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Issue 530 - 2012/26/11
SNIPPETZ RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH TRADITION by Deborah Stumpf In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar, under the Julian calendar, was the first to officially declare Jan. 1 the start of a new year. The month of January was named after the Roman god Janus, who wore two faces – one looking forward and one looking backward. In most countries in Western Europe, Jan. 1 became the official start of the new year. However, during the Middle Ages England celebrated the beginning of a new year on March 25 – the Feast of the Annunciation. In 1752, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, which included a leap year every four years. Under the Gregorian calendar, England, in conjunction with Western Europe, adopted Jan. 1 as the official kick-off to the new year. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions began with Caesar and have evolved throughout the years – all the while focused on feasts and festivities. Hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs organized New Year’s Eve dances and parties. Customs that originated worldwide were brought to America – and today remain part of the New Year’s holiday hoopla. The Symbols Like Santa Claus and his reindeer, New Year’s has its trademarks as well. Father Time “Father Time” – who has forever been an insignia of New Year’s – is actually time personified as a bearded old man, wearing a robe and holding a scythe and hourglass. Father Time is from the Greek god Cronus, whom the Romans called Saturn, god of agriculture. Saturn is usually associated with the sowing of seeds and the tilling of the soil. Although often thought of as one, the Greek god Cronus is not related to chronos, one of many Greek words for “time.” Father Time has also been linked to the Holy King, the Celtic god of the dying year. In many circles, Father Time is considered the spouse of Mother Nature. Baby New Year Clothed only in a diaper and a sash imprinted with the numerals of the new year, a caricature of a chubby, happy baby has become an icon of a new year. The baby new year is often pictured with his counter, Father Time. There is a real baby new year as well. Many babies born on New Year’s Day are deemed to have luck on their side for a lifetime. And many hospitals kick off that good luck by awarding money or a prize to the first baby born in their care as the new year rings in. Times Square In 1904, The New York Times owner, German Jewish immigrant Alfred Ochs, decided to throw a New Year’s Eve party in celebration of the city’s decision (at his urging) to rename Longacre Square (the district surrounding the NYT’s headquarters) Times Square. The Times Tower building at 7th Avenue, Broadway and 42nd Street was Manhattan’s second-tallest building, with three huge sub-basements; and the center of Ochs’ New Year’s Eve gala. More than 200,000 people attended the first all-day festival that included an evening of fireworks and midnight merrymaking with horns, noisemakers, rattles and loud cheers. Two years after the first party, the city banned fireworks; and Ochs arranged to have a 700-pound illuminated iron and wood ball lowered from the tower flagpole at midnight, symbolic of the transition from 1907 to 1908. Ochs inspired a tradition that would eventually grab the attention of the world as the party of all New Year’s Eve parties. Today, an estimated one million people line the streets of Times Square to watch the ball drop. More than one billion people worldwide watch from the comfort of their living rooms. This year, at 11:59 p.m. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the host of the show will push a button that starts the New Year’s Eve ball’s highly anticipated descent. The countdown begins with 60 seconds on the clock, the time it takes the ball to drop the 70 feet. The ball is a geodesic square, which is 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds. The ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Phillips Luxeon Reble LEDs. At midnight, the lights of the ball are turned off to reveal the brightly colored flashing lights of the numerals representing the new year. As iconic as the ball is a television host who created the telecasting of the Times Square’s countdown to midnight 40 years ago: Dick Clark. The age-defying Clark will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his debut as host of his own New Year’s baby - CBS T.V.’s long-running and wildly popular New Year’s Rockin' Eve 2012. Co-hosting this year is American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest, and the special musical guest is Lady Gaga. Tournament of Roses In 1890, the Valley Hunt Club of Pasadena, Calif., decided to sponsor a mid-winter holiday event to promote the warm California sun to people living in snowy, cold climates. The club hosted a variety of spectator sports such as chariot races, jousting competitions, foot races, polo games and tug-of-war challenges. Because California’s flowers were in bloom in the midst of winter, the club added a pre-games parade featuring carriages decorated with fresh roses and other flowers. Eventually, the “Rose Parade” or the “Rose Bowl Parade” became another New Year’s Day ritual, watched by about 47 million American viewers – and millions worldwide.
Black-eyed Peas and Greens Black-eyed peas are a staple in the southern part of the U.S., but consuming black-dotted peas on New Year’s Day is a must from coast to coast. Eating black-eyed peas on Jan. 1 brings good fortune and luck throughout the year. Legend has it the tradition goes back to the Civil War, when the town of Vicksburg, Miss., ran out of food while it was under attack. The residents discovered the black-eyed pea, which they referred to as a lucky legume. Some believe that one pea should be eaten every day of the new year. Cooked greens like cabbage, collards, kale and chard are eaten all over the world on New Year’s Day for a financial reason: their green leaves resemble folded money – another symbol of good fortune. Pork is another widely served dish on New Year’s Day. Pigs supposedly symbolize progress because they root themselves in the ground before moving or pushing forward. And the rich fat content of the meat signifies wealth and prosperity. Avoid the following foods: lobster because they move backward and eating one could lead to setbacks during the year; and chicken because the bird scratches backward, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Don’t eat any winged fowl because good luck might fly away. Times Gone By The song of the midnight hour on New Year’s Eve is “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish song first published in 1796 by poet Robert Burns, who later refined the lyrics. “Auld Lang Syne” translates in English to “old long since” or “times gone by.” Bandleader Guy Lombardo popularized the song and created a New Year’s tradition. Lombardo’s band played the song at midnight at a New Year’s Eve party at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City in 1929, and from the 1930s to 1976 his version was played every New Year’s Eve at the Waldorf Astoria. Also broadcast on radio and television, it was once written in Life magazine that if Lombardo’s “Auld Lang Syne” didn’t play on New Year’s, Americans wouldn’t believe a new year had arrived. A Kiss at Midnight The custom of kissing loved ones at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve is not only a show of affection but also a kiss of promise that the affection and love will endure throughout the year. A study published in December 2008 showed that more people planned to kiss their pet at midnight than a human friend, and women were four times more likely to spend New Year’s Eve with their pet instead of a significant other. There’s nothing like a date with Fido in front of the fire on a blustery cold wintery night. The Polar Bear Clubs