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Issue 660
GAMING EVOLUTION: SNIPPETZ TAKES A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES by Lindsey Harrison 
“Video games are bad for you? That’s what they said about rock-n-roll.”
– Shigeru Miyamoto, Japanese designer Looking at today’s video games, it’s probably hard to envision the humble beginnings from which they came. Gone are pixelated images of space ships or street fighters moving jerkily across the screen. Now, we have video games that can actually create a character that looks exactly like we do. The good old days of having to screw in the video game console to the back of your huge boxy television are gone. Gaming consoles have their own input spot out of many built into our massive flat screen TVs. It’s true, gaming technology has definitely evolved. But where did it all begin? How did we ever think the technology we had back then was so great, given what we’ve got now? Snippetz wanted to find out where the obsession with video games began and as always, we’ve put it all together for you right here! WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN? Most of us have probably heard of the video game, Pong. And most of us probably think that was the earliest form of in-home video games out there. But there were actually a couple other games (and gaming consoles) that came before that. While there’s a lot more out there that we could talk about when it comes to video games and gaming consoles, we’ve hit some of the highlights for you here. 1961 – Programmer Steve Russell created a game in which two players were competing against each to see who could outlast the other. The game involved each player controlling a small “space” ship that spun around a gravity well in the center of the screen, shooting at each other. The game was called Spacewar! and essentially marks the start of the video game era. 1962 – Ralph Baer, a German television engineer and his colleagues at Sanders Associates developed the first video game console that worked in conjunction with a standard TV. The console allowed players to engage in a “chase” game in which two players controlled two squares that chased each other on screen. The initial game was updated to include a light gun and by the time the console, called the Brown Box, reached the apex of its development, it supported a total of 12 different games. 1972 – Magnavox started production of its own video game console, called the Magnavox Odyssey (see photo above) after seeing a presentation by Baer’s team of the Brown Bow. The Magnavox Odyssey was marketed to Magnavox TV dealers and boasted 12 games, played using one of six different cartridges, all of which featured dots and lines on the screen. Due to a false rumor that the console only worked with Magnavox TVs, the system’s popularity suffered. At this time, Nolan Bushnell founds the Atari Company. 1975 – After realizing that the arcade version of Pong was a huge success, Atari creates a home version of Pong that they sell in Sears store under the label Sears Tele-Games. Pong’s innovative features included a single gaming chip that allowed for an on-screen score of the game as well as sound for when the ball hit the paddle. Atari’s status as a house-hold name in video games has begun. 1977 – The Atari 2600 (originally named the Atari VCS) is released. Bushnell, who sold Atari to Warner Communications in 1976, realized that a cartridge-based gaming system that allowed for multiple game play on a single console was the way of the future and decided to create a new console, the Atari 2600, to achieve this. Games such as Space Invaders, Breakout, Missile Command and Combat helped the console gain massive popularity. 1980 – To combat Atari’s niche in the market, Mattel released the Intellivision which featured slightly better graphics than the Atari 2600 and also included synthesized voices within the games it supported. Third-party game developers like Coleco and Activision showed interest in being a part of the Intellivision and Atari 2600 but had to compete with a huge influx of unlicensed game production and new home systems like ColecoVision, Atari 5200 and Vectrex. The massive amount of competition led to a major video game industry crash in 1983 and 1984, with many of the gaming companies forced to file bankruptcy. 1985 – Originally formed as a Japanese playing-card company, Nintendo develops and releases the Nintendo Entertainment System in the U.S. Although retailers were skeptical at first, the system became a huge success, built on the backs of games like Super Mario Bros., Metroid and The Legend of Zelda. Stricter licensing policies led to higher-quality third-party game development and the system, with its many games and cartridges, began to break sales records and eventually secured the title of the best-selling game console in video game history. 1989 – Nintendo introduces the Game Boy. As the first major handheld came console, the Game Boy and its hit game Tetris set the stage for portable video gaming for the coming years. 1990 – SNK debuts the Neo-Geo. The console was considered years ahead of its time, featuring detailed 2-D graphics that far surpassed its competitors’ graphic capabilities. However, it was a bit costly at $650 for the system and $200 per game. 1991 – Nintendo releases the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Piggy-backing off its previous hits like Super Mario Bros., the SNES introduced games like Donkey Kong Country and surpassed the other comparable gaming consoles at the time to become the best-selling system of its kind in the U.S. 1995 – Sony debuts the PlayStation. It features three-dimensional games and CD-ROM technology which helped bring down the price of games from the cartridge games. Popular game titles included Resident Evil, Gran Turismo, Crash Bandicoot and Metal Gear Solid. 1996 – Nintendo fires back at Sony by releasing the Nintendo 64, which marks the last widely-produced and marketed gaming system to use game cartridges. Although the price point for the cartridge games was higher, the loading time versus that of the CD-ROM games was lower and the cartridges were able to store game play data while CD-ROM systems required a separate memory card. Popular games included The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye 007. 2000 – Sony introduces the PlayStation 2, featuring backwards-compatibility for the first time, allowing players to play old PlayStation games on the new console. The system also functioned as a DVD player. Popular games included the Grand Theft Auto series and Final Fantasy. 2001 – Microsoft decides to throw its hat into the ring with the Xbox, which featured PC technology to allow for greater performance. Although its popularity wasn’t as high as the PlayStation 2’s, its greatest success came in the form of the game Halo: Combat Evolved, which proved to be one of the most popular ones in video game history. 2002 to 2005 – Nintendo releases the Game Boy Advanced and then the Nintendo DS, both handheld systems that featured PlayStation2’s backwards-compatibility; and Sony releases the PlayStation Portable, another handheld system that included wireless capability. 2005 – Microsoft releases the Xbox 360, with a slimmer design, wireless controllers and an enhanced online experience through the Xbox Live service. 2006 – Nintendo debuts the Wii console, which uses a wireless remote control that detects movement in three dimensions. A new era of gaming has developed! With more gaming consoles on the horizon, it’s a guarantee that we haven’t seen all there is to see in the world of video games . . . and we at Snippetz are excited to see what the future holds! Issue 661
