Remember, remember always that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists." - Franklin D. Roosevelt One day after it opened Jan. 2, 1892, a 15-year-old Irish girl, Annie Moore, became the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island. From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island, a small island in the New York Harbor with the Statue of Liberty towering above. The historical entry way to the U.S. went from its original 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres over the course of its time. Fort Gibson When the island was just a spot of sand, barely visible during high tide, Native American tribes called it the Kioshk or Gull Island. When the Dutch and English arrived and discovered an abundance of oyster beds on the island, they named the area Oyster Island. Before Samuel Ellis bought the island in the 1770s, the island had been called by many different names. After Ellis died, it served multiple purposes. The island had been a site for hanging pirates, a harbor fort and an ammunition and ordinance depot known as Fort Gibson. The latter was established when British fleets found easy access to the New York Harbor, which they occupied during the Revolutionary War. In 1808, U.S. government officials had determined a need to defend coastal areas so they negotiated with the state of New York to purchase Ellis Island, where they set up a fort named after an officer by the name of Gibson, who was killed during the War of 1812. Early Migration Prior to 1890, the states regulated immigration as opposed to the federal government. A former New York fort – Castle Garden – had been serving as a major port of entry in New York for immigrants. But immigrants began arriving in droves during the latter half of the 19th century, sparking the largest mass of human migration in history. Castle Garden was not prepared to handle the growing number of people seeking freedom from Europe’s restrictive religious laws, poor economic conditions and political unrest. New York was simply unable to handle the hordes of immigrants. The federal government put on its Superman hat and to save the state of New York, built a new immigration station on Ellis Island. Under the auspices of President Benjamin Harris, the first federally operated immigration station had been established. Five years later, June 14, 1897, a fire broke out on Ellis Island and burned the immigration station – made of Georgia pine – to the ground. No lives were lost, but immigration records dating back to 1855 were. The feds reconstructed the immigration station under the condition that all structures would be fireproof. Money Can Buy Happiness It seems like the distinction between the wealthy and not so wealthy has deep roots. When they took over the ship, so to speak, the federal government adopted a policy that immigrants with first or second class passenger status did not have to go through the inspection process at Ellis Island. Instead, those passengers were inspected on board the ship. The argument for the practice was that a person who could afford a first or second class ticket would be less likely to become a burden on the states. The affluent, of course, would not frequent institutions or hospitals or become a challenge to the legal system. The wealthy were welcomed with open arms. But – if they were ill or had legal problems, they, too, were subjected to further inspection at Ellis Island. The “lower class” immigrants were the third class passengers. Referred to as “steerage,” third class passengers traveled in crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions close to the bottom of the steamships. They weren’t privy to above-board accommodations, and many spent the journey seasick in their bunks. When the boats arrived in New York City, the first and second class passengers passed through Customs at the docks and handily entered the U.S. Third class passengers were transported by ferry or barge to Ellis Island for medical and legal inspections. The Ellis Island inspection process lasted from three to five hours, if the new immigrant was fairly healthy and their papers were in order. Not everyone gained entry. Ellis Island had occasionally been referenced as the “Island of Tears” for those who had been turned away. Two percent of the immigrants were excluded from entering the U.S. mainly because they had a contagious disease or were likely to become a burden on society or an illegal contract laborer. The Beginning of the End In 1907, more people had migrated to the U.S. than at any other time. About 1.25 million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island that year. Between 1900 and 1915, the building industry boomed, trying to keep up with the influx of people. When the U.S. became involved in World War 1, immigration to the U.S. significantly decreased. Instead, Ellis Island became a sort of prison for suspected enemies who had been living throughout the U.S. Between 1918 and 1919, the suspects or detainees were transferred to other U.S. locations so the U.S. Navy and the Army’s medical division could inspect immigrants on board the ships or docks. In 1920, Ellis Island returned to full operations