A world without donuts, for many of us, would be dreadful. This classic go-to comfort food in all its flavors and styles is a delicious part of our lives that seems to have been around forever. Have you ever wondered, though, how it all started? Who invented the first donut, and why is there a hole in the middle?
In truth, the origin of the donut is fiercely debated. The idea of fried dough is not exclusive to any single country or culture and variations of the donut exist around the world. While the precise place, time and person responsible for creating the first donut will always be a mystery, there are certain events in the history of the donut that deserve recognition.
As early as the mid-19th century, records indicate that Dutch bakers were making olykoeks or “oil cakes.” Basically, these early donuts were simply balls of cake dough fried in pork fat until golden brown. As the center of the cake
cooked slower than the outside, the cakes were often stuffed with nuts, fruit, and assorted fillings that did not require cooking. When Dutch immigrants arrived in the United States, their olykoeks began to evolve as exposure to other cultures contributed to the creation of a beloved classic — the modern donut.
When it comes to the hole in the center of the donut, Hansen Gregory, an American ship captain, went a different direction than the Dutch who had chosen to fill the raw center of the cakes. In 1847, Captain Gregory drove a hole through the center of the ball of dough before frying it. The hole expanded the surface area, creating greater exposure to the hot oil, and eliminated the uncooked center. Livelier versions of the story had Gregory impaling a donut on the ship’s steering wheel in order to steer with both hands, or receiving the idea in a dream from angels. While the truth of the matter will forever be a mystery, Gregory is credited for being the first to punch a hole in the middle of his
Oregon’s Moon Country
Where NASA astronauts learned to walk on the moon
By Robert Matsumura, Active Media
Have you ever wondered how NASA astronauts of the 1960s and 1970s prepared for their historic Moon landings? Instead of training in high tech simulators, they headed to Central Oregon’s McKenzie Pass, where the
rugged and unique terrain allowed them to practice walking on the Moon.
Known as “Moon Country,” this region of Oregon played a vital role in the Apollo lunar missions.
The Terrain That Resembled the Moon
In 1965, Oregon’s McKenzie Pass and its surrounding areas, particularly the volcanic landscape near the Cascade Mountains, were selected by NASA to replicate the Moon’s harsh surface and unique conditions. The volcanic rock, cinder fields and barren
patches of ground became the perfect stand-in for the lunar environment, and it subsequently became a key site for the astronauts as they prepared for the Apollo missions.
How the Apollo Astronauts Trained in Oregon
The astronauts’ time in the McKenzie Pass area was no vacation. From 1964 to 1971, astronauts such as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and their colleagues trained in this region of Oregon in full space suits — suits which at the time weighed approximately 300 pounds. Designed to simulate the challenges of walking on the Moon’s surface, these suits replicated the gravitational effects of the Moon, which were significantly less than terrestrial conditions on Earth
The training regime focused on mobility exercises in the bulky suits, including walking, jumping and collecting rock samples. These activities enabled the astronauts to become adept at operating with the limited mobility inherent to the cumbersome suits. NASA purposely included various obstacles in the terrain such as craters, rough patches of volcanic rock, and uneven surfaces to simulate the unpredictable challenges the astro -
nauts would likely face on the Moon.
Some of the specific areas utilized by the NASA scientists and astronauts were Newberry Caldera and the mile-wide ancient crater at Hole in the Ground. While trekking through the black lava flows of McKenzie Pass, astronaut Walter Cunningham stumbled and landed on sharp rocks that punctured his space suit and tore open his glove, demonstrating the potential peril of mishaps on such dangerous terrain.
Developing Teamwork and Communication
Training in Oregon also helped the astronauts hone the teamwork and communication skills that would be essential on the Apollo missions.
In Oregon’s Moon Country, astronauts worked in pairs and performed tasks in tandem, as they would on the lunar surface. Due to the unique constraints presented by the lunar environment, astronauts — encumbered by their space suits — frequently had to communicate via hand signals or radios. As
there were often delays in the communication system between the astronauts and mission control, such measures were critical for operational efficiency.
