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Issue 540 - 3/5/2012
SNIPPETZ IS NOT THE FIRST TO HONOR OUR FIRST LADIES by Deborah Stumpf “A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. “ - Eleanor Roosevelt Talk about a tough job, what about that as First Lady of the United States? These ladies are brought into public life by their husbands and have high expectations placed upon them. From the first First Ladies to our recent wives of presidents, these women run the social calendar and act as the official hostess of the White House and its events, not to mention raise children and provide support to their husbands. It’s practically a thankless job. According to Barbara Bush, ““The First Lady is going to be criticized no matter what she does. If she does too little. If she does too much. And I think you just have to be yourself and do the best you can. And so what? That’s the way it is.” Job Description First and foremost, the First Lady is the hostess of the White House, responsible for ceremonial and social events and is an official branch of the Executive Office of the President, although not elected to her position. At least she doesn’t have to do it alone as she is assigned a staff to assist her. The First Lady also accompanies the President or attends in place of him at social and ceremonial events outside of the White House and the country. She receives no pay for her work as the social coordinator nor for any other cause she may work for while her husband is in office. That’s dedication. The Title In the days of the first presidents, there was no official title for First Ladies. Typically, the wife of the president had a preference for how she liked to be addressed. Martha Washington (pictured above), the first First Lady, was referred to as Lady Washington. Some used Mrs. President or Mrs. Presidentress. Dolley Madison (1768-1849) may have been the first to be referred to as First Lady. There are stories circulating that when President Zachary Taylor delivered her eulogy he used this title. However, there is no known written record of that eulogy. In 1863, there was a diary entry of William Howard Russel who spoke of Mary Todd Lincoln as the First Lady of the Land. In 1877, Lucy Webb Hayes was referred by the same in a newspaper article about the inauguration of her husband, Rutherford B. Hayes. By the 1900s, the term was more widespread and shortened to First Lady. Eventually, other countries around the globe used the title as well. Many First Ladies didn’t particularly like the title First Lady and many didn’t much like being a First Lady. Whether they loved the job or not, First Ladies have made an impact – some small, some big – but all notable. Some Like It, Some Don’t
Most First Ladies took up causes while their husbands served as president. Early on, Mary Todd Lincoln visited wounded soldiers during the Civil War, and Edith Roosevelt sewed in a needlework club that provided clothing for the needy. There was Abigail Adams who championed women’s rights, followed by Louisa Adams, Caroline Harrison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford. Eleanor Roosevelt was also a vocal civil rights activist and helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She led in the formation of the United Nations and was the first chairwoman of its Human Rights Commission. Lucy Hayes was one of the leaders of the temperance movement; Lady Bird Johnson was an environmentalist; Ellen Wilson took up the cause for better urban housing; Rosalyn Carter established a council on mental health; Nancy Reagan started the “Just Say No” campaign to fight drug and alcohol addiction in children; both Barbara and Laura Bush worked on increasing literacy. Other Interesting Snippetz
The Firsts of the First Ladies
Issue 541 - 3/12/2012
SNIPPETZ PARTAKES IN CULINARY DELIGHT by Deborah Stumpf “The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook” - Julia Child A tarte tatin by Julia Child is as much of an art piece to a chef as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci is to an artist of realism. Cooking has become a true art form and an exalted style of entertainment. However, unlike the subjective allure of a painting, a chef/artist’s masterpiece must not only please the eye of the beholder but also gratify the palate of the food connoisseur. The art of preparing and cooking food is called culinary art, and the culinarian – or chef – is well-versed in the science of food, including diet and nutrition. At one time, student chefs learned from experienced chefs, but the introduction of cooking schools added a new flavor. American culinary arts schools began turning out graduates whose penchant for food led to careers as bona fide chefs. The History of the Art In 1879, the Boston Cooking School opened – the first organized school to teach the culinary arts. Along with cooking and baking techniques and household management, the school curriculum included food sciences like nutrition, sanitation and the chemical analysis of food. One of the school’s brightest students was Fannie Farmer, who is still well-known today for writing and publishing a groundbreaking cookbook. Fannie Farmer Farmer graduated from the Boston Cooking School and went on to teach at the school; later she became the school’s principal. In 1896, Farmer wrote and published “The Boston Cooking School Cookbook,” which advanced the idea that accurately measuring ingredients created perfect recipes. Soon, cooks around the country traded the pinch-and-a-handful method for measuring spoons and cups. The book is still in print today and is still a tool for teaching the art of cooking. In 1902, Farmer left the Boston Cooking School and opened Miss Farmer’s School of Cookery. While teaching, Farmer developed a food plan for the ill and was invited to lecture at Harvard Medical School. She ended up teaching convalescent diet information to doctors, nurses and dietitians on an ongoing basis. Farmer continued to write, teach and create recipes until 10 days before her death in 1915. She was 57 years old. James Beard As the economy boomed in the 1940s following World War II, so did the number of cooking schools in the U.S. In 1946, James Beard became the first chef to teach cooking on televised broadcasts. He opened a cooking school at his home in Greenwich Village, N.Y., where he taught for 30-plus years. Beard became known as the “grandfather of American gastronomy.” At the same time Beard gained fame, the Culinary Institute of America, today based in Hyde Park, N.Y., was established. The CIA is touted as the first career-oriented cooking school, and thousands of chefs throughout the country regularly participate in the school’s continuing education courses. Beard’s former residence/school is now the headquarters of the James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit organization for the culinary arts. The foundation recognizes outstanding culinary artists in the U.S. and provides scholarships and educational opportunities for future chefs. The Culinary Federation As the culinary profession gained prominence, renowned chefs throughout the country joined the American Culinary Federation, established in 1929. The federation provided a format for professional development, apprenticeship, certification, recognition and camaraderie among chefs nationwide. In 1976, the ACF Educational Institute began providing apprenticeship programs for culinary students with help from government grants. In 1986, the educational institute formed an accreditation commission; and, in 1990, the U.S. Department of Education recognized the commission as a legitimate accreditation agency. In the U.S. today there are more than 90 culinary schools accredited by the ACFEI. Top Culinary Schools In 1973, the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University opened with 141 students; in 1993, the college became the first school in the U.S. to offer a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts. The college is the largest cooking school in the world, with more than 5,000 students enrolled at any given time. The college is also consistently listed among the top-10 cooking schools in the country, with locations in Providence, R.I.; Miami; Charlotte, N.C.; and Denver. More of the Top 10 The French Culinary Institute in New York City’s swanky SoHo neighborhood teaches students the art of blending American and French cooking techniques. The Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts is located in many areas throughout the country. Modeled after the school of the same name in Paris, the college provides diplomas, certificates and associate degrees in a mix of subjects, from culinary arts to patisserie (pastry chef relative to French and Belgium bakeries). In 1995, the Texas Culinary Academy built a 70,000-plus square-foot facility with classrooms, kitchen laboratories and working restaurants in Austin, known for world-renowned restaurants, nightclubs and music. The school is thought of as one of the most “modern, cutting edge” facilities worldwide. Culinary Television Julia Child As a privileged child of a wealthy family, Julia Child never had to cook growing up. The family employed a cook. As a 6-foot-2-inch adult, Child said she could eat mounds of food at meals. But Child’s