as an immigrant receiving station, processing 225,206 immigrants that year. From 1880 to 1924, migration to America was at its height. As the numbers soared, politicians and some of their constituents began demanding immigrant restrictions. If some think modern U.S. immigration laws are discriminating, the laws established in the 19th and 20th centuries were blatantly prejudice. The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Alien Contract Labor Law and a literacy test were instituted during that time. The passage of the Quota Law and the National Origins Act were percentage-based attempts to favor immigrants from certain areas of Europe and exclude all non-European immigrants. It was believed that immigrants from northern and western Europe, where many of the early settlers migrated from, were superior to immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. After World War I ended in 1918, U.S. embassies were established all over the world. Potential immigrants to the U.S. applied in their home countries at American consulates, and medical inspections took place there as well. Ellis Island became a hub for war refugees and displaced persons. The island remained open through November 1954 as a holding place for enemy merchant seamen and eventually a training site for the U.S. Coast Guard. Last, But Not Least In 1954, Arne Peterssen, a Norwegian merchant seaman, was the last person to pass through Ellis Island. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson designated Ellis Island as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In 1984, Ellis Island went through a colossal restoration – $160 million worth, funded by donations. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers a variety of activities, from video documentaries to free tours to reenactments of immigrant hearings. Almost two million people visit the island every year. Island Trivia • When Samuel Ellis purchased the island in the 70s, he built a tavern that catered to local fishermen. • Ellis Island has always been considered a part of New York City, but about 80 percent of the island is in New Jersey. • Some believe that officials at Ellis Island changed the names of immigrants entering the U.S. In reality, they tried to retain the original spelling of the immigrants’ last names. • To add to the acreage at Ellis Island in its early years, landfill from New York City subway tunnels and other areas was used to create two new islands, which housed hospital administration, a hospital contagious disease ward and a psychiatric ward. • Some of the steamship companies that played a huge role in the history of Ellis Island immigrants were the White Star, Red Star, Cunard and Hamburg-America. • Recruiters offered contract labor agreements to potential immigrants and U.S. Railroad companies advertised inexpensive farm land. Hungarians, the Polish and Italians were among the immigrants who went to coal mines or steel mills. The Greek people preferred textile mills. • In 1907, the S.S. Baltic arrived at Ellis Island with 1,000 single female passengers looking for a husband. Many of the women immediately chose a husband and were married on the island. • By 1910, about 70 percent of the Ellis Island immigrants were Europeans, but many came from Arab lands ruled by the Ottoman Empire. With the passage of the National Origins Act, Arab immigration ended in 1924 and resurged when the act was repealed in 1965. • By 1932, during the Great Depression, more immigrants left the country than arrived. • About one-half of today’s U.S. population has at least one ancestor who came through Ellis Island. Issue 477 - 12/20/2010
SNIPPETZ IS READING CHRISTMAS TALES by Deborah Stumpf 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads. - Clement Clarke Moore, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” Snippetz could spend pages and pages and many issues talking about Christmas literature. There are hundreds of books, movies, TV specials and poems about the holiday and every year there are new entries onto the scene. We’ve chosen to delve into three of the most famous and beloved stories. “A Visit from St. Nicholas” aka “The Night Before Christmas” If one attempts to conjure up a list of American Christmas classics, “The Night Before Christmas” has to be near the top of the list. First titled “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” author Clement Clarke Moore wrote it for his son in 1822. A friend had submitted it anonymously to the Troy, New York “Sentinel” in 1823 when it was first published. The poem was not attributed to Moore until an anthology of his work was published in 1844. Legend has it that Moore, a university professor and author of scholarly works, may not have wanted to be associated with children’s literature. Once published in the “Sentinel,” the rest was history. It is surmised that Moore’s story about Santa Claus shaped the American view of Christmas and associated Santa with the holiday, giving the emphasis to children rather than religion. The story has been adapted over and over again in other literature pieces, music, movies and television. Who is Really the Author? There is a small amount of controversy