A Successful Simulated Mission
By Apollo 11’s historic launch in 1969, the astronauts who had trained in Oregon were well-prepared for the challenges they would face on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, two of the trainees from the McKenzie Pass area, used the skills they had developed in Oregon to successfully navigate the lunar surface. Arm -
strong’s famous first steps — “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” — were the culmination of years of diligent training, particularly their time in Oregon’s volcanic landscapes.
The Legacy of Oregon’s Moon Country
Today, the McKenzie Pass and the surrounding volcanic region remain largely unchanged, a reminder of the incredible history made here. The landscape still offers a glimpse into the rugged, challenging terrain that NASA astronauts faced during their training for the Apollo missions.
Over the years this region has drawn both outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in the history of space exploration. For visitors today, hiking, stargazing and exploring the volcanic landscapes offer a unique window into the past. It’s not every day that one can walk in the footsteps of the astronauts, navigating the very terrain they did when training to traverse the lunar surface for the first time in human history.
Great Events and PlacesUnlikely
While Oregon’s McKenzie Pass may seem like an unlikely place for space train -
ing, it played a pivotal role in preparing NASA astronauts for their historic Moon landings. One of the scientists involved in the program summarized the goals of the training succinctly: “The main thing was to expose them to as many different geological
experiences as we possibly could. Get them out in the field. Don’t let them sit in the classroom.” Looking back on it now, one would have to say that they got it right — Oregon’s Moon Country accomplished this task to a supreme degree. So, the next time you’re
driving through the McKenzie Pass on your way through Central Oregon, reflect on the achievements of the Apollo program and how Oregon’s Moon Country played a critical role in helping America’s astronauts make history on the Moon.
Astronaut training in Oregon Moon Country. Courtesy of High Desert Museum.
An astronaut training in Oregon’s Moon Country.
Why Gas Prices End in
By Robert Matsumura, Active Media
While getting gas at my local station, I have often wondered why gas prices end in 9/10 of a cent? After all, most products in the marketplace are priced in whole dollars and cents, so why do gas stations follow the practice of fractional pricing? In order to
understand this seemingly arbitrary custom we must go back to the Coinage Act of 1792 which standardized the nation’s currency. One of the standards established in this act made legal pricing to the 1/1000th of a dollar (1/10th of a cent) which was commonly referred to as a “mill.” Shortly thereafter a half-cent coin was minted, and remained
in circulation till 1857. Mill pricing was implemented for the issuance of stock, property tax assessments, and electricity bills, and remains common in the pricing of these commodities today.
Fractional pricing did not apply to gasoline, however, till the 1930s. The Revenue Act of 1932 instituted an excise tax on gasoline of 1/10th of a cent per gallon. The following year the tax was increased to 1.5 cents per gallon. To most consumers today this may not seem like a lot of money, but when one considers that throughout the 1920s gas prices ranged from 20-30 cents a gallon, such a tax was indeed significant. With the popularity of the automobile in the 1920s, and the concurrent increase in the demand for gasoline to fuel the new vehicles, the price of gasoline had been on rise. However, with the onset of the Great Depression, demand for gasoline began to fall and competition for customers between gas stations became fierce. By 1930, gas prices had declined to 20 cents per gallon, and would continue to fall throughout the decade to as low as 10 cents
a gallon in certain parts of the country. Due to the dire state of the economy, consumers were keenly sensitive to prices. In turn, this price sensitivity made it difficult for gas stations to increase prices according to market conditions without generating a negative response from customers. Fortunately for gas retailers at the time, gas pump technology had advanced to the point where gas pumps could dispense gas to a fraction of a penny. With the ability to dispense gas in such a precise manner, gas station owners implemented the practice of pricing to a fraction of a cent in an effort to adjust prices without psychologically triggering the customer in a negative way. Initially, the fractional prices varied depending on the station, with 0.5 not being uncommon during the 1930s. As time passed, however, gas stations followed suit with other retailers who had learned that goods priced slightly less than those priced at a whole number ($2.99 versus $3.00) to the minds of consumers, seemed significantly less, despite the fact that in reality the difference in
the two prices was a mere cent. Infomercials today employ this exact tactic when offering products for three easy payments of $19.99 rather than simply advertising the product for $60, as $60 seems like a significant amount, while $19.99 resonates as a modest expenditure. It didn’t take savvy gas retailers long to realize that they could sell a lot more gas if they reduced their price by 1/10th of a cent rather than listing the per gallon price as a whole number.
