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Issue 630
IT'S NO MYTH, SNIPPETZ LOOKS TO THE PAST: GREEK MYTHOLOGY by Lindsey Harrison “I think that we need mythology. We need a bedrock of story and legend in order to live our lives coherently.” – Alan Moore, writer In the thousands of years before the internet and Google, people created different ways of passing down information. Whether it be information about certain historical events or possibly ancestral information, people have managed to preserve history through stories, epic poems and representational works of art. We can thank the ancient Greek civilization for much of this practice. If it weren’t for ancient Greek mythology, much of our Western culture, heritage and language wouldn’t exist. With thousands of years of historical accounts to sift through, it’s nearly impossible to sum up this topic in one article. But Snippetz has gathered information about some of the key players to give you a glimpse into the world of ancient Greek mythology. Important historians and writers While there are many writers who contributed to the vast collection of accounts from ancient Greece, one of the earliest and most important writers of Greek mythology and culture was Homer. His epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey remain key sources for the study of Greek mythology. Homer’s contemporary, Herodotus also provided much insight through his accounts of what took place, called The Histories. His reliability is often debated and Thucydides, yet another ancient Greek historian, wrote that his own accounts were based in fact while Herodotus often embellished the truth for entertainment purposes. Gods and Goddesses It’s true that there are many gods and demi-gods that have a place in Greek mythology, but there are only 12 Olympians; gods and goddesses who lived and held thrones on Mount Olympus. Here’s a bit about some of the major gods and goddesses. Zeus – Zeus is the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus and the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. After overthrowing his father, he and his brothers split the universe among themselves; Zeus took the heavens, Poseidon got the sea and Hades took the underworld. While he was married to Hera (who also happened to be his sister) he had several other liaisons and fathered many, many children. From all these offspring, Zeus gave mankind all they would ever need to live in a morally and orderly way. Zeus was originally thought to be a weather god, which is why he is often depicted with a lightning bolt. He controls thunder, lightning, rain and is often said to bring the thunderstorms. Poseidon – Brother to Zeus, he is most known for being the God of the Sea. He is also associated with earthquakes and horses and is the God of Fertility, while his sister, Demeter is the fertility goddess. Apparently, Poseidon is a moody god who would take swift revenge in the form of unruly springs, earthquakes, ship wrecks and drownings. He lives on the ocean floor and rides around in a chariot pulled by horses. Poseidon battled Athena for the city of Athens and in order to gain support from the people there, he threw a spear into the ground and created the spring at the Acropolis. Athena defeated him by supplying the city with the olive tree and named the city Athens, in her own honor. Apollo – Thought to be one of the most important gods, Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto and has a twin sister Artemis. Leto found the floating island of Delos and gave birth to her children there. Four days after his birth, Apollo killed the dragon Python, sent by Hera to hunt Leto to her death. Hera then sent the giant Tityos to kill Leto but Apollo and Artemis joined forces to defeat the giant. During the Trojan War, Apollo sent arrows infected with the plague into a Greek encampment, which angered Achilles. Apollo is credited with Achilles’s death by shooting an arrow through his heel. He is associated with medicine and healing but conversely is also the God of Plague. Additionally, Apollo is the God of Music, Poetry, Oracles, Sun, Medicine, Light and Knowledge. He is father to Asclepius, Troilus, Aristaeus and Orpheus. Hera – Hera is the wife and sister of Zeus. She is generally worshiped as the Goddess of Marriage and Birth. Hera is represented as extremely jealous of Zeus’s many affairs, especially of the children which they produced. She put serpents in Heracles’s cradle; she had a hundred-eyed giant guard Io; and she tried to kill Leto to prevent Apollo and Artemis’s birth. Aphrodite – As the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Physical Pleasure. She was borne from Cronus when he threw his castrated “man parts” into the sea. The ocean began to foam (in Greek, “aphros”) and up came Aphrodite. Zeus saw how irresistible and beautiful she was so to protect her, he married her off to Hephaestus. Aphrodite had several affairs and had children with some of them. Perhaps most notable is her affair with a Trojan named Anchises which resulted in the birth of Aeneas. Athena – Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom, War, the Arts, Industry, Justice and Skill. Her mother Metis is Zeus’s first wife, whom Zeus swallowed due to the fear of Metis giving birth to a son stronger than he. While inside Zeus, Metis made a robe and helmet for Athena. The hammering gave Zeus such an incredible headache that his son Hephaestus offered his help by splitting Zeus’s head open to reveal a fully-grown (and fully clothed in the robe and helmet) Athena. Athena is often portrayed with the Goddess of Victory, Nike. Artemis – Artemis is Apollo’s twin. She is the Goddess of the Wilderness, the Hunt and Wild Animals. She is a very contradictory goddess as she protects women during childbirth but her arrows also occasionally kill them during labor. Artemis was said to roam the mountain forests and undisturbed land with her nymphs as she hunted for lions, panthers and stags. The bow and arrow she carries were made by Hephaestus and the Cyclops. Artemis is said to be responsible for sending Orion and one of her nymphs, Callisto into the sky to remain as constellations. Naturally, Orion became Orion and Callisto became the Great Bear (or the Plough). Demeter – Demeter is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, sister to Zeus with whom she had Persephone. She is the Goddess of Fertility and the Earth, most importantly the various grains. Demeter taught mankind how to sow seeds and plough their harvests so they could work the land in one place rather than travel to find food. When Hades abducted Persephone and took her to the underworld, Demeter wandered the earth looking for her. Zeus sent Hermes to the underworld to bring Persephone back but before she left, Hades gave Persephone a pomegranate. When she ate it, it doomed Persephone to spend one third of each year with her Hades in the underworld. Demeter only lets things grow when she and Persephone are together which explains the dying and rebirth of nature during the seasons. Demeter is usually portrayed with different fruits of the earth and a torch. The torch is thought to represent her search for Persephone. The other Olympian Gods and Goddesses are Ares, Dionysus, Hermes and Hephaestus. Sometimes Asclepius, Heracles, Hestia, Persephone and Hades are listed as Olympian Gods and Goddesses but their inclusion varies from version to version. Issue 631