Since 1903, members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club in New York City have sponsored a New Year’s Day “dip” in the freezing cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. About 700 men, women and children are expected to take the plunge this year. The president of the club, Dennis Thomas, spoke with Time magazine and said the activity is a “cathartic and cleansing experience.” All of the stress, pressures of job and family, etc. disappear when one is treading icy waters. Of course, who thinks of anything else when one’s survival is dependent on preventing hypothermia? Bernarr Macfadden, an avid fitness and natural health guru way ahead of his time (1868-1955), founded the Coney Island Polar Bear Club to encourage others to swim in the ocean in the dead of winter to gain stamina, virility and immunity. The Coney Island club also goes for “winter” swims on occasions other than New Year’s. The New Year’s Day plunge brought a lot of attention, and soon other cities were picking up the idea of a mid-winter splash extravaganza. For the last 20 years, the Polar Ice Plunge takes place New Year’s Day in the frigid waters of Lake Minnetonka in one of the coldest states in the U.S. – Minnesota. But before the brave people can even dive in, a chainsaw is used to cut through more than 25 inches of ice on the lake. The air temperature is not pretty – one year, it was 5 degrees, which made the 33-degree water seem like a piece of cake. More than 1,000 people jumped in that year – all made it out alive, but the hairs on their heads turned into icicles. The Tulsa (Oklahoma) Area Trail and Ultra Runners host the Annual Polar Bear Plunge. The daring enthusiasts jump into three different area (unheated) pools. This year is their sixth, and the event garners plenty of onlookers as awards are presented for the hairiest, whiniest, youngest and fastest polar bear. Men have been known to wear women’s bathing suits or dress as Baby New Year. Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland and Seattle are other cities swimming in thin ice when their own resident water warriors start their year doing something completely crazy. New Year’s Resolutions Out with the old and in with the new. It’s not for everyone, but making resolutions is an age-old New Year’s tradition, thought to have started in Babylonia. The Babylonians wanted to wipe the slate clean, so they started a new year by returning borrowed farm equipment. New Year’s Day is equated with a fresh start, and many people resolve to break old habits and develop better ones. According to the United States government, the following resolutions are the most popular year after year (in no particular order).
Issue 531 - 1/2/2012
SNIPPETZ TAKES A POST HOLIDAY LOOK AT RETAIL by Deborah Stumpf Ahhh – the post-holiday blues – or not! Some people breathe a sigh of relief that the holidays have passed, and others actually mourn the end of the season, for whatever reason. But retail personnel have no time for either – they’re still on the defense, rushed by post-holiday sales shoppers and the return of undesirable gifts. Some retail workers had to work on Christmas, like the clerks at Rite Aid and Walgreen’s. The luckier retail workers who had December 25 off were probably exhausted from the grueling hours they put in to ensure everyone else had a merry one. And is 24 hours enough to revive the retail workers who had to greet the post-Christmas crowd on December 26? The good thing: There were jobs available. A Boost The “Philadelphia Business Journal” reported Dec. 5 that the number of November hires this year for the holiday season was the largest since November 2007. According to the consulting firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., retailers added 423,500 hires in November – the largest increase since November 2007 (pre-recession), when 465,400 were hired. Last year, 332,700 retail workers hired on in November. In 2008, only 213,500 retail workers were hired in November. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 economic census showed that a little more than 15 and one-half million people worked in the retail industry in the U.S. at the time. The economic census is completed every five years – due again in 2012. Who’s Hiring
Image Holiday Sales 2010 Did retail workers produce more; work harder this year than last? The numbers aren’t in for Christmas sales for 2011, but the U.S. Census Bureau reported $27.2 billion in sales for the 2010 holiday season.
Have you ever asked a retail sales clerk if he or she gets tired of hearing Christmas music? Many of them will emphatically answer “yes.” It’s not that they hate holiday music, but they listen to it all day and all night long, from Halloween through New Year’s. Well, in 2003, an Austrian trade union determined that playing Christmas carols in department stores on a continuous basis is “psycho-terrorism” for sales people. Gottfried Rieser from the Union of Private Employees said that staff suffers psychologically from repeatedly hearing Christmas music. “They get aggressions and aversions against Christmas music,” he said. “On Christmas Eve with their families, they can’t stand “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” anymore. The union tried to intercede via the legal system but their efforts were unsuccessful. In London in 2008, the Westminster Council ordered a major department store, Debenhams, located on Oxford Street, to stop playing Christmas music broadcast into the street as an accompaniment to its window display. Apparently, there were numerous complaints, calling the blasting of Christmas music “noise pollution.” And check out this year’s Facebook posts to read all the sympathy notes to retail sales clerks in the U.S. regarding the constant play of Christmas music. Bah Humbug! Back Then: Sales Clerks Today: the Rich and Famous A few well-known Americans started their careers in the retail industry. Today, they probably have people shopping for their holiday gifts, but once upon a time they understood first-hand the hustle and bustle of Christmastime in the retail sales industry.
There’s plenty of time to get in on the bargain prices and even stock up for next year’s holiday season. Here’s a look at the best discounts in January.
Issue 532 - 1/9/2012
SNIPPETZ ISN'T SPOOKED OVER FRIDAY THE 13TH by Deborah Stumpf “Fridays will never be the same again.” - Tagline from the film, “Friday the 13th” Brace yourself. There are three Friday the 13th days in 2012: January, April and July. Every year has at least one with a maximum of three. If you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th, you can look forward to clear sailing for the rest of the year once August is upon us. Frigga What? First, let’s start with some word origins. Friggatriskaidekaphobia: Frigga comes from the Norse goddess for whom Friday was named; triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia: Paraskevi is the Greek word meaning Friday; dekatreis is the Greek word for 13. A Package Deal First there came an issue with the number 13. There are various theories about this.
Some people still believe that after any gathering of 13 people, one will die that following year. For a time there were French aristocrats available for hire if your guest list at dinner included only 13 of your closest friends. Hiring the 14th would ensure none of your guests would die soon after. Then there was the day Friday shrouded in bad luck with more theories and myths:
Taken together, the 13th of the month falling on a Friday became a bad deal all around. More “Proof” For those looking for proof, there is always something out there.
Ever been in a car accident, received an unexpected bill in the mail or spilled a glass of milk on Friday the 13th? Then there’s even more proof! Myths and Things You Shouldn’t Do on Friday the 13th
If We Ignore It, Maybe It Will Go Away If there is no use of the number 13, maybe bad luck will go away?
