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Issue 680
SNIPPETZ ASKS, "WAS WILLIAM JAMES SIDIS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH?" by Lindsey Harrison “Nature shows that with the growth of intelligence comes increased capacity for pain, and it is only with the highest degree of intelligence that suffering reaches its supreme point.” – Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher For those of you who may not have heard of William James Sidis, to say he was smart is an extreme understatement. As a child prodigy living in the early 1900s, Sidis proved to be an exceptional boy and caught the attention of the national media. But as he soon learned, his abilities and the subsequent notoriety it earned him wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. In fact, there is a fair amount of skepticism about just how much of a genius Sidis really was. To truly understand what made William James Sidis tick, it’s important to know more about his life. So Snippetz decided to take a trip into the past to learn more about the boy genius who may have been the smartest man ever to walk our fair planet. Really early life William James Sidis was born on April 1, 1898, which you may recall is also April Fools’ Day. His parents were Ukrainian immigrants who fled their own country to escape political and religious persecution. Boris Sidis was a psychologist who became known for his work with hypnosis and his interest in studying mental disorders. Sarah Sidis was equally smart, earning herself a medical degree and the distinction of being one of the only women of her time to do so. After the couple welcomed their son into the world, it became clear that they intended to use their obvious intelligence to mold their child into their ideal progeny. Young William couldn’t just be a smart boy; he needed to be a genius. Creating a genius takes a lot of work so Sarah Sidis quit practicing medicine to focus her attentions on William. She and Boris used their life savings to buy books, supplies and anything else they felt would encourage the intellect of their baby. Boris, having a working knowledge of hypnosis used similar techniques to help his infant son learn how to pronounce the letters of the alphabet that were carved onto wooden blocks. Whether or not the couple’s intense desire to create a genius is what ultimately led to William’s intellectual success (it’s the age old “nature versus nurture” debate), their son did develop into an incredibly intelligent and exceptional child. By six months old, William was uttering his first words, like “door” and “moon.” Boris and Sarah claimed that he was able to feed himself from a spoon at eight months old, something that takes some children a couple years to master. By the time William had his first birthday, he was learning how to recognize letters and spell out words. At 18 months old, he was reading the daily newspaper. William’s obvious genius became a sensational story for the media. They wrote about how, as a mere boy of two, he was using the typewriter at his highchair, writing letters (in both English and French), including one that he addressed to the department store Macy’s to ask about toys. Not as early life When he entered grade school at six years old, he was already working to master seven different languages (French, Latin, German, Hebrew, Greek, Russian and one of his own creation called Vendergood). By the age of seven, William had already worked up to a high school curriculum. Of course, the New York Times couldn’t get enough of the whiz kid and began running frequent stories about William on the front page of the paper. At nine years old, William took the entrance exams for Harvard University and although he wasn’t sufficiently challenged by them, he wasn’t accepted. The college felt he was too “emotionally immature” for college life. Not to be deterred, William’s parents helped him find something useful to do which amounted to spending time at Tufts College correcting mistakes in mathematicians’ books, trying to find errors in Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and mastering other foreign languages, among other things. During this time, Boris and Sarah weren’t sitting idly by while their brilliant son lived his amazing life. They were so sure that their hard work and outlandish theories of parenting were the source of his intelligence that they used him as an example of their success, much to William’s chagrin. College life After two years of stalling, Harvard University finally allowed William to attend at the age of 11. He gave a presentation to an audience of about 100 professors and advanced math students about four-dimensional bodies, most of which went completely over everyone’s heads. Although he was clearly academically successful, William found it difficult to relate to his peers. He was teased and picked on and in general, didn’t really enjoy being the center of attention for his brilliance. He graduated cum laude at 16 and at his graduation, he said, “I want to live the perfect life. The only way to live the perfect life is to live it in seclusion. I have always hated crowds.” Working man Those words would echo in William’s mind as he entered the work force as a mathematics teacher at Rice University in Houston. His infamy had preceded him and he found it incredibly difficult to teach students that were older than he was. After a brief attempt at law school, William once again fell into the limelight when he was arrested for participating in an anti-draft demonstration that turned into a riot. While he served his short stint in jail, he met the only women he ever claimed to love – Martha Foley. Although it was clear that William was brilliant and could have his pick of many successful careers, he struggled with his own identity. His parents’ influence kept him from serving his 18-month sentence for his part in the demonstration but he no longer wanted the life they could provide him. William moved from city to city, taking menial jobs under pseudonyms to avoid recognition. During this time, William wrote dozens of books (also under pseudonyms) although none was particularly successful. In 1924, the press tracked him down again and began chronicling his rather embarrassing adult life. In 1937, The New Yorker published an article titled “April Fool!” (a reference to his birthdate), which put William’s fall from grace in plain (and painful) black and white. He sued the magazine for libel and the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court before it was settled seven years later. In July 1944, William was found in his small apartment in Boston where he had suffered a stroke. He never regained consciousness and was declared dead at age 46, still carrying a picture of Martha Foley in his wallet. Sidis Snippetz
Issue 681
