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When we think about cows (whenever that may be) we think about simple, docile creatures. We can thank these beautiful bovines for many things: cream for our coffee, butter for our toast, cheese for our pizza to name just a few. But there’s more to these animals than meets the eye. It is said that cows are as diverse as cats, dogs, and even humans: some are quick learners while others are a bit slower. Some are bold and adventurous, while others are shy and timid. Some are friendly and considerate, while others are bossy and devious. According to research, cows are generally quite intelligent animals who can remember things for a long time. Animal behaviorists have found that they interact in socially complex ways, developing friendships over time and sometimes holding grudges that can last for life against other cows (or people) who treated them badly. The word ‘cattle’ comes from the old French word ‘chattle’, which means possession. The English language has several words to describe cows at various ages. A baby cow is called a calf. A female calf is sometimes called a heifer calf and a male a bull calf. A heifer is a female that has not had any offspring. After giving birth to her first calf, however, a heifer becomes a cow. An adult male is known as a bull. Research has shown that cows can clearly understand cause-and-effect relationships. For example, they can learn how to push a lever to operate a drinking fountain when they’re thirsty or to press a button with their heads to release grain when they’re hungry. Researchers have found that cows not only can figure out problems but also enjoy the intellectual challenge and get excited when they find a solution. Cows were first domesticated between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago by the Chinese from the aurochs, a species of wild cattle that once ranged across Eurasia. The wild aurochs became extinct in the early 1600s. A herd of cows is very much like a pack of wolves (minus the fangs of course), with alpha animals and complex social dynamics. Each animal can recognize 50 or more members of the herd, and relationships are very important to cows. Like people, they prefer to spend time with certain individuals and develop strong relationships with them. They’re essentially more relaxed and content around their best friend. They consistently choose leaders who have good social skills and are intelligent, inquisitive, self-confident, and experienced – while pushiness, selfishness, a large size, and brawniness are not recognized as suitable leadership qualities. (Maybe we humans have something to learn from cows in this regard) There are more than 450 different cattle breeds in the world and, according to the US Department of Agriculture, as of 2022 the number of cows worldwide is over 1.5 billion. This means there’s approximately five people for every cow on Earth. Uruguay has the most cows per person at 3.45 cows per person, followed closely by New Zealand at 2.10 cows per person. In 2021, India had the highest cattle population of 305+ million. Hindus in India do not consider the cow to be a god and they do not worship it. Hindus are vegetarians and they do consider the cow to be a sacred symbol of life that should be protected and revered. In the Vedas, the oldest of the Hindu scriptures, the cow is associated with Aditi, the mother of all the gods. It represents Mother Earth, as it is a source of goodness, and its milk nourishes all creatures. Unlike humans, cattle have panoramic vision, which means they can see almost all the way around themselves without moving their heads. Their depth perception, however, is only focused in a small forward view. This means that, while a cow might be able to see you standing at its side, it cannot necessarily judge how close or far away you actually are. This may explain why a cow can be startled when approached, even if you have been in its field of vision for some time. While it is definitely funny to imagine a sleeping cow falling over with just a gentle shove, cow tipping isn’t that easy. Actually, it’s nearly impossible. Cows sleep lying down (did you know that cows only sleep about 4 hours per day?) and, since they can detect scents up to 6 miles away, it’s pretty hard to sneak up on them. They’re never really blissed-out enough to allow a stranger to get close enough to touch them. And then there’s their sheer size. Cows are massive – on average 1500 pounds (680 kg) – and they balance their weight on all four legs. And be careful out there because cows are killers. A 2012 study published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine found that cattle cause an average of 22 deaths per year. Sharks, on the other hand, kill about six people per year. Perhaps SyFy should have made “Cownado” instead. So, what is the point of all this you may be asking. Well, recently we came across some pictures of “butter cows” and were amused. These are life-size sculptures of cows made out of butter which, we’re told, are still main attractions at state fairs across the Midwestern United States. At the beginning of the 20th century, butter was making its way from a cottage to a cooperative industry. New creameries and dairy councils needed an alluring way to advertise their product. Meanwhile, the up-and-coming refrigeration industry also needed an eye-capturing way to expose the masses to their innovations. It wasn’t long before exhibits started popping up across middle America, where butter cows promoted the dairy industry and showcased the latest electrical refrigeration technology in glass-walled cooling chambers. The first butter cow appeared in 1903 at the Ohio State Fair, becoming an annual tradition. In Iowa, butter cows have been a main attraction at the state fair since 1911, sculpted by such famed artists as Norma “Duffy” Lyon, also known as the “Butter Cow Lady.” Butter cows usually weigh in at around 600 pounds, about half as much as their living counterparts. Artists apply low-moisture butter to a wood, metal, wire, and steel mesh frame, and carve in a 40-degree refrigerated room over the course of several days. Each year a new butter cow takes center stage at state fairs, usually made using the butter from last year’s sculpture. According to the artists, the butter gets better the more it’s worked, and one sculpture’s butter can be reused for up to 10 years. In other words, mooo-ve over, nine-lived cats, this cow’s reincarnation has you beat. Don’t let their buttery appearances fool you for, in the grand tapestry of life, cows emerge, unexpectedly, as the unsung philosophers of the pasture. They are connoisseurs of complexity. Beneath those serene bovine eyes and behind those seemingly placed expressions lie secrets as diverse as the universe itself. They form friendships, hold grudges, and elect leaders based on qualities like intelligence and social finesse – a lesson that us humans could take to heart. We thought the irony of making a full-sized cow out of the very product for which it produces the raw material was pretty damn creative. But we thought it might be a bit brief for a full blog post. And, after a little research, we found that, beyond butter – cows are udderly fascinating! So, we decided to wrap the butter cow story around a closer look at what is, arguably, one of our most delicious, domesticated friends. #cow #milk #butter #cheese #cream #pizza #steak #animals #france #china #india #iowa #ohio #sharks #anyhigh #moophilosophy #farside #garylarson

Drinking and dining establishments often promote themselves in unique and creative ways. Pictures and videos are always attractive ways of capturing the attention of potential patrons. But there’s still a place for a creative use of words as well. Of course, there’s creative and then there’s, well…. We recently received a WhatsApp invite from one or our favorite drinking establishments that read, in part, as follows: “Join us next Wednesday from 7pm onwards for a special evening featuring guest mixologist Mel Chavez, bar manager at Smoke & Mirrors Singapore which is rated #60 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022.” Now, we certainly don’t profess to be rocket scientists but, as far as we can tell, being “#Sixty” on the list of “Fifty Best” would, we believe, mean that they didn’t make the list. But it’s all about the spin, right? And look at how well their spin worked – we’re talking about it here, in a blog post, nearly three-weeks after the message was sent. So, bravo to them! This got us to thinking about “spin”. Which got us to thinking about one of our favorite quotes which has been attributed to everyone from Mark Twain to Benjamin Disraeli; “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Which, in a rather convoluted way, brings us to our blog post today. A look at some wild statistics, along with some explanations of analytical/statistical techniques, that we’ve come across. And numbers don’t lie, right?? Odds of being struck by lightning – 1 in 114,195. Wanted to get this one out of the way first. Because what list of statistics would be complete without it?! 69% of children aged 2-5 can use a computer mouse, but only 11% can tie their shoelaces. And in keeping with this somewhat dismal statistic, more young people know how to play a computer game (58%) than swim (20%) or ride a bike (52%). 8% of people pronounce Wi-Fi as “wiffy”. We don’t know who these people are, but they aren’t well. Statistics are more prevalent in our day to day lives than many of us even realize. Every time we check the weather before deciding what to wear in the morning, we’re relying on statistics. When our insurance company informs us of the rates we’re going to be charged, they’ve determined those numbers based on stats of all the drivers and homeowners in our area. Odds of being audited by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service are 1 in 160. Though this number may sound high, don’t panic. This factors in all tax returns filed – including those of corporations. According to Forbes Magazine, “If you earn less than $200,000 annually and don’t attach Schedules C or E to your tax return, statistically speaking, you have a better chance of being abducted by aliens or dating Taylor Swift than being audited.” It only takes 23 people in the same room for there to be a 50% chance two of them share the same birthday. Did you know that 73.6% of all statistics are false? Well, no, of course not. It’s a made-up number (even though such a study would be interesting to know – but again, it could have all the flaws it tries at the same time to point out). While numbers in themselves don’t lie, they can in fact be used to mislead with half-truths. 50% of human DNA is shared with bananas. (Maybe this is why so many of us find bananas so a-peeling??). 86% of people admit to cheating at golf. Which goes to show that honesty is as elusive as the perfect swing. And the telling of half-truths is not only limited to mathematical amateurs. A 2009 investigative survey by Dr. Daniele Fanelli from The University of Edinburgh found that 33.7% of scientists surveyed admitted to questionable research practices, including modifying results to improve outcomes, subjective data interpretation, withholding analytical details, and dropping observations because of gut feelings…. Scientists! Odds of becoming a billionaire? According to Forbes, there are now 2,208 billionaires out there and over 7 billion people on the planet. You do the math. And did you know that if you made $295,000 every single day since the year zero, you still wouldn’t be worth what Elon Musk is. When it comes to statistical analysis, there are 7 key types: descriptive, inferential, predictive, prescriptive, exploratory, causal and mechanistic. Each type serves a slightly different purpose, but, like the good marketing tools they can be manipulated to be, they all help the world go round. Descriptive analysis/statistics summarize data in a straightforward manner. For example: The average human loses 4.5 socks per year in the laundry and spends a staggering 16.8 hours per year searching for them. Odds of winning the Powerball – 1 in 292 million. Odds of being born with 11 fingers or toes – 1 in 500. This means that if you follow 1,000 people on Twitter (er, make that “X”), one or two of them were probably born with an extra appendage. As the name suggests, inferential analysis/statistics allow us to infer generalizations about data and make educated guesses based on limited information. For example: After examining laundry habits, sock-to-machine ratios, and the elusive nature of socks, statistical investigation suggests that missing socks are, in fact, being teleported to a parallel sock dimension. The human eye blinks about 4.2 million times a year on average. Dragonflies have a 95% hunt success rate. Making them the most effective hunters in the world. Predictive analysis/statistics is also pretty self-explanatory, as it’s used to make predictions about future events based on current and past facts and figures. It uses the power of math (with a sprinkling of magic). For example: Based on the SockGone algorithm, there’s an 87.3% chance that your next load of laundry will result in sock separation. Odds of getting attacked by a shark – 1 in 3.7 million. Even though, when shark attacks do happen, they get all the media attention, it appears that they really hardly ever happen. According to the U.S. National Safety Council, you’re much more likely to die as a result of coming into contact with hornets, wasps, or bees (1 in 54,093) than even being bitten by a shark. Odds of falling to your death – 1 in 119. We suggest it may be best to fall into the ocean and take your chances with the sharks to avoid adding to this statistic. Conversely, prescriptive analysis/statistics uses data to determine the best reaction to a situation. Basically, telling you what to do because the numbers said so. For example: Based on laundry dynamics and statistical probabilities of sock escape routes it’s recommended to implement a “sock sanctuary” within the laundry room, complete with surveillance cameras to capture rogue socks in action. 