Learning Something New Every Day

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Nice Beard

Nice Beard

Michael,

Nice Beard.

Daniel

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[learningsomethingnew2011]

Learning to mourn my dog Mookie

January 24, 2011

Mookie, Jen, and Elizabeth - November, 1999

My dog Mookie was born November 14, 1997 and he died early January 21, 2011. In his life he brought joy to literally hundreds of people, but none more than me. I know its not a competition, but Mook and I were together pretty much 24/7 most of 365 days a year and to say we were close is an understatement somewhat akin to Noah saying, It looks like rain."

For some reason, when I think of the amount of time we spent together, I think what it must of been like, in simpler times, for farmers and their dogs. The dog would would go out to the field with the farmer as he cared for his crops and, maybe in the afternoon, the dog would run to the school and walk home with farmer's children. In the evening, the dog was part of the setting for the family.

I don't do something as honorable as a farmer, I'm a writer (although both professions are involved with manure). I work out of my home office, my field. In the morning, when the kids were young, he would join us as we walked the kids to school and then as they grew up, we would just go for a walk around the block. Throughout the day, Mookie would be be lying to my right as I wrote, awaiting that time of the day when we would walk to our town's commercial center, Coolidge Center, or even better if I would take a break for lunch and he could share. 

Through the years, we met so many people; to be honest, I met them through Mook. Sometimes people would run after us to learn what kind of dog he was (Wheaton terrier), whether he was hypoallergenic (he was), and whether he was good with children (he loved them). Mookie was always responsive to attention and when he had a good haircut, which he almost always did (thanks to the folks at Toureen's), he was a chick magnet. So frequently, as we were walking, and a group of women were ahead of us, one invariably would say to another, "Isn't he cute?" They weren't referring to me.

For some reason, Japanese people really loved him. Many times he posed for pictures that are now being seen somewhere in Osaka. Many people took his picture, many people got Wheatons because of him or just got dogs because they loved the way he acted with us and how he loved to give me a high five.

He loved just about everyone, but especially kids. He came with us as we took Jen to pre-school (she turned 18 on January 20) and stood there, tail wagging, as kids pet, pawed, and pulled at him. He would pull us towards playgrounds when he heard children playing. He also loved climbing the steps of a slide and barreling down. It was a sight.

He liked most dogs as well. When he and Spencer, his Wheaton cousin, who lives down the block, saw each other, they always went nose-to-nose and wagged like crazy. They were indeed communicating (and probably making fun of whomever was on the other side of the leash). He really didn't like German Shepards. They were like Republicans to him, his initial instinct was to not like them, but would make some exceptions for individuals. He had no use for poodles, particularly the giant ones. Overall, he really seemed to be somewhat embarrassed by the yapping of toy dogs.

Like a farm dog, Mookie would have liked to work. He would have liked being a maitre'd. When he was in doggie play groups, Mookie was always the greeter when a new dog came to join, "Sniffing or no sniffing? Chaser or chasee?"

But if there was any dog Mook would have loved it would have been in real estate or interior design. When he was young, Mookie was like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape, even in the most secure of settings, he found a way to get out. His goal was not to run away, simply explore. I honestly can't tell you the number of times we found him on the third floor of someone's home or got a call that he was sitting in a neighbor's kitchen. He wasn't doing harm, just checking what places looked like.

Mookie recognized names of family and friends and would respond when we told him they were coming to visit (and certainly responded on their arrival). But his love for my wife and the girls could not be measured on any scale. He was beside himself in knowing that he could get bring smiles to our faces with his dashes when he was young. And he always knew if someone was sad, by her side he would stay. When Elizabeth was visiting prospective colleges, he was like a litmus test for her comfort level. People were welcoming to him at Wesleyan, where she attended, but cold at Brown, where she did not end up applying.

I'm older than dirt and Mook was my first dog. The loss of his unconditional love and support hurts so much. Mook was always by my side as I have recuperated from four or five knee operations. He was there for my elderly parents and as a certified care giver was able to visit nursing homes and rehab facilities, when they were there, and give comfort to others. He was with us when they died. He was the "other guy" in the house as he and I were surrounding by three female humans and two female cats. He was with us for every occasion, good and bad. He was a constant. 

