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Volume 2 Issue 22
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TIDBITS® EATS
CEREAL
by Janet Spencer There was a drought in Rome in 496 B.C. The priests thought if they started worshiping the Greek goddess Demeter, she might help. They changed her name to Ceres from the Latin ‘crescere’ meaning ‘to grow’ which is also the root of ‘create’ and ‘increase.’ She became the protector of crops, and the caretakers of her temple became the grain dealers. A new Latin word was coined meaning ‘of Ceres’-- cerealis, which became the word cereal. Come along with Tidbits as we eat cereal! CEREAL FACTS • Over 70 percent of the world’s croplands are planted in cereal grains. Those grains provide 53 percent of humanity’s caloric intake. Wheat occupies 22 percent of crop lands worldwide, and provides 20 percent of calories consumed in the world. • It’s been estimated that more than 60% of the population of the world relies on a total of four crops, three of which are grains. Those four crops are rice, corn, soy, and wheat. • Oatmeal is richer in proteins than whole wheat. Samuel Johnson remarked in the dictionary he wrote that oats are “a grain which is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people.” A Scotsman replied, “That is why in England you have such fine horses and in Scotland we have such fine men.” (cont’d next page)
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BREAKFAST CEREALS
• John Kellogg ran a health resort in Battle Creek, Michigan in the late 1800s. He advocated a healthy diet, and invented a flaky breakfast cereal made from smashing boiled wheat and corn into thin flat sheets and baking them. He had trouble perfecting the formula until one day when he was called away while the wheat was cooking. When he returned, the wheat was far overcooked, but money was tight and wheat was expensive so he ran the overcooked wheat through the rollers anyway. The thin crispy flake that resulted was the perfect formula. • At first he called this cereal Granula, which he later changed to Granola before finally changing the name to Corn Flakes. The cereal was a novel invention and reputedly very healthy, but it didn’t taste very good. • John Kellogg had a younger brother named Will. Will Kellogg was more interested in making a profit than his brother was. When John left on an extended trip, Will did something that John had forbidden: he added a coating of sugar to the cereal. People liked John’s unsweetened cereal a little, but they loved Will’s sugary cereal. When John returned, he was furious. Will ended up starting his own company, which he called Kellogg’s. Will Kellogg’s cereal eventually put John Kellogg’s cereal out of business. The brothers were rivals until their deaths. • A patient of John Kellogg named Charles W. Post started his own dry cereal company called Post Cereals, selling a rival brand of corn flakes. John Kellogg claimed that Charles Post stole the formula for corn flakes from the safe in his office. • Charles Post came out with a cereal he called Elijah’s Manna. He tried to export it to Britain but they refused to register it, feeling giving such a religious name to a food item was sacrilegious. Post changed the name to Post Toasties. (Continued next page)
More Resources for Therapy Dogs DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read your column about the owner whose therapy dog helps children with a fear of dogs. I also have a Golden Retriever therapy dog, and we have had many success stories. Please tell your readers that organizations have different requirements for therapy dogs to visit their facilities, as well as for the handlers. For example, the hospitals we visit have additional health screening requirements for the handler. If they’re looking for a good certification for their dog, Therapy Dogs International is a highly accepted certification. -- Ed A., Indiana DEAR ED: Many thanks for the tips! It’s definitely important to do your homework and learn as much as you can before submitting your dog and yourself as a therapy dog and handler. Different facilities may need additional clearances -not just a certification from a therapy-dog organization, but health checks for the owner/ handler and background checks. Therapy Dogs International has details on its website about its requirements for therapy dogs, and guidelines and testing information that will give owners a good idea of what they need to do
to get their dog ready. For example, dogs have to be at least 1 year old. They don’t have to take any specific therapy-dog classes, but they should have at the very least basic to intermediate obedience skills, a good temperament and upto-date vaccinations and health records. Owners also need to be aware that therapy dogs are not service dogs -- that is a different testing and certification process with different, often more stringent, requirements.