SNIPPETZ FONDLY REMEMBERS THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF SHOPPING by Lindsey Harrison “What has happened to the good old-fashioned travel agent? I want to go to a really posh travel agent and have them organize everything for me. I don’t want to do things on the Internet.” – Jenny Éclair, comedian In this day and age of do-it-yourself everything, it does make you wonder what happened to those old-fashioned shops that were the backbone of the American economy for so long. People used to go to a butcher to get their meat rather than the meat aisle in the grocery store. The local drug store not only sold prescriptions and candy but you could sit down at the counter and buy a drink from the soda fountain. The local hardware store was more likely to be a mom and pop business rather than a home improvement chain store. Society has opted to forgo small, locally-run specialty shops in favor of massive superstores that boast inventories that could easily make it the best place to ride out a zombie apocalypse. Most of those small stores are gone but Snippetz hasn’t forgotten them! Pharmacies and drug stores The word pharmacy is derived from the root word “pharma,” which was used in similar context as early as the 1400s. Interestingly enough, the original Greek word “pharmakos” is used to describe sorcery or poison. Ominous origins aside, the pharmas of old offered more services than just dolling out medicine. They often provided general medical advice and some services such as surgeries or midwifery. Rather than remembering a drugstore as a place to get medicine or medicinal advice, you might have memories of sliding up to the counter and asking for a soda from the fountain. Why would a soda fountain be found in a pharmacy? The term “soda water” was coined in 1798 and the health benefits of the beverage were being touted as well. In 1819, the first soda fountain patent was granted to Samuel Fahnestock and by the 1880s, it was commonplace to see a soda fountain in your local drugstore. By 1929, 75 percent of American pharmacies and drugstores had soda fountains in them. Their appeal lasted for some time but technology ousted the soda fountain slowly but surely with the advent of drive-in fast food restaurants and bottled versions of the soda fountain drinks. By the 1960s, the fountains were seen less and less often and by the 1970s, not even one third of local pharmacies had soda fountains. Drugstores and pharmacies also often sold candy and sweets, as well as magazines and cosmetics. The modern drugstore often sells much more. You can find small electronics, a place to print out your photographs, a variety of common grocery store items and toys. The pharmacy is often tucked in the back like an afterthought and there is more often than not absolutely no place to sit, enjoy a drink or snack and shoot the breeze with other customers. Malt shops Malt shops were an ice cream and fast food type restaurant that were popular in the 1940s-50s. The term malt comes from malted milk, which was invented in the 1880s by brothers James and William Horlick. Malted milk is made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour and whole milk that is dehydrated and comes in powder form. Its original purpose was for infants or people with illnesses or disabilities to provide a good source of nutrition. The flavor caught on and became very popular when it was mixed with ice cream. Malt shops first appeared in the early 1900s and were usually found in a drugstore where the soda fountain drinks were also served. Eventually malt shops branched out and became their own entity, including food like sandwiches and hamburgers in order to appeal to a broader range of customers. By the time jukeboxes showed up on the scene, malt shops were a popular place for teenagers to hang out, have a snack with friends and listen to the latest hits. In the 1950s, cars were a big deal and teenagers would often cruise up to a malt shops to show off their cars while they ate. Malt shops’ popularity began to fade when the ease of drive-up fast food joints and drive-in movie theaters provided teens a place to stay in their awesome cars while they ate and socialized. Butcher shops As with the old version of pharmacies, the old version of the butcher is not what we typically see today. Butcher shops from the past were commonplace and provided families with the meat they used in everyday cooking. Since their target population was families, they often sold more cuts of the cheaper meats, like kidneys rather than the more extravagant cuts you’d probably see in a butcher shop today. Once meats were prepackaged and placed in the refrigerator aisle at local grocery store, butchery became more of a specialty profession. Shoppers no longer went to them for their everyday needs and the volume of what a butcher was able to sell decreased significantly. Nowadays butchers mainly provide high-quality, expensive cuts of meat like racks of lamb or prime rib. Because they don’t serve the general population as much, they are often turned to for special occasions which makes it difficult for mom and pop shops (as they often were) to make enough money to stay in business. Maybe one day we’ll all remember how fresh their products were, how much better for us their food really was and how important it is to support local businesses and maybe that will lead to a butcher shop revival . . . just maybe. Candy and sweet shops Before the convenience of the convenience store that attracted kids to come spend their money on a relatively small selection of candy, there were candy and sweet shops. These shops were strictly for sweets. You wouldn’t find imitation cheese to pour on stale tortilla chips or a wall lined with every type of cigarette imaginable. Instead, the walls would be lined with such a wide variety of candy that you could get a toothache just looking at it all. You could load up a bag full of jelly beans or licorice or gum drops and walk out feeling like you hit the jackpot. Lately there has been a rebound in shops like this since it’s become trendy to buy candy in bulk, especially for weddings, birthday parties and baby showers. The majority of these new shops are in larger cities, however. Travel agencies Travel agencies trace their origins back to the mid-1700s when banks would provide travel services to their best clients. The first independent travel agency, called Thomas Cook, opened in 1841 and partnered with railroad companies to offer tours and other package travel opportunities to clients. The oldest travel agency in the United States is Brownell Travel, which began operations in the 1880s. This and other agencies gained in popularity with the advent of commercial aviation in the 1920s. The intention of a travel agency or agent is to take care of the preparations for a person’s vacation or trip. They handle the hotel reservations, booking the airline tickets and facilitating transportation at your destination, among other things. They do all the research, price and date comparisons and bothersome paperwork associated with traveling. The Internet has made it significantly easier for a person to plan their own vacation with websites that allow you to bundle airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals and the like. Although the ease of doing so in your underwear is very appealing to some people, others prefer allowing someone else to handle all the dirty work and it’s for reasons such as that that have kept travel agencies in business all this time. It’s clear, however, that they are not nearly as popular as they used to be. Just another sign of the times! Issue 632
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? SNIPPETZ SPIES ON SPIES! by Lindsey Harrison 
“I’ve always wanted to be a spy, and frankly I’m a little surprised that British intelligence has never approached me.”
