Tidbits of the River Region, News, Funnies, Puzzles, Quizzes by Ray Dutton

Tommy Contest Page 5

of the River Region

September 4, 2018 Published by PTK Corp.

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read® To place an Ad, call: (334) 202-7285 TIDBITS® MAKES MUSIC ON

PIANOS by Kathy Wolfe This week, Tidbits tickles the ivories in commemoration of National Piano Month. • Way back in the 3rd century B.C., the ancient Greeks were playing one of the earliest known keyboard instruments, the hydraulis, or water organ, with consisted of pipes with a valve that was opened when the key was pressed, releasing air through the pipe. In the 12th century, the keyed stringed monochord was improved upon until it became the clavichord, with sound produced by striking iron strings with small metal blades. The 14th century brought the innovation of drawing wire made of iron, gold, silver, or brass through steel plates. Even Leonardo da Vinci got into the act, designing a stringed keyboard instrument in the late 1400s. Sixteenth-century harpsichords had strings that were plucked by quills when keys were pressed. • The inventor of what has become today’s well-known instrument is credited to an Italian harpsichord maker, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who, around 1700, developed the first piano. He called it “un cimbalo di cipresso di piano e forte,” which translates, “a keyboard of cypress with soft and loud.” It was later shortened to “pianoforte,” then later, just “piano.” Cristofori’s first piano had small leather-covered hammers. • Although Cristofori produced about 20 pianos, his first love was harpsichords, and he went back to their production. Three of his original pianos survive today, including a 1720 model, with four octaves, which can be found in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. • In the mid-1700s, the keyboard expanded to five octaves. The Industrial Revolution ushered in a more powerful piano sound, with the advent of high-quality piano wire and the casting of massive single-piece iron frames. By 1810, keyboards had six octaves, and the modern-day seven octaves by 1820. In 1826, leather and cotton hammer coverings were replaced by felt. • The piano has earned the nickname “King of the (Continued next page)

Vol 7 Issue 36 paul@riverregiontidbits.com

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Tidbits® of the River Region (Front page continued)