Over the last 12 months, he had aged and had major surgery. I treated every day as if it were his last and he died with the dignity and respect he deserved. He was a great doggie. 

Everybody mourns differently. My beautiful wife Max has cried...a lot. Jen has been surrounded by her friends. Elizabeth, In New York City, has had to work and I'm sure has found comfort from her guy, Lucien. As for me, I learned that I needed to withdraw. No phone, no text, no email, no writing, not even eating foods he liked. Now, I'm trying to restructure my life and just as I learned to mourn him, I am working on learning to live without him.

That's what I'm learning today, January 24, 341 days left in 2011.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

At age 18

January 20, 2011

"Today I Sung the Blues", Aretha Franklin’s first single, was released when she was 18.

The word for "life" in Hebrew is "chai." The two Hebrew letters that make up the word "chai" are chet and yud. In Gematria (the numerical value of Hebrew letters), chai is equivalent to 8 and yud is equivalent to 10. So "chai", chet and yud together, equals 18.

Nebkheperure Tutankhaten was named pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. King Tut, as he came to be known by people who spent big bucks to see his remains, died at 18.

Victoria born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819, the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, became Queen at the age of 18.

Bob Feller had won nine games on the mound for the Cleveland Indians at age 18.

Phil Cavaretta had already hit eight homers at age 18 for the Chicago Cubs.

That’s what I learned today, the 20th day of January, 345 to go in 2011.

Oh yes: Happy birthday, to my wonderful daughter Jennifer, who is 18 today.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

At age 18

January 20, 2011

"Today I Sung the Blues", Aretha Franklin’s first single, was released when she was 18.

The word for "life" in Hebrew is "chai." The two Hebrew letters that make up the word "chai" are chet and yud. In Gematria (the numerical value of Hebrew letters), chai is equivalent to 8 and yud is equivalent to 10. So "chai", chet and yud together, equals 18.

Nebkheperure Tutankhaten was named pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. King Tut, as he came to be known by people who spent big bucks to see his remains, died at 18.

Victoria born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819, the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, became Queen at the age of 18.

Bob Feller had won nine games on the mound for the Cleveland Indians at age 18.

Phil Cavaretta had already hit eight homers at age 18 for the Chicago Cubs.

That’s what I learned today, the 20th day of January, 345 to go in 2011.

Oh yes: Happy birthday, to my wonderful daughter Jennifer, who is 18 today.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

The Hippopotamus Who Sweat Red

January 19, 2011

Sounds like a good title for a children's book doesn't it?

I was watching NCIS last night and Bob Newhart was guest starring as a retired medical examiner with Alzheimers. Newhart's character noticed a stuffed hippo and remarked that hippopotami sweat was red. Today, I looked it up, and lo and behold, it's true.

I learned a few more things about the hippo today (beyond the fact that it is a pain to type out everything that follows the first "o") including that it is related to the pig. It seems that it eats all night and then spends the day in the mud digesting, shielded from the heat and the sun. It may be related to me as well.

Back to their red sweat, which apparently freaked out the Greeks because they thought it was sweating blood. The secretions, according to the BBC News, is comprised of two unstable pigments - one red, the other orange. The red pigment has antibacterial properties, which work to protect the hippo from certain pathogens and accelerate its recovery from wounds, as well as act as a sunscreen.

"The sunscreen property of the sweat was first suspected because albino hippos are often observed - and they seem healthy," Kyoto's Kimiko Hashimoto told BBC News Online.

Hippos are always fighting, getting cut up and they don't get infections apparently from their naturally secreting antiseptic.

"It would be nice to also try and replicate the antiseptic and insect-repellent characteristics of the sweat, to obtain a four-in-one product: sunscreen, sunblock, antiseptic, insect repellent," Christopher Viney, a professor in the School of Engineering at the University of California, Merced, told Discovery News.

