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Issue 840
SNIPPETZ TOURED THE WORLD TO FIND SOME STRANGE STRUCTURES by Lindsey Harrison “Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” – Julia Morgan, American architect Driving around the neighborhoods of Colorado Springs and the outlying areas that have seen a lot of growth and development in recent years, you would be hard-pressed in many cases to find a unique building among them. The homes are all cookie-cutter versions that can be built quickly, and the retail or commercial locations aren’t much better. Whatever happened to allowing the buildings to speak for themselves, as Julia Morgan so aptly put it? It seems that style has gone by the wayside in favor of substance. But that hasn’t always been the case, obviously or we wouldn’t be talking about it at all! In fact, over the centuries, there have been lots of interesting structures built less for their practicality, but rather for the sheer joy of creating something beautiful. Of course, the word beautiful is entirely subjective but you get the picture. So, without further ado, Snippetz invites you to come around the world with us as we uncover some of the most interesting and strange structures man has ever built. THE HAINES SHOE HOUSE Speaking of structures built less for practicality than for the unique concept that inspired their construction, we make our first stop in Hellam Township, Pennsylvania. No, it is not the home of an old lady who had so many children she didn’t know what to do, but it is a home built in the shape of a shoe. Mahlon Haines owned a shoe business that stated it made shoes “from hoof to hoof,” because the company started everything off with the cattle it raised for the hide. As a way to advertise his business, Haines had a 25-foot-tall home built in the shape of a boot, which houses five stories. Rumor has it that Haines simply handed one of his work boots to the architect and said, “Build me a house like this.” The kitchen is located in the heel of the boot, the living room is in the toe, the bedrooms are in the ankle and at the instep, Haines had an ice cream shop constructed. The house was built in 1948 and sits on Shoe House Road. Considering its height, location and the fact that there is an identical dog house right next door, it can’t be hard to find! SEDLEC OSSUARY From boots to bones, our next strange structure takes us all the way to the medieval silver-mining town of Kutna Mora – now called Sedlec – in the Czech Republic. In 1142, a Cistercian monastery was founded near the future site of the chapel (the Ossuary) and the primary mission of the monks living there was to cultivate the land around the monastery. The abbot of the monastery, a man named Henry, was tasked by King Otakar II of Bohemia to go to the Holy Land in 1278. When he returned, Henry revealed that he had taken a handful of “holy” earth from Golgotha, which he then sprinkled over the monastery’s cemetery. Well, word got around and people were dying (sorry for the bad pun, but we couldn’t pass it up) to be buried there. To accommodate the demand for burial plots, the cemetery was enlarged, which was good in hind sight considering about 30,000 of the people who died from the plague during the 14th century were buried there. The Ossuary was constructed in 1400, right smack in the middle of the cemetery and was originally meant to house the bones from graves it displaced, but with the massive amount of people wanting their final resting place to be in the cemetery, other “less important” people were removed from their graves to make way for those “more important” people. Nice, right? Anyway, the result was an overload of bones that had no place to go. The bones basically sat in the Ossuary’s basement until 1870, when Frantisek Rint, a local woodcarver, was hired to deal with them and “put them in order.” The result: Rint put the bones together to create a variety of art pieces, including a massive chandelier made entirely of bones. It contains at least one of every bone in the human body. In all, 40,000 people’s bones were removed from graves and constructed into various objects within the Sedlec Ossuary. SHIGERU BAN’S CARDBOARD BUILDINGS The next stop on our journey takes us to the Land Down Under . . . a.k.a. Australia. In the 1980s, Shigeru Ban, a Japanese architect, started constructing buildings out of cardboard tubes. His theory was that houses, buildings, etc. should be affordable to anyone and the use of materials that are generally considered weak could be put to work in other ways. His idea, although strange for sure, made a certain amount of sense. For instance, the houses he designed could be moved around, which was a great option for people who found themselves victims of natural disasters and needed shelter. It kind of sounds like this guy may have been the inspiration for the Tiny Homes we’re beginning to see nowadays . . . Anyway, Ban’s structures include materials that are readily available, making them easy to construct in the aftermath of things like the Great Hanshin earthquake that hit Japan in 1995, killing about 6,000 people. The foundations can consist of beer crates loaded with sandbags; the walls use carboard tubes stuffed with waterproof sponges for insulation; and the roofs were made from tent fabric. Ban’s ideas were so useful that in the wake of the massive earthquake in Ecuador in 2016, he flew over and helped construct similar houses out of other materials they found in the rubble. And we haven’t even touched on the other natural disasters that Ban’s lent his handiwork and intellect to aid. Pretty neat guy, that Ban. BEER CAN HOUSE Speaking of using “trash” for better purposes, our final stop on the tour takes us to Houston, Texas, which is home to the Beer Can House. John Milkovisch, owner and “architect” of said Beer House, constructed his dwelling using crushed beer cans as the siding. Milkovisch, who used to work for Southern Pacific Railroad as an upholsterer, retired in 1968 and apparently, needed a hobby. He took up drinking beer. Well, that’s not quite accurate. He drank beer before that but found out that all those cans could be put to better use than just tossing them in the garbage. Milkovisch had previously discovered that he had a talent for creating new and unique things from old, discarded objects like marbles or pieces of metal he found on the street. Initially, his work consisted of placing those bits of trash into concrete and redwood to make interesting landscape designs. But there’s only so much room in a person’s front and back yards for those types of designs. Milkovisch turned his attention to his house and began adding crushed beer can siding to its façade. At the rate he went, Milkovisch averaged a six-pack of beer each day and the result 18 years later was about 50,000 beer cans covering his home. Milkovisch also created various decorations like pull-tab wind chime curtains and garlands made from cut beer cans. In the end, the result was a house that was unique (to say the least) but also helped the environment and the Milkovisch family’s budget by lowering energy costs. Now that’s what we call recycling! Issue 841
SNIPPETZ PLEADS, PLEASE DON'T PUN-ISH US FOR THESE BAD PUNS! by Lindsey Harrison “Soon, I learned that the worse the puns and jokes, the funnier they could be, if you knew how to deliver them.” – John Lasseter, American director We have all heard bad puns throughout our many years on this planet. Usually, it is your grandpa or some weird distant relative who tells them and sits there with his or her mouth hanging open in a creepy smile, waiting for you to laugh. If you do not have that relative, then you probably are that relative. Sorry, but it is true. Anyway, regardless of how bad the pun is, it is a fact of life and language, and since we at Snippetz love anything and everything having to do with words and such, we felt it necessary to take a look at some puns. We may have found some of the best (or worst) puns out there but there is a seemingly endless supply so don’t fault us for not getting every single one into this issue! Let’s get started! WHAT’S IN A PUN? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a pun is “the usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound.” The first known use of the word was in 1644, but it is clear that puns had been around for a long time prior to that, regardless of whether or not there was an official word for such word-play. For instance, Egyptian hieroglyphs were originally based on a pun system, as was Sumerian cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing. Now, you may be asking yourself, “If puns have more than one meaning, what in the world is a double entendre?” Double entendre, literally, means double meaning in French. But here’s where puns and double entendres differ: both are double meanings but in a double entendre, one of the meanings is shockingly or surprisingly sexual or risqué. Puns . . . not so much. Those of you who are word junkies like we are here at Snippetz may be wondering how in the world the word “pun” came to be. Well, the suggested origin is from the Italian puntiglio which means fine point or quibble. If you think about it, that makes sense. If you get super technical, the fine point of any pun is what makes it a pun. If you happen to miss the point, you won’t get the pun. TYPES OF PUNS Before we dive into the actual puns, let’s talk for just a minute about the different types of puns. Yes, there is more than one type. Homographic puns use a word with multiple meanings but only one way of spelling it. Homophonic puns use word pairs that sound alike but do not mean the same thing. Here is an example where the first pun is homophonic and the second is homographic. “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish (homophonic pun). Unless of course, you play bass (homographic pun).” Now, those two types are all fine and dandy but one of the most interesting and fun types of puns out there is the homonymic pun. Of course, that is just our opinion. Anyway, homonymic puns are ones that use words that are both homographic and homophonic. That sounds complicated, but it is really not. Here is a great example: “There once was a cross-eyed teacher who could not control his pupils.” In this instance, “pupils” means both the pupils of his crossed eyes and the students in his class. Get it now? PUNS IN THE HEADLINES It is unclear how intentional puns are when they are in the news. Sometimes you wonder how in the world the editor let a headline like that slide and other times it is painfully clear the pun was meant to pique the readers’ interest. Here are some pretty amazing examples of puns printed in real headlines!