BATTER UP! SNIPPETZ TAKES AN HISTORICAL LOOK AT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARKS by Lindsey Harrison “The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.” – Jackie Robinson By now, baseball season is in full swing . . . pun intended. Fans have flocked to the stadiums around the country to cheer on their favorite teams. And maybe you’re one of those fans. Maybe you’ve found the joy in sitting on a hard seat, the sun in your eyes and the smell of hotdogs grilling from the vendors all around you. Perhaps that cute little girl sitting behind you kept kicking your seat but you were too wrapped up in the excitement of the game to really care. Or maybe the couple in front of you wouldn’t stop kissing but instead of getting annoyed with the constant lip action they were giving each other, you tried your best to keep the wave going as it circled the stands. The game drew you in and the stadium intoxicated your senses. Fans have known for years that the stadium itself is just as important as the game being played in it. What do they know that maybe you don’t? Snippetz wanted to find out! Wrigley Field The Chicago Cubs have played out of Wrigley Field since 1916. The stadium was actually built for the Chicago Whales to play from. The Whales, a professional baseball team as well, was part of the Federal League, a third Major League that was short-lived. After two seasons, the Federal League was disbanded and all the teams that played in it were as well. Wrigley Field stands as the only stadium originally built for a Federal League team to be in use today. Besides its former status as a Federal League stadium, Wrigley Field also has another notable quality: the ivy covering the walls. In fact, that ivy is so unique to the stadium that it has its own ground rule: any ball caught in the ivy is a ground rule double. How many other stadiums can say that? None, actually. Wrigley Field also happens to be the second-oldest baseball stadium behind Fenway Park. Fenway Park Speaking of Fenway Park, did you know that Fenway Park was home field for more than just the Boston Red Sox? In 1914 and 1915, the Boston Braves also called the ballpark home, although the Red Sox started out there in 1912. The park was actually built for the Red Sox, who started out in 1901 as the Americans. The American League team played out of a poorly constructed, 11,000-seat ballpark called the Hunting Avenue Grounds for ten years before then-owner John Taylor decided they needed more suitable digs. Construction on Fenway Park began in September 1911 and was finished so quickly that the Red Sox were able to play their first game against the New York Highlanders (eventually to become the Yankees) at the park April 20, 1912. The famous “Green Monster,” the nickname for the 37-foot, two-inch left field wall at Fenway Park, was technically constructed when the stadium was built, but wasn’t painted green until 1947. Aside from the Green Monster, Fenway Park is home to another interestingly-named feature: Pesky’s Pole. The pole, on the right side of the field, was named as such because Red Sox player Johnny Pesky, a left-handed hitter, hooked a home run around the pole to win the game. Since then, left-handers have taken advantage of the same tactic to swing the ball around the pole for a home run. Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium, well the old Yankee Stadium was the home of the New York Yankees for over 80 years before the team’s new Yankee Stadium was built in 2009. When the first stadium was built in 1923, it was the largest and most spectacular stadium of its time. At the opening game of the old Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth hit a home run and from then on, the park was dubbed “The House That Ruth Built.” The old Yankee Stadium had a quirk to it that wasn’t replicated when it was rebuilt in 2009 . . . and with good reason. The stadium actually had monuments on the field, which players had to work around in order to play the game. Imagine being a visiting team, having to fight for positions with a monument on the field in order to catch a fly ball. At the current Yankee Stadium, left-handed hitters have a bit of a home-run advantage. There are just 318 feet down the right field line so hitters have an easier time getting a home run down that line. Coors Field It may not be the iconic stadium that either Fenway Park or Yankees Stadium is, Coors Field in Denver is home to our very own Colorado Rockies. And it when first opened, many visiting teams loved the stadium the way we Coloradans do, too. The reason? The ball traveled so well in the thin air that the stadium became known as a hitters’ park. To battle this phenomenon, the Rockies installed a humidor room in which the baseballs are kept that will be used during the games. The humidor keeps the balls from traveling so far. Coors Field is also about 21 feet below the city. Walking into the stadium, there are seats both above and below you. Its low profile and old-fashioned brick construction allow it to blend into the downtown Denver area well. Other ballpark Snippetz
Issue 662
SNIPPETZ SAYS TAKE HEED, AS WE GIVE YOU THE SKINNY ON SKIN CARE by Lindsey Harrison Summer is upon us and the heat is settling in. With simmering days and balmy nights, we’re all opting for a less “buttoned-up” option when it comes to our clothing choices. And with the tank tops, shorts, sandals and sometimes just a bathing suit as the only clothing we’re putting on during the day, our skin is exposed to more of the harmful elements. Whether it’s sun exposure, pollution or a whole day spent digging in the garden kicking up dirt, our skin really takes a beating when we’re outside so much more. Snippetz decided to uncover some information about skin care so you can keep your skin healthy this summer. Apply and reapply Skin care experts agree that the climate in higher altitudes like those in Colorado can wreak havoc on skin. Thin air and exposure to higher amounts of ultraviolet light mean we Coloradans have to be extra vigilant in taking proactive steps to keeping our skin healthy. A major step in doing this is applying sunscreen almost religiously. Using a sunscreen that protects against both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays is key, experts say. UVA rays age the skin, causing sunspots and wrinkles, while UVB rays cause those nasty sunburns. Your best bet is to apply sunscreen every two to three hours. Some experts even recommend applying sunscreen before getting dressed, while you’re in the buff. This way, you ensure that you get every nook and cranny that could be exposed to the sun during your day. The recommendation is to use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, although there is debate about how much more effective anything above 30 really is. As long as you’re conscientious about putting sunscreen on every day and reapplying to prevent a burn, SPF 30 should suffice. If you’ve never gotten a sunburn on your lips, consider yourself lucky. Many people overlook their lips when it comes to sunscreen application, which is why many lipsticks and chapsticks have opted to include SPF properties in their formulas. Not only will a lipstick, balm or chapstick with SPF help prevent a painful sunburn, they can help keep your kips