surrounding the true author of “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” A few have proposed that Harry Livingston Jr. is the author. Arguments include the writing style and theme was consistent with Livingston’s prose; his mother was Dutch, which would account for the original Dutch spelling of reindeer Dunder and Blixem; Clement Clarke Moore had not take credit for the writing early on; and Moore had allegedly lied about translating a book at one time, although this has been explained as a miscommunication regarding a dedication in a book. Controversy aside, this is the first piece of literature that told the story of Santa, what he looks like and how he operates: arriving on Christmas Eve, stuffing the stockings, the reindeer and their names, the use of the chimney and how Santa looks. And that look has stuck to this day – a chubby man with a head of white hair, white beard, dressed in fur and carrying a sack of toys for the children. ‘Twas Trivia • The spelling of the reindeer’s names Dunder and Blixem was changed to the German spelling of Donder and Blitzen by editor Edmund Clarence Stedman in his “An American Anthology, 1787-1900.” The English translation is Thunder and Lightening. • Over the years other terminology has also changed. Phrases and words such as “But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight” has changed to: “But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight.” The original last line was “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night,” which has changed in more recent editions to “Merry Christmas to all …” • Three of the original four handwritten poems are located in museums. The fourth is said to have surfaced in 2006 in Dallas when it was sold by a private collector through Heritage Auction Galleries for $280,000 to a New York media CEO. This copy is said to be signed by Clement Clarke Moore and was given to a friend in 1860. Oh the Mean One, Mr. Grinch If “The Night Before Christmas” launched the commercialization of the holiday, then “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” was a serious attempt at reversing that trend. Written in 1957 by Dr. Seuss, the story is about a cranky green creature (Grinch) who lives in a cave in the very steep Mount Crumpit that rises above Whoville where the happy Whos live and breathe the Christmas Spirit. The Grinch is lonely and envious of the Whos. He hatches a plan to steal their Christmas – everything from decorations to presents – while they are sleeping on Christmas Eve. Much to his surprise, the disappointed Whos are still happy and the Grinch learns the real meaning of Christmas, returning all that he stole and joining the Whos in their Christmas day festivities. The story has been adapted numerous times for film, stage and television, as well as translated into many languages including Latin. Boris Karloff starred as the Grinch in the first television production in 1966. Jim Carrey played the part successfully in the 2000 version directed by Ron Howard. In 1975, Zero Mostel narrated an audio recording of the story. Green and Other Grinchy Trivia • The original Grinch was not green, but black and white with some red and pink splotches of color. • The 2000 movie cost $115 million to make. Part of that cost was to pay for 2,000 candy canes, 52,000 Christmas lights and about 8,200 ornaments. Oh, and there was that yak hair dyed green and sewn onto a suit made of spandex, one at a time. • The TV version featured June Foray as the voice of Cindy Lou Who. She was the voice of Rocky the flying squirrel and Natasha Fatale in the famous “Rocky and Bullwinkle” cartoon series. Dickens’ Christmas Carol English novelist Charles Dickens is synonymous with Christmas literature, “A Christmas Carol” being one of the most well known and popular, particularly for movie and stage performances. Lest the Grinch think he has cornered the market on the holiday grumpies, there’s Ebenezer Scrooge. “A Christmas Carol” was written during the Victorian era in Britain, a time when Christmas may have gone by the wayside and replaced with a more somber atmosphere. Dickens’ story brought back the “merry” to Merry Christmas. We all know the story: Ebenezer Scrooge, cruel and heartless businessman is visited by the spirit of his dead business partner who warns him of what is to happen if he doesn’t change his Grinch-like ways. Scrooge then receives visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, all giving him a glimpse into his life and the affects he has had on others. After he views life through the eyes of others, he experiences a revelation and changes into a kind and compassionate man who loves Christmas and what it stands for. He suddenly finds empathy and compassion for his employee, Bob Cratchit and his ill son, Tiny Tim. Dickens felt strongly about the plight of poor families and their children during the early 19th century and had planned to write a scathing discourse about the same. Instead, he chose to write “A Christmas Carol” in an effort to raise awareness about poverty and the injustice he felt were bestowed upon the poor. Beyond giving us the terms “Scrooge” and “Bah humbug,” the story changed the way people