Another reason for the effectiveness of the 9/10
pricing was the fact that most customers viewed the price of gas while driving by in their car. The main numbers drivers noticed on the gas price boards of a station while zooming by in their automobile were the whole numbers, not the fractions. People didn’t factor in the fraction of a cent into their decision to purchase at a particular station or not, so it was logical to price as close to a whole number as possible to maximize profits. Even though you won’t see fractional pricing
Vintage gas board.
The Far Side is Nearer Than You Think
The Northwest’s own Gary Larson
By Robert Matsumura, Active Media
For those of us who remember the 1980s and 1990s, the Far Side cartoons embodied popular humor at its zany and ironic best. It seemed that everywhere one turned in this era, images from the comedic imagination of Gary Larson were tickling America’s funny bone. If you were a fan of the “Far Side” cartoon series, you may not realize that Gary Larson, the creator of this cultural gem, hailed from near by, not far away. In fact, Larson was born just up I-5 North in Tacoma, Washington.
The son of a car salesman and a secretary, Larson grew up in University Place, a suburb of Tacoma. Larson’s comics often depicted life and death subjects in a hilarious fashion, a perspective he credits to aspects of his childhood. According to Larson, his family had a “morbid sense of humor.” He also cites that his brother delighted in hiding then springing out to frighten him. “Dan scared the hell out of me whenever he could,” Larson recalls. When his brother wasn’t springing out from closets or pouncing on him in the darkness, the boys would often venture
down into the Puget Sound to collect animals for the terrariums in their basement. The cartoonist’s fascination with animals should come as no surprise to fans of the Far Side since many of the comics featured animals as the protagonists or subjects in his humor.
After graduating from Curtis Senior High School in Tacoma, Larson attended college at Washington State University where he played jazz guitar and banjo on his way to earning a degree in Communications. As Larson describes in his anthology “The Prehistory of the Far
Side,” he was working at a music store and while taking some days off, realized how much he hated his job. Shortly thereafter he decided to try his hand at cartooning. In 1976, Gary completed six cartoons and submitted them to Pacific Search magazine (later Pacific Northwest Magazine), a Seattle-based publication. After being published in other local area newspapers, Larson approached the Seattle Times with his work. The Times agreed to publish Larson’s cartoons on a weekly basis, titling the strip “Nature’s Way.”
Although he was now being published on a regular basis in the Seattle Times, Larson was still struggling to make ends meet. To supplement his income he worked for the Humane Society as a cruelty investigator. It was at this time that Larson began considering selling his “Nature’s Way” strip to another newspaper as a means of generating more income. While on a trip to San Francisco, Gary approached the San Francisco Chronicle to explore if they had any interest in his work. To his surprise and delight, the Chronicle not only purchased his strip, they also decided to promote it for national syndication, renaming it The Far Side. Unlike some cartoonists such as Charles Schultz who objected to the renaming of his comic to Peanuts, Larson had no problem with the new name. Larson recalled, “They could have called it Revenge of the Zucchini People for all I cared.” In 1987, Larson married Toni Carmichael, an anthropologist, who shortly thereafter became his business manager.
As touched on previously, the themes of The Far Side often depicted animals
anthropomorphically. Frequently, the animals displayed more intelligence than the supposedly superior human beings around them. An example of this is the cartoon where a father explains to his son that birdsongs are the territorial behaviors of lower animals while the two of them stand amidst fences separating densely packed houses. Another famous comic by Larson shows a family of spiders traveling in a car with a bumper sticker featuring a smiley face with eight eyes.
An interesting turn of events transpired from one of Larson’s famous Jane Goodall cartoons. The cartoon shows a chimpanzee couple grooming themselves. The female discovers a blonde human hair on the male and comments: “Conducting a little more research with that Jane Goodall tramp?”