20% of songs on Spotify have received zero plays. There’s actually an app that’s dedicated to delivering the unloved and undiscovered tracks no one has yet played on Spotify. Check out Forgotify here. Odds of finding a pearl in an oyster – 1 in 12,000. Given that it’s said you need to eat 250 oysters per day to meet daily nutritional requirements, then every 48 days you should be able to find a pearl too. Odds of winning an Oscar – 1 in 11,500. Of course, the numbers go up exponentially if you don’t actually act in a movie. Exploratory analysis/statistics aim to explain why particular phenomena work in the way that they do. Essentially playing detective with data ala Sherlock Holmes. For example: Unraveling the mystery of disappearing socks by creating a bar chart showing the correlation between laundry days and sock count. There are more Panda Express restaurants than actual Pandas. According to recent estimates there are about 1800 giant pandas in the wild compared to 2300+ Panda Express locations. The US state of Kentucky has more bourbon that people. Now this is a statistic that we absolutely love! Yes, there is enough bourbon in Kentucky to drown all those chickens the Colonel fries up. In fact, there are over eight million barrels of bourbon in Kentucky but only about four million people. Does it get any better than that?! Causal analysis/statistics assist in determining the reasons behind “why” things occur or appear as they appear. Proving that one thing probably caused another thing (maybe). For example: A groundbreaking study suggests a causal link between eating peanut butter sandwiches and the mysterious disappearance of socks, proposing that socks are accidentally transmuted into lost crumbs. Odds of dying in a vending machine accident – 1 in 112 million. It’s good to know that death by vending machine is rare, but still…really?? You're also statistically much more likely to end up in the emergency room from a pogo-stick mishap (1 in 175,667 odds) or be murdered in the Grand Canyon (1 in 8.2 million odds). The official definition of mechanistic analysis/statistics is “used to understand the exact changes in the given variable that can make changes in other variables while having the assumption that a whole system is affected by its own internal elements.” Essentially attempting to understand how things work, with a side of geekery. For example: After delving into the physics of vanishing socks our mechanistic analysis posits that missing socks are caught in a quantum entanglement with the elusive ‘lost keys’ particle, resulting in an alternate sock reality beyond the reach of human comprehension. Odds of being injured by a toilet – 1 in 10,000. Curiously (or maybe mercifully), the head or neck was the most common primary part of the body injured. If you’d like more information on how to avoid death in the bathroom, you can read the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s report about nonfatal bathroom injuries here. And speaking of toilets, did you know that Americans use 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper annually? Ass-wiping is taken for granted, as is the paper which does the wiping. But the numbers behind this are pretty staggering since it means Americans use about 1/5th of all the toilet paper in the world, while making up only about 4% of the global population. According to research, if everyone decided to go for the refreshing spritz offered by a bidet, it would save 15 million trees per year. That's something. And if you're thinking that at least you're not wasting as much water as a bidet, you'd be very wrong. Making one roll of toilet paper uses 37 gallons of water during the production process. That's about 473.5 billion gallons a year. Those ass squirts use just 1/8th of a gallon. The world of statistics is an intriguing realm that moves numbers and narratives in a myriad of different ways. Just as the creative use of words and manipulation of numbers can entice patrons to a drinking establishment, statistics can shape and color our understanding of the world around us. And while numbers themselves might not lie, they can certainly be bent to mislead. So, is any of this for real? We guess it’s up to you to be the judge if we’ve just made all this up or not. But truth be told, we really do think everything we shared with you today is factual. Because we accumulated all this information and all these numbers from the internet. And the internet doesn’t lie. Right? Finally, on a separate note, we know that we have at least one loyal weekly reader of this blog post who is a resident of Lahaina, Maui. We’re very glad to know that she and her home made it through the fire safely, but our thoughts go out to everyone there during this difficult time. We hope today’s post brought a smile and helped to lighten the load just a bit. #statistics #analytics #analyze #numbers #lies #maui #hawaii #toiletpaper #grandcanyon #kentucky #bourbon #panda #socks #oscar #oyster #spotify #sharks #powerball #lotto #lottery #elonmusk #forbes #dna #bananas #taylorswift #aliens #wifi #caddyshack #rodneydangerfield #whatsapp #asia #bars #cdc #anyhigh

Underwear is something pretty important, kinda personal, and so literally connected to the most private parts of us that talking about it publicly is not a very everyday thing to do. Having said that, we all know that even the shortest time in an uncomfortable pair can get us squirming about like earthworms on the ground. Now, we get that the image of earthworms might not be the best way to start a post about underwear! But we do find it fascinating that someone, somewhere, for some reason, decided to create this rather important piece of clothing that constitutes an industry worth billions of dollars today. So fascinating in fact that today’s post is going to take a brief (pun intended) look at a little history, and some strange facts, relating to revealing underwear. And, historically speaking, we figured we might as well start at the top - with the bra. We imagine that, at some point in time, someone finally must have said, “hey, let’s do something with those,” and women have been binding and otherwise supporting their breasts ever since. The first bras may well date back to ancient Greece, where women would wrap bands of fabric across their chests, tying or pinning them in the back. And the "brassiere," as a widespread concept (the word comes from the French for "upper arm") is generally thought to have originated with the DeBevoise Company. Vogue began talking about brassieres in 1907 and in 1911, the word made it into the Oxford English Dictionary. But the modern bra - the garment that lifts and separates, via cups and straps - became part of the world, officially, on November 3, 1914. That was the day the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to Mary Phelps Jacobs for the garment she called a "brassiere." A New York socialite, Phelps actually invented the bra by accident the year before, when her whalebone corset simply wouldn’t do under her sheer evening gown. Using a pair of silk handkerchiefs and some silk ribbon, Phelps MacGyvered her way into lingerie history. For a brief time, she manufactured her “Backless Brassiere” under the wonderful business name of Caresse Crosby. She sold her patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Co. in Connecticut for $1,500. Warner, which would develop the “alphabet” system for bra cup sizes (A, B, C, D) in 1935, made some $15 million from Jacob’s invention over the next 30 years. World War I, in addition to ushering in more-comfortable women’s underwear, helped free women from restrictive corsets with metal stays: due to metal shortages as a result of the war, the government discouraged women from buying them, which saved some 28,000 tons of metal for the war effort. The new brassiere helped take up the slack. Other innovations soon followed: garter belts to hold up flappers’ stockings when they danced; girdles to replace the corset; latex panties, introduced in 1930; nylon stockings in 1940 (when 64 million pairs were sold and manufacturers couldn’t keep up with demand, women had to resort to painted-on stockings or going bare after World War II cut off supplies of silk and nylon). Pantyhose were invented in 1959 - not surprisingly, many women would note - by a man, Allen Grant Sr. Another man, fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, also gets the credit (or blame) for popularizing the thong in the 1970’s. (in 2001, Frederick’s of Hollywood claimed that 90% of all its underwear sales were thongs). On the men’s side of things, the piece of clothing we call underwear today used to be a loincloth. The oldest, made of leather (we’re not here to judge…) have been found dating back 7,000 years. Later, in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome they were made of wool or linen. The Egyptian Pharaoh, King Tut, was buried with 145 pairs of underwear. In the 1500’s men were wearing codpieces, which was a covering pouch that attached to the crotch. By the time they reached their peak of size and decoration they were so large that men used to carry small weapons or jewels in them – from which the term “family jewels” was born. Interest in the codpiece slowly wilted and, in the 1600’s, men (especially royalty) started wearing 13-inch-long shorts that somewhat relate to what we know as jockey briefs today. In 1874, C.F. Bennett, working for a Chicago sporting goods company, invented the jockstrap. Around this time most urban centers were paved with uneven cobblestone surfaces which made it especially difficult for cyclers, whose family jewels suffered relentless abuse. Bennett’s invention offered a solution and, through his new company – Bike Web – he started distributing it. The jockstrap consists of an elastic waistband with a supportive pouch for the boys and two straps attached to the base of the pouch on either side. Guelph Elastic Hosiery of Ontario added the first hard cup in 1927. Happily, another jockstrap innovation, marketed in 1900 as the Heidelberg Electric Belt, failed to catch on; it administered a low voltage purported to cure impotence, insomnia, and other ailments. But modern men’s underwear didn’t really take shape until a postcard from the French Riviera arrived in the mailbox of Arthur Kneibler, an executive at the Coopers underwear company in Wisconsin. The postcard, depicting men wearing snug swimwear, inspired Kneibler to create men’s briefs. First sold at Chicago’s Marshall Fields department store on Jan. 19, 1935 and named the jockey (because they provided support previously found only in jockstraps), the briefs were a sensation. The company sold 30,000 in just three months and eventually renamed itself Jockey. That concludes our brief look at the evolution of underwear. Now, on to a few interesting factoids that you can throw around at your next underwear party. · Did you know that wearing underwear was considered cheating in Ferret Legging? Well, it was. Described, somewhat understandably, as a dying sport, Ferret Legging originated in public houses in Yorkshire, England “where patrons would bet on who could keep a ferret in his pants the longest.” In 1977, Edward Simpkins set a new world record of five hours and ten minutes, although he only had one ferret in his trousers during the first four hours and two for the last seventy minutes. During the contest Simpkins continued to play a game of darts undeterred. · At the 1956 Olympics, an Australian student successfully impersonated an Olympic torchbearer, handing the mayor of Sydney a painted chair leg topped with a pair of burning underwear in front of a crowd of thousands. · The British Army issues antimicrobial underwear that can be worn for three months at a time. · Up until the 1800’s, it was commonly believed that placing dirty underwear in a bucket with wheat grains would “generate” mice. This was called spontaneous generation, the idea that life could be created from nonliving objects. · A pair of Queen Victoria’s underwear, featuring yards of white cream fabric and her embroidered initials (VR), sold at auction for $14,500. · Before air conditioning, many people had a simple solution for keeping cool: storing their underwear in the freezer. · American settlers would often sew up their underwear for the winter to avoid trying to button them with frozen fingers. Unfortunately, this meant they didn’t bathe until spring. · Carrie Fisher wore no underwear in Star Wars because George Lucas convinced her “there is no underwear in outer space.” · Actress Tallulah Bankhead was infamous for not wearing underwear. During the filming of Lifeboat, the crew complained about her flashing them when she had to climb a ladder. Director Alfred Hitchcock reportedly quipped that he didn’t know if it was a matter for wardrobe or hairdressing. · In Alberta, Canada an 18-year-old man tried to eat his underwear in the hope that the cotton fabric would absorb alcohol before he took a breathalyzer test. Here is a link to the news story just so you don’t think we’re making this one up... https://renaissancemag.com/humor/h0699.asp As we reflect on the fascinating history and a few peculiar facts surrounding underwear, it’s evident that this seemingly mundane piece of clothing has had a significant impact on our lives, both socially and culturally. These humble garments continue to intrigue, surprise, and sometimes delight us. So, the next time you slip into your favorite pair of underwear, stop for a minute to remember the rich tapestry of history that shaped this intimate part of our daily lives. Do you have a funny underwear story or a favorite brand? Tell us about it in the comments below or in the Way Out There section in our forums. We thought now would be a good time to give a shout out to a couple of our favorite underwear brands: Hemp underwear because it’s organic and good for the planet. We wonder, if you could, would you want to smoke it too??? https://wamaunderwear.com/ Saxx because they have absolutely the most creatively funny ads ever. And because we like ‘em! https://www.saxxunderwear.com/ #underwear #bra #stockings #panties #boxers #briefs #ferret #carriefisher #starwars #alfredhitchcock #lifeboat #canada #queenvictoria #british #military #australia #olypmics #brassiere #anyhigh #hemp #saxx

