These are words that change their meaning based
on whether the first letter is capitalized or not. Capitonyms are
particularly troublesome when they appear at the beginning of a
sentence, as there is no way, based on the single word alone to
tell which meaning is being referred to.
Examples of these include: August vs. august (month vs majestic or
venerable); Calorie vs. calorie (1000 calories (food) vs. 1 calorie);
Divine vs. divine (related to God vs. to discover by intuition or
insight); etc.
Jan 1, 2013
Visions of Sugar Plums
Left over thoughts of holiday sweets
led me to wonder about some familiar candies.
The 3 Musketeers bar was originally split into three pieces with three different flavors – vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. When vanilla and strawberry flavoring became hard to come by during WWII, Mars decided to go all chocolate.
When M&Ms were first introduced in 1941 they were red, brown, yellow, green and violet. The first M&Ms came in a cardboard tube and were given to soldiers in their rations, because the chocolate was a good energy source, and the candy-coated shell kept the chocolate from melting in their hands.
Milky Way was the first commercially distributed filled candy bar in 1923. It came in chocolate and vanilla flavors. The vanilla version came covered in dark chocolate. They were sold separately for several years, then sold as a two-piece candy bar just like 3 Musketeers was sold as a three-piece candy bar. Mars continued to sell the vanilla and dark chocolate version under a new name – the Forever Yours bar. It was rebranded again as the Milky Way Dark, and these days you’ll find it on shelves under the name “Milky Way Midnight.” The name of the bar was inspired by the flavor of a milkshake.
Starbursts were originally named Opal fruits and came in four flavors: orange, lemon, lime, and strawberry. When the name switched to Starburst in 1967, lemon and lime were combined into one flavor so blackcurrant chews could be added to the mix.
When Jelly Bellys were first launched, there were eight flavors; Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape Jelly, Licorice, A&W Root Beer, and A&W Cream Soda. Now Jelly Bellies have 50 official flavors, nine rookie flavors, five Cold Stone Creamery-inspired flavors, and lines that include soda flavors, sour beans, sport beans, Harry Potter’s Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and smoothie blends.
Life Savers first came in Pep-O-Mint when they were introduced in 1913 Later they added Wint-O-Green, Cl-O-ve, Lic-O-Riche, Cinn-O-Mon, Vi-O-let and Choc-O-Late. The familiar fruit flavors of today were developed in 1925: grape, orange, lemon, and lime.
PEZ gets its name from the first flavor it ever came in – Pfefferminz, German for peppermint. They came in little cigarette lighter-like cases to conveniently dispense mints to smokers. In the 1950s PEZ decided to expand their market to children and used the fun dispensers to do so. Santa, a robot, and a Space Gun were the first dispensers for children.
Tootsie Pops started with Chocolate, Cherry, Orange, Grape and Raspberry. There is a sixth flavor that alternates between Lemon Lime, Blue Raspberry, and Banana.
The first Mentos flavor was a peppermint flavored caramel candy when it was introduced in 1932. Cinnamon Mentos in the US and fruit-flavored Mentos in Europe came 40 years later. Mentos around the world now come in raisin, lemon yogurt, cola, grape ‘n’ cream, black licorice, red orange and others.
The 3 Musketeers bar was originally split into three pieces with three different flavors – vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. When vanilla and strawberry flavoring became hard to come by during WWII, Mars decided to go all chocolate.
When M&Ms were first introduced in 1941 they were red, brown, yellow, green and violet. The first M&Ms came in a cardboard tube and were given to soldiers in their rations, because the chocolate was a good energy source, and the candy-coated shell kept the chocolate from melting in their hands.
Milky Way was the first commercially distributed filled candy bar in 1923. It came in chocolate and vanilla flavors. The vanilla version came covered in dark chocolate. They were sold separately for several years, then sold as a two-piece candy bar just like 3 Musketeers was sold as a three-piece candy bar. Mars continued to sell the vanilla and dark chocolate version under a new name – the Forever Yours bar. It was rebranded again as the Milky Way Dark, and these days you’ll find it on shelves under the name “Milky Way Midnight.” The name of the bar was inspired by the flavor of a milkshake.
Starbursts were originally named Opal fruits and came in four flavors: orange, lemon, lime, and strawberry. When the name switched to Starburst in 1967, lemon and lime were combined into one flavor so blackcurrant chews could be added to the mix.
When Jelly Bellys were first launched, there were eight flavors; Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape Jelly, Licorice, A&W Root Beer, and A&W Cream Soda. Now Jelly Bellies have 50 official flavors, nine rookie flavors, five Cold Stone Creamery-inspired flavors, and lines that include soda flavors, sour beans, sport beans, Harry Potter’s Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and smoothie blends.
