Tidbits of the Rogue Valley - Vol 1 Issue 46

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TIDBITS® TAKES A TRIP TO THE

WORLD’S FAIR by Kathy Wolfe

Michelle Johnson DDS University of Texas, 1999

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It happened at the World’s Fair! Some will recognize this as the title of a 1963 movie starring Elvis Presley, filmed on the site of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Let’s look at the history of these expositions that have been staged for more than 160 years. • The World’s Fair, officially known as the Universal Exposition or Great Exhibition, made its debut in London’s Hyde Park in 1851. It was designed as a way for nations to present their scientific innovations. The entire London exhibition was contained inside the Crystal Palace, an enormous greenhouse structure made from cast iron and glass. It was the brainstorm of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. The inaugural America’s Cup yachting race was held in conjunction with the Exhibition. The world’s first voting machine was on display as well as an early precursor to the fax machine. • The first era of expositions from 1851 to 1938 focused on nations’ technological inventions, brought together in one place. In 1939, the focus shifted to cultural themes, with themes including “Building the World of Tomorrow” (1939), “Peace through Understanding” (1964), and “Man and his World” (1967). Starting in 1988, the fairs were used as a tool for nations to improve their image through their national pavilion displays.

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WORLD’S FAIRS (continued): • The first World’s Fair held in the United States was the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in that city. Close to 10 million visitors attended the fair, which was equal to about 20% of the U.S. population at that time. Several notable items made their debut at the fair, including Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, Heinz ketchup, Hires root beer, a Remington typewriter, and a 1500-horsepower Corliss steam engine, which provided power for all the exhibits. Four buildings from the Exhibition still remain at the site.

• The entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair was highly criticized as an eyesore, yet it has become one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Paris’ Eiffel Tower was built as part of the exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The designer, Gustave Eiffel, had a permit for the Tower to stand for 20 years and it was set for demolition in 1909. However, the Tower proved valuable for purposes of communications and the City of Paris allowed it to remain. Upon its completion in 1889, at 1,063 feet tall (324 m), it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, an honor it held for 41 years. Today, it is the most-visited paid monument in the world, with 25,000 visitors daily, about 7 million annually. • St. Louis was chosen as the site of the 1904 World’s Fair to celebrate the centennial of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. The 1904 Summer Olympics were held there in conjunction with the fair, the first time they were held in the U.S. The field used for the track events is still in use today on the campus of Washington University.

Why Cats Won’t Use Litter Box DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read your column responding to the reader whose cats will not use the litter box. I have three cats and two litter boxes, and they’re doing just fine. Here’s what I use: I put a litter called “Feline Pine” in the boxes. It comes in pellets, which don’t weigh much, and you don’t have to use much, just cover the bottom of the pan. When the cats pee, the pellets turn into something like sawdust. Also, if the reader scoops the boxes every day, or even twice a day, no one will even know he has cats! Trust me! -- Jean H., via email DEAR JEAN: Thanks for the tip! Trying a completely different type of cat litter can help in the case of litter box avoidance. Some cats are turned off by scented litter, while others have an aversion to a litter’s texture. And of course, diligent litter box cleaning makes every one in the household -- humans and cats -- much happier. As I said in the previous article, owners whose cats are avoiding the box have to experiment

a bit to find a solution. Using boxes with lids, or boxes without lids; replacing heavily soiled carpet and backing and treating with a “keep away” spray; increasing the number of litter boxes available; and observing the cats’ behavior for potential conflict or health issues. Readers, if you have more suggestions for owners dealing with this problem, send them my way at ask@pawscorner.com.

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your ruling planet, Mars, allows you to assume a sense of command that can help you turn a chaotic workplace situation into one that’s orderly, productive and, yes, even friendly. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Getting a relationship that’s been stuck in a rut up and running again depends on how far you want to run with it. Be honest with yourself as you consider which decision to make. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be wary of rumors that seem to be coming from everywhere this week. Waiting for the facts before you act means never having to say you’re sorry you followed the wrong lead. CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) A difficult personal matter might prompt you to turn to a trusted friend to help you sort through a maze of emotional conflicts. The weekend should bring some welcome news. LEO ( July 23 to August 22) Some of the new people coming into the Lion’s life could play pivotal roles in future personal and professional matters. Meanwhile, an old friend might have an important message. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A delay in getting things moving on schedule can be a blessing in disguise. Use this extra time to do more research so you can buttress any of the weaker points with solid facts. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You