penchant for cooking didn’t begin until 1948. Child became intrigued with French cuisine when her husband, Paul, an employee of the Office of Strategic Services (where he met Child, also an employee at the time) transferred to a job with the OSS at the American Embassy in Paris. She enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu and found her lifetime calling. After six months of training, Child and two fellow students established their own cooking school, L’Ecole de Trois Gourmandes (The School of Three Gourmands). To bring French cooking to America, the three cooking teachers/entrepreneurs also wrote a two-volume cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” which was published in September 1961. The book was a best seller for five continuous years, and it’s still a mainstay for cooking classes and a Bible for many chefs. Child plugged her book on a Boston public television station. With her trademark warbled voice, candid demeanor and jolly sense of humor, Child prepared her first on-air food, an omelet. The audience loved her, and the positive response garnered a regular spot on T.V. for Child. “The French Chef” television series premiered in 1962 and catapulted Child to stardom. After the show was syndicated, Child received the George Foster Peabody Award in 1964, and in 1966 she received the coveted Emmy. She was also a regular in the 70s and 80s on “Good Morning America.” Child’s television career spanned more than 40 years. “Time” magazine dubbed her the “Lady of the Label.” Child’s other television endeavors included “Julia Child and Company” in 1978, “Julia Child and More Company” in 1980 and “Dinner at Julia’s” in 1983. Success fosters dissent. Viewers often noted the negative aspects of Child’s T.V. food prep. Her critics noted that she never washed her hands and she used too much fat in her French dishes. Child responded with, “I can’t stand those over-sanitary people” and “I would rather eat one tablespoon of chocolate russe cake than three bowls of JELLO.” Nonetheless, she became the first woman inducted into the Culinary Institute Hall of Fame. Child also received a prestigious honor in France, the Legion d’Honneur. In August 2002, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History opened an exhibit featuring the kitchen where Child filmed three of her shows. In August 2004, two days before her 92nd birthday, Child died of kidney failure. She never slowed down, however. She said retired people were “boring.” Numerous cookbooks, an autobiography and a movie directed by Nora Ephron are testimonials to Child’s influence on American lifestyles. Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe for her depiction of Child in the Ephron film, “Julia, Julia.” Fanning the Flames Julia Child’s success fueled America’s love of food and fascination with cooking. The Food Network has become the icing on the cake of culinary arts information and entertainment. Eminent chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay have brought their culinary talents to worldwide audiences via television and the Web. The network is the crème de la crème of shows for “foodies.” The food hype has created an uncanny amount of competitions for chefs, whether they are homegrown, new to the culinary scene or seasoned pros. The art of cooking has generated a following that rivals sports fans. Bon appetit! Issue 542 - 3/19/2012
SNIPPETZ SMILES WITH SOME OF THE GREAT COMEDIANS by Deborah Stumpf "He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger." - Japanese Proverb A smile is a simple act that uses as few as five facial muscles but delivers an impression that can make someone’s day. Scientists and psychologists have spent countless hours researching facial expressions, body language and the smile. Research has shown that not only can we can change our mood simply by forcing a smile or a laugh, but we can change other’s moods by presenting a smile even while being frowned at. And, if you mimic someone’s facial expression, you can actually feel empathy toward that individual. The smile is a powerful thing, one which comedians have understood long before the scientists studied these theories. Here are some of those comedians from long ago and some more recent who can make us laugh no matter what is happening in the world. THE FIRST LADY OF COMEDY Television comedy queen Lucille Ball (1911-1989) appeared on a record 29 covers of TV Guide magazine. “I Love Lucy” was the No. 1 rated show on television and at its peak in the 1952-53 season, it averaged an incredible 67.3 rating. Initially, Lucy had little luck as an actress but worked as a model before moving to Hollywood in 1933 for a part in the chorus of Roman Scandals. Strikingly pretty with chestnut hair dyed blond (until MGM hairdressers, seeking a more distinctive look, turned it red in 1942), she landed bit parts in B movies and moved up to classy fare like “Stage Door,” in which she held her own with Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. “I'm not funny. What I am is brave.” Lucille Ball (1911-1989) AMERICA’S CLOWN PRINCE Red Skelton’s successful radio show, “Red Skelton’s Scrapbook of Satire,” led to his enormously popular television series, “The Red Skelton Show.” Spanning two decades from 1951 to 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top 20, both on NBC and CBS. Skelton’s infamous Freddy the Freeloader character was endeared by many as an upbeat, happy and generous hobo clown. Red’s father was a circus clown who died before Red was born. At only 7 years old, Red was introduced to showbiz by Ed Wynn at a vaudeville show in Vincennes; then he left home at the age of 10 to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest. He joined the vaudeville circuit at the age of 15. Though critics didn’t consider him an artist, Red Skelton’s paintings of clowns made him a fortune after he left television. “I’m nuts and I know it. But so long as I make ‘em laugh, they ain’t going to lock me up.” Red Skelton (1913-1997) A DUBIOUS BEGINNING Between 1939 and 1949, Milton Berle attempted radio six times, but The Milton Berle Show was one of radio’s most dismal failures. When he finally gave up on radio and tried the infant media of television, Berle was an instant success and soon became a household name. His prominence in television set a benchmark for visual comedy. This would prove that some comedians must be seen as well as heard to be appreciated. Known by millions as “Uncle Milty,” Milton Berle’s comedic genius changed the course of early television when his variety-comedy show, Texaco Star Theater, launched in the fall of 1948. His first show’s guests were Pearl Bailey, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Smith and Dale, and Señor Wences. “Laughter is an instant vacation.” Milton Berle (1908-2002) THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE “I left England at the age of four when I found out I couldn’t be king,” said Bob Hope. However, by order of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, Hope received an honorary knighthood. Bob Hope starred in more than 50 feature films and has appeared in cameos for another 15 – the last being “Spies Like Us” in 1985. As with radio, Hope earned the status of No. 1 at the box office. He had appeared on the first commercial television broadcast on the West Coast in 1947; and was a surprise guest on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” in 1949. Hope was a latecomer to TV and not at all convinced it would succeed. Throughout World War II, with only two exceptions, all of Hope’s radio shows were performed and aired from military bases and installations throughout the United States, Europe and the South Pacific. Bob Hope has been cited by the Guinness Book of Records as the most honored entertainer in the world. He has more than 2,000 awards and citations for humanitarian and professional efforts, including 54 honorary doctorates. “I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.” Bob Hope (1903-2003) HE SAYS THE DARNDEST THINGS Bill Cosby is an American icon – an actor, standup comedian, author, TV producer and political activist. Described by his teachers as the class clown in his school years, Cosby was eventually cast in the show “I Spy” in the 1960’s. He may be best known for his work in “The Cosby Show,” which ran for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. Along with portraying wholesome family life, the show highlighted the upper middle class African-American family. Cosby insisted upon creative control of the show, which was intended to be the complete opposite of typical violent TV entertainment at the time. “The Cosby Show” continues to be shown in syndication. Cosby went on to create the cartoon series “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” and hosted “Kids Say the Darndest Things” beginning in 1996. He is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and has spoken out on parenting and the need for an emphasis on education in the African-American community. Cosby loves a good cigar, football and is an avid pen collector. “Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.” Bill Cosby (born in 1937) WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH… Jerry Seinfeld has made a career out of poking fun at situations