felt about Christmas and brought about a new social awareness and feeling of generosity among the more wealthy in Britain as well as across the pond in America. Businesses were sending their employees home with turkeys, sizeable donations were given to agencies assisting crippled children and money was being raised for the poor. We can also thank Dickens for some of our celebratory traditions like family dinners and other festivities surrounding the holiday. Bah Humbug! • Scrooge’s business partner’s name was Jacob Marley and had already been dead for seven years when the story begins. • Dickens published the book himself in 1843; however, he still only earned a meager amount equal to about 19,000 British pounds today. • Jim Carrey shows up in this Christmas tale in a 2009 Walt Disney Pictures “A Christmas Carol” project as Scrooge. He also plays the three ghosts of Christmas. • Lionel Barrymore played Scrooge in the 1930s and 1940s on radio. His brother John took over for a time in the 1930s when Lionel was ill. • Michael Caine played Scrooge in the very popular The Muppet Christmas Carol produced in 1992. Issue 478 - 12/27/2010
SNIPPETZ IS WHINING ABOUT A DAY OF WHINERS.... REALLY? by Deborah Stumpf “Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at?” - W.S. Gilbert National Hugging Day, National Pig Day and now National Whiners Day on Dec. 26: What? We don’t want to whine about the fact that every day is some kind of DAY – but really, Whiner’s Day? Who comes up with these ideas, anyway? Here’s one. Rev. Kevin Zaborney: He is the man behind National Hugging Day and National Whiners Day. On his Web site citing National Whiners Day, Zaborney refers to himself as the “Connoisseur of Fine Whines.” His real credentials are nothing to whine about. Zaborney has a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Michigan and a master of divinity degree from Boston University. He works for the state of Michigan. Snippetz wrote to Zaborney and asked him why he started the National Whining Day tradition. This was his answer. “I started the observance as a result of too many people whining about what they don't have in life rather than expressing gratefulness for what they do have. Of course, there is a tongue-in-cheek aspect to the day, too! Whining contests, Whine and Geeze parties, and unwanted gift exchanges while whining are all in vogue.” Whether it’s in vogue to be considered a “whiner of the year” is unknown. But Zaborney came up with the list as something “fun” for National Whiners Day. Visitors to Zaborney’s Web site can send in nominations for their preferences for whiner of the year. Over the past few years, the following high-profile people have been dubbed “whiner of the year.” • Phil Gramm, former Republican senator, was awarded whiner of the year after he whined in the midst of a speech on the waning economy. “We have become a nation of whiners,” he said. “You just hear this constant whining.” • The infamous Michael Vick, now quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, received his whining distinction when he continuously whined about being unjustly accused of dog fighting – until he admitted it. (Making more than $7 million a year, Vick has little to whine about now.) • Rosie O’Donnell whined about her role on “The View” and whined about everything she didn’t agree with. So, in 2006, O’Donnell, along with Britney Spears (no explanation needed!) received the touted “whiners of the year” designation. Zaborney also has selected “famous whiners from the last 20 years.” Among those with the honors:
And the 10 most famous whiners of the 20th century:
Your Turn to Whine It seems appropriate that Whiners Day is the day after Christmas and Snippetz thinks this is such a great holiday that we should extend it for the whole week after Christmas. After all, there’s plenty to whine about right after the holidays. We just spent hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on Christmas decorations for the house and yard; parties, party clothes; food and liquor; and gifts for everyone, from the garbage men to Aunt Betsy. Oh, yea, we deserve to whine about the time consumed for all the above activities, too, right? And there’s a lot of whining to do about the extra pounds we gained from all that holiday eating. No matter the Christmas holidays, National Whiners Day reaches across all cultures, religions, races – and there are all kinds of ways to celebrate the day, or week, if you choose to do it Snippetz style. Zaborney lists a few ideas for celebratory activities: • Visit a shopping mall and watch customers and clerks whine about gift returns. • Host a “whine and geeze” party. • Hold a whining contest, complete with prizes (or exchange unwanted gifts). • Call a radio station, and whine about National Whiners Day. For those naturally positive people whose mantra is “everything is always peachy,” here are a few whiner-wannabe tips to get in on the whining fun: • Find something that's not perfect in your life and call everyone to tell them about it. Whine about the kids, the husband, the mother-in-law – just do it. • Notice what everyone else has that you don't. Whine about how it's not fair because you work