might need to get involved in a personal matter before it becomes a serious problem. Also, be wary of someone offering to mediate, unless you can be sure of his or her motives. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Taking sides in a workplace or domestic dispute could prolong the problem. Stay out and stay cool. Then you can be friends with both parties when things settle down. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A friendship has the potential to become something more, and with this week’s aspects favoring romance, you might feel that this possibility is worth exploring. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The new job you want might require you to relocate. If so, keep an open mind and weigh all the positives and negatives before making your decision. AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) A new relationship seems to be everything you could have hoped for. Congratulations. Meanwhile, it’s not too early to get some feedback on that new project you’re working on. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might have decided to get out of the fast-moving current and just float around hither and yon for a while. But you might find that the new opportunity is too tempting to turn down. BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in bringing out the best in people with kind deeds, loving words and recognition of their “special” selves.

WORLD’S FAIRS (continued): • Scientific innovations making their debut at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition included the X-ray machine, baby incubator, electric typewriter, and telephone answering machine. • New York City has hosted three World’s Fairs – 1853, 1939, and 1964. At the 1853 exhibition, Elisha Otis demonstrated his elevator equipped with a safety brake. Three years later, America’s first passenger elevator was installed by Otis in a five-story New York department store. Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the borough of Queens was the site of both the 1939 and 1964 fairs. The park was built on a site known as the Corona Ash Dumps, where ashes from coal-burning furnaces were dumped, along with horse manure and garbage. Some of the buildings from the 1939 fair were used from 1946 to 1951 as the United Nations’ first headquarters before their move to permanent offices in Manhattan. • The Ford Motor Company presented its Mustang to the world for the first time at the 1964 New York fair. Shea Stadium home of the New York Mets, opened in conjunction with the exposition across from the fairgrounds. The Unisphere was the focal point of the 1964 exposition, a 12-story, 140-ft. (43-m) tall, 700,000-lb. (320,000-kg) stainless steel Earth, a landmark that remains in the park today. The fair featured a special tribute to John F. Kennedy, who had broken ground for the pavilion in 1962, but was assassinated five months before the fair’s opening.


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deck that was awesome from the outside, but a month into the rehab the contractor called me to come look at it. The previous owner had used cinder blocks, random boards, 2x4s, 4x4s — and NOTHING safe or to code on it. Ouch. Let’s just say, decks are expensive. Make sure you check them out!

Rogue Valley Real Estate This Section highlights a posting by “BiggerPockets.com” (Reprinted with permission)

By Nathan Brooks on October 25, 2015

On the outside of the house, usually you will have the mast that holds the electrical lines (if they aren’t buried underground). For our older rental properties, nearly all of them have power lines that run from a pole to the house. Are the lines at an acceptable height above the ground where no one could touch them? Does the meter box look new, is it the correct one (and I learned this because I spent $4,500 one month replacing several of these required by the code in that city)? Is there anything rusting? Is there an outside AC unit? Is it older/newer? What does it look like? If it’s rusted out and looking bad, it probably needs to be replaced! Does your potential property even have AC? Guess what? Running new line sets for a property that just has a furnace is expensive! And yes, I’ve learned that one the hard way as well.

Have you ever had to pay for a tree to be removed? Yeah, it’s expensive too. Just observe what the yard looks like. Do tree limbs hang low? Usually you can have these limbs trimmed and removed pretty inexpensively. If there is a tree that needs to be totally removed, definitely get several estimates. It’s expensive, and you want to make sure you’ve planned for it. Yard wise, you just want to have it look decent and be in good shape. We don’t spend much money on the lawns, but we want the house to look good. A little seed and fertilizer can be a cheap and huge game changer for the look of the property. There are a TON of things to think about in this post. I’d love to hear lots of input on what other things you look at when you are viewing a property on the exterior, as well as if you are new at the real estate game, what other questions you have when you are approaching a property, on the inside or out. Sponsored by:

WORLD’S FAIRS (continued): • The Century 21 Exposition opened in April, 1962 in Seattle, with the spotlight on the newlyconstructed Space Needle. At 605 feet (184 m), at the time it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. Built to withstand earthquakes of up to 9.1 magnitude and winds up to 200 mph (89 m/s), the foundation was laid in a 30-ft. deep (9.1 m) hole 120 feet (37 m) across. It took 467 cement trucks an entire day to fill the cavity. The elevator travels up the side of the Space Needle at 10 mph (4.5 m/s), a trip that takes about 41 seconds. The monorail and Key Arena (then known as Washington State Coliseum), and Pacific Science Center were also constructed to mark the opening of the exposition. • Seattle’s 1962 fair wasn’t the first held there. In 1909, the city hosted the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition promoting the development of the Pacific Northwest. The fairgrounds later became the campus of the University of Washington. • Montreal’s Expo 67 was one of the most successful World’s Fairs, with more than 50.3 million attendees. The former Major League Baseball team, the Montreal Expos, was named for the fair. • Expo 86, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, was the latest World’s Fair to be held in North America. It was officially opened by Prince Charles and Princess Diana, along with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Over 22 million people attend the Expo, yet it suffered a $311 million deficit. The Expo Center’s southeastern section was redeveloped for use as part of the Olympic Village at the Winter Olympics held in the city in 2010. • Eleven fairs have been held since Vancouver, including Expo 15, hosted by Milan, Italy, until this October. Kazakhstan will host the 2017 exposition, and Dubai will be home to the 2020 fair.

What kind of condition is the deck in? Does it look like newer material/ members? Can you power wash it if it’s dirty and use a deck stain on it? Does it have the proper support underneath? We bought a property one time with a massive

To Your Good Health By Keith Roach, M.D.

Large Teratoma Found Near Heart

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a CT scan due to broken ribs from a very recent fall. The scan revealed a large teratoma near my heart. I am 69 and was previously unaware of this formation. No suggestion has been given to me regarding further investigation or treatment of the teratoma. I am assuming it may have been present at birth and does not cause any problem. But now I am wondering if it should be monitored. Can a teratoma grow or migrate in the body? Any information on teratoma will be appreciated. -- S.S. ANSWER: A teratoma is a type of tumor of germ cells -- the cells that become eggs or sperm. They can occur within the testis or ovary, but also can

occur outside the gonads. When they do, they usually are found in the midline of the body. A frequent place is the anterior superior mediastinum, in between the lungs and below the breastbone. Teratomas usually are benign tumors, but some types can act like cancers. Your tumor is unlikely to have been there since birth. Nobody knows whether the germ cell that became a teratoma properly went into the gonads during development, or whether the cell left the gonad and then became a tumor. It is clear, however, that men with teratoma outside the gonads are at higher risk for developing testicular cancer later on. Teratomas, being derived from germ cells, are capable of creating any tissue. Teeth and hair are sometimes found inside teratomas. I am very surprised you haven’t been recommended for surgical removal. Surgery is usually successful at curing teratoma. They certainly can grow, and occasionally become very large. I would certainly recommend seeing an oncologist (cancer specialist). Thoracic (chest) surgeons operate on this area. It may be that the position is difficult, but a surgeon should still evaluate you, in my opinion. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: How is it that, at age 67, I’d

never heard about the abomination called scabies? Last year, I was rubbing cream onto my aged mother’s rash, and now I have this disgusting infestation on my body! Why haven’t people been advised of this scourge! -- Anon. ANSWER: Scabies, sometimes just called, “the itch,” is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and is very common, with an estimated 300 million people infected worldwide. It is transmitted person-to-person by direct contact. The major symptom of scabies is itching, often very severe and usually much worse at night. Itching begins about six weeks after the first infection, sooner if you have been infected before. Often, the hardest part is figuring out the diagnosis, because a lot of people don’t know about this condition. When the rash is classic in distribution (belt line, under the arms, wrists, genitals and especially in the finger web spaces), most regular doctors and any dermatologist can figure it out. Permethrin 5 percent cream (Elimite and others) over the entire body for eight to 14 hours is the standard treatment. Many physicians recommend a second treatment in one to two weeks. There is an oral medication as well. Clothing and bedding need to be disinfected, too.


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Got it Covered?