In response to the cartoon, a representative from the Jane Goodall Institute wrote Larson a critical letter stating that the cartoon was in bad taste. Never intending any disrespect, Larson contacted the Institute only to find that Jane Goodall — who had been overseas in Africa at the time of the cartoon’s publication — not only found the cartoon entertaining, but approved of it as well. In honor of Goodall and her work, Larson arranged for all proceeds from the sale of shirts featuring this cartoon to be donated to the Goodall Institute. In the book “Far Side Gallery 5,” Goodall actually wrote the preface and narrated the details of the “Goodall Tramp Controversy.” She praised Larson’s creative ability to compare and contrast the behavior of animals and humans.
The popularity of Larson’s work saw his comics syndicated worldwide. Far Side greeting cards were a top seller for special occasions. Animated versions of the Far Side were also created for television. “Tales from the Far Side” aired in 1994, and “Tales from the Far Side 2” was released in 1997. In 2007, a Far Side calendar was produced with all profits (approximately $2 million) donated to Conservation International to support its efforts in wildlife conservation and protection. By 2005, Larson felt that the Far Side was getting too repetitive and didn’t desire to enter what he termed as the “Graveyard of Mediocre Cartoons.” Larson retired the Far Side strip later that year when he was only 44 years old. Following his retirement of the Far Side, Larson has worked sporadically on a variety of projects including a book titled “There’s a Hair in my Dirt: A Worm’s Story” (1998) which went on to become a New York Times Best Seller. More recently, Larson announced that “a new online era of the Far Side is coming.” On December 17 of the same year, www.thefarside.com went live. When not cartooning, Larson is an avid Jazz guitarist and has taken lessons from Jazz greats such as Remo Palmier and Herb Ellis. In exchange for lessons, Larson contributed the cover art for Ellis’1988 album “Doggin’ Around.”
Although Gary Larson and his Far Side creations are not at the forefront of popular culture these days, it’s comforting to know that the famous cartoonist is still alive and well, bringing levity to the digital space from here in the great Pacific Northwest.
How the World Celebrates New Year’s Eve
By Robert Matsumura, Active Media
Bubbly. Auld Lang Syne. A kiss at midnight. While our New Year’s Eve traditions, such as counting down to midnight, toasting with champagne, and making resolutions for the year ahead, are familiar in our culture, the ways in which people around the world bring in the new year are diverse. From eating grapes in Spain to smashing plates in Denmark, these customs provide a fascinating glimpse into the various ways we celebrate transitioning from one year to the next. No matter your locale, the desire to usher in a fresh start is universal, and every culture has its own unique way of doing so. Here is a look at some of the most intriguing New Year’s Eve traditions from around the globe.
Spain:
A Grape for Good Luck
In Spain, counting down to the new year is accompanied by the unique tradition of eating twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight. Each grape represents a month of the year, and eating all twelve is believed to bring good luck in the coming year. The key is to eat all twelve grapes prior to the clock’s final chiming. Each grape symbolizes a different hope for the coming year.
Denmark:
Smashing Plates for Prosperity
The arrival of the new year in Denmark is greeted with the sound of crashing
plates! Instead of clinking glasses, Danes believe that smashing old plates or dishes on the doorstep of friends and neighbors brings good fortune, removing any bad spirits. The more broken shards the better the luck for the new year. This quirky custom reflects the Danish concept of hygge, which centers around fostering warmth, coziness and togetherness, despite a few broken dishes along the way.
Japan:
Welcoming the New Year with a Clean Slate
In Japan, New Year’s Eve centers around deep spiritual reflection, with many traditions rooted in a sense of cleansing and renewal. The Japanese practice of osoji involves cleaning the house thoroughly before New Year’s Day to wash away bad luck and usher in a fresh start. At midnight, many families visit shrines for prayer and meditation, reflecting on the year past and wishing for a prosperous year ahead. In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, people also send nengajo (New Year’s cards) to friends and family, acknowledging the connections that bind them. These traditions encompass a serene, peaceful celebration filled with reverence for both past and future.