SNIPPETZ WONDERS, "WHERE ARE THEY NOW?" by Lindsey Harrison “Worldly fame is but a breath of wind that blows no this way and now that and changes name as it changes direction.” – Dante Alighieri, Italian poet Truer words were never spoken, Dante. Fame is incredibly fickle. For some people, they reach their peak of fame in their younger years, only to fade away as they get older. Others work for years and years and reach their pinnacle much later in life. Either way, there’s never a guarantee that it’ll stick around. And those are the instances that have piqued our interest here at Snippetz; the instances where someone we all knew and loved faded from the limelight. Maybe it was the funny young actress in a sitcom that we watched every week with our families. Or perhaps it was the star of our favorite movie growing up. Whatever the situation, Snippetz just had to find out . . . where are they now? So come with us as we delve into the world of stardom and fame to find out where some of our most beloved television and movies stars ended up! Ron Howard It’s practically impossible to forget the whistling in the theme song from “The Andy Griffith Show.” You can probably do it right now, if you tried. But we’re not talking about the song; we’re talking about little Opie Taylor, also known as Ron Howard. Howard played his role as Opie Taylor for all eight seasons that “The Andy Griffith Show” aired, starting in 1960. He had a handful of roles prior to that but it was his portrayal of Andy Griffith’s son that launched him into stardom. Howard didn’t fade away as some child actors do. In fact, he went on to have a successful acting career, both on the big screen and on television, including the role of Richie Cunningham in the series “Happy Days.” By the time he left the show in 1980, Howard had already begun his directing career, with a low-budget comedy/action film called “Grand Theft Auto.” Even if his first flick wasn’t a blockbuster, Howard still managed to make a name for himself as a director with subsequent films like, “Splash,” “Backdraft,” “Apollo 13,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and “The Da Vinci Code” to name just a few. Howard is also co-chairman of the film and television production company Imagine Entertainment, giving him a far-reaching influence in both T.V. and movies. It’s clear that the only way that Howard has faded into the background is by stepping behind the camera to direct and produce shows and movies rather than star in them. And that seems to be working just fine for him! Danny Bonaduce Dante Daniel Bonaduce rose to fame with his portrayal of Danny Partridge in the sitcom “The Partridge Family.” He didn’t quite have the same success once the series ended in 1974 after airing for four years. Bonaduce spent several years during his late teens and early twenties battling drug addiction and homelessness. Throughout this time, Bonaduce had a few starring and guest-starring roles in movies and television shows and eventually found his way onto the radio in the late 1980s, succeeding in maintaining a level of stardom on-air that way. Bonaduce couldn’t seem to keep himself out of trouble and was arrested several times, once for attempting to buy drugs and later for assault. He has managed to bounce back professionally from each of his missteps but never quite reached the level of fame he once had. Jonathan Lipnicki Who could forget the cute little boy from the movie “Jerry Maguire” who announces to Tom Cruise, “Did you know that dogs and bees can smell fear?” If you’ve seen the movie, you probably haven’t forgotten. That little boy was Jonathan Lipnicki. Lipnicki played Renee Zellweger’s son Ray in the movie and captured hearts across the nation with his unique way of talking and bespectacled moon-pie face. He went on to star in several more films, most notably the “Stuart Little” movies. After that, he stepped out of the spotlight to appear in mostly independent films. Recently, Lipnicki has been focusing on training in mixed martial arts but continues to work in film. He hasn’t made a blockbuster like his early films, though and there was speculation that he may be retreating from Hollywood in favor of MMA fighting, although that remains to be seen. Haley Joel Osment Haley Joel Osment first appeared on the big screen at six years old when he played Tom Hanks’s son in “Forrest Gump.” He is most remembered for delivering the chilling line, “I see dead people,” in “The Sixth Sense” which was released in 1999. Osment continued to have a relatively successful acting career for the years following that film’s debut, including 2003’s “Secondhand Lions.” Since then, Osment has been busy but many of the films he’s taken part in haven’t made a big impact in mainstream cinema. Recently, a very different (older and heavier) Osment has been seen wearing Nazi garb as he depicts the self-proclaimed “Canadian Fuhrer” in the movie “Yoga Hosers.” Fans of his earlier characters could be in for quite a shock when this movie is released! Keshia Knight Pulliam Best known for her role as Rudy Huxtable on the sitcom “The Cosby Show,” Keshia Knight-Pulliam started her acting career on “Sesame Street” at the age of three. While her career includes many films, her main claim to fame came on the small screen. However, since her twelve-year stint on “The Cosby Show” Pulliam hasn’t seen quite the same level of fame. She has done several projects with Tyler Perry, including the movie “Madea Goes to Jail,” and the T.V. series “House of Payne.” Pulliam has managed to keep her personal life out of the tabloids and continues working as an actress. Most recently, Pulliam has agreed to participate in Season 7 of “The Celebrity Apprentice” which is set to run in 2015. Macaulay Culkin Once hailed as the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple, Macaulay Culkin started acting at the age of four. His most notable role was that of Kevin McCallister in the movie “Home Alone” in 1990 and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” in 1992. While Culkin maintained a certain level of fame after the release of the “Home Alone” films, he definitely has not been in the center of the action since then. In fact, he retired from acting when he was 14. Culkin got into trouble with drugs in the early 2000s but managed to stay out of jail. He formed a band called The Pizza Underground but in May 2014, during his kazoo solo at Rock City nightclub in England, Culkin was booed off stage. Clearly his kazoo talents weren’t appreciated as much as he had hoped. Danica McKellar Danica McKellar is most often remembered as Winnie Cooper from the television series “The Wonder Years.” She stayed in the role from 1988 to 1993 but since then, McKellar hasn’t had much success on the acting front. She has appeared in a few made-for-T.V. movies and series but nothing that earned her the fame as her Winnie Cooper character. McKellar made a name for herself in other ways, though. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating with honors. McKellar took her love of math and wrote four non-fiction books aimed at encouraging middle and high school girls to succeed in math, earning her the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award in early 2014. Issue 682