NOTEWORTHY INVENTORS:

OTTO ROHWEDDER

What’s the greatest thing since sliced bread? How about sliced bread itself? Here’s the scoop on one of the most beneficial inventions of the 20th century. • At age 20, Davenport, Iowa native Otto Rohwedder moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in optometry at a college of ophthalmology in the Windy City. After a year in the profession, Otto made a drastic career change and began an apprenticeship with a local jeweler. At 25, he settled in St. Joseph, Missouri, and by 32, he had acquired three jewelry shops. In his spare time, he began tinkering with new inventions. • At 36, Rohwedder got out of the jewelry business and set out to solve a common household complaint. Loaves of bread were sold whole, and housewives didn’t like slicing it! Rohwedder devised a brief questionnaire to determine the thickness of a slice that housewives would like to see. He placed ads in several large newspapers and within a few months had received 30,000 responses. • Work began on a prototype of a bread-slicing machine in 1916 in an abandoned warehouse. Rohwedder drew hundreds of blueprints with differing specifications. Tragedy struck in 1917 when his prototype and all of his blueprints were destroyed in a fire. • It was 10 years before Rohwedder had another machine completed, but this one was much better. While his first machine had used long metal pins to hold the sliced loaf together, the new machine tightly wrapped the loaves in waxed paper. The contraption was 5 feet wide (1.5 m), 3 feet high (.9 m), and 6 feet (1.8 m) deep. After being awarded a patent for the slicer, Rohwedder began searching for buyers and received mostly ridicule.

Your vehicle is constantly exposed to the sun, rain, birds and who knows what. If you don’t have a garage to park it in, what can you do to protect it? Try using a car cover. Make sure you use it properly or you could cause as much damage as not using one. Here’s some advice on car covers and the proper way to use them. The one-size-fits-all car covers are cheaper and readily available. However, during high winds and rain, they may flap around and scratch your paint. Ordering a custom car cover designed specifically for your vehicle’s make and model can prevent this from happening. Covering a dirty vehicle can also cause scratching. Make sure your vehicle is clean when you put the cover on. And make sure the cover has a bottom locking system that will hold it on snugly and prevent wind from getting underneath.There are three types of car covers: waterproof, water resistant and non-water resistant. Waterproof covers are plastic and are designed to keep the rain off your car However, they can trap air in, causing condensation which can damage the paint. Using a flannel cover underneath the plastic one will help prevent condensation from forming.

Robocalls Are More Than Annoying

We’ve all experienced it: We rush to answer the phone, and it’s a robocall, a computer-generated message trying to sell us something or tell us a lie. We’ve won a free cruise. We’ve won a big lottery prize. Our “warranty” is about to expire. There are any number of reasons to hate robocalls, but for seniors there are two serious ones. We could fall as we dash to the phone. And we might get caught up in whatever scam is involved in the call. If you pick up the phone and press a number to ask to be removed from the list, no one will answer, and you’ve only verified that your number works. If you select another number to press to talk to someone to ask to be taken off the list, you get

Military Retirees Can Fly on the Cheap

Space-A travel is one of the benefits of military service that can save you a lot of money. Eligibility requirements are tight, but if you qualify, you can literally see the world for a small amount of cash. Space-A travel, short for Space Available Flight, is for active military and their families, as well as retirees. Seats on planes that might not be used are opened to qualified personnel. Things to know: Potential passengers are prioritized and taken in order based on when they sign up for a flight. Travel for serious purposes rates a higher priority: attending to an ill relative ranks higher than vacations. You can be bumped from your flight if higher priority people come in. You might need to continue your

Water resistant covers repel water and allow air to circulate, which prevents condensation from forming. Most are also resistant to mildew and sunlight degradation. Covers that are more of a filter are made of breathable nylon or a polyester outer layer with a foamed acrylic inner lining. They let the good water in and keep the bad out. However, they do not keep acid rain from getting in. Rip-stop nylon, synthetic sail cloth and boat canvas are other types of filtering material that can be found in one-size-fits-all. Non-water resistant covers are made from 100% cotton or a cotton/poly blend. Polyester may scratch the paint, so those types should only be used for a short period of time. Putting on and removing your car cover is fairly easy. The easiest way is to put the cover on the roof and roll one end toward the front and the other end toward the back. Then unfold the sides and fasten the ends. To take it off, just reverse the steps. Most covers can be washed in the washing machine with mild detergent, but read the directions for your individual cover to be sure. Make sure the cover is dry and never store one wet. There is no end to what can harm your vehicle. A car cover will help protect its finish for a long time...and of course, we’re here when you need us~ Kelly’s Automotive Service, where we service your vehicle, but take care of you.

