Tommy Contest Page 5
of the River Region
May 21, 2019 Published by PTK Corp.
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read® To place an Ad, call: (334) 452-9296 TIDBITS® USES
MILITARY WORDS by Janet Spencer
Come along with Tidbits as we discover the military origins of common words! WORDS OF WAR • An A-team is an advance team, and the term is short for the full name of Operational Detachment Alpha, a set of U.S. Special Forces operatives deployed behind enemy lines. The A-team would consist of 12 men: two officers, two experts in weapons, two skilled in engineering and demolition, two in intelligence and operations, two in communications, and two in medicine. • When British army officers were calling troops for a short day trip, soldiers would be asked to carry a bag with them containing what they would need for the day. If the encampment was to be moved entirely, they’d be asked to carry “bag and baggage.” • The Turkish word “baliklava” means “fishing ground” and is the origin of the name of the city Balaklava located on the Crimean peninsula. During the Crimean War, British troops stationed there suffered from the cold. Their wives and girlfriends knitted caps that covered the entire head. The troops called this cap a balaclava, and their popularity was ensured following the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the war. • During the Spanish-American War, American marines fighting Filipino guerrillas heard them talking about being in the “bundok” meaning a hill or mountain, and also denoting any remote location. We now call it “the boondocks” or “the (Continued next page)
Vol 8 Issue 21 shannon@riverregiontidbits.com
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Tidbits® of the River Region (Front page continued)
1. Is the book of Luke in the Old or New Testament or neither? 2. What just and devout man held the baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph presented Him at the temple? Cyrenius, Ham, Simeon, Zara 3. Which of these books comes before the other three in the Old Testament (KJV)? Nahum, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Daniel 4. What sign sealed God’s promise not to destroy the earth ever again by a flood? Solar eclipse, Rainbow, Full moon, Ocean wave 5. From Proverbs 29 what does the fear of man bring? A snare, Redemption, Love of life, Death 6. Whose daughter found the infant Moses in the river? David, Pharaoh, Solomon, Timothy Sharpen your understanding of scripture with Wilson’s Casey’s book “Test Your Bible Knowledge,” available in stores and online. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
boonies.” • In the 1400s in Hungary, army generals realized that soldiers who got a ride to the front lines would arrive fresher and fight harder than soldiers who had to march to the front lines. They commissioned the construction of many wagons to carry soldiers. Carpenters in the town of Kocs near Budapest built a fleet, calling them “kocszekkers” meaning “Kocs wagon.” After the wars ended, the wagons were used by the citizens for transport. The English started using similar wagons, shortening the name to “kocs” and pronouncing it “kotch” which then became “coach” denoting not only a vehicle that could carry you, but also a tutor who could “transport” you to a sure win. • Trench foot is caused by standing in cold wet conditions for too long. It first became common during World War I when soldiers were inhabiting trenches for long periods of time with inadequate footwear. Anyone who came down with trench foot was immediately excused from warfare and sent to the hospital to heal. Thus, soldiers who wanted a ticket out of battle would do whatever they could to get trench foot, and then hide the condition until just before a battle started, when they would report to the medical officer and be sent away to heal. This became known as getting “cold feet.” • In the military, a “field day” is a day set aside for field maneuvers and review, entailing equal amounts of pomposity and celebration. Today a field day is any event when too much fuss is made over a minor thing. • When armies were preparing for battle, they would dig a series of ditches where they could retreat if they needed to regroup. If they found themselves in the final trench, then they needed to make “a last ditch effort” to stand and fight, or die. • During World War I, to go “over the top” meant to scale the sides of a trench and commence an attack, an ordeal accompanied by much shouting. Today anything that is “over the top” is an overreaction. • The word “harbor” is Olde English and means “shelter” or “refuge.” The word “harbinger” springs from that, and denotes someone in the army whose job it was to proceed in advance of an army to secure shelter and supplies for the troops. Upon seeing the harbinger in their town, residents would be filled with dread, knowing that the coming horde of troops were about to eat them out of house and home without leaving anything in return. • In the 1700s, the quartermaster in the French army was in charge of finding lodging for soldiers on the move. The French word “loger” meaning “lodge” is the root of the term “logistiques” describing the duties of the position, and we now spell it “logistics.” • In 1811, Colonel Inglis was leading the British at the battle of Albuera in Spain. They were pinned down by heavy French fire and their position was tenuous at best. Inglis shouted to his men, “Stand your ground and die hard! Die hard and make the enemy pay dear for each of us!” During the battle, 438 out of 579 men died, and the regiment was (Continued next page)
