People’s Choice Awards

Hi Puzzlers,

The Three Stooges Puzzle Item #876



We have some exciting news to share with you!  The Three Stooges movie has been nominated for Favorite Comedic Movie for the 2013 People’s Choice Awards! We just think it’s great that an old-time favorite has made its way into today’s pop culture; this certainly assures that the “Godfathers of Comedy”  legacy will continue on.   It also appears that the “People Choice Awards” is on track to leave its legacy for future generations as well.

The People’s Choice Awards made its debut in 1975.  It was created and produced by Bob Stivers and aired on CBS.  The show’s goal is to honor and recognize the work and people of popular culture.  It is also one of the very first televised annual awards shows to have its winners chosen by votes from the general public. 

Winners that first year included Barbra Streisand as the year's Favorite Film Actress, John Wayne as its Favorite Film Actor and The Sting as 1974's Favorite Picture.  Presenters included Jim Nabors, Sammy Davis Jr. and Alan Alda.

Votes in the shows early years were tallied in the various categories based on the results of the Gallop poll.   In 2005 the voting went online and all results were based on the online votes.  Presently, in an effort to reach a broader base and reflect a true people’s choice, voting now encompasses a variety of methods including; land line calls, cell phone calls, online voting, reviewing data from Internet videos, national ratings averages, box office grosses and album sales.  In the event that the poll is so close, and no clear winner can be determined, a tie is announced in that category and both will be recognized as the Favorite.

Multiple versions on the People’s Choice Awards have been created to appeal to younger audiences such as the Teen Choice Awards and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.  It is important to note that these shows are independent and unrelated to each other and the only thing they share is similar names.

In 2012 the People’s Choice Awards franchise expands to India. This is the first time in the shows four-decade history it will air outside of America.  The India version will continue to cover fan favorites such as movies, music and television but it has added sports as a special category.

SO click here to cast your vote for your Favorite Comedic Movie for the 2013 People’s Choice Awards! N’yuk, N’yuk, N’yuk!

Happy Puzzling!

White House Jigsaw Puzzle



White House Jigsaw Puzzle Item #940



Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s puzzling tip is focused on helping you look brilliant to your kids.  I know, you are brilliant, but sometimes our little bundles of joy forget that and they need to be reminded. 

At this time of year many parents and guardians are helping the local schools plan and or fundraiser for  upcoming class trips.  Most trips are to historic sites and the number one destination for schools across the country is the White House, which also happens to be one of our newest puzzles.

So how can a puzzle help you look brilliant you may be wondering?  Well here is the plan.  I’m going to tell you a few interesting facts about the White House that you can pass along to the kids, perhaps while you assemble the puzzle in anticipation of the trip.  Viola!  The true genius that you are is finally revealed (again). 

Start by pointing to the large center image and say, WOW how creative, they used the back of the White House as the focal point in this puzzle.  Then move on to some basic White House trivia.

You could say  President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first to live here or that this is the second White House, the first was destroyed by the British in 1814.  (I had to look this and everything else up too so don’t feel bad!)

Next, as you continue to assemble the puzzle, you’ll want to casually mention the following factoids:

Ø The White House has 6 levels, 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases and 3 elevators. 

Ø The White House has been known throughout history as the “Executive Mansion,” “President’s Palace,” and the “President’s House.” President Roosevelt officially gave the White House its name in 1901.

Ø There are two full sized replicas of the White House; One in France and the other one in Ireland, both serve as tourist attractions!

Ø The grandson of President Thomas Jefferson was the first child born in the White House. The second was a black child born to one of Jefferson’s two slaves.  Slaves and all children born to them were considered the property of the owner.

Ø Presidents and their families are charged for every meal and other incidentals, such as dry cleaning and toiletries. They also pay for Chef Services. 

Ø The Oval Office has never had a computer!  President Obama claimed in 2009 that he is going to bring the Oval Office “online” during his term, but I guess security had other plans.

Ø Each President, as is custom, is encouraged to redecorate the Oval Office to reflect his, and soon maybe her, personal taste.  Due to the poor economy President Obama elected to only do a mini-makeover.

Now be still and listen, you just might over hear the youngin’s in the kitchen say, OMG! How do they know all that stuff! They are like computers!