– Elizabeth Hurley, actress in “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” Humans seem to have an obsession with spies. We love the idea of a highly-trained government operative walking around amongst us mere mortals without showing a hint of who they truly are. It’s incredibly intriguing to imagine that the soccer mom who lives next door is actually working for a secret government agency, tracking down terrorists in between cooking dinner and reading bedtime stories. There are plenty of movies and television shows out there that feature spies. Honestly, there are too many to mention them all here. But Snippetz just had to do some undercover work of our own to scrounge up a sampling of these infamous spies . . . and here they are! James Bond It would practically be illegal to discuss spies without mentioning the James Bond character. Created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953, Bond was featured in 12 novels and two short-story collections. Following Fleming’s death in 1964, six other authors have written Bond novels or stories to continue the spy’s legacy. Aside from the novels, Bond has been adapted for television, radio, comic strips, video games and the most obvious format, film. Bond films represent the longest continually-running and second highest grossing film series. The series began in 1962 with Sean Connery playing James Bond in “Dr. No.” Since then, 23 films have been created in the Eon Production Series and two others (the spoof “Casino Royale” in 1967 and “Never Say Never” in 1983) that were independently produced. The Bond films have featured 13 different actors portraying the spy, who Fleming created as an intelligence officer in the Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6. Bond’s code name is 007 and he was created as a Royal Naval Reserve Commander. Fleming named his character James Bond after a prominent American ornithologist of the same name. He said the name James Bond was “the dullest name I have ever heard.” Fleming wanted his character to have the simplest, dullest, most boring name possible because he liked the juxtaposition of a seemingly ordinary man being used as a deadly weapon by the government. James Bond Snippetz
Austin Powers While not exactly the ultra-suave character portrayed in the Bond films, Austin Powers was a spy nonetheless. And the films have become incredibly popular, considering the initial movie was spoof of the spy flicks (like James Bond) from the 1960s. The films ultimately aim to exaggerate the plots and implausible situations that occur in such movies. The general theme of the movies is that Austin Powers, played by Mike Myers, has to save the world while an evil villain tries to destroy it. The villain in the first two films is Dr. Evil, also played by Mike Myers and is based on the Bond super villain, Blofeld from “You Only Live Twice.” Even though Powers is not attractive in the conventional sense, doesn’t possess the social grace and charisma of James Bond, and often ends up making a fool of himself in some form or another, he wins out in the end. Just like any good spy should! Austin Powers Snippetz
24 We’ve looked at a stereotypical spy character from a film series as well as a not-so-stereotypical spy in a film series. Now we turn to a television series whose run began in November 2001 and has recently announced it will return for another 12-episode event season called “24: Live Another Day” debuting in May 2014. That’s right. We’re talking about “24” starring Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, agent with the Counter Terrorist Unit. The episodes take place over the course of one hour and to emphasize the real-time flow of events, there is a clock displayed on the screen during the show. Typically, Bauer spends that hour doing everything in his power to save his family (who routinely find themselves in some sort of danger) as well as to save the world from terrorists. It’s a show that truly is a “race against the clock.” Bauer is portrayed as a loyal agent who frequently puts his needs aside in order to do what he must to save the country and people living within it. Bauer is not above using torture to gather necessary information which sets him aside from the typical spy hero. 24 Snippetz
Other notable spies
Issue 633
SNIPPETZ SNIFFS OUT SOME TRULY MIXED BREEDS by Lindsey Harrison “Dogs don't rationalize. They don't hold anything against a person. They don't see the outside of a human but the inside of a human”. – Cesar Millan Man’s best friend has always been the dog. Their loyalty and unconditional love make them the perfect companion at the end of a long day or lonely week. Maybe you prefer the smaller breeds that fit into your favorite handbag so you can tote them around on all your shopping trips. Or maybe you are drawn to the larger breeds that lounge around all day until the doorbell rings and then they lose their minds barking in an attempt to protect their family from that scary visitor. There are many different breeds that can fit with just about any personality or preference. Many are considered “designer” dogs because they are specifically bred for certain traits. What are some of these so-called designer breeds? Which ones are currently the most popular? Leave it to Snippetz to hunt down these dogs and round them all up in one place just for you! Goldendoodle Goldendoodles are a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle and are an extremely popular mixed breed. Over the last 10 years, Goldendoodles have risen in popularity ranking from No.159 to No. 31. Because Poodles come in a range of sizes, Goldendoodles also fall into three main size-ranges: miniature (15-30 pounds), medium (30-45 pounds) and standard (45-100 pounds or more). Knowing what size Poodle your Goldendoodle was bred from can make it easier to predict the full-grown size of your animal but because they are cross-bred, there is no guarantee that your Goldendoodle will fall into a specific weight range. Goldendoodles are typically intelligent, friendly and sociable. Their moderate activity level requires that they have ample exercise and playtime each day. Larger Goldendoodles tend to be more active and can actually make great competitors in agility competitions. Poodles are often touted as being hypoallergenic and because Goldendoodles are their descendants, they are often considered to be more so than some other cross breeds. However, allergies are caused by the animal’s dander, not their fur so while some breeds may cause a milder allergic reaction, there is no guarantee that the dog you purchase is completely hypoallergenic. Goldendoodles can come in a variety of colors and make great companion dogs. Even though they can be on the larger side of the size spectrum, they should live inside with their people. Puggle The Puggle is a cross between a Pug and a Beagle. Since 2002, the breed has risen in popularity ranking from No. 157 to No. 69. Puggles are full of energy and very playful but are often stubborn and uncooperative. Beagles are often independent and tend to roam, making them hard to contain at times and it’s said that breeding them with Pugs was an effort to dampen their wandering urge. However, Pugs are said to be extremely stubborn at times and coupled with the wide willful streak of the Beagle, Puggles can display the worst of both breeds. More often than not though, Puggles are happy, playful and eager to please. Because of their rising popularity rate, Puggles are often bred in puppy mills where the living conditions are poor and the animals are not treated well. It’s important to know where your Puggle comes from to have the best chance of raising a happy, healthy animal. Both Pugs and Beagles are known for having healthy appetites and are prone to becoming overweight if their food intake isn’t properly managed. Puggles often end up weighing close to 30 pounds rather than the often-anticipated 15-20 pound animal even when their weight is properly managed. Color-wise, Puggles can greatly vary in their appearance even within the same litter. They make great indoor dogs and should always live with their people inside. It might be tempting to give your Puggle the boot outside on a mild summer night, especially if it tends to snore as many do, but they aren’t equipped to spend their nights outside. Labradoodle We know this one might be hard to guess but the Labradoodle is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and Poodle. This breed’s popularity ranking has jumped from no. 117 in 2002 to No. 38. Wally Conron, the head breeder for the Australian Guide Dog Association in 1989, is credited as the first person to intentionally breed a Labradoodle. Labradoodles were originally bred as an attempt to create a hypoallergenic dog that could be used in service work, such as a guide dog. But as with Goldendoodles, there is no guarantee that a Labradoodle will no cause an allergic reaction. Just as with the Goldendoodle, Labradoodles come in three size ranges: miniature (15-30 pounds), medium (30-45 pounds) and standard (45-100 pounds or more). And as with the Goldendoodle, there is no way to guarantee the size of the Labradoodle you’ll end up with. Labradoodles have a moderate activity level and the larger animals tend to be more active than the smaller ones. They are very smart, sociable and learn quickly. As with the previous two breeds, Labradoodles need to live indoors with their people. Maltipoo The Maltipoo is a mix between a Maltese and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. Since 2002, the breed has jumped in popularity ranking from No. 116 to No. 48. The breed is small, playful and smart, often remaining puppy-like well into its adult years. Maltipoos can be very yippy, barking even when it’s not necessary which can be both a blessing and a curse. Their small size, usually weighing only about 10 pounds, might not do much to deter anyone intent on getting inside your house, but the noise can be off-putting to anyone looking to make a stealthy retreat with your valuables. This breed comes in a variety of colors but typically has a white or cream-colored coat. The texture can either be slightly scruffy like the Maltese or curly like the Poodle. These dogs are usually good with people and other dogs but their temperament, activity level, size, color, etc. greatly depends on what they have inherited from their parents. Often they do best with older children who know how to handle them gently. Maltipoos belong inside with their people not only because of their size but because they are very social animals that prefer to have human company. Other mixed breed Snippetz We’ve outlined some of the most popular mixed breeds to date but there are more and more combinations being born every day. Here is a sampling of some of the lesser well-known breeds . . . and these are just a few of the combinations that have been successfully bred! If you’re looking for a good laugh, do an Internet search on some of these unusual breeds. If their name doesn’t make you chuckle, their appearance certainly might!