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thereafter called “The Diehards.” The term now denotes anyone who refuses to yield despite the odds. • There was a certain protocol involved in delivering a dishonorable discharge to an officer: He was ordered to face the drum squad while the charges against him were read out loud. While the drums beat, his sword would be broken and the buttons ripped from his uniform. Then the musicians would play a song called “The Rogue’s March” as the disgraced officer was forced to walk the length of the parade ground with his head hung in shame in front of the assembled troops. This is the origin of two phrases: “Face the music” and “being drummed out.” • Many people assume that the abbreviation “G.I.” stands for “government issue” but it’s actually an abbreviation for “galvanized iron.” This is because things like trash cans and buckets distributed widely throughout military camps were stamped with the identifying mark “Bucket, G.I.” to indicate they were constructed of “galvanized iron.” Afterwards, “G.I.” came to mean anything or anyone that was solid and reliable. • In the days of large horse-drawn artillery, the “limber” referred to the part of the gun carriage that included the wheels, the ammunition chests, and the part that attached to the horses. This limber needed to be removed to use the guns, and attached to move the guns. The call to “limber up” meant to prepare the guns to be moved to the next location. The more quickly a battery could limber up, the better. • The English slang word for Prussia was “Pruce” or “Spruce.” The Prussian army was noted for its spit-and-polish approach to every detail of army life, after which “spruce” came to mean anything that was particularly tidy. A type of tree that grows straight and tall while being uniform in appearance was subsequently named spruce.
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Tidbits® of the River Region
Page 4 REMARKABLE PEOPLE:
IVA TOGURI
• Iva Toguri was born in Los Angeles in 1916, the daughter of Japanese immigrants. She grew up thoroughly American, yet she was also steeped in her Japanese heritage. • In 1941, Iva’s parents asked her to travel to Japan to care for an elderly aunt. Although the State Department issued the proper travel papers, she did not have a passport. She applied for a passport in Japan, but all efforts were foiled by the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Now she was stuck in Japan. • Japanese officials tried to convince Iva to renounce her American citizenship but she refused. She was subsequently declared to be an enemy alien and was unable to secure a war ration card for herself. She got a job as a typist at Radio Tokyo. Despite her meager salary, she risked her life to smuggle food into a nearby POW camp where soldiers were being held. There she became acquainted with Australian Army Major Charles Cousens. • In 1943, the Japanese government asked Radio Tokyo to begin broadcasting war propaganda over the airwaves. The programming was designed to demoralize enemy soldiers who might be listening to the radio. In order to accomplish this, POWs who had experience in broadcasting were coerced into helping produce the programming. Because she was a native English speaker, Iva was recruited for this position as well. This is how Iva began working side by side with Charles Cousens, who had previously worked as a radio broadcaster in his native Australia. • Because Iva and Cousens both spoke English and were familiar with the American culture, they were able to slip inside jokes and cultural references into their broadcasts that Japanese listeners failed to understand. • Iva’s radio name was “Orphan Annie.” There (Continued next page)
Outstanding Warrants:
Williams, Samuel DOB: 08/04/1980 Black/Male 6’1” 230 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
Wanted for: Domestic Violence 2nd/ Domestic Violence Second Assault
