TidbitsMOV Issue #1240 Long And Short Of It

The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read

TIDBITS® LOOKS AT THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

by Kathy Wolfe

Tidbits isn’t short on the facts this week! Stay with us as we bring you the details on the longest and shortest of all kinds of things.

• You might think that Russian author Leo Tolstoy’s epic historical novel “War and Peace” would be the world’s longest book with 587,287 words. But it’s not even close to “Remembrance of Things Past,” published in 1913 by Marcel Proust. It’s a book of this French author’s recollections of childhood and young adulthood, and reflections on the pursuit of truth and the meaning of life. It not only consists of nearly 1.3 million words, it contains some very long sentences, the longest being 958 words.

• Out of the 206 bones in an adult human body (which make up 15% of body weight), the longest is the femur, the only bone in the thigh. Stretching from the hip to the knee, the femur is typically nearly 20 inches (50 cm) long in adults, and all other leg bones are attached to its bottom portion. It’s also the body’s strongest bone, supporting the weight of the body and helping a person move. The shortest bone is the stirrup bone, also known as the stapes. Located in the middle ear, it’s about 3 mm long in an adult, and is essential for transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear. It was reportedly discovered in 1546 by a professor at Italy’s Universityof Naples.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT (continued):

• Some marriages just don’t last! Actor/ comedian Eddie Murphy remained married to Tracey Edmonds for only two weeks in 2008. Nicolas Cage and his make-up artist wife Erika Koike made it four days after their Las Vegas wedding in 2019. Cage revealed that both he and his wife were intoxicated at the time and that he “lacked understanding of his actions.” Britney Spears was married to her first husband Jason Alexander for a mere 55 hours in 2004. Yet none of these short-term unions can match a couple from Kuwait who were married just three minutes before the bride demanded a divorce from the judge who had just married them. Apparently, the new bride tripped on her way out of the courthouse, and rather than coming to her aid, her new husband called her “stupid.” And that was the end of that!

• The world’s longest beard has a home at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History. Measuring 17 feet, 6 inches (5.33 m) in length, the beard belonged to North Dakotan Hans Langseth, who died in 1927. Langseth was a Norwegian immigrant who was 19 years old when he signed up to compete in a local beard-growing competition. He kept the beard growing after the conclusion of the contest until his death at age 81. It was Lanseth’s final wish that his beard be preserved after his death. Following his open-casket funeral, his children cut the beard off, leaving 12 inches (30.5 cm) to be buried with him. Canadian resident Sarwan Singh has longest beard on a living person with whiskers measuring 8 feet, 3 inches (2.54 m) as of March, 2023.

• Most lighthouses range in height from 33 feet (10 m) to 208 feet (63 m). Devon, England’s Berry Head Lighthouse is nowhere near that. This active lighthouse, in operation since 1906, stands just 16 feet (5 m) tall.

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THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

(continued):

• China has the world’s longest bridge, covering a distance of about 102.4 miles (164,800 m). The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge required 10,000 contractors working for four years to complete its span. The El Marco Bridge between Portugal and Spain, with a length of just 10.4 feet (3.2 m) is the shortest international bridge in the world.

• Ninth U.S. President William Henry Harrison is noteworthy for the shortest presidency in U.S. history, just 31 days. It was a cold, wet day on March 4, 1841, the day of Harrison’s inauguration. He defied the weather by leaving his coat and hat behind, riding on horseback in the chilly conditions to the ceremony. Once there, he delivered the longest inaugural address in the country’s history, standing in the cold for nearly two hours. He worsened the situation with a long walk each day, often in inclement weather. Twenty-four days after his inauguration, he came down with a vicious cold, and on April 4, illness took Harrison’s life, the first U.S. President to die in office. Although it was proclaimed that his illness was caused by bad weather, it was later speculated that Harrison very likely died of septic shock from typhoid, due to the White House’s water supply being downstream from public sewage.

• The Dutch Caribbean island of Saba is home to the world’s shortest commercial airline runway in the world, just 1,312 feet (400 m) long, just a shade longer than an aircraft carrier. Of that, only 900 feet (274 m) are usable. Located at the island’s Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, the runway has sheer drop-offs into the sea at each end. China’s Qamdo Bamda Airport in the Himalayan Mountain range has the world’s longest paved runway, measuring 18,045 feet (5,500 m). It’s easily able to handle the 10,200 feet (3,100 m) of runway required for a fullyloaded Boeing 747-8 to take off.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

(continued):

• A 21-year-old Iranian man named Afshin Ghaderzadeh has been declared the world’s shortest living man, standing just 2 ft., 1.6 inches (65.24 cm) tall. His birth weight was just 1.5 lbs. (700 grams), and he now weighs in about at 14.3 lbs. (6.5 kg). Thirtyyear-old Jyoti Amge of India is the shortest living woman in the world, measuring 2 feet, 0.72 inches (62.8 cm) tall, shorter than the average two-year-old.

