So this is my last blog in my January Blog Series.. "Are you pondering" hopefully some of you readers enjoyed me sharing random bits of knowledge with you. I didn't get a lot of comments good or bad, though I know some people like Chantel said she couldn't comment back. Thanks to everyone who has been reading though.
Anyway, you're probably thinking... why on earth he is making a blog about the tooth fairy. The answer is I stumbled upon this comic this afternoon and it made me wonder what is the origin of the tooth fairy.
Well it turns out that superstitions/legends/rituals involving children’s baby teeth have a long history through many cultures. However I will start the story of the tooth fairy in Medieval Europe where peasants would bury their children’s teeth in the ground after they lost them... this served two purposes... 1) the new tooth could "grow" out of the seed of the old tooth.... and 2) It kept the teeth from witches who could cast spells on the kids if they got a hold of their baby teeth.
The first "Tooth fairy" might have come from the 18th century French story, La Bonne Petite Souris, which involved a fairy turning into a mouse and taunting the evil king from under his pillow before knocking out his teeth. (yeah strange story, but aren't most fairy tales?)
The tooth fairy took on the form we recognize her as nowadays in the early 1900's in American culture when she began to take teeth placed under children's pillows in exchange for candy or money.
The real question is what does the tooth fairy do with all the teeth? Some people say she puts them in the sky (stars) but I think she has some crazy pyramid scheme and is getting rich off of our teeth.
Bonus Fact:
Lee Rogow's story "The Tooth Fairy" appeared in 1949 was the first children's story written about the tooth fairy
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Pondering - Stapler
So I was trying to clean
up my desk at work today when I noticed my stapler, and since I was
trying to think of something for today’s “Are you pondering” segment
the question of who invented the stapler came to mind. (and yes I
realize that a lot of my “are you pondering”’s have to do with
questioning who invented things... maybe I’ll do a blog series on
inventions next time)
Anyway as I researched I found that a lot
of people like to claim that Samuel Slocum was the inventor of the
first stapler in 1841 with his invention named “Machine for Sticking
Pins into Paper” but this invention isn’t really a stapler at all if
you look at it. It was just an invention for packaging sewing pins, as
he worked as a manufacture of sewing pins. So if someone tells you that
Samuel invented the stapler, they are mistaken and didn’t actually do
their research.
I also found references saying that the first
stapler was invented for King Louis the XV of France in the 1700’s. If
this was true it would be the first stapler, but I couldn’t find any
solid evidence to back this up as the claims said that Louis the XV
didn’t share his cool new piece office equipment with anyone else. (of
course the rumors of gold staples may have been why he didn’t share)
However, since I didn’t find any solid facts to back this up I had to
keep looking.
So who did invent the first stapler? Henry R. Heyl in
1877 appears to be the inventor of the first thing that we would
recognize as a stapler. He titled his patent “Improvement in devices
for inserting metallic staples” Now I know your saying… wait a minute
that sounds like he was just improving upon something that had already
been invented, so he couldn’t be the first…
Well it appears that there were other devices for “stapling” things together… like an eyelet
machine that could punch a whole clamp a piece of metal into whatever
you wanted to fasten. However, that was a multi-step process and not
the one quick motion in which we think of a stapler. There was also a
machine patented in 1868 called the “Paper Clip” that basically stabbed
your papers through a needle… but it didn’t clamp the needle shut at
the same time like a stapler does.
So it appears the claim to stapler fame belongs to Henry R. Heyl, though the first successfully
marketed stapler was George W. McGill in 1879 with his Single Stroke
Staple Press.
Bonus fact:
William G. Pankonin of Chicago invented the staple remover in 1932
up my desk at work today when I noticed my stapler, and since I was
trying to think of something for today’s “Are you pondering” segment
the question of who invented the stapler came to mind. (and yes I
realize that a lot of my “are you pondering”’s have to do with
questioning who invented things... maybe I’ll do a blog series on
inventions next time)
Anyway as I researched I found that a lot
of people like to claim that Samuel Slocum was the inventor of the
first stapler in 1841 with his invention named “Machine for Sticking
Pins into Paper” but this invention isn’t really a stapler at all if
you look at it. It was just an invention for packaging sewing pins, as
he worked as a manufacture of sewing pins. So if someone tells you that
Samuel invented the stapler, they are mistaken and didn’t actually do
their research.
I also found references saying that the first
stapler was invented for King Louis the XV of France in the 1700’s. If
this was true it would be the first stapler, but I couldn’t find any
solid evidence to back this up as the claims said that Louis the XV
didn’t share his cool new piece office equipment with anyone else. (of
course the rumors of gold staples may have been why he didn’t share)
However, since I didn’t find any solid facts to back this up I had to
keep looking.
So who did invent the first stapler? Henry R. Heyl in
1877 appears to be the inventor of the first thing that we would
recognize as a stapler. He titled his patent “Improvement in devices
for inserting metallic staples” Now I know your saying… wait a minute
that sounds like he was just improving upon something that had already
been invented, so he couldn’t be the first…
Well it appears that there were other devices for “stapling” things together… like an eyelet
machine that could punch a whole clamp a piece of metal into whatever
you wanted to fasten. However, that was a multi-step process and not
the one quick motion in which we think of a stapler. There was also a
machine patented in 1868 called the “Paper Clip” that basically stabbed
your papers through a needle… but it didn’t clamp the needle shut at
the same time like a stapler does.
So it appears the claim to stapler fame belongs to Henry R. Heyl, though the first successfully
marketed stapler was George W. McGill in 1879 with his Single Stroke
Staple Press.
Bonus fact:
William G. Pankonin of Chicago invented the staple remover in 1932
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Pondering - Temple Legends
Legends of the Hidden Temple
We recently got Nickeloden Games and Sports on our Satillite Programming when we switched back to Dish Network... and it brings back those old Nickeloden memories of the show "Legends of the Hidden Temple" which is umm a classic in its own right. Silver Snakes, Green Monkies, Red Jaguars, Blue Berracudas, Orange Iguanas and the lowly Purple Parrots. Anyway I was wondering this morning after watching an episode of the show... how many times did those kids ever win the show? If you have ever watched the show you know that it seemed like they never one the grand prize (usually a trip to SPACE CAMP!) I mean we all remember frustratingly yelling at those stupid kids who couldn't figure out the Shrine of the Silver Monkey... I mean it was a freaking 3 piece puzzle!
So I went online and did some research and stumbled upon like the greatest fansite of the show ever so I'm going to link it here to give it some love. http://www.geocities.com/nicklegends/
Kirk Fogg was the host of the show which ran from 1993-1995 for 120 episodes!, in that time frame there where 32 grand prize winners! Crazy right? seemed like those kids never won that many times, I mean that is a better than 25% winning percentage I would have guessed it around 3-4%.
So what team was the best? I mean we all made fun of the Purple Parrots for sucking the most... and they did infact make it to the temple the fewest times (11) but they did win 3 of those.. where as the Red Jaguars, and Orange Iguanas only won 4 times each (though they both made it a lot more times 20 and 25 respectfully). The Blue Baraccudas won 5 times out of 19 tries but the Green Monkies and Silver Sankes were the top dogs, each winning 8 times!
Anyway if you ever enjoyed watching the show, check out the fansite and take a trip down memory lane.
We recently got Nickeloden Games and Sports on our Satillite Programming when we switched back to Dish Network... and it brings back those old Nickeloden memories of the show "Legends of the Hidden Temple" which is umm a classic in its own right. Silver Snakes, Green Monkies, Red Jaguars, Blue Berracudas, Orange Iguanas and the lowly Purple Parrots. Anyway I was wondering this morning after watching an episode of the show... how many times did those kids ever win the show? If you have ever watched the show you know that it seemed like they never one the grand prize (usually a trip to SPACE CAMP!) I mean we all remember frustratingly yelling at those stupid kids who couldn't figure out the Shrine of the Silver Monkey... I mean it was a freaking 3 piece puzzle!
So I went online and did some research and stumbled upon like the greatest fansite of the show ever so I'm going to link it here to give it some love. http://www.geocities.com/nicklegends/
Kirk Fogg was the host of the show which ran from 1993-1995 for 120 episodes!, in that time frame there where 32 grand prize winners! Crazy right? seemed like those kids never won that many times, I mean that is a better than 25% winning percentage I would have guessed it around 3-4%.
So what team was the best? I mean we all made fun of the Purple Parrots for sucking the most... and they did infact make it to the temple the fewest times (11) but they did win 3 of those.. where as the Red Jaguars, and Orange Iguanas only won 4 times each (though they both made it a lot more times 20 and 25 respectfully). The Blue Baraccudas won 5 times out of 19 tries but the Green Monkies and Silver Sankes were the top dogs, each winning 8 times!
Anyway if you ever enjoyed watching the show, check out the fansite and take a trip down memory lane.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Pondering - Largest Hotel
So since I work at a hotel I actually do think about hotel things from time to time and today I was wondering where the world's largest hotel was and just how big it was. The Hampton Inn in Greensburg has 113 rooms and its the largest in Greensburg, but it obviously pales in comparions to the worlds biggest.
I learned that the world's biggest hotel is the First World Hotel located in Pahang, Malaysia. It is a building consisting of two towers, twenty eight stories tall and featuring 6,118 rooms.
description solen from wikipedia:
First World Hotel is a standard 3-star hotel at most of its rooms. Below the hotel is a 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) plaza called First World Plaza, housing shopping malls, arcades, food outlets, Starworld casino, The Pavilion and the Genting indoor theme park.