That's what I learned today, the 19th of January, with 346 days to go in 2011.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Dr. John Stith Pemberton was the Real Thing

Dr. John Stith Pemberton

January 18, 2011

Talk about people who are under appreciated for their contribution to the world and Dr. John Stith Pemberton has to be pretty high on the list. If you know who he is, I lift a drink in your honor, because I just learned today that on May 8, 1886, Dr. John,  a local pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia created a syrup that he brought down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy, where mixed with carbonated water, was sold for five cents a glass. And that, according to their site, was the birth of Coca-Cola. 

Pemberton's bookkeeper Frank M. Robinson was the one who thought the name should have two "C's" because it would look good in advertising, came up with the name and was the one who wrote out its distinctive logo.

 Now before we give Pemberton too much credit for being a genius, before his death he sold off his remaining shares in the product to Asa G. Candler, who got complete control of the company for a grand total of $2,300.

According to their site:

A firm believer in advertising, Mr. Candler expanded on Dr. Pemberton's marketing efforts, distributing thousands of coupons for a complimentary glass of Coca-Cola. He promoted the product incessantly, distributing souvenir fans, calendars, clocks, urns and countless novelties, all depicting the trademark.

By 1895, three years after incorporation, the company was selling the product in every state and territory.

One more person to mention in this refreshing bit of knowledge is Joseph A. Biedenharn, who in Vicksburg in 1894 installed bottling machinery behind his store and began to sell cases of Coca-Cola to farms and lumber camps. He was the first bottler.

With that in mind, I shall return to my Coca-Cola Cherry Zero knowing that that's what I learned today, the 18th of January, 347 days remaining in 2011.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

The very interesting saga of Rutherford B. Hayes

January 17, 2011

Okay, we have agreed that I know very little about a lot. Yet, one of the hardest things I have found to do, in my attempt to keep this resolution of learning something new every day, is to figure out specifically what topic to learn about. Today I hit the jackpot, US presidents.

I'm starting with Rutherford B. Hayes because he died on this date in 1893 at the age of 70.

So, I knew Rutherford B. Hayes was president, had a great name, and had a fabulous looking beard. Other than the president part, it could have been Tom Cruise (thank you Ricky Gervais for the inspiration for that one). It turns out there is a lot more to learn about Hayes.

This picture of Hayes was taken by Matthew Brady, renown for his photos of Lincoln; the collection of which are known as the Brady Bunch (not true...or is it?)

Hayes fought and was wounded in the Civil War. He reached the rank of brevet major general. 

Bonus knowledge: Brevet is a temporary military rank that gives the responsibility of that rank without the pay.

While still in the Army, Cincinnati Republicans nominated him for Congress and he won handily despite refusing to campaign explaining, "an officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer... ought to be scalped."

You got to love this guy.

After serving in Congress, Hayes was elected the Governor of Ohio three times and in 1876 was the Republican nominee for president running against New York Governor Samuel Tilden.

The election was incredibly close despite loads of folks campaigning for him including Mark Twain, but Hayes went to bed that night thinking he had lost. The popular vote was 4,300,000 for Tilden, 4,000,035 for Hayes. But in New York, Republican National Chairman Zachariah Chandler, aware of a loophole, wired leaders to stand firm: "Hayes has 185 votes and is elected." Chandler was not so much a Michael Steele, but more like Katherine Harris.

The election it seems rested on the disputed electoral votes in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida (there's a shocker). If Hayes lost any of them, Tilden would be President, not just the name of a high school in Brooklyn.

Months of battling ensued and in January, Congress established an Electoral Commission (hmm, the Supreme Court did not inappropriately intervene?). Now in the spirit of the belief that history repeats itself, understand that the commission consisted of eight Republicans and seven Democrats. The Commission voted in favor of Hayes in each state and Hayes won the electoral vote, 185-184. By the way, the vote for each contested state was... you guessed it, 8-to-7 (that's why the Republicans didn't need the Supremes).

This deal, which was known as the Compromise of 1877, also known as the Corrupt Bargain (seriously), included at least one Cabinet post for southern Democrats, Federal patronage, subsidies, and the removal of troops from South Carolina and Louisiana.