Life Savers first came in Pep-O-Mint when they were introduced in 1913 Later they added Wint-O-Green, Cl-O-ve, Lic-O-Riche, Cinn-O-Mon, Vi-O-let and Choc-O-Late. The familiar fruit flavors of today were developed in 1925: grape, orange, lemon, and lime.
PEZ gets its name from the first flavor it ever came in – Pfefferminz, German for peppermint. They came in little cigarette lighter-like cases to conveniently dispense mints to smokers. In the 1950s PEZ decided to expand their market to children and used the fun dispensers to do so. Santa, a robot, and a Space Gun were the first dispensers for children.
Tootsie Pops started with Chocolate, Cherry, Orange, Grape and Raspberry. There is a sixth flavor that alternates between Lemon Lime, Blue Raspberry, and Banana.
The first Mentos flavor was a peppermint flavored caramel candy when it was introduced in 1932. Cinnamon Mentos in the US and fruit-flavored Mentos in Europe came 40 years later. Mentos around the world now come in raisin, lemon yogurt, cola, grape ‘n’ cream, black licorice, red orange and others.
Drone Delivered Food
In a video posted on YouTube, an engineer sets a location for the Burrito Bomber to drop its payload and another loads a burrito into a drop canister with a parachute. Within minutes, the bomber flies to the GPS-set location and drops the burrito, where a happy recipient opens the canister and takes a bite.
Drones have been increasingly used by government and military for many uses, like checking on fishing hatcheries, border surveillance, specifically directed bombs, search and rescue, and more. Sizes range from mere inches to larger ones that can fly thousands of miles at heights of 15,000 feet.
Delivering food by drone is still prohibited by the FAA, but the recently signed FAA Modernization and Reform Act requires the FAA to allow drones built by private companies to fly in US airspace, and could open up a pathway for drone delivery of parcels, mail, and food. Gives a whole new meaning to home delivery.
Dec 29, 2012
Happy Friday
Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts.
I have placed my heart, mind, and soul into having a Happy Friday!
I have placed my heart, mind, and soul into having a Happy Friday!
Dead Sea Scrolls
As we look to the future, sometimes it is
also good to look at the past. Here is a site that features the
actual dead sea scrolls. Brilliant pictures and descriptions. It
allows you to view, enlarge, scroll, etc.
Fragments of every book of the Hebrew Bible, except the Book of Esther were found in the Qumran caves, the most famous of the Dead Sea Scrolls sites. Some of these ancient copies are identical to the traditional text of the Hebrew Bible that is used today. Other copies preserve differences in the text, which was in the process of standardization.
Fascinating to see the original manuscripts. LINK
Fragments of every book of the Hebrew Bible, except the Book of Esther were found in the Qumran caves, the most famous of the Dead Sea Scrolls sites. Some of these ancient copies are identical to the traditional text of the Hebrew Bible that is used today. Other copies preserve differences in the text, which was in the process of standardization.
Fascinating to see the original manuscripts. LINK
Candy Cane Myths and Facts
The myth is the white base color
of the candy cane symbolizes Jesus’ purity; the red stripes
symbolize Jesus’ blood when he died on the cross; and the J shape
was chosen to represent the J in Jesus. These and all other
religious connotations have been debunked or not able to be proven
as fact.
The facts - Candy canes started as white sugar sticks with no hook as early as the 1600s. There is no reference to calling them candy "canes" until the mid to late 1600s. No fact as to why the sticks were changed into canes, although many believe it was so the candy could be hung on a Christmas tree.
The red stripe was not added until the early 1900s. No one knows who invented the stripes, but Christmas cards prior to the year 1900 showed only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes.
The bottom line is that we do not know who started making them, why, or who added the hook, but most people love candy canes and that is a fact.
The facts - Candy canes started as white sugar sticks with no hook as early as the 1600s. There is no reference to calling them candy "canes" until the mid to late 1600s. No fact as to why the sticks were changed into canes, although many believe it was so the candy could be hung on a Christmas tree.
The red stripe was not added until the early 1900s. No one knows who invented the stripes, but Christmas cards prior to the year 1900 showed only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes.
The bottom line is that we do not know who started making them, why, or who added the hook, but most people love candy canes and that is a fact.
Personal Genome Map for $99
What a great way to begin the
New Year. Get your genome mapped. A few years ago it cost over ten
thousand dollars. LINK
Strange Christmas Traditions
On Christmas in Caracas they skate to mass on roller skates. Firecrackers pop to wake the citizens, who put on their skates for the pre-dawn trip to mass. Streets are closed in the mornings to allow the skating churchgoers to pass.