It has a stage for weekly performances (such as magic and music shows)
at the area called Time Square, surrounded by a replica of the Statue
of Liberty and an Oscar statue. Other facilities including Watersplash Pool (an indoor water theme park for children), Genting Sky Venture (Asia's first free fall simulator) and a cineplex.
First World Hotel main entrance forms the lush and grand tropical rainforest and a spacious Spanish courtyard at its lobby."
I learned that the world's biggest hotel is the First World Hotel located in Pahang, Malaysia. It is a building consisting of two towers, twenty eight stories tall and featuring 6,118 rooms.
description solen from wikipedia:
First World Hotel is a standard 3-star hotel at most of its rooms. Below the hotel is a 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) plaza called First World Plaza, housing shopping malls, arcades, food outlets, Starworld casino, The Pavilion and the Genting indoor theme park.
It has a stage for weekly performances (such as magic and music shows)
at the area called Time Square, surrounded by a replica of the Statue
of Liberty and an Oscar statue. Other facilities including Watersplash Pool (an indoor water theme park for children), Genting Sky Venture (Asia's first free fall simulator) and a cineplex.
First World Hotel main entrance forms the lush and grand tropical rainforest and a spacious Spanish courtyard at its lobby."
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pondering - Heinz
So today I was reading in the paper about a controversy surrounding Heinz Ketchup changing their logo... Their old logo on their ketchup and there other products used to be a pickle, but not on the ketchup they have changed it to a tomato in effort to promote a more health friendly look. (not exactly sure how it helps but thats their offical line of thought)
Anyway I was wondering why the company famous for its ketchup (in fact I didn't know they made anything but Ketchup and Heinze 57 before I researched this) featured a pickle as their logo.
Turns out the companies first product was Horseradish... pickles were their second product and ketchup wasn't debuted intill their 3rd product. Anyway the company was orginialy named the Anchor Pickle and Vinegar works, but its name was later changed to Heinz, Noble & Company in 1872 when the company moved to Pittsburg. This name wouldn't last long however, as the bank panic in 1875 would cause the company to file for bankrupcy. However the company would bounce back the next year, which would also be the first year they sold Ketchup!
So where does the pickle factor in? It came in as a marketing gimick for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, where Heniz used a pickle pin to promote all of his products.
So there you have it.. the story behind the Heinz pickle which will now be disappearing from their famous ketchup label.
Anyway I was wondering why the company famous for its ketchup (in fact I didn't know they made anything but Ketchup and Heinze 57 before I researched this) featured a pickle as their logo.
Turns out the companies first product was Horseradish... pickles were their second product and ketchup wasn't debuted intill their 3rd product. Anyway the company was orginialy named the Anchor Pickle and Vinegar works, but its name was later changed to Heinz, Noble & Company in 1872 when the company moved to Pittsburg. This name wouldn't last long however, as the bank panic in 1875 would cause the company to file for bankrupcy. However the company would bounce back the next year, which would also be the first year they sold Ketchup!
So where does the pickle factor in? It came in as a marketing gimick for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, where Heniz used a pickle pin to promote all of his products.
So there you have it.. the story behind the Heinz pickle which will now be disappearing from their famous ketchup label.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pondering - Map
So for those of you who know me; may know I enjoy looking at old maps. So I was interested today when I stumbled upon a map of the United States with only 38 states... now I know your saying "Oh that would be a map of the US in which Colorado had just earned statehood in 1876!" Ok so none of you probably knew that, but even if you had you would have been wrong. The map I'm talking about was drawn by George Etzel Pearch in the 1970's.
Who was George Etzel Pearcy and why did he come up with this crazy map is my question for today. Pearcy was a geography professor from the university of California State and he developed the map as a way of creating boundaries that made the country more politically balanced. As our current state boundaries were made long ago when the country was still growing and had low populations, the boundaries are often natural boundaries of rivers or simple boundaries like lines of latitude. What’s the problem with that you may ask? Pearcy argued that issues major cities spreading across two states (like New York or Kansas City) was a problem economically and politically as well as the population balance between states.
His solution was to divide the country up based on location of major cities, population, physical features, and routes/methods transportation. In doing so he came up with 38 states which he named after physical and cultural features of the area (I'd be living in the state of Wabash if we used his suggestion).
Though it seems there may be some flaws in his map, such as cities growing and the logistics of changing all of the state lines... so yeah it'll never happen but I found it an interesting interpretation.
Who was George Etzel Pearcy and why did he come up with this crazy map is my question for today. Pearcy was a geography professor from the university of California State and he developed the map as a way of creating boundaries that made the country more politically balanced. As our current state boundaries were made long ago when the country was still growing and had low populations, the boundaries are often natural boundaries of rivers or simple boundaries like lines of latitude. What’s the problem with that you may ask? Pearcy argued that issues major cities spreading across two states (like New York or Kansas City) was a problem economically and politically as well as the population balance between states.
His solution was to divide the country up based on location of major cities, population, physical features, and routes/methods transportation. In doing so he came up with 38 states which he named after physical and cultural features of the area (I'd be living in the state of Wabash if we used his suggestion).
Though it seems there may be some flaws in his map, such as cities growing and the logistics of changing all of the state lines... so yeah it'll never happen but I found it an interesting interpretation.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Pondering - Scotch Tape
Scotch Tape... we all have used it from time to time, especially during the Christmas season to wrap preasents. But how did it get its name? Did it come from Scotland? Was the inventors last name Scotch? Did the inventor just like drinking Scotch? Finding out where the name came from is the question for today.
Scotch tape was invented by Richard Drew in 1930, (so much for the idea of it being named for its inventor) and is made out of cellophane. It was invented to be used by grociers who often wrapped produce and other goods in cellophane wrap at the market.
But how did the name come about... well it came about from what was somewhat an ethnic slander actually. When Richard Drew was working with some auto painters who were using masking tape, and wanted something stickier, supossedly the auto painter exclaimed to Drew "Take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!" the assumption being that the Scottish were cheap and didn't want to put more glue on the tape as a means of saving money.
So there you have it... how Scotch tape got its name! and it wasn't because of someones favorite booze choice.
Bonus knowledge about Scotch tape!
In 1932 John Borden invented the first scotch tape dispenser... it weighed a whopping seven pounds... nice and portable right? It wasn't until 1939 that the small tape dispenser design that we still use today was developed by Jean Reinecke.
Scotch tape began using the scottish inspired plaid design on the product in 1945, and actually had a corporate mascot named "Scotty McTape" to advertise their product on TVand in print ads in the 1950's
Richard Drew, who invented scotch tape... had previously invented masking tape in 1925, to help out auto painters.
It was during the Great Depression that scotch tape became the household staple it is today, as people turned to the tape for a variety of cheap repairs around the house to save money.
Scotch tape was invented by Richard Drew in 1930, (so much for the idea of it being named for its inventor) and is made out of cellophane. It was invented to be used by grociers who often wrapped produce and other goods in cellophane wrap at the market.
But how did the name come about... well it came about from what was somewhat an ethnic slander actually. When Richard Drew was working with some auto painters who were using masking tape, and wanted something stickier, supossedly the auto painter exclaimed to Drew "Take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!" the assumption being that the Scottish were cheap and didn't want to put more glue on the tape as a means of saving money.
So there you have it... how Scotch tape got its name! and it wasn't because of someones favorite booze choice.
Bonus knowledge about Scotch tape!
In 1932 John Borden invented the first scotch tape dispenser... it weighed a whopping seven pounds... nice and portable right? It wasn't until 1939 that the small tape dispenser design that we still use today was developed by Jean Reinecke.
Scotch tape began using the scottish inspired plaid design on the product in 1945, and actually had a corporate mascot named "Scotty McTape" to advertise their product on TVand in print ads in the 1950's
Richard Drew, who invented scotch tape... had previously invented masking tape in 1925, to help out auto painters.
It was during the Great Depression that scotch tape became the household staple it is today, as people turned to the tape for a variety of cheap repairs around the house to save money.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Pondering - Lighter
So today I was wondering... who invented the cigarette lighter? and when did they come up with it?
The answer I found is a man by the name of JW Dobereiner who was a German chemist and invented the cigarette lighter in 1823. His lighter was called Döbereiner's Lamp and was produced all the way up to the 1880's, the lighter worked by mixing zinc with sulferic acid to produce hydrogen gas. This hydrogen gas would then be lit using a piece of platitum metal as a catalyst.
The answer I found is a man by the name of JW Dobereiner who was a German chemist and invented the cigarette lighter in 1823. His lighter was called Döbereiner's Lamp and was produced all the way up to the 1880's, the lighter worked by mixing zinc with sulferic acid to produce hydrogen gas. This hydrogen gas would then be lit using a piece of platitum metal as a catalyst.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pondering - Ghanoush
So there is this new bud light commercial that talks about drinkability with a guy who draws a picture of a man and draws food in his stomach... the last item of food is a bowl and he says it's "my favorite, Baba ghanoush"... his friend ask what it is.. and he replies, I don't know but it sounds good.... and then it never tells you what it is, so I was wondering what the heck is Baba ghanoush? so I had to look it up tonight.
Baba ghanoush is a dish from the levantine tradition, which is region in the middle east made up of the current countries; Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, northwestern Iraq, and southern parts of Turkey.