Issue 634
THAT'S A WRAP! SNIPPETZ SHARES OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES by Lindsey Harrison “Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?” – Clark Griswold, The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation The days are getting colder, the nights are getting longer and the holiday season is upon us once again. You’re probably thinking of what you can do to pass the time cooped up in the house. Chances are, you’ve contemplated watching a movie or two. Why not? The nights are perfect for snuggling under a warm blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and watching your favorite Christmas films. With such a variety to choose from, you might find it difficult to narrow it down to just a few. We at Snippetz feel your pain. There are so many great movies out there that celebrate this wonderful holiday, picking our favorites was quite a feat. In fact, we had to narrow the list down to just MY favorites because there was no way we’d all agree! So here are my top Christmas movies of all time, in no particular order because it would be nearly impossible to rank them; that’s how good they are! How the Grinch Stole Christmas! I’m watching this movie as I write this so I’m listing it at the top. How could you possibly NOT include the original animated version, narrated by Boris Karloff? The movie, based on the book by the legendary Dr. Seuss, features the grumpy Grinch who lives high on a mountain above Whoville. He spends year after year listening to the Whos celebrate Christmas and finally decides he’s had enough. The Grinch turns his poor dog Max into a one-horned “reindeer” and fabricates a lousy excuse for a Santa Claus suit and sets off for the sleeping homes in Whoville to steal Christmas and “keep it from coming.” He thinks he has succeeded once he’s taken literally everything from each house in Whoville but the Christmas spirit in the townsfolk can’t be dampened and Christmas comes anyway. The Grinch learns that “Christmas doesn’t come from a store;” that it actually means just a little bit more. And in the end, the Grinch surrenders himself to the Christmas spirit. Sheer animated perfection. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (see photo above) Poor Clark Griswold. All he wants is to have the best Christmas light display in the neighborhood and to get his holiday bonus so he can buy his family a swimming pool. But in typical Clark Griswold fashion, nothing happens according to plan. Not only is the tree Christmas tree he cuts down so massive it engulfs the family’s living room, but Clark’s good-for-nothing brother-in-law shows up in a camper, family in tow, to crash the holiday celebrations. Everything goes wrong, as it typically does for Clark and even though he manages to get his light display to work, he ends up with a “Jelly of the Month” membership from his boss, rather than his holiday bonus. Everything turns out fine for the Griswolds in the end but not without plenty of chaos including an out-of-control sledding trip and a brief kidnapping. Everyone can feel much happier about their own family holiday mishaps after watching this one. A Christmas Story I couldn’t be happier that this one is shown for 24 hours straight during Christmastime! I could watch Ralph plot ways to secure a Red Ryder BB Gun that has “this thing which tells time.” And every time someone tells him he’ll shoot his eye out, I can imagine the devastation he must’ve felt. The best part about this movie, in my humble opinion, is not so much his struggle to find a way to get what he wants but in watching his dysfunctional family get through the holidays. His dad wins “a major award” in the shape of a ghastly lamp that he insists must take center stage in the family’s front window. His long-suffering mother, who never manages to eat a hot meal, has to practically force-feed her youngest son Randy his food. And in the end, after all the anticipation and breath-holding, Ralphie gets his BB gun and the holiday season winds down in an extremely relatable manner . . . minus the roast duck for Christmas dinner. The Nightmare Before Christmas Although the image of a singing skeleton may not say “Christmas” to many people, to me it does. My family went to see this movie in the theater on Christmas Eve the first year it was out. I was 10 and I can still remember being amazed at the creativity and imagination put into making that movie. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, and his dream to bring his twisted version of Christmas to the world is by far one of the most unique ways to illustrate the holiday season. In fact, it’s become a cult classic so much so that people (like me) watch it year ‘round just to enjoy the fantastic visual effects of Tim Burton’s claymation genius. The Muppets Christmas Carol I’m pretty sure Charles Dickens didn’t envision the Muppets playing the characters of his classic “A Christmas Carol” story. But he’s probably glad Jim Hensen made that call. Having a timeless story like that told in a way that is accessible to people of all ages makes important literature remain relevant. What’s not to love about a grumpy old man being shown his past, present and future Christmases to help him realize what Christmas is truly about? It’s a great learning experience and when the Muppets are thrown in the mix to act as the harbingers of the lesson Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is to learn, you have the trappings of a great holiday classic. Elf Relatively new to the Christmas movie scene is the movie “Elf” starring former Saturday Night Live cast member Will Ferrell. This movie follows the adventures of human who was raised by Santa’s elves at the North Pole. Buddy the Elf thinks he’s an elf but being over six feet tall, he finds it hard to fit into the elf lifestyle. He finds out the truth about himself and sets off on an expedition to find his real father. The trek takes Buddy to New York where he has to learn to adjust to the cynical, not-so-Christmasy ways of his father and his father’s new family. In the end, Buddy actually convinces his family and all of New York, in fact, that Santa exists and that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Naturally, any movie starring Will Ferrell will have its fair share of hilarity and Elf is no exception, which is why it found its way onto my Christmas favorites list. It’s A Wonderful Life I am positive a certain friend of mine would disown me if I didn’t include this movie on my list but to be honest, I’ve only seen it once. I wrote about it last year for Snippetz and obviously had to watch it in order to do so. But I have to say, I really liked it. George Bailey has had to give up his dreams in order to help others around him and he has finally had it. He is determined to commit suicide on Christmas Eve when his guardian angel intervenes to show him what his life has meant to the people of the small town of Bedford Falls. In the end, George realizes that it really is a wonderful life even if things don’t come wrapped up in a nice little package like you’d hope they would. Other notable Christmas favorites
Issue 635