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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Lots of possibilities begin to open up by midweek. Some seem more appealing than others. But wait for more facts to emerge later on before you consider which to choose. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Bravo to the determined Bovine. While others might give up, you continue to search for answers. Expect your Taurean tenacity to begin paying off by week’s end. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might want to consider stepping back from the task at hand for a while. This could help you get a better perspective on what you’ve done and what still needs to be done. CANCER ( June 21 to July 22) Your keen Cancerian insight should help you determine whether a new offer is solid or just more fluff ‘n’ stuff. The clues are all there, waiting for you to find them. LEO ( July 23 to August 22) Being ignored is difficult for any proud Leo or Leona. But pushing yourself back into the spotlight might be unwise. Instead, let things work themselves out at their own pace. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Trying to uncover a colleague’s secret under the pretext of showing concern is ill-advised. Control your curiosity in order to avoid raising resentment in the workplace. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Expect to hear good news about a loved one. Also, be prepared for some changes in several family relationships that could develop from this lucky turn of events. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Some surprises are expected to accompany a number of changes that will continue through part of next week. At least one could involve a romantic situation. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You might be upset by some of your critics. But most of your associates continue to have faith in your ability to get the job done, and done well. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A workplace goal that suddenly seems out of reach is no problem for the sure-footed Goat, who moves steadily forward despite any obstacles placed in his or her way. AQUARIUS ( January 20 to February 18) Uncertainty about who is right and who isn’t might keep you from making a clear-cut decision. Wait until you know more about what you’re being asked to decide. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Be careful to keep your emotions in check when dealing with a demanding personal situation. You need to set an example of strength for others to follow. BORN THIS WEEK: You have an extraordinary ability to rally people to do their best. You would be a treasure as a teacher.
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1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What car company makes the Rio and Sedona models? 2. MUSIC: Who composed the “Wedding March”? 3. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Isle of Wight? 4. U.S. STATES: What is the state bird of Louisiana? 5. MOVIES: What are the names of “The Blues Brothers”? 6. INVENTIONS: Who invented the tea bag in the early 20th century? 7. CHEMISTRY: Which chemical element has the symbol K? 8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a more commonly known name for the Alsatian dog? 9. ART: What are the top three secondary colors, obtained by mixing two primary colors? 10. FAMOUS QUOTES: What 20th-century first lady once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people”?
1. Three players have hit a home run for their 3,000th major-league hit. Name two of them. 2. In 2015, the Chicago White Sox’s Chris Sale became the second pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts in eight consecutive games. Who else did it? 3. When was the last time the Cincinnati Bengals won an NFL playoff game? 4. In 2015, Steve Alford became the fourth UCLA men’s basketball coach to reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in each of his first two seasons. Who else did it? 5. Who scored the overtime goal in 1975 that gave the New York Islanders their first NHL playoff series triumph? 6. In 2015, Columbus’ Justin Meram logged the fastest goal in Major League Soccer playoff history (9 seconds). What had been the fastest? 7. Which two schools have won the most NCAA Division I men’s team swimming and diving championships?