Britannica Dictionary definition of FISH: a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes with gills, and usually has fins and scales. We recently read an article about an Indian man who won kudos from Leonardo DiCaprio for discovering a new species of fish. In short, a man in the southern Indian state of Kerala was taking a bath when he spotted “a red thread in the bucket”. He scooped it up and found that the “thread” was moving. Putting it into a glass jar, he contacted a local college professor. Eventually the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies identified the new species. The new species was named the Pathala Eel Loach. Pathala is a Sanskrit word which means “below the feet”, a reference to the fish’s subterranean nature since the small, snake-like species lives in aquifers – large layers of permeable rock and sediments that hold groundwater. DiCaprio – a long time environmental campaigner – posted a picture on his Instagram page praising the discovery. “The wild is all around us and sometimes all it takes to discover a new species is going about a normal day,” DiCaprio said. The discovery showed “how citizen science” was the “key for researchers to study these unknown, underground ecosystems”. And this got us to thinking about fish in a bucket and elsewhere. Strange, newly discovered fish at first, but this, of course, lead our thoughts in other fish-related directions. So, grab your fins and let’s just dive right in. The Juan Deriba Killfish Found in a tiny area of Bolivia, this newly identified species leaps out of water to evade predators, and others of its own kind. The fish’s short, savage existence begins when rains arrive in the Bolivian forest. Thousands of fish emerge from eggs that were buried in sunbaked soil as it becomes an ephemeral, muddy puddle only a couple inches deep. Rampant cannibalism and fighting quickly thins their numbers. In response to this aggression, the fish will leap out of the water, sometimes hiding on the topside of water plants – for hours on end. So, you might say that the Juan Deriba Killfish is a fish out of water by choice. The bottom of the ocean is a tremendously inhospitable place to live. It’s dark, it’s cold, and the pressure is unfathomable (pun intended). But there are creatures down there that are simply wonderous. Here’s a few that we found pretty fascinating which were photographed during a recent 35-day expedition sponsored by the Australian government’s science agency CSIRO, to the deep seas (up to six kilometers or nearly 20,000 feet) surrounding a new marine park in the Indian Ocean. We’ll begin with the most unfortunately named Bony-Eared Assfish Growing to a length of 37.5 centimeters (14.8 inches), the bony-eared assfish is what’s known as a cusk-eel and has the smallest brain-to-body ratio of all vertebrates. As you might have guessed, it was the name that drew us to this fish. First off, fish don’t have ears – bony or otherwise. And as for the ass part of it, the best explanation we could find was that it stems from the Greek words ‘akanthos’ (spine) and ‘onos’ (cod-like fish). So, the literal translation would be ‘cod-like fish armed with spines’, however, in Ancient Greek ‘onos’ also means ass or donkey. So, apparently someone figured “assfish” sounded better. And maybe because of its small brain, it didn’t object. We just wish that this particular species had been discovered by our favorite British research ship, Boaty McBoatface! The Highfin Lizardfish grow to about 38-60 centimeters (15-23 inches) long. Looking like something out of a Tim Burton movie, these big-toothed, sex-switching, stealth-attacking predators hover near the top of the deep-sea food chain. They’re an ambush, apex predator meaning they’ll eat just about anything that crosses their path, including other deep-sea lizardfish. Being hermaphrodites, they’re also not picky when it comes to finding a mate which saves the time of having to wait for a partner of the opposite sex to hopefully swim by. Anyone will do. The Tripod Spiderfish can grow up to 35.5 centimeters (14 inches) and weigh up to 1 kilogram (2 lbs). Known as stilt walkers (their scientific name literally means “deep, feathery one who walks on stilts”), they remain mostly motionless on the abyssal plain on their extremely long (up to 1 meter or 3 feet) pelvic and caudal fins. These guys/gals are simultaneous hermaphrodites, which means they possess both male and female reproductive organs. Which means that, in its solitary environment, if it can’t find a mate, it can continue the survival of the species all by itself. We’re big fans of the Batfish Both because we like to think that Batman keeps a collection of them in a tank in the bat cave, but also because it has to be one of the strangest looking fish in the world, looking more like some bizarre primordial animal than just your average, everyday fish. They don’t swim well, but rather push themselves along the sea floor with their fins. There are around 60 different types of Batfish including the very aptly named Red-Lipped Batfish Pelican Eels, also known as the “Gulper Eels”, can live up to 85 years. They’re most distinctive feature is their enormous mouth which is, proportionally, much bigger than their bodies. (with these two features - of age and big mouths - could they be the missing link between average people and politicians?? Science might want to investigate this.) Their long tails end in a light-producing organ called a photomore which glows pink and will sometimes flash red to lure prey. When male Pelican Eels start looking for a mate, they begin to lose their teeth and researchers believe that they die soon after mating. And speaking of eels, did you know that some people paid their rent with eels in Medieval England? Well, they did. Medieval land users were required to pay rent to the landowner each year, and in many cases, these rents were paid “in kind.” This means that they weren’t paid in coins, but rather with goods, such as chickens, eggs, and, yes, eels. The first recorded rent payment made with eels was in 700. By the time of the Domesday Book survey in 1086, a massive land survey conducted in England after William the Conqueror seized the island, we see evidence for more than half a million eels being paid in rent in England every year. In the late 19th and the early 20th century salmon, catfish, and trout used to travel by train around the United States in their own private “Fish Cars”. These Fish Cars were equipped with large tanks filled with cool, aerated water, providing a suitable habitat for live fish. They played a crucial role in supporting the nation’s fishing industry and ensuring a steady supply of fresh fish to markets and consumers. Over 50 years the U.S. government commissioned 10 of these Fish Cars, each more advanced than the last. When “Fish Car No. 10” rolled off the line in 1929, it came with its own generator and space for as many as half a million, one-inch-long fish. This 81-foot behemoth joined a fleet that had transported more than 72 billion fish more than 2 million miles. For those fish that live closer to the surface, in the Netherlands they’ve installed “fish doorbells” to help them get around. The city of Utrecht is brimming with locks and canals. Working with the water management and flood control administrations, they’ve created an underwater webcam and interactive “Fish Doorbell”. People watch the webcam and, when they see a fish getting stuck in a lock when migrating, they can ring a doorbell on the website and the boat lock manager opens the lock and the fish swims through. In its first spring season in March of 2021, the Fish Doorbell was rung than 100,000 times by people from around the world. https://visdeurbel.nl/over-de-visdeurbel/ Finally, after all this talk about fish you knew that, eventually we’d have to wind this up with a thought or two about sushi. And it’s not all yellowtail and toro. Here’s a few that we’ll be you’ve never tried. Funazushi is a fermented sushi made from a goldfish subspecies called funa. It’s fermented in salt and rice for a year, the repacked and left to ferment for another four years! Shirako Sushi Anybody who eats sushi probably eats the female reproductive organs of fish every day. Roe, or fish eggs, are a common topping for nigiri. However, unless you are Japanese you probably haven’t had the male reproductive organs of fish on your sushi. Shirako is cod milt, or to put it more bluntly - sperm. Kani Miso Kani Miso isn’t actually miso, but it is named as such because of how similar this bizarre food looks to miso paste. Kani miso is actually crab guts, and you can find it as a topping in gunkan maki sushi. And when we say guts, we really mean guts. Kani miso is any part of the crab that’s left over other than the meat, so kani miso is actually intestines, pancreas and even brain. Sea Squirt Sushi Sea squirt, aka sea cucumber or sea pineapple, has to be one of the most bizarre seafoods in the world. You can find it in Japan, but this raw delicacy is more common in Korea. In Japan it’s called Hoya, and it has a very weird taste that takes a lot of getting used to. It is often described as tasting like iodine. And, even though it’s not a fish we’re throwing in Kit Kat Sushi, just as a salute to its creativity. When a new Kit Kat shop opened in Tokyo, to celebrate the grand opening of the store they created a special promotion of Kit Kat sushi. The Kit Kat was place on a Rice Krispie treat and it looked surprisingly like actual sushi. There was raspberry flavor which looked like tuna, a mascarpone cheese flavor which looked like uni, and pumpkin pudding that looked like tamago. What’s your favorite sushi? Did we miss any strange fish that you’re particularly fond of? Do you have a fish tank? Tell us about it in the comments below or in our Food section in our Forums. #fish #oceans #seas #strange #india #sanskrit # leonardodicaprio #bolivia #australia #greece #greek #boatymcboatface #england #eels #netherlands #trains #railways #sushi #kitkat #anyhigh

In today’s world, stress is pretty much an everyday thing. Stress from money worries, stress from the daily news, stress from family obligations, you name it. Whatever it is it’s usually accompanied by stress. So, this week we thought we’d offer up some unusual spa treatments we’ve come across that you may (or maybe not) want to try to help relieve a bit of life’s daily stress. A good spa can help you unwind, rejuvenate your senses, and take away the extra tension from your body. There are many regular spa therapies you can try, such as deep tissue massages, hot stone massages and body wraps. However, if you are feeling adventurous or want to try something different, then forget the usual massages and body polishes - how about letting snakes slither down your back for some adrenaline-tinged relaxation? If you’re a foodie, you could try bathing in broth for a change. If you fancy a snail facial or a bit of sauna whipping, then here’s a list of some ways for you to invigorate your body and soul with some rather unconventional — and in some cases, downright bizarre — spa treatments. Cryotherapy in Finland: Scandinavians are known for indulging in (or enduring) a plunge into ice-topped lakes in between sauna visits. But cryotherapy turns the temperature gauge even lower… right down to -110°C (-166 F). Less than three minutes in the chill chamber at Finland’s Haikko Spa is all it takes. And if the promised benefits of pain relief and glowing skin don’t appear, the feeling of sheer exhilaration – that you survived – should suffice. Cook like an egg in Korea: Consider yourself a sauna connoisseur? A Korean han-jeung-mak might test your limits. In between steam rooms and a punishing round of exfoliation, break a sweat in the ‘kiln sauna’ – alarmingly similar to an oven in appearance, this intensely heated dome uses burning wood and charcoal to heat the room, the style of which has barely changed in 500 years. Eggs are a popular in-spa snack in Korea; you might spot a bowl of them inside the kiln, slow-cooking (just like you). Public bathhouses (jjimjilbang) around Korea have kiln rooms; try the Dragonhillspa in Seoul. Bathtubs of Beer in the Czech Republic: After a hard day of castle-hopping and exploring around Bohemia, what’s left to do but sink into a deep, hot bath…of beer. The vitamins in the beer bath offered at Hotel U Sládka (suspiciously located in the Chodovar Family Brewery…) in the Czech Republic will, we’re told, rejuvenate your pores and relieve tension in your muscles. The treatment reconditions, relaxes, and is said to be good for your complexion and hair. No bubble bath is required – beer foam does the job. And you can pour as much beer as you can drink from a tap on the side of the tub. If you’re not planning to be in Bohemia anytime soon, you might try spilling a can of Budweiser on yourself instead. Bird Droppings in New Mexico: Bird poop may not be a desirable thing on the hood or windshield of our car, but at Santa Fe's Ten Thousand Waves spa it’s recommended for the face. The Nightingale Cleansing Mask includes a powder composed of "sanitized droppings" from the tiny wonder-birds. The high nitrogen content is said to draw out bacteria from the skin and break down dead skin cells more gently than acid peels. Used for centuries by geisha in Japan, the facial is "an all-natural way to brighten and smooth the skin." Is your old-fashioned poop-free exfoliator suddenly looking better than usual? We thought so. Ramen Soup Bath in Japan: For anyone who's dreamed of bathing in a broth of ramen - all two of you - the wait is over. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Hot Springs Amusement Park and Spa Resort in Hakone, Japan offers just such a treatment. While edible noodles aren’t used due to health regulations, tubs are filled with pork broth, collagen and garlic extracts that improve one's skin and metabolism. Who knew carbs could be so good for you! The spa is also famous for its wine, chocolate, and sake baths. The Golfers Massage in Arizona: File this one under "creative things to do with golf balls." (If you have such a file, that is.) Developed in the golf capital of the Southwestern United States, the massage combines stretching and therapeutic techniques before introducing warmed golf balls to the mix. The balls are rolled along the large muscles on either side of the spine and down the neck. As if playing the links isn't relaxing enough, the effect of this treatment at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale is purported to help to diminish tension in these areas - and, we hope, will also improve your swing. 