hydrated, an extremely important element to battling our Colorado climate. Many people forget that they have skin on their heads. Even if you have a thick full head of hair, your scalp can still get burned. If possible, the best bet is to wear a hat or scarf to cover that sensitive skin. Wide-brimmed hats can provide additional sun protection for your face and neck, too. But sometimes a hat isn’t a possibility and in that event, experts say to make sure to apply sunscreen to your part and any other areas where you skin may be exposed on your head. Spray sunscreen makes application easy and your scalp will definitely thank you for it! Hydrate Hydration is key to keeping your skin healthy and there are two ways to achieve this: hydrate your skin through moisturizers, masques or toners; and drink water like it’s going out of style. Moisturizers are a necessity in our dry climate, both on your face and your entire body. Finding one that works for you skin may take a bit of time, but it’s essential to keeping your skin healthy. One myth about moisturizers is that they add moisture to your skin and that’s just not the case. They actually aid in holding in the moisture that’s already there. Experts recommend that you apply a moisturizer no more than three minutes after your shower so you lock in the hydration you’ve achieved in the shower and don’t let it evaporate into our thin Colorado air. While you’re at it, why not apply your sunscreen, too? (Hint, hint). We’ve all probably heard the rule that we need to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. But that might be enough. If you drink caffeinated beverages, you need to drink about three times that amount. A good way to keep track of your water intake is to keep a water bottle with you and label certain times on the outside of the water bottle. Doing so helps you see how much water you need to drink by the times marked on the bottle. You can achieve higher levels of hydration by eating things like cantaloupe. This melon is full of beneficial antioxidants and can hydrate the skin from the inside out. Experts said cantaloupe can actually boost the skin’s natural SPF, giving you more protection against overexposure to the sun. Other hydrating foods include cucumber, celery, radishes, tomatoes, watermelon and strawberries, just to name a few. Soothe that sunburn It’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll end up with a sunscreen at some point in time or another. And when that happens, it may seem like there’s not much you can do to bring your skin back to a state of health. Quite the opposite, actually. Aloe vera gels and balms can provide a massive amount of relief and actually help your skin repair itself. Experts agree that when selecting an after-sun gel or lotion, choosing one with aloe vera as one of the first ingredients is essential. Also, steer clear of gels boasting any type of alcohol as an ingredient; alcohol will dry your skin out and can also be painful to a severe sunburn. As soon as you notice that your skin has that tell-tale pink glow indicating a burn, start applying the gel. And as with sunscreen, apply and reapply to help your skin absorb the gel and speed up the healing process. Doing so can often help you avoid that nasty peeling stage and reduce redness and inflammation. Get yearly skin exams Just one blistering sunburn can double your risk of developing melanoma. Even if you’re the world’s greatest sunscreen user and you wear hats and long sleeve shirts and pants all summer long, all it takes is one bad burn to set stage for skin cancer. Getting yearly skin exams by a doctor and performing monthly self-exams can help pick out early warning signs of potentially dangerous growths, moles or spots on your skin. Don’t forget the bugs! This time of year, mosquitoes and other pests are out in full force, especially at dawn and dusk. Bug bites are a nuisance to the skin, leaving welts and bumps that can itch like crazy. But insects can also carry diseases, some potentially fatal. The best thing to do is to stay indoors when insects are at their peak levels of activity, but that’s not always feasible. Using an insect repellent that contains DEET is an effective method to warding off those nasty bugs. However, there are concerns that high levels of DEET can have a toxic effect, especially on children. Many retailers sell insect-repellent bracelets or fans that you can clip to your belt loop to achieve the same effect without having to apply anything to your skin. Other options include using citronella candles or planting insect-repelling plants like catnip, marigolds or horsemint to make your outdoor entertaining areas more livable during the summer months and help you deter any bugs that wants to make a snack out of you. Issue 663
SNIPPETZ TAKES A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES - MOVIE ROLES: COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA by Lindsey Harrison “For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Have you ever watched a fantastic movie in which the actors played their roles so marvelously that you couldn’t imagine anyone else as that character? It’s true that some roles aren’t for everyone. Not everyone could pull off the eccentricities necessary to effectively portray Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies as Johnny Depp did. And not everyone could pull off the intensity with which Mel Gibson infused the role of William Wallace in “Braveheart.” But have you ever wondered what roles famous actors have turned down? Snippetz did and so we decided to find out all about movie stars’ missed opportunities at playing iconic parts in some of our favorite movies. John Travolta vs. Tom Hanks “Life is like a box of chocolates” has been uttered so many times, kids who have never seen the movie can quote it perfectly. But can you imagine what the movie would have been like without Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance in “Forrest Gump?” The fact is, he wasn’t the original actor to be offered the role. John Travolta, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase all turned down the starring role in the film before Hanks had a crack at it. It seems unlikely that the film would’ve had the same impact if one of the original choices had taken the part instead. Travolta has freely admitted his regret at having refused the role but luckily for him, his career hasn’t suffered much. Speaking of Travolta and Hanks, the duo has been up for the same role more than just during casting for “Forrest Gump.” Travolta turned down roles in both “Splash” and “Apollo 13” which Hanks then stepped in and accepted. Both performances were memorable and both films achieved great success. Brad Pitt Speaking of “Apollo 13,” Brad Pitt actually turned down a role for the film in order to star in the movie “Se7en.” His film won an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie while “Apollo 13” received nine Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars. Al Pacino vs. Dustin Hoffman “Say hello to my little friend” is another line that gets quotes again and again. Al Pacino spoke those iconic words in “Scarface,” one of his most notable movies. But can you imagine him has Han Solo in Star Wars? He was offered that role but turned it down and Harrison Ford eventually landed it. Pacino also turned down the lead in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” which went to Richard Dreyfuss. Pacino turned down starring roles in three other movies: “Midnight