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Dandelions Capture Kids’ Creativity
SUGARY CEREALS
• In 1949 Post Cereal introduced a sugary line of cereals such as Sugar Crisps, Krinkles, and Corn-Fetti and the kids went wild. General Mills followed suit with cereals such as Trix, Sugar Frosted Flakes, and Cocoa Puffs. • In 1975, a dentist who was alarmed at the steep increase in the number of cavities he was seeing in children went to the supermarket and bought 78 different kinds of cereal. He took them to his lab and measured their sugar content. One-third had sugar levels between 10 and 25%. One-third contained between 26% and 50% sugar, and the rest of them had sugar levels even higher than 50%. The highest was Super Orange Crisps which was almost 71% sugar. Not surprisingly, those cereals with the highest sugar content were brands most heavily marketed to children during Saturday morning cartoons. • By 1977 a coalition of 12,000 health professionals asked the Federal Trade Commission to ban the advertising of sugary foods on children’s TV shows. The petition was accompanied by a collection of 200 decayed teeth collected and donated by pediatric dentists. In 1979, the typical American child watched more than 20,000 commercials between the ages of two and 11, and more than half of those commercials were for cereals, candy, snacks, and soft drinks. • As a result, Kellogg’s Sugar Frosted Flakes was re-named Frosted Flakes; Post changed Super Sugar Crisp into Super Golden Crisp; and Sugar Smacks became Honey Smacks. Although the names changed, the sugar content did not, and nothing changed about the fact that cereals were pitched to children on weekend daytime TV. The cereal industry uses 816 million pounds of sugar per year. • Grape Nuts is one of the few cereals with no added sugar. It has nothing to do with grapes or nuts, being made out of baked wheat and malted barley.
Warm weather brings families outdoors to enjoy spring pleasures and chores. If you have a yard to tend, tackling the weeds is probably an ongoing item on your “things to do” list. Recently, while working in our garden, I groaned as I looked at our yard full of dandelions popping up. But when my 3-year-old neighbor Isla happily presented me with a freshly picked bouquet of dandelions, I was reminded that when an adult sees weeds, a child instead sees a field of golden flowers. “Isla was delighted when these first ‘flowers’ appeared all over the neighborhood,” said her mom, Liv Guillaume. “They spark her interest in nature and her creativity.” Like Isla, here are some fun ways to enjoy these die-hard flowers with children: Make a Dandelion Necklace Pick a small basketful of the long-stemmed flowers. The stems should be equal in length. Slit a hole in one stem with your fingernail or a butter knife. Then slip a second stem through it. Make a slit in the second stem and continue the chain until it is as long as you want. Attach the last stem to the stem of the first dandelion with a small piece of string or wire. If daisies are growing in your garden or patio, add them to the chain, too. Wear it around your neck, or place it on your head. Flower-Head Wreath For a traditional head wreath, wrap sturdy florist wire in a circle shape to fit your head. Attach one small bunch of flowers, with stems, to the topside of the ring shape, and secure with thin florist wire. Add and secure another bunch by wrapping wire around and around. Continue until the shape is covered. Knot colorful dangling ribbons to the back center, if you wish. Dandelion Magic Trick Preschoolers will marvel at the “magic” created when water and dandelion stems come together. Using just the tubular stems, split both ends of the stems apart about 1/2 inch with your fingernail and drop them into a bowl of water. Encourage kids to keep watch as the ends curl before their eyes. Make a Wish An old superstition says that if you make a wish on a dandelion gone to seed, and you are able to blow off all the seeds in one puff, your wish comes true. You might wish for a weed-free garden next year!
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For Advertising Call (541) 203-0233 FAST FACTS ABOUT CEREAL
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DYNO Day
To Your Good Health By Keith Roach, M.D.