~ Safe Travels, Dave Kelly

added to a special list of people who actually answer the phone and are immediately transferred to someone who gives you the sales pitch. If you hesitate even for a second in saying no, you go on a list of people are not only answer the phone, but press buttons to talk to people and who can likely be sold whatever they’re selling. Do you see where this is going? The answer is: Do not answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number. One difficulty in combatting robocalls is that the scammers behind them are hard for authorities to trace. They could be anywhere in the world, and they ignore the Do Not Call registry. If you’re particularly annoyed by these robocalls, go online to the government site at www. consumer.ftc.gov and search for robocalls. Or look at Consumer Reports robocall information at consumersunion.org/end-robocalls and consider signing the petition. You also can call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-888-225-5322.

trip on commercial flights, and need to be prepared to do that. You can sign up 60 days in advance for a trip you’d like to take. Blue-card retirees (you’re getting retirement pay) are eligible for Space-A; a “GrayArea” retiree (you haven’t reached age 60 and gotten a blue card) are eligible but with location limits. GrayArea retirees cannot take family members. To check whether your preferred destination and point of departure are Space-A terminals, check www. baseops.net/spaceatravel under Locations. You’ll find a list of phone and fax numbers. For a list of FAQs about Space-A travel, see www. spacea.net. It has information about taking a grandchild or a pet, meals, bag limits and more. If you’ve never flown Space-A, start with the Basics page, especially the Category section to determine where on the priority list you’ll be placed. Retirees, unfortunately, fall in Cat VI, which is at the bottom of the pile. However, Space-A travel can be an excellent, cheap way to travel as long as you’re flexible.


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I’m sitting at a table in Grants Pass Walmart, and, as an insurance agent, visiting with folks about Medicare and the Federal Marketplace. What a cross-section of people! Wealthy, old, young, poor, middle-class…This somehow reminds me of the Gospel Rescue Mission also in Grants Pass and a choir we organized there last year. Evergreen Federal Bank added a Singing Panel for our downtown sidewalks and asked that we record We Three Kings for that panel. Again, what a cross-section of people at the mission that sang- living there because they were out of prison, had a financial downturn, or have dealt with abuse or addiction. But what pride and gusto they took on with that project! “There but for the grace of God go I….” is worth considering now and then.

Smiley Face Q: I have a “Happy Face” mug from the 1970s. Is it worth keeping? -- Stephanie, Englewood, Colorado A: The little happy face on a bright yellow circle has become totally synonymous with the 1970s. The smiley face was first introduced as a moralebuilding button by a Massachusetts insurance company. It was the right product at the right time and soon was seen everywhere. The image was used on neckties, coffee mugs, toys and fabric prints. Typical values for smiley face items

include a deck of playing cards, $10; coasters, set of four, $8; cookie jar, $50-$100; electric wall clock, $20; and ceramic mug made by McCoy, $25. A good reference for items from this era is “The Collectible ‘70s: A Price Guide to the Polyester Decade” by Michael Jay Goldberg. *** Q: I received a Breitling Navitimer wristwatch from my dad when I graduated from college in 1968. When I took it to be cleaned, the watchman told me it was quite valuable. My big question is how valuable. It is the model 606, with three registers and in a stainless-steel case. – Rob, Camden, Ohio A: I found your watch referenced in “100 Years of Vintage Watches: A Collector’s Identification & Price Guide” by Dean Judy and published by Krause Books. According to Judy, a watchmaker/jeweler and expert, your watch is valued in the $1,000 to $1,800 range. Incidentally, the watch was sold as the “Official Timepiece of the Aircraft Owners’ and

Pilots’ Association.” *** Q: I have a plastic thimble with “Sew It Up for Nixon & Lodge: Experience Counts.” What is it worth? -- Sue, Davenport, Iowa A: Your thimble is from the 1960 campaign and worth about $10, according to Dr. Enoch L. Nappen, a political science professor at New Jersey’s Monmouth University and an expert of political campaign materials. *** Q: I have inherited a set of sterling flatware in the Hamilton Court pattern by Reed & Barton. When was it introduced, and is Reed and Barton an important company? -- Cynthia, Fort Wayne, Indiana A: Reed & Barton was established in 1840 and eventually introduced more than 100 silver patterns. Your pattern is from 1964.