SNIPPETZ CELEBRATES NEW YEARS AROUND THE WORLD by Lindsey Harrison “Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Goran Persson, former Swedish prime minister Everyone has their own traditions when it comes to ringing in the New Year. Some gather with friends and family to eat, drink and watch the ball drop in Times Square. Others sit quietly at home with their loved ones and barely stay awake long enough to watch the fireworks display from the top of Pikes Peak at the stroke of midnight. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it. But what do people in other parts of the world do? Snippetz was curious so naturally, we’re conducting our own celebration investigation and here’s what we found! Celebration commonalities Much of what people focus on during their New Year’s celebrations has to do with luck and prosperity. Food plays a huge part in that type of celebration. For example, many people have heard of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day as a way to bring prosperity. Black-eyed peas swell when they are cooked which is said to symbolize prosperity. In other places like Brazil, lentils are cooked and eaten which is supposed to bring wealth in the coming year. Other similar celebration traditions include banishing bad spirits in an effort to make room for good spirits to come into your life during the New Year. In Austria, evil spirits are chased away by firing mortars. And what would a New Year’s celebration be with lots and lots of noise? Just about every celebration involves some sort of noisy merriment, as well it should. For example, in Armenia, it’s customary for children to gather in groups and go around from house to house, singing songs about the New Year to their neighbors. A world of celebrations There is literally a world of celebratory traditions out there that people use to ring in the New Year. Here are some of the more interesting ones that may not be in your New Year’s celebration repertoire yet but perhaps you’ll find a new tradition or two to add this year! Austria – On New Year’s morning, molten lead is poured into a bucket of water to see what shapes, called bleigiessen, the lead makes. A soothsayer interprets what is seen and makes predictions about the upcoming year. A word of warning, however; if the lead takes the shape of an old woman, it is a bad. Germany – Germans, who perform the same molten lead tradition as the Austrians believe that if the lead takes the shape of a heart or a ring, it means a wedding will take place. If it forms a ship, it signifies a journey. A pig indicates that there will be plenty of food in the upcoming year. They also leave a small bit of food on every plate they eat from on New Year’s Eve until after midnight to ensure they will have a well-stocked refrigerator during the New Year. Carp is especially important to this tradition because it is thought to bring wealth. Brazil – On New Year’s Eve, the priestesses of one of the local indigenous tribes dress in blue skirts and white flowing blouses to celebrate the goddess of water, Yemanja. They load up a boat with flowers, candles and jewelry and push it out to sea from Rio de Janeiro’s famous Ipanema beach. Great Britain – After the stroke of midnight signaling the start of the New Year, the first male to visit your house is supposed to bring good luck. Often visitors bring a gift of money, bread or coal to ensure the family will not be without these items in the year to come. Another warning: if the first person is blond, red-haired or a woman, bad luck could be on your way. Bulgaria – In Western Bulgaria, the Central Balkan Range and some regions of the Danube River, young women perform the rite of Ladouvane on New Year’s Eve. During this rite, the young women of a village put their rings into a cauldron along with oats and barley (symbols of fertility) and fill it with spring water. The rings are then fastened together on a red thread and tied to a punch of perennial plants like ivy or basil. The cauldron is then placed outside and following a ritual dance around it, all the young women have their fortune told. Cambodia – Because the people of Cambodia us the Indian Calendar, their New Year comes in April and their festivities last for three days. It’s called Chaul Chnam Thmey. During this time, people clean and decorate their houses and set up an altar to Tevada Chnam Thmey who they believe comes down to earth at this time. People also dump water on each other as a blessing. The water is often colored red, pink or yellow to symbolize a colorful future. Another Cambodian tradition that might have to make its way to the United States is where children give their parents and other elder relatives money as a sign of respect. Who’s with me? Denmark – On New Year’s Eve, it’s tradition to throw old dishes that have been saved throughout the year at the homes of your friends. The more broken dishes you end up with, the more friends you have. Greece – In Greece, New Year’s Day is also thought to be the day when St. Basil died. St. Basil is one of the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church and was said to have been very kind and generous to the poor. In fact, St. Basil’s Day (New Year’s Day) is a more important gift-giving day than Christmas and stories are often told of how St. Basil comes at night and leaves presents for the kids in their shoes. A very important food item on St. Basil’s Day is Vassilopitta (St. Basil’s cake), inside of which is baked a gold or silver coin. The cake is cut into pieces and given out in the following order: St. Basil first, one for the household second and then one for each member of the household starting from the eldest and going to the youngest. Whoever finds the coin in their piece will be lucky in the upcoming year. Hungary – You’ve likely heard of Jack Frost but you may not have heard of Jack Straw, the effigy that represents evil and misfortune in Hungary. Jack Straw is carried around the village before being burned as a way to burn off the bad luck of the previous year on New Year’s Eve. Japan – In order to keep out evil spirits, Japanese people hang a rope made of straw across the front of their houses which symbolizes happiness and good luck. Japanese people also make themselves laugh as the New Year begins as a way to bring good luck in the upcoming year. Of course there are many, many other traditions that help people around the world ring in the New Year. In fact, there are so many that it would be impossible to list all the different kinds here. But hopefully you have gotten a taste of what the rest of the world does in anticipation of the New Year. And hopefully you will find a way to celebrate this time of rebirth and second chances with your family, friends and other loved ones with the knowledge that, no matter how you choose to celebrate it, we at Snippetz wish you a very Happy New Year! Issue 636
SNIPPETZ DRAWS OUT SOME INFORMATION ON BODY ART AND MODIFICATION by Lindsey Harrison “A lot of my friends have tattoos; I realized that it’s not only just a part of pop culture but a bit of a map on someone’s body which says something about people. A part of their life, like an armor or a crest.” – Christian Louboutin, French footwear designer Body modification of one type or another is more common than ever. People boast tattoos and piercings and such methods of personal expression have become almost main stream. While not everyone has jumped on the “body-modding” bandwagon, cultures around the globe have incorporated similar traditions into their everyday practices for literally thousands of years. And naturally, Snippetz became curious. What’s the history of body art and modification? While current trends may appear somewhat abstract or even absurd, ancient societies have long used these trends to indicate wealth, beauty and status. And as always, we’ve compiled some historical information to give you some insight into the practice of body modification. The Iceman Cometh . . . and he has tattoos It’s true that for thousands of years, people have permanently marked their bodies with tattoos. This trend is most definitely not a new one. In ancient times, these drawings and designs always had special meaning for the wearer, whether it be to declare their love of another, to show their faith in a religion or even to punish them for a crime they had committed. In fact, the “Iceman” mummy, found in 1991 in the area of the Italian-Austrian border had tattooed dots and small crosses adorning his lower spine and right knee and ankle joints. And he was carbon-dated at being around 5,200 years old. Why are you tattooed? As mentioned above, tattoos served as designs denoting status, wealth, religious affiliation and other important criteria. But it is also believed that tattoos functioned in a therapeutic role. This idea is strongly supported by the distribution and pattern of tattoos found on ancient Egyptian women who often had them focused around their abdomen and on top of their thighs and breasts. The pattern often resembled a net and is believed to have served as a permanent amulet to sort of keep everything