The main ingrediant in Baba ghanoush is eggplant that is mashed up with different spices. Olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes are also often included in the dish. It is usually cooked over an open flame to give it a smoky flavoring, and is served as a dip for pita bread.
So there you have it, Baba Ghanoush!
Baba ghanoush is a dish from the levantine tradition, which is region in the middle east made up of the current countries; Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, northwestern Iraq, and southern parts of Turkey.
The main ingrediant in Baba ghanoush is eggplant that is mashed up with different spices. Olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes are also often included in the dish. It is usually cooked over an open flame to give it a smoky flavoring, and is served as a dip for pita bread.
So there you have it, Baba Ghanoush!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Pondering - Schrenker
So I'm sure everyone has heard about Marc Schrenker, the Indiana businessman who tried to fake his own death by crashing his plane and then running away thus getting out of the investment fraud investigation he was under...
Anyway I found out an interesting fact today about him... he learned how to skydive (like the one thing in his plan he actually did right) at Greensburg skydive here in Decatur county... interesting right?
Sorry I didn't have any in depth knowledge to report today, this is just what I learned today when our hotel had a sales meeting with Greensburg Skydive.
Anyway I found out an interesting fact today about him... he learned how to skydive (like the one thing in his plan he actually did right) at Greensburg skydive here in Decatur county... interesting right?
Sorry I didn't have any in depth knowledge to report today, this is just what I learned today when our hotel had a sales meeting with Greensburg Skydive.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Pondering - Inauguration
So today while being surrounded with tons and tons of inauguration coverage, I picked up a ton of useless information and trivia (my favorite kind of information) anyway one thing I didn't hear.. why do we always hold the inauguration on Jan. 20th?
Turns out it was a simple answer... the 12th amendment, passed in 1933 made January 20th the official inauguration day. Before then it was always held on March the 4th.
What was the 12th amendment... well it was just an amendment that made all the terms and dates of sessions of government officials clearly stated and regulated. Not that exciting I know, but now you know.
Turns out it was a simple answer... the 12th amendment, passed in 1933 made January 20th the official inauguration day. Before then it was always held on March the 4th.
What was the 12th amendment... well it was just an amendment that made all the terms and dates of sessions of government officials clearly stated and regulated. Not that exciting I know, but now you know.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pondering - Unknown President
So yesterday I learned something when reading a friend’s blog... this man named David Rice Atchison actually served as president for one day. Never heard of him you say? Well neither had I so I had to look into the story of this man and his one day claim to fame.
However there is some dispute over this claim
It starts in 1849, James K. Polk is leaving office and Zachary Taylor and his running mate Millard Fillmore were the incoming president and vice president. However his offical Inauguration day fell on a Sunday and Zachary Taylor wanted to keep the Sabbath holy and thus refused to be inaugurated on Sunday. So on that Sunday there was no one officially sworn in as president as Polk's term was up.
So why claim that Atchison was president? well he was president pro temperate of the senate which is the spot 3rd in line, so in claiming that Taylor and Fillmore weren't sworn in some say he was president.
However, this can be debated... for one there is no rule saying that the president has to be sworn in before he assumes the position. If one wanted to make the argument that he was in fact sworn in a few moments before Taylor anyway the claim could be made... but then we would have to consider every single vice president was president for at least a few minutes as they are also all sworn in right before the president.
So what did Atchison do on the day he may or may not have been president? He claims that he spent most of the day (March, 4th 1849) sleeping after spending long hours working the few nights before... so I guess it was a boring tenure.. I would have at least tried to do something exciting but that’s why no one will ever let me be president for a day :P though he did claim that his presidency was the "most honest administration this country ever had.
Anyway you make the call as to if you think he has a claim or not... I'll lean towards no.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Atchison_David_Rice_-_Plattsburg_MO_3.jpg
However there is some dispute over this claim
It starts in 1849, James K. Polk is leaving office and Zachary Taylor and his running mate Millard Fillmore were the incoming president and vice president. However his offical Inauguration day fell on a Sunday and Zachary Taylor wanted to keep the Sabbath holy and thus refused to be inaugurated on Sunday. So on that Sunday there was no one officially sworn in as president as Polk's term was up.
So why claim that Atchison was president? well he was president pro temperate of the senate which is the spot 3rd in line, so in claiming that Taylor and Fillmore weren't sworn in some say he was president.
However, this can be debated... for one there is no rule saying that the president has to be sworn in before he assumes the position. If one wanted to make the argument that he was in fact sworn in a few moments before Taylor anyway the claim could be made... but then we would have to consider every single vice president was president for at least a few minutes as they are also all sworn in right before the president.
So what did Atchison do on the day he may or may not have been president? He claims that he spent most of the day (March, 4th 1849) sleeping after spending long hours working the few nights before... so I guess it was a boring tenure.. I would have at least tried to do something exciting but that’s why no one will ever let me be president for a day :P though he did claim that his presidency was the "most honest administration this country ever had.
Anyway you make the call as to if you think he has a claim or not... I'll lean towards no.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Atchison_David_Rice_-_Plattsburg_MO_3.jpg
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Pondering - Inaugural Address
So, Obama's Inaugural Address is tomorrow and it has been all over the news about how great a moment it will be and how the whole world is hinging on what he will say tomorrow.
Anyway it got me to wondering... which president gave the shortest Inaugural Address? We all remember that William Henry Harrison gave the longest (in the cold, in the rain, with no coat or hat of course which lead to his demise shortly thereafter.) However, which president wrapped it up the quickest?
The answer I discovered was George Washington at his second inauguration on March 4th, 1793 it was a grand total of 135 words...(I guess he said all his important stuff at his first inauguration)
Here it is in its entirity in case you are wondering...
Fellow Citizens:
I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.
Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.
Anyway it got me to wondering... which president gave the shortest Inaugural Address? We all remember that William Henry Harrison gave the longest (in the cold, in the rain, with no coat or hat of course which lead to his demise shortly thereafter.) However, which president wrapped it up the quickest?
The answer I discovered was George Washington at his second inauguration on March 4th, 1793 it was a grand total of 135 words...(I guess he said all his important stuff at his first inauguration)
Here it is in its entirity in case you are wondering...
Fellow Citizens:
I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.
Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Pondering - Money
So when I was at the bank today withdrawing some money (went to look at a car I saw on craigslist, but I didn't buy it) and anyway I was thinking about the dollar bills the US no longer issues like the $2.00 bill and the $1,000 dollar bill and whose face was on those dollar amounts.
So I have taken it upon myself to find out for all of you faithful readers so we will be in the know in case someone tries to pass off a fake $1000 dollar bill on us we can be like.... um I'm sorry sir but everyone knows Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000 bill.
So the run down:
$1.00 George Washington
$2.00 Thomas Jefferson
$5.00 Abraham Lincoln
$10.00 Alexander Hamilton (not a pres.)
$20.00 Andrew Jackson
$50.00 Ulysses S. Grant
$100.00 Benjamin Franklin (not a pres.)
$500.00 William McKinley
$1000.00 Grover Cleveland
$5000.00 James Madison
$10,000.00 Salmon P. Chase (not a pres.)
$100,000.00 Woodrow Wilson
And incase you are wondering...
Coins:
$0.01 Abe Lincoln
$0.05 Thomas Jefferson
$0.10 FDR
$0.25 Washington
$0.50 Kennedy
$1.00 Eisenhower, Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and they are now releasing a dollar coin of every past president, I've seen Washington, Adams, Jefferson so far.
Bonus Fact:
Now you are probably wondering who is Salmon P. Chase?
He was the Sec. of the Treasury under Aberham Lincon (and also a chief justice during his political career), it was his job to help design the currency at the time so he also appeared on some other types of bank notes, but he was honored for his role in helping design the modern currency (played a major role in getting "In God We Trust" printed on the money) that he was featured on the $10,000 bill which was printed from 1928-1946
So I have taken it upon myself to find out for all of you faithful readers so we will be in the know in case someone tries to pass off a fake $1000 dollar bill on us we can be like.... um I'm sorry sir but everyone knows Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000 bill.
So the run down:
$1.00 George Washington
$2.00 Thomas Jefferson
$5.00 Abraham Lincoln
$10.00 Alexander Hamilton (not a pres.)
$20.00 Andrew Jackson
$50.00 Ulysses S. Grant
$100.00 Benjamin Franklin (not a pres.)
$500.00 William McKinley
$1000.00 Grover Cleveland
$5000.00 James Madison
$10,000.00 Salmon P. Chase (not a pres.)
$100,000.00 Woodrow Wilson
And incase you are wondering...
Coins:
$0.01 Abe Lincoln
$0.05 Thomas Jefferson
$0.10 FDR
$0.25 Washington
$0.50 Kennedy
$1.00 Eisenhower, Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and they are now releasing a dollar coin of every past president, I've seen Washington, Adams, Jefferson so far.
Bonus Fact:
Now you are probably wondering who is Salmon P. Chase?
He was the Sec. of the Treasury under Aberham Lincon (and also a chief justice during his political career), it was his job to help design the currency at the time so he also appeared on some other types of bank notes, but he was honored for his role in helping design the modern currency (played a major role in getting "In God We Trust" printed on the money) that he was featured on the $10,000 bill which was printed from 1928-1946
Friday, January 16, 2009
Pondering - Canned Cheese
Easy Cheese
You know cheese in a can... yep Easy Cheese, don't ask me why I was thinking about it today (I have no idea myself) but I was wondering who ever thought of putting cheese in a can?