Italy:
Wearing Red for Love and Luck
In Italy, New Year’s Eve is a passionate affair — quite
literally. The wearing of red underwear on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring good luck and love in the upcoming year. The color red is traditionally associated with happiness, passion and vitality in Italian culture, so why not bring in the year with a little extra luck? Afterward, at midnight, lentils are often served symbolizing wealth, abundance, and the hope that money will be as plentiful as the small legumes. If you’re in Italy, don’t forget to give a kiss at midnight — just as red symbolizes luck, kissing loved ones is thought to ensure strong relationships in the year to come.
Scotland:
A Night of “Hogmanay” and “First Footing”
In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay and is celebrated with much vigor and merriment. One of the most cherished traditions is first footing, which involves the first person to enter a household after midnight bringing gifts to ensure good luck for the coming year. The night is filled with dancing, toasts, fireworks, and, of course, the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” to bid the old year good-bye.
Brazil:
The Sea, White Clothes, and New Year’s Wishes In Brazil, New Year’s Eve celebrations are particularly vibrant, with people gathering at the beach to celebrate the Réveillon. Garbed in white clothes, symbolizing peace and
renewal to Brazilians, it’s believed that wearing this attire will attract good luck in the new year. Brazilians also pay homage to the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea, Yemanjá, by offering flowers and floating them in the ocean at midnight in small boats. The ritual is believed to ensure blessings for the coming year. Fireworks illuminate the sky and the festive energy on the beaches is expressed through music, dancing, and revelry throughout the night.
Ecuador: Burning the “Año Viejo” In Ecuador, the New Year’s Eve celebration takes on a fiery twist. At midnight, many Ecuadorians burn effigies called Años Viejos (Old Years), which are composed of old clothing, straw, and fireworks. The effigies symbolize the old year, with all things negative associated with it. Burning the Año Viejo is a way of letting go of the past and embracing the new year. It’s a dra -
matic yet cathartic ritual in which families, friends, and even neighborhoods often compete to create the most impressive Año Viejo effigy transforming the streets into a spectacle of fire and celebration.
Mexico: Grapes and Fire
Similar to Spain, many people in Mexico eat twelve grapes at midnight — one for each chime of the clock. Each grape symbolizes a wish for each month of the coming year. In addition to grape consumption at midnight, there is also the tradition of dropping a gold ring into one’s glass of champagne. As long as one does not remove the ring before hugging everyone in the room, and finishes their champagne, they will supposedly enjoy good luck in love and financial affairs.
In With the New, Out With the Old
As the clock strikes midnight and the world rings in the new year, it’s fascinating to see how cultures across the globe celebrate this annual milestone. Whether through fire, food, music, or the sharing of wishes, New Year’s Eve symbolizes a collective desire for hope, renewal, and good fortune. These traditions create a connection to the past, while simultaneously generating excitement for the future — a reminder that no matter where we are in the world, the arrival of a new year is a time to come together, reflect, and celebrate.
So next time you’re welcoming the new year, consider embracing one of these fascinating global traditions — or even creating one of your own. After all, making new memories is what it’s all about!
Wearing white in Brazil.
Japan on New Year’s Eve.
olykoek and creating the classic hole-in-the-middle shape.
Another subject of debate is the origin of the donut’s name. Many believe the name refers to the nuts that the Dutch inserted inside of the dough to prevent the uncooked center, while others argue that it refers to “dough knots” which were another common shape for the olykoeks. It is in Washington Irving’s 1809 publication, “A History of New York,” that the word “doughnut” first appears. By the early 1900s, though, people had shortened the word to “donut.” As it stands today, both “doughnut” and “donut” are used interchangeably in the English language.
As industrialization came to dominate the American landscape in the 20th century, even the donut was swept up in the tide of change. In 1920, Russian-born immigrant Adolph Levitt invented the first automated donut machine. Levitt’s automated donut-making process was introduced at the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago. At the Fair, donuts were heralded as “the food hit of the Century Of Progress” and their popularity spread across the country.
While large chains like
Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme have today captured a significant share of the donut market, in recent decades donuts have evolved as the demand for artisanal and boutique foods has burgeoned. Across the country, specialty shops producing homemade donuts incorporating imaginative ingredients, flavors and toppings are providing donut-lovers with new and exciting choices.