Pancreatitis Requires Total Abstinence
DEAR DR. ROACH: I went to the emergency ward this weekend with severe chest pains and bloating. I was sure I was having a heart attack. After tests, a CT scan revealed I had pancreatitis (they mentioned a number 222 for some enzyme or something); also, my potassium was low and sodium was critically low, at 113. I am 62, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weigh 210; I have Type 2 diabetes with an A1C of 6.7 and high blood pressure. I was discharged after four days with no restrictions other than to eat light and refrain from alcohol 100 percent for the rest of my life to avoid another occurrence. I had never heard of pancre-
atitis, and it was devastating news to me. I make wine, and have for years. I do not drink anything except wine, and the thought of never being able to drink again is very disturbing. Is there a possibility that I may be able to drink wine again in the future? The doctor’s assessment seemed pretty harsh to me. -- J.C. ANSWER: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that makes digestive enzymes and insulin. Acute pancreatitis can be very severe, even life-threatening on occasion. There are many causes, but the most common in North America are gallstones and alcohol. The diagnosis is made from the history and physical exam, and an elevated pancreas enzyme level, usually amylase or lipase. These often are elevated into the thousand range. A CT scan also can help confirm the diagnosis. Before concluding that alcohol is the cause of the pancreatitis, it’s important to make sure there is nothing blocking the pancreatic and common bile duct, such as a stone or tumor. The CT scan is good, but if there is doubt, an endoscopy may need to be performed. If your doctor determined that the cause is alcohol, then I’m afraid I have to agree that no amount of
• In 1964 both Kellogg’s and Post introduced cereal that had freeze-dried fruit in it. The theory was that the freeze-dried fruit would absorb moisture from the milk and be reconstituted in the bowl. Unfortunately it took so long for the fruit to rehydrate that the cereal was hopelessly soggy by the time the fruit was edible. • After winning the Olympic decathlon in 1976, Bruce Jenner was signed up to sell Wheaties. On the air, Jenner claimed he had eaten Wheaties all his life. The assistant district attorney in San Francisco brought suit against General Mills, claiming consumer fraud. They felt that Jenner hadn’t really eaten Wheaties all his life. Jenner challenged the DA to ask his mother. The suit was dropped. • In ads, the Trix rabbit is always trying to sneak a bowl of Trix cereal, but the kids constantly take it away from him, saying “Trix is for kids!” During the 1976 presidential elections, General Mills worried that this might be teaching kids a bad thing: try as you might, you’ll never reach your goal. So they put it to the vote. By sending in box-top ballots, kids were asked to vote on whether or not the rabbit would get his Trix. 99% voted yes. Amidst great fanfare, the rabbit got to eat a whole bowl on the next commercial. Then, like Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, he held out his empty bowl and asked for more— only to be told he had to wait for the next election. • In 1972, General Mills introduced a new cereal called Franken Berry with pink cereal ‘berries’ in it. Unfortunately the food dye they initially used to turn the cereal pink was not absorbed by the digestive system, so parents were alarmed to find their kids having pink bowel movements, fearing internal bleeding. The formula was quickly changed and a different dye was used. • Cheerios were originally called Cheerioats. The name was changed in 1945.
alcohol is safe. Drinking even modest amounts of wine, even months or years later, could bring about pancreatitis again. In addition to the pain and suffering that go with an episode, the more episodes of acute pancreatitis you have, the more likely you are to develop chronic pancreatitis (with constant pain), pancreatic insufficiency (leading to inability to properly digest food) and worsen your diabetes. *** DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is 61, and has twice had to take a course of vitamin D, 50,000 units weekly. I don’t understand why he isn’t taking a daily dose. -- L.D. ANSWER: It is commonly recommended for physicians to treat very low levels of vitamin D with vitamin D-2 at the high dose of 50,000 units once weekly for six to eight weeks. However, I have seen many people who, like your husband, take the course of therapy and then don’t take any daily vitamin D and just become deficient again. In most cases, I recommend vitamin D-3 at 8001,000 units daily, then rechecking the level. Some people need even more, especially if there is poor absorption, such as after gastric bypass surgery or in people with celiac disease.
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* It was early 20th-century Irish author Robert Wilson Lynd who made the following sage observation: “The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions.”