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1. TELEVISION: In what 1990s television series did the character of The Log Lady appear? 2. ANATOMY: What organ in the human body produces bile? 3. SCIENCE: What is the science of classifying things called? 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first U.S. president to lose a re-election bid? 5. HISTORY: Who was the first African-American to be elected to Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction and later appointed ambassador to the United Nations? 6. GEOGRAPHY: What country’s capital is Addis Ababa? 7. MATH: In geometry, what is a perfectly round ball called? 8. AD SLOGANS: What product was claimed in advertisements to be “good to the last drop”? 9. MOVIES: Who was the oldest performer to receive an Oscar for Best Actor? 10. FAMOUS QUOTES: What 20th-century humorist once said, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”

1. How many consecutive major-league seasons has Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle recorded 30 or more starts? 2. During the 1990s, four men managed the Kansas City Royals. Name them. 3. In 2014, the SEC became the first conference to have four teams in the top five of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll. Name the teams. 4. Name the last NBA team to start a season with four No. 1 overall draft picks on its roster. 5. When was the last time before 2015 that the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup championship at home? 6. Name the last cyclist before England’s Chris Froome in 2015 to win both the Tour de France mountain classification and the overall title. 7. Who was the last golfer before Bernhard Langer in 2014-15 to notch back-to-back wins at the Senior Players Championship?

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Page 7

Get Ready for Winter

ROHWEDDER (continued): • He finally persuaded a friend whose bakery was on the verge of bankruptcy to give it a try. Frank Bench, owner of Chillicothe Baking Company produced the first slices in July, 1928, and put it on the shelves as “Kleen Maid Sliced Bread.” Within two weeks, his bread sales had increased by 2,000%. The public loved sliced bread and the machine’s success was launched. • A 1928 issue of Modern Mechanics explained how the machine worked: “Two banks of thin sharp steel blades are utilized…While one blade moves upward, its immediate neighbor moves downward. As the blades pass through the soft bread, the loaf closes immediately behind the blades and keeps the air out… thus retaining the freshness of the loaf.” • Full-page ads declared that sliced bread was “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped.” Before long, the slogan had been modified to include every new exceptional invention, referring to innovations as “the greatest thing since sliced bread.” • Two years after the launch of the bread slicer, Continental Baking Company introduced Wonder Bread in its bright, balloon-imprinted wrapper, with the word “Sliced” emblazoned in large letters. Their ad was a happy picture of families packing sandwiches for picnics. • In 1933, Rohwedder sold his rights to Iowa’s Micro-Westco Company and became vicepresident and sales manager of the bakery machine division. • In 1960, a beer bottler bought the building that had formerly housed the Chillicothe Baking Company. In the storage area was a pile of metal the owner thought was junk, which he promptly disposed of. He later learned it was Rohwedder’s original slicer. The Smithsonian is home to one of Rohwedder’s second design machines.

“DEAR ELF, I HOPE YOU HAVE A NICE WINTER” is the greeting written with a blue crayon in big cap letters and tucked into the makeshift mailbag tacked to the side of the padlocked door at the base of a gnarly ash tree. For more than 20 years in Minneapolis, young friends of the endearing Lake Harriet tree elf have crouched down by the little wooden door, nimbly unlatched it and left handwritten letters and drawings inside a hollow, carved space of the tree. Returning two or three days later to the path around the city lake, they come to the “elf house” to find a response on a small piece of paper, just to them. Seasons change, and now eager children have to wait until next spring to open the miniature, magical door again. “I have moved home to my castle,” reads the engraved 1-inch sign above the threshold. Even elves close up their summer homes for the winter. Maybe your family has already been scurrying around like busy elves getting ready for the impending arrival of winter -- washing windows, raking leaves and storing baseball bats and mitts. Here are more weekend activities you can do together to shift gears into cooler weather and the holidays. * Make a “be prepared” kit filled with supplies to have on hand if lights go out during a winter storm. Cover a shoebox with paper, and decorate it with safety symbols, using markers and stickers. Fill it with a flashlight, candles and matches, batteryoperated clock and radio, and entertainment such as cards or small board games. * Update your family’s wallet photos by replacing old pictures with new school and informal photos. Send copies to proud grandparents, aunts and uncles. It’s a good time to take holiday card photos, too. * Sort through closets and drawers. Put on some music, and have your kids stage an impromptu outerwear “fashion show” to find out which sweaters, jackets and boots still fit and which don’t. Donate useable, clean clothing and drop it off together. * Discuss ways you can volunteer and participate at your child’s school. Many children thrive in school when parents get involved in their education.