Happy Puzzling!

Happy Hour Jigsaw Puzzle

Happy Hour Jigsaw Puzzle Item #937

Hi Puzzlers,

October has certainly kept up the old tradition of keeping everyone busy.  East coast farmers are hurrying to get the last of their crops in.  Mothers are preparing their homes for the long winter nights with a good fall cleaning.  Fathers are finishing last minute lawn care issues, tuning up snow blowers and filling buckets with sand and salt.  Children of all ages are back in school.  Fall sports schedules are in full swing; which means, parents are shuttling kids from game to game and field to field on top of all their other obligations and work schedules.  Just looking at the list gives me anxiety!  But then I gaze across my desk to our newest puzzle by Lori Schory and get taken away, as if magically transported into her colorful scene of a tropical “Happy Hour.”  Ah! Take a minute, kick back, relax and join me as we look back at the history of Happy Hour!

The beloved “Happy Hour” is said to have emerged from the United States Navy during the 1920’s.   The slang term represented a time when on-ship performances were scheduled and the sailors, after consuming a few alcoholic drinks, became a little “happy”. 

Back on shore, Prohibition had put an end to any public consumption of alcohol.  To circumvent the 18^th Amendment, people would serve drinks at home or would meet for illegal cocktails at speakeasies before going out to dinner.  The pre-dinner cocktail ritual continued in lounges even after prohibition ended.  The term “Happy Hour” would become extremely popular after the Saturday Evening Post featured an article on military life in 1959.

Within a few years “Happy Hour” would move from a prelude to dinner to an after-work ritual.  Complimentary hors d'oeuvres got integrated into the Happy Hour mix during the 1980’s as a way to reduce drunk driving.  In 1984 the military, in keeping with the anti-drunk driving laws, terminated happy hour at all US military base clubs.

Happy Hour is a ritual that extends to all corners of the globe and differs from country to country. In the Netherlands the price of alcoholic drinks are regulated; no half price deals here.  In Italy, customers are offered free finger-foods but pay full price for drinks.  In India, customers received reduced prices on appetizers and drinks.  But here in the USA we get the best of both, free finger-food and discounted drinks.

As the World’s Most Interesting Man says, “Stay thirsty my friends”.  Drive responsibly and enjoy Happy Hour!

Happy Puzzling!

Laundromats & Campgrounds

Hi Puzzlers,

Evening Rendezvous Puzzle item #



Yesterday I had to do laundry at the Laundromat! My beloved 10 year old washer refused to spin my clothes and left them soaking in a ton of water. It seems to me that many of today’s products are being built intentionally not to last. The first washing machine I ever bought was a used 20 year old machine and it worked great for several years. I replaced it because it looked dated, not because it broke down. For all I know it’s still working! Thankfully White Mountain Puzzles continually strives to improve the quality of our puzzles. Ok enough of the rant and rave where was I? Oh yes, the Laundromat. Glen Ellis Campground has a wonderful state-of-the-art Laundromat where you preload a card with a dollar amount and then swipe it through the washers and dryers to activate them, eliminating the need for change. It’s very cool! Doing laundry at the campground brought back a plethora of camping memories.

During the 80’s I camped every weekend with my friends in the summer. Rain or shine it didn’t matter. The ten of us were like a well oiled machine, packing and preparing for our trips within an hour. We had a special spot we would go to that we nick-named the Ponderosa. We got to it by wading waist deep through the river while toting our gear in a canoe or by holding it above our heads. Within a half hour all the tents were assembled, the fire had been lit, extra wood was neatly piled nearby and the kitchen area was up and running. Next, as was custom, we all dove off the riverbank into the freezing water below. Once we started to turn blue we would come out and warm ourselves by the fire and have a beverage. It was so relaxing to just sit there and talk. No cell phones, iPods or any electronics to disturb us, just the sound of the river gushing by and the radio playing softly in the background. During the day we would take hikes and explore the surrounding wilderness, never venturing back into civilization until we had to. These weekend trips relaxed our minds, invigorated our souls and connected us to nature. I believe many people have these same feelings and that is why camping is so popular.