24-Carat Facial in Malibu, California: As any jewelry fiend knows, the price of gold is always on the rise. And while the price of this treatment might actually add to your stress, the miracle metal - which is known to be a great anti-inflammatory - can be found in a pricey facial treatment. For the UMO 24 Karat Gold Facial, available at Veronica’s Skin and Body Care Center, sheets of 24-karat gold are applied to the skin. According to spa VIPs, the treatment "hydrates, lifts and firms, fights free radicals, lightens and brightens and leaves a golden glow." For $400 a treatment, it better! A Roll in the Hay in Italy: No, it’s not what you’re thinking (although this normally is a good way to relieve stress). Since 1903, The Spa at Hotel Heubad, in northern Italy, has offered a Hay Bath treatment. The guest lies down on a sheet and is covered with warm, presoaked hay. More hay is piled on top of the body, up to chin level. The sheet is then wrapped around the body and the guest is lowered onto a waterbed heated to about 107 degrees. Those with allergies are, umm, discouraged from trying this one. Snakes on…..Your Face?! In Indonesia and beyond: Looking for a relaxing, romantic Valentine’s surprise for your partner? Well, we’re not sure this would be it. The snake massage is something nightmares are made of. Spas will place snakes on top of you and allow them to move freely around your body, which is said to loosen muscles. It’s also said the adrenaline rush, which is triggered by your fear, is also good for your metabolism. (Insert your own comment here…) The Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa in Jakarta, Indonesia uses pythons for this unconventional therapy.The combination of the slithering motion and the weight of the serpents is said to be very therapeutic. Before being placed on you, the snakes are washed and dried and, depending on where you are, their mouths are taped or they are overfed to stop them from trying to take a bite. You can also find this treatment at spas in Egypt, the Philippines, Israel and Brazil. All ensure not to use venomous snakes. Sauna Whipping in Russia: The Venik massage is not for the faint-hearted yet it is said that no visit to a Russian bath (banya) is complete without a Venik. The Venik involves a leafy and fragrant bunch of birch or oak twigs being lashed across your back. The Venik acts as a way to increase blood circulation and intensify metabolism. Unfortunately, the lashing is usually the main part and, although this treatment looks more like a scene out of Pulp Fiction than a relaxing time, the Russians swear by it. Snail Facials in Japan: It came as news to us, but apparently snail mucus has long been recognized for its health properties. And a salon in Japan has taken the natural treatment to a whole new level. For around $100, The Clinical Salon Ciz Labo in Tokyo offers the Celebrity Escargot Course, or “snail facial,” allowing clients to come face to face with the mollusks – literally - in order to reap benefits from their secretions. Under the supervision of a snail wrangler (aka therapist) snails glide across the face as they please, leaving a slimy trail of antioxidants and proteins in their wake. We'll stick to ours sauteed in garlic, thank you very much. Viagra for your hair in London: While it might not necessarily fall into the “relaxing” category, we just couldn’t leave this one out. Hari's Salon, in London, combines Pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull sperm (um, yes, bull sperm!) and Katera root from an Iranian plant to form a protein-packed powerhouse hair treatment that's recommended for anyone who has fine, over-processed or frizzy hair. While the product is said to nourish, protect and revitalize hair, we wouldn't be surprised if it also re-creates Cameron Diaz's memorable hair-raising look in There's Something About Mary. And here we conclude our journey through the world of strange and unusual spa treatments. We know that relaxation and stress relief come in many forms. Whether you prefer the classic deep tissue massage or are willing to let a few snakes slither around on your face and back, the ultimate goal is to find what works best for you. So, the next time life’s daily stress gets the better of you, why not consider stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the quirky and the unusual in the pursuit of relaxation? After all, a little laughter and adventure might be just what the doctor ordered to truly unwind and rejuvenate. #spa #spatreatments #massage #relax #relaxation #rejuvenate #bodywraps #facials #therapy #snake #snail #escargot #deeptissue #sauna #japan #russia #usa #korea #newmexico #arizona #indonesia #reflexology #london #bull #camerondiaz #somethingaboutmary #hair #italy #california #malibu #gold #golf #ramen #bath #beer #czech #eggs #finland #anyhigh

Watching an interview The Economist did recently with Jamie Dimon, the CEO of America’s largest bank JP Morgan Chase, got us to thinking about Bigfoot and some other semi-mythical things. But wait - please don’t misunderstand. We’re not comparing Jamie Dimon, a man who helped lead the recovery from the 2008 global financial crisis and a person with some profound ideas on leadership and the world in general, with Bigfoot. No, no, not at all. To paraphrase the unofficial campaign slogan of a former US President, “It was all about the economy stupid!” And you probably noticed we used the term “semi-mythical”. Now remember, we’re not here to judge so we use this term to refer to something or some place that possesses characteristics or qualities associated with myths, legends, or folklore, but whose existence or historical accuracy is not entirely confirmed or documented. A status that lies between reality and the realm of the mythical or legendary. These are things that remain shrouded in uncertainty or ambiguity. Their stories are often passed down through generations, capturing our imagination with their elusive nature and becoming part of our cultural traditions and folklore. These entities often have a blend of real historical elements and embellished or exaggerated narratives, making it challenging to determine the full extent of their factual basis. Not unlike, we think, the global financial system and our unending pursuit of wealth. Because, for the average person the world of finance, like the realm of mythical creatures and fabled places, thrives in a place of uncertainty and ambiguity. Somewhere between finance & folklore. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Did you know that there’s a Bigfoot Museum in Hastings, Nebraska in the United States? Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch to his close friends, is a legendary and elusive cryptid believed to inhabit remote wilderness areas in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. (A cryptid, by the way, is an animal that cryptozoologists believe may exist somewhere in the wild, but whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science.) The term “Bigfoot” was coined in the 1950’s. Bigfoot is typically described as a tall and robust creature, standing between 7 to 10 feet (2.1 to 3 meters) tall, covered in dark or reddish-brown fur. It’s supposed to have a distinctive strong and unpleasant odor. Those wanting to expand their cryptozoological knowledge can find what they’re looking for at the Nebraska Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum. The museum is the brainchild of Harriet McFeely (aka the Bigfoot Lady), a local resident who has spent her life following the trail of this legendary cryptid. McFeely has traveled around the world collecting stories and ephemera from Bigfoot communities worldwide. The museum is a place for Bigfoot believers and skeptics alike to dive into the mystery and serves as the site for the state’s annual Bigfoot Conference. And her dedication to the museum and its mysterious namesake have earned Patty and her story a spot in the U.S. Library of Congress Archives. El Chupacabra, or the "goat-sucker," was first seen in Puerto Rico in the mid-1990s but has been reported as far north as Maine, in the United States, and as far south as Chile in South America. Descriptions vary, but it's said to be from 3 to 5 feet tall, have a row of spikes down its back, reptilian with alien-like eyes, and roughly the size of a small bear. It is also a vampire, supposedly sucking the blood out of its prey (mostly goats, sheep, and small animals). It is said to have either come from outer space or be the product of secret government genetics experiments. Farmers cower in fear as their herds dwindle, attributing the loss to this vampiric beast. Despite a lack of tangible proof, the Chupacabra thrives as a symbol of scapegoating. The Loch Ness Monster, also affectionately known as “Nessie”, is a leviathan of Scottish lore. Countless eyewitness accounts, the earliest dating back to the sixth century AD, depict a serpentine creature gliding through the murky depths of the loch. The modern legend of “the monster” was born on April 1933 when a couple claimed to have seen “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface.” Nessie then became a media phenomenon, with London newspapers sending correspondents to Loch Ness and a circus offering a 20,000-pound sterling reward for capture of the beast. Sonar expeditions were launched of the loch in the 1960’s, 80’s and 90’s all of which resulted in inconclusive readings. Nevertheless, seekers of truth and fortune continue to flock to its shores, armed with cameras and faith. Yet the loch’s secrets remain steadfastly guarded, leaving only ripples of speculation. Moving on we encounter the Mothman, a creature of winged mystery lurking within the annals of urban legend. This cryptid gained fame in the 1960’s, particularly around the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, USA, which hosts an annual Mothman Festival - https://www.mothmanfestival.com/ . Eyewitnesses described the Mothman as a humanoid figure with large wings and red, glowing eyes. Some accounts described it as being around seven feet tall, while others estimated it to be much larger. Its presence was often associated with strange occurrences, including UFO sightings, strange lights in the sky, and eerie noises. John Keel, an investigative journalist, popularized the Mothman legend with his 1975 book, “The Mothman Prophecies,” which explored the sightings and mysterious events in Point Pleasant. The book was later adapted into a movie. Over the years, the Mothman legend has become a part of American folklore, its shadowy figure haunting the fringes of consciousness, an omen of impending disaster. Cryptic sightings precede tragic events, fueling conspiracy theories and supernatural superstitions. Our penultimate enigma is The Jersey Devil, a mythical harbinger of terror said to inhabit the vast Pine Barren wilderness of New Jersey, USA. The legend of the Devil traces its origins to the 18th century when a woman named Leeds became pregnant for the 13th time and frustrated, she allegedly cursed the unborn child, declaring it would be the devil. As the story goes, when the child was born, it transformed into a monstrous creature with bat-like wings, hooves, a horse-like head, and a forked tail. It flew up the chimney and disappeared into the dark Pine Barrens. The Devil is said to emit blood-curdling screams and terrorize the local communities. In 1909, a series of sightings and encounters with strange tracks in the snow led to a widespread panic known as the “Jersey Devil hysteria.” People across New Jersey and neighboring states reported seeing the creature, and schools closed as a precaution. The hysteria eventually subsided, and no concrete evidence of the Jersey Devil was ever found. And while its existence remains firmly in the realm of mythology and folklore, its legend continues to captivate the imagination of locals and enthusiasts. “Over the Mountains of the Moon, down the Valley of the Shadow, ride, boldly ride….if you seek for El Dorado,” wrote Edgar Allen Poe in his 1849 poem “El Dorado”. Which brings us, finally, to one of the most enduring myths in history. One that has captivated the imaginations of explorers, adventurers, and treasure hunters for centuries - the legendary lost city of El Dorado. El Dorado, which translates to “the gilded one” or “the golden man,” was believed to be a city made entirely of gold, hidden deep within the uncharted jungles of South America. And like all enduring legends, the tale of El Dorado contains some scraps of truth. The Musica people, an indigenous group living in what is now Colombia, had a ritual that would take place when a new king came to power. The king, known as the “zipa”, would cover himself with gold dust and precious jewels and then perform a ceremonial dive into Lake Guatavita. This event symbolized the king’s connection to the divine as well as an appeasement to a god that lived underwater. European explorers and conquistadors who heard about this ritual misinterpreted it as a description of a city full of gold. And the hunt was on! We’ve never really stopped seeking the fabled El Dorado. Over time, it evolved from a specific city to a generalized symbol of unattainable riches and the eternal pursuit of wealth. The legend of El Dorado remains elusive, shrouded in myth and deception, but it endures - because we want it to be true. As our journey through this curious menagerie of fantastical creatures and unobtainable places comes to an end, we arrive at our allegory’s doorstep – the economy. A realm shrouded in just as much mystery, its workings governed by a delicate balance of fact and fiction. Bigfoot, that lumbering titan of folklore, casts a long, somewhat frightening shadow of unknown power. Not unlike the titans of industry and massive conglomerates that tower over the business world, wielding a power that few comprehend but many fear. Both evoke awe and trepidation. In our description of the Chupacabra we said that it thrives as a symbol of scapegoating by farmers who’ve mysteriously lost cattle. In the realm of economics, it mirrors