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Published by Velocity Ventures Trust

COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION

The 1893 World’s Fair, held in Chicago, was officially known as the World’s Columbian Exposition, commemorating 400 years since the 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. More than 28 million people paid the admission price to tour the exhibits of 46 nations, built at a cost of more than $28 million. • The fairgrounds were referred to as the “White City,” because all buildings were covered with white stucco in order to resemble carved marble, and illuminated with 100,000 electric lights. • Several commercial products were introduced at the fair, including Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, Cream of Wheat cereal, Juicy Fruit gum, Aunt Jemima pancake mix, and Cracker Jacks. Early versions of the dishwasher, fluorescent light bulbs, a milk sterilization machine, and the zipper also made their debut. • One of the main attractions was the world’s first Ferris Wheel, the invention of Pittsburgh bridge builder and steel magnate George Ferris, Jr. Towering 264 feet (804 m) in the air, the wheel had 36 cars that could accommodate 60 people each, allowing a total of 2,160 riders at a time. Each paid 50 cents for the nine-minute ride, providing a boost to the fair’s shaky financial status, generating $395,000 in profit. The Ferris Wheel proved so popular that, after the conclusion of the fair, it was moved to Chicago’s North Side, where it operated for another 10 years. It was then dismantled and moved to St. Louis for their World’s Fair, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. After its tenure there, the wheel was dynamited with 300 lbs. (136 kg) of explosives and sold for scrap in 1906. • In addition to its financial struggles, the fair experienced several other tragedies. A smallpox epidemic originated on the grounds in the summer of 1893 and had spread throughout Chicago by Autumn. Two days before the closing ceremonies, the city’s Mayor Carter Harrison was

1. Fifteen. 2. John Wathan, Hal McRae, Bob Boone and Tony Muser. 3. Mississippi State, Mississippi, Alabama and Auburn. 4. The Los Angeles Lakers of 1988-89 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Mychal Thompson and James Worthy). 5. It was 1938. 6. Belgium’s Eddy Merckx, in 1970. 7. Arnold Palmer, in 1984-85.

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assassinated in his home. The ceremonies were cancelled and replaced with a public memorial service for the mayor. Shortly after the close of the fair, many of the buildings were destroyed by fire. Seventeen people were killed in the blaze including 14 firefighters. The fire broke out in the Cold Storage Building, one of the fair’s largest structures. It was used to store perishable food used by the vendors, as well as housing an ice skating rink. The building was constructed with a 200-foot (61-m) iron chimney to run the refrigeration units. In keeping with the theme of the “White City,” builders added a decorative wooden cupola around the chimney. A serious fire hazard was created by placing the wood base just 30 inches (76 cm) above the chimney. • Of the more than 200 buildings constructed for the exposition, only one remains. Known as the Palace of Fine Arts in 1893, today it houses Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. • Most folks have seen a machine that flattens a penny, embossing it with a picture of various tourist attractions. That machine was first seen at the Columbian Exposition, and featured seven different lettering designs for fairgoers to choose from for their souvenir. Thank you to our friends at Logan Design for sponsoring this ad.

Launching GREAT FUTURES What’s new this year at the Club? • Grade-Based Rotations (K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12) • Age-Appropriate Activities offered throughout the day • Same Great Daily Programs • Power Hour - STEM educational activities and homework help • Arts, Crafts and Performing Arts • Technology Lab • Organized Gym Games • Mini-Clubs including Dance, Ukulele, Science Club, Chess and more • Curriculum-Based Programs such as Healthy Habits, SMART Moves, Triple Play, WILD, Career Launch and more • Complete USDA Meals • Mentoring Opportunities • Specialized Programs for K1 and Teens

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Answers 1. “Twin Peaks” 2. Liver 3. Taxonomy 4. John Adams 5. Andrew Young 6. Ethiopia 7. A sphere 8. Maxwell House coffee 9. Henry Fonda 10. Mark Twain


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