in everyday life as both a standup and television comedian. He made his television debut in 1976 on a Rodney Dangerfield HBO Special and made many appearances on late night talk shows as a standup comedian. He was eventually offered his own show on NBC in 1979. “Seinfeld” ended after nine years while still at its peak. While most sitcoms have story lines that revolve around a central theme in which the characters would learn from a moral lesson, “Seinfeld” portrayed itself as a “show about nothing.” An entire show would focus on ordinary life activities such as buying a suit, going out to dinner or going on a date. Seinfeld is also an author, has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, and is a car enthusiast, said to own about 35 Porsche’s. “The Four Levels of Comedy: Make your friends laugh, make strangers laugh, get paid to make strangers laugh, and make people talk like you because it's so much fun.” Jerry Seinfeld (born in 1954) NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY Chris Rock has enjoyed a career as a comedian, actor, screenwriter, television and film producer and director. Rock began his standup career in 1985 in New York City and was cast in a bit role in the movie, “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” followed by the hit TV series “Miami Vice.” It was comedian and actor Eddie Murphy who befriended Rock and gave him a role in “Beverly Hills Cop II.” In 1990, Rock became a regular cast member of “Saturday Night Live” until 1993 after which he concentrated on his movie career. In 2005, Chris Rock hosted the 77th Annual Academy Awards. The producers of the award show hoped that Rock would bring in a younger audience due to his comedic “edge.” Rock is known for his unpolitically correct standup routines focused on racism, politics, male-female relationships, African-American culture and pop culture. “Comedy is the blues for people who can't sing.” Chris Rock (born 1965) In honor of the great comedians, the Snippetz staff will be seen around town smiling at everyone we see this week. As the old saying goes, “smile and people will wonder what you are up to.” Issue 543 - 3/26/2012
SNIPPETZ EXPLORES THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF WITCHCRAFT by Deborah Stumpf 
That old black magic has me in its spell,
That old black magic that you weave so well; Icy fingers up and down my spine, The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine. - Johnny Mercer Witchcraft is not really Voodoo, and witches do not really have huge noses with warts and fly around with broomsticks. But everyone has an opinion of the metaphysical world, and even Webster provides seemingly unrelated explanations that cater to the diversity of human reasoning. According to Webster’s, witchcraft is defined as The use of sorcery or magic/communication with the devil An irresistible influence or fascination Wicca – a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existence of supernatural power (as magic) and of both male and female deities who inhere in nature and that emphasizes ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles Witches have long been portrayed as servants of the devil, with uncanny abilities to cast spells on people and wreak havoc. However, before 1000 AD, witchcraft was considered a magical rite that ensured good luck, good health and protection against disease and harm. The Catholic Church would change that perception when witchcraft and witches were touted as traitors and anti-Christian. Witchcraft and Evil In the eyes of the Christian community, witches were closely connected to the devil. Many people believed that witches could fly, become invisible or transform themselves into animals, all within the power of the devil. Witches were evil and a hindrance to the well-being of society. Although Pope Gregory IX authorized the killing of witches in 1200, the practice of murdering them escalated years later when the Inquisition began focusing on witches. In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a declaration that witches were real and any belief otherwise was considered a heresy. Thousands of women – and a few men – were tortured and killed, burned at the stake, stoned to death or drowned. This adverse and almost immovable portrait of witches and witchcraft has continued into the 21st century. Just look at Harry Potter J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” fiction series has been criticized by many for anointing witchcraft and encouraging children to accept a form of paganism. The American Library Association reported that Harry Potter books were No. 1 in the category of most challenged books in America in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. The series was second in 2003 and finally deleted from the list in 2004. “People tend to find in books what they want to find,” said Rowling in an interview about the censorship attempt. The Witch Hunt During the summer of 1692, 19 men and women were hanged near Salem Village, Mass., all of them convicted of witchcraft. Dozens of others accused of witchcraft sat in jails for months without a trial. Interestingly, the witch hunt began as a result of a new Village minister. In 1688, John Putnam invited Samuel Parris from Barbados to preach in the Village church, and the invitation became permanent when Parris was given a salary and free firewood to become the Village minister. Parris packed up his wife, Elizabeth; 6-year-old daughter Betty; his niece, Abigail; and his Indian slave, Tituba; and moved them from Barbados to Salem. During an extremely cold February in 1692, Betty became ill with weird and nonspecific symptoms such as diving under furniture and contorting her body as in pain – her physical movements were almost convulsive like. At the same time, Cotton Mather had published a book, “Memorable Providences” – a story about an Irish woman in Boston who had been suspected of being a victim of witchcraft. Her symptoms mirrored Betty’s; and, when Betty’s young friends began to have similar symptoms, a frustrated doctor suggested the children’s maladies were the result of supernatural forces. The Parris slave, Tituba, had often told stories of witchcraft associated with her native folklore, so Betty’s neighbor called on Tituba to help expel the supernatural forces. Tituba baked a rye cake with the urine of the sick children and fed the cake to a dog – believed to be an agent of the witches. But it didn’t help – more people came down with the same symptoms. And Tituba was a marked woman. Betty and her cousin Abigail accused Tituba and two other women – an older non-church-going woman and a beggar – for initially inflicting the symptoms. Tituba and the women were arrested. As the story spread like wildfire, others, including the highly influential wife of John Putnam, recounted their own visions of witches flying through the winter skies and appearing at bedsides threatening to cast spells. The prominent Putnam family put pressure on the magistrates, who scheduled inquiries into the situation. Hundreds of people showed up at the inquiries and the tales of strange happenings skyrocketed. The witches were taking over the peaceful village! As the first scapegoat, Tituba denied the accusations but later realized that to continue to do so would mean death. Instead, she confessed she really was a witch, completely under the spell of the devil. The other two women admitted they were witches, too. All three admitted to flying through the skies at night on their poles. They were saved but remained the foundation for the reality that witches truly existed. The first witch in Salem actually brought to trial was 60-year-old Bridget Bishop. As a tavern owner who opened on Sunday, the townsfolk believed she had to be a witch. Bishop had also crabbed about her neighbors and hadn’t always paid her bills. Formally accused of being a witch, she was brought to trial in June 1692. Someone testified that he saw Bishop stealing eggs and then transforming herself into a cat, with wild testimonies soon following. The jury convicted Bishop of witchcraft. She was hanged, which set the stage for the biggest witch hunt in America. Modern-Day Witches/Witchcraft Today’s witchcraft is rooted in its early history of sanctioning good health and harmony. Although witches, witchcraft and the Wicca religion are alike in many ways, they are separate entities. The difference between Wicca and witchcraft is that the latter is methodology. Wicca is a religion, recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and included in the American Academy of Religions. Witches are self-defined but Wiccans are not necessarily witches, and vice versa. Some wiccans practice witchcraft and some don’t. Modern-day witchcraft is about exploring a variety of traditional, holistic and unconventional measures to achieve strength and peace of body and mind. Aspects of Modern Witchcraft:
The mantra of modern-day witches is “working for the greater good – and harming none.” Issue 544 - 4/2/2012
SNIPPETZ TAKES A TRIP TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER by Deborah Stumpf 
“Those of you who have spent time with Australians know that we are not given to overstatement. By nature we are laconic speakers and by conviction we are realistic thinkers.”
- Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia Australia, Aus or Oz – whatever you call it, the land down under the equator holds much fascination. The Aussie people have a reputation of being informal, fun-loving and friendly. They are also known as law-abiding and hard working. Their national language is English; however, if you’ve spoken to an Aussie lately, you might be scratching your heading and asking huh? They have a dialect and host of unique sayings unlike any other language. One thing is for certain: The country is culturally diverse with about one in four residents born outside of the country. Many are children and grandchildren of migrants and refugees. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that as of the last week in March there were 22,862,147 people in the country. A common misconception is that the majority of the population lives in the countryside or the outback. However, nearly 80 percent live in coastal areas. Like any large country, Australia has its share of differing weather patterns – from rain, cyclones, flooding and snow to sand storms and bushfires. By far, most of the country is hot and dry; the northernmost part is more tropical/wet and the most temperate areas are in the southeast and southwest coastal regions. A little something for everyone. The sixth largest country in the world, Australia has a total land area, including its islands, of 2,969,907 square miles. Including the marine areas, islands and their waters, the number increases to 3,128,586 square miles. The country has about 7,000 beaches, attracting a significant tourist industry which contributes about $34 billion to the country’s gross domestic product as well as employing over 500,000 people. Discovery and Subsequent Naming Although indigenous people are estimated to have lived on the island for the last 40,000 to 60,000 years, the first Europeans to discover Australia were the Dutch. Captain Willem Janz landed in the north Queensland area in March of 1606 via the Dutch ship Duyfken. He didn’t spend much time on this land after one of his sailors was killed by an Aborigine, reportedly speared to death. Dirck Hartog came along in 1616, landing in Western Australia. He named the country Eendrachtsland. A museum in Holland is said to have possession of a pewter plate that he nailed to a tree while in Australia. The history books likely tell more about Englishman Captain James Cook and the First Fleet who established the country as the Colony of New South Wales in 1788. But before then, the Dutch dropped Eendrachtsland and were calling it New Holland. For nearly 100 years, England shipped many of her convicts to Australia. Gold was discovered there in 1851 which caused a significant increase in population and wealth. At another time during the 18th century, Australia was called Terra Psittacorum by a local explorer who also liked referring to it as Terra Australis or South Land. The name was officially recognized by the governor in 1817. Its official name is now the Commonwealth of Australia. On the Fame Map Many actors and musicians have brought attention to the country such as Actors Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett; and singers/musicians AC/DC, Olivia Newton-John, Joan Sutherland and Dame Nellie Melba. The country boasts a Nobel Prize winner, Patrick White along with famous writers Morris West, Nevil Shute, Colleen McCullough and Robert Hughes. Well-known artists include Arthur Boyd, Russell Drysdale and Thomas Keneally, to name a few. The Aussies love their sports and especially enjoy cricket, swimming, tennis, rugby, football (“footy”) and golf among others. They’ve won more than their fair share of Olympic medals, and Cadel Evans recently won the 2011 Tour de France cycling race. That Crazy Dialect Besides the fact that they don’t like the letter ‘z,’ (think organisation, personalised), the sound ‘ay’ is pronounced ‘ie.’ Today is pronounced ‘to-die.’ Two t’s together in a word make the ‘d’ sound. Fatter becomes fadder. That’s just the start. Webster’s could publish a whole dictionary with Aussie phrases and slang, but here’s a short selection to try out at the next cocktail party you attend.
Who Eats That Stuff? “We're happy little Vegemites As bright as bright can be. We all enjoy our Vegemite For breakfast, lunch, and tea. Our mummies say we're growing stronger Every single week, Because we love our Vegemite We all adore our Vegemite It puts a rose in every cheek.” -Advertising jingle from the 1950s Vegemite is a brown pasty food staple of Australia. It’s made of brewer’s yeast extract, which is a byproduct of beer manufacturing. It also contains wheat and some spices. It’s said to be salty, bitter and malty tasting. Folks smear it on bread, crackers, toast and make sandwiches out of it. A vegemite sandwich is typically made with two slices of buttered bread with a layer of Vegemite and maybe some cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. This “food” was invented in 1922 during World War I when they could no longer get the British product Marmite (quite similar to Vegemite). Out of desperation, apparently, someone had to come up with a replacement. If interested, Vegemite can be purchased online from many vendors. And why not buy a case? It’s loaded with vitamin B12 and is fat free, animal free and gluten free. Australian Inventions and Firsts Australians have made a multitude of contributions to the world, especially in the areas of health/medicine and aviation.
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Issue 545 - 4/9/2012
SNIPPETZ STRUMS SOME STRINGS WITH A FEW GUITAR GREATS! by Deborah Stumpf 
“Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they'll hear my guitars speaking for me.”
- Chet Atkins The guitar is one of those instruments that hasn’t been given a lot of attention compared to others throughout music history. It can be traced back to the 1500s to Spain and has evolved over the centuries into its many forms that included varying shapes and numbers of strings. But, even more interesting than the evolution of the guitar is the evolution of the guitar player. Fernando Sor was the first to play solo guitar at the London Philharmonic in 1817. In the late 19th century, Francisco Tarrego began writing music for the instrument as well as taking the bold step of transcribing the music of others. He also wrote the classical piece, “Recuerdos de la Alhambra,” purported by many to be one of the best classical pieces of all time. Antonio de Torres, considered to be the father of the modern guitar, came along and changed the design of the guitar when he experimented with ways to increase the volume and the size of the instrument. His version of the guitar is most like what we have now. Around this time and into the early 20th century, young Andres Segovia burst onto the scene with his Spanish sounds. Like Tarrego, he also transcribed the music of some of the greats including Beethoven and Chopin. He influenced many guitarists and is likely most famous for bringing the instrument to a high level of respect and popularity all over the world. Fast Forward to the 20th Century Inarguably, the guitar loves the blues and some of America’s most famous rock bands and guitarists of all genres have had strong blues influences. Robert Johnson One of the first musicians discussed in a music appreciation class is Robert Johnson. His life was short-lived – 1911-1938, but he recorded 29 songs between 1936 and 1937 alone. This poor African-American boy grew up playing the blues and was eventually known as King of the Delta Blues. Some of his famous tunes include Cross Road Blues, Love In Vain, Hellhound On My Trail, Walking Blues and Sweet Home Chicago. He not only played a sweet guitar, but he was a mesmerizing singer. He performed in juke joints and on street corners in cities all around the country. Performers such as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones band have recorded his songs and are not shy about giving credit to Johnson for his contributions. Muddy Waters Born as McKinley Morganfield from the Mississippi Delta, Muddy Waters (1915-1983) elevated the amplified guitar sounds through the blues. His career took off when he headed off to Chicago to make his mark. When he toured England in 1958, it was reported to be the first time amplified music was played on the other side of the pond. Rumor has it that a music critic attending the concert had to write his review in the restroom because it was so loud. His music has been covered by anyone who is anybody in the music world from Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones to Eric Clapton. Some of his recordings include Whole Lotta Love, Rollin’ Stone (from which the band was named after), Hoochie Coochie Man, I’m Ready and Louisiana Blues. Chuck Berry One could say Chuck Berry, born in St. Louis in 1926, took Muddy Waters and ran with him all the way to his first Rock and Roll recording. Berry met Waters in Chicago where he introduced him to Chess Records. Berry was told to come back later that week for an audition and the rest was history. He recorded Maybellene which hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and #5 on the Pop charts. His hits included Brown-Eyed Man, Roll Over Beethoven, Memphis and Johnny B. Goode. He’s been called the Father of Rock and Roll with music that sings to many generations. Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (1932-1998) brought rockabilly to its heyday. His mix of the rock and roll style of Chuck Berry and country influenced musicians the likes of Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, Rick Nelson and Bob Dylan. Paul McCartney once said, "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles." In 1955 he released Blue Suede Shoes which hit the top of both rock and roll and country charts. While traveling to New York to appear and perform on the Ed Sullivan and Perry Como shows, Perkins was severely injured in an automobile accident. While recovering, Elvis Presley recorded/covered his Blue Suede Shoes, bringing it up in the charts once again. The flip side was Honey Don’t, which was eventually recorded by the Beatles. Perkins continued to perform from time to time after his accident and his influence did not go unnoticed. B.B. King The King of Blues, born Riley B. King in 1925, continues to entertain around the world. Some of his classics include Why I Sing the Blues, Please Love Me, The Thrill is Gone, Sweet Sixteen, and Payin’ the Cost to be the Boss. He has been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has also received honorary doctorate degrees from Tougaloo College, Yale University, Berklee College of Music, Rhodes College of Memphis, Mississippi Valley State University and Brown University. In 1949 he quickly abandoned stage when the club he was playing in caught fire after two men knocked over a barrel of kerosene while fighting over a woman named Lucille. King ran back into the building to rescue his guitar, later naming it Lucille. He once said that he named that and each subsequent guitar he owned the same name to “remind me never to do a thing like that again.” A Little Bit Country Chester Burton Atkins (1924–2001), aka Chet Atkins, was the creator of the smooth country music style known as Nashville sound. His love for many different genres of music earned him much criticism over the years for not being ‘country enough.’ He had a unique picking style on the guitar that earned him 14 Grammy Awards and eventually earned him a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He played everything from Johnson Rag to Danny Boy to Malaguena, earning him the respect of some of the best musicians in the world. Some of his hits include I’ll See You In My Dreams, Fire In His Eyes, I Am a Cowboy and Corinna Corinna. More Guitar Legends Eric Clapton Inspired by bluesmen like Buddy Guy, Freddie King and B.B. King, Eric Clapton found a unique sound that earned him a reputation in the British music scene. He played with The Yardbirds in England, but left in 1965 as he didn’t like the band moving its sound in a pop direction. While with the Yardbirds, he was dubbed the nickname “Slowhand.” At such time a guitar string would break during performance, he would stop playing while he slowly changed out the string, still on stage. The audience would slowly clap while he made the switch, thus “Slowhand.” Clapton is well known for his association with the band Cream, which only performed together for three years. Clapton continues to perform as does B.B. King and sometimes along with King. Some of Clapton’s more well-known works include Tears in Heaven, Layla and Alberta. Clapton, like King, are performers who seem to just keep getting better and better every year. To a guitar music lover, a Clapton concert is not to be missed. Clapton also became great friends with George Harrison. George Harrison (1943-2001), known as the quiet Beatle, created the distinctive guitar sound for the band. Although not fast or flashy, he was a master of the guitar, playing a 12-string, slide and sitar. He used his 12-string with the strings reversed when recording A Hard Day’s Night, which became his signature sound. He used a classical, nylon-stringed acoustic guitar early on in the Beatles’ recording days to record a very long solo in And I Love Her. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones developed a guitar style all his own, influenced by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. He experiment with what’s called open G tuning, mixing rhythm sounds with the lead playing commonly heard from Waters’ guitar. His famous sound is clearly heard in Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar and Start Me Up. Carlos Santana was a dishwasher and street performer. He eventually teamed up with David Brown and Gregg Rolie to form the Santana Blues Band. His music is a unique blend of rock, salsa, blues, jazz and African rhythms. He continues to play his guitar with his band now with its name shortened to Santana. Eddie Van Halen, born in Amsterdam in 1955, moved to Pasadena, Calif. with his family when he was 7 years old. He started his music life by playing the piano, switched to drums and eventually picked up a guitar. Once he did, that was all she wrote because that instrument practically became one of his body parts – he never put it down. He emulated Eric Clapton. Gene Simmons of the band KISS discovered Van Halen’s band of the same name and put up money to record them. Their first recordings were House of Pain and Runnin’ With the Devil. The next year they recorded They Really Got Me. Eddie played guitar for Michael Jackson’s Beat It recording. Some of their earlier hits were Jump and Hot for Teacher. The Van Halen band had its ups and downs through the years. His son Wolfang joined the resurrected band in 2008 as a bass player. Van Halen said: “To have my son follow in my footsteps on his own, without me pushing him into it, is the greatest feeling in the world.” And who could feel “pushed” into playing in a rock and roll band? It’s not exactly daddy’s hardware store. Some Famous Guitars
Issue 546 - 4/6/2012
SNIPPETZ GETS COMFY WITH FOOD by Deborah Stumpf “My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people.” Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) Hearing the words ‘comfort food’ conjures up different things for different people. The term showed up in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary in 1977 and is now defined as “food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” There are some folks who actually get paid to research the comfort food eating habits of other folks. Their results are pretty much the same across the board: Men tend to like meat and starch and women like their sweets (except ice cream, which seems to be universal); comfort food is used to relieve stress (big surprise); and that people eat their own version of comfort food when they are sad, lonely, feel unconnected, etc. The variety of food we like to eat for comfort runs the gamut and depends on the situation. Stress, Stress, Go Away, Here’s a Potato Chip To Send You Away There’s a definite link between the food we eat and our mood states, and our comfort food choices tend to be heavy in fat, starch, salt or sugar. One of the reasons we enjoy foods with high amounts of these substances is because of the chemical reaction they produce in the body. Sugars and starches work like Prozac – they increase the amount of serotonin the body produces. Serotonin is the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. If you’ve been hugged lately, you know there’s something about a warm hug that lifts our spirits. The ‘something’ is the neurotransmitter oxytocin. We produce oxytocin from various physical activities including childbirth, breastfeeding, kissing – the list goes on. Fat does not prompt the same kind of feel good reaction as do the neurotransmitters serotonin and oxytocin, but fat is an important nutrient to our body – it needs it to provide sustained energy for one thing. We are prewired to want fat in our diets. From cavemen to hunters and gatherers to school teachers to businessmen in suits – the body craves fat for storage. After all, one never knows when one might need to fend off a mountain lion or bear. Emotions Run Deep This part can’t be much simpler: We eat the foods for comfort that are associated with good feelings or good times in the past and/or have provided comfort during a difficult time or illness. Did mom make chocolate chip cookies for you after a bad day at school? Did you eat lobster on your first date with the love of your life? Did you get all the ice cream you could eat after a tonsillectomy? Maybe sweet popsicles when you had that 103-degree fever and chicken pox? How about spaghetti and meatballs when the love of your life ran off with your best friend? You get the idea. Survey Says There are surveys abound that ask people about their comfort food of choice. Here’s the skinny, in no particular order:
There are some (okay, maybe two) who say salad and grilled fish. Seriously. Presidential Comforts U.S. presidents have not been shy about their food preferences and here are some of their favorites.