hard and don’t have a big boat and a new car to go along with a 12-bedroom home. • Constantly complain about the weather. You can’t do a thing about it, so why not whine? Make sure to let others know how you feel. • Tell everyone you know how much you hate your job – or your boss or co-workers. Whine about how you are overworked and underpaid. • Whine about the cost of living: food costs, gas, taxes. Act like you’re the only one affected. Whine loudly with the high-pitched whiners’ voice. • Find fault with everything other people do and be sure to mention that people do things just to annoy you. Things to Whine About • The national debt – over $8 trillion • Unemployment rate – about 9.8 percent nationwide • Politics and politicians • The federal government lists the calories in one slice of pizza at 140 – the slice is no more than 2 oz. WAH! On the opposite side of “peachy” is “whiny.” Take this test to see if you are a whiner. If you’ve answered yes to any question, then you need help. And there is hope with Whiners Anonymous Help (WAH). Are you a whiner? • Do you complain or snivel? • Are you a grumpy old person? • Do you seek out others in bars or on Internet chat rooms to whine about things? • Do people ever tell you to "like it or lump it"? • Are you often asked, "What are you crying about?" • Do friends or family seem less likely to talk to you as the years go by? • Do you constantly tell other people they whine too much? If you do any of these things, you may be in need of the WAH! 12 step program: 1. Admit you’re a whiner. Just say, I’m a whiner. 2. Realize that whining interferes with your life. 3. Seek help. 4. Laugh at your constant whining. 5. Put your whining in perspective. (think starvation stats) 6. Eat something you don’t like, and don’t whine while doing so. 7. Get a part-time job at a complaint department and listen to people whining all day long. You cannot complain about your job. 8. Make a victim list of all the people you might have hurt. Ask them if you’ve ever whined? 9. Take your parents to court for allowing you to be a whiner as a child. 10. Stop whining about not whining. 11. If you must whine, whine to your dog. 12. Help other whiners. Then, you can whine about how they whine. Finally, join www.city-data.com or Facebook – Whiners Anonymous Clubs – and participate in discussions with other whiners. Happy Whiners Week! Issue 479 - 1/3/2011
SNIPPETZ IS IN PURSUIT OF TRIVIA by Deborah Stumpf
Answers: Hummingbird; Beatles; Richard M. Nixon; Mars and Murrie, the last names of the men who developed M&M Candies in 1941; and … Although it had been a favorite pastime of students since the 1950s, the game of trivia was popularized en masse in the mid 60s, when four students from Columbia University appeared on the television show, “I’ve Got a Secret.” The students competed in a trivia contest with the show’s regular panelists, and shortly after, Columbia University hosted its own show: the First Annual Ivy League-Seven Sisters Trivia Contest. By 1966, trivia bowls had spread to college campuses nationwide. The First College Bowl Before universities took on the sponsorship of trivia bowls, American companies like Good Housekeeping magazine and General Electric backed trivia contests for students. Good Housekeeping sponsored a trivia bowl on the radio, referred to as “the varsity sport of the mind,” from 1953 to 1955. In January 1959, the most well-known of all college bowls was launched with GE as its sponsor. The GE College Bowl became a hit network television show, originally hosted by Allen Ludden and later Robert Earle. It ran about 25 to 40 weeks each year on Saturdays and Sundays for 17 seasons, until June 1970. During its run, the College Bowl won numerous accolades from presidents to Congress to the PTA and received a slew of awards, including an Emmy and the Peabody Award for outstanding achievement in entertainment and education. In today’s world of college bowls, the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point boasts the world’s largest trivia contest. The contest, which has run for 38 years, is open to anyone and played in April each year. It spans 54 hours throughout a weekend with eight questions every hour. There are 500 teams with one to 50 players, and the top 10 are awarded trophies. Trivial Pursuit Trivia The word “trivia” is the plural form of “trivium,” a Latin noun taken from “triple” and “via.” In short, trivia is referred to as knowledge that is good to have but nonessential – mainly it’s material for answering quiz questions. But trivia became essential with the arrival of the board game, Trivial Pursuit. On Dec. 15, 1979, a photo journalist for the “Montreal Gazette,” Chris Haney, and a sports journalist for “The Canadian Press,” Scott Abbott, were playing a game of Scrabble when they decided to invent their own game. Two years later, their invention was trademark registered and eventually released as Trivial Pursuit. The first copies of Trivial Pursuit sold at a loss. Manufacturing costs for the copies were $75 each game; retailers sold it for $15. Then, in 1983, Selchow and Righter, a U.S. game manufacturer and distributor, bought the rights to Trivial Pursuit; and, after