BAD PUNS ARE “PUNNY” OK, that was a pretty bad pun but it was kind of funny, right? Anyway, we know the real reason you are still reading this article is because you want to know how many terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad puns we can come up with. Well, you are in luck because we have a bunch! See if you can pick out what types of puns these are, unless you just want to enjoy yourself and read some silly puns. Whatever works for you! So, without further ado . . .
Issue 842
SNIPPETZ WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS... AND "APP-Y" NEW YEAR! by Lindsey Harrison “This is what Christmas should be about, I think – togetherness and playfulness. It’s like a game.” – Billy Howle, English actor This time of year certainly brings out the extremes in people. Either they feel really nice, generous, cheery and loving or they go Ebenezer Scrooge on everyone and walk around with a permanent “Bah humbug!” look on their faces. Now, sometimes that look is totally appropriate, especially if you’ve been planning a huge Christmas Day gathering, complete with a large meal, only to find out half the people aren’t showing up and the other half are allergic to everything you cooked. And let’s not forget how much fun it can be to spend hours in search of this year’s hottest toy, which happens to be sold out in every store locally and anywhere you can find it online has jacked up the price so high, it’s not worth it. It’s truly times like these that we could all use a little perspective: remembering to be grateful for everything we have, perhaps. Or maybe finding a way to get back the excitement of Christmas we all had when we were younger is just what the doctor ordered. We at Snippetz know all too well how easy it is to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and lose sight of what is truly important. That said, we decided it was high time we looked at Christmas in the way Mr. Howle suggested above: like a game. So, with that in mind, we rounded up some pretty neat Christmas apps (not appetizers, apps for your mobile device) to keep the mood light and cheery this year. Enjoy! SHOPPING APPS What’s one of the single most stressful parts of the holiday season? Finding the perfect gift for everyone on our list has our vote! Some people are just impossible to shop for and others have a list that’s so long, you get anxiety and heart palpitations just thinking about trying to pick what to buy! What if there was a way to make that task easier? Lucky for all of us, there is and it comes in the form of the various types of shopping apps available. Now, bear in mind, we at Snippetz are not saying that one app is better than the other; we’re simply hoping to help you out this season and point you in the direction of an app or two that might be beneficial in one way or another. The Christmas List, Giftster, And Christmas Gift List These three apps provide similar services in that they help the user organize their holiday shopping. For instance, The Christmas List and Christmas Gift List apps allow you to plan out your shopping for each individual on your list, including a specific budget for each. You can organize everything into categories down to the smallest detail like which gifts have been wrapped and which ones are still needing to be purchased. For those of us who start Christmas shopping in August and then hide everything and forget what we’ve bought, this app could certainly prove invaluable. Similarly, Giftster allows you to create lists for family and friends but unlike the other two, you can share those lists with other users, preventing duplicate gifts and allowing for people to make their own lists for their friends and family to access. The app also allows you to add pertinent information, like sizes, colors, rankings of the gift ideas, etc. and you can even limit who can see the lists, so no one sees what they are personally going to get. Pretty neat, huh? ADVENT CALENDAR APPS One of the most exciting parts of the holiday season is the countdown to the big day. What better way to capitalize on that excitement than to create an advent calendar app to heighten the anticipation? Here are some of the more creative advent calendar apps available. Elf Adventure Christmas, Musical Advent Calendar and Advent App The Elf Adventure Christmas app is a more non-traditional advent calendar in that each day reveals a mini-game, which upon completion, unlocks part of the story that carries throughout the rest of the calendar. The story revolves around the Christmas elves who are trying to wake up the Frost Giant, so he can bestow a white Christmas upon the world. Conversely, the Advent App and Musical Advent Calendar apps are more traditional but no less entertaining. Advent App is more personal because the user can customize the calendar with their own images, video clips or even just an inspirational quote. The calendar can then be shared with friends and family to help brighten their day. The Musical Advent Calendar app is basically just what it sounds like: an app that unlocks a different piece of Christmas-y music for each day on the calendar. There’s nothing like a little Christmas music to get you into the holiday spirit! CHRISTMAS BAKING APPS Not everyone can be Martha Stewart and make a beautiful Christmas feast with just the leftovers you find in your fridge. In that instance, there are several apps that can come in handy! Yummy Christmas and 101 Christmas Cake Ideas If the kids are hounding you for something to do, put them to work helping make Christmas dinner. The Yummy Christmas app provides easy recipes for your kids to follow and finally pull their weight around here. Similarly, the 101 Christmas Cake Ideas app can take some of the baking pressure off your shoulders by expanding your imagination to help you create a unique and tasty Christmas cake. MISCELLANEOUS (BUT SUPER FUN) CHRISTMAS APPS Of course, there are apps that are useful like the ones we’ve already mentioned. Other apps aren’t quite as useful but certainly up the entertainment factor, making them a worthwhile distraction from the stresses that come with the holiday season. Here are a few of the more random and sometimes silly Christmas apps. Elf Yourself If you’ve ever wondered what you’d look like as an elf (and seriously, who hasn’t?) this is a great app for you. You can use your own images, not just of you but of your family, pets, etc. and turn everyone into dancing elves! The app creates a short video for you to upload to your social media accounts to prove to everyone else how awesome elves really are. Appy Christmas Perhaps you don’t have time this year to go visit Santa and tell him what you’d like for Christmas. No worries! Appy Christmas lets you speak to Santa and he’ll repeat back to you what you’ve said but in a goofy voice. In case Santa starts getting a little too sassy, you can put him back in his place by poking or petting him to see how he handles it. That’ll teach you to bring me nothing but coal last year, Santa! Angry Chicken: Christmas Yes, you read that correctly. This app is all about chickens at Christmas and is basically just a game where you have to gather up as many eggs as you can. But the hard part is that you have to keep from dropping them. Surely, eggs and chickens are synonymous with Christmas spirit, right? Greedy Pigs X’Mas Sticking with the barnyard theme, the Greedy Pigs X’Mas app allows you to be Santa’s savior and protect him from his enemies. You build various structures to maintain his safety. Who knows? Maybe he’ll actually bring you what you want this year if you do him this solid. It’s worth a shot! Issue 843