by Samantha Weaver * The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny ...’.” -- Isaac Asimov * If you’re planning a summer vacation in Maine this year, you might want to keep in mind that in that state, it’s against the law to tickle a woman under the chin with a feather duster. * You might be surprised to learn that drinking tea increased the life expectancy of the British -- and even more surprised to learn why. It wasn’t any beneficial compound found in the tea itself; rather, it was the act of boiling the water, which had the effect of killing pathogens found in the untreated water that was largely in use in England at that time. Also, once the Brits started drinking tea, they became addicted to the caffeine and therefore drank quite a bit more boiled water than had been their wont, decreasing even further their exposure to the pathogens that caused illness. * You’ve doubtless heard of paranoia, but you’re likely not familiar with metanoia. “A profound transformation in one’s outlook” isn’t terribly common considering today’s deep societal divisions. * Food for thought: What could you do with an extra $1,500? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every person in an American home, almost 300 pounds of food is thrown out each year. For a family of four, this amounts to about $1,500 in waste annually. * Researchers in Greece who recently completed a study on napping found that men who nap at least three times a week were at a 37 percent lower risk for heart-related death. So now you have an excuse to do what you want to do anyway. *** Thought for the Day: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe.” -Ð Steve Jobs (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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were many other female Japanese radio DJs, and collectively they became known as “Tokyo Rose” among the soldiers. • When Japan surrendered in 1945, Iva wanted to get back to the U.S. but she had no money. Meanwhile, the Hearst media company circulated ads offering $2,000 cash for an interview with the famous “Tokyo Rose.” This was equal to a year’s wages, and Iva responded hoping the money would help her get back to the U.S. Instead, she was arrested. She spent a year in an American prison in Japan while the FBI tried to find evidence. Charles Cousens fought on her behalf. • Released after a year, Iva petitioned to be able to return to the U.S. Her efforts were foiled by radio host Walter Winchell, who whipped up anti-Japanese sentiment against her. She was extradited to San Francisco where she became the 7th person in U.S. history to be charged with treason. The trial was the longest and most expensive in American history at the time, lasting 13 weeks and costing the equivalent of $5 million. She was found guilty of “speaking into a microphone concerning the loss of ships.” She received a $10,000 fine and a ten year prison sentence. She served six years of the sentence, and moved to Chicago when she was released. • Charles Cousens returned to Australia after the war, where he also faced charges of treason. Although charges were dropped, he was stripped of his commission. He made his living in broadcasting until his death in 1964. • President Gerald Ford granted Iva an unconditional pardon on his last day in office in 1977, and restored her to full American citizenship. Iva Toguri lived in Chicago until her death at the age of 90 in 2006.
By Chris Richcreek
1. Six pitchers have won an MVP Award in majorleague baseball since 1972. Name three of them. 2. Barry Bonds (762), Babe Ruth (714) and Ken Griffey Jr. (630) are the top three left-handed hitters on the career home run list in major-league baseball. Who is No. 4? 3. When was the last time before 2015-16 that the Washington Redskins had back-to-back winning seasons? 4. Name the first player in Kansas State men’s basketball history to have at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals for a career. 5. In 2019, Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog became the second player in the 2011 NHL draft class to reach the 400-point mark for his career. Who was the first from that class to do it? 6. Gwen Jorgensen, in 2016, became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the triathlon. Who was the only other U.S. female athlete to win a medal in the triathlon? 7. Which two golfers have won the PGA’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am the most times? (c) 2019 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Debbie Bryant Please call 334-452-9296 within 7 days of this issue to claim your prize!
Tommy Count ______ This week’s winner receives
2 Dozen Glazed Doughnuts from
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts 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. River Region Vision Source, p.1 2. Hart Spine & Rehab, p.5
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TidbitsÂŽ of the River Region
Credit Cards Now Accepted
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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1) New; 2) Simeon; 3) Ecclesiastes; 4) Rainbow; 5) A snare; 6) Pharaoh
1. Rollie Fingers (1981), Willie Hernandez (‘84), Roger Clemens (‘86), Dennis Eckersley (‘92), Justin Verlander (2011) and Clayton Kershaw (‘14). 2. Jim Thome, with 612 home runs. 3. It was 1996-97. 4. Wes Iwundu (2013-17). 5. Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. 6. Susan Williams won a bronze medal in 2004. 7. Mark O’Meara and Phil Mickelson each won it five times.