Cowboy,” “Marathon Man,” and “Kramer vs. Kramer” which all eventually went to Dustin Hoffman. Both Pacino and Hoffman experienced great success following their decisions to either accept or decline the roles. Molly Ringwald The star of iconic 80s movies like “Pretty in Pink,” “16 Candles,” and “The Breakfast Club,” Molly Ringwald found fame even though she turned down two major roles in two classic films. She was offered the starring role in “Ghost” but turned it down and ultimately the role went to Demi Moore. Moore’s performance was extremely successful and the movie was as well. Ringwald also received an offer to star in “Pretty Woman” but turned it down and Julia Roberts went on to be the leading lady opposite Richard Gere. Both Moore and Roberts have found increased fame and success, while Ringwald’s career hasn’t proven to progress beyond those initial three movies. Darryl Hannah Speaking of “Pretty Woman,” Darrly Hannah also had a chance to star in the movie but apparently she didn’t like the idea of playing a prostitute so she turned it down. Hannah had plenty of success and had been quoted as saying that she declined the role because she thought the movie was degrading towards women. In fact, both Meg Ryan and Michelle Pfeiffer were offered the role and turned it down for similar reasons. Neither has lacked for success in their careers due to that decision. Will Smith The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star achieved success in that sitcom as well as the movie “Independence Day” and other films. He was offered the leading role in “The Matrix” but declined. He also very nearly turned down the starring role in the “Men in Black” movies, arguably some of his most successful roles in his career. It’s rumored that his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith convinced him otherwise and for that, all “Men in Black” fans are eternally grateful. Mel Gibson With as prolific a career as Mel Gibson has had, both acting and directing, it’s likely that he would have had to turn down a role or two in his time. One such role was the lead in “The Terminator” which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Gibson also turned down two roles in the Batman movies; the first was the starring role in “Batman” in 1989 which then went to Michael Keaton and the second was the role of the villain “Two-Face” in 1995’s “Batman Forever” which went to Tommy Lee Jones. Gibson had plenty of fame following those roles he turned down. Sean Connery Sean Connery’s portrayal of James Bond in seven of the Bond series movies were unforgettable, to say the least. But he turned down several other important starring roles, including another Bond movie, “Live and Let Die,” which went to Roger Moore. Connery also turned down the role of “Gandalf” in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the role of “Morpheus” in “The Matrix” series, which eventually when to Laurence Fishburne. The latter two roles remained regrettable missed opportunities, according to Connery. Paul Giamatti If you’ve ever watched an episode of the television sitcom “The Office” you probably can’t imagine anyone other than Steve Carell playing the somewhat brainless office manager, Michael Scott. But Paul Giamatti was the first choice for the role in the U.S. version of the show, which is a spin-off from the U.K. series of the same name. While Giamatti might have felt uneasy about starring in a T.V. series rather than in a film, Carell’s career certainly skyrocketed from his performance and he’s found plenty of success in films, not just on sitcoms. Pamela Anderson Sci-fi buffs would probably shudder at the thought of “Agent Scully” from T.V.’s “The X-Files” being played by anyone other than Gillian Anderson. But initially the role was written for someone of Pamela Anderson’s . . . stature. The show would definitely have had a different dynamic. Speaking of Gillian Anderson, she turned down the role of “Lady Cora Crawley” in the British television show “Downton Abbey.” Elizabeth McGovern snagged the role instead. Anderson declined a role in the hit series “Game of Thrones” as well. Paul Shaffer Few people probably recognize the name Paul Shaffer. He was the band leader on the “Late Night with David Letterman” show for nearly 30 years. He also turned down the iconic role of “George Costanza” on the sitcom “Seinfeld.” It’s rumored that he was “too busy” to consider the role and turned it down. Jason Alexander went on to play the role and he played it very well. Perhaps more people would recognize Paul Schaffer’s name if he hadn’t declined that role. Issue 664
SNIPPETZ LIGHTS UP ABOUT NIKOLA TESLA by Lindsey Harrison “I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success . . . such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything. – Nikola Tesla Everyone has heard of Thomas Edison and his inventions that revolutionized the modern world as we know it. But not many know that we had a man who rivaled Edison living just south of Monument in Colorado Springs, creating and inventing things that were way ahead of their times. His name was Nikola Tesla. Although he didn’t spend all his time in the Springs, the area still has a unique connection to the man that some have said brought about the second Industrial Revolution. What was so special about Nikola Tesla? What did he do that earned him such notoriety? Snippetz decided to dig deeper to find out! Early life Tesla was born on July 10, 1856 to Milutin Tesla and his wife, Djuka in Smiljan, Lika in modern-day Croatia. His father was a Serbian Orthodox Priest and his mother is said to be have pretty handy, supposedly inventing her own versions of household appliances. Tesla went to school at the Realschule, Karlstadt in 1873, the Polytechnic Institute in Graz, Austria and the University of Prague. He planned to establish a career in physics and mathematics but electricity soon stole his heart. He got a job as an electrical engineer with a telephone company in Budapest in 1881. That’s where Tesla’s incredible mind kicked into gear. With the help of a photographic memory and the unique ability to visualize anything in three dimensions, Tesla was able to see the solution to a problem he had struggled with for some time. He grabbed a stick and drew a diagram in the sand for the friend who was with him, describing the principle of the machine he was drawing as he went. It turns out, he was drawing the basic blueprints for an induction motor. Tesla and Edison While still in Europe, Tesla joined the Continental Edison Company in Paris where he designed dynamos, which are electrical generators that produce direct current with the use of commutators. Although he was busy working on other devices, Tesla continued to work on his design for the induction motor and successfully built a prototype for it. No one in Europe was ready for his innovative machine and Tesla decided to move to New York to work with Thomas Edison himself. Tesla moved to New York in 1884. While working with Edison, Tesla set to work trying to improve on Edison’s dynamo design. When he told Edison that he thought he could redesign the generators, Edison replied, “There’s $50,000 in it for you – if you can do it.” Naturally, Tesla worked at the task until he achieved what he set out to do and when he told Edison he wanted the money he had earned, Edison said, “Tesla, you don’t understand our American humor.” When it became clear he was never going to get the money Edison jokingly offered him, Tesla quit. Tesla