in during pregnancy and to protect both mother and child during labor and delivery. The Maori culture of New Zealand practiced the art of tattooing but focused on the head and face since that was considered the most important part of the body. The tattoos were tapped into the skin using chiseled bone and then a soot-based pigment was rubbed into the wounds. Maori women often had tattoos that centered around their mouths and on their chins which they maintained effectively kept their skin from wrinkling, keeping them young-looking much longer. Women of this tribe performed this practice as recently as the 1970s. Scarification Certain skin types and tones, especially darker ones, tend not to take the colored ink used in tattoos and thus, a related technique emerged called scarification. In this method, small incisions are made in the skin and the skin is lifted slightly to make space for sand or ash to be placed underneath the skin. Patterns are created in this method and when the wounds have healed, raised scars are left behind. Henna A non-permanent form of body art is the art of henna tattooing. These designs are drawn onto the skin using a paste made from the leaves of the henna plant which are dried and crushed. The paste stains the skin leaving behind an orange-brown color. When applied to the palms and soles of the feet, the stain takes on a dark reddish-brown because the skin in these areas is the thickest and contains the most keratin. Henna designs usually last from one to four weeks. Henna is mostly used for special occasions in Africa, Pakistan, India and other parts of the Middle East. Most popular among the traditional uses is the celebration of the Mehndi (henna) Night which occurs prior to a wedding. The bride, her family and friends gather to plays games, listen to music and dance while the bride receives extensive henna patterns on her hands and feet. The ritual can take hours and often requires the work of multiple henna artists. One major advantage of receiving the henna tattoos is that the bride doesn’t have to do any housework while the henna stains are visible. Why didn’t I know about this tradition when I got married? Neck rings Neck rings are a form of body modification typically found in Southeast Asia. Girls begin wearing these heavy golden coils (they look like individual rings but truly aren’t) as early as five years old. It is often thought that the rings stretch out the woman’s neck but in reality, the rings push down on her collarbones, altering the angle of her shoulders, making her neck appear longer. The tradition of wearing the neck rings, which can reach a size of twenty turns, is in keeping with the ideal that beauty can be found in an elongated neck. The explorer Marco Polo was the first to describe this neck elongation practice in the 1300s. Foot binding Foot binding as a form of body modification dates back to ancient China, most likely to the Song dynasty. The practice involves binding a young girl’s feet to prevent growth so they remain tiny and delicate. The ideal foot size was considered to be about four inches and women who endured this painful practice are said to have “lotus feet.” Foot binding was generally done by the upper class because it was completely impractical for a working-class family to basically disable one of their family members. The practice has essentially died, although there are still a few women left with “lotus feet.” Nose plugs This practice can be attributed almost exclusively to the Apatani tribe in the district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Women typically receive facial tattoos and nose plugs when they are very young and are expected to wear the plugs for the rest of their lives. Since the tribe does not keep any written records, it has been hypothesized that the nose plug practice was created in order to make the women unattractive to neighboring tribes. Nose plugs are rapidly losing popularity even though the tradition dates back hundreds of years. Lip plates Lip plates are practiced exclusively by the Mursi, Chai and Tirma tribes of Africa although it used to be much more widespread. Beginning at the age of 15 or 16, young women begin stretching out their lower lip with a series of plates that increase in diameter. Most women will endure the practice until their lip has stretched to hold a 12-centimeter plate although some can handle plates even larger than that. While it is speculated that the purpose of the plate is to signify a rite of passage, others believe wearing a large plate is a beauty standard within the tribes. Body-modding Snippetz
Issue 637
USE IT OR LOSE IT: SNIPPETZ PLAYS SOME MIND GAMES by Lindsey Harrison “The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use, we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.” – Carl Saga, scientist If you’ve tuned in to your favorite show on T.V. lately, you’ve probably seen commercials for brain-training games online that claim to boost your intelligence and help you exercise your brain. As we all know, sometimes commercials stretch the truth a bit to get people to buy their products and it’s safe to say that online brain-training companies are not the exception. But just what exactly do these brain-training sites DO? Can you spend a few minutes each day playing the games they offer and walk away as the next Albert Einstein? Snippetz just had to know: what’s the deal behind all these mind games? So we looked into it to see what we could find . . . and here are the results! Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity may sound like a complicated scientific concept but in reality, it’s fairly simple. It means the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, to reframe a situation or scenario, to think outside the box. It’s the brain’s ability to adapt to changes and make the best of what it has to work with. For example, if one part of the brain is damaged, another part may take over some of the functions controlled by the damaged portion. By reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons, the brain is able to compensate for portion that’s not pulling its weight, so to speak. The brain games you find online or perhaps might even watch on the National Geographic Channel television show “Brain Games” bank on the idea of neuroplasticity. By presenting you with scenarios that might require you to think in a way you might not typically think, your brain is forming new connections in order to reach a desired answer as quickly as possible. Thus, you’re “exercising” your brain. BRAIN GAMES So what are some of these brain game sites and what do they claim to do for you? Here are a few for you to ponder: Lumosity – holds bragging rights as both an online brain-training company and a neuroscience research company based out of San Francisco. The website offers more than 40 games in memory, attention, flexibility, speed of processing and problem solving. The company claims that its brand of brain-training can make you feel “smarter, sharper and brighter.” Brain Metrix – states it is an educational website that can help you process information more quickly and more efficiently by engaging your brain in a fitness program that is both fun and stimulating. The games are touted as simple but effective and the company claims that they can help you perform multiple tasks at the same time. Fit Brains – claims to have the highest quality brain-training games on the Internet. The company’s scientific efforts are led by Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a clinical neuropsychologist and national leader in “Brain Health.” The games on this site come in several forms, including Uber Brain, the company’s “mental cross-trainer.” The site states that their brand of brain-training is “an effective way to build cognitive reserve and increase brain performance.” Do brain games really work? All of the above mentioned brain-training sites claim to be based on scientific evidence that what they provide actually helps your brain. To a degree, this is true but it depends on what your definition of “help” is. For some people, the objective is to make