Records indicate the first “organized” American camp was the Gunnery Camp located in Washington, Connecticut. It was founded by Frederick W. Gunn and his wife Abigail. The Gunns who operated a home school for boys decided in 1861 to take the entire school on a two-week trip. I n order to reach the camp site the boys had to hike in and then set up camp. The students spent their time fishing, boating and trapping. This tradition continued for twelve years.

In 1874 the first girl’s camp was founded in Philadelphia by the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). It was a summer boarding and vacation house geared towards "tired young women wearing out their lives in an almost endless drudgery for wages that admit no thought of rest or recreation."

By the 1920’s most American’s lives had changed considerably. Homes had electricity and indoor plumbing, and our connection to the great outdoors had diminished with the Industrial Revolution. The invention of the automobile coupled with the establishment of national parks and America’s desire to get away from its industrial life sparked a new interest in recreational camping.

Today campgrounds and RV resorts can be found throughout the United States, and in other countries throughout the world. To me, camping will always help mankind find its way back to nature and the great outdoors. It gives people memories that will last a lifetime.

Happy Puzzling!

Time Square Jigsaw Puzzle

Hi Puzzlers,



Time Square Jigsaw Pauzzle Item #922



Today my thoughts turn toward big cities. You know the ones that all you have to do is say the name and people from around the country and across the globe know where you are talking about. If the city of Tokyo gets mentioned, everyone knows it is in Japan. How about Milan? You guessed it, Italy. If something happens in Boston and it makes the news and we all know that city is in Massachusetts. How about Chicago? Bingo! It is Illinois. But alas, not all cities have this distinction. Take for example the lovely city of Concord. Some folks who live in New England may have correctly guessed I was referring to New Hampshire’s capital city, but for those of you living in other parts of the country the name Concord would have held little significance. New York City on the other hand is quickly recognizable, but what makes it unusual is, it’s a double header. Not only does its name make it instantly recognizable but it has an inner layer that also serves to make it a distinction within itself and that is Time Square.

Time Square is located in central Manhattan at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It is a vast intermingling of commerce, art and life; shared by locals and tourist, performers and spectators. Time Square is home to the American news and the modern American culture. Behind each building and down every street is vast rich history showcasing America at its best and at its worst.

In the beginning the Square was called Longacre Square. It was originally built and developed with a few brownstones for a new “uptown” neighborhood. Once the area was developed people flocked to it in droves, bringing with them pickpockets, streetwalkers and brothels. It wouldn’t be long before the Square was known as a red-light district.

Oscar Hammerstein I, motivated by a desire to rekindle an interest in Opera, moved into the Square in1895 and developed a large entertainment complex called the Olympia. The complex featured three theaters and consumed a full block on 42nd Street. Other theaters, along with the vaudeville circuit quickly followed and the area became known as the Great White Way, based on the famous lights of Broadway.

In 1904, Albert Ochs, owner of The New York Times, decides to move the newspaper headquarters to a newly built sky scraper in Longacre Square. To celebrate the move and the cities approval to rename the Square; Ochs decides to host a New Year's Eve celebration. Albert wants the celebration to be the grandest of any ever seen and spares no expense. The celebration began with an all- day festival followed by a gigantic fireworks display set off at midnight to a cheering crowd of 200,000 people. Reports state that noise from the rattles, cheering and noisemaker could be heard as far as thirty miles away!

In 1907 the city restricts the fireworks display which forces Albert into designing another grand finale for his annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Ochs decides to have an illuminated seven-hundred-pound iron and wood ball lowered from the tower flagpole at midnight to usher in the New Year. Since its inception in 1907 the ball drop ceremony has become a televised, worldwide-celebration that attracts millions of people from around the globe. Now that’s what I call a double header!

Happy Puzzling!



Best Sellers Jigsaw Puzzle

  
Hi Puzzlers,

 

Best Sellers Jigsaw Puzzle Item #930



Don’t you just love all of our new puzzles? It seems like each day a new one gets shipped to our warehouse. I like variety and White Mountain Puzzles definitely strives to give its puzzlers a wide range of puzzling choices. My need for variety, like many of you, stretches across the board and into the realm of a good book. So just imagine how delighted I was when Charles Girard designed a new puzzle titled Best Sellers. I was drawn to it like a moth to flames. This new puzzle incorporates my love of puzzles and books. Check out all the titles on the puzzle, I have read most of these bestsellers. Look out White Birch Books and BAM! I’m coming down to buy one of the new bestsellers. But now I’m plagued with the question, “What makes a bestseller, a bestseller?”