moves one Following his departure from Edison’s company, Tesla joined up with Robert Lane and Benjamin Vale, two businessmen who agreed to finance an electric lighting company called Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing. Through that company, Tesla obtained his first patents in the United States. Unfortunately, Tesla’s inventions weren’t very well received by his partners and the pair forced Tesla out of the company. Over the next few years, he continued his work with alternating current electricity and managed to find two more investors to help him promote his inventions and secure patents. Alfred S. Brown and Charles F. Peck helped Tesla create the Tesla Electric Company in 1887 and helped set up a lab for the inventor in Manhattan. The partnership proved to be a good one for Tesla. Brown and Peck managed to negotiate a licensing deal with George Westinghouse of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company for Tesla’s polyphase induction motor and transformer designs for a total of $60,000 in cash and stock, with royalties of $2.50 per AC horsepower produced by each motor they developed. Westinghouse also secured Tesla’s services for the equivalent of $52,500 per month by today’s standards to act as a consultant for his company for one year. Tesla comes to Colorado Springs Several years and many inventions later, Tesla travelled to Colorado Springs where he would have room to conduct his high-voltage, high-frequency experiments. He set up shop near Foote Avenue and Kiowa Street because that area provided access to a polyphase AC power distribution system and Tesla knew some people who would allow him access to that power, free of charge. Tesla conducted his first experiment at that lab on June 15, 1899 and said that the first spark he recorded was five inches long and very thick and noisy. While in the Springs, Tesla studied atmospheric electricity by observing lightning signals from the receivers he developed. Tesla placed them on top of Pikes Peak and was able to even create his own lightning, the voltage of which reached into the millions and bolts reached up to 135 feet long. When he created this artificial lightning, the thunder from the bolts could be heard in Cripple Creek and people reported seeing sparks flying between their feet and the ground or their hands and the water faucet when touched. Death After a long and successful career, Tesla died on January 7, 1943 in a room at the New Yorker Hotel. An examination of his body indicated that he died of a coronary thrombosis. His life was rich with invention but he had expressed some regret that he never made an attempt to have a relationship with anyone. His work was totally consuming and he didn’t have time for such things, he said. Tesla’s alternating current induction motor is said to be one of the ten greatest discoveries of all time. Tesla inventions and discoveries Tesla’s inventions and discoveries include the following (although with over 700 registered patents, the complete list is much longer):
Tesla Snippetz
Issue 665
SNIPPETZ KNOWS SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA DO, WHAT YOU GOTTA DO! by Lindsey Harrison 
“I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes and six months later, you have to start all over again.”
– Joan Rivers, comedian As humans, sometimes we get to do what we want to do. But most of the time we do what we have to do. Some of those “have-to-do” activities are more enjoyable than others. But sometimes, we flat out hate doing something. Perhaps you dread mopping your kitchen floors. Maybe it’s cleaning your shower that bugs you. Or it could be pulling weeds in your front yard that gets your goat the most. If you’re a living, breathing human being, there’s SOMETHING that annoys you so much, you avoid it as best you can. However, just like anything else, there are some things you can’t avoid forever no matter how much you hate it. And naturally, Snippetz wanted to find out what those dreaded (but necessary) activities are. Since they aren’t the same for every person, we decided to pick some of the most popular ones that hit home for us . . . and here they are (in no particular order). A thorough search through several “Most Hated” lists based on surveys revealed some interesting things that people hate to do. Here are some of the ones that appeared multiple times and a bit about why people hate them so much! Getting out of bed Picture this: it’s a cold December night and you’re dog-tired. You’re in your favorite pajamas and you pull back the blankets on your bed, climb in and get nice, warm and comfortable. But suddenly, you remember something that you must do. Do you get up? What if it can’t wait until the morning? This is just one of several instances where getting out of bed can be a dreaded activity. Others range from getting out of bed in the morning (especially to go to work or when it’s really early) to getting up when you’ve just gotten comfortable. The one that seems to be the most annoying instance of all in reference getting out of bed is when you have to get up because you need to use the bathroom. For some reason, even though using the bathroom is a very necessary activity, people hate getting out of bed to do so. Doing the dishes In some households, the person who does the cooking gets to put up their feet after the meal while the other person cleans up. How likely is it that every person who cooks in each of those households really enjoys cooking? Isn’t it equally likely that they just don’t like cleaning up the dishes afterwards? Even with the advent of the dishwasher many years ago, people still dread doing the dishes. For some, it’s because they just don’t have a dishwasher to make the job a thousand times easier. For others, dealing with the stuck-on, baked-on remnants of a meal is too much to handle. Whatever the reason, doing the dishes is a mainstay on just about every “Hated Activity” list and so we put it on ours, as well. Laundry As with getting out of bed, doing laundry has several facets that seem to bug people enough to rank on the list of most hated activities. In some instances, it’s the actual act of gathering, washing and drying the laundry that makes people cringe. For others, it’s the mind-numbing, never-ending task of folding all those cleans clothes so they can be put away. Some people hate the folding part so much, they avoid it altogether and opt to leave their clean clothes in a laundry hamper at the foot of the bed each night, only to dump them out onto the bed in search of a clean pair of shorts the following morning (but we won’t mention who would do such a silly thing). In the end, most people will break down and fold their clothes, even if they have to do so grudgingly and with lots of bad T.V. to take their mind off the task at hand. Choosing where to eat a meal For those of us who are decisive and know what we like, picking a restaurant to enjoy a meal isn’t such a bad thing. But there are people out there who never seem to be able to make up their mind. And for some reason, that inability to choose is rarely more frustrating than when trying to decide where to eat. The “where-do-you-want-to-eat” conversation can drive the most mentally-stable person over the edge. Maybe it’s because we wait to discuss it until we’re hungry and cranky. Whatever the reason, it’s definitely a conversation many of us will avoid if we can. Making small talk Many of us have been in that uncomfortable situation where small talk was unavoidable. We