WHEN IS A BEAR NOT JUST A BEAR? SNIPPETZ EXPOSES ANIMAL SYMBOLISM by Lindsey Harrison “When language was no transcendental enough to complete the meaning of a revelation, symbols were relied upon for heavenly teaching, and familiar images, chosen from the known, were made to mirror the unknown spiritual truth.” – William H. Hunt, American soldier Before there was Google, before there was the Internet, before there was even a series of encyclopedias that we could use to look up important information, long before all that, there were symbols. Humankind has used symbols to interpret the world around us and to signal things to other people without having to verbally communicate with them. The natural world around us held unlimited discoveries for us to make if only we paid attention to the symbols around us. Anymore, we’re so buried in our tablets and smart phones that we probably miss the majority of what Mother Nature is trying to tell us. Given that understanding, we at Snippetz became intrigued: with all these symbols floating around out there, wouldn’t it behoove us to find out more about them? The answer is yes and so we’ve chosen to investigate animal symbolism because it’s prevalent in many cultures and because animals are cute. What is a symbol? The dictionary defines a symbol in a few ways, one of which is as something used for or regarded as representing something else. It can be a material object, emblem or token often used to represent something immaterial. So what does all that mean? It means that we as humans have imbued certain objects, like a trio of lights colored red, yellow or green, to have a meaning that is more complex and important than the sum total of its physical parts. It’s true that stop light is simply a light fixture that alternates between the red light, the yellow light and the green light. But we’ve given that light fixture a more important meaning; we’ve agreed to allow that light to signal when it’s our turn to move our vehicle through an intersection. It’s a symbol of cooperation and turn-taking that allows for most people to safely navigate on the roadways. So what does all that have to do with animals? Well, animals have been symbols of many things in many cultures throughout time. Now that we’re clear on what a symbol is, we can dig deeper into some of the interpretations made by mankind over the years. Bears Since we’ve already mentioned bears, we may as well start there! When you picture a bear, you likely think of words like “strong,” “brave,” “powerful,” and the like. Those same qualities are exactly what the bear symbolizes in many cases. Their quiet strength, their connectedness to nature and their confidence are undeniable and have encouraged cultures across the globe to use their likeness in jewelry or clothing to bring about those same qualities for anyone who may need them. For example, it’s believed that the Vikings used to wear bear skins during times of war to scare their opponents and to instill fear by evoking the power and courage of the animal. Similarly, when a bear is spotted, it’s often seen as a sign that physical and emotional healing is on its way. In many cultures, the bear is connected to the shaman or healer of the tribe. The Inuit people of North America greatly value and appreciate the bear in their culture. It’s believed that if an Inuit hunter accepts his fate to be eaten by a bear, he may reincarnate as a shaman with the spirit of a bear. Cats We’ve all probably heard the superstition that claims it’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. While that may or may not be true, it’s one way that cats have been used to symbolize something. Typically however, cats are used to represent patience, curiosity (which killed the cat, you know) and independence. It’s probably not shocking to hear that cats are connected to those traits, especially if you’ve ever owned one. Cats are often used to portray agility, flexibility and grace. Consider the saying that cats always land on their feet. Whether or not that’s true (and again, if you’ve ever owned a cat, particularly an overweight one, you know this isn’t always true), the idea is that when you need the power to rebound from a setback in your life, the symbol of the cat can help. Likewise, the unexpected appearance of a cat in your life may be interpreted as an indicator that you need to reassess aspects of your life and find a new perspective on your circumstances. Boars These animals are prominent especially in Celtic and Welsh traditions. But the symbolism of the boar is perhaps more abstract, in some instances. Often, they are used to portray fertility and wealth. But their likeness and spirit is also used to portray courage and strength. That symbolism is much easier to understand given that they are dangerous and often hard to kill. For that reason, warriors will often use their likeness or their pelts during battle to invoke their power and fearlessness. Statues representing boars are sometimes found in beside those of armed warriors in the Celtic nations as well, further demonstrating the connection. Fish In another example of fairly abstract animal symbolism, the Celtic and Welsh cultures associate fish, particularly salmon, with knowledge. In one legend, a man seeks the advice from a series of wise animals. The last, which was the oldest and wisest was the salmon. In another legend, the hero uses a salmon to leap across a bridge in order to gain access to his enemy’s advanced knowledge of arms and eventually had to leap over a legendary warrior woman in order to gain access to the knowledge behind her family’s secrets. Another legend tells of a man eating the salmon of wisdom. In both cultures, children are encouraged to eat fish in order to increase their intelligence, further proving the belief that fish are harbingers of knowledge. Unlikely animal symbolism Some animal symbols speak for themselves. Others really make no sense. Here are a few unlikely animal symbols;
Animal symbolism Snippetz
Issue 683
SNIPPETZ LOOKS DEEP INSIDE... "WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?" by Lindsey Harrison 
“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.”
– Dale Carnegie, American writer We’re all afraid of something. Maybe it’s the dark. Or maybe it’s monsters. Or maybe it’s spiders; not because they can bite you but because they have freaky long legs and when they run at you, it’s super creepy. Most of the time, our fears are within our power to control. They don’t have a major impact in our lives. But sometimes, we’re not so lucky. Sometimes our fears escalate into entities all their own. They become unmanageable and larger than life. They interfere with everyday activities and occasionally become so debilitating that even the idea of facing those fears can leave you unable to function. In that instance, you are probably not dealing with a fear; you’re dealing with a phobia. Some phobias are relatable and others are a little more unusual. And of course, Snippetz got curious. What are some of those unusual phobias? Read on to find out! What is a phobia? A phobia is defined as follows: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects or situation; an extremely strong dislike or fear of someone or something. Phobias are classified as a type of anxiety disorder, specifically a neurosis. They are generally believed to be the result of a fear produced by an original threatening situation, such as a near-drowning incident in childhood. That fear is thought to then have been transferred to other similar situations, like any encounter with a body of water. Usually the original fear is repressed or forgotten in lieu of the new, more all-encompassing fear . . . the phobia. Some unusual phobias Let’s be clear: phobias are a serious disorder that shouldn’t be made fun of or taken lightly. An estimated 6.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with a phobia and to those people, their phobia is a very real problem that they have to deal with every day. But for those of us who don’t suffer from the disorder, some phobias are hard to comprehend. Snippetz researched phobias and we’ve picked out a few of the more interesting, unusual phobias, and here they are!