In 1895, a monthly magazine called The Bookman published the first American bestseller list. This list was based on book sales. Next, in 1912 the list was published by Publishers Weekly. Publisher Weekly has since become our country’s oldest continuously published Bestseller List. The New York Times began its list in 1942 and since then, most major publications, including USAToday, publish their own variation of a Bestseller List. But, The New York Times continues to claim the top spot for the most popular list.

 The Bookman’s first list contained only works of fiction. Publishers Weekly expanded its list to include works of fiction and non-fiction. The New York Times published its list with the top 15 fiction books and the top 15 non-fiction books.

The Times model of 30 bestsellers continued for more than 40 years. By 1984, the self-help books era was in full swing and extremely popular. Its presence in the publishing industry necessitated a need for a third section. The new section would include the top 15 Advice/How-To books. In 2000, the wildly popular Harry Potter series began to consistently dominate the fiction lists top spots. Publishers worried that these top spots could be held for years by this successful series. The Times acknowledged the publisher’s concern by adding Children’s Books as a fourth section to the list. This addition brings the total for the weekly bestseller list to include 60 books. New sections are continually being added to the list, further solidifying our cultures need for variety.

Today we still use best in sales to rate bestsellers, but how the information is gathered is different from publisher to publisher and the accuracy of the numbers can be subject to errors and exaggerations. Then the issue is further compounded when books go into new editions with a different publisher. One must also take into consideration that some of the bestselling books of all times have made the list due to mandatory purchasing and extensive gift-giving. The historic top three bestsellers fall into this latter point: The Bible, 6.7 billion copies: Quotations from Chairman Mao, Mao Tse-Tung, 900 million copies: The Qur’an, 800 million copies.

Bestsellers capture the imagination and touch the hearts of the reader. Just like a good jigsaw puzzle they can be “Nostalgic”....“Fresh and fascinating”... and “Impossible to put down”.

Happy Puzzling!



Impressionist Jigsaw Puzzle



Impressionist Jigsaw Puzzle Item #901



Hi Puzzlers,

Every time I see our Impressionist jigsaw puzzles I have to stop and pick it up to look at it. I’m captivated by the images of everyday life and the beautiful scenery. Swoosh! It is like a time machine is transporting me back to 18th century France and giving me a snapshot of the lives of its citizens. That for me is what great art is all about. The Impressionist topic has made me realize, other than how this puzzle made me feel, I know nothing about this wonderful branch of art. This realization leads me to wonder, what exactly is, Impressionist art?

The Impressionist art movement began in France in 1860 and developed itself through 1890. Its style can best describe as art that captures a peek or glimpse of an ordinary scene. It uses bright, bold colors to capture the image, not finely painted details. Special emphasis is placed on lighting and its subtle changes. Small, thin, broken brush strokes are used and very little is blended. Each scene is depicted from an unconventional angle, much like the works of today’s top photographers. Impressionist art is like a snapshot, it captures the moment.

Many of Frances future Impressionists grew up during Napoleon III rule, this time is also known as the Second Empire (1852-1872). Napoleon preferred academic art and used his might as ruler to govern the Academy of Fine Art and its views on new art forms. This ultimately forced a split between official art and independent art.

The differences were felt on many levels: Politically most Impressionist disagreed with Napoleon’s forced takeover of the Art Academy. Many of the new artists came from the working class and could not relate to the aristocracy. Artistically, future Impressionist wished to express the simplicities in life and in nature, not history or mythology.

Frustrated by the continued rejection of their artwork Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley decide to exhibit their artwork independently and organized the Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs in 1874. The exhibit showcased the work of thirty progressive artists.

Art critic Louis Leroy despised the show and wrote a disparaging review. With a play on words he calls Claude Monet’s Sunrise- Impression, Sunrise and titles the article The Exhibition of the Impressionists. In his article Leroy writes: “Impression—I was certain of it. I was just telling myself that, since I was impressed, there had to be some impression in it ... and what freedom, what ease of workmanship! Wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than that seascape.” The public, as well as most of the artist, embraced the new name, thus giving birth to the greatest art movement in recorded history.