Amazing Animals
BIRD BRAINS
• In the late 1980s, scientists in Florida scattered
food pellets to attract fish to a specific spot in a bay. A great blue heron watched these proceedings and discovered that if it hung out nearby, it could feast on the fish that came up for the pellets. After several days, either the fish got wise or they had all been eaten because they stopped coming to eat the pellets. Scientists were astounded to see the heron pick up a pellet in its beak, take it a short distance down the shore, drop it in the water, and nab a fish that surfaced. • A man in Washington once tossed crackers to a raven until the raven was full and could eat no more. The raven wanted to take more crackers to its cache, but it could pick up only one cracker at a time in its beak. By the time it got back to collect the next cracker, other critters would have stolen the rest of the food. The man was astonished to see the raven solve the dilemma by tucking the crackers side by side into a snowbank one at a time. When several crackers were lined up together, the raven was able to pick them all up at one time and fly off with the entire batch. • Bill and Wilma Fisher raised birds and had about 30 parrots. Once when they were away from home at a parrot show, one of their parrots used his beak to undo the bolts that held his cage together. When the cage collapsed, the parrot escaped. He then managed to unlatch all the other cages one at a time. When the bird sitter arrived later that day, she discovered all the birds in the middle of a parrot party. • When a storm blew down the netting that enclosed the New York Zoological Society’s gigantic aviary in the 1960s, zookeepers captured as many of the remaining birds as they could, but left the netting open. Within the next few days, nearly 75% of the escaped birds returned home. (continued next page)
* If you find yourself with a dull pair of scissors, try this trick: Fold a piece of sandpaper in half, rough side out, and make repeated cuts until the blades are sharp again. * In 1980, 16 Danish seamen issued a Mayday call and abandoned their sinking ship, leaping into the frigid waters of the North Sea. Despite the fact that the water of the North Sea is so cold that it can kill a person in half an hour, all 16 sailors, who all were wearing life jackets, survived three times that
Help for Aging Brains?
The results of a long-term Swedish study suggest that help for our aging brains might be as close as the vitamin aisle in the drugstore. Vitamin B-12 was shown to slow the rate of brain aging ... probably. Homocysteine, a non-protein amino acid, is the culprit in increasing the rate of brain aging, and vitamin B-12 slows that rate. Between 2001 and 2009, some 500 participants over age 60 were examined and assessed, including medical history, cognitive function and B-12 levels. Brain volume was measured during the study. Higher levels of B-12 seemed to help lower the rate of homocystein. Not all researchers are sold on the conclusions, however. Maybe it’s another lifestyle health factor that’s involved. They do think that trials are warranted, with more in-depth looks at the levels of
Above and Beyond?
Two Department of Veterans Affairs employees are in the running as finalists for the 2016 “Sammies.” The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medal goes to government employees as a show of appreciation for their work, specifically “breaking down barriers, overcoming huge challenges and getting results.” This year’s crop of finalists includes a Homeland Security employee who worked to expose drug cartels. Other finalists worked to improve safety equipment for firefighters and police officers, promote the use of pollutionmonitoring equipment and help halt the spread of avian flu. Another prevented the collapse of a dam. Yet another used crowdsourcing, challenges and prizes as a means of solving national problems. The VA’s first employee finalist to be nominated (a director) “created two
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long, and all were alive when rescuers arrived 90 minutes later. The sailors were immediately taken below decks on the rescue ship, wrapped in blankets and given warm drinks. Seems like a happy ending, doesn’t it? Nope. After reaching supposed safety, all 16 of the rescued sailors suddenly dropped dead. * The word “infant” is derived from the Latin word “infans,” which means “unable to speak.” * If you’re a pet owner, you probably know that the epidemic of obesity is not limited to humans; many pets are overweight, too. You might be surprised to learn, though, that some pet owners choose to deal with the problem in a way that we usually associate only with people: liposuction. Yes, you can get cosmetic surgery for your pets. * Those who study such things say that in Norway, there are 1,800 lakes that have no fish at all.
homocysteine and B-12. At the same time, they point to a previous study with basically the same results, this time with participants over age 70 who already had mild cognitive impairment and received a few vitamins, not just B-12. There was less brain volume loss in those who took the vitamins. In yet another study, B-12 deficiency was associated with cognitive ability difficulty on tests. So where does that leave us? Still unsure about the actual mechanism of vitamin B-12 as it pertains to counteracting loss of brain volume, at least until researchers satisfy their need for longer-term trials with every parameter and detail to their liking. Meanwhile, unless we get the all-clear from our doctor to take a vitamin B-12 tablet every day, there are a few additions to our diet that might help, if the study results are true. Sardines and beef liver have more than enough B-12. Even milk and salmon have enough for the daily requirement, as do Swiss cheese and eggs.