And that's how Hayes was elected. Pretty cool. Oh, and Hayes did indeed keep his promise of being a one-term President heading back to his home in Ohio in 1881.

That what I learned today the 17th day of 2011, 348 to go.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

The Start and End of Prohibition, I'll drink to that

January 16, 2011

Did you ever notice that whenever you see a movie about Prohibition you see a New Year's party with people counting down to start of no liquor, people than laughing and drinking, and then scenes of liquor bottles and crates being smashed? Not accurate.

Today I learned that Prohibition actually began on January 16, 1920, the official starting date of the 18th Amendment. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol and had been ratified on January 16, 1919.

The process (aka "craziness") had begun on December 18, 1917, when a joint resolution was adopted by both Houses of Congress and was transmitted to the states for their consideration. On January 29, 1919, the Secretary of State, by proclamation, announced that on January 16, 1919, thirty-six states had ratified the amendment and therefore it had become a part of the Constitution. It was subsequently ratified by ten additional states.

The absolute prohibitions of the Amendment extended only to the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes. The Amendment did not prohibit the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation of alcoholic liquors which are not intoxicating, or of intoxicating liquors for other than beverage purposes (hello, medical marijuana). It does not define intoxicating liquors or directly prohibit the purchase, possession by the purchaser, or use of any liquor, whether intoxicating or otherwise. The power to deal with these questions is vested in Congress under the provisions of Section 2 of the Amendment, or left to the several states.

In pursuance of this authority, in October, 1919 Congress passed the National Prohibition Act. The bill was actually called the Volstead Act, named after Republican Minnesota Representative Andrew Volstead, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who championed the bill through Congress and must have been a lot of fun at parties.

Volstead must have been a little bit of a partier, check out his Groucho-like 'stach

In the title to this act three distinct purposes are stated: (1) to "prohibit intoxicating beverages," (2) to regulate the manufacture, production, use and sale of high proof spirits for other than beverage purposes," and (3) to "insure an ample supply of alcohol and promote its use in scientific research and in the development of fuel, dye and other lawful industries."

I also learned that President Woodrow Wilson originally vetoed the bill because of procedural issues, but it became law after Congress overrode the veto, that same day.

On December 6, 1932, Senator John Blaine of Wisconsin submitted a resolution to Congress proposing the submission to the states of the Twenty-First Amendment, which would annul the Eighteenth.

Sen. Blaine, our hero

Two months later, on February 21, 1933, the amendment was sent to the state governors. Meanwhile, the newly-elected President Roosevelt asked Congress to modify the Volstead Act to provide for the sale of 3.2 percent beer. In nine days, the Congress complied and legalized beer, much to the delight of the American public. In St. Louis, at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 30,000 people stormed a motorcade of beer-laden trucks twenty blocks long.

Less than a year after the Twenty-First Amendment was submitted for ratification, the necessary thirty-sixth state ratified the amendment at 5:32 PM on December 5, 1933. At 7:00 PM, President Roosevelt signed the proclamation ending Prohibition.

BTW: The 21st Amendment is the only only amendment that repeals an amendment. The 36th state to vote for repeal was Utah. I don't imagine they would vote that way today, do you?

So, there you have it, the beginning and end of a social experiment that shows that politicians being insane is nothing new.

That's what I learned today, the 16th day of 2011, 349 days to go.

The Dude and his White Russian

Recipe for a White Russian from The Internet Cocktail Database

Build1 oz vodka (3 cl, 1/4 gills)3/4 oz Kahlua (2 cl, 3/16 gills)Fill with iceFloat creamServe in a rocks glass (6.0 oz)

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Okay, how many stars and stripes do you want?

Okay, how many stars and stripes do you want?

  January 13, 2011

Here is something that I learned today: you know our flag? The one with 50 stars (one for each state) and 13 stripes (one for each of the 13 colonies)? Well obviously, it didn’t always have 50 stars, but did you know that it didn’t always have 13 stripes?

Count the stripes on the flag above and tell me how many you have. I got 15, how about you?