Turns out that the can it comes in isn't an aerosal can at all, (it doesn't use nitrogen to squirt out the cheese) instead it is a pushed out of the can with a piston and the air never mixed with the cheese from the bottom up. So you can squirt the cheese out even when the can is upright, unlike an aerosal can (like whipped cream).
Anyway, cheese in a can first came out in 1966! as a product called Snack Mate made by Nabisco (name was changed to Easy Cheese when Nabisco merged with Kraft)
Unfortunatly I couldn't find the name of the inventor of the cheese though I did certainly try my best
Bonus Facts:
Flavors of Easy Cheese include: cheddar, swiss, nacho, bacon and cheddar, cream cheese as well as roast garlic
Bacon and Cheddar flavor used to contain real bits of bacon, but it clogged the nozzel so now it just have bacon flavoring.
You know cheese in a can... yep Easy Cheese, don't ask me why I was thinking about it today (I have no idea myself) but I was wondering who ever thought of putting cheese in a can?
Turns out that the can it comes in isn't an aerosal can at all, (it doesn't use nitrogen to squirt out the cheese) instead it is a pushed out of the can with a piston and the air never mixed with the cheese from the bottom up. So you can squirt the cheese out even when the can is upright, unlike an aerosal can (like whipped cream).
Anyway, cheese in a can first came out in 1966! as a product called Snack Mate made by Nabisco (name was changed to Easy Cheese when Nabisco merged with Kraft)
Unfortunatly I couldn't find the name of the inventor of the cheese though I did certainly try my best
Bonus Facts:
Flavors of Easy Cheese include: cheddar, swiss, nacho, bacon and cheddar, cream cheese as well as roast garlic
Bacon and Cheddar flavor used to contain real bits of bacon, but it clogged the nozzel so now it just have bacon flavoring.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pondering - Kool-Aid
So I like to drink Kool-aid... well actually I prefer the great value sugar-free Wal-Mart brand.. But still I was thinking today as I pour myself a glass of the delightful drink... Who invented it and how long has the stuff been around? My guess would have been it was invented in the 1950's but I would have been wrong.
Kool-aid was invented by Edwin Perkins a man from the heartland of the United States, Hastings Nebraska. Edwin was an inventor/marketer of sorts who developed a number of products for sale. Kool-aid was inspired by a different product that Edwin's father had sold in his general store when he was growing up... Jell-O. In the early 1920's Edwin was selling a drink called "Fruit Smack", which as inspired by Jell-O came in six different fruity flavors. He sold the drink in small four oz. bottles, but shipping them by rail from Nebraska created one major problem... glass bottles often break if handled roughly, and rail travel isn't exactly smooth.
So in 1927 he figured out how to remove the liquid in fruit smack and sell it in a powder form.. this would be Kool-Aid! In 1929, Kool-aid would become a nationally distributed product, and its success would only continue to grow as in 1931 Perkins decided to drop his other products to focus only on Kool-aid sales and moved his distribution center to the big city of Chicago.
The six original flavors of Kool-aid you may wonder? Strawberry, raspberry, lemon-lime, grape, cherry, and orange.
In 1953 Edwin sold Kool-Aid to General Foods, who invented the giant pitcher Kool-Aid man we all know, and love, and added two additional flavors to the lineup in 1955... Lemonade and Root beer.
In 1964 Kool-aid with the sugar already added was first marketed.
Bonus Kool-Aid knowledge.
Edwin Perkins, first invention/creation was "Nix-o-tine" a product to help you end your tobacco addiction.
Kool-aid is the State Drink of Nebraska
Kool-aid was originally spelt Kool-Ade
Kool-aid was originally sold for 10 cents a packet, though it was cut to 5 cents a packet during the Great Depression.
Failed offshoots of Kool-aid were attempts to make pie fillings, and ice cream mixes.
Kool-aid was invented by Edwin Perkins a man from the heartland of the United States, Hastings Nebraska. Edwin was an inventor/marketer of sorts who developed a number of products for sale. Kool-aid was inspired by a different product that Edwin's father had sold in his general store when he was growing up... Jell-O. In the early 1920's Edwin was selling a drink called "Fruit Smack", which as inspired by Jell-O came in six different fruity flavors. He sold the drink in small four oz. bottles, but shipping them by rail from Nebraska created one major problem... glass bottles often break if handled roughly, and rail travel isn't exactly smooth.
So in 1927 he figured out how to remove the liquid in fruit smack and sell it in a powder form.. this would be Kool-Aid! In 1929, Kool-aid would become a nationally distributed product, and its success would only continue to grow as in 1931 Perkins decided to drop his other products to focus only on Kool-aid sales and moved his distribution center to the big city of Chicago.
The six original flavors of Kool-aid you may wonder? Strawberry, raspberry, lemon-lime, grape, cherry, and orange.
In 1953 Edwin sold Kool-Aid to General Foods, who invented the giant pitcher Kool-Aid man we all know, and love, and added two additional flavors to the lineup in 1955... Lemonade and Root beer.
In 1964 Kool-aid with the sugar already added was first marketed.
Bonus Kool-Aid knowledge.
Edwin Perkins, first invention/creation was "Nix-o-tine" a product to help you end your tobacco addiction.
Kool-aid is the State Drink of Nebraska
Kool-aid was originally spelt Kool-Ade
Kool-aid was originally sold for 10 cents a packet, though it was cut to 5 cents a packet during the Great Depression.
Failed offshoots of Kool-aid were attempts to make pie fillings, and ice cream mixes.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Pondering - Praline
So there is this little coffee and sandwich shop in Greensburg that I eat lunch at every once in awhile, its a nice little place. Anyway they have a bunch of coffee flavorings for their special coffee's that they make and I noticed today that one of the flavorings was "Praline"
I'm probably dumb for not knowing what Praline was, but I had to look it up today because I didn't know. Honestly I had to look it up because I kept thinking of Paraffin wax :P and imagining wax flavored coffee...
Anyway praline originated in France in the 17th century and was created by a sugar industrialist Marhal du Plessis-Praslin and are simply a nut (the first ones were almonds) coated in caramelized sugar. You know those sugar covered almonds you can buy at ball games and fairs... yep they are pralines, I always thought they were just sugar covered almonds..
A praline in the United States is a little different because chefs in Louisiana (again the French connection) started using pecans and added cream to the mix.
Bonus facts:
if you grind up praline you get a powder called... pralin
if you mix pralin with chocolate... you get something called praliné
The inventor and namesake, Marhal du Plessis-Praslin, was also an important french diplomat.
I'm probably dumb for not knowing what Praline was, but I had to look it up today because I didn't know. Honestly I had to look it up because I kept thinking of Paraffin wax :P and imagining wax flavored coffee...
Anyway praline originated in France in the 17th century and was created by a sugar industrialist Marhal du Plessis-Praslin and are simply a nut (the first ones were almonds) coated in caramelized sugar. You know those sugar covered almonds you can buy at ball games and fairs... yep they are pralines, I always thought they were just sugar covered almonds..
A praline in the United States is a little different because chefs in Louisiana (again the French connection) started using pecans and added cream to the mix.
Bonus facts:
if you grind up praline you get a powder called... pralin
if you mix pralin with chocolate... you get something called praliné
The inventor and namesake, Marhal du Plessis-Praslin, was also an important french diplomat.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Pondering - 3-D
3-D glasses, you know those dorky things you wear on your head during a movie to give you the crazy effects. Ok so most of the time they are lame.... especially when they are those cheap ones that you get in cereal boxes and stuff when you are little, you know those red and blue lenses.. oh yeah they are cool :P. But I have seen some pretty cool effects done at some Walt Disney attractions with them.
Anyway how did I get on this topic? Well I was watching the trailer for the movie "My Bloody Valentine" and I was like... 3-D movies are usually lame... but for some reason I want to see this because its in 3-D (I feel like a little kid at this point since I'm being pulled in by what I know deep down will be a lame gimick, but hey I do like horror movies.)
But it got me wondering how do these glasses work?
Well there are 2 methods...
The first method is called the Red/Blue or Red/Green method (the color of the lenses on those funky glasses) it works by making each of your eyes see different images. The different color lenses on the glasses make it so that your one eye sees only one image and your other eye sees only the second image. This allows the images to be layered on top of each other and make it seem like something is jumping out of the screen at you. However this method doesn't allow for as good of quality as the 2nd method because your view is constantly being filtered though the color in the lenses.
The second method is called Polarization and uses polarized lenses... this method is used at special theatres designed for 3-D viewing such as at Walt Disney world or theme parks. It requires two projectors to project two different views onto the screen (why it looks blurry when you take the glasses off and watch the movie) but the images are at different polarization. Each lens only allows the eye to pick up one of the 2 polarities.
Just think if we had 3 eyes could we see 4-D?
So does anyone want to go see "My Bloody Valentine"?
Bonus Facts:
Edwin Herbert Land was the inventor who introduced 3-D glasses to movie goers
The first 3-D movie was "The Power of Love" released in 1922
The 1950's were considered the hey-day of 3-D movies
Anyway how did I get on this topic? Well I was watching the trailer for the movie "My Bloody Valentine" and I was like... 3-D movies are usually lame... but for some reason I want to see this because its in 3-D (I feel like a little kid at this point since I'm being pulled in by what I know deep down will be a lame gimick, but hey I do like horror movies.)
But it got me wondering how do these glasses work?