• The world’s shortest war took place in 1896 between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The British Empire wanted Zanzibar to be completely under British rule. The Sultan was pro-British, and died very suddenly in suspicious circumstances. His nephew, suspected of assassination, quickly moved into the palace, declaring himself ruler. The British Empire attacked, killing approximately 500 Zanzibar men and women. The entire conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes.

• There’s some debate as to which is the shortest river in the world. Great Falls, Montana has laid claim with its Roe River, running 201 feet (61 m), but Lincoln City, Oregon, disagrees, citing its “D” River at just 120 feet (36.5m). Yet new data points to the Reprua River in the Republic of Abkhazia on the coast of the Black Sea, just 59 feet (18 m) long. How can these even be called rivers? In order to be classified as such, a river must have constant flowing water received from upland sources, ending in seas, lakes, or wetlands. These short streams of water all qualify.

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Discover the Magic of Irish Soda Bread: A Taste of Ireland's Cul-

inary Tradition

As St. Patrick's Day approaches, what better way to celebrate than by embarking on a journey into the heart of Ireland with the timehonored tradition of making hearty, soulwarming Irish soda bread?

Irish soda bread is not just a tasty treat, it's also a symbol of Irish heritage and resilience. Its humble origins reflect the resourcefulness of the Irish people during challenging times, making it a beloved part of Irish culinary tradition. There is an organization The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread that is very serious about defending this tradition. So, I'd better get it right.

One of the charms of Irish soda bread lies in its simplicity. Traditional recipes call for just four main ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk (although I add a pinch of sugar to mine). This straightforward recipe makes it easy to whip up a loaf at a moment's notice with the bonus of costing less than a dollar! This truly qualifies as frugal and fabulous. Unlike yeast bread, which requires time for the dough to rise, Irish soda bread can be made quickly. The wheat grown in Ireland is very soft with low protein, like cake flour, and doesn't rise well using yeast. But it's perfect for making soda bread. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acidic buttermilk causes the bread to rise immediately, resulting in a loaf that's ready to bake right away.

There is a charming folk belief surrounding the cross sliced into Irish soda bread. While the practical purpose of the cross is indeed to help the bread bake evenly, folklore suggests that it also serves another, more whimsical function: to let the fairies out. According to this tradition, the cross is meant to ward off evil spirits and protect the household.

TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD

Yield: One loaf or 4 to 6 servings

Total Time: 1 hour

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 3/4 cups (14 ounces) buttermilk or soured milk, see below

If you're going to "sour" milk instead of using buttermilk, mix 1 3/4 cups milk with 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice. Let this rest for 5 minutes. It should look slightly curdled. If it's not, then add a bit more vinegar or lemon.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, sift and combine the dry ingredients. Make a well in the middle and add buttermilk, mixing by hand or with a fork to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead, just enough to bring it together into a round. Resist the urge to over knead, or the bread will be gummy. Form a round flat shape and cut a cross in the top of the dough to bake more evenly (and let the fairies out).

You have choices for how to bake this: You can bake it in an oiled but not preheated cast iron skillet, in a greased and floured round cake pan or on a greased baking sheet. They all

1. Name the longest river in the world.

2. What is the longest book in the Bible?

work. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. When done, the bottom of the bread will sound hollow when tapped. I like to brush the crust with melted butter. Serve warm, slathered with more butter. Irish soda bread is not only a tasty and versatile treat, but it also carries with it a rich history and cultural significance. Plus, it's a cinch to make! Why not give it a try in your own kitchen? Erin go bragh! ***

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the pennypinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Irish soda bread pairs well with butter and jam, use it for sandwiches, or alongside a hearty stew.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com

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Don’t Look now, but your Tidbits are showing!!

LEGOS

This week, Tidbits stacks up the facts on the favorite creative toy of millions, Lego bricks.

• In 1932, Ole Kirk Christiansen was the 41year-old owner of a woodworking shop in Denmark, a carpenter specializing in furniture making. That year, because his furniture business was in a slump, Christiansen made the decision to expand into the production of wooden toys, including pullalong animals, yo-yos, and trucks. It wasn’t enough to keep him from bankruptcy, but a bail-out loan from his siblings allowed him to keep the company afloat.

• Christiansen chose to focus strictly on toys, and in 1934, he renamed his toy company “Leg godt,” Danish for “play well.” The toys were produced from birch wood cut from nearby forests, with pieces dried out for two years, followed by three weeks of drying in a kiln. Each toy was protected with three coats of varnish

• By 1947, Christiansen’s sons were a key part of the company, and suggested attending a demonstration of a plastic injection-molding machine. With the purchase of the machine, the Lego company’s focus switched to developing a plastic brick. It was a difficult challenge for father Ole Kirk to embrace, as his entire career had been spent working with wood. Early plastic Lego bricks merely stacked upon each other like traditional wooden blocks. The company used the next few years to modify the plastic brick into a self-locking one with hollow tubes on the underside and raised studs on top. The patent for the interlocking Lego brick was issued in Copenhagen in 1958.