SNIPPETZ HAS A GIFT FOR YOU: THE A,B,Cs (AND Ds) OF CHRISTMAS by Lindsey Harrison “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney, American journalist Today’s the day! Kids around the world have literally been counting down to this morning, when they can finally wake up at the butt-crack of dawn and devour the presents beneath the Christmas tree. How amazing is it to be so young and full of joy? Many of us can probably remember but given that we’ve been up since, yes, the butt-crack of dawn when our kids got up, our brains may be a bit foggy. Well, shake that fog away because it’s time for some Christmas multiple choice! Don’t worry, you won’t be graded on this quiz. That’s not to say your friends and family won’t be silently judging you as you struggle with these questions. It’s OK, though. Snippetz still loves you no matter what. And with that in mind, we bring to you this Christmas Quiz! 1). Which former Christmas Eve tradition is no longer around? a. Christmas Eve mullet haircuts b. Christmas Eve poke-in-the-eye c. Christmas Eve ghost stories d. Christmas Eve pass out in the front yard The answer, of course, is C. Although the other Christmas Eve traditions sound pretty interesting, the only true tradition (according to documentation and actual verbal confirmation) is the telling of scary ghost stories on Christmas Eve. However, if you felt so inclined to start a new tradition, we’ve already given you a few good ideas. 2). What notable Christmas carol, written by James Pierpont in 1857, was written about Thanksgiving and not Christmas? a. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” b. “Jingle Bells” c. “Santa Baby” d. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” The answer is C. Just kidding. It’s B. When Pierpont initially wrote the song, it was called, “One Horse Open Sleigh.” He must have been in Colorado when he wrote it because we are often more likely to have snow on Thanksgiving than on Christmas and his song hinges on the idea of “dashing through the snow.” 3). How did the tradition of putting a tangerine in people’s stockings come about? a. Someone holding a big bowl of tangerines tripped while walking to the kitchen table and one of the tangerines fell out and rolled into a stocking laying on the floor. b. Before we had stockings that were made exclusively to use for hanging on Christmas Eve, everyday stockings were used and they were often pretty stinky. The tangerine helped masked the smell. c. Dentists became so dismayed at the amount of sweet treats kids were eating between Halloween and Christmas that they urged parents to opt for tangerines instead in a movement known worldwide as “The Great Tangerine Swap-out.” d. During the 1100s, nuns from various establishments would leave socks full of nuts and fruits (like tangerines) at the doors of the poor people in their towns. The answer is D. Although it would be pretty awesome if dentists around the world joined forces for something like this, it’s just not how the tangerine tradition started. And to be honest, the idea of putting a tangerine in your stocking to mask the smell probably isn’t that far-fetched. Just sayin’. 4). Speaking of stockings, what’s with that? (The real question is where did the tradition of hanging stockings come from? a. Hanging stockings is a Dutch custom, in addition to leaving their shoes by the front door, filled with food for St. Nicholas’s donkeys, and in return, they received treats in their shoes and stockings from St. Nick. b. Way back in the olden days, people hung their stockings by the fire to help them dry and one Christmas Eve, a family forgot to take their stockings down to help Santa Claus enter through their chimney without getting a face full of dirty stockings. Santa Claus noticed the stockings and decided to add a little special something for the family, just because he’s an ornery elf. c. Instead of trying to find different decorations for their homes, poor people used things they already had laying around the house to brighten up their houses for the holidays. d. Elvis Presley was the first person to hang his stockings by the chimney with care and it turns out, the tradition caught on pretty quickly. The answer is A. Although to be fair, there is no written documentation to support the birth of that tradition. So, who knows? Maybe B is actually the correct answers. Why don’t you be the judge? 5). Why was December 25th decided upon as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? a. It was chosen as the date because it is exactly nine months after the date at which the archangel Gabriel was said to have visited the Virgin Mary to announce that she would be carrying the Son of God. b. Uh, because it was the date of the birth of Jesus Christ (duh). c. The Council of Nicaea decided upon that date in A.D. 325 and so we have just continued with that tradition. d. All of the above The answer is D (sort of). Depending on who you talk to, A and B are correct, but B is not (and thus, by default, D is not). Early Christian scholars cited a wide array of dates as the actual day of Jesus’s birth, other than December 25. For instance, Clement chose November 18 and an anonymous document believed to have been written by someone in North Africa in A.D. 243 states the correct date as March 28th. Whether or not December 25th is correct, we still have the pleasure of celebrating such a wonderful event and that’s clearly the point, isn’t it? 6). When was the first Christmas tree ever erected in celebration of the holiday? a. In 1492, after Columbus sailed the ocean blue. b. It’s a little-known fact but there was actually a Christmas tree outside Jesus’s tomb when he rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. c. In 1983, which happens to coincide with a certain amazing writer’s birth year. d. In 1570, when a pamphlet points to the first evidence of the existence of a Christmas tree. The answer is D. Although it would be cool if 1983 really was the first year a Christmas tree was set up to celebrate the Christmas holiday, sadly, that’s just not the case. 7). (This one is easy) Why do we abbreviate Christmas as “X-mas?” a. X is actually the abbreviation for the Greek word “chi,” which itself is the abbreviated form of the word “Christ.” So, Christ-mas = X-mas. b. People are lazy and don’t want to spell out Christmas. c. Saying “ex-mas” sounded better than saying “em-mas” or “en-mas.” d. The letter X is used so infrequently that scholars from long ago agreed to find a way to use it in common English language more often. The answer is A. Of course, it does kind of look sloppy and there has been plenty of contention about using “X-mas” instead of Christmas, there is obviously no disrespect intended. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM EVERYONE AT SNIPPETZ!!! Issue 844
SNIPPETZ PRESENTS THE "NO SUGAR" GUIDE by Lindsey Harrison “Well, sugar in the mornin’ Sugar in the evenin’ Sugar at suppertime Be my little sugar And love me all the time – The McGuire Sisters It’s that time of year again, when New Year’s resolutions abound, and people are determined to make their lives better. Often, a main focus of those resolutions is to get healthier. In fact, according to Harper’s Bazaar, the most common New Year’s resolution for 2017 was to diet, exercise and/or lose weight. If you’ve ever read an online article about any of those topics, you’ll see that the media is capitalizing on the “get fit” obsession many people seem to have developed. That’s all fine and dandy, but a million online articles aren’t going to help anyone keep a New Year’s resolution they aren’t prepared to keep. But, given how popular the topic of getting healthier is, we at Snippetz figured maybe this was a good time to bring you a little guide to help you along the way, assuming your New Year’s Resolution has anything to do with cutting sugar out of your diet. If not, then we can’t help you. Sorry. If so, yay! Keep reading because we’ve sifted through the research and found some pretty great alternatives, and some not so great, to sugar that just might hit the sweet spot for you. Before using any sugar substitute we strongly suggest you research it thoroughly, since there is so much conflicting information concerning how safe these products actually are. SUGAR 101 Whenever you taste something sweet, your natural inclination is to assume there’s sugar in it. Good sugar, bad sugar, who knows? But sweet = sugar, right? Well, sort of but not really. Typically, when someone refers to sugar, they’re talking about common table sugar, or sucrose. Technically speaking, sucrose can be found in its natural form in various plants, while the sucrose we use in table sugar is a refined, manufactured product. Now, some of you are probably cringing at that last statement. Undoubtedly, society has become a bit gun-shy of any food or drink that has been altered by man and we get that. But