Some Who Tried to Make it Go Away The Thirteen Club, made up of 13 influential New Yorkers, held their first meeting on Friday, Jan. 13, 1881 at 8:13 p.m. after walking under a ladder into a room with spilled salt on the floor. They hoped that their activity and the fact that no one in their group died after dining together would dispel the whole Friday the 13th superstitious theory. Thirteen of these clubs started up around the country over the next 40 years. Of the 400 or so members over the years, five were to be U. S. presidents: Grover Cleveland, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt. They likely enjoyed a lot of laughs together, but their lack of bad luck didn’t put a damper on the superstition. Blood and Gore Galore with Jason Likely the most famous use of Friday the 13th was the movie, its 11 sequels and one remake. The first of this slasher film series was produced by Paramount Pictures in 1980. The star is Jason who once drowned at the scene of summer camp at Crystal Lake. He comes back to take revenge again and again and again … you get the picture. The first film grossed $40 million, enough to pay for all that fake blood through 2009, the year of the remake. If they don’t make a 13th film, maybe we should consider 13 to be a lucky number after all. The names in case you want to rent them:
13 Movies About 13
Warding Off Bad Luck If watching a spooky slasher movie with the number 13 in it or a Scooby-Doo flick doesn’t cure the fear, then there are some other activities that are said to ward off the bad spirits of the day:
Issue 533 - 1/16/2012
SNIPPETZ TAKES A SPIN WITH THE DEEJAYS by Deborah Stumpf 
“Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars”
– Casey Kasem’s weekly signoff as host of “American Top 40” In 1909, Ray Newby from Stockton, Calif., became the first official radio disk jockey to hit the airwaves. Newby, just 16 years old at the time, played DJ on a small spark transmitter. In 1910, radio began using live recordings along with prerecorded sounds. Early radio provided comedy, drama, news, sports – and music. As bars and nightclubs popped up around the country, the DJ came out of the radio closet into the bright lights of dance venues. In 1947, Jimmy Savile was the first DJ to preside over a dance club, playing the latest in jazz classics. Then, the television arrived. During the late 1940s and 1950s, T.V. took over American households. Waning radio audiences prompted today’s radio format of steady streams of music, with short news and sports broadcasts in between. Many people know a DJ from the radio – but many DJs are in clubs – and just as many are masters of electronic music. Deejay The Deejay/DJ is categorized into four basic areas.
Colorado DJ Fame Denver DJ Chris Karns – also known as DJ Vajra – won the title “greatest DJ in the world” at the DMC World DJ Championship in London last October. The DMC championship is the premier competition for DJs worldwide. Vajra – which means “lightning” in Sanskrit – mastered the art of scratching, which is a turntable technique that requires moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating other equipment used by DJs. The end result is a mix of distinctive sounds. Famous DJs Past and Present The following DJs led the way for Karns and others.
America’s Top 40 Casey Kasem is another god of radio, best known as the host of “American Top 40,” which debuted July 4, 1970, on seven radio stations. The show became one of the most popular syndicated radio shows in the country and eventually around the world. By 1986, more than 1,000 radio stations in 50 countries, including the Armed Forces Radio and Voice of America, featured Kasem’s show. The top 40 spawned a T.V. show, “America’s Top 10,” which Kasem hosted from 1980 through 1990. Kasem retired in 2004 from “America’s Top 40,” and Ryan Seacrest replaced him. But Kasem, now in his mid-70s, continues in the business as the producer of “American Top 20” and “American Top 10” for Premiere Radio Networks. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992. Today’s Top DJs Launched in 2006, DJ Pioneer-sponsored ABDJ (America’s Best DJ) is an online voting system to determine America’s most popular DJ. Each year, “DJ Times,” an international magazine for mobile and club DJs, nominates 100 DJs nationwide; fans vote for their favorites from May 27 to Sept. 5. The top five DJs are not the traditional record-spinning radio DJ. These top five DJs are from the electronic music genre.
Issue 534 - 1/23/2012
SNIPPETZ SAYS HAVE A SLICE OF LIFE WITH A SLICE OF PIE by Deborah Stumpf “When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmmmmmmm, boy.” - Jack Handy, American Writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live Pie in the sky, eat humble pie, as easy as pie – no matter how you slice it, pie is an American staple. We love our pie so much that we use the word in our terms of endearment. Right, sweetie pie? And it hasn’t been all about sweets. Way back when the pie began, it was usually a savory concoction made without sugar. As American as Apple Pie – Not! We like to think of our pie as all American but the English settlers brought the pie to the Americas with them, mainly meat pies. It then changed over time based on available ingredients. Sweet pies, known as galettes, have been traced back as far as 9500 B.C. to the ancient Egyptians during the New Stone Age. Their dough was made from wheat, rye, barley and oats filled with honey and baked over a coal fire. From then the pharaohs stuffed bread dough with nuts and fruits. Historians believe the Greeks could be credited with the first pie crust, which was a mixture of flour and water used to wrap around different meats and baked. In Medieval England, pie recipes refer to the crust as coffyns, meaning basket or box. Pies without a top crust were called traps. These coffyns were constructed out of flour and water and served as a vessel to hold the ingredients while baking, as well as a carrier and preserver. The fillings were typically meat. Fly By Pie During the 13th through 17th centuries, Europeans became very creative with their “pyes.” Pies stuffed with living, breathing animals and even people were used for entertainment at banquets for the wealthy and noble. Once cutting into the large pie, birds would often fly out, as well as minstrels, dwarfs, dancers and acrobats to the amazement and delight of the guests. The nursery rhyme, “Sing a Song of Sixpence” apparently was based on real life rather than someone’s active imagination. “When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing. Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?” If you’d like to make one of these, here’s one of the original recipes taken from “Epulario (The Italian Banquet),” published in 1598: To Make Pie That the Birds May Be Alive In them and Flie Out When It Is Cut Up - Make the coffin of a great pie or pastry, in the bottome thereof make a hole as big as your fist, or bigger if you will, let the sides of the coffin bee somwhat higher then ordinary pies, which done put it full of flower and bake it, and being baked, open the hole in the bottome, and take out the flower. Then having a pie of the bigness of the hole in the bottome of the coffin aforesaid, you shal put it into the coffin, withall put into the said coffin round about the aforesaid pie as many small live birds as the empty coffin will hold, besides the pie aforesaid. And this is to be at such time as you send the pie to the table, and set before the guests: where uncovering or cutting up the lid of the great pie, all the birds will flie out, which is to delight and pleasure shew to the company. And because they shall not bee altogether mocked, you shall cut open the small pie, and in this sort you may make many others, the like you may do with a tart. Alas…The American Pie Fast forward to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. English pies were very often meat pies either called shepherd’s pie (veal and vegetables) or cottage pie (beef and vegetables). Mashed potatoes form the top crust of these pies. Pilgrims brought the British meat pies with them to America, but adapted quickly to the ingredients available in the New World, e.g. berries and other fruits. Pies quickly became a staple served at almost every meal as well as advancing to county fair