Well there are 2 methods...
The first method is called the Red/Blue or Red/Green method (the color of the lenses on those funky glasses) it works by making each of your eyes see different images. The different color lenses on the glasses make it so that your one eye sees only one image and your other eye sees only the second image. This allows the images to be layered on top of each other and make it seem like something is jumping out of the screen at you. However this method doesn't allow for as good of quality as the 2nd method because your view is constantly being filtered though the color in the lenses.
The second method is called Polarization and uses polarized lenses... this method is used at special theatres designed for 3-D viewing such as at Walt Disney world or theme parks. It requires two projectors to project two different views onto the screen (why it looks blurry when you take the glasses off and watch the movie) but the images are at different polarization. Each lens only allows the eye to pick up one of the 2 polarities.
Just think if we had 3 eyes could we see 4-D?
So does anyone want to go see "My Bloody Valentine"?
Bonus Facts:
Edwin Herbert Land was the inventor who introduced 3-D glasses to movie goers
The first 3-D movie was "The Power of Love" released in 1922
The 1950's were considered the hey-day of 3-D movies
Monday, January 12, 2009
Pondering - Automatic Door
Who invented the automatic door?
So today I was thinking about something we utilize almost every day.... or at least every time we enter a Wal-Mart or grocery store or one of many other shopping locations. (Though strangely enough now that I think of it, very few restaurants use this invention.) This invention is the automatic door....
The door is the what, so I just need to answer those major questions of whom, when, where and why.
As per my research the Automatic door was invented in 1954 in the town of Corpus Christi, Texas by Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt. They invented the doors after noticing many of the existing swinging doors were difficult to open in the heavy winds that are prevalent in the coastal town of Corpus Christi. The answer to this problem in their minds was to invent a door that would slide open automatically. There first auto-matic doors used mat sensor that you stepped on to sense when to open for customers/guest instead of the more high tech optical sensors we usually see today.
In 1960 Horton and Hewitt formed a company called Horton Automatics Incorporated to begin selling there new product and sold their first one to Driscoll Hotel for its restaurant. However the first one installed was a door donated by the company to the Corpus Christi Shoreline Drive utilities department.
Bonus Fact:
Horton Automatics is a division of the Overhead Door Corporation, who are also pioneers in the door opening field... creating the first upward acting door in 1921 as well as the first electric door opener in 1926.
So today I was thinking about something we utilize almost every day.... or at least every time we enter a Wal-Mart or grocery store or one of many other shopping locations. (Though strangely enough now that I think of it, very few restaurants use this invention.) This invention is the automatic door....
The door is the what, so I just need to answer those major questions of whom, when, where and why.
As per my research the Automatic door was invented in 1954 in the town of Corpus Christi, Texas by Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt. They invented the doors after noticing many of the existing swinging doors were difficult to open in the heavy winds that are prevalent in the coastal town of Corpus Christi. The answer to this problem in their minds was to invent a door that would slide open automatically. There first auto-matic doors used mat sensor that you stepped on to sense when to open for customers/guest instead of the more high tech optical sensors we usually see today.
In 1960 Horton and Hewitt formed a company called Horton Automatics Incorporated to begin selling there new product and sold their first one to Driscoll Hotel for its restaurant. However the first one installed was a door donated by the company to the Corpus Christi Shoreline Drive utilities department.
Bonus Fact:
Horton Automatics is a division of the Overhead Door Corporation, who are also pioneers in the door opening field... creating the first upward acting door in 1921 as well as the first electric door opener in 1926.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Pondering - Sugar Cream Pie
While I am normally good at healthy eating :P Pie is my one weakness, anyway today on my way home from work I was listening to talk radio and they were talking about Sugar Cream Pie (not one of my favorites but I remember making it with my one grandma on a few occasions). Anyway I found out from the radio show that Sugar Cream Pie is the state pie of Indiana. So I was wondering about why that was the case...
Sugar Cream Pie is also called Indiana Cream Pie and Finger Pie in other places of the world. It is a really simple pie to make only containing a few ingredients, creamed butter, brown sugar, maple sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and some flour. But was often made after people ran out of other materials to make fruit pies.
It is believed the Sugar Cream pie was first made by Shakers, Amish, or people of an Amish background living in Indiana in the early 1800's.
Bonus Fact:
It's sometimes called finger pie because people often stirred the filling with a finger to keep it from messing up the bottom of the crust.
Sugar Cream Pie is also called Indiana Cream Pie and Finger Pie in other places of the world. It is a really simple pie to make only containing a few ingredients, creamed butter, brown sugar, maple sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and some flour. But was often made after people ran out of other materials to make fruit pies.
It is believed the Sugar Cream pie was first made by Shakers, Amish, or people of an Amish background living in Indiana in the early 1800's.
Bonus Fact:
It's sometimes called finger pie because people often stirred the filling with a finger to keep it from messing up the bottom of the crust.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pondering - Billy Mays
Billy Mays, people love and know him as that crazy pitch man we see trying to sell us products in classic infomericials such as OxyClean, OrangeGlo and Kaboom. But how did he get his start and what all products has he pitched so far is what I wanted to find out today.
Billy Mays is 50 years old, born on July, 20th 1958 in Pennsylvania.
The first item he was a salesman for was the "Weed-Matic" and he made his living after high school traveling around the country to state fairs and other events like home and garden shows trying to hawk a variety of products; but he got his start as an informerical pitchman with the Orange Glo company in 1993 for the Home Shopping Network. Orange Glo makes Oxiclean, Orange Clean and of course Orange Glo, and Billy got his big break by excitedly telling us how awsome these products were at cleaning our house.
Billy is now the Ceo of his own company, Mays Promotions, who takes jobs pitching many different products, and he has been called "The King of Infomericals".
and here is a list of products he has pitched that I stole from Wikipedia...
* Aquapel
* Awesome Auger, Ground Aug, Weed Auger, and Power Extender gardening tools
* Bedazzler
* Big City Slider Station
* Black Swan Furniture
* Bloomin' Onion Maker
* Buddy Putty
* Calcium Lime Rust
* Currie Motors Chrysler Credit Hotline
* Cucco Kitchenware
* DC Snowboards
* Ding King automotive dent remover
* Dualsaw
* Easy Off Bam!
* Energize energy supplement
* EngraveIt
* FixIt car scratch remover
* FoneFree wireless cellphone headset
* Foodsaver
* ESPN
* ESPN360
* FreeFone wireless phone holder
* Gator Grip
* Gem It
* Gopher reach extending tool
* Handy Switch
* Hercules Hook wall hangers
* House Dust
* iCan Benefit Group, LLC
* Kaboom
* Lint-B-Gone lint brush
* Liquid Diamond car waxing product
* Mantis Roto-Tiller
* Micro-Men Duster
* Mighty Mend It
* Mighty Putty
* Miracle Whip
* Never-Scrub tile cleaner
* Orange Clean, Orange Glo
* OxiClean
* Quik Strip wire stripping tool
* Ragazzi's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
* Raptor-Be-Gone
* Samurai Shark knife sharpener
* Sandstrom OnTV
* Sealtite Tire Sealant
* Simoniz Fix It Scratch Remover
* Steam Buddy
* Street Options Auto Accessories
* Swiffer SweeperVac
* Tommy and Rumble
* Turbo Tiger vacuum cleaner
* Turbo Vac vacuum cleaner
* Vidalia Chop-it
* Vidalia Slice-it
* Vidalia Slice Wizard
* Volkswagen Group of America cars
* Zorbeez absorbent towels
Billy Mays is 50 years old, born on July, 20th 1958 in Pennsylvania.
The first item he was a salesman for was the "Weed-Matic" and he made his living after high school traveling around the country to state fairs and other events like home and garden shows trying to hawk a variety of products; but he got his start as an informerical pitchman with the Orange Glo company in 1993 for the Home Shopping Network. Orange Glo makes Oxiclean, Orange Clean and of course Orange Glo, and Billy got his big break by excitedly telling us how awsome these products were at cleaning our house.
Billy is now the Ceo of his own company, Mays Promotions, who takes jobs pitching many different products, and he has been called "The King of Infomericals".
and here is a list of products he has pitched that I stole from Wikipedia...
* Aquapel
* Awesome Auger, Ground Aug, Weed Auger, and Power Extender gardening tools
* Bedazzler
* Big City Slider Station
* Black Swan Furniture
* Bloomin' Onion Maker
* Buddy Putty
* Calcium Lime Rust
* Currie Motors Chrysler Credit Hotline
* Cucco Kitchenware
* DC Snowboards
* Ding King automotive dent remover
* Dualsaw
* Easy Off Bam!