a big part of understanding what you’re putting into your body is understanding the terminology used when describing something. Just because a company lists their product as “natural” does not mean it has not been processed or refined in some way. And sometimes, “natural” means it is derived from a naturally-occurring substance. So, you can see how difficult it can be to know exactly what you’re getting. But that’s why we’re here to help! Sucrose itself contains about 16 calories per teaspoon and is naturally found in fruit. It does provide some energy but has no nutritional value. THE ABC'S OF SUGAR SUBSTITUTES So, if we know that sugar is sucrose, then what are sugar substitutes? Basically, they are synthetic sugars that may or may not be derived from a naturally-occurring substance. Typically, sugar substitutes are much sweeter than sugar, which is why they are often referred to as intense sweeteners. Of course, that can be good or bad, depending on what your goal is with using a particular sugar substitute. If a sugar substitute is much sweeter than regular sugar, it makes sense, then that you likely would not have to use as much of that substance as you would if you used regular sugar. For people who are looking to cut down on their sweetener intake, regardless of whether it’s natural or not, this can certainly be a good thing. Additionally, if you are hoping to lose weight, sugar substitutes can have less calories (if any) compared to sugar. As with anything, there are ups and downs to using sugar substitutes. To help you determine which route may be the best one for you, especially if you’re planning to omit sugar from your diet this year, we’ve compiled some information about some of the most popular sweeteners for you. Acesulfame potassium This sweetener, frequently known as Sunett or Sweet One, is often added to sodas, gum, frozen desserts and gelatins. It has no calories, which makes is an attractive alternative for various diet foods and drinks, but it also provides no nutritional value at all. Also known as Ace K (considering K is the symbol for potassium on the periodic table of elements), acesulfame potassium was discovered by accident in 1967 by Karl Clauss, a German chemist. It is about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar and is frequently said to have a bitter aftertaste. Ace K was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1988 and since then, no significant issues have arisen with its usage. However, as with anything else, it’s best to use acesulfame potassium in moderation, but considering how sweet it is in comparison to sugar, it’s likely not difficult to limit your overall intake of this sweetener! High-fructose corn syrup We know this substance has been in the media lately as something to avoid, but don’t cringe. High-fructose corn syrup (or HFCS) is certainly a highly debated sugar substitute because it contains fructose and glucose from processed corn syrup. HFCS is often used in sodas, desserts, cereals and candy, and contains 17 calories per teaspoon. HFCS is cheaper to manufacture than regular sugar and provides a longer shelf life to products in which it is found. As with Ace K, HSFC provides no nutritional value and is a frequently-cited cause of obesity. However, this is the case with any sort of food or drink that supplies “empty calories” – i.e. calories found in food or drink with no nutritional value. Agave nectar Agave nectar is a commercially-produced sugar substitute that is derived from several species of agave plant. It is frequently used in cereals, yogurts and teas, and contains 20 calories per teaspoon. Agave nectar tastes similar to honey, although it doesn’t contain as many antioxidants as honey. It is sweeter than sugar which means you don’t need as much to obtain your ideal sweetness level. A plus side of this sugar substitute is that it contains more fructose than regular sugar, which means it is less likely to cause blood sugar spikes. The downside is that agave nectar could reduce your insulin sensitivity. Aspartame Aspartame has no calories and is commonly manufactured under the name Equal or Nutrasweet. It is frequently found in drinks, cough drops, yogurt and gum. Aspartame is a highly controversial sweetener because it has been blamed for causing cancer and other serious conditions. Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar and essentially has no calories. The sweetness lasts longer than sugar, but the flavor profile is fairly similar to sugar’s. Aspartame has been widely studied to determine its safety and the most recent evidence, produced in 2017, indicates it may be associated with weight gain and heart disease. Because it contains a high level of the essential amino acid phenylalanine, it poses a serious health hazard to people born with phenylketonuria or PKU. Stevia leaf extract (Editor’s Recommendation) The stevia plant is a naturally sweet plant, the extract of which is often used in diet drinks and in individual packets as a table sugar substitute. It’s manufactured under the names Truvia and Pure Via. Stevia leaf extract contains no calories and refined versions of the extract, like that found in Truvia, received a “Generally Regarded As Safe” designation from the FDA in 2008. This sweetener is considered one of the truly natural alternatives to sugar. Saccharin Saccharin is one of those super-scary sugar substitutes because a study in the 1970s linked consumption of saccharin with bladder cancer in rats. However, there is a lack of evidence to indicate that it causes cancer in humans. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency stated that saccharin is no longer considered a potential health hazard to humans, in a Dec. 14, 2010 press release, but please research this since there is a great deal of conflicting information. Saccharin contains no calories and is often found in drinks, canned foods and candy. It is about 300 to 400 times sweeter than sugar and provides no energy or nutritional value. Issue 845
Snippetz Reminds You That NOT ALL SERVICE ANIMALS BARK by Lindsey Harrison “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France, French novelist If you have never had a close relationship with an animal, we feel sorry for you and can’t be friends anymore. Just kidding. But the truth is that Mr. France is 100 percent correct. If you have never truly loved an animal, you are missing something integral to being a human. We’re not just talking about the standard pets, like cats and dogs, though. While most people equate those two species with domestication and close human relationships, that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Sure, those of us who love animals may consider our relationships with our pets as super close, but that’s nothing compared to the relationship between a human and their service animal. Notice how we said service “animal” and not service dog. Yes, the most common type of service animal is a dog. Don’t for a minute think the options are limited to animals of the canine persuasion, though. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a service snake. Did that pique your interest? Well, keep reading because we at Snippetz have compiled a menagerie of animals that have officially made it into the history books as some of the most unusual service animals EVER. SERVICE ANIMALS 101 It may be tempting to run out and try to get your pet goldfish registered as a service animal but there is an actual definition that Goldie likely doesn’t meet. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” The key word there is “dog” because that automatically rules out Goldie, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. While the ADA’s website goes on to state that any other species of animal, be it trained or untrained, wild or domestic, is not considered a service animal, it also states that there is an exception to that rule. Miniature horses are also allowed as service animals, assuming they can perform the same necessary tasks that a service dog can perform. But there’s always someone out there who’s willing to bend the rules a little bit, isn’t there? Honestly, there had to be some brave pioneer out there who championed for the service animal rights for their miniature horse in order for the ADA to officially recognize the animal as such. So, it stands to reason that more exceptions to the rules are likely to follow. And let’s not forget that the ADA rules only apply to entities covered by the ADA and there are other laws out there that define service animals, namely those that govern airline travel and residential housing situations. Perhaps that’s why we have these awesome stories about some of the most unusual service animals encountered to date. FLYING THE SUPER STINKY SKIES Pigs are extremely smart and are frequently kept as domestic pets. But typically, it’s the teeny tiny teacup pigs that people adopt and allow to roam freely around their homes. Not in the case of one woman who decided to bring her pet pig, who she claimed was an emotional support animal, with her on a flight on a US Airways flight in 2003. Another passenger estimated the pig’s weight as between 70 and 80 pounds, definitely not a small pig by any stretch of the imagination. The pig and its owner did not end up flying with US Airways that day because they were kicked off the plane for being “disruptive.” Apparently, it was squealing and making a mess of things, including defecating in the aisle. Apparently, there are certain criteria animals must meet in order to be allowed on airline flights, including documentation from a credible doctor that the animal truly is an emotional support animal. So, if you were planning on strapping your favorite chicken to your chest as your emotional support animal for your next flight, you may want to reconsider. REDROCK THE SNAKE Remember how we mentioned earlier that having a snake as a service animal was a real thing? Well, here’s the story! Daniel Greene, owner of a boa constrictor named Redrock, said the reptile helps control his grand-mal seizures. He claims the 5-foot-long snake will “hug” him when a seizure is about to take hold of him. Ummm, Mr. Greene, that snake is not hugging you. it’s a boa constrictor, it’s trying to kill you. Anyway, to each his own, we suppose. PANDA THE MINIATURE HORSE You probably also remember us referring to miniature horses as being identified by the ADA as service animals. Well, one such horse is named Panda and his owner, Ann Edie, apparently happened upon the animal after several unsuccessful attempts with service dogs. Edie, who is visually impaired, said the dogs were frequently distracted by things like squirrels and other dogs, which was not a good situation. Panda, on the other hand, is much less aggressive and doesn’t drag her into the street in pursuit of some perceived prey. Additionally, miniature horses can live to be 30 to 40 years old, while the average lifespan of a service dog is between 8 and 12 years. SKIPPY THE IGUANA Admittedly, an iguana is an unusual pet. But imagine seeing someone cuddle up to one as an emotional support animal. Cosmie Silfa does just that with his iguana, Skippy, when he feels himself falling into a depressive state. And Skippy apparently is the real deal. Silfa has a letter from his psychiatrist that states Skippy helps him stabilize his mood and provides motivation to battle his addictions to drugs and alcohol. Not since Godzilla have we seen such a powerful iguana . . . or iguana-ish reptile. TOAST THE FERRET Yet another addition to the strange service animals list, we find ourselves faced with Toast the ferret. This little guy lost most of his talk and his feet were deformed, complements of some pretty nasty people who set him on fire. Jerks. Anyway, toast was rescued by Nancy Sevier who had him certified as a therapy ferret. Until he sadly passed away in 2011, Toast visited hospitals to comfort abuse victims. KIWI THE FENNEC FOX, AND HUMP-FREE AND KEESA THE CAMELS Kiwi, a fennec fox, lives at the Lyon Ranch in Sonoma, California with Hump-Free and Keesa the camels. The animals were all rescued from abusive situations and found “work” as therapy animals. The camels frequently visit hospitals and assisted living facilities to aid in the healing of the patients, both young and old, who are currently in residence there. Kiwi is much more portable and typically finds a comfy spot on someone’s lap. Robin Lyons, owner of the ranch, even said that a young boy came into a local medical center where Lyons happened to be visiting with Kiwi. The boy, who was hysterical due to a trauma he had sustained, was given Kiwi to snuggle and as the fennec fox fell asleep in the little boy’s lap, the boy forgot to be afraid to recount what he had been through. Amazing! Issue 846
ALLLL-RIGHTY THEN, SNIPPETZ LOOKS BEHIND THE MASK AT JIM CARREY by Lindsey Harrison “I think that everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see that it’s not the answer.” – Jim Carrey, Canadian-American actor Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably at least heard of actor Jim Carrey. But the chances are even better that you’ve seen one of his many films. Although his characters are often silly and somewhat over-the-top, Jim Carrey has certainly managed to become a household name for his brand of comedy. It’s nothing if not distinct. But we at Snippetz didn’t decide to focus this issue on him because he’s a darn good comedian. We wanted to know what else there is to the man behind the blockbuster films like “The Mask,” “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” and “Dumb and Dumber.” Honestly, not everyone could pull off the characters in those films, become a massively successful movie star and still have the humility to realize that money and fame don’t mean squat in the grand scheme of things. So, without further ado, Snippetz brings you the story of Jim Carrey! EARLY LIFE James Eugene Carrey was born on January 17, 1962 to Kathleen and Percy Carrey in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. His father was an accountant and jazz musician and later in life, Jim would reflect that Percy could’ve been a comedian but instead chose the safe route to support his family, which included three older children. If ever there was a person who demonstrated the skill that would eventually become his calling card, so to speak, it was Jim Carrey. Early on, his family and friends noted that he was an extreme extrovert and loved to perform for anyone that would tolerate it. By the time he was in junior high, it was so obvious that he needed some sort of outlet that would allow him to perform in a constructive and appropriate manner, Jim was allowed the last few minutes of each school day to do stand-up routines for his classmates. Of course, that was under the condition that he behaved himself the rest of the day. Jim’s life wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, however. Even though his father sought a “safe” career as an accountant, the family was still hit with hard times when they were forced to move from their home in Newmarket to a suburb of Toronto. His father wasn’t able to keep his accounting job and both he and Kathleen took jobs as janitorial staff at the Titan Wheels factory to make ends meet. Jim joined his parents and worked a full 8-hour shift every day after school. The family’s hard times were about to get harder, though. The Titan Wheel factory closed down and the Carreys were left with no other option than to live in their Volkswagen camper van until they could find a way to secure new jobs and a new place to live. Once the family got their feet back under them and settled down in Toronto, Jim felt comfortable enough to make his professional debut in stand-up comedy. The debut was less than successful, but that didn’t stop the determined young man from pursuing his dream. In fact, he dropped out of high school at 16 years old to focus on honing his comedic skills. After some time, Jim felt confident enough in his abilities to break away from the life he had in Canada and moved to Los Angeles in 1979. CAREER Imagine being a teenager from another country and deciding to chase your dreams in one of the biggest cities in the United States. It sounds daunting even to those of us who are FROM the U.S., let alone anyone trying to assimilate from another country. But that’s just what Jim Carrey did. He managed to snag a regular spot at The Comedy Store in L.A. where famous comedian Rodney Dangerfield saw the young man’s act and decided to sign Jim