contests and any celebration involving food. Mark Twain was quite fond of the American pie and was not shy about his contempt of the English pie and European food in general. His take on the English pie can best be summed up in his rendition of an English pie recipe: “To make this excellent breakfast dish, proceed as follows: Take a sufficiency of water and a sufficiency of flour, and construct a bullet-proof dough. Work this into the form of a disk, with the edges turned up some three-fourths of an inch. Toughen and kiln-dry in a couple days in a mild but unvarying temperature. Construct a cover for this redoubt in the same way and of the same material. Fill with stewed dried apples; aggravate with cloves, lemon-peel, and slabs of citron; add two portions of New Orleans sugars, then solder on the lid and set in a safe place till it petrifies. Serve cold at breakfast and invite your enemy.” Martha Washington, the first of our first ladies, was known as an accomplished cook. She would often make President George Washington one of his favorite pies: Pie of Sweetbreads. She refers to the crust as “paste” in her recipe. The pie is composed of a layering of sweetbreads and oysters with a sauce made of butter, flour, cream and eggs. A bit of an artery clogger. James Buchanan Brady (1856–1917), also known as “Diamond Jim” Brady, a financier and philanthropist, was known for gluttony and had a particular liking for pie. He made his fortune in sales, was generous with his wealth and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. He could easily finish off several whole pies after a meal. Rumor has it that he would start the meal sitting 6 inches from the edge of the table and would only stop eating when his stomach hit the edge of the table to the point of discomfort. He was “the best 25 customers I ever had,” said Charles Rector, owner of Rector’s Restaurant in New York. Pie in the Face Getting a pie in the face, or pie-ing, didn’t originate with Rupert Murdoch’s recent run-in with activist Jonnie Marbles during testimony before Britain Parliament for Murdoch’s News Corp’s phone-hacking scandal. The first pie-to-face contact appeared in the movie “Mr. Flip” in 1909 when Ben Turpin was the recipient for the sake of good comedy. People have also gotten pie-ed for their politics and when someone just wants to make a statement. Folks like Microsoft’s Bill Gates and “family values” activist Anita Bryant have experienced the pleasure of a pie in the face. Jeffrey Skilling, Enron’s CEO got to eat pie in this manner during a trip to San Francisco in 2001 – a clear message delivered for his involvement in fraud and general corporate corruption. He was later convicted of multiple felonies in 2006. Francine Cavanaugh, a documentary filmmaker, did the honors with a tofu cream pie. She was arrested for the assault but charges were dropped. Soupy Pie Although the Three Stooges were famous for their pie-in-the-face comedy shtick, comedian Soupy Sales may likely be credited for bringing pie-ing to its peak of popularity. Sales started his career as a reporter in radio and soon moved to a job as radio DJ. Eventually, he launched into the television world and was slapped in the face with his first pie in 1951 while hosting a children’s show. He made many more stops along the way, but eventually starred in “The Soupy Sales Show” beginning in 1964, where he brought pie-ing to an art form. His many guests weren’t excused from receiving a pie in the face including the likes of Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine. Sales came full circle, eventually returning to radio as a DJ in 1985. In an interview that year, he stated, "I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right.” He died in 2009 at the age of 83. We Sing About Them, Too
Issue 535 - 1/30/2012
SNIPPETZ TRULY BELIEVES WISHES DO COME TRUE! by Deborah Stumpf “Dad, I’m having so much fun I can’t stand it.” -Brittany, 5 “No matter if I don’t know you, but I can feel your love.” -Evelyn, 11 (Disney World wish) “You made a very difficult time in our lives tolerable and hopeful. Because of your work you demonstrate the beauty that still exists in humanity.” -Rachel’s parents Seven-year-old Christopher Greicius wanted to be a police officer his entire young life. Chris was in treatment for leukemia, but nothing deterred him from talking every day about his future as a cop. In April 1980, Chris’s health had worsened, and U.S. Customs Officer Tommy Austin, a friend of Chris and his family, decided to help Chris realize his dream. On April 29, employees from the Arizona Department of Public Safety invited Chris on a helicopter ride around the city. The tour ended with the helicopter landing at department headquarters; three police cruisers and one motorcycle officer were there to welcome Chris. That day, the command staff swore Chris in as the first-ever honorary DPS patrolman in Arizona. Meanwhile, officers had found a store owner and seamstress to make a uniform just for Chris. They presented the uniform to Chris on May 1, along with motorcycle wings (earned after he passed a test on a battery-operated motorcycle). On May 2, Chris was admitted to the hospital, with his uniform and motorcycle helmet arranged in the room so he could always see them. On May 3, Chris died, but little did he know that his story would inspire his mother and others to create a worldwide foundation dedicated to granting wishes to ill children. Frank Shankwitz, Linda Bergendahl–Pauling (mother of Chris) and Scott Stahl founded the Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Foundation – eventually renamed the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Today, the foundation is the largest wish-granting organization in the world. The Foundation Children between age 2½ and 18 who have not received a wish from another organization are eligible and referred by medical professionals, parents and other adults to the foundation. The child must be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, which the foundation classifies as a “progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.” The treating physician helps determine eligibility. Once determined eligible, the “wish team” visits the child to determine an experience that best meets their “one true wish.” Seventy percent of the revenue the foundation receives goes toward program services. In 2010 (year ending Aug. 31):
The Wishes A kid’s imagination and dreams are alive and unspoiled, no matter his or her illness. Their wishes have included a smattering of everything, from being part of a “Wheel of Fortune” audience to a trip to Wonderland with Alice to going on a cruise or a safari. Some ask to see snow or a beach for the first time. Animal lovers want to swim with dolphins or ride a horse; one little girl wanted to be a zookeeper for a day. There are a never ending number of stories, all representing the organization’s mission to “enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” As a little guy, 6-year-old Jesus loved to play a Mexican cowboy – a charro. He often used the garden hose as his lasso. Jesus eventually received a real lasso as a gift and became adept at his sport. He had hopes of using his skills and love of horses for a life as a charro. But Jesus was diagnosed a few years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood generated in the bone marrow. His family referred him to the Colorado Make-A-Wish Foundation, and one day in September Jesus was escorted to the National Western Complex in Denver via a limousine. During performances by professional charros; Jesus, dressed in traditional charro clothing, joined the charros and wowed the crowd with his own roping skills. Jesus was then lifted onto a horse “worthy of a charro.” To the youngster’s overwhelming delight, he was told the horse was now his. During his treatment for leukemia, Ben’s physician suggested that he visualize his body healing. So Ben imagined his chemotherapy treatments as a Pac Man video game, eating the cancer cells. When he was just 9 years old, he wanted to design a computer game to help other kids get through their cancer treatments. The Greater Bay Area (San Francisco) Make-A-Wish Foundation researched game companies and were told it would take millions of dollars and a few years to grant Ben his wish. However, LucasArts