This was the nation’s second flag and lasted for 23 years starting May 1, 1795. The additional stars reflected the statehoods of Vermont and Kentucky. 

(The first flag worked for 18 years.)

So, what the hell happened?

On this date, President George Washington approved the new flag, which by the way, is known as the “Star Spangled Banner” flag as it was flying over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote his flag rap.

They guy we should all know about when it comes to the flag was Samuel Chester Reid, who was an officer in the US Navy. As it became apparent that it was becoming impractical to ad a star and a stripe for every new state, Congress formed a committee to investigate future alterations to the flag. In January 1817, Representative Peter Wendover asked Reid, one of the heroes of the War of 1812, for his input.Together they decided to stick with the 13 stripes to honor the original colonies and add a new star each time a state joined the union. It also provided that when the flag needed to be changed

Reid’s simple plan came to pass, but Congress opted to go for rows instead of Reid’s idea of a star of stars:

The Flag Act of 1818 was signed into law by President James Monroe on April 4 (please don’t make me ad “1818”) and that is why we celebrate Flag Day every April 4.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

The one in which I learn where Tunisia is

January 15, 2011

This quest of mine to learn something new every day is beginning to take on the feel of a mediocre sitcom. Think of all the situation comedies in which there is at least one total idiot (as opposed to the two other partial idiots) who is always not knowing the most obvious of things and the audience laughs as they mock him with their sense of superiority.

In this episode of "Learning Something New Every Day," we find out that rioting in Tunisia has driven out President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, who has ruled the country for 23 years with an iron fist. At this point, the idiot character (played by me) says something like,

"An iron fist? He's like Dr. Doom, we should send in the Fantastic Four to get him!"

One of the other characters (the good looking one) responds, "No, you idiot, he's been the dictator of Tunisia!"

To which the idiot (that's me) replies, "Oh, the country where they make canned tuna!"

(audience laughs hysterically) Ratings go through the roof and "Arrested Development" is still canceled. 

Okay, so I'm an idiot and I know nothing about Tunisia and many other things. So today I learned that if you judge countries by the company they keep, Tunisia is with a nasty crowd, Algeria on one side and Libya on the other. This is an evil part of the world.

So, if you want to learn about evil, where do you go? You look for info from one of America's evil twins: either Halliburton or the CIA. 

Here's a map from the CIA factbook:

Here's where it is in Northern Africa:

The country is slightly larger than Georgia, the Georgia with the Atlanta Braves, not the one in Russia.

According to the Tunisian Tourism site:

Well known seaside resort areas - Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet and Nabeul, Djerba and Tabarka offer their visitors the finest sand beaches and crystalline water along with a dizzying choice of waterfront hotels featuring sun and sea sports as windsurfing and sailing, underwater sightseeing, fishing and short boat rides.

As appealing as all that sounds, I think I'll pass as they neglect to mention the rioting, the overthrow of the government, and the police state.

Well, there you have it, I learned where Tunisia is and I now also know its capital is Tunis, which would prompt the sitcom character to remark, "Tunis? That would be like naming the capital of America, "Amer!"

(huge laughter as the closing theme plays)

That's what I learned today, January 15, just 350 days left in 2011.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

What's a coconut?

January 14, 2011

I have to tell you folks, it is beautiful in Brookline this morning. The trees are coated with snow in a fashion makes it look like a Christmas tree or a least a motel painting. I would trade it in a heartbeat to be looking out my window and seeing a tropical day. It doesn't even need to look as pretty as this. I'm one of those people who prefer food that tastes good as opposed to looks good. As the fine folks at Horn & Hardart used to say in their ads, "You can't eat atmosphere."

Anyhow, this brings me back to being able to go outside, not see pretty snow on trees, not shovel, not freeze, and eat a coconut. But what exactly is a coconut, the Chuck family wondered last evening?

According to the Coconut Research Center (I wish it were a joke), The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, which means "monkey face" because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. Nucifera means "nut-bearing.

I always thought a coconut more resembled monkey's testicles than a face, but I guess that would be bad for business. So here's the big question in today's learning exercise: is a coconut a fruit or a nut?