as an opening act for an entire season. Over the next several years, Jim tried his hand at a few things, including working as a cartoonist on a sitcom called “The Duck Factory” in 1984. The show was a bust, but Jim’s confidence was once again bolstered by the experience and he focused his energy even more ardently on becoming an actor. That drive led him to landing a few small roles in movies like “Once Bitten” (1985) and “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986). It was the interestingly-named movie “Earth Girls Are Easy” from 1988 that would mark a turning point in Jim’s career. He worked as an alien alongside Damon Wayans, who apparently loved his fellow actor’s antics and decided to alert his brother, Keenan Ivory Wayans, who also happened to work in the show biz industry. The Wayans brothers agreed that Jim would be a perfect fit for the sketch comedy show they were developing, called “In Living Color.” The show debuted in 1990 and was a hit, eventually launching the careers of several actors, including Jennifer Lopez who worked as one of the “Fly Girls,” a group of back-up dancers that performed during each episode. CURRENT WORKS Since the 90s, Jim Carrey has steadily worked to make a name for himself in the film industry. But recently, he broke away from acting to pursue a different form of artistic expression; namely, well, art. More specifically, painting. For the better part of the last decade, Jim has focused his energy on painting, even going as far as turning his home into a veritable art studio rather than a residence. For those of us who thoroughly enjoy all of Jim’s acting/comedic work, it may be a bit disappointing to consider that he may be stepping out of the realm. But the truth is, the creativity of the man behind Ace Ventura and Fire Marshal Bill (from “In Living Color”) can now be seen in a different medium. In a recent interview about his artwork, Jim said of his transition to painting, “It was extremely liberating, and now there’s a feeling of gratitude around it, and pleasant surprise – not only that people are enjoying the work, but that they’re understanding where it comes from.” Jim debuted his artwork in a showing titled “Sunshower,” at the Signature Gallery Group’s Las Vegas location in August 2017. While the showing earned mixed reviews, the frantic, frenetic, and frenzied air that always seems to surround the actor-turned-painter is easily conveyed in his artwork, which is perhaps the way Jim Carrey can remain as true to himself as possible, even as he evolves. JIM CARREY SNIPPETZ
Issue 847
SNIPPETZ SAYS IT'S NO MYTH THAT THESE MYTHICAL CREATURES MAY EXIST! by Lindsey Harrison “I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So, I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?” – John Lennon, British musician If you’ve been reading Snippetz for a while, you know that we don’t shy away from topics that might seem strange. We’ve delved into the mysterious world of the Chupacabra. We’ve unshrouded some of the unknowns about Santa Claus and his eight, tiny reindeer. No doubt, those subjects aren’t always easy for everyone to swallow. But it would be irresponsible of us not to continue down that path to investigate some of the other strange topics out there. And to be honest, we’re not even sure this next topic is so strange. In fact, after everything we’ve uncovered, it’s more like we’re finally setting the record straight. Now, we could dance around the subject all day but rather than waste anymore time, we’ll dive right in to the wonderful world of mythological creatures and explain to you (finally) why they could actually be real! UNICORN Let’s start off with one of the most well-known mythical creatures around: the unicorn. You’re probably shaking your head right now because you’re thinking there’s no possible way unicorns could ever be real. But did you know that unicorns are not found anywhere in Greek mythology, unlike some other mythical creatures? That’s right. Greeks didn’t mention them once in their mythological tales. That’s because they were too busy writing about them in their accounts of natural history! You read that correctly; Greeks were completely, 100 percent on the “unicorns are real” bandwagon. They believed these creatures, identifiable by the single, spiraling horn protruding from their foreheads, lived in India. OK, so that’s one example of the possible existence of unicorns. Here’s another: in the Bible, an animal called the “re’em” appears and in some versions, that name translates to “unicorn.” Still don’t think it’s possible that unicorns are real? Well how about this: unicorns are really nothing more than a horse with a horn, right? There are plenty of similar animals with horns so the idea that a horse could have one isn’t exactly far-fetched. But of all the creatures in the world to sprout a horn, it seems less likely that a big, fat aquatic animal would be the one, right? Enter the narwhal! If ever there was an animal you shouldn’t believe exists, the narwhal is it. This thing is literally just a whale with a massive horn. And it’s spirally, like a unicorn’s horn. So, if the narwhal exists, why not the unicorn? LEPRECHAUN Another very popular mythical creature is the leprechaun. No, this isn’t the leprechaun in that movie that goes around and kills everyone. If you haven’t seen it, don’t watch it. Anyway, we’re talking about the small, red-haired fellow, dressed in all green who is often depicted as protecting a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But did you know that the name “leprechaun” is derived from the Old Irish “luchropan,” which itself is a combination of “lu” or small, and “corp” or body? The name literally means small body. It would be pretty hard to find a more apt name than that! So, we have a good grasp on how leprechauns got their names. But how in the world did they ever come to be in the first place? Legends point to leprechauns as being the children of fairies. That means, then, that if you believe in leprechauns, you must believe in fairies as well. We’ll get to that later. If someone asked you what color the clothes of a leprechaun were, you’d likely answer “green.” And maybe that’s why so many people don’t believe in them. The truth is that leprechauns wear red jackets with white Elizabethan ruffles at the neck. A leprechaun’s pants are also red, below which he wears stockings that are either white or gray. With so many people looking for little men dressed in green, it’s no wonder leprechauns are thought to be mythical! Perhaps most convincing of all is the fact that in 2010, the European Union officially recognized the leprechaun as a real species. In fact, the Sliabh Foy Loop, a trail in the forested area of Slieve Foy Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula of Ireland is under special protection by the EU because it is the leprechaun’s natural habitat. FAIRY If leprechauns are real, and we’ve just proven above that they are (at least according to the EU), then fairies must also be real, considering they give birth to leprechauns. ‘Nuff said. We’re kidding, there’s more. So, fairies have been mentioned in both oral and written literature for thousands of years, in Sanskrit, Greek, Arabic, Samoan, and even North American Native Americans. Proof of their existence can be found in various ways, including the creation of fairy rings. Fairy rings are naturally-occurring rings of vegetation like flowers, mushrooms or just a darker shade of grass than the surrounding area. The claim is that these fairy rings attract fairies who dance inside them. Other sources indicate that fairy rings can be built by non-biological items, like stones. In fact, there’s a rumor going around that Stonehenge is actually just a massive fairy ring and was constructed with the goal of attracting fairies. Now, fairies seem all nice and cute in books and pictures, right? They have delicate wings and can flit around wherever they please. Apparently, that’s partly true. Yes, the fairies cruise wherever they like, but they are far from nice, if the rumors are to be believed. Typically, fairies aren’t much of a concern. Why? Well, the stories indicate they spend much of their time playing and dancing. Their moods can turn on a dime, however, especially if