* Energize energy supplement
* EngraveIt
* FixIt car scratch remover
* FoneFree wireless cellphone headset
* Foodsaver
* ESPN
* ESPN360
* FreeFone wireless phone holder
* Gator Grip
* Gem It
* Gopher reach extending tool
* Handy Switch
* Hercules Hook wall hangers
* House Dust
* iCan Benefit Group, LLC
* Kaboom
* Lint-B-Gone lint brush
* Liquid Diamond car waxing product
* Mantis Roto-Tiller
* Micro-Men Duster
* Mighty Mend It
* Mighty Putty
* Miracle Whip
* Never-Scrub tile cleaner
* Orange Clean, Orange Glo
* OxiClean
* Quik Strip wire stripping tool
* Ragazzi's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
* Raptor-Be-Gone
* Samurai Shark knife sharpener
* Sandstrom OnTV
* Sealtite Tire Sealant
* Simoniz Fix It Scratch Remover
* Steam Buddy
* Street Options Auto Accessories
* Swiffer SweeperVac
* Tommy and Rumble
* Turbo Tiger vacuum cleaner
* Turbo Vac vacuum cleaner
* Vidalia Chop-it
* Vidalia Slice-it
* Vidalia Slice Wizard
* Volkswagen Group of America cars
* Zorbeez absorbent towels
Friday, January 9, 2009
Pondering - Hokey-Pokey
Hokey-Pokey... And that’s what it’s all about! So yeah I was thinking about this kids song today (yeah I really am that weird sometimes) and was wondering what the origin of this song was, and if it had any other meanings. Like I know Ring around the rosy was written about the Bubonic Plague.
So after doing some research from several sources it seems there is no for sure answer to my question however there are two leading theories as to the origin/meaning of the Hokey Pokey.
The first theory is it is based on an old song and dance preformed by the Shakers, as songs describing the actions of the dance have been found in various Shaker text from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The second and more interesting theory is that hokey pokey comes from the words hoc est enim corpus meum... a Latin phrase meaning "this is my body" and related to the consecration of the host during the Eucharist (the point in which the bread and wine actually become the flesh and blood" and it was a taunt against Catholics of who’s belief in the transubstantiation the Puritans had a major problem. In this theory the crazy dance that we all know is the puritans way of making fun of the catholic followers who go through the motion of following the priest actions that they do not understand (because the mass was always given in Latin at the time, and they couldn't understand Latin so they were just going through the motions all together in what the Puritans thought was a silly manner.)
Bonus facts:
It's know as the Hokey - Corkey in England and the Hokey Tokey in New Zealand
In the United States it was first copy righted in 1950 by Larry LaPrise, Charles Macak and Tafit Baker.
So after doing some research from several sources it seems there is no for sure answer to my question however there are two leading theories as to the origin/meaning of the Hokey Pokey.
The first theory is it is based on an old song and dance preformed by the Shakers, as songs describing the actions of the dance have been found in various Shaker text from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The second and more interesting theory is that hokey pokey comes from the words hoc est enim corpus meum... a Latin phrase meaning "this is my body" and related to the consecration of the host during the Eucharist (the point in which the bread and wine actually become the flesh and blood" and it was a taunt against Catholics of who’s belief in the transubstantiation the Puritans had a major problem. In this theory the crazy dance that we all know is the puritans way of making fun of the catholic followers who go through the motion of following the priest actions that they do not understand (because the mass was always given in Latin at the time, and they couldn't understand Latin so they were just going through the motions all together in what the Puritans thought was a silly manner.)
Bonus facts:
It's know as the Hokey - Corkey in England and the Hokey Tokey in New Zealand
In the United States it was first copy righted in 1950 by Larry LaPrise, Charles Macak and Tafit Baker.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Pondering - Frankincense
Being that today is January the 6th (the day the wise men arrived according the Christmas story) I was wondering...his three wise men brought gifts of Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense... Gold is obvious, myrrh is oil, and frankincense is???
Well I knew Frankincense was like an incense of some sort and that it comes from somewhere in the Middle East (since the wise men brought it) but not much else... so let’s find out.
Frankincense is also known as olibanum and is a resin that comes from the Boswellia tree. The Boswellia tree is able to grow in really poor climates and soils and can grow on rocky ground with very little soil at all.
The resin from the trees can vary in fragrance from one tree to another based on solid and climate conditions. The trees can be bleed for the resin two or three times a year and a good resin will be more opaque.
Where does Frankincense come from? The best is supposed to come from Oman, while Yemen and Somalia also produce it. So basically it only comes from right around the Arabian Peninsula.
Frankincense is believed to have healing properties in some cultures besides its aromatic features.
Why is it called Frankincense? Because it was introduced to Europeans by the Franks in the Middle Ages after the crusades.
Well I knew Frankincense was like an incense of some sort and that it comes from somewhere in the Middle East (since the wise men brought it) but not much else... so let’s find out.
Frankincense is also known as olibanum and is a resin that comes from the Boswellia tree. The Boswellia tree is able to grow in really poor climates and soils and can grow on rocky ground with very little soil at all.
The resin from the trees can vary in fragrance from one tree to another based on solid and climate conditions. The trees can be bleed for the resin two or three times a year and a good resin will be more opaque.
Where does Frankincense come from? The best is supposed to come from Oman, while Yemen and Somalia also produce it. So basically it only comes from right around the Arabian Peninsula.
Frankincense is believed to have healing properties in some cultures besides its aromatic features.
Why is it called Frankincense? Because it was introduced to Europeans by the Franks in the Middle Ages after the crusades.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Pondering - Rubber Chicken
So everyone knows/has seen a rubber chicken before... and deep down we know its supposed to be funny... but why? Where does the humor come from, and when did the rubber chicken first appear as something comedic... that was what I was wondering today.
This question was actually hard to find an answer to, seems like it is unknown for sure... However, one of the best bets is it was first used by the famous clown Joseph Grimaldi. He is even enshrined in the clown Hall of Fame (yes it exist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of all places) He is consider by many to be the greatest pantomime clown (clown who performs in musical theatre) of all time with his most famous work being "Harlequin and the Mother Goosel; or the Golden Egg" and is credited for introducing the modern clown. His specialty was physical comedy and audience interaction (which is where I guess the use of a rubber chicken could come in handy). Anyway apparently in Grimaldi's day (the early 1800's) making fun of rich people for being gluttons was something to do, so he would often stuff his pockets full of fake food as part of his comedy routine... hence the first appearance of a rubber chicken.
Another answer to the first appearance of the rubber chicken is printed on the rubber chickens produced by the major comic prop company Archie McPhee (if your board google their website they have some interesting stuff to say the least), which states the at the rubber chicken was first used by the French during the French Revolution, who hung the rubber chickens on their muskets for good luck.
I think I'll go with the Grimaldi story as it seems like it seems more logical to me... I couldn't find any reason for why a rubber chicken would bring good luck for the soldiers. Anyway there is one thing we know for sure... rubber chickens are funny... we don't know why... and maybe they are funny just because we know they are supposed to be... but they are a classic piece of comedy history no matter what the origin.
Bonus Fact:
On the first Sunday of February every year a memorial service is held for Grimaldi in England in which clowns from all of the world come to dressed in their clown suits to pay tribute to him.
This question was actually hard to find an answer to, seems like it is unknown for sure... However, one of the best bets is it was first used by the famous clown Joseph Grimaldi. He is even enshrined in the clown Hall of Fame (yes it exist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of all places) He is consider by many to be the greatest pantomime clown (clown who performs in musical theatre) of all time with his most famous work being "Harlequin and the Mother Goosel; or the Golden Egg" and is credited for introducing the modern clown. His specialty was physical comedy and audience interaction (which is where I guess the use of a rubber chicken could come in handy). Anyway apparently in Grimaldi's day (the early 1800's) making fun of rich people for being gluttons was something to do, so he would often stuff his pockets full of fake food as part of his comedy routine... hence the first appearance of a rubber chicken.
Another answer to the first appearance of the rubber chicken is printed on the rubber chickens produced by the major comic prop company Archie McPhee (if your board google their website they have some interesting stuff to say the least), which states the at the rubber chicken was first used by the French during the French Revolution, who hung the rubber chickens on their muskets for good luck.
I think I'll go with the Grimaldi story as it seems like it seems more logical to me... I couldn't find any reason for why a rubber chicken would bring good luck for the soldiers. Anyway there is one thing we know for sure... rubber chickens are funny... we don't know why... and maybe they are funny just because we know they are supposed to be... but they are a classic piece of comedy history no matter what the origin.
Bonus Fact:
On the first Sunday of February every year a memorial service is held for Grimaldi in England in which clowns from all of the world come to dressed in their clown suits to pay tribute to him.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Pondering - Nutcracker
So for today’s installment I was inspired by my sister going back to school a day early to see the ballet "The Nutcracker" in which one of her friends was going to be in. However it got me thinking of the wooden nutcrackers we see around this time of year every year... How did the tradition of making them look like soldiers and kings start? I mean what was wrong with the simple metal ones that they had to design these fancy wooden solider nutcrackers?
The answer I found dates back to the 18th century in Germany, the Sonneberg and Erzgebirge regions in particular. In these regions most of the people were miners who in the winter months enjoyed wood carving while the mines were shut down. These people often felt oppressed by their superiors, soldiers and political rulers who gave them little for their hard work in the mines. Creating nutcrackers in their image was symbolic of making these soldiers and kings serve them by doing a simple and lowly task of cracking nuts.
Bonus Facts:
The term nutcracker, "nussknacker", first appeared in an official German dictionary by the Brother Grimm in the 1830's
The story in which the famous ballet was based on was wrote in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann
The answer I found dates back to the 18th century in Germany, the Sonneberg and Erzgebirge regions in particular. In these regions most of the people were miners who in the winter months enjoyed wood carving while the mines were shut down. These people often felt oppressed by their superiors, soldiers and political rulers who gave them little for their hard work in the mines. Creating nutcrackers in their image was symbolic of making these soldiers and kings serve them by doing a simple and lowly task of cracking nuts.