an all-out public relations campaign, the game became “the biggest phenomenon in game history,” according to Time magazine. In December 1993, Games Magazine named Trivial Pursuit to the “Games Hall of Fame.” As time went on, Trivial Pursuit came out with pop-culture games like the Beatles Trivia Pursuit and Seinfeld Trivia Pursuit. As technology crept in, Trivial Pursuit kept up, with Trivial Pursuit games for computer and video, cell phones, the Wii and the iPod. Have you ever been to a bar and played the video version of Trivial Pursuit while sipping a beer? Regardless of the variety, the basics remain the same. In 2008, Parker Brothers released Trivial Pursuit: the Best of Genus. The edition is a collection of “best” questions in all of the categories from the past 25 years, from people and places to sports and leisure to science and nature. Some of the all-time, best-loved Trivial Pursuit questions can be silly, funny or a bit personal. For example: What did 100,000 American women buy 200,000 of in 1980? Who once warned: "Never eat more than you can lift"? What African animal's name is made up of the letters n, g and u? Answers: breast implants; Miss Piggy; a Gnu T.V. Trivia Games The popularity of the board game gave birth to trivia-related television shows like “Jeopardy” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” And for the younger set (or adults shot down by Jeopardy), there is “Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Most of the trivial pursuits-of-the-same-name-television game shows were short-lived. The Family Channel’s “Trivial Pursuit” game show aired from 1993 to 1995, with announcers Wink Martindale and Randy West. Running only one season was Trivial Pursuit: America Plays. The game show premiered in September 2008 but wasn’t renewed, even though it was based on an interactive format, where the public sent in questions with a potential to win money at home. The Trivia Guru There’s always the smarty pants in the crowd. Wilson Casey is known as “The Trivia Guy.” He is an American columnist, author and entertainer and holds two Guinness World Book of Records for a 30-hour live, continuous broadcast on radio station WKDY-AM that took place Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, 1999, in Spartanburg, SC. During the 30-hour trivia marathon, he asked and correctly identified 3,333 questions. Famous Trivial Pursuits There’s trivia games for foodies, science geeks and sports enthusiasts, among others. Who can talk trivia without mentioning need-to-know facts about Super Bowl? Did you know …? • No NFL team has ever played the Super Bowl on its own home field. • No Super Bowl game has ever gone into overtime play. • Super Bowl Sunday is second only to Thanksgiving as the day Americans consume the largest amount of food. • The first Super Bowl was played in 1967. The Green Bay Packers of the National Football League defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League, 35-to-10. There also is plenty of trivia for entomologists (those who study insects). Did you know? (Do you care to know?) • Amazon ants (red ants found in the western U.S.) steal the larvae of other ants to keep as slaves. The slave ants build homes for and feed the Amazon ants, who cannot do anything but fight. They depend completely on their slaves for survival. • The honeybee kills more people worldwide than all the poisonous snakes combined. • The venom of a female black widow spider is more potent than that of a rattlesnake. • The world's smallest winged insect, the Tanzanian parasitic wasp, is smaller than the eye of a housefly. • There are more insects in one square mile of rural land than there are human beings on the entire earth. • When ants find food, they lay down a chemical trail, called a pheromone, so that other ants can find their way from the nest to the food source. • Worker ants may live seven years and the queen may live as long as 15 years. • You're more likely to be a target for mosquitoes if you consume bananas. Test Your Knowledge It’s an article about trivia, so it’s time to throw out some trivia questions to our readers. Test your knowledge of “American firsts.” Answers below 1. Who was the first American basketball player featured on a box of Wheaties? 2. Who was the entertainer to appear on the cover of the first edition of People Magazine? 3. Who was the first American president to speak on television? 4. What was the first American consumer product sold in the Soviet Union? 5. What was the first toy product advertised on television? 6. What year did the first personal computer, the Apple II, go on sale? 7. Most lipsticks contain what ingredient (sounds fishy)? 8. Who was the first female U.S. attorney general? 9. Who was the president to mandate that cigarette manufacturers put health warnings on their packages? 10. What illegal drug was used in the 1880s to cure sore throat, neuralgia, nervousness, headache, colds and sleeplessness? Answers: 1. Michael Jordan; 2. Mia Farrow – 1974; 3. Franklin D. Roosevelt; 4. Pepsi-Cola; 5. Mr. Potato Head; 6. 1977; 7. fish scales; 8. Janet Reno; 9. Lyndon B. Johnson; 10. Cocaine A game of trivia to ring in 2011, anyone? |
Vertical Divider
|