It turns out neither.

A coconut is a drupe.

A drupe? drupe   (dr

p)

A simple fruit derived from a single carpel. A drupe usually contains a single seed enclosed by a hardened endocarp, which often adheres closely to the seed within. In peaches, plums, cherries, and olives, a fleshy edible mesocarp surrounds the endocarp (the pit or stone). In the coconut, a fibrous mesocarp (the husk) surrounds the endocarp (the shell), while the white edible portion is the endosperm. Compare berrypome See more at simple fruit.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Some other drupes are nectarines, pistachios, almonds and mangoes.

So I learned about coconuts and drupes today, January 14, there are 351 days to go in 2011.

Bonus: Here is mac and cheese like you won't see in the hideous Food section of the Boston Globe because its not pretty enough.

Here is how to make the mac cheese using the Horn & Hardart recipe.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

A Blizzard of Information

January 12, 2011

It is snowing like the Dickens out there today (an idiomatic expression that connotes thousands of adjectives coming down). Here in greater Boston, or as I like to call it "NYC-wannabe land," we are having another major snowstorm. I don't know whether it is actually a blizzard, but I do know it is producing a lot of snow.

According to the folks at Weather.com:

Blizzards are characterized by low temperatures (usually below 20 deg F) and accompanied by winds that are at least 35 mph or greater, there must also be sufficient falling and/or blowing snow in the air that will frequently reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a duration of at least 3 hours.

The temperature is in the upper-20's, so I don't think we meet that criteria, but I know we succeed in the rest of them. I like the word "blizzard" because I always think of the snow zigzagging in front of you like the double z in the word. According to the National Weather Service,

In the 1870's, an Iowa newspaper used the word "blizzard" to describe a snowstorm. Previously, the term blizzard referred to a canon shot or a volley of musket fire. By the 1880's, the use of the word blizzard was used by many across the United States and in England.

The Online Etymology Dictionary writes, 

1859, origin obscure (perhaps somehow connected with blaze (1)); it came into general use in the U.S. in the hard winter 1880-81, though it was used with a sense of "violent blow" in Amer.Eng., 1829; and blizz "violent rainstorm" is attested from 1770.

My favorite of all these, and the one that I will remember (my idea of learning), is Oxford English Dictionary's as quoted by the Podictionary,

The Oxford English Dictionary claims that blizzard is a fairly new word.

New for them means less than 200 years old.

The earliest citation for the word seems to be 1829 but at first the word didn’t mean a violent snowstorm, it seemed to mean to hit something.

The second citation is a quote from one Colonel Crockett (yes, that Crockett, Davy Crockett) and in it he appears to be using the word blizzard not as a winter storm, but as a figurative threat to some dinner companions who were poking fun at him.

The Century Dictionary suggests that blizzardis related to the word blaze. So in reacting aggressively Davy Crockett was using another word to say he was prepared to “blaze away” at them.

I will think of Davy Crockett every blizzard from now on.

That what I learned this snowy 12th of January, 353 days left in 2011.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

1/11/11 - 100 Year-Old NY Times Headlines

January 11, 2011

Twice a century we get a date consisting of "five aces" (once a century we get six aces). Today I just wanted to learn what was in the news a hundred years ago today, which is a backwards ways of learning history, but interesting nonetheless.

New York Times Headlines - 1/11/11 - January 11, 1911

PERSIANS ASK FOR LIBERTY.; Call on All Nations to Protect Them from Invasion by Russia and England.

OUR SUN A VARIABLE STAR.; Smithsonian Institution's Observers Find Evidence of It.

HOCKEY STICK HURTS PLAYER CASTLEMAN; New York A.C. Centre Man Loses Several Teeth in Scrimmage with St. Nick's Team.

SPRING TRAINING PLANS OF YANKEES; Big Squad of Veteran Players Going to Virginia Hot Springs on March 1.

Steamer Russia Still Aground.

PAY BACK $1,500,000 OF GRAFT ON CAPITOL; Contractors and Others Concerned in Pennsylvania Scandal Make Restitution.