Here in Oregon, artisanal donut shops have made a big splash on the local food scene, pushing the donut experience to a whole new level. Most people will agree (even their competitors) that Voodoo Donuts was the pioneer in elevating Portland from simply a respectable donut town to our nation’s capital of donuts. While it is certainly true that bakeries such as Helen Bernhard Bakery, Annie’s Donut Shop and Tonnalli’s were pumping out excellent, traditional donuts prior to the arrival of Voodoo, it is hard to dispute that Voodoo took donuts to a place they hadn’t been before.
Established in 2003 by Tres Shannon and Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson, Voodoo Donuts reinvented the donut by using it as a palette on which to spin their creativity. What emerged were
favorites such as the Bacon Maple Bar (a raised bar with maple frosting and bacon), the Grape Ape (a raised ring with vanilla frosting, grape dust and purple sprinkles), and Oh Captain My Captain (a raised ring with vanilla frosting and Cap’n Crunch cereal) among others. Originally part of the music scene as the owner of the X-Ray Cafe, Shannon credits “just the right amount of Tequila and a cocktail napkin” as the genesis for Voodoo Donuts. He insists it wasn’t a well thought-out plan, but rather the desire to run a successful donut business that initially drove their efforts.
HOW TO SOLVE:
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
HOW TO SOLVE
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
(Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Their “wackadoodle idea” as Shannon put it, simply took off.
The other superstar on the Portland donut scene is Blue Star Donuts. Co-founder, Katie Poppe, describes their mission as the desire to create a truly gourmet donut. Inspired by the patisseries of France, the owners of Blue Star viewed the donut as a “culinary platform” for them to push the limits by using different mixes, glazes and fillings. While the media has sometimes hyped-up the competition between the artisanal donut shops as a “Donut War,” Katie doesn’t really see it that way.
She says: “I’m not competing with them. We’re very different. There’s pants, and there’s skirts. At the end of the day I feel there’s room for everyone.”
Both Voodoo and Blue Star have branched out of Oregon and are spreading the donut gospel across the country and even abroad. Voodoo now has additional locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Washington, and Texas, with Blue Star also branching south with a store in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. Even in the little city of McMinnville there’s Mac Daddy Donuts, a quaint but incredibly creative shop in
historic downtown. And let us not forget Pip’s Original in Beaverton, who have offered spiced batter donuts and housemade chai since 2012.
As you can see, donuts have come a long way from the original 19th century Dutch Olykoeks. Fortunately for those of us in Oregon, the Willamette Valley, and Portland — residents of the nation’s donut capital —we have donut choices galore. So, whatever your preference, whether it be a classic raised glazed donut, or a bacon maple bar, Oregon has got you covered!
Crossword
CROSSWORD by Margie E. Burke SUDOKU Edited by Margie E. Burke
SUDOKU by Margie E. Burke
Reel Movie Reviews
New Year’s Hope
By Donovan Darling, Active Media
Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
“Yeah, you’re gonna die. It’s a matter of time. That ain’t the question. Question’s whether they’re gonna have a good story to tell about you when you’re gone.”
The movie follows Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome who lives in a North Carolina nursing home and dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. With the help of his roommate, he escapes and starts hitchhiking to a wrestling school
run by his idol, the Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). On his way Zak meets Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a fisherman on the run. They quickly become friends, with Tyler mentoring Zak as they travel south by foot and boat, eluding authorities. Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), Zak’s caregiver, eventually finds and joins them on their journey when Tyler convinces her to help Zak achieve his dreams.
A heartwarming, thoughtful, and funny adventure with a Mark Twain kind of vibe, this is an inspiring watch for New Year’s. Rated R
for mature language and light violence.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
A powerful story of hope and perseverance, this movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a bank vice president in 1940s Maine, who is convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover. Sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences in Shawshank Prison, Andy pleads his innocence to deaf ears. Resolved to serve his time, he
makes friends, helps the guards with their finances, and eventually becomes involved in money laundering. I won’t spoil the ending in case you haven’t seen this 30-yearold classic, but it’s a good one, and a true example of utter resilience against impossible odds. It’s a great movie of hope, friendship, and the strength of the human spirit. Also starring Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, and Bob Gunton. Rated R for mature themes, language, and violence. Inside Out 2 (2024)
“Out with the old,
Solutions to Crossword and Sudoku
in with the new.”