pretend to be incredibly concerned about the weather or how the Broncos are doing or even what reality T.V. star has gotten thrown in jail again. These awkward and anxiety-provoking conversations can be so uncomfortable for some people that they will go to great lengths to avoid it. In this day and age, where technology abounds, it’s easier and easier to bury your nose in your phone or your tablet to keep from having to (gasp!) engage in small talk with someone. Is it really that bad? To many people, yes. And that’s why it’s on our list of hated activities! Paying bills This one is self-explanatory. Sitting down to assess how much money you have and then watching it seep out of your bank account with every bill you pay can be a seriously depressing activity, especially if the bills outweigh the money you’ve got coming in. Even if you’re doing well financially and there’s plenty of money left over once you’ve taken care of your bills, the act of taking your hard-earned money and “giving” it away can be very unpleasant. But it’s a necessary evil we all face and in order to keep from going bankrupt from avoiding paying the bills, most of us face this activity on a routine basis. It’s really no wonder that this one recurs on most lists of hated activities. Taking out the trash How many times have you gone to the trashcan in your kitchen only to find the lid barely shuts? And how many times have you used that empty can of beans to push down the trash to make sure the lid closes, thus avoiding having to take the trash out . . . at least for a few more hours? We’re probably all guilty of doing this but why? It’s really not such a huge deal in the end. You cinch the bag closed, heave it out of the canister and take it to the receptacle in the garage. What’s the big deal? Even though it’s a simple task, it still ranks high up on the list of things people really hate doing. Other popular hated activities
Issue 666
POLLY WANT A CRACKER? SNIPPETZ TAKES A BIRD'S EYE LOOK AT PARROTS by Lindsey Harrison 
“Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom. We feed them and tame them and think we know them. And yet they inhabit a world which is really rather mysterious.” – David Attenborough, British journalist
Waking up on a Sunday morning to the sounds of birds singing outside your window is arguably one of the most pleasant parts of the summer months in Colorado. We are lucky to have a wide variety of birds that call our fair state home, from the cheerful robin to the mournful mourning dove. But as residents of this beautiful state, we don’t have the privilege to claim any species of parrots. And that’s a shame. There are so many wonderful species of parrots out there and they are each unique and interesting in their own way. Such a beautiful and enigmatic bird deserves a little attention so of course Snippetz decided it was time to take a deeper look at the colorful world of parrots. Characteristics of parrots There are about 372 species of parrots that fall into one of three super families: the “true” parrots; the cockatoos and the New Zealand parrots. They can be easily identified by their strong, curved bill, upright stance, strong legs and zygodactyls clawed feet (meaning they have four toes total with two pointing forward and two pointing backwards). Parrots are generally very brightly colored and often have lot of different colors in their plumage. Cockatoos are the exception to the brightly-colored rule; they range in color from mostly white to mostly black and have a crest of feathers on the tops of their heads that they can consciously move. Habitat Parrots can be found in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the islands of Polynesia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central America, South America and Africa. What’s for dinner? The diet of most parrots consists of seeds, nectar, fruit, pollen, flower buds and sometimes insects or some smaller animals. Parrots have been known to appear to be eating a piece of fruit when they are actually just tearing apart the fruit’s meat in order to access the seeds to eat. Their sharp, curved bill makes an excellent tool for crushing and shredding the outer husk of a seed, which is a great skill to have when the outer husk of that seed is poisonous. They are smart enough to remove the husk they’ve destroyed so they can safely eat the seed inside. Some species will eat clay which can help absorb any toxins they may have ingested during their meal. What did you say? You’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t know that parrots have the ability to mimic human speech. While they aren’t the only birds to have this ability (crows, ravens and jays can, as well) studies have shown that the African Grey Parrot may even be able to associate words with their meanings. One of the most popular African Grey named Alex, was trained to use words to identify objects, describe them and in some instances, answer complex questions about them. Without vocal cords, it seems strange that parrots are able to mimic human speech at all. They achieve this feat by blowing air across their trachea. By changing the shape and depth of their trachea, they can produce different sounds. They can mimic sounds that they hear in their environment, like the sounds of a dog barking or a telephone ringing or even a human’s unique laugh. That’s one old parrot! While small parrots, like lovebirds, hanging parrots and budgies have a relatively long lifespan of up to 15 to 20 years, some of the larger species of parrots like the Kakapo can actually live beyond 80 years. Home sweet home Not surprisingly, in general parrots are like most other birds in that they lay their eggs in a nest. However, some species will choose to lay their eggs in a tree hole, ground tunnel, rock cavity or termite mound. Look but don’t touch While it may be really amazing to see a parrot in the wild while on vacation, it’s illegal to take a parrot from the wild in the attempt to domesticate it. This was done as a way to protect the birds, especially the roughly 130 species on the endangered or threatened list. Currently, there are 19 species of parrots that are recognized as extinct since the year 1600. Another reason for the ban on attempts to domesticate wild parrots is the rise in the feral parrot population. Wild parrots escape their new domestic homes and make a new, wild home wherever they happen to be. This can lead to a spike in their population, almost to the point of becoming a pest due to the threat to the local ecosystem where they’ve settled. It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . It’s a sad truth but some people buy a parrot in the hopes that they will have a new, wonderful pet, only to have to either re-home or euthanize the animal because they can’t handle caring for it. It’s said that caring for a parrot is similar to caring for a three-year-old child. And as parrots mature and experience hormonal surges, they can often display unwanted behavior like biting, screaming and chewing on things. Overall, parrots have been the victims of some misunderstandings when it comes to their care and maintenance. For example, in his book “The Grey Parrot,” author Wolfgang de Grahl relates that some parrot importers actually allowed the birds to drink only coffee while they were being shipped. He claims these transporters thought pure water was actually detrimental to their health, when in fact, the caffeine in coffee is toxic to birds. National parrot pride Parrots are considered sacred in some cultures, like the Moche people of ancient Peru but they also inspire a spirit of nationalism for some countries. The flag of Dominica features a parrot and the St. Vincent parrot is the national bird of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a nation in the Caribbean. Parrot Snippetz