Artwork, old photos and even great puzzles can leave beautiful impressions for all to enjoy. The next time you come across an Impressionist painting try to look for the small, thin, broken brush strokes the artist unconventional angle of the scene. There will always be critics including the Great Napoleon that will have trouble finding beauty in this kind of art. But like all art “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” and I for one will always see the beauty in the Impressionist art.

Happy Puzzling!

Boston, MA Jigsaw Puzzle

Hi Puzzlers,
 

Boston, MA Jigsaw Puzzle Item #07

 Last night I dreamt of a Boston Cream Pie. This pie has always been an Achilles heel of mine. It takes all my will power and my family’s tough love to prevent me from eating a whole pie. For this reason it is almost banned completely from my house. Only a slice per person is allowed in and anything leftover must be thrown immediately; no saving it for later! This delicious pie is said to have originated from the Parker House Hotel, now called the Omni Parker House Hotel , located in lovely downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

Claims by the hotel state it has been serving Boston Cream Pies since it opened in 1855 and its French chef Monsieur Sanzian, is credited with its creation. Originally the pie was called the Parker House Chocolate pie but after the New York Herald referenced it as a Boston Cream Pie, the name was forever changed. The popularity of this pie spread quickly to other parts of the country and it found its way into the “The White House Cook Book” by Fanny L. Gillette in 1887. Today the Boston Cream Pie is also the official dessert of Massachusetts.

Boston is also home to many other wonderful culinary creations; take for instance Boston Baked Beans. This scrumptious dish was said to have been created sometime between the1600s and 1700s. During this time New England had an abundance of beans and molasses. The Native Americans were eating beans long before the settlers arrived and during colonial times molasses was imported and used as a main ingredient in the distilling of rum. Rum manufacturing was one of the largest industries for early colonist. Somehow (maybe under the influence of rum) the beans got mixed with the molasses and the Boston Baked Bean was born. This they say is how Boston got its “Beantown” nickname.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in America and its port played a vital role in the American Revolution. But this intriguing city is also home to many American firsts, below is a quick list.

In 1634 the Boston Common is established, this is our countries first public park.

In 1716 the first American lighthouse was built in the Boston Harbor.

In 1806 the African Meeting House opens. It is the country’s first church to be built by free slaves.

In 1896 Revere Beach was declared a public beach, making it our nation’s first public beach.

In 1897 America's first subway is built in Boston.

So the next time you are traveling through New England, make sure to visit the wonderful city of Boston. Find a nice quaint café, put in an order and let your fork slice its way through the thick custard filling, topped with a wonderful chocolate frosting and enjoy your big slice of Boston Cream Pie!

Happy Puzzling!

Grandma's Kitchen Jigsaw Puzzle

Hi Puzzlers,

Grandma's Kitchen Item #528

This week we are continuing with our nostalgia theme and looking at our Grandma’s Kitchen jigsaw puzzle. I think the photographer that took this picture must have broken into my family’s antique keepsakes collection and used them to design this picture.

Do you see the genuine feather dusters by the phone? They look just like my great grandmothers. She would wander around her house with one tucked into the string of her apron and could pull it out with the grace and elegance of a ninja warrior ready to attack any dust or cobweb that dare enter.

Next, did you notice the tin washtub and scrub-board under the phone? My Mémère would use this to clean my Pépère’s (Grandfather) dirty work clothes because she didn’t want to get the washing machine too dirty! She would sit on a stool next to the tub and scrub the garden dirt off in a rhythmic rocking motion, strangely it looked almost relaxing. When she finished she would hang the clothes on a square rotating clothes line and I would hand her the wooden clothes pins. Then as a reward for helping, she’d let me pick out a stick of rhubarb from the garden to snack on. Of course I would always pick the biggest one and when we got in the house she would give me a little cup of sugar for the dipping. I just couldn’t get enough of that sugary-tart stuff. Yummy!