their playing or dancing is interrupted. That’s when they do things like steal your mind or literally lure you to your death. So, why haven’t more people seen fairies? The answer is that the fairies don’t particularly want to be found. The other answer is that, in order to see fairies, you need to be deeply connected to Mother Nature. We can all claim to be connected and in tune with Mother Nature, but each of us could also point out someone who is clearly on a different playing field when it comes to that connectedness. Those are the folks that can see fairies. Sad day for the rest of us. PHOENIX Yet again, we come across another mythical creature that has been accounted for in many unconnected cultures throughout time. Of course, the name isn’t the same, but the imagery is consistent and describes a large bird, more colorful than the others around it, that dies a fiery death, but then rises again from the ashes. So, here’s why the phoenix could be real: there are many species of animals that have become extinct long before modern man came along. Is it so far-fetched to think that there once lived a beautiful bird species that appeared almost as if it was aflame? And is it so unbelievable to consider that the bird may have lost its feathers (a.k.a. molted) and these ancient cultures assumed the bird was burning up and turning to ashes, when actually it was just losing its feathers? Of course, once it lost its feathers, it didn’t die. It simply couldn’t fly around as it used to until its new feathers grew in. But that process could have been interpreted as the phoenix rising up from its ashes (or molted feathers), reborn as a new bird. Whether you believe in these mythical creatures or not, it is certainly worth considering that they could be real, right? We think so! Issue 848
SNIPPETZ EXPLORES UNUSUAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS OVER THE YEARS by Lindsey Harrison “From wearable sensors to video game treatments, everyone seems to be looking to technology as the next wave of innovation for mental health care.” – Thomas R. Insel, American scientist Truer words were never spoken than the ones Mr. Insel spoke above. Mankind has always been in search of the latest and greatest, and advances mental health care are no exception. Trial and error have played a large role in how we handle mental health care issues, which means we’ve ended up with a rather wide array of “treatments” that were less than successful. Some of those treatments were sort of silly in hind sight, but for the people who endured those treatments, it was not a laughing matter. What people called “treatments” back then, we’d probably call “torture” today. At least we can say that those torturous treatments are in our past. But to understand how far we’ve come in the field of mental healthcare, we need to look at where we started, and that’s just what Snippetz intends to do! TREPANATION Probably one of the most horrifying treatments a person could endure was one known as trepanation. It is the oldest-known neurosurgical procedure, with evidence suggesting it was performed as far back as the Mesolithic era, using stone tools. Trepanation involved drilling a hole in the patient’s head and removing a piece of their skull. While the purpose of the treatment is not clear, some theories include relief from headaches, treatment for epilepsy and allowing evil spirits to escape. To be honest, it might be better to just hang onto those evil spirits . . . just saying. LOBOTOMY Similar to trepanation, a lobotomy involves cutting into the patient’s skull to access the brain. But it takes it a step further by severing nerve pathways in one or more lobes of the patient’s brain, supposedly to disrupt the “misfiring” nerves that created whatever mental illness the patient suffered from. This treatment actually received the Nobel Prize but lobotomies were soon deemed too risky to justify the results they produced. Considering how intricately the brain is wired and how easily one little slip of the scalpel could cause irreparable damage, that’s probably for the best. BLEEDING, VOMITING AND PURGING This one is pretty yucky. Thomas Willis, an English physician from the 17th century, took the theories posited by the ancient Greek physician, Claudius Galen and ran with them. Galen thought that the human body contained substances, which he called “humors,” that caused almost every kind of ailment when not properly balanced. Willis decided those “humors” were behind mental illness as well and developed methods to bring a patient’s body back into homeostasis. His methods included bleeding, purging and inducing vomiting in his patients. As you can imagine, Willis’s methods were not effective. ROTATIONAL THERAPY Just the name of this type of treatment makes those of us who tend to get motion sickness feel like running to find the nearest trashcan. Ironically, this treatment was developed by Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin who was credited with being the Father of Evolutionary Theory. Rotational therapy was based on the idea that excessive spinning would lessen “brain congestion.” Although it’s unlikely there was actually any such effect, Darwin’s treatment did provide a glimpse at the biomedical effects that G-forces have on the body. It makes us wonder, did Darwin study Willis’s work and consider vomiting as proof that brain congestion was being relieved because if not, it’s hard to say what proof he thought he had. INSULIN SHOCK THERAPY You’re probably thinking that this particular treatment was developed long ago because it certainly sounds like an archaic method to treat mental illness. It’s actually one of the more recent mental health treatments we found to include in our list of unusual treatments, having been developed in the 1930s. The idea was to deliberately induce a low blood sugar coma. Why? Well, it seems to be a two-fold answer: 1). When a patient was in a low blood sugar coma, they didn’t display their brand of psychiatric symptoms and were easier to work with; and 2). It was believed that such dramatic changes in insulin levels actually rewired the brain, hopefully in a beneficial manner. CHEMICALLY-INDUCED SEIZURE THERAPY Yet another example of a well-intentioned treatment that fell short of actually treating anything, chemically-induced seizure treatment was developed by Ladislas Joseph von Meduna in 1934. The treatment was based on observations the Hungarian neuropathologist made about patients who suffered from schizophrenia or epilepsy. He noted that these two ailments were rarely present in the same patient and sought to induce seizures using various chemicals to cure schizophrenia. He settled on cardiazol, a camphor-like substance that he injected into patients, only after realizing that injecting the blood from epileptic patients into schizophrenic patients didn’t work. Unfortunately, von Meduna was inaccurate in his assumptions. In fact, research shows that patients with epilepsy are eight times more likely to develop schizophrenia and the two disorders may actually be genetically linked. MALARIA THERAPY Certainly, you’re thinking you read that heading incorrectly. Could people have ever thought that using malaria, a deadly disease, could cure mental illnesses? The short answer is: yes. But let us explain a bit further. In the early 1900s, neurosyphilis was dubbed “the disease of the century.” Naturally, scientists of every shape and size were working feverishly (pun intended) to find a cure. Austrian physician Julius Wagner-Jauregg was among those scientists and was the first to notice that residents of the asylum where he worked that had the disease appeared to regain their sanity after enduring an episode of fever. Deciding to test the idea that the fever had made the difference, Wagner-Jauregg experimented with various methods of inducing a fever, including injecting patients with malaria. Malaria, as you may know, is a mosquito-borne disease, the symptoms of which include fever, tiredness, vomiting and headaches. Oh, and it’s often lethal. But that’s neither here nor there. The malaria injection was followed by a quinine treatment, which is form of antimalarial drug. Apparently, the treatment was effective enough to earn Wagner-Jauregg the Nobel Prize, even if it was later made obsolete by the discovery of penicillin. Regardless, you have to admire the guts of Wagner-Jauregg to knowingly inject a lethal substance into his patients to treat a mental illness. Or perhaps his sanity should have been called into question. GLORE PSYCHIATRIC MUSEUM If this article has piqued your interest into how mental illness was treated throughout history, you just may want to swing by the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri. Exhibits at the museum include assorted treatment devices like the eerily gallows-esque Bath of Surprise, which literally dropped patients into ice-cold water “to break the chain of delusional ideas and . . . create conditions favoring sane thinking.” We don’t know about you but being dropped into cold water would have us thinking some pretty insane thoughts. Other exhibits include “artwork” by asylum patients, including an array of more than 500 handwritten notes that a patient had stuffed into a television set, with no explanation about his intent. And then there’s the 100,000 packs of cigarettes another patient had squirreled away with the (imaginary) hopes of winning a new wheelchair. Sounds legit. We know where we’re going for Spring Break! Issue 849