A Not So Scientific Survey It’s true – if you ask people what their favorite comfort food is, you get the whole enchilada. We went out and asked a few friends and holy cannoli, some had entire lists! Here’s the flavor of the responses:
Chicken and Dumplings From Deborah Stumpf’s kitchen 1 3-lb. roasted chicken (homemade with herbs, butter, garlic, onion, salt and pepper), or store bought, cut up or torn into bite size pieces Sauce: 3 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour ½ cup diced celery ½ cup diced carrot (optional) ½ cup frozen peas (optional) 3 cloves minced or crushed garlic 2 bay leaves 6-8 cups chicken stock, homemade or purchase the cartons of good quality stock ¼ to ½ cup heavy cream Dumplings: 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher or regular salt 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk Prepare the sauce: Melt butter in a large, wide pot or sauté pan, or Dutch oven; then add carrot, celery and bay leaves; sauté until soft; add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Make a roux by sprinkling the flour over the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock slowly, stirring constantly. Simmer sauce for about 15 minutes and then add the cream. Add the chicken pieces. While sauce is cooking, mix dumplings: Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Mix the eggs and milk and pour into the dry ingredients. Gently fold these together – do not stir wildly with abandon or your dumplings will be tough! Mix just until the dough comes together and is cake-like. Drop slightly heaping tablespoonfuls of dumpling dough into the sauce. The dumplings will expand beyond belief, so try eyeballing the size to be about 2 inches in diameter or less. Leave plenty of space between dumplings. (Cover any leftover dough completely to keep air out and use it for the leftovers so it tastes freshly made.) Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. They should be puffy, but firm. You may want to scoop some of the sauce over the tops of the dumplings to finish off the cooking at the end. Taste to see if salt and pepper is needed. If you want to add some frozen peas, do this after the dumplings have been cooking for about 10 minutes. Sauce can thicken more than you want, so be sure to keep some extra chicken stock on hand to add if you prefer it thinner. Serve with a favorite bowl and a spoon; close your eyes while you eat – aahhhh. Issue 547 - 4/23/2012
SNIPPETZ SAYS TUNE IN, WE'RE ON THE RADIO! by Deborah Stumpf 
“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!”
- From “The Shadow,” September 1937, portrayed by Orson Welles (Play audio below) The Shadow - The Original Opening It all started with radio, even television started with radio. Stepping back a little further, it really all started with electromagnetic waves from which the telephone and telegraph first came. For this writer, reading about all the intricacies of radio waves, spark-gap transmitters, amplitude modulation and who invented what is about as exciting as watching paint dry. So, we’ll give Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla and Nathan Stubblefield their due and move on to the good stuff.
Marconi was an Italian inventor who sent the first radio transmission in 1896 – it only went a mile. The Italian government wasn’t impressed, so he took his invention to England where he got a patent. In 1898 he was the first to make a sporting event public when he sent the results of the Kingstown Regatta to a Dublin newspaper. He was the first to send a transatlantic signal in 1902. He even won the Nobel Prize in physics for the wireless telegraph; but yet, his invention was not considered true radio as it only sent signals. Tesla is given credit as the true inventor of radio – if only because he holds the patent (he got the Supreme Court to overturn Marconi’s patent). Like Marconi, he also was unable to build a radio like what we know today. Stubblefield, a farmer from Murray, Ky., was said to have transmitted voice even before Marconi sent radio signals. He never went to market with his invention. It goes on and on, but the bottom line in this tale is that there are lots of players in the battle for the airwaves. Fast forward to ‘modern’ radio. Radio Stations and Their Names Charles Herrold may have been the first to start “broadcasting” to more than one person in 1909. His radio station was eventually named KCBS. The radio craze was on and went from garage setups to the penthouse of the Westinghouse factory in Pennsylvania. The Westinghouse station, named KDKA, declared itself the first commercially licensed radio station in 1920. It snowballed from there. Radio station call letters in the United States start with either the letter W or K. Stations east of the Mississippi River start with K and west of the Mississippi start with W. Radio transmissions are heavily regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. That’s because there are so many signals available that just about anyone could manage to get “on the air.” The FCC requires radio stations to identify themselves with a specific nomenclature at the beginning and end of each program as well as every hour on the hour (or as close as reasonably possible) while on the air. The station must give their call-in sign (i.e., KRDO) followed by their place of license. They can’t add any words to the description or say the name in any acronym style. For example, it must be “K-R-D-O, Colorado Springs,” not “KRDO based in Colorado Springs;” or KKLI can’t refer to itself in these official announcements as “KLite.” The FCC doesn’t seem to have a problem with radio station shenanigans, though. FAMOUS RADIO STATION HOAXES The Hoax That Wasn’t A Hoax On Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Wells performed a play on radio based on H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” The play about Martians landing in New Jersey was broadcast nationally, believed by most, causing fear, panic and hysteria among Americans. Although this broadcast is famous for being a hoax, it was simply a radio play. Paul McCartney is Dead On Oct. 12, 1969, WKNR in Detroit, Mich., was tipped off by a college student at Eastern Michigan University that Paul McCartney of The Beatles was dead. He also told the station’s DJ, Russ Gibb about clues found in their albums. Gibb and his DJ colleague John Small started the search for clues and continued to air them. DJs from other stations and listeners all got on board for the search, thinking McCartney was indeed dead. Who Are the Fools on April Fool’s Day? Many a DJ went for the easy April Fool’s Day hoax throughout the years. In 2004, Portland, Ore., DJs announced that all cats, dogs and ferrets must be buckled in for car rides and, if not, the driver would face $150 fine. The Sheriff’s office and animal shelter fielded those calls, none too happily. Also in 2004, Howard Stern’s New York radio station manager announced that Stern’s show was canceled. Somewhat believable considering Stern was embroiled in indecency hearings at the time. They then ran the Stern show with music only under the tagline “all the fun without the filth.” People from all over the country called in to complain about Stern’s demise. They ended the charade with Stern’s return that same day. He came back on with: “We are back for anybody who was stupid enough to fall for that.” At least he cleaned it up a bit. In 1992, National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” program host John Hockenberry announced that Richard Nixon was to take another run at the presidency. He went so far as to have comedian Rich Little impersonate Nixon. With Nixon’s voice, Little stated: “I never did anything wrong and I won’t do it again.” Hockenberry had political analysts weigh in as well. Once again, listeners took this seriously and the phone lines lit up like candles on a centenarian’s birthday cake. Hockenberry and NPR managed to keep the fact that it was a hoax a secret until the next day. In 1980, the BBC announced that Big Ben, the famous landmark clock in London, would be undergoing major refurbishment to include a change from analog to digital display. Citizens were outraged over that one! Before TV, There Was Radio We’re not exactly youngsters here at Snippetz, but we still think of radio as being a source for news and music. It’s hard to imagine that before our time, families would gather ‘round the radio with a bowl of popcorn and listen to what we think should be TV shows. The Sam Spade detective series got started with “The Maltese Falcon” in the 1930s. Listeners got hooked on detective stories and Sam Spade became wildly popular. Actor Howard Duff played Spade. At one time, Matt Dillon of TV’s “Gunsmoke” played Lt. Dundy. The detective story, “The Shadow" started off as simply “Detective Story.” It eventually changed to “The Shadow,” named after the narrator who became the show’s star. The Shadow was quite the hero. He could leap tall buildings in a single bound, speak in multiple languages and was an indestructible crime fighter. The story spawned magazines, comic books, toys, games and novels. It was on the air from 1930 to 1954. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don't know." But did you know that the Sherlock Holmes detective series entertained via radio from 1930 to 1956? It’s elementary, Watson. Many actors played the lead roles over those years, ending with Sir John Gielgud as Holmes, Sir Ralph Richardson as Watson and Orson Wells as Moriarty. The crème de la crème of radio shows might have been “Gunsmoke,” which aired from 1952 to 1961. Chester was played by Parley Baer; Doc was played by Howard McNear (he eventually played Floyd the Barber on TV’s “Andy Griffith Show”); Georgia Ellis played Kitty; and William Conrad played Matt Dillon. This show was as real as a radio show could get. Even the show’s gunshots were real gunshots. The game show “Truth or Consequences” ran from 1940 to 1956 and should have been listed in the comedy genre. Many of the questions posed to players were submitted by audience members and the answers were downright impossible. And the consequences are what got everybody talking. Contestants had to do embarrassing things - a woman has to get on one knee and propose to the man who brought her, someone has to make a phone call to a loved one with interesting talk going on in the background – all for a good laugh. It was so popular that the show went on to live through television. The soap opera of today got its start on radio, too. There was a plethora of them. One familiar face was “Guiding Light,” which ran from 1937 to 1956. The television version started in 1952, running alongside the radio show for four years. The TV version eventually ran its course by 2009 when CBS pulled the plug. Or Was It Before Radio There Was TV? “Have Gun Will Travel” started as a television show in 1957. The radio version followed a year later with a story line that synced with the TV version. Eventually, the radio show had scripts to call their own and ran from 1958 to 1960. The television version was a little more successful, running until 1963. Then Came Satellite It was only a matter of time before someone came up with satellite radio. It was a rocky start, but in 2001, XM Satellite Radio service was launched. Operating like cable TV for the radio, people can pay to receive radio programming of every imaginable genre including rock, pop, Christian music, jazz, talk radio, sports; and the list goes on. Imagine driving across country with the family all vying for their favorite radio station. It’s almost like sitting in your family room fighting over the television remote control! Issue 548 - 4/30/2012
SNIPPETZ THINKS PENGUINS ARE REALLY COOL BIRDS by Deborah Stumpf 
“It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.”
- Joe Moore We humans love penguins. There’s something endearing about those little waddling tuxedos with sweet, gentle personalities. There are between 16 and 19 species of penguins depending on who is classifying them. Other than those found in captivity, most of the world’s penguins are located in the southern hemisphere, especially Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands near South America. They can also be found near New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. A Swimming Bird? Penguins are birds that do not fly and have not been able to do so for millions of years. They are great swimmers, though, spending about 75 percent of their time under water. They are able to swim up to speeds of about 20 miles per hour. Their wings are really strong flippers that propel them through the water as if flying. Their food is all under water as well. They are carnivores and consume fish, krill, shrimp and other crustaceans. They see better under water rather than outside of the water, making hunting for prey much easier. The Birds and The Bees of Penguin Life Penguins are monogamous, having one mate for life. The Emperor and King penguins lay one egg; other species lay two. The father penguin incubates the egg for 8-10 weeks on his feet in a pouch while mom goes to sea to eat and build up fat stores. Once the egg hatches, the mother returns and the father takes his turn at heading out to sea to replenish his body weight after losing about half of it during incubation. Penguins hang out in a colony of sorts and typically stay in one area all their lives, although most of the species do migrate. These colonies can house millions of penguins. They are “social butterflies.” They make distinctive sounds to identify their mates and offspring while in these colonies of thousands. Not Everyone Says Awwww Penguins live to be 15-20 years old but have many natural predators. In the water, they are dinner for leopard seals, sharks, sea lions and orcas. Out of the water it’s snakes and foxes. They also fall prey to other threats such as oil spills, illegal poaching and egg harvesting, as well as global warming which changes their environment and ability to hunt for food. Temperature Extremes Different species of penguins thrive well in the cold, some in the heat. You’ve probably seen the films that show thousands of penguins huddling. They are warm-blooded birds with a body temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a layer of fat or “blubber” under the skin to help insulate them, as well as down-like feathers. Over those feathers, they have another layer of feathers for insulation. They have a gland that produces oil that they spread over their feathers to aid in maintaining body temperature. In contrast, species of penguins living in the Galapagos islands are less likely to be found huddled together, but rather spreading their wings to stay cool. Not All Penguins Are Alike There are six different genera of penguin species all with distinct differences. The genus Aptenodytes consists of the Emperor and King penguins only. These birds are quite different from other species, most notably in size. An Emperor can weigh up to 90 pounds. This is the species that only lays one egg at a time, carries it in a pouch and does not nest. These birds have colorful plumage and are known to be deep divers. The Eudyptes genus includes four species: Erect-crested penguin, Macaroni penguin, Rockhopper penguin and Snares penguin. These penguins are also quite colorful. Some have red bills and yellow feather plumes; the Macaroni has orange plumes. These birds lay two eggs, but only raise one offspring – the one hatched from the second egg. The second egg is the largest and hatches first. This genus nests, some in the rocks, small caves or crevices; the Snares penguin prefers a forested area. The Eudyptula genus includes only one species - the Little penguin, also known as Little Blue, Blue and Fairy penguin. These are the smallest penguins, weighing only about 2 pounds. They do not have colorful plumes as many of the other species, but are more gray-blue in color. They are also the only nocturnal penguin. These birds are less likely to be found in the larger colonies. These guys also eat smaller sea life, such as sardines and anchovies. Like the Eudyptula genus, the Megadyptes contains only one species, the Yellow-eyed penguin. These birds can usually be found in southern New Zealand. They also tend to stay in smaller groups rather than the larger colonies. Their nests also tend to be separate from their neighbors. Their look is similar to the crested birds, but with yellow eyes; hence their name. The most common genus is the Pygoscelis. These are the classic black and white penguins that we see at zoos and aquariums in the U.S. This genus includes the Gentoo penguins, Chinstrap penguins and Adelie penguins. The Gentoos do not migrate and stay close to home for breeding season. The Spheniscus Genus has 4 species – the African, Galapagos, Humboldt and Magellanic. The African penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Africa. It’s existence has been threatened by oil spills. The Galapagos penguin breeds the closest to the equator and its population has been threatened by El Nino weather events. The Humboldt prefers the hot desert climate or the heat of the Mediterranean. The Magellanic breed on the opposite side of the Atlantic as the African penguins. Can’t Get Enough Penguins? Learning more about penguins is easy. There are some good films and documentaries easily attainable. One of the better known is “March of the Penguins” (2005) narrated by Morgan Freeman. This documentary follows the life of the Emperor penguins in particular. Our love of the penguin is obvious with the plethora of films either about penguins or featuring penguin characters. The short list: “Madagascar” (2005), a Dreamworks animation film, is arguably the most popular movie that includes both penguins and humans. The penguins stole the show, but the producers have been laughing all the way to the bank. The movie grossed about $533 million. It also spawned a Nickelodeon animated television series, airing 122 episodes since 2008. The show is still going strong. “Happy Feet” (2006) was also a successful animated film featuring penguins, grossing over $284 million. This film features singing Emperor penguins with one outcast who can’t hold a tune but can dance well enough to go on “Dancing With The Stars.” More recently, in 2011, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” was released, starring Jim Carrey as a regular guy who inherits six penguins and manages to keep them in his house. This penguin flick grossed only just over $187 million at the box office. Maybe it needed less Jim Carrey and more penguins? Other “Famous” Penguins Remember the singing group “The Penguins?” They were an R&B, doo-wop group from the 1950s and 1960s. Their biggest success was their 1954 release “Earth Angel” which was the first song from the R&B genre to cross over to pop. They named themselves The Penguins because they thought they were cool – an important distinction of the day. A group called the “Penguin Artists” from City of Moonee Valley in Victoria, Australia is a group of artists who have formed to provide opportunities for people with psychiatric disabilities to assist them in developing their artistic talents and promoting their work. It should be no surprise that there is a town called Penguin. It’s located on the coast of northern Tasmania. The coastline attracts a population of Fairy penguins, which attracts a large tourist population during the breeding months between November and March. Those Funny Penguins What do penguins eat for lunch? Icebergers What do you call a penguin in the desert? Lost What do penguins sing on a birthday? Freeze a jolly good fellow Issue 549 - 5/7/2012
SNIPPETZ HAS A LIVELY CASE OF DANCE FEVER by Deborah Stumpf 
“We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.”