the fervor with which we deflect responsibility and point fingers at external forces, blaming them for our financial woes. But perhaps, just perhaps, the true predators lurk closer to home. In our economic allegory, the Loch Ness Monster, that slippery fellow hiding in the lake, emerges as a metaphor for elusive prosperity – a hidden promise veiled beneath the surface, just beyond our reach. We chase phantom growth, perpetually pursuing a mirage in a world of smoke and mirrors. The Mothman, with its foreboding presence, reflects our obsession with prediction and premonition, echoing the realm of economic forecasting. We grasp at straws, consulting oracles and so-called-experts, entranced by their forecasts, desperate for a glimpse of the future only to discover that future economic predictions remain as elusive as the creature itself. From an economic perspective, the Jersey Devil serves as a cautionary allegory that society births its own grotesque abominations. A reminder that, through the corrosive forces of greed and corruption that plague our economic systems, the Jersey Devil represents the offspring of our failings. Our economies birth their own monstrous abominations when integrity and ethics are forsaken. And finally, in El Dorado we see the tantalizing allure of infinite riches. A perpetual promise of prosperity that entices us, despite its insubstantiality. We pursue an illusory golden age, blinded by avarice and consumed by a feverish chase. In a world teeming with unverified wonders, where rationality falters and skepticism crumbles, the enigmatic allure of the unknown or the unattainable captivates the human imagination. In this landscape, Bigfoot, the Chupacabra, the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman, the Jersey Devil, and El Dorado stand as symbols of our longing, our fear, our desire, and our fallibility. They reflect the mirages, scapegoats, and elusive promises that pervade our financial systems. In this fragile dance between belief and evidence, myth and money, we must always question and challenge prevailing beliefs. We must navigate with both skepticism and wonder, for it is in the delicate balance between these two realms that we can find the rarest of treasures – truth. You can watch The Economist’s interview with Jamie Dimon below for those who are interested. Edifying and very worth a listen! #myth #legends #bigfoot #mothman #lochness #lochnessmonster #nessie #chupacabra #jerseydevil #eldorado #jamiedimon #bank #chase #jpmorgan #financial #economy #economics #theeconomist #newjersey #nebraska #columbia #edgarallenpoe #bloomberg #anyhigh

In this day and age, the diverse array of products on supermarket shelves is often taken for granted. In an era overflowing with convenience and a cornucopia of choices, it’s easy to forget that our ancestors didn’t have the luxury of sliced bread (introduced in 1928), or peanut butter (invented in its modern form in the late 19th century). Eel Pie and roast beaver tail, on the other hand, were often consumed by early American colonists. Travel back even further in time and it becomes difficult to imagine what the ancient Romans and Egyptians may have eaten. But archaeological findings have given us some idea of what was served for dinner hundreds and even thousands of years ago—and perhaps surprisingly, some of the foods aren't all that different from what we eat today. And while we all know that wine tastes better with age, not everything we consume benefits from the relentless march of time. We're big fans of good food and today we’ve uncovered a delectable assortment of the oldest once-edible items ever discovered. Edible relics that offer a fascinating glimpse into the tastes and flavors that stood the test of time, defying decay and offering a taste of the past. So, fasten your seatbelts and loosen your belts, as we embark on an epicurean odyssey through time. The World’s Oldest Edible Ham: Originally cured in 1902 by the Gwaltney Foods meat company, it was lost in storage before being rediscovered two decades later by Pembroke D. Gwaltney Jr. Junior made the piece of pork his “pet ham.” He put a brass collar on it and paraded it around various expositions to prove to customers his meat could be kept without being refrigerated. The ham is housed in a climate-controlled display case with two other hams in the Isle of Wight County Museum in Smithfield, Virginia. A nonstop, live-streamed “ham cam” allows anyone to keep up to date with the preserved pork, and of course, the ham has its own Twitter account. The World’s Oldest Peanut: Housed in the same museum as the world’s oldest ham you will find the world’s oldest peanut on display as well! And just so you don’t think we’re making this up, both the ham and the peanut have been certified by Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Mummy Cheese: No, not something to be served at your next Halloween party, this is cheese that was found inside a 3,300 year-old tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. The cheese was a “powdery, whitish mass likely made from a mixture of cow milk and goat milk,” researchers said. And though the pharaohs may not curse you for consuming the ancient cheese, you would probably wind up with something pretty unpleasant since strains of bacteria were found on the cheese residue. So, please do not eat the mummy cheese. Bog Butter: In Ireland 3000 years ago, you had limited options for storing your barrels of butter. Archeologists were grateful that some ancient residents chose to sink theirs into a County Kildare peat bog—and then forgot about it—when they discovered a container of “bog butter” in 2009. Mostly intact, the oak barrel was still full of butter, though it had lost its creamy richness in the interceding millennia, having turned into a fatty white substance called adipocere. Housed in The National Museum of Ireland, it’s considered a national treasure. So, if you plan to visit the museum, please leave your toast at home. Jurassic Jerky: We all know that jerky travels well, so it makes sense that 2,000 years ago, someone from Wanli, China would bring it into a tomb. Archeologists weren’t sure what it was since, over the millennia, it turned into a less than appetizing shade of dark green due to the carbonization, but it hadn’t shrunk at all which proved it had been dried before being placed in the tomb. Ancient Honey: Ceramic jars containing the world’s oldest known honey – about 5,500 years old – were discovered in the tomb of a noblewoman near Tbilisi, Georgia. Now they say that honey never expires, but we’re guessing that even Winnie the Pooh would want nothing to do with this batch. The Primal Noodle: Thanks to a discovery at the Lajia archeological site on China’s Yellow River, the debate over where noodles originated may be over. No other historic pasta has even come close in age to Lajia’s 4,000-year-old cache. At that time in history, an ancient earthquake suddenly flooded the Yellow River valley, and one unfortunate diner left a bowl of millet noodles overturned in their haste to escape. According to the archeologist, it was this unique combination of factors that created a vacuum or empty space between the top of the sediment cone and the bottom of this bowl that allowed the noodles to be preserved. Shipwrecked Salad Dressing: The contents of a jar recovered from an ancient shipwreck in the Aegean Sea wouldn’t seem out of place in a modern Mediterranean recipe. Discovered off the coast of the Greek island Chios, the sunken ship dates back to 350 BC. The contents of the ship were recovered and analyzed the following year, at which time archaeologists learned that one of the amphoras (a type of jar used by ancient Greeks and Romans) contained olive oil mixed with oregano. Indeed, it’s a recipe designed to stand the test of time. Petrified Pita: In 2018, archaeologists unearthed the oldest piece of bread ever discovered from a stone fireplace in Jordan’s Black Desert. The 14,400-year-old flatbread looked a bit like a pita, except it was made from wild cereals similar to barley and oats. Tubers from an aquatic plant were another key ingredient, reportedly lending the bread a gritty texture and salty taste. Prehistoric Bison Stew: Beef aging is quite common, sometimes spanning fifteen years to get the meat just right. Like aged Scotch, you’ll pay good money for a good piece of aged meat. And sometimes the best culinary delights are the ones we just happen upon. Well, from an aging perspective, nothing compares to the culinary adventures of R. Dale Guthrie and his team after they found a 36,000-year-old bison in the ice of Alaska. After uncovering the completely frozen bison, Guthrie and his team had the chance to try a piece of the meat and they took it. Cutting off a piece of meat from the neck, they put it into a stew of (fresh) vegetables which they paired with a, not so old, bottle of wine. We’re told that the meat had a strong aroma and was “earthy” but delicious. Nobody, it seems, asked for seconds. In case any of our readers would be interested in trying their own bison stew, here’s a link to a recipe that you might want to try. (We suggest using fresh bison, not the 30,000+ year old kind…) https://www.mashed.com/464899/crock-pot-bison-chili-recipe/ Tell us about your favorite experiences with aged meat or wine or anything else for that matter in the comments below. Or better yet, head over to the Food or Beverage sections of our Forums. And remember to check those expiration dates in your refrigerator! #food #gastronomy #history #archaeology #meat #ham #pie #peanut #wine #bread #twitter #cheese #butter #pita #honey #noodles #salad #beef #stew #alaska #egypt #romans #jordan #greece #china #georgia #ireland #anyhigh

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the 21st century, where we’ve been taught to “smell a rat” with every news cycle and where the strange has become the norm, we thought that we might delve a bit into the world of smells and what goes into some of those smells. Today, we’re going to immerse ourselves amidst a tapestry of peculiar candle scents and the oddest perfume ingredients that serve as intriguing reflections of the peculiarities and current events of our time. So, hold your nose and let’s dive right in beginning with some of the more unusual candle scents we’ve come across because, as you’ll see, even candle enthusiasts have embraced the notion that strange can be sublime. Gwyneth Paltrow’s lovingly named creation seemed like a most appropriate place to start. With “…notes of geranium, cedar, and ambrette seed…” we’re betting it smells pretty damn good! (Goop) For those who love the aroma of a home cooked meal, but don’t like cooking, this could be for you. The candle, we’re told, “…delivers a realistic, savory aroma of beef and carrots, accented by onion and spices….” (Dio) A review of this one reads, “…able to capture and convey the scents of lemon, butter, cream, black peppercorn, and the scent that can only be described as ‘noodle’...”. We’re guessing it’s an acquired taste. (Yankee Candle) We’re told that the aroma is “a nutty blend of walnuts & pecans enhanced with butter and French vanilla”. Nuff said. (Lufray) Toto, we’re not in the suburbs anymore with this one which is described as having “..top notes of electricity & panic grass, heart notes of summer rain & ozone, and base notes of concrete & steam…” (DS&D Urga) Cocktail lovers will want to snag this drink-inspired fragrance, which boasts “…notes of leather, rye whiskey, bitters, and burned cedar…” (Snowe) Because we’re so proud of our maturity, we threw this one in both for the name of the candle as well as the name of the company producing it! The description says it’s infused with clary sage and lavender and “…made of all things fucking magical…” (Spiritual Shenanigans) And, whoever said that perfume is all about flowers frankly has absolutely no idea what is actually happening under the perfumer’s nose. Here’s a few ingredients we came across that caused us to catch our breath. Castoreum Vanilla is a common, beloved ingredient in many top-selling fragrances. But did you know that the anal secretions of beavers can also produce a pleasing vanilla aroma? Well, we’re told it’s true. Smell it for yourself with Cuir de Russie by Chanel. Caviar With perfume’s long history of noble use, it’s no surprise that caviar would find its way into perfumes and cologne. While it doesn’t have a distinct scent, perfume makers use it to give the product more body and substance. Try Diesel’s Bad cologne to find out. Just don’t use it on crackers! Goat Hair One really has to wonder how a perfume nose stumbled upon goat hair and thought that it should be one of the main notes in Anya McCoy’s perfume called Anya’s Garden. We mean, yes of course goats do linger in the garden. But do we really need to smell like them? Skatole A foul smelling chemical found in feces and coal tar, skatole is the essence of waste. Even when diluted, skatole smells repulsive. Yet, strangely, small traces of skatole are found in many flowers, like jasmine and orange blossom. It’s also been shown to act similarly to serotonin, which contributes to pleasure and happiness in humans. Maurice Schaller’s Nuit de Chine is a famous perfume that features skatole. Civet Droppings Ever wonder why Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men or Guerlain’s Shalimar are so alluring? Perhaps because they’re both made from the droppings of this small, catlike mammal from tropical Asia and Africa. The droppings themselves are pretty smelly (not in a good way), but when diluted with alcohol it gains a floral scent. So, the next time you smell sex in the air, thank your local civet! Gunpowder Gunpowder is a chemical compound consisting of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and it’s exploded into the fragrance industry with its boldly peppery and smoky scent. Although it sounds very manly, it’s found in fragrances like Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf. Cactus Ever tried smelling a cactus? Probably not. A popular succulent, native to the America’s, its blooming petals emit a grassy, green scent that helps to liven unisex perfumes. Can check it out in Givenchy’s Xeryus Rouge or Prickly Pear by Demeter. Only your wallet will get stuck. We hope you’ve found our journey through the world of scents breathtaking. Because in a world brimming with eccentricity and surprising twists, even the simplest elements of our lives can provide us with an amazing bouquet. From the captivating scents wafting through our homes to the enchanting fragrances we might adorn ourselves with, the realm of olfactory experiences has hardly ever been more diverse. In this peculiar symphony of scents and ingredients, we discover, once again, that the boundaries of creativity are ever-expanding. The world around us serves as both a muse and a canvas for artisans to capture the essence of our time. With every inhale, we are reminded that even the strangest aromas can evoke a sense of familiarity or provoke a second look. In a world where the strange becomes sublime, our noses are constantly being treated to an olfactory feast of the unconventional. So, as the saying goes, “follow your nose”, and who knows where it might lead you. Whether it’s to the back end of a beaver or a dinner that will never be served, breathe deeply, and enjoy the ride! #perfume #scent #candles #gwynethpaltrow #goop #dio #yankeecandle #lufray #ds&durga #snowe #spiritualshenanigans #chanel #diesel #guerlain #calvinklein #givenchy #civet #beaver #cactus #caviar #goat #smell #odor #aroma #stinky #anyhigh