Once the clothes were dry, which usually only took a few hours in the summer, we would remove them from the line and take them in to be ironed. (This must be were my family got its insatiable need to iron everything!) The ironing board was made of wood and extremely sturdy; nothing like the tin and metal ones of today. The board opened easily and quickly with no tugging, pulling or screaming required! This may sound dramatic but if you have ever used the ironing boards found in most hotels you know what I’m talking about. As my Mémère plugged in the iron she would tell me stories of how “back in her day” they used cast iron versions, and explained how much easier it was to iron with electric ones.

People around the globe have been ironing since antiquity using various methods, but it the Chinese who were first to use hot metal to iron. Typically a pan would be filled with hot stones or coals and pressed against the flattened material.

In Europe prior to metal irons, people used warmed stones, wood and glass to smooth cloth. Ironing in Korea and Japan during the 12th Century was done with pairs of ironing sticks which would be used for beating clothes smooth. The Japanese typically used only one stick and a stand called a kinuta to beat the clothes. Western travelers and missionaries described the sound made by the beating ironing sticks as musical, each having their own distinct sound and percussion.

A New York inventor named Henry W. Seeley is credited with inventing the first electric iron in 1882. This handy gadget weighed 15 pounds and took a half hour to heat up. It could do the work of three irons and didn’t carry ash and soot! By 1930 the electric iron had become a Grandma favorite found in almost every kitchen, second only to the radio.

Happy Puzzling!

The Olde General Store

Hi Puzzlers,



The Olde General Store Item #229



Do you have an Old General Store in your town? We have one here in Jackson called Flossie’s and another one a few towns over in North Conway called Zeb's. I can spend hours in these quaint stores just browsing. Both these stores capture your imagination and take you back in time to an era when there was only one place to shop for all your needs! Our General Store puzzle does this as well.

Our wonderful puzzle beautifully depicts the scene of a youngster perched on a crate enjoying a sweet treat as she waits for her Mother to select fabric. Her brother, full of Christmas dreams, gazes wishfully at the sled displayed overhead. But the pièce de résistance for me is the potbelly stove!

Potbelly stoves were a commonly used to heat churches, town halls, general stores, schoolhouses, railroad stations, saloons and just about any business in the 1800s. Towns’ people would gather around the stove to warm themselves and talk about the weather, debate politics, and to gossip. Just imagine what stories these rotund stoves could tell! Many historical paintings and advertisers also feature the potbellied stove. It is as American as you can get.

The potbelly stoves of the 1800s were made from solid cast iron and capable of burning both wood and coal. Stoves of this era were available in three sizes. The small stoves would burn six to eight hours, making them great for smaller rooms and offices. Medium stoves could provide warmth for as long as 8 to 12hours and could easily heat the average general store. The large stoves burned for 14 hours and would be typically found in a dance hall. The portly ring around the middle of a potbelly stove gave it a distinctive look and it also prevented people from knocking into the stove and burning themselves.

Some potbelly stoves featured cook-tops. With a cook-top one could make soups and stews, scramble eggs and warm coffee. This model was a popular choice for the one-room schoolhouse because teachers of this time were often responsible for making lunch for all of the students.

And the final thing I’d like to tell you about the potbelly stove is how it got its name. Originally the stoves were called Cannon Stoves but because the shape of the stove resembled the stomach of middle aged man, the stoves quickly became known as potbelly stoves. So the next time you wander into one of those old General Stores buy a hot cup of coffee and take a little time to browse and take your imagination back to a simpler time and place.

Happy Puzzling!

Television History




Television History Item #270

 

Hi Puzzlers,

It looks like our Television History puzzle has made it into our top 50 again this month.  I have to say it is one of my favorites too!  Looking at it is like looking through an old photo album filled with pictures of family and friends.  Wow! So much of how we conduct ourselves as a family and a society has change as a result of its invention. 

Studies reveal most people are so attached to the “tube” that they wouldn’t give it up even for a million dollars!  Most feel it’s their best resource for information and entertainment.   According to the Nielsen’s Television Audience Report more than half the homes in America have 3 or more televisions sets and in 2009 the average U.S. home had only 2.5 people verse 2.86 television sets.  Televisions have made their way into our bedrooms, bathrooms and even our kitchens.

