Well, Mr. I-Obviously-Don't-Have-A-Job-Because-I-Spend-All-My-Time-Online, the story behind the innocuous and some say "cute" mini marshmallow is one steeped in death not in cocoa, as you have been led to believe.
When James Atkinson invented the effective spring-loaded mouse trap at the end of the 1890's, he revolutionised the art of killing vermin. The only slight drawback was what form of bait was to be used in the traps in order to attract the vile rodents.
After decades of trial and error with various food substances (cheese, although thought to be the only bait that would attract mice and used exclusively in American cartoons throughout the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's is actually a mouse repellent), it was discovered in 1932 Bridgeport, Connecticut that mice loved s'mores.
The campfire favorite for both Boy and Girl Scouts was in fact, also the favorite meal for the common and disease-ridden white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). But human-sized s'mores made with the common 1" x 1 5/8" marshmallow were not only too big for the traps, the sweet treat was also too big for the feces-caked paws of the mouse. Solving this problem was Park City dock worker Dickie Glott. It is he who first invented the mini-marshmallow in order to set the numerous traps around his apartment (now an oft-visited stop on the Historic Sites of Bridgeport tour) with minuscule s'mores.
So remember the name "Glott" and snapping the necks of horrid and foul creatures the next time you sit down with that hot cup of cocoa.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Why is toilet paper perforated in such small squares? - Jim from the mid-West...again.
Based on the reams of anatomy journals that can easily be accessed by even the most simple-minded of primates, it is common knowledge that over the past 350 years, the size of the average American has grown considerably from the small-ish colonial height of 5-foot and one-half inch to the modern median height of 5-foot five inches.
Henry "Wee" Wiper, the inventor of the perforated bathroom tissue in 1779, was a man who never grew over the height of 4' 9". Anatomically speaking, height was not the only minuscule aspect of Wipers person. His physical need for a more handy paper product for cleansing resulted in his scoring the common roll of "privy paper" into manageable sheets. Thus, the what-you-call "small" sheets were the perfect size for Wipers hand and elsewhere. And they have remained that size up through today.
Unfortunately, Wiper will never get the proper credit for his monumental contribution. His French-immigrant neighbor, Georges D'Cottonelle, stole the idea and patented it before Wiper could proceed with the legal paperwork. D'Cottonelle then made his countless fortunes selling his "new" product to the millions of people in China, who as we know, are a size-ably smaller people.
Henry "Wee" Wiper, the inventor of the perforated bathroom tissue in 1779, was a man who never grew over the height of 4' 9". Anatomically speaking, height was not the only minuscule aspect of Wipers person. His physical need for a more handy paper product for cleansing resulted in his scoring the common roll of "privy paper" into manageable sheets. Thus, the what-you-call "small" sheets were the perfect size for Wipers hand and elsewhere. And they have remained that size up through today.
Unfortunately, Wiper will never get the proper credit for his monumental contribution. His French-immigrant neighbor, Georges D'Cottonelle, stole the idea and patented it before Wiper could proceed with the legal paperwork. D'Cottonelle then made his countless fortunes selling his "new" product to the millions of people in China, who as we know, are a size-ably smaller people.
What's the difference between nerds, dorks, and geeks? - Jim from the mid-West
These words are used interchangeably nowadays as insulting terms to denote a person of higher intelligence with few friends, little social skills or fashion sense, an educated drive towards one point of interest or one subject of vast accumulated knowledge (that's ONE particular subject of study and expertise not ALL.).
But the terms date back to ancient Grecian times. The three triplets Nerdus, Dorkus and Geekus- all illegitimate sons of a liaison between Metis the Goddess of cerebral dexterity and thought and Deeandeeus the God of role-playing games- were worshipped by a select few. Followers often donned worshipping eye masks (similar to todays eyeglasses), sat in circles debating which God would win in a pugilistic match and traded scrolls. Gifts of books, "warrior heart shields" (a small envelope or pocket that was attached to the toga above the heart and used for carrying writing implements) and fruit juices were set up on an altar. The prayers to be answered by the Gods were usually for furthered education, answers to puzzling questions and an end to the followers celibacy, for the followers of Nerdus, Dorkus and Geekus were said to all be virgins.
Wether by choice or by dumb luck it is not documented.
So Jim, a "nerd" is actually a believer and follower of Nerdus, the God of new and un-necessary technology, a "dork" is a follower of Dorkus, the God of puns, word games and overbites and a "geek" is a follower of Geekus the God of cheese products (not a drug-addled wanderer who bites the heads off chickens in a travelling side-show as is commonly thought).
But the terms date back to ancient Grecian times. The three triplets Nerdus, Dorkus and Geekus- all illegitimate sons of a liaison between Metis the Goddess of cerebral dexterity and thought and Deeandeeus the God of role-playing games- were worshipped by a select few. Followers often donned worshipping eye masks (similar to todays eyeglasses), sat in circles debating which God would win in a pugilistic match and traded scrolls. Gifts of books, "warrior heart shields" (a small envelope or pocket that was attached to the toga above the heart and used for carrying writing implements) and fruit juices were set up on an altar. The prayers to be answered by the Gods were usually for furthered education, answers to puzzling questions and an end to the followers celibacy, for the followers of Nerdus, Dorkus and Geekus were said to all be virgins.
Wether by choice or by dumb luck it is not documented.
So Jim, a "nerd" is actually a believer and follower of Nerdus, the God of new and un-necessary technology, a "dork" is a follower of Dorkus, the God of puns, word games and overbites and a "geek" is a follower of Geekus the God of cheese products (not a drug-addled wanderer who bites the heads off chickens in a travelling side-show as is commonly thought).
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