CHANGES AT NEW THEATRE?; Rumor That Belasco Will Succeed Ames -- New Playhouse Discussed?

CARNEGIE HINTS AT NEW MEDICAL GIFT; A Skillful Appeal, He Says, Might Make Him Think Again of New York University's School.

PHILADELPHIA TO GET HOTEL.; Finally Admitted Ritz-Carlton Co. Is to Build a $1,000,000 Structure There.

DR. AKED CHALLENGES OUR SENSE OF HUMOR; English Women Will Get the Vote First, He Tells Suffragettes, Because They Amuse the People.

KAISER ANGERS LIBERALS.; Speech at Prussian Diet Opening Ignores Franchise Reform.

TINY POMERANIANS VIEWED BY SOCIETY; Fashionable Folk Keenly Interested in Silken-Coated Dogs at Waldorf-Astoria.

POLE STILL LOST -- PEARY.; Tells Committee Why He Wanted the Glory of Discovery for Himself.

CHILDREN LUNCH FOR PENNY.; Jewish Women Launch Relief Plan for Pittsburg's Needy Youngsters.

JOE JEANNETTE BEATEN.; Sam Langford Easily Outclassed New York Negro in Bout at Boston.

SOCIETY ADMIRES AUTOS AT GARDEN; Extra Admission Fee Did Not Keep Visitors Away -- City Officials Inspect Exhibits.

Born on this date, one hundred years ago was Jack Burnley, the pen name for Hardin Burnley who was truly a talented comic book artist.

That's what I learned today, January 11, 2011, 354 days to go.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Soccer vs. Football

January 10, 2011

I watched the football playoffs yesterday. THE NFL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. I don't mean to yell, but since you are reading this, I fear you might be confusing American football with what the rest of the world refers to as "football." But as comedian Daniel Tosh says, 

"And yes, I called it 'soccer.'  Don't correct me because I don't care what they call it in other lands; I speak American.  Sorry world, we already have football, and it's way better. It's played by 300 pound men for 8 seconds at a time.  Not five-foot-six-inch fairies lightly jogging for three hours, or however long your game is.  Buy a scoreboard."

My daughter loves to play soccer and she is very good at it. As a result I have seen a lot of soccer. A LOT. Yet, in all these times I have watched soccer, and all the thousands of dollars I have spent on soccer, I have never learned why we call it "soccer" and the rest of the world doesn't. I always thought that it was a variation of the word "sucker," as in: "I thought I was going to see a sport with scoring, what a sucker I am."

I was wrong. Not about the lack of scoring, but the fact that the word soccer is not some bastardization from some American bastard. I learned that a Brit, Charles Wreford-Brown is the one responsible for the word "soccer" and that the rest of the world should really be calling it that.

Brown was a wealthy 19th century sportsman who reputedly used to refer to breakfast as "brekkers," because he liked to shorten words. I mention this because in the mid- to late-1800's there seemed to be quite the battle for athletes between those who played Association Football and those who preferred Rugby Football. Rugby permitted tripping, shin-kicking and carrying the ball, all forbidden by Association Footballers.

Legend has it that one day in the 1880's someone asked Brown if he liked to play "ruggers," he responded that he preferred "asoccer," his shortened version of "asSOCiation football." People found "asoccer" too difficult to quickly say, and it became simply "soccer."

The majority of Brits stayed with the term "football" because "soccer" was regarded as a nickname associated with the upper-class, like Wreford-Brown. But when the game came to the States it was still referred to as "association football" and then "soccer"  to distinguish it from "gridiron football" which was gaining in popularity.

There are still places in the world who play "football" but still refer to it as "soccer" like the US. In fact, the Australian Football Association up until 2005 was the Australian Soccer Association.

That's what I learned today, January 10, 355 days to go in 2011.

Here's Daniel Tosh on soccer:

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Charlatans, Mountebanks, and the Cerretani

January 9, 2011

I was talking to some really nice people last evening about my quest to learn something new each day this year and fortunately they did not perceivably roll their eyes. These are all really smart people, whose opinions I value, so I feel like I am onto something here. 