Issue 667
SNIPPETZ GOES ISLAND-HOPPING! by Lindsey Harrison “The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.” – Henry Beston, writer It’s true that the sound of the ocean lapping the shore on a nice, sandy beach is one of the most beautiful sounds on Earth. But here in ocean-less Colorado, it’s difficult to hear. No matter how quiet you are, the ocean is just a bit too far away. And it’s not like you can just drop everything and head to the beach. That would take planning and money and time, which are all sometimes in very short supply. In an effort to bring the ocean closer to you (and entertain you with what we find!), Snippetz has decided to go island-hopping . . . electronically, of course. So if you’re craving a respite from the hectic day-to-day routine of land-locked life, read on! We’ve rounded up some of the best islands to visit in your imagination, as well as a few of the most unique and interesting ones, just to mix it up a bit! Palm Jumeirah We start off our island-hopping journey with one of the most easily identifiable islands around (from the air, at least): Palm Jumeirah. Located in the city of Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, Palm Jumeirah is an man-made archipelago in the shape of a (you guessed it) palm tree. The 16 “fronds” are a little over half a mile long and the whole thing measures about 3.1 miles from the tip of the middle frond to the mainland. Palm Jumeirah was constructed using boulders taken from mountains in the vicinity as well as more than 360 million cubic feet of sand dredged up from the sea floor in the Persian Gulf. Amazingly, Palm Jumeirah won’t be the only palm-shaped island forever. Two more palm-shaped islands are either being constructed or set to be built in Dubai in the near future. Palm Jebel Ali will be twice the size of Palm Jumeirah once it’s completed and Palm Deira will be even bigger than that. But just to up the ante, another project in Dubai called “The World” is slated for construction and will feature a cluster of 300 islands grouped together in the shape of a world map. Ni’ihau This is one island you may only ever be able to visit in your dreams (or through this incredibly well-written article). Ni’ihau, the westernmost of the eight major Hawaiian islands, is commonly called “The Forbidden Isle.” Why? Because it is completely privately owned. In 1864, Elizabeth Sinclair, Scottish by birth but whose family owned plantations in New Zealand, purchased the island from the Kingdom of Hawaii for $10,000. Since then, Sinclair’s descendants have continued to own and maintain the island, and there have been little to no visitors there, although recently the island has permitted tourists on safari to take a trip ashore. The island has a population of about 130 people, all of whom speak Hawai’ian as their native language. Spitsbergen We jump from the most westerly island of Hawaii to the most northerly island of the Svalbard islands, north of Scandinavia. The island is a Norwegian territory and as such, isn’t quite what you might consider a prime getaway location. However, if you’re the type to enjoy the most northerly things in the world, then Spitsbergen is your place! It’s home to the most northerly church, the most northerly airport and the most northerly permanent settlement, the town of Longyearbyen. Spitsbergen is home to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which contains a large variety of plant seeds that are held there for safekeeping in the event of a large-scale disaster. Should something of that nature happen, the seeds from the seed vault could be used to recreate the necessary biodiversity to help nurse our planet back to health. North Sentinel Island We now jump from the most northerly island of the Svalbard islands to the island populated with the most uncontacted people. North Sentinel Island is about 20 miles west of Smith Island, in the Bay of Bengal. Its 28 square miles are completely covered in forest, aside from the beaches that encircle the majority of it. The Sentinelese call the island home and are so incredibly xenophobic (meaning they have an intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries) that they resist all attempts at contact from the outside world. They go to great lengths to defend their island from anyone looking to come ashore that they often shoot arrows at boats and helicopters that try. Because of this hostility, virtually nothing is known about the Sentinelese people. Santorini If you’re looking for something a little less dangerous and a little more like paradise, then Santorini may be just what you need. Located in the Aegean Sea, Santorini is the largest of the islands that make up Greece’s archipelago. Missing are the white sandy beaches of your typical tropical daydream, replaced by the black and red sand beaches you might see in a sci-fi flick. The island itself was created during a volcanic eruption around 1650 B.C. that essentially forced a single large island called Strongyli to implode, creating the smaller islands in the archipelago. The same eruption is what caused the city of Atlantis to be lost to the sea, according to legend. Bora Bora Yet another more idyllic island for vacationing (even if it’s just in your dreams) is Bora Bora. Here you WILL find those white sand beaches that are perfect for kicking back and enjoying your drink of choice. Located in the South Pacific, Bora Bora is the island where you’ll find the thatched-roof huts on stilts out over gorgeous crystal-clear ocean water. The location is so beautiful, in fact that it inspired James Michener, author of “Tales of the South Pacific” to call it the most beautiful island in the world. British explorer James Cook even dubbed it the pearl of the Pacific. With such well-known men raving about the island, it’s no wonder Bora Bora is an expensive place to visit . . . the island knows its beauty and charges a premium to enjoy it! The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca We’ve saved the strangest islands for last: the Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca in Peru. These islands are actually mats of buoyant totora reeds that are about 8 to 12 feet thick and are tethered to each other and the bottom of Lake Titicaca. Some measure about half the size of a football field. The islands are inhabited by the Uros people and it is believed that the tribe was warring with neighboring tribes but couldn’t find land of their own, so they built floating cities in the cold waters of the lake and managed to remain isolated (and unbothered) for centuries. The Uros people initially created their islands about nine miles into the lake but in 1986, a massive storm demolished many of the islands, which forced those people to rebuild their islands closer to shore. It’s estimated that about 1,200 Uros still lived on a string of about 60 floating islands off the coast of Puno. Issue 668
OPEN WIDE! SNIPPETZ TAKES THE PLUNGE INTO THE WORLD OF SHARKS by Lindsey Harrison 
“Considering their impact, you might expect mosquitoes to get more attention than they do. Sharks kill fewer than a dozen people every year and in the U.S. they get a week dedicated to them on TV every year.”