and employee/engineer Eric Johnston stepped up to the plate. Johnston wanted to involve Ben in the process; they met on a regular basis to create the video game. With the help of the University of California at San Francisco and its medical team and Ben’s physician, Dr. Seymour Zoger, who served as medical advisor for the game, Ben’s wish came true. The game was launched through the Make-A-Wish Foundation Web site in 2004. The press picked up the story worldwide, and Ben and Eric’s game has been translated into nine languages. The game is available to download at no charge in PC and MAC format. Because of their selfless commitment, both Ben and Eric Johnston were honored as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion” by the Dalai Lama in 2005. Ben has since received a bone marrow transplant and is doing well. Recipients Give Back Many people believe the foundation only grants wishes to terminally ill children. The good news is that many of the foundation’s kids have grown up to lead healthy lives. Alex was at his lowest point in his illness as a senior in high school. Referred to the foundation, he wanted to be the chief executive officer of General Motors for one day so he could share his own designs with engineers. He spent the entire day at GM with the CEO, and was introduced to Kettering University, the former GM institute. Alex is now in remission, and today he is working on a master’s degree in bio engineering at Kettering University while employed at GM. His goal is to help “engineer” breakthroughs in medicine. Stacie, at age 11, wished for a vacation in Florida with her family. She especially enjoyed Universal Studios and going to the beach. Stacie had a rare form of leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Her older sister was a perfect match and since Stacie received the transplant in 1992, she has been in remission. Today, Stacie is age 27 and a child-life specialist at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Ky., – helping other children through their own illnesses. At age 16, Jonathan had just gone through his last chemotherapy treatment before he realized his wish to play golf with Chi Chi Rodriguez. During the golf game, Rodriguez inspired Jonathan when he told him he could do and be anything he wanted to in life. Jonathan has been in remission 15 years; and, although doctors told him that he would never father a child because of the amount of chemo he received, Jonathan is happily married and the proud dad of a son and daughter. He is also the outreach director for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in San Antonio, Texas. Torrie is another former wish recipient employed as an outreach coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Orange County and the Inland Empire, Calif. Torrie was an avid soccer player when she was diagnosed with cancer. At age 14, the foundation granted her wish to meet Mia Hamm and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team. The team presented Torrie with her own jersey. Two years later, Torrie was diagnosed with another form of uterine cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy; Torrie has been cancer free for five years. She said it is “impossible” to describe the look on a child’s face when a wish has been granted, which is why she “can’t imagine working anywhere else.” Celebrities for Make-A-Wish Many celebrities have given their time and money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Colorado’s own football icon John Elway is among them. Comedian George Lopez is another supporter who has been granting wishes for years. He also received the foundation’s Chris Greicius Celebrity Award. A couple of years ago, Lopez granted a California teenager, Isaiah, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, his wish: to meet the comedian. Because of Isaiah’s failing health, the request was what the foundation refers to as a “rush wish.” On short notice, Lopez drove from Santa Ana, Calif., to Isaiah’s home in Orange County, Calif., on Easter Sunday and spent the afternoon with Isaiah and his family. Isaiah died shortly after the visit. Basketball great Michael Jordan is one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s most-requested celebrities. Jordan, who has granted at least 200 wishes to foundation kids, is also its “Chief Wish Ambassador” and national spokesman. “I’ve seen over and over how the Make-A-Wish Foundation brings happiness and positively impacts a child’s life with an unforgettable wish experience,” Jordan said. “Through our charitable efforts, more children will see their wishes come true.” Issue 536 - 2/6/2012
SNIPPETZ REMEMBERS THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED by Deborah Stumpf A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile. And, I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance, and maybe they’d be happy for awhile. But, February made me shiver with every paper I’d deliver. Bad news on the doorstep – I couldn’t take one more step. I can’t remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride. Something touched me deep inside the day the music died. Don McLean wrote those lyrics to “American Pie” as a tribute to the untimely deaths of three of America’s rock ‘n’ roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson). On Feb. 3, 1959, in the early morning hours, a three-passenger plane went down near Clear Lake, Iowa, ending the short lives of Holly, age 22; Valens, age 17; and Richardson, age 28 – and pilot Roger Peterson. The night before the crash, the three rock ‘n’ roll stars had performed in Clear Lake for two sold-out shows. Earlier that night, Holly, tired of his tour bus breaking down, chartered an airplane to fly him to the next show in Minnesota, and invited his musician companions. Waylon Jennings, Holly’s bass player, had decided to fly with Holly but gave up his seat to The Big Bopper (“Chantilly Lace”) because the latter had a cold. Holly’s guitarist, Tommy Allsup, flipped a coin with Richie Valens (“La Bamba”) for the other seat. Valens won. Peterson was tired from working 17 hours that day, but he couldn’t resist the chance to mingle with Holly. They boarded the single-engine plane about 12:30 a.m. as their fans screamed and waved good-bye from the tarmac. Snow was blowing across the runway, but Peterson received clearance to take off. Two weather advisories had indicated an oncoming blizzard, but Peterson was never told about it. Their plane was in the sky for only a few minutes when it went down, plowing into a nearby cornfield at more than 170 mph. The plane flipped over, tossing the passengers into the air. Their bodies were found yards away from the wreckage. Because of the snowstorm, no one could reach them until morning – 10 hours after the crash. Holly’s mother in Texas and his pregnant wife in Greenwich Village, NY, heard the news on radio and television. Holly’s wife miscarried the following day. Shortly after, the authorities adopted a policy that no victim’s name would be released before the families had been notified. Holly Charles Hardin Holly was born in Lubbock, Texas, in 1938. His parents encouraged music lessons for Holly and his three siblings. At age 5, Holly and his brothers entered a talent show and won $5 singing “Down the River of Memories.” The experience marked the beginning of a monumental – albeit short – ride in music. When Elvis Presley died, 25,000 people gathered outside Graceland in the heat of the summer to mourn his death. When John Lennon died, a million people gathered in Central Park, NY, for a vigil. More than 31 million people watched Michael Jackson’s funeral on T.V. Holly’s death didn’t draw that kind of fanfare, but his influence on the rock ‘n’ roll era was unquestionable. Fresh out of high school, Holly opened for Elvis Presley in 1955, and his style influenced other music legends: the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead; Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello. Holly wrote his material and his songs ranged from country to rhythm and blues to rockabilly to rock ‘n’ roll. Holly died in 1959; never knowing the impact he would have on the next decade’s rock ‘n’ roll epoch. The Music Died with Plane Crashes Besides Holly, the Big Bopper and Valens, many musicians lost their lives over the years in plane crashes.