Bonus Facts:
The term nutcracker, "nussknacker", first appeared in an official German dictionary by the Brother Grimm in the 1830's
The story in which the famous ballet was based on was wrote in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pondering - Baba
Baba O'Riley
So last night I was sitting here with Casey and Chantel who were watching some MTV special about the greatest hard rock songs and the Who's song "Won't be fooled again" came on the list and we were talking about the song Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland is what a lot of people think its titled) and it got me to thinking... how on earth did the song end up with that name?
Turns out the song was orginally written to be in The Who's second rock opera "Lifehouse" (following the success of Tommy), but the Lifehouse project was scrapped and we never got to experience that masterpiece in which Baba O'Riley would have been the opening song sung by a Scottish farmer! But alas it was not to be and the song was placed into The Who's album "Who's Next"
So anyway where did the name come from? Some Scottish farmer you ask? Nope it is a combination of Meher Baba and Terry Riley... so if you are like me you are wondering who the heck are those dudes? Well here is the answer....
Meher Baba was an Indian Mystic (from Indian not Native American), of all things and actually spent the last 34 years of his life in a vow of silence communicating only through hand gestures and writing. Weird guy to name a song that was to be sung by a Scottish farmer after... apparently the crazy systhesizer part of the song is a musical repersentation of his life.... I wonder what my lifes sounds like?
Terry Riley was an American minimalist composer whose work inspired the technique that was used to create the systhesizer track that repersents Meher Baba
So there you have it... how the song Baba O'Riley got its name
So last night I was sitting here with Casey and Chantel who were watching some MTV special about the greatest hard rock songs and the Who's song "Won't be fooled again" came on the list and we were talking about the song Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland is what a lot of people think its titled) and it got me to thinking... how on earth did the song end up with that name?
Turns out the song was orginally written to be in The Who's second rock opera "Lifehouse" (following the success of Tommy), but the Lifehouse project was scrapped and we never got to experience that masterpiece in which Baba O'Riley would have been the opening song sung by a Scottish farmer! But alas it was not to be and the song was placed into The Who's album "Who's Next"
So anyway where did the name come from? Some Scottish farmer you ask? Nope it is a combination of Meher Baba and Terry Riley... so if you are like me you are wondering who the heck are those dudes? Well here is the answer....
Meher Baba was an Indian Mystic (from Indian not Native American), of all things and actually spent the last 34 years of his life in a vow of silence communicating only through hand gestures and writing. Weird guy to name a song that was to be sung by a Scottish farmer after... apparently the crazy systhesizer part of the song is a musical repersentation of his life.... I wonder what my lifes sounds like?
Terry Riley was an American minimalist composer whose work inspired the technique that was used to create the systhesizer track that repersents Meher Baba
So there you have it... how the song Baba O'Riley got its name
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Pondering - Grapefruit
So if you have never ate a grapefruit.. or tasted one.. let me fill you in on some info; 1. it doesn't look like a grape, 2. it doesn't taste like a grape, and 3. it isn't even close to being the size of a grape. So why do we call it a grape fruit?
Grapefruit was first discovered by Europeans in Barbados, and was first called the "forbidden fruit" or Barbados in 1750 by Griffith Hughs. It was also called shaddock and shattck by different people in the eighteenth century until it was finally given the name grapefruit in an 1814 scientific work, Hortus Jamaicanensis, by botanist John Lunan, who was noting how the fruit grows on trees in clustors much like grapes on a vine, unlike most other citrus that doesn't grow in a cluster formation. Lunan was a
Bonus Grape Fruit Facts:
Grape Fruits are a cross between a Pummelo and a Sweet Orange
If you have had an organ transplant you need to avoid eating grapfruit as it interacts negaitvily with several types of drugs.
Grapefruit was first discovered by Europeans in Barbados, and was first called the "forbidden fruit" or Barbados in 1750 by Griffith Hughs. It was also called shaddock and shattck by different people in the eighteenth century until it was finally given the name grapefruit in an 1814 scientific work, Hortus Jamaicanensis, by botanist John Lunan, who was noting how the fruit grows on trees in clustors much like grapes on a vine, unlike most other citrus that doesn't grow in a cluster formation. Lunan was a
Bonus Grape Fruit Facts:
Grape Fruits are a cross between a Pummelo and a Sweet Orange
If you have had an organ transplant you need to avoid eating grapfruit as it interacts negaitvily with several types of drugs.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Pondering - Pineapple
Originally Posted on Myspace: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=53935558&blogId=463911783#ixzz0zeZXxKAk
So today's bit of knowledge is that I found out that the international symbol of hospitality is the pineapple. Interesting I thought, so I had to look up why this was the case when I got home tonight. Turns out that the first account of the pineapple in the western world was written by Christopher Columbus when his crew came across it on one of his voyages and he brought it back to Europe where it was a prized commodity due to the relative lack of sweet foods in Europe.
But it was in colonial America where it became the symbol of hospitality as rich hostesses would often use a pineapple as a centerpiece for the dining room table. Since it was the most prized fruit it became one of the warmest welcomes / display of hospitality that a host could present to their guest. It was also during this time that visiting was one of the most important social events in society, when people would visit for several days at a time as a means of being social. Since the pineapple was so expensive just having it there for the guest showed how far out of the way the host went to impress them.
Also during the colonial period guest bedrooms would often feature pineapples in the carvings of beds and other decorations.
But it was in colonial America where it became the symbol of hospitality as rich hostesses would often use a pineapple as a centerpiece for the dining room table. Since it was the most prized fruit it became one of the warmest welcomes / display of hospitality that a host could present to their guest. It was also during this time that visiting was one of the most important social events in society, when people would visit for several days at a time as a means of being social. Since the pineapple was so expensive just having it there for the guest showed how far out of the way the host went to impress them.
Also during the colonial period guest bedrooms would often feature pineapples in the carvings of beds and other decorations.
Original Comments:
Friday, January 2, 2009
Pondering - 1-800
1-800 numbers... so today at work I was looking at a business card someone had given me and saw the toll free number, and it got me to thinking, we see 1-800 numbers all the time now days, but when did they start being used? who thought of the idea to use 800 as the toll free code? and is there any reason 800 was chosen, why not 700? So yep I had to see what I could dig up on this subject which is why it is today's installment of are you pondering?
So it turns out AT&T invented toll free calling all the way back in 1967, they created it to reduce the number of operators they needed to process the massive amount of collect calls they were processing for businesses. They call the system IN-WATS which should for Inward Wide-Area Telephone Service (yeah you think they could have come up with a simpler name). The Hotel industry was one of the first to jump on board with the new system of calling. The Wats call center took off in popularity and was centered in Omaha, Nebraska. Though overall the system ended up failing and was replaced by the 800 number system in 1980, this system which we still use today was invented by Roy P. Weber and is U.S. Patent No. 4,191,860... offically called "Data Base Communication Call Processing Method" but I prefer the 1-800 call name :P
Until 1984 AT&T assigned all the 1-800 numbers, in 1984 MCI jumped into the 800 number calling, and in 1991 the FCC decided to pass a new rule that made 800 numbers no longer associated to a single phone carrier company. When they did this it allowed businesses to switch telephone carries and keep the same number, kind of like how we can keep our same cell phone numbers today if we switch from Verizon to Sprint. It was also around this time that they allowed businesses to select their own 800 numbers so we started seeing the 1800 number that spell out business names or catchy words like 1-800-IAMCOOL.
Also over time they have had to expand from just 800 numbers, 888, 877, 866 are also toll free numbers. There are also 900 numbers, but they are much different than 800 numbers if you use a 900 number you are charged higher amounts.. not the free call we get with 800 numbers (which are only free for us, the business using them gets the charge, since its like calling collect.)
Toll free numbers also work from Canada... and can be dialed from some other companies but are not free. If you dial a toll free number from a pay phone, the company using the number gets charged an additional fee (intersting?). There are a few toll free international numbers, but not many. (probably because the fees would be huge for the company recieving the calls... :P a prank caller could really hit them hard I guess)
So the one thing I couldn't find out through all my sources I looked up... why they picked 800.. but as you'll see in my bonus facts most of the world agreed 8 is a good number for it...
Bonus Facts:
Around the world toll free prefixs!
Australia's toll free numbers use 13, or 1300
Argentian, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey - 0800
Chile, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Serbia - 800
Colombia - 018000
Denmark, Hungray - 80
Dominican Republic - 1-200
Ecuador, Ireland, Isreal, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam - 1800
Japan has a bunch - 0120, 0800, 0077
Mexico 01800
New Zealand uses 0800 or 0508
Romania 08008
Russia, Ukraine 8 or 800
Sweeden - 020 or 0200
Spain 900
UK - 0500, 0800 or 0808
So it turns out AT&T invented toll free calling all the way back in 1967, they created it to reduce the number of operators they needed to process the massive amount of collect calls they were processing for businesses. They call the system IN-WATS which should for Inward Wide-Area Telephone Service (yeah you think they could have come up with a simpler name). The Hotel industry was one of the first to jump on board with the new system of calling. The Wats call center took off in popularity and was centered in Omaha, Nebraska. Though overall the system ended up failing and was replaced by the 800 number system in 1980, this system which we still use today was invented by Roy P. Weber and is U.S. Patent No. 4,191,860... offically called "Data Base Communication Call Processing Method" but I prefer the 1-800 call name :P
Until 1984 AT&T assigned all the 1-800 numbers, in 1984 MCI jumped into the 800 number calling, and in 1991 the FCC decided to pass a new rule that made 800 numbers no longer associated to a single phone carrier company. When they did this it allowed businesses to switch telephone carries and keep the same number, kind of like how we can keep our same cell phone numbers today if we switch from Verizon to Sprint. It was also around this time that they allowed businesses to select their own 800 numbers so we started seeing the 1800 number that spell out business names or catchy words like 1-800-IAMCOOL.