• Jail: short-term detention, often for people who have not yet gone to trial. Lock-up: shortterm detention in a police station. Holding cell: a jail inside a courthouse. Work house: A county jail housing inmates with short-term sentences. Prison, Penitentiary: Confinement for long-term and hard-core inmates, also referred to as penal institutions or correctional institutions. • Coup: short for coup d’état (“blow to the state”) an unconstitutional seizure of governmental power by a small group, normally with the help of the military. Revolution: an uprising across a large swath of the population. Junta: (Spanish for “council”) the person or group who comes into power following a coup or revolution. • Dark Ages: Generally considered to be the 500 years following the fall of Rome in 470 A.D. Europe was overrun at various times by groups of Huns, Goths, Vandals, Angles, Saxons, and Vikings. Although Romans had been fairly literate, literacy rates fell during this period and little exists in the way of written history to tell us what happened during this time, leading to the name of “Dark Ages.” Middle Ages: Encompassed the Dark Ages and included the years up to the Renaissance which began around the year 1300. The Renaissance marked the revival of classical-based art and learning in Europe. The word “medieval” comes from the Latin words meaning literally “middle age.” The word “renaissance” comes from the French “renaistre” meaning “to be born again.” • Donkey: a species descended from the African wild ass, having 62 chromosomes and able to reproduce normally. Mule: offspring of a female horse and a male donkey (a “jack” if male and a “hinny” if female), having 63 chromosomes and is sterile. • Flotsom: A ship’s cargo that floats on the water after a shipwreck, from the old French “floter” meaning “to set afloat.” Jetsam: Heavy items tossed overboard (“jettisoned”) in order to stabilize a ship in danger of sinking. Jetsam sinks. From the Old French “getaison” meaning “a throwing.” • Gourmet: a connoisseur of fine foods. Gourmand: a glutton. • Anti-perspirant: an astringent such as aluminum salts which blocks pores, preventing them from releasing sweat. Deodorant: kills the bacteria that feed on sweat and cause the odor, but still allows sweating to occur naturally. • Cyclone: any storm in which winds spiral inward. Tornado: a circular storm that happens over land, usually between 30 and 300 feet in diameter. Waterspout: a tornado that passes over water. Hurricane: a tropical cyclone that happens in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. Typhoon: a tropical cyclone that happens in the western Pacific. • Asteroid: a large rocky body in space which remains in orbit around a larger item in space. Meteoroid: a very small rocky body in space which remains in orbit around another item in space. Meteor: a meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up, also called a shooting star. Meteorite: A meteor that enters Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the ground • Steer: a castrated bull, slaughtered for beef upon maturity. Ox: a steer who is trained to work instead of being slaughtered. Bull: a mature intact male bovine used for breeding. Heifer: a young female cow that has never been bred. Calf: a baby cow, male or female, that is still reliant on its mother for milk. • Midget: Short but normally proportioned. Dwarf: Short but not normally proportioned.