A long-awaited sequel to the 2015 Pixar movie, Inside Out 2 follows Riley as she navigates the emotional challenges of growing up. The movie explores her transition into puberty, introducing new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, alongside the original characters like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. Riley’s internal emotional world has to adapt to these new and changing feelings as she faces the challenges of growing up, including school and relationships. What’s cool is how this
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movie portrays the emotional and psychological challenges of adolescence with humor and sensitivity. Universally praised for its relatability on growth, change, and the importance of emotional understanding, it blends humor with life lessons about managing emotions, making it entertaining and meaningful for all ages. Starring Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Tony Hale, and Liza Lapira. Rated PG for its emotional complexity, mild humor, and mild peril.
The Big Cheese
How a state-of-the-art cheese factory became a tourist magnet
By Robert Matsumura, Active Media
For many of us, the name Tillamook instantly evokes thoughts of dairy products, most notably, cheddar cheese. Generations of Oregonians have toured the iconic Tillamook Cheese Factory on the Oregon coast, marveling at the state-of-the-art facilities and enjoying the delectable cheese-themed entrees and ice cream at their on-site restaurant. Tillamook and cheese have become virtually synonymous, which leads one to wonder how it all came about. Cheese in Tillamook? What’s the story?
The story begins in the mid-nineteenth century as settlers crossed the Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest along the Oregon Trail. While the Willamette Valley was the primary destination in Oregon for many of these early settlers, later arrivals discovered that much of the desirable land in the Valley had already been claimed. Turning their attention west, some of these pioneers
crossed over the Coast Range to take up residence in the Tillamook Bay area. Although the coastal region posed certain challenges— namely, dense forest and abundant precipitation — it was the ideal climate to grow fields of lush green grass. Since cows thrive on green grass, and grass was a plentiful resource, dairy farming became the logical agricultural pursuit in the area.
Initially, these early dairy farmers churned out butter, hoping to market their product in the burgeoning city of Portland. However, reliable roads over the Coast Range were scarce in those days, and after unsuccessful attempts at hiring ships to transport their butter down the Columbia River, the local farmers pooled their money and constructed a small schooner in 1855, christening it the Morning Star. For many years, the Morning Star transported butter to markets in both Astoria and Portland. Today, the Morning Star lives
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on your credit card bill for the gas you purchased, the fractional profits do provide significant revenue for the gasoline industry. Studies have shown that Americans purchase approximately 178 million gallons of gasoline per day, which in turn amounts to a half-billion dollars in revenue per year. While it’s clear to see how a price change in cents could significantly impact consumer demand for gasoline when a 20 to 30 cents per gallon price prevailed, by the time the 1970s rolled around the price of gas had risen to 40 cents per gallon. At 40 cents per gallon, price changes in fractions of a cent were no longer necessary since a one-cent change in price amounted to approximately a 2% difference at the pump—an insignificant amount to most consumers.
The 9/10 pricing as an industry standard came about in the wake of the Nixon administration’s temporary freeze on wages and prices in August of 1971, which were reinstituted again in June 1973. Gas stations no longer were able to price fuel according to their own perceptions of supply, demand, and competition, but were required to price gasoline according to a government mandated formula that resulted in gas being priced in other fractional amounts such as 0.4 to 0.8., which frustrated drivers who were accustomed to 0.9 pricing at the pump. In response to a groundswell of negativity towards the unorthodox pricing, the mandates were lifted and retailers reinstituted the 9/10th pricing which has been our standard ever since.
Creamery Association. The mission of the TCCA was to promote Tillamook cheese, and to ensure quality standards and brand consistency. With the construction of a railroad connection to Tillamook in 1911, Tillamook cheeses became available in cities up and down the West Coast.
on as part of the Tillamook Cheese logo.
In time, a shift occurred from making butter to producing cheese. Cheese was easier to ship than butter, and was less perishable during transport. As the years passed, Tillamook earned a solid reputation for producing quality cheese, and in 1893 two Portland entrepreneurs, Harry Ogden and Thaddeus Townsend, purchased their own herd of cows and founded the first cheese factory in Tillamook.