Also over time they have had to expand from just 800 numbers, 888, 877, 866 are also toll free numbers. There are also 900 numbers, but they are much different than 800 numbers if you use a 900 number you are charged higher amounts.. not the free call we get with 800 numbers (which are only free for us, the business using them gets the charge, since its like calling collect.)
Toll free numbers also work from Canada... and can be dialed from some other companies but are not free. If you dial a toll free number from a pay phone, the company using the number gets charged an additional fee (intersting?). There are a few toll free international numbers, but not many. (probably because the fees would be huge for the company recieving the calls... :P a prank caller could really hit them hard I guess)
So the one thing I couldn't find out through all my sources I looked up... why they picked 800.. but as you'll see in my bonus facts most of the world agreed 8 is a good number for it...
Bonus Facts:
Around the world toll free prefixs!
Australia's toll free numbers use 13, or 1300
Argentian, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey - 0800
Chile, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Serbia - 800
Colombia - 018000
Denmark, Hungray - 80
Dominican Republic - 1-200
Ecuador, Ireland, Isreal, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam - 1800
Japan has a bunch - 0120, 0800, 0077
Mexico 01800
New Zealand uses 0800 or 0508
Romania 08008
Russia, Ukraine 8 or 800
Sweeden - 020 or 0200
Spain 900
UK - 0500, 0800 or 0808
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Pondering - Kwanzaa
Here is my first blog for the new year, part of my New Years blogging challenge which I'll abbreviate in my subjects as (ayp) for "Are you pondering" paying homage to the classic cartoon Pinky and the Brain... and the line often said "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" So without further ado...
What is Kwanzaa... and how did it start.
So Kwanzaa is sort of a holiday joke... People know about Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as the major holidays of the winter season. Kwanzaa though... well its usually only mentioned jokingly or in a negative way. Heck even the Canadian holiday, Boxing Day, seems to get more respect than Kwanzaa here. Which got me to thinking... what do I know about Kwanzaa... the answer was little to nothing, so let’s find out some facts.
For starters Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that was designed to celebrate/promote family, culture, and community and covers a week long period from December 26th to January 1st. While most holidays have a long history of tradition, Kwanzaa has been around just over forty year, first invented in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga a professor of Black studies at California State University. He was inspired to create Kwanzaa as a means to promote African American unity, following the Watts Riots.
The Watts Riots occurred in the Watts suburb of Los Angeles in the summer of 1965 and were a large scale race riot that was sparked when Lee Minikus, a California highway cop pulled over a black man named Marquette Frye who was driving under the influence, and wouldn't let Frye's brother drive the car home (choosing to have it towed instead). A mob formed as the events unfolded and a riot broke out, that would last six days in which thirty-four would die, over one thousand would be injured and almost four thousand would be arrested!
Kwanzaa's celebration activities are based on traditional harvest celebrations from African groups such as the Zulu and Ashanti and the name Kwanzaa is Swahili for "first fruits". Activities include; drumming, singing, dancing, story reading, and a large meal know as the Karamu on December 31st. Kwanzaa also has a strong tie in to the number seven... Its seven days long, each night they light one of the seven candles and talk about one of the seven principles... each of which is represented by one of the seven symbols.
The Seven Principles are:
Unity
Self-determination
Collective work and responsibility
Cooperative Economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith
The Seven Symbols are:
Mazao (crops; fruit, nuts and vegetables) - which symbolize the foundation of Kwanzaa as a harvest celebration and the foundation of family that these festivals traditionally represented.
Mkeka (place mat) - This is what the other symbols are set on during Kwanzaa, and is made from material that is supposed to come directly from Africa. The McKee is supposed to represent the history, tradition and culture of Africa.
Vibunzi (an ear of corn) - This represents fertility and reproduction of the family. One ear of corn is placed on the Mkeka for each child in the family, if there are no children in the family then two ears are placed on the Mkeka to symbolize how each person is responsible for the children of the community from the old African saying "It takes a whole village to raise a child"
Mishumaa Saba (Seven Candles) - Of the seven candles there are three red, three greensand one black candle. The black candle (representing unity) is placed in the center and lit on the first night. The three green candles are placed on the right and represent: Purpose, Collective Work and Responsibility and Faith. The red are placed to the left and represent Self-determination, Cooperative Economics, and Creativity. The Mishumaa Saba has dual purposes, one is to represent the sun and the light it provides from which everything grows and comes from. The other purposes is expressed through the colors red, green and black which come from the flag of Marcus Garvey (of Back to Africa movement fame for you history people). Red represents the god of fire, Black the people and Green the earth.
Kinara (Candle holder) - this represents the original stalk from which everyone comes from and ancestors, it can be any shape, color, size or material... as long as it holds seven candles.
Kikombe Cha Umoja (Unity Cup) - Used for the libation ritual during the big feast on the sixth day (Karamu). The libation ritual is a traditional African ritual is for the living dead whose souls are still on the earth. The cup is passed to each family member during the feast to promote unity; the last bit of the drink is poured for the host who sips it and then passes it to the oldest person and ask for their blessing.
Zawadi (gifts) - given to members of family to promote achieventment and commitments that have been met. It also represents unity and family as well as accepting responsibility. People are encouraged to give homemade gifts and not store bought ones as homemade are believed to have more meaning and avoid the chaos that holiday shopping promotes.
There you have it... all you wanted to know and more about Kwanzaa!
What is Kwanzaa... and how did it start.
So Kwanzaa is sort of a holiday joke... People know about Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as the major holidays of the winter season. Kwanzaa though... well its usually only mentioned jokingly or in a negative way. Heck even the Canadian holiday, Boxing Day, seems to get more respect than Kwanzaa here. Which got me to thinking... what do I know about Kwanzaa... the answer was little to nothing, so let’s find out some facts.
For starters Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that was designed to celebrate/promote family, culture, and community and covers a week long period from December 26th to January 1st. While most holidays have a long history of tradition, Kwanzaa has been around just over forty year, first invented in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga a professor of Black studies at California State University. He was inspired to create Kwanzaa as a means to promote African American unity, following the Watts Riots.
The Watts Riots occurred in the Watts suburb of Los Angeles in the summer of 1965 and were a large scale race riot that was sparked when Lee Minikus, a California highway cop pulled over a black man named Marquette Frye who was driving under the influence, and wouldn't let Frye's brother drive the car home (choosing to have it towed instead). A mob formed as the events unfolded and a riot broke out, that would last six days in which thirty-four would die, over one thousand would be injured and almost four thousand would be arrested!
Kwanzaa's celebration activities are based on traditional harvest celebrations from African groups such as the Zulu and Ashanti and the name Kwanzaa is Swahili for "first fruits". Activities include; drumming, singing, dancing, story reading, and a large meal know as the Karamu on December 31st. Kwanzaa also has a strong tie in to the number seven... Its seven days long, each night they light one of the seven candles and talk about one of the seven principles... each of which is represented by one of the seven symbols.
The Seven Principles are:
Unity
Self-determination
Collective work and responsibility
Cooperative Economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith
The Seven Symbols are:
Mazao (crops; fruit, nuts and vegetables) - which symbolize the foundation of Kwanzaa as a harvest celebration and the foundation of family that these festivals traditionally represented.
Mkeka (place mat) - This is what the other symbols are set on during Kwanzaa, and is made from material that is supposed to come directly from Africa. The McKee is supposed to represent the history, tradition and culture of Africa.
Vibunzi (an ear of corn) - This represents fertility and reproduction of the family. One ear of corn is placed on the Mkeka for each child in the family, if there are no children in the family then two ears are placed on the Mkeka to symbolize how each person is responsible for the children of the community from the old African saying "It takes a whole village to raise a child"
Mishumaa Saba (Seven Candles) - Of the seven candles there are three red, three greensand one black candle. The black candle (representing unity) is placed in the center and lit on the first night. The three green candles are placed on the right and represent: Purpose, Collective Work and Responsibility and Faith. The red are placed to the left and represent Self-determination, Cooperative Economics, and Creativity. The Mishumaa Saba has dual purposes, one is to represent the sun and the light it provides from which everything grows and comes from. The other purposes is expressed through the colors red, green and black which come from the flag of Marcus Garvey (of Back to Africa movement fame for you history people). Red represents the god of fire, Black the people and Green the earth.
Kinara (Candle holder) - this represents the original stalk from which everyone comes from and ancestors, it can be any shape, color, size or material... as long as it holds seven candles.
Kikombe Cha Umoja (Unity Cup) - Used for the libation ritual during the big feast on the sixth day (Karamu). The libation ritual is a traditional African ritual is for the living dead whose souls are still on the earth. The cup is passed to each family member during the feast to promote unity; the last bit of the drink is poured for the host who sips it and then passes it to the oldest person and ask for their blessing.
Zawadi (gifts) - given to members of family to promote achieventment and commitments that have been met. It also represents unity and family as well as accepting responsibility. People are encouraged to give homemade gifts and not store bought ones as homemade are believed to have more meaning and avoid the chaos that holiday shopping promotes.
There you have it... all you wanted to know and more about Kwanzaa!
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