1. Is the book of Lamentations in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. From 1 Kings 3, who asked God, “Who is able to judge this thy so great a people”? Israelites, Elijah, Abraham, Solomon 3. Who used the excuse, “My family is poor, and I am the least in my father’s house”? Aaron, David, Gideon, Jeroboam 4. From Exodus 2, who married the shepherd girl Zipporah? Samson, Daniel, Joel, Moses 5. Who was the mother of Ishmael? Tabitha, Hagar, Ruth, Mary 6. What was the homeland of Job? Thyatira, Ur, Corinth, Uz “Test Your Bible Knowledge,” a new book with 1,206 multiple-choice questions by Wilson Casey, is now available in stores and online. (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Chris Richcreek 1. In 2017, Chris Sale became the first Boston Red Sox pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters in 12 games before the All-Star break. Which Boston pitcher did it in 11 games? 2. For six consecutive years (1926-31), Babe Ruth led the American League in home runs. Who broke the streak in 1932? 3. Who holds the NCAA football record for most career receiving yards? 4. New Orleans’ Anthony Davis set a record in 2017 by scoring 52 points in an NBA All-Star Game. Who had held the mark? 5. The Toronto Maple Leafs last reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1967. How many times since then have they made the conference finals? 6. In 2018, Carli Lloyd became the sixth American woman to score 100 international soccer goals. Name two of the first five. 7. Which trainer holds the record for the most wins at the Kentucky Derby? (c) 2018 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Instruments,” because of its phenomenal range. It spans from the lowest note that can be played on a double-bassoon to the highest note that can be played on a piccolo, a full orchestral range. The piano is considered a member of the percussion family because it only makes a sound when a hammer hits a string. It’s an independent instrument, meaning it can play melody and accompaniment at the same time. • About 70% of a piano is wood. There are more than 12,000 parts, of which 10,000 are moving parts. Keys are generally made from hardwoods such as fir, spruce, or sugar pine. Up until the 1950s, piano keys were covered with ebony and ivory (hence, the phrase “tickle the ivories”). When the use of ivory was banned, and ebony became rare and very expensive, the switch was made to plastic. • The term “grand” was first used to describe a piano in 1777. A grand piano has a horizontal frame with strings extending out from the keyboard. Different sizes have different names. A concert grand measures between 7’ 3” and 9’ 10” (2.2 to 3 m), which a parlor grand is 5’ 7” to 7’ 3” (1.7 to 2.2 m). A baby grand is about 4’ 11” (1.5 m). • An upright piano’s frame and strings are vertical. This is the type typically seen in churches, community centers, and schools. A studio piano is about 42 to 45 inches tall (107 to 114 cm), the shortest cabinet that can house a full-sized action above the keyboard. The spinet piano has the action below the keyboard. • Although most modern pianos have 88 keys – 52 white and 36 black – the Austrian Bosendorfer company’s Imperial concert grand has nine extra bass keys. • The lower notes of a piano each have two strings, but the majority of the keys’ hammers strike three strings each time a note is played. This accounts for the fuller sound of the piano as opposed to a harpsichord, on which a single string is plucked. There are a total of 230 strings to accommodate the 88 keys. Each string has about 165 pounds of tension. The greater the tension of the string, the better the sound quality and the louder the sound. • Because thicker strings vibrate at a lower rate than a thin string, they produce lower pitches. • Although we refer to the “C” closest to the middle of the keyboard as “middle C”, it’s not the exact middle of the keyboard. That is actually the space between E and F above “middle C.” • The name Engelhard Steinweg might not be familiar, but his company certainly is. In 1853, Steinweg Americanized his name to Henry E. Steinway and his family received their first piano patent in 1857. They began building pianos one by one. The Steinway is the choice of 98% of concert pianists. A new Steinway 9-ft. concert grand will set you back between $160,000 and $200,000. • At one time, the honor of world’s longest grand piano belonged to an 11’8”-long (3.58-m) instrument manufactured by the Charles H. Challen Company in 1935. It weighed over 2 tons. In 2005, at age 16, New Zealand teenager Adrian Mann decided to build a piano entirely by hand, working in a farm shed. Four years later, the result was an amazing instrument measuring 18.7 feet (5.7 m) in length. After a nationwide tour of New Zealand, the piano returned home to Mann’s workshop, available for public view. • The first electric piano was introduced in the late 1940s. Metal tines replaced the strings and an electromagnetic pickup similar to those on an electric guitar was used. Digital pianos were brought to the market in 1980. Yamaha, Japan’s first piano manufacturer, established in 1887, introduced its popular Clavinova digital piano in 1985. • Canadian manufacturer Heintzman Pianos built the official piano for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Chinese pianist Lang Lang played the 9-ft. (2.74 m) Crystal Piano for the first time at opening ceremonies. The instrument was later sold at auction for $3.22 million, making it the most expensive piano in the world. • Piano tuners recommend that a new piano be tuned four times the first year, with each change of seasons, and twice a year after that. • American homes, businesses, churches, and institutions are home to more than 10 million pianos.