In Catalonia, the traditional nativity scene has an extra figure. El Caganer can be found somewhere on the periphery of the scene, crouched in the squatting position of a bowel movement. It is believed “The Defecator” in the nativity scene will fertilize the coming year with a good harvest of wealth and prosperity. The statue can be a monk, a shepherd, a popular sports star, or celebrity, but he is always wearing his signature red Catalan hat as he squats above a pile.
In Italy, the gift-bringer is a kind but hideous witch named La Befana. She missed seeing the Christ-child, because she was busy when the wise men told her to come. La Befana comes late, several days after Christmas Day, but leaves gifts at each house in case the holy infant is there.
In Ireland it is traditional to leave out mince pie and Guinness as snacks for Santa.
Norwegians legend says witches and evil spirits come out on Christmas Eve to steal brooms and ride around causing mischief.
In the Ukraine, Christmas trees are adorned with silver and gold spider webs. This tradition came from the story of a poor woman without means to decorate for the holiday. As she slept, spiders spun webs of pure gold and silver to beautify her tree and bring her wealth.
Dec 27, 2012
Wordology, Borborygmus
Seems this one is appropriate for
the holiday season. It is the rumbling noises your stomach makes.
What I Did Not Get For Christmas
This one is sure to
give you borborygmus. It is a name-brand scent in a little bottle
that was introduced in December 2012.
Pizza Hut Inc. in Canada came out with a limited edition bottle of Pizza Hut perfume, probably to advertise the chain’s sense of humor.
The perfume is supposed to recreate the smell of a box of Pizza Hut being opened, with top notes of freshly baked dough, according to the company. Pizza hut is owned by Yum Brands, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell among others.
Pizza Hut Inc. in Canada came out with a limited edition bottle of Pizza Hut perfume, probably to advertise the chain’s sense of humor.
The perfume is supposed to recreate the smell of a box of Pizza Hut being opened, with top notes of freshly baked dough, according to the company. Pizza hut is owned by Yum Brands, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell among others.
Google Fun
Type in the word askew and see the results. Type
in the word sphere and see the results.
Type in "the loneliest number" then click on images and see the results.
Type in "the loneliest number" then click on images and see the results.
Interesting Feet Facts
As we enjoy the holidays sitting in
front of a warm fire with our feet up and pondering our toes, here
are a few interesting feet facts.
Human feet can sweat up to a pint of fluid a day. Feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body, approximately 125,000 in each foot. The toughest skin on your body is on your feet. Toenails grow fastest during your teenage years, in hot weather, and when you are pregnant.
American actor Matthew McGrory, 7'6" had the record-breaking foot size until he passed away in 2005. He was in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest actor and having the largest toe. His shoe size was 29 1/2.
Human feet can sweat up to a pint of fluid a day. Feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body, approximately 125,000 in each foot. The toughest skin on your body is on your feet. Toenails grow fastest during your teenage years, in hot weather, and when you are pregnant.
American actor Matthew McGrory, 7'6" had the record-breaking foot size until he passed away in 2005. He was in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest actor and having the largest toe. His shoe size was 29 1/2.
Dec 23, 2012
Blog Statistics
Was reviewing my blog site statistics and it showed 68
countries visited my blog during November, 2012. Here they are, in order of
number of visitors. Over half came from outside the US.
Welcome and thank you to all my visitors and new best friends.
United
States United
Kingdom Canada Philippines Russia South
Korea Norway Malaysia Turkey United
Arab Emirates Singapore Finland Spain Netherlands Thailand Saudi
Arabia Pakistan Lithuania Ireland Hong Kong Greece Serbia Portugal Egypt Bulgaria Trinidad
and Tobago Switzerland Romania New
Zealand Italy Denmark Botswana Bahrain
Welcome and thank you to all my visitors and new best friends.
Australia
India
Brazil
Germany
Sweden
Mexico
France
Israel
Ukraine
Sri
Lanka
Slovenia
Peru
Nepal
Mongolia
Mauritius
Japan
Iraq
Indonesia
Czech
Republic
Croatia
Colombia
Belgium
Austria
Argentina
Taiwan
South
Africa
Slovakia
Qatar
Puerto
Rico
Poland
Nigeria
Luxembourg
Jamaica
Estonia
Cameroon
Happy Friday
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what
you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
My motivation allows my ability to aim my attitude toward having a Happy Friday!
My motivation allows my ability to aim my attitude toward having a Happy Friday!
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