Issue 684
THE TRUTH MAY SURFACE AS SNIPPETZ SEARCHES FOR THE LOST ISLAND OF ATLANTIS by Lindsey Harrison “. . . in a single day and night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea.” – Plato, Greek philosopher Somewhere, deep below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean lies a mysterious and legendary island. Or not. That’s the trouble with legendary islands that are said to have sunk thousands of years ago; there’s no definitive proof that it ever existed in the first place. But it makes for great story-telling, that’s for sure. So where did the story first begin? Is it just fiction or does the island really exist, submerged for thousands of years, just waiting to be found? Snippetz got curious and we decided that we needed to find out for ourselves what lost island of Atlantis is all about. So join us as we journey back to a time of gods and goddesses and islands that disappeared overnight. It all began with a story . . . The island of Atlantis first appeared in history when Plato wrote about it in two of his dialogues, called Timaeus and Critias. It would take more space than Snippetz has to offer to cover everything Plato wrote about Atlantis, so we’ll just summarize for you. Long, long ago (like more than 11,000 years), an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean was home to a very wealthy society. The people maximized the use of their natural resources and turned their island into a hub for trade and commerce. The rulers of the island were so powerful that their influence carried over into Europe and Africa. This island known as Atlantis was home to Poseidon, the god of the sea. Also residing on the island was a mortal woman named Cleito, who became the object of Poseidon’s desire. He built her a house on the top of a hill near the middle of the island and created alternating rings of water and land around the house to protect her from other suitors. Poseidon and Cleito had five sets of twin boys who would become the first rulers of the island. Atlantis was divided among the 10 brothers with Atlas, the oldest and thus, the first King of Atlantis, controlling the central-most hill on the island. At the top of Atlas’s hill, a temple was built in honor of Poseidon. In it, a gold statue of the god riding a chariot pulled by winged horses was placed. Here, the rulers of the island would gather to carry out their leadership duties and pay homage to Poseidon. For centuries, the people of Atlantis lived simple, peaceful and prosperous lives. But power and greed began to corrupt the people of the island and Zeus, king of the gods, grew angry. He gathered the other gods to decide what type of punishment would be suitable to deal with the immortality of the Altanteans. It was determined that Atlantis must go so in one violent surge of the sea, the island was overcome. It was submerged and sank to the bottom of the ocean, taking its people down with it. At least, that’s what Plato said. He said, she said For generations following Plato’s accounts in Timaeus and Critias, other philosophers and historians took up the cause of relaying their thoughts and theories about the existence of the island. Some believed that Plato was describing events from history while others believed it to be an allegory about the dangers of greed and corruption. So who was right? The better question perhaps is not who was right but how has the legend of Atlantis shaped literature and culture throughout history? Certainly, humankind has taken the theme laid out in Plato’s dialogues and used them to strengthen our stories, legends, films and theories. However, in some instances, the legend of the lost city of Atlantis was actually used to explain the existence of things once thought to be inexplicable. For instance, there is a strong connection between the Mayan and Aztec ruins with Atlantis. The Europeans who first encountered the evidence of these previously unknown civilizations felt that those indigenous people couldn’t possibly be responsible for the impressive structures that were found. It was concluded that another, more “advanced” race must be behind the construction of the now-ruined structures. Racism was indeed alive and thriving in those days. Suggested location of Atlantis Whether or not you believe in the existence of Atlantis, there remains much speculation about where this island could have possibly existed. Some claim that satellite imagery shows that Atlantis is likely located in the Marisma de Hinojo, north of the city of Cádiz in Spain. Others claim the island is more likely located in the North Sea, near Sweden. Still others claim the Celtic Shelf near Ireland is the real spot where Atlantis sank. The Canary Islands, Madeira Islands Azores Islands and even the Bermuda Triangle were also postulated as possible Atlantis locations. In 1997, Russian scientists stated that they had found the sunken island 100 miles of Land’s End. In 2000, under about 300 feet of water, a ruined town was discovered off the north coast of Turkey in the Black Sea, which many suggested was Atlantis. In 2004, an American architect using sonar imaging found man-made walls about a mile beneath the Mediterranean Sea, between Cyprus and Syria. Recent theories about Atlantis Heralded as the “father of the 19th century Atlantis revival,” Ignatius L. Donnelly breathed new life into the theories surrounding the existence of Atlantis. Donnelly suggested parallels between stories in the Bible and the legend of the lost island. He suggested that the island is actually the location of the Garden of Eden and that the Great Flood for which Noah built his arc was the catastrophic event that resulted in the destruction of the island. Donnelly may have inadvertently led to the perpetuation of other legends about the island because people thought he proved that myths such as this one actually contained hidden information. To uncover that secret information allowed for the discovery of the truth, or so they thought. During the more recent times, as the theory of continental drift became more widely accepted, the popularity of the idea of a “lost continent” lost some steam. A better understanding of plate tectonics showed that it was all but impossible for a continent to disappear as was suggested by earlier theories. One Plato scholar went so far as to say the following: “The continuing industry of discovering Atlantis illustrates the dangers of reading Plato . . . The idea is that we should use the story to examine our ideas of government and power. We missed the point if instead of thinking about these issues we go off exploring the sea bed.” There are several other reasons why scientists believe that Atlantis doesn’t exist. Here are a few of them:
Issue 685
SNIPPETZ SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO STICK YOUR NECK OUT TO LEARN ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE OSTRICH by Lindsey Harrison 
“The ostrich is a silly bird,
With scarcely any mind. He often runs so very fast, He leaves himself behind. And when he gets there, has to stand And hang about till night, Without a blessed thing to do Until he comes in sight.” – Mary E. Wilkins Freeman Ostriches are arguably some of the most easily identifiable birds on the planet. Their long necks and fluffy black and white feathers are a dead giveaway every time. But they are also probably one of the most misunderstood birds as well. They’re rumored to be big scaredy-cats (you’ve heard about them burying their heads in the sand, right?). Their long necks and spindly legs make them look, well, silly. But the truth is that the ostrich is a highly adapted species that has managed to find a way to live in climates that can vary as much as 100° between night and day. They can fight off fearsome predators like lions and hyenas using their powerful (and yes, still spindly) legs. So it is with great pleasure that Snippetz has decided to uncover some of the mysteries about these amazing birds! Location, location, location In the beginning, ostriches occupied several areas in Africa, including north and south of the Sahara Desert, East Africa and Africa south of the rain forest belt. They also occupied the majority of Asia Minor. In modern times, ostriches prefer open land, sticking more to the savannas and the semiarid region of north-central Africa, south of the Sahara. In Southwest Africa, they inhabit the semi-desert or true desert areas. Anyone have a foot fetish? Ostrich feet are different from the feet of other birds in one key characteristic: they only have two toes, while most other birds have four. The inner toe has a large nail while the outer toe lacks a nail altogether. The inner toe is also larger than the outer one and resembles a hoof. This unique adaptation is integral in the ostrich’s ability to run so quickly. Birds of a feather . . . As we mentioned before, the ostrich’s feathers are one of the most stand-out features on this interesting bird. You may recall that most birds have feathers that are rather sleek. In fact, most birds have feathers that have little hooks on them to keep them aligned with one another, making for increased aerodynamics and waterproofing. But ostriches don’t fly. They don’t need those little hooks, which is why their feathers appear so fluffy. So what exactly do these fluffy feathers do? They provide excellent insulation. Remember that huge variation in temperatures from day to night in the ostrich’s habitat? Those feathers come in handy to cover up their naked legs at night to keep them warm but they can also be pulled away from their legs during the day to help release excess heat. Those marvelous feathers, which help give ostriches a wing span of up to six and a half feet, also serve as rudders to help them change directions while running. Given that they can run up to 43 miles per hour, those rudders definitely come in handy when evading a predator. And let’s not forget how useful they are in mating displays . . . Their fluffy feathers do have a downside, however. Poachers are highly interested in killing them for their feathers (as well as their skin, which is used for leather and their meat) which they sell for decorative purposes and to make the stereotypical feather duster we always imagine a racy French maid would carry around. Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand? This rumor has plagued the ostrich’s reputation for centuries. They are portrayed as fearful and stupid, thinking that by burying their heads, they are hiding the rest of their body as well. If you’ve ever played hide-and-seek with a two-year-old who puts their hands in front of their face to hide, it’s kind of like that. But here’s the thing: ostriches don’t actually do this. There are a few theories about how this rumor got started. One attributes the rumor to Pliny the Elder, who lived from 23 to 79 A.D. who wrote that they “imagine, when they have thrust their head and neck into a bush, that the whole of their body is concealed.” But Pliny the Elder was probably misinterpreting one of two common behaviors displayed by the ostrich. The first is a defense mechanism. Ostriches will often lie down and hide from a predator, with their heads and necks flat against the ground and their bodies bunched into a mound. From a distance, they appear to be just a bump in the ground, especially when the heat radiates off the ground, making the air appear wavy and hazy. The other behavior is one that makes a little more sense. Ostriches don’t have teeth so they have to swallow sand and pebbles to help grind up their food. If someone observed this behavior from a distance, it could appear as though the large bird was trying to bury its head, when in reality it was just trying to eat a few rocks. Isn’t it sad how one comment can become such a nasty, pervasive rumor? How to eat like an ostrich Ostriches can go for several days without drinking, even in their dry, hot habitat. The reason? The majority of the water they need comes from the moisture found in the plants they eat. In fact, they can survive a loss of up to 25 percent of their body weight through dehydration. Their diet typically consists of seeds, shrubs, grass, fruit and flowers, although it’s not unheard of for ostriches to eat insects like locusts. This brings us to another interesting point: could Pliny the Elder actually have witnessed an ostrich eating the leaves from the inner part of a bush and assumed (incorrectly) that the ostrich was attempting (very poorly) to hide? Hmmm, makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Ostrich Snippetz
Issue 686