We recently attended the third day of a three-day jazz festival. There were simultaneous performances happening on 10 separate stages from 3pm til midnight each day. Some of the performers were well-known; some not so much – not yet anyway. Some were standing-ovation worthy; some were more of an acquired taste. But regardless of who was onstage, the audience was buzzing with excitement, and the melodies, both familiar and unknown, led everyone on a happy trip that was at once exhilarating and exploratory. And since music is one of the primary categories in our forums, we thought this was a good excuse to devote today’s blog to a brief look at jazz, some of its great artists, and its impact – implicit or otherwise. Because, in the realm of artistic expression, we think that few genres possess the inherent complexity and improvisational brilliance of jazz. The swinging rhythms, daring melodies, and soul-stirring harmonies of jazz have long captivated audiences and musicians alike. Yet, beneath its musical allure, might there be an analogy to the tapestry of society itself? Like the ebb and flow of human interactions, jazz embodies the interplay of individuality and collective collaboration, offering, perhaps, a harmonious reflection for the chaos and brilliance of the human experience. So, grab your metaphorical saxophone and let’s see what we can discover. Introduction: In the realm of jazz, one encounters an unbridled cacophony of virtuosity, improvisation, and creativity. Like the ever-evolving symphony of society, jazz encompasses a vast array of voices, each contributing their unique essence to the collective symphony. Just as a jazz band harmonizes disparate melodies into a swinging masterpiece, society thrives on the interplay of diverse cultures, opinions, and perspectives, creating a kaleidoscopic landscape that enchants and challenges us in equal measure. Jazz emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in African American communities in the southern United States. Its roots can be traced back to the fusion of African musical traditions with elements of ragtime, a syncopated piano style epitomized by the great Scott Joplin. Early forms of jazz also drew inspiration from spirituals, blues, and marching band music. New Orleans, Louisiana, played a pivotal role in the development of jazz. There, musicians started combining different musical styles, improvising, and experimenting with new techniques. This led to the birth of early jazz, also known as Dixieland jazz, characterized by collective improvisation and brass band instrumentation. Verse 1: Improvisation, the Essence of Jazz Just as society thrives on the collective improvisation of its citizens, jazz relies on the magic of spontaneous creation. Each musician, armed with their instrument, becomes an agent of expression, weaving their unique ideas into the collective tapestry. It is in the embrace of individuality that jazz flourishes, celebrating the diverse voices that harmonize to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Society, too, finds its strength in the vibrant interplay of individuality and the ability to adapt, harmonize, and innovate. As jazz gained popularity, it spread to other cities like Chicago and New York. The 1920’s, in addition to being known as the “Roaring Twenties” were also nicknamed the “Jazz Age”, as big band jazz became a prominent fixture in dancehalls and speakeasies. Jazz icons like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington came onto the scene. The 30’s and 40’s saw the emergence of swing, a style marked by energetic rhythms and large ensembles. Swing bands, such as those led by Benny Goodman and Count Basie dominated the music stage. Chorus: Syncopation, the Rhythm of Life Syncopation, the pulsating heart of jazz, can serve as a metaphor for the intricate dance of society. Just as syncopation disrupts the expected beat, challenging the listener to reorient their perception, society too confronts us with unexpected rhythms and discordant notes. It is within this interplay of harmony and discord that societal progress unfolds. From the arab spring movements that challenged the status quo to the scientific breakthroughs that shattered conventional thinking, society thrives on the disruptive beauty of syncopation. In the 1940’s, Bebop, a new style characterized by complex harmonies, fast tempos, and intricate improvisations, emerged. Musicians like Charlie Parker- Dizzy Gillespie- and Thelonious Monk- were central figures in this movement. Their offbeat rhythms and dissonant harmonies challenged the very foundations of jazz. From the 1950’s onwards, jazz witnessed further experimentation and diversification. Subgenres like cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and free jazz emerged, each pushing the boundaries of the genre. It was around this time that jazz musicians began incorporating elements from Latin American, African, and Asian music. Verse 2: Call & Response, Echoes of Collaboration The jazz tradition of call and response mirrors the interconnectedness of society itself. In the musical conversation between musicians, an idea is thrown into the air, eagerly seized upon by others who add their own unique perspective. This interplay reflects the vital essence of collaboration and the intricate dance of ideas that propel society forward. It is through dialogue, respectful listening, and the ability to build upon each other’s contributions that meaningful progress is achieved. In the late 1960’s and 70’s, jazz fusion gained popularity, combining jazz with elements of rock, funk, and electronic music. Artists like legendary trumpet virtuoso Miles Davis - known for his velvety tones and innovative spirit, Herbie Hancock - a pioneer in the use of synthesizers and electronic instruments in jazz, and the groundbreaking jazz fusion band Weather Report - embraced this fusion approach. Bridge: The Solos of Life’s Mavericks Just a jazz allows for breathtaking solos that take center stage, society is enriched by its mavericks – the visionaries, rebels, and innovators who dare to challenge conventions. From Louis Armstrong’s soaring trumpet solos, to the bold assertions of civil rights leaders, these solos punctuate the narrative of society, pushing boundaries, and reshaping our collective consciousness. These trailblazers remind us of the power of individual agency and the potential for transformative change. Conclusion: Jazz, with its rich tapestry of improvisation, syncopation, call and response, and dazzling solos, resonates, we think, as an elegant analogy for society. For, like society, jazz continues to evolve, absorbing influences from various genres and cultures. It remains a vibrant and diverse genre, with artists exploring innovative approaches while paying homage to its rich history, ensuring its relevance in the modern musical landscape. Jazz captures the essence of our human experience, reflecting the interplay of individuality and collective collaboration, the rhythms of harmony and discord, and the power of disruptive innovation. So, when you have some time, take a moment and listen to a little jazz. Maybe start with listening to the links we've provided in this blog post. But be warned, because if you listen really hard, you might just find in the melodies the resonance of our shared humanity. Who is your favorite jazz musician? Tell us about it in our Forum section under The Arts then click Music. Encore! #music #jazz #festival #harmony #ragtime #bebop #swing #fusion #rock #funk #dixieland #jazzage #roaringtwenties #speakeasy #neworleans #chicago #newyork #louisarmstrong #dukeellington #scottjoplin #countbasie #bennygoodman #herbiehancock #milesdavis #weatherreport #charlieparker #theloniousmonk #dizzygillespie #anyhigh

Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel) was a beloved children’s author and cartoonist. Known the world over, his work includes some of the most popular children’s books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages. Throughout his prolific career Geisel (from here on known as Dr. Seuss) published over 60 books which spawned 11 television specials, five feature films, a Broadway musical, and four television series. His imaginative and whimsical tales, including “The Cat In The Hat”, "Green Eggs and Ham”, and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” were characterized by their rhyming patterns and vibrant illustrations and captured the hearts of children and adults alike. Now, imagine stepping into a world where reality bends, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the bizarre takes center stage. Because this week we’re going to take a brief look at some of the strangest amusement parks in the world that we’ve come across. Beyond the realms of typical roller coasters and fairy tale castles lie some hidden gems that redefine our understanding of amusement parks. And we thought, who better to help to narrate our days adventures than Dr. Seuss himself! So, hang on tight and prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride through the extraordinary. “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So…get on your way!” Dr. Seuss - Oh the Places You’ll Go! Mukluk Land – Alaska, USA: Billed as “Alaska’s most unique destination,” Mukluk Land, in the remote town of Tok, is an eclectic little park run by local journalists who also publish the town paper. Attractions in this former junkyard include mini golf, Skee-Ball, an unusually large cabbage, “the world’s largest mosquito”, rusty snowmobiles and plenty of other odds and ends. Be sure to stop for a photo with the giant mukluk boot at the entrance. “From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere!” Dr. Seuss - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Patriot Park - Stavropol, Russia: This self-proclaimed “Military Disneyland” pays tribute to the brute strength of Mother Russia and acts as a showground for international arms dealers. Opened in 2015, this is where you take the family for a fun-filled day of climbing on massive tanks, inspecting sophisticated rocket launchers, and watching elaborate military drills. The kids can even get their hands on some massive rifles, munch on military rations at the canteen, or engage in a wholesome simulation of urban warfare at the tactical-games center. Be sure to pick up a souvenir Stalin fridge magnet in the gift shop on your way home. “Unless someone like you Cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss - The Lorax The Rig, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is already planning its pivot away from being so dependent on oil, but that hasn’t stopped it from using its petroleum industry as inspiration for a brand new tourist attraction. It’s announced plans to convert an oil rig in the Persian Gulf into a 150,000 square meter “extreme park”. The Rig is described as the “world’s first tourism destination inspired by offshore oil platforms.” There are plans for three hotels, 11 restaurants, roller coasters, bungee jumping, and sky diving. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, Any direction you choose.” Dr. Seuss – Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Diggerland – United Kingdom & New Jersey, USA: Imagine a theme park where the rides are not roller coasters or merry-go-rounds, but instead, gigantic, roaring excavators and earth-moving machines. Yes, it’s the stuff of a 2-year-old’s dreams. Kids get the chance to operate diggers and other machines themselves, scooping massive piles of dirt to their hearts content. Test your skills with “Hook-a-Duck” where you’ll operate a mechanical grabber in a quest for floating rubber ducks. Or try out “Stack Attack,” where you’ll stack enormous, oversized tires using a telehandler. Like Jenga, but with heavy machinery. “So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.” Dr. Seuss – Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Jeju Loveland – Jeju Island, South Korea: Might want to leave the kids at Diggerland when you visit Jeju Loveland since this is an erotic sculpture park featuring pieces depicting various sexual acts. You’ll be greeted by an army of phallic statues standing tall. And you won’t want to miss the “Oh My! I Can’t Believe My Eyes!” statue or the “Hug Me Tight and Never Let Go” monument. According to their website, the park provides a “proper approach to sex culture and it is decorated with a lot of beautiful artworks.” In addition to wooden penis sculptures and cartoon mascots, there are hands on (pun intended) exhibits, films about sex, and an impressive collection of adult toys. “You’ll miss the best things If you keep your eyes closed.” Dr. Seuss BonBon-Land – Holmegaard, Denmark: Maybe the closest thing to a real-life, upside-down Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, BonBon-Land is a confection-filled dream for kids and very immature adults. If you can’t cope with a fart joke, the scratch “the most fun amusement park in Denmark” off your list. Seagull droppings, ear wax, and dog farts are among the sweet treats you can snack on in-between rides such as “The Water Rat” and the “Dog Fart Switchback Rollercoaster”, where you’ll be treated to a statue of a giant pooping dog who provides you with flatulent sound effects while you zoom around the track. And be sure to have your picture taken next to the statues of the vomiting rodents and the urinating ants. No, we’re not kidding. “Why fit it, When you were born to stand out?” Dr. Seuss (WHY) Kingdom of the Little People – Kunming, China: Lots of amusement parks have a height requirement, and this Kingdom is no exception, but in reverse: every employee at this controversial theme park must be no taller than 4 feet 3 inches (under 130 centimeters). The entire park is staffed by dwarfs, who serve as singers, acrobats, dancers, vendors, and guards. There’s even a dwarf king, who gives a special speech for visitors each day. “Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, No matter how small!” Dr. Seuss – Horton Hears a Who! Isgyvenimo Drama - Vilnius, Lithuania: If you’re longing for days of gas masks and military interrogations in Soviet occupied Lithuania, then “Survival Drama” is the place for you. Visitors gather in a genuine bunker. There they are relieved of their phones, wallets, and cameras, given thin Soviet-style coats, made to listen to the Soviet anthem and yelled at, interrogated KGB-style. The whole experience lasts about three hours, and to participate you must first sign a waiver, since disobedience may result in physical or psychological punishment. This sure ain’t Disneyland, but you will be treated to a shot of vodka after it’s all over. (Leave the kids at home). “Being crazy isn’t enough.” Dr. Seuss We’re thinking that it’s now about time to shut down the rides and turn out the lights. Why did we venture into these peculiar playgrounds, you might be asking yourself? Well, these unusual theme parks offer a refreshing departure from the ordinary, awakening our curiosity and challenging our perception of what constitutes entertainment. They remind us that, as we so often like to remind ourselves, the human imagination knows no bounds. That even the strangest of ideas can manifest into captivating experiences. And we’re grateful to Dr. Seuss for joining us and for helping narrate our journey today. Dr. Seuss’s legacy as an imaginative storyteller and advocate for literacy remains unparalleled. His dedication to social issues and his ability to engage readers, through playful yet thought-provoking stories, have left an indelible mark in both literature and the realm of political cartoons. His iconic characters and inspirational stories continue to captivate and educate readers of all ages, reminding us of the power of imagination and the importance of embracing our unique selves. Tell us about your favorite Dr. Seuss story in our Books forum. And tell us about an interesting day you spent at a theme park in our Outdoor Activities forum. “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” Dr. Seuss #drseuss #doctorseuss #theodorgeisel #humor #themeparks #amusementparks #rides #alaska #usa #russia #saudiarabia #china #unitedkingdom #newjersey #denmark #southkorea #lithuania #anyhigh

In last week’s edge-of-your-seat blogpost, “Sweets, Lies & Classic Desserts”, we mentioned “blue laws” that, at one time plagued certain U.S. states by, among other things, prohibiting the sale of ice cream sodas on Sunday’s. We thought the ridiculousness of that might warrant another look. Which is what we’re doing in this week’s post. Taking a deeper dive into some of the strange, outdated, or just plain ludicrous laws – blue or otherwise – that are still on the books in various states across the United States. It is almost universally accepted that laws are essential to provide structure, order, security, and safety for society. America prides itself on being a nation of laws, and most legislation on the books is based on precedent, logic, and common sense. However, some measures are head-scratchers and beg the question as to how they became laws in the first place, why they haven’t been repealed, and humanity’s collective sanity. “Blue laws”, also known as “Sunday laws”, are laws that restrict or ban some or all activities on Sundays to promote the observance of a day of rest. The leading theory for the origin of the term “blue Laws” came from the fact that the word “blue” was 18th-century slang for someone who was prudish. Blue Laws came to America with the first colonists, and they restricted almost every activity on Sunday. They outlawed everything from hunting to selling any type of goods, to displays of affection. Some colonies prohibited dancing and even laughing too loud. They also made attending church mandatory. Because nothing says “holy devotion” quite like the government forcing you to pray. While blue laws became less restrictive in the 20th century, there are still 30 states that have some blue laws on the books. Most have to do with the sale of alcohol in one form or another. But oddly, there are 11 states that ban the sale of vehicles on Sundays. Apparently, they equate car salesmen with dangerous bootleggers. But hey, we’re not here to judge. Of course, not all the blue laws were about alcohol. In Pennsylvania, for example, it was illegal to play professional sports on a Sunday into the 1930’s. And in Texas, it was illegal to sell housewares like pots and pans on a Sunday until 1985! Religious ill-tolerance aside, we found there are plenty of preposterous, silly laws still on the books around the country. The origins of many of these laws are a mystery. Several of them involve animals. Many were obviously passed with the best of intentions to protect our non-human friends. For instance, public-spirited citizens in Arizona saved a donkey from drowning after it fell asleep in an abandoned bathtub, and then passed a law prohibiting donkey’s from sleeping in bathtubs in the hopes of keeping that from ever happening again. But do we really need a law to stop us from tossing a live moose out of a plane? Because in Alaska it’s illegal to do so. (It doesn’t, however, say you can’t push a dead one out.) So, in an effort to promote good-citizenry and, hopefully by way of this blog post, to keep our readers from winding up on the wrong side of the law, we offer you, in no particular order, some of the craziest laws we’ve come across and where to avoid breaking them. Because, although most would probably never be enforced, they are still legally valid because no one has bothered to repeal them. In Missouri you are not permitted to drive down the highway with an uncaged bear in your car. Which begs the question, why would you want to drive down the highway with a caged bear in your car?? In North Dakota it’s against the law to serve pretzels and beer at the same time. In Hartford, Connecticut it’s against the law to educate your dog. If you're a woman living in Michigan, you might want to check with your husband before heading to the hair stylist. According to state law, your hair belongs to your spouse, and you'll need his permission before you can alter it. Sometimes these laws seem to have been made up by legislatures with a bizarre sense of humor. The wording of a law in Texas reads, “When two railroad trains meet at a crossing, each shall stop and neither shall proceed until the other has passed.” You can’t make this stuff up! And we’re guessing it was the same Texas representative who wrote an anticrime law that requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours’ notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed. In Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors. We’re guessing it’s just good sense to not sleep on top of the refrigerator if it’s indoors either. In Rhode Island, any marriage in which one of the parties is and idiot or a lunatic is considered null and void. Guess that means there’s no need for divorce lawyers in the state. It’s also illegal to keep a flock of chickens in your motorhome - but only if you live in a trailer park. Magicians are apparently unwelcome in Hawaii because it’s illegal to hide a coin behind your ear in the aloha state. Actually, this one has a bit of historical reference. After the United States annexed Hawaii at the end of the 19th century, the native population was ordered to destroy Hawaiian coins, so people took to hiding them behind their ears to get around the ban. In Ohio is against the law to get fish drunk. We assume this goes for any day of the week, not just on Sundays. In Connecticut, a pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces. You can be fined if you’re found to be selling pickles that don’t bounce from a foot off the ground. Parking meters are no laughing matter in Florida because there’s a law there that says if you tie an elephant, goat or alligator to a parking meter, you must pay for it as if it were a vehicle. (How do you parallel park an elephant?) We’re guessing Indiana is a pretty clean-shaven state. Because they allow “no habitual kissing of others if you have a mustache.” In Raleigh, North Carolina, before a man asks for a woman's hand in marriage, he must be "inspected by all the barnyard animals on the young woman's family's property, to ensure a harmonious farm life." In Arcadia, California you can be fined if you cut off a peacock in traffic. Why? Because peacocks have the right of way on any street or intersection there. If you’re planning on going fishing in Tennessee, be careful because there’s a law against catching fish with a lasso. Now, we’ve heard about shooting fish in a barrel, but the idea of someone being able to throw a lariat around one is just mind-bending. In Massachusetts you’re going to find yourself in court if you eat more than three sandwiches at a wake. While we doubt that law enforcement is checking up on such events, it’s probably best to eat beforehand. Fish seem to be a big focus of lawmakers. In New Jersey it’s against the law for men to knit during fishing season. Apparently, woman can knit whenever they damn well please. And in Pennsylvania you may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth. (We can only hope they’re referring to the fish and not the fisherman…) If your visiting Oklahoma, better mind your own business. It’s against the law to eavesdrop there. The law states “every person guilty of secretly loitering about any building, with intent to overhear discourse therein, and to repeat or publish the same to vex, annoy, or injure others, is guilty of a misdemeanor.” Horse lovers best take note, because in South Carolina it’s illegal to keep a horse in the bathtub. In Baltimore, Maryland it is not permitted to take a lion to the movies. (No seriously, it is). However, there’s no mention of the rest of the state. Flamingoes are not allowed in barber shops in Alaska. Now….really? In New York City you can be fined if you’re caught wearing slippers after 10pm. In California, women are not allowed to drive legally if they’re wearing a housecoat. There is no law that we could find, however, against men driving in robes or polyester jumpsuits. And speaking of driving, please be aware that it’s illegal to drive a car while blindfolded in Alabama or while asleep in Tennessee. Better be careful of the wildlife if you’re traveling to Alaska because this is our third animal-related Alaska law. It’s illegal to drive with a dog tethered to your car there. We can only say, thank goodness! You’d better be sure you know where the coffee shop is and who’s buying if you’re in Virginia because it’s illegal to flip a coin in a restaurant to see who pays for a coffee. And it’s also illegal to leave home without knowing where you are going. Apparently, spontaneity is not a virtue in Virginia. In Oregon, it’s against the law to juggle without a license, whistle underwater or box with a kangaroo. Oh, and you also can’t get married in a skating rink. Now, granted many states around the US have some pretty weird laws on their books. But we found a couple from other countries that stand out as well. In Milan, Italy it’s a legal requirement to smile at all times. It’s prescribed by a city regulation from the Austro-Hungarian era that was never repealed. Exemptions include funeral goers, hospital workers or those at the bedside of an ill family member. For everybody else there is no excuse for being glum because the alternative is a fine. Dog owners in Turin, Italy will be fined up to $500 if they don’t walk their pets at least three times a day, under a law from the city’s council. To enforce the law, Turin police would need to rely largely on the help of tipsters spotting cruel treatment by neighbors. If you find yourself in Scotland and need to use the loo, you’re in luck. You can knock on anyone’s door and ask to use their bathroom, and, by law, they cannot deny you. If you have success at this, please let us know. Also, please be aware that, if you’ve been sipping too much Scottish whiskey, keep your feet on the ground because you can get a ticket if you are riding a cow while drunk. (In actuality, the only reason we can think of for riding a cow is if you’re drunk). You will get more than the silent treatment if you forget your wife’s birthday in Samoa, because it’s against the law. It’s unclear how long your sentence would be (the first offence may only constitute a warning), but maybe some time apart for you to think about how to make it up to her wouldn’t be too bad. In Sarpourenx, France an edict was issued forbidding people from dying within the city limits unless they had previously purchased a burial plot in a local parish cemetery. People who broke this by dying without a plot would be “severely punished.” Exactly what kind of punishment you give the dead is somewhat unclear. Leave your Winnie the Pooh shirts at home if you’re traveling to Poland. Because the cuddly little bear does not wear pants, Poland issued a ban on Winnie the Pooh around playgrounds and schools, finding the character a bit too risqué for impressionable children. On your next trip to London, please leave your armor at home, because it’s illegal to wear a suit of armor in the British Parliament. There’s a law dating back to 1313 that prohibits it. Sorry ladies (and some of you gents) but it’s illegal to wear lacy undies in Russia. A 2014 law in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan states undergarments must be made with a minimum of six percent cotton. This takes the concept of “search and seizure” to an entirely different level. And finally, because we’re not sure how to top this, in China, it’s illegal for Tibetan Buddhist monks to reincarnate after they die without permission from the government. Again, we’re really not sure how they go about enforcing this, but China is known for having some strict laws. So, there you have it. We find ourselves in a world where bizarre laws and antiquated notions still hold sway. One can easily conclude that some of these silly laws were simply designed to get a laugh or to alleviate the boredom of local legislators. But as for the rest, they obviously reflected the public standards of the time. If you want to study how public values have changed over the years, there is no better place to start than with your state and local statutes. Not only will you glean some insight into our past prejudices, but also our best intentions. After all, who but a well-intentioned public official would make it a crime to molest butterflies in California? And if you ever find yourself face-to-face with a mind-boggling law, or a donkey in a bathtub, take a moment to appreciate the comedy in the chaos. We’d love to hear what crazy crimes and misdemeanors you may have been cited for in our Way Out There forum. Or in the comments below. #laws #america #unitedstates #booze #pennsylvania #texas #arizona #alaska #missouri #northdakota #michigan #ohio #hawaii #rhodeisland #connecticut #florida #california #tennessee #northcarolina #indiana #newjersey #oklahoma #massachusetts #southcarolina #maryland #newyork #alabama #virginia #oregon #italy #scotland #london #samoa #france #poland #china #russia #belarus #kazakhstan #mickeymouse #winniethepooh #anyhigh