themselves smarter. And the claims made by the online training sites seem to indicate that this is a probable outcome. However, how accurate are those claims? Research has been done to try to determine the effectiveness of these games on a person’s intelligence level and the results point to some interesting information. Some research has shown a rise in skill level on certain brain-training games over time but those games can’t conclusively determine that a person’s intelligence level has risen. Rather, those people became more adept at the games they were given multiple times at increasingly difficult skill levels. That makes sense since ultimately, practice makes perfect! Cheater, cheater chicken eater Another important question is, do the tests really measure intelligence? One game is based on a psychological test called the Stroup test. The test involves identifying the color of a word as quickly as possible. The hitch is that the word is the name of a color that differs from the color in which it’s printed. For example, the word “blue” would show up in red. The brain has trouble because of the conflicting information it receives from what it’s reading and what color it’s seeing. The Stroup test can be very informative of a person’s processing abilities but a person can cheat to beat it, which naturally doesn’t help measure their processing abilities at all. In fact, I found a way to cheat the test in college. I had already learned about it in another class so when a different psychology teacher asked me to demonstrate the test, I unfocused my eyes so I wasn’t able to read the word, only see the color. I passed the test with flying colors (no pun intended) and dumbfounded my poor professor, who also happened to be in his first year of teaching at the college. I don’t recommend this to anyone else because cheating is bad, but as you can see, there are ways to fool some of the tests that are supposed to measure your intelligence. The real world is overrated Regardless of how well or poorly you may do on a test like the Stroup test, how can you apply something like that to a real-world situation? I don’t often find myself confronted with the Stroup test in my everyday dealings. In fact, research has often shown that brain-training is great for getting better at the tests with which you are presented but that there isn’t a significant benefit to a generally healthy adult who embarks on brain-training exercises. It all comes down to the numbers Companies like Lumosity, Jungle Memory, Brain Metrix and others have helped create a multi-million dollar industry of brain training. And those people who are literally buying into the idea of increased mental abilities are making it that way. It’s true that some brain-training exercises on some sites are free but some sites require a monetary commitment to gain full access to the games they offer. For example, Lumosity charges $14.95 per month for full access to their site. If you choose a year-long commitment with them, the rate drops to $6.95 per month and a two-year commitment brings the rate down to $4.99 per month. If you want unlimited access for your entire life, you can opt to make a one-time payment of $299.95. Since there’s no indication that these sites can actually improve your mental capabilities, it might be better to just buy a video game console instead. Why? Research has shown that people who play video games have more short-term memory abilities and increased reasoning skills. And all these years, we thought video games were supposed to rot our brains when we all should’ve been playing them this entire time! Who knew? Issue 638
SNIPPETZ HAS A GROWING CURIOSITY: HOMEMADE GREENHOUSES by Lindsey Harrison “There’s nothing I like more than picking fresh vegetables then putting them in the dinner you make that night.” – Patrick Duffy, actor With the rising cost of foods today, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, more people are turning to gardening as an alternative to buying those items from the store. In Colorado’s harsh winters and often drought-plagued summers, keeping your plants healthy and happy throughout the year can be quite a challenge. It’s far from impossible, though. So what’s the solution to this conundrum? Build a greenhouse! They are climate-controlled, can be customized to fit whatever size space you have available and can be used year-round to allow you to keep an ample supply of your favorite fresh fruits and veggies at hand. Feeling confident that erecting a greenhouse is more complicated than it sounds, Snippetz decided to research some homemade greenhouse options and compiled it all right here, just for you! The basics There are two very important elements to any greenhouse: the frame and the covering. The frame must be sturdy enough to hold up the covering and leave enough room inside for the plants to grow. The covering must be transparent enough to allow sunlight in to help the plants grow up solid enough to keep the heat trapped inside. Knowing what you plan to do with your greenhouse is also a key element when determining how to build your greenhouse. Some people want to extend their growing season of plants that can be easily found in their climate during the growing season. Others wish to grow plants found outside their climate range which can be a bit more difficult. With the right materials, both options are viable. Getting started Size, location and materials are essential considerations to make when choosing how to build your greenhouse. Knowing that a small stream tends to form directly along one of your fence lines in hard rainstorms makes that area an easy one to eliminate. Also, taking into consideration weather phenomena like extreme wind or heavy snow is very important when determining what your greenhouse should look like and be made of. Once you know what you want to grow and how much space you need to grow it, you can begin to assemble the materials necessary to construct your greenhouse. Here are some guidelines for getting the right materials based on what you plan to grow. For the person who wants to extend the growing season or boost the longevity of their seasonal plants, plastic sheeting should suffice for a covering for your greenhouse. It is the least expensive type of covering and the easiest to use. Light transmission is limited as is heat retention which limits your growing capabilities, especially for plants outside your climate range. Plexiglass or another hard, clear plastic is a great choice for anyone wanting to not only grow things within their own climate range but even a range out two outside of it. The problem is that the sheets tend to yellow over time and may need replacing but if the frame is sturdy enough, the project isn’t too difficult or expensive and the results of what you can successfully grow are worth the effort. Fiberglass is another alternative covering that provides maximum strength through a lightweight material. It provides decent light and heat penetration and will allow you to grow plants from most climate zones. This material tends to be more costly which might put it out of the typical do-it-yourself greenhouse builder’s budget. For the die-hard gardener with a larger budget, tempered glass is by far the best option. It provides the best light penetration and won’t yellow over time. It is definitely heavy and can be more susceptible to breakage, especially during massive hailstorms like the ones that ravaged our area over the past summer. It is more expensive but allows you do grow just about anything you want. The covering you choose typically determines what framing material you’ll use. For plastic sheeting, just about any frame from wood to aluminum will work. For glass, aluminum is a better, sturdier construction material. Wood works best for plexiglass or fiberglass. Buy or build? That is the question . . . Building your own greenhouse may sound like a great idea. Some people can manage that type of construction and labor while others might prefer the option to have someone else do all the building. That’s where a pre-fabricated greenhouse may come into play. Both are viable