SNIPPETZ SEES SUGAR PLUMS DANCING IN OUR HEADS: THE NUTCRACKER by Lindsey Harrison “The best in us is always linked to childhood. Tchaikovsky knew this and there is nothing cynical in the Nutcracker music. It is elegant and childlike and we cannot resist entering that world.” – Valeri Gergiev, artistic director and chief conductor at St. Petersburg’s Maryinsky Theatre The weather is finally getting colder. Houses have been decorated with twinkling lights. Trees of all shapes, sizes and colors have been adorned with ornaments, both traditional and modern. It’s Christmastime. For some of us, that means hours of cleaning, cooking, wrapping and preparing in order to host a holiday feast. For others, it means cuddling up in a warm blanket and relaxing in the knowledge that you’ve got some much-needed time off work. Either way, this time of year is truly something to celebrate. More often than not, that celebration includes gift-giving. And many of us have had to brave the department and toy stores in order to find that perfect gift. While out shopping, perhaps you’ve noticed the holiday music being piped through the store’s speakers. If so, it’s likely you’ve heard at least one selection from Tchaikovsky’s the Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky and the holidays just go together like peas and carrots. With that in mind, Snippetz decided to dance into the wintry world of Tchaikovsky and the Nutcracker. Who was Tchaikovsky? You’ve probably heard his name but how much do you really know about the man behind the music? Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, Russia. Although both of his parents, Ilya Petrovich and Alexandra Andreyevna were trained in the arts, including music, they didn’t push their son to pursue that course of study. However, at five years old, Tchaikovsky took it upon himself to insist that the family’s French governess Fanny Dürbach give him piano lessons. Three years later, he had become equally skilled at reading music as his teacher was. Although Tchaikovsky’s parents initially indulged their son’s interest in music, even going as far as buying him an orchestrion (a type of barrel organ that can imitate elaborate orchestral effects), they didn’t see his talent as practical. They enrolled him in the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in St. Petersburg in 1850 to prepare him for a career as a civil servant. Tchaikovsky was technically too young to begin his studies there and was sent to the school’s preparatory academy, located 800 miles from his family. After completing his time at the prep school, Tchaikovsky transferred to the Imperial School to start his seven-year career there. Tragedy struck his family just two years into his term at the school when his mother died from cholera. He described her death as “the crucial event” that ultimately shaped the rest of his life. In fact, his first serious attempt at music composition was a waltz in her memory. Throughout his prolific career, Tchaikovsky wrote many popular orchestral works, including the 1812 Overture, the Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Swan Lake. His work was first performed publicly in 1865 and every success thereafter was hard-won. However, Tchaikovsky didn’t give up and worked tirelessly, both on his own and with other composers. Tchaikovsky wrote the Nutcracker in 1892 and it premiered together with his last opera, Iolanta, on December 18, 1892, at the Imperial Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, just about one year before his death on November 6, 1893. What is the Nutcracker? The original Nutcracker is a story titled “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” written by E.T.A. Hoffman about a young girl’s Christmas Eve as she begins the transition from child to adult. Throughout the story, the girl Maria begins to see the world in a different light and eventually comes into her own, finding love in the form of the Nutcracker Prince. The first ballet was Alexandre Dumas Père’s adaptation of Hoffman’s story, set to Tchaikovsky’s music. The ballet was first performed outside of Russia in England in 1934. The San Francisco Ballet held the first performance in the United States in 1944. Over the years, there have been several adaptations of the story and often, each ballet company will use a particular adaptation that is different from that of other ballet companies. The adaptation most widely used is that of George Balanchine and it’s this adaptation that helped establish the ballet as a holiday staple. The interesting thing about the story is that it’s really not all that happy. In fact, Hoffman’s original story depicts a fiercely bloody battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King’s army. Also, there is some rather disturbing verbiage about how the prince was changed into the nutcracker in the first place. What’s the deal with the REAL nutcrackers? So we know a little bit about the music and we know a little bit about the ballet. But why did Hoffman write about a nutcracker of all things? Well, according to German folklore, nutcracker dolls bring good luck to your family and protect your home. They became popular Christmas gifts because of this. Where that folklore began isn’t clear. However, nutcrackers have been around for centuries. The earliest known nutcrackers to be identified by archaeologists were from 4,000 to 8,000 years ago. They didn’t resemble the modern nutcracker dolls much; in fact they were just pitted stones between which people could crack nuts. Standard metal nutcrackers date back to the 3rd or 4th century B.C. They became much more popular in the 18th and 19th centuries after the screw-cutting lathe was developed, allowing for the screwing action to crack the nut rather than a person’s hand strength. Nutcracker Snippetz
Issue 687
YOU SAY NEW YEAR'S "TRADITION" SNIPPETZ SAYS NEW YEAR'S "SUPERSTITION" by Lindsey Harrison “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’” – Alfred Lord Tennyson 
The old year is on its way out and the new one is on its way in. All over the world, people will ring in the New Year with different traditions, superstitions, customs and celebrations. Perhaps you’re used to spending the evening quietly at home with your family and at the stroke of midnight, you bundle your kids up and take them outside to see the fireworks off Pikes Peak. Maybe you gather your closest friends and have a rip-roaring good time playing games and drinking sparkling cider. There’s such a sense of mystery that surrounds the start of the New Year that many people aren’t willing to leave their fate to chance. In fact, many New Year’s traditions are more like superstitions and that got us wondering: what traditions do people carry on during this time and why do they do them? So come along with us as we lift the veil on New Year’s traditions to find out what’s really going on!