In 1894, Townsend hired Canadian cheesemaker, Peter Duncan McIntosh, from a cheese factory in Woodland, Washington, to teach them the art of cheesemaking. It is McIntosh who is credited with educating local farmers on the production of cheddar cheese — the cheese that would become the signature variety for years to come.
In 1909, a number of the region’s cheesemakers joined forces to create the Tillamook County
In the final analysis, no real advantage is gained either by the retailer or the consumer with the 9/10 pricing. On average, the gas station makes approximately 10 cents per gallon on every gallon of gasoline sold. The 0.9 cent in the price accounts for about 10% of a station’s profit in a fuel market that is intensely competitive.
The early decades of the 20th century saw the demand for Tillamook cheese grow in leaps and bounds. Two world wars boosted both production and sales as federal government contracts resulted in the shipment of millions of pounds of cheese across the seas to the U.S. military abroad. By 1940, over a dozen independent cheesemakers were in business in the Tillamook area, all producing Tillamook cheese for the official brand of the Tillamook County Creamery Association. In 1947, the company began making ice cream as well, but initially it was only available in Tillamook, Clatsop, and Lincoln counties. Following World War II, the four largest cheese factories in the region—Holstein, Tillamook, Cloverleaf, and Mapleleaf—merged to form the Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association (TCDA). In 1949, the TCDA constructed a sizable stateof-the-art facility along Highway 101 that quickly became a favorite tourist destination for coastal travelers, drawing more than a million visitors a year.
The 1960s, however, saw a rift develop between the TCCA and the TCDA. A dispute broke out over the marketing of Grade A milk,
As for the consumer, they receive precisely what they pay for at the pump, and the dispensers automatically perform basic rounding. Should the final price total with a fraction of a cent below 0.5, the price is rounded down. If the total is 0.5 or above, it is rounded up. This rounding procedure is common in retail. An example of this might
which essentially split Tillamook’s dairy farmers and cheesemakers into opposing camps. Families were divided and the community was a powder keg of contention, and reconciliation proved elusive. At one point, violence actually erupted when a homemade bomb was detonated at the residence of Beale Dixon, the head of the TCCA, damaging the family home and automobile. The dispute dragged on for almost a decade, with both factions marketing their products as Tillamook Cheese. Finally, on January 1, 1969, after years of litigation, both sides came to an agreement and reorganized under the banner of the Tillamook County Creamery Association, now a single, unified corporation.
During the 1990s, Tillamook continued to expand their product line to include sour cream (1993) and yogurt (1994). In 2000, the TCCA purchased the Bandon Cheese Factory, an operation on the southern Oregon coast that had been struggling for many years. The TCCA continued production at the Bandon factory for two more years before making the decision to shutter the facility
and demolish the building, though the company continues to market cheese under the Bandon Cheese brand. Further expansion occurred in 2001, when an additional plant was constructed in Boardman, Oregon along the Columbia River. This facility — Columbia River Processing — produces the majority of all cheese marketed under the Tillamook brand today. In 2005, in response to customer concerns over the use of Bovine Growth Hormone on dairy cattle, the TCCA made the decision to ban its use among its member farms.
Today, a trip to Tillamook is not complete without a tour of the company’s visitor center. This new creamery, completed in 2018, includes a café, store, and restaurant where visitors can dine after learning about the history and operations of Oregon’s own premier cheesemaker. Tillamook has won hundreds of awards — local, domestic, and international — and like the old Morning Star schooner on its label, continues to deliver exceptional cheese and dairy products that would make its founders proud.
be at the deli when you are purchasing sliced roast beef for $6.99 per pound. You might receive 0.51 pound of roast beef, but the price is rounded down to $3.56. This practice is also in effect in states that require sales tax. If a store must collect a 7.5% sales tax, the total will be adjusted up or down accordingly via the same method.
So the next time you find yourself at the gas station gazing up at the electronic price board, remember that the 9/10 pricing, though seemingly random, has a history stretching back to the earliest days of the automobile, and in the end, works out equitably for both yourself and the owner of your local gas station.