YOU ATE WHAT? WE'RE COOKING UP UNUSUAL DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD! by Lindsey Harrison “Food is not just eating energy. It’s an experience.” – Guy Fieri, American restauranteur When most of us sit down for dinner, it’s not typically an exciting, memorable event. Sure, Thanksgiving dinner is a bit more memorable, but that’s mostly because it’s a holiday based on eating. Honestly, if there wasn’t some major mishap with the turkey or the gravy didn’t end up some strange shade of blue, even Thanksgiving dinners start to run together in our memories. But think for a minute what it would be like to step out of your comfort zone and try some more unusual dishes to making your dining experience, well, an experience! “That’s a good idea, Snippetz, but I don’t know where to start,” you might be thinking. Well, that’s where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of the some the most memorable, unusual – and possibly disgusting – dishes from around the world to help you broaden your horizons. Now you’ll have no excuse to disagree with Mr. Fieri, will you? TUNA EYEBALLS Yep, tuna eyeballs are an actual dish all by themselves in Japan. Which makes sense if you think about it. In a country that relies so heavily on the resources it can obtain from the sea, there is no doubt the population would use every bit of every catch they make. In this instance, the eyeballs are plucked out of the tuna fish and often sold in supermarkets for about $1 USD. Apparently, they taste best when boiled or steamed and seasoned with soy sauce or garlic. But even when they taste their best, tuna eyeballs reportedly taste like squid, so really the superiority of one cooking method over another is in the mouth of the beholder. KHASH Served mainly is the Middle East and eastern Europe, khash is certainly not a dish you’d expect to find, well, anywhere! It consists of stewed cow’s feet, cow head and occasionally cow stomach, which makes sense considering the Farsi term “khash” literally translates to “head and hoof.” It was supposedly considered a “comfort food,” but that seems like a bit of a stretch. Regardless, if you’re looking for eating to be an experience, try having a cow skull stare up at you from your bowl while you dine. We bet you won’t forget that experience! A-PING This sounds rather innocuous, but if you have a fear of spiders, you may want to steer clear of this Cambodian dish. It is actually just a big ole fried tarantula. Originally, the dish came about when there was a massive food shortage during the savage Khmer Rouge regime. Somehow or another, the “treat” stuck around even after the regime was removed from power. To enjoy this dish, it is recommended that you marinate the tarantula in MSG, sugar and salt before frying it alongside some garlic. Now, if that doesn’t sound too bad and you aren’t too queasy with the idea of eating a spider, just remember: the abdomen contains a lovely brown gooey substance that is really just the innards of the spider, possibly some eggs and well, spidey poo. Your mouth is watering already, isn’t it? HÁKARL Once upon a time, someone saw the rotting carcass of a basking (or Greenland) shark and decided to make a meal out of it. Called hákarl, this Icelandic dish really is just a shark carcass, buried in a shallow pit and covered with heavy stones for two to three months to help release the poisonous fluids contained therein. Once it has been deemed safe to eat, the carcass is hung out to dry for another few months and then cut into strips. That’s it. No cooking, no baking, no marinating, nothing. Mmmm, tasty. ESCAMOL Have you ever come across a dish that has a super fancy name, but you know that it’s really just a plain old every-day food? For instance, Salisbury steak is really just a fancy name for a hamburger patty smothered in mushroom gravy. That’s what escamol is. Commonly referred to as “insect caviar,” escamol is really just the larvae and pupae of ants. Nothing more. The Mexican “insect caviar” is harvested from the tequila or mescal plant, although we don’t quite know if that lends any additional flavoring to the, well, to the maggots. However, diners have said the dish has the consistency of cottage cheese, with a nutty, buttery flavor. Escamol is often used as the filling for a taco or inside an omelet. Perhaps we’ll just stick with cheese and ham in our omelets. SHIRAKO Get ready, guys because this one is a doozy. The Japanese dish, shirako, which literally translates to “white children,” is simply the sperm sacs from either a cod, puffer fish or angler fish that have been steamed or deep fried. The name is pretty apt when you consider the sacs are white blobs that ultimately could result in “children,” had they been put to proper use. Shirako is said to have a sweet, almost custard-like taste, to which we say, “Why don’t you just eat custard?” But again, that’s just us. ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTERS Chances are that you’ve heard this term before. We couldn’t let the rest of the world have all the fun with these unusual dishes, so we decided to throw Rocky Mountain Oysters onto the list because, seriously, they aren’t exactly an every-day meal. Well, maybe in some places they are. Anyway, Rocky Mountain Oysters are not oysters at all, in case you haven’t heard of them. They are actually bull-calf testicles that have been peeled (ewww), flattened and deep fried. Just to clarify, the testicles are not removed primarily to be eaten, but to castrate bull-calves that will not be used for breeding. STINK BUGS Yep, that’s right. Those nasty little bugs that you can sometimes find hanging out in front of your house, the ones you actively try to avoid stepping on because they stink to high Heavens, are considered food in other parts of the world. Strangely enough, some African cultures prepare them by boiling them and report that the bugs taste a bit like an apple. Stink bugs can be eaten on their own as a crunchy treat, or they can be used to flavor stews. In Indonesia, the bugs are prepared differently and are said to taste like a bitter sunflower seed without the salt. Anyone else bothered by the fact that two separate cultures have deemed stink bugs as food? Man, we’re lucky to live in the USA!!! BALUT We’re going to go out on a limb and assume that this next dish, balut, was discovered in the Philippines by accident. Why? Well, balut is a fertilized duck egg, which naturally contains a partially-developed duck embryo, that is boiled and eaten. The dish is often eaten with salt, chili and vinegar and the act of eating balut is enough to make us gag, and that’s without having tasted it! Traditionally, you poke a hole in the top of the shell, slurp out the liquid and then eat everything else that’s left inside. Literally, everything. Feathers, bones, you name it. But considering balut is often served with beer, it makes it easier for us to understand how it is still on the “menu” in the Philippines today. |
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