* On May 20, 1873, San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and Reno, Nevada, tailor Jacob Davis are granted a patent for work pants reinforced with metal rivets, then known as “waist overalls.” It marked the birth of one of the world’s most famous garments: blue jeans. * On May 23, 1911, the New York Public Library, the largest marble structure ever built in the United States, is dedicated in New York City. It took 14 years to complete. The next day some 40,000 people passed through its doors. The collection already consisted of more than a million books. * On May 25, 1927, Robert Ludlum, the author of 21 best-selling thrillers, including the Jason Bourne spy novels, is born in New York City. Ludlum sold more than 300 million books before his death in 2001. * On May 21, 1932, aviator Amelia Earhart flies solo across the North Atlantic, five years after aviator Charles Lindberg made the first solo flight. Earhart traveled over 2,000 miles from Newfoundland to Ireland in under 15 hours. * On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves, only to lose the game on a two-run double in the 13th inning. It was the first time in major-league history that a pitcher threw more than nine perfect innings. * On May 22, 1972, President Richard Nixon arrives in Moscow for a summit with Soviet leaders. Although it was Nixon’s first visit to the USSR as president, he had visited Moscow once before -- as U.S. vice president in 1959. * On May 24, 1964, a referee’s call in a soccer match between Peru and Argentina sparks a riot. More than 300 fans were killed and another 500 injured in the violent melee at National Stadium in Lima, Peru. (c) 2019 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Surprise Mom With Puff Pancake Minis Celebrate Mom on Mother’s Day with a homemade breakfast surprise. This recipe is a twist on a delicious puff pancake, also called a Dutch baby, which typically is baked in a large cast-iron skillet. Just as dramatic and easy to prepare, this version bakes 12 perfectly portioned mini puff pancakes using a nonstick muffin tin. Serve them piping hot, right out of the oven, and top with fresh fruit, maple syrup or other favorite toppings. Make Mom’s serving extra special. Set her plate on a paper placemat drawn and decorated just for her by the kids, with a mini bouquet of fresh flowers arranged to the side. MINI PUFF PANCAKES 4 eggs 3/4 cup milk 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla Topping: fresh berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and sliced strawberries 1 tablespoon powdered sugar Maple syrup (optional) 2 tablespoons firm unsalted butter (for muffin pan) 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Cut butter into 12 equal pieces and place one piece in each cup of a 12-cup nonstick muffin pan. 2. Let one of your kids count and crack the eggs into a bowl. Inspect it to be sure there are no remaining shells. Whisk together. 3. Another child may measure and gradually whisk in the milk, flour, salt and vanilla. Let the batter rest for about 10 minutes. 4. An adult should place the muffin tin in the oven until it is hot and the butter is melted and beginning to sizzle. Gently whisk the batter to smooth it out, then pour batter into each cup, filling them 2/3 full. 5. Place in the oven and bake until the puff pancakes are puffed up and golden brown around the edges, about 16-18 minutes. 6. When removed from the oven, they will begin to deflate. Run a spatula around the edges and gently lift each one from the pan onto plates. 7. To serve, add berries and sift powdered sugar on top. Drizzle with maple syrup, if you wish. Makes 12 mini pancakes. Blender method for steps 1-3: Place cracked eggs, milk, flour, vanilla and salt in a blender and whirl for one minute. Scrape down any flour that clings to the sides. Whirl for an additional 30 seconds. Let rest and proceed with step 4. Extra idea: Bake blueberry puff pancake minis. Once the batter has been poured into the muffin cups, scatter a few blueberries over the top of each one before returning the pan to the oven. *** Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” (c) 2019 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.
Tidbits® of the River Region
1. Which artist first released “Don’t Turn Around”? 2. What the group started out as The Melody Makers? 3. Name the former Humble Pie bandmember who had a debut solo album entitled “Wind of Change.” 4. Who was the first to record “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”? 5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “With music by our side to break the color lines, Let’s work together to improve our way of life, Join voices in protest to social injustice.” Answers 1. Tina Turner, as a b-side single in 1986. “Don’t Turn Around” has been covered by a number of artists, notably Aswad in 1988, Ace of Base in 1994 and Milow in 2017. 2. Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, made up of four of Bob Marley’s 10 children. They started with “Children Playing in the Streets” in 1979, with royalties going to a United Nations children’s fund. 3. Peter Frampton, in 1972. 4. Nancy Wilson, in 1964. She netted a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording. 5. “Rhythm Nation,” by Janet Jackson in 1989. She combined social themes with danceable melodies on her “Rhythm Nation 1814” album, which included this song. It went to No. 1 in the U.S. on the dance club charts. (c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.