options and each have their own merits. As mentioned above, there is a fair amount of work and planning necessary when you choose to build your own greenhouse. However the cost could be significantly less which makes that option pretty attractive to a lot of people. Here are of the pros and cons to each option to help make your decision based on what will work best for you. Pre-fab – this option requires a smaller time commitment from you because what you see in the catalog or in the store is what you’re going to get. You might have to do some construction if you purchase a DIY kit but you’ll still be saving yourself the time to compute the amount of materials necessary plus doing all the cutting and measuring to get it just right. Often pre-fab greenhouses are very sturdy structures although you will need to consider the quality of the product you’re purchasing; you get what you pay for, after all. The end result will likely be a very professional product which appeals to many people and might be a requirement if you live in a covenanted neighborhood that won’t allow for the more rustic, “homemade” look of a greenhouse you slapped together yourself. Homemade – this type is a larger time commitment than a pre-fab building but allows you great control over what the structure will look like. How much space you have, the style you prefer, even the materials you use are entirely up to you. Speaking of materials, the cost difference between homemade and pre-fab greenhouses often numbers in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Purchasing materials individually rather than in a kit or already built allows you to shop around for the best bang for your buck. You can also build your greenhouse to withstand any unusual weather conditions your area might endure rather than trusting a company in California to know what Colorado winters are like. The starter greenhouse A good way to begin your foray into greenhouses is to try something a little less expensive and less permanent. A lean-to greenhouse is the perfect option. It utilizes the insulated wall of an existing building as the foundation for the whole structure. And it’s just like it sounds; a structure that essentially leans into that one insulated wall and everything else is built up from that. Framing out the structure using that insulated wall allows you to use whatever materials in whatever amount you can afford to build a greenhouse in a smaller, starter size. You can test the waters of an extended growing season without emptying your wallet to build a new structure. The insulated wall helps keep the temperature warm enough to keep plants growing past their prime growing time. If you plan to build this against your house, which is the typical placement of this type of greenhouse, be advised that not all locations will allow for this type of structure. Do you research to know what’s allowed and what’s not and what you’ll need to pull it off. Issue 639
SNIPPETZ HAS COOKED UP A SIMPLE GUIDE TO BAKING by Lindsey Harrison “Most recently, I learned another hobby: baking. It’s so much fun to mix all the ingredients and to see the cake come out nice. It’s so rewarding when the cake comes out great and tastes great.” – Yani Tseng, athlete A few months back, I took a bread-baking class with my mother-in-law and since then, we have both discovered a passion for cooking and baking. Admittedly, her passion has much more skill to back it up but I enjoy baking and creating food even if it’s not always the most appetizing once it’s done. But my bacon and cheddar-filled French rolls were a hit at Christmas so I must have at least a teeny bit of talent tucked away somewhere. And I know I’m not the only person out there who enjoys doing something like baking that doesn’t come naturally to them. So we at Snippetz decided to offer up some guidance to all those budding Julia Childs and Betty Crockers out there who are tired of serving burnt cakes and rock-hard biscuits to their families. Here is our simple guide to baking! Up Here, the Air is Rare Most recipes are developed for use at sea level. In Monument, though where the elevation is about 6,975 feet, baking can be difficult. Why? Here are several reasons: The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure. When the pressure is low, food takes longer to bake. You may need to adjust the temperature, the baking time, or both. Liquids also evaporate faster so adjustments need to be made to the amounts of flour, sugar and liquids that you add to avoid mixing up a batter that is too moist, too dry or gummy. Gases expand more than at lower altitudes so dough tends to rise faster. You may need to adjust the rising time and physically punch down the dough during the rising process, or you may need to add less leavening ingredients (like baking soda or powder). Most prepackaged mixes for baked goods offer advice for how to successfully bake their product by indicating what changes need to be made. Heed that advice! Common Baking Problems Perhaps you’ve tried your hand at baking something from scratch only to have your creation come out inedible. Here are some common baking problems you might encounter and a few ideas for how to combat them. Cakes – often cakes baked above 5,000 feet will rise nicely during baking but may cave in or fall when you take them out. Sometimes they may be coarse or crumbly. You can strengthen the batter by reducing the amount of sugar you use or by adding eggs, egg yolks, or just a bit more flour. Pies – pies are slightly easier to deal with at higher altitudes but often the crust is too dry and the top gets burned before the filling is completely cooked. Adding more liquid to the crust can help but too much liquid can cause the crust to become tough. Loosely covering your pie with foil can keep the top from burning. Cookies – cookies baked at our elevation are typically fine but sometimes they spread too much or come out a little tough. Experiment with using less sugar, leavening or fat, or adding a little more liquid and flour to your recipe to see what works best for your altitude. Too much flour can make the cookies tough so be careful with that ingredient. Sometimes the answer is simply to increase your oven’s heat by 15°F or 25°F. Muffins, scones, biscuits, cornbread, etc – with baked goods such as these, a common problem is that the batter doesn’t rise properly. To combat this, you’ll want a more acidic batter so use less baking soda which neutralizes acid. If your batter keeps collapsing, use less sugar and increase the flour you add. To prevent your creation from being too dry, you can substitute buttermilk or yogurt for water. As with pies, the top may cook faster than the batter underneath so using foil to cover the pan loosely can help. Yeast breads – breads of this sort tend to rise much faster at our high altitude so ingredient or technique adjustments are often a must. Some people reduce the amount of yeast or use ice water instead of warm water in their recipes. Others will punch down their dough more often and allow for a longer rising time to balance it out. “Over-proofed” bread dough (one that has risen too much) is a common problem and can cause the dough to warp, collapse or droop during baking. To prevent over-proofing, allow the dough to rise about one third of the total volume rather than doubling in volume before baking. And salt is a must; never leave it out. Salt slows down the growth of yeast and the expansion of gases, hampering the rising process to an acceptable speed. Include a pan of boiling water in the bottom of the oven when baking to achieve a good rise and crisp crust. Other High Altitude Baking Tips
High Altitude “Rules of Thumb” In general, the following adjustments will work to prevent some of the problems we listed above.
Remember that all of the above suggestions are just that: suggestions. The absolute best way to determine what will work for your area is to try different techniques and adjustments. Only adjust one thing at a time or you won’t know what adjustment was the correct one! And above all, HAVE FUN! |
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