The “27” Club It’s not a club that would entice membership – it’s a conceptual club that exists because many famous musicians have died at the age of 27. The club concept started with the deaths of Janis Joplin (1970), Jim Morrison of the “Doors” (1971), Jimi Hendrix (1970) and Brian Jones (1969) – all age 27 when they died. With the exception of Morrison, the others died as a result of drugs and alcohol. Morrison’s official cause of death was heart failure, but they say most likely induced by an overdose of heroin. Others have since joined the club. At age 27, Kurt Cobain of “Nirvana” shot himself while under the influence of drugs in 1994, and 27-year-old Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning in 2011. The “British Medical Journal” published a study in December concluding that the deaths of famed musicians at the age of 27 were all coincidental. Their lifestyles, however, coincided with their early demise. In the words of Jimi Hendrix: “I’m the one that has to die when it’s time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to.” Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye … singing, This’ll be the day that I died. Issue 537 - 2/13/2012
SNIPPETZ RESURRECTS SOME OLD WEST HEROES by Deborah Stumpf 
"Whenever you get into a row be sure and not shoot too quick. Take time. I’ve known many a feller slip up for shootin’ in a hurry.”
- Wild Bill Hickok There’s nothing like the good old days, especially those from the Wild West! They are full of adventure, gunfights, good guys and bad guys. The Wild West is indeed glamourized in books, movies and television where tall tales and even a few facts abound. We’ve selected just a couple of the notorious men and one woman of the west and their exploits to highlight. Buffalo Bill Born in 1846 in Scott County, Iowa, William Frederick Cody, aka Buffalo Bill was a man of many careers. He was a U.S. Army scout, a buffalo hunter, Indian fighter and eventually an actor/performer. But first he worked as a messenger in Kansas for a wagon-freight company that eventually financed the Pony Express. His father died when he was 11, precipitating his early entry into the life of a hunter, horse wrangler and Indian fighter. He served in the Civil war from 1861 to 1865 and then worked for the U.S. Army as a civilian scout and dispatch bearer. Cody earned his nickname as Buffalo Bill when he hunted and slaughtered more than 4,000 buffalo between 1867 and 1868 in order to feed Union Pacific Railroad construction crews. From 1868 to 1876, he was a valuable guide and scout for the U.S. 5th Cavalry during the government’s attack on the Indians in the west. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts in 1872, which was soon revoked once it was determined that he was indeed a civilian; only officers or enlisted men in the army were eligible for the award. The U.S. Army eventually restored the Medal of Honor posthumously to Cody in 1989. But Cody’s Medal of Honor was probably not what catapulted him into Western folk hero status, but rather his entry into stardom. Author Ned Buntline recruited Cody for his “The Scouts of the Prairie” drama in 1872. Cody proved to be a true showman and in 1883 produced the Wild West Show, an exhibition that featured Cody himself with “fancy” shooting, buffalo hunting, cowboys, Indians and the Pony Express ride. Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane and Chief Sitting Bull were known to make appearances on the show. Cody made and lost more than one fortune. He was not known to be good with his money. He was still performing two months before his death in 1917. He died in Denver, Colo. and is buried on Lookout Mountain. Buffalo Bill Snippetz:
Calamity Jane Martha Jane “Calamity Jane” Cannary was born in 1852 in Princeton, Mo. She was a rather colorful person with a reputation for a lifestyle full of adventure and not exactly clean living. It all began when her family made the five-month journey from Missouri to Virginia City, Mont. in 1865. Her mother died during the trip and her father died about a year later. Jane was the oldest of six children and consequently took charge, moving the family to Wyoming. As the provider, she found herself hanging out with the men, hunting and traversing the west. She was known as someone who enjoyed the taste of whiskey and could “cuss like a man” by the ripe old age of 13. There is a great amount of disparity between Jane’s autobiography and what has been written about her by biographers and historians. For example, she reports joining General George Custer in Arizona for the “Indian Campaign.” There is no historical evidence that Custer was indeed there. She does state that at this time she begins to dress like a man. That part appears true and well documented. She reports many dangerous missions as a scout locating Indians and as a Pony Express rider carrying mail. Some historians report no such adventures; instead a life of prostitution and alcoholism. She did act in some vaudeville shows and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show; however, she would reportedly get drunk and take to shooting up the theater or saloons she would frequent. After recovering from a serious illness in 1875, Jane went to Fort Laramie where she met Wild Bill Hickok. She reports marrying Wild Bill, but it is documented that he married Agnes Lake Thatcher. She also reports gold mining with Wild Bill in Deadwood, where he was killed. Jane continued to gold mine after his death. It is reported that she eventually married Texan Clinton Burk and possibly others. Court records note her more unlawful cohabitation practices. Yes, those were part of court records at the time. It is also reported that she had a daughter given up for adoption. She died in August of 1903 in South Dakota and is buried next to the love of her life, Wild Bill Hickok. Calamity Jane reportedly had a soft spot: During a smallpox outbreak in Deadwood, Jane apparently cared for the afflicted when others wouldn’t. She opened and ran a wayside inn in Yellow Stone, Wyo. for about a year where weary travelers could stop to be fed. Wild Bill Hickok James Butler Hickok was born in 1837 in Troy Grove, Ill. He was known as a scout, lawman, gunfighter and actor. His acting prowess was short-lived in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. He received most of his notoriety from his skills as a marksman. During the Civil War he worked for the Union Army as a scout, a spy and a marshal. The “Bill” came from an alias he used during the Civil War: William Haycock. He possessed a protruding upper lip, causing many to call him “Duck Bill.” Once he grew a mustache, he started referring to himself as “Wild Bill.” The name stuck even though he went back to using his real name after the war. He also served as a scout for George Custer during the Indian Wars. Hickok became a well-known marshal and lawman, particularly in Hays City, Kansas and as sheriff of Ellis County, followed by marshal in Abilene. His gun fighting skills served him well in these jobs and he became well respected and feared. He was relieved of his duties after an accidental shooting of Special Deputy Marshal Mike Williams. Depending on which report you read, anywhere between 50 and 200 drunken cowboys on a mission to kill Hickok for Phil Coe, saloon owner, initiated a shootout one day. When Williams turned a dark corner to come to Hickok’s rescue, Hickok shot and killed him, not realizing who he was. After Williams’ death, Hickok tried his hand at acting, then did some gold mining where he met Calamity Jane. His health was declining, most notably affecting his eyesight with possible glaucoma or trachoma. He also made a decent living from gambling, which turned out to be the scene of his demise. One night while playing poker in Deadwood, Jack McCall walked into the saloon and shot Hickok in the back of his head, killing him on the spot. A motive for the murder was never confirmed, although it may have had something to do with a gambling incident the day before when McCall lost his money and Hickok offered to give him breakfast money. McCall claimed in trial that he was avenging the death of his brother by a lawman from Abilene, name unknown but assumed to be Hickok. McCall was acquitted after this trial, but was brought back to trial after bragging about the murder. He was then found guilty and subsequently hung. Wild Bill Snippetz:
Issue 538 - 2/20/2012
SNIPPETZ PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY by Deborah Stumpf 
"First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting … [C]orrect throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his [public] virtues … Such was the man for whom our nation mourns."
-Congressman Henry Lee, on behalf of Congress in a memorial address of George Washington “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” - George Washington There is no other name in American history that conjures up the feeling of patriotism like George Washington. He was a military hero and our first president, but is probably most known by the quality of his character. He was a man of integrity, honor, passion, great courage and humility who believed in justice, freedom for all and his country. Everything about Washington’s life has been written over the centuries, and likely many tried to dig up a little something unsavory from his past. But there just isn’t any. He truly was everything he seemed to be and more. Washington was born on Feb. 11, 1732, during the time the Julian calendar was in effect. When the Gregorian calendar came into effect in 1752, his birthday became Feb. 22, the same that we continue to celebrate in his honor to this day. However, Washington always celebrated his birthday on Feb. 11. He was born to Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington in Wakefield, Westmoreland County, Va., one of 10 children and two half-brothers. His father died when he was 11. He was an imposing figure at 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing over 200 pounds. Washington married widow Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759 and became the father of two stepchildren – John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis. He also had two step grandchildren – Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Park Custis. George and Martha never had biological children from their marriage. He had a distinguished five-year tour (1753-1758) of military service, acquiring the rank of colonel in the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. After he resigned his commission, he returned to being a plantation owner and was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses where he served for 15 years. He reported back to military service at the start of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. He immediately was commissioned to be the commander in chief of the Continental Army. Washington only lived three years after leaving the presidency, dying at the age of 67 of a throat infection on Dec. 14, 1799. The entire country mourned the loss of this revered man. Becoming President and Shaping the Constitution After the American Revolution, the urge to retire and homestead on his land became a more distant dream – there was more important work to be done. The 13 colonies needed him to unite them and grow the country. He presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787 where the U.S. Constitution was drafted and ratified. He was unanimously elected as the country’s first president under this Constitution and served from 1789 to 1796. The U.S. constitution is the oldest written constitution in existence. There is no doubt that it was crafted to envelope the vision as well as the virtues of George Washington. Not Too Hip on War and Politics Washington was born and worked in a planter family. Just before the American Revolution, he served in the Virginia House of Burgesses as well as operating his lands near Mount Vernon. He became unhappy with British regulations, but did not agree with the Boston Tea Party action. He was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in May 1775; and although he had a keen interest and excelled in the military arts, he preferred peaceful means to resolve problems, preferring to harass the British. He told Congress: “We should on all occasions avoid a general action, or put anything to the risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn." Washington was never part of any political party and expressed disappointment that two parties were beginning to develop by the end of the first of his two four-year terms as president. In his famous Farewell Address of Sept. 7, 1796, he urged moving away from “excessive party spirit,” geographic distinctions and long-term foreign alliances. He said, “The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.” First and/or Only When you are the first president, there seem to be many more firsts or “only’s” associated with that honor and Washington took them seriously as he declared in his letter to James Madison: "As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles." Here are a few.
About Martha Washington Just as George Washington was setting the precedent for future presidents, his wife was setting her own precedent for future first ladies. She was none too happy about leaving her home in Mount Vernon where she enjoyed the lifestyle that included spending lots of time with her children and grandchildren. As the first first lady, her every move was watched. You could say she may have started one of the first networking groups, as she opened the president’s home every week to visitors who wished to come by on a Friday night. They were served refreshments and engaged in conversation. Although she had her critics who said her receptions smacked of something British royalty might partake of, many admired and respected her. As expected, Martha was more than happy to move back to Mount Vernon after two terms. As was her husband, she was unhappy with partisan politics and was happy to live out her days on the land. A Few More Snippetz
The Cherry Tree Tales We learned it in elementary school - George Washington chopped down a cherry tree as a child and proclaimed, “I cannot tell a lie.” It’s a great story, but completely fabricated by Parson Mason Locke Weems who wrote two books about Washington, published in 1800 and 1806. Respect of the World Washington was respected beyond the shores of America. Upon his death, the editor of the Morning Chronicle in London wrote, "The whole range of history does not present to our view a character upon which we can dwell with such entire and unmixed admiration. The long life of General Washington is not stained by a single blot … His fame, bounded by no country, will be confined to no age." Among the many, Napolean also delivered a eulogy for him at the Temple of Mars. Besides naming the capital city of our country after Washington, there are numerous cities, towns, bridges, colleges and universities bearing his prestigious name. There are also many places outside of the U.S. that use the Washington name.