• Initial sales were poor, due to customers’ preference for wooden or metal toys. Several shipments were returned from vendors.

(Continued page #7)

Homemade Treats

DEAR PAW'S CORNER:

Mynew puppy's trainingis goingverywell, and he responds verywell to rewards of little treats. Iworryabout feedinghim so manyprocessed, store-bought snacks though. What are some natural or homemade alternatives for treats? Maggie T., Nashua, N.H

A: Many alternative recipes for homemade doggie treats are available on the internet and at the bookstore, but the healthiest ones share many common features. This means that you can find quite a few good recipes out there, or develop a few of your own.

Common ingredients in dog treats are meat protein (either from fresh meats, broths or strained baby foods), whole-grain flours (like wheat, oats, corn or rice), eggs and powdered supplements (like brewer's yeast or garlic). A variety of flavorings can be added, including peanut butter, sugar or molasses, vanilla, salt, and small amounts of cheese or milk. Dry or instant yeast can be added to biscuit-type recipes, to allow the dough to rise before baking.

A popular training asset is liver treats, which can be made fairly easy and which last about four to five days if stored properly (in an airtight container and refrigerated). Chicken livers, eggs and sweetener are pureed, flour or cornmeal is mixed in (some owners add powdered supplements as well) and the mixture is baked, cooled and sliced into bite-size treats.

Certain foods are never safe for dogs, so don't use any recipe that contains these ingredients: chocolate, onions, raisins/grapes or macadamia nuts. They seem like fairly innocent foods, but can cause serious health problems in dogs.

Baking and testing these snacks out on your puppy can be a lot of fun. Remember, you can also share recipes with other dog owners and perhaps find the perfect treat for your companion.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

LEGOS (continued):

• By 1960, Lego had abandoned production of all wooden toys, resulting in one of the Christiansen brothers, who had been the head of the wooden toys department, leaving Lego and starting his own company. Employees in the plastics division numbered 450.

• In 1961, Lego wheels were introduced, facilitating the building of cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Production expanded into North America, with the Samsonite Company hired to manufacture the products. There were lots of Lego vehicles, but no figures to drive them, prompting Lego to create figures with round yellow headd embellished with facial features, along with movable arms, legs, and torso. Lego figures were launched in 1978.

• The company branched out into themed sets in the 1980s, including the Lego Castle, Pirates theme, and Space collections.

• Copenhagen was home to the first Legoland, a park that opened in 1968. More than 625,000 guests visited during the first year. There are now eight Legoland parks around the world, drawing upwards of 15 million guests annually. There are factories in Denmark, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, and China, with projected openings for one in Vietnam and the U.S. state of Virginia in the next year. Sales in 2021 topped $8 billion, with an employee count exceeding 24,000. The company remains in the family, under the ownership of Ole Kirk’s grandson.

• Although the Lego Company has experienced enormous success, along the way, the Christiansen family experienced tragedy. Ole’s workshop and the family home burned to the ground when his young sons were playing with wood shavings and caused a fire. In 1942, a short circuit caused an electrical fire, destroying the factory, the entire stock of wooden toys, and all the blueprints. A 1960 warehouse fire consumed nearly all of the inventory of wooden toys, an event that contributed to the end of production of Lego wooden toys.

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* "I had to pick up a bunch of BBs that spilled in our garage. It was very aggravating, until I decided to get out my vacuum. I put a very thin sock (didn't have any panty hose) on the end, and tucked it into the hose. I secured it with a zip tie. I was able to suck up most of the BBs, and they went right back in the container." E.L. in North Carolina

* If you make your own broth, you can freeze cubes in easy-to-measure amounts by using your muffin tin. Measure out broth in half cup or cup amounts, then freeze. When done, pop them out into a freezer-safe baggie.

* Try this trick to increase the volume when listening to music on your phone (without earbuds, that is): Place it in a deep bowl. The bowl amplifies and directs the sound.

* Chrome is easily cleaned and shined up with vinegar. Keep a misting bottle in the bathroom to give handles a quick swipe

after getting ready in the morning or evening.

* Ice cream cones with a flat bottom make a great container for cupcakes. Fill cones two-thirds full with batter, bake as directed, and you have cupcake cones! Frost and go!

* I sew looped tags onto the corner of our family's wash cloths. My husband installed several hooks in the shower, and when we are finished with our wash cloth, we hang it up by the tag after rinsing it out. They do not mildew this way, because they are allowed to dry.

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