nationwide programs to help high-risk, highneed veterans receive the comprehensive medical care, housing assistance and social services they need.” He oversees programs at 62 VA medical facilities. The second VA finalist (a deputy director who oversees 300 staffers) “reduced recidivism among veterans caught up in the criminal justice system and lowered their chances of becoming homeless by providing housing, job counseling and mental health and drugtreatment services.” Color me confused.Are their accomplishments -- helping veterans -- not the goals of the VA as a whole? Shouldn’t every employee at the VA be working toward the same level of care for all veterans? When it comes to handing out awards for going above and beyond, I’d much rather give my kudos to those at the bottom of the pile: those who are down in the trenches, working face-to-face with veterans who need care or housing or a leg up or a claim completed in a decent timeframe, or even those whistleblowers who bring attention to the many things that are wrong at the VA.
Future Collectibles Q: I am curious about what you think future collectibles will be. -- Sam, Lexington, Kentucky A: Early computers, vintage video games and toys from the 1990s are on my list of future collectibles. Always collectible are political items from national campaigns. VCR movies are presently selling at many thrift stores for about a dollar each. Some titles will certainly increase in value during the next decade or so. Movie posters are a good bet, especially
for big hits such as Academy Award winners. “Spotlight,” this year’s Picture of the Year, has already increased in value, from about $5 for the one-sheet just a few months ago to its present price of $30. Kitchen gadgets from the 1970s are becoming popular. As that interest increases, so will the prices. *** Q: I have a number of books, and I would like to know their current values. Many are first editions, and almost all are from the 1920s and ‘30s. I live in a rural area where there are no book dealers who can help me. -- Maryanne, Ward, Colorado A: One of the better websites is www.abe.com. Go to that site, and type in both the author and title. Pay close attention to editions, since usually dozens will appear listed. Keep in mind that condition is extremely important. Sometimes more than half of the value hinges on the cover being present and intact. ***
Q: My grandma gave me a Bakelite radio recently: a Philco, Model 49-501. It is called the “Boomerang” because of its style. -- Ken, Austin, Texas A: Go give your grandmother a big hug. Your radio was manufactured in 1949 and is worth about $500, according to the “Radio and Television Price Guide” edited by Kyle Husfloen and published by Krause Books. *** Q: I am searching for a stamp price guide so I can determine the value of several that I have. For example, I have three baseball-related stamps. -- David, Moravia, New York A: There are several excellent stamp price guides available. One of the better basic ones is “Warman’s U.S. Stamps Field Guide” by Maurice Wozniak (Krause Books). There are copies available at amazon.com.
BIRD BRAINS (cont’d) • King Henry VIII had a pet parrot that one day fell unnoticed into the Thames River. It was rescued only because it raucously squawked, “Boat! Boat!” • A parrot listed in the Guinness Book of World Records had a vocabulary of 531 words. He could recite eight nursery rhymes in a single breath without mistake. CHICKADEE FACTS • Chickadees hide seeds in holes in trees where they will stay safe until retrieved and eaten. One researcher wanted to test the memory of chickadees, so he arranged a forest of
artificial trees. Each tree had holes and each hole had a door which could either be open or closed. He gave his experimental chickadees some sunflower seeds to store when all the doors were opened. He watched where they stashed the seeds, then chased the birds away. He removed all the seeds, then closed every door— whether or not it had contained seeds. This way all the holes looked and smelled the same. Then he let the birds back in. The birds invariably searched the holes where they had stashed seeds 24 hours earlier. They tore the doors off searching for their seeds and ignored the holes where they had not placed seeds.