Issue 539 - 2/27/2012
SNIPPETZ TAKES A GIANT LEAP IN 2012 by Deborah Stumpf “Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; all the rest have 31, excepting February alone, which hath but 28, in fine, ‘til leap year gives it 29.” -Old English saying It takes Earth “about” 365.242199 days to circle once around the sun. The Gregorian calendar has just 365 days in one year, so adding a day in February (the 29th) almost every four years negates a yearly loss of six hours from the calendar. For example, after 100 years, the calendar would be missing 24 days. The number 365.242199 translates to 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds; thus, the reason for an approximation. The Romans were the first to designate Feb. 29 as leap day. In the 16th century, the four-year formula for leap year was officially adopted. Leap years follow three rules:
In OTHER words, a leap year is every four years but not every 100 years but then again every 400 years. Got that? The last leap year was 2008, and the next is 2116. The longest years between leap years was from 1896 to 1904; the next longest will occur between 2096 and 2104. A Lucky Day for Christopher Columbus Leap year could have saved Christopher Columbus from death by starvation. When his ship wrecked and stranded Columbus and his crew for months on the island of Jamaica, the natives supplied them with food and other provisions. But Columbus became overbearing and arrogant, and the natives stopped providing food on Feb. 29, 1504. When Columbus realized (from reading the ship’s almanac) that a lunar eclipse was about to appear, he called the native chiefs together and told them God would punish them if they did not supply him and his crew with food. There would be a sign in the sky confirming God’s intent – the darkening of the moon. When the lunar eclipse started, Columbus disappeared into his cabin. The natives panicked at the sight of the darkening moon and begged Columbus to make the shadows go away. After an hour, Columbus came out of his cabin and told the natives if they would again supply food to him and his crew, he would ask God to “restore” the moon. The natives agreed; and, in a few minutes, the shadow on the moon disappeared. The natives believed Columbus had immense power and continued to supply all the food and goods needed until Columbus and his crew were rescued in June that same year. The Leap to Feminism Before leap year was recognized as part of English law, Feb. 29 was thought of as a day void of legal boundaries and traditions. In England, crimes were not recognized as such on Feb. 29, and marriage traditions gave way to early feminism. Because it was an extra day with no real status, Scotland adopted a law that allowed a woman to propose marriage to a man on Feb. 29. If the man said “no” he could be fined and forced to buy presents like a silk gown for the woman he rejected. One “tall tale” that supposedly prompted the law that allows women to ask for a man’s hand in marriage one day every four years involved two saints: St. Patrick and St. Bridget. According to folklore, St. Bridget went to St. Patrick, protesting, on behalf of women, the tradition that women had to wait for men to propose marriage. After pondering the issue, St. Patrick offered a solution to St. Bridget. Women would be granted a special day every seven years to propose to a man. St. Bridget negotiated with St. Patrick and the two settled on a day every four years – leap years and leap day. It happened to be a leap year when they agreed on the law, so supposedly St. Bridget immediately got down on one knee and proposed to St. Patrick. He refused but gave her a silk gown to ease the pain of rejection. Today, some people believe that marrying during a leap year brings bad luck to a couple. However, others think marrying in a leap year will bring them good luck! Speaking of … Feb. 29 Babies Leap year babies have a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to birthdays. They only have one every four years, but most celebrate their birthdays outside of leap years on Feb. 28 or March 1. However, staying the same age for four years has its advantages – especially as they approach the dreaded birthdays like 40 or 50! Astrologers also believe that people born Feb. 29 – under the sign of Pisces – have unique personalities, unusual talents and a high status in society. Famous leap year babies
Some parents even named their babies born Feb. 29 in honor of leap year.
Two families have the distinction of having more than one leap year baby. Mrs. Karin Henriksen of Andenes, Norway, gave birth to three children on Feb. 29 in consecutive leap years. Daughter Heidi was born in 1960; son, Olav, in 1964; and son, Leif-Martin, in 1968. The Keogh family holds the Guinness Book of Records for the only family producing three consecutive generations of leap year babies. Peter Anthony Keogh was born in Ireland Feb. 29, 1940; his son Peter Eric was born in the United Kingdom Feb. 29, 1964; and Peter Eric’s daughter, Bethany Wealth, was born in the UK Feb. 29, 1996. In Celebration of Leap Year Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California will be open for an entire 24 hours starting Feb. 29 at 6 a.m. Their leap year celebration is called “One More Disney Day.” For parents: extended hours to deplete the bank account. Anthony, Texas, has been officially dubbed the “Leap Capital of the World” by Texas and New Mexico governors (New Mexico has its own city of Anthony, bordering Anthony, Texas) because of the annual Worldwide Leap Year Festival, which started in 1988 and ended in 2011. Unfortunately, the chamber of commerce in Anthony decided to call off the festivals beginning this year, citing a lack of financing and personnel. The mayor of Anthony, Texas, has asked the city of Anthony to take over the festival but they haven’t yet made the leap. “Leapers” – people born Feb. 29 – are upset about the chamber’s decision. The event brought leapers from all over the country. They gathered in Anthony to celebrate their birthdays with parades, dinners and activities like balloon rides. In 1992, one man brought his 104-year-old mother, also born Feb. 29. It all started when leapers Mary Ann Brown and her neighbor, Birdie Lewis, asked the chamber to sponsor a leap year festival. They thought the festival would bring recognition to the small town, while raising funds for the community. Festival supporters are still hoping that some organization will take a leap of faith and restore the celebration in time for Feb. 29, 2012. This year Leap year provides an extra day for all of us, so for those of us who work, shouldn’t we have a day off? Or, if we have to work, what about overtime? Something to think about this Feb. 29. |
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