Tradition versus superstition The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a tradition as follows: a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time. Traditions are an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior. So when we go outside to watch the fireworks from Pikes Peak because we’ve always done so, that’s obviously a tradition. It’s a customary pattern of action. The dictionary defines a superstition as follows: a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck. It’s a belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck. When you shy away from breaking that awful mirror in your bathroom as you’re remodeling it, it could be because you’ve heard that it will bring you seven years of bad luck. That’s a superstition since there’s no way to really prove that doing so will undoubtedly bring you bad luck. What you’re afraid of is the possibility that it could happen; you’re afraid of the unknown. So now that we know the difference between a tradition and a superstition, we have to ask ourselves one question: do you feel lucky, punk? Wait, not that question. The question is: are we doing things because they are a tradition or are we doing them out of superstition? Perhaps we don’t even know why we do them. Maybe we do them because our families have always done things that way. But looking back, it’s likely that we can determine the root of that action to decide what is a tradition and what became a tradition out of superstition. COMMON NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS (or are they superstitions?) Kissing at midnight One of the most well-known New Year’s traditions in Western culture is to kiss your special someone (or maybe that cute stranger you’ve been eyeing all night) at the stroke of midnight. Have you ever wondered what is behind that? The hopeless romantics out there might say that it’s because you can say that technically speaking, you kissed someone from one year into the next. That does sound sweet. But looking back, this tradition actually stemmed from a superstition that claims that if you fail to kiss someone at midnight, you’ll spend the next year alone. By kissing someone, you are ensuring their affections for the next twelve months. For some of us, spending a year alone doesn’t sound so bad. For others, it’s enough to prompt us to grab the nearest man or woman and lay one on them. Stocking up on food and money This tradition is not as well-known and is more likely to be seen by most people in Western culture as a superstition. The thought is that you shouldn’t ring in the New Year with an empty fridge, empty cupboards or an empty wallet. By stocking up with plenty to eat, drink and spend, you are ensuring a year of prosperity in your home. Of course, this may be easier said than done, but hey. Believe what you will! Paying off bills Some people believe that they have to pay all their bills before the first day of the New Year. If you have to write a check, it must be sent off before New Year’s Day. And don’t wait to pay back a debt until the New Year, either. The idea is that if you go into the New Year with debt or you spend any part of your New Year’s Day repaying a debt or loan, you’re guaranteeing that you will be doing that the rest of the year. Similarly, a superstition states that you shouldn’t lend out money on New Year’s Day either unless you want to spend the year bailing out your friends and family. From a practical sense, this may not be possible but this sounds like a really good idea, regardless of whether you believe in the superstition or not! Making loud noises We’ve all been to a New Year’s party where the crowd seems to absolutely lose their minds as the clock approaches midnight. Perhaps you thought it was the combination of drinks and lots of people that resulted in the ruckus. But what’s with those obnoxious nose-makers and horns? Well, one superstition states that you need to make as much noise as possible as the clock strikes midnight, not only to celebrate but to scare away evil spirits. Supposedly, evil spirits and the Devil himself hate loud noises so you’re protecting yourself from these demons for the next year. Nothing goes out We’ve all heard the expression, “Out with the old, in with the new.” This is actually the theme behind one superstition of the New Year. The idea is that you are making room for the new and lucky by getting rid of the old and unwanted. But some superstitions go a step further to say that you can’t get rid of ANYTHING on New Year’s Day. The belief is that the year must begin with something being added to the household before something is taken from it to ensure prosperity. Leave the cleaning for another day This is a superstition many people could really get behind! The belief is that if you wash your clothes on New Year’s Day, you’re “washing away” a family member. In other words, you’re ensuring their death sometime in the next year. Similarly, you are not supposed to sweep your house between Christmas and New Year’s Day so that you don’t sweep the good luck out the door. Setting the stage Overall, many New Year’s superstitions such as those above rely on the idea that what you do on the first day of the New Year sets the stage for how your upcoming year will be. If you cry, your year will be filled with sadness. If you do something you’re good at and enjoy, you’re ensuring your year will be prosperous and happy. New Year’s weather Snippetz Although it’s completely out of our control, here’s a short list of what superstition says you can expect from the year based on the weather of that first day:
Issue 688
"FOR THE RECORD..." SNIPPETZ CLEARS UP SOME MISCONCEPTIONS by Lindsey Harrison “Where misunderstanding serves others as an advantage, one is helpless to make oneself understood.” – Lionel Trilling, American critic Have you ever had someone thank you for doing something that you didn’t do? If so, did you correct them or did you take the credit and give yourself an undeserved pat on the back? Sometimes misconceptions and misunderstandings work in our favor, like when your older brother unloaded the dishwasher but your mom thanked you for doing the chore. Sometimes it works the opposite way, like when your older brother was a huge goof-off and all the high school teachers that had him in class before you assumed you were just like he was. Misconceptions can go a long way to coloring the way we look at people, events or even facts. Everyone has a different opinion or rendition of how an event took place and sometimes, there’s no way to know whose version is true. Knowing this, Snippetz decided to look back to determine where some misconceptions have occurred and help set the record straight! HISTORICAL MISCONCEPTIONS Misconception: Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets of England. Truth: While Lady Godiva was indeed a real person who lived in the 11th century, she didn’t ride naked on a horse through the streets of Coventry, England. She did, however plead with her callous husband Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, to reduce taxes. There is no record from that time period that refers to her infamous ride. The first mention of it actually appears in 1236, almost 200 years after she died. Misconception: Sir Walter Raleigh laid his cloak over a mud puddle to help Queen Elizabeth I keep her feet dry as she crossed over it. Truth: While Raleigh did gain the queen’s favor in 1581 when he advised her to send an army to conquer England and was named captain of the queen’s guard a short time later, there is no mention of his act of gallantry. In fact, he was caught in an illicit affair with one of the queen’s maids of honor is 1592 and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was ultimately beheaded for his lecherous ways. The theory is that an historian named Thomas Fuller made up the story about the cloak, as he was not known for his factual accuracy. Misconception: Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. Truth: Poor Nero. For centuries, he’s been depicted as a heartless Emperor who started a fire near the imperial palace, then climbed to the top of the Tower of