Wordology Crumb

Bread crust surrounds the inner part of bread, which is called the crumb. As pieces of the crumb break off they are called crumbs.

Toothpaste

As far back as 3000-5000 BC, ancient Egyptians were using a tooth cream. This dental cream was comprised of powdered ashes from oxen hooves, myrrh, egg shells, pumice. They used their fingers, instead of a brush. Greeks and Romans improved on the process. Then China and India were using a powder/paste as well. The Chinese were particularly forward-thinking in adding flavoring, such as Ginseng, herbal mints, and salt.

Doctors, dentists, and chemists in Britain  introduced tooth powders (or dentrifice) that included abrasive substances like brick dust and crushed china. Glycerine was added in the early 19th century, transforming the powders into pastes. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield of Connecticut invented Dr. Sheffield’s Crème Dentrifice. It was the first time toothpaste was featured in a collapsible tube. In 1873 toothpaste was first mass-produced.

Tom and Kate Chappell sought to create their own toothpaste. They moved from Philadelphia to rural Kennebunk, Maine, and introduced the first natural toothpaste in 1975. It is still called Tom’s of Maine

Origin of Crest Toothpaste

The major ingredient in Crest was discovered by accident when a student left a sample in the furnace too long and when discovered, found that it made it possible to mix the ingredient with fluoride. At first it used stannous fluoride, marketed as "Fluoristan" (this was also the original brand name it was sold as. Later it changed from "Fluoristan" to "Crest with Fluoristan"). The composition of the toothpaste had been developed by Drs. Muhler, Harry Day, and William H. Nebergall at Indiana University, and was patented by Nebergall.

Procter & Gamble paid royalties from use of the patent and thus financed a new dental research institute at the university. The active ingredient of Crest was changed in 1981 to sodium monofluorophosphate, or "Fluoristat". Today Crest toothpastes use sodium fluoride, or "Dentifrice with Fluoristat". Recently introduced Crest Pro-Health, uses stannous fluoride again and an abrasive whitener together called "Polyfluorite".

How Tall are Hollywood Stars

We have all heard Hollywood stars are shorter than they appear on film. Here is a list that proves that to be true.

Snooki is 4'8"
Paula Abdul 5'0"
Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga 5'1"
Salma Hayek, Hillary Duff, and Prince 5'2"
Martin Scorsese, Paul Simon 5'3"
Seth Green, Michael J. Fox, Emilio Estevez 5'4"
Dustin Hoffman, Bruno Mars, Daniel Radcliffe, Scott Cann 5'5"
Jon Stewart, Jack Black, Cheech Marin 5'6"
Robert Downey Jr. (or 5'8"), Tom Cruise, Martin Sheen, Ben Stiller 5'7"

They Quoted Me

One of my books, “Greatest Jokes of the Century, Book 22” is cited on a wiki about president John Adams.   http://simple.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Adams

Another source, Snopes is a site that debunks the myths floating around in cyberspace. Many of the popular emails asking for money, or promising that Microsoft will donate if you forward this email, etc. This valuable site became even more valuable recently when it cited another of my joke books "Greatest Jokes of the Century, Book 14"  for a story about Nancy Pelosi.  http://www.snopes.com/politics/pelosi/captaincook.asp


Here is another from my "Profound Thoughts, Book 1"  http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Clarity


I just love it. Now I am a credible source. . .  Such a dubious distinction!

Tonight Show Oldies

Now that the torch has been passed again, time to reflect on what Fallon needs to live up to. According to laughspin - the best ten moments from Johnnie Carson's reign as host of Tonight Show. LINK      

Free Smile Friday

No words needed

Happy Friday

If you want to have a great day, let the sunrise lift your spirits.

The sunrise always lifts my spirits, especially for enjoying a Happy Friday!

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine. It is observed on February 14 each year in many countries around the world. It is not an official holiday.

Its origins go back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia, which honored the gods Lupercus and Faunus, and the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. Lupercalia festivities and feasts are purported to have included the pairing of young women and men. Men would draw women's names from a container and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration.

It  was not called "Valentine's Day" until a priest named Valentine came along. Emperor Claudius handed down a decree that soldiers remain single, believing that soldiers would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting if they were married or engaged. Valentine converted many guards to Christianity and defied the emperor by secretly performing marriage ceremonies. As a result of his defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14. As Christianity spread through Rome, priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14 and renamed it St. Valentine's Day.



Cupid became associated with Valentine's day for another reason. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. He caused people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows. He also fell deeply in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but his mother, Venus was jealous of Psyche's beauty and forbade her daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche couldn't resist temptation and sneaked a peek at her handsome husband. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death. Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods, moved by their love, granted Psyche immortality.

Picture of Happiness

This picture seems appropriate for the day. Now we know why those who are happy and in love appear to glow. They are warm all over.

This picture proves that happiness is the greatest emotion and makes your whole body feel good. Second strongest is love.

Wordology, Orchid

Take a look at certain orchids’ roots, and you will notice that they look like testicles. The word, introduced in 1845 for the flower comes from the Greek orchis, which literally translates as “testicle.” Speakers of Middle English in the 1300s came up with a different word, inspired by the same description. They called the flower ballockwort from ballocks, or testicles, which evolved from beallucas, the Old English word for balls.

Four Useful Household Hacks

Spray nonstick spray on the inside of your votive candle holders. Remaining wax will easily slide out. Use newspaper to eliminate odors in Tupperware, or the crisper bin of your refrigerator, or in a purse with lingering smells. Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to make cut flowers last longer. Rub the cut edge of cheese with butter or olive oil to keep it from getting moldy.