• For his next experiment, he set out to see if they could remember the holes they had already visited. After storing the seeds, he chased the birds out of the aviary and didn’t let them back in for 24 hours. He gave them enough time to visit half of the holes to retrieve their seeds, then chased them out again. 24 hours later he allowed them in a second time, this time with all the doors closed once again and all the remaining seeds removed. Still, the chickadees went back to each hole that had once contained seeds, but they didn’t bother going back to the holes they had visited the previous day. It seems that the memory of a chickadee is very good indeed.
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OAT MILL and OAT MEAL
• When Henry Parsons Crowell bought a small bankrupt oat mill for a few thousand dollars in the mid-1800s, he soon found that he had a major competitor whose name was Ferdinand Schumacher. Schumacher had a near monopoly on oats, having invented a better oat-milling device which allowed him to produce oats faster and cheaper than anyone else. He was ruthless in his business dealings and sent many other oat dealers out of business by undercutting their prices. • However, Crowell discovered that Schumacher sold oats only in 180-pound (82 kg) barrels, which were kept, usually without lids, in the back of stores. Crowell knew he couldn’t out produce Schumacher, so he decided to compete with him by adding new features. • Crowell sold his oats in two pound (.9 kg) packages, advertising that his re-sealable cartons kept his oats free from dirt, disease, animals, and insects. Cooking instructions were printed on the package, as well as recipes. Crowell’s oats became the first food product boasting a four-color printed carton, and it was the first product to offer sample miniatures. • Crowell’s was also the first business to add another new feature: premiums, in which boxtops could be redeemed for dishes and kitchen items. Soon Crowell’s oat company was a food processing giant, and he eventually bought Schumacher out. By the time Crowell died in 1943, he was one of the wealthiest men in Chicago. • His company, whose name summons images of honesty and integrity, still sells oats in familiar round cartons. What’s the name of Crowell’s company, now one of the largest manufacturers of breakfast foods in the world with headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa? (answer at top of page)
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Answer: Quaker Oats.
the holder ownership of one square inch of property on the Yukon River, 12 miles north of Dawson. Quaker had actually purchased a 19-acre tract and split it into 21 million subdivisions of an inch each. • One man collected 10,000 of the deeds which he said entitled him to a 75-foot square plot, although the company pointed out that his oneinch deeds were not adjacent to each other. • The Canadian government eventually reclaimed the land for failure to pay $37 in back taxes. Today the deeds are worth about $40 for their value to collectors. • The promotional stunt was so successful that later Quaker offered one cubic inch of genuine Yukon dirt in each box of cereal. OAT FACTS • About 95% of oats produced in the world are fed to livestock, with only about 5% of the world crop being consumed by humans. • 80% of American households have oatmeal in their pantries. • January is the top month for oatmeal sales. • For steel-cut oats, the grains are sliced thin by a set of steel blades, while old-fashioned oats are steamed and then rolled to produce a flattened shape. Steel-cut oats take longer to cook and may have a bit more fiber. The more the oats are flattened and steamed, the quicker they cook – and the softer they become. • Studies have shown that eating 3 grams of oat fiber per day (about the amount in a one-cup serving) can lower total cholesterol by 8% to 23%.
THE GREAT LAND GIVE-AWAY • In 1955, Quaker Oats offered a special prize in every box of Quaker Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereal. The cereal company sponsored a TV show called “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” and the prize was a deed granting
1. Wade Boggs, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. 2. Boston’s Pedro Martinez (1999). 3. It was the 1990 season. 4. Gene Bartow (1976, ‘77), Gary Cunningham (‘78, ‘79) and Steve Lavin (‘97, ‘98). 5. J.P. Parise. 6. Columbus’ Adrian Paz scored in 26 seconds in 1996. 7. Michigan and Texas, with 12 each.
Answers 1. Kia Motors Corp. 2. Felix Mendelssohn 3. Off England’s southern coast 4. Brown pelican 5. Jake and Elwood 6. Thomas Sullivan 7. Potassium (original Latin name was kalium) 8. German Shepherd 9. Orange, green and purple 10. Eleanor Roosevelt