Maecenas to play his fiddle while Rome burned. In truth, Nero was 30 miles away at his villa in Antium when the fire broke out. The reigning theory is that his political enemies set the fire, hoping it would be blamed on him, which it was. Misconception: Witches were burned at the stake in Salem. Truth: Yes, there were witch trials in Salem in 1692 and yes, 20 people (not all women, by the way) were put to death for practicing witchcraft. None was burned at the stake. Most were hanged and one was crushed to death under a heavy stone. Misconception: Marie Antoinette said of the hungry French mothers who had no bread: “Let them eat cake.” Truth: In 1766, Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote his “Confessions” and quoted a famous great princess as having said that heartless statement. However, his “great princess” was not actually Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI because at the time he wrote the book, Marie Antoinette was just a young girl. The belief is that Rousseau actually meant Marie Thérèse, wife of Louis XIV, who ruled more than 75 years before Marie Antoinette. Misconception: George Washington had wooden teeth. Truth: Wouldn’t it be nice to know that our country’s first president had such humble beginnings that his false teeth were made from wood? That is a widespread belief, but it’s incorrect. His dentures were made of gold, hippopotamus ivory, lead, horse and donkey teeth, and very likely human teeth from slaves. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it? Misconception: Albert Einstein failed math in school. Truth: Einstein himself debunked this rumor by stating: “I have never failed in mathematics . . . before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.” He did fail the entrance exam into the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School on his first try in 1895 but it’s important to note that he was two years younger than the other students taking the exam and earned exceptional scores in the mathematics and science sections. Other Common Misconceptions
Issue 689
THAT'S NOT TRUE! SNIPPETZ UNCOVERS HOLLYWOOD'S WARPED SENSE OF HISTORY by Lindsey Harrison “History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there.” – George Santayana, Spanish philosopher As a kid, you may remember going to the movies and seeing the words “Based on a true story” projected on the screen before the start of a film. Those words may have led you to believe that what you were seeing was factually accurate . . . at least for the most part. The interesting thing is that, when a movie is based on a true story, there is no hard and fast rule that says how much of that movie needs to be factual and how much “creative license” Hollywood filmmakers can take to increase the sales at the box office. Perhaps the one true part of the movie is the fact that the main character existed at some point in time. Or maybe the whole movie is basically true, with just a few changes here and there. The interesting thing about Hollywood is that there is often so much work that goes into the production of just one film. So it’s a fair assumption that research would be done to make sure the events, costumes, accents, settings, etc. that were depicted in each film “based on a true story” would actually align with what happened. However, that’s not how Hollywood works. Snippetz has rounded up some interesting cases of when movies proved that accuracy isn’t as important as selling movie tickets. Braveheart Even though the film was a hit when it was released in 1995, Braveheart is actually one of the biggest offenders when it comes to historical inaccuracies. First off, the kilts that William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) and his fellow Scotsmen wore during the movie, while symbolic of the Scottish culture, were not actually introduced to Scotland until 300 years after Wallace’s time. In the film, Edward II is depicted as an adult and is betrothed to Isabella of France, who is also shown as an adult. In reality, Edward was only about 13 and Isabella was even younger than that. This discrepancy plays into the fictional romance that Wallace and Isabella are shown as having during the film, which results in her telling Edward I on his deathbed that she is pregnant with Wallace’s child. Of course, that never happened either. Additionally, the relationship between England and Scotland is depicted as incredibly tense and at times, hostile. Historians agree that the two countries were actually on good terms for about 100 years prior to the era featured in the film. Wallace’s exclamation of “Freedom!” during his execution at the end of the movie couldn’t have occurred if the countries weren’t at war then . . . and they weren’t. Gladiator In 2000, Gladiator introduced fans to Marcus and Commodus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and his son that lived in the middle part of the second century A.D. That’s about where the similarities between history and the movie stop. Commodus is depicted as a conniving, vengeful, ambitious brat who smothers his father in order to ascend to the throne. In reality, Marcus actually gave Commodus the rank of Imperator, which basically gave equal power to the teen (and yes, he was 15 at the time, not an adult as the film shows). Marcus was not murdered by his son, either. He died of natural causes. The main character (who is admittedly fictional) was named Maximus Decimus Meridius and the men who captured him in the movie nicknamed him the “Spaniard.” That’s all fine and well, except that the term Spaniard originates from the Old French word “espaignart” that didn’t exist until the 14th century. Other Gladiator inaccuracies include battles that never happened, large catapults that the Roman army wouldn’t ever had dragged into battle, a German Shepherd dog as a soldier’s pet even though the breed didn’t exist back then, Latin inscriptions with incorrect grammar and the use of the term “fire” to signal for the archers to release their arrows. That particular word wouldn’t have been used until firearms (hence the term “fire”) were invented. Anna and the King In this film, released in 1999, the British governess Anna Leonowens is shown as having a close relationship with King Mongkut of Thailand. It even goes so far as to hint at a budding romance between the two. In reality, the pair hardly knew each other. In fact, they had really only met a few times. As if a fictional romance with the King wasn’t enough, the movie went on to depict Anna as playing a leading role in the reform and development of Thailand. The Thai people were so incensed by the insinuation that the movie was banned in Thailand. Apocalypto Mel Gibson just doesn’t have an eye for accuracy, it appears. As the director of this 2006 film (as well as Braveheart), he depicts the ancient Mayan culture as one of extreme violence, devoid of religion and basically lacking in any redeeming qualities. In order to save the Godless heathens from themselves, white missionaries come to their rescue in the film. Historians have long discounted beliefs such as this based on the scientific, astronomical, spiritual, agricultural and artistic accomplishments of the Mayans. Close but no cigar, Mel. Elizabeth This film, released in 1998 had the potential to be a really great one. But inaccuracies abound, including the fact that Bishop Stephen Gardiner, the leader of the opposition to the queen had, in reality died three years before Elizabeth was crowned. Oops. Also, during the time period in which the movie was set, Queen Elizabeth was well into her fifties, while the lovely Cate Blanchett portrays her as a thirty-something woman, deeply in love with Lord Robert Dudley. Additionally, the film shows Elizabeth as heartbroken at the revelation that Dudley was married (since the film shows them having an affair) and she abandons their relationship due to his dishonesty. In reality, the affair went on but the queen knew quite well that he was married. She distanced herself from him when Dudley’s wife died in suspicious circumstances. Other inaccuracy Snippetz
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