– Bill Gates There’s no point in denying it any longer; humans are addicted to sharks. From the youngsters in the swimming pools all summer long, putting their hands on their heads, singing “Dun dun . . . dun dun . . . dun dun dun dun dun dun,” to the whole families gathering around their TVs during the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, we’re all guilty of the obsession somehow. And rightfully so. The animals are truly amazing. So it should come as no surprise that Snippetz decided we had to choice but to feature these incredibly awesome, incredibly scary and incredibly, well, incredible creatures in our humble magazine. And so, dear readers we hope you get hooked on what we’ve found about sharks! Physiology of a Shark Sharks are truly awe-inspiring creatures. Their physiology is designed to make them efficient hunters, from the tip of their noses to the ends of their tails . . . literally. At the tip of their noses, sharks have nodules about the size of a pimple called the Ampullae of Lorenzini, which sense electricity in the water. Sharks can actually sense the electrical impulses from another creature’s beating heart to help them hone in on their prey. Even though they don’t have ears in the sense that humans or other mammals do, sharks can hear. They have an inner ear that can hear prey from more than 800 feet away. Sharks have also developed a special membrane on the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum which reflects sunlight back into the eye, helping them use whatever light is available (even if it isn’t much) to be able to see better. The waves of pressure created when the object moves through the way is a like a beacon for a shark to know you’re there without ever having to see or hear you! Aside from the standard senses we attribute with most animals, sharks have other senses that aid them in their quest for food. One such sense allows a shark to detect the movement and direction of an object as it glides through the water near them. As if that wasn’t enough, sharks also have a remarkable sense of smell. They can detect a single drop of blood in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Combine that with their other incredible senses and you’ve got one fierce hunting machine! Once they’ve managed to locate their next meal, sharks jaws are specially designed to help them snag and hang on to their prey. They can actually dislocate and push out their upper jaw to maintain a firm grip on whatever they’ve caught. The jaws of the larger species of sharks are about two times more powerful than a lion’s jaws. With about 500 species of sharks, there’s bound to be some interesting variations in their physical make up. Some variations are better than others. For example, some sharks have the ability to use muscles around their mouths to pull water in and over their gills to help them breathe while resting. Others, like the great white shark don’t have this ability and instead, use “ram ventilation” to breathe; basically, while they’re swimming forward, water is forced into their mouths and through the gills. Some sharks have even developed the ability to walk, albeit on the ocean floor, not on dry land. There are nine known species of shark use this unique way to get around. Other sharks, about 50 different species in total, have developed light-emitting organs called photospheres that they use to camouflage themselves while hunting, or to attract a mate. Things that are more likely to kill you than a shark attack Humans seem to be programmed to be afraid of being killed by a shark, no thanks to movies like “Jaws.” But the truth is that you are not likely to be attacked by a shark, let alone killed by one. Here’s a list of a few things that are more likely to kill you than being attacked by a shark:
Shark Snippetz
Issue 669
REMEMBERING A LEGEND: SNIPPETZ HONORS THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ROBIN WILLIAMS by Lindsey Harrison “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” – Robin Williams To many, Robin Williams’ form of comedy might have appeared to border on madness. His fast-talking, constantly-joking physical and intellectual humor was original and unique, allowing him to stand out among his peers. But it wasn’t just his comedy that earned him a place as a household name. Williams was also an incredibly gifted actor. He had the ability to play the silly, goofy alien in a sitcom as well as a serious, flawed professor in a big screen blockbuster. As with many other show-biz people who shine bright for a long time, Williams’ star was snuffed out far too soon. And so it is with heavy hearts that Snippetz looks back on the life of an incredible actor and comedian that the world has recently lost, to pay homage to a man who touched many lives through his work. Early life Robin McLaurin Williams was born to Laurie McLaurin and Robert Williams on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. Williams attended elementary and middle school in Lake Forest, Illinois and as a youngster, he described himself as shy and quiet. When his father, a senior executive at Ford Motor Company was transferred to Detroit, the then seventh-grade Williams moved with his family to a large farm house in Broomfield Hills, Michigan. At his new school, Williams proved to be an excellent student and was voted class president. He joined the soccer and wrestling teams for the school but even though he appeared to have found a niche, he was bullied a lot and said that he used to find alternate routes when walking home to avoid getting picked on. From a young age, Williams said that he liked to make people laugh and that the first impression he ever did was of his grandmother speaking to his mother. He said he would tell jokes to his mom to make her laugh and get her to pay attention to him, something he yearned for because both his mom and dad worked, often leaving him to be cared for by the maids. He said that not having his parents around as much as he would have liked left him with a fear of abandonment and a self-described “Love Me Syndrome.” At 16, Williams again moved with his family to Woodacre, California where he would finish out his high school career at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California. He graduated in 1969 and his senior class voted him as “Most Likely Not to Succeed” and “Funniest.” Williams’ talent for acting didn’t go unnoticed in his college career and after stepping back from his studies as a political science major to study theater, it became clear that he was a diamond in the rough. He spent three years at the College of Marin in Kentfield, California before securing a full-ride scholarship to the Julliard School in New York City. In his first year at Julliard in 1973, Williams was accepted as only one of two students into the Advanced Program; the other student was Christopher Reeve. Reeve and Williams became friends then and after Reeve’s horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him a quadriplegic, Williams dressed up in scrubs to visit him in hospital (Reeve would later recount that seeing Williams was the first time he had smiled in many weeks). After three years at the school, Williams followed the advice of Julliard’s founding director of the Drama Division, John Houseman who told him that there was nothing more Williams could learn from the school and that he should set out to establish his career. Becoming a legend During his time in Marin County, Williams started out his stand-up comedy career doing shows at comedy clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area and his first performance was at the club Holy City Zoo. He started out as a bartender but eventually worked his way up onto the stage. Williams’ first television appearance was on the Laugh-In show after TV producer George Schlatter saw him doing stand-up and realized that Williams was going to be a big deal. The show aired in late 1977 and even though the show failed, it managed to launch Williams into his career in TV, although he remained true to his roots in comedy clubs and continued to do his stand-up routines. Williams landed a role as the alien Mork in a 1978 episode of the series “Happy Days” by showing his quirky sense of humor during the audition (he sat on his head when asked to take a seat). As with many of his future roles, Williams improvised the majority of his dialogue for the Mork character, which became so popular with viewers that producers developed a spin-off called “Mork & Mindy” that ran from 1978 to 1982. The show was set in Boulder, Colorado and the house in which it was to have taken place has become a make-shift memorial for grieving Williams fans. Williams’ first movie was called “Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?”, a low-budget comedy flick. Although it didn’t launch him to stardom, Williams clearly didn’t have trouble gaining fame for his talent, including his Academy Award nominated performance in 1987’s “Good Morning, Vietnam.” Again, Williams pulled out all the stops and his fast-paced, high-energy acting style and ability to improvise allowed him to do most of his scenes entirely unscripted. After three previous nominations, Williams won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his performance in “Good Will Hunting” opposite Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Family life Williams married his first wife, Valerie Velardi in 1978 and the couple had a son, Zachary Pym Williams in 1983. They divorced in 1988 and in 1989, Williams married his second wife, Marsha Garces. Together, the pair had two children: Zelda Rae Williams in 1989 and Cody Alan Williams in 1991. In 2008, the coupled divorced and in 2011, Williams married his third wife, Susan Schneider. Robin Williams Snippetz
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