Recently, we found ourselves enveloped in the soft, warm, sticky middle of…a delicious homemade chocolate chip cookie. Reveling in its understated sweetness, the thought crossed our mind of where this actually came from. Meaning not what store did we buy it from, but where did the chocolate chip cookie – the original chocolate chip cookie – come from? Who was the Adam or Eve that gave birth to that first gooey marvel? In today’s blog post we are delving into the murky world of the origins of some famous sweets and desserts. Because we figured that, just like most politicians, behind every great dessert there likely lies a trail of deceit, manipulation, and even stolen credit. So fair warning: if you’re expecting heartwarming stories of culinary genius in the kitchen, some parts of today’s story may leave a bittersweet taste in your mouth. But we hope you’ll join us as we sift through the crumbs of history to uncover the dark truths that lurk behind some of our most favorite, sweet delicacies. It turns out that it was an “Eve”, by the name of Ruth Wakefield, that’s credited with creating the Chocolate Chip Cookie. Wakefield was the owner of the Toll House Inn, a popular restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts and, according to the story, in 1938 she was making her famous Butter Drop Do cookies when she realized she was out of baker’s chocolate. In a moment of inspired desperation, she substituted broken pieces of semi-sweet Nestle chocolate into the cookie dough. Instead of melting, as she’d hoped, the chocolate retained its shape, and the first-ever batch of chocolate chip cookies was brought, hot and piping, into the world. An instant hit at the Toll House Inn, the cookies gained a reputation far beyond the local area and were even featured on Betty Crocker’s radio program. Pretty soon, Nestle, the company that manufactured the chocolate used in the cookies took notice and on March 20th, 1939, in a bargain that rivals Peter Minuit’s purchase of Manhattan, Wakefield agreed to let Nestle print her recipe on their chocolate packaging – for $1 USD! Sales of Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate skyrocketed, and the chocolate chip cookie soon became a staple in American households. Baked Alaska is a classic dessert that consists of ice cream inside a layer of cake covered in meringue, which is then quickly baked in a hot oven to create a browned, toasted exterior while keeping the ice cream inside frozen. Most often it’s served flambe with flaming rum poured over it at the table. There are a few different stories surrounding the origin of this amazing dessert, but the most popular is that it was created at the famous Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City in the late 1800’s by a French chef by the name of Charles Ranhofer. He supposedly created it to commemorate the United States’ acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The dessert was said to resemble a snow-covered mountain, symbolizing the icy Alaskan landscape. Ironically there was supposedly an extreme heatwave hitting New York at the time, and the kitchen staff was well and royally pissed off about Ranhofer’s decision to turn up the oven heat on high to bake ice cream. Lucky for us he did! Custard has been around for, seemingly ever, and its exact origins are not attributed to a single individual. It was, we’re told, the ancient Romans who first discovered that eggs could bind with other ingredients and the basic concept of custard is combining milk or cream with eggs and sweetening agents. However, it’s generally accepted that it was during the Middle Ages that the sweet, creamy-textured custard we know today was created. A notable figure associated with popularizing and refining custard was Francois Massialot, a French chef and author who, in the late 17th century, published an influential cookbook that featured numerous recipes for custard and other desserts. What’s the first thing you think of when it starts to snow? Skiing? Snowball fights? Sledding? Mixing it with some fruit juice and eating it? No? Well lemme tell ya, as far back as 3000 B.C., ancient civilizations began flavoring crushed ice, or Sorbet as we know it today. Alexander the Great enjoyed eating snow with honey, and the Roman Emperor Nero had runners who would fetch snow to mix with fruits and juices so that he could enjoy the frozen treat. Introduced to Europe through the Arab conquests and the trade routes of the Middle Ages, Sorbet became particularly popular in Italy, where it evolved into the gelato we know today. Its name comes from the Italian word “sorbetto”, which is derived from the Arabic word “sharbat”. “Sharbat” refers to a sweet beverage made from fruit juices mixed with water and sugar. Pavlova is a dessert named for a famous Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, after a tour she made to Australia and New Zealand. The title of the inventor of this meringue based cake with a crisp crust and soft, marshmallow-like inside is still being fought over by Australia and New Zealand. The Australians claim to have created it at a Perth hotel in 1926. When a guest commented that it was “as light as Pavlova”, the chef decided to name it after the famous ballerina. However, this Pavlova was actually a layered gelatin dessert. In 1929 a New Zealand chef created a meringue dessert with cream and kiwi fruit that was, supposedly inspired by Pavlova’s tutu, which led to New Zealand’s claim of ownership. New York. Berry. Chocolate. Red Velvet. Baked. Refrigerated…..The list of Cheesecakes today is never ending. Originally made of wheat, flour, honey, and cheese and then baked, today’s recipes are a bit more complicated than those since its invention in ancient Greece. It is thought that the first cheesecake was born on the Greek island of Samos. Considered by the Greeks to be a source of energy, cheesecake was eaten by athletes at the first Olympic Games. In the 5th century B.C. the Greek physician Aegimus is said to have written the first known recipe for a cheesecake. Cream cheese was introduced to cheesecake in 1872 when William Lawrence accidentally discovered a process that resulted in cream cheese while trying to recreate a French cheese called Neufchatel. Distributed in foil packaging, this became known as Philadelphia Cream Cheese. A bit of bad news for Americans, but the saying “As American as Apple Pie” doesn’t exactly tie up with the origin of apple pie. The first recorded apple pie recipe dates back to 1381 in England, where the recipe called for apples to be combined with other fruits such as raisins, figs, and pears, as well as saffron. Early pie shells were called “coffins” and were actually inedible. Sort of like a disposable baking dish made from pastry. It wasn’t until the 1500’s that recipes started improving for the pastry shells, and the whole pie became a tasty treat. Also known as the Mille-Feuille (“thousand layers” in French) one could say that the history of the Napoleon Cake is itself quite layered. Made with multiple layers of cake and cream, one story says that the Napoleon Cake was invented somewhere in 18th century France by a collaboration of French pastry chefs who wanted to showcase their culinary skills and impress the nobility. Another story says that it was introduced in 1912 in Russia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the defeat of Napoleon. It’s a New Year’s Eve staple in many Russian households and, while it may be similar to the French emperor in fame, it certainly isn’t in stature, for the cake stands tall with at least eight tiers, and sometimes as many as 20. American’s have always had a knack for getting around laws that interfered with their enjoyment of the simple things in life (take Prohibition, for example). Well, believe it or not, the Ice Cream Sundae was most likely created as a way to get around doing something illegal as well. Blue laws are religious laws in the United States that restrict activities that could be considered “sinful” (we may look a little deeper at some of these in a future blog post….). In the late 1800’s, there was a Blue Law on the books in some states that made it illegal to sell ice cream sodas on Sunday. Some religious groups were against what they called “sucking sodas” and insisted that they be banned on the Sabbath (We can only imagine what they must think of Cherries Jubilee). This ban on Sunday soda sales was a big problem for those deviant aficionados of root beer floats or other ice cream sodas. Ithaca, New York and Two Rivers, Wisconsin have engaged in a decades long feud over which one first invented the ice cream sundae when a customer came into a store on a Sunday looking for the cool relief of an ice cream soda but, to get around the Blue Laws, the soda was replaced with chocolate sauce. In 2006, the Two Rivers City Council enacted a formal resolution which states: The City of Ithaca is hereby directed to cease and desist from its continued claims of being the ‘Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae.’ Lest the City of Two Rivers be forced to take further action to set the historical record straight. (The most expensive ice cream sundae can be ordered at Serendipity 3 in New York City for a mere $1,000. USD) Most of us will/are, unknowingly, be forever grateful to an 11-year old boy by the name of Frank Epperson who, in 1905, accidentally created the Popsicle on a cold winter night in San Francisco, California. Frank had mixed a powdered fruit-flavored drink with water and left it outside overnight with the stirring stick still in the cup. The temperature dropped and the mixture froze solid. He found it a deliciously refreshing treat on a stick and named it the “Epsicle”. In 1923 he applied for a patent for his creation, changing the name at the urging of his children to “Popsicle” (get it? Pop’s Sicle). In 1925 he sold the rights to the Joe Lowe Company which then began mass-producing and marketing those frozen sticks of joy. And, while it’s not a sweet nor technically even a dessert, we’re including one more snack that is something that we can never eat just one of – the mighty Potato Chip. It is believed that the potato chip was first created in the 1853 by George Crum, a chef working at Moon’s Lake House, a resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. Evidently a customer at the resort, who was known for being very particular about his food, ordered a plate of fried potatoes. The customer kept sending them back, claiming they were too soggy and thick. This frustrated George Crum, who decided to teach the customer a lesson. In an act of defiance, Crum sliced the potatoes paper-thin, fried them until they were crisp, and then heavily salted them. To his surprise (and our great happiness), the customer loved the thin, crispy potato slices – and potato chips were born! Now we’ve come to the end of our delectably bizarre journey through the murky annals of dessert history. As we peeled back the layers of sugar-coated nostalgia, it’s pretty apparent that the origins of these beloved treats are as convoluted as a tangled ball of licorice. From the Olympian beginnings of the Cheesecake to the historically significant Napoleon Cake which, while bearing no resemblance to the emperor has a terrifying ability to conquer our taste buds, we find ourselves marveling at the haphazard evolution of these sugary delights. And isn’t that the beauty of it all? In this world of gastronomic chaos, where desserts can be born from chance encounters, misunderstood instructions, or simply a stroke of culinary madness, we’re reminded that, even in the sweetest of moments, life has a way of deliciously surprising us. So, let’s raise our spoons to the unsung heroes of the dessert world, those who accidentally stumbled upon greatness and left a delectable legacy in their wake. And the next time you sink your teeth into a sumptuous piece of cake or savor a spoonful of custard, take a moment to appreciate the quirkiness, whimsy, and even sarcasm that brought that dessert to your plate. After all, there’s nothing quite like a little sugar-coated eccentricity to sweeten our world. #dessert #sweet #desserts #sweets #cooking #baking #cookies #cakes #pastries #pastry #custard #icecream #sorbet #potatochips #cheese #cheesecake #popsicles #pie #pavlova #russia #france #newyork #alaska #wisconsin #baked #baking #bake #bettycrocker #cookbook #nestle #anyhigh