Anyhow as I was leaving someone used the word "charlatan" (and not in regards to me) and I asked if anyone knew the origin of the word. It was suggested perhaps that it came from Charlemagne, but it turns out that it quite far from reality.

Charlatan is a truly a great word, whose definition I never truly appreciated. According to Merriam-Webster, the first definition is that is a "quack." The folks at Dictionary.com adds that it is a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses. John McCain comes to mind.

But it is the origin that I love as it seems to have been derived natives of Cerreto, an Italian village in Umbria, known for its quacks. The natives were referred to as Cerretani, and apparently they had their fair share of quacks.

Before we leave this wonderful village we must add "mountebank" to our collective knowledge a word that comes from the Italian montimbanco, from montare to mount + in in, on +banco, banca bench. A mountebank is a hawker of quack medicines who attracts customers with stories, jokes, or tricks. He is also known as a ... you guessed it, "a Republican charlatan."  

Someday, my friends we shall rejoice and laugh and seek out quacks in Cerreto, but until that time, that is what I learned today the ninth day of 2011, 356 days to go.

[learningsomethingnew2011]

Tupelo Honey

January 8, 2011

Seeking something new to learn about each day is not easy. It's not that I know so much, as it turns out, I know so little. It's like going to a restaurant with a huge menu and there are so many things you want to eat that you don't know what you want to order. This, of course, is why I love buffets, I love tasting a variety of things and, hopefully, I will not gorge myself. You see if there are two items on the dinner menu that you really want, you can't order both. It's too much for that one meal.

The same thing is true for learning something everyday. I need something that is brief, satisfying, and memorable. So let me tell you how I decided to learn what "Tupelo honey" is all about.

Today is Elvis's birthday. While we love the music of Elvis Costello, and the shortstop play of the Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus, there is only one Elvis when you say it is Elvis's birthday. Elvis Presley was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Miss. So that is how I started thinking about Tupelo. While my first when I hear Tupelo is about Elvis, it quickly goes to music, but not his, but the great Van Morrison.

It was Morrison who wrote and recorded the song, "Tupelo Honey" and named his fifth album the same. The lyrics went:

She's as sweet as tupelo honey She's an angel of the first degree She's as sweet as tupelo honey Just like honey from the bee

There it was: tupelo honey. I've listened to the song hundreds of time and never thought about what Van was singing...until today.

Tupelo honey is made from the white tupelo gum tree and it supposedly tastes delicious and is unique in that it doesn't granulate. The plants grow in the southeastern US and is the most expensive honey because it so expensive to produce. Black tupelo trees produce a darker honey that will granulate and is usually a bakery grade honey.

Tupelo honey was the type that Peter Fonda's character attempted to produce in the movie "Ulee's Gold."

And yes, Tupelo Miss. was named after the tupelo tree.

And that's what I learned today, January 8, Elvis's birthday, 2011; 357 days to go. 

[learningsomethingnew2011]

"Be ashamed to die before you have won some battle for humanity."

January 7, 2011

There was a terrific episode of the Twilight Zone, entitled "The Changing of the Guard," in which Donald Pleasence plays an English professor at a boys school considers suicide because he doesn't feel as if he made any lasting contribution. The professor is seen wiping away the snow beneath a statue of Horace Mann, to read these words:

"Be ashamed to die before you have won some battle for humanity."

The Twilight Zone episode was written by the brilliant Rod Serling, who took actual facts and gave them a twist to make his fiction so brilliant and so much more enjoyable.

Mann, born May 4, 1796,  was regarded as the father of American education. He was a graduate of Brown University, a lawyer, and a politician, starting as the Secretary of the newly-created Massachusetts Board of Education in 1837 and ultimately becoming a Congressman. He spearheaded the Common School Movement which ensured that every child could receive a basic education funded by local taxes. 

From 1853 to his death in 1859, he was president of Antioch College. It was in his final address to the graduating class, two weeks before his death, that he said the words that Serling quoted and has inspired so many others.

That's what I learned today, January 7, 2011, 358 days to go in 2011.