One of televisions best buddies is the TV dinner.  Many claim it was invented by Gerry Thomas in 1954.  Gerry is also credited with inventing the name; he called them Swanson TV Dinners.  These handy little frozen meals could be cooked with no fuss or hassle in the oven and cleaned up was a snap because of that disposable aluminum tray.  Early choices included Meatloaf, Salisbury Steak, Turkey and Fried Chicken; each meal included mashed potatoes, carrots or green peas.  The yummy deserts were not added until later to increase customer appeal.  Imagine all that for just 98¢ each.

In 1987, the Smithsonian Institution placed a TV dinner tray on display to commemorate its impact on American society.   How many of you remember the whole family seated in a semicircle around the television eating these?  Maybe Gun Smoke, I Love Lucy, or The Jackie Gleason Show was on.

My old friends include Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, The Bionic Woman and Star Trek.   I just loved seeing these smart, take charge, and get the job done, kind of women week after week.  And if that wasn’t enough they proved you could look great doing it!  Star Trek offered me to boldly go where no man has gone before.  Places were men, women and people of all races and religions worked together for a unified goal. Thanks Gene!

My new favorites include some reality television shows like American Idol’s tell it like it is or was, Simon Cowell and Dancing with the Stars Len Goodman…uhm maybe we should do a reality television puzzle, what do you think?

Happy Puzzling!

Memorial Day



Civil War Puzzle Item #107



Hi Puzzlers,

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day.  Many people across the country take this time to visit and honor their deceased relatives.  Church services are held, parades, fireworks and fairs also take place during this three-day period.   For others it marks the beginning of summer and the start of beach trips, barbeques and the camping season.   National events like the world famous Indianapolis 500 auto race are also scheduled annually for this weekend.  Factoid: The Indi 500 has been held on the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, since 1911.  WOW! Talk about a hodgepodge of events all encompassing one three-day weekend.  It leaves me wondering about the true significance of this national holiday.  Why was it really established?

Memorial Day is an American federal holiday held annually on the last Monday of May.  In its earliest days it was known as Decoration Day, a day to remember the soldiers who had died in battle during the Civil War.   Many records exist on the holiday origins and here we will examine three. 

Our first record begins with evidence found in a hymn published in 1867 which suggests various groups of southern woman were already decorating the graves of fallen soldiers prior to the war ending. The hymn titled "Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping", by Nella L. Sweet contained the following dedication: "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).

Next we will examine records from a site now known as Hampton Park located in Charlestown, South Carolina.   The park was once used as a Union prisoner-of-war camp and estimates suggest that as many as 200 soldiers died here.   In an effort to pay tribute to the Union soldiers the local Freedmen (freed slaves) in conjunction with the area teachers and missionaries organized a celebration that was held on May 1, 1865.  Prior to the celebration the newly Freedmen beautified the area and burial ground and erected an enclosure and arch with the inscription “Martyrs of the Race Course.”  Nearly 10,000 people attended the event which was covered by the New York Tribune.  The celebration included a parade, speech, decorations, lying of flowers at the burial site and area picnics.

 In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day to be Waterloo N.Y.   Records indicate a druggist named Henry C. Welles of Waterloo, was the first to suggest honoring the fallen soldiers of the Civil War by adorning their graves with flowers in 1865.   In 1866 Welles approached General John B. Murray with his idea.  With Murray’s and the towns support a committee was developed to organize the day’s events.  Various bouquets, wreaths and crosses were made for each soldier’s grave and the village was decorated with evergreen boughs and black streamers and all flags were flown at half mast.  Ceremonies included lengthy speeches and religious services held in the local cemetery as a way to honor the fallen soldiers.

After WWI, Memorial Day was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military service act.

Happy Puzzling!

Pencils



Pencil Collage Puzzle Item #730



Hi Puzzlers,

Recently my family and I watched an episode of “How It’s Made” on the Discovery Channel; it was a feature piece on how pencils are made. I immediately thought of our Pencils puzzle by artist Maureen Rupprecht. I remember her bringing the original artwork into the office and asking everyone what we thought of it. It was love at first sight! Brightly colored and intriguing to look at, we just had to make it into a puzzle.