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by Samantha Weaver * It was American author, journalist and psychoanalysis researcher Judith Viorst who made the following sage observation: “Infatuation is when you think that he’s as sexy as Robert Redford, as smart as Henry Kissinger, as noble as Ralph Nader, as funny as Woody Allen, and as athletic as Jimmy Connors. Love is when you realize he’s as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic as Henry Kissinger and nothing like Robert Redford -- but you’ll take him anyway.” * Records show that during the last seven months of Elvis Presley’s life, he had 5,300 different medications prescribed for him. * Those who study such things say that Labor Day is Americans’ third most favorite holiday, ranking only after Christmas/Hanukkah and Memorial Day. Also, a quarter of Americans are expected to travel out of town over the holiday weekend, with the most popular destinations being New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Chicago. * In the TV show “Charlie’s Angels,” it was a requirement that each of the stars had eight different outfits for each episode. * The country of South Africa has a grand total of 11 official languages. * Now that fall is approaching, here are a couple of interesting tidbits for parents: In the United States, the average K-12 student has $688 in back-to-school expenses. For the average college student, that goes up to $970. * You may be surprised to learn that the first Caesar salad was actually created in Tijuana, Mexico. * For reasons that aren’t quite clear, in Sweden, it’s illegal to train a seal to balance a ball on the tip of its nose. *** Thought for the Day: “The most dangerous strategy is to jump a chasm in two leaps.” -- Benjamin Disraeli (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Tidbits® of the River Region

* On Sept. 7, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, the American submersible craft Turtle attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship Eagle in New York Harbor. The Turtle was an 8-foot-long wooden submersible with lead ballast for balance.

Munroe Jr., George Eugene White/Male 5’6” 165 lbs 32 yrs old Hair: Red Eyes: Blue

Outstanding Warrants: Theft Of Property 2nd Criminal Trespass 2nd

* On Sept. 3, 1783, the American Revolution officially comes to an end when representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France sign the Treaty of Paris. The signing established the boundaries of America from Florida to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River. * On Sept. 4, 1957, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Edsel. The car had a distinctive look, but not in a good way to many people. The big impact ring in the middle of its front grille looked (one reporter said) like “a Pontiac pushing a toilet seat.” * On Sept. 9, 1967, Sgt. Duane D. Hackney is presented with the Air Force Cross for bravery in rescuing a USAF pilot in Vietnam. He was the first living Air Force enlisted man to receive the award. * On Sept. 5, 1972, Arab terrorists known as Black September take Israeli athletes hostage at the Olympic village in Munich, Germany. Twenty hours later following a German ambush, 11 Israeli athletes, 5 Palestinian terrorists and a police official lay dead. * On Sept. 6, 1995, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. plays in his 2,131st consecutive game. Ripken went on to play 2,632 games in a row before voluntarily removing himself from a game on Sept. 19, 1998. * On Sept. 8, 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America begins suing individual sharers of copyrighted mp3 songs, some of whom are children. In the first 20 months, the RIAA sued over 11,000 people. (c) 2018 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Outstanding Warrants:

Alkire, Williama DOB: 04/10/1977 White/Male 5’8” 197 lbs Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel

Wanted for: Burglary 3rd/Theft of Property 2nd

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1. What group wrote and released the 1979 song “Tragedy”? 2. Which duo released “Rainy Days and Mondays”? 3. Name the artist who co-wrote and released “You Ought to Be with Me.” 4. Who released “Runaway Child, Running Wild”? 5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “Some people go around the world for love, But they may never find what they dream of.” Answers 1. The Bee Gees. The song went to No. 1 in the U.K. and then did the same a month later in the U.S. 2. The Carpenters, in 1971. The song was penned by then unknowns Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, who went on to write hits for many artists. 3. Al Green, in 1972, from his “Call Me” album. The song topped the R&B chart and sold over a million copies. 4. The Temptations, in 1969. The song describes a young boy, alone and frightened on the streets, and tells the boy to go home. 5. “What You Won’t Do for Love,” by Bobby Caldwell, in 1978. Caldwell’s record company went out of its way to hide the fact that he was a blue-eyed soul singer and released the record to R&B stations. The secret came out, however, when Caldwell started performing in public. (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.