- Japanese Proverb It’s difficult to pinpoint the beginning of dance. However, historians report that dance or moving rhythmically has been part of most cultures for thousands of years in their rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. From ballet to hip-hop, these days the sky’s the limit for dance. Like anything else, dancing is not without controversy. Remember the uproar Elvis Presley started over his gyrating influence over teens? And California passed a law in 1925 forbidding any wiggling while dancing. Seattle continues to have a teen dance ordinance on the books designed to regulate public dancing. Nevertheless, the dance lives on. In fact, it seems like ‘all we wanna do is dance.’ Do You Cha Cha? Competitive dancing appears to be a 20th century phenomenon that started in Europe and quickly took hold in the U.S. Ballroom dancing is familiar to most of us, thanks to reality TV shows such as “Dancing With The Stars.” Dedicated dancers spend enormous amounts of time training for anything from a waltz to a tango, samba, quickstep, paso doble, foxtrot, rumba, mambo; and the list goes on. If not up to snuff, they suffer the dreaded elimination. Star Quality ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” is not the first of its kind. It’s a takeoff from the U.K.’s “Come Dancing” from the 1980’s. They brought the show back in the 2000’s, calling it “Strictly Come Dancing,” which featured celebrities trained by professional dancers. We picked it up in the U.S. in 2005. The show concept is licensed to 35 countries around the world who are capitalizing on the popularity of the format. Argentina’s version is getting the most press for it’s less than skimpy costuming. If nothing else, shows like DWTS have brought a new appreciation for the extensive skill and physical stamina required to dance like a pro. Don’t Tell Anyone… …that dancing is good for you – it’s good for the soul and the body. Dancing is a popular form of exercise from Jazzercise to Zumba, the latest craze. Besides the lure of the challenge and notoriety gained being on “Dancing With The Stars,” there’s the highly publicized weight loss success stories, such as Kirstie Alley, Marie Osmond, Kelly Osbourne and Kyle Massey. When interviewed by the press, some stars even admit to weight loss as a major goal for participating in the show. Dance as exercise seems like a no-brainer - would you rather run on a treadmill or sweat to some oldies? “If you can walk, we teach you how to dance” That was the slogan for Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Still going strong, the franchise, which opened in 1938, continues to have over 200 dance studios in operation. Arthur Murray (1895-1991) was born Moses Teichmann in Austria-Hungary. He and his parents moved to the United States in 1897. He had the dance bug early on and by the age of 17 he was teaching dance by night; he was a draftsman by day. Teichmann changed his name to Arthur Murray due to anti-German sentiment during World War I. In 1919, Murray attended Georgia Tech where he studied business administration. True to his passion, he taught ballroom dancing at the same time in Atlanta. The best advice he received was from William Jennings Bryan (politician and Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson), who said to Murray one night while he was teaching dance at the Georgian Terrace Hotel: “You know, I have a fine idea on how you can collect your money. Just teach 'em with the left foot and don't tell 'em what to do with the right foot until they pay up!" Murray took it to heart and started selling footprint diagrams for learning dance through the mail. Sounds a little ridiculous, but he sold over 500,000 of these courses. He then opened a dance studio with his new wife and dance partner, Kathryn Kohnfelder. He taught and brought the Lambeth Walk and The Big Apple dances into ‘dance craze’ status. The rest really is history. He and Kathryn even hosted the TV show, “The Arthur Murray Party” for 10 years from 1950 to 1960. They both retired in 1964, but the studios live on. Fred and Ginger The icons of the dance movie were Fred Astaire (1899-1987) and Ginger Rogers (1911-1995). The dancing duo made 10 movies together:
Rogers was not Astaire’s only dancer partner, but she may be the most famous because of how she complemented Astaire’s style. Some say she was not the best dance partner he ever had, but she was a great actress who made it look as if he was the most wonderful dancer in the world, and who wouldn’t want to dance with him? Astaire was a perfectionist and his films worked. It was said that he didn’t have a great deal of sex appeal but his dancing was mesmerizing. The Dance Is The Story There’s something about a dance movie – it never seems to go out of style. Not only does the public enjoy new releases, but dancing fools love the oldies as well. Here are some popular ones that can still be rented. “Saturday Night Fever,” a 1977 coming-of-age dance flick starring John Travolta is an all-time favorite and a household name whether you like disco music or not. “Flashdance” (1983) stars Jennifer Beals as an aspiring ballerina holding down jobs as a welder and exotic dancer. Predictably, she gets the life-altering tryout. “Dirty Dancing” is the quintessential girl meets boy from the wrong side of the tracks and they fall madly in love type of story … sprinkled in with a dance contest. Released in 1987, no other dance movie has managed to push this one off the box office charts in years since. “Footloose” was popular enough for a 2011 remake. The original release in 1984 starred Kevin Bacon as the dance-loving rebel from Chicago who winds up in a Midwestern town after his mother dies. Unfortunately, the town has banned not only rock music but dancing. Bacon eventually persuades the powers that be, with the help of many townspeople, to bring the dance back. Kenny Wormald brings the bad boy character back in the 2011 version when he falls in love with minister Dennis Quaid’s daughter played by Julianne Hough (a favorite “Dancing With The Stars” TV show pro dancer). For serious dance groupies, there’s “Mad Hot Ballroom,” a 2005 documentary about middle school students from three New York City schools who compete in a dance competition. They come from all walks of life and manage to work together to learn ballroom dancing and compete. Makes you wonder if kids can do this, why can’t adults? If these aren’t old enough for you, try the 1952 classic “Singing in the Rain” starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. It’s the perfect love story meets dance movie. “Ladies and gentlemen, stop that girl, that girl running up the aisle. Stop her!” Awww…. Let’s Dance Looking for the right dance song? Here are a few with ‘dance’ in them.
So, unless you’re competing, as Dave Barry said, “Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance!” |
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