Upon closer examination of the pencils, I noticed some were very old and unique. Intrigued by this, I asked her where she found the collection. Maureen said that it was her own collection and she has been collecting pencils for as long as she could remember. Her love of pencils and her desire to preserve them is what inspired her to make the piece. I loved that answer and it made perfect sense that an artist would collect pencils.

Pencils can be traced back to ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. Small lead discs were used to make guide lines on papyrus (ancient paper) to keep writings straight. Before long someone realized that a thin rod of lead could be used to draw fine lines and detailed images. The word “pencil” derived from the Latin word penicillus, meaning tiny brush.

In 1564 a large deposit of graphite was found in Borrowdale, England and local farmers began using it to mark their sheep. They called this new substance plumbago, Latin for “lead ore”, because the substance was believed to be a type of lead. It would be known as lead until the eighteenth-century when geologist, Abraham Werner, identified and named it graphite after the Greek word meaning “write.” Early graphite rods were wrapped in various encasements including wax, string and sheepskin, to prevent breakage and dirty hands. By the early 1600’s many began inserting the graphite rods into hollowed-out wooden sticks, resulting in the classic wood-cased pencil!

The pencil as we know it today was invented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté in 1794 at the request of Napoleon. France at the time was under economic embargo due to the French Revolution and a substitute for graphite was needed. Conté developed this new lead in just eight days. He discovered that if he mixed clay with a low quality graphite powder and then baked it he could produce “leads” in varying degrees of hardness. A similar recipe is still in use today making Conté the father of the modern pencil.

So how did the pencil get the bad lead rap you may wonder? Well, it had to do with the paint being used to coat the wood. Those beautifully colored paints were loaded with lead! And if you are like many people who chew or suck on the tip of your pencil you would ingest the lead!

Personally I prefer a brightly colored pencil to a pen any day.  They never explode, and if they do happen to mark something it can easily be washed away.

Happy Puzzling!

Yard Sales




Yard Sale Item # 534

 

Hi Puzzlers,

The end of May is fast approaching and you know what that brings don’t you?  The season of the yard sale!  I have to admit I’m addicted to them.  I have been scouring the local free dump store all year looking for wonderful treasures to keep and sell.  You know the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  But this little tradition is also an eco friendly way to find new homes for perfectly good items that would otherwise end up in a land fill.  Below is a plan I developed for hosting a successful annual yard sale. 

*Collect, collect and keep collecting. When you have an item you no longer need or use, store it in a clearly marked “yard sale” box and keep the box in a closest until it is full.  Once it is full move it to the basement, attic or garage for long term storage and repeat as necessary.  I also like to make a list and tape it to the top of the box so I know what is in it.  This will make organizing the sale easier too. 

*Prepare and have a plan, do not wait until the last minute.  Start preparing a few     weeks in advance with a to-do-list.

*Check to make sure that there are no restrictions on having a yard sale in your area or neighborhood.  Do you need to buy a permit?

*Think about how you’ll be displaying your items, do you need extra tables and clothes-racks.  Remember to make your displays look attractive and not overly cluttered.

*Price every item; do not have a table that says everything is a dollar.  I like to purchase the pre-priced stickers in vibrant colors.  The size of the price tag should match the size of the item.  If you are selling a lazy boy recliner use a 3X5 index card.  Also, price these items to sell.  The appeal of a yard sale is to find a deal. When pricing, ask yourself, “Is this a good bargain?” 

*Advertise your sale. Clearly marked signs can make or break your sale.  If you live in a tough to find location make sure to use brightly colored signs and lots of them.  Once you have staked your signs do a drive-by to check how visible they are.  Advertise your sale in the local newspaper and post it daily on Craigslist which is free!

*Have plenty of change and keep back up in the house.  Keep your money secure in a fanny pack and never pull out a wad of cash.  Also keep a calculator handy for totaling merchandise.

*Have plenty of plastic grocery bags; they are perfect to put sold items in.  Also have newspaper available to wrap breakables and fragile items.

*Be ready and waiting for the early birds.  They come can up to an hour early.  I always welcome these people because they want to beat the crowd and have first dibs.  So don’t negotiate a price with these people, stand firm, you have the rest of the day to sell the item.

If you have a yard sale tip please share it with us.

Happy Puzzling!