No, Tidbits isn’t growling at you! We’re just bringing you an odd assortment of words that begin with the letters “GR-“. • Graminivorous is a big word with a very simple meaning. It just refers to creatures that feed on grass or the seeds of grass, which encompasses a wide variety of living things, from insects to locusts and grasshoppers, birds, horses, cattle, hippopotamuses, and giant pandas. • Grampus has nothing to do with your family lineage. It refers to a species of dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, named for the first person to document it publicly, Antoine Risso. These are large dolphins, about 10 feet (3 m) long, although they might reach a length of 13 feet (4 m). It’s not unusual for them to weigh 1,100 lbs. (500 kg). These dolphins are found in temperate and tropical waters, including the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. They even travel as far north as the Gulf of Alaska, journeying in pods of 10 to 50 members, organized by age and gender. • A griffon is a mythical creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, and the head, wings, and front talons of an eagle. It combined the king of the beasts, the lion, with the king of birds, the eagle, making it the very powerful and majestic king of all creatures. They were believed to be the guardians of treasure and precious possessions, and were said to lay eggs similar to gold nuggets. In the canine world, griffons are a collection of breeds that were originally hunting dogs, including wirehaired pointers griffons. A Brussels griffon is a small, playful, terrier-like breed that barks shrilly when excited. • If you’ve delivered a speech described as grandiloquent, it’s not a compliment! It means the tone of your speech was pompous, pretentious, too fancy, used excessive verbal ornamentation, and was long-winded. In other words, next time … tone it down! • According to medieval lore, the Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table were seekers of the Holy Grail. The term might come from the Old French language, translating “royal blood.” It’s described as the dish, plate, or chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper, and used by Pharisee Joseph of Arimathea to collect the blood of Jesus at His crucifixion. According to legend, the Grail possessed miraculous powers, such as the power to heal wounds, deliver eternal youth, and grant everlasting happiness. • In 1812 and 1815, the German Brothers Grimm published two volumes of children’s stories that have gone on to be available in more than 100 languages. Although Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were academics studying law at university, they became fascinated with folk tales and compiled the volumes that included the now-well-known tales of “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White,” “Rapunzel,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and hundreds of other fables. The brothers were also noted grammarians, and compiled a German dictionary. • Most of us have watched the Grammy Awards at one time or another, presented for achievement in the music industry. Do you know the name’s origins? It was originally called the Gramophone Award, named for an old phonograph, with the name gramophone registered as a trademark since 1887. The Awards ceremony was first held in 1959, honoring the performers of 1958 in 28 different categories. Today, there are 84 categories. The gold-plated trophies are manufactured in Ridgway, Colorado, from a zinc alloy named grammium. The individual with the most Grammy Awards is Sir Georg Solti, conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 22 years. His total awards are 31, followed by Quincy Jones with 27.

Christopher Wilson Please call 334-202-7285 within 7 days of this issue to claim your prize!

Tommy Count ______

This week’s winner receives

2 tickets to the

Wetumpka Depot Players Register to win by sending an email to entertommycontest@gmail.com or USPS to PTK Corp., PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092 with the following information: 1) Your name (first and last), and, 2) the number of times you find Tommy in the ads in the paper. From the correct entries a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $100 each week. Entries must be received by midnight each Friday evening.

Last Week’s Ads where

Tommy was hiding:

1. Jacob Stinson Lawn & Landscaping, p.5

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TidbitsÂŽ of the River Region

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FOOD OF THE WEEK:

ARTICHOKES

This week, let’s have a look at the artichoke, a member of the Asteraceae family. • Botanically, the artichoke is a perennial plant that is part of the thistle family, with its origins in the Mediterranean. In ancient Greece it was known as “Ankinara,” and was heralded for its medicinal qualities. Greek author Homer mentioned it in his writings in the 8th century B.C. As a food, it was consumed only by wealthy citizens, and poor people were not allowed to eat them. • Artichokes were introduced to France, the Netherlands, and England in the 1500s, and were brought to the United States in the 19th century in the 1800s by French and Spanish immigrants. However, they weren’t widely grown in America until the 20th century. The ancients believed that eating artichokes would secure the birth of a male child to a pregnant woman. • The artichoke plant grows to a height of 4.6 to 6.6 feet (1.4 – 2 m) tall, and can spread up to 9 feet (2.74 m) in diameter. An artichoke is really just a flower bulb that hasn’t bloomed, and if it’s left alone, a lovely pink or purple flower, 7 inches (17.8 cm) in diameter, will appear out of the globe. Each flower head has silvery-green leaves 20 to 32 inches (50 to 82 cm) long. The part of this vegetable that we eat is actually the bud, with the fleshy heart at the end of each leaf petal. • The average artichoke plant produces about 20 artichokes a year. • Artichokes are the primary flavor of popular Italian liqueur called Cynar. This 33-proof dark brown liqueur, launched in 1952, has a bittersweet flavor, and is usually mixed with orange juice. • The world’s top artichoke producer is Italy, followed by Spain, France, and Egypt. Nearly all of the United States’ artichoke crop is produced in California, with shipments of nearly 4 million cases of artichokes a year, adding over $50 million to the state’s economy annually. The community of Castroville refers to itself as the “Artichoke Center of the World,” and an artichoke festival is held there every Spring, where an Artichoke Queen is crowned. In 1947, the festival’s first year, that queen was none other than Marilyn Monroe! • Although artichokes are a little labor-intensive to eat, the reward is well worth the effort. They are rich in antioxidants, Vitamins C, K, and B-complex. They also contain copper, calcium potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. A substance called cynarin present in artichokes helps improve liver and kidney functions, aiding in detoxing the body and improving digestion. Some studies indicate that extract from artichoke leaves may slow down the growth of leukemia cells. • There are 60 calories in a medium artichoke. • To cook an artichoke to perfection, boil it in a large pot of water, lightly salted, until a skewer pierces through the middle easily. Garlic and lemon may also be added to the water to enhance the flavor. The time varies from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the vegetable. Most folks dip the leaves in butter or a dressing, and pull the leave through their teeth to get to the fleshy end. When all the petals are off, the heart, the tastiest part, remains to be prepared as a side dish or added to salads or pasta.

BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:

1) Old; 2) Solomon; 3) Gideon; 4) Moses; 5) Hagar; 6) Uz

1. Pedro Martinez, in 1999. 2. Philadelphia’s Jimmie Foxx, with 58. Ruth hit 41 home runs that season. 3. Corey Davis of Western Michigan, with 5,278 yards (2013-16). 4. Philadelphia’s Wilt Chamberlain had 42 points in the All-Star Game in 1962. 5. Four times (1993, ‘94, ‘99 and 2002). 6. Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers and Tiffeny Milbrett. 7. Ben Jones, with six wins.

Tidbits® of the River Region

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Last Week Total

12-3 12-3

11-4 11-4

10-5 10-5

9-6 9-6

8-7 8-7

National Champ

Alabama

Georgia

Clemson

Auburn

Alabama St Auburn

Auburn

Arkansas St Alabama

Alabama

S Alabama Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St Oklahoma St Oklahoma St

Mississippi pp St Kansas St

Mississippi St Mississippi St Mississippi St Mississippi St Mississippi St Mississippi St

Oklahoma St Oklahoma St Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St Oklahoma St Oklahoma St Kansas St

Mississippi St Mississippi St

Nevada Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt

Nevada

Vanderbilt

Arizona Houston

Arizona

Houston

Arizona

Houston

Arizona

Duke

Duke Northwestern

Northwestern Northwestern

Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern

Penn St Pitt

Penn St

UCLA Oklahoma O

Oklahoma

Kentucky Florida

Florida

Georgia S Carolina

Georgia

Memphis Navy

Memphis

Navy

Memphis

Navy

Memphis

Navy

Michigan St Arizona St

Michigan St

Arizona St

Michigan St

Clemson Texas A&M

Clemson

Texas A&M

USC Stanford

Stanford

USC

Stanford